JP2017059053A - Liquidation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology which can more shorten a time necessary for liquidation using a liquidation device than before.SOLUTION: A tray provision device 10 acquires a user ID from a recording medium 110 possessed by a user, records the acquired user ID to an IC tag 92 of a tray 90, and provides the tray 90 of the user. The user places tableware 100 on the tray 90, and takes a repast. After the repast, the user performs liquidation by the liquidation device 50. The liquidation device 50 acquires the user ID which is recorded in the IC tag 92 of the tray 90, and acquires a tableware ID from the IC tag 102 which is arranged at each of one or more tableware 100 placed on the tray 90. The liquidation device 50 calculates a settlement amount based on the tableware ID, and creates settlement information by making the user ID and the settlement amount associated with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The technology disclosed in the present specification relates to a settlement system.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a cafeteria settlement apparatus that automatically sets a settlement amount by reading a tableware ID from a tableware IC tag when a tableware having an IC tag is placed on a tray and the tray is placed at a predetermined position. It is disclosed. When using, the user places an IC card owned by the user together with the tray at a predetermined position of the settlement apparatus. The settlement apparatus reads the ID of the tableware from the IC tag of the tableware and also reads the user ID from the IC card. The settlement apparatus generates payment information by associating the user ID with the payment amount calculated based on the tableware ID. The system administrator executes payment (for example, deduction from salary, credit payment, etc.) according to the generated payment information.

JP-A-10-222863

  In the technique of Patent Document 1, there is a case where the user performs an operation of taking out the IC card and placing it at a predetermined position after placing the tray at a predetermined position of the settlement apparatus, and the user arrives before the settlement apparatus. After that, it may take a long time to complete the checkout.

  In the present specification, a technique capable of reducing the time required for the settlement using the settlement apparatus as compared with the prior art is provided.

  The present specification discloses the following settlement system. The payment system includes a tray providing device and a payment device. The tray providing device includes a first acquisition unit that acquires a user ID from a recording medium possessed by the user, a recording unit that records the user ID acquired by the first acquisition unit on the tray, and the user ID recorded therein. And a providing unit that provides the tray to the user. The settlement apparatus includes a container ID of the product container from each of a second acquisition unit that acquires a user ID recorded on the tray and N (N is an integer of 1 or more) product containers placed on the tray. A third acquisition unit that acquires the product price, a memory that stores the product price corresponding to the container ID, and a settlement control unit. The settlement control unit calculates a settlement amount that is an accumulated amount of the product price corresponding to each of the N container IDs acquired by the third acquisition unit, and the user ID and the settlement acquired by the second acquisition unit. Settlement information is generated by associating the amount.

  According to the above checkout system, the user receives a tray in which the user ID is recorded from the tray providing apparatus. The user purchases the product in the product container using the tray. When paying, the product container is placed on the received tray and headed to the checkout device. In the payment apparatus, the second acquisition unit acquires the user ID from the tray, and the third acquisition unit acquires the container ID from the product container on the tray, thereby completing the payment. Accordingly, since the user does not have to perform an operation using the recording medium in front of the settlement apparatus, the time required for settlement using the settlement apparatus can be shortened as compared with the prior art.

Explanatory drawing which shows the structure and usage example of a payment system. The block diagram which shows the structure of a tray provision apparatus typically. The block diagram which shows the structure of a payment apparatus typically. The flowchart which shows the provision process which the control part of a tray provision apparatus performs. The flowchart which shows the adjustment process which the control part of an adjustment apparatus performs.

  The main features of the embodiments described below are listed. In addition, the technical elements shown below are independent technical elements and exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. .

(Feature 1) The tray providing apparatus may further include a providing control unit that determines whether or not the user ID is a valid ID when the user ID is acquired by the first acquiring unit. The recording unit records the user ID on the tray when it is determined that the user ID is a valid ID, and does not record the user ID on the tray when it is determined that the user ID is not a valid ID. Also good.

  According to this configuration, the tray providing apparatus provides the user with the tray in which the user ID is recorded and determines that the user ID is not a valid ID only when determining that the user ID is a valid ID. Does not provide a tray to the user. Therefore, the checkout system can permit the use of the system only to users who have a recording medium that stores a valid user ID. Unauthorized use of the system by a third party who does not have a valid user ID can be suppressed.

(Feature 2) The payment apparatus may further include a transport unit that transports the tray. The second acquisition unit and the third acquisition unit may be provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport unit.

