JP2016057754A - POS system and error notification method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve error management with the consideration of the management competence of an operator to an error which has occurred in a POS terminal.SOLUTION: A POS system includes: error rank acquisition means; operator management rank acquisition means; and notification means. The error rank acquisition means acquires the rank of an error which has occurred in a POS terminal. The operator management rank acquisition means acquires the rank of the error which can be managed by the operator who operates the POS terminal. The notification means determines whether or not the error which has occurred in the POS terminal can be managed by the operator on the basis of the rank of the error acquired by the error rank acquisition means and the rank of the error which can be managed by the operator acquired by the operator management rank acquisition means, and when determining that the error cannot be managed, notifies another person who can manage the error which has occurred in the POS terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a POS system and an error notification method.

  At a cash register of a retail store such as a convenience store or a supermarket, a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal for registering a product when the customer purchases the product purchased is installed. In this type of POS terminal, when an error occurs, the occurrence of the error and the countermeasures are displayed on the display (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  The conventional apparatus identifies an error that has occurred in the POS terminal used by the operator, and displays a countermeasure for the identified error on the display. For example, when a conventional device identifies an error classified as one that can be easily dealt with, an operation procedure for the operator to deal with is displayed on the display. In this case, the operator can perform an operation for dealing with the error according to the displayed operation procedure. Further, when an error classified as one that cannot be dealt with by the operator himself / herself is specified, the conventional apparatus displays, for example, a contact address for maintenance personnel on the display. In this case, the operator can contact the displayed contact information and request a maintenance staff to handle the error.

  However, there are individual differences in the handling ability of the operator. For this reason, there is a case where the notification is not properly performed in the conventional apparatus that uniformly notifies the error that has occurred in the POS terminal. For example, an error that cannot be handled by the operator may be notified as an error that can be handled by the operator. In addition, even if the error can be handled by the operator, the maintenance staff may be notified as an error that cannot be handled by the operator. In the conventional apparatus, when an error occurs that cannot be dealt with by the operator, the operator himself / herself needs to request maintenance of the error from the maintenance staff.

JP2013-58029A

  An object of the present invention is to perform error handling in consideration of an operator's ability to cope with errors that occur in a POS terminal.

  In order to solve such a problem, the POS system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an error rank acquisition unit, an operator handling rank acquisition unit, and a notification unit. The error rank acquisition means acquires the rank of an error that has occurred at the POS terminal. The operator handling rank acquisition means acquires an error rank that can be handled by an operator operating the POS terminal. The notification means allows the operator to deal with an error occurring in the POS terminal based on the error rank acquired by the error rank acquisition means and the error rank that can be handled by the operator acquired by the operator handling rank acquisition means. If it is determined that the error cannot be dealt with, the person who can deal with the error is notified of the error that occurred in the POS terminal.

It is a figure showing composition of a POS system concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the store controller and POS terminal which are shown by FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen which requests | requires the response to an error. It is a figure which shows the structure of an error rank table. It is a figure which shows the structure of an operator handling rank table. It is a figure which shows the structure of an error report table. It is a figure which shows the structure of a cash register number. It is a figure which shows the structure of operator ID. It is a figure which shows the structure of an error code table. It is a flowchart which shows an error information transmission process. It is a figure which shows the structure of error information. It is a flowchart which shows an error notification process. It is a figure which shows the structure of the cash register operator table which concerns on a modification. It is a figure which shows the structure of the operator handling rank table which concerns on a modification. It is a figure which shows the structure of the system provided with the store controller and POS terminal (error notification apparatus) which concern on a modification. It is a figure which shows the structure of the notification information which the POS terminal which concerns on the modification of this invention transmits to a store controller.

  A POS system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the POS system includes a store controller 10 and POS terminals 20a, 20b, and 20c. This POS system is a system installed in a store such as a convenience store or a supermarket.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the store controller 10 is connected to a plurality of POS terminals 20a to 20c via a network N such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The store controller 10 and the POS terminals 20a to 20c are installed in the same store. The store controller 10 is installed in an office room or the like in the store, and the POS terminals 20a to 20c are installed in a cash register for accounting for products purchased by customers. In the following description, when the POS terminals 20a to 20c are not distinguished, they are collectively referred to as POS terminals 20.

  The store controller 10 is composed of, for example, a PC (Personal Computer) or the like, and stores sales data representing the name, price, quantity, date, etc. of the product for which the checkout process has been performed from the POS terminals 20a to 20c and stores them. Further, when an error occurs in any of the plurality of POS terminals 20a to 20c, the store controller 10 receives error information from the POS terminal 20 in which the error has occurred. When the store controller 10 receives the error information, the store controller 10 determines whether or not the error generated in the POS terminal 20 can be dealt with by the operator himself / herself, and if the operator himself / herself cannot deal with the error, the store controller 10 notifies the occurrence of the error. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the store controller 10 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, a display output unit 14, an audio output unit 15, and an operation unit 16.

