JP2014071599A - Shopping cart system interlocking to wireless tag - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accelerate the speed of accounting using a wireless tag attached to an article not only for article management but also for accounting of each client.SOLUTION: An article display unit 1 reads article information from a wireless tag attached to the article when the article is taken out from the display unit 1, and stores the article information for illegality prevention until the article is put into a cart. A shopping cart 4 reads the article information of the wireless tag attached to the article which is put into the cart, and notifies the article display unit 1 of that effect. An accounting device 5 receives the article information and a card ID from the shopping cart 4 which requests an accounting and stores the accounting information subjected to accounting processing, and presents the accounting information corresponding to the cart ID to the shopping cart when the shopping cart located immediately nearby is detected.

Description

  The present invention is a wireless display comprising a product display unit for displaying products equipped with a wireless tag, a shopping cart for transporting products to be purchased, and an accounting processing device for performing accounting processing for products in the shopping cart. The present invention relates to a shopping cart system linked to a tag.

  In recent years, with the enlargement of supermarkets and shopping malls, a wide variety of products and a large number of customers are concentrated, and efficient product distribution management, theft prevention and accounting processing are required. Therefore, in order to efficiently manage the product, there is a technology related to a system that attaches a non-contact IC tag (wireless tag) to the product and detects the IC tag (for example, Patent Document 1).

  The technology described in Patent Literature 1 is attached to each product, for example, a product displayed on a product shelf, a product for which a payment is made at a cash register, and a product taken out from an outlet of a store. ID information is read without contact. The information processing device receives ID information from each wireless communication device. When the ID information is received, the ID information and the installation location information of the wireless communication apparatus that transmitted the ID information are associated with each other and registered in the product information database. Then, it is determined whether or not the ID information received from the reading device of the store exit system has already been received from the wireless communication device installed at the cash register.

  However, the purpose of this technology is to detect fraudulent acts such as shoplifting performed in the store at an early stage for the products displayed in the store, and customer convenience is not considered. Customers who purchase goods still need to line up at the cash register for payment. For this reason, queues are likely to occur at the cash register, and customers who line up in a long line are in pain.

JP 2011-215941 A

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to use a wireless tag attached to a product not only for product management but also for each customer's accounting process to speed up the accounting process.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention executes one or more product display units for displaying products, one or more shopping carts for transporting products to be purchased, and accounting for products in the shopping cart. The product display unit includes a wireless tag attached to the product when any of the displayed products is taken out from the product display unit. Extracted product information reading means for reading product information for identifying a product, extracted product information storage means for storing the read product information, and product information related to products in the shopping cart from any shopping cart Cart product information receiving means for receiving the product information corresponding to any of the product information stored in the taken-out product information storage means. When the communication unit receives the product information, the product information is deleted from the taken-out product information storage unit, and the shopping cart stores the product information for identifying the product from the wireless tag attached to the product put in the shopping cart. A cart product information reading unit for reading, a cart product information storing unit for storing the read product information, and a cart product information notifying unit for notifying the read product information to a predetermined destination. When an operation is performed, the merchandise information stored in the cart merchandise information storage means is associated with the cart ID unique to the shopping cart and notified to the accounting processing apparatus, and the accounting processing apparatus Accounting processing means for collecting product information notified from each of the shopping carts and executing predetermined accounting processing for each cart ID, and shopping for detecting shopping carts existing in the vicinity And an accounting process result corresponding to the cart ID processed by the accounting processing means when the shopping cart existing in the vicinity is detected. It is characterized by presenting.

  According to the present invention, since the accounting process can be performed in advance by the wireless tag attached to the product in the shopping cart, payment at the cash register can be facilitated or automated. Moreover, since both the shopping cart and the product display unit have the wireless tag reader, it is easy to return the product and detect fraud.