  According to this configuration, when the user places the tray on the transport unit, the transport unit places the tray at a position where the second acquisition unit can acquire the user ID and a position where the third acquisition unit can acquire the container ID. Can be transported. That is, the user can complete the settlement by performing the work of placing the tray on the transport unit. The time required for settlement can be further shortened.

(Feature 3) The product container may include an IC tag that stores the container ID. The third acquisition unit may acquire each container ID by reading each IC tag of the N product containers placed on the tray.

  If the third acquisition unit adopts a configuration in which the container ID is acquired based on the image of the product container, the container ID may not be appropriately acquired depending on the state of the image. On the other hand, according to said structure, if the goods container (IC tag) exists in the range which can be read by the 3rd acquisition part, the 3rd acquisition part can acquire each container ID. Therefore, according to said structure, the payment apparatus can acquire each container ID appropriately.

(Feature 4) The tray may include an IC tag. The recording unit may record the user ID on the tray by storing the user ID in the IC tag of the tray. The second acquisition unit may acquire the user ID by reading the user ID stored in the IC tag of the tray.

  According to said structure, if a tray (IC tag) exists in the range which a 2nd acquisition part can read, a 2nd acquisition part can acquire a user ID. Therefore, according to said structure, the payment apparatus can acquire a user ID appropriately.

(Feature 5) The recording unit may record the user ID on the tray by generating an information code in which the user ID is recorded, and attaching the generated information code to the tray. The second acquisition unit may acquire the user ID by reading the information code attached to the tray.

  Also in the above configuration, the second acquisition unit can acquire the user ID if the product container (information code) exists in a range where the information code can be read by the second acquisition unit. Therefore, according to said structure, the payment apparatus can acquire a user ID appropriately.

(Feature 6) The information code may have a specific area encrypted with a specific encryption key. The user ID may be recorded in a specific area. The second acquisition unit stores a specific encryption key, and may acquire a user ID by decrypting a specific area of the read information code using the specific encryption key.

  According to the above configuration, even if the information code is read by another terminal device that does not store the specific encryption key, the other terminal device cannot decrypt the specific area, and the other terminal device The device cannot acquire the user ID. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an unauthorized acquisition of a user ID by a third party.

(First embodiment)
(Overall configuration of the settlement system 2; Fig. 1)
A checkout system 2 shown in FIG. 1 is an automatic checkout system used in a cafeteria such as an employee cafeteria. The payment system 2 includes a tray providing device 10, a payment device 50, a tray 90, tableware 100, and a recording medium 110.

  With reference to FIG. 1, the flow of use of the payment system 2 of the present embodiment will be briefly described. As shown in FIG. 1, a user who is a customer first goes to the tray providing apparatus 10 and causes the tray providing apparatus 10 to read the recording medium 110 possessed by the user. The tray providing apparatus 10 records the user ID read from the recording medium 110 on an IC tag 92 provided on the tray 90, and provides the tray 90 to the user. The user who has received the tray 90 from the tray providing apparatus 10 goes to a predetermined product (dish) providing place with the tray 90 and places a desired product on the tray 90. The dish, which is a product, is served on the tableware 100 provided with the IC tag 102. The user eats at the seat. After eating, the user goes to the checkout apparatus 50 with the tray 90 on which the tableware 100 is placed, and places the tray 90 together with the tableware 100 on the tray conveyance unit 58 of the checkout apparatus 50. The checkout apparatus 50 reads the user ID from the IC tag 92 of the tray 90 carried by the tray transporting unit 58 and reads the tableware ID from the IC tag 102 of the tableware 100. The settlement apparatus 50 calculates a settlement amount based on the read tableware ID, and generates and stores settlement information in association with the user ID and the settlement amount. Thereby, the settlement in the settlement system 2 is completed. After that, the administrator of the cafeteria performs necessary processing such as credit settlement with the user corresponding to the user ID, deduction from salary, and the like based on the settlement information stored in the settlement apparatus 50.

(Configuration of tray providing apparatus 10; FIG. 2)
The tray providing apparatus 10 is an apparatus that acquires a user ID from a recording medium 110 possessed by a user, records the acquired user ID on an IC tag 92 of the tray 90, and provides the tray 90 to the user. As shown in FIG. 2, the tray providing apparatus 10 includes an operation unit 12, a display unit 14, an IC card communication unit 16, a tag communication unit 18, a tray storage unit 20, a tray providing unit 22, and a control unit. 30 and a memory 32. In FIG. 2, the information code printing unit 40 and the information code pasting unit 42 are illustrated by broken lines, which will be described in a second embodiment to be described later.

