JP6276546B2 - POS system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a POS system that enables a retail store to provide not only a member customer but also a non-member customer according to the purchase amount for providing or promoting a service or a product.

  Traditionally, retail stores that sell products or provide services provide customers with points according to the purchase amount for the purpose of promoting sales and fixing customers. Coupons and giveaways are provided according to the accumulated balance.

  However, the point grant service that has been widely used in retail stores and the like has, for example, managed the accumulated points acquired by a customer stamping a chip or stamp on a predetermined sheet. However, these so-called green stamp type point management systems are troublesome for both retailers and customers who provide points, and the handling of sheets is complicated.

  Therefore, in recent years, in the terminal device of the POS system (sales point management system) in the store of the retail store, the bar code of the product or service purchased by the customer is read to determine the product information and perform the settlement process. There is a system in which service points are added to a central data processing device in a retail store or center that manages the customer's membership code according to sales (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, a point card system using an IC card linked with a POS system has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In this system, taking advantage of the characteristics of the IC card with a large storage capacity, the customer presents the IC card, performs personal authentication and card authentication, records the total purchase amount and date information on the IC card at the time of payment, The prepaid system is activated and necessary information is recorded on the IC card.

JP 2001-43451 A JP 2000-293758 A

  However, the conventional point system linked to the POS system according to the above-mentioned patent document cannot obtain service points unless the customer has joined a point member in advance. For this reason, the retail store solicits the customer to join the account at the time of payment. However, since the membership procedure is troublesome for the customer, there are many people who refuse to join, and this does not necessarily lead to the inclusion of valid customers.

  Also, even if you become a point member, customers will not be able to earn points unless they always carry their membership card and present it at the time of clearing, and if you miss the opportunity to earn points often, you will not be motivated to accumulate points and become a fixed customer I can't have you.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a POS system capable of providing points to a customer without registering as a member.

For this reason, the POS system according to the present invention includes a POS terminal device that performs checkout processing for goods or services, a member code reading device that reads a regular member code from a card medium possessed by a customer, and outputs it to the POS terminal device, An IC card reader that communicates with a non-contact type IC card issued by one of the business operators, reads a unique ID number for each IC card, and outputs it to the POS terminal device; and the POS via a communication network A regular member point management server connected to a terminal device and having a regular member point storage unit that stores a regular member point amount possessed by a customer in a storage area corresponding to the regular member code; and the POS via a communication network A non-regular member port that is connected to a terminal device and owned by a customer in a storage area corresponding to the ID number. A non-regular member point management server provided with a non-regular member point storage unit for storing an account amount, and when the regular member code is received from the POS terminal device, the settlement amount at the POS terminal device is The regular member point amount updated accordingly is stored in the regular member point storage unit of the regular member point management server in association with the regular member code, and the ID number relating to the non-regular member is received from the POS terminal device. In such a case, the non-regular member point amount updated in accordance with the settlement amount at the POS terminal device is stored in the non-regular member point storage unit of the non-regular member point management server in association with the ID number. It shall be the features and Turkey.
Here, when the regular member code input to the POS terminal device and the ID number are in a correspondence relationship, the regular member points stored in the regular member point storage unit corresponding to the regular member code The amount and the non-regular member point amount stored in the non-regular member point storage unit corresponding to the ID number are added together and stored in the regular member point storage unit corresponding to the regular member code. The

  At this time, the POS terminal device and the IC card reader are provided for each of a plurality of stores, and the regular member point management server and the non-regular member point management server are arranged on the center side outside the store.

  When the ID number is transmitted from the POS terminal device for the first time, the non-regular member point management server sets the storage area to be stored corresponding to the ID number in the non-regular member point storage unit. .

And, said in response to an inquiry from the POS terminal, further PLU server to send back the product name information and regular member point giving rate along with the selling price and non-regular member point giving rate for the goods or provide the services handled in the store provided by the POS terminal apparatus, when the normal member code is entered, it calculates the new normal membership point amount generated in the settlement from said transaction amount and the normal travelers point giving rate, the normal membership point When the storage unit updates the regular member point amount by adding to the regular member point amount stored in the storage area corresponding to the regular member code, and an ID number related to the non-regular member is input , Calculate the new non-regular member point amount generated by the settlement from the settlement amount and the non-regular member point grant rate. , Updating the non-regular members point value by the non-regular member point storage unit is added to the non-regular members point value stored in said storage area corresponding to the ID number.

  At this time, the regular member point grant rate and the non-regular member point grant rate may be set so that the new regular member point amount is larger than the new non-regular member point amount.

  The non-regular member point amount stored in the storage area corresponding to the ID number of the non-regular member point storage unit is associated with the ID number of the regular member point storage unit. The non-regular member point management server holds the storage area of the transfer source after the non-regular member point amount is transferred, and can be transferred to the storage area corresponding to the code next time. When the same ID number is transmitted from the POS terminal device, the new non-regular member point amount transmitted together with the ID number is stored in the storage area.

  On the other hand, after the non-regular member point amount is transferred, the non-regular member point management server, the ID number and the regular member code that are in a correspondence relationship when the non-regular member point amount is transferred When the new non-regular member point amount corresponding to the same ID number is transmitted from the POS terminal device next time, the new non-regular member point amount is transmitted to the regular member point management server in the regular member point management server. You may make it transfer to the said memory | storage area | region corresponding to the said regular member code corresponding to the said ID number of a member point memory | storage part.

  The POS terminal device, according to the regular member point amount or the non-regular member point amount transmitted from the regular member point management server or the non-regular member point management server, when the customer purchases the amount of goods or services purchased. Perform discount processing.