Overall configuration diagram and internal block configuration diagram of shopping cart system according to the present invention Operational flow chart of product display unit according to the present invention Operation flowchart of shopping cart according to the present invention Operation flowchart of accounting processing apparatus according to the present invention

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a shopping cart system according to the present invention, and an internal block configuration diagram of a merchandise display unit 1, a shopping cart 4, an accounting processing device 5, and an exit system 6.

  The product display unit 1 includes a unit control unit 10, a wireless tag reader 11, a product information storage unit 12, a communication control unit 13, a product display space 14, a display unit 15, and a wireless tag reader reading area 16.

  The unit control unit 10 is means for controlling each unit in the product display unit 1 and manages the entry and exit of the product in the product display unit 1 in cooperation with the wireless tag reader 11, the product information storage unit 12, and the communication control unit 13. To do.

  The wireless tag reader 11 is means for reading a product ID (product information) when the wireless tag 3 attached to the product 2 passes through the wireless tag reader reading area 16 and notifying the unit control unit 10 of the read product ID. Here, the merchandise ID is merchandise information including price information, classification information, and identification information of the merchandise, and individual products can be identified even if they are the same type of merchandise.

  The product information storage unit 12 is a unit that stores the product ID of the wireless tag 3 read by the wireless tag reader 11 via the unit control unit 10. That is, the product information storage unit 12 stores the product ID of the product taken out from the product display unit 1. This is temporarily stored in order to confirm that the product taken out from the product display unit 1 has entered the customer's shopping cart 4, and fraud can be detected (details will be described later).

  The communication control unit 13 is means for communicating with the shopping cart 4, the report destination 7, and the inventory management department 8. When the product ID is received from the shopping cart 4, the received product ID is notified to the unit controller 10. Further, according to control from the unit control unit 10, an alarm related to fraud is notified to the report destination 7, and a product ID related to inventory management is transmitted to the inventory management department 8.

  The merchandise display space 14 is means for displaying the merchandise 2 to which the wireless tag 3 is attached. The customer takes out the merchandise displayed in this space and puts it in the shopping cart 4. Although not shown, it is also possible to attach an electric net to the product display space 14 to prevent fraud in cooperation with the unit control unit 10 (for example, there is no shopping cart 4 in the vicinity) To prevent the removal of product 2 at

  The display unit 15 is means for displaying alarms and product information under the control of the unit control unit 10 (detailed description is omitted).

  The wireless tag reader reading area 16 is a reading range that the wireless tag reader 11 reads. For example, the wireless tag 3 read by the wireless tag reader 11 is a passive type, and the wireless tag 3 transmits ID information stored in the wireless tag 3 in response to a radio wave transmitted by the wireless tag reader 11. The wireless tag reader 11 radiates a radio wave on a surface through which a product entering the shopping cart 4 passes by a directional antenna (not shown). Therefore, the wireless tag reader 11 can read the product ID from the wireless tag 3 attached to the product that passes the radio wave on this surface, that is, the wireless tag reader reading area 16.

  The shopping cart 4 includes a wireless tag reader 40, a communication control unit 41, a display unit 42, a wireless tag reader reading area 43, a product storage area 44, a product information storage unit 45, a cart control unit 46, and an operation unit 47.

  The wireless tag reader 40 is means for reading a product ID (product information) when the wireless tag 3 attached to the product 2 passes through the wireless tag reader reading area 43 and notifying the cart control unit 46 of the read product ID. It has the same function as the wireless tag reader 11 of the display unit 1.

  The communication control unit 41 is means for communicating with the merchandise display unit 1 and the transaction processing device 5. When a pre-accounting request operation is performed from the operation unit 47, the product information is notified to the accounting processing device 5 via the communication control unit 41.

The display unit 42 is a means for displaying product information under the control of the cart control unit 46, and displays, for example, a list of products in the product area 44 and a total amount. Further, a guide map in the store may be displayed (detailed explanation is omitted).
The product storage area 44 is a storage area for transporting the product 2 to which the wireless tag 3 is attached, and may store an in-store shopping basket.