  The operation unit 12 includes a plurality of buttons. The user can input various instructions to the tray providing apparatus 10 by operating the operation unit 12. The display unit 14 is a display for displaying various information.

  The IC card communication unit 16 is a device for executing short-range wireless communication with a recording medium 110 (see FIG. 1) that is an IC card and acquiring a user ID from the recording medium 110.

  The tag communication unit 18 performs short-range wireless communication with the IC tag 92 (see FIG. 1) provided in the tray 90 stored in the tray storage unit 20, so that the IC card communication unit 16 removes from the recording medium 110. This is a device for recording the acquired user ID in the IC tag 92.

  Both the short-range wireless communication performed by the IC card communication unit 16 with the recording medium 110 and the short-range wireless communication performed by the tag communication unit 18 with the IC tag 92 of the tray 90 are both RFID (Radio). (Frequency Identifier) method is used for wireless communication, but different frequencies are used. Therefore, the IC card communication unit 16 does not erroneously execute short-range wireless communication with the IC tag 92 of the tray 90, and the tag communication unit 18 does not erroneously execute short-range wireless communication with the recording medium 110. .

  The tray storage unit 20 is a device for storing a tray 90 to be provided to a user. The tray storage unit 20 can store a large number of trays 90.

  The tray providing unit 22 is a device for providing the user with the tray 90 stored in the tray storage unit 20. The tray providing unit 22 can provide the user with the tray 90 by discharging the trays 90 one by one from the casing of the tray providing apparatus 10 to the outside (see FIG. 1).

  The control unit 30 executes various processes according to programs stored in the memory 32. Details of processing executed by the control unit 30 will be described in detail later.

  The memory 32 stores programs for the control unit 30 to execute various processes. The memory 32 further stores an ID list. The ID list includes a list of user IDs indicating users who can use the cafeteria. The ID list is stored in the memory 32 in advance by the administrator of the payment system 2. In FIG. 2, the state in which the encryption key 44 is stored in the memory 32 is illustrated by a broken line, which will be described in a second embodiment to be described later.

(Configuration of the settlement apparatus 50; FIG. 3)
When the tray 90 on which one or more tableware 100 is placed is placed, the checkout apparatus 50 automatically identifies the product name and calculates the settlement amount, and associates the user ID with the product name and the settlement amount. This is a device for generating attached payment information. As shown in FIG. 3, the settlement apparatus 50 includes an operation unit 52, a display unit 54, a tag communication unit 56, a tray transport unit 58, a tray detection unit 60, a control unit 70, and a memory 72. . In FIG. 2, the information code reading unit 80 is indicated by a broken line, which will be described in a second embodiment described later.

  The operation unit 52 includes a plurality of buttons. The user can input various instructions to the settlement apparatus 50 by operating the operation unit 52. The display unit 54 is a display for displaying various information.

  The tag communication unit 56 is a short-range wireless communication with the IC tag 92 of the tray 90 conveyed by the tray conveyance unit 58 and each of the IC tags 102 of the one or more tableware 100 placed on the tray 90. This is a device for acquiring the user ID from the IC tag 92 and acquiring the tableware ID from each IC tag 102 by executing. As shown in FIG. 1, the tag communication unit 56 is provided on the downstream side of the tray conveyance unit 58 in the conveyance direction.

  The tray transport unit 58 is a conveyor that places and transports the tray 90. As shown in FIG. 1, the tray transport unit 58 transports the placed tray 90 toward the position where the tag communication unit 56 is installed.

  The tray detection unit 60 is a sensor for detecting the tray 90 conveyed by the tray conveyance unit 58. As shown in FIG. 1, the tray detection unit 60 is provided along with the tag communication unit 56 on the downstream side in the transport direction of the tray transport unit 58. The position where the tray 90 is detected by the tray detection unit 60 is included in the short-range wireless communication range of the tag communication unit 56 (see FIG. 1).

  The control unit 70 executes various processes according to programs stored in the memory 72. Details of processing executed by the control unit 70 will be described in detail later.

