GB2205428A - Stock and cash control systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A stock and cash control system particularly suitable for in-flight sales to air passengers comprises a hand-held portable computer (20) having one mode of operation of a price look-up for "bar sales" by a single depression of a specially labelled key denoting an item in a small product range, and another mode for "duty free sales" by depression of two alphabetic keys corresponding to a two-letter mnemonic for an item in a larger product range denoting that item. The system changes between the two modes upon depression of a "mode" key. <IMAGE>

Description

STOCK AND CASH CONTROL SYSTEMS This invention relates to stock and cash control systems, and in particular to such a system of the type comprising a computer having: a keypad for manually indicating an item to be sold; a memory which stores for each item in a product range price data indicative of the price for that item and data indicative of items which have been sold and cash which should have been received; a display for displaying price data; and control means operable in a mode to accept operation of a single key of the keypad as an indication of a respective item to be sold and to cause the display to display data dependent on the price for that item and operable to update the memory as to items sold and cash received.

A known system of this type is used in, for example, hamburger bars and has a specialised keypad with different keys labelled for and particular to different products, such as a standard burger, a quarter-pounder, a quarter-pounder with cheese, small fries, large fries, etc. The product range is fairly small and so a one-to-one relationship between keys and products can be used. The disadvantage of this system is that it cannot be used for a large product range without employing a keypad of unmanageable size.

In a system of a different type, for example, as used in a do-it-yourself superstore having a massive product range, each product is labelled with a multi-digit (for example 6-digit) code, and products to be sold are identified by keying in all six digits.

A disadvantage of this system is that the six digits have to be read and entered by the system operator, and thus the system is slow, and input error is a problem.

The present invention is characterised in that: the control means is operable in the first-mentioned mode (i.e. single key operation per item) for sales of items in a first product range; the control means is operable in a second mode to accept operation of a plurality of the keys of the keypad as an indication of an item to be sold in a second product range larger than the first product range; and the control means is responsive to operation of at least one particular key of the keypad to change operation from one of the modes to the other.

Thus, by placing more commonly sold items in the smaller product range, and less commonly sold items in the larger product range, the system can be operated conveniently and quickly.

Preferably, the keys used to indicate at least some of the items in the smaller product range are used for at least part of the indication for at least some of the items in the larger product range. Thus, at least some of the keys have a dual function, the function depending upon the mode of operation, and so a small keypad can be employed.

Preferably, all of the items in the larger product range are denoted by the same number of operations of the keys, for example two key operations. Thus it is unnecessary to operate an "enter" type key after the appropriate number of keys have been operated in order to indicate to the system that an item entry has been completed.

Preferably, keys of the keypad are labelled with respective letters of the alphabet, and items in the larger product range are denoted by a two letter mnemonic, and at least some of the keys are also labelled with respective descriptions of items in the smaller product range.

Preferably, the computer is a hand held device, and may be implemented using a "Psion Organiser II" (Trade Mark) or similar device.

The system of the invention is particularly useful for sales on aircraft, with the first mode being used for bar sales and having as few as perhaps six items in the smaller product range, for example "spirits", "beer", "champagne , "liqueur", "wine" and "mixer".

The second mode is used for duty free take-away sales and may include over sixty different items in the larger product range, examples of which are given below. A great advantage of the invention is that, whereas sales of some items, in the smaller product range, can be registered by a single key operation, the system can deal with a range of products far greater in number than the number of usable keys of the keypad by use of the alternative second mode of operation. In this context "usable key" means a non-function key of the device.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a view of the face of a computer embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a high level flow diagram illustrating the operation of the computer.

Fig. 3 is a flow diagram showing detail of the bar sales routine shown in Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is a flow diagram showing detail of the duty free sales routine mentioned in Figure 2.

Fig. 5 is a flow diagram showing detail of the payment sub-routine mentioned in Figure 3 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a flow diagram showing detail of the credit card swipe routine mentioned in Figure 5.

Fig. 7 is a flow diagram showing detail of the foreign currency routine mentioned in Figure 5.

Fig 8. is a flow diagram showing detail of the report routine mentioned in Figure 2.

Figs 9Aa to 9Ra illustrate various display statements and variables used by the routines.

Figs 9Ab to 9Rb correspond to Figs 9Aa to 9Ra respectively and illustrate example displays.

Figs lOA to 13A illustrate record formats for different files used by the system.

Figs lOB to 13B correspond to figures lOA to 13A, respectively, and illustrate example records.

