JP2002342840A - Point management device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To posteriorly impart a special point not imparted in purchase of an article to a customer. SOLUTION: A purchase data storing memory is provided to store an article purchase data of each customer. For example, whether the special point not imparted in the purchase of the article is imparted or not is determined after a shop is closed, service points of the each customer are recalculated based on the article purchase data of the each customer stored in the purchase data storing memory when the special point is executed to be imparted, and an accumulated points managed customer by customer are updated based thereon.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a point management apparatus for accumulating and managing service points calculated based on merchandise purchase data purchased by a customer according to a service point system at a retail store.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a service point system has been implemented as a means of attracting customers at retail stores such as supermarkets and specialty stores. In this system, every time a customer who becomes a point member purchases a product, service points are calculated according to the purchase price of the product, the service points are accumulated for each customer, and prizes and discounts are exchanged for the accumulated points. Is a system that grants the customer the benefits described above.

[0003] In a retail store that has introduced such a service point system, conventionally, a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal having a function of registering product sales data, and each product sales data registered at the POS terminal are totaled and analyzed. PO connected to a store computer to be connected via a communication line
A point management system using the S system has been generally constructed.

In this point management system, a card reader capable of reading data of a membership card issued to a point member is provided in a POS terminal, and a point master file for accumulating service points for each member is provided in a store computer. . And P
The OS terminal registers the sales data of the product purchased by the shopper and, when the card reader reads the data of the membership card possessed by the shopper and declares that the transaction is a member transaction, the customer purchases the product. The service point is calculated according to the purchase amount of the customer, and the service point is transmitted to the store computer together with the membership card data. Add the service points at the time of product purchase,
In this configuration, the accumulated points are stored and managed for each customer.

In the conventional point management system configured as described above, the customer's birthday is recorded in advance on the member card, and the birthday of the member card read by the card reader at the POS terminal matches the current date. In some cases, special points (birthday points) are given by, for example, doubling the service points calculated based on the product purchase data of the customer.

[0006]

As described above, in the point management system corresponding to the conventional service point system, special points are given at the time of product purchase for a factor specified in advance such as a birthday. It was possible. However, in the case of unspecified factors such as weather, special points cannot be given at the time of product purchase. For this reason, for example, the present point management system cannot cope with an attempt to provide a service such as doubling the service points for a customer who has come to the shop when it is raining.

If a key for instructing the POS terminal to give a special point is provided, and the key is pressed when a shopper registers a product to be purchased, the special point is added to the service point given to the customer. It is possible to provide special points at the time of product purchase even for unspecified factors. However, this method is not practical because it is possible for the cashier to press the key by mistake, or to press the key incorrectly to add special points to an acquaintance.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide special points that could not be given at the time of product purchase, and to provide the serviceability of the service point system. It is intended to provide a point management device that can increase the number of points.

[0009]

The invention according to claim 1 of the present application is a point management apparatus which calculates service points based on product purchase data purchased by each customer at the time of purchase of each customer and accumulates and manages the service points for each customer. , Purchase data storage means for storing product purchase data of each customer, special point implementation presence / absence determination means for determining whether or not to grant special points that cannot be awarded at the time of product purchase, and execution of special point provision by this determination means Special point giving processing means for recalculating service points for each customer based on the product purchase data of each customer stored by the purchase data storage means and updating the accumulated points managed for each customer when the presence is determined. .

In the present invention having such a configuration, when each customer purchases a product, service points are calculated based on the product purchase data purchased by that customer, and are accumulated for each customer. Further, the merchandise purchase data of each customer is stored by the purchase data storage means. If it is determined by the special point implementation determining means that special points that cannot be given at the time of product purchase are to be provided, service points are recalculated for each customer based on the product purchase data of each customer stored for a fixed period by the purchase data storage means. Is performed. Then, the accumulated points of each customer are updated based on the recalculated result.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is the invention according to claim 2, further comprising a special point provision notifying means for notifying the corresponding customer that the service point has been recalculated by the special point provision processing means. It is provided.