  The memory 72 stores programs for the control unit 70 to execute various processes. The memory 72 further stores a price list and settlement information. The price list includes the name of the product (dish) provided in the cafeteria, the tableware ID recorded on the IC tag 102 of the tableware 100 used when the product is provided, and the product price of the product. The associated combination information is stored. The price list is stored in the memory 72 in advance by the administrator of the checkout system 2. The payment information includes various information such as a user ID, a product name of a product purchased by the user indicated by the user ID, and a payment amount. The settlement information is generated as a result of the settlement process (see FIG. 5) described later by the control unit 70 and stored in the memory 72. In FIG. 3, the state in which the encryption key 44 is stored in the memory 72 is indicated by a broken line. This will be described in a second embodiment to be described later.

(Configuration of tray 90; FIG. 1)
As shown in FIG. 1, the tray 90 is a tray for placing and transporting one or more tableware 100. The tray 90 is provided with an IC tag 92 capable of recording information. The tray 90 before being provided to the user is stored in the tray storage unit 20 of the tray providing apparatus 10. By performing a providing process (see FIG. 4) described later, the tray 90 in which the user ID is recorded on the IC tag 92 is provided to the user.

(Configuration of tableware 100; FIG. 1)
The tableware 100 is a container for storing dishes that are products. The tableware 100 includes an IC tag 102. The IC tag 102 stores a tableware ID that is different for each type of dish to be served on the tableware 100. For example, the tableware ID “D1” is recorded on the IC tag 102 of the tableware (for example, plate) 100 for placing a hamburger, and the tableware ID “ R1 "is recorded.

(Configuration of recording medium 110; FIG. 1)
The recording medium 110 is an IC card possessed by a user of the cafeteria. A user ID for identifying a user is recorded on the IC card.

(Provision processing; Fig. 4)
Then, with reference to FIG. 4, the content of the provision process which the control part 30 of the tray provision apparatus 10 performs is demonstrated. When the power of the tray providing apparatus 10 is turned on, the control unit 30 starts the providing process of FIG.

  In S <b> 10, the control unit 30 monitors that the user ID is acquired from the user recording medium 110 by the IC card communication unit 16. When a user who is a customer comes to the tray providing apparatus 10 and brings the recording medium 110 possessed by the user closer to the IC card communication unit 16, short-distance wireless communication is performed between the IC card communication unit 16 and the recording medium 110. Is executed. Through this communication, the IC card communication unit 16 can read the user ID recorded on the recording medium 110. The user ID read by the IC card communication unit 16 is supplied to the control unit 30. Thereby, the control part 30 acquires user ID. In this case, the control unit 30 determines YES in S10, and proceeds to S12.

  In S12, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the acquired user ID is a valid user ID. Specifically, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the acquired user ID is a user ID included in the ID list in the memory 32. When the acquired user ID is included in the ID list, the control unit 30 determines YES in S12, and proceeds to S14. On the other hand, when the acquired user ID is not included in the ID list (for example, when the user does not have a regular recording medium for using the cafeteria), the control unit 30 determines NO in S12. The process proceeds to S13. In S13, the control unit 30 performs a predetermined error operation. The error operation includes, for example, causing the display unit 14 to display a message indicating that the user's recording medium 110 is invalid. When S13 ends, the control unit 30 returns to the monitoring of S10 again.

  In S <b> 14, the control unit 30 records the acquired user ID on the IC tag 92 of the tray 90. Specifically, the control unit 30 causes the tag communication unit 18 to select one of a large number of trays 90 stored in the tray storage unit 20 (hereinafter may be referred to as “specific tray 90”). Short-range wireless communication is performed with the IC tag 92, and the acquired user ID is recorded in the IC tag 92 of the specific tray 90.

  In subsequent S16, the control unit 30 provides the user with the specific tray 90 by causing the tray providing unit 22 to discharge the specific tray 90 including the IC tag 92 on which the user ID is recorded. The user receives a specific tray 90 provided from the tray providing unit 22. When S16 ends, the control unit 30 returns to the monitoring of S10.

(Checkout process; Fig. 5)
Then, with reference to FIG. 5, the content of the adjustment process which the control part 70 of the adjustment apparatus 50 performs is demonstrated. When the power of the payment apparatus 50 is turned on, the control unit 70 starts the payment process of FIG.