  The communication unit 13 includes a communication interface device such as a network adapter. The communication unit 13 communicates with the POS terminal 20 via the network N under the control of the control unit 11. The communication unit 13 receives various data such as sales data and error information from the POS terminal 20 and supplies the data to the control unit 11.

  The display output unit 14 includes a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The display output unit 14 displays various image data supplied from the control unit 11 on the screen. For example, the display output unit 14 displays data (sales data) representing various types of information on products sold in the store, and a screen for requesting handling of an error as illustrated in FIG.

  The audio output unit 15 includes a speaker device provided with a DAC (Digital Analog Converter). The audio output unit 15 outputs various audio data supplied from the control unit 11. For example, the audio output unit 15 outputs a warning sound for notifying the occurrence of an error.

  The operation unit 16 includes an input interface device such as a mouse or a keyboard. The operation unit 16 receives various user operations and supplies signals corresponding to the received various operations to the control unit 11. The display output unit 14 and the operation unit 16 may constitute a GUI (Graphical User Interface).

  The storage unit 12 includes a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a read only memory (ROM), and a flash memory. The storage unit 12 stores various programs and data used by the control unit 11 to perform various processes, and various data generated or acquired by the control unit 11 performing various processes.

  In addition, the storage unit 12 stores an error notification program 12a, an error rank table 12b, an operator handling rank table 12c, and an error report table 12d.

  The error notification program 12a is a control program for notifying the person who can deal with the error when an error that cannot be dealt with by the operator himself is necessary. Executed by. The control unit 11 that executes the error notification program 12a functions as an error information acquisition unit 11a, an error rank acquisition unit 11b, an operator handling rank acquisition unit 11c, and a notification unit 11d.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the error rank table 12b is a table having error codes, error contents, and error ranks. The error code is identification information for identifying an error that has occurred in the POS terminal 20. The error content is text information for explaining the content of the error. The error rank is information representing the difficulty (degree of difficulty) of dealing with an error as a numerical value. Here, the error rank is assumed to be more difficult as the numerical value is smaller. For example, an error with an error code “E001” and an error with an error code “E003” have an error rank of “1” and “0”, respectively. For this reason, an error with an error code “E003” is more difficult to handle (higher difficulty) than an error with an error code “E001”.

  The operator handling rank table 12c shown in FIG. 2 is a table having an operator ID, an operator name, and an operator handling rank as shown in FIG. The operator ID is identification information that uniquely identifies an operator who operates the POS terminal 20. The operator name is text information representing the name of the operator who operates the POS terminal 20. The operator handling rank is information that expresses numerically the rank of an error that can be handled by the operator for the POS terminal 20. The operator coping rank is set by the system manager or the like according to the coping ability of the operator in consideration of the operator's knowledge and experience (skill level). For example, the operator handling rank corresponding to the operator ID “P001” is “1”. On the other hand, according to the error rank table 12b shown in FIG. 4, the error rank of errors having error codes “E001”, “E002”, and “E004” is “1” or more. Accordingly, for these errors, it is determined that the error rank is equal to or lower than the operator handling rank and that the operator can deal with it. On the other hand, the error rank of the error whose error code is “E003” is smaller than “1”. Therefore, it is determined that this error cannot be handled by the operator himself.

  An error report table 12d shown in FIG. 2 is a table (log) representing a history of errors that have occurred in each POS terminal 20 in the store, and is sent to the headquarters that manages each store. As shown in FIG. 6, the error report table 12d has, for each entry, an occurrence time, a cash register number, an operator ID, an operator name, an error code, an error content, necessity of handling, and presence / absence of handling. The occurrence time, cash register number, operator ID, and error code are extracted from the error information received from the POS terminal 20. The occurrence time is information indicating the date and time when the error occurred. The cash register number is identification information for uniquely identifying the POS terminal 20. The operator ID is identification information that uniquely identifies an operator who operates the POS terminal 20. The error code is identification information for uniquely identifying an error that has occurred in the POS terminal 20. The operator name is text information representing the name of the operator, and is extracted from the operator handling rank table 12c. The error content is text information for explaining the content of the error, and is extracted from the error rank table 12b. The necessity of handling is information indicating whether an error that has occurred in the POS terminal 20 can be dealt with by the operator. The presence / absence of correspondence is information indicating whether or not an error that cannot be dealt with by the operator has been dealt with by a person who can deal with the error.

  The control unit 11 shown in FIG. 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory) that functions as a main memory of the CPU, and the like. The control unit 11 controls the entire store controller 10.

