JP2020064480A - Settlement system using shopping cart - Google Patents

Abstract

To bring benefits in settlements and the like for product purchases, and to bring ease in promoting storing shopping carts at customer ends.SOLUTION: Provided is a shopping cart 1 for loading and carrying products to be sold at a store and provided with a customer information recording device. In the customer information recording device, customer information capable of identifying a customer purchasing the products is recorded in a readable manner.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a payment system using a shopping cart.

  Conventionally, in a store, a shopping cart for loading products selected by a customer is used. In the following description, the shopping cart may be simply referred to as a cart. Various inventions have been proposed regarding the shopping cart.

  For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a shopping cart to which a product information display device is attached. More specifically, a customer who is shopping at a store holds a product attached with a tag over the tag reading unit of the product information display device. Then, the tag reading unit reads the product identification information from the tag and transmits it to the store server. After that, the store server reads out the product information from the database based on the transmitted product identification information and transmits it to the product information display device. In response to this, the product information display device displays the transmitted product information on the display unit.

  According to the shopping cart disclosed in Patent Document 1, a customer can acquire information about a product that he or she is trying to purchase or a product that he or she is interested in.

JP, 2004-258928, A

  Here, in recent years, for example, in payment for product purchase, a method of using customer information (information that can specify a customer) is used in addition to cash payment at a cash register. According to this method, the settlement process can be made simpler, which is advantageous for both customers and stores. The customer information is useful mainly for the store side from the viewpoint of customer management and sales strategy.

  In addition, shopping carts are generally stored in stores, which increases storage costs due to an increase in the number of carts on the store side, occupies space at the store side in the cart space, and collects carts at the store side. There was a problem such as an increase in personnel costs related to transportation. For the store side, it is desirable to eliminate such problems as much as possible. The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 does not solve such a problem.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a payment system and a payment method using a shopping cart, which is advantageous in payment for product purchase and the like and facilitates storage of the shopping cart on the customer side. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, a shopping cart of the present invention is a shopping cart for carrying and carrying products for sale in a store, which is provided with a customer information recording device, and the customer information recording device is provided with the products. The customer information that can specify the customer who purchases is recorded in a readable manner (first configuration). According to such a configuration, it is advantageous in settlement of products and the like, and it becomes easy to encourage the customer to store the shopping cart.

  For example, it is possible to improve the convenience of the customer regarding payment by shopping at a store using a shopping cart which is a property of the customer and reading the customer information at the store. The customer who completes the payment can take the shopping cart, which is his or her belongings, and the purchased product as they are to their home. Therefore, the convenience of the customer is enhanced and the necessity of preparing a shopping cart on the shop side is reduced. As a result, the store can enjoy benefits such as reduction of various costs and effective use of space. Providing the customer information recording device in the shopping cart is a motivation for the customer to carry the shopping cart, and facilitates the customer to store the shopping cart.

  Further, in the shopping cart, the customer information recording device performs wireless communication with a customer information reading unit installed in the store, and the customer information recorded in the customer information recording device is the It may be read by the customer information reading means by wireless communication (second configuration).

  According to such a configuration, the customer information can be read from the customer information recording device in a contactless manner only by disposing the shopping cart in front of the customer information reading unit in the store, which is convenient for the customer. improves.

  Further, the settlement system of the present invention includes a shopping cart having the above configuration, the customer information reading unit, and price information reading unit for reading price information associated with each product placed on the shopping cart, Based on the customer information read by the customer information reading unit and the price information read by the price information reading unit, a payment process for the purchase of each product is performed (third configuration).

  According to such a configuration, the customer information is read without contact and the price information of each product placed in the shopping cart is read in a lump, so that the payment can be performed quickly and the convenience for the customer is improved. improves.

  Further, in the settlement system having the third configuration, it may have a gate arranged near an exit of the store, and the customer information reading unit and the price information reading unit may be provided in the gate (the first). 4 configuration).

  According to such a configuration, payment is promptly made by passing the shopping cart on which the product is placed after the shopping through the gate arranged near the exit. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the cashier congestion at the store side and reduce the labor cost of the cashier.

