JP2003228771A - Cash register - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow downloading of contents data and to register sales of a fee for the downloading. <P>SOLUTION: A POS terminal 11 is provided with an apparatus connection part 3 connected to an electronic apparatus 2 having a contents storage part CA so that data communication is carried out between them. The POS terminal 11 is provided with a function of downloading data to the contents storage part CA in the electronic apparatus 2 connected to the apparatus connection part 3. The POS terminal 11 is also provided with a function of registering sales of the fee for the downloading process after end of the downloading process. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a POS (Point Of Point).
Sales) Related to cash registration devices such as terminals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the progress of multimedia in which various kinds of information are digitized and the digitized data is transmitted, processed and used together, contents such as music, images, application programs, game software, etc. It has become common to download digital data as digital data to electronic devices such as personal computers, mobile phones, and electronic game machines. On the contrary,
Uploading various types of content data from the above electronic devices has become nothing special. Therefore,
Various kinds of business, so-called content business, that sells (downloads) or collects (uploads) and processes at commercial stores such as convenience stores, can be considered. It has been implemented.

For example, a content business for downloading a ringing melody to a mobile phone, a so-called "ringtone" is realized by a "ringtone" selling device. This "ringtone" selling device displays a connector that connects to a general communication interface equipped with a mobile phone, a data file storing "ringtone" data, a list of downloadable "ringtones", etc. Display section,
It is provided with an operation unit for designating a “ringtone” desired by the customer from the list and a money transfer unit for accepting payment of a fee and paying out change as needed. Then, the customer "ringtones" the communication interface of his mobile phone.
The desired "ringtone" is selected from the "ringtones" list displayed on the display unit while being connected to the connector of the vending machine, and the input unit is operated to specify it. Then, a necessary fee such as a service fee is put into the money transfer unit. Then, the designated "ringtone" data was read from the data file and downloaded to the memory of the mobile phone via the communication interface.

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
In order to realize this kind of content business, it was necessary to introduce a dedicated sales device having a function of downloading or uploading content data into a store. Generally, a store manages the sales of products by registering them with a cash registration device such as a POS terminal, but the sales of content data sold by a "ringtone" sales device is managed by a cash registration device. Absent.

Therefore, the present invention is intended to provide a money registration apparatus capable of downloading or uploading content data and registering sales of charges generated by downloading or uploading content data.

[0006]

The money registration device of the present invention has a device connection unit for connecting to an electronic device having a content storage unit so as to be capable of data communication. The electronic device is also provided with download processing means for downloading data to the content storage section of the electronic device connected to the device connection section or upload processing means for uploading data from the content storage section of the electronic device. Then, after the processing by the download processing means or the upload processing means is completed, the sales of the charge generated by the download processing or upload processing is registered.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that this embodiment is a case where a service for downloading game software to an electronic game machine and a service for uploading game record data from the electronic game machine are provided for a fee in an existing store.

First, the system configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 1
Shows a POS system built in an existing store. This POS system 1 includes one to a plurality of units (two in the figure).
POS terminal 11 and one store computer 12. The POS terminal 11 functions as a monetary registration device for registering sales of merchandise. The store computer 12 functions as a higher-level device that collects and processes the product sales data registered at each POS terminal 11 and manages sales, inventory, ordering, etc. of the entire store. Each POS terminal 11 and store computer 1
2 is connected by a LAN (Local Area Network) 13 so as to be freely communicable.

Each POS terminal 11 has a communication interface 25 provided in the electronic game machine 2.
(See FIG. 4) and a communication cable 3 that can be connected to the line are connected. Then, through this communication cable 3, P
Content data such as game software can be downloaded from the OS terminal 11 to the memory cassette CA that is a content storage unit of the electronic game machine 2, and content data such as game performance data stored in the memory cassette CA can be uploaded. It is like this.

