WO1989006406A1

WO1989006406A1 - Checkout system and method

Info

Publication number: WO1989006406A1
Application number: PCT/US1988/004542
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tsutomu Ono; Masaru Nogami
Original assignee: Ncr Corporation
Priority date: 1987-12-28
Filing date: 1988-12-19
Publication date: 1989-07-13
Also published as: DE3884607D1; EP0348484B1; EP0348484A1; DE3884607T2

Abstract

A checkout system and method are provided for allowing customers to check out purchased merchandise items in a checkout area (10). The checkout system includes passcard issuing sections (14) which issue passcards including a customer identification number, payment receiving terminals (28) physically separated from said passcard issuing sections (14) and an exit gate control unit (40). The passcard is used by the customer at both a payment receiving terminal (28) and the exit gate control unit (40) thereby enabling the customer to convey the merchandise items with them through the checkout area (10). Each payment receiving terminal (28) includes a read/write unit (32) for reading the customer identification number and for writing payment received data on the identification item. Comparison of data at the exit gate control unit (40) ensures that only those customers who have paid in full are permitted exit passage from the checkout area (10).

Description

CHECKOUT SYSTEM AND METHOD

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a checkout system and method and more particularly to a system and method allowing a customer to check out purchased merchandise.

Background Art

A prior art checkout system has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 119042/84. This patent application discloses a checkout gate comprising a scanning unit which permits the customers to scan their purchased goods, a purchased goods bin into which the purchased goods are deposited, a money settling device through which the customers pay money for their purchased goods, and a shutter section adapted to open a shutter of an outlet of the purchased goods bin at the completion of the payment of money to permit the customers to take out their purchased goods.

One drawback of the above-mentioned prior art is that the customers cannot take out their purchased goods for a period of time even though they have paid the money for such goods. The shutter section of this checkout operation takes a lot of time and causes a jammed condition at the checkout gate.

More generally congestion problems, such as a jammed condition at the checkout gate, arise because of the need to maintain a high level of security with regard to ensuring correct payment by customers for purchased merchandise.

Disclosure of the Invention

It is an object of this invention to provide a cashierless checkout system and method which relieves the checkout congestion while also maintaining a high level of security by ensuring that only those customers who make the correct payment for their purchased merchandise have permitted access through an exit of the checkout area.

Accordingly the present invention provides a checkout system in a checkout area for allowing a customer to check out purchased merchandise items, each of which carries a respective merchandise code, said system including a plurality of entry terminals each including a scanning unit for permitting customers to scan said merchandise codes to generate first data identifying said merchandise items, a plurality of payment receiving terminals each including a payment receiving unit for receiving payment for said purchased merchandise items and for generating second data identifying the payment received, and data processing means coupled to said entry and payment receiving terminals for receiving said first and second data to check that full payment has been received for said purchased merchandise items, characterized in that each entry terminal includes an issuing section responsive to an issue control signal from said data processing means whereby each customer is issued with an identification item bearing a respective identification code, each payment receiving terminal including a read/write unit for reading an identification code on the respective identification item, said read/write unit being responsive to a reissue control signal from said data processing means for writing payment received data on the respective identification item and for reissuing said identification item to the respective customer, and further characterized by an exit gate control unit including a checker unit for reading the identification code and payment received data on each identification item and an exit gate controller operating under the control of said checker unit for allowing permitted passage of said customer from said checkout area if said full payment has been received from that customer.

In a preferred embodiment each of said entry terminals is separated in physical location from each of said payment receiving terminals.

It will be appreciated that the issuing of an identification item to a customer and the subsequent use of that identification item at the payment receiving terminal and the exit gate control unit allows the customer to convey the merchandise items with them through the checkout area. This facility considerably speeds up the passage of customers through the checkout area while ensuring that only those customers who have paid in full for their merchandise items are given permitted passage from the checkout area thereby providing a secure cashierless checkout system. The feature of physically separating the entry terminal from the payment receiving terminal also provides less congestion in the checkout area as one customer can be paying for his or her goods while another customer can be scanning his or her goods at the entry terminal.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for allowing a customer to check out in a checkout area purchased merchandise items, each of which carries a respective merchandise code, said method including scanning said merchandise codes to generate first data identifying said merchandise items, making a payment at a payment receiving terminal to generate second data identifying said payment and processing said first and second data to check that full payment has been received for said merchandise items, characterized by issuing each customer with a respective identification item having a customer identification code thereon, reading said identification code on the respective identification item and writing payment received data on said identification item at said payment receiving terminal prior to reissuing said identification item to said customer and subsequently checking automatically, at an exit gate control unit, the data on said identification item to ensure full payment for said purchased merchandise items whereby permitted exit passage is provided from said checkout area.