  The control unit 11 also functions as an error information acquisition unit 11a, an error rank acquisition unit 11b, an operator handling rank acquisition unit 11c, and a notification unit 11d by executing the error notification program 12a recorded in the storage unit 12. Then, error notification processing described later is performed.

  The POS terminal 20 is a terminal that registers sales data representing the name, price, quantity, date and time of a product in the store controller 10 when the customer purchases the product purchased. The POS terminal 20 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a communication unit 23, a display output unit 24, an audio output unit 25, a barcode reading unit 26, an electronic money information reading unit 27, and a change unit 28. A receipt printing unit 29 and an operation unit 30.

  The communication unit 23 includes a communication interface device such as a network adapter. The communication unit 23 communicates with the store controller 10 via the network N under the control of the control unit 21. The communication unit 23 transmits various data such as sales data and error information to the store controller 10.

  The display output unit 24 includes a display device such as an LCD. The display output unit 24 includes a customer screen facing the customer side and an operator screen facing the operator side. On the customer screen and the operator screen, the product name, price (unit price), quantity, total amount, deposit amount, change amount, etc. are displayed when the product is settled. In addition, when an error occurs in the POS terminal 20, a message such as “An error has occurred. Please wait for a while.” Is displayed on the customer screen, and the customer waiting in front of the cash register is notified that the error has occurred. . Further, when an error occurs in the POS terminal 20, a message for notifying the cause of the error such as “XXX error has occurred in XXX” is displayed on the operator screen. The operator self-determines whether or not the error can be dealt with, and if the error can be dealt with, the operator himself deals with it.

  The audio output unit 25 is composed of a speaker device provided with a DAC. The audio output unit 25 outputs various audio data supplied from the control unit 21. For example, the audio output unit 25 outputs a warning sound notifying that an error has occurred.

  The barcode reading unit 26 is composed of a barcode reader. The bar code reading unit 26 reads a bar code attached to the merchandise at the time of merchandise accounting processing, and supplies information (bar code information) representing the read bar code to the control unit 21. The barcode information is sent to the store controller 10 under the control of the control unit 21.

  The electronic money information reading unit 27 includes a card reader that reads information on a card or terminal having an electronic money settlement function. The electronic money information reading unit 27 may be of an online system in which payment is made by connecting online with a host computer of an electronic money service company. Moreover, the thing of the offline system which pays off-line with the money charged by the magnetic card, the IC card, etc. may be used.

  The change part 28 is comprised from the change apparatus which deposits / withdraws a coin and a banknote. The change unit 28 inputs the deposit amount received from the customer into the deposit port, and outputs coins and banknotes corresponding to the difference between the total amount of products purchased by the customer and the deposit amount deposited from the customer from the dispensing port.

  The receipt printing unit 29 is composed of a receipt printer. The receipt printing unit 29 prints and outputs the product name, price (unit price), quantity, total amount, deposit amount, change amount, etc. on receipt paper.

  The operation unit 30 includes an input interface device such as a keyboard. The operation unit 30 receives various user operations and supplies signals corresponding to the received various operations to the control unit 21. For example, when the barcode attached to the product cannot be read by the barcode reading unit 26, the operation unit 30 receives the barcode number according to the operation of the operator. The display output unit 24 and the operation unit 30 may constitute a GUI.

  The storage unit 22 includes a storage device such as an HDD, a ROM, or a flash memory. The storage unit 22 stores various programs and data used by the control unit 21 to perform various processes, and various data generated or acquired by the control unit 21 performing various processes.

  The storage unit 22 stores an error information transmission program 22a, a register number 22b, an operator ID 22c, and an error code table 22d.

  The registration number 22b is identification information for uniquely identifying the POS terminal 20, and as shown in FIG. 7, a registration number (“R001”) unique to the POS terminal 20 is set. For example, when the POS terminal 20 is installed, the cash register number 22b is set by an operation of a store manager, a shift leader, or the like.

  The operator ID 22c shown in FIG. 2 is identification information that uniquely identifies the operator who operates the POS terminal 20. The operator ID 22c is set by an operation of the operator via the operation unit 30 or the like when using the POS terminal 20. As shown in FIG. 8, the operator ID 22c is set with an ID (“P001”) for identifying the operator himself / herself.

  The error code table 22d shown in FIG. 2 is a table having error determination information, error contents, and error codes for each error that may occur in the POS terminal 20, as shown in FIG. The error determination information is information representing a criterion for determining whether an error has occurred. The error content is text information for explaining the content of the error. The error code is identification information that uniquely identifies an error.

  The control unit 21 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a CPU, a RAM that functions as a main memory of the CPU, and the like. Note that a part of the control unit 21 may be configured by a dedicated circuit such as an ASIC. The control unit 21 controls the POS terminal 20 as a whole.

