JP3965172B2 - Product sales data processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a merchandise sales data processing apparatus that enables self-checkout.

  In the field of merchandise sales data processing devices such as POS terminals and the like, checkout, that is, settlement processing for purchased products and efficient delivery of purchased products to customers have become major issues from the past. Yes. For example, Patent Document 1 issued on March 3, 1995 proposes that a customer himself / herself reads a product code attached to a product. However, at the time of check-out, it is necessary to pay money to the store by cash or a credit card. The invention described in Patent Document 1 is also the same, but in the traditional merchandise sales data processing apparatus, the idea that the customer is responsible for the operation for payment of money to the store side is generally made. Absent.

  On the other hand, in recent years, IC cards that store money information having economic value equivalent to money, such as debit cards, have come into practical use. When using such an IC card, it is possible for the customer himself to perform an operation for paying money to the store side, which is actually performed. Also in the literature, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses a settlement process using a non-contact type IC card that stores money information (electronic money in Patent Document 2) having an economic value equivalent to money and a deposit process for the IC card. A merchandise sales data processing apparatus is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-057155 JP 2004-005034 A

  By using an IC card, a complete self-checkout can be realized. However, if the customer himself performs all operations for self-checkout, operational stress is placed on the customer. For this reason, it is desirable to provide the customer with operability that is as efficient as possible and less prone to error.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a customer with an operability that is efficient and less prone to error during self-checkout using a medium such as a non-contact type IC card.

The present invention provides a table (for example, a non-contact type IC card) provided with an IC chip having an RFID function provided on the upper surface of the table provided on the upper surface of the table. ) place a set portion for setting by placing a, the first between the first antenna the medium set in the set portion has a disposed on the upper surface of the table antenna to establish wireless communication via a reader writer to perform the changes and reading of financial information with money equivalent economic value the IC chip is freely store rewrite provided, on the lower surface of the table when the space for passing the products have a second antenna disposed is formed below the table item passes, storing the data of the product are assigned to the product Via the second antenna to establish communication with the FID tag, the provided reader for reading the data from the RFID tag, a total of one transaction prices of goods specified by the data to which the reader has read The first processing for calculating the amount is executed, and the reader / writer is driven and controlled so that the calculated amount of money information corresponding to the total amount is withdrawn from the medium, and the money information stored in the IC chip is updated. The second process is executed.

  According to the present invention, the upper side of the table is used as a medium setting space, and the lower side of the table is used as a commodity reading movement space. This makes it possible to provide customers with an efficient and error-free operability from the physical aspect, and simplifies the position where operations must be performed on the top and bottom of the table. Thus, it is possible to provide the customer with an operability that is efficient and less error-prone from an ideal side.

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

[Hardware configuration]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall appearance configuration of a checkout terminal 101 as a product sales data processing apparatus. As is clear from FIG. 1, the checkout terminal 101 according to the present embodiment has a new appearance as compared with the traditional POS terminal 1 (see FIG. 3). Schematically, the checkout terminal 101 is configured by attaching a display 103 to an upper part of a main body 102. The main body 102 has an external configuration in which a housing 106 is attached between the main body 102 and a curved plate 105 that extends in a curved shape from the rear end of the base plate 104 toward the front. Due to such a configuration, the housing 106 has a fan-shaped side surface.

  A part of the front side of the base plate 104 is exposed to the outside without being covered with the housing 106. A round frame 107 is drawn on a portion exposed to the outside of the base plate 104. The circular frame 107 provides a reference for a region through which a product is passed when reading data attached to a product (not shown), in this embodiment, data stored in an RFID tag (not shown) attached to the product.

  The housing 106 has a front panel 108 that forms an inclined front surface thereof. The front panel 108 is detachable with respect to other parts of the housing 106. A receipt issuing port 109 is formed in the front panel 108.

  The curved plate 105 has a table 110 at a position on the most front side as a tip portion thereof. A set portion 110 a is formed on the upper surface of the table 110. The setting unit 110a is used to place and set a medium having an RFID function, that is, a card 501 which is a non-contact type IC card in this embodiment. As is apparent from FIG. 1, the curved plate 105 overhangs from the housing 106 at the distal end side. Such an overhang portion of the curved plate 105 is positioned in a space above the round frame 107 drawn on the base plate 104. Therefore, a space between the round frame 107 of the base plate 104 and the overhang portion of the curved plate 105 is provided as a product passage region.

  An IC chip (not shown) is mounted on the card 501 set in the setting unit 110a, and money information having economic value equivalent to money is rewritably stored in a storage area of the IC chip. In addition, the storage area of the IC chip stores an ID code for identifying the card holder who owns the card 501 and other various data.

  The display device 103 is a flat display having a liquid crystal display panel 111. A touch panel 112 is attached to the liquid crystal display panel 111. Such a display 103 is an overhang portion of the curved plate 105 and is mounted on the back side of the set portion 110a.

  FIG. 2 is a front view showing the overall appearance configuration of the checkout terminal 101. The front view shown in FIG. 2 simply shows how the checkout terminal 101 is viewed from an operator, usually a customer. From the viewpoint of the operator, it can be seen that the checkout terminal 101 of the present embodiment has a new appearance as compared with the traditional POS terminal 1 (see FIG. 3).

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a comparison between the traditional POS terminal 1 and the checkout terminal 101 of the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 3, the functions of each unit included in the checkout terminal 101 of the present embodiment, that is, the “operation screen”, “card reading unit”, “product information reading unit”, and “receipt issuing unit” are set to POS. It can be easily grasped in comparison with the terminal 1.