The store computer 12 can be connected to a host computer 5 of a game company at one or a plurality of locations (two locations in the figure) via a WAN (Wide Area Network) 4 such as the Internet. Each game company distributes the game software of the electronic game machine 2 by using the host computer 5, and conducts a data processing business such as a ranking process based on the game result data collected from the electronic game machine 2. The store computer 12 is provided with a content file 6 for storing and storing content data such as game software distributed from the host computer 5 of the game company. A download management file 7 and an upload management file 8 are provided in the store computer 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the download management file 7 includes a cassette ID, a cassette name, and a content I.
A download management record consisting of items D, content name, charge, and inquired host name is stored in the order of record numbers. The upload management file 8 is
As shown in FIG. 3, an upload management record including items of a cassette ID, a cassette name, a content ID, a content name, a charge, and a destination host name is stored in the order of record numbers. The cassette ID and the cassette name are the ID code and the name attached to the memory cassette that stores the game software of the electronic game machine 2, and the memory cassette CA that stores the same type of game software has a common one. It is set.
The game software stored in one memory cassette CA is not limited to one type. The content ID and the content name are ID codes and names that are respectively set for each content data stored in the memory cassette CA to which the cassette ID is attached, that is, game software, game record data, etc., and are of the same type. Common contents data are assigned to the respective contents data. As for the charge, in the download management file 7, the content data (game software, etc.) of the corresponding content ID is stored in the electronic game machine 2
The fee data necessary for downloading to the electronic game machine 2 in the upload management file 8 is the fee data required for uploading the content data (game record data, etc.) of the corresponding content ID from the electronic game machine 2. . The host name is a name for identifying the host computer 5 of the game company, which is the inquiry destination for the content data (game software, etc.) of the corresponding content ID in the download management file 7, and corresponds in the upload management file 8. This is a name for identifying the host computer 5 of the game company to which the content data (game record data, etc.) of the content ID is transmitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the electronic game machine 2 includes a control section 21 mainly composed of a microcomputer, a display section 22 for displaying game information and the like, and an operation section 23 operated during a game and the like. A memory interface 24 for transmitting / receiving data to / from a detachably connected memory cassette CA, and a communication interface 25 for performing data communication with an external device according to a predetermined interface standard are provided.

Next, the POS terminal 1 according to the present invention
The configuration of No. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the main structure of the POS terminal 11. This POS terminal 11
A CPU 31 is provided as a control unit main body, and a ROM (Read Onl
y Memory) 32, RAM (Random Access Memory) 3 in which a memory area for storing various data is formed
3. Clock unit 34 for measuring the current date and time, LAN 13
A LAN interface 35 for controlling data communication with the store computer 12 connected via
Electronic game machine 2 connected via the communication cable 3
A communication interface 36 as a device connection unit for controlling data communication with the barcode scanner 3 and
A scanner interface 38 for controlling the data communication with the scanner 7 is provided. In addition, a pointing device 39 such as a mouse, a track pad, or a track ball
And a device controller 40 for controlling the drive thereof,
For the shopper, a keyboard 41 and a keyboard controller 42 that controls the drive thereof, a display 43 for the operator that displays a pointer operated by the pointing device 39, and a first display controller 44 that controls the drive thereof. Customer display 45 for displaying the price and total price of registered merchandise, and second display controller 46 for controlling the drive thereof, printer 47 for printing receipts and the like, printer controller 48 for controlling the drive thereof, cash, etc. The POS terminal 11 is provided with an I / O port 50 that outputs a drive signal to a drawer 49 for housing the. And CPU31 and ROM
32, RAM 33, clock unit 34, LAN interface 35, communication interface 36, scanner interface 38, device controller 40, keyboard controller 42, first display controller 44, second display controller 46, printer controller 48 and I / O.
The O port 50 is connected by a bus line 51 such as an address bus and a data bus.

On the keyboard 41, as shown in FIG.
In addition to the numerical keys 61 for inputting numerical data, a clear key 62, a menu key 63, a subtotal key 64, a deposit / cash total key 65, a person in charge key 66, a return key 67, a multiplication key 6
8. Various function keys such as 8 and hold key 69 are provided.

In the RAM 33, as shown in FIG.
Corresponding to the PLU (Price Look Up) code attached to each product, PLU name, unit price, tax type (external: external tax,
PLU table 71 in which PLU data such as (inside tax, non-tax) is set, and an area for cumulatively storing the number of sales and the amount of sales for each PLU code is formed.
P that associates some PLU codes with content IDs
An LU / content correspondence table 72 is formed. The setting of various data in the PLU table 71 and the PLU / content correspondence table 72 is performed by the store computer 12. It is also possible to set using the keyboard 41 of the POS terminal 11.

When the menu key 63 of the keyboard 41 is input, the CPU 31 is programmed so as to execute the menu key processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, in ST (step) 1, it is determined whether or not the products to be sold as one transaction are being registered. For example, it is determined from the state of a registration flag that is set according to the start of registration of the first item of a product to be sold as one transaction and reset according to the end of sales registration processing for that transaction, and whether or not registration is in progress. Then, if the registration is in progress, the input of the menu key 63 is regarded as an error, and this process is terminated.