Fig 14 is a schematic diagram of the system.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, the stock and cash control system of the embodiment of the invention is implemented using a "Psion Organiser II" (Trade Mark) hand-held portable computer 20, available from Psion Limited, Psion House, Harcourt Street, London.

The computer 20 has a liquid crystal display 22, which can display 32 alpha-numeric characters on two lines of sixteen characters each. The computer 20 also has a thirty six key keypad 24 arrange as six rows of six keys. The first row of keys includes an "on/clr" key, a "mode" key, and four cursor keys. The next four rows of keys are labelled with the letters of the alphabet "a" to "x", and nine of these keys also serve as numeric keys "1" to "9". The bottom row of keys includes the remaining alphabetic keys "y" and "z" which also function as the numeric "0" and "." keys, together with "shift", "del", "space" and "exe" keys.

The keypad described so far is conventional. However, the keypad also has labels against the keys a to "f" marked with the descriptions "spirit", "beer", "cham." meaning champagne, "liqu." meaning liqueur, "wine" and "mixer".

Referring to Figure 14, in which the computer 20 is showing schematically, in addition to the display 22 and keypad 24, the computer also includes a micro-processessing unit 26, a ROM 28, which stores the operating system for the computer, and two removable RAMs 30, 32, one of which is used for the computer programme and the other of which is used for data. Lastly, the system includes an I/O interface 34 which can communicate with a printer and with a magnetic card reader. The system as shown in Figure 14 is, again, conventional.

The computer is intended for use for in-flight sales to passengers on board an aeroplane, and the programme for such use, as stored in the RAM 30, will be described below.

Referring to Figure 2, when the computer is first switched on, it is initialised and then enters a bar sales routine at point 1. In the bar sales routine, the computer is used for sales of drinks to passengers. The bar sales routine terminates at point 2, whereupon the program proceeds to a report routine at point 7, or alternatively it terminates at point 3, and the program proceeds to a duty free sales routine at point 4. This routine is used for sales of duty free take-away goods such as larger bottles of drink, perfumes and tobacco products. The duty free sales routine either terminates at point 6, where the program returns to entry point 1 of the bar sales routine, or at point 5 where the program proceeds to entry point 7 of the report routine.The report routine is used mainly at the end of a flight, in which case it terminates at point 9, and the computer is then switched off, or alternatively it terminates at point 8 and the program returns to entry point 1 of the bar sales routine. Therefore, for sales of goods there are two main routines, the bar sales routine which will be described in detail with reference to Figure 3 and the duty free sales routine which will be described with reference to Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 3, in the bar sales routine, the display is caused to show that the program is in the bar sales routine (see Figure 9A) and the depression of a key is awaited. If the "exe" key is depressed, the routine exits at point 2, thus transferring to the report routine. If the "mode" key is depressed, the routine exits at point 3, and thus proceeds to the duty free sales routine. If the depressed key is other than "a" to "f" the routine waits for a further key to be pressed. Pressing a single key t'a" to "f" is taken to denote a required sale of the bar sale items marked on the keyboard adjacent the keys "a" to "f". The RAM 32 includes a bar item file, as shown in Figures 10A and lOB, which contains a record for each of the six items denoted by the keys "a" to "f".Each record contains three fields: the key code, called KEY$, the price of the item, PRICE; and a short description of the item called DESC$. Examples of two of these records are shown in Figure lOB. Referring back to Figure 3, the program uses the value of KEY$ to look up the price and short description for the item selected. The total value of the current transaction, variable TOTAL, is then incremented with the price of the item. Furthermore, the key code KEY$ is entered in a current transaction file. A display is made as shown in Figure 9B, of the short description DESC$ of the item, its price, and the total value of the current transaction. When a further key is pressed, if it is the "exe" key the routine proceeds to a payment sub-routine at point 10.

If, however, the key is not the "exe" key, the routine loops back to test whether the key is the "mode key", in which case the program transfers to the duty free sales routine at point 3, or is a key indicating a further bar sale. In the payment sub-routine, which will be described in detail below, the current transaction is completed, and at exit from the payment sub-routine at point 11, the program proceeds back to the beginning of the bar sales routine.

From the above, it will be noted that for bar sales each item is registered by depression of a single key; a short description of the item is displayed for checking purposes by the operator; and the price of the current item and the current sub-total are also displayed. If it is desired to register the sales of two identical items, then depression of the keys is repeated. For example, for the sale of two gins and tonics, the keys could be depressed in the order "spirit", "spirit", "mixer" and "mixer".

