JP2015082254A - Checkout system and display part for operator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a checkout system capable of achieving reduction of operation mistakes of an operator and a speedup of operations of the operator.SOLUTION: A checkout system comprises: a counter which is located between an operator side and a customer side and includes a commodity receiving surface where commodities are placed; a scanner which is erected more closely to the customer side of the counter and scans commodity data of the commodities; a display part for an operator, which is arranged at the scanner and presents the status of a selling registration processing executed based on the commodity data read by the scanner to an operator, and is a transparent display through which a reading area of the commodity data by the scanner is seen; and area display means which displays an image defining the reading area of the commodity data by the scanner on the display part for the operator when the scanner reads the commodity data of the commodities.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a checkout system and an operator display unit.

  Conventionally, in a store such as a supermarket, a long and thin rectangular counter is installed in parallel with the moving direction of a customer, and a shopping basket containing a purchased product brought by the customer is placed on the counter. A part or all of the checkout system is provided on the counter, and an operator called a cashier performs sales registration work such as reading of bar code information. By doing in this way, the efficiency of check-out work is achieved in stores such as supermarkets.

  In recent years, in the checkout system as described above, it has been desired to further reduce operator error and speed up the operator operation.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a checkout system and an operator display unit capable of reducing operator operation errors and speeding up operator operations.

  The checkout system according to the embodiment is located between the operator side and the customer side, and has a counter having a load receiving surface on which the product is placed, and the product data of the product is erected near the customer side of the counter A scanner for reading the product data, and presenting to the operator the status of the sales registration process executed on the basis of the product data read by the scanner, wherein the product data is read by the scanner An operator display unit that is a transparent display that shows through, and an area display unit that displays an image defining a reading area of the product data by the scanner on the operator display unit when the product data is read by the scanner. .

Drawing 1 is a perspective view which looked at the checkout system concerning an embodiment from the customer side. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the checkout system as viewed from the operator side. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the information prior input device and the POS terminal. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram according to the sales registration process in the POS terminal. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a series of processing including sales registration processing in the POS terminal. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the operator display unit. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the signage device.

  Hereinafter, the checkout system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is an application example to a checkout system introduced in a store such as a supermarket.

  Here, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the checkout system 1 according to the embodiment as viewed from the customer side, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the checkout system 1 as viewed from the operator side. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the checkout system 1 is roughly divided into an information pre-input device 100 and a point-of-sale (POS) (Point Of) which is a sales registration processing device that executes part or all of the sales registration processing of products. Sales) terminal 200. The information pre-input device 100 and the POS terminal 200 constituting the checkout system 1 can communicate with the portable terminal 3 described later by NFC (Near Field Communication). . The mobile terminal 3 is, for example, a general smartphone.

  First, the POS terminal 200 will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the POS terminal 200 is erected on the customer side of a horizontally long table-like counter 201 having a cargo receiving surface on the upper surface. On the receiving surface of the counter 201, a product and a shopping basket for storing the product are placed. The shopping basket is not limited to a so-called basket shape, and may be a tray or the like, a box shape, a bag shape, or the like.

  The POS terminal 200 is provided with a pair of stands 202 and is erected on the upper surface of the counter 201 close to the customer side. The POS terminal 200 holds the operation unit 210 with a pair of stands 202.

  The operation unit 210 includes, on an operator side called a cashier, a scanner 211 that reads product data of a product, and an operator display unit 212 that provides various information to the operator.

  The scanner 211 includes an image sensor (not shown) such as a color CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) image sensor and a color CMOS (Complementary MOS) image sensor, and a light source (not shown) such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode). have.

  The scanner 211 is a product code included in a barcode that is a code symbol attached to a product, or external information of all or part of the product (features indicating product labels, product colors, surface irregularities, etc. Product data such as feature quantities representing the state of the product). Since processing for detecting code information from code symbols such as barcodes and two-dimensional codes and processing for detecting external information of products are conventional techniques, description thereof is omitted here.

  The operator display unit 212 is a transparent display in which the touch panel 212a is stacked on the surface and the back can be seen through. The transparent display is, for example, an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display. In such an operator display unit 212, when the operator performs an operation of causing the scanner 211 to read the product data of the product, the product data reading area by the scanner 211 is provided from the operator via the operator display unit 212. It is provided at a position where it can be seen through.

