A method, as wells as an associated server arrangement and a computer, for conducting an online transaction to fulfill a rail-shipment service inquiry or a rail-shipment service ordering are described. A customer system is directed to implement a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to accept a customer identifier. In response to a specific customer identifier, the GUI displays a customer specific set of route parameters extracted from a customer profile. The GUI also presents customer-selectable shipment options configured to accept options conveying a first and a second geographic location chosen from the customer specific set of route parameters as an origin and a destination of a shipment. The GUI may also be configured to deliver additional information to the user of the GUI in response to specific customer-selected shipping options and/or to provide a control component configured for allowing a user to place an order to fulfill a shipment according to the specific customer-selected shipping options. The rail-shipment service may then be performed for according to the specific customer-selected shipping options.

A method, as wells as an associated server arrangement and a computer, for conducting an online transaction to fulfill a rail-shipment service inquiry or a rail-shipment service ordering are described. A customer system is directed to implement a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to accept a customer identifier. In response to a customer login which identifies a specific customer profile, the GUI displays customer-specific information including a customer-specific list of actual railcars that are associated with the specific customer profile, each railcar being of a particular railcar type, the customer-specific list including actual railcars that are owned by the customer associated with the specific customer profile. The GUI is configured to accept inputs conveying customer-selected shipping options, the customer-selected shipping options identifying one or more actual railcars from the customer-specific list to be used for a shipment of a commodity. In response to the input conveying the customer-selected shipping options, the GUI is adapted to deliver additional information to the customer about the shipment or to request from the customer additional input in order to complete the online transaction.

An object recognition system according to an embodiment includes a server and at least one point of sale device. A storage device stores a recognition dictionary that includes, for each of a plurality of articles, at least one feature value for identifying the corresponding article, and an effective period indicating a period during which the corresponding article is sold. The server acquires a present date, and for each of the plurality of articles sold in the store, determines whether the present date is included in the effective period. The server generates an effective recognition dictionary that includes the at least one feature value of each of the plurality of articles sold in the store for which the present date is included in the corresponding effective period. A communication device transmits, at a predetermined time, the effective recognition dictionary to the at least one point of sale device.

According to embodiments, a commodity identification system comprises a camera interface and a processor. The processor is configured to: acquire a first image of a commodity from a camera; detect a commodity area within the first image, that shows the commodity; attempt to identify the commodity from the commodity area based on a first copy of previously stored visual features for a plurality of commodities; and upon the attempt to identify the commodity from the commodity area being unsuccessful, perform the following: acquire a second image of the commodity from the camera, wherein the second image includes a visible code; generate error identification data that includes the first image and includes a commodity code associated with the visible code; and update the first copy of the previously stored visual features to include visual features of the commodity that are extracted from the first image.

A POS terminal device is provided with: a memory unit for storing subject information in which a subject and specific information are associated; an imaging unit for imaging a subject and generating an image; and a specific information estimation unit for estimating, on the basis of the subject information, the specific information associated with the subject imaged by the imaging unit.

A price tag assembly includes a price tag that may be attached to a shelf in a retail environment thereby facilitating the price tag to display a price of a corresponding item. A receiving unit is coupled to the price tag and the receiving unit selectively receives pricing information. The receiving unit displays a price of the corresponding item corresponding to the pricing information. In this way the receiving unit selectively alters the price displayed in accordance with the pricing information. A transmitting unit is provided and the transmitter is in discrete wireless communication with the receiving unit. In this way the transmitting unit selectively communicates the pricing information to the receiving unit. The transmitting unit is selectively placed in electrical communication with an extrinsic database thereby facilitating the transmitting unit to download the pricing information.

A checkout system according to an embodiment includes a settlement device, a management terminal, and a camera. The settlement device starts a settlement processing based on generated settlement information, and then determines that the settlement processing is interrupted. In response to the determination that the settlement processing is interrupted, the settlement device receives image data from the camera and generates a calling screen indicating that a manager is called. Based on the received image data, the settlement device determines whether the manager is positioned in a predetermined checkout area proximate to the settlement device. When the manager is determined to be positioned in the predetermined checkout area, the settlement device stops displaying the calling screen and resumes the settlement processing.

A system and method for distribution of product price and/or sales data in a retail establishment. Product price and/or sales data is stored locally, either in a central computer or master electronic cash register (ECR) or remotely at a master computer. The product price data is stored in the form of a price look-up (PLU) table. The price data can be pushed from the master ECR, local or master computers to and ECR emulation hub to an ECR emulation hub. Similarly, the ECR emulation hub can request product price data from the master ECR, local or master computers. Once the product price data arrives at the ECR emulation hub, it can be processed and sent to a display, which will be located near the appropriate product. The ECR emulation hub can also record and/or transmit prices actually charged for products over time to allow for automatic auditing of promotional pricing offers such as those made by manufacturers of the product. The ECR emulation hub acts like au ECR, thereby requiring no special software or hardware modifications to existing pricing display systems that already support ECRs.

A system and method for distribution of product price and/or sales data in a retail establishment. Product price and/or sales data is stored locally in a central computer or master electronic cash register (ECR), or remotely at a master computer. The price data can be pushed from the master ECR to an ECR emulation hub. Similarly, the ECR emulation hub can request product price data from the master ECR, local or master computers. Once the product price data arrives at the ECR emulation hub, it can be processed and sent to a display located near the appropriate product. The ECR emulation hub can also record and/or transmit prices actually charged for products over time to allow for automatic auditing of promotional pricing offers. The ECR emulation hub acts like an ECR, thereby requiring no special software or hardware modifications to existing pricing display systems that already support ECRs.