JP2000242861A - Management system for commodity and customer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a management system for commodity and customer, which can dissolve the complication of the lending/returning processing of commodity and can make speedy correspondence. SOLUTION: A radio system R containing a radio tag 7 having a unique tag address and the reading means 3 of the tag address and terminal equipment 2 that can communicate with the radio system R are arranged in a store. A commodity 9 and a customer-carried article 8 are constituted by fitting the radio tags 7 thereto. A radio tag master storing a record constituted of the tag address of the radio tag 7, classification on the commodity 9 or the carried article 8 of a customer and a commodity code or a customer code, a commodity master storing a commodity record constituted of the commodity code and commodity information and a customer master storing a customer record constituted of the customer code and customer information are constructed in terminal equipment 2. Commodity information or customer information of the commodity record or customer record can be recognized based on the tag address of the radio tag 7 which is read by the reading means 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for managing goods and customers, and more particularly, to managing rental goods such as video tapes, compact discs, records, books, etc. exhibited and customers using these. The present invention relates to a product and a customer management system suitable for use in the present invention.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The following is known as a prior art relating to a so-called rental system for managing products such as video tapes and compact disks and customers who rent them.

[0003] A member who is a customer of a video rental store visits an empty merchandise case such as a video tape or a compact disc displayed in the store at a sales floor and picks up an empty merchandise case on a merchandise display shelf. When the user takes the empty product case to the rental cash register, the operator as a clerk requests the member to present a membership card at the cash register. The member gives the member card to the operator. The operator registers the bar code, which is the member number of the member card, in the band scanner, and the hand scanner reads the bar code affixed to the member card and converts it into a member code. The cashier searches the member's barcode data for a member information file composed of data registered in advance, such as the member number, name, and expiration date, and prompts the operator to confirm that the member is a member of the store. . Next, the operator registers one by one from the empty product case into the hand scanner, and the hand scanner reads the barcode affixed to the empty product case and converts it into a product code. The cashier searches the product information file composed of pre-registered data such as the product code, the rental price, and the product name from the barcode data of the product, obtains the rental price, and finds the product name and the price. Display, print data such as product name, product code, price, lending period etc. on printer paper, add to the total lending amount, repeat this process until there are no more lending products, and press the key to obtain the total lending amount Then, obtain the total loan amount. The operator informs the member of the total lending amount, requests payment of the amount, the member pays the requested amount, the operator inputs the value of the paid amount to the cash register, and the cash register calculates the amount of the entered amount. The change is calculated from the total lending amount, the transaction is completed, the change is displayed, the drawer containing cash is opened, and the details of the lending are printed on the printer. In parallel with this, the operator rents out the barcode of the empty product case and prepares the actual product. Then, the operator takes out the displayed change from the drawer and passes the prepared lending appearance item, lending details and change to the member.

In the case of managing merchandise and customers using bar codes as described above, the rental cashier operator reads the bar code of the member card of the customer who is the user with a hand scanner, and the bar code of the rented merchandise is also hand scanner. Because it will be the operation of reading with
A reading error or a reading error occurs, and it takes a long processing time to hand out the lent product to the customer who is the user. A similar problem also occurs in the process of returning a rented product.

[0005] In addition, during the merchandise lending process, a member as a user inserts a card into a card reader and inserts the lending merchandise one by one into a merchandise slot, so that it takes a long time to perform a cashier settlement. In addition, it is troublesome for the customer who is the user to perform the registration work. In addition, there is a problem that it is not known whether or not the number of registered rental products desired by a customer as a user has been registered. Similarly, in the merchandise return process, a member who is a user inserts a card into a card reader and inserts rented merchandise one by one into a merchandise slot. For this reason, the processing time of the cashier settlement takes a long time, and the customer who is a user also has the trouble of performing the registration work.

Further, in a system in which empty merchandise cases are displayed and a merchandise case desired to be rented is processed at a cash register, a storage space for the actual contents is required in addition to the empty merchandise case display place. , We have to secure a large store area.

On the other hand, there is also known a video rental system in which an actual product is directly displayed without displaying an empty merchandise case, and a member clears the actual product at a clearing counter. But,
In this system, the store area can be small, but there is a problem that the displayed product is taken out of the store without permission.

As a prior art which has solved the problem of unauthorized removal of such products, there is known a rental method as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-334318. In this method, the product identification information printed with a bar code is carried on the rental product, the member identification information printed with the bar code is carried on the membership card, and a sensing member is attached to the product, and the bar code reader is provided. While managing products and customers based on the product identification information and the identification information read in step (1), it is intended to prevent unauthorized removal of the products to the outside of the store based on the presence or absence of sensing by the sensing member.

[0009]

However, in the above-described rental method, since the management of goods and customers is performed by bar codes, the problem of the above-described management by bar codes still exists. Also, even if you attach the sensing member to the product with the bar code attached, you can see the fact that the product was taken out of the store without permission, but it is not possible to identify which product was taken out, so you must forcefully take out the product. If so, it is very difficult to identify this immediately.

An object of the present invention is to provide a product and customer management system capable of quickly responding to complications of lending / returning a product using a barcode, thereby enabling quick response.

Another object of the present invention is to rent a product.
An object of the present invention is to provide a merchandise and customer management system that can eliminate the complexity of the return process and can easily specify a merchandise when the merchandise is taken out without permission.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a wireless system including a wireless tag having a unique tag address and reading means for reading the tag address of the wireless tag, and communication with the wireless system. A terminal device configured so as to enable the wireless system and the terminal system to be arranged in a store, and a product that manages products entering and exiting the store and customers based on the tag address read by the reading unit; and In the customer management system, the wireless tag is attached to configure a product and a customer carry-on item, and the terminal device has a tag address of the wireless tag and a classification corresponding to the tag address and whether the product is a carry-on item of the customer. A wireless tag master storing a record composed of a product code or a customer code corresponding to the tag address, And a customer master storing a customer record consisting of the customer code and customer information corresponding to the tag address and a product master storing a product record including the product code and the product information corresponding to the tag address. Based on the tag address of the wireless tag read by the reading unit, a record including the corresponding tag address is searched from the wireless tag master, and a product master or a customer master is selected according to the classification in the record, and the selected product is selected. A first feature is that a product record or a customer record including a product code or a customer code corresponding to the classification is searched from a master or a customer master, and the product information or the customer information of the product record or the customer record can be recognized. I have.

