JP6446812B2 - POS system and control method of POS system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a POS (Point Of Sales) system using a tablet terminal and a control method of the POS system.

  In recent years, there has been a growing need to realize a POS terminal using a tablet terminal by taking advantage of portability and operability. As this type of technology, for example, Patent Literature 1 has been proposed. Patent Document 1 describes a POS system including a tablet terminal that functions as a POS terminal, an input device that reads a product barcode or a customer membership card, and a printer connected to the tablet terminal and the input device. Yes. The tablet terminal is configured to operate a POS application on a Web browser.

JP 2013-186488 A

  By the way, when an electronic payment function (such as a credit card payment function or an electronic money card payment function) is added to the POS system described in Patent Document 1, control of CAT (Credit Authorization Terminal) and R / W (Reader Writer) is performed. It is necessary to incorporate an API (Application Programming Interface) in the POS application. That is, although only the electronic payment function is desired to be introduced, the basic POS application must be significantly modified, which increases the introduction cost.

  On the other hand, when a tablet terminal is used as a POS terminal, a device such as CAT or R / W may not be directly connected to the tablet terminal due to the interface. Even if the connection can be made via the USB interface or the like, the merit of the portability of the tablet terminal may be impaired by the wired connection.

  In view of the above-described problems, the present invention provides a POS system capable of implementing an electronic payment function at a low cost and without losing the advantages of the tablet terminal in a configuration using a tablet terminal as a POS terminal, and control of the POS system. It is an object to provide a method.

  The POS system of the present invention is input to a device that reads data, a control device that is connected to the device and inputs data read by the device, and a POS application and control device that is connected to the control device and performs accounting processing. And a terminal having a control unit that controls a payment application that performs payment processing based on the data.

  The POS system control method of the present invention performs accounting processing with a POS application on a terminal, switches from a POS application to a payment application for performing payment processing, reads data with the device, and inputs the data read with the device to the control device Then, based on the data input to the control device and the result of the accounting process in the terminal POS application, the settlement process of the terminal is performed, and the accounting process of the POS application is terminated based on the settlement result of the settlement application. It is characterized by that.

According to the configuration of the present invention, communication can be performed even when the device cannot be directly connected to the terminal through the control device between the device that reads data and the terminal (tablet terminal). . In addition, since the device is connected to the control device, it is possible to take advantage of the portability of the tablet terminal. In addition to the POS application, the terminal has a payment application that performs a payment process based on data input to the control device, so that it is not necessary to significantly change the POS application with the introduction of the electronic payment system. Thereby, introduction of an electronic payment function can be realized at low cost.
Note that “accounting processing” by the POS application refers to acquisition of merchandise information, calculation of accounting amount, cash settlement, electronic settlement instruction to settlement application, accounting receipt printing instruction, and the like.
The “payment process” by the payment application includes a transmission command of electronic payment information (including data read by the device) to the electronic payment server, a process based on the payment execution result of the electronic payment server (notification to the POS application, Including retry processing).

  In the POS system, the control device has a printing unit that prints a receipt.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, a printer that prints a receipt can be used as a control device. Thereby, it is not necessary to ensure the installation place of a control apparatus.

  In the POS system, the control unit of the terminal performs a switching process between a POS application and a payment application.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the present invention can be applied even if the terminal has specifications that cannot simultaneously activate or display a plurality of applications. That is, since high-spec specifications are not required, the cost for the terminal can be reduced.

  In the POS system, the control unit of the terminal causes the print command generated by the POS application to be transmitted to the control device after the settlement application process is completed, and the printing unit prints a receipt based on the print command. And

  According to the configuration of the present invention, a print command is transmitted to the control device (execution of a printout of an accounting receipt) triggered by the processing being switched from the payment application to the POS application, so the payment application is monitored by the POS application. There is no need. Thereby, the modification items of the POS application accompanying the introduction of the electronic payment system can be reduced.

  In the POS system, the payment application performs a payment process related to electronic payment, and the control device transmits a processing result of the payment application to the electronic payment server, and transmits a processing result of the electronic payment server to the payment application. And a second communication unit.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, communication with the electronic settlement server is performed by the control device, so there is no need to separately provide a communication device. Thereby, introduction of an electronic payment system can be realized at low cost. Also, the control load on the terminal side can be reduced by performing data input and communication with the electronic settlement server with the control device as the center.

