JP6307030B2 - Reading apparatus, sorting method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a reading device such as an image scanner (image reader).

  Conventionally, in stores and the like, a POS (Point Of Sales) system is used for the purpose of merchandise sales management, inventory management, and the like. The POS system includes, for example, an input device such as a barcode image scanner, a POS terminal device (hereinafter simply referred to as “POS terminal”), and an output device such as a printer. The reading is performed by the POS terminal, and a receipt corresponding to the processing result is issued by the printer. The barcode is a code indicating information related to the product.

  In such a POS system, an input device and an output device are generally connected to one POS terminal and used. However, regarding the output device, there may be a case where one output device is connected to a plurality of POS terminals. On the other hand, there is no such case with respect to the input device, and in the first place, it was not possible to connect and use one input device to a plurality of POS terminals. Therefore, as for the input device, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, one input device (barcode image scanner in FIG. 12) is connected to one POS terminal and used. In the example shown in FIG. 12, the clerk 610 uses the bar code attached to the POS register counter 630 on the bar code attached to the product desired to be purchased by the shopper 620. The bar code image scanner 690 connected to the stationary POS terminal 680 installed on the POS cash register counter 630 is displayed by the image scanner 650 and the store clerk 660 adds the bar code attached to the product desired to be purchased by the shopper 670. It is used by letting it read.

  In the prior art, one handy scanner is shared between a checker and a cashier by a dedicated declaration, and another has a reading unit that reads a plurality of barcodes simultaneously.

JP-A-6-251251 JP 2004-240874 A

  By the way, in a store such as a bookstore where the space of the POS register counter is narrow and there is a large difference between crowds and shoppers during business hours, a bar code image scanner can be used to alleviate the congestion as much as possible. And it is desired to increase the number of POS terminals. However, in such stores, as mentioned above, the space for the POS register counter is narrow, so it is difficult to secure the space for the expansion. There was a possibility that the device would be wasted without being used.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention can be used without connecting a plurality of terminal devices to a single reading device and switching between them using a dedicated declaration or the like, and can be used in a flexible manner in accordance with the reduction of expansion space and the degree of congestion. An object of the present invention is to provide a reading device, a sorting method, and a program that can be added.

According to one aspect of the apparatus, the reading device captures a reading target region including a barcode and acquires the reading target region image including the barcode image, and the image acquisition unit acquires the reading target region image. from the trajectory of movement of the barcode image included in the reading target area image, and a sorting unit that determines of a plurality of terminal devices, the terminal device to distribute the information contained in the bar code, the bar An information extraction unit that extracts the information from the read target region image including an image of a code ; and a transmission unit that transmits the information extracted by the information extraction unit to the determined terminal device.

According to one aspect of the method, the distribution method captures a reading target area including a barcode , acquires a reading target area image including the barcode image, and includes the reading target area image in the acquired reading target area image. From the movement trajectory of the barcode image to be determined, a terminal device to which information contained in the barcode is to be distributed is determined among a plurality of terminal devices, and the reading target region image including the barcode image is determined. The computer of the reading device executes a process of extracting the information and transmitting the extracted information to the determined terminal device.

According to one aspect of the program, the program captures a reading target region including a barcode , acquires a reading target region image including the barcode image, and includes the reading target region image included in the acquired reading target region image. From the movement trajectory of the barcode image , a terminal device to which information contained in the barcode is to be distributed is determined from among a plurality of terminal devices, and the information is read from the reading target region image including the barcode image. extracting, the information in which the extracted and transmitted to the determined terminal device to execute processing reader of the computer.

  The disclosed apparatus, method, and program can be used by connecting a plurality of terminal devices to a single reading device, and the effect of being able to perform flexible expansion according to the reduction of expansion space and the degree of congestion Play.

