JP2007265184A - Commodity control system and commodity control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a commodity control system and a commodity control method capable of applying reserving processing, payment processing and cancellation processing to a desired commodity to be purchased. <P>SOLUTION: A POS (point of sales) terminal 14 comprises a printer 30 that transmits inquiry of reserved commodity to a host computer 13, receives reserving information, and prints the reserving information, and a bar code reader 29 for reading the reserving information. A store server 16 has an inventory database 45 for registering commodity information, updates the commodity information of the inventory database 45, and receives and transmits the inquiry of reserved commodity information from the host computer 13. The host computer 13 receives the inquiry of the reserved commodity from the POS terminal 14, and transmits the inquiry of the reserved commodity information to each store server 16. The host computer 13 receives an answer of the reserved commodity information from each store server 16, specifies the store based on the reserved commodity information, registers the reserving information into a reserving database 55, and transmits the reserving information to the POS terminal 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a merchandise management system and merchandise management method for performing merchandise storage processing, settlement processing, and cancellation processing.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an inventory management system and an inventory management method are known in which when there is a product that a user desires to purchase, a store server accessible via a user terminal and a network can reserve or reserve the product. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-269417 A

  However, conventionally, when a product is placed, if the user terminal is not owned, the product cannot be placed.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a merchandise management system and a merchandise management method capable of easily placing, settlement, and canceling merchandise desired to be purchased at a store.

  In the merchandise management system according to the present invention, the POS terminal includes a detained merchandise transmission unit that transmits an inquiry about a depot product to a higher-level device, a depot information reception unit that receives depot information from the upper-level device, Printing means for printing the placement information; and reading means for reading the placement information. The store server includes an inventory database for registering product information, an update means for updating product information in the inventory database, a placed product information receiving means for receiving a query for placed product information from a host device, and the placed product. Installed product information transmitting means for transmitting information to a host device. The host device includes a receiving unit that receives an inquiry about the stored product from the POS terminal, a stored product information transmitting unit that transmits a query about the stored product information to each store server, and each store server. An answer receiving means for receiving an answer to the placed product information; a specifying means for identifying the store server based on the received placed product information; a placed database for storing the placed information; and the POS And a placement information transmitting means for transmitting the placement information to a terminal.

  In the merchandise management method according to the present invention, the POS terminal transmits an inquiry about a stored product to a host device, a step of receiving storage information from the host device, and a step of printing the storage information; Reading the placement information. A store server receiving received product information from the host device, transmitting the stored product information to the host device, identifying a specific store server from the host device, and an inventory database Updating. The host device receives an inquiry about the stored product from the POS terminal, receives an answer to the stored product information of each store server, specifies the store server, and Registering the placement information in the placement database; and transmitting the placement information to the POS terminal.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily carry out a placement process, a settlement process, and a cancellation process for a product desired to be purchased.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a product management system according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the merchandise management system is configured by connecting a store system 11 constructed in each store and a host computer 13 installed in the headquarters via a network 12 such as a dedicated line or the Internet. Has been.

  The store system 11 is, for example, a convenience store that is centrally managed via a plurality of POS (Point Of Sales) terminals 14 installed at a checkout counter of a convenience store and a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) 15. It is comprised from the store server 16 installed in the backyard.

  The host computer 13 collects and manages sales data management and product inventory management data of the POS terminal 14 and the store server 16 as a host device of the store system 11.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the POS terminal 14.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each POS terminal 14 stores in advance a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 22 as a control unit main body and fixed data such as a startup program for starting the CPU 22 with respect to the system bus 21. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 23, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 24 for storing various data in a rewritable manner, a clock unit 25 for clocking the current date and time, and a communication controller 26 for controlling data communication with the host computer 13 And a memory 27 composed of an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like for accessing the built-in hard disk to read / write data, a numeric key, an execution key, a cancel key, a PLU key, a multiplication key, a department key, etc. A keyboard 28 as an operation unit provided with a product registration key, a deposit / cash key, a settlement key such as a credit key, and a bar A barcode reader 29 as a reading means for optically reading a card; a printer 30 as a printing means for performing receipt printing; and a product code, a product name, a unit price, a quantity, an installed product, and an installed product of a registered product A control circuit is configured by connecting a display 31 as display means for displaying information, placement information, and the like.