  Further, the control unit 21 functions as an error determination unit 21a and an error information transmission unit 21b by executing the error information transmission program 22a recorded in the storage unit 22, and performs error information transmission processing described later.

  Next, an outline of the operation of the POS system having such a configuration will be described.

  Each POS terminal 20 (POS terminals 20a to 20c) performs a sales registration process of reading the product code of the customer's purchased product and registering the sales. Further, every time the checkout process is performed, sales data representing the name, price, quantity, date and time of the product is transmitted to the store controller 10. The POS terminal 20 executes an error detection process in parallel with the sales registration process. When an error is detected, the POS terminal 20 performs a process for notifying the error and a process for transmitting error information to the store controller 10 (error information transmission). Process).

  On the other hand, the store controller 10 receives the sales data transmitted from each POS terminal 20 and performs processing for storing it. In parallel with the sales registration process, the store controller 10 acquires error information indicating an error occurring in the POS terminal 20 from each POS terminal 20. Based on the acquired error information, the store controller 10 determines whether or not the operator of the POS terminal 20 in which the error has occurred can cope with (can solve) the error that has occurred. If the store controller 10 determines that the error cannot be dealt with by the operator himself / herself, a message indicating that the person having the name and content of the error and the coping ability needs to deal with the error on behalf of the operator himself / herself Are displayed on the display output unit 14 (error notification process).

  Next, an error processing operation unique to the present POS system will be described in detail. First, an error information transmission process executed by the POS terminal 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the POS terminal 20 is activated, the control unit 21 reads and executes the error information transmission program 22a stored in the storage unit 22. Thereby, the control part 21 functions as the error determination part 21a and the error information transmission part 21b.

  The error determination unit 21a refers to various error determination information included in the error code table 22d and determines whether or not an error has occurred in the POS terminal 20 (step S21). The error determination unit 21a maintains a standby state until it is determined that an error has occurred (step S21; NO).

  When determining that an error has occurred (step S21; YES), the error determination unit 21a displays an image representing the error content corresponding to the generated error on the display output unit 24 (step S22). For example, when the error determination unit 21a determines that an error has occurred based on the “error determination information 1” included in the error code table 22d, the “error content” of the same entry is displayed on the operator screen of the display output unit 24. The error information represented by “1” is displayed. The error information is, for example, a message such as “A communication error has occurred with the host computer of the electronic money service company”. Further, the error discriminating unit 21 a displays a message such as “An error has occurred. Please wait for a while” on the customer screen of the display output unit 24. The POS terminal 20 may display a guidance on how to deal with and how to deal with the error that has occurred. The operator of the POS terminal 20 in which the error has occurred tries to solve it by himself / herself if the error can be handled by himself / herself according to the difficulty level of the error.

  On the other hand, the error information transmission unit 21b of the POS terminal 20 in which an error has occurred has an error occurrence time (occurrence time), a register number 22b and an operator ID 22c stored in the storage unit 22, and an error code of the error that has occurred. Generate error information. Then, this is transmitted to the store controller 10 (step S23). Specifically, the error information transmission unit 21b, as shown in FIG. 11, shows the time “**: **: **” when the error occurred, the registration number “R001”, the operator ID “P001”, the error code. Error information having “E001” is transmitted to the store controller 10.

  Thus, a series of error information transmission processing executed by the POS terminal 20 is completed. The error determination unit 21a and the error information transmission unit 21b repeatedly perform the processes in steps S21 to S23 until the power supplied to the POS terminal 20 is shut off or an operation for interrupting the process is performed by the user. .

  Next, an error notification process executed by the store controller 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When power is supplied to the store controller 10, the control unit 11 reads and executes the error notification program 12 a stored in the storage unit 12. Thereby, the control part 11 functions as the error information acquisition part 11a, the error rank acquisition part 11b, the operator handling rank acquisition part 11c, and the notification part 11d.

  The error information acquisition unit 11a determines whether error information has been acquired from the POS terminal 20 (step S11). The error information acquisition unit 11a maintains a standby state until it is determined that error information has been acquired (step S11; NO).

  If it is determined that the error information acquisition unit 11a has acquired the error information (step S11; YES), the error rank acquisition unit 11b refers to the error rank table 12b and based on the error code included in the acquired error information, the POS terminal The rank (error rank) of the error that occurred at 20 is acquired (step S12). For example, when the error code included in the received error information is “E001”, the error rank acquisition unit 11b refers to the error rank table 12b and acquires the error rank “1” corresponding to the error code “E001”. To do.

