Patents by Inventor John Crooks

John Crooks has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11095801
    Abstract: A scanner is integrated into a Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminal; the scanner provides scanning information during POS transactions over a POS connection and provides video capabilities over a separate and independent network connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: John Crooks, J. Stephen McDaniel
  • Publication number: 20210248880
    Abstract: Hardware controls associated with features of a scanner are removed, and a combined scanner and transaction terminal is provided without the hardware controls. Operations associated with the removed hardware controls are graphically depicted as selectable window options within scanner-generated windows. The scanner generated windows are provided as a projected human interface for the missing hardware controls. The projected human interface is provided with and accessible from a display that includes transaction windows produced by transaction software of the transaction terminal, such that the selectable window options are always accessible from the display during transaction processing performed by the transaction software.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: John Crooks, Bayapu Reddy Vaddemanu, Chandra Mouli Ayyappa Yellapu
  • Patent number: 11080976
    Abstract: A terminal includes an item scanner. The item scanner determines whether an item that passes within a field of view of the scanner during a transaction has a properly noted barcode recorded for the transaction. When the item fails to have a properly noted barcode an alert is raised in real time for assistance and/or investigation of the transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher John Costello, John Crooks
  • Patent number: 11030862
    Abstract: Hardware controls associated with features of a scanner are removed, and a combined scanner and transaction terminal is provided without the hardware controls. Operations associated with the removed hardware controls are graphically depicted as selectable window options within scanner-generated windows. The scanner generated windows are provided as a projected human interface for the missing hardware controls. The projected human interface is provided with and accessible from a display that includes transaction windows produced by transaction software of the transaction terminal, such that the selectable window options are always accessible from the display during transaction processing performed by the transaction software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: John Crooks, Bayapu Reddy Vaddemanu, Chandra Mouli Ayyappa Yellapu
  • Patent number: 11017192
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, methods, software, and firmware for scan data source identification. One such embodiment, in the form of a method, includes receiving a dataset including scan data from a particular scanning device and adding data to the received dataset identifying at least one of the particular scanning device and a type of the particular scanning device. The method may further send the dataset to a terminal for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: John Crooks, Deborah Ann Detwiler
  • Publication number: 20210125466
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cash drawer detection and control are disclosed herein. The systems and methods may include use of an adaptor. The adaptor may connect a cash drawer to a point of sale (POS) terminal. The adaptor may include allow for an input signal to be received from the cash drawer. The type of cash drawer can be identified based on the input signal. An output signal operative to open the cash drawer can be generated and transmitted to the cash drawer to open the cash drawer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Sergio Silva, John Crooks, Andrew Klenzak, Lawrence Garcia Lim, Eric Robert Thoroe
  • Publication number: 20210127161
    Abstract: Disclosed is systems and methods for controlling a video display of a computing device during malfunction. The systems and methods can include receiving a first video stream and determining that the first video stream includes an error message for display on the video display. Once an error message is detected, a second video stream can be transmitted to the video display. The second video stream can include an alternate message for display on the video display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Sergio Silva, John Crooks
  • Publication number: 20210097514
    Abstract: Produce items are identified in aisle of a store during a self-shopping session of a shopper and the produce items are associated with a shopping cart of the shopper. A weigh terminal permits produce items to be placed on a weigh plate for weighing in any order selected by the shopper. Each produce item is verified, weight recorded, and price noted in the shopping cart. Discrepancies in produce identification are addressed on checkout and payment for the shopping cart. In an embodiment, aging produce items are identified in aisle or at the weigh terminal, and the shopper is provided a discounted price on such produce items; or availability of aging produce items are communicated to the shopper in aisle during produce identification or at the weigh terminal during produce verification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventor: John Crooks
  • Patent number: 10942687
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, software, and methods for detecting such problems and to take corrective action. One embodiment, in the form of a method, includes instructing a printer to print a document including a testing output and receiving an image of the document including the testing output from an imaging device. This method further includes analyzing the testing output included in the received image in view of an expected testing output to identify a printing issue and then storing a result of the analysis. The method may also include performing at least one remedial action to correct an identified printing issue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: John Crooks, Michael Lee Barlow, Andrew Klenzak, Brian Patrick Rogers, Sergio Silva
  • Patent number: 10891455
    Abstract: A controlled image sample is obtained of a produce item. The controlled image sample may be captured using an integrated camera of a mobile device or by a specialized produce image meter from a handheld scanning device. The image sample is processed to obtain a produce signature that is unique to a type of produce associated with the image sample. The produce signature is matched to a specific produce identifier and the produce identifier is added to a list of items being purchased by a shopper through a self-shopping system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: John Crooks
  • Publication number: 20200409449