  In the above POS system, the control unit of the terminal receives a payment completion notification from the electronic payment server to the payment application, and terminates the processing of the payment application.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, an accounting receipt can be issued along with a payment completion notification by the electronic payment server without requiring any operation by the user (clerk).

1 is a system configuration diagram of a POS system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the software structure of a POS system. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of a POS system. It is a screen transition diagram of a tablet terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the accounting process by a POS system.

  Hereinafter, a POS system and a POS system control method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the POS system SY. The POS system SY includes a tablet terminal 1 (terminal) operated by a store clerk, a printer 2 (control device) connected to the tablet terminal 1 via wireless communication, and an electronic payment connected to the printer 2 via a network NW. The server 3 includes a card reader 4 (device) connected to the printer 2, a customer display 5, a barcode scanner 6, and a cash drawer 7.

  The tablet terminal 1 includes a terminal control mechanism 11, a touch panel 12, and an interface 13 (shown as “I / F” in the figure). The terminal control mechanism 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and controls the tablet terminal 1.

  The touch panel 12 is a touch sensor with a display function, and is used for displaying various information such as input product information and settlement processing results and various operations. The interface 13 corresponds to wireless communication such as a wireless LAN, and transmits and receives data to and from the interface 23 of the printer 2. The tablet terminal 1 and the printer 2 may be configured to perform wireless communication via an access point (not shown).

  The printer 2 includes interfaces 23, 24, and 25 in addition to the printer control mechanism 21 and the printer unit 22. The printer control mechanism 21 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and controls the printer 2. The printer unit 22 includes a print head, a paper transport mechanism, and a paper cutting mechanism, and performs printing on receipt paper.

  The interface 23 performs unrelated communication with the tablet terminal 1. The interface 24 communicates with the electronic payment server 3 via a network NW such as the Internet. The interface 25 performs wired / wireless communication with the peripheral devices 4, 5, 6, and 7.

  The electronic settlement server 3 performs electronic settlement such as credit cards and electronic money. “Electronic payment” means, for example, in the case of credit card payment, receipt of electronic payment information including accounting amount and credit information (card number, expiration date, etc.), credit card authentication, security measure processing, accounting amount settlement, settlement This refers to notification of execution results. In the case of electronic money settlement, receiving electronic payment information including accounting amount and electronic money information (electronic money ID, balance, etc.), authentication of electronic money, security countermeasure processing, balance update processing, notification of payment execution results, etc. Point to.

  The card reader 4 reads data of a credit card or electronic money (hereinafter referred to as “electronic payment medium”) and outputs it to the printer 2. Specifically, it corresponds to CAT and R / W. As for electronic money, not only a card-like medium but also an electronic money wireless IC incorporated in a mobile phone or the like can be read.

  The customer display 5 displays information (product name, accounting amount, etc.) to be presented to the customer. The barcode scanner 6 reads a product barcode attached or printed on the product. The cash drawer 7 is configured to store banknotes and money and open the drawer when the accounting process ends (in the case of cash settlement).

  Next, the software configuration of the POS system SY will be described with reference to FIG. In the tablet terminal 1, an OS 51 (Operating System), a POS application 52 and a payment application 53 that operate on the OS 51 are installed as software. The terminal control mechanism 11 in FIG. 1 operates based on these software 51, 52, and 53.

  The POS application 52 is an application that performs accounting processing. Here, “accounting processing” refers to acquisition of product information (product barcode, quantity, etc.), calculation of accounting amount, cash settlement, electronic settlement instruction to settlement application 53, printing instruction for accounting receipt, and the like. The POS application 52 is customized depending on the store. For example, the display format of the display screen displayed on the tablet terminal 1, the printing format of the accounting receipt, the store logo printed on the accounting receipt, the display items on the customer display 5, and the like are customized.

  On the other hand, the payment application 53 is an application that performs payment processing of an electronic payment medium. Here, the “settlement process” refers to a command based on an electronic settlement information transmission command to the electronic settlement server 3, a process based on a settlement execution result of the electronic settlement server 3 (including notification to the POS application 52 and a retry process). The payment application 53 is not customized for each store but is used for general purposes.

