JP2015153224A - Self-checkout terminal, self-checkout system, weight error notification method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a self-checkout terminal which enables customers to recover from weight errors without assistance of store personnel.SOLUTION: When a weight error occurs and a change in an image is present outside a weight detection area (Y in S32), a settlement process of payment registration of the present invention highlights a portion of the image with the change and displays the same in a highlight display area (S35, S37). Thus, in the event of a weight error, a customer can recognize and remove the cause of the weight error to restore a self-checkout terminal with the weight error without assistance.

Description

  The present invention relates to a self-checkout terminal, a self-checkout system, a weight error notification method, and a program for executing the method.

  The self-registration system is a system in which a customer who comes to a retail store such as a supermarket reads a bar code of a product to be purchased by himself and completes the settlement. Due to the effect of deleting labor costs, it is expected to spread to the market.

  In the self-checkout system, customers register their products (accounting registration) themselves. For normal products, the customer reads the product barcode with a scanner and enters the product code. However, for items that do not have a barcode attached, such as fruits and vegetables, the customer inputs the product type from the self-checkout terminal. Then, whether or not the product inputted by the customer is correct is confirmed by a product image photographed by a camera provided in the self-checkout terminal and a weight by a scale provided in the self-checkout terminal (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). ).

JP 2012-50754 A JP 2004-213232 A

  As described above, in the self-registration system, when registering a product with no barcode attached, the image of the camera and the weight of the scale are collated with information based on the product type input to the self-checkout terminal, so that We are trying to prevent mistakes in input and fraud.

  However, even if a customer's input mistake can be prevented, a weight error may occur, the customer may not be aware of the cause, and a response by a store clerk may be required. For example, in the case of a long product such as a long bean, beef bowl, or long bean, a part of the product protrudes from the back scale (balance) and comes into contact with the housing of the back scale, and the weight of the product is dispersed on the back scale. The weight is reduced and a weight error occurs. A weight error also occurs when a child brought by the customer hangs on the back scale.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a self-checkout terminal that allows a customer to recover from a weight error by themselves without noticing a store clerk by notifying the customer of the cause of the weight error.

  The self-checkout terminal according to the first aspect of the present invention measures the weight of a registered product placed on a back scale, a product registration means for registering a product, a weight database storing an appropriate weight range of the product. A weight measuring means for outputting the product weight of the registered product, a weight error determining means for determining whether the product weight is within an appropriate weight range read from the weight database, and When the determination result of the weight error determination means is a weight error that is outside the range of the appropriate weight, the weight error specifying means for specifying what protrudes from the predetermined area of the backscale, and the protrusion from the predetermined area A display unit that displays an image in which a portion including the specified item is emphasized.

  The self-checkout system according to the second aspect is characterized in that the self-checkout terminal and a store server that monitors and controls the self-checkout terminal are connected via a communication line.

  The weight error notification method of the third aspect is a weight error notification method in the self-checkout terminal, and measures the weight of the registered product placed on the back scale, the first process for registering the product, A second process for outputting the product weight of the registered product, a third process for determining whether or not the product weight is within an appropriate weight range of the registered product, and the product weight is appropriate for the registered product. If it is not within the range of the correct weight, the fourth process for identifying what protrudes from the predetermined area of the backscale, and the specified process when specifying what protrudes from the predetermined area are included. And a fifth process for outputting an image in which the highlighted part is emphasized.

  A program according to a fourth aspect causes a computer of a self-checkout terminal to execute the first process to the fifth process.