  The POS terminal 14 is configured to perform online communication with the store server 16 via the LAN 15 from the communication controller 26 connected via the system bus 21.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the store server 16.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the store server 16 has a CPU 42, a ROM 43, a RAM 44, an inventory database (hereinafter referred to as an inventory DB) 45, a timer 46, a communication controller 47, A keyboard 48 and a display 49 are connected to each other.

  In the stock DB 45, a product name, a unit price, product image information, and a product quantity are registered in correspondence with a product code that is product information. The merchandise quantity registered in the stock DB 45 is updated and increased based on a command from the CPU 42 of the store server 16.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the host computer 13.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the host computer 13 has a CPU 52, a ROM 53, a RAM 54, a storage database (hereinafter referred to as storage DB) 55, and a store database (hereinafter referred to as store DB) with respect to the system bus 51. ) 56, a timer unit 57, a communication controller 58, a keyboard 59, and a display 60.

  In the storage D55, as shown in FIG. 5, as storage information printed on the storage receipt 71, for example, a shop name, product code, product name, quantity, storage expiration date corresponding to the management code Etc. are registered.

  In the store DB 56, for example, shop name, store location, nearest station, and handling product category are registered as registered data.

  In the product management system according to the present embodiment having the configuration described above, the POS terminal 14, for example, when the product code attached to the product is read by the bar code reader 29 of the POS terminal 14, the read product code is stored in the store. Queries the server 16.

  The store server 16 searches for a product code in a product master file (not shown), and transmits the search result to the POS terminal 14.

  The POS terminal 14 receives the product name, unit price, etc. corresponding to the product code, and displays the sales registration process on the display 31 based on the inquired product code, product name, unit price, etc.

  When the operator registers all the products to be purchased by the user and executes a settlement key operation, the POS terminal 14 calculates the total amount of the registered products and executes settlement processing. Further, the printer 30 prints out the receipt, and the sales registration data subjected to the sales registration process is transmitted to the store server 16 in the store via the LAN 15.

  In addition to the conventional function, the POS terminal 14 has a function of transmitting an inquiry about the stored product to the host computer 13 via the store server 16, a function of receiving the stored information and displaying it on the display 31, It has a function of registering information in the memory 27.

  The store server 16 accumulates the sales registration data from the POS terminal 14 in the store sales file, and the accumulated sales registration data is transmitted to the host computer 13 at a predetermined timing.

  When the store server 16 receives a data collection request such as payment from the host computer 13, the store server 16 requests each POS terminal 14 to collect sales data. The received sales data of each POS terminal 14 is aggregated, and the aggregated sales quantity of each product is registered in the input data file, and the input quantity is transmitted to the host computer 13 at the headquarters via the network 12.

When the store server 16 receives an inquiry about product information from the host computer 13, the store server 16 searches the stock DB 45, transmits the product code, product name and quantity of the search result to the host computer 13, and the product of the product in the stock DB 45. The host computer 13 having a function of subtracting the quantity has a function of managing sales data of the entire chain store based on sales data transmitted from the store server 16 of each store via the network 12, and a store server of each store 16, based on the sales data received from 16 and the delivery quantity of the product registered in the input data, etc., and a function for calculating the inventory quantity of each product in each store, and management of the received product inquiry from the POS terminal 14 The function of transmitting the storage product with the code to each store server 16 and the product from the inventory DB 45 of each store server 16 A function of receiving information and specifying the store from the store DB 56 based on the received product information, a function of registering the storage information in the storage DB 55, and a function of transmitting the storage information to the POS terminal 14 Have

  Next, when the product desired to be purchased is out of stock in the store, operations for placing the product, settlement processing, and canceling processing will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the placement process of the POS terminal 14, the host computer 13, and the store server 16 in the product management system according to the present embodiment. Here, the store server 16 is a store server 16 installed in another store other than the store of the POS terminal 14 as an inquiry source.

