JP2022024142A - Item registration device, control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology to improve the efficiency of customer service.

SOLUTION: An information processing device 2000 has an association unit 2020 and a control unit 2040. The association unit associates settlement information with a settlement device 4000. The control unit performs such a control that the settlement device associated with the settlement information of an item registration device 3000 is preferentially selected from a group of candidates corresponding to the item registration device.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

COPYRIGHT: (C)2022,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for improving the efficiency of customer service.

At cash register terminals in stores such as supermarkets, (1) processing to register products to be settled (reading barcodes, etc.) and (2) processing to settle registered products (receipt of payment, return of change, etc.) Two processes are performed.

Then, there is an operation method of separating the function of such a cash register terminal into two devices. Specifically, the product registration device is provided with the function of performing the process of (1), and the settlement device is provided with the function of performing the process of (2). For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a sales management system including a product registration device and a settlement device in this way. The clerk registers the product using the product registration device. Then, when the product registration is completed, the product registration device issues a registration receipt. The purchaser moves to the checkout device with the registered receipt and has the checkout device read the registered receipt. Then, since the settlement process can be performed based on the contents of the registration receipt, the purchaser operates the settlement device (such as inputting the price) to perform the settlement.

Further, as described above, there is also a method of designating a settlement device for performing settlement processing of a product registered by a certain product registration device from the product registration device or other devices without using a registration receipt or the like. In the case of this method, for example, the purchaser asks the clerk which settlement device has been designated, and moves to the settlement device to perform the settlement.

Generally, in the method of designating a payment device from a product registration device or other device, a payment device corresponding to the product registration device is placed near each product registration device. Then, a certain product registration device designates a settlement device corresponding to the product registration device as a settlement device for performing the settlement processing of the registered product.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-186495

In stores and the like, the degree of congestion of cash register terminals may be biased. For example, one product registration device may be crowded, but another product registration device may be vacant. In such a case, although there is a vacancy in the settlement device corresponding to the vacant product registration device, there is no vacancy in the settlement device that can be specified from the crowded product registration device. As a result, the purchaser who uses the crowded product registration device needs to wait for the checkout device to become available.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for improving the efficiency of customer service.

The product registration device of the present invention is
When a predetermined operation is accepted, if all the settlement devices belonging to the first candidate group, which is the candidate group associated with the product registration device, are in use among the plurality of candidate groups of the settlement device, the settlement target A control means for switching a candidate group capable of selecting a settlement device as a transmission destination of settlement information related to the settlement processing of the product registered as the first candidate group to a candidate group other than the first candidate group.
It has a transmission means for transmitting the settlement information to the settlement device.

The control method of the present invention
A control method executed by a computer that functions as a product registration device.
When a predetermined operation is accepted, if all the settlement devices belonging to the first candidate group, which is the candidate group associated with the product registration device, are in use among the plurality of candidate groups of the settlement device, the settlement target The candidate group that can select the settlement device to be the destination of the settlement information related to the settlement process of the product registered as is switched to the candidate group other than the first candidate group.
The settlement information is transmitted to the settlement device.

The program of the present invention can be applied to a computer.
It is a program for executing the above control method.

According to the present invention, there is provided a technique for improving the efficiency of customer service.

The above-mentioned objectives and other objectives, features and advantages are further clarified by the preferred embodiments described below and the accompanying drawings below.

It is a block diagram which illustrates the information processing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the association information. It is a block diagram which illustrates the environment which added the server device to the environment of FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the appearance that the settlement device of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device is provided in the vicinity of the flow line of a customer. It is a flowchart which illustrates the flow of the process executed by the control unit which controls Example 1. It is a flowchart which illustrates the flow of the process executed by the control unit which controls Example 2. It is a block diagram which illustrates the hardware composition of an information processing apparatus. It is a block diagram which illustrates the information processing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. 1 is a first diagram illustrating a selection screen displayed by a display control unit. FIG. 2 is a second diagram illustrating a selection screen displayed by the display control unit. It is a flowchart which illustrates the flow of the process executed by the information processing apparatus of Embodiment 2. It is a figure which illustrates the selection screen displayed by the display control part of the modification 1. FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the selection screen displayed by the display control part of the modification 2. FIG. It is a flowchart which illustrates the flow of the process executed by the information processing apparatus of Embodiment 3. It is a block diagram which illustrates the information processing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4. It is a flowchart which illustrates the flow of the process executed by the information processing apparatus of Embodiment 4. It is a figure which illustrates the layout of the product registration apparatus and the settlement apparatus in the Example of Embodiment 4.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all drawings, similar components are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the information processing apparatus 2000 according to the first embodiment. The dotted line in FIG. 1 shows the correspondence between the product registration device 3000 and the settlement device 4000. Further, in FIG. 1, each block represents a functional unit configuration, not a hardware unit configuration.

In stores and the like that use the information processing device 2000, the product registration device 3000 and the payment device 4000 are used to settle the products purchased by the customer. The product registration device 3000 is a device used for registering a product to be settled (a product purchased by a customer). The settlement device 4000 is used for settlement processing (payment of price, etc.) of a product registered as a settlement target. Specifically, the settlement device 4000 acquires information (settlement information) related to the settlement process of the product registered as the settlement target, and performs the settlement process using the settlement information. A plurality of product registration devices 3000 and payment devices 4000 are provided.

The information processing device 2000 associates the settlement information of the product registered by the product registration device 3000 with one of the plurality of settlement devices 4000. The settlement device 4000 acquires the settlement information associated with the settlement device 4000, and performs the settlement process using the settlement information. A specific method for associating the settlement information with the settlement device 4000 will be described later.

The information processing apparatus 2000 has an association unit 2020 and a control unit 2040. The association unit 2020 associates the settlement information with the settlement device 4000. The control unit 2040 controls the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information of the product registration device 3000 so as to be preferentially selected from the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000. Here, the "settlement information of the product registration device 3000" means the settlement information related to the settlement processing of the product registered as the settlement target by the product registration device 3000.

According to the present embodiment, the information processing device 2000 controls so that the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information of the product registration device 3000 is preferentially selected from the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000. do. By doing so, by appropriately defining the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000, the settlement device 4000, which is preferably associated with the settlement information, can be preferentially associated with the settlement information.

For example, the settlement device 4000 installed in the vicinity of the product registration device 3000 is set as the settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000. By doing so, the settlement device 4000 installed in the vicinity of a certain product registration device 3000 uses the product registration device 3000 in preference to the settlement device 4000 not installed in the vicinity of the product registration device 3000. It is used as a settlement device 4000 used for settlement processing of purchased products of the customer. Therefore, the customer who has completed the product registration by the clerk with the product registration device 3000 can easily understand which payment device 4000 should be used for payment, which improves the convenience of the store or the like. The details of the candidate group will be described later.
Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in more detail.

<Product registration process using the product registration device 3000>
Various known techniques can be used in the registration process for registering the product to be settled using the product registration device 3000. For example, the product registration device 3000 registers the product as a settlement target by reading a symbol such as a barcode attached to the product.

The settlement target in one settlement process may include a plurality of products. For example, the product registration device 3000 receives one or more products registered between the time when the operation for instructing the start of the registration process for the settlement target is received and the time when the operation for instructing the end of the registration process for the settlement target is received. Register as a settlement target in one settlement process. The settlement information related to a certain settlement process indicates identification information (hereinafter, ID (Identifier)) of each product registered as a target of the settlement process. Further, the settlement information may further indicate a transaction number, an amount of each product, a settlement amount (total amount paid by the customer), and the like.