It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the scanner which concerns on one embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the functional block of the scanner which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the various tables stored in RAM. It is a figure which shows an example of the recognition object area | region management table stored in ROM. It is the figure which looked at an example of the scanner which concerns on one Embodiment, and the reading range of a scanner from diagonally upward. It is a figure explaining the distribution operation | movement of the reading POS terminal by the direction of the locus | trajectory of barcode movement in the case where there are two operable POS terminals connected to the scanner according to the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the update operation of the operation mode management table and the display operation of an operation mode display part which the scanner concerning one Embodiment performs. It is a flowchart (the 1) which shows the processing content of distribution operation which the scanner which concerns on one Embodiment performs. It is a flowchart (the 2) which shows the processing content of distribution operation which the scanner which concerns on one Embodiment performs. It is a figure which shows the example of operation at the normal time when there are not many shoppers in a shop. It is a figure which shows the example of operation at the time of congestion with many shoppers in a shop. It is a figure which shows the example of a conventional operation.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the following description, the reading apparatus according to the present embodiment is a barcode image scanner (hereinafter simply referred to as “scanner”) used in the POS system, but is not limited thereto. Moreover, although the scanner is a stand type, other types of scanners such as a type used by being fixed to a wall surface or the like may be used. In addition, the store where the scanner is installed is a bookstore where the space of the POS register counter is narrow and there is a large difference between crowds and stagnation of shoppers during business hours, but such stores other than bookstores may be used. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, a scanner 100 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 110, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 120, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 130, an image reading unit 140, and an operation mode display unit. 150, a POS terminal A connection interface 160, and a POS terminal B connection interface 170, each of which is connected via a bus 180 so that data can be transmitted and received between them.

  The CPU 110 controls the overall operation of the scanner 100 by reading and executing a program stored in the ROM 120.

  The ROM 120 stores programs executed by the CPU 110 and various kinds of fixed data required during the execution. The various fixed data includes a recognition target area management table which will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The RAM 130 is used as a work area (working storage area) or the like, and stores various variable data. Various types of variable data include image data acquired by the image reading unit 140 and an operation mode management data table (hereinafter simply referred to as “operation mode management table”) which will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The image reading unit 140 includes, for example, a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) image sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor, images a readable range (reading target region) described later with reference to FIG. Get image data. Note that the image reading unit 140 may further include a light source such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or a laser in order to compensate for a shortage of light in the installation environment.

  The operation mode display unit 150 notifies the user of an operable POS terminal connected to the scanner 100. For example, the operation mode display unit 150 includes a mode display LED (not shown). When the operable POS terminal connected to the scanner 100 is only the POS terminal A200, the mode display LED is lit in green. When it is only the POS terminal B300, the mode display LED is lit in blue, and when it is both the POS terminal A200 and the POS terminal B300, the mode display LED is lit in orange. However, when there is no operable POS terminal connected to the scanner 100, the mode display LED is not turned on (turned off).

  The POS terminal A connection interface 160 is connected to the POS terminal A200 by wire or wirelessly and communicates with the POS terminal A200.

  The POS terminal B connection interface 170 is connected to the POS terminal B300 by wire or wirelessly and communicates with the POS terminal B300.

  In the POS terminal A connection interface 160 and the POS terminal B connection interface 170, the wired connection is, for example, USB (Universal Serial Bus), wired LAN (Local Area Network), or RS232C (Recommended Standard 232 version C). Etc., etc. The wireless connection is, for example, a connection using a wireless LAN, Bluetooth (registered trademark), NFC (Near field communication) (registered trademark), or the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks of the scanner 100.
As shown in FIG. 2, the scanner 100 includes an overall control unit 111 that controls the overall operation of the scanner 100. The overall control unit 111 is realized by the CPU 110 reading and executing a program stored in the ROM 120.

  The overall control unit 111 includes an image reading control unit 112, a distribution control unit 113, a POS terminal A barcode recognition processing unit 114, a POS terminal B barcode recognition processing unit 115, a POS terminal A connection interface control unit 116, POS terminal B connection interface controller 117 and display controller 118 are included.

The image reading control unit 112 controls the image reading unit 140.
The distribution control unit 113 uses the image reading unit 140 based on the operation mode management table stored in the RAM 130, the recognition target area management table stored in the ROM 120, and the direction of the barcode movement locus. One of the POS terminal A and the POS terminal B is set in the acquired reading target area image.

  The POS terminal A barcode recognition processing unit 114 recognizes a barcode from the read target area image for the POS terminal A set by the distribution control unit 113, and extracts the barcode character string.

  The POS terminal B barcode recognition processing unit 115 recognizes a barcode from the read target area image for the POS terminal B set by the distribution control unit 113 and extracts the barcode character string.

  The POS terminal A barcode recognition processing unit 114 and the POS terminal B barcode recognition processing unit 115 are connected by a communication line and configured to exchange information with each other.

  The POS terminal A connection interface control unit 116 controls the POS terminal A connection interface 160 so that the bar code character string extracted by the POS terminal A bar code recognition processing unit 114 is transmitted to the POS terminal A 200. The POS terminal A connection interface control unit 116 starts or ends the operation transmitted from the POS application (POS program) 210 executed by the POS terminal A 200 under the control of the connection interface control unit 220. Process the request.