Referring now to Figure 4, upon entry at point 4, the display as shown in Figure 9C is provided indicating that the duty free routine has been entered. If this routine has been entered from the bar sales routine part way through a transaction, then the current transaction sub-to~'#" transaction sub-total will still be displayed. Upon depression of a key, tests are made to determine whether the "exe" key is depressed, in which case the program proceeds via exit point 5 to the reports routine, and to determine whether the depressed key is the "mode" key, in which case the program proceeds via exit point 6 to the bar sales routine. If neither of these keys is depressed, the depressed key is displayed, as shown in Figure 9D. Upon depression of a further key, the first and second key codes are concatenated.Referring to Figure llA, the RAM 32 also includes a file for the duty free items. Each record in the file contains fields for the two-character identifier KEY$, the price PRICE of the item and a short description DESC$ of the item.

Examples of the records in the duty free items file are shown in Figure 11B. Referring back to Figure 4, a test is made to determine whether there is an entry in the duty free item file for the key entries which have been made. If so, the price and description for the item are looked up in the duty free item file; the variable TOTAL is incremented with the price for the selected item, and the code KEY$ for the item is added to the current transaction file. The display shown in Figure 9E is then made of the short description of the item, its price, and the current sub-total. The routine then proceeds to wait for depression of a further key. If no entry is found for the selected item, then a display to that effect is made, as illustrated in Figure 9F, for three seconds, and then the program proceeds to the same point awaiting a further key depression. Once a further key is pressed, if it is the "exe" key this is taken to be the end of the current transaction, and the program proceeds to the payment sub-routine at entry point 10.

Upon return from the payment sub-routine at point 11, the program loops back to the very beginning of the duty free sales routine. If, however, the "exe" key is not depressed, then the program loops back to test whether the key is the "mode" key, in which case the program leaves the duty free sales routine at point 6 and transfers to the bar sales routine. If, however, the "mode" is not depressed, then the duty free sales routine repeats the steps described above for sale of another item in the duty free product range.

From the above, it will be noted that for duty free sales, each item is registered by depression of a pair of keys; a short description of the item is displayed for checking purposes by the operator; and the price of the current item and the current sub-total are also displayed. The alphabetic marking of the appropriate two keys on the keyboard represent a two letter mnemonic for the item.By way of example, the following table gives a selection of mnemonics and the short description DESC$ for the items: TABLE KEY$ DESC$ KEY$ DESC$ BA BACARDI 0.5 WS WHISKY 0.5 GS GIN 0.5 VS VODKA 0.5 RM REMY 0.5 HC HINE C 0.5 GM MALT 0.5 BS BAILEYS 0.5 BB BL BUSH 0.5 PI PIMMS 1L WL WHISKY 1L GL GIN 1L VL VODKA 1L BL BL LBL 1L VS VSOP 1L WB WINE BOX IS INTERNAT KS KING SIZE IP INT PACK KP KING PACK KE KING ED HW WINTERMAN HA HAMLET GV GLDN VIRG GB GOLD BLOCK SW SP WATCH FW FA WATCH LB L BRACELET CL LIGHTER PP PARKER PEN TN TANGA NECK OE OB EAR TE TANGA EAR SB S BRACELET DR DERRY RING CN CLEO NECK EC EAR CADDY NB NECK BRACE BE BARE ESS TC CLOCK BT TEDDY BC CARDS RG RIVE G OP OPIUM BU BEAUTIFUL NR NINA R AR ARPEGE AA ANAIS FL FLEURS MG MA GRIFFE YS YSATIS CA CABOCHARD PO POISON KL KL WH WH LINEN JA JARDIN RO ROBERTIER FA FOREIGN A/S BA BRITISH A/S DS DUN GIFT (At least some of the above descriptions are trade marks).

The stewards and stewardesses may be provided with a list of the two letter mnemonics and the products prior to commencement of a flight, and after running their eyes down the list a few times, they will be able to enter the two letter mnemonics for any desired item in the duty free range of products without needing to look up the appropriate two letter code.