<Details of Association 2020>
The association unit 2020 associates the settlement information with the settlement device 4000. For example, the association unit 2020 associates the settlement device 4000 with the settlement information by generating the association information in which the settlement information is associated with the ID (settlement device ID) of the settlement device 4000. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating association information. The list shown in FIG. 2 is referred to as a list 100. Listing 100 has a settlement device ID 102 and settlement information 104. The settlement information 104 indicates an arbitrary number of product IDs 106. All the product IDs included in the settlement information 104 are products that are the target of the settlement processing performed using the settlement information 104.

However, the configuration of the settlement information 104 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. For example, the settlement information 104 may indicate information (such as a product name and a price) other than the product ID 106 for each product.

When a plurality of products of the same type are registered, the settlement information 104 may indicate the number of registered product IDs 106, or may indicate the number registered in the settlement information 104. The former means that, for example, when two products A are registered, two product IDs of the product A are shown.

In addition, various existing methods can be used as the method for constructing the settlement information.

The association information generated by the association unit 2020 is recorded in, for example, a storage device provided inside or outside the information processing apparatus 2000. For example, the association unit 2020 stores the association information in a storage device (hard disk drive, NAS (Network-Attached Storage), etc.) that is communicably connected to both the product registration device 3000 and the settlement device 4000. Further, for example, the association unit 2020 transmits the association information to the server device 5000 that is communicably connected to both the product registration device 3000 and the settlement device 4000. The server device 5000 stores the association information in an internal or external storage device. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an environment in which the server device 5000 is added to the environment of FIG. 1.

It should be noted that a plurality of storage devices for storing settlement information and server devices 5000 serving as transmission destinations for settlement information may be provided. In this case, the association unit 2020 stores the settlement information in a storage device communicably connected to the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information, or stores the settlement information in the server device 5000 communicably connected to the settlement device 4000. Settlement information is sent to the customer.

The association unit 2020 transmits the ID of the settlement information to the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information. The settlement device 4000 that has acquired the ID acquires the settlement information associated with the acquired ID from the above-mentioned server device 5000 or the like.

The association unit 2020 may automatically determine the settlement device 4000 to be associated with the settlement information. In this case, the association unit 2020 associates one of the settlement devices 4000, which is selectable by the control unit 2040, with the settlement information. Further, the association unit 2020 may receive the designation of the settlement device 4000 to be associated with the settlement information from the clerk or the like, and may associate the designated settlement device 4000 with the settlement information. In this case, the settlement device 4000 that can be designated by the clerk or the like is controlled to be the settlement device 4000 that can be selected by the control unit 2040. The form of accepting the designation of the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information from the clerk or the like will be described in detail as the second embodiment.

Further, the association unit 2020 may associate the settlement device 4000 with the settlement information by transmitting the settlement information associated with the settlement device 4000 to the settlement device 4000.

<Details of control unit 2040>
As described above, the control unit 2040 controls the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information of the product registration device 3000 so as to be preferentially selected from the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000. In the following, first, the candidate group will be specifically described.

<< About the candidate group >>
The candidate group is a set including one or more checkout devices 4000. The product registration device 3000 is defined with a candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000. Then, in the control unit 2040, as the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information about the product registered by a certain product registration device 3000, the settlement device 4000 included in the candidate group associated with the product registration device 3000 is given priority. To be used for.

The candidate group of a certain product registration device 3000 is composed of, for example, a settlement device 4000 installed in the vicinity of a certain product registration device 3000. For example, such a candidate group is installed near the flow line of a customer who uses the product registration device 3000. Therefore, the product registration device 3000 is located closer than the other product registration devices 3000 when viewed from the settlement device 4000 belonging to the candidate group of the product registration device 3000.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 is provided in the vicinity of the flow line of the customer 10. The dotted arrow represents the flow line of the customer 10. The clerk 20 is a clerk who registers the product to be settled using the product registration device 3000. In FIG. 4, three product registration devices 3000, product registration devices 3000-1, 3000-2, and 3000-3, are provided. Further, two settlement devices 4000 are provided in the vicinity of the flow line of the customer 10 in each product registration device 3000. Hereinafter, the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000-i is referred to as a candidate group i. The candidate group i includes the settlement device 4000-i-1 and the settlement device 4000-i-2.

The association unit 2020, for example, gives priority to the settlement information of the product registration device 3000-1 over the settlement device 4000 included in the candidate group 2 or 3, and the settlement device 4000 included in the candidate group 1 (settlement device 4000-1-). 1 or related to the settlement device 4000-1-2).

Information indicating the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 is stored in, for example, a storage device provided inside or outside the information processing device 2000. For example, this storage device is a storage device in which the association unit 2020 stores the association information. The information processing device 2000 acquires a candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 from this storage device.

<< Example of control by control unit 2040 >>
For example, when the control unit 2040 cannot perform the settlement process based on the settlement information in each settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to a certain product registration device 3000, the control unit 2040 associates the settlement device 4000 with the settlement information of the product registration device 3000. It is possible to select from the settlement device 4000 which is not included in the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000.

Various situations can be considered as specific situations indicating "when the settlement device 4000 cannot perform the settlement process based on the settlement information". For example, in this situation, (1) the settlement device 4000 is performing settlement processing based on other settlement information. Further, for example, in this situation, (2) the settlement device 4000 does not process the settlement information, and cannot process new settlement information. Specifically, a failure of the settlement device 4000, a failure of the communication line between the settlement device 4000 and the outside, and the like can be considered. Further, the situation where the power of the settlement device 4000 is not turned on and the situation where the settlement device 4000 is restarted also correspond to the situation of (2). Hereinafter, the situation of (1) is referred to as "in use", and the situation of (2) is referred to as "offline".

The information processing apparatus 2000 is in use, offline, or both as "when the settlement device 4000 cannot perform the settlement process". However, the information processing apparatus 2000 may treat situations other than in-use and offline as "when the settlement apparatus 4000 cannot perform settlement processing".

For example, the definition of "when the settlement device 4000 cannot perform the settlement process" is set in advance in the control unit 2040. However, the control unit 2040 may acquire the setting information representing the definition of "when the settlement device 4000 cannot perform the settlement process" from the internal or external storage device of the information processing apparatus 2000.

For example, in FIG. 4, it is assumed that both the settlement device 4000-1-1 and the settlement device 4000-1-2 are in use. In this case, the control unit 2040 makes the settlement device 4000 included in the candidate group 2 or the candidate group 3 selectable as the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information. Then, the association unit 2020 associates, for example, one of the settlement devices 4000 included in the candidate group 2 or the candidate group 3 with the settlement information. However, even in this case, the association unit 2020 may associate one of the settlement devices 4000 included in the candidate group 1 with the settlement information.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing executed by the control unit 2040 that controls the above-mentioned Example 1. The control unit 2040 determines whether or not the settlement process based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000 can be performed in each settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 (S102). When the settlement process based on the settlement information can be performed in each settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 (S102: YES), the process of FIG. 5 proceeds to step S104. On the other hand, when the settlement process based on the settlement information cannot be performed by any of the settlement devices 4000 in the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 (S102: NO), the process of FIG. 5 proceeds to step S106.