  Further, in the fourth configuration, the customer information recording device has a gate arranged near an exit of the store, and reads the customer information from the customer information recording device when the customer information recording device passes through the gate, The type of the purchased product of the customer may be managed by reading the type information associated with each product placed in the shopping cart (fifth configuration). According to such a configuration, by analyzing the type of the purchased product, it can be used for the sales strategy.

  Also, in the settlement system having the fifth configuration, the customer information recording device has a gate disposed near at least one of an entrance and an exit of the store, and the customer information recording device when the customer information recording device passes through the gate. By reading the customer information from the device, the visit situation of the customer to the store may be managed (sixth configuration). According to such a configuration, by analyzing the customer visit situation, it can be used for the sales strategy.

  Further, in the settlement system having the sixth configuration, the customer information recording device has a gate arranged near an entrance of the store, and when the customer information recording device passes through the gate, the customer information recording device stores the customer information. At the same time as the reading, the discount information may be given to the customer specified by the customer information, and the discount corresponding to the discount information may be performed when the settlement processing is performed (seventh configuration).

  According to such a configuration, a discount can be obtained in quick settlement, which improves the convenience of the customer. Further, by adding the discount information unique to the store, it becomes possible to increase the attractiveness of the store to the customer and enhance the continuity of coming to the store.

  Further, the settlement method of the present invention is a settlement method using the shopping cart, wherein the customer information is read from the customer information recording device and the price information associated with each product placed in the shopping cart is read. It is supposed to include a reading step and a payment processing step of performing payment processing for purchasing each of the products based on the read customer information and price information.

  According to such a configuration, the customer information is read and the price information of each product placed in the shopping cart is read in a lump, so that the settlement can be performed quickly and the convenience of the customer is improved.

  The shopping cart of the present invention is not particularly limited.

  According to the shopping cart of the present invention, it is advantageous in settlement of goods purchase and the like, and it becomes easy to prompt the customer to store the shopping cart.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an RFID tag and a reader. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the payment system provided in a store. It is a block diagram showing a part of composition of a settlement system. It is a block diagram showing a part of composition of a settlement system. It is an external view which shows one structural example of an entrance gate. It is an external view which shows one structural example of an exit gate. It is a flow chart which shows a flow from a customer entering a store to a payment process being completed and leaving a store.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<1. RFID tags and readers>
The shopping cart 1 becomes a personal property by being purchased by an individual or leased from a store by an individual. Further, in this embodiment, as the RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tag 20, the RFID tag 20A provided in the shopping cart 1 and the RFID tag 20B provided in the product are used. The personal information of the customer is recorded on the RFID tag 20A.

  In this embodiment, each individual (customer) owns and stores the shopping cart 1. However, the shop side may store the shopping carts 1 of all or some of the customers. Alternatively, the RFID tag 20A may be detachably attached to the shopping cart, and each customer may carry only the RFID tag 20A in which his / her personal information is recorded. In this case, each customer can attach the RFID tag 20A brought to the shopping cart rented at the store and use it as the shopping cart 1 of the present embodiment.

  The RFID tag 20 is an information medium that can read and write information recorded in a built-in memory in a contactless manner by using a radio wave or a magnetic field. The RFID tag 20 includes, for example, a tag inlet and a resin case that houses the tag inlet, and is formed in a coin type, a card type, a cylindrical type, or the like. In the shopping cart 1, the RFID tag 20A is provided, for example, at the connection unit 133. The RFID tag 20A functions as a customer information recording device that records information (customer information) of users who are customers of the store.

  Here, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configurations of the RFID tag 20 and the reader 30 which is a device for reading information from the RFID tag. The RFID tag 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an antenna 201, a controller 202, and a memory 203. The reader 30 has an antenna 301 and a controller 302. The process of reading information from the RFID tag 20 by the reader 30 is as follows.