When it is determined in ST1 that the merchandise is not being registered, that is, when the menu key 63 is input at a timing when the merchandise is not being registered, the content data downloading operation or the content data uploading to the electronic game machine 2 is performed in ST2. A game communication menu screen capable of selecting work is displayed on the operator display 43.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the game communication menu screen. This screen is provided with a download button B1 for selecting a content data download operation, an upload button B2 for selecting a content data upload operation, and a stop button B3 for instructing the end of the game communication menu. is there. In this case, the operator operates the pointing device 39 to
When selecting the content data download business, move the pointer P to the download button B1, when selecting the content data upload business, move the pointer P to the upload button B2, and when ending the game communication menu, cancel. The button B3 pointer P may be moved to perform a selection operation (click).

Then, the CPU 31 waits for the selection operation of the buttons B1 to B3 on the game communication menu screen in ST3. Then, if the download button B1 is selected and operated, the download process described below is executed as ST4 to end this menu key process, and if the upload button B2 is selected and operated, ST
The upload process described below is executed as 5, and the menu key process is terminated. Further, when the cancel button B3 is selected and operated, the game communication menu screen of the display 43 is erased in ST6, and the menu key processing is ended.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart specifically showing the download process of ST4 in FIG. That is, when starting the download processing, the CPU 31 first waits for the electronic game machine 2 to be connected to the communication interface 36 via the communication cable 3 in ST11. When it is confirmed that the electronic game machine 2 is connected, the cassette ID of the memory cassette CA is acquired from the electronic game machine 2 in ST12. If the memory cassette CA is not attached to the memory interface 24 of the electronic game machine 2 and the cassette ID cannot be acquired, the download process is terminated at that point.

If the cassette ID can be acquired from the electronic game machine 2 in ST12, the CPU 31 next proceeds to ST1.
A list (download list) of content data downloadable to the memory cassette CA specified by the cassette ID 3 is stored in the store computer 12 as L.
Inquire through AN13. Store computer 1
2 is the download management file 7 for this inquiry
Is searched and all download management records of the cassette ID inquired are extracted. Then, if the list data of the content name is created from the extracted download management record, this list data is used as the inquiry source P
It is supposed to reply to the OS terminal 11.

Then, the CPU 31 sets the LA to ST14.
When the content name list data is received from the store computer 12 via N13, the download list screen showing the content name list data is edited and displayed on the operator display 43 and the customer display 44 at ST15.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the download list screen. On this screen, a list R1 of downloadable content names is displayed, and a previous page button B4, a next page button B5 and a stop button B6 are provided. In this case, when designating the content data to be downloaded, the operator may operate the pointing device 39 to move the pointer P to the corresponding content name in the list R1 and select it. Also, the content data to be downloaded is a list R
If it is not 1, the previous page button B4 or the next page button B
The pointer P is moved to 5, and a selection operation is performed to switch the list R1. Then, when the desired content name is found, the pointer P is moved to the content name to perform a selection operation, and when the desired content name cannot be found, the pointer P is moved to the stop button B6 and selected. Just operate it.

Then, in ST16, the CPU 31 waits until the content name of the content data to be downloaded is selected from the download list. When the content name is selected and operated by the pointing device 39 (content designating means), the content data specified by the content name is sent to the store computer 12 in the LAN 13 in ST17.
Contact us via. The store computer 12 searches the download management file 7 for this inquiry, and extracts the download management record of the inquired content name from the download management records of the cassette ID inquired earlier. Further, the content file 6 is searched and the content data having the content name is read. Then, the content data and the download management record are returned to the POS terminal 11 which is the inquiry source.

When the content data corresponding to the content file 6 is not stored, the content is stored in the host computer 5 of the game company specified by the inquired host name of the download management record extracted from the download management file 7. Query the data. Then, when the corresponding content data is received from the host computer 5, this content data and the download management record are returned to the POS terminal 11 as the inquiry source.

Then, the CPU 31 sets the LA to ST18.
If the content data and the download management data are received from the store computer 12 via N13,
A content download process is started as ST19. This process is performed from the store computer 12 to L
This is a process of downloading the content data received via the AN 13 to the memory cassette CA of the electronic game machine 2 connected via the communication cable 3 in accordance with the standard of the communication interface 36 (download processing means).

After starting the content download process, the CPU 31 monitors in ST20 whether or not the hold key 69 which is an interrupt declaring means of the keyboard is input. Further, in ST21, it is determined whether or not the content download process is finished (download end determination means).

If the input of the hold key 69 is detected before the end of the content download process is detected, the interrupt registration process described below is further activated in ST22 (interrupt registration permission means). And ST2
Wait for this interrupt registration process to end as 3. When the end of the interrupt registration process is detected, the process returns to the process of determining whether the hold key 69 of ST20 has been input and whether the content download process of ST21 has ended.

