JP2007128257A - Coupon ticket and pos system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coupon ticket and POS system for acquiring large sales promotion effects. <P>SOLUTION: This coupon ticket 1 having an information code 11 which can be read by a POS system 2, is provided with: information 13 relating to specific merchandise; display 12 showing possibility that at least one condition among a plurality of conditions is applied when the specific merchandise is purchased; and the information code 11 to which at least one condition among the plurality of conditions is applied. This POS system 2 uses the coupon ticket 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a coupon having an information code readable by a POS system and a POS system using the coupon.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of coupon ticket, one that can receive a predetermined amount of discount from the price of a product when a specific product is purchased is known (for example, Patent Document 1).
In supermarkets and convenience stores, the above coupons are used for the purpose of promoting sales of specific products. Such a coupon is installed, for example, in the vicinity where the product is displayed, and the customer can receive a discount of a predetermined amount from the price of the product by submitting the coupon when accounting for the product.
JP-A-9-259363

  In such a coupon, since the same discount is given to all customers using the coupon, the discount amount per person has to be small. As a result, even when coupon coupons are distributed, there is a problem that the customer's appetite for purchasing the product cannot be sufficiently stimulated and a large sales promotion effect may not be expected.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a coupon and a POS system capable of obtaining a large sales promotion effect.

  A first characteristic configuration of the present invention is a coupon ticket having an information code readable by a POS system, and at least one of a plurality of types of conditions when information on a specific product and the specific product are purchased. There is an indication that there is a possibility that one condition may be applied, and an information code to which at least one condition among the plurality of conditions is assigned.

As in this configuration, the same condition is assigned to all coupons as in the past by making the content of the conditions different for each coupon while obscure which coupon is assigned to the customer. Compared with the case where it is done, the store side can stimulate the customer's willingness to purchase a specific product.
On the other hand, since the contents of the conditions are different for each coupon, the customer side can obtain a sense of expectation as to which conditions are applied. In addition, when conditions that make the user more interested are set, the expectation is further enhanced as compared with the case where the same conditions are applied to all coupons.

  A second characteristic configuration of the present invention is a coupon ticket having an information code that can be read by a POS system, and information on a specific product and at least one of a plurality of conditions can be obtained by purchasing the specific product. A point that there is a possibility that one condition may be applied, and an information code that can be processed by the condition assigning means provided in the POS system to assign at least one condition among the plurality of kinds of conditions. is there.

As in this configuration, while concealing which condition is assigned to which coupon to the customer, by changing the contents of the conditions assigned by the condition assigning means for each coupon, all coupon coupons as in the past Compared with the case where the same condition is assigned, the store side can urge the customer to purchase a specific product.
On the other hand, since the contents of the conditions are different for each coupon, the customer side can obtain a sense of expectation as to which conditions are applied. In addition, when conditions that make the user more interested are set, the expectation is further enhanced as compared with the case where the same conditions are applied to all coupons.

  The third characteristic configuration of the present invention includes information on a specific product, an indication that at least one condition among a plurality of types of conditions may be applied if the specific product is purchased, and the plurality The coupon is provided with an information code to which at least one condition among the conditions of the type is assigned, and when performing the accounting process by presenting the coupon, the person who has purchased the specific product receives the plural Among the types of conditions, the condition assigned to the information code read by the POS terminal is applicable.

As in this configuration, the store side will encourage customers to purchase specific products by making the content of the conditions different for each coupon while obscure which coupon is assigned to the customer. Can do.
On the other hand, the customer can get a sense of expectation as to which conditions are applied. In addition, when conditions that make the user more interested are set, the expectation is further enhanced as compared with the case where the same conditions are applied to all coupons.
Furthermore, since the POS system is configured to be able to apply the condition assigned to the information code read from a plurality of types of conditions, the conditions can be applied only by performing the accounting process. As a result, it is possible to apply the conditions using the coupon ticket without performing complicated application procedures and condition application work on both the store side and the customer side.