  The operator handling rank acquisition unit 11c refers to the operator handling rank table 12c, and ranks of errors that can be handled by the operator based on the operator ID included in the error information acquired in step S11 (operator handling rank). Is acquired (step S13). For example, when the operator ID included in the error information is “P001”, the operator handling rank acquisition unit 11c refers to the operator handling rank table 12c and handles the operator handling corresponding to the operator ID “P001”. Rank “1” is acquired.

  The notification unit 11d determines whether or not an error generated in the POS terminal 20 can be handled by the operator based on the error rank acquired in step S12 and the operator handling rank acquired in step S13 ( Step S14). For example, when the error rank is higher than the operator coping rank (the numerical value represented by the error rank is smaller than the numeric value represented by the operator coping rank), it is determined that the operator cannot deal with (Step S14). NO). If the error rank is equal to or lower than the operator handling rank (the numerical value represented by the error rank is greater than or equal to the numerical value represented by the operator handling rank), it is determined that the operator can deal with it (step S14; YES). .

  When the error code is “E001” and the operator ID is “P001”, both the error rank and the operator handling rank are “1” (the error rank is equal to or lower than the operator handling rank). For this reason, the notification unit 11d determines that the operator can deal with it (step S14; YES). In this case, the notification unit 11d skips step S15 and updates the error report table 12d (step S16). Specifically, the notification unit 11d generates the occurrence time “**: **: **”, the register number “R001”, the operator ID “P001”, the error code included in the error information received from the POS terminal 20. “E001”, operator name “AAA” corresponding to the operator ID extracted from the operator handling rank table 12c, error content “error content 1” corresponding to the error code extracted from the error rank table 12b, Information indicating “no” (here “No”) and presence / absence (“none” here) is added to the error report table 12d as a new entry. Thereafter, the notification unit 11d returns to step S11.

  On the other hand, when the error rank is higher than the operator handling rank (the numerical value represented by the error rank is smaller than the numeric value represented by the operator handling rank), the notification unit 11d cannot handle the error by the operator. It discriminate | determines (step S14; NO). For example, in the POS terminal 20 operated by a person having the operator ID “P001”, when it is determined that an error has occurred according to “error determination information 3” included in the error code table 22d, the error information transmission unit 21b The error information including the operator ID “P001” and the error code “E003” is transmitted to the store controller 10. The error rank acquisition unit 11b of the store controller 10 refers to the error rank table 12b and acquires the error rank “0” corresponding to the error code “E003” included in the error information. Further, the operator handling rank acquisition unit 11c refers to the operator handling rank table 12c, and acquires the operator handling rank “1” corresponding to the operator ID “P001” included in the error information. In this case, the error rank “0” is higher than the operator handling rank “1” (since the numeric value represented by the error rank is smaller than the numeric value represented by the operator handling rank), the notification unit 11d Is determined that the operator cannot deal with it.

  In this case, the notification unit 11d refers to the operator handling rank table 12c illustrated in FIG. 5 and identifies a person who has the ability to deal with the error that has occurred. That is, a person having an operator handling rank higher than the error rank of the generated error is specified. Further, the notification unit 11d displays on the display output unit 14 that an error handling (resolution) by a person having error handling capability is necessary, and outputs a warning sound to the audio output unit 15 for notification (Step S11). S15). For example, the notification unit 11d displays a message illustrated in FIG. 3 to notify that support by a person who can deal with the error that has occurred is necessary. In the example of FIG. 3, “XXX” or “YYY” with the operator handling rank “0” copes with the generated error according to the display content. For example, if the “error content 3” indicates that a change has occurred in the change unit 28, the change POS terminal 20 in which the error has occurred is brought to the cash register where the error has occurred and the change change is taken. Perform the recovery operation.

  The person who has dealt with the error selects, via the operation unit 30, a handling completion button 14d for notifying that the handling of the error displayed on the display output unit 14 has been completed. When this operation is performed, the notification unit 11d updates the error report table 12d (step S16). When the measure completion button 14d is selected, the notification unit 11d causes the occurrence time “**: **: **”, the register number “R001”, the operator ID “included” in the error information received from the POS terminal 20 to be displayed. P001 ", error code" E003 ", operator name" AAA "corresponding to the operator ID extracted from the operator handling rank table 12c, error content corresponding to the error code extracted from the error rank table 12b" error content " 3 ”, information indicating necessity of correspondence (here“ necessary ”) and presence / absence of correspondence (here“ present ”) are added as new entries to the error report table 12d. Note that the operator ID of the coping person may be registered together. Thereafter, the notification unit 11d returns to step S11.

  Thus, a series of error notification processes executed by the store controller 10 ends. In the error information acquisition unit 11a, the error rank acquisition unit 11b, the operator handling rank acquisition unit 11c, and the notification unit 11d, the power supplied to the store controller 10 is shut off, or the user interrupts the process. Steps S11 to S16 are repeated until it is received. The error report table 12d stored in the storage unit 12 is a management server or the like installed in the headquarters when requested by the headquarters managing each store or at a preset time (for example, every day at 2 am). (Not shown).