  The POS terminal B connection interface control unit 117 controls the POS terminal B connection interface 170 so that the bar code character string extracted by the POS terminal B bar code recognition processing unit 115 is transmitted to the POS terminal B 300. Further, the POS terminal B connection interface control unit 117 processes an operation start or operation end request transmitted from the POS application 310 executed by the POS terminal B 300 under the control of the connection interface control unit 320.

  The display control unit 118 controls the operation mode display unit 150 based on the operation mode management table stored in the RAM 130.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of various tables stored in the RAM 130.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the operation mode management table includes “0”, “1”, “2”, or “3” as operation modes indicating operable POS terminals connected to the scanner 100. Is stored. The operation mode “0” indicates a case where there is no operable POS terminal connected to the scanner 100. The operation mode “1” indicates a case where the only operable POS terminal connected to the scanner 100 is the POS terminal A200. The operation mode “2” indicates a case where the operable POS terminal connected to the scanner 100 is only the POS terminal B300. The operation mode “3” indicates a case where the operable POS terminals connected to the scanner 100 are both the POS terminal A200 and the POS terminal B300.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the barcode detection timer stores a timeout time when detecting the position of the barcode moving within the readable range. The time-out time is a time interval for acquiring a barcode trajectory, and the trajectory acquisition operation is performed at intervals of 0.05 ms after the barcode enters the readable range.

As shown in FIG. 3C, the coordinate comparison source table stores coordinate values at a certain point of the detected barcode. The coordinate values stored in the coordinate comparison source table are used as a reference when detecting the direction of the trajectory extracted from a plurality of coordinate values representing the trajectory of the barcode stored in the coordinate plot table as the work area. Is the coordinate value. By comparing the coordinate value of the barcode in the coordinate plot table with the previous coordinate value stored in the coordinate comparison source table, it is determined in which direction the barcode locus is directed. In FIG. 3C, it is stored that the barcode exists at the position of the X coordinate value “1000” and the Y coordinate value “550”.

  FIG. 3D shows a coordinate comparison source table in the case where the inclination of the barcode trajectory cannot be determined only by two positions, and stores coordinate values at a plurality of positions on the barcode trajectory. . In FIG. 3D, the barcode is first at the position of the X coordinate value “1000” and the Y coordinate value “550”, and then the position of the X coordinate value “750” and the Y coordinate value “600”. Has been moved to. In FIG. 3D, coordinate values at three positions can be stored. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and coordinate values at more positions on the trajectory may be stored. .

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the recognition target area management table stored in the ROM 120.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the recognition target area management table, there are one operable POS terminal (POS terminal A200 or POS terminal B300) connected to the scanner 100 and two cases (POS terminal A200 and POS terminal A200). The recognition target area specifying data for specifying the recognition target area in each case of the POS terminal B300) is stored.

  The recognition target area designation data in the case where there is one operable POS terminal connected to the scanner 100 includes the entire area of the reading target area image acquired by the image reading unit 140 as the recognition target area for the POS terminal A or the POS. This data is designated as a recognition target area for terminal B. In this example, since the size of the reading target area image is 1000 × 1000 (width is 1000, height is 1000), the coordinates (0, 0) of the reading target area image (X coordinate is 0, Y coordinate is 0) ), A region having a width of 1000 and a height of 1000 is designated as the recognition target region for POS terminal A or the recognition target region for POS terminal B.

  The recognition target area designation data when there are two operable POS terminals connected to the scanner 100 is the half of the read target area image acquired by the image reading unit 140 as the recognition target area for the POS terminal A. And the remaining half of the area is designated as the POS terminal B recognition target area. In this example, an area having a width of 500 and a height of 1000 starting from the coordinates (0, 0) of the reading target area image is designated as the recognition target area for the POS terminal A, and the coordinates of the reading target area image (500 , 0) is designated as the recognition target area for POS terminal B, with an area having a width of 500 and a height of 1000.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram of an example of a scanner according to an embodiment and a reading range of the scanner as viewed obliquely from above.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in this example, a readable range (read target area) 400 imaged by the image reading unit 140 of the scanner 100 is shown, and the barcode moving in the readable range 400 is shown. By detecting the direction of the trajectory of movement, it is determined whether to transmit barcode reading information to the POS terminal A200 or POS terminal B300.