  A fourth characteristic configuration of the present invention is information in which at least one condition among the plurality of types of conditions is assigned to apply at least one of the plurality of types of conditions to a person who has purchased a specific product. When a plurality of types of coupons having a code are prepared, and two or more coupons are presented and an accounting process is performed once, an information code relating to the same type of conditions among the plurality of types of conditions is POS. When the terminal reads a plurality of times, it is provided with a restricting means for restricting the application of the same type of condition in duplicate, and the content of the restricted condition is a coupon ticket that has not been used yet. It is the point provided with the condition re-allocation means which re-allocates to the other kind coupon ticket which has the information code which allocated the content of the other conditions different from the content of the performed conditions.

As in this configuration, the POS system has a limiting means, so that even if a customer submits multiple coupons to which the same type of condition is assigned in one accounting process, the condition is duplicated. Can be prevented. In addition, since the POS system has the condition reassignment means, the conditions whose application is restricted can be applied in other accounting processes.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the same type of condition from being repeatedly applied to a specific customer, and it is possible to apply the condition to a wide range of customers.

  According to a fifth feature configuration of the present invention, in addition to the fourth feature configuration of the present invention, after the reassignment of the content of the condition is limited to the application of the overlapping condition, the POS terminal is configured to apply the other type of coupon. The point is that it is performed after reading a predetermined number of tickets.

  As in this configuration, reassignment of the condition contents is limited by restricting the application of overlapping conditions and then after the POS terminal has read a preset number of other types of coupons, limiting the application of the conditions If the number of coupons of other types read after being stored is stored, the conditions can be reassigned. Therefore, conditions can be reassigned without a complicated configuration.

  A sixth characteristic configuration of the present invention includes information regarding a specific product, a display that at least one of a plurality of types of conditions may be applied if the specific product is purchased, and a POS system When the coupon is provided with an information code that can be read in, and when the accounting process is performed by presenting the coupon, at least one of the multiple types of conditions is given to the person who purchased the specific product. In order to apply one condition, a condition allocating means for allocating at least one condition among the plurality of kinds of conditions to the information code read by the POS terminal is provided.

As in this configuration, the store side purchases the customer's specific product by changing the contents of the condition assigned by the condition assigning means for each coupon while obscure which coupon is assigned to the customer. Can motivate.
On the other hand, the customer can get a sense of expectation as to which conditions are applied. In addition, when conditions that make the user more interested are set, the expectation is further enhanced as compared with the case where the same conditions are applied to all coupons.
Furthermore, since the POS system includes a condition assigning unit that assigns at least one condition among a plurality of kinds of conditions to the read information code, the condition can be applied only by performing accounting processing. As a result, it is possible to apply the conditions using the coupon ticket without performing complicated application procedures and condition application work on both the store side and the customer side.

(Coupon)
FIG. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of a coupon 1 according to the present invention. The coupon 1 can be applied under certain conditions if a specific product is purchased. The types of conditions are not limited to discounts, discounts, and quantity additions for that particular product, but various types of gifts such as cash vouchers, bicycles, and electrical appliances that can be used at the store, and services such as beauty treatment and travel You can list the benefits. In addition, this condition can include a so-called “Kara Kuji” in which no privilege is provided even though the coupon 1 is submitted during the accounting process including the specific product. In the coupon ticket 1, for example, advertisement information 13 of the product is described. In addition, there is a display 12 indicating that there is a possibility that at least one of a plurality of conditions may be applied if the product is purchased. Specifically, for example, if the first prize comes out, it will be further discounted by 1000 yen from the store price. If it comes out, it displays “1000 yen discount from the store price”. The information code 11 is assigned with at least one of the plurality of conditions. The general customer cannot determine which condition is given to the information code 11.
For this reason, when a barcode is used as the information code 11, it is preferable to delete the number representing the content of the barcode attached to the side of the normal barcode.
In addition to the information related to the conditions, for example, any information such as information related to a product that can use the coupon 1 can be assigned to the information code 11 described above.
Note that the information code 11 used for the coupon 1 according to the present invention is not limited to a bar code, and any information code 11 that can be read by other POS systems 2 such as a two-dimensional code may be used.
Moreover, in the normal coupon ticket 1, the information code 11 is attached | subjected small to the edge of the coupon ticket 1 so that it may not stand out. However, in the coupon 1 according to the present invention, it is preferable that the information code 11 is attached to a large area near the center of the coupon 1 so as to stand out. By adopting such a configuration, customers can further increase their expectation of what conditions will be applied to them.