  As described above, when the error rank is higher than the operator handling rank, the store controller 10 determines that the error cannot be dealt with by the operator himself, and takes action (support) by a person having a handling ability. Is displayed on the display output unit 14. In addition, a warning sound is output to the audio output unit 15. As described above, according to the store controller 10 according to the present embodiment, it is accurately determined whether or not the operator himself can deal with the generated error, and when an error that the operator himself cannot deal with occurs, It is possible to appropriately request a person who can deal with the problem. Further, according to the store controller 10 of the present embodiment, when an error that cannot be dealt with by the operator himself / herself can be automatically requested to deal with a person who can deal with it.

  Note that the notification unit 11d of the store controller 10 determines that an error has occurred when the acquired error rank is equal to or lower than the operator handling rank (the numerical value represented by the error rank is greater than or equal to the numerical value represented by the operator handling rank). Since the operator himself can cope, it may be notified that support is unnecessary.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the notification unit 11d has described an example in which it is determined that the operator cannot deal with the error that has occurred when the error rank is higher than the operator handling rank. The present invention is not limited to this. For example, regarding the difference between the operator handling rank and the error rank, a threshold for determining whether or not the error can be handled by the operator is set in advance. Then, whether or not the error can be handled by the operator may be determined based on whether or not the difference between the operator handling rank and the error rank exceeds a preset threshold value.

  For example, the error rank is lower by 2 or more than the operator handling rank (the numerical value represented by the error rank is larger by 2 or more than the numerical value represented by the operator handling rank). In this case, it may be determined that an error occurring in the POS terminal 20 can be handled by the operator himself / herself. Further, when the error rank is not lower than the operator handling rank by 2 or more, it may be determined that the error generated in the POS terminal 20 cannot be handled by the operator himself.

  Contrary to this, the error rank is higher than the operator handling rank by 2 or more (the numerical value represented by the error rank is 2 or more than the numerical value represented by the operator handling rank). It may be determined that an error occurring in the POS terminal 20 cannot be dealt with by the operator himself / herself. Further, when the error rank is not 2 or more higher than the operator handling rank, it may be determined that the error generated in the POS terminal 20 can be handled by the operator himself.

  Note that determination result information indicating the determination result (whether or not an error occurring in the POS terminal 20 can be handled by the operator) is transmitted to the POS terminal 20 and the display output unit 24 is operated. You may make it display on a user's screen. As a result, the operator can determine whether or not to deal with the error according to the displayed information, instead of self-determination.

  In the display example shown in FIG. 3, a person who can deal with the generated error is specified, and the person names (“XXX” and “YYY” in FIG. 3) are notified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to simply display that an error that cannot be dealt with by the operator himself / herself, and that coping (support) is necessary.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, when support for error handling was needed, that was only displayed on the screen of the store controller 10. Not limited to this, the person who can deal with the error may be notified by a more reliable method.

  For example, when the notification unit 11d of the store controller 10 determines that an error generated in the POS terminal 20 cannot be handled by the operator himself, the notification unit 11d may make an announcement using a speaker (not shown) installed in the store. Good. For example, it is possible to broadcast that an error needs to be dealt with using a speaker and notify a person (XXX or YYY in the example of FIG. 3) who can deal with the error in the store. In this case, for example, from the speaker, a voice message such as ““ Registration number “R001” and “Error content 3” has occurred. For “XXX” or “YYY” please perform error recovery work. ”." " To do.

  Further, for example, when a person having an error handling capability is operating another POS terminal 20, a message as illustrated in FIG. 3 may be displayed on the POS terminal 20.

  In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, an operator ID for identifying the operator is registered in the storage unit 12 for each POS terminal 20. The operator ID is notified from each POS terminal 20 to the store controller 10 when the operator of the POS terminal 20 is changed. Based on the notification, the control unit 11 updates the cashier operator table 12g shown in FIG.

  If the notifying unit 11d determines that the error cannot be handled by the operator himself (Step S14; No), the notifying unit 11d refers to the cash register operator table 12g shown in FIG. 13 and operates the POS terminals 20 other than the POS terminal 20 in which the error has occurred. The operator ID of the operator is selected. Subsequently, the notifying unit 11d refers to the operator handling rank table 12c illustrated in FIG. 5, acquires the operator handling rank corresponding to each operator ID, and identifies the operator who has the ability to deal with the error.

