JP2008299435A - Self-check out terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the execution of inappropriate weight check processing that merchandise whose number is calculated by inputting numeric generated after inputting multiplication passes weight check before all the merchandise is placed on the placing part of a balance device. <P>SOLUTION: In a first phase (registration stand-by phase), a stand-by state for the input of a merchandise code is set, and when the merchandise code is input, the first phase is shifted to a second phase (merchandise bag packing stand-by phase), and weight check processing for deciding whether or not a weight value (refer to a step S203) to be transmitted from a balance device after inputting the merchandise code is within a weight range acquired based on the input merchandise code is executed (step S209), and when the merchandise passes the weight check, the first phase is restored (step S211). Under such premise, when the multiplication input of the merchandise is executed (step S205), a predetermined postponement of time since the weight value acquired in the second phase, and transmitted from the balance device fluctuates until the weight check processing is executed is set (steps S206 to S207). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a self-checkout terminal that enables self-checkout by a customer.

  In recent years, various user interfaces for executing merchandise sales data processing have been placed in locations where customers can operate, provide information to customers, and issue receipts to customers, enabling self-checkout by customers. Development of an out terminal is underway (see Patent Document 1). As various user interfaces, for example, a product code input device for inputting a product code such as a barcode reader or a touch panel, a display device for displaying information, information such as a key button or a touch panel is input. For example, a payment device such as an information input device, a coin / banknote deposit / withdrawal device, a receipt printer, and the like are prepared.

  In addition, in order to prevent fraud, the self-checkout terminal limits the products that customers can take home only to products for which product codes have been entered, in other words, only purchased products that are subject to product sales data processing. Measures to make it necessary. As a countermeasure for this, as described in Patent Document 2, for example, an invention has been made in which the weight of a product to which a product code is input is checked to prevent fraud. As a weight check method, Patent Document 2 describes a product after obtaining the product weight data from a product data file such as a PLU file based on the input product code and reading the product code. The weight is measured and the weight is checked with the identity between the weight specified by the weight data and the actually measured weight.

  In the weight check process using the above method, generally, after entering a product code, a measured value is taken in from a weighing device, and the identity between the taken-in measured value and the weight specified by the weight data acquired from the product data file is determined. judge. At this time, if the identity of both weights is determined, a product code input or tightening designation input is waited.

JP 2004-086728 A JP 09-245251 A

  In the case of purchasing a plurality of the same products, a technique called multiplication input for inputting a product code specifying the product and inputting a numerical value has been conventionally used. There is no particular problem in the weight check when multiplication is input unless there is a large variation in the weight of the product specified by the input product code. On the other hand, if the variation in the weight of the product specified by the input product code is not large, the weight check after the multiplication check may not be performed correctly. The reason why such a phenomenon occurs will be described below by taking a product called “apple” as an example.

  As an example, in the product data file, assuming that the registration information for “apples” was registered with a weight of 300 g and an allowable range of ± 30 g. Suppose. In this case, the customer enters the product code for “apple” and then sets the quantity as “7”. In this case, the weight data quoted from the product data file is 300 (g) × 7 = 2,100 (g). Various methods can be used for determining the allowable range to be set, but here, assuming that a wider range is set, 30 (g) × 7 = 210 (g). Therefore, the weight value specified by the weight data to be compared with the measurement value fetched from the scale device is 2,100 (g) ± 210 (g). Therefore, in this example, when the measured value taken from the scale device enters the range of 1,890 (g) to 2,310 (g), the weight check is passed, and the product code input or the tightening designation input waiting state is set. Become.

  However, in the above example, assuming that the weight of the seven “apples” that the customer actually brought was 320 (g), the weight when six of them were weighed with a scale device was 1920 (g). Therefore, it falls within the range of 1,890 (g) to 2,310 (g). Thus, the weight check should be passed when seven “apples” are originally weighed by the scale device, but the weight check is passed by weighing six “apples” by the scale device. When the weight check is passed, the next product code input or tightening designation input is waited. Therefore, when the last “apple” is placed on the weighing pan of the scale device, the product code of the next product is This means that the item has been placed on the weighing pan of the weighing device before being input. In such a situation, error processing is generally executed, which is inconvenient.

  An object of the present invention is to suppress execution of an inappropriate weight check process that may occur after multiplication input.

  A self-checkout terminal according to the present invention includes a payment terminal having a user interface that enables a product code and a number input, and a placement unit for placing a product, and is placed on the placement unit. A weighing device that measures the weight of the placed object and transmits the measured weight value to the settlement terminal, a means for storing the weight value transmitted from the weighing device as an original weight in the storage unit, and an individual product In the first phase before the product code input by the user interface, the second phase after the product code input by the user interface and means for notifying an error when the weight value transmitted from the scale device fluctuates (1) The corresponding unit price and weight range are searched from the product data file in which the unit price and weight are stored in a freely writable manner corresponding to each product code. (2) the weight obtained by the search process when the weight value of the difference between the weight value after the change and the original weight stored in the storage unit after the change of the weight value transmitted from the scale device is obtained. A weight check process for determining whether the weight value is included in the range; and (3) as a result of the weight check process, the input is made on the condition that the weight value is included in the weight range. Means for executing product information registration processing for storing product information including a product code and the searched unit price in a storage unit; and (4) processing for returning the second phase to the first phase; Means for executing product multiplication input by product code input and numeric value input by the user interface, and when the product multiplication input is executed, acquired in the second phase After variation of the transmitted weight values from Kihakari device, and means for setting a predetermined delay time until executing the weight check process.

  According to the present invention, when the product multiplication input is executed by the input of the product code and the numerical value input by the user interface, after the change of the weight value transmitted from the scale device acquired in the second phase, Since a predetermined grace period is set before the weight check process is executed, the weight value transmitted from the weighing device falls within the weight range acquired from the product data file in the weight check process after the multiplication input. Rather than returning to the first phase, there is a grace period in between, so the weight check process will be performed when all the number of products will be placed on the placement part of the scale device. Therefore, it is possible to suppress execution of an inappropriate weight check process that may occur after multiplication is input.

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

  The description of the present embodiment will be made along the following items.

1. System configuration (1) Overview of system configuration (2) Self-checkout terminal Self-checkout processing (1) Basic routine of self-checkout processing (2) Screen transition during self-checkout processing (3) Product information registration by screen input (4) Weight check processing
(1) Process flow
(2) Skip weight check processing (5) Register product information for packed products
(1) Packing product input method
(2) Second weight check processing (6) Cancellation designation (7) Call designation (8) Settlement Hereinafter, the items will be described in the order described above.
1. System Configuration (1) Overview of System Configuration FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall system configuration. The system of the present embodiment is constructed by connecting a plurality of self-checkout systems 11, a plurality of POS terminals 21, and a store controller 31 via a communication network 41.

  The self-checkout system 11 is configured by assigning one attendant terminal 501 to a plurality of self-checkout terminals 101. The self-checkout terminal 101 includes a settlement terminal 201 and a scale device 301.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an arrangement state of each part in the self-checkout system 11. In the self-checkout system 11 of this embodiment, one attendant terminal 501 is assigned to four self-checkout terminals 101. The self-checkout terminal 101 is arranged such that a pair of self-checkout terminals 101 are arranged in parallel along the customer passage 121, and the pair of self-checkout terminals 101 face the front side via the customer passage 121. Has been.

  An attendant terminal 501 is disposed at the end of the customer passage 121. The attendant terminal 501 has a form of a personal computer having a main body 502, a display 503 as a display unit, a keyboard 504, and a pointing device 505 as an operation unit, and is placed on the attendant table 601. Yes.

The customer can access any self-checkout terminal 101 through the customer passage 121. For example, when trying to use the self-checkout terminal 101 located on the upper right side in FIG. 2 and located on the left side in the traveling direction when viewed from the customer, stand in front of the self-checkout terminal 101 through the customer passage 121, After the self-checkout, the user walks around to the left or right in front of the attendant table 601 and leaves.
(2) Self-Checkout Terminal FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the self-checkout terminal 101. The self-checkout terminal 101 includes a settlement terminal 201 and a scale device 301.

  The settlement terminal 201 has a housing 202 from which a product basket mounting table 102 for mounting a bag (not shown) containing products to be purchased by a customer protrudes from the left side. On the upper surface of the commodity basket mounting table 102, a protrusion 103 for positioning the basket is formed in an L shape.

  The housing 202 of the payment terminal 201 includes a base housing 202a installed on the floor and a small upper housing 202b placed on the upper surface of the base housing 202a. The front surface of the base housing 202a is inclined so as to narrow the projected area of the base housing 202a as it goes downward. As a result, the base housing 202a has a shape that is offset toward the back as it goes downward.