[0013] Further, according to the present invention, in the merchandise and customer management system of the first aspect, a weight measuring means for setting at least a merchandise weight as the merchandise information and measuring the weight of the merchandise in the terminal device. A second feature is that a counting means for counting the number of products based on the product weight measured by the weight measuring means is provided.

Further, according to the present invention, in the merchandise and customer management system according to the first aspect, at least the merchandise information is set as the merchandise information, and the terminal device detects the size of the merchandise. A third feature is that a counting means for counting the number of products based on the product size detected by the size detection means is provided.

[0015] The present invention also provides a merchandise and customer management system according to any one of the first to third features,
The fourth means that a plurality of the reading means are arranged at the store, and at least one of the reading means is arranged at an entrance of the store.
The feature is.

The present invention also includes a wireless system including a wireless tag having a unique tag address and reading means for reading the tag address of the wireless tag, and a terminal device communicable with the wireless system. The wireless system and the terminal system are arranged in a plurality of stores,
In the merchandise and customer management system for managing merchandise entering and exiting the plurality of stores and customers based on the tag address read by the reading means, the wireless tag is provided with an arbitrary writing area capable of storing at least store information. Attaching the wireless tag to configure a product and a customer carryable item, the reading means is configured to be able to read the shop information, and the terminal device corresponds to the tag address of the wireless tag and the tag address; A wireless tag master storing a record composed of a classification of a product or a carry-on item of a customer and a product code or a customer code corresponding to the tag address, and configured from the product code and product information corresponding to the tag address. A product master storing a product record, and the customer code and the customer code corresponding to the tag address. A customer master storing a customer record composed of information is constructed, and a record including a corresponding tag address is searched from the wireless tag master based on the tag address of the wireless tag read by the reading unit. Select the product master or customer master according to the classification, search the product record or customer record including the product code or customer code corresponding to the classification from the selected product master or customer master, and from the product record or customer record A fifth feature is that the merchandise information or customer information and the store information read by the reading means can be recognized.

The wireless system used in the product and customer management system of the present invention includes, for example, US Pat.
No. 34572, a wireless system including a plurality of wireless tags each having a unique tag address, a reading antenna for reading the tag addresses of the plurality of wireless tags, and a controller capable of communicating with the antenna is used. I do. In this specification, “unique” means that the tag addresses of the wireless tags do not overlap.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following embodiment, a product and customer management system according to the present invention is applied to a video tape cassette and a customer management of a video rental store. Note that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a video rental system, 7 denotes a wireless tag, 8 denotes a membership card (customer-carrying article) with the wireless tag 7 attached to the surface, and 9 denotes a video tape cassette with the wireless tag 7 attached to the surface. Product).

The video rental system 1 includes a terminal device 2
And the wireless system R, and the terminal device 2 and the wireless system R are arranged in a store (not shown).
The wireless system R includes a wireless tag 7 having a unique tag address, a wireless tag product scanning antenna 3 for reading a tag address in the wireless tag 7 (reading means),
Antenna 4 (reading means) for entrance and exit and antennas 3 and 4 arranged at predetermined intervals at the entrance of the store
(Control devices) 3a and 4a for controlling the The terminal device 2 and the wireless system R are connected so that data communication is possible. In the present embodiment,
Although the controllers 3a and 4a are provided independently of the terminal device 2, they may be incorporated in the terminal device 2.

The terminal device 2 includes a disk device 2a for storing a wireless tag master 11, a product master 12, and a customer master 13 described later, a CPU 2b for controlling peripheral devices including the disk device 2a, and a display for displaying a screen for displaying data. Container 2c, printer 2d for printing receipts, slips, etc.,
A keyboard 2e for inputting numeric keys and subtotal keys is provided. The terminal device 2 has a buzzer (not shown)
Is provided, and a warning sound is emitted simultaneously with the warning sound of the buzzer 10 to be described later, and the occurrence of unauthorized removal is displayed on the display 2c.

The antenna 3 is an antenna capable of multi-scanning, is capable of scanning (reading) the wireless tags 7 of a plurality of videos 9 at a time, and the wireless tag 7 attached to the membership card 8. Are configured to be able to scan simultaneously with the wireless tags 7 of the plurality of video tape cassettes 9. The antenna 3 is disposed at a counter for performing a lending / returning process, and the controller 3a is operated by a predetermined key input of the keyboard 2e.
, The tag address of the wireless tag 7 can be read.

The antenna 4 is an antenna capable of multi-scanning like the antenna 3, but unlike the antenna 3, the tag address of the wireless tag 7 passing therethrough is always read and transmitted to the controller 4a. Is configured. In FIG. 1, only one antenna 4 is shown, but when there are a plurality of entrances and exits of a store, a plurality of antennas are arranged according to the number.

A buzzer 10 is connected between the antenna 4 and the controller 4a. When the antenna 4 detects the tag address of the wireless tag of the uncleared video tape cassette, a warning sound is issued as unauthorized removal. Is provided.

FIG. 2 shows the data structure of the wireless tag master 11 constructed in the disk device 2a of the terminal device 2. The wireless tag master 11 is a database for searching the classification of the wireless tag 7 using the tag address of the wireless tag 7 as a key. The wireless tag master 11 is provided so as to store a plurality of records each including a tag address 11a, a classification 11b, and a code 11c.