  The operator display unit 212 presents, for example, various operation buttons and product data such as product names and unit prices as the status of sales registration processing to the operator.

  On the other hand, the operation unit 210 includes, on the customer side, a third wireless communication unit 213 and a customer display unit 214 that presents various types of information as the status of the sales registration process to the customer.

  The third wireless communication unit 213 reads and writes various information with respect to the mobile terminal 3 by NFC (Near Field Communication). More specifically, the third wireless communication unit 213 can perform electronic money settlement and electronic money charging with the mobile terminal 3 by the customer holding the mobile terminal 3.

  Similarly to the operator display unit 212, the customer display unit 214 is, for example, an OLED display, which is a transparent display that can be seen through the back. The customer display unit 214 presents to the customer the status of the sales registration process that is executed based on the product data read by the scanner 211. Such a customer display unit 214 is provided at a position where the operation can be seen through from the customer display unit 214 when the operator performs an operation of causing the scanner 211 to read the product data of the product. It has been.

  This allows the customer to see the product that the operator is performing a reading operation on the scanner 211 and the status of the sales registration process displayed on the customer display unit 214 without moving his / her line of sight. Injustice can be prevented.

  In addition, the checkout system 1 includes a rectangular housing 220 capable of supporting the counter 201 on the lower surface of the counter 201. The POS terminal 200 is provided with a money change machine 230 corresponding to the deposit and withdrawal of banknotes and coins related to the tightening process in the sales registration process inside the housing 220.

  Furthermore, the POS terminal 200 includes a signage device 240 that displays various types of information on the customer side of the counter 201. For example, the signage device 240 is divided into nine (240a to 240i). Each of the signage devices 240a to 240i includes a display unit 241 (see FIG. 3) and a second wireless communication unit 242 (see FIG. 3).

  The display unit 241 displays advertisements, coupon information, and the like, and is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

  The second wireless communication unit 242 is provided in correspondence with the display unit 241, and reads and writes various information (for example, identification information stored in the mobile terminal 3) with respect to the mobile terminal 3 by NFC. . More specifically, the second wireless communication unit 242 can download the coupon information displayed on the display unit 241 with the portable terminal 3 when the customer holds the portable terminal 3 over the portable terminal 3. Thereby, the identification information memorize | stored in the portable terminal 3 and the coupon information currently displayed on the display part 241 can be matched.

  Next, the information prior input device 100 will be described.

  The information pre-input device 100 is based on the input of identification information for identifying a customer before executing the sales registration process at the POS terminal 200 and waiting for the settlement of the previous customer in the checkout lane. It is a device that performs member authentication and various declarations in advance. The various declarations made in advance include a declaration that a shopping bag is unnecessary and a declaration that electronic money settlement is to be performed. By providing the information prior input device 100 in this way, it is possible to shorten the settlement time by effectively using the cashier waiting time.

  The information advance input device 100 includes a first wireless communication unit 110, a cash processing unit 120, and a display unit 140. The information pre-input device 100 has an operation unit 102 on the upper surface of a box-shaped housing 101. The operation unit 102 of the information advance input device 100 is positioned at substantially the same height as the counter 201. The operation unit 102 includes a display unit 140 and a coin insertion port 121 and a bill insertion port 122 of the cash processing unit 120.

  The first wireless communication unit 110 is disposed inside the housing 101 in correspondence with the display unit 140. The first wireless communication unit 110 executes reading and writing of various information with respect to the mobile terminal 3 by NFC (Near Field Communication). More specifically, the first wireless communication unit 110 can perform payment with electronic money and charge of electronic money with the mobile terminal 3 by the customer holding the mobile terminal 3. In addition, the first wireless communication unit 110 holds various information (such as identification information stored in the mobile terminal 3 and various declaration information performed in advance) when the customer holds the mobile terminal 3 over the mobile terminal 3. Can be sent and received.

  The cash processing unit 120 counts and manages the cash input from the coin input port 121 or the banknote input port 122 arranged in the operation unit 102, and the electronic money corresponding to the input cash is sent to the first wireless communication unit 110. To charge the mobile terminal 3 of the customer.