By taking such a measure, the corresponding shopper is notified at a later date that the service points have been recalculated based on the special points that were not given at the time of purchasing the product.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, as a special point that cannot be given at the time of product purchase, a POS system built in a retail store that provides a service of giving special points to customers who come to shop during rainy hours is provided. This is a case where the present invention is applied.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a POS system according to the present embodiment. The POS system has a plurality of POS terminals 1 having a function of registering merchandise sales data, and POS terminals 1 registered in each POS terminal 1. And a store computer 2 for summarizing and analyzing each product sales data
It is connected by a LAN (Local Area Network) 3 as a communication line. And each POS terminal 1
Are provided with card readers 5 that can read the data of the point card 4 issued to each point member. The store computer 2 is provided with a point master file 6 for accumulating and managing service points for each point member.

The loyalty card 4 records at least a customer code which is an ID code for specifying the loyalty member who issued the card. As shown in FIG. 2, the point master file 6 includes a customer code area 61 for storing the customer code of the point member, and a customer personal information area 62 for setting personal information such as the name, address, and telephone number of the point member. , A total point area 63 for storing the total points of the point members up to the present time, and a previous special addition area 64 for storing the special points when special points have been given to the previous product purchase.
And a previous special addition presence / absence flag f which is set to “1” when a special point is given to the previous product purchase
And a flag area 65 for storing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of each POS terminal 1. Each POS terminal 1 has the same configuration. That is, each POS terminal 1 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 as a control unit main body.
It is equipped with. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 102 in which fixed data such as programs are set and stored in advance;
RAM (Random Access) in which various memory areas such as a sales registration memory for registering product sales data are formed.
Memory) 103, a clock unit 104 for measuring the current date and time, a display 105 for cashier, and a display controller 107 for controlling the driving of a customer display 106 to display characters and the like corresponding to display data, and the LAN 3.
And a LAN controller 108 which controls transmission and reception of data through the LAN. Further, as an interface of various input / output devices, a keyboard 109 provided with a key for registering sales data of merchandise purchased and a closing key for declaring registration of goods purchased by one shopper is electrically connected. A keyboard interface 110 to be connected, a scanner interface 112 to which a barcode scanner 111 for reading a barcode attached to a customer purchased product is electrically connected, and a printer to which a printer 113 for printing a receipt or the like is electrically connected. An interface 114, a drawer interface 116 to which a drawer 115 for storing cash and the like is electrically connected, and a card reader interface 117 to which the card reader 5 is electrically connected.
Etc. are provided. Then, the CPU 101 and the ROM 10
2, RAM 103, clock unit 104, display controller 1
07, LAN controller 108 and interfaces 110, 112, 114, 116, 11 of various input / output devices
7 and bus lines 11 such as an address bus and a data bus.
8 to form a control circuit of the POS terminal 1.

In the POS terminal 1 having such a configuration, the RAM 103 has a point reference amount memory 121 for storing a preset point reference amount A as a memory area necessary for processing service points, as shown in FIG. A point magnification memory 122 for storing a point magnification B also set in advance, a transaction total price memory 123 for storing a transaction total price C which is a total price of all products purchased by one shopper, a transaction date and time, and a customer code. , A member purchase result buffer 124 for accumulating and storing point member purchase result data including the total amount and the present point.

The CPU of each POS terminal 1
Reference numeral 101 designates the registration business process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 for one shopper. That is, CP
U101 waits for registration of a product purchased by one shopper as ST (step) 1. When the product registration is performed by inputting a product registration key provided on the keyboard 109 or scanning input of a barcode by the barcode scanner 111, the sales data of the registered product is stored in a sales registration memory of the RAM 103 in ST2. Registration process. Next, as ST3, the keyboard 1
It is determined whether the registration closing key of 09 has been input. If the registration closing key has not been input, the process returns to ST1 and waits for the next product registration.