  According to the present invention, when a weight error has occurred where the product weight does not fall within the range of the weight corresponding to the registered product, it detects what protrudes from the outer circumference of the back scale, and The emphasized image is displayed. Therefore, when a weight error occurs in the self-checkout terminal, it is possible to provide a self-checkout terminal that allows the customer to recover from the weight error by himself without any intervention by the store clerk.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of a self-registration system. It is the external view which looked at the self-checkout terminal from the front. It is a figure which shows a mode that the customer is using the self-checkout terminal. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of a store server and a self-checkout terminal. It is a functional block diagram which shows the outline of the function of a self-checkout terminal. It is a figure which shows the example of the merchandise weight information in FIG. It is a figure explaining the flow of accounting registration in non-barcode goods. It is a figure which shows the mode of the accounting registration to a display. It is a flowchart (the 1) which shows the procedure of the confirmation process of the present accounting registration. It is a flowchart (the 2) which shows the procedure of the confirmation process of the present accounting registration. It is a flowchart (the 1) which shows the procedure of the confirmation process of the accounting registration of this invention. It is a flowchart (the 2) which shows the procedure of the confirmation process of the accounting registration of this invention. It is a flowchart (the 3) which shows the procedure of the confirmation process of the accounting registration of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the initial screen of a self-checkout terminal. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of the self-registration terminal at the time of my back bringing button press. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of the self-checkout terminal at the time of pressing a shopping bag use button. It is FIG. (1) which shows the example of a screen display of the self cash register terminal at the time of goods registration. It is FIG. (2) which shows the example of a screen display of the self cash register terminal at the time of goods registration. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of the self cash register terminal at the time of cash payment. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of the self cash register terminal at the time of weight increase. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen of the self-checkout terminal at the time of weight reduction. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of the self-checkout terminal at the time of another weight error. It is a figure which shows the example of the emphasis image of the cause part at the time of weight reduction. It is a figure which shows the example of the emphasis image of the cause part at the time of weight increase. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of the salesclerk terminal at the time of normal. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen of the salesclerk terminal at the time of weight increase. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen of the salesclerk terminal at the time of weight reduction.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the self-registration system 1. The self-checkout system 1 is operated in a retail store, and is a product checkout system that enables a customer to pay for a product to shorten a checkout waiting time and a human cost.

  The self-checkout system 1 is a system that operates a self-checkout terminal 10 in a retail store that sells products. The self-checkout system 1 includes a self-checkout terminal 10, a store server 3, a store clerk terminal 5, and a network 7 that connects these to be communicable. The self-checkout system 1 includes one or more (for example, four in FIG. 1) self-checkout terminals 10 and one salesclerk terminal 5 in a self-checkout area in a store, and a store server 3 in a backyard (outside the sales floor).

  The self-checkout terminal 10 provides a service that enables self-checkout by a customer. The store clerk terminal 5 performs customer services such as fraud monitoring by a customer using the self-checkout terminal 10, operation guidance to an unguided customer, and correction of a customer's erroneous operation.

  The store server 3 centrally manages the sales information registered by the self-checkout terminal 10. The store server 3 includes a server main body 3a, a product information DB (database) 3b, and a sales information DB (database) 3c. The store server 3 communicates with the self-checkout terminal 10 to provide product information and the like to the self-checkout terminal 10. Stores and manages sales information of products sent.

  FIG. 2 is an external view of the self-checkout terminal 10 as viewed from the front. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a customer is using the self-checkout terminal 10. The self-checkout terminal 10 is a terminal device for a customer to pay for a product by himself / herself.

  The self-checkout terminal 10 includes a right rack 11a and a left rack 11b. The rack 11a includes a control device that comprehensively controls the self-checkout terminal 10, an external communication device, a power supply device, and the like. The rack 11b is a table on which products registered for accounting are placed, and the table 24 is provided with a scale 24 for measuring the product weight.

  A display 12, a magnetic card reader 13, a barcode scanner 14, a touch scanner 15, a printer 16, and a camera 23 are provided on the top of the rack 11a. The barcode scanner 14 and the touch scanner 15 irradiate the product with a laser scanning line and read the barcode attached to the product. The barcode scanner 14 is fixed to the self-checkout terminal 10. The touch scanner 15 is provided by connecting to the self-checkout terminal 10 by wire. As shown in FIG. 3, the customer registers the product with the barcode attached by operating the barcode scanner 14 and the touch scanner 15 by himself / herself. The self-checkout terminal 10 registers the product as a payment target based on the read information.

  The display 12 displays and outputs necessary information. The display 12 displays the operation guidance and operation menu display of the self-checkout terminal 10, information on the product settlement such as the product name, product unit price, product weight based on the read barcode, the deposit amount at the time of settlement, the total amount of shopping, Display information such as change amount. Further, the display 12 has a touch panel function, and accepts an input by a customer's touch operation according to the guide display on the display 12.

  In addition, among products, there are products such as vegetables and fruits that are not attached with barcodes (hereinafter referred to as non-barcode products). Account registration is performed by specifying the corresponding product.