  In the checkout terminal 101, the “operation screen” includes a liquid crystal display panel 111 and a touch panel 112 provided on the display device 103. This is no different from the traditional POS terminal 1.

  On the other hand, the checkout terminal 101 is provided with a reader / writer 201 (see FIG. 5) that performs wireless communication with the card 501 set in the setting unit 110a. Such a reader / writer 201 performs wireless communication with the card 501 via the first antenna 202 arranged on the upper surface of the set unit 110 a in the table 110. Therefore, the table 110 constitutes a “card reading unit”. As such a “card reading unit”, the POS terminal 1 is provided with a groove-shaped card reading unit. Therefore, as the external configuration of the “card reading unit”, the “card reading unit” of the checkout terminal 101 is greatly different from the “card reading unit” of the POS terminal 1.

  In this embodiment, as described above, product data is read by wireless communication with the RFID tag attached to the product. As a configuration for realizing this, a reader 203 is provided. The reader 203 performs wireless communication with the RFID via the second antenna 204 disposed on the lower surface of the table 110. Accordingly, the table 110 constitutes a “product information reading unit”. As such a “product information reading unit”, the POS terminal 1 includes a separate unit. Therefore, as the external configuration of the “product information reading unit”, the “product information reading unit” of the checkout terminal 101 is greatly different from the “product information reading unit” of the POS terminal 1.

  As a “receipt issuing unit”, the checkout terminal 101 has a slit-like receipt issuing port 109. The “receipt issuing unit” of the POS terminal 1 is also slit-shaped.

  Here, the reader / writer 201 accesses a storage area of the IC chip and reads out and changes the monetary information stored in the storage area for a medium realized in the form of the card 501. It is used as an aspect of a writer. That is, in this embodiment, since the card 501 is used as a medium, the reader / writer 201 is used as a reader / writer, and the setting unit 110a is employed as a setting unit for setting the medium. Therefore, the forms of the reader / writer 201 and the set unit 110a depend on the form of the medium. In this case, when carrying out the present invention, there is no restriction on the appearance of the medium. For example, not only a card type but also a medium having various appearance modes can be used. For example, the medium may have an external appearance like a mobile phone. Therefore, when it is assumed that a medium having an external appearance like a mobile phone is used, the setting unit 110a also has a structure suitable for mounting the mobile phone.

  In addition, the reader 203 accesses a storage area of the RFID tag and reads out data stored in the storage area, for example, a product code and a unit price of the product, for a product including the RFID tag. .

  As described above, the checkout terminal 101 and the POS terminal 1 are compared and contrasted with respect to individual elements of “operation screen”, “card reading unit”, “product information reading unit”, and “receipt issuing unit”. As for the overall appearance of both, as shown in FIG. 3, the difference between the checkout terminal 101 and the POS terminal 1 is extremely large.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the printer. The housing 106 contains a printer 113. The printer 113 includes a platen 114 that is rotatably supported and a thermal printer head 115 that is rotatably supported by the platen 114 and abuts against the platen 114. The printer 113 guides the receipt paper 117 wound and stored in a roll shape in the paper storage unit 116 between the platen 114 and the thermal printer head 115 with a guide roller 118 and guides it to the outside from the receipt issue port 109. In such a guide process of the receipt paper 117, predetermined items are printed on the receipt paper 117 by selective heat generation of a plurality of heating elements (not shown) included in the thermal printer head 115. Therefore, it is necessary to use thermal paper or the like as the receipt paper 117. Further, in the process of leading the printed receipt paper 117 to the outside by the thermal printer head 115, the receipt paper 117 is cut by the cutter 119 and issued as a receipt 120 from the receipt issuing port 109.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram of electrical connection of each part. A CPU 151 that executes various arithmetic processes and centrally controls each unit is provided. The CPU 151 is connected to a ROM 152 that stores fixed data such as a program and a RAM 153 that functions as a work area when the program is executed. Yes. The CPU 151 executes various arithmetic processes according to a program stored in the ROM 152, and drives and controls each unit while using the RAM 153 as a work area.

  As each unit controlled by the CPU 151, the reader / writer 201 and the reader 203 are connected to the CPU 151, the liquid crystal display panel 111 is connected via the display I / F 154, and the touch panel 112 is connected via the touch panel I / F 155. The printer 113 is connected via the printer I / F 156. The CPU 151 is also connected with a communication I / F 157, enabling data communication between the CPU 151 and an external device connected to the communication I / F 157, such as a store controller.

  The reader / writer 201 includes a card RFID wireless unit 205, and the card RFID wireless unit 205 realizes wireless communication with the non-contact type card 501 through the first antenna 202. That is, wireless communication between the reader / writer 201 and the card 501 is performed using RFID technology. In this case, since the communication distance is appropriately several mm to several cm, it is preferable to use the electromagnetic coupling type or electromagnetic induction type RFID technology. Therefore, the first antenna 202 is placed on the upper surface side of the table 110 on which the set unit 110a is arranged so that the separation distance from the card 501 set in the set unit 110a is about several mm to several cm. Has been placed.