In this manner, every time a product purchased by one shopper is registered, registration processing of the product sales data is executed. If the input of the registration closing key is detected in ST3, it is declared that the registration of the merchandise to be purchased by this one shopper has been declared, and the transaction settlement processing with this one shopper is executed in ST4. For example, in the case of a cash transaction in which the shopper pays for the purchased merchandise in cash, the change amount is calculated by subtracting the total amount of the purchased merchandise from the keyed deposit amount, and the display 105 and the customer display are calculated. 106 is displayed. In addition, it edits the detailed data such as the name and the amount of the purchased product and the print data of the settlement data such as the total amount, the deposit amount, and the change amount.

Next, in step ST5, it is determined whether or not the transaction is with a point member. Here, if the card data of the point card 3 is read by the card reader 5 before the registration closing key is input, it is determined that the transaction is with a point member, and the card data of the point card 3 is not read. In this case, it is determined that the transaction is with a shopper other than the point member.

If it is determined in ST5 that the transaction is with a point member, an inquiry message is created in ST6 using the customer code in the card data as an inquiry key. LAN3
And stores the personal information, the accumulated points, the previous special addition points, and the previous special addition flag f of the point member from the point master file 6 of the store computer 2. And
In step ST7, it is checked whether or not the previous special addition flag f is set to "1".

If the special addition flag f was set to "1" last time, the service points calculated at the time of the previous product purchase were recalculated by providing special points. Edit the print data of the message notifying the member that the special point has been given (special point grant notification means). On the other hand, if the special addition flag f was set to "0" last time, the service point calculated at the time of the previous product purchase was not calculated again, so that S
The processing of T8 is not executed.

Next, the current service point is calculated in ST9. That is, since the total transaction price memory 123 stores the total purchase price C of the product purchased by the point member this time, the total transaction price C is divided by the point reference value A set in the point reference value memory 121. Then, the quotient (rounded down to the decimal point) is multiplied by the point magnification B set in the point magnification memory 122 to calculate the current point. Then, as ST10, the print data of the current point and the accumulated points up to the previous point are edited. Also, the current date and time data (transaction date and time) read from the clock unit 104 in ST11, the customer code read from the point card 4, the transaction total amount C stored in the transaction total amount memory 123, and the current point calculated in ST10. Edit member purchase results data from and
An additional registration is made in the member purchase result buffer 124.

Next, at step ST12, the print data of the detailed data and settlement data of each product purchased by the point member at this time, and the print data at the time of editing the special addition print data at the previous time at step ST8, and the current point data. And print data of the accumulated points up to the previous
To control the issuance of printing of the purchase receipt 7 having the layout shown in FIG. 5, for example. Thereafter, if the drawer 115 is opened in ST13, one transaction for the point member is terminated.

In the printing example of the purchase receipt 7 for the point member shown in FIG. 5, the print data indicated by reference numeral 71 is logo data such as a store name, and the print data indicated by 72 is detailed data of the purchased product. The print data indicated by 73 is the payment data of the purchased merchandise price, the print data indicated by 74 is the print data of a message notifying that the special addition has been performed the previous time, and the print data indicated by 75 is the accumulated point up to the previous time. This is the print data of the point.

On the other hand, if it is determined in ST5 that the transaction is with a shopper other than the point member, the above ST7 to S7
The process proceeds to ST12 without performing the process of T11. Then, the shopper outputs the detailed data of each product purchased this time and the print data of the settlement data to the printer 113 to control the printing and issuing of the purchase receipt. After a while, S
If the drawer 115 is opened at T13, one transaction for the shopper is completed.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the store computer 2.
A CPU 201 is mounted as a control unit main body. Also,
ROM in which fixed data such as programs are set and stored in advance
202, a RAM 203 in which a memory area for storing various variable data is formed, a clock unit 204 for measuring the current date and time, a LAN controller 205 for transmitting and receiving data through the LAN 3, and the point master HDD for forming file 6 etc.
(Hard Disk Drive) An HDD controller 107 that controls writing and reading of data to and from the device 206 and a display controller 209 that controls driving of the display 208 and displays a screen or the like corresponding to display data are provided. Furthermore, as an interface for various input / output devices,
Keyboard 2 for inputting commands, character data, etc.
Keyboard interface 2 to which 10 is electrically connected
11 and a printer interface 213 to which the printer 212 is electrically connected. And CPU
201, ROM 202, RAM 203, clock unit 20
4, LAN controller 205, HDD controller 2
07, the display controller 209, and the interfaces 211 and 213 of various input / output devices are connected by a bus line 214 such as an address bus and a data bus to constitute a control circuit of the store computer 2.

