JP2000113322A - Cash register, pos system and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily recognize an original in the illegal use of a credit card and the return of a product and to securely provide a clear picture near the face of a customer in a cash register. SOLUTION: This cash register has a storage means 2, a monitoring camera 7 installed so that it can photograph a customer, a camera supporting mechanism varying the elevation angle of the monitoring camera in accordance with height information of the customer, a transaction information recording means 10 recording information on a transaction in the storage means 2 at every transaction and a picture data recording means 11 setting the elevation angle of the monitoring camera 7 and securely photographing the face of the customer at every transaction, associating picture data with information on the corresponding transaction and recording it in the storage means 2. Thus, the customer executing the transaction is specified by recording the picture of the customer and respective pieces of transaction information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cash register and, more particularly, to a cash register for facilitating identity verification when a credit card is illegally used or a product is returned, and a POS system incorporating the cash register.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In supermarkets and retail stores, payment by credit card or personal check (hereinafter referred to as card payment) is becoming as common as payment by cash. In card settlement, identity verification is performed by a user's signature at the time of transaction, and unauthorized use of another person's card is prevented. However, a criminal who impersonates the person by imitating the handwriting of a card is not unending and a more reliable settlement system is demanded.

[0003] On the other hand, in commercial transactions, it is sometimes necessary to return or exchange a product once purchased, which will be described later. When a customer requests a return or exchange, the store usually checks the receipt or the like at the time of purchase, and confirms that the customer has certainly purchased the product at the store. Therefore, when the customer does not have a receipt, there is a problem that the fact of purchase at the store cannot be confirmed.

[0004] Furthermore, in criminal investigations, purchase records of specific commodities may be problematic (for example, weapons used in crimes). In a conventional cash register, although a record of when such a product was sold remains, it was not possible to identify what trader purchased the product.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problem by reliably taking an image of the area around the face of the customer for each transaction at the store or the like and recording it with the transaction data. It is to provide a cash register which can be supported.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a cash register according to the present invention comprises a storage means, a surveillance camera installed so as to be able to photograph a customer, and a camera capable of changing the elevation angle of the surveillance camera. A support mechanism, a power source within the camera support mechanism for changing the elevation angle of the surveillance camera, data input means for inputting height information of a commercial customer, and the power source based on data of the input means. A control circuit for operating the power source, and control means for setting the elevation angle of the surveillance camera in accordance with the input height information and capturing image data, and recording the image data together with the commercial information in the storage means for each commercial transaction, if necessary. It is characterized by having. By recording an image near the face of the customer together with each piece of transaction information, the customer who has made the transaction is specified.

[0007] Further, a display device having a display area for displaying information related to a commercial transaction to a customer is provided, and the surveillance camera is arranged in or near the display area.

The present invention can also be used in a POS system provided with the cash register as a POS terminal.

The present invention also relates to a method for recording transaction information in a cash register. Furthermore, the control method of the cash register according to the present invention is a surveillance camera which is provided with a storage means, a data input means, and a photographer, which can be photographed and whose elevation angle can be automatically changed according to the input data. Recording, in the cash register, information on the commercial transaction in the storage means for each commercial transaction;
A step of waiting for input of the height information of the customer, a step of changing the elevation angle of the surveillance camera in accordance with the height information, and, for each commercial transaction, photographing the customer with the surveillance camera and corresponding image data. And recording the information in the storage means in association with the information relating to the commercial transaction.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a POS terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, instead of a paper journal, a POS provided with a function of creating and distributing an electronic journal in which the contents of commodity transactions are digitized
An example in which the present invention is applied to a terminal will be described.

In FIG. 1, a POS terminal includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1 for overall control of the entire terminal, a hard disk 2 which is a kind of storage means for storing transaction data, a touch panel 3 which is a kind of data input means, and a product. Bar code scanner 4, which is a data input unit for a bar code; magnetic card reader 5, which is a data input unit for a magnetic card such as a credit card; customer display 6, which is a type of display unit; An operator display device 9 for an operator, which is a kind of
A CCD camera 7 functioning as a monitoring camera and a printing device 8 for printing a slip are provided. Further, a motor 21 which is a power source described later is also connected to the CPU.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the POS terminal. In the figure, in addition to the touch panel 3, bar code scanner 4, magnetic card reader 5, customer display device 6, CCD camera 7, printing device 8, and operator display 9, cash drawer 30
It is shown. The touch panel 3 and the operator display 9 are configured to overlap each other, and the transaction information is input by operating the touch panel while watching the contents displayed on the display.

The touch panel 3 is a transparent panel, and the operator display device 9 is a liquid crystal display (LCD).
Panel) and are arranged in an overlapping manner.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the customer display device 6 in an enlarged manner.
b. As is apparent from this figure, the CCD camera 7 is connected to the display area 6 of the customer display device 6.
c, and is directed outward from the camera window 17. When the total amount of the transaction is displayed on the customer display device 6, the customer confirms it. If the photographing by the CCD camera 7 is performed at the timing of this confirmation, that is, when the total amount is displayed, Image data that can identify the customer is obtained. In addition,
The CCD camera 7 can be installed in the display area 6c so that the trader does not know its existence.

