JP5007314B2 - Information input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information input device used in a convenience store or the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a handy bar code reader used in a convenience store or the like is connected to a POS (Point Of Sale) terminal via a communication cable. Some barcode readers are connected to the POS terminal by wireless means such as an RF (Radio Frequency) method or an infrared method.

  However, in the barcode reader connected to the POS terminal via the communication cable, when the operator performs the barcode reading operation, the communication cable becomes an obstacle and the efficiency of the reading operation is lowered. In addition, the barcode reader connected to the POS terminal by wireless means can set the channel in order to prevent interference between the devices when there are a plurality of adjacent devices communicating by wireless means. Is indispensable and takes time to introduce. Further, in wireless communication with a POS terminal by wireless means, it is difficult to limit the communication path, and there is a risk of information leakage.

  In recent years, a so-called human body communication system that uses a human body as a communication medium without using a communication cable has been put into practical use (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). By using such a human body communication system for a POS terminal, a communication cable is not necessary, so that the degree of freedom in handling the barcode reader is improved and the communication path can be limited by using the human body as a medium. Therefore, the risk of information leakage can be reduced.

  However, when the techniques described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are used for a POS terminal, barcode reading is performed regardless of whether or not communication with a POS terminal using a human body as a medium is performed. There is a problem that power consumed by reading is large.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information input device that can save power consumed by reading.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention includes an electrode provided on a main body, a communication unit that communicates with a host device using a human body in contact with or close to the electrode as a medium, and the communication unit. Reading means for reading information to be transmitted to the host device, control means for setting the reading means to an operating state in which information can be read only during communication with the host device by the communication means, and the operating state Transmission means for transmitting the information read by the reading means to the host device via the communication means.

  Since the information input device according to the present invention performs reading only while being held by an operator's hand, there is an effect that the power consumed by the reading can be saved.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overview of a handy reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the handy reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a method of communicating with the POS terminal. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a method for communicating with the POS terminal. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the basic principle of BAN. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the basic principle of current system human body communication. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the basic principle of voltage (electric field) type human body communication. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the handy reading device. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of reading processing of the handy reading device.

  Exemplary embodiments of an information input device according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, an example in which the information input device according to the present invention is applied to a handy reading device that can be grasped by an operator with one hand will be described. However, the human body is used as a medium to communicate with a host device. If there is, it is not limited to this.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external form of a handy reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. A handy reading device 100 according to the present embodiment is provided in a case 101, a case 101, an operator grasping the handy reading device 100 with one hand, and a grasping unit (main body) 102. And an electrode 103 for transmitting and receiving information.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the handy reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The handy reading device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, a barcode reading unit 204, a communication unit 205, a battery 206, and an antenna 207. Each component included in the handy reading device 100 is connected to a communicable state via the bus 208.

  The battery 206 supplies power to each component included in the handy reading device 100 via the bus 208 and serves as a power source of the present apparatus.

  The communication unit 205 communicates with the outside such as a POS (Point Of Sale) terminal (higher-order device) using a human body in contact with or close to the electrode 103 provided in the grasping unit 102 as a medium by a human body communication method.

  Here, a method in which the communication unit 205 communicates with the POS terminal 300 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. 3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams of a method of communicating with the POS terminal 300. FIG. As described above, the communication unit 205 of the handy reading device 100 according to the present embodiment employs a so-called human body communication method. From the handy reading device 100 to the POS terminal 300, as shown in FIG. 3, the operator's human body 303, the electrode 301 wired to the POS terminal 300, and the connection cable 302 for connecting the electrode 301 and the POS terminal 300 are connected in this order. Has been.

  Therefore, the communication unit 205 secures a communication path from the handy reading device 100 to the POS terminal 300 by the operator standing on the electrode 301 and grasping the grasping unit 102 as shown in FIG. The communication with 300 can be performed. That is, when the operator does not grasp the handy reading device 100 or stands at a position off the electrode 301 placed in the work area even if grasped, the communication path is not secured. The communication unit 205 cannot communicate with the POS terminal 300.

  Here, the basic principle of the human body communication system will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the basic principle of BAN. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the basic principle of current system human body communication. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the basic principle of voltage (electric field) type human body communication.

  BAN (Body Area Network) is a very short-range wireless communication network for medical care and healthcare. The short-range wireless communication technology has a concept of PAN (Personal Area Network). As shown in FIG. 5, the BAN is used in a device used in a portion closer to the human body and a device used in the human body. Wireless communication technology. More specifically, the BAN is mainly a device (wearable device) worn by a person such as a sweat sensor, a gateway device to a WAN (World Area Network) (for example, a mobile phone), and a sensor such as a pulse and body temperature. When performing wireless communication with the outside, as well as when connected to the outside to communicate with external devices (implant devices) such as cardiac pacemakers, capsule endoscopes, blood flow sensors, etc. There is.