  The reader 203 includes a product RFID wireless unit 206, and the product RFID wireless unit 206 realizes wireless communication with an RFID tag attached to the product via the second antenna 204. In this case, although a communication distance of about several tens of centimeters is required, if the communication distance is too long, useless reading is performed on another product that is not a product from which data is to be read. Therefore, it is preferable to use an electromagnetic induction system (for example, 13.56 MHz band is used) or a microwave system (for example, 2.45 GHz band is used) RFID technology. The second antenna 204 communicates well with the RFID tag for a product that passes through a product passing area, which is a space between the round frame 107 of the base plate 104 and the overhang portion of the curved plate 105. It is arranged on the lower surface side of the table 110 so as to be possible.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating another example of the electrical connection of each unit. In the example shown in FIG. 5, a reader / writer 201 that performs communication with a card 501 and a reader 203 that performs communication between products are provided as separate and independent devices. On the other hand, as another embodiment, the reader / writer 201 and the reader 203 may be configured as the same device. That is, the block diagram of FIG. 6 is basically the same as the block diagram of FIG. 5, but is different in that the reader / writer 201 and the reader 203 are replaced with a common reader / writer 251. The reader / writer 251 includes an RFID wireless unit 252, and the RFID wireless unit 252 realizes wireless communication between the contactless card 501 and the RFID tag attached to the product via the antenna 253. In this case, it is necessary to ensure a communication distance with the RFID tag attached to the product. Therefore, it is preferable to use an electromagnetic induction system (for example, 13.56 MHz band is used) or a microwave system (for example, 2.45 GHz band is used) RFID technology. The antenna 253 is embedded in the table 110 as an example. As another example, a space smaller than the set portion 110a may be formed in the center of the table 110, and the antenna 253 may be disposed in this space.

  FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram showing card information stored in the card 501, and FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram showing product information stored in an RFID tag attached to the product. As described above, when the reader / writer 201 and the reader 203 are shared by the same reader / writer 251 and the first antenna 202 and the second antenna 204 are shared by the same antenna 253, the received data is stored in the card. It is necessary to identify whether the data is from 501 or from the product. Therefore, in this embodiment, whether the received data is the data from the card 501 based on the specific attribute information stored in the IC chip of the card 501 and the specific attribute information stored in the RFID tag attached to the product. It was made to identify whether it was data from. As shown in FIG. 7A, the card 501 stores, for example, a card number 501a, amount data 501b that is the balance of the card 501, and customer data 501c, and attribute information 501d of “10” is stored. It is remembered. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, for example, an RFID tag attached to a product includes a product number 551a that defines a product code, amount data 551b that defines a unit price, details of the product, for example, specification information. In addition, product data 551c defining information relating to production and distribution is stored, and attribute information 551d of “20” is stored.

  Therefore, when the reader / writer 251 communicates with the card 501 or the product via the antenna 253, the communication message from the card 501 has the same content as the stored information of the card 501 shown in FIG. Is the same as the stored information of the commodity shown in FIG. Therefore, the CPU 151 refers to the received message received by the reader / writer 251, and if the attribute information 501 d of “10” is included, it is a communication message from the card 501 and includes the attribute information 551 d of “20”. If it is, it can be recognized that it is a communication message from the product.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the usage status of the memory (RAM 153) used when executing the merchandise sales data processing. The checkout terminal 101 stores program codes in the ROM 152 for executing various processes typified by the self checkout process. Therefore, according to such program code, the CPU 151 executes various arithmetic processes and drive control of each part as necessary while using the RAM 153 as a work area, and performs various processes typified by a self-checkout process. Execute. In such a self-checkout process by the CPU 151, a usage area as illustrated in FIG. 8 is generated in the RAM 153 for each transaction.

  That is, when the card 501 is placed and set on the set unit 110a, the reader / writer 201 (or the reader / writer 251) starts communication with the card 501 and stores it in the storage area of the IC chip included in the card 501. Information such as the card amount that is the balance of the card 501 is acquired. The CPU 151 stores the card information read by the reader / writer 201 (or the reader / writer 251) in the storage area of the RAM 153. Thus, the card information storage unit 153a is generated in the RAM 153.

  When the reader 203 (or the reader / writer 251) reads product data, the CPU 151 stores the read product data in the storage area of the RAM 153. The product information temporary storage unit 153b is generated in the RAM 153 in this way.

  The CPU 151 can obtain the unit price of the product based on the product data. For example, if the data stored in the RFID tag attached to the product itself includes the unit price of the product, the reader 203 (or the reader / writer 251) reads the product data and immediately determines the unit price of the product. Obtainable. The product information listed as an example in FIG. 7B includes the unit price as the amount data 551b. Therefore, if the reader 203 (or the reader / writer 251) can receive such data, the CPU 151 immediately The unit price of the product can be obtained. As another example, when the data stored in the RFID tag attached to the product includes the product code, information about the product specified by the product code is displayed, for example, by using the communication I / F 157. Through the inquiry to an external device such as a store controller, the unit price of the product can be obtained from the response by the inquiry. In any case, the CPU 151 calculates the total amount of products for which the reader 203 (or the reader / writer 251) has read data based on the unit price of the products. Then, the CPU 151 stores the calculated total amount in the storage area of the RAM 153. Thus, the total amount storage unit 153c is generated in the RAM 153.

[Self checkout process]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the self-checkout process. The self-checkout process is executed according to a self-checkout program stored in the ROM 152. Hereinafter, the self-checkout process will be described with reference to screen display examples of the display unit 103 illustrated in FIGS.