Brief Description of the Drawing

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a cashierless checkout system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2A is a block diagram of the structure of the purchased goods entry terminal;

Fig. 2B is a flow chart of the operation of the control and processing unit in relation to the purchased goods entry terminal shown in Fig. 2A;

Fig. 3A is a block diagram of the structure of the money receiving terminal;

Fig. 3B is a flow chart of the operation of the control, and processing unit in relation to the money receiving terminal shown in Fig. 3A;

Fig. 4A is a block diagram of the structure of the exit gate control unit; and

Fig. 4B is a flow chart of the operation of the control and processing unit in relation to the exit gate control unit shown in Fig. 4A.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 shows a schematic arrangement of the structure of the cashierless checkout system for use in a store or like business entity. The checkout area 10 in the store is illustrated as being that area within the boundary of the heavy solid line 12. A plurality of purchased goods entry terminals, as 14, 16, are located at the entrance to the checkout area 10 for the convenience of the customers who have selected goods for purchase. Each of the entry terminals 14, 16 includes a scanning section 18 conveniently located for scanning purchased goods, a printing section 20 for printing data corresponding to the purchased goods which are scanned, and a passcard issuing section 22 for issuing passcards 24 to the customers. The passcards 24 include information which gives the total amount of the purchased goods and the customers' identification numbers. A displaying section 26, also placed in a convenient location, provides the customer with information concerning the purchased goods and the prices thereof.

A plurality of money receiving terminals, as 28, 30, are separated in physical location from the purchased goods entry terminals 14, 16. Each of the money receiving terminals 28, 30 includes a passcard Read/Write (R/W) section 32 for performing reading/ writing operations of passcards 24 issued from any of the purchased goods entry terminals 14, 16. Each of the money receiving terminals 28, 30 includes a money receiving section 34 through which the customers pay money for their purchased goods and receive their change, a printer section 36 for issuing receipts to the customers, and a display section 38 for viewing of the transactions by the customers.

An exit gate control unit 40 is provided in the vicinity of a customer outlet 42 of the checkout area 10 and which control unit includes a passcard checker 44 for reading and collecting the passcards 24 which are issued from the passcard issuing section 22 of the purchased goods entry terminals 14, 16 and into which data is written indicating that the money is received in the money receiving section 34 of the money receiving terminals 28, 30. An exit gate controller 46 of the control unit 40 operates to open a gate 48 in accordance with money received data read out from the passcards 24 to enable the customers to pass through the gate 48 and to the outside of the checkout area 10.

A control and processing unit 50 is provided for controlling the operations of the purchased goods entry terminals 14, 16, the money receiving terminals 28, 30, and the exit gate control unit 40, and also for processing and storing sold goods data, unpaid goods data, settlement data and the like.

Next, the checkout operation and procedure of the cashierless checkout system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. In the drawing, the dotted line 52 indicates a path through the checkout area 10 and along which a customer advances to perform the various checkout operations. For the sake of convenience, it is assumed that the customer uses the purchased goods entry terminal 14 and the money receiving terminal 28, such terminals showing issuance of a passcard 24 at the passcard issuing section 22 and the use of the passcard at the passcard R/W section 32.