  Subsequently, the POS terminal 20 operated by the operator having the specified coping ability is specified from the cash register operator table 12g. Then, the notification unit 11d notifies the specified POS terminal 20 that error handling (support) is necessary. When the notification is received, the error determination unit 21a of the POS terminal 20 displays a message as illustrated in FIG. 3 on the edge of the screen of the display output unit 24 or the like. Alternatively, a message such as “Error content 2 occurred at cash register number R001. Please support recovery work” is displayed, and a warning sound for notifying that an error has occurred is output to the audio output unit 25 To do.

  When a plurality of POS terminals 20 operated by a person having error handling capability are specified, all the specified POS terminals 20 may be notified, or one or a plurality of POS terminals according to a certain standard. 20 may be selected and notified to the selected POS terminal 20.

  Moreover, when the person in charge carries the portable terminal, the person having the error handling capability may notify the portable terminal carried by the person that he / she should go to deal with (support) the error. In this case, for example, terminal information such as a mobile phone number and a mail address is registered in advance in association with each operator ID in the operator handling rank table 12c shown in FIG. If the notifying unit 11d determines that the operator cannot cope with (resolve) the error (step S14; No), the notifying unit 11d refers to the operator handling rank table 12c and sets an operator handling rank equal to or higher than the error rank of the error that has occurred. The operator who has it is specified. Then, the mobile terminal information of the person is specified, and a message is transmitted to the specified mobile terminal as an image, text, voice or the like.

  Furthermore, terminal information and information for specifying the POS terminal 20 in operation may be registered as in the operator handling rank table 12c 'shown in FIG. In this case, when the notifying unit 11d determines that the error cannot be handled by the operator himself (Step S14; No), the notifying unit 11d refers to the operator handling rank table 12c ′ and identifies an operator who can deal with the generated error. . Then, the mobile terminal information of the person and / or the POS terminal 20 being operated is specified, and a message is transmitted to the specified terminal as an image, text, voice, or the like.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the store controller 10 is an error notification device has been described. However, the POS terminal 20 may be configured to function as an error notification device.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 15, the control unit 21 of the POS terminal 20 includes an error determination unit 21a, an error rank acquisition unit 21c, an operator handling rank acquisition unit 21d, and a notification unit 21e. The storage unit 22 includes a register number 22b, an operator ID 22c, an error code table 22d, an error notification program 22e, an error rank table 22f, and an operator handling rank table 22g. On the other hand, the control unit 11 of the store controller 10 includes a notification receiving unit 11e, and the storage unit 12 includes an error report table 12d and a notification program 12e.

  In the POS terminal 20 configured as described above, when the error determination unit 21a determines that an error has occurred, the error rank acquisition unit 21c displays an error code (for example, “E003”) of the generated error in the error code table 22d. Extract from Then, the error rank (“0”) corresponding to the error code is extracted from the error rank table 22f. Thereby, the rank (error rank) of the error that occurred in the POS terminal 20 is acquired.

  Further, the operator handling rank acquisition unit 21d extracts the operator handling rank (“1”) corresponding to the operator ID 22c (for example, “P001”) from the operator handling rank table 22g. As a result, an error rank (operator handling rank) that can be handled by the operator is acquired. Then, the notification unit 21e determines whether or not the error rank acquired by the error rank acquisition unit 21c is higher than the operator response rank acquired by the operator response rank acquisition unit 21d, as in the above embodiment. Determine.

  The notification unit 21e displays information for identifying whether or not the operator can handle the information on the operator screen of the display output unit 24 according to the determination result. As a result, the operator can determine whether or not to deal with the error according to the displayed information, instead of self-determination.

  Further, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the notification unit 21 e generates notification information that notifies whether or not an error needs to be dealt with, and transmits the notification information to the store controller 10. When the notification receiving unit 11e of the store controller 10 receives the notification information transmitted from the POS terminal 20, the notification receiving unit 11e displays the notification information on the display output unit 14. As a result, the manager such as the store manager or the shift leader in the office where the store controller 10 is installed is notified of the necessity of handling the error.

  As described above, when the POS terminal 20 described in the above embodiment is realized as an error notification device, it can be determined whether or not an error generated in the POS terminal 20 can be handled by the operator. When it is determined that the error cannot be dealt with, the store controller 10 installed in the office can be notified that the error needs to be dealt with. As a result, the store manager, shift leader, etc. in the office go to the cash register where the POS terminal 20 in which the error occurred is installed and perform an operation to recover the error.

  Further, when it is determined that an error occurring in the POS terminal 20 can be handled by the operator, the store controller 10 may be notified that the error handling is unnecessary. Since the operator of the POS terminal 20 can be notified as to whether or not the error can be dealt with, the operator can judge whether or not to deal with the error according to the displayed information, instead of self-judgment.

  Although an example in which the store controller 10 or the POS terminal 20 functions as an error notification device has been described, other computer devices connected via the network N can also function as an error notification device.