In step S104, the control unit 2040 controls the settlement device 4000 associated with the product registration device 3000 to be selected from the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000. On the other hand, in step S106, the control unit 2040 controls so that the settlement device 4000 associated with the product registration device 3000 can be selected from a group other than the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000.

In this way, the customer belongs to the candidate group by making it possible to associate the settlement information with the settlement device 4000 that does not belong to the candidate group when the settlement process cannot be performed by the settlement device 4000 belonging to the candidate group. There is no need to wait for the checkout device 4000 to become available. If the customer can use the settlement device that can start the settlement process immediately, the purchase of the product can be completed early even if the settlement device is installed in a slightly inconvenient position. Therefore, the utilization efficiency of the settlement device 4000 is increased, and the time required for the customer to purchase the product is shortened.

<< Example of control by control unit 2040 >>
For example, when the control unit 2040 receives a predetermined operation from a user (such as a clerk), the control unit 2040 associates the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information of the product registration device 3000 in the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000. It is possible to select from the settlement device 4000 not included in. This predetermined operation is an input via various input devices. For example, the control unit 2040 displays a button on the display screen viewed by the clerk so that the settlement device 4000 other than the candidate group can be selected. The clerk presses this button when he / she wants to associate the settlement information with the settlement device 4000 other than the candidate group.

Depending on the situation of the store, even if the settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to a certain product registration device 3000 can be used, the settlement information of the product registered by the product registration device 3000 does not belong to the above candidate group. It may be preferable to have the settlement device 4000 process the product. For example, in the product registration device 3000, it is assumed that the amount of products purchased by the next customer is larger than the amount of products purchased by the customer who is currently responding. Further, as described with reference to FIG. 4, it is assumed that the settlement device 4000 included in the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 is the settlement device 4000 on the flow line of the customer who uses the product registration device 3000.

In this case, it is preferable that the settlement device 4000 to be used by the customer who is responding next is closer to the product registration device 3000 than the settlement device 4000 to be used by the customer who is currently responding. This is because a customer who purchases a large amount of products is considered to take longer to move than a customer who purchases a small amount of products. Therefore, the clerk causes the customer who is currently responding to use the settlement device 4000 which is not included in the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000, and the customer who responds next uses the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000. The information processing apparatus 2000 is operated so as to utilize the settlement apparatus 4000 included in the above.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing executed by the control unit 2040 that controls the above-mentioned Example 2. The control unit 2040 determines whether or not a predetermined operation has been accepted (S202). If the predetermined operation is not accepted (S202: NO), the process of FIG. 6 proceeds to step S104. On the other hand, when a predetermined operation is accepted (S202: YES), the process of FIG. 6 proceeds to step S106. The processing after step S104 and the processing after step S106 are the same as in the case of FIG.

<Details of payment device 4000>
The settlement device 4000 acquires the settlement information associated with the settlement device 4000 by the information processing apparatus 2000. For example, the settlement device 4000 acquires the settlement information associated with the settlement device ID of the settlement device 4000 from the storage device in which the product registration device 3000 stores the association information. Further, for example, the settlement device 4000 acquires the settlement information associated with the settlement device 4000 from the server device 5000 that has received the association information.

The settlement device 4000 performs the settlement process based on the acquired settlement information. Here, a known method can be used as a method for performing the settlement process based on the information (settlement information) used by the settlement device 4000 for the settlement process of the product. Details of this known technique are omitted.

<Mounting method of information processing device 2000>
For example, the information processing apparatus 2000 is implemented as a product registration apparatus 3000. Further, for example, the information processing device 2000 may be mounted as a server device 5000 communicably connected to the product registration device 3000 and the checkout device 4000. In this case, the server device 5000 acquires settlement information from each of an arbitrary number of product registration devices 3000. Then, the server device 5000 associates the acquired settlement information with the settlement device 4000, respectively.

<Hardware configuration example>
Each functional component of the information processing apparatus 2000 may be realized by hardware that realizes each functional component (eg, a hard-wired electronic circuit, etc.), or a combination of hardware and software (eg, example). It may be realized by a combination of an electronic circuit and a program that controls it).

The information processing apparatus 2000 is implemented as various computers such as a PC (Personal Computer), a portable terminal, or a server machine. Here, the information processing device 2000 may be mounted on a dedicated computer for mounting the information processing device 2000, or may be mounted on a general-purpose computer including other applications and the like.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 2000. The information processing apparatus 2000 includes a bus 1020, a processor 1040, a memory 1060, a storage 1080, an input / output interface 1100, and a network interface 1120. The bus 1020 is a data transmission path for the processor 1040, the memory 1060, the storage 1080, the input / output interface 1100, and the network interface 1120 to transmit and receive data to and from each other. However, the method of connecting the processors 1040 and the like to each other is not limited to the bus connection. The processor 1040 is an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The memory 1060 is, for example, a memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory) or ROM (Read Only Memory). The storage 1080 is a storage device such as a hard disk, an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a memory card. Further, the storage 1080 may be a memory such as RAM or ROM.

The input / output interface 1100 is an interface for connecting the information processing device 2000 and the input / output device. The input / output device is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or a display. When the information processing device 2000 is implemented as the product registration device 3000, the input / output device further includes a bar code reader or the like used for product registration.

The network interface 1120 is an interface for connecting the information processing device 2000 to an external device (such as a payment device 4000). The network interface 1120 may be a network interface for connecting to a wired line or a network interface for connecting to a wireless line.

The storage 1080 stores a program for realizing the function of the information processing apparatus 2000. Specifically, it stores a program module that realizes the functions of the association unit 2020 and the control unit 2040, respectively. The processor 1040 realizes the functions of the association unit 2020 and the control unit 2040 by executing each of these program modules. Here, when executing each of the above modules, the processor 1040 may read these modules onto the memory 1060 and then execute the modules, or may execute the modules without reading them onto the memory 1060.

The hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 2000 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 7. For example, each program module may be stored in memory 1060. In this case, the information processing apparatus 2000 does not have to include the storage 1080.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the information processing apparatus 2000 according to the second embodiment. The dotted line in FIG. 8 shows the correspondence between the product registration device 3000 and the settlement device 4000. Further, in FIG. 8, each block represents a functional unit configuration, not a hardware unit configuration. Except for the points described below, the functions of the information processing apparatus 2000 of the second embodiment are the same as the functions of the information processing apparatus 2000 of the first embodiment.

The control unit 2040 of the second embodiment has a display control unit 2042 and a selection reception unit 2044. The display control unit 2042 displays the candidates of the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information. The selection reception unit 2044 receives an input for selecting one of the displayed settlement devices 4000. The association unit 2020 of the second embodiment associates the settlement information with the settlement device 4000 indicated by the input received by the selection reception unit 2044.

It is assumed that the settlement information of a certain product registration device 3000 is associated with the settlement device 4000. At this time, when the display control unit 2042 can perform the settlement process based on the settlement information in each settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000, the display control unit 2042 corresponds to the product registration device 3000 other than the product registration device 3000. The settlement device 4000 of the candidate group is displayed or not displayed in a non-selectable state. On the other hand, the display control unit 2042 corresponds to the product registration device 3000 other than the product registration device 3000 when the settlement process based on the settlement information cannot be performed in each settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000. The settlement device 4000 of the candidate group is displayed in a selectable state.