  In S <b> 30, the control unit 70 monitors that the tray 90 is detected by the tray detection unit 60. As described above, after receiving the tray 90 from the tray providing apparatus 10, the user goes to a predetermined product providing place with the tray 90 and places a desired product (dish) on the tray 90. Thereafter, the user eats at the seat, takes the tray 90 on which the tableware 100 after eating is placed, goes to the settlement apparatus 50, and places the tray 90 together with the tableware 100 on the tray conveyance unit 58 of the settlement apparatus 50. The tray transport unit 58 transports the tray 90 toward the downstream side in the transport direction. The tray detection unit 60 provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the tray transport unit 58 can detect the tray 90 that has been transported. In this case, the control unit 70 determines YES in S30, and proceeds to S32.

  In S32, the control unit 70 monitors the acquisition of the user ID and one or more tableware IDs. Specifically, in S32, the control unit 70 executes the following processes. As described above, the position where the tray 90 is detected by the tray detection unit 60 is included in the communication range of the short-range wireless communication of the tag communication unit 56. Therefore, when the control unit 70 determines that the tray 90 has been detected (YES in S30), the tag communication unit 56 informs the tag tag 56 of the IC tag 92 of the tray 90 existing within the communication range and one or more on the tray 90. Short-range wireless communication is performed with each IC tag 102 of the tableware 100. As a result, the tag communication unit 56 reads the user ID from the IC tag 92 and reads the tableware ID from each IC tag 102. The tag communication unit 56 supplies the read information to the control unit 70. Thereby, the control part 70 can acquire user ID and 1 or more tableware ID. In this case, the control unit 70 determines YES in S32, and proceeds to S34.

  In S <b> 34, the control unit 70 specifies one or more product names and calculates a payment amount based on the acquired one or more tableware IDs. Specifically, first, the control unit 70 refers to the price list in the memory 32 and specifies the product name corresponding to each of the one or more tableware IDs. Next, the control unit 70 refers to the price list in the memory 32, identifies the product price corresponding to each of the one or more tableware IDs, and calculates the settlement amount that is the accumulated amount thereof.

  In continuing S36, the control part 70 produces | generates payment information. Specifically, the control unit 70 generates payment information by associating the acquired user ID with one or more product names and payment amounts specified in S34.

  In subsequent S38, the control unit 70 causes the memory 32 to store the payment information generated in S36. When S38 is finished, the settlement by the settlement system 2 is completed. When S38 ends, the control unit 70 returns to the monitoring of S10 again.

  In the above, the structure and operation | movement of the payment system 2 of a present Example were demonstrated. In this embodiment, the user receives the tray 90 on which the user ID recorded on his / her recording medium 110 is recorded from the tray providing apparatus 10. The user goes to a predetermined product providing place with the tray 90 and places a desired product (dish) on the tray 90. The user then eats at the seat and goes to the checkout apparatus 50 with the tray 90 on which the dish 100 after eating is placed. The settlement apparatus 50 can acquire a user ID from the tray 90 and also acquire a tableware ID from each of one or more tableware 100 on the tray 90 to generate and store settlement information (that is, complete the settlement). can do). Therefore, according to the settlement system 2 of the present embodiment, the user does not have to perform an operation using the recording medium 110 in front of the settlement apparatus 50, and thus it is necessary to cause the settlement apparatus to read the recording medium. As compared with the above, the time required for the settlement using the settlement apparatus 50 can be shortened.

  Further, in this embodiment, the tray providing apparatus 10 acquires the acquired user only when it is determined that the user ID acquired from the recording medium 110 is a valid user ID (YES in S12 of FIG. 4). When the tray 90 in which the ID is recorded is provided to the user and it is determined that the user ID is not a valid user ID, the tray 90 is not provided to the user. Therefore, in the payment system 2 of the present embodiment, the use of the system can be permitted only to the user who possesses the recording medium 110 that stores a valid user ID. Unauthorized use of the system by a third party who does not have a valid user ID can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the settlement apparatus 50 includes a tray transport unit 58 that transports the tray 90. The tag communication unit 56 is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the tray transport unit 58. When the user places the tray 90 on which the tableware 100 after eating is placed on the tray transport unit 58, the tray transport unit 58 can transport the tray 90 to the communication range of the short-range wireless communication of the tag communication unit 56. That is, the user can complete the settlement in the settlement apparatus 50 by performing the work of placing the tray 90 on the tray transporting unit 58. The time required for settlement can be further shortened.