The customer initiates and enables scanning of the bar codes on the purchased goods through the scanning section 18 of the purchased goods entry terminal 14. An automatic scanner which permits automatic scanning of the bar codes may be used, such as an ACM 650 Cashier Station which is available from Check Robot Co., Ltd. The data thus scanned by the scanning section 18 is sent to the control and processing unit 50 to be processed and stored therein, to be displayed on the displaying section 26 of the purchased goods entry terminal 14, and to be printed on a purchased goods detailed sheet (not shown) by the printing section 20 of the terminal 14. At the completion of scanning of all the purchased goods, a final key (not shown) is depressed by the customer to send a finalized signal to the control and processing unit 50 which, in turn, receives the finalized signal to calculate the total amount of the purchased goods as seen by the scanning section 18 and to store the amount thus calculated in an unpaid goods data file. The finalized signal also enables the control and processing unit 50 to actuate the passcard issuing section 22 to issue a passcard 24 in which the customer's ID number and the total amount of the purchased goods are magnetically recorded and also to actuate the printing section 20 to print the total amount of the purchased goods on the purchased goods detailed sheet to be issued to the customer.

Next, the customer goes to the money receiving terminal 28 with the purchased goods detailed sheet and with the passcard 24 issued from the issuing section 22 of the purchased goods entry terminal 14 to pay the money for the purchased goods. When the customer inserts the passcard 24 into the R/W Section 32 of the money receiving terminal 28, the customer's ID number and the total amount of money owed for the purchased goods are read and sent to the control and processing unit 50 to be collated therein and compared with the identification (ID) number and the total amount of money stored therein and displayed on the display section 38 of the terminal 28. The customer pays the correct amount of money for the purchased goods by putting cash into the money receiving section 34 of the terminal 28 without the aid of a salesclerk or the use of a prepaid card or the like. The money receiving section 34 discharges or dispenses any necessary change in the overall transaction. At the completion of the money receiving operation, the control and processing unit 50 stores the result of the transaction in a money received data file, actuates the passcard R/W section 32 to issue the passcard 24 (or a passcard which may be different from the above-mentioned passcard) on which the money received is recorded, and then actuates the printer section 36 of terminal 28 to issue a receipt of the purchased goods to the customer.

The customer then goes to the exit gate control unit 40 and inserts the passcard 24 into the passcard checker 44. When the passcard checker 44 confirms that the correct amount of money is received, the passcard 24 is withdrawn and a command signal is sent from the passcard checker 44 to the exit gate controller 46 of control unit 40 to open the gate 48 to enable only those customers to pass therethrough who have paid the correct amount of money for their purchased goods.

The individual terminals and the units employed in the cashierless checkout system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be more concretely described with reference to Figs. 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B. Along with the control and processing unit 50, various other control units (not shown) such as a personal computer, an office computer and the like may be employed in accordance with the overall number of purchased goods entry terminals 14, 16 and the number of money receiving terminals 28, 30. In this embodiment, it is preferred that an office computer is employed. The structure of such office computer is well known in the art, so that the description thereof is omitted here and only the operation thereof will be described with reference to a flow chart of the drawing. The purchased goods entry terminal 14 will be described in more detail relative to the operation thereof. Fig. 2A shows the structure of the purchased goods entry terminal 14 and Fig. 2B is a flow chart of the data processing operation from the purchased goods entry terminal 14 to the control and processing unit 50. The purchased goods entry terminal 14 consists of a keyboard section 52, the displaying section 26, the scanning section 18, the printing section 20, the passcard issuing section 22, a control section 54 and an interface section 56 coupled to the control and processing unit 50.

When a customer depresses a start key (Fig. 2B) on the keyboard section 52 (Fig. 2A) in order to start a scanning operation for the registration of the purchased goods, a start signal is sent from the keyboard section 52 (Fig. 2A) to the control section 54 which, in turn, transmits the start signal thus received to the control and processing unit 50 via the interface section 56. The control and processing unit 50 receives the start signal and waits until a purchased goods data signal is transmitted thereto (Blocks 58 and 60 in Fig. 2B) . Then, the customer initiates and enables scanning of the purchased goods by means of the scanning section 18. Purchased goods data is read out by the scanning section 18 and is sent to the control section 54 and then to the control and processing unit 50 through the interface section 56. The control and processing unit 50 receives the purchased goods data (Block 60) and retrieves the price of one of the purchased goods from a Price Look Up (PLU) file and reads out the price of the goods (Block 62). The price of one of the purchased goods thus read out (the goods price data) is stored in an unpaid goods registration file of the control and processing unit 50 together with the store purchased goods data thus received (Block 64) and then such goods price data is sent to the purchased goods entry terminal 14 (Block 66 ) . The control section 54 of the purchased goods entry terminal 14 receives the goods price data and sends such data to the displaying section 26 and to the printing section 20. The displaying section 26 displays the price of the purchased goods based on the goods price data from the control section 54 and the printing section 20 prints the price of the purchased goods on a purchased goods detailed sheet (Block 66) . All of the remaining purchased goods are scanned by the scanning section 18 and are stored in the unpaid registration file of the control and processing unit 50 in the same manner as described above.