  Here, the following description is based on the premise that the reader / writer 201 communicates with the card 501 via the first antenna 202, and the reader 203 communicates with the RFID tag attached to the product via the second antenna 204. We are proceeding with the explanation. In contrast, even if the reader / writer 251 communicates with the card 501 or the RFID tag attached to the product via the antenna 253, the CPU 151 determines whether the communication is from the card 501 or the product. Can be identified. Accordingly, the reader / writer 251 communicates with the card 501 via the first antenna 202 and the reader / writer 251 communicates with the RFID tag attached to the product via the second antenna 204. A description of communication with the RFID tag attached to the card 501 or the product via the antenna 253 is omitted.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating the start screen of the self-checkout process on the display device 103. The checkout terminal 101 provides the customer with a screen illustrated in FIG. 11 as a start screen for the self-checkout process. On this start screen, a greeting “I welcome you” and a guidance “Please put a card” are displayed. The start screen provides a graphic display of the display unit 103 and the setting unit 110a, and in accordance with the guidance “please place the card”, shows the customer where to place the card 501 and guides the customer.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the image display process. The image display process is executed in parallel with the self-checkout process shown in FIG. 9 according to the image display program stored in the ROM 152. That is, although not shown in FIG. 9, in the self-checkout program, program code that instructs activation of the image display program illustrated in FIG. Therefore, when the self-checkout program shown in FIG. 9 is started, the CPU 151 starts the image display program shown in FIG. In accordance with this image display program, the CPU 151 displays a start screen on the liquid crystal display panel 111 of the display 103 (step S201). The screen displayed in this way is the start screen illustrated in FIG.

  The screen of the display 103 illustrated in FIG. 11 changes according to the occurrence of a certain event. That is, in the image display process of FIG. 10, the CPU 151 monitors the occurrence of an event (step S202). When an event occurs (Y in step S202), the generated event is analyzed (step S203). Then, it is determined whether the event that has occurred is settlement (step S204). If it is not settlement (N in step S204), a screen corresponding to the analysis content in step S203 is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 111 (step S204). S205). On the other hand, when it is determined that the event that has occurred has been settled (Y in step S204), the display screen of the display device 103 is switched to a settlement end screen to be described later (step S206), and a predetermined time has passed. After (step S207), the display returns to the disclosure screen display (Y in step S207). Here, the concept of “settlement” determined in step S204 will be described in detail when the processing from step S113 to step S114 in FIG. 9 is described.

  Returning to the description of the self-checkout process shown in FIG. As the self-checkout process, first, it is determined whether or not the card 501 is set in the setting unit 110a (step S101). This determination is made based on whether the reader / writer 201 has established communication with the card 501. That is, the CPU 151 keeps the reader / writer 201 in a driving state during the execution of the self-checkout process. The reader / writer 201 maintained in the driving state is in a state in which a current is constantly supplied to the first antenna 202. Therefore, when the card 501 is set in the setting unit 110a in this state, communication by electromagnetic coupling or electromagnetic induction is established between the reader / writer 201 and the card 501, and a signal from the card 501 can be received. Therefore, when the CPU 151 confirms reception of the signal from the card 501, in step S101, the CPU 151 determines that the card 501 is set to 110 in the setting unit (Y in step S101).

  The determination that the card 501 is set to 110 in the setting unit (Y in step S101) is an occurrence of an event for the screen display process shown in FIG. Therefore, the CPU 151 recognizes the occurrence of an event in step S202 in FIG. 10 (Y in step S202). In response to this, the CPU 151 performs event analysis (step S203), and switches the screen of the display 103 to the screen illustrated in FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a schematic view illustrating the screen of the display unit 103 when the card 501 is set in the setting unit 110a. In this screen example, a balance display field 301 is displayed together with a display of “card balance”. Then, on the screen, a guidance “Please pass the product tag (RFID) upward in the round frame” is displayed. In addition, the screen provides a graphic display of the product passing over the round frame 107 drawn on the base plate 104, so that “the product tag (RFID) faces upward and passes through the round frame. In accordance with the guidance “Please let me”, the customer is shown where the card 501 should be passed, and the customer is guided.

  In the screen illustrated in FIG. 12, a cancel button 302 marked “Cancel” and a call button 303 marked “Call” are displayed. These cancel button 302 or call button 303 appear as buttons that can be touch-inputted by the touch panel 112. Therefore, when the cancel button 302 or the call button 303 is touch-inputted, the touch panel 112 outputs the position information, and the CPU 151 recognizes the touch input of the cancel button 302 or the call button 303 accordingly. Therefore, when the cancel button 302 is touched (Y in step S115), the CPU 151 executes cancel processing of the processing operation so far (step S116), and when the call button 303 is touched (step S116). (Y in S115), the salesclerk calling process is executed (step S116).

  Returning to the description of the self-checkout process shown in FIG. When the CPU 151 determines that the card 501 is set in the setting unit 110a (Y in step S101), the CPU 151 reads the amount stored as a balance among the data stored in the storage area of the IC chip included in the card 501 ( Step S102). This amount is the card balance. Therefore, the CPU 151 stores the read card balance in the card information storage unit 153a (see FIG. 8) of the RAM 153, and displays the card balance in the balance display field 301 displayed on the display unit 103. In the example shown in FIG. 12, the card balance is 5200 yen.

  Following the process of step S102, the CPU 151 proceeds to determination whether the RFID tag attached to the product has been read (step S103). This determination is made based on whether the reader 203 has established communication with the RFID tag attached to the product. That is, the CPU 151 keeps the reader 203 in a driving state when executing the self-checkout process. The reader 203 maintained in the driving state is in a state in which a current is constantly passed through the second antenna 204. In this state, when the product is passed through the space between the round frame 107 of the base plate 104 and the overhang portion of the curved plate 105 provided as a product passage area, the RFID tag attached to the product and the reader 203 Communication with the product is established, and the product data stored in the RFID tag is read by the reader 203. Therefore, when confirming reception of the signal from the RFID, the CPU 151 determines that the RFID tag has been read (Y in step S103).