  The regular member point management server may newly create the regular member code in response to a request from the POS terminal device, and transmit it to the POS terminal device.

  The regular member point amount or the non-regular member point amount stored in the regular member point management server or the non-regular member point management server can be displayed on an information terminal device possessed by a customer via a communication network. Good.

  The regular member point management server and the non-regular member point management server may be arranged for each block obtained by dividing a plurality of stores. In this case, when the regular member point management server for each block has a change in the regular member point amount of one regular member point management server, the other regular member point management servers have changed the regular member point management server. Synchronize with the member point management server, and the non-regular member point management servers for each block are different from each other when the non-regular member point amount of the one non-regular member point management server varies. The point management server may be configured to synchronize with the non-regular member point management server that has changed.

  According to the present invention, since the point amount provided by the ID number of the IC card can be managed, even a customer who is not a regular member can easily obtain points by presenting the IC card possessed by the customer. . Therefore, since the customer can be treated as a point member without having to go through a troublesome membership procedure, the store can enclose a floating customer as a fixed customer without being a regular member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Explanatory drawing which shows the whole structure of the POS system concerning this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of a POS terminal device. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of a store controller. Explanatory drawing which shows typically the content which the PLU file has memorize | stored. The block diagram which shows the structure of a regular member point management server. The block diagram which shows the structure of a non-regular member point management server. The flowchart explaining operation | movement of a POS terminal device. The flowchart explaining operation | movement of a store controller. Explanatory drawing which shows typically the memory content allocated to RAM in a POS terminal device. The flowchart explaining the "point amount update" process in the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart explaining the “point amount transmission” process in the flowchart of FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining “point amount transfer” processing in the flowchart of FIG. 8. The figure which shows typically the screen displayed when a customer confirms an acquisition point with a smart phone.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(System configuration)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a POS system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the POS system 100 has a management server 1 disposed on the center side, and a store 5 and a plurality of POS terminal devices 3 (hereinafter simply referred to as “POS”) integratedly managed by the store controller 2 in the store 5. Terminal)).

  The management server 1 and the store controller 2 are connected by a communication network 4 such as the Internet. In the retail store 5, a plurality of POS terminals 3 and the store controller 2 are connected via a communication network 50 such as a LAN, and the store controller 2 integrally manages these POS terminals 3. At this time, the store controller 2 may be configured to perform integrated management by connecting a plurality of POS terminals 3 installed in the store 5 through a WAN. Then, each POS terminal 3 of the plurality of stores 5 can be integrated and managed by one store controller.

  The management server 1 is configured by a WWW server managed by a system administrator of the POS system 100. The management server 1 executes various known processes that are conventionally known for managing point-of-sale of information input to each of the plurality of POS terminals 3 via the store controller 2. Although not shown, there are a large number of stores 5, and the management server 1 performs point-of-sale management of the stores 5 of the same group provided for each affiliated store and chain-expanded in a lump.

  The POS system 100 according to the present invention constructs a point system together with the above-mentioned point-of-sale management, and a regular member point management server 1A and a non-regular member point management server 1B which are also WWW servers together with the management server 1 on the center side. Are arranged and connected to the store controller 2 of each store 5 through the communication network 4. The regular member point management server 1A and the non-regular member point management server 1B are operated by a business that provides the point system to each store 5, but may be managed by the system administrator of the POS system 100. Good. Each web page operated by the regular member point management server 1A and the non-regular member point management server 1B can be accessed by an information terminal device such as a smartphone 6 possessed by the customer.

  The regular member point management server 1A manages the points acquired for each regular member according to the series to which each store 5 belongs, and the non-regular member point management server 1B is obtained for each non-regular member according to the series to which each store 5 belongs. Manage the points. In this specification, “regular member” means a point member who has a prescribed membership procedure and has a regular member code, and “non-regular member” means whether or not a regular member code is owned. A customer who wants to provide points without showing a regular member code.

  The POS terminal 3 arranged in each store 5 is a device for performing a settlement process for products purchased by a customer, and the contents of the transaction are reflected every time a customer purchases and registers a purchased product. The sold sales data is transmitted to the store controller 2.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the POS terminal 3. The POS terminal 3 includes a CPU 31, a ROM 32 that stores programs executed by the CPU 31, a RAM 33 that stores variable data such as data processed by the CPU 31, an input unit 34 such as a touch panel, a display unit 35 for customers, a barcode reader 36, a printing unit 37 for issuing a purchase details receipt on which the contents of a transaction with a customer are printed, a network interface 38 for transmitting / receiving data to / from the store controller 2 via the communication network 50, and a member code reading device for reading a regular member code 30 and an IC card reader / writer 39.

  The IC card reader / writer 39 is an IC card 6 having a prepaid function issued by public transportation based on a FeliCa (registered trademark of Sony Corporation) card or an IC card 6 such as prepaid electronic money. By touching or holding the carrier, the carrier is transmitted to the IC chip built in the IC card 6 and power is supplied by electromagnetic induction, and communication between the reader / writer and the IC chip is performed by modulating the carrier. Read / write data. In this IC chip, a 16-digit ID number uniquely assigned to each IC card in which it is embedded is recorded.

  By the way, although the non-regular member point management server 1B has been described as managing points for each non-regular member, the points are managed for each ID number that is uniquely assigned to each IC card 6. The POS system according to the present invention pays attention to the fact that customers have a high probability of possessing IC cards 6 such as IC card tickets and prepaid electronic money that are widely used as public cards. Even if it is not a member, a customer who has an IC card 6 can easily provide service points. Therefore, even for regular members who do not accidentally have a membership card and cannot present a regular member code to the store side, if the IC card 6 is presented, service points can be provided as non-regular members. There is an advantage that the missing points are very small.