  The magnetic card reader 13 reads information recorded on a magnetic stripe of a magnetic card (for example, a credit card) at the time of payment (settlement). The printer 16 issues a receipt printed with the payment details to the customer after the payment process. The camera 23 photographs the product registered by the barcode scanner 14 or the like or registered by the display 12.

  The rack 11a is provided with a table 22 for temporarily placing the product 100 in the center, and a shopping basket placing table 17 on the right side at a position that is in the customer entry direction when the product is settled. The shopping basket mounting table 17 is a table on which a customer puts a shopping basket 110 in which the customer has put the product 100 before the transaction registration.

  In addition, the rack 11 a is provided with a coin insertion slot 18, a bill insertion slot 19, a coin refund slot 20, and a coin withdrawal slot 21 at the bottom of the table 22. A bill machine and a change machine provided inside the rack 11a are connected to a coin slot 18, a bill slot 19, a coin refund slot 20, and a coin withdrawal slot 21. The coin slot 18 is a slot for coins to be deposited into the change machine. The banknote inlet / outlet 19 is an inlet for banknotes deposited into the bill machine and an outlet for banknotes dispensed from the bill machine. The coin refund port 20 is a coin take-out port that is refunded from the change machine. The coin dispensing port 21 is a coin dispensing port for dispensing from the change machine.

  The scale 24 measures the weight of the merchandise registered for accounting (hereinafter referred to as merchandise weight) one by one. Usually, the shopping basket 110 is placed on the scale 24, and the products registered for accounting are successively put into the shopping basket 110, and the increased weight is counted as the weight of each product. The self-checkout terminal 10 determines that a product that has been accounted for with a barcode is subject to payment if the difference between the product weight in the product information DB 3b and the actual weight measured by the scale 24 is within a predetermined tolerance. Confirm registration.

  Further, the self-checkout terminal 10 confirms the registration of the non-barcode product whose product name is input on the display 12 by checking the product image taken by the camera 23 in addition to checking the product weight. The confirmation by the product image will be described later.

  When accounting registration of all the products is completed, the customer performs a checkout process. The customer pays the merchandise by having the magnetic card reader 13 read the credit card, or by inserting a bill into the bill slot 19 or a coin slot 18. When the change occurs, the self-checkout terminal 10 pays out change by paying out a coin from the change machine or paying out a bill from the bill machine. The self-checkout terminal 10 issues a receipt on which payment details are printed by the printer 16.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the store server 3 and the self-checkout terminal 10. The store server 3 includes a server body 3a, a product information DB 3b, and a sales information DB 3c. The server body 3a is a control unit that controls the store server 3 in an integrated manner, and includes a CPU (not shown) that executes processing according to a program and a storage unit (not shown) that stores the processing program. The product information DB 3b and the sales information DB 3c are stored in a memory (not shown) (for example, a hard disk).

  The product information DB 3b includes, as product information, a product code (product code information) for identifying a product, a product master (product master information) in which product names and prices are registered, a weight master (product weight information), and a product. Product form information in which the form is described. The product weight information is the weight of a product registered in advance, and may have a certain width. The merchandise weight information is a reference for judging from the viewpoint of weight whether the merchandise registered for accounting and the merchandise currently measured are the same.

  The merchandise form information is a reference for determining whether the merchandise registered for accounting and the merchandise currently measured are the same from the image actually taken by the camera 23. The product form information is information for preventing fraud especially when registering a non-barcode product. For example, when the product is an apple, the product form information has contents such as color: red, shape: circle, size: diameter 80 to 120 mm. The product form information may be an image (reference image) of the corresponding product for comparison with a product image taken by the camera 23.

  Each self-checkout terminal 10 is connected to the store server 3 via the network 7 as described above. The self-checkout terminal 10 has a POS 30. The POS 30 includes a control unit 31 that executes processing according to a program and a storage unit (not shown) that stores the program. The control unit 31 includes an unauthorized registration determination unit 31a, a weight error determination unit 31b, and a weight error identification unit 31c, which will be described later. The POS 30 includes a database access unit 32, a scan processing unit 34, an input / display processing unit 36, a transaction registration unit 38, a camera control unit 40, an image processing unit 42, a weight processing unit 44, a transaction registration confirmation unit 46 and a checkout processing unit 48. Have Each function of the database access unit 32 to the settlement processing unit 48 is a functional unit realized by the CPU of the POS 30.