FIG. 3 shows the data structure of the product master 12 constructed in the disk device 2a of the terminal device 2. The product master 12 is a database for searching for product information using a product code corresponding to the classification as a key. The product master 12 includes a product code 12a,
A plurality of product records including a unit price 12b, a weight 12c, a height 12d, a product lending determination 12e, and product information including a number of rentals 12f are provided so as to be stored in plurality. In addition, in the case of a sold-out product, for example, the determination can be included in the product record.

FIG. 4 shows the data structure of the customer master 13 constructed in the disk device 2a of the terminal device 2. The customer master 13 is a database for searching for customer information using a customer code corresponding to the above classification as a key. The customer master 13 stores the customer code 13a
And a plurality of customer records each including customer information including a name 13b, an address 13c, and a rental number 13d.

Next, a method of registering data in the wireless tag master 11, the product master 12, and the customer master 13 based on the tag address of the wireless tag 7 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 and FIG. This registration is
This is performed by the operator of the terminal device 2 as a clerk.

First, when the operator depresses a predetermined key on the keyboard 2e, the CPU 2b sends the antenna 3
Then, an instruction to read the tag address of the wireless tag 7 is issued (step ST1). The read tag address is
The data is transmitted to the terminal device 2 via the controller 3a and stored in a memory (not shown).

Next, a search instruction for the wireless tag master 11 is issued from the CPU 2b to the disk device 2a using the tag address stored in the memory as a key (step ST2).
If there is no corresponding tag address in the wireless tag master 11 (step ST3), an instruction to add a new record to the wireless tag master 11 is issued to the disk device 2a (step ST4). If there is the corresponding tag address information in the wireless tag master 11 (step ST3), the record is subjected to subsequent processing.

Next, the operator inputs from the keyboard 2e a classification of whether the wireless label 7 is used for the video tape cassette 9 (product) or the membership card 8 (customer). When the input is completed, the CPU 2b instructs the disk device 2a to store the classification in the wireless tag master 11 (step ST5).

When the classification is input as a product (step ST6), the operator sets the product code 12a and unit price 1
2b, the weight 12c, the height 12d, the product information including the lending process determination 12e and the number of rentals 12f are further input from the keyboard 2e (step ST8). When the input is completed, the product master 1 is transferred from the CPU 2b to the disk 2a.
Then, an instruction to store the data in No. 2 is issued. Thereby, the data is registered in the product master 12 (step ST9).

When the registration in the product master 12 is completed, the data is registered in the record in the wireless tag master 11. That is, when the operator depresses a predetermined key on the keyboard 2e, the CPU 2b sends the read tag address to the tag address 11a and stores the corresponding classification and product code in the classification 11b and code 11c, respectively. Is issued a storage instruction. As a result, these data are stored in the wireless tag master 11.
(Step ST13).

On the other hand, when the classification is input as a customer (step ST7), the operator further enters the customer code 13a.
And customer information such as the name 13b and the address 13c are further input from the keyboard (step ST10). When the input is completed, the customer master 1 is transferred from the CPU 2b to the disk 2a.
Then, an instruction to store the data in No. 3 is issued. Thereby, the data is registered in the customer master 13 (step 11).

After registration in the customer master 13 is completed, data registration in the wireless tag master 11 is performed. That is, when the operator depresses a predetermined key of the keyboard 2e, the read tag address is changed to the tag address 11a.
CPU 2b stores the corresponding classification and customer code in classification 11b and code 11c, respectively.
Sends a storage instruction to the disk device 2a, and the data is registered (step ST13).

When the classification input by the operator is other than a product or a customer, the CPU 2b instructs the display 2c to display an error prompting re-input of the classification as an error process (step ST12). The operator confirms this display, re-enters the classification again (step ST5), and registers data in the product master 12 or the customer master 13 and the wireless tag master 11 according to the above procedure.

Next, a method of searching for the wireless tag master 11, the product master 12, and the customer master 13 based on the tag address of the wireless tag 7 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6 and FIG.

First, a case where the tag address of the wireless tag 7 is read by the antenna 3 will be described.

When the operator of the terminal device 2 depresses a predetermined key on the keyboard, the antenna 2
Is instructed to read the tag addresses of the video cassette tape 9 and the member card 9 (step ST).
20). Then, from the CPU 2b to the disk device 2a,
Wireless tag master 1 using the read tag address as a key
1 is instructed to search (step ST2)
1).

If there is no corresponding tag address information in the wireless tag master 11 (step ST22), as an error process, the CPU 2b issues an instruction to the display 2c and the buzzer to output an indication to that effect and output a warning sound. An instruction to end the search is issued to the disk device 2a (step ST27).

The corresponding tag address information exists in the wireless tag master 11 (step ST22), and its classification 11b
Is a product (step ST23), the CP is searched for the product master 12 from the product code 11c.
A search instruction is issued from U2b to the disk device 2a (step ST25). Note that, in reading with the antenna 3, the processing of steps ST251 and ST252 is not performed.

If there is a corresponding tag address in the wireless tag master 11 and the classification 11b is a customer (step ST24), the CPU 2 searches the customer master 13 based on the corresponding customer code 11c.
b to the disk device 2a (Step S)
T26).

If the category 11b is neither a product nor a customer, as an error process, the CPU 2b issues an indication to that effect and a warning sound output instruction to the display 2c and the buzzer. A termination instruction is issued (step ST27).

As a result of the search, if there is corresponding product information or customer information, the CPU 2b issues a display and print instruction to the display 2c and the printer 2d.

On the other hand, when the tag address of the wireless tag 7 passing therethrough is read by the antenna 4 arranged at the entrance and the search is performed, after the step ST25 in the above search procedure, the record corresponding to the tag address corresponding to the tag address is read. In step ST252, the CPU 2b issues an instruction to the disk device 2a to further perform a process of determining whether or not there is a lending process. If the lending process has been completed in this determination, an instruction to end the search is sent to the disk device 2a. Is issued and if the lending has not been processed, a warning sound transmission instruction is issued to both the buzzer 10 and the buzzer of the terminal device 2, and a display instruction is issued to the display 2c (step ST252), and the disk device 2a Is instructed to end the search.