Here, the selectable state is a state in which the information processing apparatus 2000 accepts the selection operation of the settlement device 4000 and associates the selected settlement device with the settlement information. On the other hand, the non-selectable state is "a state in which the information processing device 2000 does not accept the selection operation of the settlement device 4000" or "the information processing device 2000 accepts the selection operation of the settlement device 4000, but the selected settlement device". A state in which 4000 is not associated with settlement information. " In the former case, the display control unit 2042 displays, for example, in a state where the selection button for selecting the settlement device 4000 cannot be pressed, or does not display the selection button. In the latter case, the display control unit 2042 displays, for example, a select button for selecting the settlement device 4000 in a pressable state. However, even if the selection button is pressed, for example, the information processing apparatus 2000 ignores the pressing button or performs error processing (processing such as displaying a warning pop-up).

When there are three or more product registration devices 3000, the above-mentioned "product registration device 3000 other than the product registration device 3000" may mean all product registration devices 3000 other than the product registration device 3000. It may mean a part of the product registration device 3000 other than the product registration device 3000. In the latter case, for example, when the display control unit 2042 cannot perform the settlement process based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000 in each settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000, the product registration device 3000 The settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 adjacent to the above is displayed in a selectable state.

In addition, there are various display modes of the settlement device 4000 in a situation where the settlement process based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000 cannot be performed. For example, the display control unit 2042 displays or does not display the corresponding settlement device 4000 in a non-selectable state. However, the display control unit 2042 may display the settlement device 4000 corresponding to this in a selectable manner. When the settlement device 4000 in a situation where the settlement processing based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000 cannot be performed is selected, the customer waits in a line until the settlement device 4000 becomes available. It will be.

The display by the display control unit 2042 is performed on a display screen such as a display. This display or the like is viewed by a clerk who operates the product registration device 3000. This display or the like may be provided integrally with the product registration device 3000, or may be provided as a separate body.

The display control unit 2042 and the selection reception unit 2044 are mounted inside, for example, the product registration device 3000. However, some of the functions of the display control unit 2042 may be implemented inside the server device 5000. For example, the server device 5000 determines a candidate for the settlement device 4000 to be associated with the settlement information, and the server device 5000 notifies the product registration device 3000 of the determined candidate. In this case, the product registration device 3000 displays the candidates notified from the server device 5000.

The selection reception unit 2044 receives an input for selecting one of the settlement devices 4000 displayed by the display control unit 2042. The selection of the settlement device 4000 is performed by input using, for example, a touch panel, a keyboard, or a mouse. Further, the selection of the settlement device 4000 may be performed by voice input using a microphone. The information processing apparatus 2000 includes various input devices according to the method of accepting the selection of the settlement apparatus 4000.

<Specific example of display and selection of settlement device 4000>
9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating a selection screen 30 displayed on a display or the like by the display control unit 2042. The settlement device area 40 is a display area for displaying the current state and the like of each settlement device 4000. Specifically, for the name of the settlement device 4000, the status of the settlement device 4000 (standby, in use, offline, etc.), the number of items (quantity) registered as the settlement target, the total amount, and the settlement device 4000. The time (sending time) to which the settlement information was previously associated and the sending button 50 are shown.

The transmit button 50 in the settlement device area 40 of a settlement device 4000 is a button pressed to associate the settlement information with the settlement device 4000. That is, the transmission button 50 is a button for the selection reception unit 2044 to accept the selection of the settlement device 4000. When the settlement information can be associated with a certain settlement device 4000, the transmission button 50 corresponding to the settlement device 4000 is enable (pressable). On the other hand, when the settlement information cannot be associated with a certain settlement device 4000, the transmission button 50 corresponding to the settlement device 4000 is disabled (cannot be pressed). In FIG. 9, when the frame of the send button 50 is a solid line, the send button 50 is enable. On the other hand, when the frame of the send button 50 is a dotted line, the send button 50 is disabled.

A case where the settlement information and the settlement device 4000 are associated with each other in the product registration device 3000-1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. Here, the settlement device 1 and the settlement device 2 belong to the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000-1, and the settlement device 3 and the settlement device 4 belong to the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000-2. Suppose you are.

FIG. 9 illustrates a case where the settlement device 4000 that can perform the settlement processing based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000-1 exists in the settlement device 4000 belonging to the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000-1. There is. The state of the settlement device 1 is "standby", and the settlement process based on the settlement information can be performed. Therefore, the state of the send button 50-1 is enable. On the other hand, the state of the settlement device 2 is "in use". This means that the settlement device 2 cannot associate new settlement information with the settlement device 2 because the settlement process is performed based on another settlement information. Therefore, the state of the send button 50-2 is disabled. Since the settlement device 1 belonging to the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000-1 can be selected, the settlement devices 3 and 4 are not displayed on the selection screen 30.

The clerk who operates the product registration device 3000-1 associates the settlement information of the product registration device 3000-1 with the settlement device 1 by pressing the enable transmission button 50-1.

On the other hand, FIG. 10 illustrates a case where there is no settlement device 4000 that can perform settlement processing based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000-1 among the settlement devices 4000 belonging to the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000-1. is doing. In FIG. 10, the states of the settlement device 1 and the settlement device 2 are both “in use”. Therefore, in FIG. 10, the settlement device 3 and the settlement device 4 belonging to the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000-2 are displayed on the selection screen 30. Here, since the state of the settlement device 3 is "offline", the state of the transmission button 50-3 is disable. On the other hand, since the state of the settlement device 4 is "standby", the state of the transmission button 50-4 is enable. Therefore, the clerk presses the enable transmission button 50-4 to send the settlement information of the product registration device 3000-1 to the settlement device 4 which does not belong to the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000-1. And associate.

The method of displaying the candidate settlement device 4000 on the selection screen 30 is not limited to the method shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. For example, the display control unit 2042 may display only the settlement device 4000 in a state in which the settlement information is associated (“standby” in FIGS. 9 and 10) on the selection screen 30. In this case, in the case of FIG. 9, only the settlement device 1 is displayed on the selection screen 30, and in the case of FIG. 10, only the settlement device 4 is displayed on the selection screen 30.

In addition, for example, the display control unit 2042 may display the settlement device 4000 in a state where the settlement information can be associated with more emphasis than the settlement device 4000 in a state where the settlement information cannot be associated. As a method of emphasizing, there is a method of enlarging the settlement device area 40 or making the background color of the settlement device area 40 a conspicuous color (for example, red). Further, the settlement device 4000 may be rearranged according to whether or not the settlement information is associated with the settlement information. Specifically, the display control unit 2042 sets the settlement device area 40 of the settlement device 4000 in a state where the settlement information can be associated before the settlement device area 40 of the settlement device 4000 in a state where the settlement information cannot be associated. Display on.

<Processing flow>
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing executed by the information processing apparatus 2000 of the second embodiment. The display control unit 2042 determines whether or not the settlement process based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000 can be performed in each settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 (S302). If the settlement process can be performed (S302: YES), the process of FIG. 11 proceeds to step S304. On the other hand, if the settlement process cannot be performed (S302: NO), the process of FIG. 11 proceeds to step S308.