  The database access unit 32 accesses the product information DB 3b or the sales information DB 3c of the store server 3 to acquire necessary product information from the product information DB 3b, or transmits the sales information to the sales information DB 3. The scan processing unit 34 reads the barcode information of the product scanned by the barcode scanner 14 or the touch scanner 15 and converts it into a product code.

  The input / display processing unit 36 displays on the display 12 the operation guidance and operation menu of the self-checkout terminal 10, information on the product settlement such as product name, product unit price, product weight based on the read barcode, To display information such as the amount of deposit, the total amount of shopping, and the amount of change. Further, the input / display processing unit 36 processes customer touch input to the display 12 and receives a product name input by the customer for the non-barcode product.

  The transaction registration unit 38 performs transaction registration for barcode products using the barcode information read by the barcode scanner 14 or the like, and performs transaction registration for non-barcode products using the product name input to the display 12 by the customer. .

  The camera control unit 40 controls the shooting start / end of the camera 23 or the shooting conditions such as the angle of view and the brightness. The image processing unit 42 stores an image taken by the camera 23 or an image obtained by cutting out a product image portion from the image in an internal memory. The image processing unit 42 further extracts the contour of the product portion and the color component from the image stored in the memory, determines the actual product size and shape from the extracted contour, and determines the product color from the color component. decide. The weight processing unit 44 measures and processes the weight of the product placed on the scale 24.

  In the case of a barcode product, the accounting registration confirmation unit 46 compares the weight information of the product registered and registered with the barcode with the actual product weight measured by the weight processing unit 44. Confirm registration. Further, in the case of a non-barcode product, the transaction registration confirmation unit 46 not only measures the product weight but also the product photographed by the camera 23 and processed by the image processing unit 42 for the product registered and accounted for by the customer. Check the image and confirm the account registration if they match. In particular, the accounting registration confirmation unit 46 compares a specific product image taken at a position close to the scale 24 from the taken product images with the product form information of the product registered for accounting, If they match, the accounting registration is confirmed.

  The settlement processing unit 48 sums up the products whose accounting registration is confirmed after the accounting registration confirmation of all the products is completed. The settlement processing unit 48 communicates with the store server 3 in the case of credit card payment and performs processing. When the payment is made in cash, the payment processing unit 48 calculates and pays change from the change machine / till machine 27.

  FIG. 5 is a functional configuration diagram showing an outline of a characteristic part of the self-checkout terminal 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Elements common to FIG. 4 are denoted by common reference numerals.

  The unauthorized registration determination means 31a of the control unit 31 is a means for determining whether or not the registration performed by the customer for the non-barcode product is unauthorized registration. Here, fraudulent registration is, for example, an act in which a customer registers a non-barcode product expensive Miyazaki mango as an inexpensive mango. The unauthorized registration determination unit 31a functions when the control unit 31 controls the camera control unit 40, the input / display processing unit 36, the database access unit 32, and the like.

  The weight error determination means 31b of the control unit 31 is a means for determining a weight error when the weight of the product placed on the scale 24 is outside the range of the product weight information in the product information DB 3b. For example, as in the product weight information shown in FIG. 6, if the appropriate weight range of the product apple is 150 to 200 (gw), the weight increase is 150 to 200 ( gw) is not within the range, a weight error is determined. The weight error determination unit 31b functions when the control unit 31 controls the weight processing unit 44, the camera control unit 40, the database access unit 32, and the like.

  Further, the weight error specifying means 31c of the control unit 21 is a means for specifying what protrudes from a predetermined area of the back scale when the weight increase due to the product placed on the scale 24 is outside the proper weight range. .

(Operation of the embodiment)
The operation of the embodiment of the present invention is divided into (I) accounting registration for non-barcode products, (II) current accounting registration confirmation processing, and (III) accounting registration confirmation processing of the present invention. To do.

(I) Non-Barcode Product Accounting Registration FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the flow of accounting registration processing for a non-barcode product. The self-pay terminal process is shown in the left column and the customer process is shown in the right column, and the relationship between the two is shown. In addition, the process by the self-pay terminal 10 is indicated by Step Q, and the process by the customer is indicated by Step P.