When the video tape cassette 9 is discarded or the customer withdraws, the operator operates the radio tag master 11 and the product master 12 or the record on the customer master 13 corresponding to the radio tag 7 used. The deletion is performed from the keyboard 2e, and the tag address of the wireless tag 7 is reused for a new video tape cassette or a new membership card.

As described above, in the video rental system of the present embodiment, since the product information and the customer information can be recognized based on the tag address of the wireless tag 7 having the unique tag address, the conventional bar code is used. Rental / return processing can be performed more quickly than with a system. In addition, since only the wireless tag 7 having a unique tag address performs the lending / returning process of the video tape cassette 9 and the detection of the removal of the video tape cassette 9 at the entrance / exit, even if unauthorized removal occurs, the product can be specified. Can be easily performed.

Also, by managing information on products such as the number of rentals 12f in the product master 12, lending and returning processes are performed, and information on customers such as the number of rentals 13d is managed in the customer master 13, thereby obtaining products / products. Confirmation and analysis of the number of rentals of the customer can be easily performed.

Further, the tag for product scanning is replaced with the wireless tag 7.
Therefore, the rental can be performed while the video tape cassette 9 is placed in the case. In this case, the video tape cassette 9 can be scanned without taking out the video tape cassette 9 at the time of lending and returning.

In the above embodiment, the accumulated points can be managed by adding the number of points corresponding to the lending to the data registered in the record.
It is possible to provide a prize according to the accumulated points and a rental discount service.

Further, the data registered in the customer record includes
Adds the detection time of the wireless tag 7 attached to the member card 8 at the entrance, manages the entry and exit information together with the product information, and compiles information such as the number of users by age or gender by time zone. This can be used as a guide when determining the amount of the video tape cassette 9 to be received.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the database is divided into three parts, namely, the wireless tag master 11, the product master 12, and the customer master 13, and the database is processed. And the customer master 13 may be included in the wireless tag master 11 to form a single database.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a weighing machine (weight measuring means) is added to the terminal device 2 in the system of FIG.
Therefore, in this figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, reference numeral 5 denotes a measuring device for measuring the weight of the video tape cassette 9, and 2f denotes a measuring device.
Is a piezoelectric sensor control unit that controls In this system, a weighing device 5 is connected to the terminal device 2 by adding a piezoelectric sensor control unit 2f.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a state where the video tape 9 and the membership card 8 are placed on the measuring instrument 5. Scale 5
Is provided with a piezoelectric sensor 5a that converts the weight into an electric signal and inputs the electric signal to the control unit 2f. The product scanning antenna 3 and the product scanning wireless controller 3a of the terminal device 2 are connected via a transmission / reception line A. Also,
The piezoelectric sensor 5a and the piezoelectric sensor control unit 2f of the terminal device 2 are connected via a transmission / reception line B.

Next, the lending operation of the video tape cassette 9 in the video rental system 1 to which the measuring device 5 is added will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the wireless tag master based on the tag address of the wireless tag,
Registration of data in the product master and customer master is as shown in FIG.
According to the above. FIG. 9 shows a procedure (steps ST30 and ST31) for registering a sold-out product in the product master in advance when there is a sold-out product. Can be omitted.

First, the operator of the terminal device 2 registers the sold-out product in the product master (step ST3).
0). If there is a video tape cassette 9 that has not been registered (step ST31), the video tape cassette 9
(Step ST30).

Next, as shown in FIG.
The member card 8 and the video tape cassette 9 to be rented are placed on the scale 5, and the subtotal key of the keyboard 2e is depressed (step ST32). This allows the CPU
An instruction to read the tag address of the wireless tag 7 is issued from the antenna 2b to the antenna 3 (step ST33), and the tag address of the wireless tag 7 affixed to the video tape cassette 9 and the tag of the wireless tag 7 affixed to the membership card 8 The address and the address are read simultaneously by the antenna 3. On the other hand, the total weight of the video tape cassette 9 output by the piezoelectric sensor 5a is:
It is transmitted to the terminal device 2 via the piezoelectric sensor control unit 2f.

When the tag address of the wireless tag 7 is detected (step ST34), the CPU 2b searches the wireless tag master 11 based on the read tag address.
, An instruction is issued to the disk device 2a, and if the retrieved record is classified as a product, a search instruction for the product master 12 is further issued (step ST35). Then, as a result of the search of the product master 12, if there is corresponding product information,
An instruction is issued from the CPU 2b to the display 2c to display them, and a print instruction is issued to the printer 2d (step ST36). Then, the weight information of the product is taken out from the product master 12, and the weight information is stored in a memory (not shown). If there are a plurality of video tape cassettes 9, a read instruction is issued from the CPU 2b to the antenna 3 to read the tag address of the next wireless tag 7 (step ST33), and the obtained weight information is stored in the memory. And stored again in the memory (step ST37).

On the other hand, if the read tag address is classified as a customer, the CPU 2b issues a search instruction for the customer master 13 to the disk device 2a (step ST38). If there is corresponding customer information, this is displayed. An instruction is issued to the display 2c and a print instruction is issued to the printer 2d (step ST39), and an instruction to read the next wireless tag 7 is issued to the antenna 3 (step ST33).
If there is no corresponding tag address in the wireless tag master 11, the CPU 2b issues a display instruction to that effect to the display 2c as an error process (step ST43). When the wireless tag 7 is no longer detected, the measured weight measured by the weighing device 5 is read into the memory (step ST4).
0), this is compared with the integrated weight information (step ST41), and if the weights are the same, a rental charge settlement instruction is issued (step ST42), and the lending process ends. If the two weights are different, the CPU 2 displays a message indicating that the reading of the wireless tag 7 is illegal.
b, an instruction is issued to the display 2c to urge the operator to re-read (step ST43).