  In the present embodiment, the tableware 100 includes an IC tag 102 that stores the tableware ID. The control unit 70 of the payment apparatus 50 acquires the tableware ID from each IC tag 102 by causing the tag communication unit 56 to perform short-range wireless communication with each IC tag 102 of one or more tableware 100. If the settlement apparatus 50 employs a configuration in which table identification information is acquired based on a tableware image, the identification information may not be acquired appropriately depending on the state of the image. In contrast, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, if the IC tag 102 of the tableware 100 exists within the communication range of the tag communication unit 56, the settlement apparatus 50 can acquire each tableware ID. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the settlement apparatus 50 can appropriately acquire each tableware ID.

  In the present embodiment, the tray 90 also includes an IC tag 92. The tag communication unit 18 of the tray providing apparatus 10 records the user ID acquired from the recording medium 110 on the IC tag 92 of the tray 90. The control unit 70 of the payment apparatus 50 acquires the user ID from the IC tag 92 by causing the tag communication unit 56 to perform short-range wireless communication with the IC tag 92 of the tray 90. Therefore, if the IC tag 92 of the tray 90 exists within the communication range of the tag communication unit 56, the settlement apparatus 50 can acquire the user ID. Therefore, the payment apparatus 50 can also acquire a user ID appropriately.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the control unit 70 causes the tag communication unit 56 to be close to the IC tag 92 of the tray 90 existing within the communication range and each IC tag 102 of one or more dishes 100. By performing wireless communication, a user ID and one or more tableware IDs can be acquired at one time (that is, at substantially the same timing). Therefore, in the present embodiment, the checkout device 50 can quickly acquire the user ID and one or more tableware IDs. Moreover, it is not necessary to provide a device for acquiring a user ID and a device for acquiring one or more tableware IDs separately.

  The correspondence between this embodiment and the description of the claims will be described. The IC card communication unit 16 is an example of a “first acquisition unit”. The tag communication unit 18 is an example of a “recording unit”. The tag communication unit 56 is an example of a “second acquisition unit” and a “third acquisition unit”. The tableware 100 is an example of a “product container”. The tableware ID is an example of “container ID”. The control unit 30 is an example of a “providing control unit”. The control unit 70 is an example of a “settlement control unit”.

(Second embodiment)
The second embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the tray providing device 10 prints an information code on which a user ID acquired from the recording medium 110 is recorded on a medium such as a sticker, and affixes the medium on which the information code is printed to the tray 90. The user ID is recorded on the tray 90. Further, the checkout apparatus 50 acquires the user ID by reading the information code attached to the tray 90.

  Therefore, the tray providing apparatus 10 of this embodiment includes an information code printing unit 40 and an information code pasting unit 42 instead of the tag communication unit 18 (see the broken line portion in FIG. 2). The information code printing unit 40 is a device that prints the information code generated by the control unit 30 on a medium such as a sticker. The information code pasting unit 42 pastes the medium on which the information code is printed by the information code printing unit 40 to one of the many trays 90 stored in the tray storage unit 20 (that is, a specific tray 90). It is a device. Hereinafter, attaching a medium on which an information code is printed to a specific tray 90 may be simply referred to as “applying an information code to a specific tray 90”. Further, the memory 32 of the tray providing apparatus 10 further stores an encryption key 44 (see the broken line portion in FIG. 2).

  Further, the settlement apparatus 50 of the present embodiment further includes an information code reading unit 80 (see the broken line portion in FIG. 3). The information code reading unit 80 is a device that can read the information code attached to the tray 90 conveyed by the tray conveying unit 58. In the present embodiment, the information code reading unit 80 is provided along with the tag communication unit 56 on the downstream side in the transport direction of the tray transport unit 58. In the present embodiment, the memory 72 of the settlement apparatus 50 further stores the same encryption key 44 as described above (see the broken line portion in FIG. 3).

  Further, part of the content of the providing process (see FIG. 4) executed by the control unit 30 of the tray providing apparatus 10 is also different from the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, in S14 of FIG. 4, the control unit 30 generates an information code in which the user ID acquired from the recording medium 110 is recorded. Further, the control unit 30 causes the information code printing unit 40 to print the generated information code on a medium such as a sticker. Further, the control unit 30 causes the information code pasting unit 42 to paste the medium on which the information code is printed on the specific tray 90. In subsequent S <b> 16, the control unit 30 discharges the specific tray 90 to which the information code is pasted by the tray providing unit 22 and provides the user with the specific tray 90. The user receives a specific tray 90 provided from the tray providing unit 22. When S16 ends, the control unit 30 returns to the monitoring of S10.

