In some examples, a system and method for pairing a payment object reader with a point-of-sale (POS) terminal is described herein. The payment object reader includes one or more light indicators configured to display information in an optical pattern of one or more colors, brightness, lightness, and intensities, wherein the light indicators display a first optical pattern representative of an operational status of the payment object reader in a first mode, and a second optical pattern representative of a pairing code in a second mode. A display control component, executed by a processor, is configured to control the light indicators in accordance with the pairing code to generate the second optical pattern, the second optical pattern when shared with the POS terminal enables pairing between the payment object reader and the POS terminal. When paired, the payment object reader allows the POS terminal to accept payments from a customer.

Disclosed is a device for storing elements each including a first wireless communication unit, the device including: —a receiving support receiving the elements; —a second wireless communication unit generating waves and communicating with each first unit according to a communication protocol, a communication zone being a three-dimensional zone in which the second unit communicates with each first unit when each first unit is located in the zone and does not communicate with a first unit when the first unit is located outside the zone; —a waveguide able to guide the generated waves so that a dimension of the communication zone is strictly greater than a reference dimension, the reference dimension being equal to the dimension of the communication zone when the storage device is without waveguides.

Apparatus and methods for self-checkout at a retail establishment includes receiving, by a sensor gate and from a payment processing device, purchase transaction information related to a purchase by a customer. The sensor gate scans customized label attached to each article possessed by the customer located in a surveillance zone of the retail establishment. The sensor gate compares information contained in the customized label with the received purchase transaction information.

A method for a secured purchase process. The method may include encoding a device with a unique identification code related to a specific item, attaching the device to the item by a locking mechanism included in the device, receiving, by a receiver included in the device, a signal upon a completion of a payment transaction related to the unique identification code, enabling an unlocking movement of the locking mechanism upon receipt of the signal, and unlocking the locking mechanism to enable releasing the device from the item.

In some implementations, a system for verifying items in a retail environment includes a physical shopping cart including a first set of sensors, and an automated checkout station including a second, different set of sensors. The physical shopping cart receives item verification data for verifying an item, detects the item as it enters the physical shopping cart, and performs a primary verification of the item. The automated checkout station obtains a virtual shopping cart that corresponds to the physical shopping cart. The virtual shopping cart includes a list of items that have been placed in the physical shopping cart, and a verification status of each item. The second, different set of sensors generate station sensor data that represents the physical shopping cart and the items in the physical shopping cart. A secondary verification of the physical shopping cart and its contents is performed by the automated checkout station.

In some implementations, a method performed by data processing apparatuses includes receiving, by an item verification engine, a scan notification indicating that a mobile computing device has scanned an item. In response to receiving the scan notification, the item verification engine provides an instruction for a cart computing system to activate item sensors on a shopping cart. The item verification engine receives sensor data collected by the item sensors as a result of the item having been placed in the shopping cart. The item verification engine receives item verification data for verifying the scanned item from the mobile computing device, performs a verification of the item based on the sensor data and the item verification data, and provides verification results for presentation by the mobile computing device.

A medication dispensing cabinet provides controlled access to medications and supplies stored in it. The cabinet may include at least one lockable storage compartment, and a controller that controls access to the at least one lockable storage compartment. The cabinet may include multiple printers integrated into the cabinet. The cabinet may include a camera operably coupled to the controller. The cabinet may include a set of cabinet electronics, and a power distribution and communications circuit board. The cabinet may include a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, wherein the controller conditions access to the at least one lockable storage compartment on receipt of information from the RFID reader. Data may be stored in the controller according to an implementation of RAID technology. The controller may include multiple electronic communications network interfaces, and may include an out of band network communication channel. A dispensing cabinet may facilitate printing of labels for medications.

Systems and methods for self-checkout at a point-of-sale are provided. The system and method includes using a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) transceivers within a store, and an RFID reader configured to receive an RFID code from an RFID tag activated by the plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) transceivers. The system and method also includes using a classifier configured to determine whether the RFID tag is inside or outside a designated area, wherein the classifier is trained in a manner that a number of items incorrectly identified as being purchased is below a threshold to minimize customer dissatisfaction (CDS) determined as the ratio of the value of items charged to the customer but not purchased by a customer to the total charge to the customer.

According to one embodiment, a reading device is configured to read information from an RFID tag attached to a product. The reading device includes a housing, an antenna, an opening-and-closing lid, a detector, a reading unit, and an alert unit. The housing includes an opening portion, and therein a space for accommodating the product. The antenna is provided within the space. The opening-and-closing lid is opening and closing the opening portion. The detector is configured to detect an open or closed state of the opening-and-closing lid. The reading unit is configured to read the information from the RFID tag. The alert unit is configured to issue an alert on an operation method in accordance with the open or closed state of the opening-and-closing lid and an operation state of the reading unit.

According to one embodiment, a POS device includes a housing, a cover, a first detector, and a first driving mechanism. The housing includes an accommodation chamber configured to accommodate a product to which an RFID tag is attached, an opening portion for putting the product into the accommodation chamber being formed in the housing. The cover is configured to open and close the opening portion. The first detector is configured to detect whether a person is present near the housing. The first driving mechanism is configured to transition the cover from a closed state in which the cover closes the opening portion to an open state in which the cover opens the opening portion, based on the detection of the person by the first detector.