JP3753796B2 - Product purchase system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a product purchasing system using the Re purchases input for putting the goods to be purchased while carrying the purchaser of the product.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when a customer purchases a product in a supermarket, for example, it is performed as follows.
The customer puts the product to be purchased in a shopping cart or cart and takes it to the checkout place (checkout counter). At the checkout location, the store clerk confirms the product and enters the price into the register. The clerk then charges the customer for the total amount of the product, and the customer pays the amount.
[0003]
Here, a method using a barcode or the like in which a product code or the like (product information) of a product is attached to the product so as to be machine-readable is known today. Then, the price of the product corresponding to the product information is stored in the register, and when the barcode of the product is read at the checkout location, the product code, price, etc. of the product is input to the register. Yes.
In addition, a method is known in which payment is performed using a card instead of cash. A card reader is provided at the checkout location, and the checkout process is performed by reading the card. In the case of a prepaid card, a reduction process is performed, and in the case of a cash card, the price is withdrawn from the partner bank.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described conventional technology has a problem that customers tend to concentrate on a specific time zone and a specific day of the week, and the settlement area is often congested. For this reason, even if a method using a bar code or the like for the input of the product price as described above or a method using a card for payment is employed, there is a certain limit to the rapid settlement process.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to quickly perform a settlement process by simplifying the settlement process.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1 is directed to a product in which product information is machine-readable, a card in which card information including an owner ID is recorded in a machine-readable manner, and a purchaser of the product This is for putting products to be purchased while being carried, and is a purchase item case for performing checkout processing by putting products to be purchased, and the card information including the owner ID is machine-readable A card information reading means for reading the card information of the recorded card, a product storage means for temporarily storing a product to be purchased, and a product to which product information is machine-readable is placed in the product storage means. The product information reading means for reading the product information, the product price storage means for storing the price of the product corresponding to the product information of the product, Purchase information storage means for storing purchase information including the price of the purchased product based on the product information read by the product information reading means and the price of the product corresponding to the product information stored in the product price storage means And a purchase item storage system comprising purchase information transmission means for transmitting the purchase information stored in the purchase information storage means to the outside for performing settlement processing , wherein the purchase information transmission means Purchase information receiving means for receiving the purchase information transmitted by the purchase information, and payment means for performing a checkout process based on the purchase information received by the purchase information receiving means. When the insertion is used, the card insertion means for storing the card and the payment completion information for receiving information indicating that the payment processing by the payment means has been completed. Receiving means, the settlement completion information receiving means when receiving information indicating that settlement processing is completed, characterized in that it comprises a card returning unit for returning the inserted card to the card insertion unit.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the commodity purchase system according to the first aspect , in the purchase item storage , card information transmission means for transmitting the card information read by the card information reading means to the outside; Based on the card information transmitted by the card information transmitting means, a discrimination information receiving means for receiving discrimination information for judging whether or not the card can be used is received, and received by the discrimination information receiving means When the discrimination information is information indicating that the card cannot be used, display means for displaying the fact is provided.
[0008]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the merchandise purchase system according to the second aspect , the card information is read by the installation means where the purchase item storage is installed and the card information reading means of the purchase item case. And a release means for releasing the purchase item storage from the installation means, and the release means has received information indicating that the card can be used by the discrimination information receiving means for the purchase item storage. After that, the purchased goods storage is released from the installation means.
[0009]
The invention of claim 4 is the product purchase system according to claim 1 , wherein the card return means returns the card when the purchase item storage is returned to a predetermined place of the installation means. And
[0010]
The invention according to claim 5 is the product purchase system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the purchase product case is charged when the purchase item case is installed in the installation means. It is characterized by comprising charging means for performing.
[0011]
A sixth aspect of the present invention is the commodity purchase system according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the commodity information is recorded in a barcode or a non-contact type IC. .
[0012]
A seventh aspect of the present invention is the commodity purchase system according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the purchase item storage is cart-shaped.