  The printer 2 incorporates an ePOS device 61 (device control unit) and an electronic payment control module 62. The printer control mechanism 21 in FIG. 1 operates based on these.

  The ePOS device 61 generates device control objects corresponding to the peripheral devices 4, 5, 6, 7 and the printer unit 22 based on commands from the POS application 52 and the payment application 53 and controls them. For example, based on a display command from the POS application 52, control for displaying a product name or the like on the customer display 5, control for transmitting the reading result of the barcode scanner 6 to the POS application 52, and based on a drawer open command from the POS application 52 Control for opening the drawer of the cash drawer 7 and control for operating the printer unit 22 based on a print command from the POS application 52 are performed. Further, when the ePOS device 61 receives a payment processing start command from the payment application 53, the ePOS device 61 transfers this to the electronic payment control module 62.

  The electronic payment control module 62 is a module incorporated for the purpose of controlling the card reader 4. For example, when a payment processing start command is transferred from the ePOS device 61, the card reader 4 is set in a readable state, and data reading by the card reader 4 is awaited. It also supports multiple electronic payment media and responds to differences in their brands.

  The electronic payment control module 62 controls communication with the electronic payment server 3. Specifically, the electronic payment information including the data read by the card reader 4 and the payment amount received from the payment application 53 is transmitted to the electronic payment server 3. Thereafter, when payment is normally completed in the electronic payment server 3, an LED (not shown) of the card reader 4 is turned on to display a card evacuation permission display, or a payment completion notification is sent to the payment application 53 via the ePOS device 61. Or control such as. If payment cannot be completed normally by the electronic payment server 3, the LED of the card reader 4 blinks to display an error, or an error is displayed on the payment application 53 via the ePOS device 61 (to the touch panel 12. Display) and control such as. As described above, by incorporating the electronic payment module, when the electronic payment service is added or changed, it is possible to cope with the change only by changing the electronic payment control module 62 (without changing the printer 2 itself). it can.

  Next, the functional configuration of the POS system SY will be described with reference to FIG. The tablet terminal 1 includes a control unit 110 as a functional configuration. The control unit 110 controls the POS application 52 and the payment application 53 and performs information input / output control with the respective units 210, 220, and 240 of the printer 2. For example, the control unit 110 receives a payment completion notification from the electronic payment server 3 to the payment application 53, and terminates the processing of the payment application 53 (pauses or sleeps). When the processing of the payment application 53 is completed, the POS application 52 is activated to send a print command for printing the accounting receipt to the printer 2. That is, based on the settlement result of the settlement application 53, the accounting process of the POS application 52 is terminated. As described above, the control unit 110 performs the switching process between the POS application 52 and the payment application 53 so that even a CPU with low processing capability can cope with the problem.

  The printer 2 includes a first communication unit 210, a second communication unit 220, an input unit 230, and a printing unit 240 as functional configurations. The first communication unit 210 transmits the processing result of the payment application 53 and the input result of the input unit 230 to the electronic payment server 3. The second communication unit 220 transmits the processing result of the electronic payment server 3 to the payment application 53. The input unit 230 inputs data read by the card reader 4. The printing unit 240 performs printing based on the print command generated by the POS application 52.

  The electronic payment server 3 includes an electronic payment processing unit 310 as a functional configuration. The electronic payment processing unit 310 performs processing related to the above-described “electronic payment”. The card reader 4 has a reading unit 410 as a functional configuration. The reading unit 410 reads data from an electronic payment medium by a magnetic reader or near field communication.

  Next, a screen displayed on the touch panel 12 of the tablet terminal 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, reference symbols D1 and D4 indicate display screens by the POS application 52, and reference symbols D2 and D3 indicate display screens by the payment application 53. Hereinafter, the screen transition of the touch panel 12 will be described according to the flow of the accounting process.

  First, as indicated by reference numeral D1, the POS application 52 displays a screen for selecting a payment method when the input of product information to the tablet terminal 1 is completed. Here, in the case of cash settlement, the accounting process is completed by the POS application 52 without starting the settlement application 53 by a predetermined operation of the store clerk (for example, drawer open operation). When the “credit” button 71 or the “electronic money” button 72 is selected as the payment method, the payment application 53 is activated to put the POS application 52 in a standby state. In this example, it is assumed that the “electronic money” button 72 is selected on the screen indicated by the symbol D1. The payment application 53 is activated by designating a predetermined address.