When the end of the content download process is detected in ST21, the download sales registration processing is executed in ST24 (download sales registration processing means). This processing is a PL set in correspondence with the content ID of the download management record received from the store computer 12 together with the content data.
The U code is detected from the PLU / content correspondence table 72. Then, with this PLU code, the PLU table 7
This is a process of searching for 1, adding the sales point number “1” to the sales point data of the corresponding PLU code, and adding the sales amount, that is, the charge of the download management record to the sales amount data. In addition, a message notifying the end of the download to the operator display 43 and the customer display 45 (for example, “communication completed” on the operator display 43, “download completed” on the customer display 45), It includes a process of displaying the content name of the content data for which the download has been completed and the charge after taxation.

Thereafter, the CPU 31 executes the sales registration closing process in ST25. This process is performed with the numeric key 6
1 and the deposit / cash total key 65 to subtract the post-tax charge from the deposit amount to obtain the change amount, and display it on the operator display 43 and the customer display 45, and the printer 47. Of the content data of which the content data of which the download has been completed and its charge, and the receipt of the external tax amount, deposit amount, change amount, etc. are issued. It also includes a process of opening the drawer 49. With the above, the CPU 31 is configured to ST in FIG.
The download process of No. 4 is completed.

When the store computer 12 is inquired about the download list in ST13 but the corresponding download list cannot be received, and ST17
When the content data is inquired to the store computer 12 in step S3, but the corresponding content data cannot be received, an error message (for example, "not downloadable") is displayed on the operator display 43, and this download process ends. .

FIG. 10 is a flow chart specifically showing the upload process of ST5 in FIG. That is, the CPU 31
When the upload process is started, first, in ST31, the communication interface 36 waits for the electronic game machine 2 to be connected via the communication cable 3. If it is confirmed that the electronic game machine 2 is connected, ST32
As a result, the cassette ID of the memory cassette CA is acquired from the electronic game machine 2. When the memory cassette CA is not attached to the memory interface 24 of the electronic game machine 2 and the cassette ID cannot be acquired, the upload process ends at that point.

If the cassette ID can be acquired from the electronic game machine 2 in ST32, the CPU 31 next proceeds to ST3.
A list (upload list) of content data that can be uploaded to the memory cassette CA identified by the cassette ID as 3 is stored in the store computer 12 as L.
Inquire through AN13. Store computer 1
2 is the upload management file 8 in response to this inquiry
Is searched, and all upload management records of the cassette ID inquired are extracted. Then, if the list data of the content name is created from the extracted upload management record, this list data is used as the inquiry source P
It is supposed to reply to the OS terminal 11.

Then, the CPU 31 sets the LA to ST34.
When the list data of the content name is received from the store computer 12 via N13, the upload list screen showing the list data of the content name is edited in ST35 and displayed on the operator display 43 and the customer display 44.

The upload list screen is shown in FIG. 13, for example.
It has the same layout as the download list screen shown in. Therefore, in ST36, the CPU 31 waits until the content name of the content data to be uploaded is selected from the upload list.
When the content name is selected by the pointing device 39 (content designating means),
A content upload process is started as ST37. This process is a process of uploading the content data of the specified content name from the memory cassette CA of the electronic game machine 2 connected via the communication cable 3 according to the standard of the communication interface 36 (upload processing means). .

After activating the content upload process, the CPU 31 monitors in ST38 whether or not the hold key 69, which is an interrupt declaring means of the keyboard, is input. Further, in ST39, it is determined whether or not the content upload process is finished (upload end determination means).

If the input of the hold key 69 is detected before the end of the content upload process is detected, the interrupt registration process described below is further activated in ST40 (interrupt registration permission means). And ST4
Waiting for this interrupt registration process to end as 1. When the end of the interrupt registration process is detected, the process returns to the process of determining whether or not the hold key 69 of ST38 is input and whether or not the content upload process of ST39 is completed.

When the end of the content upload process is detected in ST39, the content data uploaded from the electronic game machine 2 is transferred to the store computer 12 via the LAN 13 in ST42. Then, the store computer 12 searches the upload management file 8 by the content name of the content data received from the POS terminal 11, and stores the content data in the host computer 5 of the game company specified by the destination host name of the corresponding upload management record. And the upload management record is returned to the POS terminal 11 which is the content data transmission source.