(POS system)
FIG. 2 shows an example of a POS system 2 that can use the coupon 1 of the present invention. The POS system 2 includes a store computer 4 that manages information about products and coupons 1 and a POS terminal 3 that reads information codes 11 and calculates prices. The POS terminal 3 and the store computer 4 are connected by wire or wireless via communication interfaces 35 and 43.
A plurality of POS terminals 3 may be connected to one store computer 4. Moreover, although the example which connected the store computer 4 and the POS terminal 3 via the communication interfaces 35 and 43 with which both were shown was shown, even if it is an apparatus provided integrally with the various functions which both have Good.

  The store computer 4 is a computer that functions as a so-called POS host, and includes a communication interface 43 that transmits and receives data to and from the POS terminal 3, an application unit 41 in which various functions are constructed using software, and various data that can be read out. The database 42 is provided.

  The application unit 41 reads information from various files stored in the database 42, and performs a database update unit 41b that performs a modification process according to coupon information. And have.

  The database 42 includes, for example, a product management unit 42a that records product information such as product names and product prices, and a coupon information unit 42b that records coupon information related to discounts on the coupon 1 and the like. Moreover, when the information code 11 with which the coupon ticket 1 was read is read, it has the 1st register | resistor 42c which stores the coupon information according to the information code 11 during the accounting process. Furthermore, when application of conditions is restricted, it has the 2nd register | resistor 42d which stores the coupon information which concerns on the restricted conditions.

  The POS terminal 3 includes an information code reader 37 that can read the information code 11 attached to the coupon 1 and an information code attached to the product, a reading unit 31 that can read the information read by the information code reader 37, a store A storage unit 32 that can store information acquired from the computer 4 and information read from the reading unit 31, a calculation unit 33 that performs accounting processing based on the information stored in the storage unit 32, and a calculation result and the like are displayed on the display 36. A display unit 34 capable of display is provided. In addition, a communication interface 35 for transmitting / receiving data to / from the store computer 4 is provided.

(POS system operation)
Next, the operation of the POS system 2 will be described with reference to FIG. When the customer brings the merchandise and the coupon 1 to the accounting place, the store clerk uses the information code attached to the merchandise (hereinafter referred to as “product code”) and the information code 11 attached to the coupon 1 (hereinafter referred to as “product code”). (Referred to as “coupon code”) is read by the reading unit 31 (# 1).
When the product code is read, the POS terminal 3 accesses the product management file via the database management means 41a and acquires product information such as the price of the product. The computing unit 33 of the POS terminal 3 calculates the total price Σ of the product based on the acquired product information (# 2). Further, the coupon code is transmitted to the store computer 4, and the discount calculation means 41b calculates the discount total Δ based on the coupon information corresponding to the transmitted coupon code (# 3). The calculation unit 33 acquires the discount total Δ calculated by the discount calculation means 41b, calculates the price Σ−Δ after discount by the coupon 1 (# 4), and performs accounting processing (# 5).

(Calculation of total discount)
Next, calculation of the discount total Δ by the discount calculation means 41b will be described. When a coupon code is read from the POS terminal 3, coupon information corresponding to the coupon code is transmitted to the first register 42c. In the first register 42c, it is determined whether or not there is duplication of specific coupon information related to a specific condition for which duplication is restricted (# 31a). When there is no duplication of the specific coupon information (No branch of # 31), the coupon information is stored as it is in the first register 42c. On the other hand, if the specific coupon information is duplicated (Yes branch of # 31a), only one of the duplicated items is stored, the other coupon information is not stored, and the duplicate is allowed instead. Coupon information is stored (# 31b), and the limited specific coupon information is stored in the second register 42d (# 31c).