  In addition, the POS terminal 20 may transmit error information and the like to other terminals installed outside the store, in addition to transmitting error information and the like to the store controller 10 installed in the store.

  Further, the error notification device is not limited to a terminal installed in a retail store such as the store controller 10 or the POS terminal 20, but an OS such as a PC (Personal Computer), a printer, a scanner, etc. installed in an office or a general home, for example. It may be realized by a device.

  In this case as well, as in the above embodiment, an error acquisition unit that acquires the rank (error rank) of an error that has occurred in the OS device, and an error rank (operator that the operator operating the OS device can handle) Based on the operator's action rank acquisition unit that acquires the action rank) and the acquired error rank and operator action rank, it is determined whether or not an error that has occurred in the OS device can be handled by the operator. And a notification unit for notifying a person who can handle the error that the OS device needs to handle the error when the determination is made.

  In the above description, an example in which the error rank and the operator handling rank correspond one-to-one has been shown, but these may be different. That is, the error rank may be n stages and the operator handling rank may be m (n ≠ m) stages. In this case, each operator rank is associated in advance with which operator handling rank the person who can handle the error of that rank has.

  The error notification device according to the present invention can be realized by a general PC or the like. In this case, a program for executing the operation described in the above embodiment is installed in a PC or the like, and the program or the like is executed by the PC or the like, thereby functioning as the error notification device according to the present invention. Such a program is recorded on a portable recording medium or the like and distributed. Examples of portable recording media include CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, BD-ROM, and MO.

  A method for providing a program to a PC or the like is arbitrary. For example, the program may be uploaded to a bulletin board (BBS) on a communication line and distributed to a PC or the like via the communication line. The program may be transmitted by a modulated wave obtained by modulating a carrier wave with a signal representing the program, and a device that receives the modulated wave may demodulate the modulated wave to restore the program. Then, the PC or the like activates this program and executes it like other applications under the control of the OS. Thereby, the PC or the like functions as an error notification device according to the present invention.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited by the description of the above embodiment and the drawings, and modifications and the like can be appropriately added to the above embodiment and the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Store controller 11a Error information acquisition part 11b Error rank acquisition part 11c Operator handling rank acquisition part 11d Notification part 11e Notification receiving part 12 Storage part 12a Error notification program 12b Error rank table 12c, 12c 'Operator handling rank table 12d Error report Table 12f Notification program 12g Cash register operator table 13 Communication unit 14 Display output unit 15 Audio output unit 16 Operation unit 20 (20a, 20b, 20c) POS terminal 21 Control unit 21a Error determination unit 21b Error information transmission unit 21c Error rank acquisition unit 21d Operator handling rank acquisition unit 21e Notification unit 22 Storage unit 22a Error information transmission program 22b Cash register number 22c Operator ID
22d Error code table 22e Error notification program 22f Error rank table 22g Operator response rank table 23 Communication unit 24 Audio output unit 25 Display output unit 26 Bar code reading unit 27 Electronic money information reading unit 28 Change unit 29 Receipt printing unit 30 Operation unit

Claims (5)

Error rank acquisition means for acquiring the rank of an error that has occurred in the POS terminal;
Operator handling rank acquisition means for acquiring an error rank that can be handled by an operator operating the POS terminal;
Based on the error rank acquired by the error rank acquisition means and the error rank that can be handled by the operator acquired by the operator handling rank acquisition means, an error that occurred in the POS terminal is handled by the operator. A notification means for determining whether or not it is possible and notifying a person capable of handling an error of an error that has occurred in the POS terminal when it is determined that the error cannot be handled;
POS system with Error rank storage means for storing error identification information for identifying an error that has occurred in the POS terminal and the rank of the error in association with each other;
The error rank acquisition unit specifies the error identification information of an error that has occurred in the POS terminal, and acquires the error rank associated with the specified error identification information from the error rank storage unit. The POS system described. Further comprising operator handling rank storage means for storing operator identification information for identifying the operator and an error rank that can be handled by the operator in association with each other.
The operator handling rank acquisition means identifies the operator identification information of the operator, and sets an error rank that can be handled by the operator associated with the identified operator identification information as the operator handling rank. The POS system according to claim 1, wherein the POS system is acquired from a storage unit. An error determination means for determining whether an error has occurred in the POS terminal;
The error rank acquisition means acquires the rank of the error determined to have occurred by the error determination means;
The POS system according to claim 1, wherein the POS system is a POS system. Based on the rank of the error that occurred in the POS terminal and the rank of the error that can be handled by the operator operating the POS terminal, it is determined whether or not the error that occurred in the POS terminal can be handled by the operator And a process of
A step of notifying the error to a person who can handle the error when it is determined that the operator cannot handle the error;
Error notification method including

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