Then, the CPU 31 next executes an upload sales registration process in ST43. This process
P set corresponding to the content ID of the upload management record received from the store computer 12
The LU code is detected from the PLU / content correspondence table 72. Then, the PLU table 71 is searched with this PLU code, and the sales point number "1" is added to the sales point data of the corresponding PLU code, and the sales amount data is converted into the sales amount,
That is, this is a process of adding the charge of the upload management record. In addition, a message notifying the upload end to the operator display 43 and the customer display unit 45 (for example, “communication end” on the operator display 43, “upload end” on the customer display unit 45), It includes a process of displaying the content name of the content data that has been uploaded and the charge after taxation.

After that, the CPU 31 executes the sales registration closing process in ST44. This process is performed with the numeric key 6
1 and the deposit / cash total key 65 to subtract the post-tax charge from the deposit amount to obtain the change amount, and display it on the operator display 43 and the customer display 45, and the printer 47. Of the contents data of which the upload has been completed, and the fee thereof, and the receipt of the external tax amount, deposit amount, change amount, etc., is issued. It also includes a process of opening the drawer 49. With the above, the CPU 31 is configured to ST in FIG.
The upload process of 5 ends.

If the store computer 12 is inquired about the upload list in ST33 but the corresponding upload list cannot be received, an error message (for example, "upload impossible") is displayed on the operator display 43, This upload process ends.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart specifically showing the processing contents of the interrupt registration process. That is, the CPU 31
First, as ST51, the operator's display 43 and the customer's display 45 display the registration detail screen having the layout as shown in FIG. Next, in ST52, the process waits for the PLU code of the registered product to be input. Here, when the barcode is scanned by the barcode scanner 37, the PL attached to the product is displayed.
Determine if it is a U code. If it is the PLU code, the PLU code of the registered product has been entered.
Input product sales registration processing is executed as 53. In this process, the PLU table 71 is searched to read out the PLU name, unit price, and tax type corresponding to the PLU code, and the PLU code, PLU name, unit price, tax type, sales point number = 1 and sales amount (unit price x sales point number). ) Is created. Then, the number of sales and the amount of sales of the registered merchandise are added to the number of sales data and the amount of sales data stored in the PLU table 71 corresponding to the PLU code. Further, the transaction buffer (not shown) of the RAM 33 is searched to check whether or not the merchandise sales data of the same PLU code is already stored. If it is stored, the current sales point is added to the sales point of the existing data, and the sales amount is recalculated from the added sales point and unit price. If not stored, the product sales data this time is added to the transaction buffer. Thereafter, a process of displaying the product name, unit price, sales number (quantity), sales amount, tax type, etc. of the registered product on the registration detail screen of the operator display 43 and the customer display 44 based on the contents of the transaction buffer. including. In addition, the sales amount of the product sales data stored in the transaction buffer is summed up to obtain the subtotal amount, the product sales data of which tax type is tax is extracted, and the tax amount is calculated from the sales amount. Then, a process of calculating the total amount of the subtotal amount and the external tax amount as the total amount and displaying the subtotal amount, the external tax amount and the total amount on the registration detail screen of the operator display 43 and the customer display 45 is also included.

Next, when the PLU code of the registered product is input again, the above process is repeated. On the other hand, ST54
When the deposit / cash total key 65, which is a closing key, is input, the sales registration closing process is executed. This process is a process of editing receipt print data from the product sales data in the transaction buffer and the amount data such as the subtotal amount, the tax amount, and the total amount, and outputting it to the printer 47 to print and issue the receipt. Also, while opening the drawer 49,
Includes processing to clear the transaction buffer.

Next, in ST56, the CPU 31 checks whether or not the content download process or the content upload process is being executed (download end determination means, upload end determination means). Here, when the above process is being executed, the POS terminal 11 and the electronic game machine 2 are communicating, so ST57.
As a result, the message "in communication" is displayed on the operator display 43. At this time, the message "communication in progress" is not displayed on the customer display 45. Then CP
U31 waits for the end of the content download process or the content upload process.
However, if it is detected in ST58 that the PLU code of the registered product is input before the end of the process is detected, the process returns to ST53 and the input product sales registration processing and the sales registration closing processing are executed again.

When the end of the content download process or the content upload process is detected in ST56, since the communication between the POS terminal 11 and the electronic game machine 2 is finished, the operator display 43 is shown in FIG. 15 as ST59. Message "communication completed" is displayed. At this time, the customer display 45
Does not display the above message "communication completed". Thereafter, in ST60, the PLU code of the registered product is input again, or in ST61, the input of the return key 67 as the end declaring means is waited. If the PLU code of the registered product is input here, the process returns to ST53,
The input product sales registration processing and the sales registration closing processing are executed again.