  Various user interfaces are provided in the upper housing 202b. That is, in the upper housing 202b, a barcode scanner 203 as a product code reading unit is arranged on the left side, and a printer cover 204 and a monitoring camera 205 are arranged on the right side. These barcode scanner 203, printer cover 204, and monitoring camera are arranged. Between 205, a card reading unit 206 and a numeric keypad 207 as a settlement unit are arranged. The barcode scanner 203 is a vertical scanner that functions as a product code reading unit that reads a product code attached to a product. The printer cover 204 is provided with a receipt issuing port 208. A receipt printer 251 (see FIG. 6) is built in the upper housing 202b on the back side of the printer cover 204, and a receipt (not shown) printed by the receipt printer 251 is issued from a receipt issuing port 208. Yes. The printer cover 204 is attached to the upper housing 202b so as to be openable and closable, and is opened by pulling the flap 209. The monitoring camera 205 is disposed above the printer cover 204. The card reading unit 206 establishes wireless communication with a non-contact IC card (not shown), and reads / writes information from / to the non-contact IC card. As an example, the non-contact IC card can store and save electronic money having a value equivalent to cash. As another example, the contactless IC card stores and stores an identification number for identifying a debited bank account. Used. In FIG. 3, an antenna (not shown) is built in the back side of the portion marked “CARD” in the circle, and wireless communication with the non-contact IC card is established through this antenna. The numeric keypad 207 is used for inputting a personal identification number at the time of settlement with a non-contact IC card.

  An LCD 210 serving as a display unit having a liquid crystal display panel is attached to the upper housing 202b. The LCD 210 has a touch panel 211 as an input unit on its display surface and a card reading groove 212 on the right side. A card reader / writer 252 (see FIG. 6) as a settlement unit is built in the card reading groove 212. The card reader / writer 252 reads information recorded on a magnetic card such as a credit card, for example, a card number or a password.

  The base housing 202a incorporates a coin / banknote deposit / withdrawal device 221 (see FIG. 6). As a part of the deposit / withdrawal device 221, a coin insertion slot 213 is disposed on the central upper surface of the base housing 202a, and a coin payout outlet 214 is disposed on the left side thereof. In addition, a bill insertion slot 215 and a bill dispensing outlet 216 are arranged at the upper right position on the front surface of the base housing. Such a deposit / withdrawal apparatus 221 has a mechanism unit that enables handling of money and banknotes and a control unit that controls the mechanism unit (both not shown). About the structure of such a mechanism part and the processing procedure in a control part, since the content is known, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Further, a display pole 217 as an informing unit for displaying the current state of the self-checkout terminal 101 is erected from the back surface of the base housing 202a. The display pole 217 has a light emitting portion 218 that selectively emits blue and red light at the tip.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the scale device 301. The scale device 301 is configured such that a scale pan 303 is provided on an upper portion of a scale housing 302, and a bag holder 304 is attached to the scale pan 303. The weighing pan 303 has a mounting table 303a on its upper surface. The bag holder 304 is attached to the mounting table 303a. Therefore, when viewed from the bag holder 304, the weighing pan 303 constitutes a pedestal. That is, a pole-shaped arm support portion 305 is erected at the rear center portion of the mounting table 303a, and a temporary mounting table 306 for mounting an article is fixed to the upper end of the arm support unit 305. The temporary placement table 306 is a table that has a flat upper surface and is used for temporarily placing products after the barcode is read by the barcode scanner 203 of the payment terminal 201. Both the mounting table 303a and the temporary mounting table 306 play a role as a mounting unit for mounting a product to which a product code is input.

  A pair of holding arms 307 and a hook 308 are attached to the lower surface of such a temporary placing table 306. That is, the arm attachment 309 is fixed to the both end positions of the lower surface of the temporary placing table 306. The fixing is performed by various fixing methods such as screwing and adhesive fixing. A holding arm 307 is embedded in each of the arm attachments 309. Further, a hook attachment 310 is fixed at the center of the lower surface of the temporary table 306. The fixing is performed by various fixing methods such as screwing and adhesive fixing. A hook 308 is embedded in the hook attachment 310.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the shopping bag 401 as a storage bag is held by the holding arm 307. The holding arm 307 includes, for example, a plastic bag 401 such as a plastic bag provided to a customer in a supermarket or the like, that is, an opening 402 and a pair of handles 403 protruding from the opening 402, and these handles 403 are provided on both sides. In order to hold the shopping bag 401 folded so as to be positioned, a pair of grips 403 are held in a skewered state. In order to realize such a holding state, a slit 404 is formed in the handle 403. In addition, the plastic bag 401 is formed with a pair of ears 406 that are positioned between the pair of handles 403 and can be removed by the perforation 405, and hooks 407 are formed in these ears 406. ing. The hook 308 is inserted through the hooking hole 407, thereby holding the shopping bag 401 together with the holding arm 307.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical hardware configuration of the payment terminal 201. The payment terminal 201 has a control unit 253 as an information processing unit therein. For example, the control unit 253 may have a semiconductor chip configuration in which an operation sequence is written, or may have a microcomputer configuration in which an operation program is stored in the RAM 254 or the like. Here, the control unit 253 having a microcomputer configuration will be introduced.

  The CPU 255 is the core of the control unit 253. The CPU 255 is connected via a system bus 259 to a ROM 256 that stores fixed data in a fixed manner, a RAM 254 that stores variable data in a rewritable manner, a VRAM 257 that generates a display image to be displayed on the LCD 210, and an HDD 258. Yes. As an example, the HDD 258 includes various programs such as an operation program, various display frames, a PLU file PF (see FIG. 7A), a department file, a weight data file WDF (see FIG. 7B), an image file, and a sales file. Files etc. (all not shown except PLU file PF and weight data file WDF) are stored and saved, and all or part of these operation programs, various display frames, various files and various rule information are settled. When the terminal 201 is activated, it is moved to the RAM 254 and used. These PLU file PF, weight data file WDF, department file, image file, sales file, and other various files constitute a product data file.

  The PLU file PF that constitutes the product data file corresponds to the product code that identifies each product, and in addition to the unit price, product display, discount product type, discount amount, M & M (mix and match) information, etc. Memorize freely. The product display includes text data of the product name of the product specified by the product code and image data of the product.

  The department file composing the product data file is associated with the department code for each product not stored in the PLU file PF, its unit price, product display, discounted product type, discount amount, M & M (mix and match) information Etc. are stored in a rewritable manner. The product display includes text data of the product name of the product specified by the department code and image data of the product.

  FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram showing an example of a PLU file PF that constitutes a product data file. The PLU file PF stores product display, unit price, and image data in association with the product code. The product display is text data corresponding to the product name of the corresponding product. The image data is image data of a corresponding product. Such a PLU file PF may include a department file as another example.

  FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram showing an example of the weight data file WDF that constitutes the product data file. The weight data file WDF corresponds to the product code, the set weight (g), the weight check execution presence / absence definition, the product placement location definition (bag packing skip), the allowable value type definition, the upper limit allowable value, the lower limit allowable value, and The weight update flag is stored. Such a weight data file WDF may be included in the PLU file PF and the department file as another example.

  The set weight (g) stores a set value of the weight of the product specified by the product code.

  As described above, the weight check execution definition is definition information for storing the weight check execution in association with each product code. The control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 interprets that “0” does not check the weight and “1” does the weight check during the weight check execution definition. As an example, a product that is not checked for weight is a product that is too light to fit into the weighing by the weighing device 301, or a product that is too heavy to be moved to the mounting table 303a of the weighing device 301. Such a weight check execution presence / absence definition may be included in the PLU file PF as another example.

  The product placement location definition (bag packing skip) is a placement platform 303a (not weight skipped) and a temporary placement table 306 (weight skipped (weighing)) as product placement locations where the barcode is read by the barcode scanner 203. ) Or floor surface (weight skipping (weight)) is defined for each product. During the weight check execution definition, the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 sets “0” to the mounting table 303a (does not skip weight), “1” temporarily mounts the table 306 (skip weight (metering)), “2” "Is interpreted as a floor (weight skipping (weight)). As another example, the product placement location definition can be included in the PLU file PF. Further, as another example, characteristic information of the product, for example, characteristic information such as easy to break, easy to break, easy to lose shape, heavy, etc. is stored in the PLU file PF etc. For a product having the characteristic of being easy to perform, the temporary placement table 306 is defined as the placement location, and for a product having the characteristic of being heavy, the floor is defined as the placement location. As another example, a floor surface is defined as a place for placing a commodity after reading a barcode when the weight stored in the weight data file WDF is heavier than a specified weight.

  The allowable value type definition is information for determining whether the allowable width with respect to the set weight (g) is a ratio or an upper limit value and a lower limit value. That is, in the weight check process, a comparison process between the actual measured weight by the scale device 301 and the weight stored in the set weight (g) is executed. Set the width. The permissible width is obtained as a ratio with respect to the weight value stored in the set weight (g) according to the definition stored in the permissible value type definition, or is obtained as an upper limit value and a lower limit value that are numerically set.