In step S304, the display control unit 2042 is in a state where the settlement device 4000 capable of performing settlement processing based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000 can be selected from the settlement devices 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000. Display with. Further, the display control unit 2042 displays the settlement device 4000 other than the settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 in a non-selectable state (S306). In addition, S304 and S306 may be executed at the same time, or may be executed in the reverse order of the case of FIG.

In step S308, the display control unit 2042 uses the settlement device 4000 other than the settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 to perform the settlement process based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000. , Display in a selectable state.

Then, the selection reception unit 2044 receives an input for selecting one of the settlement devices 4000 displayed by the display control unit 2042 (S310).

<Hardware configuration example>
The hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 2000 of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. 7, for example, as in the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, each program module stored in the storage 1080 described above further includes a program that realizes each function described in the present embodiment. Further, the storage 1080 further stores a program module that realizes the functions of the display control unit 2042 and the selection reception unit 2044, respectively. Then, these program modules are executed by the processor 1040 in the same manner as the other program modules described in the first embodiment. As a result, the functions of the display control unit 2042 and the selection reception unit 2044 are realized, respectively.

According to the present embodiment, it is possible to present a candidate settlement device 4000 to be associated with the settlement layer so as to improve the utilization efficiency of the settlement device 4000 to a clerk or the like who operates the product registration device 3000. Therefore, the clerk or the like can efficiently use the settlement device 4000 by a simple operation.

<Modification 1>
The control by the display control unit 2042 is not limited to the above-mentioned control. For example, the display control unit 2042 is not based on "whether or not each settlement device 4000 in the candidate group can perform settlement processing based on the settlement information", but based on "whether or not a predetermined operation is accepted from a clerk or the like". The display method of 4000 may be determined. Specifically, the display control unit 2042 does not belong to the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 when the product is registered by the product registration device 3000 and the predetermined operation is not accepted from the store clerk or the like. Display or do not display the checkout device 4000 in a non-selectable state. On the other hand, when the display control unit 2042 receives the predetermined operation, the display control unit 2042 displays the settlement device 4000 that does not belong to the candidate group in a selectable state.

The operation of the display control unit 2042 in the first modification is an operation corresponding to "Example 2 of control by the control unit 2040" described in the first embodiment. The predetermined operation is the predetermined operation described in "Example 2 of control by the control unit 2040".

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a selection screen 30 displayed by the display control unit 2042 of the modification 1. In the example of FIG. 12, the settlement device 1 belongs to the candidate group of the product registration device 3000 that has registered the product. On the other hand, the settlement device 2 does not belong to this candidate group.

FIG. 12A shows a selection screen 30 before the clerk performs a predetermined operation. Here, the predetermined operation is an operation of pressing the other candidate display button 60. In FIG. 12A, only the settlement device area 40 of the settlement device 1 belonging to the candidate group is displayed, and the settlement device area 40 of the settlement device 2 is not displayed.

FIG. 12B shows the selection screen 30 after the other candidate display button 60 is pressed by the clerk. In FIG. 12B, the settlement device area 40 of the settlement device 2 is displayed. In this way, the display control unit 2042 can select and display the settlement device 4000 (settlement device 2) that does not belong to the candidate group when a predetermined operation (other candidate display button 60) is pressed by the store clerk. The clerk can also change the selection screen 30 from the state of FIG. 12 (b) to the state of FIG. 12 (a) by pressing the other candidate non-display button 70.

<Modification 2>
Further, for example, when a product is registered by a certain product registration device 3000, the display control unit 2042 uses the settlement device 4000 that belongs to the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 to the settlement device 4000 that does not belong to the candidate group. May also be highlighted. In this case, the display control unit 2042 may display both the settlement device 4000 belonging to the candidate group and the settlement device 4000 not belonging to the candidate group in a selectable manner. The highlighted payment device 4000 is more visible to the clerk or the like than the non-highlighted payment device 4000. Therefore, the settlement device 4000 belonging to the candidate group is more likely to be selected than the settlement device 4000 not belonging to the candidate group (it will be preferentially selected).

There are various methods in which the control unit 2040 highlights and displays the settlement device 4000 belonging to the candidate group. For example, the control unit 2040 displays the settlement device 4000 belonging to the candidate group larger than the settlement device 4000 not belonging to the candidate group, or displays it in a conspicuous color. Further, for example, the control unit 2040 may perform highlighting based on the display order of the settlement device 4000. Specifically, the control unit 2040 displays the settlement device 4000 belonging to the candidate group before the settlement device 4000 not belonging to the candidate group.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a selection screen 30 displayed by the display control unit 2042 of the modification 2. Also in the example of FIG. 13, the settlement device 1 belongs to the candidate group of the product registration device 3000 in which the product is registered, and the settlement device 2 does not belong to the candidate group. In FIG. 13, the settlement device area 40 of the settlement device 1 is displayed larger than the settlement device area 40 of the settlement device 2. In this way, the display control unit 2042 uses the settlement device 4000 (settlement device 1) that belongs to the candidate group of the product registration device 3000 that has registered the product from the settlement device 4000 (settlement device 2) that does not belong to the candidate group. Is also highlighted.

In addition, even in the modification 1, the highlighting of the settlement device 4000 may be performed. For example, in FIG. 12B, the settlement device 1 is displayed with more emphasis than the settlement device 2. By doing so, even if both the settlement device 4000 belonging to the candidate group and the settlement device 4000 not belonging to the candidate group are displayed by pressing the other candidate display button 60, the clerk can easily identify them. can.

[Embodiment 3]
The information processing apparatus 2000 of the third embodiment is represented by, for example, FIG. 1 in the same manner as the information processing apparatus 2000 of the first embodiment. Except for the points described below, the functions of the information processing apparatus 2000 of the third embodiment are the same as the functions of the information processing apparatus 2000 of the first embodiment.

The association between the settlement device 4000 and the product registration device 3000 by the association unit 2020 of the third embodiment is performed as follows.

First, it is assumed that each settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to a certain product registration device 3000 can perform settlement processing based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000. In this case, the association unit 2020 associates the settlement information with the settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000.

On the other hand, it is assumed that each settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to a certain product registration device 3000 cannot perform the settlement process based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000. In this case, the association unit 2020 associates the settlement information with the settlement device 4000 other than the settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000.

In the latter situation, there are various ways to determine the checkout device 4000 associated with the checkout information. For example, the association unit 2020 determines the settlement device 4000 to be associated with the settlement information from the settlement devices 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 adjacent to the product registration device 3000. More specifically, the association unit 2020 "is a settlement device 4000 corresponding to the product registration device 3000 adjacent to the product registration device 3000, and can perform settlement processing based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000. Among the settlement devices 4000 that say "there is", the settlement information is associated with the settlement device 4000 closest to the product registration device 3000. Further, the association unit 2020 randomly selects one settlement device 4000 from the settlement devices 4000 in a state where the settlement processing can be performed based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000, and associates the settlement information with the settlement device 4000. You may.

<Notification of settlement device 4000 associated with settlement information>
The association unit 2020 notifies the customer, the clerk, or the like which settlement device 4000 is associated with the settlement information. For example, the association unit 2020 outputs the settlement device ID of the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information. For example, this output is a screen output on a display screen, an audio output from a speaker, or the like. The customer moves to the settlement device 4000 notified by the association unit 2020 to perform settlement.