As described above, when specific coupon information is restricted, the coupon information is a coupon code that satisfies a predetermined requirement read in the subsequent accounting process (for example, a coupon code that has been read a predetermined time after restriction of coupon information). No. coupon code, etc.) (Yes branch of # 32). As described above, the coupon information is reassigned, and at the same time, the coupon information stored in the second register 42d is deleted (# 34). Thereafter, the specific coupon information is confirmed and restricted as described above (# 31). Thereafter, a discount amount Δ is calculated based on the finally acquired coupon information (# 33).
Here, the discount calculation means 41b and the first register 42c function as a restriction means, and the discount calculation means 41b and the second register 42d function as a condition reassignment means, respectively. And assign.
Note that the predetermined number of times may be set in advance, or may be determined by a random number generator or the like when the restriction is performed by the restriction unit, for example. Moreover, the predetermined coupon code etc. which were read first after predetermined time progress after conditions were restrict | limited may be sufficient.
Further, the restricting means and the condition reassigning means are not essential components, and a condition corresponding to the read coupon code may be applied regardless of overlapping conditions.

(Operation of the first register)
An example of the first register 42c will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a case where there is coupon information 1 to 5 and the coupon information 1 to 4 is specific coupon information prohibited from overlapping application will be described as an example.
The first register 42c includes a storage unit (A1, B1, C1, D1, E1, E2,...) That stores each coupon information for each coupon information for each accounting process. One coupon information can be stored in each storage unit, “1” is displayed in the storage unit storing the coupon information, and “0” is displayed in the storage unit not storing the coupon information. Is done. That is, FIG. 5 shows an example in which the coupon information 2 is stored in the storage unit B1, and the coupon information 5 is stored in the storage unit E1 and the storage unit E2.
For example, when coupon information 1 which is specific coupon information not yet stored in this state is transmitted, the coupon information is stored in the storage unit A1, and the display of the storage unit A1 changes from “0” to “1”. Be changed. When coupon information 5 that is not specific coupon information is transmitted, the coupon information is stored in E3. On the other hand, when the coupon information 2 which is the specific coupon information already stored is transmitted, the storage unit B1 corresponding to the coupon information 2 cannot newly store the coupon information, and the coupon information 2 is not stored. . Then, instead of the coupon information 2, coupon information 5 is stored in the storage unit E3.
Thus, by limiting the number of storage units corresponding to specific coupon information, it is limited that specific coupon information overlaps. In addition, although the example which can store only one identical specific coupon information was shown in this example, for example, the storage part corresponding to the coupon information 4 is made into two, D1 and D2, etc., and duplication is carried out within a predetermined number of times. It may be configured to allow.

(Operation of the second register)
An example of the second register 42d will be described with reference to FIG. The second register 42d has a storage unit for storing coupon information whose storage is restricted by the first register 42c. When the coupon information restricted by the first register 42c is stored, for example, “1” is displayed in the corresponding storage unit to indicate that the restricted coupon information is stored. The number at the left end in the figure indicates the order in which the coupon information is stored. In this example, coupon information 3 and coupon information 2 are stored, coupon information 3 is stored first, and then coupon information 2 is stored. And these coupon information is allocated with respect to the coupon code which satisfy | filled predetermined requirements, such as the said coupon information 5 being read five times after the said coupon information was stored, for example, and 2nd register It is deleted from 42d (for example, the display of “1” in FIG. 6 disappears). As described above, the second register 42d stores the limited coupon information, and reassigns the coupon information to another coupon code.