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 10 and FIG. 7, the video rental system 1 using the scale 5 will be described.
The operation of returning the video tape cassette 9 will be described.

When the operator of the terminal device 2 places the video tape cassette 9 returned from the customer on the scale 5 and depresses the subtotal key of the keyboard 2e (step ST5).
0), the CPU 2b issues an instruction to read the wireless tag 7 to the antenna 3 (step ST51), and the wireless tag master 1
A search instruction for whether there is a tag address corresponding to the tag address read in 1 is issued to the disk device 2a.
The tag address of the corresponding wireless tag 7 is detected (step ST52), and if the classification of the record corresponding to the tag address is a product, a search instruction of the product master 12 is further issued to the disk 2a (step ST53). Then, as a result of the search, if there is corresponding product information, the CPU 2b instructs the display 2c to display the corresponding product information (step ST54), the weight information of the product is taken out from the product master 12, and the memory ( (Not shown). If there are a plurality of video tape cassettes 9, a read instruction is issued to the antenna 3 to read the tag address of the next wireless tag 7 (step ST51), and the obtained weight information is stored in the memory already stored in the memory. The integrated value is stored in the memory again (step ST55). Result of Searching Product Master 12 (Step ST5)
3) If there is no corresponding product information, the CPU 2b issues a display instruction to that effect to the display 2c as an error process (step ST60).

When the wireless tag 7 is no longer detected by the antenna 3, the measured weight measured by the weighing device 5 is read into the memory (step ST56), and the measured weight is compared with the integrated weight information (step ST56). ST5
7) If the weight is the same, the display from the CPU 2b to the display 2c
Prompts the operator to confirm the return date. If the return is before the return date (step 58), the return processing is terminated. If a delay has occurred (step 58), an instruction is issued from the CPU 2b to the display 2c and a print instruction is issued to the printer to execute the settlement process of the delay fee and display the same (step ST59). As a result of the comparison, if the weight is different, the CPU 2b instructs the display 2c to display that the reading of the wireless tag 7 has been illegally performed as an error process, and the operator re-reads the tag address. (Status ST60).

As described above, in the video rental system of the present embodiment, the processing of a plurality of commodities can be collectively performed based on the weight information, so that the rental / return processing can be performed more quickly. In addition, by confirming the product weight at the time of return, it is possible to detect an illegal reading of the tag address of the wireless tag 7.

The lending / returning process of the video tape cassette 9 in the video rental system 1 using the weighing device 5 is performed by updating the weight information shown in the flowchart of FIG. be able to.

In the updating procedure shown in FIG. 11, when or after returning the video tape cassette 9, the operator places the returned video tape cassette 9 on the measuring instrument 5 and measures the weight thereof (step ST70). . Next, the tag address of the wireless tag 7 of the video tape cassette 9 is read by the antenna 3 (step ST71). If the wireless tag 7 is detected (step ST42), the CPU 2b reads the disk address from the CPU 2b based on the read tag address. A search instruction for the wireless tag master 11 is issued to the device 2a, and if the classification is a product, a search instruction for the product master 12 is further issued (step ST73). When the corresponding product information is detected, the measured weight from the measuring device 5 is read into the memory, and the CPU 2b instructs the disk device 2a to store the measured weight in the product master 12 (step ST74). On the other hand, as a result of searching the product master 12 (step ST73), if there is no corresponding product information, the CPU performs error processing so as to display that fact.
2b issues an instruction to the display 2c (step ST7).
5), the process ends. When the wireless tag 7 is not detected (step ST72), a display instruction to that effect is given to the display 2c as an error process as described above (step ST75).

As described above, by performing the flow procedure of FIG. 11, the weight information of the product master 12 can be updated each time the product is returned, so that the accuracy of the product check can be maintained.

FIG. 12 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
1 shows a schematic configuration of a video rental system to which a product check function using an optical sensor is added. This is obtained by adding a product checking device (dimension detecting means) having an optical sensor to the system of FIG. Therefore, in this figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, reference numeral 6 denotes a product checking device having an optical sensor for detecting the height of the video tape cassette 9, and 2g denotes an optical sensor control unit for controlling the product checking device 6 having an optical sensor. In this system, an optical sensor control unit 2g and a product check device 6 are connected to the terminal device 2.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of the product check device 6. The product check device 6 includes a light emitting element 6a for irradiating light, and a light receiving element 6b for receiving the irradiated light and transmitting the output to the control unit 2g. The light emitting element 6a and the light receiving element 6b are arranged on the video tape cassette 9 so as to oppose each other in the vertical direction at intervals according to the height.
The product check device 6 and the optical sensor control unit 2g are
It is connected via transmission / reception line D, and the product check device 6
Is configured to be stored in a memory (not shown) in the terminal device 2 via the optical sensor control unit 2g. The antenna 3 is disposed below the product checking device 6 and is connected to a wireless controller 4a for product scanning via a transmission / reception line C.

When the video tape cassette 9 and the membership card 8 are placed on the commodity checking device 6, part of the light emitted from the light emitting element 6a is blocked and does not reach the light receiving element 6b. Of the video tape cassette 9, the height of the video tape cassette 9 is determined in accordance with the output.
g.

In FIG. 13, the light emitting element 6a and the light receiving element 2b
The vertical arrangement interval is adjusted to the height of the video tape cassette 9, but by thinning this interval by using, for example, a CCD sensor, thin products such as compact discs can be managed.

Next, a rental operation and a return operation in the video rental system of the present embodiment will be described.
In this video rental system, the measuring device 5 in the video rental system according to the second embodiment is replaced with a product check device 6 having an optical sensor. On the basis of,
Only different points in the operation will be described.

