JP3250875B2 - POS system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a POS system (point of sales system) used in convenience stores operating in a number of chain stores (chain stores), supermarkets, restaurants, and the like. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a POS system, registers of various sales floors of a large number of stores are connected online with a management department of a head office that supervises the stores, and at the same time as products are sold, the product name, quantity, price, etc. are managed from the sales floor registers. Send it to the department host computer and record it as data. Also,
Records in the host computer of the management department can be called up from the register at the sales floor to know the stock status and the like. This facilitates product management, cash management, and inventory management. For reading bar codes displaying product codes and manufacturer codes, OCR
A bar code reader such as an eader (optical character reader) is used. In this case, the information input device installed in the register at the counter is called a POS terminal device or a POS terminal.

[0003]

For example, in superstores and convenience stores, the number of shoppers fluctuates greatly depending on the day of the week and time of day, and especially on weekday evenings and holidays, many shoppers are crowded and shopping is stopped. People put various kinds of products in baskets and carts (shopping carts), form a line at a register (hereinafter referred to as a cash register), and wait for the turn of payment. At a plurality of cash registers arranged in parallel, the clerk reads the barcode affixed or printed on the shopping product one by one with OCR, inputs data to the POS terminal, prints out the total price on the receipt, and adjusts the cash However, there is a problem that the customer is kept waiting during the above-mentioned congestion. In order to deal with this, it is only necessary to increase the number of POS terminal cash registers and increase the number of clerks, but since the congestion time is short compared to the entire business time, the cost is high, the business income and expenditure deteriorates, and management is not feasible. The problem arises.

An object of the present invention is to provide a POS system which can solve the above-mentioned problems and can alleviate congestion without increasing the number of POS terminals and clerks.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a POS system comprising a plurality of terminal devices provided in a large number of stores and each of the terminal devices.
Movable copy with product storage for shopping in stores
Number of carts online with wireless repeater wirelessly connected
POS system composed of a linked host computer
System, wherein the host computer has a number of
The product code of the product for sale and the corresponding product code
And store the price in advance from the cart.
Price corresponding to the product code sent via the line repeater
And a price memory for searching and returning
Settlement sales memory that stores the information of the settled sales
A confirmation signal of the settlement sales information of each cart was sent
Control to open the switch provided on the terminal device.
Control unit and is provided et al for outputting a control signal for occupying I
It is, wherein the plurality of respective carts identifies each cart
Cart ID card and product code
Barcode reading unit for reading the indicated barcode
And a product code read by the barcode reading unit.
To the host computer via the wireless repeater.
A first wireless unit for transmitting, and the host computer
Receiving the price information corresponding to the transmitted product code;
Part number price storage that stores the amount of the product and the total amount
Section, a display section for displaying the contents of the part number price accumulation section,
Each time the price of the product is stored in the part number price storage section,
A seal discharge unit that discharges the registered seal of the product, and shopping
The terminal device is operated by an adjustment switch operated after the termination.
The settlement request signal and the contents of the part number price storage section
A second radio unit is provided to, to the terminal device, before
The cart has arrived at a predetermined position close to the terminal device.
To read the ID number of the ID card
A reading cart ID reading unit, and the second
Settlement request signal transmitted from the wireless unit and the part number price accumulation
When the contents of the part number are input, the
A price display section for displaying the total price calculated from the contents,
Check the amount when the price displayed on the gold display is stored
Cash receipt and payment of the payment
A payment device consisting of a receipt issuing section
To the control signal from the host computer
A gate control unit for controlling the opening of the switchgear.
Is provided, and reads the price of the purchased product in the store.
Asking the customer to put it in the cart
And the settlement device of the terminal device for the settlement of the purchase price.
And issue a receipt with the payment.
Automatically opens the switchgear provided at the exit of the terminal device.
It is intended to be closed.

[0006]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of the present invention.
(A) is an overall explanatory view of the POS system of the present invention, (B)
Is a partial structure front view, and (C) is a partial structure side view. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a host computer installed in the head office management department. Numeral 2 denotes a settlement device arranged in each of the plurality of stores # 1 to #n.
Connected to the public line or dedicated line. Reference numeral 3 denotes a relay device, 4 denotes a cart, and two radio antennas are provided on the installed registration / aggregation device. One is connected to the host computer 1 of the head office via the relay device 3, and the other is settled. It is connected to the host computer 1 of the head office via the device 2. FIG. 1B is a front view of the settlement apparatus 2, and a switch (gate) 28 is provided in the passage of the cart 4 at the sales floor exit. 28 are open and can pass through. FIG. 1C is a side view of the cart 4, on which a registration / aggregation device 41 for shopping goods is mounted. 56 is cart 4
Is an ID card provided on the side surface of the device.