[0013]
In the present invention, (1) card information is read by the card information reading means. When a product to be purchased is put in the product storage means, product information attached to the product is read by the product information reading means. Then, the product information, the price, etc. are stored as purchase information by the purchase information storage means, and the purchase information is transmitted to the outside where the checkout process is performed by the purchase information transmission means. In addition, when a purchase item storage is installed in the installation means, and the card information is read by the purchase product storage, the purchase product storage is released by the release means (can be taken out). Then, the purchase information stored in the purchase item storage is received by the purchase information receiving means, and the checkout process is performed based on the purchase information by the checkout means. In addition, when the purchased goods storage is being used, the card is inserted by the card insertion means, and the card return means receives the information indicating that the payment processing is completed by the payment completion information receiving means. Will be returned.
[0014]
(2) The read card information is transmitted to the outside by the card information transmission means, the information for which use is possible based on the information is received by the discrimination information receiving means, and the discrimination information is used for the use of the card. If the information indicates that the information cannot be displayed, the display means displays that information.
[0016]
(3) When it is judged that it is possible to use the card by the determination information receiving means, Ru purchases insertion is released by the release means.
[0017]
(4) When the purchased item case is returned to a predetermined place, the card is returned by the card return means.
(5) The purchased goods storage installed in the installation means is charged by the charging means.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a product used in the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, each product (or its packaging) is provided with a barcode 1 in which product information of the product is recorded so as to be machine-readable. The product information here is, for example, the product name or product code of the product.
[0019]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a card used in the present invention. The card 2 is used by a customer when purchasing a product, and is similar to a cash card that has been used in financial institutions. The card 2 is provided with a magnetic stripe 2a which is a magnetic recording layer. The ID of the owner of the card 2 is recorded on the magnetic stripe 2a.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is an external view showing an embodiment of a purchased item storage according to the present invention. This purchased item case 10 is carried by the customer (the purchaser of the item) when trying to purchase the item, like a conventional shopping cart or cart. The storage unit 11 is a part in which a product to be purchased is placed.
[0021]
A settlement processing unit 20 for performing settlement processing and the like is provided on the side surface portion of the purchase item storage 10. In addition, a battery 12 that supplies electric power for operating the checkout processing unit 20 is provided on the bottom surface of the purchased product case 10. Further, an interface unit 13 for transmitting information of the settlement processing unit 20 to the outside is provided.
[0022]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the settlement processing unit 20. The settlement processing unit 20 includes a control unit (CPU) 21 that controls the operation, and a sensor 22, a card reader 23, and a memory 24 that are electrically connected to the control unit 21 and operated by the control unit 21. The control unit 21 is electrically connected to the battery 12 and the interface unit 13 described above.
[0023]
The sensor 22 is for reading the barcode 1 attached to the product when the product is put in the storage unit 11.
The card reader 23 is for reading the card ownership difference ID recorded on the magnetic stripe 2 a of the card 2.
The memory 24 stores the price of the product for each product code, and temporarily stores information on the purchased product.
[0024]
Next, a product purchase system according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 5 is a view showing an embodiment when the purchased product case 10 of FIG. 3 is actually installed in a store. The purchase item storage 10 is disposed so as to overlap the interface unit 30 provided in the store. Here, the interface unit 30 is provided with a charger (not shown), and the battery 12 of the purchased item case 10 is charged while the purchased item case 10 is installed.
[0025]
Further, when the purchased product storage 10 is installed on the interface unit 30, the interface unit 30 and the interface unit 13 of the purchased product storage 10 are connected. As a result, information can be exchanged between the interface units 13 and 30. The information transmission / reception system may be any of optical, electrical or magnetic. Further, the interface unit 30 can exchange information with a host computer 40 that performs merchandise management on the store side.
[0026]
The purchased item case 10 is locked on the interface unit 30 and cannot be taken out freely. The customer causes the card reader 23 of the purchased item storage 10 to read the magnetic stripe 2a of his / her card 2 (FIG. 6). As a result, the control unit 21 reads the ID of the owner of the card 2 and transmits the information from the interface unit 13 to the host computer 40. Then, the lock of the purchase item storage 10 is released.