On the other hand, if the return key 67 is pressed, the registration detail screen is erased from the operator display 43 and the customer display 45 in ST62, and the interrupt registration process is terminated.

POS terminal 1 configured in this way
In stores where 1 is installed at the checkout location (cash register),
When a customer who requests to download the game software comes to the store, a sales clerk in charge of accounting, a so-called cashier, works as follows. First, POS Terminal 1
The electronic game machine 2 is connected to the communication cable 3 connected to 1. The electronic game machine 2 may be brought by a customer or installed in a store. Next, the memory interface 24 of the electronic game machine 2
When the memory cassette CA brought by the customer is attached, the menu key 63 is input. Then, the game communication menu screen is displayed on the operator display 43, and the cashier is the pointing device 3
9 is operated to select and input the download button B1 on the screen. Then, a list screen of game software that can be downloaded to the memory cassette CA attached to the electronic game machine 2 is displayed on the operator display 43 and the customer display 44, and the cashier operates the pointing device 39. Then, the customer selects and inputs the content name of the game software desired to be downloaded.

As a result, the inquiry of the game software is made from the POS terminal 11 to the store computer 12 via the LAN 13. Then, the corresponding game software is transferred from the store computer 12 to the LAN 1
When the game software is sent to the POS terminal 11 via the communication terminal 3, the content download process for downloading the game software from the POS terminal 11 to the memory cassette CA of the electronic game machine 2 via the communication cable 3 is started.

After that, the game software is downloaded to the memory cassette CA, and when the content download process is completed, the POS terminal 11 executes a download sales registration process. Then, the number of sales and the amount of sales are accumulated for each PLU code set in advance corresponding to the content ID specifying the game software. Further, a message notifying the end of the download is displayed on the operator display 43 and the customer display unit 45, and the content name of the game software for which the download has been completed and the charge after taxation are displayed.

Then, the cashier receives the payment corresponding to the charge from the customer, enters the amount of the payment with the numeric key 61, and then inputs the deposit / cash total key 65. Then, the change amount is displayed on the operator display 43 and the customer display 45, and the printer 47 issues a receipt on which the content name of the game software and the charge thereof, and the tax amount, deposit amount, change amount, etc. are printed. It Further, the drawer 49 is opened. Therefore, the cashier disconnects the electronic game machine 2 from the communication cable 3, gives the receipt and the change to the customer, and ends the transaction with the customer.

When a customer who requests the uploading of game record data comes to the store, the cashier operates as follows. First, as in the case of downloading, if the electronic game machine 2 is connected to the communication cable 3 of the POS terminal 11 and the memory cassette CA brought by the customer is attached to the memory interface 24 of the electronic game machine 2, the menu key 63 Enter. Then, the game communication menu screen is displayed on the operator display 43, and the cashier operates the pointing device 39 to select and input the upload button B2 on the screen. Then, the electronic game machine 2
A list screen of game software that can be uploaded to the memory cassette CA attached to the is displayed on the operator display 43 and the customer display 44, and the cashier operates the pointing device 39 to allow the customer to upload. Select and enter the content name of the requested game achievement data.

As a result, the content upload process for uploading the corresponding game record data in the memory cassette CA from the electronic game machine 2 to the POS terminal 11 via the communication cable 3 is started.

After that, the game result data is uploaded to the POS terminal 11, and when the content upload process is completed, the LA is sent from the POS terminal 11.
The game achievement data is transferred to the store computer 12 via N13. Further, the POS terminal 11 executes upload sales registration processing. Then, the number of sales and the amount of sales are accumulated for each PLU code set in advance corresponding to the content ID specifying the game record data. Also, the operator display 43
Further, a message notifying the end of uploading is displayed on the customer display unit 45, and the content name of the game result data for which uploading is completed and the charge after taxation are displayed.

Then, the cashier receives the payment corresponding to the charge from the customer, enters the amount of the payment with the numeric key 61, and then inputs the deposit / cash total key 65. Then, the change amount is displayed on the operator display 43 and the customer display 45, and the printer 47 issues a receipt on which the content name and the charge of the game result data and the tax amount, deposit amount, change amount, etc. are printed. To be done. Also,
The drawer 49 is opened. Therefore, the cashier disconnects the electronic game machine 2 from the communication cable 3, gives the receipt and the change to the customer, and ends the transaction with the customer.