  First, information is transmitted from the antenna 301 of the reader 30 to the RFID tag 20 side by being superimposed on a radio wave or a magnetic field. The antenna 201 of the RFID tag 20 receives the radio wave or magnetic field from the antenna 301. Electric power is generated in the antenna 201 by rectification in the case of a radio wave and resonance in the case of a magnetic field.

  The generated power causes the controller 202 and the memory 203 to operate, and necessary processing is performed. Then, the information recorded in the memory 203 is superimposed on the radio wave or magnetic field and transmitted from the antenna 201 to the reader 30 side. Radio waves or magnetic fields from the RFID tag 20 are received by the antenna 301. Information is extracted from radio waves or magnetic fields by the controller 302.

  By recording customer information (personal information) in the memory 203 of the RFID tag 20, the customer information recorded in the memory 203 can be read by the reader 30. The reader 30 is installed in a store as described later. That is, the RFID tag 20 as the customer information recording device performs wireless communication with the reader 30 as the customer information reading means installed in the store, and the customer information recorded in the RFID tag 20 is wirelessly communicated. Is read by the reader 30.

  When the customer information is recorded in the memory 203 of the RFID tag 20, for example, the store side may record the customer information input by the customer via the WEB into the RFID tag 20 by the writer, or the customer himself / herself may record the customer information. The customer information may be recorded in the RFID tag 20 by using an application such as a smartphone.

<2. Payment system configuration>
Next, the configuration of the payment system using the shopping cart having the RFID tag as described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the payment system 60 provided in the store S.

  The payment system 60 includes a shopping cart 1, an entrance gate Gin arranged near the entrance of the store S, an exit gate Gout arranged near the exit of the store S, a server 40, a cash register (cash register) 50, Have

  The entrance gate Gin has an entrance reader 30A. The entrance reader 30A is a device that wirelessly communicates with the RFID tag 20A provided in the shopping cart 1, and its configuration is the same as that of the reader 30 shown in FIG. 1 described above.

  FIG. 5 is an external view showing a configuration example of the entrance gate Gin. Further, although the shopping cart 1 having the RFID tag 20A is also shown in FIG. 5, the shopping cart 1 is schematically shown in FIG. Note that the shopping cart provided with the RFID tag does not necessarily have to be foldable.

  The entrance gate Gin shown in FIG. 5 has standing plates that are arranged to face each other on the left and right and stand upright from the floor. The entrance reader 30A is provided on one of the upright plates. When the customer pushes the shopping cart 1 and passes the shopping cart 1 through the standing plates, the entrance reader 30A performs wireless communication with the RFID tag 20A and reads the customer information from the RFID tag 20A. That is, the entrance reader 30A corresponds to a customer information reading unit installed in the store S.

  It is desirable that the height position of the entrance reader 30A on the standing plate from the floor surface substantially coincides with the height position of the RFID tag 20A provided on the shopping cart 1 from the floor surface. Thereby, the RFID tag 20A can be easily brought close to the entrance reader 30A, and the wireless communication between the entrance reader 30A and the RFID tag 20A can be performed more efficiently and stably.

  In this manner, the customer can cause the entrance reader 30A to read the customer information recorded in the RFID tag 20A in a contactless manner by simply passing the shopping cart 1 through the entrance gate Gin when entering the store S. The read customer information is sent to the server 40.

  FIG. 6 is an external view showing a configuration example of the exit gate Gout. FIG. 6 also schematically shows the shopping cart 1 having the RFID tag 20A.

  The exit gate Gout shown in FIG. 6 has standing plates that are arranged to face each other on the left and right and stand upright from the floor. Then, the first exit leader 30B and the second exit leader 30C are provided on one of the upright plates. When the customer pushes the shopping cart 1 and passes the shopping cart 1 through the standing plates, the first exit reader 30B performs wireless communication with the RFID tag 20A and reads the customer information from the RFID tag 20A. That is, the first exit reader 30B corresponds to customer information reading means installed in the store S. In addition, the second exit reader 30C performs wireless communication with the RFID tag 20B provided for each product, and reads price information and type information from the RFID tag 20B.