  The customer starts an input operation on the display 12 (step P1). FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a customer registers a transaction on the display 12. On the display 12, non-barcode products are displayed as icons, for example, and the customer selects and touches an icon to be registered from the icon row. When the customer touches the product (icon) displayed on the display 12, the input operation is completed (step P2), and the transaction registration is performed with the input product (step Q1).

  When the input operation (accounting registration) is completed, product photography is started (step Q2). The customer holds the product in his hand and starts moving to the scale 24 (step P3). The customer brings the product close to the scale 24 (step P4) and places the product on the scale 24 (step P5).

  The product is placed on the scale 24, and the product weight is measured and determined (step Q3). At the same time, the product photography is finished (step Q4). A product check is performed as to whether the product is correctly registered by the customer (step Q5). A product check is performed by comparing the product information corresponding to the product registered and registered in step Q1, the actual product weight, and the product image. If it is determined that the product check is correct, the transaction registration is confirmed (step Q6).

(II) Confirmation Process for Current Accounting Registration FIGS. 9-1 and 9-2 are flowcharts showing the procedure for the confirmation process for the current accounting registration.

  While referring to FIGS. 11 to 21 showing screen display examples of the self-checkout terminal 10 and FIGS. 22 to 24 showing screen display examples of the salesclerk terminal 5, the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 9-1 and 9-2 are followed. The current accounting registration confirmation process will be described.

  In FIG. 9A, when the process is started, the process proceeds to step S1. In step S1, the control unit 31 displays an initial screen as shown in FIG. 11 on the display 12 via the image processing unit 42, and proceeds to step S2. The initial screen on the display 12 that also functions as a touch panel includes a “my bag” button that the customer presses when not using a shopping bag, and a “use plastic bag” button that the customer presses when using a shopping bag. Is displayed.

  In step S2, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the “bring my back” button has been pressed. When the button is not pressed (N), the process proceeds to step S3. When the button is pressed (Y), the process proceeds to step S4. . In step S3, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the “use plastic bag” button has been pressed. If not (N), the control unit 31 returns to step S1, and if pressed (Y), proceeds to step S6.

  In step 4, the control unit 31 displays a screen as shown in FIG. 12 on the display 12 via the image processing unit 42, and proceeds to step S5. The screen shown in FIG. 12 displays a “set complete” button that is pressed when the customer has set the my bag brought on the scale 24. In step S5, the control unit 31 waits for the “set complete” button to be pressed, and then proceeds to step S6.

  In step S6, the control unit 31 records the current backscale weight, and proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the control unit 31 displays a screen as shown in FIG. 13 on the display 12 via the image processing unit 42, and proceeds to step S8. FIG. 13 is an example of a screen display of the self-checkout terminal 10 before product registration. In the “subtotal” column in the lower left of FIG. 13, “0” is displayed.

  In step S8, the control unit 31 determines whether or not there is a weight variation in the backscale. If there is (Y), the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the weight fluctuation is increased, and if it is increased (Y), the process proceeds to step S10.

  In step S10, the control unit 31 displays a screen at the time of weight increase as shown in FIG. 17 on the display 12 via the image processing unit 42, and proceeds to step S11. In the upper right of FIG. 17, guidance is displayed that “the weight has increased. Please take out the last product you placed from the bag and scan it again”. In step S11, the storefront terminal 5 displays the screen at the time of weight increase as shown in FIG. 23 on the display, and returns to step S8. In the display screen example of the clerk terminal 5 shown in FIG. 23, it is displayed that an abnormality has occurred in the self-checkout terminal 10 in the lane 31. An example of the display screen of the salesclerk terminal 5 at the normal time is shown in FIG.

  In step S9, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the weight variation is increased. If the weight variation is not increased (N), the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, the control unit 31 displays a screen for weight reduction as shown in FIG. 18 on the display 12 via the image processing unit 42, and proceeds to step S13. In step S13, the storefront terminal 5 displays the screen at the time of weight reduction as shown in FIG. 24 on the display, and returns to step S8. FIG. 24 shows that an abnormality has occurred in the self-checkout terminal 10 in the lane 31.