  The IC card 6 is not limited to a card in its original meaning, and may be a mobile phone, a smartphone, a coin-type token, a wristwatch, or the like that incorporates such an IC chip. In the following description, These are collectively referred to as an IC card 6.

  The member code reading device 30 reads a regular member code from a medium possessed by a customer, and the above-mentioned regular member point management server 1A provides the regular member corresponding to the regular member code read by the member code reading device 30. I manage points. The medium possessed by the customer is, for example, a membership card issued at the time of enrollment procedure for a regular point member, in which a regular member code is recorded.

  Therefore, in the case of a membership card in which the regular member code is recorded magnetically, the member code reading device 30 uses a magnetic card reader, and the regular member code is printed as a bar code or QR code (registered trademark). In the case of a membership card, an optical scanner is used. Such a member code reading device 30 may also be used as a credit card reader or a barcode reader 36 for reading a product code provided in the POS terminal 3 (not shown). In addition, as the membership card, there is a card or a key holder in which an IC chip storing a membership code is embedded as in the case of the IC card 6, but in such a case, it can be read by the IC card reader / writer 39. It is good to.

  In the POS terminal 3, the CPU 31 executes programs stored in the ROM 32, thereby controlling the operations of these devices in an integrated manner and realizing various operations as the POS terminal 3.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the store controller 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the store controller 2 includes a CPU 21 that controls the entire apparatus, a ROM 22 that stores programs executed by the CPU 21, a RAM 23 that stores variable data such as data processed by the CPU 21, a current date, A clock unit 24 that measures time, a hard disk device 25, an input unit 26, a network interface 27 that controls transmission and reception of data via the communication networks 4 and 5, a printer 29 that prints forms, and the like are connected to the CPU 21 via the bus 28. Connected with.

  The hard disk device 25 stores various form data such as a daily table, a cumulative table, and an analysis table that the CPU 21 generates by summing up sales data from each POS terminal 3, while storing a PLU (Price Look Up) file 7. Including. As shown in FIG. 4, the PLU file 7 stores master information such as a product code, a product name, a sales price, a department code, and other purchase prices of the product read by the barcode reader 36 of the POS terminal 3. In addition to these, a regular member point grant rate and a non-regular member point grant rate are stored. These data stored in the PLU file 7 are downloaded from the management server 1, but the downloaded data can be rewritten by input from the input unit 26 according to the situation of each store. In addition, a unique PLU file 7 may be created for each store.

  When the store controller 2 receives a product code read by the barcode reader 36 from the POS terminal 3, the product name, sales price, regular member point grant rate and non-regular member point grant for this product code in the PLU file 7 PLU information such as rate is returned to the POS terminal 3. Therefore, the store controller 2 functions as a PLU server of the POS terminal 3 connected via the communication network 50. Here, the regular member point grant rate is preferably set higher than the non-regular member point grant rate. Then, the customer can be actively encouraged to shift from a non-regular member to a regular member.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the regular member point management server 1A. As shown in FIG. 5, the regular member point management server 1 </ b> A stores a central processing unit 10 that executes various arithmetic processes, a transmission unit 11 that communicates with other devices via a communication network 4, and stores various data. A storage unit 12 for inputting data, an input unit 13 for directly inputting data, and a display unit 14 for displaying data.

  The central processing unit 10 creates an input / output processing unit 10a for exchanging data with the input unit 13 or the display unit 14, a transmission processing unit 10b for executing transmission processing through the transmission unit 11, and a new regular member code. Regular member code setting means 10c, point management means 10d, point exchange management means 10e, and point confirmation response means 10f are provided. Each of these means 10a to 10f is a function realized by the central processing unit 10 by program processing, and corresponds to a part of the program, for example, a subroutine, a function, a procedure, or the like.

  The storage unit 12 includes a regular member point DB 15 that stores a regular member point amount provided for each regular store for each affiliated store (for example, A series, B series,...), A member information DB 16, and a point exchange condition file 17. including. The member information DB 16 stores customer information provided by the customer during the enrollment procedure.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the non-regular member point management server 1B. As shown in FIG. 6, the non-regular member point management server 1B stores a central processing unit 40 that executes various arithmetic processing, a transmission unit 41 that communicates with other devices via the communication network 4, and data. A storage unit 42, an input unit 43 for directly inputting data, and a display unit 44 for displaying data are provided.

  The central processing unit 40 includes an input / output processing unit 40a that exchanges data with the input unit 43 or the display unit 44, a transmission processing unit 40b that executes transmission processing through the transmission unit 41, an ID number setting unit 40c, a point management Means 40d, point exchange management means 40d and point confirmation response means 40f. Each of these means 40a to 40f is a function realized by the central processing unit 40 by program processing, and corresponds to a part of the program, for example, a subroutine, a function, a procedure, or the like.

  The storage unit 42 includes a non-regular member point DB 45 that stores the non-regular member point amount provided for each affiliated store by ID number, a member information DB 46, and a point exchange condition file 47. In the case of non-regular members, membership information is not acquired in advance because the procedure for joining regular members is not performed, but if the earned point amount reaches a predetermined value, it can be classified as a semi-fixed customer. At that time, a simple questionnaire is filled in, and this is stored in the member information DB 46 of the non-regular member point management server 1B corresponding to the ID number. The questionnaire items include, for example, the postal code of the place of residence, date of birth, sex, luxury goods, unmarried / married, and the store side can generally grasp the propensity to consume non-regular point members.