<Processing flow>
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing executed by the information processing apparatus 2000 of the third embodiment. The association unit 2020 determines whether or not the settlement process based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000 can be performed in each settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 (S402). If the settlement process can be performed (S402: YES), the process of FIG. 14 proceeds to step S404. On the other hand, when the above settlement process cannot be performed (S402: NO), the process of FIG. 14 proceeds to step S408.

In step S404, the association unit 2020 satisfies the condition that "the settlement device 4000 is a candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 and can perform settlement processing based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000". One of them is associated with the settlement information.

On the other hand, in step S406, the association unit 2020 associates one of the settlement devices 4000 satisfying the condition that "the settlement process can be performed based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000" with the settlement information.

<Hardware configuration example>
The hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 2000 of the third embodiment is represented by FIG. 7, for example, as in the case of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, each program module included in the storage 1080 described above includes a program that realizes each function described in the present embodiment.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to a certain product registration device 3000 can perform the settlement process based on the settlement information, the settlement information of the product registration device 3000 is the product registration. It is associated with the settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the device 3000. Therefore, the settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 is preferentially used. Therefore, for the same reason as described in the first embodiment, the convenience of the store from the customer's point of view is improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information of a certain product registration device 3000 is automatically determined according to the situation of the settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000. Therefore, it is possible to improve the utilization efficiency of the settlement device 4000 in consideration of the situation of each settlement device 4000 while saving the trouble of the clerk manually selecting the settlement device 4000.

[Embodiment 4]
FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating the information processing apparatus 2000 according to the fourth embodiment. The dotted line in FIG. 15 shows the correspondence between the product registration device 3000 and the settlement device 4000. Further, in FIG. 15, each block represents a functional unit configuration, not a hardware unit configuration. Except for the points described below, the functions of the information processing apparatus 2000 of the fourth embodiment are the same as the functions of the information processing apparatus 2000 of any one of the first to third embodiments.

In the fourth embodiment, the information processing device 2000 handles two types of payment devices 4000. The first type of settlement device 4000 acquires a settlement information ID for specifying settlement information from a storage device or a server device 5000. Here, this storage device is a storage unit in which the association unit 2020 stores the association information. Further, the server device 5000 is a storage unit to which the association unit 2020 transmits the association information. The first type of settlement device 4000 belongs to the candidate group corresponding to any of the product registration devices 3000.

On the other hand, the second type of settlement device 4000 reads the settlement information ID from the portable medium. The second type of checkout device 4000 does not belong to any candidate group.

The information processing apparatus 2000 of the fourth embodiment further includes an identification information output unit 2060. The identification information output unit 2060 outputs a settlement information ID that specifies the settlement information when the settlement device 4000 is associated with the settlement information.

The method by which the information processing apparatus 2000 outputs the settlement information ID depends on the type of the settlement apparatus 4000 associated with the settlement information. Specifically, the settlement information ID is output as follows.

It is assumed that the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information is the first type of settlement device 4000. In this case, the identification information output unit 2060 outputs the settlement information ID of the settlement information to the storage device or the server device 5000. On the other hand, it is assumed that the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information is the second type of settlement device 4000. In this case, the identification information output unit 2060 outputs the settlement information ID of the settlement information to the portable medium.

The settlement information ID output to the portable medium may be the settlement information itself or an ID associated with the settlement information. In the latter case, the settlement information itself is stored in, for example, the above-mentioned storage device or server device 5000. After acquiring the settlement information ID, the settlement device 4000 acquires the settlement information associated with the settlement information ID from the storage device or the server device.

<About portable media>
The portable medium to which the settlement information ID is output may be a portable medium output from the product registration device 3000, or may be a portable medium owned by the customer in advance.

The portable medium output from the product registration device 3000 is, for example, a sheet such as paper or plastic. The identification information output unit 2060 prints the settlement information ID on this sheet and issues this sheet. In this case, the settlement information ID is printed on the sheet as various codes (character string, bar code, two-dimensional code, etc.). The customer takes the sheet issued by the product registration device 3000 to the settlement device 4000, and causes the settlement device 4000 to read the settlement information ID printed on the sheet. The sheet may be disposable or may be a reusable rewritable card or the like.

Various possible portable media that the customer has in advance. For example, this portable medium is a porcelain stripe card or an IC (Integrated Circuit) card capable of recording data. Further, the portable medium may be a card capable of displaying various codes representing IDs. Further, the portable medium may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone.

When the portable medium possessed by the customer is various cards, for example, this card is a membership card possessed by the customer.

When the portable medium owned by the customer is a mobile terminal, this mobile terminal has a function of acquiring and displaying a settlement information ID from the identification information output unit 2060. In this case, first, the identification information output unit 2060 transmits the settlement information ID to the customer's mobile terminal. Then, this mobile terminal receives the settlement information ID transmitted by the identification information output unit 2060, and displays the received settlement information ID on the display screen. This function may be realized by a general-purpose application such as a mailer, or may be realized by a dedicated application provided by a store.

<How to use the settlement information with the settlement device 4000>
The method in which the settlement device 4000 of the first type utilizes the settlement information is the same as the method described in the first embodiment.

On the other hand, the method in which the second type of settlement device 4000 uses the settlement information is as follows. First, when the settlement information is associated with the second type of settlement device 4000, the settlement information ID that specifies the settlement information is output to the portable medium. The customer takes the portable medium from which the settlement information ID is output and goes to any settlement device 4000 (second type settlement device 4000) capable of reading the settlement information ID, and the portable medium. Is read by the settlement device 4000. As a result, the second type of settlement device 4000 acquires the settlement information ID. The settlement device 4000 that has acquired the settlement information ID performs settlement processing using this settlement information ID.

As described above, the settlement information ID may be the settlement information itself or may be an ID associated with the settlement information. In the former case, the settlement device 4000 reads the settlement information itself from the portable medium, and performs the settlement processing using the settlement information. On the other hand, in the latter case, the settlement device 4000 acquires the settlement information associated with the settlement information ID read from the portable medium from the storage device or the server device 5000 in which the settlement information is stored.

<Processing flow>
FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing executed by the information processing apparatus 2000 of the fourth embodiment. The association unit 2020 associates the settlement information with the settlement device 4000 (S502). The processing performed before step S502, such as the process of determining which settlement device 4000 can be selected as the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information, is the information processing device 2000 according to any one of the first to third embodiments. The same is true.

The identification information output unit 2060 determines whether or not the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information belongs to the candidate group corresponding to any of the product registration devices 3000 (S504). When the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information belongs to the candidate group corresponding to any of the product registration devices 3000 (S504: YES), the process of FIG. 16 proceeds to step S506. On the other hand, when the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information does not belong to any candidate group (S504: NO), the process of FIG. 16 proceeds to step S508.

In step S506, the identification information output unit 2060 outputs the settlement information ID to the storage device or the server device 5000 communicably connected to the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information. On the other hand, in S508, the identification information output unit 2060 outputs the settlement information ID to the portable medium.

<Hardware configuration example>
The hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 2000 of the fourth embodiment is represented by FIG. 7, for example, as in the case of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, each program module included in the storage 1080 described above further includes a program that realizes each function described in the present embodiment. Further, the storage 1080 further stores a program module that realizes the function of the identification information output unit 2060. This program module, like any other program module, is executed by processor 1040. As a result, the function of the identification information output unit 2060 is realized.