  The upper limit allowable value and the lower limit allowable value store numerical information for determining the allowable range for the set weight (g). In the case where the allowable value type definition sets the ratio to the weight value stored in the set weight (g) as the allowable width, the numerical values stored in the upper limit allowable value and the lower limit allowable value are numerical values of%. In addition, in the tolerance type definition, the upper limit value and the lower limit value for the weight value stored in the set weight (g) are specific numerical values. In this case, the numerical values stored in the upper limit allowable value and the lower limit allowable value are specific. The numerical value itself.

  The weight update flag stores whether or not the weight registration process is executed. The control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 interprets “0” not updated, “1” automatically updated, “2” manually updated, and “3” individually updated in the weight update flag. Default value if not updated. The automatic update is performed by executing a weight registration process. Manual update is performed manually. The individual update is performed by correcting manually after the automatic update.

  Returning to the description of the block diagram showing the electrical hardware configuration of the payment terminal 201 shown in FIG. The control unit 253 includes a barcode scanner 203, an LCD 210, a touch panel 211, a card reading unit 206, a numeric keypad 207, a card reader / writer 252, a receipt printer 251, a monitoring camera 205, a light emitting unit 218 as a notification unit, and a deposit / withdrawal device 221. An interface 260 that mediates data communication between them is connected via a system bus 259 and is controlled by the control unit 253. The control unit 253 controls each of those units, and executes product sales data processing including search processing, weight check processing, product information registration processing, and settlement processing.

  In the search process, when a barcode attached to a product is read by the barcode scanner 203, the product code specified by the barcode is recognized, and the product code is searched by searching the PLU file PF and the weight data file WDF. The unit price, weight, and product display corresponding to are acquired.

  The weight check process is a process for determining whether or not the weight of the product from which the barcode measured by the scale device 301 is read after the barcode is read is identical to the weight acquired by the search process. Whether or not they are identical is determined by whether the weight of the product obtained based on the weight measured by the scale device 301 is an allowable width of the weight obtained by the search process (for example, between the upper limit value and the lower limit value), that is, the weight range. This is done by determining whether it is in place.

  In the product information registration process, when the barcode attached to the product is read by the barcode scanner 203, the product code specified by the barcode, the unit price searched by the search processing based on the specified product code, This is a process for temporarily registering transaction information including “” in the RAM 254.

  The settlement process is a process for calculating a settlement amount based on the unit price acquired by the search process and executing settlement of the settlement amount. The settlement amount is calculated by calculating the total sales amount including the necessary consumption tax calculation according to the closing operation on the touch panel 211, and is temporarily registered in the RAM 254 or the like or registered in the sales file. In the payment process, the calculated payment amount enables payment using a magnetic card such as cash, a credit card, electronic money, or a contactless IC card that stores and stores an identification number for specifying a bank account. The handling of cash is executed by the deposit / withdrawal device 221 provided in the base housing 202a, and the handling of the magnetic card is executed by the card reader / writer 252 provided in the card reading groove 212 to handle the non-contact IC card. Is executed via the card reading unit 206.

  In this embodiment, the concept of product sales data processing is used as a broad concept including search processing, weight check processing, product information registration processing, settlement processing, and the like. Therefore, in order to support such merchandise sales data processing in a broad sense, the control unit 253 of the settlement terminal 201 displays an operation method on the LCD 210 for the convenience of the customer.

  A communication interface 261 is also connected to the control unit 253 via the system bus 259. The communication interface 261 is connected to the communication network 41 and realizes data communication between the attendant terminal 501 and the store controller 31 and the self-checkout terminal 101.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an electrical hardware configuration of the scale device 301. The scale device 301 has a load cell unit 351. The load cell unit 351 has one end side of a load cell (not shown) having a structure and shape fixed to the base 352 and a load receiving portion 353 on the other end side. A scale frame 354 is fixed to the load receiving portion 353. The scale frame 354 has an X shape when viewed from above, and the scale plates 303 are placed at the four corners. The output signal of the load cell unit 351 is amplified by an amplifier 355, converted into a digital signal by an analog / digital converter (AD / C) 356, and analyzed by a calculation unit 357. The arithmetic unit 357 performs weight analysis based on the output signal of the load cell unit 351. The arithmetic unit 357 may have a semiconductor chip configuration in which an operation sequence is written, for example, or a microcomputer configuration that operates by storing an operation program in a RAM or the like. The calculation unit 357 transmits the weight data as the analysis result to the transmission unit 358 and outputs the weight data to the payment terminal 201 via the transmission unit 358. The transmission of the weight data to the settlement terminal 201 is periodically performed as an example at regular intervals. As another example, the weight data is periodically transmitted after the user specifies the start of the self-checkout process. Is executed automatically. In this case, the cycle is desirably a short cycle such as several μsec to several hundred μsec.

In such a configuration, the self-checkout terminal 101 enables self-checkout. At this time, the control unit 253 of the settlement terminal 201 and the calculation unit 357 of the scale device 301 execute various calculation processes, drive control processes of the respective units, and the like to support the self-checkout process. That is, the payment terminal 201 displays various user support screens on the LCD 210, and executes the above-described search process, weight check process, and merchandise sales data process. The scale device 301 transmits the measured weight value from the transmission unit 358 to the settlement terminal 201 so as to support the weight check process at the settlement terminal 201. Hereinafter, the flow of the self-checkout process will be described using a flowchart showing the flow of processing, various screen examples, screen transition examples, and the like.
2. Self-Checkout Process (1) Basic Routine of Self-Checkout Process FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the self-checkout process at the self-checkout terminal 101. The control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 is on standby for determining whether or not a product code has been input (step S11). The product code is input by reading the bar code by the bar code scanner 203 or by an input operation on the touch panel 211 in accordance with the display on the LCD 210.

  When the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 determines the input of the product code (Y in step S11), the control unit 253 executes a search process (step S12). As a result, as described above, the unit price, weight, and product display corresponding to the input product code are acquired.

  The control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 executes a weight check process following the search process (step S13). The weight check process will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  The control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 executes a product information registration process following the weight check process (step S14). That is, when the weight check process is passed, transaction information such as a product code and its unit price is temporarily registered in the RAM 254.

Following the product information registration process, the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 determines the presence / absence of payment designation (step S15). The payment designation is executed by an input operation on the touch panel 211 according to the display on the LCD 210. When the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 determines that there is a payment designation (Y in step S15), the control unit 253 executes the above-described payment process (step S16).
(2) Screen Transition at the Time of Self-Checkout Processing FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of screen transition at the time of executing self-checkout processing at the self-checkout terminal 101. The customer puts a product to be purchased in a bag and brings it to the self-checkout terminal 101, and places the product together with the bag on the product bag mounting table 102 of the self-checkout terminal 101.

  At this time, the control unit 253 of the payment terminal 201 generates an initial guidance screen A (first column, first row from the left) as shown in FIG. In the initial guidance screen A, the customer guides how to handle the goods carried by the customer. There are two types of handling methods to be guided. One handling method is product code input using the barcode scanner 203, and the other is input designation from the touch panel 211. As the former guidance, a letter “Please touch the barcode on the glass surface” is guided along with a picture indicating the state. As the latter guidance, the characters “Products without barcodes will be registered on the next screen” are guided along with a picture showing the next screen.

  At this time, when starting the self-checkout process, the control unit 253 displays information indicating that the device is in standby as operation status information indicating the operation status of whether the device is in standby or product scanning. The data is output toward the assigned attendant terminal 501.

  On the initial guidance screen A, the user can select whether to use the shopping bag or the my basket with the two selection buttons A1 and A2. My basket means a shopping basket that the customer owns. When the selection button A1 is touch-designated by the touch panel 211, the self-checkout process in the shopping bag 401 is started. When the selection button A2 is touch-designated by the touch panel 211, the self-checkout process in the my basket is started.

  At this time, when the control unit 253 starts the self-checkout process, the control unit 253 displays information indicating that the device is in operation as the operation status information indicating the operation status of whether the device is on standby or scanning the product. The data is output toward the assigned attendant terminal 501.

  FIG. 10 shows an example in which the selection button A2 is touch-designated by the touch panel 211 and the self-checkout process in the my basket is started (first column, second row from the left in FIG. 10). The difference between the processing in the shopping bag 401 and the processing in the my basket is the 0 point setting in the scale device 301. When executing the processing with the my basket, the control unit 253 generates an image indicating that the store basket is placed on the mounting table 303a of the scale device 301, and that the my basket should be expanded therein, and displays the image on the LCD 210. To the customer. A set completion button A3 and a return button A4 are displayed on the initial guidance screen A (first column, second row from the left in FIG. 10) after My Basket is selected. When the set completion button A3 is touch-designated by the touch panel 211, the control unit 253 notifies the scale device 301 that 0 point setting should be executed. When the return button A4 is touch-designated by the touch panel 211, the screen returns to the initial initial guidance screen A (first column, first row from the left in FIG. 10).