  Further, when the payment application 53 is activated, the POS application 52 transmits information such as the payment amount, the payment method, the designation of the return destination application (POS application 52), the address of the printer 2 to the payment application 53, and after these transmissions. It will be in a standby state.

  Subsequently, the settlement application 53 performs a display indicated by a symbol D2 based on the information received from the POS application 52. Here, when the IC for electronic money is deceived by the card reader 4 by the customer, the payment application 53 executes the payment (communication with the electronic payment server 3), and displays the symbol D3. Here, a display example is shown when the payment process is completed normally.

  When the “Done” button 73 is touched in the display indicated by reference sign D 3, the settlement application 53 specifies the address of the POS application 52 and activates the POS application 52. At the same time, the payment application 53 transmits the payment processing result to the POS application 52, and thereafter ends itself or enters a standby state.

  The POS application 52 performs the display indicated by reference sign D4 based on the payment processing result received from the payment application 53. Although not particularly illustrated, the POS application 52 transmits the display and a print command for printing the accounting receipt to the printer 2.

  In addition, although the screen display of the tablet terminal 1 was demonstrated in FIG. 4, you may perform the same display on the customer display 5. FIG. In this case, the customer may select / touch the buttons 71, 72, and 73.

  Next, the flow of accounting processing by the POS system SY will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the tablet terminal 1 performs an accounting process by the POS application 52 (S01), it determines whether or not the payment method is electronic payment (“credit” or “electronic money”) (S02). When it is determined that the payment method is not electronic payment (for example, cash payment) (S02: No), S03 to S11 are omitted, and the process proceeds to S12. On the other hand, if it is determined that the payment method is electronic payment (S02: Yes), the payment application 53 is activated (S03), and information indicating the payment amount and the payment method is transmitted from the payment application 53 to the printer 2 (S04). ).

  When the payment application 53 is activated on the tablet terminal 1, the printer 2 generates a device object for the card reader 4 by the ePOS device 61 (S05). The printer 2 may generate a device object by monitoring the state of an application running on the tablet terminal 1 and detecting the activation of the payment application 53. A configuration may be adopted in which a startup signal indicating that is automatically transmitted to the printer 2 side with the startup.

  When the device object for the card reader 4 is generated by the printer 2, the card reader 4 becomes usable and reads the electronic settlement medium (S06). In addition, the printer 2 transmits electronic payment information including the result of reading the electronic payment medium and the payment amount to the electronic payment server 3 corresponding to the payment method (S07), and the payment execution result (payment OK / Settlement NG) is received (S08). Further, the received settlement execution result is transmitted to the tablet terminal 1 (S09).

  In the tablet terminal 1, the payment application 53 is activated, and the payment application 53 receives the payment execution result transmitted in S09 (S10). Thereafter, the POS application 52 is activated by the payment application 53, and a payment processing result based on the payment execution result received from the electronic payment server 3 is transmitted (S11). The POS application 52 generates a print command based on the received settlement processing result and transmits it to the printer 2 (S12). In response to receiving the print command, the printer 2 generates a device object of the printer unit 22 by the ePOS device 61 (S13), and prints an accounting receipt (S14).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the printer 2 is interposed between the card reader 4 that reads data from the electronic payment medium and the tablet terminal 1, and the tablet terminal 1 cannot directly connect the card reader 4. Even with the configuration, communication can be performed. The tablet terminal 1 and the printer 2 are connected by wireless communication, and the portability of the tablet terminal 1 is not impaired.

  In addition to the POS application 52, a payment application 53 used for electronic payment is installed in the tablet terminal 1, so that it is not necessary to significantly change the POS application 52 in accordance with the introduction of the electronic payment function, and the introduction cost can be reduced. Can do. In the case of the present embodiment, the modification of the POS application 52 adds a “credit” button 71 and an “electronic money” button 72 to the payment screen (see FIG. 4), and further activates the payment application 53 in accordance with these selections. Add a function to do

  In addition, since the electronic payment server 3, the card reader 4, and other peripheral devices 5, 6, and 7 are connected to the printer 2 and information is input / output by the printer 2, the control load on the tablet terminal 1 can be reduced. In addition, since the tablet terminal 1 performs switching processing between the POS application 52 and the payment application 53, even a terminal having a specification in which a plurality of applications cannot be activated at the same time is applied as the tablet terminal 1 of the present embodiment. Can do.