The customer then depresses a final key on the keyboard section 52 at the completion of the scanning operation and of the registration of the store purchased goods. When the final key is depressed, a registration final signal is output from the keyboard section 52 and is sent to the control and processing unit 50 through the control section 54 and through the interface section 56. The control and processing unit 50 receives the registration final signal and calculates the total price amount of the store purchased goods (Blocks 68 and 70). The total amount-of-money data is stored in the unpaid goods registration file of the control and processing unit 50 and also is sent to the purchased goods entry terminal 14 (Blocks 72 and 74). The control section 54 of the purchased goods entry terminal 14 receives the record of the total amount of money and outputs data thereon to the displaying section 26 and the p'rinting section 20 of terminal 14. The total amount of money is displayed on the displaying section 26 for viewing by the customer and also is printed on the purchased goods detailed sheet by the printing section 20. Then, the control and processing unit 50 sends _. n _

the identification (ID) number of the customer and a command for issuing a passcard signal to the purchased goods entry terminal 14 (Block 76). The control section 54 of the purchased goods entry terminal 14 receives the ID number and the command for issuing the passcard signal and outputs the total amount of money owed for the store purchased goods to the passcard issuing section 22 together with the ID number and the command signal thus received. The passcard issuing section 22 receives the command for issuing a passcard and dispenses or passes out a passcard 24 stored therewithin and magnetically records the ID number and the total amount of money thereon. The customer receives the passcard 24 and goes to the money receiving terminal 28 for payment of the store purchased goods.

The money receiving terminal 28 will be described in more detail relative to the operation thereof. Fig. 3A shows the structure of the money receiving terminal 28 and Fig. 3B is a flow chart of the operation of the control and processing unit 50. As shown in Fig. 3A, the money receiving terminal 28 includes the passcard read/write (R/W) section 32, the display section 38, the money receiving section 34, the printer section 36, a control section 80 and an interface section 82 coupled to the control and processing unit 50. The money receiving section 34 includes a cash receiving section 84, a counting section 86, a cash storing section 88 and a cash disbursing section 90 coupled along with the counting section 86 to the control section 80.

When the customer inserts the passcard 24 into the passcard R/W section 32 (Fig. 3A) at the completion of the scanning operation and registration of the store purchased goods, the passcard R/W section 32 reads out content data that is recorded on the passcard 24 and sends the data thus read out.^ihe passcard data) to the control and processing unit 50 through the control section 80 and the interface section 82. The control and processing unit 50 receives the passcard data from the money receiving terminal 28, reads out the total amount of money from the unpaid goods registration file of the control and processing unit 50 which is based on the ID number in the passcard data (Blocks 92 and 94 in Fig. 3B) and sends the total amount of money data thus read out to the money receiving terminal 28 (Block 96). The control section 80 of the money receiving terminal 28 outputs the total amount of money data thus received to the display section 38 to be displayed to the customer.

When the customer pays money for the store purchased goods to the money receiving section 34, the cash receiving section 84 receives bills and coins and feeds the money to the counting section 86 which, in

^" turn, counts the bills and coins received and then calculates the total amount of money that the customer has paid. The counting section 86 sends received cash data on the total amount of the paid money thus calculated to the control and processing unit 50 through the control section 80 and the interface section 82 and also feeds the bills and coins thus counted to the cash storing section 88 to be stored therein. The control section 80 calculates the difference (change) between the total amount of money to be paid which is sent from the control and processing unit 50 through the interface section 82 and the total amount of money received which is sent from the counting section 86. In case change is made, the control section 80 'sends the amount of change and a change disbursing signal to the cash disbursing section 90 and displays the amount of change on the display section 38. Further, the control section 80 control and processing unit