FIG. 2 is a partially detailed block diagram of the present invention, and is a block diagram of a main part of the host computer 1 of the head office, the settlement device 2 of each store, and the relay device 3. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a price memory in which a correspondence table (table) between product codes and prices of a large number of products sold at each store is written. Reference numeral 12 denotes a settlement sales memory in which details and amounts of settlement sales when the shopper makes settlement are written. 13 is a control unit. Reference numeral 31 denotes a wireless unit provided in the relay device 3, which wirelessly connects the shopping cart 4 and the host computer 1 to transmit and receive data. Reference numeral 21 denotes a radio unit, and a cart 4
To transmit and receive wireless data to and from the device. 22 is the cart I
A cart ID reading unit that reads the number of the D card. 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes a cash settlement unit, which stores and checks cash and pays change. Reference numeral 24 denotes a receipt issuing unit. Reference numeral 25 denotes a gate control unit, which opens and closes the switch 28 when the receipt is issued after the settlement, detects the passage of the cart by a sensor, and closes the switch 28. Reference numeral 26 denotes a display unit, which displays the amount of money and the processing guidance for the shopper of the cart 4 to facilitate the operation of the cart 4 and the settlement apparatus 2. A control unit 27 performs the above control.

FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram and an external perspective view of the cart 4 of the present invention. The cart 4 is distributedly mounted so that the registration and aggregation device 41 is integrated. That is, 2
The antennas 43 and 45 are provided in the two radio units 44 and 46, respectively.
Is provided, one of which transmits and receives data to and from the relay device 3 during shopping, and the other transmits and receives data to and from the settlement device. These two radio units 44 and 46 can be shared by one antenna and radio unit if a radio frequency band or channel is selected. A weight scale 49 and a bar code reading unit 42 are mounted on the handle portion of the cart, and two wireless units 44 and 46, a display unit 48, a seal discharge unit 51, a switch unit 52, and a buzzer 55 are mounted thereon. A housing is provided. The switch unit 52 includes a settlement switch 53, a cancel button 54, and the like. 50 is a weighing scale. Reference numeral 56 denotes an ID card, which is a display tag of an ID number assigned to each of a large number of carts. Reference numeral 47 denotes a product number and price storage unit, and reference numeral 40 denotes a control unit that controls the overall operation of the registration and aggregation device 41 of the cart 4. The barcode reading unit 42 may be a handle-held barcode reader or a pencil barcode reader.

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 showing the main configuration of the embodiment of the present invention, the gist of the present invention is that when a shopper pushes the cart 4 to make a purchase, When a desired product is taken out and put into the cart 4, the barcode of the product is read by the barcode reading unit 42 each time. Goods sold in weight units are weighed with a weighing scale 49. The products whose barcodes have been read are sequentially accumulated and displayed on the display unit 48. When the shopping is completed in this way, the cart 4 is pushed and stopped on the side of the settlement apparatus 2 to perform the settlement. When the receipt is issued with payment, the switchgear 28
Is opened so that it is possible to go outside.

Next, the detailed operation of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the cart 4;
Indicates a step number. The shopper causes the barcode reading unit 42 to read the barcode of the product (step).
The barcode data is transmitted from the wireless unit 44 to the wireless unit 31 of the relay device 3 (step), and the data is sent to the control unit 13 of the host computer 1 at the head office. The control unit 13 reads the price corresponding to the product code (product number) of the received data from the price memory 11 and returns the price to the cart 4.
The control unit 40 of the cart 4 determines in step whether or not the barcode price information, and if it is price information, discharges the sticker in step and stores the information in the product number / price storage unit (memory) 47. The shopper puts the discharged sticker on the product and stores it in the cart basket. In the step, the product names and prices of the purchased articles stored up to that time and the total thereof are calculated and displayed on the display unit 48. When the desired product is stored in the cart 4, the cart 4 is placed in front of the opening / closing device 28 on the side of the settlement apparatus 2 and the settlement switch 53 of the switch section 52 is pressed (step). In the step, the settlement request signal is sent from the other wireless unit 46 of the cart 4 to the settlement device 2
Is transmitted to the wireless unit 21 of. When a payment request signal is input to the cash payment unit 23 via the wireless unit 21, after reading the ID card number of the cart 4, the cash payment unit 23 reads the shopping input following the payment request signal from the cart 4. The details and the total of the product are displayed on the display unit 26. The shopper puts the displayed fee into the fee storage unit, and if there is a change, the change is discharged, and the balance statement data is written to the balance sales memory 12 of the host computer 1.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the host computer 1 and the settlement apparatus 2 of the present invention. (1)
(9) indicates a step number. First, step (1)
It is determined whether or not the data received from the cart 4 via the relay device 3 is barcode information, and if the data is barcode information, the table of the price memory 11 is searched in step (2), and corresponding in step (3) The price is read and the transmission processing for the cart 4 is performed. Next, in step (4), it is determined whether or not the ID number sent from the settlement apparatus 2 is correct.
In step (5), it is determined whether the amount is the amount following the settlement request signal. In step (6), the details of the settlement are stored in the settlement sales memory 12.
Write to. When a cash settlement completion signal is sent from the settlement apparatus 2, a command to open the switch (gate) of the settlement apparatus 2 is sent in step (7), and the cart 4 is sent in step (8).
Is confirmed by a sensor, a command to close the switch is transmitted in step (9).