  The configurations of the first exit leader 30B and the second exit leader 30C are similar to those of the reader 30 shown in FIG. 1 described above. Further, it is desirable that the height position of the first exit reader 30B on the standing plate from the floor surface substantially coincides with the height position of the RFID tag 20A provided on the shopping cart 1 from the floor surface. As a result, the RFID tag 20A can be easily approached to the first exit reader 30B, and the wireless communication between the first exit reader 30B and the RFID tag 20A can be performed more efficiently and stably. .

  Further, it is desirable that the height position of the second exit leader 30C on the standing plate from the floor surface substantially coincides with the height position from the floor surface of the shopping cart 1 where the products are loaded. Therefore, as an actual configuration, two basket-shaped frames for loading products are placed on the shopping cart 1 one above the other, and two second outlet readers 30C are provided corresponding to each of the two basket-shaped frames. May be. Thereby, the RFID tag 20B can be easily brought close to the second exit reader 30C, and the wireless communication between the second exit reader 30C and the RFID tag 20B can be performed more efficiently and stably. .

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3 described later, the RFID tag 20B is provided on the product P sold in the store S. Price information of the product P is recorded on the RFID tag 20B. The configuration of the RFID tag 20B is similar to that of the RFID tag 20 shown in FIG. 1 described above. Thereby, when the user pushes the shopping cart 1 loaded with the product P and passes the shopping cart 1 between the standing plates of the exit gate Gout, the exit gate 30C wirelessly communicates with the RFID tag 20B provided on the product P. The price information is read from the RFID tag 20B.

  In this manner, the user can read the customer information from the RFID 20A by the first exit reader 30B and contact the RFID tag 20B of the product P by the second exit reader 30C without contacting the user only by passing the shopping cart 1 through the exit gate Gout. The price information can be read in a batch from. The read customer information and price information are sent to the server 40.

  The server 40 is arrange | positioned in one room of the store S in the example shown in FIG. The server 40 may be arranged outside the store S. As in the block diagram shown in FIG. 4, the server 40 has a control unit 401 and a communication unit 402.

  The communication unit 402 communicates with the entrance reader 30A, the first exit reader 30B, and the second exit reader 30C. The control unit 401 manages the customer visit situation, customer service, etc. based on the customer information sent from the entrance reader 30A and the first exit reader 30B and the price information sent from the second exit reader 30C, and makes payment. Perform processing.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the payment system 60 has a cash register 50. The cash register 50 is a device used when a customer who has performed shopping using the shopping cart 1 wants to make a payment in cash, and details thereof will be described later.

<3. Operation of payment system>
Next, the operation of the payment system 60 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows a flow from when the customer enters the store S to when the customer completes the payment process and leaves the store S.

  First, for example, a customer stores a shopping cart 1 and a basket-shaped frame that are folded at home in a car, and heads to the parking lot of the store S by the car. Then, at the parking lot, the shopping cart 1 and the basket-shaped frame are unloaded from the automobile, they are opened from the folded state, and the basket-shaped frame is placed on the shopping cart 1.

  Then, the customer pushes the shopping cart 1 toward the entrance gate Gin from the parking lot, passes the shopping cart 1 through the entrance gate Gin, and enters the store S (step S1). At this time, in step S2, the entrance reader 30A reads the customer information from the RFID tag 20A of the shopping cart 1.

  Here, the customer information is information that can identify the customer, and examples thereof include a name, a date of birth, an address, a telephone number, and payment information. The payment information is information on the payment method selected by the customer from among credit card payment, debit payment by financial institution, and cash payment.

  Then, in step S3, the control unit 401 of the server 40 identifies the customer based on the customer information sent from the entrance reader 30A via the communication unit 402, and gives discount information to the identified customer. The discount information is, for example, point service information, discount service information, or preferential service information.

  The point service is a service that makes the amount of points added by the customer higher than usual.For example, assuming that the customer usually adds a predetermined percentage of the purchase amount purchased by the customer, the percentage is higher than the usual prescribed ratio. And so on. Customers can receive a discount on the purchase price according to the points they have acquired.