  The display unit 140 disposed in the operation unit 102 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The display unit 140 displays a screen that prompts the information prior input device 100 to read information while holding the portable terminal 3. The display unit 140 displays a screen that prompts the user to insert cash from the coin change slot 121 or the banknote slot 122 when the information prior input device 100 charges electronic money. Alternatively, the display unit 140 may display information such as the remaining amount of electronic money that is currently charged.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the information pre-input device 100 and the POS terminal 200. The connection interface 154 of the information pre-input device 100 and the connection interface 254 of the POS terminal 200 are connected by wire or wirelessly and transmit / receive various information.

  The information pre-input device 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 151 that executes various arithmetic processes and controls each unit. The CPU 151 connects a ROM (Read Only Memory) 152 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 153 via a bus 161.

  In addition, the CPU 151 of the information pre-input device 100 includes the first wireless communication unit 110, the cash processing unit 120, the display unit 140, and the connection interface 154, all of which are input / output circuits (all not shown). ) To connect. Each of these devices is controlled by the CPU 151.

  The POS terminal 200 includes a CPU 251 that executes various arithmetic processes and controls each unit. The CPU 251 connects the ROM 252 and the RAM 253 via the bus 261.

  Further, the CPU 251 of the POS terminal 200 includes the operator display unit 212, the touch panel 212a, the customer display unit 214, the money changer 230, the third wireless communication unit 213, the signage device 240, and the scanner. 211 and the connection interface 254 are all connected through various input / output circuits (all not shown). Each of these devices is controlled by the CPU 251.

  Further, the CPU 251 of the POS terminal 200 connects the storage unit 255. The storage unit 255 includes an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or the like. The storage unit 255 stores control programs and various files. The control program and various files stored in the storage unit 255 are all or partially copied to the RAM 253 and executed by the CPU 251 when the POS terminal 200 is activated.

  The control program executed by the POS terminal 200 of the present embodiment is an installable or executable file, such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or the like. It may be configured to be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

  Furthermore, the control program executed by the POS terminal 200 of the present embodiment may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. Further, the control program executed by the POS terminal 200 according to the present embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  Next, characteristic processing executed by the CPU 251 of the POS terminal 200 of the checkout system 1 according to the present embodiment according to the control program will be described. Note that description of processing that is the same as processing conventionally performed is omitted.

  Here, the sales registration process, which is a characteristic function of the POS terminal 200 of the checkout system 1 according to the present embodiment, will be described.

  Here, FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram according to the sales registration process in the POS terminal 200. As shown in FIG. 4, the control program executed by the CPU 251 of the POS terminal 200 has a module configuration including a coupon information display unit 301, a coupon information addition unit 302, and an area display unit 303. The CPU 251 reads out the control program from the storage unit 255 and loads the above units into the RAM 253. Thereby, the coupon information display means 301, the coupon information provision means 302, and the area | region display means 303 are produced | generated on RAM253.

  The coupon information display means 301 displays on the signage device 240 coupon information targeted at the customer identified by the identification information stored in the portable terminal 3 input by the information prior input device 100. More specifically, the coupon information display unit 301 selects coupon information based on the customer purchase history identified by the identification information stored in the mobile terminal 3 and displays the coupon information on the signage device 240.

  The coupon information giving means 302 gives the coupon information to the customer when designated by the customer for the coupon information displayed on the signage device 240 by the coupon information display means 301. More specifically, the coupon information giving unit 302 displays the coupon information displayed on the display unit 241 corresponding to the second wireless communication unit 242 that has established short-range wireless communication with the mobile terminal 3, as short-range wireless. It gives to the said portable terminal 3 by communication.

  When the product data is read by the scanner 211, the region display unit 303 displays an image defining a product data read region by the scanner 211 on the operator display unit 212.

  Here, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a series of processes including a sales registration process in the POS terminal 200.

  In the present embodiment, when the customer holds the portable terminal 3 over the display unit 140 of the information advance input device 100, the CPU 151 of the information advance input device 100 uses the identification information stored in the portable terminal 3 as the first information. Received via the wireless communication unit 110. And CPU151 of the information prior input apparatus 100 will transmit to the POS terminal 200, if the identification information of the portable terminal 3 is received.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, when the CPU 251 of the POS terminal 200 receives the identification information of the portable terminal 3 from the information pre-input device 100 (Yes in Step S1), the CPU 251 stores the received identification information in the storage unit 255 (Step S2). ), A product sales registration process is executed (step S3).