  On the initial guidance screen A (first column, first row and second row from the left in FIG. 10), a stop button Y and a call button Z are displayed at the lower left. The cancel button Y is a button for instructing to cancel the process, and the call button Z is a button for calling a salesclerk of an information desk (attendant). The control unit 253 generates and causes the cancel button Y and the call button Z to appear as necessary in each screen that transitions according to a series of flows of the self-checkout process.

  In the initial initial guidance screen A (first column, first row from the left in FIG. 10), the initial guidance screen A after the selection button A1 or A2 is selected and specified by the touch panel 211 (for example, first from the left in FIG. 10) When the set completion button A3 is touch-designated by the touch panel 211 in the second column, the control unit 253 generates the basic screen B and displays it on the LCD 210 (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 10). Eye). The basic screen B is composed of a guidance display area B1 and a user area B2. The guidance display area B1 is arranged at the upper position, and the user area B2 is arranged at the lower position. The guidance display area B1 displays various kinds of guidance necessary for proceeding with self-checkout. The user area B2 displays various operation buttons and transaction information necessary for proceeding with self-checkout.

  In the guidance display area B1 on the first basic screen B (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 10) waiting to read the barcode attached to the product, “Touch the product barcode on the glass surface. Please display "along with a picture indicating the state.

  In the user area B2 on the first basic screen B (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 10) waiting to read the barcode attached to the product, a product without a barcode is used as various operation buttons. A product designation button B22 for designating is displayed, and transaction information B21 including the name of the product to be purchased, the number of points, the unit price, and the total price of the product to be purchased is displayed as the transaction information. In the screen example of the first basic screen B (second column, first row from the left) shown in FIG. 10, the product has been registered so far: 1 juice, 1 milk, 3 croquettes Represents. When the number of purchased items is increased and cannot be displayed, the scroll button in the transaction information B21 can be touch-designated by the touch panel 211 to enable scroll display. In the same screen, juice and croquettes are displayed with a circle mark on the left side. This indicates a discount product. As an example, whether or not the product is a discount product can be displayed by giving discount information to the PLU file PF.

  In accordance with the guidance display displayed in the guidance display area B1 on the first basic screen B (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 10), the customer holds the product in front of the barcode scanner 203 and attaches it to the product. Have the bar code read. Thereby, the control unit 253 of the payment terminal 201 executes the above-described search process, and acquires necessary information from the PLU file PF and the weight data file WDF.

  At this time, the control unit 253 reduces the brightness of the user area B2 in the basic screen B displayed on the LCD 210, generates the reading confirmation screen C, and displays the generated reading confirmation screen C so as to overlap the user area B2. (Third column, first row from the left in FIG. 10). The reading confirmation screen C includes transaction information such as the unit price, discount amount, purchase points, and purchase amount of the product from which the barcode retrieved from the PLU file PF is read, and is quoted from the product display recorded in the PLU file PF. In addition, a character based on text data of the product name of the product and a design based on image data of the product are included. In addition, a numeric keypad TK is displayed on the reading confirmation screen C, and a multiplication input by changing the number of purchase points whose default setting is 1 point is made possible. When the multiplication is input, the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 temporarily stores the fact and the entered numerical value in the RAM 254, and enables multiplication registration for the corresponding numerical value. Such a reading confirmation screen C may be displayed using, for example, a general pop-up display technique, or a technique using a display frame that displays the reading confirmation screen C on the basic screen B is used. May be. That is, as a result, it is only necessary that the reading confirmation screen C is displayed so as to overlap the basic screen B, and there is no restriction on the display technology employed for that purpose.

  What is important here is that the reading confirmation screen C is displayed only on the user area B2 in the basic screen B and is not displayed on the guidance display area B1. Thereby, the guidance display in guidance display area | region B1 can be continuously performed with respect to a customer. In the example shown in FIG. 10, when the barcode attached to the product is read by the barcode scanner 203, the first basic screen “Please touch the product barcode on the glass surface” is displayed in the guidance display area B1. The display transitions from the guidance in B (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 10) to the guidance “please place the product in a shopping bag or my basket” (from the left in FIG. 10 to the third Column first row). Although not shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 253 changes not only the characters but also the pattern displayed in the guidance display area B <b> 1 to a pattern that supports the operation of putting the product into the shopping bag or my basket. By displaying the reading confirmation screen C without overlapping the guidance display area B1, the customer can easily confirm the guidance display and the transition in the guidance display area B1.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a basic screen B and a reading confirmation screen C for a product to be placed on the temporary placement table 306. As described above, the payment terminal 201 has a product placement location definition. Therefore, on the first basic screen B (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 10), the barcode of the product for which the temporary placement table 306 is defined as the product placement location definition is read by the barcode scanner 203. In this case, the control unit 253 generates the image illustrated in FIG. 11 that displays the characters “Please place the product on the temporary table” together with the design supporting the work in the guidance display area B1, and displays the image on the LCD 210. To do. The numeric keypad TK is also displayed on the reading confirmation screen C in this case, and a multiplication input can be made by changing the number of purchase points whose default setting is one point. As described above, the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 temporarily stores the number and the numerical value to which this is input in the RAM 254 when the multiplication is input, and enables the multiplication registration for the corresponding numerical value.

  Returning to the description based on FIG. After the barcode attached to the product is read by the barcode scanner 203, the control unit 253 waits for the weight check process. For this purpose, the guidance display area B1 after the barcode attached to the product is read has a guidance indicating the text “Please put the product in a shopping bag or my basket” together with a pattern that supports the work for that purpose. Displayed (third column, first row from the left in FIG. 10). Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 11, when the temporary placement table 306 is defined as the product placement location definition, the guidance display area B <b> 1 includes the characters “please place the product on the temporary placement table”. The guidance shown with the pattern which supports the work for that is displayed. Therefore, in accordance with these guidances, the customer puts the commodity whose bar code is read by the bar code scanner 203 into the shopping bag 401 or my basket, or puts it on the temporary table 306. As a result, the product packed in the shopping bag 401 and the product placed on the temporary table 306 are loaded on the weighing pan 303 of the weighing device 301, and the load is measured by the load cell unit 351. become. The measurement result by the load cell unit 351 is output to the settlement terminal 201 via the transmission unit 358 as described above. The settlement terminal 201 receives the weighing result from the load cell unit 351 and executes a weight check process. As described above, in the weight check process, the weight of the product from which the barcode measured by the scale device 301 is read after the barcode is read is identical to the weight acquired from the weight data file WDF by the search process. This is a process for determining whether or not As described above, whether or not they have the same is determined based on the weight of the product obtained based on the weight measured by the scale device 301. The allowable range of the weight obtained by the search process (for example, between the upper limit value and the lower limit value). That is, it is made by determining whether or not it is within the weight range.

As a result of the weight check process, if it is determined that there is no identity between both weights, it means that some operation error or fraud has been made. Therefore, in this case, the control unit 253 stops the progress of the merchandise sales data processing, changes the emission color of the light emitting unit 218 provided at the tip of the display pole 217 from blue to red, The fact that the fraud has been performed is notified to, for example, a salesclerk of an attendant. As a result of stopping the progress of the merchandise sales data processing, the reading confirmation screen C remains displayed as the display screen of the LCD 210, and the customer is shown that the processing does not proceed.
(3) Product information registration by screen input Returning to the description based on FIG. As described above, the first initial guidance screen A (first column, first row from the left in FIG. 10) has the text “Register products without barcode on the next screen” as “Next screen. ”And a picture showing“ In response, the control unit 253 displays “Yasai” in the user area B2 in the basic screen B (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 10) as an image for registering a product without a barcode. , A product designation button B22 including six types of touch buttons of “fruit”, “sazai”, “fish shell”, “others”, and “assortment” is prepared. Therefore, when the product to be purchased is not attached with a barcode, the customer touches and designates the product designation button B22 with the touch panel 211. When any one of these product designation buttons B22 is touch-designated by the touch panel 211, the transaction information B21 of the user area B2 in the basic screen B is switched and displayed on the department selection screen E (second column from the left in FIG. 10). 2nd line).

  A department selection screen E (second column, second row from the left) shown in FIG. 10 shows an example in which “Sozai” is touch-designated by the touch panel 211. In this case, as the department selection screen E, various foods included in the category of “Sazai” are displayed in a scrollable manner by scroll buttons with a total of 16 types of 4 columns and 4 rows. On the department selection screen E, a return button E1 is also displayed. When the return button E1 is touch-designated by the touch panel 211, the department selection screen E is switched to the transaction information B21 and displayed on the basic screen B (FIG. 10). The display returns to the second column, first row) from the left.

  When the transaction information B21 of the user area B2 in the basic screen B is switched and displayed on the department selection screen E (second column, second row from the left in FIG. 10), the control unit 253 displays “ "Please press the button of your product" is displayed along with a pattern to support the work. Thereby, the customer can know what operation should be performed next.