FIG. 4 shows a support mechanism of the CCD camera, which mainly includes a step motor 21, a gear 22, a cam 23, a cam follower 71, and the like. Motor 21
Is rotated in a predetermined direction, the cam 23 rotates in the direction of arrow B, and accordingly, a cam follower 71 attached to the body of the CCD camera 7 is configured to operate in contact with the cam 23. , Around the shaft 7a in the direction of arrow A. Thereby, the elevation angle of the CCD camera 7 can be changed.

This elevation angle can be controlled by the step angle from the initial position of the step motor.

Although the above embodiment is an example of a structure in which only the CCD camera is movable and the elevation angle can be changed, a structure in which the elevation angle of the entire display section of the customer display device 6 can be changed may be used. In this case, it is easily possible if the motor 21 and the cam 23 are fixed to the column of the display, and the cam is formed in the housing of the display unit so that the head is shaken by the movement of the motor.

The motor as the power source may be a DC motor, but in that case, a sensor for detecting the position of the cam is required. Further, instead of a motor, a step-type elevation angle varying mechanism using a plunger or the like may be used.

Next, returning to FIG. 1, the function will be described.

Regarding the creation of an electronic journal, the CPU 1
Has a transaction information recording function 10 and an image data recording function 11 realized by a program executed thereon. The transaction information recording function 10 includes information input from the touch panel 3 (operator ID), product information (product name, unit price, etc.) read by the barcode scanner 4, and customer information (credit) read by the magnetic card reader 5. An electronic journal for each transaction is created from the card ID and other information (date and time, POS terminal ID and the like) provided by the POS terminal. The electronic journal created by the transaction information recording function 10 is stored on the hard disk 2 provided in the POS terminal and sent to the host computer via a communication line. When the electronic journal is stored on the hard disk 2, each transaction can be stored as one file.

Further, during the transaction input operation, the operator looks at the customer and inputs the height information. At this time, a plurality of grades indicating the range of height are displayed on the operator display, and a predetermined grade is selected by looking at the display, and a predetermined input is executed.

For example, from the display such as A: 130-160 B: 150-180 C: 170-200 D: 190 or more, the approximate height is obtained by the amount of eye, and A, B,
Select and input from C and D. In the embodiment, since a touch panel is used, input can be easily performed by touching the point displayed on the LCD. However, a combination of a CRT display and a keyboard is configured to input a designated key. Good.

The image data recording function 11 directs the CCD camera 7 to the vicinity of the customer's face, captures the image, and acquires the image data. In one embodiment, the image data is a still image and can be taken for each transaction. The image data recording function 11 further stores the acquired image data on the hard disk 2 in association with the corresponding transaction in the electronic journal. At this time, height information is also recorded at the same time.

This image acquisition may not be necessary in the case of a familiar customer, so that a configuration in which the image acquisition is selectively performed may be adopted.

The image data recording function 11 generates link information and stores it on the hard disk 2 in order to associate the image data with the corresponding transaction. This link information can be a data file in which the ID of each transaction, the file name or file address of the transaction file is associated with the file ID, file name or file address of the image data. Note that an image captured by the CCD camera 7 may be a moving image. However, since the moving image data requires a larger storage area than the still image data, in this case, the image data recording function 11 acquires only the moving image during the transaction, and
Can be saved.

The image data recording function 11 is provided to reduce the area of the hard disk 2 necessary for storing image data so that the transaction amount is equal to or less than a predetermined amount (for example, 1).
In the case of (1,000 yen or less), image data may not be acquired. In this case, prior to the capture of the image data, the image data recording function 11
Reference is made to the total transaction amount obtained at 0, and only when this exceeds a predetermined amount, image data is acquired.

Next, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the cash register and the control method thereof in one transaction. Hereinafter, description will be given according to the flowchart.

After initializing the memory area on the POS terminal used to create the electronic journal, the terminal is put into a standby state until sales registration is performed by the operator, and the start of the register operation is waited (step 101). When registration of sales by the operator is started, first, the grade of height is displayed on the operator display (step 102). P
The OS terminal waits for input of height information.
The height of the customer is determined based on the scale, and the customer is selected from the displayed items and input. (Step 103) At this time, in the touch panel type input device, the display unit may be touched. PO
The S terminal operates the motor according to the height information and automatically sets the elevation angle of the camera. (Step 104) The input of the height information can be canceled if necessary.

The merchandise is taken out of the trader's basket, and sales data read by a reading device such as a bar code scanner is received (step 105), and this is arranged on the memory as electronic journal data (1).
06). Steps 105 to 106 are repeated until the processing of the product to be purchased is completed and a command notifying the end of the transaction is received from the operator, and an electronic journal is created in one transaction (step 106).