  The determination that the RFID tag has been read (Y in step S103) is the occurrence of an event for the screen display process shown in FIG. Therefore, the CPU 151 recognizes the occurrence of an event in step S202 in FIG. 10 (Y in step S202). In response to this, the CPU 151 performs event analysis (step S203) and switches the screen of the display 103 to the screen illustrated in FIG.

  FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating the screen of the display 103 when the reader 203 reads can coffee data. The screen illustrated in FIG. 13 transitioned from the screen illustrated in FIG. 12 includes a product information display column 304 for displaying the product name and its amount, a total amount display column 305 for displaying the total amount, and a cancel button. In addition to 302 and the call button 303, a settlement button 306 labeled “settlement” appears. In addition, the screen illustrated in FIG. 13 also displays a guidance “When you have finished registering the product, please confirm the amount and press the checkout button”. Among these screen appearance items, the settlement button 306 appears as a button that can be touch-inputted by the touch panel 112, like the cancel button 302 and the call button 303. Therefore, when the settlement button 306 is touch-inputted, the touch panel 112 outputs the position information, and the CPU 151 recognizes the touch input of the settlement button 306 accordingly. Therefore, when the settlement button 306 is touch-inputted (Y in step S110), the CPU 151 executes processing from step S111 to step S114. This process will be described later.

  Returning to the description of the self-checkout process shown in FIG. When the CPU 151 determines that the RFID tag has been read, the product data has already been read by the reader 203. Therefore, the CPU 151 stores the product data read by the reader 203 in the product information temporary storage unit 153b set in the RAM 153 (step S104). The product data in this case is, for example, a product name and a unit price.

  As another example, it is assumed that the product code of the product is stored in the RFID tag attached to the product. In this case, it is necessary to search for the product name and unit price using the product code as a key. As an example, if the checkout terminal 101 itself has a PLU or an external device that can communicate with the checkout terminal 101 via a communication I / F, for example, a store controller or the like adopts a configuration in which the PLU has a PLU, The product name and unit price of the product can be obtained using the product code acquired from the key. In the process of step S104, the product name and unit price obtained in this way may be stored in the product information temporary storage unit 153b.

  Subsequently, the CPU 151 determines whether or not the card 501 is placed and set on the setting unit 110a (step S105), on condition that the card 501 is set (Y in step S105), And the total amount calculated is written in the total amount storage unit 153c set in the RAM 153 (step S106).

  Then, the CPU 151 determines whether or not the amount stored in the card read in step S102, that is, the card balance exceeds the total amount calculated in step S105 (step S107). If the determination result shows that the balance of the card 501 exceeds the total amount (Y in step S107), the product information temporary storage in the RAM 153 is displayed in the product information display column 304 shown in FIG. The product name and unit price of the product data stored in the unit 153b are displayed (step S108). Then, the total amount stored in the total amount storage unit 153c of the RAM 153 is displayed in the total amount display field 305 shown in FIG. 13 (step S109).

  Here, the screen format itself illustrated in FIG. 13 is caused to appear by the CPU 151 driving and controlling the liquid crystal display panel 111 in accordance with the description in step S205 of the image display program showing the processing contents in FIG. On the other hand, the product name and unit price displayed in the product information display column 304 are controlled by the CPU 151 to drive the liquid crystal display panel 111 in accordance with the descriptions in steps S108 and S109 of the self-checkout program showing the processing contents in FIG. And appear. And the example shown in FIG. 13 has shown the screen display example of the display 103 in such a case supposing the situation where the data which RFID which attached | subjected to can coffee memorize | stored were read by the reader 203. FIG. Therefore, “can coffee” “120 yen” is displayed in the product information display field 304, and “120 yen” is displayed in the total amount display field 305.

  After the process of step S109, the process of the CPU 151 returns to the process of step S103, that is, the determination process of whether or not the RFID tag has been read. Therefore, as long as any one of the cancel button 302, the call button 303, or the settlement button 306 is not touch-input, the product data input process is repeated. On the other hand, until it is determined in step S103 that the RFID tag has been read (N in step S103), it is determined whether or not the settlement button 306 is touch-input (step S110). When the touch input of the settlement button 306 is determined (Y in step S110), the settlement process is executed (step S111 to step S114). This settlement process will be described later. On the other hand, if the touch input of the settlement button 306 is not determined (N in step S110), it is determined whether another button, that is, the cancel button 302 or the call button 303 is touch-input (step S115). If the touch input of another button is determined (Y in step S115), the process corresponding to the input button, that is, if the cancel button 302 is touched (Y in step S115), the process so far An operation canceling process is executed (step S116), and when the call button 303 is touched (Y in step S115), a salesclerk calling process is executed (step S116). On the other hand, if the touch input of another button is not determined (N of step S115), the process returns to the process of step S103, that is, the determination process of whether or not the RFID tag has been read.

  Here, in the self-checkout process of the present embodiment, it is assumed that the card 501 is continuously placed on the set unit 110a. Therefore, as described above, when the CPU 151 determines that the RFID tag has been read in step S103 (Y in step S103), the CPU 151 determines whether or not the card 501 is placed and set on the setting unit 110a ( Step S105). As a result of the determination, if it is determined that the card 501 is not set (N in step S105), the data is cleared from the card information storage unit 153a, the product information temporary storage unit 153b, and the total amount storage unit 153c in the RAM 153. (Step S117), and the process ends.

