Abstract: Systems and techniques for monitoring checkout transactions using video supplied by a camera integrated into a scanner used at a checkout station. The provides a view of an area of interest, and video is supplied to one or more remote locations, such as a security station or a product identification assistance station. An employee at a security station monitors a video stream transmitted to the station. When a product is entered into a transaction, a still frame of the video stream may be transmitted, suitably integrated with retrieved product information associated with the product. The employee may issue an alert on detecting an anomaly. An employee at an assistance station may be signaled by a user as needed, and may view video supplied to the assistance station to identify a product. The product identification may be supplied to the user, who may then make a transaction entry.

Abstract: A system for digital barcode processing. A light reflected from a barcode is captured by a photodetector to produce a photocurrent. The photocurrent is converted to a voltage, amplified and filtered to produce a photovoltage. The photovoltage is differentiated to form a first derivative signal and the first derivative signal is converted to a digital first derivative signal and processed to identify logic transitions represented by the barcode. The processing system subjects the photosignal to Gaussian filtering and differentiates the digital first derivative signal to form a second derivative signal. The digital first derivative signal is compared against a positive and a negative threshold and the second derivative signal is examined to detect zero crossings.