  In the POS system 100 according to the present embodiment, the regular member point management server 1A and the non-regular member point management server 1B are configured as separate servers. However, the same server may be used. It is also possible to operate the regular member point management server 1A and the non-regular member point management server 1B on the same server. In this case, the management server 1 performs point management of regular members and non-regular members in the store 5 of the same series.

  The operation of the POS system 100 having the above configuration will be described.

(Processing during checkout)
When the customer brings the purchased merchandise to the cashier for settlement, the POS terminal 3 performs processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, and the store controller 2 performs processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  If the customer is a regular member, the cashier clerk reads the regular member code on the membership card presented by the customer with the member code reader 30 (“YES” in step S101). Then, the CPU 31 stores the regular member code read by the member code reading device 30 in the storage area 33a (see FIG. 9) of the RAM 33 and transmits it to the store controller 2 (step S102). This regular member code includes store name data of a series to which the store belongs.

  When the store controller 2 receives this regular member code (“YES” in step S201), the store controller 2 transfers the received regular member code to the regular member point management server 1A (step S202).

  When the transmission processing unit 10b of the regular member point management server 1A receives the regular member code through the transmission unit 11, the point management unit 10d stores the storage unit 42 corresponding to the store name data included in the received regular member code. The current regular member point amount related to the regular member code is searched from the regular member point DB 15 in FIG.

  At this time, the point exchange management unit 10e compares the point amount searched by the point management unit 10d with the exchange condition information stored in the point exchange condition file 17 in advance, and if the condition is satisfied, the exchangeable point data Is generated. For example, if the point amount is “150 points” and the exchange condition information is “100 points or more”, the exchangeable point data is “150 yen”. If the point exchange management means 10e adds exchangeable point data reflecting information such as a birthday according to the customer information stored in the member information DB 16, an effective point system is provided.

  Then, the transmission processing unit 10b sends the exchangeable regular member point data via the transmission unit 11 if the point amount searched by the point management unit 10d and the point exchange management unit 10e have generated exchangeable point data. To the store controller 2.

  Then, the store controller 2 converts the regular member point amount transmitted from the regular member point management server 1A and the exchangeable regular member point data into the regular member code if the exchangeable regular member point data is also transmitted. Is transferred to the POS terminal 3 that has transmitted (step S203).

  In the POS terminal 3, the received regular member point amount is stored in the storage area 33c of the RAM 33 (step S103), and if exchangeable regular member point data is sent together with the point amount, it is stored in the storage area 33e. . As a result, the POS terminal 3 acquires regular member point data exchangeable with the regular member point amount.

  When the customer is not a regular member, the membership card is not presented and the regular member code is not read ("NO" in step S101), but the cashier clerk confirms that the customer is willing to join the POS terminal 3 By operating the input unit 39 with a key, regular member registration is performed (“YES” in step S104), and the CPU 31 of the POS terminal 3 performs a regular member code acquisition process (step S105). In this process, the CPU 31 first transmits a request message for creating a regular member code to the store controller 2.

  When the CPU 21 of the store controller 2 receives the request message for creating the regular member code (“YES” in step S204), the store name data of the series to which the store belongs is added and transferred to the regular member point management server 1A. (Step S205).

  The regular member point management server 1A receives this message, the regular member code setting means 10c of the central processing unit 10 creates a new regular member code including the store name data, and the transmission processing means 10b is sent via the transmission unit 11. The registered regular member code is returned to the store controller 2. Further, the regular member code setting means 10c sets a new regular member code storage area created in the regular member point DB 15 corresponding to the store name.

  Then, the store controller 2 transfers the received new regular member code to the POS terminal 3 (step S206). Thereby, the CPU 31 of the POS terminal 3 stores the received regular member code in the storage area 33a of the RAM 33 (step S105), and a new regular member code for the customer is acquired by the POS terminal 3.

  At this time, as a procedure of the store for the customer who newly acquired the regular member code, customer information is entered on the membership application form or the like, and a membership card in which the regular member code is recorded is issued. Later, this customer information is transmitted from the store controller 2 to the regular member point management server 1A, or by direct input from the input unit 14, stored in the management member information DB 16 corresponding to the store name in the storage unit 12. The

  If the customer wishes to acquire points as a non-regular member, the cashier clerk reads the IC card 6 presented by the customer with the IC card reader / writer 39 (“YES” in step S106). Then, the CPU 31 of the POS terminal 3 stores the ID number of the IC card 6 read by the IC card reader / writer 39 in the storage area 33b of the RAM 33 and transmits it to the store controller 2 (step S107).

  When the CPU 21 of the store controller 2 receives this ID number (“YES” in step S207), it adds the store name data of the series to which the store belongs and transfers it to the non-regular member point management server 1B (step S208). Inquire the current non-regular member point amount.

  When the transmission processing unit 40b of the non-regular member point management server 1B receives the ID number through the transmission unit 41, the point management unit 40d of the central processing unit 40 corresponds to the non-regular corresponding to the store name in the storage unit 42. The member point DB 45 is searched for the non-regular member point amount related to this ID number. At this time, when the inquiry about the non-regular member point amount by this ID number is made for the first time with respect to the store name, the point management means 40d stores the non-regular member related to this ID number in the non-regular member point DB 45 corresponding to the store name. Set the point amount storage area.

  Then, like the regular member point management server 1A described above, the point exchange management unit 40e compares the retrieved point amount with the exchange condition information stored in the point exchange condition file 47 in advance, and satisfies the condition. If so, exchangeable non-regular member point data is generated. At this time, if the member information DB 46 stores customer information, the exchangeable point data is added reflecting information such as a birthday according to the contents.

  Then, the transmission processing unit 40b transmits the exchangeable non-regular member point data to the transmission unit 41 if the point amount searched by the point management unit 40d and the point exchange management unit 40e have generated exchangeable point data. To the store controller 2.

