JP2006048508A - Commodity sales data processing device and commodity sales data processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the labor to acquire commodity data. <P>SOLUTION: On a check-out counter 201, a commodity sales data processor 401 is arranged adjacently to an occupied space 203 for a commodity basket 301 and when a commodity sales data processing is performed, wireless communication with an RFID tag 303 attached to a commodity 302 put in the commodity basket 301 is carried out through an RFID antenna 409 to acquire commodity data stored in the RFID tag 303. The RFID antenna 309 used at this time is positioned opposite to the occupied space 203 and provided to a housing 404 of the commodity sales data processor 401. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a merchandise sales data processing apparatus and a merchandise sales data processing system that execute merchandise sales data processing.

  As a merchandise sales data processing apparatus represented by a POS system, conventionally, on a checkout counter, an adjoining space is used for the placed merchandise basket, and the merchandise stored in the merchandise basket is used. There are products that read product data and execute product sales data processing based on the read product data. In such a merchandise sales data processing apparatus, a barcode scanner is often used as a measure for reading merchandise data. In other words, since a barcode indicating the product code is attached to the product, the product data such as the product code represented by the barcode is read by optically reading the barcode with a barcode scanner. Is possible. Therefore, the product sales data processing apparatus executes product sales data processing using the read product data.

  On the other hand, in recent years, as described in Patent Literature 1, it has been proposed to read product data using RFID technology. Such technology is highly expected as a means to realize a ubiquitous society.

JP 2002-083369 A

  As a form in which the checkout process is executed using the merchandise sales data processing apparatus, typically, a store clerk reads the merchandise data of the merchandise brought by the customer with a barcode scanner. At this time, even when a handy scanner is used or when a stationary scanner is used, an operation for reading the barcode attached to the product with the barcode scanner is required.

  On the other hand, since RFID is a wireless communication technology, when product data is read using the RFID technology, an aggressive product data reading operation is not necessarily required. Therefore, it is desired to realize a product data reading method with less labor.

  The present invention is used on a checkout counter adjacent to an occupied space for a placed product basket (or product) and used for the product stored in the product basket (or the product described above). In the merchandise sales data processing apparatus that reads merchandise data of the product and executes merchandise sales data processing based on the read merchandise data, an RFID tag attached to the merchandise stored in the merchandise basket (or the merchandise placed above) The product data stored in the RFID tag is acquired by executing wireless communication between the RFID antenna and the RFID antenna used in this case is positioned at a position facing the occupied space. And installed in the housing of the product sales data processing apparatus.

  The present invention also defines a merchandise sales data processing system that combines the checkout counter and the merchandise sales data processing apparatus.

  According to the present invention, since the RFID antenna is disposed at a position facing the occupied space for the product basket, the product basket for storing the product to be purchased can be placed and positioned in the occupied space. The product data stored in the RFID tag attached to the product can be read, so neither the store clerk nor the customer need to perform any specific action to acquire the product data, reducing the labor for that. can do.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of the entire product sales data processing system as viewed from the store clerk side. In FIG. 1, the part surrounded by a circle as “the clerk side” does not constitute the merchandise sales data processing system, but schematically shows the side where the clerk is arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the product sales data processing system 101 has a checkout counter 201 having a table configuration. The checkout counter 201 has a top plate 202 on the upper surface, and an occupied space 203 for the product basket 301 placed thereon is secured on the top plate 202. The product basket 301 is a bag for storing and carrying the product 302 that the customer intends to purchase. In the operation of the merchandise sales data processing system according to the present embodiment, the merchandise 302 that the customer intends to purchase is stored in the merchandise basket 301, brought to the checkout counter 201, placed, and positioned in the occupied space 203. It has become.

  The merchandise sales data processing system 101 includes a merchandise sales data processing apparatus 401 that is used by being mounted on the checkout counter 201 in addition to the checkout counter 201. The merchandise sales data processing device 401 is arranged at a position adjacent to the right side of the occupied space 203 for the merchandise basket 301 as viewed from the store clerk side.

  The merchandise sales data processing apparatus 401 will be described. The merchandise sales data processing apparatus 401 includes a drawer 402 and a POS terminal 403 placed on the drawer 402. The POS terminal 403 includes a housing 404 that accommodates each unit, and a display 405 separately from the housing 404. As the display 405, there are provided an operator display 405a and a customer display 405b. A keyboard 406 is disposed on the upper surface of the housing 404, and a printer cover 407 is provided on the right side of the keyboard 406 when viewed from the store clerk side. The printer cover 407 is a cover that covers a later-described printer 441 housed in the housing 404, and has a receipt issuing port 408 for issuing a receipt.