  A customer who has pre-authenticated in the information pre-input device 100 places a shopping cart on the receiving surface of the counter 201. Then, the operator sequentially takes out the products from the shopping cart placed by the customer, reads the product data by the scanner 211, and performs an input operation from the touch panel 212a of the operator display unit 212.

  The CPU 251 (area display unit 303) of the POS terminal 200 starts the sales registration process of the product, and the product data of the product by the scanner 211 (the product code and all of the products included in the barcode which is a code symbol attached to the product) Alternatively, when reading a part of the external surface information (such as a feature amount representing a product label, a feature amount representing a surface state such as a product color shade or surface unevenness), etc., Make some transparent. Hereinafter, an example of the display screen of the operator display unit 212 will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the operator display unit 212. As shown in FIG. 6, when the product data of the product is read by the scanner 211, an image G that defines a product data reading area by the scanner 211 is displayed on the operator display unit 212.

  The image G is, for example, a frame image that defines a product data reading area by the scanner 211. Although the image is only a frame, since the operator display unit 212 is a transparent display, the operator can recognize the product data reading area by the scanner 211 via the image G of the operator display unit 212.

  As another example, the image G is obtained by increasing the transmittance only within the image G in the screen of the operator display unit 212. The operator can recognize the product data reading area by the scanner 211 via the image G on the operator display unit 212.

  As a result, the operator can cause the scanner 211 to read the product data by positioning the product to be read within the image G of the operator display unit 212 when the product data of the product is read by the scanner 211. Therefore, since the operator can grasp the scan status without moving the line of sight from the operator display unit 212, it is possible to reduce the operator's operation mistake and speed up the operator's operation.

  Further, the CPU 251 (area display unit 303) of the POS terminal 200 ends the display of the image G that defines the reading area on the operator display unit 212 when the reading of the merchandise data by the scanner 211 is completed in the merchandise sales registration process. To do.

  Further, the CPU 251 (area display unit 303) of the POS terminal 200 may change the color of the frame of the image G when reading of the product data by the scanner 211 for one product is completed.

  The product for which the product data has been read by the scanner 211 in this way is put into an empty shopping cart near the POS terminal 200 by the operator. The above process is repeated until there are no more products in the shopping cart placed by the customer.

  In addition, the CPU 251 (coupon information display unit 301) of the POS terminal 200 starts the sales registration process, and coupons for customers identified by the identification information stored in the mobile terminal 3 input by the information advance input device 100 are targeted. Information is displayed on the signage device 240. More specifically, the coupon information display unit 301 selects coupon information that can be used for the next and subsequent shopping based on the purchase history of the customer identified by the identification information stored in the mobile terminal 3 and sends it to the signage device 240. indicate. That is, the coupon information displayed on the signage device 240 is different coupon information for each customer associated with the identification information stored in the mobile terminal 3 that is personal information.

  Here, FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the signage device 240. As shown in FIG. 7, coupon information selected based on the purchase history of the customer identified by the identification information stored in the mobile terminal 3 is displayed on each of the signage devices 240a to 240i.

  During the waiting time during the sales registration work by the operator, the customer can freely select and specify the necessary coupon information from the one or more coupon information displayed on the signage device 240 in this way. it can. Specifically, when the coupon information required by the customer is selected from the coupon information displayed on the nine signage devices 240a to 240i arranged on the customer side of the counter 201 and the portable terminal 3 is held over, the CPU 251 of the POS terminal 200 The (coupon information providing unit 302) displays the coupon information displayed on the display unit 241 corresponding to the second wireless communication unit 242 that has established short-range wireless communication with the mobile terminal 3, as the second wireless communication unit 242. Download via. Thereby, the identification information stored in the mobile terminal 3 and the coupon information displayed on the display unit 241 can be associated with each other and held in the mobile terminal 3.

  In the present embodiment, coupon information that can be used in the next and subsequent shopping is displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and coupon information that can be used for the current shopping may be displayed. In this case, after the coupon information is downloaded, the downloaded coupon information may be displayed on the mobile terminal 3 and presented to the operator.