  The store controller 2 transfers the non-regular member point amount transmitted from the non-regular member point management server 1B and exchangeable non-regular member point data if transmitted to the POS terminal 3 (step S209).

  The CPU 31 of the POS terminal 3 stores the received non-regular member point amount in the storage area 33d of the RAM 33 (step S108). If exchangeable non-regular member point data is transmitted together with the point amount, this is stored in the storage area. Store in 33f. Thereby, in the POS terminal 3, non-regular member point data exchangeable with the regular member point amount is acquired.

  In the merchandise registration process, the POS terminal 3 registers the purchased merchandise by the bar code reader 36 reading the merchandise code based on the bar code attached to the customer's purchased merchandise by the operation of the cashier clerk (step S109). If the store is in a business category that provides a service, the product code is read from a bar code list prepared in advance in the checkout counter.

  In this product registration process, the CPU 31 of the POS terminal 3 sends a product code to the store controller 2 via the network interface 38, and the product name, sales price, regular member point grant rate, non-regular member regarding the read product code. Queries PLU information such as point grant rate.

  In response to this inquiry (“YES” in step S210), the store controller 2 searches the PLU file 7 for PLU information corresponding to this product code (step S211), and returns the searched PLU information to the POS terminal 3 (Step S212).

  When the CPU 31 of the POS terminal 3 receives the PLU information related to the product code read by the barcode reader 36, the product name and the sales price included in the PLU information are displayed on the display unit 35, and the product is registered and purchased. Aggregate product prices.

  When the registration of the purchased product is completed and the subtotal key of the input unit 34 is operated, the CPU 31 performs a settlement process (step S110). In the checkout process, the CPU 31 displays the total amount of purchased products to the customer via the display unit 35. The settlement is settled by a post-payment process using cash or a credit card reader (not shown), but can also be settled using the IC card 6 of electronic money using the IC card reader / writer 7.

  In addition, the payment by the customer can be used for all or part of the settlement amount by using the exchangeable points in the point amount. In this case, if the customer's regular member code is read by the member code reading device 30 (step S101), or if the ID number of the IC card 6 is read by the IC card reader / writer 39 (step S106), the cashier at the cash register The CPU 31 displays the regular member point amount, the non-regular member point amount, the exchangeable regular member point, and the exchangeable non-regular member point according to the stored contents of the storage areas 33c to 33f. Displayed on the unit 35.

  The cashier clerk performs an operation for discounting the exchangeable regular member points and exchangeable non-regular member points from the settlement amount with the equivalent amount of points. At this time, the cashier clerk performs a discount operation of the amount appropriated for payment by operating the key of the input unit 34. In response to this operation, the CPU 31 stores the regular member point data used in the payment in the storage area 33g, Non-regular member point data is stored in the storage area 33h.

  Upon completion of the settlement of the settlement amount, the CPU 31 of the POS terminal 3 performs a point amount update process (step S111). FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the point amount update process. As shown in FIG. 10, when the regular member code is stored in the storage area 33a (“YES” in step S301), the CPU 31 includes the settlement amount and the PLU information sent from the store controller 2. New regular member points to be provided to the customer in the transaction are calculated from the regular member point grant rate (step S302), and the result is added to the regular member point amount stored in the storage area 33c to obtain the regular member point amount. Is updated (step S303). At this time, when the customer allocates all or part of the payment with points that can be exchanged at the time of payment, the CPU 31 subtracts the regular member points used for the payment stored in the storage area 33g.

  On the other hand, when the regular member code is stored in the storage area 33a and the ID number is also stored in the storage area 33b (from “NO” in step S301 to “YES” in step S304), the CPU 31 performs a new process. Regular member points are calculated (step S305). As described above, in the case where the regular member code and the ID number are stored in both the storage area 33a and the storage area 33b, respectively, in order to collect the non-regular member point amounts previously acquired by the regular member customers. In some cases, both the membership card and the IC card 6 are presented this time, or the customer who has the non-regular member point amount obtains the regular member code at the time of the current settlement (step S105). Accordingly, since the same customer presents the membership card and the IC card 6, the CPU 31 determines that the regular member code stored in the storage area 33a and the ID number stored in the storage area 33b are in a corresponding relationship. In the process of calculating new regular member points here, the process of collecting the non-regular member point amount into the regular member point amount is performed.

  Therefore, the CPU 31 calculates new regular member points to be provided to the customer by the transaction from the settlement amount and the regular member point grant rate in the PLU information (step S305), and stores this result in the storage area 33d. The regular member point amount is updated by adding the non-regular member point amount to the regular member point amount stored in the storage area 33c (step S306). At this time, when the customer allocates all or a part of the payment with points that can be exchanged at the time of payment, the CPU 31 stores the regular member points used for the payment stored in the storage area 33g and the storage area 33h. Subtract regular member points. Further, the CPU 31 sets the storage area 33d to “0” by adding the non-regular member point amount in the storage area 33d to the regular member point amount in the storage area 33c.

  However, when the regular member code is not stored in the storage area 33a and the ID number is stored in the storage area 33b (“NO” in step S304), the non-regular member in the settlement amount and the PLU information is stored. A new non-regular member point to be provided to the customer in the transaction is calculated from the point grant rate (step S307), and the result is added to the non-regular member point amount stored in the storage area 33d to obtain the non-regular member point amount. Is updated (step S308). At this time, when the customer allocates all or part of the payment with points that can be exchanged at the time of payment, the CPU 31 subtracts the non-regular member points used for the payment stored in the storage area 33h. In addition, in the case of non-regular members, it is described above that simple customer information of non-regular members is collected by filling out a questionnaire when the amount of earned points reaches a predetermined value, but non-regular member customers use non-regular member points. And fill it out when you make a payment.