Referring to figure 5, the payment sub-routine is illustrated in more detail. Upon entry to the sub-routine the display shown in figure 9G is provided requesting entry of the payment method. A single key is depressed to indicate the payment method. The "exe" key means that payment is being made by sterling, the key "s" indicates payment by credit card using the magnetic card swipe reader. The key "f" indicates payment in foreign currency. The key "c" indicates a complimentary sale. The key indicates a refund. The key "clr" indicates that the current transaction should be cleared. Upon depression of the "exe key" the current total cost is added to a sterling part of a cash file. The cash file is shown in figure 13, and each record contains a field for a different currency or a credit card company and a field for the total takings in that currency or using that type of credit card.Referring back to figure 5, after the total has been added to the "" part of the cash file, the display of figure 9H is made, and the items stored in the current transaction file are added to a sold file. The sold file contains a record for each item in both product ranges, and each record contains the description DESC$ for that item and the number of items sold. The sold file is similar to that shown in figure 12, which in fact shows an opening stock file to be described later. If the "s" key is depressed, then a swipe routine, described below, is entered at point 12 and returns at point 13. The program then proceeds to the step for adding the items in the current transaction file to the sold file.Similarly, if the "f" key is depressed, then a foreign currency routine, described below, is entered at point 14 and returns at point 15, whereupon the program also proceeds to the step for adding the items in the current transaction file to the sold file. If the "c" key is depressed, then the cash file is not affected and the display of figure 9I is made confirming that it is a complimentary sale.

The program then also proceeds to the step for adding the items in the current transaction file to the sold file. If the "r" key is depressed, then the total cost of the transaction is deducted, rather than added, to the "" record in the cash file, and the display of figure 9J is made indicating a refund. The items in the current transaction file are then deducted, rather than added, to the sold file. If the "clr" key is depressed, then the cash file and sold file are not affected, and the display of figure 9K is made indicating the transaction has been cancelled.

Once the above steps have been completed, the program clears the current transaction file; the total is cleared, and there is a delay for, say, two to five seconds before the sub-routine returns at point 11.

The swipe routine mentioned above is shown in more detail in figure 6. The display of figure 90 is made instructing the operator that the customers credit card is to be swiped. The operator then inserts the computer device into the card reader and printer assembly and swipes the card through the card reader.

The card reader reads, amongst other things, the account number AC, applies an algorithm to check validity of the account number and to determine the credit card company CC and looks up and increments a next card sales number SN. The display of figure 9P is then made indicating the total, the credit card company, and the account number. A receipt is printed by the printer which includes, amongst other things, the sales number SN and the total. Furthermore, the receipt may itemise the items which have been sold during the transaction. The sales number SN, account number AC and total are then added to the cash file as shown in figure 13 in the record for the appropriate credit card company CC. The swipe routine then terminates at point 13.

Referring to figure 7, the foreign currency routine is shown in more detail. In the case of a British airline, it is customary to charge for sales in sterling. However, foreign currency will be accepted, but any change will be given in sterling. The system assists the operator in performing the necessary conversions and giving the appropriate amount of change. From entry point 14, the currency Ct is set to sterling, the conversion rate CR is set to 1, and the sterling amount owed OWED and currency amount owed COWED are set equal to the transaction TOTAL. The mode of operation of the keypad is changed from an alphabetic mode to a numeric mode. The display of Figure 9L is made, showing the TOTAL, foreign currency amount owed COWED, and a number of foreign currencies and sterling which may be selected. The display cursor is initially over the sterling sign "", and may be moved by the cursor keys over any selected one of the currencies. As the cursor is moved, the currency C$ is updated, the conversion rate CR for the currency CS is looked up from a conversion rate file in the data RAM 32, and the currency amount owed COWED is calculated and displayed. Once the "exe" key is pressed, the display of Figure 9M is made giving the TOTAL and sterling amount OWED, and providing space for a currency amount tendered TENDER in the currency CS. The amount tendered TENDER by the customer is displayed as it is entered by the user, and then when the "exe" key is pressed, the amount TENDER is added to the currency cash file for the currency CS.The amount still OWED in sterling is then calculated, the currency CS is set to sterling and the conversion rate CR to 1, and the display of Figure 9M is repeated. If the amount OWED is greater than zero, then the user has the option of collecting the outstanding amount in a non-sterling foreign currency, in which case the "mode" key is pressed, the TOTAL is set equal to the amount OWED and the program loops back to the display of Figure 9L.

Alternatively, the user has the option of collecting the amount owed in sterling by directly entering a further amount tendered, in sterling, in which case the TOTAL is set equal to the amount owed and the routine loops back to the first display of Figure 9M.

Once the test on the amount OWED proves non-positive, the display of Figure 9N is made, indicating the amount of sterling change; the keypad mode is changed back to alphabetic mode; the amount OWED (i.e.

negative the amount of change given) is added to the sterling cash file; and depression of the "exe' key is awaited, whereupon the routine terminates at exit point 15.

It will be appreciated that the routine described above 1) enables money to be collected in one or more foreign currencies and sterling, 2) indicates the amount of change in sterling, and 3) updates the appropriate foreign currency and sterling cash files.