  First, the CPU 22 of the POS terminal 14 uses a host computer via the network 12 for a product that the user desires to purchase, that is, a retained product (here, at least a product code for identifying the product and a retained quantity). The inquiry of the stored product is transmitted to 13 (referred to as a stored product transmitting means) (step S11).

  When the CPU 52 of the host computer 13 receives an inquiry about a stored product (referred to as a stored product receiving means), it first creates a management code as a unique identifier for the inquiry about the stored product (step S12).

  Here, at least the store code of the inquiry source POS terminal 14, the POS terminal code, the product code, the storage quantity, etc. are attached to the management code (hereinafter referred to as storage product information).

  The CPU 52 transmits an inquiry for stored product information including a management code, a product code, and a storage quantity to each store server 16 of other stores, excluding the store where the stored product is inquired (referred to as an inquiry transmission unit) ( Step S13).

  The CPU 42 of each store server 16 receives an inquiry for stored product information including a management code (referred to as stored product information receiving means) (step S14).

  The CPU 42 searches for the stored product information from the product information in the inventory DB 45 based on the inquiry of the stored product information, and hosts the answer corresponding to the product code corresponding to the stored product information query together with the management code. The information is transmitted to the computer 13 (referred to as an in-placed product information transmitting means) (step S15).

  The CPU 52 of the host computer 13 receives an answer to the inquiry about the stored product information of each store server 16 (referred to as an answer receiving unit) and analyzes it based on the store information in the store DB 56 to identify the store server 16 (specifying unit) Called). And the notification of a temporary sales process is transmitted to the said store server 16 (step S16).

  Here, provisional sales processing refers to registering the product code, quantity, amount, and storage expiration date in the storage DB 55 of the host computer 13 corresponding to at least the management code of the storage information.

  As a condition for specifying the store server 16, for example, the store server 16 that owns a larger stock quantity than the placement quantity requested by the POS terminal 14 as the inquiry source is specified.

  Further, for stores with the same inventory quantity, the store server 16 is specified by adjusting in the order closer to the inquiry source store based on the store location of the store DB 56. Further, when the quantity is smaller than the quantity requested by the inquiry source POS terminal 14, when the quantity is satisfied at a plurality of shops, each shop server 16 is specified. However, adjustment is made so that the stock quantity of each store does not become zero.

  Further, the storage expiration date takes into account the delivery period from the merchandise source store to the inquiry source store.

  The CPU 52 of the host computer 13 registers the placement information in the placement DB 55 (step S17).

  The store server 16 receives a notification of provisional sales processing from the host computer 13 (step S18).

  The CPU 42 of the store server 16 subtracts and updates the product quantity of the product code registered in the inventory DB 45 by the reserved quantity (referred to as update means) (step S19).

  The CPU 52 of the host computer 13 transmits a response message of the placement information to the inquiring POS terminal 14 (referred to as a placement information transmission unit) (step S20).

  The CPU 22 of the POS terminal 14 receives a placement information response message from the host computer 13 (referred to as placement information receiving means) (step S21).

  The CPU 22 of the POS terminal 14 registers the response message of the placement information in the memory 27 (step S22).

  The CPU 22 of the POS terminal 14 prints and issues the contents of the storage information on the storage receipt 71 by the printer (referred to as printing means) 30 (step S23).

  The user receives the reserve receipt 71.

  In the placing process of the merchandise management system and method according to the present embodiment, the placing of the merchandise is valid if it is within the placing expiration date printed on the keeping receipt 71.

  In addition, the POS terminal 14 manages the storage expiration date of the stored product with reference to the timing data from the timing unit 25 from the time when the management code is received from the host computer 13, and the storage expiration date has expired. Sometimes, the corresponding management code may be automatically deleted from the memory 27.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of a settlement process among the POS terminal 14, the host 13, and the store server 16 in the merchandise management system.

  The user visits the store within the storage expiration date printed on the storage receipt 71 and performs a settlement process for the product. An operator who operates the POS terminal 14 at the settlement place and performs a settlement process for the product receives the reserve receipt 71 from the user and performs a part of the next operation.

  The CPU 22 of the POS terminal 14 reads the storage information of the storage receipt 71 with a bar code reader (referred to as reading means) 41 (step S31).

