JP3726019B2 - POS terminal device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a POS (Point of Sales) terminal device for performing merchandise sales business and merchandise ordering business.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional POS terminal device of this type has a configuration in which a device for performing a product sales operation and a device for performing a product ordering operation are independent and connected to a server of a host device via a network such as a LAN. For example, as shown in FIG. 7 (Prior Art 1), when performing product sales using a conventional POS device, the POS main body 100 is used to read a product barcode with a barcode scanner or use a touch panel to operate an operator. Perform processing on the display screen, or perform settlement processing by keyboard input. On the other hand, when performing the product ordering work, the user carries the product ordering work while carrying the order terminal 200 and moving to the product shelf, and the input data is supplied to the charging function for the order terminal and the store server 400. The data is transmitted to the store server 400 by connecting to the station unit 300 having a network communication function.
[0003]
As shown in FIG. 8, a POS terminal device (prior art 2) with an order terminal that is separable from the POS main body 101 in which the order terminal 201 also serves as the LCD display unit 6 is known. FIG. 8A is an external view of a POS terminal device according to the related art 2 showing a state in which the order terminal 201 is attached to the POS main body 101, and FIG. 8B shows a state in which the order terminal 201 is removed.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described prior art 1, since a station unit for charging / communication is required for each order terminal, a first problem is that a network connection separate from the POS terminal device is required for each station unit. is there.
[0005]
Furthermore, in the existing POS system, there is a second problem that it is difficult to significantly reduce the cost because the units essential for constructing the POS system are determined.
[0006]
Further, in the prior art 2, since the order terminal unit also serves as the display unit of the POS main body, when the order terminal is used for product ordering, the function as the POS terminal device cannot be exhibited during that time. There is a point.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, to reduce the number of units necessary for constructing a POS system, and to provide a POS terminal device that can integrate functions and is easy to use.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
POS terminal of the present invention includes a POS main body having a POS function (1 in FIG. 1), a detachable with the POS main body is constituted out the order terminal used for product ordering service (2 in FIG. 1) The POS main body detects the attachment / detachment of the order terminal and charges the order terminal to charge / connection detection unit (13 in FIG. 2), and when the charging / connection detection unit detects attachment of the order terminal, A POS screen is displayed on the main body, and when the removal of the order terminal is detected, a POS control unit (14 in FIG. 2) that displays the POS screen and the POS keyboard screen on the POS main body. POS infrared communication unit (12 in FIG. 2) that performs infrared communication with the terminal, and the order terminal is connected to the charging / connection detection unit. A battery to be charged, a detection unit (23 in FIG. 2) for detecting attachment / detachment of the order terminal, and when the detection of the installation of the order terminal is detected by the detection unit, a POS keyboard screen is displayed on the order terminal, Further, when the removal of the order terminal is detected, the order terminal control unit (24 in FIG. 2) that displays a product ordering screen and the order terminal infrared that communicates with the POS main body by infrared when the order terminal is mounted. And a communication unit (22 in FIG. 2).
[0011]
The keyboard unit may be composed of an LCD touch panel, or the POS main body and the keyboard unit or order terminal may each have a wireless communication function.
[0012]
In the present invention, as means for solving the above-described problems, a unit in which the order terminal function / POS keyboard function are integrated is connected as an IO device of the POS terminal apparatus. Conventionally, a keyboard unit that has been required as an input device in a POS terminal device is eliminated, and a unit having both an order terminal function and a keyboard function is replaced with a POS IO device. When this unit is not connected to the POS body, conventional store product ordering operations can be performed independently. On the other hand, this unit can be used as a POS keyboard when the POS body is connected. The keyboard is not a conventional stroke type keyboard, but the key layout is displayed on the LDC display part of the order terminal (the LCD display part has a touch panel function), and the same key input as a conventional keyboard is made by touching it. Can be realized.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The POS terminal device of the present invention includes a POS main body having a POS function, and an order terminal that can be attached to and detached from the POS main body and used for merchandise ordering. The POS main unit detects the attachment / detachment of the order terminal and charges the order terminal. When the charging / connection detection unit detects the installation of the order terminal, the POS main unit displays a POS screen on the POS main unit. Further, when the removal of the order terminal is detected, the POS control unit for displaying the POS screen and the POS keyboard screen on the POS main body, and the POS infrared communication for communicating with the order terminal by infrared rays when the order terminal is attached. Part. The order terminal includes a battery charged by the charge / connection detection unit, a detection unit for detecting attachment / detachment of the order terminal, and a POS keyboard screen on the order terminal when the detection of the installation of the order terminal is detected by the detection unit. An order terminal control unit that displays a product ordering screen when the removal of the order terminal is detected, and an order terminal infrared communication unit that performs infrared communication with the POS main body using infrared when the order terminal is mounted And have.