In the video rental system of the present embodiment, instead of the process of extracting the weight information of the product from the product master 12 and storing or integrating the weight information in the memory in step ST37 of FIG. The process of extracting the height information from the product master 12 and storing or integrating storing the height information in the memory is performed.

Further, in step ST40 of FIG.
In place of the process of reading the measured weight from the weighing device 5, a process of reading the height measured from the product check device 6 is performed.

Further, in place of the process of comparing the weight information detected from the product master 12 and the weight measured by the weighing device 5 in step ST41 of FIG.
A process of comparing the height information detected from the item 2 with the height measured by the product check device 6 is performed.

Next, the return operation in the video rental system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to step ST in FIG.
55, the height information of the product is taken out from the product master 12 and the height information is stored in the memory instead of taking out the weight information of the product from the product master 12 and storing the weight information in the memory or integrating and storing processing. Alternatively, a process of integrating and storing is performed.

Further, in place of the process of reading the measured weight from the measuring device 5 in step ST56 of FIG. 10, a process of reading the measured height from the product check device 6 is performed.

Further, instead of the process of comparing the weight information detected from the product master 12 and the measured weight measured by the weighing device 5 in step ST57 in FIG. 10, the height information detected from the product master 12 and the product check are used. Processing for comparing the height measured by the device 6 is performed.

In the video rental system 1 of the present embodiment, a plurality of video tape cassettes can be collectively processed based on their height, so that the rental / return processing can be performed more quickly as in the video rental system of the second embodiment. Can be done. In addition, by confirming the product dimensions, it is possible to detect an illegal reading of the tag address of the wireless tag 7.

In the video rental system according to the present embodiment, when the updating procedure shown in FIG. 11 for improving the reliability of the weight information is applied, step ST7 in FIG.
0, instead of the weight measurement processing of the video tape cassette 9 by the measuring device 5 when the video tape cassette 9 is returned or after the video tape cassette 9 is returned, the merchandise check device 6 for the video tape cassette 9 when the video tape cassette 9 is returned or after the return. Height measurement processing is performed.

Also, in place of the process of updating the relevant weight information after searching the product master 12 to the product master 12 in step ST74 of FIG. 11, updating the relevant height information after searching the product master 12 to the product master 12. Perform save processing.
By updating the dimension information in this way, the accuracy of the product dimensions can be improved, and fraudulent reading of the wireless tag 7 can be found more reliably.

Next, a video system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The video rental system according to the present embodiment is different from the video rental system according to the second embodiment in that the configuration of the wireless tag is changed to a configuration in which a part of the record can be written, and the product master and the customer master in the terminal device. The product record and the customer record are also made to correspond to the record of the wireless tag. Therefore, the configuration of the system basically corresponds to FIG.
Therefore, illustration and description thereof are omitted.

FIG. 14 shows the outline of the data structure of the wireless tag in this embodiment. In FIG. 14, data to be written to the wireless tag is shown separately for the product and the customer. In the figure, reference numeral 7a denotes a product record which is a data structure of a wireless tag to be attached to a product, and 7b denotes a customer record which is a data structure of a wireless tag to be attached to the member card 8.

The product record 7a has a tag address 71a
And product information including a company number 72a, a store number 73a, a classification 74a, a product code 75a, a product name 76a, a lending process determination 77a, and a rental count 78a. Areas other than the tag address 71a are writable. ing.

The customer record 7b includes a tag address 71b, a company number 72b of the renting company, a store number 73b belonging to the company, a classification 74b for distinguishing between a product and a customer, and a customer code as a code for each customer. 75b,
Customer name 76b, customer address 77b and number of rentals 78
b, and the area other than the tag address 71b is writable. In the terminal device 2, a product master and a customer master capable of storing records corresponding to the respective records of the wireless tag are constructed, and are configured to be able to store data corresponding to the records of the wireless tag. .

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 15 and FIG. 7, the wireless tag 7 at the time of lending the video tape cassette 9 in the video rental system 1 using the writable wireless tag 7 and the measuring device 5 will be described. A method of registering a record (7a or 7b) in the product master 12 and the customer master 13 will be described.

In the registration operation, in the flowchart of FIG. 9, as a result of searching the product master 12 and the customer master 13 based on the tag address of the wireless tag (steps ST35 and ST38), the corresponding product information and customer information are searched. Perform if not.

First, when the operator depresses a predetermined key on the keyboard 2c, the CPU 2b instructs the antenna 3 to read the tag address of the wireless tag 7 affixed to the video tape cassette 9 or the membership card 8 from the CPU 3b. Reading is performed (step ST80), and C
An instruction to display the tag address read from the PU 2b to the display 2c is issued. Then, the operator checks the displayed classification (74a or 74b).

If the classification is a product (step ST81),
The company number 72a and the store number 73a are further confirmed (step 83). If the store is a product of that store, a predetermined key is depressed, and the data in the record of the wireless tag 7 is registered in the product record of the product master 12 ( Step ST8
4). When the operator depresses a predetermined key after registering the data in the product master 12, a display instruction such as a product code and a product name is issued from the CPU 2b to the display 2c and a print instruction is issued to the printer 2d (step ST).
85). If there are more wireless tags to read,
In a similar procedure, based on the tag address of the next wireless tag 7, the data of each corresponding record 7a is registered in the product master.

On the other hand, when the classification is customer (step ST8)
2), the operator further confirms the company number 72b,
If it is the same company number (step ST86), the data in the customer record 7b of the wireless tag 7 is stored in the customer master 1
Key operation is performed to register the customer record No. 3 (step ST87). After registering in the customer master 13, when the operator presses down a predetermined key, the display 2
An instruction of customer information such as a customer code and a customer name and a print instruction are issued to the printer c and the printer 2d (step ST8).
8).

If the information of the wireless tag 7 is not the video tape cassette 9 of the store of the same rental company or the customer is not the customer, the CPU 2b instructs the display 2c to display the fact as an error processing. (Step ST89), and the registration process at the time of lending ends.