  Further, the discount service is a discount from the purchase price in this shopping, and includes a limited-time discount, a discount on a specific product, and the like. Further, the preferential treatment service is a discount available when the customer is a member of the store S.

  The discount information is added by the control unit 401, so that the customer can receive the service in the settlement process described below. The RFID tag 20A of the shopping cart 1 may be provided with a display unit, and the discount information provided may be sent from the server 40 to the RFID tag 20A via the entrance reader 30A to display the discount information on the display unit. . This makes it easy for the customer to confirm the service content.

  Further, in step S3, the control unit 401 records the information on the current time corresponding to the customer specified above. Thereby, the server 40 manages the customer entry time. Thereafter, in step S4, the customer who enters the store S together with the shopping cart 1 stores a desired product P in the shopping cart 1 (basket frame) while selecting the desired product P and performs shopping. As a result, the product P having the RFID tag 20B is loaded on the shopping cart 1.

  When the selection of the merchandise P in step S4 is completed and the customer proceeds to the settlement, the steps are divided according to the settlement method selected by the customer (step S5). Here, a case will be described in which the payment method selected by the customer is credit card payment or debit payment. In this case, the process proceeds to step S6. In this case, it is assumed that the payment information included in the customer information recorded in the RFID tag 20A of the shopping cart 1 is credit card payment or debit payment.

  In step S6, the customer pushes the shopping cart 1 loaded with the products P toward the exit gate Gout, and passes the shopping cart 1 through the exit gate Gout. Then, in step S7, the first exit reader 30B reads the customer information from the RFID tag 20A of the shopping cart 1 and the second exit reader 30C reads the price information from the RFID tag 20B of the product P. The read customer information and price information are sent to the control unit 401 via the communication unit 402.

  In addition to the price information, the type information indicating the type of the product P is recorded in the RFID tag 20B of the product P, and the type information is also read from the RFID tag 20B by the second exit reader 30C. The type information can take various forms from rough classification to fine classification. The read type information is sent to the control unit 401 via the communication unit 402.

  The control unit 401 of the server 40 confirms that the payment information of the sent customer information is credit card payment or debit payment, and identifies the customer based on the sent customer information. The control unit 401 records the type information sent corresponding to the specified customer, and manages the type of the customer's purchased product. Thereby, for example, the store S can utilize it for the sales strategy by analyzing the type information.

  Further, in step S8, the control unit 401 calculates the total price of the product P based on the price information sent, corresponding to the customer specified above. At this time, if the discount information given in step S3 is present, the processing according to the discount information is performed. When the discount information is point service information, points are calculated and given at a higher ratio than usual to the total amount. If the discount information is discount service information or preferential treatment service information, a discount is given to the total amount.

  Then, the control unit 401 performs credit card payment or withdrawal payment based on the credit card information or financial institution information registered in advance of the customer identified above and the purchase amount determined above.

  In step S9, the control unit 401 records the current time information corresponding to the customer identified above. As a result, the server 40 manages the time when the customer leaves the store S. In this way, the customer visit situation is managed together with the entrance time management in step S3. For example, the store S can utilize it for a sales strategy by analyzing the visit situation. Note that only one of the entry time and the exit time may be managed.

  After step S9, the flow of FIG. 7 is completed. In this way, the customer can leave the store S by automatically performing the payment process by simply passing the shopping cart 1 through the exit gate Gout with the product P loaded in the shopping cart 1. It is possible to make payments and is highly convenient for customers. At this time, the customer can also receive a discount service.

  The customer who exits the store S from the exit gate Gout pushes the shopping cart 1 loaded with the product P toward the parking lot, and stores the product P in the car at the parking lot. Then, the customer folds the shopping cart 1 and the basket-shaped frame and stores them in the car. The customer can then return home by car. Therefore, it is not necessary to return the shopping cart from the parking lot to the predetermined place of the store.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the convenience of payment for the customer who shop at the store S is improved, and the continuity of the customer's visit to the store S is improved. Therefore, it becomes less necessary for the shop S to prepare a shopping cart. As a result, it is possible to reduce costs by reducing the number of carts on the store side, effectively use space by reducing the number of carts on the store side, and reduce labor costs for collecting and moving carts on the store side.