  In S14 described above, the information code generated by the control unit 30 is a two-dimensional code having a public area and a private area. The private area is encrypted with the encryption key 44 stored in the memory 32. The user ID acquired from the recording medium 110 is recorded in a private area. Information recorded in the public area (for example, general information such as information code creation date and time) can be read by any terminal device as long as the terminal device can read the information code. On the other hand, information recorded in the non-public area (that is, user ID) can be decrypted only by a terminal device (that is, the checkout device 50) in which the same encryption key as the encryption key 44 is stored. That is, in S14, when an information code pasted on a specific tray 90 is read by an arbitrary terminal device, information of information that the terminal device can acquire depends on whether the terminal device stores the encryption key 44 or not. The contents are different.

  Further, part of the contents of the settlement process (see FIG. 5) executed by the control unit 70 of the settlement apparatus 50 is also different from the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the control unit 70 executes the following processes in S32 of FIG. In the present embodiment, the position where the tray 90 is detected by the tray detection unit 60 is included in the communication range of the short-range wireless communication of the tag communication unit 18 and is included in the information code reading unit 80 of the information code reading unit 80. It is. Therefore, when the control unit 70 determines that the tray 90 has been detected (YES in S30), the control unit 70 informs the tag communication unit 56 of each IC tag 102 of one or more dishes 100 on the tray 90 existing within the communication range. Make short-range wireless communication between them. Thereby, the control part 70 can acquire one or more tableware ID from each IC tag 102 of the one or more tableware 100. FIG. At the same time, the control unit 70 causes the information code reading unit 80 to read the information code attached to the tray 90 existing within the readable range. The control unit 70 acquires a user ID from the read information code.

  The method by which the control unit 70 acquires the user ID will be described in more detail. As described above, the information code includes a public area and a private area. Therefore, when the information code is read, the control unit 70 can first acquire information (for example, information code generation date and time) recorded in the information code disclosure area. Further, the control unit 70 can decrypt the encrypted private area using the encryption key 44 stored in the memory 72 and obtain the user ID recorded in the private area. As a result, the control unit 70 can acquire the user ID from the read information code.

  When the control unit 70 obtains one or more tableware IDs and a user ID by performing the above-described processes, the control unit 70 determines YES in S32 and proceeds to S34. Since each process after S34 is the same as that of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the above, the structure and operation | movement of the payment system 2 of a present Example were demonstrated. As described above, in the present embodiment, the tray providing apparatus 10 prints an information code in which the user ID acquired from the recording medium 110 is recorded, and affixes the printed information code to the tray 90, whereby the tray 90 is attached to the tray 90. Record the user ID. Further, the checkout apparatus 50 acquires the user ID by reading the information code attached to the tray 90. Also in this embodiment, if the tray 90 and the tableware 100 exist within the communication range of the tag communication unit 56 and the tray 90 exists within the information code reading range of the information code reading unit 80, the control unit 70 One or more tableware IDs and user IDs can be acquired. Also in the present embodiment, the payment apparatus 50 can appropriately acquire the user ID.

  In this embodiment, the information code includes a public area and a private area encrypted with the encryption key 44. The user ID is recorded in a private area. The control unit 70 of the settlement apparatus 50 acquires the user ID by decrypting the private area of the information code read by the information code reading unit 80 using the encryption key 44. Therefore, even if the information code is read by another terminal device that does not store the encryption key 44, the other terminal device cannot decrypt the private area, and the other terminal device does not have the user ID. It cannot be acquired. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an unauthorized acquisition of a user ID by a third party.

  The correspondence between this embodiment and the description of the claims will be described. The IC card communication unit 16 is an example of a “first acquisition unit”. The control unit 30, the information code printing unit 40, and the information code pasting unit 42 are examples of the “recording unit”. The information code reading unit 80 is an example of a “second acquisition unit”. The tag communication unit 56 is an example of a “third acquisition unit”. The private area of the information code is an example of “specific area”. The encryption key 44 is an example of a “specific encryption key”.

  As mentioned above, although each Example of this invention was described in detail, these are only illustrations and do not limit a claim. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above. For example, the following modifications may be adopted.

(Modification 1) In each of the above embodiments, the payment system 2 is an automatic payment system used in a cafeteria such as an employee cafeteria. The payment system 2 is not limited to this, and may be used in any other environment such as a store cash register system.

(Modification 2) In each of the above embodiments, the recording medium 110 is an IC card possessed by a user of the cafeteria. However, the recording medium 110 is not limited to this, and any medium can be used as long as the user ID is recorded. It may be a medium. For example, the recording medium 110 may be a mobile terminal (for example, a mobile phone) owned by the user.