[0027]
A customer puts a product to be purchased into the storage unit 11 of the purchased product storage 10 while holding the purchased product storage 10. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the situation at this time. When the product is put into the purchased product storage 10, the barcode 1 of the product is read by the sensor 22, and the product information is recognized. And the control part 21 searches the price of the goods from the information memorize | stored in the memory 24. FIG. When the price of the product is recognized, the control unit 21 stores the product code, the product price, and the like in the memory 24 as purchase information.
[0028]
When another product is subsequently placed in the storage unit 11 of the purchased product storage 10, the product barcode 1 is read and the product code or product price of the product is recognized and the information is read. Is stored in the memory 24.
If the barcode 1 cannot be read even though the product has passed the sensor 22, a buzzer or the like is sounded to indicate that and the barcode 1 of the product is read again. To.
[0029]
The purchase information stored in the memory 24 is transmitted from the interface unit 13 to the host computer 40. Here, this purchase information is transmitted to the host computer 40 from the interface unit 13 every time a product is put into the storage unit 11 or collectively, or from the interface unit 13 of the purchased product storage 10 to the interface unit 30. The data is transferred and further transmitted from the interface unit 30 to the host computer 40.
[0030]
The host computer 40 associates the purchase information with the customer's ID, and charges the bank issuing the card 2 for the purchase price. On the bank side, the purchase price is deducted from the customer's account, and the amount is paid to the store. In addition, the host computer 40 aggregates sales of products based on this information.
[0031]
As a result of the above operation, the checkout process is performed by putting the product into the storage unit 11 of the purchased product storage 10, so that the customer does not need to go to the checkout place and checkout. Further, it is not necessary for the store side to always prepare a person for performing the settlement process.
In addition, it is preferable to set up a place for accepting the return of the product so that the product can be returned. For example, when it is desired to return a specific product, the product may be returned by taking the product to a place where the return is accepted and pressing a return button. At this time, the purchase information of the returned product may be deleted from the purchase information stored in the memory 24.
When the customer completes the purchase of the product, the customer returns the purchased product storage 10 to the original place. When the purchase item storage 10 is returned and the transmission of the purchase information is completed, the purchase information stored in the memory 24 is erased.
[0032]
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.
(1) After the card reader 23 of the purchase item storage 10 reads the magnetic stripe 2 a of the card 2, the control unit 21 transmits the ID of the owner of the card 2 to the host computer 40. The host computer 40 determines from the owner ID of the card 2 whether the card 2 can be used. For example, if a product has been purchased before, but the price has not been paid, it is determined that the card 2 cannot be used. Then, the host computer 40 transmits information that determines whether or not the card 2 can be used to the purchase item storage 10 (interface unit 13). When a display unit such as an LCD is provided in the purchase item storage 10 and information indicating that the card 2 cannot be used is received, the display unit displays the fact. At this time, the lock of the purchased item storage 10 is not released. On the other hand, when the information indicating that the card 2 can be used is received, the lock of the purchased product storage 10 is released.
[0033]
(2) An insertion slot for inserting the card 2 is provided in the purchased product case 10 so that the card 2 is stored in the purchased product case 10 while the customer uses the purchased product case 10. When the customer completes the purchase of the product, the purchase information is transmitted to the host computer 40, and when the host computer 40 completes the checkout process, the information indicating the completion is transmitted to the purchase product storage 10, and the purchase product storage 10 When this information is received, the card 2 is controlled to be returned from the insertion slot. Further, the card 2 may be returned when the purchased item case 10 is returned to a predetermined place. If it does in this way, purchased goods storage 10 after use will always be returned to a predetermined place.
[0034]
Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within an equivalent range.
For example, the product information attached to the product is not limited to the barcode 1 and may be an OCR or a non-contact IC.