  The product information storage unit 45 is a unit that stores the product ID of the wireless tag 3 read by the wireless tag reader 40 via the cart control unit 46.

  The cart control unit 46 is a means for controlling each unit in the shopping cart 4, and manages the entry and exit of products in the shopping cart 4 in cooperation with the wireless tag reader 40, the product information storage unit 45, and the communication control unit 41. A list or total amount of products in the shopping cart 4 is displayed on the display unit 42 or notified to the accounting processing device 5 via the communication control unit 41 in response to an operation from the operation unit 47.

  The operation unit 47 is a means for the customer (user of the shopping cart 4) to operate the shopping cart 4, and includes function keys such as “clearing”, “cancellation”, “store guidance”, numeric keys, and direction keys ( Not shown). For example, when the customer presses the “clearing” key, the cart control unit 46 determines that the customer has requested pre-accounting and notifies the accounting processing device 5 of the product information via the communication control unit 41 in advance.

  The accounting processing device 5 includes an accounting processing unit 50, an operation unit 51, a depositing unit 52, a receipt output unit 53, a display unit 54, a communication control unit 55, an accounting information storage unit 56, and a neighborhood cart detection unit 57.

  The accounting processing unit 50 is a unit that controls each unit in the accounting processing device 5 and executes accounting processing for each shopping cart 4.

  The operation unit 51 is a means for the customer (user of the shopping cart 4) to operate the accounting processing device 5, for example, function keys such as “clearing”, “confirmation”, “cancellation”, “call person in charge”, etc. And a numeric keypad and direction keys (not shown). For example, when the customer confirms that the contents of the product list and the total amount displayed on the display unit 54 are correct, when the “confirm” key is pressed, the accounting processing unit 50 provides guidance regarding payment processing. (For example, voice guidance such as “Place cash in the cash slot or cash card in the card slot”).

  The depositing unit 52 is means for a customer to insert cash, a prepaid card, a cash card, a credit card, etc., and notifies the accounting processing unit 50 of the deposited information.

  The receipt output unit 53 is a means for printing a receipt relating to a product that has been settled (paid) under the control of the accounting processing unit 50, and the customer receives the printed receipt.

  The display unit 54 is a unit that displays the total amount for which payment is requested and product list information (breakdown) under the control of the accounting processing unit 50.

  The communication control unit 55 is means for communicating with the shopping cart 4. When product information is received from the shopping cart 4 by a pre-accounting request operation, the received product information is notified to the accounting processing unit 50.

  The transaction information storage unit 56 is a means for storing the product information notified from each shopping cart 4 or the transaction processing information (payment request etc.) processed in advance for each cart ID.

  The neighborhood cart detection unit 57 is a means for monitoring the radio wave received from the shopping cart 4 by the communication control unit 55 and detecting the cart ID of the shopping cart 4 approaching for payment. For example, each shopping cart 4 may periodically transmit a radio wave including cart ID information. Then, when the proximity cart detection unit 57 detects the cart ID of the shopping cart 4 approaching the accounting processing device 5, the detected cart ID is notified to the accounting processing unit 50, and the accounting processing unit 50 provides information on payment (for example, “Thank you for your purchase. Check the product list and amount of your purchase, and press the confirmation button if you like.”) Is displayed on the display unit 54. In this way, when the customer approaches the accounting processing device 5, the accounting processing has already been performed, and since the customer only confirms the contents and pays the amount, the payment is quick. Therefore, it is greatly reduced to line up at the cash register.

  The exit system 6 includes a wireless tag reader 60, a wireless tag reader reading area 61, a communication control unit 62, a cart storage 63, and a wireless tag collection BOX 64.

  When the wireless tag 3 attached to the product 2 passes through the wireless tag reader reading area 61, the wireless tag reader 60 reads the product ID from the wireless tag 3, and sends the notification destination 7 (for example, via the communication control unit 62). , Security room). The cart storage 63 is a means for placing the cart 4. The wireless tag collection BOX 64 is means for collecting the wireless tag 3.