  The CPU 22 transmits an inquiry about the read placement information to the host computer 13 via the network 12 (step S32).

  The CPU 52 of the host computer 13 receives the placement information (step S33).

  The CPU 52 reads the placement information registered in the placement DB 55 based on the management code included in the received placement information (step S34).

  The CPU 52 transmits the placement information to the POS terminal (step S35).

  The CPU 22 of the POS terminal 14 receives the placement information from the host computer 13 (step S36).

  The CPU 22 collates the placement information in the placement DB 55 with the placement information in the placement receipt 71, and determines whether or not the matching matches (step S37).

  As step S37-YES, the placement receipt 71 has been confirmed to match the placement information in the placement DB 55.

  In step S37-NO, if the verification cannot be confirmed (step S37-NO), the actual product delivery is rejected.

  The CPU 22 of the POS terminal 14 pays by a method such as merchandise and cash or a credit card, and performs settlement processing for the merchandise (step S38).

  The CPU 22 transmits confirmation information for the product settlement process to the host computer 13 (step S39).

  The host computer 13 receives the confirmation information of the product settlement process (step S40).

  The CPU 52 transmits confirmation information on the settlement processing for the product to the store server 16 (step S41).

  The store server 16 receives the confirmation information of the product settlement process (step S42).

  The CPU 42 of the store server 16 updates the provisional sales processing state of the inventory DB 45 from the sales processing state (step S43).

  The CPU 52 of the host computer 13 deletes the placement information including the management code from the placement DB 55 (step S44).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the stored product cancellation process performed by the POS terminal 14, the host computer 13, and the store server 16 in the product management system.

  The CPU 22 of the POS terminal 14 causes the bar code reader 41 to read the management code 72 of the storage information of the storage receipt 71 (step S51).

  The CPU 22 of the POS terminal 14 transmits the read management code to the host computer 13 via the network 12 in order to perform the processing for canceling the storage information of the stored product (step S52).

  The CPU 52 of the host computer 13 receives the inquiry for the cancellation process of the placement information (step S53).

  The CPU 52 transmits a temporary sales process cancellation process to the store server 16 (step S54).

  The CPU 52 deletes the placement information including the management code registered in the placement DB 55 (step S55).

  The store server 16 receives the provisional sales product cancellation process (step S56).

  The CPU 42 performs a plus process as much as the merchandise quantity of the merchandise code in the inventory DB 45 is minus processed, and returns the inventory quantity to the original state before the placement process (step S57).

  The CPU 52 of the host computer 13 transmits a cancellation completion notification to the POS terminal 14 (step S58).

  The CPU 22 of the POS terminal 14 receives a cancellation completion notification from the host computer 13 (step S69).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining management of the storage expiration date registered in the storage DB 55 of the host computer 13 in the product management system and method according to the present embodiment.

  The CPU 52 of the host computer 13 periodically reads the placement information of the placed product registered in the placement DB 55 (step S91).

  The CPU 52 determines whether or not the storage expiration date of the stored product registered in the storage DB 55 has been exceeded (step S92).

  When the storage expiration date of the stored product has exceeded (YES in Step S92), the CPU 52 first transmits a cancellation process of the provisional sales process to the store server 16 as in Step S54 ( Step S93).

  Further, the CPU 52 deletes the placement information including the management code of the stored product registered in the storage DB 55 (Step S94).

  The CPU 52 transmits to the POS terminal 14 a notification of completion of cancellation of the stored product (step S95).

  If the storage expiration date of the stored product has not been exceeded (NO in step S91), the CPU 52 keeps the storage information including the management code of the storage DB 55 registered.

  As described above, the management of the storage expiration date registered in the storage DB 55, the CPU 52 of the host computer 13 reads the storage information in the storage DB 55 and finds a management code that has exceeded the storage expiration date. And the placement information including the management code is deleted from the record of the placement DB 55. In addition, a temporary sales process cancellation process is transmitted to the store server 16.

  The CPU 42 of the store server 16 cancels the registration of the temporary sales process of the product information from the inventory DB 45 (plus process) and returns the quantity in the inventory DB 45 to the state before the placement process.