50 through the interface section 82. The control and processing unit 50 receives the received money data and the change data from the money receiving terminal 28 (Block 98) and stores the customer's ID number, the received money data, and the change data in the paid goods registration file (Block 100) and erases the data on the customer who paid money for the store purchased goods from the unpaid goods registration file (Block 102). Then, the control and processing unit 50 sends a receipt issuing signal and a passcard reissuing signal to the money receiving terminal 28 (Block 104). The control section 80 of the money receiving terminal 28 receives the receipt issuing signal and the passcard reissuing signal and sends print data (the total amount of money to be paid, the total amount of money received, and the amount of change) to the printer section 36 and also sends pay up data indicating that the money has already been paid to the passcard R/W section 32. The printer section 36 receives the print data from the control section 80 and prints the data on a receipt to be issued to the customer. The passcard R/W section 32 receives the pay up data from the control section 80 and magnetically records the data on the passcard 24 to be issued to the customer. The customer receives the receipt and the pay up passcard, and the change from the cash disbursing section 90 and then goes to the exit gate control unit 40.

The exit gate control unit 40 provides the controls necessary to enable the customer to pass from the checkout area 10 and through the exit gate 48 (Fig. 1). Fig. 4A shows the structure of the exit gate control unit 40 and Fig. 4B is a flow chart of the operation of the control and processing unit 50 in relation to the exit gate control unit 40. As shown in Fig. 4A, the exit gate control unit 40 includes the passcard checker 44, the exit gate controller 46, a control section 106 and an interface section 108 coupled to the control and processing unit 50. The passcard checker 44 includes a passcard receiving/returning section 110 and a passcard R/W section 112.

When the customer inserts the passcard 24 into the passcard checker 44 of the exit gate control unit 40 at the completion of payment for the store purchased goods, the passcard receiving section 110 feeds the passcard 24 to the passcard R/W section 112 which receives the passcard 24, reads out the data magnetically recorded thereon and outputs the data thus read out to the control section 106. Then, the control section 106, upon receipt of the data on the passcard 24, recognizes the pay up data in the read out data, sends a permission signal for gate opening to the exit gate controller 46, and simulataneously therewith, transmits passcard recovery data, including the ID number of the customer from whom the passcard 24 has been recovered, to the control and processing unit 50 through the interface section 108 of the exit gate control unit 40. The control and processing unit 50 receives the passcard recovery data thus transmitted to register the customer's ID number in a recovery data file (Blocks 114 and 116 in Fig. 4B) . The exit gate controller 46 receives the permission signal for gate opening to output a gate open signal to open the gate 48 through which the customer can exit from the checkout area 10. The gate 48 is opened by the gate open signal and the customer goes outside the checkout area 10 through the gate 48 with the store purchased goods.

However, on the other hand, when no^'pay up data is found on the passcard 24, the control section 106 outputs a passcard return signal to the passcard receiving and returning section 110 (Fig. 4A) which discharges the passcard 24 through an outlet thereof upon receiving the passcard return signal. The system may be so designed as to announce by voice that the customer is to pay up the money or to display an amount owed when no pay up data is found. In this case, the customer can not go outside the checkout area 10 until he goes to the money receiving terminal 28 with the passcard 24 thus returned and pays up the correct amount of money.

There may be provided a plurality of gates such as those used at gateways to a wicket or a recreation garden through which the customers can go in and out one by one. Alternatively,, the gate 48 may be constituted by a conventional door, wherein a plurality of customers can pass through the gate 48 at the same time, as long as measures are taken not to pass a customer who does not pay up the owed money.. As one of the proposed measures, the system may be so constructed as to detect a person who intends to pass through the gate 48 with a passcard 24 and thereby raise an alarm of the fact that a person who has not paid the correct amount of money still has the passcard 24 in his or her possession. The system can be constructed such that an antenna of a predetermined configuration is printed on the passcard 24 in the form of a sheet and the antenna is sensed when the passcard passes through the gate 48. This antenna sensing technique is well known in the art, so that the description thereof is omitted.

In addition, there may be provided separate paths and exits (not shown) which permit a person who does not purchase any goods to go outside without passing in the path 52 along the purchased goods entry terminals 14, 16 and the money receiving terminals 28, 30 in the checkout area 10.