In addition, in the embodiment, the purchased item case 10 is formed in a basket shape. However, when the purchased item case 10 becomes heavy by providing the checkout processing unit 20, a caster or the like is provided on the bottom portion to form a cart shape. Also good.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, (1) since the settlement process can be performed by storing the product in the purchased product compartment, the time required for the settlement can be shortened. Further, it is not necessary for the store side to always prepare a person dedicated to the checkout process. Thereby, the labor cost can be reduced. Furthermore, it is possible to improve customer convenience and ease congestion. Furthermore, there is no need to secure a settlement place, fixed costs can be reduced, and a wider space for displaying products can be secured. In addition, it is possible to perform a checkout process based on the purchase information transmitted from the purchase item storage. Further, it is possible to prevent unauthorized use of the card when the purchased goods are being used.
(2) When the card cannot be used, the fact is displayed so that the customer can be alerted.
[0036]
(3) Purchases can be given to customers only when the card can be used.
(4) Purchased goods storage after use is returned to a predetermined place.
(5) The battery can be charged when the purchase case is not in use.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a product used in the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a card used in the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an external view showing an embodiment of a purchase item storage according to the present invention.
4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a settlement processing unit 20. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment when the purchase item storage 10 of FIG. 3 is actually installed at a storefront;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state when information on the card 2 is read by the purchased product case 10;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state when a product to be purchased is put into the storage unit 11 of the purchased product storage 10;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Barcode 2 Card 10 Purchased goods storage 11 Storage part 12 Battery 13 Interface part 20 Settlement processing part 21 Control part 22 Sensor 23 Card reader 24 Memory

Claims (7)

A product with product information readable by a machine,
A card in which card information including an owner ID is recorded so as to be machine-readable;
The product purchaser is for carrying a product to be purchased while being carried, and is a purchase product case for performing a checkout process by placing the product to be purchased, and the card information including the owner ID is Card information reading means for reading the card information of the card recorded so as to be machine-readable, product storage means for temporarily storing a product to be purchased, and a product to which product information is machine-readable is stored in the product Product information reading means for reading the product information when put in the means, product price storage means for storing the price of the product corresponding to the product information of the product, and the product information read by the product information reading means And the price of the purchased product based on the price of the product corresponding to the product information stored in the product price storage means A purchase information storage means for storing the incoming information, the purchase information stored in the purchase information storing unit, and purchases put and a purchase information transmitting means for transmitting to the outside to perform the settlement process
A product purchase system using
Purchase information receiving means for receiving the purchase information transmitted by the purchase information transmitting means;
Based on the purchase information received by the purchase information receiving means, a checkout means for performing a checkout process,
The purchase goods storage is
Card insertion means for storing the card when the purchased item case is used;
Payment completion information receiving means for receiving information indicating that the payment processing by the payment means is completed;
A card return means for returning the card inserted into the card insertion means when the payment completion information receiving means receives information indicating that the payment process has been completed;
Product purchase system characterized by In the product purchase system according to claim 1,
The purchase goods storage is
Card information transmission means for transmitting the card information read by the card information reading means to the outside;
Discriminating information receiving means for receiving discriminating information determined based on whether or not the card can be used based on the card information transmitted by the card information transmitting means;
When the discrimination information received by the discrimination information receiving means is information indicating that the card cannot be used, the product purchasing system includes a display means for displaying the fact. In the product purchase system according to claim 2 ,
Installation means in which the purchased goods storage is installed to be usable;
After the card information is read by the card information reading means of the purchase item storage, the release means for releasing the purchase item storage from the installation means,
The release means releases the purchased goods storage from the installation means after the discrimination information receiving means of the purchased goods storage receives information that the card can be used. system. In the product purchase system according to claim 1 ,
The product return system, wherein the card return means returns the card when the purchase item case is returned to a predetermined place of the installation means. In the product purchase system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A product purchasing system comprising: charging means for charging the purchased goods case when the purchased goods case is installed in the installation means. In the product purchase system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The product information is recorded on a barcode or non-contact IC.
Product purchase system characterized by In the commodity purchase system according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The purchased goods storage should be cart-shaped
Product purchase system characterized by

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