  In addition, even if the direction of the movement path of the barcode is detected, if it is not determined whether the reading information should be transmitted to the POS terminal A200 or the reading information should be transmitted to the POS terminal B300, the barcode is Judgment is made by using which area of the reading target area image exists.

  In that case, in the reading target area 400 imaged by the image reading unit 140 of the scanner 100, a half area (the left area in FIG. 5) 410 corresponds to the recognition target area for the POS terminal A (hereinafter referred to as “POS terminal”). The other half area (the area on the right side in FIG. 5) 420 corresponds to the POS terminal B recognition target area (hereinafter referred to as “POS terminal B read target area”). Become.

  When there is one operable POS terminal connected to the scanner 100, the entire reading target area 400 is an area corresponding to the POS terminal A recognition target area or the POS terminal B recognition target area. Become.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the sorting operation of the reading POS terminal according to the direction of the barcode movement locus when there are two operable POS terminals connected to the scanner according to the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the barcode 430 a attached to the product 430 moves from the lower left side to the upper right side of the reading target area 400, the barcode 430 a is recognized by the scanner 100, and the barcode The character string is transmitted to the POS terminal A. On the other hand, when the barcode 440a attached to the product 440 moves from the lower right side to the upper left side of the reading target area 400, the barcode 440a is recognized by the scanner 100, and the barcode character string is converted to the POS terminal. Sent to B.

  If the determination cannot be made from the direction of the movement path of the barcode, when the barcode 430a attached to the product (book) 430 is positioned in the reading target area 410 for the POS terminal A, the scanner 100 The barcode 430a of the product 430 is recognized, and the barcode character string is transmitted to the POS terminal A200. When the barcode attached to the product (book) 440 is positioned in the reading target area 420 for the POS terminal B, the scanner 100 recognizes the barcode 440a of the product 440, and the barcode character string. Is transmitted to the POS terminal B300. Details of such an operation will be described later with reference to FIGS. As a result, the product 430 is subjected to POS processing (registration processing or the like) by the POS application 210 of the POS terminal A200, and the product 440 is subjected to POS processing (registration processing or the like) by the POS application 310 of the POS terminal B300.

  In the scanner 100 configured as described above, the image reading control unit 112 and the image reading unit 140 are an example of an image acquisition unit that captures a reading target region and acquires a reading target region image. The distribution control unit 113 obtains the information of the plurality of POS terminal devices connected to the scanner from the movement trajectory of the medium on which the information included in the read target area image acquired by the image acquisition unit is recorded. It is an example of the distribution part which determines the POS terminal device which should be distributed. The POS terminal A barcode recognition processing unit 114 and the POS terminal B barcode recognition processing unit 115 are examples of an information extraction unit that extracts information from the acquired image. The POS terminal A connection interface control unit 116 and the POS terminal A connection interface 160, the POS terminal B connection interface control unit 117, and the POS terminal B connection interface 170 correspond to the information extracted by the information extraction unit. It is an example of the transmission part which transmits to a terminal device. The display control unit 118 and the operation mode display unit 150 are an example of a notification unit that notifies the user of a terminal device connected to the reading device. The recognition target area management table is an example of area specifying data for specifying each area of a plurality of images in the reading target area image.

Next, operations performed by the scanner 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the update operation of the operation mode management table and the display operation of the operation mode display unit 150 performed by the scanner 100. The operation shown in FIG. 7 is performed by the CPU 110 reading and executing a program stored in the ROM 120. For example, the operation is repeatedly performed while the scanner 100 is powered on.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when this operation starts, first, the CPU 110 (POS interface connection unit 116 for POS terminal A or POS terminal B connection interface control unit 117) is connected to the POS terminal A connection interface 160 or POS terminal. It is determined whether or not the B connection interface 170 has received an operation start or operation end request from the POS terminal A200 (POS application 210) or the POS terminal B300 (POS application 310) (S110). Here, when the determination result is No, this determination is repeated.

  On the other hand, when the determination result in S110 is Yes, the CPU 110 (POS terminal A connection interface control unit 116 or POS terminal B connection interface control unit 117) determines whether the received request is an operation start or an operation end. Determine (S120).

  When the determination result in S120 indicates that the operation has started, the CPU 110 registers the RAM 130 so that the POS terminal A200 or POS terminal B300 that has transmitted the operation start request is registered as an operable POS terminal connected to the scanner 100. The stored operation mode management table is updated (S130). For example, when the operation mode stored in the operation mode management table is “0” and the operation start request is received from the POS terminal A 200, the operation mode is updated from “0” to “1”. To do.