Therefore, according to the guidance, if the customer touches and designates one food item from the department selection screen E (second column, second row from the left in FIG. 10) with the touch panel 211, the food item is displayed in the user area B2 in the basic screen B. The department registration screen F (third column, second row from the left in FIG. 10) appears. The department registration screen F (third column, second row from the left) shown in FIG. 10 shows an example in which “Tamago Tofu” is designated by touch. In this case, the department registration screen F for “Tamago Tofu” appears. The department registration screen F includes transaction information such as the unit price of the product, the discount amount, the number of purchases, and the purchase amount, and includes characters based on the text data of the product name of the product and a pattern based on the image data of the product. Includes numeric keypad TK. The numeric keypad TK enables multiplication input by changing the number of purchase points whose default setting is one point. As described above, the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 temporarily stores the number and the numerical value to which this is input in the RAM 254 when the multiplication is input, and enables the multiplication registration for the corresponding numerical value.
As an example, these various data are cited from information recorded in a department file provided separately from the PLU file PF in the payment terminal 201. The department registration screen F includes a cancel button F1 and a determination button F2. When the cancel button F1 is touch-designated by the touch panel 211, the screen returns to the screen (second column, second row from the left in FIG. 10) in which the department selection screen E is displayed in the user area B2 of the basic screen B.

  When the department registration screen F is displayed in the user area B2 in the basic screen B (third column, second row from the left in FIG. 10), the control unit 253 displays “when changing the score” in the guidance display area B1. "Enter from the numeric keys and press the" Enter "button" is displayed along with a picture that supports the task. Thereby, the customer can know what operation should be performed next.

  Therefore, in accordance with the guidance, on the department registration screen F (third column, second row from the left in FIG. 10), if necessary, the purchase point is changed by the numeric keypad TK and multiplication is input. When the touch designation is made, the department registration (product code input) for the selected food, “Tamago Tofu” in the example shown in FIG. 10, is completed by the number of purchase points multiplied by default or the numeric keypad TK. Therefore, the control unit 253 reduces the brightness of the user area B2 in the basic screen B displayed on the LCD 210, generates the reading confirmation screen C, and displays the generated reading confirmation screen C so as to overlap the user area B2 ( (4th column, 2nd row from the left in FIG. 10). Further, the control unit 253 shifts the display of the guidance display area B1 in the basic screen B to a display of “please place the product in a shopping bag or my basket” (in the fourth column from the left in FIG. 10). 2nd line). Although not shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 253 changes not only the characters but also the pattern displayed in the guidance display area B <b> 1 to a pattern that supports the operation of putting the product into the shopping bag or my basket. By displaying the reading confirmation screen C without overlapping the guidance display area B1, the customer can easily confirm the guidance display and the transition in the guidance display area B1.

Here, when five types of product designation buttons B22 “yasai”, “fruit”, “sozai”, “fish shell”, and “others” are touch-designated by the touch panel 211 and the department is registered, that is, “ When the product designation button B22 other than “Assembly” is touch-designated and department registration is performed, the processing after the reading confirmation screen C is displayed over the user area B2 in the basic screen B will be described next. This is a weight check process.
(4) Weight Check Process (1) Process Flow Here, the flow of the weight check process will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of weight data reception processing from the scale device 301 included in the weight check processing. The scale device 301 transmits the result of weighing by the load cell unit 351 to the self-checkout terminal 101 as weight data. Therefore, the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 performs touch designation by the touch panel 211 of the selection button A1 in the initial initial guidance screen A (first column, first row from the left in FIG. 10) shown in FIG. If the start of the self-checkout process is designated by, the reception of weight data is awaited (step S51). When it is determined that weight data is received (Y in step S51), the received weight data is temporarily stored in the RAM 254 as the current weight (step S52).

  FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a weight check file. When the start of the self-checkout process is designated, the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 generates a weight check file WCF illustrated in FIG. The weight check file WCF temporarily stores the current weight and the original weight temporarily stored in step S52 in FIG.

  As described above, the transmission of the weight data from the scale device 301 to the settlement terminal 201 is periodically executed at a short cycle such as several μsec to several hundred μsec. In the reception process of step S51 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, if there is transmission of weight data from the scale device 301 to the settlement terminal 201, it is determined that there is reception at any time. Therefore, the control unit 253 of the settlement terminal 201 stores the weight data from the scale device 301 periodically transmitted in a short cycle such as several μsec to several hundred μsec in the weight check file WCF shown in FIG. As you update and remember.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the weight check process. First, when the start of the self-checkout process is designated, the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 enters a registration waiting state for registering product information. In the weight check process, in this state, the apparatus waits for determination of whether or not a product code has been input (step S101). If the input of the product code is determined (Y in step S101), the process proceeds to a product bagging waiting phase whose processing content is shown in FIG. 19 (step S102). The merchandise bagging waiting phase ends when the merchandise with the merchandise code input is placed on the placing portion (the placing stand 303a or the temporary placing stand 306) of the scale device 301 and passes the weight check (step of FIG. 17). (See S211). On the other hand, if it is determined that the product code is waiting for input (N in step S101), the current weight stored in the weight check file WCF shown in FIG. 13 is referred to (step S103), and the same. A change in weight with respect to the original weight stored in the weight check file WCF shown in FIG. 13 is determined (step S104). The determination that the product code is waiting to be input (N in step S101) is determined when the start of the self-checkout process is designated and the product code has not yet been input, or the product bagging phase for the previous product is This is done in either case of normal termination.

  Here, as described above, the original weight is 0 (g) when no product code is input in one transaction, and after that, when the product code is input, In principle, this means a value measured by the scale device 301 in a state where all the products for which codes are input are placed on the placement unit (the placement table 303a or the temporary placement table 306) of the scale device 301. Therefore, as long as normal operation is performed, it should not be determined in step S104 that there is a change in weight relative to the original weight. Therefore, if it is not determined in step S104 that there is a weight change with respect to the original weight (N in step S104), the process returns to the determination of whether or not the product code is input in step S101.

  On the other hand, when a product for which a product code is not input is placed on the placement unit (the placement table 303a or the temporary placement table 306) of the scale device 301, the current weight exceeds the original weight. . Alternatively, if the product information registered product already placed on the placement unit (the placement table 303a or the temporary placement table 306) of the scale device 301 is removed, the current weight will be less than the original weight. Therefore, in step S105 after it is determined that there is a weight change with respect to the original weight (Y in step S104), it is determined whether the weight has increased, in other words, whether the current weight has increased or decreased from the original weight. To do.

  If the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 determines that the current weight has increased from the original weight (Y in step S105), it performs error notification (step S106). That is, in this case, an operation error or fraud that an item for which no item code has been input has been placed on the placement unit (the placement table 303a or the temporary placement table 306) of the scale device 301 should have been made. The control unit 253 changes the emission color of the light emitting unit 218 provided at the distal end of the display pole 217 from blue to red, and indicates that the operation error or fraud has been performed, for example, an attendant. To the store clerk. Further, a weight error screen D1 is displayed on the LCD 210 of the self-checkout terminal 101 (see FIG. 15).

  FIG. 15 shows an example of a weight error screen D1 when a product whose barcode has not been read as a result of the weight check process is placed on the placement unit (the placement table 303a or the temporary placement table 306) of the scale device 301. It is a schematic diagram shown. When it is determined that the current weight has increased from the original weight (Y in Step S105), the control unit 253 reduces the brightness of the entire basic screen B and generates a weight error screen D1 as illustrated in FIG. Overlaid on the basic screen B. On the weight error screen D1, characters “A product whose bar code has not been read are in a bag. Please remove the product” are displayed together with a pattern for supporting the work.

  Thereafter, referring to the current weight shown in FIG. 13 temporarily stored in step S52 shown in FIG. 12 (step S107) and determining that the current weight = the original weight (step S108), the operation of the scale device 301 is caused by an operation error or fraud. Since the product placed on the placement unit (placement table 303a or temporary placement table 306) has been removed and returned to its original state, an error release process is executed in step S109. The error cancellation process is performed by deleting the error notification. That is, the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 restores the brightness of the user area B2 in the basic screen B and deletes the weight error screen D1. As a result, the display on the LCD 210 returns to the basic screen B (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 10).

  When the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 determines that the current weight has decreased from the original weight (N in step S105), the mounting unit (the mounting table 303a or the temporary mounting table 306) of the scale device 301 has already been used. The product after registration of the product information placed on is supposed to have been removed. As an example, such an event is expected to occur frequently in the case of a customer with children. That is, while the parent is operating the self-checkout terminal 101, the child takes away a product, such as a confectionery, once placed on the placement unit (the placement table 303a or the temporary placement table 306) of the scale device 301. This is likely to occur. Therefore, when such an event occurs, error notification is executed (step S110). In other words, in this case, the control unit 253 changes the emission color of the light emitting unit 218 provided at the tip of the display pole 217 from blue to red, for example, to inform that the operation error or fraud has been performed. Notify the staff of the attendant. Further, a weight error screen D2 is displayed on the LCD 210 of the self-checkout terminal 101 (see FIG. 16).

  FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a weight error screen D2 when a product has been removed from the mounting table as a result of the weight check process. When it is determined that the current weight has decreased from the original weight (N in Step S105), the control unit 253 reduces the brightness of the entire basic screen B and generates a weight error screen D2 as illustrated in FIG. Overlaid on the basic screen B. On the weight error screen D2, the characters “Please return the item removed from the bag to the bag” are displayed together with a pattern that supports the work for that purpose.

  Thereafter, the current weight shown in FIG. 13 temporarily stored in step S52 shown in FIG. 12 is referred to (step S107), and if the current weight = original weight is determined (Y in step S108), the placement of the scale device 301 is already performed. After the product information registered product placed on the unit (mounting table 303a or temporary mounting table 306) is removed, the product is returned to the mounting unit again. Execute. The error cancellation process is performed by deleting the error notification. That is, the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 restores the brightness of the user area B2 in the basic screen B and deletes the weight error screen D2. As a result, the display on the LCD 210 returns to the basic screen B (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 10).

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of weight check processing in the product bagging waiting phase. First, when the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 determines input of a product code in step S101 in FIG. 14 (Y in step S101), the control unit 253 proceeds to a product bagging waiting phase (step S102). In the merchandise bagging waiting phase showing the flow of processing in FIG. 17, a bagging message is first displayed on the LCD 210 (step S201). The bagging message is indicated by the guidance “Please put the product in a plastic bag or my basket” in the guidance display area B1 in FIG. 10, and “Product is temporarily placed in the guidance display area B1 in FIG. "Please put it on".

  In subsequent step S202, the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 searches the weight data file WDF (see FIG. 7B) constituting the product data file and sets the corresponding product defined as the set weight. The weight and the allowable range (upper limit allowable value and lower limit allowable value) are acquired, and the weight A is obtained. This weight A is the range of the upper limit allowable value and the lower limit allowable value for the set weight respectively stored in the weight data file WDF shown in FIG. For example, when the set weight is 310 (g) and the upper limit allowable value and the lower limit allowable value are 10 (g), the weight A is 300 to 320 (g).

  Here, on the reading confirmation screen C after entering the product code (see the third column, first row from the left in FIG. 10, see FIG. 11) and the department registration screen F (see the third column, second row from the left in FIG. 10). , The numeric keypad TK is displayed, and a multiplication input is made possible by changing the number of purchase points whose default setting is one point. Thus, after the product code is input, when the product code is input by multiplication by touch designation of the numeric keypad TK, the weight A obtained in step S202 is the set weight of the weight data file WDF (see FIG. 7B). And the permissible width is a weight obtained by integrating the permissible widths by the numerical values set. For example, it is assumed that a product code of a product having a set weight of 310 (g) and an upper limit allowable value and a lower limit allowable value of 10 (g) is input, and then “5” is entered by touch designation of the numeric keypad TK. Then, since the set weight is 310 (g) × 5 = 1,550 (g) and the upper limit allowable value and the lower limit allowable value are 10 (g) × 5 = 50 (g), the weight A is 1,500 to 1,600 (g).

  Subsequently, the current weight temporarily stored as the current weight in the weight check file WCF shown in FIG. 13 in step S52 in FIG. 12 is referred (step S203), and the original temporarily stored in the weight check file WCF is referred to. A change in weight relative to the weight is determined (step S204).

  At this time, in the product bagging waiting phase, the product for which the product code has been input should be placed on the placement unit (the placement table 303a or the temporary placement table 306) of the scale device 301. On the other hand, until the product is placed on the placement unit, the process returns to the current weight reference process in step S202 through the weight change determination process in step S204. As a result, even after the product code is read and input by the barcode scanner 203 and the product bagging waiting phase is entered (step S102 in FIG. 14), the reading confirmation screen C (from the left in FIG. 10) is displayed. Multiply input by a numeric value on the numeric keypad TK displayed in the third column, first row (see FIG. 11) is possible.

  In this state, if the product is placed on the placement unit (the placement table 303a or the temporary placement table 306), a change in the current weight with respect to the original weight is determined in step S204 (Y in step S204), and the weight check is performed. The determination process for this is executed. That is, the weight obtained by subtracting the original weight from the current weight is the weight B in order to obtain the increase in the current weight, which is the weight of the product placed on the placement unit (mounting table 303a or temporary mounting table 306), as the weight B (Step S208). That is, the calculation of current weight-original weight = weight B is executed. Then, the identity of the weight A and the weight B, which are ranges of the upper limit allowable value and the lower limit allowable value with respect to the set weight acquired in step S202, is determined (step S209). The identity determination of the weight A and the weight B is made based on whether or not the weight B is included in the range of the weight A.

  In such a determination process for checking the weight, in the present embodiment, the product is placed on the placement unit (the placement table 303a or the temporary placement table 306), and the change in the current weight relative to the original weight is changed in step S204. After the determination (Y in step S204), a determination process is performed to determine whether a multiplication input has been made (step S205). That is, in step S205, the reading confirmation screen C after entering the product code (see the third column, first row from the left in FIG. 10, see FIG. 11) or the department registration screen F (see the third column, second row from the left in FIG. 10). ), It is determined whether or not the purchase quantity of the product for which the numeric key TK is touch-designated and the product code is input is input as a numerical value. This determination can be performed by referring to the data indicating that the multiplication input is temporarily stored in the RAM 254 by the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 at the time of the multiplication input.

  If it is determined in step S205 that a multiplication input has been made (Y in step S205), the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 executes a timer start process (step S206), and in step S208 until the time is up. The process waits for execution (step S207). This occurs after multiplication input in which the number of products whose number has been entered passes through a weight check before being placed on the placement unit (mounting table 303a or temporary table 306) of the scale device 301. It is possible to suppress execution of an inappropriate weight check process.

  FIG. 18A is a flowchart showing an example of the timer start process in step S206 of FIG. In the timer start process, first, the value of the number temporarily stored in the RAM 254 by the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 at the time of multiplication input is referred to (step S206-1), and the timer value corresponding to the value of the number is determined. Search is performed (step S206-2). The timer value in this case is set so that the longer the value, the longer the timer value. Then, the searched timer value is set (step S206-3), and count-up is started (step S206-4). The time-up shown in step S207 of FIG. 17 means the time-up of the timer value set in step S206-3 of FIG. Thereby, it is possible to set a grace time in accordance with the quantity entered at the time of multiplication input, and it is possible to suppress execution of inappropriate weight check processing that may occur after multiplication input with higher accuracy, At that time, it is possible to prevent work delays due to an unnecessarily long grace period.

  FIG. 18B is a schematic diagram illustrating timer set value data. The timer value setting data is set by associating a timer value with a numeric value. The timer value set in FIG. 18B is set so that the longer the value, the longer the value. Therefore, in the timer value search process according to the value of the numerical value executed in step S206-2 in FIG. 18A, as an example, the timer value setting data in FIG. The timer value is acquired based on the value of the numeric value referenced by -1. Then, the timer value acquired in this way is set (step S206-3).

  FIG. 18C is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of timer value setting data. The timer value setting data is set by associating a timer value coefficient with a numeric value. The timer value coefficient is a coefficient applied to a preset basic timer value. The timer value coefficient set in FIG. 18C is set to such a value that the timer value becomes longer as the value of the number is larger. Therefore, in the timer value search process according to the value of the numerical value executed in step S206-2 in FIG. 18A, as an example, the timer value setting data in FIG. A timer value coefficient is acquired based on the value of the numeric value referred to by −1, and the timer value is obtained by multiplying the basic timer value by the acquired timer value coefficient. Then, the timer value thus obtained is set (step S206-3).

  The timer value setting data illustrated in FIGS. 18B and 18C is described in advance in the operation sequence and the operation program as an example, and as another example, an independent file different from the operation sequence and the operation program. It is configured as. Further, as an example, the timer value setting data may be freely rewritable in the setting mode of the self-checkout terminal 101, for example.

  When the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 determines that the weight A is equal to the weight B (Y in step S209), the original weight is updated to the current weight value in the weight check file WCF shown in FIG. After (step S210), the process proceeds to the registration waiting phase (step S211), and the processing in the product bagging waiting phase is terminated.