In the store computer 2 having such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 8, each POS is stored in the RAM 203 as a memory area necessary for managing service points.
A purchase data storage memory 215 as purchase data storage means for storing point member purchase result data collected from the terminal 1 for a certain period of time, and a special addition point including a transaction date and time, a customer code, a total amount, a present point, a special point, and a cumulative point. A list data memory 216 for storing and storing the list data is formed.

The CPU of the store computer 1
Reference numeral 201 designates a point recalculation process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 in the final process of the store closing process to be performed after each day of closing. That is, the CPU 201
Determines whether or not to give special points that cannot be given at the time of product purchase in ST1 (special point implementation presence / absence determining means). Here, when a command instructing to give a special point is input by a key input from the keyboard 210, it is determined that the special point is to be given. Then, as a condition for giving a special point, a magnification K of the special point, which has been key-input together with the command, and a special addition time zone T of a start time and an end time of a time zone for giving the special point are acquired. In step ST3, the reading counter n of the point member purchase result data is once reset to "0".

Next, if the counter n is incremented by 1 in ST4, point member purchase result data (hereinafter referred to as n-th point member purchase result) having the same number as the counter n is stored in the purchase data storage memory 215 in ST5. (Referred to as data).

If the n-th point member purchase record data can be read from the purchase data storage memory 215 in ST6, the transaction time of the n-th point member purchase record data is set to the special addition time zone T in ST7. Check whether it is included in. If the transaction time is not included in the special addition time zone T, the process searches the point master file 6 with the customer code of the n-th point member purchase result data in ST8, and the flag area 65 corresponding to the customer code is searched. Of the previous special addition presence / absence flag f is checked. As a result, if the previous special addition presence / absence flag f corresponding to the customer code is set to “1” in ST9, the previous special addition presence / absence flag f is reset to “0” in ST10 and
As 1, the previous special addition area 64 corresponding to the customer code in the point master file 6 is cleared to “0”. If the previous special addition presence / absence flag f corresponding to the customer code has been reset to “0”, the above ST1
0 and ST11 are not executed. After that, ST4
Then, the counter n is counted up by one, and the processing after ST5 is repeated.

If the transaction time of the n-th point member purchase result data is included in the special addition time zone in ST7,
First, at ST12, the service point p1 is recalculated by multiplying the current point p0 of the n-th point member purchase result data by the special point magnification K. Next, ST1
As 3, the special point p2 is calculated by subtracting the current point p0 from the service point p1. Next, ST
As 14, the point master file 6 is searched with the customer code of the n-th point member purchase result data, and the data of the cumulative point area 63 corresponding to the customer code is updated to a value obtained by adding the special addition point p2. Also, S
As T15, the special addition point p2 is set to the last special addition area 64 corresponding to the customer code in the point master file 6. Further, as ST16, the previous special addition presence / absence flag f stored in the flag area 65 corresponding to the customer code in the point master file 6 is set to "1". Thereafter, as ST17, the transaction date and time, customer code, total amount, and current point of the n-th point member purchase result data, the special addition point p2 calculated in the process of ST13, and the accumulated points updated by the special addition point p2 are displayed. After the special addition point list data is edited and stored in the list data memory 216, the process returns to ST4. Then, when the counter n is counted up by one, the processing after ST5 is repeated.