By the way, the time required for the processing of the content download process or the content upload process differs depending on the data amount of the data to be downloaded or uploaded, and it may take a long time depending on the data amount. In such a case, if the sales of products purchased by other customers cannot be registered in the POS terminal 11 during downloading or uploading, it will be inconvenient because the customer waiting for the transaction will wait for a long time. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a hold key 69 is provided on the keyboard 41 of the POS terminal 11 as an interrupt declaring means for declaring an interrupt for the registration process. When the hold key 69 is input during the processing of the content download process or the content upload process, the sales registration process of the product is permitted.

That is, the cashier inputs the hold key 69 when another customer comes to check the purchased merchandise during the processing of the content download process or the content upload process. Then, the registration detail screen is displayed on the operator display 43 and the customer display 45,
The cashier scans the barcode of the product purchased by the customer with the barcode scanner 37. Then,
The sales of this product are registered in the PLU table 71. When all the sales of the products purchased by the customer have been registered, the deposit / cash total key 65 is entered to declare the end of registration. Then, sales registration closing processing such as receipt issuance is executed, and the transaction with the customer is ended.

Then, it is determined whether or not the content download process or the content upload process is being processed. When processing is in progress, the message “in communication” is displayed on the operator display 43. This allows the cashier to know that the content download process or the content upload process is still processing. Then, if there is another customer waiting for the accounting of the purchased product, the interrupt registration process of the product purchased by the customer is executed. At this time, it is not necessary to input the hold key 69.

On the other hand, when the processing of the content download process or the content upload process has been completed, the message "communication completed" is displayed on the operator display 43. At this time, if there is another customer who waits for the accounting of the purchased product, the interrupt registration process of the product purchased by the customer can also be executed. In addition, the return key 67 for declaring the end of the interrupt registration process may be input while keeping the other customer waiting. When the return key is pressed, the registration detail screen is deleted from the operator display 43 and the customer display 45. Then, in the POS terminal 11, a download sales registration process or an upload sales registration process is executed. At this time, a message notifying the end of download or the end of upload is displayed on the customer display unit 45. Further, the content name for which downloading or uploading has been completed and the charge after taxation are displayed on the operator display 43 and the customer display 45, and the sales registration closing process is performed.

As described above, with the POS terminal 11 of the present embodiment, content data such as game software can be downloaded to the electronic game machine 2, and the sales of charges generated by the download of this content data can be registered. It can be processed. Further, content data such as game performance data can be uploaded from the electronic game machine 2, and sales of charges generated by uploading this content data can be registered. Therefore, the content business can be carried out at the store without using a dedicated sales device having a function of downloading or uploading the content data, and the sales of the content business can be re-registered in the POS terminal 11 without any trouble, and work efficiency can be improved. There is no concern that it will interfere. In addition, in the present embodiment, the PLU / content correspondence table 72 is provided, the content ID code of each content data is converted into the PLU code, and the sales are registered. You can register sales.

Further, the POS terminal 11 requests the data of the content to be downloaded from the store computer 12, which is a higher-level device, and the store computer 12
Since the data received from the LAN via the LAN 13 is downloaded to the memory cassette CA of the electronic game machine 2, a storage device for holding various content data is unnecessary,
There is no concern that the memory capacity of the POS terminal 11 will increase. Further, since the content data uploaded from the electronic game machine 2 is immediately transferred to the store computer 12 via the LAN 13, there is no need to hold the uploaded content data for a long time, and the memory can be used efficiently.

Further, since the interruption of the merchandise sales registration processing is permitted during the processing of the content download process or the content upload process, the customer who waits for the accounting of the purchased merchandise by downloading or uploading the content data can wait for a long time. The situation can be avoided. Moreover, if the merchandise sales registration process is processed by interruption, even if the download or upload of the content data is completed, the end of communication is not displayed on the customer display 45 until the end of the interruption registration process is declared. A meaningless message, that is, a message notifying the end of communication is not displayed to the customer who purchases the product registered by the interruption.

It should be noted that, in the above-mentioned one embodiment, the case of downloading the game software to the electronic game machine 2
Although the case of uploading the game record data from the electronic game machine 2 is shown, the content data to be downloaded or uploaded is not limited to this, and may be music, images, application programs, or the like. You can also download content data to electronic devices such as personal computers and mobile phones,
When uploading content data from these electronic devices, or when connecting to a data storage medium itself that does not have an operation unit and a display unit to download content data to the medium or upload content data from the medium. However, the present invention is similarly applicable.

[0064]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a money registration apparatus capable of downloading or uploading content data and registering the sales of charges generated by downloading or uploading the content data. .