  On the other hand, when a product for which a product code has not been input is placed on the placement unit (the placement table 303a or the temporary placement table 306) of the scale device 301, the product and the product code for which the product code has been input. As long as there is no identity with the weight, the identity between the weight A and the weight B is not determined (N in step S209). Therefore, in this case, the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 determines whether or not the weight B is heavier than 0 (step S212), and executes error notification accordingly (steps S213 and S214). In other words, if the weight of the product placed on the placement unit (the placement table 303a or the temporary placement table 306) of the scale device 301 obtained as current weight-source weight = weight B in step S208 is greater than 0 (step S212). Y), an operation error or an injustice that a product for which no product code has been input has been placed on the placement unit (the placement table 303a or the temporary placement table 306) of the scale device 301 should have been performed. Therefore, in this case, the control unit 253 executes an error notification process corresponding to this (step S213). That is, the emission color of the light emitting unit 218 provided at the front end of the display pole 217 is changed from blue to red, and the operation mistake or fraud is reported to, for example, an attendant's clerk. I will inform you. Further, a weight error screen D1 is displayed on the LCD 210 of the self-checkout terminal 101 (see FIG. 15). On the other hand, if the weight B is lighter than 0 (N in step S212), the product information registered after the product information already placed on the placement unit (the placement table 303a or the temporary placement table 306) of the scale device 301. Should have been removed. Therefore, in this case, the control unit 253 executes error notification processing according to this (step S214). That is, the emission color of the light emitting unit 218 provided at the front end of the display pole 217 is changed from blue to red, and the operation mistake or fraud is reported to, for example, an attendant's clerk. I will inform you. Further, a weight error screen D2 is displayed on the LCD 210 of the self-checkout terminal 101 (see FIG. 16).

  Thereafter, the control unit 253 of the self-checkout terminal 101 refers to the current weight shown in FIG. 13 temporarily stored in step S52 shown in FIG. 12 (step S215), and determines that the current weight = original weight (step S216). ) The product placed on the placement unit (the placement table 303a or the temporary placement table 306) of the scale device 301 due to an operation error or fraud has been removed after being removed, or has already been placed on the scale device 301. Since the product information registered product placed on the placement unit (mounting table 303a or temporary placement table 306) is removed and then returned to the placement unit, an error canceling process is performed in step S217. And return to the process of step S204.

(2) Skip Weight Check Process FIG. 19 is a schematic view illustrating a basic screen B and a reading confirmation screen C for a product not subject to weight check. As described above, the payment terminal 201 has a weight check execution definition. Therefore, the control unit 253 refers to the weight check execution definition and displays a confirmation button X on the reading confirmation screen C for the product defined not to check the weight, as illustrated in FIG. Skip the check process. In the reading confirmation screen C, when the confirmation button X is touch-designated by the touch panel 211, the control unit 253 allows the product sales data process to proceed and restores the brightness of the user area B2 in the basic screen B to the original. The reading confirmation screen C is erased. As a result, the display on the LCD 210 returns to the basic screen B (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 10).

  In this way, the weight check process is skipped for products not subject to weight check. As shown in FIG. 19A, in spite of skipping the weight check process, the guidance display area B1 after the bar code attached to the product is read indicates that “the product is placed in a shopping bag or my basket. Enter the guidance and press the confirm button "along with a picture to support the work.

However, as described based on FIG. 11, the control unit 253 determines the product placement location after reading the barcode in the guidance display area B1 in accordance with the product placement location definition (packing skip) of the weight data file WDF. indicate. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 19B, the control unit 253 displays “” in the guidance display area B <b> 1 in the case of a product defined in the product placement location definition (bag skipping) with the floor as the placement location. Put the product on the side of the plastic bag stand and press the confirm button "is displayed along with a picture to support the work.
(5) Product Information Registration for Packed Products (1) Packed Product Input Method FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing an example of screen transition when executing a self-checkout process for packed products. “Assembly” set in the product designation button B22 in the first basic screen B (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 10) means a packed product. That is, in a supermarket or the like, it is common practice to install a corner where various food items are arranged so that customers can freely pack fried foods, tempura, yakitori, etc. The product to be packed at such a corner is “packing”.

  In the first basic screen B (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 10), when the product designation button B22 “packing” is touch-designated by the touch panel 211, the control unit 253 is displayed on the LCD 210. In the basic screen B, the brightness of the user area B2 is reduced, screen generation is performed so that the transaction information B21 displayed in the user area B2 is switched to the department selection screen E, and this department selection screen E is displayed on the LCD 210. (First column, first row from the left in FIG. 20). On the department selection screen E, various foods included in the category of “packing” are displayed in a scrollable manner by a scroll button with a total of 16 types of 4 columns and 4 rows.

  When the transaction information B21 of the user area B2 in the basic screen B is switched and displayed on the department selection screen E (first column, first row from the left in FIG. 20), the control unit 253 displays “ "Please press the button of your product" is displayed along with a pattern to support the work. Thereby, the customer can know what operation should be performed next.

  Therefore, according to the guidance, when one food item is touch-designated on the touch panel 211 from the department selection screen E for “packing”, the control unit 253 generates a department registration screen F for the food item, and the user in the basic screen B The department registration screen F generated in the user area B2 is displayed with the brightness of the area B2 lowered (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 20). FIG. 20 shows an example in which “croquette” is touch-designated. In this case, the department registration screen F for “croquette” appears (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 20). The department registration screen F includes transaction information such as the unit price of the product, the discount amount, the number of purchases, and the purchase amount, and includes characters based on the text data of the product name of the product and a pattern based on the image data of the product. Includes numeric keypad TK. The numeric keypad TK enables multiplication input by changing the number of purchase points whose default setting is one point. In the example shown in FIG. 20, the number of purchase points is changed to 2 by the numeric keypad TK.

  When the department registration screen F is displayed in the user area B2 in the basic screen B (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 20), the control unit 253 displays “when changing the score” in the guidance display area B1. "Enter from the numeric keys and press the" Enter "button" is displayed along with a picture that supports the task. Thereby, the customer can know what operation should be performed next.

  Therefore, in accordance with the guidance, on the department registration screen F (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 20), the purchase number is changed by the numeric keypad TK as necessary and the multiplication input is performed. When the touch designation is made, the department registration for the selected food, “croquette” in the example shown in FIG. 20, is completed by the number of purchase points multiplied by default or the numeric keypad TK. Thereafter, the control unit 253 displays the department selection screen E again without displaying the reading confirmation screen C (for example, the fourth column and the second row from the left in FIG. 10) (the third from the left in FIG. 20). Column first row). However, on the department selection screen E for the second and subsequent times (first column, third row from the left in FIG. 20), a decision button E2 is displayed instead of the return button E1. Therefore, the food displayed on the department selection screen E can be registered repeatedly until the enter button E2 is touch-designated by the touch panel 211.

  In the second and subsequent department selection screen E (third column, first row from the left in FIG. 20), the control unit 253 presses the button of the product you have in the guidance display area B1, and displays all the items in the pack. When the input of the product is completed, the text “please press the“ OK ”button” is displayed together with a pattern that supports the work. Thereby, the customer can know what operation should be performed next.

  Therefore, according to the guidance, the customer repeats the operation for registration on the department selection screen E and the department registration screen F for all the foods packed by himself. Then, when the registration work for all the food items in the pack is completed, the customer touches the enter button E2 with the touch panel 211. As a result, the control unit 253 generates the reading confirmation screen C, and displays the reading confirmation screen C generated in the user area B2 in an overlapping manner while reducing the brightness of the user area B2 in the basic screen B (FIG. 20). 3rd column, 2nd row from the left). In addition, the control unit 253 shifts the display of the guidance display area B1 in the basic screen B to a display of “please place the product in a shopping bag or my basket” (in the third column from the left in FIG. 20). 2nd line).

(2) Second weight check process Thereafter, a weight check process is executed. In this case, in the self-checkout process of the packed product, a weight check process different from the weight check process described above is executed. For convenience, the above-described weight check process will be referred to as a first weight check process, and the weight check process for a “packaged” product will be referred to as a second weight check process.

  As described above, in the user area B2 (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 10) in the first basic screen B, “easy”, “fruit”, A product designation button B22 including six kinds of touch buttons of “sazazai”, “fish shell”, “others”, and “assortment” is displayed. The product finally specified based on the touch specification of these product specification buttons B22 is a non-PLU product set in the department file, not set in the PLU file PF. Among these products, the non-designated items that are finally designated based on the touch designation of the product designation button B22 including the touch buttons of “Yasai”, “Kakumono”, “Souzai”, “Fish” and “Others”. For PLU products, corresponding weight data is set in the department file. Therefore, the first weight check process can be performed. On the other hand, the corresponding weight data is not set in the department file for the non-PLU product that is finally specified based on the touch specification of the product specification button B22 including the “packing” touch button. For this reason, the first weight check process cannot be executed, and the second weight check process is executed.

  In the second weight check process, it is determined based on the output from the scale device 301 whether a product is placed on the placement table 303a. That is, in the scale device 301, if the measured weight increases even a little, it is determined that the registered packed product is correctly placed in the shopping bag 401 or my basket, or placed on the temporary table 306. In other words, a simple weight check process is executed.

  In this case, in the standby screen (third column, second row from the left in FIG. 20) in which the reading confirmation screen C is displayed over the user region B2 in the basic screen B, the guidance display region B1 displays “Register product”. Display the same guidance as when performing the first weight check, “Put in bag or my basket”.