  On the other hand, if the determination result in S120 is the operation end, the CPU 110 indicates that the POS terminal A200 or POS terminal B300 that has transmitted the operation end request is registered as an operable POS terminal connected to the scanner 100. The operation mode management table stored in the RAM 130 is updated so as to be excluded from (S140). For example, when the operation mode stored in the operation mode management table is “1” and the operation end request is received from the POS terminal A 200, the operation mode is updated from “1” to “0”. To do.

  After S130 or S140, the CPU 110 determines whether the updated operation mode is “0”, “1”, “2”, or “3” (S150).

  When the determination result in S150 is “0”, that is, when there is no operable POS terminal connected to the scanner 100, the CPU 110 (display control unit 118) controls the operation mode display unit 150 to display a mode display. The LED is turned off (S160).

  When the determination result of S150 is “1”, that is, when the operable POS terminal connected to the scanner 100 is only the POS terminal A200, the CPU 110 (display control unit 118) controls the operation mode display unit 150. The mode display LED is lit in green (S170).

  When the determination result of S150 is “2”, that is, when the operable POS terminal connected to the scanner 100 is only the POS terminal B300, the CPU 110 (display control unit 118) controls the operation mode display unit 150. Then, the mode display LED is lit in blue (S180).

When the determination result in S150 is “3”, that is, when the operable POS terminals connected to the scanner 100 are both the POS terminal A200 and the POS terminal B300, the CPU 110 (display control unit 118) displays the operation mode. The unit 150 is controlled to light the mode display LED in orange (S190).
Then, after S160, S170, S180, or S190, this operation ends.

  According to the operation shown in FIG. 7, the operation mode of the operation mode management table stored in the RAM 130 is updated in response to the reception of the operation start request or the operation end request from the POS terminal A200 or the POS terminal B300. At the same time, the lighting color of the mode display LED of the operation mode display unit 150 is changed or turned off.

  8 and 9 are flowcharts showing the processing contents of the sorting operation performed by the sorting control unit 113 of the scanner 100. FIG. The operations shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are also performed when the CPU 110 reads and executes a program stored in the ROM 120, and is repeatedly performed, for example, while the power of the scanner 100 is turned on. .

  As shown in FIG. 8, when this operation is started, first, the CPU 110 (image reading control unit 112) controls the image reading unit 140 to image the reading target region and acquire the reading target region image ( S210).

  Subsequently, the CPU 110 (distribution control unit 113) determines whether the operation mode of the operation mode management table stored in the RAM 130 is “0”, “1”, “2”, or “3”. (S220). If the determination result is “0”, that is, if there is no operable POS terminal connected to the scanner 100, the process returns to S210, although not shown.

  On the other hand, if the determination result in S220 is “1”, that is, if the only POS terminal A200 that can be operated is connected to the scanner 100, the CPU 110 (POS terminal A barcode recognition processing unit 114) It is determined whether or not the barcode is recognized from the reading target area image (S250). If the determination result is Yes, the CPU 110 (POS terminal A barcode recognition processing unit 114) extracts the barcode character string from the recognized barcode, and the CPU 110 (POS terminal A connection). The interface control unit 116) controls the POS terminal A connection interface 160 and transmits (notifies) the barcode character string to the POS terminal A 200 (S260). The barcode character string transmitted in this way is then POS processed by the POS application 210 of the POS terminal A200. When the barcode is not recognized from the reading target area image (when the determination result in S250 is No), the process ends.

  On the other hand, when the determination result of S220 is “2”, that is, when the operable POS terminal connected to the scanner 100 is only the POS terminal B300, the CPU 110 (POS terminal B barcode recognition processing unit 115) It is determined whether or not a barcode is recognized from the reading target area image (S290). When the determination result is Yes, the CPU 110 (POS terminal B barcode recognition processing unit 115) extracts the barcode character string from the recognized barcode, and the CPU 110 (POS terminal B connection). The interface control unit 117) controls the POS terminal B connection interface 170 and transmits (notifies) the barcode character string to the POS terminal B300 (S300). The barcode character string transmitted in this way is then POS processed by the POS application 310 of the POS terminal B300. When the barcode is not recognized from the reading target area image (when the determination result in S290 is No), the process ends.