  After updating the point amount, the CPU 31 of the POS terminal 3 performs a receipt issuing process (step S112). The receipt is printed with product information such as the product name, quantity, and sales price of the product purchased by the customer, and the payment amount. The receipt is issued to a regular or non-regular member. For example, the updated regular member point amount or non-regular member point amount stored in the storage area 33c or the storage area 33d is printed. When points are used for payment, use point data stored in the storage area 33g and the storage area 33h, that is, a discount amount by using points is printed.

  After the receipt is issued, the CPU 31 transmits sales data including purchased merchandise information and a settlement amount indicating the result of the settlement process by the transaction to the store controller 2 (step S113). If the regular member code is not stored in the storage area 33a of the RAM 33 and the ID number is not stored in the storage area 33c, the CPU 31 is either a regular member or a non-regular member. It is determined that there is not, and the process is terminated (“NO” in step S114).

  However, if the regular member code is stored in the storage area 33a of the RAM 33 or the ID number is stored in the storage area 33b (“YES” in step S114), the CPU 31 updates the point amount updated by the settlement process. Transmission processing (step S115).

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an update point amount transmission process. If the regular member code is stored in the storage area 33a of the RAM 33 and the ID number is not stored in the storage area 33b, the CPU 31 of the POS terminal 3 determines that the regular member has acquired points by the regular member code (step). “YES” in S401), the regular member code stored in the storage area 33a and the updated regular member point amount stored in the storage area 33c are transmitted to the store controller 2 (step S402).

  When the data indicating the point amount is sent together with the regular member code or ID number (“YES” in step S215), the store controller 2 performs a point amount transfer processing operation (step S216).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing point amount transfer processing by the store controller 2. When the CPU 21 receives the regular member code together with the data of the regular member point amount (“YES” in step S501), the CPU 21 transfers these data and code to the regular member point management server 1A (step S502).

  When the regular member point management server 1A receives the regular member code and the updated regular member point amount from the store controller 2 through the transmission unit 11, the point management means 10d of the central processing unit 10 obtains the regular member code. The regular member point DB 15 corresponding to the store name in the storage unit 12 is accessed from the store name data included in the store name and updated in the POS terminal 3 in the storage area corresponding to the regular member code. Remember the forehead.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 11, when the storage area 33a stores the regular member code and the storage area 33b stores the ID number (“YES” in step S403), the CPU 31 of the POS terminal 3 The member code, ID number, regular member point amount stored in the storage area 33c, and non-regular member point amount stored in the storage area 33d are transmitted to the store controller 2 (step S404). At this time, the regular member point amount stored in the storage area 33c is added with the non-regular member point amount previously acquired by the customer in the process of step S306, and stored in the storage area 33d. The non-regular member point amount is cleared to “0”.

  Then, in FIG. 12, when the CPU 21 of the store controller 2 receives the regular member code and the ID number together with the data of the regular member point amount and the non-regular member point amount (“YES” in step S503), the regular member point amount is converted into the regular member point amount. The data is transferred to the point management server 1A (step S504). Then, the CPU 21 adds and transfers the non-regular member point management server 1B with the store name data of the series to which the store belongs to the ID number and the non-regular member point amount (step S505).

  As a result, in the regular member point management server 1A, the point management means 10d of the central processing unit 10 allows the regular member points corresponding to the store name in the storage unit 12 from the store name data included in the regular member code. The DB 15 is accessed, and the regular member point amount updated in the POS terminal 3 is stored in the storage area corresponding to the regular member code.

  In the non-regular member point management server 1B, the point management means 40d of the central processing unit 40 accesses the non-regular member point DB 45 corresponding to the store name in the storage unit 42 from the store name data sent. Then, the non-regular member point amount updated in the POS terminal 3 is stored in the storage area corresponding to the ID number. At this time, since the non-regular member point amount is “0”, this storage area is cleared.

  At this time, the non-regular member point management server 1B retains the original storage area after the non-regular member points stored in the non-regular member point DB 45 are transferred to the regular member point management server 1A. When the same ID number is transferred from the POS terminal 2 by the store controller 2 next time, the new non-regular member point amount transmitted together with the ID number is stored in this storage area.

  In addition, in the process of step S505, the store controller 2 transmits the regular member code having the corresponding relationship together with the ID number to the non-regular member point management server 1B and stores it, and the non-regular member point management server 1B If the same non-regular member point amount transmitted together with this ID number is transmitted to the regular member point management server 1A, it corresponds to the ID number of the regular member point DB15. It is possible to automatically transfer to a storage area corresponding to a related regular member code.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 11, the CPU 31 of the POS terminal 3 is a non-regular member using the IC card 6 when the regular member code is not stored in the storage area 33a and the ID number is stored in the storage area 33b. Is obtained (“NO” in step S403), and the ID number and the non-regular member point amount stored in the storage area 33d are transmitted to the store controller 2 (step S405).

  Then, in FIG. 12, when the CPU 21 of the store controller 2 receives the ID number together with the point amount data (“NO” in step S503), the store name of the series to which the store belongs to the ID number and the non-regular member point amount. Data is added and transferred to the non-regular regular member point management server 1B (step S506).

  In the non-regular member point management server 1B, the point management means 40d of the central processing unit 40 accesses the non-regular member point DB 45 corresponding to the store name in the storage unit 42 from the sent store name data. The non-regular member point amount updated in the POS terminal 3 is stored in the storage area corresponding to the ID number.

  When the point amount transmission processing by the CPU 31 is completed, the settlement operation by the customer purchase at the POS terminal 3 is completed.

