Methods and apparatus for requesting assistance at a self-checkout terminal

1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides a self-checkout terminal having input and output devices for performing a self-checkout process. The input and output devices are controlled and monitored by system software that determines, based on its monitoring of the input and output devices, whether intervention by store personnel is necessary. The system software further controls a voice modem that provides a digital audio signal output to a store intercom system, and has access to digital audio files containing announcements to be played on the store intercom system. When the system software determines that intervention by store personnel is necessary, it selects an appropriate digital audio file and plays the digital audio file over the store intercom system by means of the voice modem.