<4. About payment using cash register ＞
In step S5 of FIG. 7 described above, when the payment method selected by the customer is cash payment, the customer uses the cash register 50. The cash register 50 is installed, for example, at a location near the exit in the store S. As shown in FIG. 4, the cash register 50 includes a control unit 501, a communication unit 502, a display unit 503, a first reader 504, and a second reader 505.

  The communication unit 502 communicates with the communication unit 402 of the server 40. The display unit 503 displays various kinds of information such as the purchase price. The first reader 504 performs wireless communication with the RFID tag 20A of the shopping cart 1 and reads customer information from the RFID tag 20A. The second reader 505 performs wireless communication with the RFID tag 20B of the product P and reads price information and the like from the RFID tag 20B. The configurations of the first reader 504 and the second reader 505 are similar to those of the reader 30 of FIG. 1 described above. It is desirable that the height positions of the first leader 504 and the second leader 505 be the same as those of the first exit leader 30B and the second exit leader 30C described above. The first reader 504 corresponds to customer information reading means, and the second reader 505 corresponds to price information reading means.

  The customer who selects cash settlement in step S5 pushes the shopping cart 1 loaded with the products P toward the cash register 50 (step S10). Then, by arranging the shopping cart 1 in front of the cash register 50, the customer information is read from the RFID tag 20A of the shopping cart 1 by the first reader 504 in a contactless manner, and the customer information is loaded on the shopping cart 1 by the second reader 505. The price information and the type information are collectively read from the RFID tag 20B of the product P without contact (step S11). The read various information is sent to the control unit 501.

  The read various information is sent from the control unit 501 to the control unit 401 via the communication units 502 and 402. The control unit 401 confirms that the payment information included in the sent customer information is cash payment, and identifies the customer based on the sent customer information. The control unit 401 records the type information sent corresponding to the specified customer, and manages the type of the customer's purchased product.

  Further, the control unit 401 calculates the total price of the product P based on the price information sent, corresponding to the customer specified above. At this time, if the discount information given in step S3 is present, the processing according to the discount information is performed. As a result, when the purchase amount to be paid by the customer is determined, the control unit 401 notifies the control unit 501 of the determined purchase amount via the communication units 402 and 502. As a result, the control unit 501 causes the display unit 503 to display the purchase amount (step S12). Here, in addition to the purchase amount, the display unit 503 may display points and the like given this time.

  At this time, the cash register 50 opens a money slot (not shown), and the customer inserts money into the currency slot (step S13). Then, the cashier 50 issues a change from a change exit (not shown) when change is required, and displays on the display unit 503 that the settlement has been completed. At this time, the control unit 501 notifies the control unit 401 via the communication units 502 and 402 of the completion of payment.

  Then, in step S14, the control unit 401 records the information on the current time corresponding to the customer specified above. As a result, the server 40 manages the time when the customer has completed shopping. In addition to the management of the entrance time in step S3, the customer visit situation is managed. In step S14, the flow of FIG. 7 is completed.

  After that, when the customer passes the shopping cart 1 through the exit gate Gout to leave the store S, the first exit reader 30B reads the customer information from the RFID tag 20A of the shopping cart 1 and the control unit 401 of the server 40. After confirming that the payment information included in the read customer information is cash payment, the customer confirms whether the specified customer has completed the payment. The control unit 401 switches whether to cause a warning unit (speaker or the like) (not shown) provided in the exit gate Gout to give a warning, for example, depending on whether the payment is completed. As a result, it is possible to warn a customer who has not completed payment at the cash register 50.

  In this way, the customer who selects the cash payment can read the customer information and the batch reading of the price information of the products P only by arranging the shopping cart 1 in front of the cash register 50, so that the payment is completed quickly. It is possible and convenient for customers. At this time, the customer can also receive a discount service.