In this way, the point member purchase result data is sequentially read from the purchase data storage memory 215, and when the transaction time of the point member purchase result data is included in the special addition time zone T, each processing of ST12 to ST17 is executed. Is repeated (special point giving processing means).

When the n-th point member purchase result data cannot be read from the purchase data storage memory 215 in ST6, the special addition point list data stored in the list data memory 216 is stored in the printer 212 in ST18. To print out the special addition point list. Thereafter, as ST19, the purchase data storage memory 215 and the list data memory 2
If 16 is cleared, the current point recalculation processing is to be ended.

If it is determined in ST1 that the command for giving special points has not been input, the process proceeds to ST19, where the purchase data storage memory 215 and the list data memory 216 are cleared. The current point recalculation processing ends.

In the present embodiment thus configured, a point reference amount A and a point magnification B are set in the RAM 103 of each POS terminal 1 in advance. When the cashier operating each POS terminal 1 receives a request from the shopper to pay for the purchased product, the cashier reads the barcode of the purchased product from the scanner 11.
The merchandise registration is performed by performing a reading operation in 1 and the like. When the shopper receives the presentation of the point card 4, the card data is read by the card reader 5. Then, when the registration of all the commodities is completed, the closing key is pressed.

Then, after the transaction settlement processing is executed, since the transaction is with the point member, the current point is calculated from the total amount C of the merchandise purchased by the shopper, the point reference amount A, and the point magnification B. Then, a purchase receipt on which the current point, the total points of the shopper up to the previous time, and the like are printed together with the detailed data and the settlement data of the product purchased by the shopper is issued. Further, point member purchase result data including the transaction date and time, the customer code, the total amount, and the current point is created and sequentially stored in the member purchase result buffer 124.

Thus, at each POS terminal 1,
When each point member purchases a product, a service point is calculated based on the product purchase data purchased by that member.
Then, point member purchase result data is created and stored in the member purchase result buffer 124.

In this way, the point member purchase result data accumulated and stored in the member purchase result buffer 124 of each POS terminal 1 is transmitted from each POS terminal 1 to the store computer 2 via the LAN 3 in the store closing process performed after the store closes, for example. Transmitted to the purchase data storage memory 21
5 is temporarily stored.

On the other hand, for example, if there is rainfall or snowfall during the business hours of a day, the store manager estimates the start time and the end time of the fall and records them as the special addition time zone T. After the store is closed, the user inputs the special point magnification K and the special addition time zone T to the store computer 2 together with a command for operating the keyboard 210 to give a special point.

Thus, when the point recalculation processing is executed as the final processing of the store closing processing on that day,
Service points are recalculated for point members who have settled the price of purchased products during the special addition time period T, and special points that could not be given at the time of product purchase are added, and the cumulative points are updated. .

Specifically, the purchase data storage memory 215
The data in which the transaction time is included in the special addition time zone T is extracted from the point member purchase result data stored in the storage unit, and the current point p0 of the data is multiplied by the special point magnification K to recalculate the service point p1. . Further, the special point p2 is calculated by subtracting the current point p0 from the service point p1. Then, the special addition point p2 is added to the total points of the point member stored and managed in the point master file 6, and the total points are updated.

For example, it is assumed that the point reference amount A is 100 yen and the point magnification B is 1. in this case,
Assuming that the point member has purchased 800 yen in total, the current point p0 calculated at the POS terminal 1 at the time of purchasing the product is 8 points according to the following equation (1).

P0 = (800/100) × 1 = 8 (1) On the other hand, if the transaction time with this point member is specified in the special addition time zone T, the service point p1 is stored in the store computer 2 after the store is closed. Is recalculated. Here, assuming that the special point magnification K is three times, the service point p1 is 24 points according to the following equation (2).

P1 = 8 × 3 = 24 (2) As a result, the special addition point p2 becomes 16 points according to the following equation (3).