[0015]
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is an external view of an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a POS terminal device in which an order terminal function and a POS function are integrated is shown.
[0017]
Conventionally, the keyboard unit fixed to the POS main body, which has been required as an input device of the POS terminal device, is eliminated, and the order terminal 2 having a touch panel function is attached to and detached from the POS main body 1 instead of the place. 1A shows a state in which the order terminal 2 is attached to the POS main body 1, and FIG. 1B shows a state in which the order terminal 2 is removed. When the order terminal 2 is not attached to the POS main body 1, the conventional store product ordering operation can be performed independently, and when the order terminal 2 is attached to the POS main body 1, a keyboard function is realized.
[0018]
The keyboard realized on the order terminal 2 is not a stroke type keyboard, but the key arrangement is displayed on the LDC display part (the LCD display part has a touch panel function) of the order terminal 2, and the stroke is made by touching it on the screen. The key equivalent to the expression keyboard is realized. Since the key arrangement can be freely customized in software, a free key arrangement can be selected unlike a conventional keyboard having a fixed key arrangement.
[0019]
FIG. 2 shows how the POS main body 1 and the order terminal 2 are attached and detached, and FIG. 3 shows the details of each connecting portion between the POS main body 1 and the order terminal 2.
[0020]
In FIG. 2, when the order terminal 2 is attached to the POS main body 1, the POS infrared communication unit 12 and the order terminal infrared communication unit 22 use infrared communication in a non-contact manner, and depending on the situation, Data communication of key data and product ordering data is performed between the order terminals 2. In this case, by connecting the POS charging connector 11 and the order terminal charging connector 21, the charging circuit / connection detection circuit 13 on the POS main body 1 side shown in FIG. 3 is connected to the battery 26 of the order terminal 2. Charging starts.
[0021]
Further, the detection circuit 23 on the order terminal 2 side recognizes that the POS charging connector 11 and the order terminal charging connector 21 are connected, and as a result, the order terminal control unit 24 connects the order terminal 2 to the POS main body 1. When it is determined that it is attached, an order terminal screen (POS keyboard screen) 31 when the order terminal is attached as shown in FIG. 4A is displayed. As a result, the user of the POS terminal device can perform the same input operation as that of the stroke type keyboard by touching the portion of the POS key arrangement displayed on the LCD display unit of the order terminal unit 2.
[0022]
On the other hand, when the charging circuit / connection detection circuit 13 on the POS main body 1 side detects the attachment of the order terminal 2, the POS control unit 14 determines that the order terminal 2 is attached to the POS main body 1, and FIG. POS main body screen 41 when the order terminal is mounted as shown in FIG. The POS main body screen 41 is used for POS of products on the assumption that the order terminal screen (POS keyboard screen) 31 shown in FIG.
[0023]
Next, when the order terminal 2 is used for merchandise ordering work, the order terminal 2 is removed from the POS main body 1. Then, the detection circuit 23 recognizes that the POS charging connector 11 and the order terminal charging connector 21 are disconnected, and based on this result, the order terminal control unit 24 determines that the order terminal 2 is detached from the POS main body 1. Then, an order terminal screen (product ordering screen) 32 at the time of order terminal removal as shown in FIG. 4B is displayed. As a result, the user of the POS terminal can use the order terminal 2 alone, and can carry out a product ordering work while traveling around the store with the order terminal 2 being carried.
[0024]
On the other hand, when the charging circuit / connection detection circuit 13 on the POS main body 1 side detects the removal of the order terminal 2, the POS control unit 14 determines that the order terminal 2 is disconnected from the POS main body 1, and FIG. POS main body screen 42 when the order terminal is removed as shown in FIG. When the order terminal is removed, the POS main body screen 42 is displayed on the POS main body screen 41 (FIG. 5A) when the order terminal is mounted, and on the order terminal screen (POS keyboard screen) 31 when the order terminal is mounted [FIG. ] Is added. As a result, the user of the present POS terminal can carry out the product checkout work with the POS main body 1 even when the order terminal unit 2 is used separately.