  The POS terminal 403 executes communication using the RFID technology with the product 302 stored in the product basket 301. That is, each product 302 is provided with an RFID tag 303 that stores product data such as a product code of the product 302. Therefore, the POS terminal 403 performs wireless communication with the RFID tag 303 attached to the product 302 stored in the product basket 301, thereby acquiring product data stored in the RFID tag 303 (wireless communication means). ). At this time, the wireless communication unit realizes wireless communication with the RFID tag 303 via the RFID antenna 409. The RFID antenna 409 is provided in the housing 404 so as to face the occupied space 203 for the commodity basket 301 placed thereon. In order to realize such an arrangement of the RFID antenna 409, in this embodiment, as an example, the product sales data processing apparatus 401, that is, the RFID 402 on the left side when viewed from the store clerk side of the drawer 402 and the POS terminal 403 is used. An antenna 409 is attached. At this position, since the merchandise sales data processing device 401 is disposed adjacent to the occupied space 203, the RFID antenna 409 is positioned at a position facing the occupied space 203.

  FIG. 2 is a side view of the entire product sales data processing system. In FIG. 2, the portions surrounded by circles as “the clerk side” and “the customer side” do not constitute a product sales data processing system, but schematically show the side where the clerk and the customer are arranged. Referring to FIG. 2, the arrangement position between the store clerk and the customer and the arrangement relationship between the RFID antenna 409 and the occupied space 203 will become clearer.

  As is clear from FIGS. 1 and 2, the arrangement position of the RFID antenna 409 of this embodiment is lower than the height of the product basket 301.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of electrical connection of each part in the POS terminal 403. Each unit such as the display 405, the keyboard 406, and the printer 441 described above is controlled by the microcomputer 451. The microcomputer 451 is configured such that a ROM 453 and a RAM 454 are connected to a CPU 452 that executes various arithmetic processes and centrally controls each unit. The microcomputer 451 configured in this manner is connected to a display 405 via a display I / F 455, a keyboard 406 via a keyboard I / F 456, and a printer 441 via a printer I / F 457. It is connected. Further, for example, an external I / F 458 for realizing signal communication with an external device such as the drawer 402, and a communication for realizing data communication with an external device such as a store controller (not shown). An I / F 459 is also connected to the microcomputer 451.

  As described above, the POS terminal 403 includes a wireless communication unit. The wireless communication means performs wireless communication via the RFID antenna 409 with the RFID tag 303 attached to the product 302 stored in the product basket 301, thereby acquiring product data stored in the RFID tag 303. To do. As a configuration for realizing such a function, the POS terminal 403 includes an RFID radio unit 460. The RFID wireless unit 460 is connected to a microcomputer 451 so that digital data can be transmitted to and received from the microcomputer 451. The RFID wireless unit 460 incorporates a wireless communication circuit that connects the RFID antenna 409 and realizes wireless communication with the RFID tag 303 attached to the product 302 via the RFID antenna 409. is doing.

  In this embodiment, a passive tag is used as the RFID tag 303 attached to the product 302. Therefore, the RFID wireless unit 460 can supply power to the RFID tag 303, specifically, as an example, supplies power to the RFID tag 303 by an electromagnetic induction method. In this case, as an example, the RFID radio unit 460 of the present embodiment uses a 13.56 MHz frequency band. Since the RFID communication using this frequency band has a communication distance of about 1 m at maximum, it is between the RFID tags 303 attached to all the products 302 stored in the product basket 301 positioned in the occupied space 203. This is because this is a communication method suitable for executing the communication. In other words, the RFID communication using the 13.56 MHz frequency band is requested to communicate with the RFID tags 303 attached to all the products 302 stored in the product basket 301 without omission and in the occupied space 203. The request to suppress communication with the RFID tag 303 attached to the other product 302 other than the product 302 stored in the positioned product basket 301 can be ideally harmonized.

  However, the communicable distance in the RFID communication technology depends on the strength of the magnetic flux of the RFID antenna 409, the number of turns of the coil on the RFID tag 303 side, and the like, and therefore electromagnetic waves using the 13.56 MHz frequency band are not necessarily used. The guidance method is not the only option. It goes without saying that other options are acceptable as long as the two requirements described above can be harmonized.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of merchandise sales data processing. The CPU 452 waits for determination of whether or not product data is read (step S101). In this state, when the product basket 301 containing the product 302 is placed in the occupied space 203 of the checkout counter 201, the RFID wireless unit 460 is attached to the product 302 via the RFID antenna 409. Power is supplied to the RFID tag 303 by electromagnetic induction. At this time, since the RFID wireless unit 460 carries command data for instructing transmission of product data to the power supply current passed through the RFID tag 303, the RFID tag 303 responds to the command with the product data, at least the product data. A radio wave carrying code information is transmitted to the RFID antenna 409. The RFID radio unit 460 receives a radio wave carrying a product code via the RFID antenna 409, amplifies and detects the radio wave, and converts it into a digital signal. Therefore, the RFID wireless unit 460 transmits the converted digital signal to the CPU 452, so that the CPU 452 recognizes the product data including the product code. Thereby, the CPU 452 determines that the commodity data has been read (Y in Step S101), updates the transaction file (Step S102), and updates the screen display (Step S103).