P2 = 24−8 = 16 (3) The special addition point p2 calculated by the point recalculation processing is stored and managed by the point master file 6 in correspondence with the customer code of the point member. It is added to the total points. Since the current point p0 calculated when the point member purchases the product has already been added to the accumulated points, the service point p calculated by the point recalculation processing is eventually obtained.
By 1, the cumulative points up to the previous time are added and updated.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to later give special points that cannot be given when purchasing a product to a customer who has come to the shop during a rainy time. Serviceability can be further improved, and the ability to attract customers can be expected. In this case, the store only needs to input the conditions for giving the special points, and the points are recalculated automatically, so that there is no possibility that the burden on the store business will increase.

In the store computer 2, every time a service point is recalculated by the point recalculation process, the transaction date and time, customer code, total amount, current point p0, special addition point p2, and special point p2 of the point member are calculated. The special addition point list data is edited from the accumulated points updated by the addition point p2, and stored in the list data memory 216. And
The special addition point list is printed out based on the special addition point list data stored in the list data memory 216. Therefore, the shop can easily know the point member who has given the special addition point p2 and the point value from the contents of the special addition point list.

The point master file 6 of the store computer 2 includes, in addition to the customer code area 61, the customer personal information area 62, and the total point area 63,
The previous special addition area 64 and the flag area 65 are provided. The special addition point p2 is stored in correspondence with the customer code of the point member whose service point has been recalculated by the point recalculation processing, and the special special point p2 is stored. The addition presence / absence flag f is set to "1". Then, when the point member of the customer code for which the last special addition presence / absence flag f is set to "1" purchases a product at a later date, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, a message 74 notifying that the special point p2 has been given (for example, "16 service points have been added to the previous point because the shopping was performed during the rainy time last time.") Is automatically performed. Is printed. Therefore, the point member can confirm at a later date that the special point which has not been given at the time of product purchase has been given. In other words, since it is possible to surely inform the customer that the special point which has not been given at the time of purchasing the product has been given later, the service can be strongly appealed to the customer, and the effect of sales promotion can be expected.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where special points are given to customers who come to shop during a rainy time period has been described. However, conditions for giving special points are not limited to this. Instead, special points may be given on days when there is rainfall or snowfall, regardless of the time zone. In this case, the input of the special addition time zone T can be omitted.

In the above embodiment, the special addition point p2 is calculated and added to the total points of the customer concerned. However, the special point calculated at the special point magnification K after subtracting the points added at the time of product registration is calculated. The same result can be obtained by adding the point p1.

[0052]

As described in detail above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, special points that could not be given at the time of product purchase can be given later, and the serviceability of the service point system is improved. And a point management device that can perform the operation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
In addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a point management device that can notify the customer later that special points that could not be provided at the time of product purchase have been provided, and that can strongly appeal to the customer. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a POS system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing a data configuration of a point master file of the store computer in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the POS terminal according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows the R of the POS terminal in the embodiment.
The figure which shows the main memory area formed in AM.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a purchase receipt printed and issued from a POS terminal in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a POS terminal C in the embodiment.
5 is a flowchart showing a main part of a registration business process executed by a PU.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the store computer according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a main memory area formed in a RAM of a store computer in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary flowchart showing the main part of the point recalculation processing executed by the CPU of the store computer in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... POS terminal 2 ... Store computer 4 ... Point card 5 ... Card reader 6 ... Point master file 124 ... Member purchase result buffer 215 ... Purchase data storage memory 216 ... List data memory

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A point management device for calculating service points based on product purchase data purchased by each customer at the time of purchase of each customer and accumulating and managing the service points for each customer. Storage means, special point implementation presence / absence determination means for determining whether or not to grant special points that cannot be awarded at the time of product purchase; A point management device, comprising: special point giving processing means for recalculating service points for each customer based on customer product purchase data and updating cumulative points managed for each customer. 2. The point management device according to claim 1, further comprising a special point assignment notifying unit that notifies a corresponding customer that the service point has been recalculated by the special point assigning unit.