  After completing the payment, the customer removes the wireless tag attached to each purchased product, puts it in the wireless tag collection BOX 64, and then returns the shopping cart 4 to the cart storage 63. Therefore, if the wireless tag reader 60 detects the passage of the wireless tag 3, it means that a product with the wireless tag 3 goes out of the store, for example, shoplifting or forgetting to collect the wireless tag 3, report. At that time, the automatic door may be closed or a display prompting attention (not shown).

  FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the commodity display unit 1 according to the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation flow of the commodity display unit 1 will be described with reference to FIG. This flow starts when the power of the commodity display unit 1 is turned on (S200).

  When the wireless tag reader 11 reads the product ID (product Xi) from the wireless tag 3 that passes through the wireless tag reader reading area 16 (S201, YES), the unit control unit 10 stores one of the items stored in the product information storage unit 12 It is determined whether or not the product information Xi matches (S202). Here, the merchandise information storage unit 12 stores merchandise IDs that are out of the merchandise display space 14 and are not yet in the shopping cart 4 in steps after S220 described later. If the product Xi is stored in the product information storage unit 12, it is determined that the customer has once taken out, but has not been put in the shopping cart 4 and returned to the product display space 14 (S202, YES), and proceeds to S232.

  If NO in S202, it is determined whether or not the product Xi is a returned product (entering the product display space 14) (S210). If it is not a return product ID (S210, NO), the process proceeds to S221. The return here means that the customer once returns the product once placed in the shopping cart 4 to the original product display space 14, and if the product Xi and the cart ID have been received from the shopping cart 4 in advance, It is determined that the product has returned from the cart 4 (S210, YES), a return confirmation that the product ID has returned to the product display space 14 is notified to the shopping cart (S211), and the process proceeds to S240.

  In S221, the product Xi is not the product ID read when the customer returns to the original product display space 14 from the determination results of S202 and S210. Therefore, the product read when the customer takes out the product from the product display space 14. The product Xi information is stored in the product information storage unit 12 (S221). Then, the Xi timer is started (S222), and the process proceeds to S230. In addition, the Xi timer measures the elapsed time after taking out each of the taken-out goods.

  In S230, it is determined whether or not the product ID (Xj) is received from the shopping cart 4. If not received (S230, NO), the process proceeds to S240. If received (S230, YES), it is determined whether the received product ID (Xj) matches any product ID (Xi) stored in the product information storage unit 12 (S231). Proceed to S240. If they match, the Xi timer is reset (S232), the product Xi information stored in the product information storage unit 12 is deleted (S233), and the process proceeds to S240.

  In S240, it is determined whether or not there is a timer Xk that has expired (timed out). If not (S240, NO), the process returns to S210. If there is an expired timer (S240, YES), even if a certain time (for example, 10 minutes) elapses after the product corresponding to the time-out Xk is taken out from the product display unit 1, any shopping cart 4 is stored. Is not entered, the possibility of theft of the product or the possibility of system abnormality is reported to the report destination 7 (for example, the security room or the system management room) (S241), and the process returns to S210.

  FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the shopping cart 4 according to the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation flow of the shopping cart 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

  This flow starts when the customer takes out the shopping cart 4 from the cart storage 63 and starts shopping in the store with the power of the shopping cart 4 turned on (S300). In addition, the information regarding the shopping of the customer before using this cart 4 is cleared by S333.

  In S301, the wireless tag reader 40 monitors the wireless tag 3 attached to the product 2 that passes through the wireless tag reader reading area 43, and when the product ID is read from the wireless tag that passes (S301, YES), the passage is shopping. It is determined whether or not the cart 4 is entered (S310). If the read product ID matches any product Xj information stored in the product information storage unit 45 (S310, YES), the ID of the product taken out from the shopping cart 4 instead of entering a new product. And the process proceeds to S321.