    Abstract: Disclosed are self-checkout terminals and systems and methods for controlling the same. The systems and methods may include receiving a first image of the customer queuing area from the first camera and determining that a customer is in the customer queuing area. A first wakeup signal may be transmitted to one of the self-checkout terminals when the customer is in the customer queuing area. A second image of the customer queuing area may be received from the first camera and a determination may be made that the customer queuing area is void of customers. A first sleep signal may be transmitted to the one of the self-checkout terminals when the customer queuing area is void of the customers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Mark Allen Rambler, John Crooks
  • Publication number: 20200409612
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, software, and methods for detecting such problems and to take corrective action. One embodiment, in the form of a method, includes instructing a printer to print a document including a testing output and receiving an image of the document including the testing output from an imaging device. This method further includes analyzing the testing output included in the received image in view of an expected testing output to identify a printing issue and then storing a result of the analysis. The method may also include performing at least one remedial action to correct an identified printing issue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: John Crooks, Michael Lee Barlow, Andrew Klenzak, Brian Patrick Rogers, Sergio Silva
  • Publication number: 20200202682
    Abstract: Scanner/scale configuration is performed without scanning a series of programming barcodes and performed when a terminal is in a transaction processing mode of operation. A single code scanned into the scanner, initiates a configuration tool on the terminal and causes a graphical user interface (GUI) window to be rendered on a display of the terminal on top of any transaction windows rendered on the display. The GUI window permits user-defined configuration of the scanner/scale. In an embodiment, the configuration tool also provides a clone code that represents a source scanner/scale's configuration settings, when the clone code is scanned into a target scanner, the source scanner/scale's configuration settings are cloned on the target scanner/scale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: John Crooks, Steve Pixton
  • Publication number: 20200202681
    Abstract: Hardware controls associated with features of a scanner are removed, and a combined scanner and transaction terminal is provided without the hardware controls. Operations associated with the removed hardware controls are graphically depicted as selectable window options within scanner-generated windows. The scanner generated windows are provided as a projected human interface for the missing hardware controls. The projected human interface is provided with and accessible from a display that includes transaction windows produced by transaction software of the transaction terminal, such that the selectable window options are always accessible from the display during transaction processing performed by the transaction software.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: John Crooks, Bayapu Reddy Vaddemanu, Chandra Mouli Ayyappa Yellapu
  • Patent number: 10366379
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, methods, software, and devices, such as remote weigh stations and ancillary devices thereof enabled to detect fraud possibilities during a product weighing at facilities, such as retail outlets. Some such embodiments include image processing to identify possible fraud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: John Crooks
  • Patent number: 10326943
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, devices, methods, and software for overhead camera synchronization, such as with regard to a camera positioned above a POS terminal or other kiosk terminal type. One embodiment in the form of a method includes adjusting at least one of an exposure setting of an imaging device and lighting within a field of view of the imaging device to affect an exposure within an image captured by the imaging device. This method further includes capturing an image with the imaging device with the at least one of the exposure setting of the imaging device and the lighting within the field of view of the imaging device to achieve a desired exposure within the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: John Crooks, Andrew Jeremy Adamec, Mark Allen Rambler
  • Publication number: 20190180264
    Abstract: A scanner is integrated as a peripheral device into a POS terminal. Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are selectively activated and deactivated during item scanning for items being processed during a transaction at the POS terminal. The activation and deactivation of the LEDs are visible to an overhead security camera during the transaction. The selective activation and deactivation providing indications during the transaction as to whether the items are successfully scanned or unsuccessfully scanned during the transaction as the items are passed in front of at least one scan window of the scanner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventor: John Crooks
  • Publication number: 20180365951
    Abstract: A terminal includes an item scanner. The item scanner determines whether an item that passes within a field of view of the scanner during a transaction has a properly noted barcode recorded for the transaction. When the item fails to have a properly noted barcode an alert is raised in real time for assistance and/or investigation of the transaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher John Costello, John Crooks
  • Publication number: 20180285848
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, methods, software, and data structures for product identifier not-on-file imaging system and processing. Some such embodiments include solutions that automate capturing and communicating images of imaged items for which an item identifier (e.g., UPC DIGIMARC) cannot be located to facilitate correction and updating of product lookup databases to remove inefficiencies and sub-optimal experiences and realization at checkout. One such embodiment in the form of a method includes delivering, to a product pricing update location, an image of an item presented to a product scanner for scanning upon an occurrence of an item-not-on-file event indicating an unsuccessful price lookup database query performed with regard to an item identifier read by the product scanner from the presented item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: John Crooks, Michael Keith Reed
  • Publication number: 20180288300
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, devices, methods, and software for overhead camera synchronization, such as with regard to a camera positioned above a POS terminal or other kiosk terminal type. One embodiment in the form of a method includes adjusting at least one of an exposure setting of an imaging device and lighting within a field of view of the imaging device to affect an exposure within an image captured by the imaging device. This method further includes capturing an image with the imaging device with the at least one of the exposure setting of the imaging device and the lighting within the field of view of the imaging device to achieve a desired exposure within the captured image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: John Crooks, Andrew Jeremy Adamec, Mark Allen Rambler