  However, the self-checkout operation at the self-checkout terminal 101 of the present embodiment is such that the barcode attached to the product is read by the barcode scanner 203, and the product from which the barcode is read is stored in the shopping bag 401 or my basket. The basic operation is to place it on the table or on the temporary table 306. For this reason, in the case of a non-PLU product that is finally registered based on the touch designation of the product designation button B22, an operation different from normal is required. Due to such operational differences, the customer puts the registered packed product in the plastic bag 401 or my basket, or places it in the temporary storage table 306, and then mistakenly puts the unregistered product in the plastic bag 401 or my bag. It is expected that it will be placed in a basket or placed on the temporary table 306, that is, every second occurrence. When such an occurrence occurs twice, a non-PLU product for which the first weight check process is executed is an error, so that no major problem occurs.

  On the other hand, in the case of a non-PLU product for which the second weight check process is executed, that is, a packed product in this embodiment, it is merely determined whether or not the product is placed on the placement table 303a. In other words, since the second weight check process, which is a simple weight check process, is executed, even if every second unregistered product occurs, this cannot be regarded as an error. In this case, after recognizing the increase in weight based on the output from the scale device 301, a countermeasure may be considered in which an error is generated when a further increase in weight is recognized. However, the scale device 301 cannot execute the weighing for a predetermined time after the article is placed on the placing table 303a until the vibration is settled. For this reason, it is necessary to set the standby time as a predetermined time or more until the vibration is settled, and when this occurs twice within this standby time, this cannot be regarded as an error.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, for a product for which the second weight check is executed, it is determined whether the weight measured by the scale device 301 exceeds a specified value, and if it exceeds, an error is determined. Execute. As a result, when a product is placed twice following a packed product, an error can be made if the total weight exceeds the specified weight. When such an error occurs, for example, the control unit 253 may display on the LCD 210 a screen that displays the weight error screen D1 as illustrated in FIG.
(6) Cancellation designation FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a cancellation screen that appears when the cancellation button Y is pressed. When the stop button Y displayed on each screen is touch-designated by the touch panel 211, the control unit generates a stop screen H as illustrated in FIG. 21, reduces the overall brightness of the basic screen B, and the user area B2. The generated stop screen H is superimposed and displayed. On the cancel screen H, two selection buttons H1 and H2 labeled “Yes” and “No” are displayed together with the words “Are you sure you want to stop shopping?”, And a call button Z is also displayed. Is done. When the selection button H1 displayed as “Yes” is touch-designated by the touch panel 211, the control unit 253 stops all the processes, and displays the LCD 210 on the initial initial guidance screen A (first from the left in FIG. 10). Return to column first row). On the other hand, when the selection button H2 displayed as “No” is touch-designated by the touch panel 211, the control unit 253 returns the process to the previous state.
(7) Call designation FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a salesclerk call screen that appears when the call button Z is pressed. When the call button Z displayed on each screen is touch-designated by the touch panel 211, the control unit 253 generates a clerk call screen I as illustrated in FIG. The store clerk call screen I generated is overlaid and displayed in the user area B2. On the clerk call screen I, two selection buttons I1 and I2 displayed as "Yes" and "No" are displayed together with the characters "Call clerk. Are you sure?" When the selection button I1 displayed as “Yes” is touch-designated by the touch panel 211, the control unit 253 causes the salesclerk call screen I to transition as illustrated in FIG. On the clerk call screen I shown in FIG. 22B, a call cancel button I3 is displayed with the words “I will cancel the call” along with the characters “I'm waiting for the store clerk now. Therefore, when the call stop button I3 is touch-designated by the touch panel 211, the control unit 253 executes a store clerk calling process. As the calling process, the control unit 253 outputs the clerk calling information to the attendant terminal 501 to which the own device is assigned. On the other hand, when the selection button I2 displayed as “No” is touch-designated by the touch panel 211, the control unit 253 stops the clerk calling process and returns the process to the previous state.
(8) Settlement Return to the description based on FIG. In the user area B2 (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 10) in the basic screen B, an accounting button B23 displayed as “accounting” is displayed. The touch designation of the accounting button B23 means a tightening designation. Therefore, when the accounting button B23 is touch-designated on the touch panel 211, the control unit 253 executes a settlement process. That is, the control unit 253 generates an accounting screen J and displays it on the user area B2 (second column, third row from the left in FIG. 10). The accounting screen J displays the total amount, payment method selection buttons J1 to J5, and “returns to the detail screen” for returning to the first basic screen B (second column, first row from the left in FIG. 10). And a return button J6 displayed. The selection button J1 is cash, the selection button J2 is credit, the selection button J3 is an electronic money type contactless IC card, the selection button J4 is a bank account withdrawal type contactless IC card, and the selection button J5 is a gift certificate / coupon. Select and specify. Accordingly, in the payment terminal 201, when the customer designates the closing by touching the accounting button B23 on the touch panel 211, the control unit 253 uses the magnetic amount such as cash or credit card for the payment amount calculated in the merchandise sales data processing. Payment processing using a card, an electronic money type non-contact IC card, and a bank withdrawal type non-contact IC card is executed.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall system configuration as an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the arrangement | positioning state of each part in a self-checkout system. It is a perspective view which shows a self-checkout terminal. It is a perspective view which shows a scale apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the state in which the shopping bag is hold | maintained at the holding arm. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical hardware constitutions of a payment terminal. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a goods data file (weight data file). It is a schematic diagram which shows the electrical hardware constitutions of a scale apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the self-checkout process in a self-checkout terminal. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a screen transition at the time of the self-checkout process execution in a self-checkout terminal. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the basic screen and reading confirmation screen about the goods which should be mounted in a temporary placement stand. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the weight data reception process from the scale apparatus included in the weight check process. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a weight check file. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a weight check process. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a weight check error screen when the goods in which the barcode is not read as a result of the weight check process are placed on the placement unit of the scale device. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the weight check error screen when goods are removed from the mounting table as a result of the weight check process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the weight check process in the goods bagging waiting phase. 17A is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of timer start processing in step S206 of FIG. 17, FIG. 17B is a schematic diagram illustrating timer setting value data, and FIG. 10C illustrates another example of timer value setting data. It is a schematic diagram. (A) is a schematic diagram illustrating a basic screen and a reading confirmation screen (a product placement place is a mounting table) for a product not subject to weight check, and (b) is a basic screen and a reading confirmation screen for a product not subject to weight check ( It is a schematic diagram which illustrates a goods mounting place (floor surface). It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a screen transition at the time of execution of the self-checkout process of packed goods. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the cancellation screen which appears when a cancellation button is pushed. (A) is a schematic diagram showing an example of a clerk call screen (call selection) that appears when the call button is pressed, and (b) is a clerk call screen (calling) that appears when the call button is pressed. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 201 ... Payment terminal, 203 ... Bar code scanner (user interface, data code scanner), 210 ... LCD (user interface, display), 211 ... Touch panel (user interface), 254 ... RAM (memory | storage part), 301 ... Scale apparatus, 303 ... Weighing pan, 303a ... Mounting table (mounting table), 306 ... Temporary mounting table (mounting table), PF ... PLU file (product data file), WDF ... Weight data file (product data file)

Claims (6)

A payment terminal having a user interface that enables input of a product code and input of a numeric value;
A weighing device that includes a placement unit for placing the product, weighs the weight of the object placed on the placement unit, and transmits the measured weight value to the settlement terminal;
Means for storing the weight value transmitted from the scale device in the storage unit as the original weight;
Means for notifying an error when the weight value transmitted from the scale device fluctuates in the first phase before the product code input by the user interface for each product;
In the second phase after the product code is input by the user interface, a search process for searching the corresponding unit price and weight range from a product data file that stores the unit price and weight in a writable manner corresponding to each product code; Whether the weight value of the difference between the weight value after the change and the original weight stored in the storage unit after the change of the weight value transmitted from the scale device is included in the weight range acquired by the search process A weight check process for determining whether or not, and, as a result of the weight check process, on the condition that the weight value is included in the weight range, the input product code and the searched unit price Means for executing product information registration processing for storing product information including the information in the storage unit, and processing for returning the second phase to the first phase;
Means for executing product multiplication input by product code input and numeric value input by the user interface;
When the product multiplication input is executed, after a change in the weight value transmitted from the scale device acquired in the second phase, a predetermined grace period is allowed until the weight check process is executed. Means for setting;
Self-checkout terminal equipped with.   The self-checkout terminal according to claim 1, wherein the grace time is set to be longer as the value of the number input by multiplication is larger.   The self-checkout terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the user interface includes a data code scanner that optically reads a product code expressed in the form of a code symbol.   The self-checkout terminal according to claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a display for displaying information and a touch panel arranged on the display surface.   The self-checkout terminal according to claim 4, further comprising means for displaying a screen for inputting a numerical value on the display and executing the input of the numerical value by an input from the touch panel on the screen.   The self-checkout terminal according to claim 4, further comprising means for displaying a product code input screen on the display and executing input of a product code by input from the touch panel on the screen.

Images