  In step S8, the control unit 31 determines whether or not there is a weight variation in the backscale. If there is no weight variation (N), the process proceeds to step S14. In step S14, the control unit 31 determines whether or not there is a product registration for barcode product reading. If there is no product registration (N), the process proceeds to step S15. In step S15, the control unit 31 waits until the payment button is pressed, and proceeds to step S16. In step S16, the control unit 31 displays the screen shown in FIG. 16 on the display 12 via the image processing unit 42, and proceeds to step S17. In step S <b> 17, the control unit 31 issues fishing or a receipt via the settlement processing unit 48, performs cash payment processing, and ends the processing.

  In step S14, when there is a product registration for barcode product reading (Y), the control unit 31 proceeds to step S18. In step S18, the control unit 31 displays a screen as shown in FIG. 14 on the display 12 via the image processing unit 42, and proceeds to step S19. In step S19, the control unit 31 waits until the weight increases and stabilizes, and then proceeds to step S20. In step S20, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the increased weight is within the range of the weight DB of the registered product. If it is within the range (Y), the process proceeds to step S21, and if it is out of range (Y). N), go to step S22.

  In step S21, the control unit 31 displays a screen as shown in FIG. 15 on the display 12 via the image processing unit 42, and returns to step S8 in FIG. In the screen display shown in FIG. 15, “mineral water” is displayed as the registered product name.

  In step S22, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the weight increase exceeds the upper limit of the appropriate weight range of the registered product. If the upper limit is exceeded (Y), the process proceeds to step S23, where the weight increase is detected. If it is less than the lower limit of the appropriate weight range of the registered product (N), the process proceeds to step S25. For example, if the registered product is “mandarin orange” in the product weight information of FIG. 6 and the weight increase is 150 (gw), the upper limit 130 (gw) of the appropriate weight increase range is exceeded. The process proceeds to S23, and if the weight increase is 50 (gw), it is less than the lower limit 75 (gw) of the appropriate weight increase range, so the process proceeds to Step S25.

  In step S23, the control unit 31 displays a screen at the time of weight increase as shown in FIG. 17 on the display 12 via the image processing unit 42, and proceeds to step S24. In step S24, the storefront terminal 5 The screen at the time of weight increase as shown in FIG. 23 is displayed on the display, and the process returns to step S19. In FIG. 23, it is displayed that an abnormality has occurred in the self-checkout terminal 10 in the lane 31.

In step S25, the control unit 31 displays a screen for weight reduction as shown in FIG. 18 on the display 12 via the image processing unit 42, and proceeds to step S16. In step S26, the storefront terminal 5 The screen for weight reduction as shown in FIG. 24 is displayed on the display, and the process returns to step S19. FIG. 24 shows that an abnormality has occurred in the self-checkout terminal 10 in the lane 31.
The above is the final processing of the current accounting registration.

  In the current accounting registration confirmation process, if there is a backscale weight change in step S8 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 9-1 (Y), the process proceeds to step S9, where the customer selects the backscale weight. If the cause of the fluctuation cannot be found, the processes in steps S8 to S13 must be repeated.

  Similarly, in step S20 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 9B, if the increased weight is outside the range of the product weight DB registered for the product (N), the process proceeds to step S22, and the weight increased by the customer. If a cause that is outside the range of the weight DB of the registered product cannot be found, the processes in steps S19 to S26 must be repeated.

  As described above, in the current accounting registration confirmation process, if the customer cannot find the cause of the weight fluctuation or the reason why the increased weight is outside the range of the weight DB of the registered product, the process exits the processing loop. It becomes impossible to do so, and the self-checkout function at the corner is paralyzed.

  Therefore, in the accounting registration confirmation process of the present invention, between step S8 and step S9 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 9-1 and between step S20 and step S22 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 9-2. In the meantime, new processing has been added.

(III) Accounting Registration Confirmation Processing of the Present Invention FIGS. 10-1 to 10-3 are flowcharts showing the procedure of accounting registration confirmation processing according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. Common elements are denoted by common reference numerals.

  While referring to FIGS. 11 to 21 showing screen display examples of the self-checkout terminal 10 and FIGS. 22 to 24 showing screen display examples of the salesclerk terminal 5, follow the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 10-1 to 10-3. The accounting registration confirmation process according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described focusing on the newly added process.

  In FIG. 10A, when the process is started, the process proceeds to step S1, the process of steps S1 to S7 is performed, and the process proceeds to step S8 as in the current transaction registration confirmation process. In step S8, the control unit 31 determines whether or not there is a weight variation in the backscale. If there is (Y), the process proceeds to step S31.