As described above, in the video rental system of the present embodiment, when the rental tag address is searched and the corresponding product information is not found as a result of the search, the product record 7a of the wireless tag 7 is directly read from the product record 7a. By registering the data in the master 12, the video tape cassette 9 that is not registered in the product master 12 of the corresponding store
Can also be rented out, so that the renting out process can be quickly performed for products of other stores in the same rental company.

In addition, even for existing members of other stores of the same rental company, registration in the customer master 13 can be performed directly from the customer record 7b of the wireless tag 7, so that there is no need to perform a new enrollment procedure. The video tape cassette 9 can be rented out quickly.

Also, since the number of rentals can be displayed,
It is also possible to know the number of products and usage times without separately constructing a database.

By adding usage point information to the record of the wireless tag 7 and writing it at the time of use,
It is also possible to manage usage points without building a separate database.

The return operation in the video rental system of the present embodiment is similar to the rental operation described above, in that the tag address of the wireless tag 7 is read, and the product master 12 or the customer master 13 is searched based on the tag address. In the case where there is no corresponding product information or customer information, the product record and customer record of the wireless tag are displayed on the display. If the operator is a product or customer of the same rental company, the product master 12 or the customer master 13
If you do not register the wireless tag data in the same rental company and the product and customer are not the same rental company, the search will be terminated by error processing, and the product will be quickly returned to other stores and customers in the same rental company Processing can be performed.

In the third embodiment, the commodity check device 6 having an optical sensor is used.
The gauge 14 shown in FIG. 6 or the gauge 15 shown in FIG. 17 can also be used.

The gauge shown in FIG. 16 is for checking the quantity of the video tape cassette 9 and is a product horizontal type product number checking gauge for checking the number of products. On the product horizontal type product number confirmation gauge 14, a gauge is drawn in the vertical direction of the inner surface of the wall for each height of the video tape, and the number according to the height is displayed. Then, when the video tapes are superimposed and placed side by side in accordance with the product horizontal type product number confirmation gauge 14, the number thereof can be confirmed by a numeral.

The gauge 15 in FIG. 17 is a product in which the product horizontal type product number checking gauge 14 in FIG. 16 is a product vertical type. A gauge for the width of the video tape is drawn on the product vertical type product number confirmation gauge 15, and the number corresponding to the width is displayed. When the video tapes are stacked vertically on the product vertical type product number checking gauge 15, the number of the video tapes can be confirmed by numbers.

[0101]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

In the merchandise and customer management system having the first feature, the merchandise and customer information can be recognized based on the unique tag address of the wireless tag. A quick response that eliminates the complexity of the return process is possible.

In the merchandise and customer management system having the second or third feature, merchandise can be totalized based on merchandise weight or merchandise size. Return processing is possible.

In the merchandise and customer management system having the fourth feature, the tag address of the wireless tag can be read at the entrance and exit of the store. However, the product can be easily specified.

In the merchandise and customer management system having the fifth feature, the lending process of merchandise among a plurality of stores and the management of customers can be performed quickly and easily based on the unique tag address of the wireless tag and the store information. Can be done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a video rental system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram showing a data configuration of a wireless tag master according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram showing a data configuration of a product master according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram showing a data configuration of a customer master according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operation of registering data in a wireless tag master, a product master, and a customer master in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an operation of searching for a wireless tag master, a product master, and a customer master based on a tag address in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a video rental system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary view showing a state where the video tape cassette and the membership card are weighed by the weighing machine in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an operation of registering in a wireless tag master, a product master, and a customer master based on wireless tag information at the time of lending a product according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a commodity return operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a product weight registration operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of a video rental system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of a product check device having an optical sensor.

14A and 14B are schematic diagrams illustrating a data configuration of a wireless tag according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 14A is a configuration diagram of a product record, and FIG. 14B is a configuration diagram of a customer record.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of an operation of registering a wireless tag master, a merchandise item master, and a customer master based on wireless tag information at the time of renting out a product in the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view showing a state of measuring product dimensions using another embodiment of the dimension detecting means in the product and customer management system of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective view showing a measurement state of a product size using another embodiment of the size detecting means in the product and customer management system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: video rental system, 2: terminal device, 2a: disk device, 2b: CPU, 2c: display device, 2d: printer, 2e: keyboard, 2f: piezoelectric sensor control unit, 2
g: optical sensor control unit, 3: product scanning antenna, 3
a: wireless controller for merchandise scanning, 4: antenna for entrance / exit, 4a: wireless controller for entrance / exit, 5: measuring instrument, 5a: piezoelectric sensor, 6: commodity checking device having an optical sensor, 6a: light emitting element, 6b: light receiving element , 7: wireless tag, 7a: product record, 71a: tag address, 7
2a: company number, 73a: store number, 74a: classification, 75
a: product code, 76a: product name, 77a: lending judgment,
78a: Number of rentals, 7b: Customer record, 71b:
Tag address, 72b: company number, 73b: store number, 74
b: classification, 75b: customer code, 76b: customer name, 7
7b: customer address, 78b: number of rentals, 8: membership card (customer's belongings), 9: video tape cassette (product), 10: buzzer, 11: wireless tag master, 11a:
Tag address, 11b: classification, 11c: code, 12:
Product master, 12a: product code, 12b: unit price, 12
c: weight, 12d: height, 12e: lending judgment, 12f:
Number of rentals, 13: customer master, 13a: customer code, 13b: name, 13c: address, 13d: number of rentals, 14: product horizontal type product number confirmation gauge, 15: product vertical type product number confirmation gauge, A: Transmission / reception line, B: transmission / reception line,
C: Transmission / reception line, D: Transmission / reception line, R: Wireless system

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 28, 2000 (200.4.2
8)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0012