The routine may be modified, so that at the currency selection stage, the program can transfer, for example upon depression of the "s" key, via exit point 16 to the swipe routine described above with reference to Figure 6. Thus, when a traveller is on a return flight home, they can use up all of their foreign currency and pay any outstanding amount by credit card.

Referring now to figure 8, the report routine is described in detail. The report routine enables three types of report to be produced on a printer when the computer device is placed in the combination card reader and printer. The three types of report relate to the amount of cash, the amount of stock sold and the amount of stock remaining. Also, this routine can be used for consolidating the data files for a number of different devices used on the same flight so that all of the data can be stored on a single one of the RAM packages 32 for supply to Customs or a bonded warehouse. Upon entry to the reports routine at point 7, a display as shown in figure 9Q is made. By means of the cursor keys and the "exe" key, the operator moves the cursor to designate and enter the type of report required.If a cash, stock sold, or stock remaining report is required, then the display of figure 9R is ' made and the appropriate report is produced by the printer. The cash report is a print of the cash file described with reference to figure 13. The stock sold report is a print of the stock sold file described above. The system also includes an opening stock file, as shown in figure 12, and the stock remaining report is produced by printing the difference between the entries in the opening stock file and the stock sold file. Once the prints have been made, the report routine finishes at point 8.If consolidation of the data files is requested, then the system requests the operator to proceed through a process in which the data RAMs 32 for the different devices are inserted sequentially into a single one of the devices and the data is copied onto a single one of the data RAMs. The reports routine may be modified to give the user the option of displaying or printing a report, and also to give the option of printing reports for each device and/or a consolidated report from the consolidated data.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to this system described above. For example, the items to be sold may be divided into three product ranges, with items in one of the ranges being denoted by a single press of keys in one of the rows on the keypad; items in a somewhat larger product range being denoted by a single press of a greater range of a labelled keys on the keypad; and the items in an even larger product range being denoted by two key presses representing a mnemonic of the description of the item. As with the system described above, this modified system may be changed from one mode to another by depression of the "mode" key, and the current mode may be continuously displayed on the display, if desired. In a further modification of the system, items in the larger product range may be denoted by, for example, a three letter mnemonic of the description of the item.

Although the system has been described above using sterling as the base currency, other currencies may, of course, be used to suit the airline in question.

Claims (13)

1. A stock and cash control system, comprising a computer having: a keypad for manually indicating an item to be sold; a memory which stores for each item in a product range price data indicative of the price for that item and data indicative of items which have been sold and cash which should have been received; a display for displaying price data; and control means operable in a mode to accept operation of a single key of the keypad as an indication of a respective item to be sold and to cause the display to display data dependent upon the price for that item and operable to update the memory as to items sold and cash received; characterised in that: the control means is operable in the first-mentioned mode for sales of items in a first product range; the control means is operable in a second mode to accept operation of a plurality of the keys of the keypad as an indication of an item to be sold in a second product range larger than the first product range; the control means is responsive to operation of at least one particular key of the keypad to change operation from one of the modes to the other.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keys employed for indicating at least some of the items in the smaller product range are also employed for at least part of the indication for at least some of the items in the larger product range.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein keys of the keypad are labelled with respective letters of the alphabet, items in the larger product range are denoted by respective plural-letter mnemonics, and at least some of the alphabetic keys are also labelled with respective descriptions of items in the smaller product range.

4. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein in the second mode of operation of the control means, the control means is operable to accept a predetermined number of operations of the keys as an indication of an item in the larger product range, the predetermined number of operations being the same for all items in the larger product range.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said predetermined number is two.

6. A system as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein, upon a succession of sales of items in the larger product range in a single transaction, the control means is operable not to require operation of a key of the keypad after operation of said predetermined number of keys to denote one item in the transaction and before operation of said predetermined member of keys to denote the succeeding item in the transaction.

7. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, upon a succession of sales in the smaller product range in a single transaction, the control means is operable not to require operation of a key of the keypad after operation of a key to denote one item in the transaction and before operation of a key to denote the succeeding item in the transaction.

8. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the control means is responsive to operation of said particular key to change operation from each mode to the other mode.

9. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the number of items in the larger product range is greater than the number of usable keys of the keypad.

10. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the computer is a hand-held portable device.

11. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the control means is operable to control cash payment in a plurality of different currencies in accordance with a routine substantially as described with reference to Figure 7 of the drawings.

12. A stock and cash control system substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

13. A combination of a system as claimed in any preceding claim, stocks of items falling in the smaller and larger product ranges, and a passenger aircraft carrying the system and the stocks of items.