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a download management file in the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of an upload management file according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an electronic game machine according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a main key arrangement of the keyboard of the POS terminal according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a POS terminal according to the same embodiment.

[FIG. 7] R of the POS terminal in the same embodiment
The figure which shows the main memory areas formed in AM.

FIG. 8 is a C of the POS terminal according to the same embodiment.
The flowchart which shows the principal part of the menu key process which PU performs.

9 is a flowchart specifically showing a main part of the download process in FIG.

10 is a flowchart specifically showing a main part of upload processing in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a C of the POS terminal according to the same embodiment.
The flowchart which shows the principal part of the interruption registration processing process which PU performs.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of a game communication menu screen displayed on the operator display of the POS terminal in the same embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a download list screen displayed on the operator display of the POS terminal in the same embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a view showing an example of a registration detail screen displayed on the operator display of the POS terminal in the same embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another example of a registration detail screen displayed on the operator display of the POS terminal in the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... POS system, 2 ... Electronic game machine, 3 ... Communication cable, 5 ... Game company host computer, 6 ... Content file, 7 ... Download management file, 8 ... Upload management file, 11 ... POS terminal, 1
2 ... Store computer, 25, 36 ... Communication interface, 63 ... Menu key, 67 ... Return key, 69 ... Hold key, 71 ... PLU table, 72 ... PLU / content correspondence table, CA ... Memory cassette.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06F 17/60 424 G06F 17/60 424 ZEC ZEC G07G 1/14 G07G 1/14 // G07F 17/00 G07F 17/00 BF term (reference) 3E042 CA02 CA05 CA07 CB06 CC05 CC10 CE01 CE06 CE07 DA02 EA01 EA06

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. In a cash registering device for registering sales of merchandise, a device connection unit for connecting to an electronic device equipped with a content storage unit for data communication, and contents of the electronic device connected to the device connection unit. It is characterized by comprising download processing means for downloading data to the storage section, and download sales registration processing means for registering sales of charges generated by the download processing after the download processing by the download processing means is completed. Money registration device. 2. The money registration device is connected to a host device via a communication line, and the download processing means requests the data of content to be downloaded from the host device and receives the data from the host device via the communication line. The money registration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data is downloaded to a content storage unit of an electronic device connected to the device connection unit. 3. An interrupt declaration means for declaring an interruption of registration processing, and a sale registration processing of a product is permitted when an interruption of registration processing is declared by the interruption declaration means during the download processing by the download processing means. And a download end determining means for determining whether or not the download processing by the download processing means is completed, and the download end determining means determines that the download processing is completed. 2. The money registration device according to claim 1, wherein when the sale registration processing of the product permitted by the interrupt registration permission means is completed, the sales registration processing of the charge generated in the download processing is performed. 4. The cash registering apparatus comprises an operator display and a customer display, and end declaration means for declaring the end of the interrupt registration processing. The interrupt declaration means interrupts the registration processing. If it is declared, when the download end determination means determines that the download processing is completed, the operator display unit displays the end of the download processing, and then the end declaration means performs the interrupt registration processing. 4. The cash registering device according to claim 3, wherein the end of the download process is displayed on the customer display when the end is declared. 5. A monetary registration device for registering sales of merchandise, wherein a device connection unit for data communication with an electronic device having a content storage unit and content of the electronic device connected to the device connection unit. It is characterized by comprising an upload processing means for uploading data from the storage section, and an upload sales registration processing means for registering sales of charges generated by the upload processing after the upload processing by the upload processing means is completed. Money registration device. 6. The money registration device is connected to a host device via a communication line, and the upload processing means includes means for transferring data uploaded from a content storage unit of an electronic device to the host device via the communication line. The money registration device according to claim 5, wherein 7. An interrupt declaration means for declaring an interruption of registration processing, and a sale registration processing of a product is permitted when an interruption of registration processing is declared by the interruption declaration means during upload processing by the upload processing means. And an upload end determining means for determining whether or not the upload processing by the upload processing means is finished, and the upload end determining means determines that the upload processing is finished. 6. The money registration apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the sale registration processing of the merchandise permitted by the interrupt registration permission unit is completed, the sales registration processing of the charge generated in the upload processing is performed. 8. The cash registering apparatus comprises an operator display and a customer display, and end declaration means for declaring the end of the interrupt registration processing. The interrupt declaration means interrupts the registration processing. If it is declared, when the upload end determination means determines that the upload processing has been completed, the operator display displays the upload processing end, and then the end declaration means notifies the interrupt registration processing. The cash registering device according to claim 7, wherein the end of the upload process is displayed on the customer display when the end is declared.