  In the update of the transaction file in step S102, a process for temporarily storing the product data determined to have been read in step S101 in a transaction file (not shown) generated for each transaction is executed. At this time, if necessary, the product name and unit price of the product specified by the product data are called from a PLU (not shown) based on the read product data, and the subtotal amount is calculated. In the update of the screen display in step S103, a process of displaying the product name specified by the read product data, the unit price, the subtotal amount obtained by calculation, and the like on the display 405 is executed.

  Following step S103, the CPU 452 determines whether a tightening operation has been performed (step S104). The closing operation is performed, for example, by pressing a specific key such as a deposit / cash key using the keyboard 406. Therefore, when the CPU 452 receives the specific key pressing signal, it executes a settlement process (step S105). In the settlement process, for example, a receipt issuance by the printer 441, transaction data registration process, etc., drawer drawer opening and the like are executed.

  Thereafter, the CPU 452 returns the screen of the display 405 to the initial display (step S106), clears the transaction file (step S107), and ends the merchandise sales data processing for one transaction.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the product clerk 301 containing the product 302 to be purchased by the customer is simply placed on the checkout counter 201 and positioned in the occupied space 203, so that the store clerk can The product data recorded by the RFID tag 303 attached to the product 302 is read without any operation on the part of the customer. Therefore, it is possible to reduce labor for the operation for reading the product data. As a result, an efficient checkout process can be realized.

It is the whole front view seen from the salesclerk side. It is the whole side view. It is a block diagram of the electrical connection of each part. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a merchandise sales data process.

Explanation of symbols

201: checkout counter, 203: occupied space, 301: merchandise basket, 302: merchandise, 303: RFID tag, 401: merchandise sales data processing apparatus, 404: housing, 409: RFID antenna, 409 and 460: wireless communication means (RFID antenna and RFID radio unit)

Claims (5)

On the checkout counter, the product data of the product that is used adjacent to the occupied space for the placed product basket and is stored in the product basket is input, and the product sales data based on the input product data In the merchandise sales data processing apparatus that executes processing,
A housing for storing each part;
Wireless communication means for acquiring product data stored in the RFID tag by executing wireless communication with the RFID tag attached to the product stored in the product basket via an RFID antenna;
And a product sales data processing device, wherein the RFID antenna is provided in the housing so as to face the occupied space.   2. The merchandise sales data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an arrangement position of the RFID antenna is set lower than a height of the merchandise basket. A checkout counter having an occupied space for the placed product basket;
Merchandise sales data processing that is used adjacent to the occupied space on the checkout counter and receives merchandise data of merchandise stored in the merchandise basket, and executes merchandise sales data processing based on the entered merchandise data Equipment,
In a product sales data processing system comprising:
The merchandise sales data processing device includes:
A housing for storing each part;
The RFID tag is attached to an RFID tag attached to a product stored in the product basket by performing wireless communication via an RFID antenna provided in the housing, in a position facing the occupied space. Wireless communication means for acquiring product data stored in the tag;
A product sales data processing system comprising: Product sales data that is used adjacent to the occupied space for the placed product on the checkout counter, receives the product data of the product, and executes product sales data processing based on the input product data In the processing device,
A housing for storing each part;
Wireless communication means for acquiring product data stored in the RFID tag by performing wireless communication with the RFID tag attached to the product via an RFID antenna;
And a product sales data processing device, wherein the RFID antenna is provided in the housing so as to face the occupied space. A checkout counter having an occupied space for the placed goods;
A product sales data processing device that is used adjacent to the occupied space on the checkout counter, receives product data of the product, and executes product sales data processing based on the input product data;
In a product sales data processing system comprising:
The merchandise sales data processing device includes:
A housing for storing each part;
Product data stored in the RFID tag by performing wireless communication with the RFID tag attached to the product through an RFID antenna provided in the housing in a position facing the occupied space A wireless communication means for acquiring
A product sales data processing system comprising:

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