(Process to combine non-regular member point amount into regular member point amount except at the time of payment)
In such a settlement operation, the POS terminal 3 performs a process of collecting the non-regular member point amount into the regular member point amount, but collects the non-regular member point amount into the regular member point amount even at the time other than the settlement process. You can also. In this case, when the collective processing is instructed by a predetermined key operation on the input unit 34, the CPU 31 reads the regular member code and IC number that are read and input by the regular member code reading device 30 or the IC card reader / writer 39. Is stored in the storage area 33a and the storage area 33b of the RAM 33, and a correspondence relationship is established. The regular member code and the IC number are transmitted to the store controller 2.

  Thereafter, through exchanges between the POS terminal 3, the store controller 2, the regular member point management server 1A, and the non-regular member point management server 1B, the regular member point amount and the non-regular member point amount are stored in the storage area 33c and the storage area 33d, respectively. Remembered. The CPU 31 adds the non-regular member point amount in the storage area 33d to the regular member point amount in the storage area 33c, and clears the stored data in the storage area 33d.

  Then, the CPU 31 of the POS terminal 3 transmits the regular member code and the regular member point amount in the storage area 33c to the store controller 2, so that the store controller 2 transfers the regular member code to the regular member point management server 1A. Thereby, the point management means 10d of the central processing unit 10 of the regular member point management server 1A allows the regular member point DB 15 corresponding to the store name in the storage unit 12 from the store name data included in the regular member code. And the regular member point amount updated in the POS terminal 3 is stored in the storage area corresponding to the regular member code.

  Subsequently, the CPU 31 of the POS terminal 3 transmits the ID number and the non-regular member point amount (cleared to “0”) in the storage area 33 d to the store controller 2, so that the store controller 2 recognizes the ID number and the non-regular member point amount. The store name data of the series to which the store belongs is added to the regular member point amount and transferred to the non-regular member point management server 1B. Thereby, the point management means 40d of the central processing unit 40 accesses the non-regular member point DB 45 corresponding to the store name in the storage unit 42 from the sent store name data, and corresponds to the ID number. The non-regular member point amount updated in the POS terminal 3 is stored in the storage area. Therefore, the storage area corresponding to the non-regular member code in the non-regular member point DB 45 of the non-regular member point management server 1B is cleared, and the non-regular member point amount can be combined into the regular member point amount even at the time other than the checkout process. it can.

(Confirmation of point amount by customer)
Further, the customer can confirm the amount of points earned by a regular member or a non-regular member from an information terminal device such as a smartphone or a personal computer. In FIG. 1, when the customer designates each URL of the regular member point management server 1A or the non-regular member point management server 1B from the smartphone 6, the point confirmation response unit 10f or the point confirmation response unit 40f causes the point confirmation response unit 40f to return to FIG. A login screen is displayed on the display unit 9. By entering the ID and password issued in advance to the customer in advance on this screen, as shown in FIG. 13 (b), the customer is currently present for each affiliated store (A store, B store...). A display screen of the acquired point balance can be displayed on the smartphone 6 for confirmation.

  The point confirmation response means 10f or the point confirmation response means 40f transmits a message to the customer by designating the store where the icon 8 representing the “notification mark” is displayed on the point balance display screen. Displayed on the screen of the smartphone 6. In this case, when the customer designates the store B from the display screen shown in FIG. 13B, the message display screen of each store in the store A is displayed as shown in FIG. 13C.

(Other examples of checkout operation)
In the POS system of the above embodiment, the regular member point amount or the non-regular member point amount is sent from the regular member point management server 1A or the non-regular member point management server 1B to the POS terminal 3, so that the POS terminal 3 can be used for settlement. Calculate the new regular member point amount or new non-regular member point amount from the regular member point grant rate or non-regular member point grant rate according to the settlement amount, and add this to the regular member point amount or non-regular member point amount The regular member point amount or non-regular member point amount is updated.

  However, the process of calculating the new regular member point amount or the new non-regular member point amount in the POS terminal 3 and adding the calculated result to the regular member point amount or the non-regular member point amount is the regular member point management. You may carry out by the server 1A or the non-regular member point management server 1B. Further, when the POS terminal 3 raises the settlement amount to the store controller 2 as sales data, the store controller 2 calculates a new regular member point amount or a new non-regular member point amount, and the regular member point management server 1A or non- It is transmitted to the regular member point management server 1B, and the regular member point management server 1A adds the new regular member point amount to the previous regular member point amount and updates it, and the non-regular member point management server 1B updates the new non-regular member point. The amount may be updated by adding to the current non-regular member point amount.

  Further, the store controller 2 may perform both the calculation of the new regular member point amount and the new non-regular member point amount and the calculation of the updated regular member point amount and the non-regular member point amount. Various developments are possible depending on the circumstances of the system.

  As another embodiment, the regular member point management server 1A and the non-regular member point management server 1B may be arranged for each block in which a plurality of stores 5 are divided by region or the like. In particular, in a point system that manages a plurality of affiliated stores that chain a large number of retail stores, the regular member point management server 1A and non-regular members are used for each block in order to subtract the points used by customers in real time. It is effective to provide a point management server 1B. However, in a system in which a plurality of regular member point management servers 1A and non-regular member point management servers 1B are provided in this way, when retail stores of the same series are divided into different blocks, the amount of regular member points earned by the same customer and Non-regular member points will be distributed.

  Therefore, when there is a change in the regular member point amount corresponding to the regular member code in the regular member DB 15 of one regular member point management server 1A, the other regular member point management server 1A communicates with each other, Each regular member point management server 1A is programmed so as to rewrite the regular member point amount corresponding to the same regular member code in synchronization with.