It is thus seen that herein shown and described is a cashierless checkout system having an advantage that jamming or crowded conditions in the checkout area can be relieved by separating the entry and scanning of purchased goods from the payment of the money. In addition, a passcard is issued to each customer to enable the customer to pass through the gate provided at the exit of the checkout area. The system permits the customer who has paid the correct amount of money for the store purchased goods to go outside the checkout area and thereby ensure that the money has been received for the purchased goods. Further, the number of purchased goods entry terminals and the number of money receiving terminals to be installed can be separately and freely selected in accordance with various conditions such as the type of store and experience of customers in operating the various terminals. In addition, a customer can selectively use a disengaged terminal in certain instances which may include practice or training in the operations of the system, so that the terminals can be used effectively. Accordingly, there is provided a cashierless checkout system by which the checking out operation is effectively and advantageously performed.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A checkout system in a checkout area (10) for allowing a customer to check out purchased merchandise items, each of which carries a respective merchandise code, said system including a plurality of entry terminals (14, 16) each including a a scanning unit (18) for permitting customers to scan said merchandise codes to generate first data identifying said merchandise items, a plurality of payment receiving terminals (28, 30) each including a payment receiving unit (34) for receiving payment for said purchased merchandise items and for generating second data identifying the payment received, and data processing means (50) coupled to said entry and payment receiving terminals (14, 16, 28, 30) for receiving said first and second data to check that full payment has been received for said purchased merchandise items, characterized in that each entry terminal (14, 16) includes an issuing section (22) responsive to an issue control signal from said data processing means (50) whereby each customer is issued with a respective identification item bearing a respective identification code, each payment receiving terminal (28, 30) including a read/write unit (32) for reading said respective identification code on said respective identification item, said read/write unit (32) being responsive to a reissue control signal from said data processing means (50) for writing payment received data on the respective identification item and for reissuing said identification item to the respective customer, and further characterized by an exit gate control unit (40) including a checker unit (44) for reading the identification code and payment received data on each identification item, and an exit gate controller (46) operating under the control of said checker unit (44) for allowing permitted passage of said customer from said checkout area (10) if full payment has been received from that customer.

2. A checkout system according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said entry terminals (14, 16) is separated in physical location from each of said payment receiving terminals (28, 30).

3. A checkout system according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that said exit gate control unit (40) is coupled to said data processing means (50) for transmitting identification item recovery data, including said identification code, to said data processing means (50) for storage in a recovery data file.

4. A checkout system according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that each entry terminal (14, 16) includes a first display section (26) and a printing section (20) for displaying and printing information related to said merchandise codes that are scanned.

5. A checkout system according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that each payment receiving terminal (20, 30) includes a money receiving section (34) for receiving an amount of money, a printer section (36) for issuing a receipt, and a second display section (38) for displaying payment data.

6. A checkout system according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that each entry terminal (14, 16) includes a control section (54) coupled to said issuing section (22) and to said data processing means (50).

7. A checkout system according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that each entry terminal (14, 16) includes a keyboard section (52) to enable said scanning unit (18).

8. A checkout system according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that each payment receiving terminal (28, 30) includes a control section (80) coupled to said read/write unit (32) and to said data processing means (50).

9. A checkout system according to claim 8 when dependent on claim 5, characterized in that said money receiving section (34) of each entry terminal (14, 16) includes a cash receiving section (84), a counting section (86) coupled to said cash receiving section (84) and to said control section (80), a cash storing section (88) coupled to said counting section (86), and a cash disbursing section (90) coupled to said counting section (86) and to said control section (80).

10. A method of allowing a customer to check out in a checkout area (10) purchased merchandise items, each of which carries a respective merchandise code, said method including scanning said merchandise codes to generate first data identifying said merchandise items, making a payment at a payment receiving terminal (28, 30) to generate second data identifying said payment, and processing said first and second data to check that full payment has been received for said merchandise items, characterized by issuing each customer with a respective identification item having a respective customer identification code thereon, reading said respective identification code on the respective identification item and writing payment received data on said respective identification item at said payment receiving terminal (28, 30) prior to reissuing said respective identification item to said customer, and subsequently checking automatically at an exit gate control unit (40), the data on said respective identification item to ensure full payment for said purchased merchandise items whereby permitted exit passage is provided from said checkout area (10).^"