[0025]
If the order terminal 2 is attached to the POS main body 1 again, the order terminal screen is switched from FIG. 4 (B) to FIG. 4 (A), and the POS main body screen is switched from FIG. 5 (B) to FIG. 5 (A).
[0026]
In addition to the order terminal 2, a printer 3, a BHS 4, an operator LCD 5, an operator touch panel 6, a customer LCD 7 and a customer touch panel 8 are connected to the POS body 1 as IO devices necessary for the POS function, as shown in FIG.
[0027]
Further, FIG. 6 shows a central processing unit 16, a memory unit 17, a network communication unit 18, which are also used in a conventional POS terminal device, as components necessary for the functions inside the POS main body 1, and the above-described components. A charging circuit / connection detection circuit 13, a POS control unit 14, and a POS infrared communication unit 15 are shown.
[0028]
The POS control unit 14 and the network communication unit 18 provide a relay function in the case of transmitting the data of the product ordering work independently performed at the order terminal 2 to the store server when the POS main body 1 is mounted. The other components inside the POS main body are well known to those skilled in the art and are not directly related to the present invention, so the description is omitted.
[0029]
The POS terminal device described above is intended for use in a commodity sales industry such as a convenience store, a supermarket, and a department store, but as another embodiment of the present invention, the POS main body and the order terminal are provided with a wireless function, If wireless communication is enabled between the POS main unit and the order terminal, it can also be used as an order receiving terminal for cooking at a family restaurant or a restaurant. In other words, a POS system can be considered in which information is wirelessly communicated from the order terminal to the POS main body at the same time as the order is received, and the order can be distributed to a kitchen or the like via the network. According to this POS system, it is possible to automate the method of contacting the kitchen after receiving an order.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
The first effect of the present invention is that the keyboard function is configured to be performed by the order terminal. Therefore, the cost of the POS terminal device is reduced by reducing the number of keyboard units and the number of station units for charging and communicating with the order terminal. This means that the POS system introduction cost can be reduced.
[0031]
In addition, the second effect is that the product installation business and the product ordering business can be performed on the same terminal, so it is possible to reduce the installation area of the equipment in the store, and the LAN wiring work when installing the POS system by reducing the station units. It can be reduced.
[0032]
Further, the third effect is that the desired key arrangement can be freely selected freely, so that the key arrangement can be freely customized in software, and the key arrangement can be freely selected.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how a POS main body and an order terminal are attached to and detached from a POS terminal apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing details of the order terminal screen when the order terminal is installed and removed in the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the POS main body when the order terminal is installed and removed in the present invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the POS main body of the present invention and devices connected to the POS main body. FIG. 7 is an external view of a POS system according to prior art 1. FIG. External view of POS terminal device [Explanation of symbols]
1 POS body 2 Order terminal 3 Printer 4 BHS
5 Operator LCD
6 Operator touch panel 7 Customer LCD
8 Customer Touch Panel 11 POS Charging Connector 12 POS Infrared Communication Unit 13 Charging Circuit / Connection Detection Circuit 14 POS Control Unit 15 Infrared Communication Control Unit 16 Central Processing Unit 17 Memory Unit 18 Network Communication Unit 21 Order Terminal Charging Connector 22 Order Terminal Infrared Communication unit 23 Detection circuit 24 Order terminal control unit 25 Infrared communication control unit 26 Battery

Claims (2)

A POS main body having a POS function, and an order terminal which is detachable from the POS main body and used for merchandise ordering,
  The POS body is
  A charging / connection detecting unit that detects attachment / detachment of the order terminal and charges the order terminal;
  A POS screen is displayed on the POS main body when the charging / connection detecting unit detects that the order terminal is attached, and a POS screen and a POS keyboard screen are displayed on the POS main body when the removal of the order terminal is detected. A POS control unit to be displayed;
  A POS infrared communication unit that communicates with the order terminal by infrared rays when the order terminal is mounted;
  The order terminal is
  A battery charged by the charge / connection detector;
  A detection unit for detecting attachment and detachment of the order terminal;
  An order terminal control unit that displays the POS keyboard screen on the order terminal when the detection unit detects the installation of the order terminal, and displays a product order screen when the removal of the order terminal is detected;
  A POS terminal apparatus comprising: an order terminal infrared communication unit that performs infrared communication with the POS main body using infrared when the order terminal is mounted. The POS terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard unit is configured by an LCD touch panel.

Images