  The human body communication system is roughly classified into two types: current system human body communication (shown in FIG. 6) and voltage (electric field) system human body communication (shown in FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 6, current-type human body communication is wireless communication in which information is exchanged between a transceiver 602 worn by an operator and an external device 605 by causing a signal current 606 to flow through the human body 601. . More specifically, the current-type human body communication is a transmitter / receiver including a negative electrode 603 connected to a ground line 607 connected to the ground ground 609 using a human body 601 as a medium and a positive electrode 604 receiving a signal current 606. When an operator wearing the 602 touches the electrode 606 provided in the external device 605, a signal current is passed through the human body 601 to exchange information between the transceiver 602 and the external device 605. It is assumed that the external device 605 is connected to the earth ground 609 via the ground line 608.

  As shown in FIG. 7, voltage (electric field) type human body communication is performed by generating a signal electric field 711 on the human body 701 between the plus and minus electrodes 704 included in the transceiver 702 and the transceiver 705 worn by the operator. This is wireless communication in which information is exchanged between the transceiver 702 and the transceiver 705. More specifically, voltage (electric field) type human body communication includes a negative electrode 703 connected to a ground line 708 connected to the ground ground 710 using air as a medium and a positive electrode 704 that generates a signal electric field 711. When an operator wearing the transceiver 702 touches the positive electrode 707 provided in the other transceiver 705, a signal electric field 711 is generated in the human body 701 to transmit information between the transceiver 702 and the transceiver 705. To communicate. Similar to the transmitter / receiver 702, the transmitter / receiver 705 includes a negative electrode 706 connected to a ground line 709 connected to the ground ground 710 using air as a medium.

  The barcode reading unit 204 is supplied with power from the battery 206, and communicates with the communication unit 205 such as barcode information (code information) obtained by decoding a barcode or the like (optical symbol) attached to a product such as a convenience store. Information to be transmitted to the POS terminal 300 via the LED, and includes LED (Light Emitting Diode) illumination, CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and a decoder that emit light for reading the barcode.

  In this embodiment, an example in which an optical reading process is performed in which code information obtained by irradiating an optical symbol with light and decoding the optical symbol from the reflected light is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. For example, the present invention can be applied to a handy reading device that performs reading processing for reading data stored in a radio tag such as an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 controls the operation of the handy reading device 100.

  A ROM (Read Only Memory) 202 is a read only memory that stores an operation program and the like of the handy reading device 100.

  A RAM (Random Access Memory) 203 stores various information such as barcode information in a rewritable manner.

  Next, using FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, a characteristic function provided in the handy reading apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment among the functions that the operation program stored in the ROM 202 causes the CPU 201 to execute will be described. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the handy reading device. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of reading processing by the handy reading device.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the handy reading device 100 realizes a control unit 801 and a transmission unit 802 by following an operation program stored in the ROM 202. After the power of the handy reading device 100 is turned on, the control unit 801 first initializes the handy reading device 100 (step S901), stops supplying power from the battery 206 to the bar code reading unit 204, and The reading unit 204 is put into a dormant state (OFF) where information cannot be read (step S902).

  The control unit 801 checks whether or not the activation signal intermittently transmitted from the POS terminal 300 is received from the POS terminal 300 via the communication unit 205 while the barcode reading unit 204 is in the dormant state (Step S801). S903) If the reception is not confirmed, the check is repeated until the reception is received (step S903: No). Here, the activation signal is a signal (control information) for setting the barcode reading unit 204 in an operating state in which barcode information can be read.

  On the other hand, when the activation signal is received (step S903: Yes), the control unit 801 determines that the communication unit 205 is communicating with the POS terminal 300, and supplies power from the battery 206 to the barcode reading unit 204. Is started, and the barcode reading unit 204 is set to an operation state (ON) in which barcode information can be read (step S904). In the present embodiment, the control unit 801 keeps the barcode reading unit 204 in an operating state when receiving an activation signal via the communication unit 205, but communicates with the POS terminal 300 by the communication unit 205. However, the present invention is not limited to this as long as the barcode reading unit 204 is in an operating state only during the period. For example, it may be determined whether the communication unit 205 is communicating with the POS terminal 300 by detecting the contact of the operator's hand with the electrode 103.

  Next, the control unit 801 starts counting by a timer that measures a predetermined time set in advance (step S905).

  The transmission unit 802 checks whether or not the barcode information is read by the barcode reading unit 204 in the operating state while counting by the timer is performed (step S906). If the barcode information is read by the barcode reading unit 204 (step S906: Yes), the transmission unit 802 transmits the barcode information read by the barcode reading unit 204 to the POS terminal via the communication unit 205. It transmits to 300 (step S907).

  When the barcode information is not read by the barcode reading unit 204 (step S906: No), or after the barcode information is transmitted (step S907), the control unit 801 receives from the POS terminal 300 via the communication unit 205. It is checked whether an activation signal has been received (step S908). If an activation signal has been received (step S908: Yes), the timer is reset (step S905), and the transmission unit 802 again uses the barcode reading unit 204. It is checked whether or not the barcode information has been read (step S906).

  On the other hand, when the activation signal is not received (step S908: No), the control unit 801 checks the elapsed time counted by the timer and determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (step S909). If the transmission unit 802 determines that the predetermined time has not elapsed (step S909: No), the transmission unit 802 checks again whether the barcode information has been read by the barcode reading unit 204 (step S906).