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a wireless system including a wireless tag having a unique tag address and reading means for reading the tag address of the wireless tag, and communication with the wireless system. A terminal device configured so as to be capable of being arranged, wherein the wireless system and the terminal device are arranged in a store, and a product for entering and exiting the store and a customer for managing customers based on the tag address read by the reading means; and In the customer management system,
The wireless tag is attached to form a product and a customer carryable item, and the terminal device corresponds to the tag address of the wireless tag and the tag address, and corresponds to a classification of the product or the carryable item of the customer and the tag address. A wireless tag master storing a record composed of a product code or a customer code, and a small number of the product code corresponding to the tag address.
At least a product master storing a product record including product information including product weight , and a customer master storing a customer record including the customer code and customer information corresponding to the tag address, And said
Weight measuring means for measuring the weight of the product and the weight of the product
A counting means for counting information is provided. Based on the tag address of the wireless tag read by the reading means, a record including the corresponding tag address is searched from the wireless tag master, and the product master or the customer is searched according to the classification in the record. A master is selected, a product record or a customer record including the product code or the customer code corresponding to the classification is searched from the selected product master or the customer master, and the product information or the customer information of the product record or the customer record can be recognized. And the whole measured by the weight measuring means.
Of the product weight of the product and the integrated weight information by the counting means
The first feature is that the product weight can be confirmed .

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0014

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Further, according to the present invention, in the merchandise and customer management system according to the first aspect, at least the merchandise information is set as the merchandise information, and the terminal device detects the size of the merchandise. Of the product
Only set the aggregation means for aggregating the size information, the size detecting means
Total product size detected by the above and the totalized size by the counting means
The second is that the product dimensions can be confirmed by comparing with legal information .
The feature is.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0016

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The present invention also includes a wireless system including a wireless tag having a unique tag address and reading means for reading the tag address of the wireless tag, and a terminal device communicable with the wireless system. Wherein the wireless system and the terminal device are arranged in a plurality of stores, and a product and customer management system that manages products and customers entering and exiting the plurality of stores based on the tag address read by the reading unit. The wireless tag is provided with an arbitrary writing area capable of storing at least store information, and the wireless tag is attached to configure a product and a customer-carrying article; the reading unit is configured to be able to read the store information; The device includes a tag address of the wireless tag, a classification corresponding to the tag address and whether the product is a product carried by a customer or not. A wireless tag master storing a record composed of a product code or a customer code corresponding to a tag address, a product master storing a product record composed of the product code and product information corresponding to the tag address, and the tag Construct a customer master that stores a customer record composed of the customer code and customer information corresponding to the address, and, based on the tag address of the wireless tag read by the reading unit, change a corresponding tag address from the wireless tag master. Search for a record that includes, select a product master or customer master according to the classification in the record, and search for a product record or customer record that includes a product code or customer code corresponding to the classification from the selected product master or customer master. , Product information from the product record or customer record Or customer information,
A third feature is that the store information read by the reading means can be recognized.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masaho Sakamoto 1 Horiyamashita, Hadano-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Hitachi Information Technology Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Taichi Sugiyama 1-Horiyamashita, Hadano-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi Information Technology F-term ( Reference) 3E042 BA17 CC02 CC08 CC10 CD02 CD04 EA01 5B049 AA01 BB60 DD04 EE02 EE05 EE23 GG03

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A wireless system including a wireless tag having a unique tag address and reading means for reading the tag address of the wireless tag, and a terminal device configured to be able to communicate with the wireless system, A wireless system and a terminal system are arranged in a store, and a product and customer management system that manages products entering and exiting the store and customers based on the tag address read by the reading unit. Comprising a customer-carrying item, the terminal device, a tag address of the wireless tag, a classification corresponding to the tag address and a product or a customer-carrying item, and a product code or a customer code corresponding to the tag address. A wireless tag master storing a record composed of: the product code and product information corresponding to the tag address; Product master that stores Luo made goods record,
And constructing a customer master that stores a customer record composed of the customer code and customer information corresponding to the tag address. Based on the tag address of the wireless tag read by the reading unit, Search the record including the tag address, select the product master or customer master according to the classification in the record, and from the selected product master or customer master the product record or customer record including the product code or customer code corresponding to the classification A product and customer management system for recognizing product information or customer information of the product record or customer record. 2. At least a product weight is set as the product information, and the terminal device counts the number of products based on the product weight measured by the weight measuring device and the product weight measured by the weight measuring device. 2. The merchandise and customer management system according to claim 1, further comprising a counting means for performing the counting. 3. At least a product size is set as the product information, and the terminal device totalizes the number of products based on the product size detected by the size detection device and the product size detected by the size detection device. 2. The merchandise and customer management system according to claim 1, further comprising a counting means. 4. The product according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said reading means are arranged at said store, and at least one of said reading means is arranged at an entrance of said store. Customer management system. 5. A wireless system including a wireless tag having a unique tag address and reading means for reading the tag address of the wireless tag, and a terminal device configured to be communicable with the wireless system, A wireless system and a terminal system are arranged in a plurality of stores, and in a product and customer management system for managing products and customers entering and exiting the plurality of stores based on the tag address read by the reading means, At least an optional writing area capable of storing shop information is provided, and the wireless tag is attached to configure a product and a customer-carrying article. The reading unit is configured to be able to read the shop information. A tag address of the wireless tag, a classification corresponding to the tag address and whether the item is a product or a carry-on item of a customer; Radio Tagumasuta storing a record composed of a product code or client code corresponds to the grayed address, product master stored goods records composed of said product code and product information corresponding to the tag address,
And constructing a customer master that stores a customer record composed of the customer code and customer information corresponding to the tag address. Based on the tag address of the wireless tag read by the reading unit, Search the record including the tag address, select the product master or customer master according to the classification in the record, and from the selected product master or customer master the product record or customer record including the product code or customer code corresponding to the classification Characterized in that the product information or the customer information from the product record or the customer record and the store information read by the reading means can be recognized.