FIG. 6 is a view showing a display example of the display section 48 of the cart 4. The display unit 48 is a flat display such as a liquid crystal display, and a right triangle key is a key for moving a cursor. For example, when it is desired to cancel the bar code-read product, the cursor is moved to the corresponding product number using the arrow keys and the cancel button 54 is pressed.

[0013]

As described in detail above, by practicing the present invention, it is possible to see the accumulated amount of money up to that time during the shopping. In addition, the time required to queue at the cash register during congestion is reduced, and the time required for shopping is greatly improved. Further, for the store side, the service for shoppers is improved without increasing the number of POS terminals or increasing the number of clerks, which has a large practical effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall system diagram, a partial front view, and a partial side view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial detailed block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial detailed block diagram and a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial flowchart of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial flowchart of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a display unit according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 host computer 2 payment device 3 relay device 4 cart 11 price memory 12 payment sales memory 13 control unit 21 wireless unit 22 cart ID reading unit 23 cash payment unit 24 receipt issuing unit 25 gate control unit 26 display unit 27 control unit 28 switch 31 Radio unit 40 Control unit 41 Registration / aggregation device 42 Barcode reading unit 43, 45 Antenna 44, 46 Radio unit 47 Part number, price storage unit 48 Display unit 49, 50 Weight scale 51 Seal discharge unit 52 Switch unit 53 Checkout switch 54 Cancel Button 55 Buzzer 56 ID card

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07G 1/00-5/00 G06F 17/60

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of terminal devices provided in a number of stores
And a transfer having a product storage unit for shopping at each of the stores.
A wireless repeater and wireless mobile radio
And a host computer connected by
POS system, wherein the host computer stores product codes of a large number of sales products and the product codes respectively.
The corresponding price is stored in advance, and from the cart
Corresponding to the product code transmitted via the wireless repeater.
A price memory for searching for and returning a price to be paid, and a price memory for storing payment sales information transmitted from the terminal device.
A settlement memory and a settlement signal of the settlement sales information of each cart are transmitted.
Control to open the switch provided in the terminal device when
And a control unit for outputting a control signal for performing the
In each of the plurality of carts, a cart ID card for identifying each cart and a bar code displayed as a product code on the product are read.
A bar code reading unit for reading, and a product code read by the bar code reading unit.
Transmit to the host computer via the wireless repeater
A first wireless unit, and the product code transmitted from the host computer
Received the price information corresponding to the amount of the product and the total amount
A part number price storage unit for storing an amount, a display unit for displaying the contents of the part number price storage unit, and each time the price of the product is stored in the part number price storage unit.
A seal discharge unit for discharging the registered seal of the product and a checkout switch operated after the purchase is completed, the end of the product.
The payment request signal and the contents of the part number
A second wireless unit for transmitting is provided, and in the terminal device, the cart arrives at a predetermined position close to the terminal device .
At the time, the ID number of the ID card
A cart ID reading section to be read, and a settlement request transmitted from the second wireless section of each cart.
When the request signal and the contents of the part number price accumulation unit are input
The total price calculated from the contents of the part number price accumulation unit
Price display section displaying the price, the price displayed on the price display section
The cash settlement department that checks the amount when the money is stored
Receipt issuing department that issues receipts by payment of gold
And a control device from the host computer for the payment.
A control signal for controlling the opening of the switchgear.
And a customer control unit for reading the price of the purchased product in the store.
When storing it in the
Payment of gold is paid by the payment device of the terminal device,
A receipt is issued by the payment and the terminal device
Automatically opens and closes the switchgear provided at the exit of
The POS system.