  On the other hand, when the determination result of S220 is “3”, that is, when the operable POS terminals connected to the scanner 100 are both the POS terminal A200 and the POS terminal B300, the CPU 110 (distribution control unit 113) Based on the direction of the movement path of the barcode, it is determined whether to transmit the barcode character string to the POS terminal A200 or to transmit the barcode character string to the POS terminal B300. Specifically, the process of FIG. 9 is performed.

  That is, the CPU 110 (distribution control unit 113) clears all coordinate plot tables as work areas (S400). The coordinate plot table is stored in the RAM 130. At this time, coordinate values are not yet registered in the coordinate plot table.

  Subsequently, the CPU 110 (distribution control unit 113) determines whether or not a barcode is present (S410). If the determination result is No, this process is repeated until a bar code is found.

  When the determination result is Yes, the X coordinate value and Y coordinate value of the barcode when the barcode is detected are acquired and registered from the top in the coordinate plot table stored in the RAM 130 (S420). After acquiring the barcode coordinate values, the CPU 110 (distribution control unit 113) waits until the barcode detection timer times out after the time in the table of FIG. 3B has elapsed (S430).

  Subsequently, the CPU 110 (distribution control unit 113) determines whether or not a barcode still exists in the reading target area image (S440). If the determination result is Yes, the process returns to S420 to acquire the X coordinate value and the Y coordinate value from which the barcode is detected, and register it in the coordinate plot table stored in the RAM 130. If the determination result is No, the process proceeds to S450. In this example, the registration of the barcode coordinate values in the coordinate plot table is repeated at intervals of the barcode detection timer until the barcode is no longer detected in the reading target area image.

  Subsequently, the CPU 110 (distribution control unit 113) acquires the first X coordinate value and the Y coordinate value of the coordinate plot table, and is stored in the RAM 130. The coordinate comparison source tables in FIGS. (X coordinate value and Y coordinate value are X0 and Y0, respectively) (S450).

  Subsequently, the CPU 110 (distribution control unit 113) determines whether or not the next X and Y coordinate values exist in the coordinate plot table (S460). If the determination result is No, the process proceeds to S510.

  When this determination result is Yes, the X and Y coordinate values (respectively X0 and Y0) stored in the coordinate comparison source table and the X and Y coordinate values specified in S460 of the coordinate plot table (respectively, X1 and Y1) are compared (S470).

  As a result of this comparison, if it is determined that Y0> Y1, the CPU 110 (distribution control unit 113) determines that it is a reading error and returns the process to S400. As a result of this comparison, if it is determined that X0 <X1 and Y0 <Y1, the CPU 110 (distribution control unit 113) determines that the direction of the barcode movement trajectory is tilted diagonally to the right. Decide to distribute to A200. CPU 110 (POS terminal A barcode recognition processing unit 114) extracts the barcode character string from the recognized barcode, and CPU 110 (POS terminal A connection interface control unit 116) The connection interface 160 is controlled to transmit (notify) the barcode character string to the POS terminal A200 (S490). The barcode character string transmitted in this way is then POS processed by the POS application 210 of the POS terminal A200.

  As a result of the comparison, if it is determined that X0> X1 and Y0 <Y1, the CPU 110 (distribution control unit 113) determines that the direction of the barcode movement locus is inclined to the left. It decides to distribute to terminal B300. The CPU 110 (POS terminal B barcode recognition processing unit 115) extracts the barcode character string from the recognized barcode, and the CPU 110 (POS terminal B connection interface control unit 117) is used for the POS terminal B. The connection interface 170 is controlled to transmit (notify) the barcode character string to the POS terminal B300 (S480). The barcode character string transmitted in this way is then POS processed by the POS application 310 of the POS terminal B300.

  As a result of the comparison, if it is determined that X0 = X1 and Y0 = Y1, the CPU 110 (distribution control unit 113) determines that the direction of the barcode movement trajectory is horizontal or vertical. Then, the next X coordinate value and Y coordinate value of the coordinate plot table are copied to the coordinate comparison source table (S500), and the process returns to S460.

  Subsequently, in S510, the CPU 110 (distribution control unit 113) determines that the position indicated by the top X coordinate and Y coordinate of the coordinate plot table is the right region or the left region defined by the recognition target region management table of FIG. It is determined in which of the above. If it is determined that the bar code exists in the left region of (X = 0, Y = 0) to (X = 500, Y = 1000), the CPU 110 (distribution control unit 113) distributes it to the POS terminal A200. Decide that. CPU 110 (POS terminal A barcode recognition processing unit 114) extracts the barcode character string from the recognized barcode, and CPU 110 (POS terminal A connection interface control unit 116) The connection interface 160 is controlled to transmit (notify) the barcode character string to the POS terminal A200 (S520). The barcode character string transmitted in this way is then POS processed by the POS application 210 of the POS terminal A200.