(Use form of coupon)
Next, an example using the coupon 1 and the POS system 2 according to the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, as an example of the condition, an example in the case of discounting the amount corresponding to the type of coupon code will be described.
A store or the like that executes the lottery registers coupon information such as a discount amount for each coupon 1 in advance in the coupon information section 42b. Specifically, for example, five types of coupon codes 1 to 5 are used, coupon code 1 is discounted by 1000 yen, coupon code 2 is discounted by 400 yen, coupon code 3 is discounted by 100 yen, coupon code 4 is 50 yen And 10 yen discount is allocated to the coupon code 5 and registered in the coupon information part 42b. In addition, the coupon codes 1 to 4 are registered as specific coupon information that does not apply the same type of condition in the same transaction. Moreover, when the overlapping specific coupon information is restrict | limited, it sets so that the limited coupon information may be allocated to the coupon code 5 read in the 5th time, for example in the accounting process after a restriction | limiting.

And the coupon ticket 1 which has each coupon code is prepared according to the application frequency | count of application of each condition. For example, the application schedule number of the entire condition is 100 times, two coupon tickets 1 having coupon code 1 (1000 yen discount), three coupon tickets 1 having coupon code 2 (400 yen discount), coupon code 3 ( 5 coupon coupons 1 having 100 yen discount), 10 coupon coupons 1 having coupon code 4 (50 yen discount), and 80 coupon coupons 1 having coupon code 5 (10 yen discount) are prepared.
For example, the above coupon voucher 1 is arranged in the vicinity of the place where the product to be used of the coupon voucher 1 is displayed. Then, the customer who purchases the product can bring the product and the coupon 1 to the accounting place and receive a discount of the amount allocated to the coupon 1 from the total price.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the result when this lottery is executed. In the accounting process 1, it is assumed that the customer has submitted two coupon tickets 1 having a coupon code 1 and one coupon ticket 1 having a coupon code 4. Since the coupon voucher 1 having the coupon code 1 is submitted in duplicate, the coupon code 1 read for the second time is assigned a 10 yen discount instead of a 1000 yen discount by the limiting means. In addition, when two coupons 1 having coupon code 5 are submitted twice as in accounting process 2, the 10 yen discount condition is allowed to be duplicated, so a discount of 20 yen in total is allowed. Is done. Thereafter, when the coupon code 5 is read in the accounting process 6, that is, when the coupon code 5 is read for the fifth time after the application of the 1000 yen discount by the restricting means is restricted, The condition reassignment means allocates a 1000 yen discount that was limited in application. In the subsequent accounting process 7, since there is no limited condition, a discount according to the coupon code is applied.

  As in the past, when trying to give a uniform discount to all coupon coupon 1 users, if the discount amount is small with respect to the price of the target product of coupon 1, There may be no motivation to purchase the product. However, by changing the discount amount according to the coupon code as in the coupon 1 according to the present invention, the customer's willingness to purchase the product is increased in expectation of a large discount.

Moreover, what is necessary is just to determine arbitrarily the discount amount of the coupon 1 irrespective of the price of goods. In the case of the above-described embodiment, the maximum discount amount is 1000 yen, but it can also be applied to a product with a price of 700 yen, for example. When coupon ticket 1 with 1000 yen discount is submitted, discount up to 1000 yen from the total price of the product price including the target product of coupon 1 will be discounted 700 yen when only the target product is purchased When other products are also purchased, a discount may be made with the upper limit of 1000 yen from the total product price. In this case, the customer is expected to be motivated to purchase products other than the target product, and sales are expected to increase as a store.
In addition, limiting means and condition reassignment means can be provided to prevent duplicate application of the same condition to the same customer, so that a large amount of discount can be applied to many customers, and the customer's willingness to purchase is further increased. Can be aroused.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been shown in which the limiting means limits the discount of the same amount in one accounting process. However, the restricting means is not limited to the above-mentioned form. For example, the coupon codes 1 to 4 are “winning” and the coupon code 5 is “off”, and “winning” is applied in a single accounting process. You may comprise so that it may not. In this case, when the “win” coupon code is read a plurality of times, the discount with the largest discount amount among the “win” can be applied, and the others can be “out of”. Further, the discount assigned to the coupon code that is read first among the “around” may be applied, and the others may be “out of”.
By configuring the limiting means in this way, it is possible to prevent a large discount from being applied to the same customer, for example, a 1000 yen discount and a 400 yen discount are applied simultaneously in one accounting process. As a result, since a large amount of discount may be applied to more customers, a wide range of customers can be motivated to purchase.