<5. Other>
As described above, the shopping cart 1 according to the present embodiment is a shopping cart for carrying and selling products to be sold in a store, which is provided with an RFID tag 20A (customer information recording device). Customer information that can specify a customer who purchases the product is recorded in a readable manner. Therefore, according to the shopping cart 1, it is advantageous for settlement of products and the like, and it is easy to encourage the customer to store the shopping cart.

  In the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the convenience of the customer for payment by shopping at the store using the shopping cart 1 which is the property of the customer and reading the customer information at the store. The customer who completes the payment can take the shopping cart, which is his or her belongings, and the purchased product as they are to their home. Therefore, the convenience of the customer is increased, and the necessity of preparing a shopping cart on the shop side is reduced. As a result, the store can enjoy benefits such as reduction of various costs and effective use of space. Providing the customer information recording device in the shopping cart is a motivation for the customer to carry the shopping cart, and it is easy for the customer to encourage the customer to store the shopping cart.

  Further, in this embodiment, in particular, by providing the customer information recording device in the shopping cart, it is possible to communicate with the readers provided at the entrance and exit gates as efficiently and stably as possible. . For example, assuming that the customer information recording device is installed in a basket that the customer carries in his hand, the relative positional relationship between the reader and the customer information recording device (especially high height) depends on the customer's body shape and how the basket is held. The positional relationship in the vertical direction) will vary, and it is considered that problems will easily occur in communication between the two. In this respect, in the case of the present embodiment, since the shopping cart rolls and moves on the ground, the relative positional relationship between the customer information recording device provided on the shopping cart and the reader is stabilized, and communication between the two is stabilized. It is also epoch-making in that it can be performed as efficiently and stably as possible.

  The configuration and method of the present invention can be modified variously in addition to the above-described embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention. That is, the above-described embodiments are to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive, and the technical scope of the present invention is shown not by the description of the above-mentioned embodiments but by the scope of the claims. It is to be understood that all modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced.

1 Shopping Cart 20, 20A, 20B RFID Tag 30 Reader 30A Entrance Reader 30B First Exit Reader 30C Second Exit Reader 40 Server 50 Cash Register 60 Payment System Gin Entrance Gate Gout Exit Gate S Store P Product

Claims (8)

A shopping cart for carrying and carrying products sold in stores,
The shopping cart is provided with a customer information recording device,
The customer information recording device can readably record customer information that can identify a customer who purchases the product. The customer information recording device is for performing wireless communication with a customer information reading means installed in the store,
The settlement system according to claim 1, wherein the customer information recorded in the customer information recording device is read by the customer information reading means by the wireless communication. A price information reading unit for reading price information associated with each product placed on the shopping cart,
The settlement process for the purchase of each of the products is performed based on the customer information read by the customer information reading unit and the price information read by the price information reading unit. Payment system. Having a gate arranged near the exit of the store,
The settlement system according to claim 3, wherein the customer information reading unit and the price information reading unit are provided in the gate. Having a gate arranged near the exit of the store,
When the customer information recording apparatus passes through the gate, the customer information is read from the customer information recording apparatus and the type information associated with each product placed in the shopping cart is read to purchase the customer. The payment system according to claim 4, wherein the type of product is managed. Having a gate arranged in the vicinity of at least one of the entrance and the exit of the store,
6. The visit situation of the customer to the store is managed by reading the customer information from the customer information recording device when the customer information recording device passes through the gate. Payment system. Having a gate arranged near the entrance of the store,
When the customer information recording device passes through the gate, the customer information is read from the customer information recording device and discount information is given to the customer specified by the customer information.
The payment system according to claim 6, wherein a discount according to the discount information is performed when the payment process is performed. A payment system using the shopping cart according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
An information reading step of reading the customer information from the customer information recording device and reading price information associated with each product placed in the shopping cart;
A payment processing step of performing payment processing for the purchase of each product based on the read customer information and price information.