  In S310, if it does not match any product Xj information stored in the product information storage unit 45 (S310, NO), it is determined that a new product has been entered, and the product information storage unit uses the read product ID as product Xj information. 45 (S311), the stored product Xj information is notified to the product display unit 1 and the shopping cart 4 (S312), and the display of product information (product list, total amount, etc.) contained in the cart is updated ( S313), the process proceeds to S330. Note that the merchandise Xj information stored in the merchandise information storage unit 45 in S311 is merchandise information to be paid, and both are notified to the accounting processing device 5.

  Here, the notification destination in S312 may be all the product display units 1 or all the other shopping carts 4, or may specify the product display unit 1 or the other shopping cart 4 in which the product is present. In any case, the purpose is to notify the merchandise display unit 1 that has taken out the merchandise or the other shopping cart 4 that has received the merchandise that the merchandise has entered the shopping cart 4. Then, the notified commodity display unit 1 executes the process of YES in S230 of the flow of FIG. Further, the other shopping cart 4 that has been notified executes the process of YES in S321 described later in the present flow (FIG. 3).

  If YES in S310, the product in the shopping cart 4 has been taken out of the shopping cart 4, so that the product is not purchased and returned to the original product display unit 1 or given to another customer. One of them. In that case, if the product information storage unit 45 of the self-shopping cart 4 remains stored, the transaction processing device 5 is notified, and the product ID needs to be deleted. However, it is not possible to prevent fraud (transfer to one's own bag, etc.) simply by removing the product ID from the shopping cart 4.

  Therefore, in S321, the reception of the product ID is monitored from the product display unit 1 or another shopping cart 4, the product ID is received (S321, YES), and the received product ID is stored in the product information storage unit 45. Only when it matches with any of the product information Xj (S322, YES), the stored product Xj information is deleted, the display of the product information in the cart is updated (S323), and the process proceeds to S330. If NO in S321 or S322, the above-described S323 is skipped and the process proceeds to S330.

  In S330, when the customer operates the operation unit 47 to make a pre-accounting request (S330, YES), a list of all items Xj information of all the items in the shopping cart 4 and the cart of the shopping cart 4 The ID is notified to the accounting processing device 5 (S331), and the process proceeds to S332. If no pre-accounting request is made (S330, NO), the process returns to S301.

  In S332, it is determined whether or not the payment is completed. If the payment is not completed (S332, NO), the process waits until the payment is completed. Note that whether or not payment has been completed may be determined based on whether or not information related to confirmation of payment has been received from the accounting processing device 5. If the payment is completed (S332, YES), the cart control unit 46 clears the product information in the cart stored in the product information storage unit 45 (S333), and returns to S301. Note that clearing the merchandise information storage unit 45 in S333 is a process for lending the self-shopping cart 4 to the next customer.

  FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the accounting processing apparatus 5 according to the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation flow of the accounting processing apparatus 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

  This flow starts with the accounting apparatus 5 powered on (S400).

  In S410, it is determined whether or not a list of cart IDs and product IDs has been received from any shopping cart 4 (waiting for reception), and if received (S410, YES), the received product ID list is tabulated. The processed transaction information is stored in the transaction information storage unit 56 (S411). If the shopping cart 4 with the cart ID is present most recently (S420, YES), the transaction information that has been processed and stored in advance is displayed on the display unit 54 (S421), to the customer. Ask for payment for the product you purchase. Then, although not described in detail, a payment process related to payment, a receipt output, and the like are performed (S422), and reception of a list of cart IDs and product IDs from the next shopping cart 4 is awaited (S410).