  In the present embodiment, the coupon information is selected and displayed on the signage device 240 based on the purchase history of the customer identified by the identification information stored in the mobile terminal 3, but the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, coupon information related to the purchased product may be selected and displayed on the signage device 240.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the coupon information is designated and downloaded by the customer by short-range wireless communication with the mobile terminal 3, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, each signage device 240a to 240i has an operation unit (not shown) such as a touch panel corresponding to the display unit 241, and the coupon information providing unit 302 is an operation unit designated and operated by a customer. The coupon information displayed on the display unit 241 corresponding to the information may be stored in the storage unit 255 or the like in association with the identification information input by the information pre-input device 100.

  When the sales registration processing for all the products in the shopping cart placed by the customer and the transfer of the products between the shopping carts are completed in this way, the CPU 251 of the POS terminal 200 next executes a settlement processing (step S4). ).

  In the settlement process at the POS terminal 200, when the operator presses a subtotal key (not shown) of the operator display unit 212, the total amount of registered contents is displayed on the customer display unit 214. The customer waits until payment of the payment amount corresponding to the total amount by cash or payment by electronic money of the portable terminal 3 is made.

  When the payment by cash or the payment by electronic money is completed, the CPU 251 of the POS terminal 200 ends the settlement process.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the product data of the product is read by the scanner 211, the operator positions the product to be read inside the image G of the operator display unit 212, thereby scanning the product data. 211 can be read. As a result, the operator can grasp the scan status without moving his / her line of sight from the operator display unit 212, thereby reducing operator error and speeding up the operator operation.

  In the present embodiment, a wireless communication unit (first wireless communication) that executes reading and writing of various information with respect to the mobile terminal 3 such as a general smartphone by NFC (Near Field Communication). Unit 110, second wireless communication unit 242, and third wireless communication unit 213). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various information may be read and written with the non-contact IC card in addition to the portable terminal 3. In this case, a card reader / writer that reads and writes various information with respect to the IC chip of the non-contact IC card by applying radio waves by, for example, an electromagnetic induction method is applied to the wireless communication unit.

  When a non-contact IC card is used, the coupon information displayed on the display unit 241 is associated with the identification information input from the non-contact IC card by the information pre-input device 100, etc. It is better to memorize it.

  In the present embodiment, the single POS terminal 200 is applied as the control subject of the checkout system, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the POS terminal 200 may be divided into a scanning unit that reads product data and a settlement unit that performs payment based on the product data read by the scanning unit.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Checkout system 100 Information prior input apparatus 110 1st wireless communication part 200 Sales registration processing apparatus 201 Counter 211 Scanner 212 Operator display part 213 3rd wireless communication part 214 Customer display part 240 Signage apparatus 241 Display part 242 1st 2 wireless communication unit 301 coupon information display means 302 coupon information giving means 303 area display means

JP 2003-275078 A

Claims (6)

A counter located between the operator side and the customer side and having a load receiving surface on which goods are placed;
A scanner that stands up to the customer side of the counter and reads the product data of the product;
The scanner is provided to the operator with the status of the sales registration process executed based on the product data read by the scanner, and the product data read area by the scanner can be seen through An operator display which is a display;
When reading the product data by the scanner, a region display means for displaying an image defining a product data reading region by the scanner on the operator display unit;
A checkout system comprising: A state of sales registration processing provided to the scanner and executed based on the product data read by the scanner is presented to a customer, and an operator reads the product data of the product from the scanner. Further comprising a customer display unit which is a transparent display provided at a position where the operation to be seen through from the customer is visible,
The checkout system according to claim 1. The area display means displays a frame image defining a reading area of the product data by the scanner on the operator display unit;
The checkout system according to claim 1. The area display means defines a reading area of the product data by the scanner by changing the transmittance in the screen of the operator display unit.
The checkout system according to claim 1. The area display means ends the display of the image defining the reading area on the operator display unit when the reading of the product data by the scanner is ended.
The checkout system according to claim 1, wherein the checkout system is a checkout system. A display for showing an operator the status of a sales registration process executed based on the product data read by the scanner for reading product data of the product, the display of the product data read by the scanner can be seen through ,
Upon reading the product data by the scanner, area display means for defining a reading area of the product data by the scanner by changing the transmittance in the screen of the display;
An operator display unit comprising:

Images