  On the other hand, when the control unit 801 determines that the predetermined time has elapsed (step S909: Yes), the control unit 801 stops the supply of power from the battery 206 to the barcode reading unit 204 and puts the barcode reading unit 204 in a dormant state ( OFF) (step S902).

  Here, the usage situation of the handy reading apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. The handy reading device 100 is mainly used together with the POS terminal 300 for merchandise registration / settlement work in a convenience store or the like. Product registration / settlement operations at convenience stores and the like mainly consist of two steps, a product registration business step and a settlement business step. The handy reading device 100 is used for the merchandise registration business step and is not used for the checkout business step.

  The POS terminal 300 controls the operating state of the handy reading device 100 by transmitting an activation signal to the handy reading device 100 according to the business step. That is, the POS terminal 300 transmits an activation signal to the barcode reader 100 only in a situation where a product registration job is being performed. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the POS terminal 300 intermittently transmits an activation signal while the product registration work is being performed.

  When an operator standing on the electrode 301 holds the handy reading device 100 in his hand while the product registration work is being performed, a communication path is secured, and the communication unit 205 of the handy reading device 100 communicates with the POS terminal 300. It will be ready. When the control unit 801 receives the activation signal transmitted from the POS terminal 300 via the communication unit 205, the control unit 801 starts supplying power from the battery 206 to the barcode reading unit 204, and causes the barcode reading unit 204 to operate. Set the machine to the operating state so that the barcode information can be read. Since the communication path between the handy reading device 100 and the POS terminal 300 is secured in the operating state, the transmission unit 802 receives the barcode read by the barcode reading unit 204 in the operating state via the communication unit 205. Information is transmitted to the POS terminal 300.

  Even when the product registration work is being performed, when the handy reading device 100 is separated from the operator's hand and placed on a checkout counter or the like due to interruption work such as bagging work or price confirmation work, When the operator moves off the electrode 301, the communication path is interrupted, so that the communication unit 205 cannot communicate with the POS terminal 300. Therefore, the control unit 801 stops the supply of power from the battery 206 to the barcode reading unit 204 and puts the barcode reading unit 204 into a dormant state. Further, even when the operator stands on the electrode 301 and holds the handy reading device 100, when the product registration operation is completed and no activation signal is transmitted from the POS terminal 300, the control unit 801 reads the barcode. The unit 204 is put into a sleep state.

  As described above, the handy reading device 100 according to the present embodiment can consume the bar code reading unit 204 only when necessary according to the business step being performed. Power can be reduced.

  Next, the usage status of the handy reading apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described from another viewpoint. As described above, the handy reading device 100 is mainly used together with the POS terminal 300 for merchandise registration / settlement work in a convenience store or the like. Normally, at a store such as a convenience store, one handy reading device (100) is assigned to one POS terminal 300, and a set of the POS terminal 300 and the handy reading device 100 is set according to the scale of the store such as a convenience store. Two to five sets are generally prepared.

  A plurality of sets of the POS terminal 300 and the handy reading device 100 prepared in this way are not always operated except during busy hours such as daytime, and usually one or two sets depending on the number of customers visiting the store. Often runs and the rest of the set is paused. Under such circumstances, according to the handy reading device 100 according to the present embodiment, a malfunction occurs in the handy reading device 100 of the set that is operating (for example, the battery 206 has run out, etc.). When the handy reading device 100 of the set is temporarily used, it can be used smoothly without troubles such as channel setting and cord connection.

  As described above, according to the handy reading apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the reading is performed only while being held by the operator's hand, so the operation state of the barcode reading unit 204 is controlled according to the execution state of the business. It is possible to reduce the power consumed by reading. Further, by transmitting the barcode information to the POS terminal 300 by the human body communication method, the communication path can be limited, so that the risk of information leakage can be reduced. Further, in a store where a plurality of sets of the POS terminal 300 and the handy reading device 100 are prepared, a problem occurs in the handy reading device 100 of the set that is in operation, and another handy reading device 100 that is not operating is temporarily set. When using it, channel setting, cord connection, etc. become unnecessary.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Handy reader 102 Grasping part 103 Electrode 204 Bar code reading part 205 Communication part 300 POS terminal 801 Control part 802 Transmission part

Japanese Patent No. 4088896 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-152680

Claims (4)

An electrode provided on the main body;
Communication means for communicating with a host device using a human body in contact with or close to the electrode as a medium;
Reading means for reading information to be transmitted to the host device via the communication means;
Control means for bringing the reading means into an operating state in which information can be read only while communicating with the host device by the communication means;
Transmitting means for transmitting information read by the reading means in the operating state to the host device via the communication means;
An information input device comprising:   The control unit determines that the communication unit is communicating with the host device when control information for setting the reading unit to the operating state is received from the host device via the communication unit. The information input device according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit is in the operating state.   The information input device according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit reads code information obtained by decoding an optical symbol.   The information input device according to claim 3, wherein the reading unit reads the code information obtained by decoding the barcode which is the optical symbol.

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