  Also, if the card balance exceeds the purchase amount, the transaction is no longer established. Therefore, as described above, in step S107, it is determined whether or not the card balance read in step S102 exceeds the total amount calculated in step S105. If it is determined that the balance of the card 501 is less than the total amount (N in step S107), the display 103 indicates that the card amount is insufficient and indicates to the customer. Notification (step S118), the unit price of the product for which it was determined that the RFID tag was read in step S103 immediately before is subtracted from the total amount stored in the total amount storage unit 153c of the RAM 153 (step S119), and the processing in step S103 That is, the process returns to the determination process of whether or not the RFID tag has been read. In this state, it is possible to purchase a product with a unit price such that the total purchase amount does not exceed the card balance, or it is possible to perform settlement by touch-inputting the settlement button 306.

  14 to 16 exemplify screen transitions when product data is input one after another.

  FIG. 14 is a schematic view illustrating the screen of the display when the reader 203 reads rice ball data following the can coffee. When rice balls are passed through the space between the round frame 107 of the base plate 104 and the overhanging portion of the curved plate 105, which is provided as a product passage area, following the can coffee, the RFID tag attached to the rice ball and the reader Communication with 203 is established, and the rice ball data stored in the RFID tag is read by the reader 203. Thereby, the processing from step S103 to step S109 in FIG. 9 is repeated, and the processing from step S201 to step S205 in FIG. 10 is repeated during these processing. As a result, the product information display field 304 is further increased as the display of the display 103 by the processing of step S108 in FIG. 9, and the first level “can coffee” “120 yen” is displayed together with the second level. “Onigiri” and “150 yen” are displayed on the eyes. Then, in step S106 in FIG. 9, the total amount stored in the total amount storage unit 153c of the RAM 153, in this case, 120 yen which is the amount of can coffee, 150 yen which is the amount of rice balls is added 270 Yen is obtained as the total amount so far, and this 270 yen is stored in the total amount storage unit 153c. As a result, the amount in the total amount display field 305 displayed on the display unit 103 is 270 yen in step S109 in FIG.

  FIG. 15 is a schematic view illustrating the screen of the display unit when the reader 203 reads the data of the lunch box following the rice ball. Following the rice ball, when the lunch box is passed through the space between the round frame 107 of the base plate 104 and the overhanging portion of the curved plate 105, which is provided as a product passage area, the RFID tag attached to the lunch box and the reader 203 Communication with the device is established, and the data of the lunch box stored in the RFID tag is read by the reader 203. Thereby, the processing from step S103 to step S109 in FIG. 9 is repeated, and the processing from step S201 to step S205 in FIG. 10 is repeated during these processing. As a result, the product information display field 304 is further increased as the display of the display 103 by the process of step S108 in FIG. 9, and the first level “can coffee” “120 yen” and the second level “ Along with the display of “rice ball” and “150 yen”, the display of “bento” and “480 yen” is made in the third row. In step S106 in FIG. 9, 480 yen, which is the amount of the lunch box, is added to the total amount stored in the total amount storage unit 153c of the RAM 153, in this case, 270 yen, which is the amount of can coffee and rice balls. Then, 750 yen is obtained as the total amount so far, and this 750 yen is stored in the total amount storage unit 153c. Thereby, the amount in the total amount display column 305 displayed on the display unit 103 is 750 yen in step S109 in FIG.

  FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating the screen of the display when the reader 203 reads the magazine data following the lunch box. Following the lunch box, when the magazine is passed through the space between the round frame 107 of the base plate 104 and the overhanging portion of the curved plate 105 provided as a product passage area, the RFID tag attached to the magazine and the reader 203 Communication with the user is established, and magazine data stored in the RFID tag is read by the reader 203. Thereby, the processing from step S103 to step S109 in FIG. 9 is repeated, and the processing from step S201 to step S205 in FIG. 10 is repeated during these processing. As a result, the product information display field 304 is further increased as the display of the display 103 by the process of step S108 in FIG. 9, and the first level “can coffee” “120 yen” and the second level “ Onigiri, “150 yen”, “bento”, “480 yen” in the third row, and “magazine”, “500 yen” in the fourth row are displayed. In step S106 in FIG. 9, the total amount stored in the total amount storage unit 153c of the RAM 153, in this case, the amount of 750 yen that is the amount of can coffee, rice balls, and the lunch box is 500 yen that is the amount of the magazine. Is added to obtain 1250 yen as the total amount so far, and this 1250 yen is stored in the total amount storage unit 153c. Thereby, the amount in the total amount display column 305 displayed on the display unit 103 is 1250 yen in step S109 in FIG.

  The settlement process will be described. Until it is determined in step S103 that the RFID tag has been read (N in step S103), it is determined whether or not the settlement button 306 has been touched (step S110). As a result of this determination, the touch input of the settlement button 306 is determined. Is determined (Y in step S110), a settlement process is executed (steps S111 to S114). That is, the CPU 151 determines whether or not the card 501 is placed and set on the setting unit 110a (step S111), and the card balance is set on the condition that the card 501 is set (Y in step S111). An amount of money obtained by subtracting the total amount of money is calculated (step S112). The card balance in this case is the card balance read from the card 501 in step S102 and stored in the card information storage unit 153a (see FIG. 8) of the RAM 153. The total amount is the total amount written in the total amount storage unit 153c of the RAM 153 in step S106.