  In this determination, if it is determined that the barcode exists in the right region of (X = 500, Y = 0) to (X = 500, Y = 1000), the CPU 110 (distribution control unit 113) It decides to distribute to terminal B300. The CPU 110 (POS terminal B barcode recognition processing unit 115) extracts the barcode character string from the recognized barcode, and the CPU 110 (POS terminal B connection interface control unit 117) is used for the POS terminal B. The connection interface 170 is controlled to transmit (notify) the barcode character string to the POS terminal B300 (S530). The barcode character string transmitted in this way is then POS processed by the POS application 310 of the POS terminal B300.

  Then, when the barcode character string is transmitted to either the POS terminal A200 or the POS terminal B300, the process is terminated.

Next, an operation example of the scanner 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of normal operation where there are not many shoppers in the store.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in such a normal time, an operable POS terminal connected to the scanner 100 is used only as the POS terminal A200. That is, only the POS terminal A200 is connected to the scanner 100 and used.

  In the operation example shown in FIG. 10, the POS terminal A200 is a stationary POS terminal, and the POS terminal A200 is further connected to an output device (for example, a printer or a cash drawer) not shown. The POS terminal A 200 and the scanner 100 are installed on the POS register counter 510, and an output device (not shown) is installed under the POS register counter 510.

  In this operation example, when the store clerk 520 passes the barcode attached to the purchase desired product (book) of the shopper 530 through the reading target area (for example, the reading target area 400 in FIG. 5), the scanner 100 The barcode is recognized, and the barcode character string is transmitted to the POS terminal A200.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an operation example when there are many shoppers in the store.
As shown in FIG. 11, in such a crowded state, an operable POS terminal connected to the scanner 100 is used as both the POS terminal A200 and the POS terminal B300. That is, the POS terminal B300 is added, and both the POS terminal A200 and the POS terminal B300 are connected to the scanner 100 and used.

  In the operation example shown in FIG. 11, the POS terminal B300 is a portable (for example, tablet-type) POS terminal, and the POS terminal B300 is further connected to the output device (not shown). The connection between the POS terminal B300 and the scanner 100 and the connection between the POS terminal B300 and the output device are performed wirelessly. Further, as the number of POS terminals B300 is increased, an extension desk 540 such as an assembly type is newly provided, and the space as the POS register counter 510 is extended.

  In this operation example, when the store clerk 520 passes the barcode attached to the product (book) desired to be purchased by the shopper 550 through the area to be read (see, for example, the product 430 in FIG. 6), the scanner 100 The barcode is recognized, and the barcode character string is transmitted to the POS terminal A200 in accordance with the direction of the barcode movement locus. Further, when the store clerk 560 passes the barcode attached to the product (book) desired to be purchased by the shopper 570 through the area to be read (see, for example, the product 440 in FIG. 6), the scanner 100 causes the barcode to be displayed. Recognition or the like is performed, and the barcode character string is transmitted to the POS terminal B300 in accordance with the direction of the barcode movement locus.

  According to the operation example described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, only the POS terminal A200 is normally connected to the scanner 100 and used during normal operation, and the POS terminal B300 is added only when it is congested (further added to the scanner 100). Connected) used. As a result, since the POS processing capability is higher in the crowded state than in the normal state, it is possible to alleviate the congestion of the shopper, and it is not necessary to add a scanner along with the conventional POS terminal. Therefore, it is not necessary to secure the space necessary for adding a scanner. In addition, the cost associated with the POS system can be reduced by the amount of additional scanners. Furthermore, since the added POS terminal B300 is a portable POS terminal, it is possible to minimize the space required for the addition. Further, the transition from the normal operation to the congested operation is only required by adding the POS terminal B300 and newly providing an assembly-type extension desk 540. The transition from the congested operation to the normal operation is not necessary. Since all that is required is to be removed, there is no possibility that the added apparatus as in the prior art will not be used, and there is no possibility that the apparatus will be wasted, and flexible expansion can be performed according to the degree of congestion of the shopper.

  As described above, according to the scanner 100 according to the present embodiment, two POS terminals can be connected to the scanner 100 and used, and an expansion space can be reduced and a flexible expansion according to the degree of congestion can be achieved.