  In step S31, the control unit 31 acquires an image on the back scale by the camera 23 via the camera control unit 40, and proceeds to step S32. In step S32, the control unit 31 determines whether or not there is a change in the image outside the weight detection area. If there is a change (Y), the process proceeds to step S33.

  In step S33, the control unit 31 searches for a portion where the image has changed outside the weight detection area, creates an image that highlights the portion where the image has changed, and proceeds to step S34. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of an emphasis image of a causal portion at the time of weight reduction, and an elongate portion surrounded by an alternate long and short dash line that protrudes from the weight detection area is highlighted. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of an emphasis image of the causal portion at the time of weight increase, in which a child's hand portion that is surrounded by a one-dot chain line is highlighted.

  In step S34, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the weight fluctuation is increased. If it is increased (Y), the process proceeds to step S35, and if it is decreased (N), the process proceeds to step S37.

  In step S35, the control unit 31 displays a screen at the time of a weight error as shown in FIG. 19 on the display 12 via the image processing unit 42, and proceeds to step S36. In the highlight display area at the center of the right end in the screen display shown in FIG. 19, for example, a highlight image of the cause part at the time of weight increase as shown in FIG. 21 is displayed.

  In step S36, the storefront terminal 5 displays the screen at the time of weight increase as shown in FIG. 23 on the display, and returns to step S8. In FIG. 23, it is displayed that an abnormality has occurred in the self-checkout terminal 10 in the lane 31.

  In step S37, the control unit 31 displays a screen at the time of a weight error as shown in FIG. 19 on the display 12 via the image processing unit 42, and proceeds to step S38. In the highlight display area at the center of the right end in the screen display shown in FIG. 19, for example, a highlight image of the cause part at the time of weight reduction as shown in FIG. 20 is displayed. In step S38, the storefront terminal 5 displays the screen at the time of weight reduction as shown in FIG. 24 on the display, and returns to step S8. In FIG. 23, it is displayed that an abnormality has occurred in the self-checkout terminal 10 in the lane 31.

  In step S8, if there is no change in the weight of the back scale (N), the process proceeds to step S9, and the processes of steps S9 to S21 are performed in the same manner as the current transaction registration confirmation process, and then the process proceeds to step S41. .

  In step S41, the control unit 31 acquires an image on the back scale by the camera 23 via the camera control unit 40, and proceeds to step S42. In step S42, the control unit 31 determines whether or not there is an image change outside the weight detection area. If there is a change (Y), the process proceeds to step S43.

  In step S43, the control unit 31 searches for a portion where the image has changed outside the weight detection area, creates an image that highlights the portion where the image has changed, and proceeds to step S44. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of an emphasis image of a causal portion at the time of weight reduction, and an elongate portion surrounded by an alternate long and short dash line that protrudes from the weight detection area is highlighted. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of an emphasis image of the causal portion at the time of weight increase, where the child's hand portion that is surrounded by a one-dot chain line is highlighted. .

  In step S44, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the weight fluctuation exceeds the upper limit of the appropriate weight range. If the upper limit is exceeded (Y), the control unit 31 proceeds to step S45, and if it is less than the lower limit ( N), go to step S47. For example, in the product weight information of FIG. 6, if the registered product is “Nagato” and the weight increase is 300 (gw), the upper limit 250 (gw) of the appropriate weight increase range is exceeded. Proceeding to step S45, if the weight increase is 100 (gw), it is less than the lower limit 150 (gw) of the appropriate weight increase range, so the process proceeds to step S47.

  In step S45, the control unit 31 displays a screen at the time of a weight error as shown in FIG. 19 on the display 12 via the image processing unit 42, and proceeds to step S46. In the highlight display area at the center of the right end in the screen display shown in FIG. 19, for example, a highlight image of the cause part at the time of weight increase as shown in FIG. 21 is displayed.

  In step S46, the storefront terminal 5 displays the screen at the time of weight increase as shown in FIG. 23 on the display, and returns to step S19. In FIG. 23, it is displayed that an abnormality has occurred in the self-checkout terminal 10 in the lane 31.