  After calculating the amount obtained by subtracting the total amount from the card balance in step S112, the CPU 151 writes the amount in the card 501 (step S113). That is, the CPU 151 drives and controls the reader / writer 201 to access the storage area of the IC chip included in the card 501 placed and set on the set unit 110a, and among the data stored in the storage area The amount obtained by subtracting the amount calculated in step S112 from the amount stored as the balance is stored as a new balance. However, the processing contents described here are conceptual processing contents to some extent, and as a result, the card balance stored in the card 501 may be an amount obtained by subtracting the amount calculated in step S112. More specific processing contents are often determined by the standard or data structure of the card 501.

  As another embodiment, the card balance stored in the card 501 does not have to be a numerical value as a balance, and may be history information of an amount withdrawn from the card 501, for example. In this case, as an example, only the amount to be deducted from the card 501, for example, the total amount stored in the total amount storage unit 153 c is added to the card 501. If the amount charged in advance to the card 501 and the history of the amount to be deducted from the card 501 are known, the balance of the card 501 is automatically calculated by subtracting all the amounts to be deducted from the charged amount. Is possible. Therefore, when such a process is executed, it is not necessary to subtract the total amount from the card balance, so the process of step S112 becomes unnecessary.

  As described above, when the CPU 151 determines the touch input of the settlement button 306 (Y in step S110), the CPU 151 determines whether or not the card 501 is placed and set on the setting unit 110a before entering the settlement process. Is performed (step S111). As a result of the determination, if it is determined that the card 501 is not set (N in step S111), the data is cleared from the card information storage unit 153a, the product information temporary storage unit 153b, and the total amount storage unit 153c in the RAM 153. (Step S117), and the process ends.

  Here, the end of the writing process to the card 501 in step S113 is the occurrence of an event for the screen display process shown in FIG. Therefore, the CPU 151 recognizes the occurrence of an event in step S202 in FIG. 10 (Y in step S202). In response to this, the CPU 151 performs event analysis (step S203). As a result, the CPU 151 determines that the event is a settlement (Y in step S204). That is, the concept of “settlement” in step S204 is equivalent to the completion of the writing process to the card 501 in step S113 after the settlement button 306 is touch-inputted. Therefore, the CPU 151 switches the screen of the display unit 103 to the settlement end screen illustrated in FIG.

  FIG. 17 is a schematic view illustrating the screen of the display device 103 (the settlement end screen) when the settlement process is completed. On the checkout end screen, a message “Checkout is complete. Please take your receipt and card.” And a greeting “Thank you” are displayed. In addition, the guidance “Please fill in next to the bag” is displayed together with a graphic display of an arrow leading to the place to be bagged to guide the customer to the place to be bagged.

  Then, in the self-checkout process shown in FIG. 9, following the process of writing the card balance to the card 501 (step S113), the CPU 151 controls the drive of the printer 113 and issues the receipt 120 (step S114). At this time, the print contents of the receipt 120 are determined with reference to the storage contents of the product information temporary storage unit 153b and the total amount storage unit 153c of the RAM 153. Thus, if the receipt 120 is printed in step S114, the self-checkout process in one transaction is completed.

[Summary]
As described above, according to the checkout terminal 101 of the present embodiment, the means for executing the first process for calculating the total amount in one transaction for the price of the product specified by the data read by the reader 203 ( Step S106), and the second process of updating the money information stored in the IC chip by drivingly controlling the reader / writer 201 so as to withdraw the money information equivalent to the calculated total amount from the card 501 is executed. Means (step S113). Then, the upper side of the table 110 is used as a set space for the card 501, and the lower side of the table 110 is used as a commodity reading movement space. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the line of sight and the movement of the hand during the operation for self-checkout, and it is possible to provide the customer with an operability that is efficient and less prone to errors from the physical side. In addition, the positions where the operation must be performed can be simplified on the top and bottom of the table 110, and the operability that is efficient and less likely to cause errors from the conceptual aspect can be provided to the customer.

  Further, if the upper side of the table 110 is used as a set space for the card 501 and the lower side of the table 110 is used as a commodity reading movement space, the space can be used efficiently.

  In addition, since the setting unit 110a is arranged on the upper surface of the table 110, the visibility of the card 501 from the customer is improved, and the card 501 is forgotten to be removed after the reliable setting of the card 501 and the self-checkout operation. Various advantages arise, such as prevention.

  In addition, the space below the table 110 is easy to move products naturally, so that the operability is good.

  In addition, the checkout terminal 101 of the present embodiment uses the upper side of the table 110 as a set space for the card 501 and the lower side of the table 110 as a product reading and moving space. The antenna 202 is disposed on the upper surface side of the table 110, and the second antenna 204 is disposed on the lower surface side of the table 110. As a result, both the communication between the reader / writer 201 and the card 501 and the communication between the reader 203 and the RFID tag attached to the product are satisfactorily performed.

  In addition, the checkout terminal 101 according to the present embodiment uses the upper side of the table 110 as a set space for the card 501 and the lower side of the table 110 as a reading movement space for products. The writer 201 and the reader 203 are shared by the reader / writer 251 that is the same device, the first antenna 202 and the second antenna 204 are shared by the same antenna 253, and the IC chip of the card 501 stores Based on the attribute information 501d and the unique attribute information 551d stored in the RFID tag attached to the product, each read data is identified as to the card 501 or the product. As a result, the number of parts can be reduced by sharing the equipment, and the manufacturing process can be reduced, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the part cost can be reduced.