  Heretofore, an example of the embodiment of the present invention has been described. According to the present invention, since the accounting process can be performed in advance by the wireless tag attached to the product in the shopping cart, payment at the cash register can be facilitated or automated. Moreover, since both the shopping cart and the product display unit have the wireless tag reader, it is easy to return the product and detect fraud. Furthermore, automatic settlement is possible by linking with an automatic settlement machine, so that a small number of store employees can handle accounting for a large number of customers. In addition, the customer is comfortable because the waiting time for payment of purchased products is shortened. Of course, the wireless tag system according to the present invention can be diverted to product management such as inventory management and order management, or the wireless tag applied to product management can be diverted to the wireless tag of the present system. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Product display unit 2 ... Product 3 ... Wireless tag 4 ... Shopping cart 5 ... Accounting processing device 6 ... Exit system 7 ... Report destination 8 ... Inventory management department DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Unit control part 11 ... Wireless tag reader 12 ... Product information storage part 13 ... Communication control part 14 ... Product display space 15 ... Display part 16 ... Wireless tag reader reading area 40 ... Radio tag reader 41 ... Communication control unit 42 ... Display unit 43 ... Radio tag reader reading area 44 ... Product entry area 45 ... Product information storage unit 46 ... Cart control unit 47 ..Operation unit 50 ... Accounting processing unit 51 ... Operation unit 52 ... Payment unit 53 ... Receipt output unit 54 ... Display unit 55 ... Communication control unit 56 ... Account information storage Unit 57 .. vicinity cart detection unit 6 ... wireless tag reader 61 ... wireless tag reader reading area 62 ... communication control unit 63 ... cart storage 64 ... wireless tag recovered BOX

Claims (3)

It is a system comprising one or more product display units for displaying products, one or more shopping carts for transporting products to be purchased, and one or more accounting processing devices for performing accounting processing for the products in the shopping cart. And
The product display unit includes a take-out product information reading unit that reads product information for identifying the product from a wireless tag attached to the product when any of the displayed products is taken out from the product display unit. A product information storage means for storing the read product information; and a cart product information receiving means for receiving product information relating to a product in the shopping cart from any shopping cart; When the cart product information receiving unit receives product information corresponding to any of the product information stored in the extracted product information storage unit, the product information is deleted from the extracted product information storage unit,
The shopping cart has cart product information reading means for reading product information for identifying the product from a wireless tag attached to the product put in the shopping cart, and cart product information storage for storing the read product information. Means and a cart product information notification means for notifying the read product information to a predetermined destination, and when a predetermined operation is performed, the product information stored in the cart product information storage means Notify the transaction processing device in correspondence with the cart ID unique to the shopping cart,
The accounting processing device collects product information notified from each of the shopping carts, performs accounting processing for each cart ID, and shopping cart detection means for detecting shopping carts in the vicinity. And when the shopping cart existing in the vicinity is detected, the accounting processing result corresponding to the cart ID processed by the accounting processing means or the guidance information related to payment is presented. A shopping cart system that works with the featured wireless tag. The system of claim 1, wherein
The merchandise display unit receives the merchandise information corresponding to the merchandise information even if a predetermined time has elapsed after the taken merchandise information reading means reads the merchandise information of the merchandise taken out from the merchandise display unit. A shopping cart system linked to a wireless tag, further comprising reporting means for notifying a predetermined destination of an alarm regarding fraud or abnormality when the means does not receive the information. The system of claim 1, wherein
The commodity display unit determines that the retrieved commodity has returned to the shelf when the retrieved commodity information reading means reads commodity information corresponding to any of the commodity information stored in the retrieved commodity information storage means. And a return product information notification means for notifying product information related to the product determined to have returned to any shopping cart,
The shopping cart receives return product information notification means for receiving product information notified from the product display unit, and other cart product information reception means for receiving product information notified by the cart product information notification means of another shopping cart. And when the cart product information reading unit reads the product information corresponding to the product information stored in the cart product information storage unit, the read product information is a product returned to the product display unit. If it is determined that the product is a product to be moved to another shopping cart or the return product information notifying unit or the other cart product information receiving unit receives the product information corresponding to the product, the cart product information storage unit 2. A shopping cart system linked to a wireless tag, wherein product information corresponding to the product stored in is deleted.

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