<Example>
A specific method of using the information processing apparatus 2000 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating the layout of the product registration device 3000 and the settlement device 4000 in the embodiment of the fourth embodiment.

First, in FIG. 17, similarly to FIG. 4, a settlement device 4000 of a candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 is installed near the flow line of the customer 10 of each product registration device 3000. In addition to these, in FIG. 17, the settlement devices 4000-A to 4000-D, which do not belong to any of the candidate groups of the product registration device 3000, are located at positions away from the settlement device 4000 of the candidate group of each product registration device 3000. is set up. The settlement device 4000-D to the settlement device 4000-D is a settlement device 4000 having a function of reading a settlement information ID from a portable medium.

Here, a case where the product registration device 3000-1 associates the settlement information with the settlement device 4000 will be described as an example. First, at least one of the settlement device 4000-1-1 and the settlement device 4000-1-2, which are candidate groups corresponding to the product registration device 3000-1, can perform settlement processing based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000-1. It is assumed that it is in a state of being. In this case, the product registration device 3000-1 becomes the settlement device 4000 which can perform the settlement processing based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000-1 among the settlement device 4000-1-1 and the settlement device 4000-1-2. On the other hand, the settlement information is associated. The customer 10 moves to the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information and pays the price.

On the other hand, both the settlement device 4000-1-1 and the settlement device 4000-1-2 included in the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000-1 perform the settlement process based on the settlement information of the product registration device 3000-1. It is assumed that it cannot be done. In this case, the product registration device 3000-1 is a settlement device 4000-2-1 and a settlement device 4000-2-2 belonging to the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000-2, and a settlement device not belonging to any candidate group. Settlement information is associated with one of the settlement devices 40,000-D from 4000-A.

When associating the settlement information with the settlement device 4000-2-1 or the settlement device 4000-2-2, the operation performed by the product registration device 3000-1 is the settlement device 4000-1-1 or the settlement device 4000-1-2. This is the same as the operation performed by the product registration device 3000-1 when associating the settlement information with the product. Then, the customer 10 moves to the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information and pays the price.

On the other hand, when the settlement information is associated with any of the settlement devices 4000-A to the settlement device 4000-D, the product registration device 3000-1 outputs the settlement information ID to the portable medium. In this case, the customer 10 takes the portable medium and moves to the settlement device 4000 associated with the settlement information. Then, the customer 10 causes the settlement device 4000 to read the portable medium and pays the price.

As described above, when the settlement device 4000 of the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device 3000 can be used, the customer 10 uses the settlement device 4000 designated by the product registration device 3000 among the settlement devices 4000 of the candidate group. On the other hand, when the settlement device 4000 of the candidate group cannot be used, the customer 10 uses a portable medium and uses an arbitrary settlement device 4000 that can read the settlement information ID from the portable medium.

The settlement device 4000 capable of reading the settlement information ID from the portable medium is shared by each product registration device 3000. In this way, by installing the settlement device 4000 that can be shared by each product registration device 3000, even if any product registration device 3000 is congested, the customer who uses the product registration device 3000 does not have to wait for a long time to settle. Equipment 4000 can be provided. Therefore, the utilization efficiency of the settlement device 4000 can be increased, and the time required for the customer to purchase the product can be shortened.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, these are examples of the present invention, and combinations of the above embodiments and various configurations other than the above embodiments can be adopted.