When the operator issues a command to end the transaction by operating the keyboard 3 (step 10).
7) The transaction information recording function 10 calculates the total sales amount including the subtotal and the consumption tax, and displays them on the customer display 6 and the operator display 9 (step 108). Then, the total amount, the ID of the credit card read by the magnetic card reader 5, and the like are added to the transaction information of the electronic journal and temporarily stored in a memory.

While the trader is checking the display, the CCD
The face is photographed by the camera (step 109). In the meantime, printing is executed by the printing device to issue a receipt (step 110). The face of the customer is photographed by the CCD camera 7 and is associated with the image data, the height data and the transaction information of the electronic journal.
(Step 110).

With the above, recording of the electronic journal and image data in one transaction is completed. In this manner, the image data of the face of the customer is stored in the hard disk 2 corresponding to each transaction, so that the identity of the person who made the transaction later can be easily confirmed.

As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the matters described in the above embodiment, and is described in the claims and the detailed description of the invention. The range in which those skilled in the art can make changes and applications based on well-known techniques is included. In the embodiment, the case where the present invention is implemented in the POS terminal has been described. However, it is apparent that the present invention can be applied to a cash register that operates alone.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, the structure is employed in which the face of the customer can be photographed reliably and clearly based on the height information of the customer, so that if the transaction is fraudulent, A person can be easily specified from information stored in the storage device.

Since the height information can be selected from a preset range, the operator can input the height information in a short time. Since this information can be stored at the same time as the transaction data, it is easy to specify a person in the event of fraud.

Since the stepping motor is used for setting the elevation angle of the surveillance camera, the structure is simple and the operation sound can be suppressed, so that unpleasant emotion is not given to the customer.

Further, by interlocking with the setting of the elevation angle of the customer display, the display can be set at an angle that is easy for the customer to see, and the surveillance camera can be surely pointed at the face of the customer.

[0038] Since the transaction information and the image data of the customer are recorded in association with each other, it is easy to confirm the identity of the credit card when the card is illegally used or the product is returned, and the purchaser of a specific product can be grasped. This has the effect.

Since the LCD and the touch panel are used for the display unit and the input unit, the height information can be easily input from the displayed rank, and the operation of the busy operator can be simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a POS terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a POS terminal.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a customer display device in the POS terminal of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a support structure of a surveillance camera.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of a cash register and a control method thereof in one transaction.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 2 Hard disk 3 Touch panel 4 Barcode scanner 5 Magnetic card reader 6 Customer display device 7 CCD camera for surveillance cameras 8 Printing device 1 Operator display 10 Transaction information recording function 11 Image data recording function 21 Motor 23 Cam 71 Cam follower

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A storage means, a surveillance camera installed so as to be able to photograph a customer, a camera support mechanism capable of changing an elevation angle of the surveillance camera, and an elevation angle of the surveillance camera in the camera support mechanism. A power source for change, data input means for inputting business transaction and height information of a business customer, a control circuit for operating the power source based on data from the data input means, and A cash register comprising a control unit for setting an elevation angle of the surveillance camera in response to the input height information, capturing image data, and recording the image data together with commercial transaction information in the storage unit. 2. The height information includes data input by classifying height into grades within a predetermined range by the data input means, and setting the elevation angle in accordance with the grade. Item 2. The cash register according to Item 1. 3. A surveillance camera according to claim 1, further comprising a customer display device provided with a display area for displaying information relating to a commercial transaction to a customer, wherein the monitoring camera is arranged in or near the display area. The cash register described. 4. The cash register according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring camera is a CCD camera. 5. A POS system comprising the cash register according to claim 1, as a POS terminal. 6. The cash register according to claim 1, further comprising an operator display means for displaying a height grade on the display means. 7. The liquid crystal display (LCD) according to claim 1, wherein
7. The cash register according to claim 6, wherein the input means is a touch panel arranged on the upper part. 8. A cash register provided with a storage means, a data input means, and a surveillance camera which is installed so as to be able to photograph a customer and whose elevation angle can be automatically changed in accordance with the input data. Recording the information relating to the commercial transaction in the storage means, waiting for input of height information of the customer, and varying the elevation angle of the surveillance camera in accordance with the input height information. For each commercial transaction, a step of photographing the commercial customer by the surveillance camera, and recording the image data in the storage unit in association with the information on the corresponding commercial transaction. . 9. The cash register control method according to claim 1, wherein the step of waiting for input of the height information of the customer includes displaying a predetermined height range on a display means. 10. The cash register or the POS system according to claim 1, wherein the power source is a motor. 11. The cash register or POS system according to claim 7, wherein said motor is a step motor. 12. The cash register or the POS system according to claim 3, wherein the surveillance camera is incorporated in a customer display device for a customer to check the details of the transaction. 13. A customer display device provided with the surveillance camera functions as the camera support mechanism,
2. The cash register according to claim 1, wherein when the elevation angle of the camera is changed, the elevation angle of the display unit of the customer display device is also made variable at the same time.