  As described above, in the merchandise management system and merchandise management method according to the present invention, as long as the expiration date printed on the reserve receipt 71 is within the validity period, securing of the merchandise is guaranteed.

  Of course, the present embodiment is also applied to department stores, mass retailers, restaurants, retail stores, and the like.

  As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention at the stage of implementation.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the merchandise management system concerning one Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the POS terminal of the said merchandise management system. The block diagram which shows the structure of the shop server of the said merchandise management system. The block diagram which shows the structure of the host computer of the said merchandise management system. The receipt receipt figure concerning this embodiment. The flowchart which shows the storage process of the POS terminal which concerns on this embodiment, a host computer, and a shop server. The flowchart which shows the payment process of the POS terminal which concerns on this embodiment, a host computer, and a shop server. The flowchart which shows the cancellation process of the POS terminal which concerns on this embodiment, a host computer, and a shop server. 6 is a flowchart showing management processing of a storage DB of a host computer according to the present embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Network, 13 ... Host computer, 14 ... POS terminal, 15 ... LAN, 16 ... Store server, 22, 42, 52 ... CPU, 23, 43, 53 ... ROM, 24, 44, 54 ... RAM, 26, 47 57 ... Communication controller, 27 ... Memory, 29 ... Bar code reader (reading means), 30 ... Printer (printing means), 45 ... Inventory database (stock DB), 55 ... Storage database (storage DB), 56 ... Store database (store DB).

Claims (10)

  In a merchandise management system in which store servers installed in a plurality of stores, POS terminals, and higher-level equipment are connected via a network, the POS terminal is configured to send an inquiry about a placed product to the higher-level equipment. Commodity store means, placement information receiving means for receiving placement information from the host device, printing means for printing the placement information, and reading means for reading the placement information, the store server, An inventory database for registering product information, an updating means for updating the product information in the inventory database, an installed product information receiving means for receiving inquiries about stored product information from a host device, and an upper level of the stored product information A stored product information transmitting means for transmitting to the device, wherein the host device receives the inquiry of the stored product from the POS terminal, and each store service Inquiry transmitting means for transmitting an inquiry about the placed product information to the server, answer receiving means for receiving an answer to the placed product information from each store server, and the store server based on the received received product information A product management system comprising: specifying means for specifying the storage information; a storage database for storing the storage information; and storage information transmission means for transmitting the storage information to the POS terminal.   2. The merchandise management system according to claim 1, wherein the POS terminal further comprises display means.   3. The merchandise management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the placement information registered in the placement database is deleted when a placement expiration date of the placement information is exceeded. .   The product management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the POS terminal further includes a settlement function, and when the settlement processing of the placement product is completed and the settlement processing is confirmed, The product management system, wherein the placement information is deleted.   The merchandise management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the higher-level device further includes a store database, searches the store database, and, as a result of the search, specifies a store server of a store close to the inquired store. A product management system comprising a specific means for performing   In a merchandise management method in a merchandise management system in which store servers installed in a plurality of shops, POS terminals, and higher-level equipment are connected via a network, the POS terminal makes an inquiry about a stored product to the higher-level equipment. Transmitting the receiving information from the host device, printing the storing information, and reading the storing information, and the store server receives the storing information from the host device. Receiving the placed product information, transmitting the placed product information to the higher-level device, identifying the specific store server from the higher-level device, and updating an inventory database, The host device receives the inquiry about the stored product from the POS terminal, and executes a process of the stored product information of each store server. , A step of identifying the store server, a step of registering the storage information in a storage database, and a step of transmitting the storage information to the POS terminal. Product management method.   The product management method according to claim 6, further comprising a step of displaying the retained product and a step of displaying the retained information.   8. The product management method according to claim 6, wherein the POS terminal further performs a product settlement process, a step of transmitting confirmation of a product settlement process to the host device, and the host device includes the step of And a step of deleting the storage information from the storage database.   The product management method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the upper device confirms a storage expiration date of the storage information in the storage database, and the storage device when the storage expiration date has passed. And a step of deleting the storage information in the database.   The product management method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, further comprising: searching the store database; and specifying a store server of a store close to the inquired store from the store database. Product management method.

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