  Further, since a print command is transmitted to the printer 2 using a payment completion notification from the electronic payment server 3 to the payment application 53 as a trigger, an accounting receipt can be printed without requiring a receipt issuing operation by a store clerk.

  In the above embodiment, the “control device” of the present invention is realized by the printer 2, but may be realized by a control device that can be connected to the printer 2 or an interface board that is detachable from the printer 2. In this case, the printer control mechanism 21 and the interfaces 23, 24, and 25 shown in FIG. 1, the ePOS device 61 and the electronic payment control module 62 shown in FIG. 2, the first communication unit 210 and the second communication unit shown in FIG. 220 and the input unit 230 are provided in a control device or an interface board.

  Moreover, in said embodiment, although the tablet terminal 1 was controlled using the native application, you may control using a web application. In this case, the POS application 52 and the payment application 53 are provided in a server on the Internet, and the OS 51 is not necessary.

  In the above embodiment, the print command is generated by the POS application 52 and transmitted to the printer 2. However, the print command may be generated by the settlement application 53 and transmitted to the printer 2. Alternatively, the payment application 53 may acquire the print command generated by the POS application 52 and the payment application 53 may transmit the print command to the printer 2.

  Further, it is possible to provide each component of the POS system SY described above as a program. Further, the program can be provided by being stored in various recording media (CD-ROM, flash memory, etc.). That is, a program that causes a computer to function as each component of the POS system SY and a recording medium that records the program are also included in the scope of the present invention.

  In the above embodiment, the “terminal” of the present invention is applied to the tablet terminal 1, but may be applied to other information processing terminals. Further, although the “control device” of the present invention is applied to the printer 2, it may be applied to a POS peripheral device other than the printer 2 (for example, a customer display 5). Other modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  1: Tablet terminal 2: Printer 3: Electronic payment server 4: Card reader 5: Customer display 6: Bar code scanner 7: Cash drawer 11: Terminal control mechanism 12: Touch panel 21: Printer control mechanism 22: Printer unit 51: OS 52 : POS application 53: Payment application 61: ePOS device 62: Electronic payment control module 110: Control unit 210: First communication unit 220: Second communication unit 230: Input unit 240: Printing unit 310: Electronic payment processing unit 410: Reading NW: Network SY: POS system

Claims (6)

A device to read data,
A control device connected to the device and for inputting the data read by the device;
A POS application connected to the control device and having a control unit for controlling a payment application for performing payment processing based on the data input to the control device;
Equipped with a,
The control device includes:
A first communication unit that transmits the data input from the device and a processing result of the payment application received from the terminal to a payment server;
A second communication unit that transmits a processing result of the payment server to the terminal;
A printing unit that prints a receipt in response to a print command generated by the POS application based on a processing result of the payment server;
POS system, comprising a. The POS system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit of the terminal performs a switching process between the POS application and the payment application. POS system according to claim 1 wherein said control unit of the terminal is ago Kike' already server receives the payment completion notification to the payment application, to terminate the processing of the payment application.   2. The POS system according to claim 1, wherein the control device makes the device usable when the payment application is activated in the terminal.   The POS system according to claim 2, wherein the control unit of the terminal switches from the POS application to the payment application when electronic payment is selected on a payment method selection screen for selecting a payment method. Perform accounting with the terminal POS application,
Switch from the POS application to a payment application that performs payment processing on the terminal,
Read data on the device,
Input the data read by the device to the control device,
Sending the data input to the control device and the result of the accounting process in the POS application of the terminal from the control device to the settlement server,
The processing result of the payment server is received from the payment server and transmitted from the control device to the terminal,
Switch from the payment application to the POS application at the terminal,
Based on the processing result of the payment server in the POS application, a print command is generated and transmitted to the control device,
Printing a receipt in response to the print command on the control device;
POS system control method.

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