  In the above-described embodiment, the discount of the amount corresponding to the type of coupon code is described as an example as a condition. However, the discount of the rate corresponding to the type of coupon code may be performed.

[Another embodiment]
In the embodiment described above, an example in which conditions are assigned in advance for each information code 11 has been shown. However, after the POS terminal 3 reads the information code 11, conditions are assigned by the condition assigning means provided in the POS system 2. It may be configured. Specifically, the POS system 2 is provided with random number generation means. For example, when the number indicated by the information code 11 and the number generated by the random number generation means match, it is determined to be “hit”. It is possible to apply the conditions according to each.
In the present embodiment, the information code 11 may be of a plurality of types, but even if the information code 11 is of one type, the condition allocating unit may assign different conditions to the one type of information code. Is possible. Further, since the condition is not yet assigned to the information code 11 at the time when the customer gets the coupon 1, the condition assigned to the information code 11 can be surely hidden.

The figure which shows an example of the coupon which concerns on this invention The figure which shows an example of the POS system which concerns on this invention Flow chart showing the flow of operation of the POS system Flow chart showing the flow of total discount calculation The figure which shows an example which restricts the duplicate application of the condition of the same kind Diagram showing an example of how to reassign conditions The figure which shows the Example using a coupon and a POS system

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coupon ticket 11 Information code 12 Information about specific goods 13 Display about conditions 2 POS system 3 POS terminal

Claims (6)

A coupon having an information code readable by a POS system,
Information about specific products,
An indication that there is a possibility that at least one of the multiple types of conditions will apply if you purchase the particular product,
A coupon comprising an information code to which at least one condition among the plurality of conditions is assigned. A coupon having an information code readable by a POS system,
Information about specific products,
An indication that there is a possibility that at least one of the multiple types of conditions will apply if you purchase the particular product,
A coupon comprising an information code that can be processed by a condition assigning means provided in the POS system so as to assign at least one condition among the plurality of kinds of conditions. Information on a specific product, an indication that at least one of the multiple types of conditions may be applied if the specific product is purchased, and at least one of the multiple types of conditions Prepare a coupon with the assigned information code,
When performing the accounting process by presenting the coupon,
A POS system capable of applying a condition assigned to an information code read by a POS terminal from among the plurality of types of conditions to a person who has purchased the specific product. In order to apply at least one of a plurality of types of conditions to a person who has purchased a specific product, a plurality of types of coupon vouchers having an information code assigned with at least one of the plurality of types of conditions Prepare
When presenting two or more coupon coupons and performing a single transaction,
When the POS terminal reads the information code related to the same type of conditions among the plurality of types of conditions a plurality of times, the POS terminal includes a limiting unit that limits the application of the same type of conditions in duplicate,
Reassign the contents of the restricted conditions to other types of coupons that have information codes assigned to other coupons that have not been used yet and are different from the restricted conditions. A POS system comprising condition reassignment means.   5. The POS system according to claim 4, wherein the reassignment of the contents of the conditions is performed after the application of overlapping conditions is restricted and then the POS terminal reads the preset number of the other types of coupon tickets. Information regarding a specific product, an indication that at least one of a plurality of types of conditions may be applied if the specific product is purchased, and an information code readable by the POS system Prepare a coupon
When performing the accounting process by presenting the coupon,
Condition assignment for allocating at least one of the plurality of types of conditions to the information code read by the POS terminal so as to apply at least one of the plurality of types of conditions to a person who has purchased the specific product POS system with means.

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