(Modification 3) In the settlement system 2 of each of the above embodiments, as shown in the usage example of FIG. 1, the user receives the tray 90 in which his / her user ID is recorded from the tray providing apparatus 10, and The tray providing apparatus 10 and the settlement apparatus 50 are arranged so that the settlement apparatus 50 can perform settlement after placing and eating a desired dish. In the checkout system, the user receives the tray 90 in which his / her user ID is recorded from the tray providing device 10, places a desired dish on the tray 90, and performs checkout with the checkout device 50 before eating. The tray providing device 10 and the payment device 50 may be arranged so that they can eat after payment.

(Modification 4) In the second embodiment, the information code is a code having a public area and a private area. The information code is not limited to this, and the information code may be a code including only the public area. In that case, the user ID may be recorded in the public area.

(Modification 5) In the second embodiment, the control unit 30 generates an information code in which the user ID acquired from the recording medium 110 is recorded. Further, the control unit 30 causes the information code printing unit 40 to print the generated information code on a medium such as a sticker. Further, the control unit 30 causes the information code pasting unit 42 to paste the medium on which the information code is printed on the specific tray 90 (see S14 in FIG. 4). Without being limited thereto, the control unit 30 generates an information code in which the user ID acquired from the recording medium 110 is recorded, and the generated information code is directly applied to a predetermined portion of the specific tray 90 in the information code printing unit 40. You may make it print.

  The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology illustrated in the present specification or the drawings achieves a plurality of objects at the same time, and has technical utility by achieving one of the objects.

2: Checkout system 10: Tray providing device 12: Operation unit 14: Display unit 16: IC card communication unit 18: Tag communication unit 20: Tray storage unit 22: Tray supply unit 30: Control unit 32: Memory 40: Information code printing Unit 42: Information code pasting unit 44: Encryption key 50: Settling device 52: Operation unit 54: Display unit 56: Tag communication unit 58: Tray transport unit 60: Tray detection unit 70: Control unit 72: Memory 80: Reading information code Section 90: Tray 92: IC tag 100: Tableware 102: IC tag 110: Recording medium

Claims (7)

A checkout system,
A tray providing device;
A checkout device, and
The tray providing device includes:
A first acquisition unit that acquires a user ID from a recording medium possessed by the user;
A recording unit for recording the user ID acquired by the first acquisition unit on a tray;
A providing unit that provides the user with the tray on which the user ID is recorded;
The settlement apparatus is
A second acquisition unit for acquiring the user ID recorded in the tray;
A third acquisition unit for acquiring the container ID of the product container from each of N product containers (N is an integer of 1 or more) placed on the tray;
A memory for storing a product price corresponding to the container ID;
A checkout control unit, and
The settlement control unit
Calculating a settlement amount that is an accumulated amount of product prices corresponding to each of the N container IDs acquired by the third acquisition unit;
Generating payment information by associating the user ID acquired by the second acquisition unit with the settlement amount;
Checkout system. The tray providing device includes:
A provision control unit for determining whether the user ID is a valid ID when the user ID is acquired by the first acquisition unit;
The recording unit records the user ID on the tray when the user ID is determined to be a valid ID, and determines the user ID when the user ID is determined not to be a valid ID. Do not record in the tray,
The payment system according to claim 1. The settlement apparatus is
A transport unit for transporting the tray;
The second acquisition unit and the third acquisition unit are provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport unit,
The payment system according to claim 1 or 2. The product container includes an IC tag for storing the container ID,
The third acquisition unit acquires each container ID by reading the IC tag of each of the N product containers placed on the tray.
The settlement system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The tray includes an IC tag,
The recording unit records the user ID on the tray by storing the user ID in the IC tag of the tray,
The second acquisition unit acquires the user ID by reading the user ID stored in the IC tag of the tray.
The settlement system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The recording unit generates an information code in which the user ID is recorded, and records the user ID on the tray by attaching the generated information code to the tray.
The second acquisition unit acquires the user ID by reading the information code attached to the tray.
The settlement system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The information code has a specific area encrypted with a specific encryption key,
The user ID is recorded in the specific area,
The second acquisition unit stores the specific encryption key,
Obtaining the user ID by decrypting the specific area of the read information code using the specific encryption key;
The payment system according to claim 6.

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