  In step S47, the control unit 31 displays a screen at the time of a weight error as shown in FIG. 19 on the display 12 via the image processing unit 42, and proceeds to step S48. In the highlight display area at the center of the right end in the screen display shown in FIG. 19, for example, a highlight image of the cause part at the time of weight reduction as shown in FIG. 20 is displayed. In step S48, the shop terminal 5 displays the screen for weight reduction as shown in FIG. 24 on the display, and returns to step S19. In FIG. 23, it is displayed that an abnormality has occurred in the self-checkout terminal 10 in the lane 31.

  If there is no image change in step S42 (N), the process proceeds to step S22, and the processes of steps S22 to S26 are performed in the same manner as the current transaction registration confirmation process, and then the process returns to step S19.

  In the account registration confirmation process according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the current account registration confirmation process includes a backscale weight fluctuation in step S8 (Y), in steps S31 to S38 and step S20, When the registered product weight database and the added weight are not the same (N), the processes of steps S41 to S48 are added.

(Effect of embodiment)
In the confirmation process for accounting registration according to the embodiment of the present invention, in steps S35 and S37, an emphasis image of the causal portion of the weight error as shown in FIG. 20 or FIG. Is displayed. Similarly, in steps S45 and S47, a highlighted image of the cause portion as shown in FIG. 20 or FIG. 21 is displayed in the highlighted display area on the screen of the self-checkout terminal 10. By displaying an emphasis image of the cause of the weight error to the customer, the customer can know the cause of the weight error, and by removing the cause of the weight error by the customer himself, there is a problem in the confirmation process of the current accounting registration. You can get out of the processing loop that was there.

  The configuration and operation of the embodiment of the present invention have been described above. However, each process described in the operation may be executed by a hardware configuration, or by loading a program into a computer (not shown) included in the self-checkout terminal. It may be executed.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various configurations or embodiments can be taken without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

3 Store server 3b Product information DB
5 Clerk terminal 7 Network 10 Self-register terminal 12 Display, touch panel 23 Camera 24 Scale 31 Control unit 31a Unauthorized registration detection unit 31b Weight error detection unit 32 Database access unit 36 Input / display processing unit 40 Camera control unit 42 Image processing unit 44 Weight processing Part

Claims (6)

Product registration means for registering products,
A weight database that stores the appropriate weight range for the product;
A weight measuring means for measuring the weight of the registered product placed on the back scale and outputting the product weight of the registered product;
A weight error determination means for determining whether or not the product weight falls within an appropriate weight range read from the weight database;
In the case of a weight error in which the determination result of the weight error determination means is outside the appropriate weight range, a weight error specifying means for specifying what protrudes from a predetermined area of the backscale;
When identifying what protrudes from the predetermined area, a display unit that displays an image highlighting a portion including the identified one;
A self-checkout terminal characterized by comprising: In addition, it has a camera
The weight error specifying means includes
2. The self-registering terminal according to claim 1, wherein what is protruding from the predetermined area is specified based on whether or not there is a change in an image outside the predetermined area captured by the camera. It further comprises fraud registration determination means for photographing a product placed on the back scale with the camera and determining whether the photographed product matches a registered product.
The weight error determination means includes
When the result of determination by the unauthorized registration determination unit matches the photographed product and the registered product, the weight of the registered product placed on the back scale is measured and the product weight of the registered product is output. The self-checkout terminal according to claim 2.   A self-registration system, wherein the self-checkout terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and a store server that monitors and controls the self-checkout terminal are connected via a communication line. A weight error notification method in the self-checkout terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A first process for registering a product;
A second process for measuring the weight of the registered product placed on the back scale and outputting the product weight of the registered product;
A third process for determining whether or not the product weight is within an appropriate weight range of the registered product;
If the product weight is not within the appropriate weight range of the registered product, a fourth process for identifying what protrudes from a predetermined area of the backscale;
A fifth process for outputting an image in which a portion including the specified one is emphasized when the one protruding from the predetermined area is specified;
A weight error notification method characterized by comprising: A first process for registering a product;
A second process for measuring the weight of the registered product placed on the back scale and outputting the product weight associated with the registered product;
A third process for determining whether or not the product weight is within an appropriate weight range of the registered product;
If the product weight is not within the range of the appropriate weight, a fourth process for identifying what protrudes from a predetermined area of the backscale;
A fifth process for outputting an image in which a portion including the specified one is emphasized when the one protruding from the predetermined area is specified;
Is executed by a computer of a self-checkout terminal.