  Similarly, when there is a change in the non-regular member point amount corresponding to the non-regular member code in the non-regular member DB 45 of one non-regular member point management server 1B, it communicates with each other to manage other non-regular member point management. Each non-regular member point management server 1B is programmed so that the server 1B rewrites the non-regular member point amount corresponding to the same ID number in synchronization with this change.

  The present invention relates to a POS system including a point system that provides a point service to a customer, and has industrial applicability.

1A Regular member point management server 1B Non-regular member point management server 2 PLU server (store controller)
3 POS terminal device 4 communication network 6 IC card 15 regular member point DB (regular member point storage unit)
30 Member code reader 39 IC card reader 45 Non-regular member point DB (non-regular member point storage unit)

Claims (11)

A POS terminal device that performs checkout processing of goods or services;
A member code reading device for reading a regular member code from a card medium possessed by a customer and outputting it to the POS terminal device;
An IC card reader that communicates with a non-contact type IC card issued by any of various business operators, reads a unique ID number for each IC card, and outputs it to the POS terminal device;
A regular member point management server including a regular member point storage unit connected to the POS terminal device via a communication network and storing a regular member point amount held by a customer in a storage area corresponding to the regular member code;
Non-regular member point management server provided with a non-regular member point storage unit connected to the POS terminal device via a communication network and storing a non-regular member point amount held by a customer in a storage area corresponding to the ID number And comprising
When the regular member code is received from the POS terminal device, the regular member point management server in which the regular member point amount updated according to the settlement amount at the POS terminal device corresponds to the regular member code. Is stored in the regular member point storage section of
When the ID number related to the non-regular member is received from the POS terminal device, the non-regular member point amount updated in accordance with the settlement amount at the POS terminal device corresponds to the ID number and the non-regular member point Stored in the non-regular member point storage unit of the regular member point management server ,
When the regular member code input to the POS terminal device and the ID number are in a correspondence relationship, the regular member point amount stored in the regular member point storage unit corresponding to the regular member code and the regular member code The non-regular member point amount stored in the non-regular member point storage unit corresponding to the ID number is added together and stored in the regular member point storage unit corresponding to the regular member code .
The POS system according to claim 1.   The non-regular member point management server sets the storage area corresponding to the ID number in the non-regular member point storage unit when the ID number is transmitted from the POS terminal device for the first time. The point-of-sale system according to claim 1. In response to an inquiry from the POS terminal device, a PLU server is further provided that returns a regular member point grant rate and a non-regular member point grant rate together with product name information and sales prices for products handled in the store or services provided. ,
The POS terminal device
When the regular member code is input, a new regular member point amount generated by the settlement is calculated from the settlement amount and the regular member point grant rate, and the regular member point storage unit corresponds to the regular member code. Update the regular member point amount by adding to the regular member point amount stored in the storage area,
When the ID number related to the non-regular member is input, the non- regular member point storage unit calculates a new non-regular member point amount generated by the settlement from the settlement amount and the non-regular member point grant rate. There updating the non-regular members point value by adding to the non-regular members point value stored in said storage area corresponding to the ID number,
The POS system according to claim 1. Wherein the regular travelers point giving rate and the non-regular member point giving rate, according to claim 3, wherein the new regular members point value is characterized in that it is set to be greater than the new non-regular members Point Amount POS system. The non-regular member point amount stored in the storage area corresponding to the ID number of the non-regular member point storage unit is stored in the regular member code corresponding to the ID number of the regular member point storage unit. Can be transferred to the corresponding storage area,
The non-regular member point management server retains the storage area of the transfer source even after the non-regular member point amount is transferred, and the same ID number is transmitted from the POS terminal device next time. 4. The POS system according to claim 3 , wherein the new non-regular member point amount transmitted together with the ID number is stored in the storage area. The non-regular member point amount stored in the storage area corresponding to the ID number of the non-regular member point storage unit is stored in the regular member code corresponding to the ID number of the regular member point storage unit. Can be transferred to the corresponding storage area,
The non-regular member point management server stores the ID number and the regular member code that are in a correspondence relationship when the non-regular member point amount is transferred, and corresponds to the same ID number next time. When a new non-regular member point amount is transmitted from the POS terminal device, the new non-regular member point amount is associated with the ID number of the regular member point storage unit in the regular member point management server. 4. The POS system according to claim 3 , wherein the POS system is transferred to the storage area corresponding to the code. The POS terminal device, according to the regular member point amount or the non-regular member point amount transmitted from the regular member point management server or the non-regular member point management server, when the customer purchases the amount of goods or services purchased. The POS system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein discount processing is performed.   2. The POS system according to claim 1, wherein the regular member point management server newly creates the regular member code in response to a request from the POS terminal apparatus and transmits the legitimate member code to the POS terminal apparatus.   The regular member point amount or the non-regular member point amount stored in the regular member point management server or the non-regular member point management server can be displayed on an information terminal device possessed by a customer via a communication network. The POS system according to claim 1.   The POS terminal device and the IC card reader are provided for each of a plurality of stores, and the regular member point management server and the non-regular member point management server are arranged on the center side outside the store. The POS system according to claim 1.   The regular member point management server and the non-regular member point management server are arranged for each block dividing a plurality of stores, and the regular member point management server for each block is one of the regular member point management servers. When there is a change in the amount of regular member points, the other regular member point management servers are synchronized with the regular member point management server that has changed, and the non-regular member point management servers for each block are The non-regular member point management server is synchronized with the non-regular member point management server that has changed when the non-regular member point amount of the non-regular member point management server varies. Item 4. The POS system according to item 1.

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