The scanner 100 according to the present embodiment can be variously modified.
For example, in the present embodiment, the maximum number of operable POS terminals that can be connected to the scanner 100 is two, but three or more may be used. However, in this case, a POS terminal interface, a POS terminal barcode recognition processing unit, and a POS terminal connection interface control unit are provided for each of the three or more POS terminals. When three or more POS terminals are provided, determination criteria for the direction of the barcode movement trajectory are determined for each POS terminal, and operations that can be connected to the recognition target area management table Recognition target area designation data for designating a recognition target area is stored for each number of possible POS terminals.

  In the present embodiment, the operation mode display unit 150 notifies the user of the operable POS terminal connected to the scanner 100 using the mode display LED. However, instead of the mode display LED, In addition, the user may be notified of this by using other means such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

  In the present embodiment, the scanner 100 may further include a communication interface for connecting to an external communication network (for example, the Internet). A program executed by the CPU 110 may be stored in the RAM 130 from an external device connected to an external communication network via the communication interface and executed by the CPU 110.

  In the present embodiment, the scanner 100 may further include a medium reading device. A program executed by the CPU 110 may be stored in the RAM 130 from a portable recording medium set in the medium reading device and executed by the CPU 110. In this case, various types of recording media such as CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), flexible disc, optical disc, magneto-optical disc, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and USB memory are used as the portable recording media. can do.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

100 Scanner 110 CPU
111 General Control Unit 112 Image Reading Control Unit 113 Distribution Control Unit 114 POS Terminal A Barcode Recognition Processing Unit 115 POS Terminal B Barcode Recognition Processing Unit 116 POS Terminal A Connection Interface Control Unit 117 POS Terminal B Connection Interface Control unit 118 Display control unit 120 ROM
130 RAM
140 Image Reading Unit 150 Operation Mode Display Unit 160 POS Terminal A Connection Interface 170 POS Terminal B Connection Interface 180 Bus 200 POS Terminal A
210 POS application 220 Connection interface controller 300 POS terminal B
310 POS Application 320 Connection Interface Control Unit 400 Reading Target Area 410 POS Terminal A Reading Target Area 420 POS Terminal B Reading Target Area 430 Product (Book)
430a Barcode 440 Products (Books)
440a Bar code 510 POS cash register counter 520 Shop assistant 530 Shoppers 540 Extension desk 550 Shoppers 560 Shop assistant 570 Shoppers 610 Shop assistant 620 Shoppers 630 POS register counter 640 Stationary POS terminal 650 Barcode image scanner 660 Shop staff 70 Shop staff 6 Shop staff POS terminal 690 Barcode image scanner

Claims (6)

By imaging the reading target area includes a bar code, an image acquisition section which acquires a reading target area image including the image of the bar code,
From the movement trajectory of the barcode image included in the read target area image acquired by the image acquisition unit, a terminal device to which information included in the barcode is to be distributed among a plurality of terminal devices is determined. A distribution section;
An information extraction unit that extracts the information from the reading target area image including the barcode image;
A transmission unit that transmits the information extracted by the information extraction unit to the determined terminal device;
A reading apparatus comprising: The allocating unit divides the reading target area image into a plurality of images each associated with each of the plurality of terminal devices, when it is impossible to determine a terminal device to be distributed by the trajectory;
The information extraction unit extracts the information from the image for each image divided by the distribution unit.
The reading apparatus according to claim 1. The distribution unit determines a terminal device to be distributed according to the inclination of the trajectory.
The reading device according to claim 1, wherein the reading device is a reading device. A notification unit for notifying a user of a terminal device connected to the reader;
The reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: Capture a reading target area including a barcode , obtain a reading target area image including the barcode image ,
From the movement trajectory of the barcode image included in the acquired reading target region image, determine a terminal device to which information included in the barcode is to be distributed among a plurality of terminal devices;
Extracting the information from the read target area image including the barcode image;
Transmitting the extracted information to the determined terminal device;
Characterized in that it comprises a processing, distribution method performed by a computer reader. Capture a reading target area including a barcode , obtain a reading target area image including the barcode image ,
From the movement trajectory of the barcode image included in the acquired reading target region image, determine a terminal device to which information included in the barcode is to be distributed among a plurality of terminal devices;
Extracting the information from the read target area image including the barcode image;
Transmitting the extracted information to the determined terminal device;
A program that causes a computer of a reader to execute processing.