  The checkout terminal 101 of the present embodiment includes a printer 113 that prints on the receipt paper 117 and issues the printed receipt paper 117 as a receipt 120 from the receipt issuing port 109. The second process is a printer And a process of issuing a receipt 120 of the transaction by driving and controlling 113. Thereby, the receipt 120 can be issued at the time of self-checkout. In such a configuration, since the receipt issuing port 109 is arranged below the table 110, the apparatus can be made more compact and smart without increasing the size of the apparatus in the left-right direction.

  In addition, the checkout terminal 101 of the present embodiment includes the display device 103 and displays various information on the display device 103. Therefore, it is easy to guide the customer and there is no mistake from this aspect. Support for self-checkout.

  In addition, the checkout terminal 101 of the present embodiment has a touch panel 112 on the display surface of the display device 103, and has means (step S111) for declaring the end of one transaction by a touch operation on the touch panel 112. The second process is executed according to the end declaration of one transaction (steps S112 to S114). Thereby, an operation device such as a keyboard is not required, and a more compact and smart device can be obtained.

  Further, in the checkout terminal 101 of the present embodiment, since the display device 103 is disposed on the back side of the table 110, the space for setting the card 501 on the setting unit 110a is secured while the horizontal direction is maintained. Therefore, the device can be made more compact and smart without increasing the size of the device. In addition, since the display device 103 does not interfere with the placement operability of the card 501 with respect to the set unit 110a and does not interfere with the visibility of the card 501 set in the set unit 110a, the card 501 is reliably set and the self-checkout operation ends. Various advantages such as prevention of forgetting to remove the card 501 later occur.

  The table 110, the receipt issuing port 109, and the display device 103 are arranged with their left and right center positions aligned, so that the device is made more compact and smart without increasing the size in the left-right direction. Can do. In addition, the line of sight and hand movement can be reduced during the operation for self-checkout, and the operability that is more efficient and less prone to errors from the physical side can be provided to the customer.

1 is a perspective view showing an overall appearance configuration of a merchandise sales data processing apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention. It is the front view. It is a schematic diagram which compares and compares the traditional merchandise sales data processing apparatus (POS terminal) and the merchandise sales data processing apparatus of this Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of a printer. It is a block diagram of the electrical connection of each part. It is a block diagram which shows another example of the electrical connection of each part. (A) is a schematic diagram of card information stored in a medium (a card which is a non-contact type IC card), and (b) is a schematic diagram illustrating product information stored in an RFID tag attached to a product. It is a schematic diagram which shows the use condition of the memory used at the time of execution of merchandise sales data processing. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a self-checkout process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a screen display process. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the start screen of the self-checkout process in a display. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the screen of the indicator at the time of setting a medium (card which is a non-contact type IC card) in a set part. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the screen of the indicator at the time of making a reader read the data of can coffee. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the screen of the indicator at the time of making a reader read the data of rice balls following can coffee. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the screen of the indicator at the time of making a reader read the data of a lunch box following a rice ball. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the screen of the indicator at the time of making a reader read the data of a magazine following a lunch box. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the screen of the display device when a payment process is complete | finished.

Explanation of symbols

103: Display, 109: Receipt issuing port, 110: Table, 110a: Set unit, 112: Touch panel, 113: Printer, 117: Receipt paper, 120: Receipt, 201: Reader / writer, 202: First antenna, 203 : Reader, 204: Second antenna, 251: Reader / writer, 253: Antenna, 501: Medium (card)

Claims (8)

A table that defines a space that extends toward the operator and allows goods to pass downward;
A set unit for placing and setting a medium mounted with an IC chip having an RFID function, which is disposed on the upper surface of the table;
Having a first antenna disposed on the upper surface of the table, establishing the wireless communication via the first antenna between the medium set in the set portion, the IC chip is rewritten A reader / writer for reading and changing monetary information having an economic value equivalent to money stored freely;
When a product passes through a space for passing the product formed below the table, the product has a second antenna disposed on the lower surface side of the table, and the data of the product is attached to the product. a reader establishes communication via the second antenna with the RFID tag, reads the data from the RFID tag for storing,
Means for executing a first process for calculating a total amount in one transaction for the price of the product specified by the data read by the reader;
Means for performing a second process of driving and controlling the reader / writer so as to deduct money information corresponding to the calculated total amount from the medium and updating the money information stored in the IC chip;
A product sales data processing apparatus comprising: A printer that prints on receipt paper and issues the printed receipt paper as a receipt from the receipt issuing port,
The second process includes a process of driving and controlling the printer to issue a receipt of the transaction.
The merchandise sales data processing apparatus according to claim 1 . The merchandise sales data processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the receipt issuing port is disposed below the table. An indicator,
Means for displaying various information on the display;
The product sales data processing device according to claim 2 or 3 . A touch panel disposed on the display surface of the display;
Means for declaring the end of one transaction by touching the touch panel;
And executing the second process in response to an end declaration of the one transaction.
The merchandise sales data processing apparatus according to claim 4 . The merchandise sales data processing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein the display is disposed on the back side of the table. The table and the receipt issuing port are arranged with their respective left and right center positions aligned,
The merchandise sales data processing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 . The table, the receipt issuing port, and the indicator are arranged with their left and right center positions aligned,
The merchandise sales data processing apparatus according to claim 4, 5 or 6 .

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