Hereinafter, an example of the reference form will be added.
1. 1. An associating means for associating the settlement information related to the settlement processing of the product registered as the settlement target with one of the plurality of settlement devices.
A control means for controlling the settlement device associated with the settlement information to be selected from the settlement devices belonging to the candidate group corresponding to the own device.
Information processing device with.
2. 2. An associating means for associating the settlement information related to the settlement processing of the product registered as the settlement target in the product registration device with one of a plurality of settlement devices.
A control means for controlling the settlement device associated with the settlement information to be selected from the settlement devices belonging to the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device.
Information processing device with.
3. 3. When the settlement device of the candidate group corresponding to the device that has registered the product related to the settlement information cannot perform the settlement process based on the settlement information, the control means associates the settlement device with the settlement information. It is possible to select from the settlement devices that do not belong to the candidate group. Or 2. The information processing device described in.
4. When the control means receives a predetermined operation, the settlement device associated with the settlement information is selected from among the settlement devices that do not belong to the candidate group corresponding to the apparatus that registered the product related to the settlement information. Can also be selected 1. Or 2. The information processing device described in.
5. The control means is
A display control means for displaying candidates for the settlement device associated with the settlement information, and
It has a selection receiving means that accepts an input for selecting one of the displayed payment devices.
The display control means is
If the settlement device belonging to the candidate group corresponding to the device that registered the product related to the target settlement information can perform the settlement processing based on the settlement information, the settlement device not belonging to the candidate group cannot be selected. Show or not show,
If the settlement device that belongs to the candidate group cannot perform the settlement process based on the settlement information, the settlement device that does not belong to the candidate group is displayed in a selectable state.
3. The associating means associates the settlement information with the settlement device indicated by the input received by the selection receiving means. The information processing device described in.
6. The control means is
A display control means for displaying candidates for the settlement device associated with the settlement information, and
It has a selection receiving means that accepts an input for selecting one of the displayed payment devices.
The display control means is
When the predetermined operation is not accepted, the settlement device that does not belong to the candidate group corresponding to the device that registered the product related to the target settlement information is displayed or not displayed in a non-selectable state.
When the predetermined operation is accepted, the settlement device that does not belong to the candidate group is displayed in a selectable state.
3. The associating means associates the settlement information with the settlement device indicated by the input received by the selection receiving means. The information processing device described in.
7. The control means is
A display control means for displaying candidates for the settlement device associated with the settlement information, and
It has a selection receiving means that accepts an input for selecting one of the displayed payment devices.
The control means highlights and displays the settlement device belonging to the candidate group corresponding to the device that has registered the product related to the target settlement information more than the settlement device not belonging to the candidate group. ~ 5. The information processing device described in any one.
8. The associating means
If each settlement device belonging to the candidate group corresponding to the device that registered the product related to the target settlement target can perform settlement processing based on the settlement information, select one of the settlement devices belonging to the candidate group. And associate the checkout information with the selected checkout device,
If each settlement device belonging to the candidate group cannot perform settlement processing based on the settlement information, select one of the settlement devices not belonging to the candidate group and associate the settlement information with the selected settlement device. Or 2. The information processing device described in.
9. The settlement device closest to the device for registering the product to be settled belongs to the candidate group corresponding to the device for registering the product to be settled. ~ 8. The information processing device described in any one.
10. There is a settlement device that does not belong to any of the above candidate groups,
The information processing apparatus has an identification information output means for outputting identification information of settlement information associated with the settlement apparatus by the association means.
The identification information output means is
When the settlement device belonging to any of the candidate groups is associated with the settlement information, the identification information of the settlement information is output to the storage means or the server device.
When the settlement information is associated with a settlement device that does not belong to any of the candidate groups, the identification information of the settlement information is output to the portable medium.
The settlement device belonging to any of the candidate groups acquires the identification information of the settlement device from the storage means or the server device, and obtains the identification information of the settlement device.
The settlement device that does not belong to any of the candidate groups acquires the identification information of the settlement device from the portable medium. ~ 9. The information processing device described in any one.
11. An information processing system having a plurality of product registration devices and a plurality of payment devices.
An associating means for associating the settlement information regarding the settlement process of the product registered as the settlement target by the product registration device with one of the plurality of settlement devices.
A control means for controlling the settlement device associated with the settlement information to be preferentially selected from the settlement devices belonging to the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device that registered the product related to the settlement information.
It has an identification information output means for outputting identification information of the settlement information associated with the settlement device.
There is a settlement device that does not belong to any of the above candidate groups,
The identification information output means is
When associating the settlement device belonging to any of the candidate groups with the settlement information, the identification information of the settlement information is output to the storage means or the server device.
When associating a settlement device that does not belong to any of the candidate groups with settlement information, the identification information of the settlement information is output to a portable medium.
The settlement device belonging to any of the candidate groups acquires the identification information of the settlement information from the storage means or the server device.
The settlement device that does not belong to any of the candidate groups is an information processing system that acquires identification information of settlement information from the portable medium.
12. Computer, 1. ~ 10. A program that operates as the information processing device described in any one of them.
13. A control method performed by a computer
An association step that associates the settlement information related to the settlement process of the product registered as the settlement target with one of the plurality of settlement devices, and
A control step for controlling the settlement device associated with the settlement information to be selected from the settlement devices belonging to the candidate group corresponding to the computer.
Control method having.
14. A control method performed by a computer
An association step that associates the settlement information related to the settlement process of the product registered as the settlement target in the product registration device with one of the plurality of settlement devices, and
A control step for controlling the settlement device associated with the settlement information to be selected from the settlement devices belonging to the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device.
Control method having.
15. In the control step, when the settlement device of the candidate group corresponding to the device that has registered the product related to the settlement information cannot perform the settlement process based on the settlement information, the control step associates the settlement device with the settlement information. It is possible to select from the settlement devices that do not belong to the candidate group. Or 14. The control method described in.
16. In the control step, when a predetermined operation is received, the settlement device associated with the settlement information is selected from among the settlement devices that do not belong to the candidate group corresponding to the device that registered the product related to the settlement information. Can also be selected 13. Or 14. The control method described in.
17. The control step is
A display control step for displaying candidates for the settlement device associated with the settlement information, and
It has a selection reception step that accepts an input for selecting one of the displayed payment devices.
The display control step is
If the settlement device belonging to the candidate group corresponding to the device that registered the product related to the target settlement information can perform the settlement processing based on the settlement information, the settlement device not belonging to the candidate group cannot be selected. Show or not show,
If the settlement device that belongs to the candidate group cannot perform the settlement process based on the settlement information, the settlement device that does not belong to the candidate group is displayed in a selectable state.
The association step associates the settlement information with the settlement device indicated by the input received by the selection acceptance step. The control method described in.
18. The control step is
A display control step for displaying candidates for the settlement device associated with the settlement information, and
It has a selection reception step that accepts an input for selecting one of the displayed payment devices.
The display control step is
When the predetermined operation is not accepted, the settlement device that does not belong to the candidate group corresponding to the device that registered the product related to the target settlement information is displayed or not displayed in a non-selectable state.
When the predetermined operation is accepted, the settlement device that does not belong to the candidate group is displayed in a selectable state.
The association step associates the settlement information with the settlement device indicated by the input received by the selection acceptance step. The control method described in.
19. The control step is
A display control step for displaying candidates for the settlement device associated with the settlement information, and
It has a selection reception step that accepts an input for selecting one of the displayed payment devices.
The control step highlights and displays the settlement device belonging to the candidate group corresponding to the device that has registered the product related to the target settlement information more than the settlement device not belonging to the candidate group. ~ 17. The control method described in any one.
20. The association step is
If each settlement device belonging to the candidate group corresponding to the device that registered the product related to the target settlement target can perform settlement processing based on the settlement information, select one of the settlement devices belonging to the candidate group. And associate the checkout information with the selected checkout device,
If each settlement device belonging to the candidate group cannot perform settlement processing based on the settlement information, select one of the settlement devices not belonging to the candidate group and associate the settlement information with the selected settlement device. Or 14. The control method described in.
21. The settlement device closest to the device for registering the product to be settled belongs to the candidate group corresponding to the device for registering the product to be settled. ~ 20. The control method described in any one.
22. There is a settlement device that does not belong to any of the above candidate groups,
The control method has an identification information output step that outputs identification information of settlement information associated with the settlement device by the association step.
The identification information output step is
When the settlement device belonging to any of the candidate groups is associated with the settlement information, the identification information of the settlement information is output to the storage means or the server device.
When the settlement information is associated with a settlement device that does not belong to any of the candidate groups, the identification information of the settlement information is output to the portable medium.
The settlement device belonging to any of the candidate groups acquires the identification information of the settlement device from the storage means or the server device, and obtains the identification information of the settlement device.
The settlement device that does not belong to any of the candidate groups acquires the identification information of the settlement device from the portable medium. ~ 21. The control method described in any one.
23. A control method executed by an information processing system having a plurality of product registration devices and a plurality of payment devices.
An association step of associating the settlement information regarding the settlement process of the product registered as the settlement target by the product registration device with one of the plurality of settlement devices.
A control step for controlling the settlement device associated with the settlement information to be preferentially selected from the settlement devices belonging to the candidate group corresponding to the product registration device that registered the product related to the settlement information.
It has an identification information output step for outputting identification information of the settlement information associated with the settlement device.
There is a settlement device that does not belong to any of the above candidate groups,
The identification information output step is
When associating the settlement device belonging to any of the candidate groups with the settlement information, the identification information of the settlement information is output to the storage means or the server device.
When associating a settlement device that does not belong to any of the candidate groups with settlement information, the identification information of the settlement information is output to a portable medium.
The settlement device belonging to any of the candidate groups acquires the identification information of the settlement information from the storage means or the server device.
The settlement device that does not belong to any of the candidate groups is a control method for acquiring identification information of settlement information from the portable medium.

This application claims priority on the basis of Japanese application Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-039629 filed on February 27, 2015 and incorporates all of its disclosures herein.

Claims (5)

It is a product registration device
When a predetermined operation is accepted, if all the settlement devices belonging to the first candidate group, which is the candidate group associated with the product registration device, are in use among the plurality of candidate groups of the settlement device, the settlement target A control means for switching a candidate group capable of selecting a settlement device as a transmission destination of settlement information related to the settlement processing of the product registered as the first candidate group to a candidate group other than the first candidate group.
A product registration device comprising a transmission means for transmitting the settlement information to the settlement device. The product registration device according to claim 1, further comprising an associating means for associating the settlement information with one settlement device. The product registration device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the payment device closest to the product registration device belongs to the first candidate group. A control method executed by a computer that functions as a product registration device.
When a predetermined operation is accepted, if all the settlement devices belonging to the first candidate group, which is the candidate group associated with the product registration device, are in use among the plurality of candidate groups of the settlement device, the settlement target The candidate group that can select the settlement device to be the destination of the settlement information related to the settlement process of the product registered as is switched to the candidate group other than the first candidate group.
A control method for transmitting the settlement information to the settlement device. On the computer
A program for executing the control method according to claim 4.

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