JP6559202B2 - Information output control system - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an information output control device and an information output control system.

In recent years, stores that provide various goods and services have POS (Point Of Sal).
es) The system is widespread. For example, the POS system includes a POS terminal and a plurality of peripheral devices, and the POS terminal and the plurality of peripheral devices are connected by wire or wirelessly. Examples of the plurality of peripheral devices include a barcode scanner and a receipt issuing device.

In the POS system, a POS terminal (host device) and a receipt issuing device (recording device) communicate with each other, and a receipt is issued by the receipt issuing device.

JP 2014-85904 A

A case is assumed in which a plurality of POS terminals share and use one or a plurality of receipt issuing apparatuses, and the receipt issuing apparatus is installed at a position away from the POS terminal. In this case, if receipts are issued almost simultaneously from a plurality of POS terminals, a plurality of receipts are issued from one receipt issuing device, so it is difficult to distinguish the target receipt, and another receipt is erroneously taken. There is.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an information output control device and an information output control system that contribute to preventing a mix-up of receipts (output information) when a receipt issuing device (information output device) is shared and used. is there.

An information processing control system according to an embodiment includes an identification information reading device, an information processing device,
And an information output device. The identification information reading device reads first identification information and transmits the first identification information, and also reads second identification information and transmits the second identification information. The information processing apparatus receives the first identification information from the identification information reading apparatus, receives the second identification information from the identification information reading apparatus, and is associated with the second identification information. The first information output device is selected, and output information based on the first identification information is transmitted to the first information output device. The information output device receives the output information from the information processing device and outputs the output information.

It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the control system of one Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a function structure of a POS terminal, an identification information reading apparatus, and a receipt issuing apparatus. It is an example of apparatus arrangement | positioning in the store which concerns on embodiment. It is a modification of apparatus arrangement | positioning in the shop which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the operation | movement which performs receipt issuing in embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a linking process between a reading device and a POS terminal in the embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of matching of a POS terminal and a receipt issuing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of matching of a reading device, a POS terminal, and a receipt issuing device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Control system 1 according to the present embodiment
A configuration example of 00 (information output control system) is shown in FIG.

For example, the control system 100 includes a plurality of POS terminals 110 (1
10a, 110b, 110c ...) and a plurality of identification information reading devices 120 (120a,
120b, 120c ...) and a plurality of receipt issuing devices 130 (1) as information output devices
30a, 130b, 130c ...). For example, one POS terminal 110a and one identification information reading device 120a, and one POS terminal 100a and one receipt issuing device 130a are wirelessly connected. Note that the information output control described below can be applied even when each device is connected by wire or when some devices are connected by wire.

One identification information reading device 120a is associated with one POS terminal 110a associated in advance.
Alternatively, wireless communication is performed with one POS terminal 110a selected by reading the identification information, and one POS terminal 110a is one receipt issuing device 1 selected by reading the identification information.
30a can be wirelessly communicated. A method for selecting one POS terminal 110a by reading identification information and a method for selecting one receipt issuing apparatus 130a by reading identification information will be described in detail later.

The identification information reading device 120 includes an identification information recording medium 140 (140a, 140b,...) Used for identifying the receipt issuing device 130, and an identification information recording medium 150 (150a, 150b) used for identifying a product or the like. ,...) Can be read. Also, an identification information recording medium 1 used for identifying a POS terminal 110 described later.
60 is configured to be readable.

The identification information recording medium 140a includes unique identification information 1a. Similarly, the identification information recording medium 1
50a includes unique identification information 2a, and similarly, the identification information recording medium 160a includes unique identification information 3a. The identification information recording medium 140 identifies each receipt issuing device 130.
Prepared for each receipt issuing device 130. For example, the identification information recording medium 140a is pasted on the receipt issuing device 130a, and the identification information recording medium 160a is pasted on the POS terminal 110a. The identification information recording medium 150 is prepared corresponding to each product in order to identify each product. For example, the identification information recording medium 150a is attached to the product A,
An identification information recording medium 150b is affixed to the product B.

For example, the identification information reading device 120 receives the identification information 1a from the identification information recording medium 140a.
The identification information 1a is transmitted to the POS terminal 110a associated in advance or the POS terminal 110a selected by reading the identification information. Further, the identification information reading device 12
0 reads the identification information 2a from the identification information recording medium 150a,
The identification information 2a is transmitted to the S terminal 110a or the POS terminal 110a selected by reading the identification information.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of POS terminals 110 and a plurality of identification information reading devices 1 are used.
20 and a control system 100 including a plurality of receipt issuing devices 130 will be mainly described. The control system 100 includes one POS terminal 110, one identification information reading device 120, and one receipt issuance. You may comprise with the apparatus 130. FIG.

Note that various devices in the control system 100 of the present embodiment may directly perform wireless communication, or may indirectly perform wireless communication via an access point. As wireless communication,
A wireless LAN, Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), or the like is assumed.

The control system 100 according to the present embodiment can be applied to a store such as a supermarket, a convenience store, and a restaurant, and can be configured as a part of a POS system that performs accounting processing. The identification information reading device 120 is a portable bar. Code scanner and RFI
A D (Radio Frequency Identification) reader is assumed, and the identification information recording media 140 and 150 are assumed to be barcodes or RFID tags.

2 shows a POS terminal 110, an identification information reading device 120, and a receipt issuing device 130.
An example of a block diagram showing a functional configuration of is shown. The POS terminal 110 includes a communication unit 212, a storage unit 214, an identification information comparison unit 215, an input unit 216, a display unit 217, and a control unit 211 that controls them.

The communication unit 212 is a functional block that communicates with various devices, and the identification information reader 1
20 and a POS terminal wireless communication unit 213 that wirelessly communicates with the receipt issuing device 130.

The storage unit 214 stores an identification information table T1 in which the identification information is associated with the product price and the receipt issuing device 130. For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the identification information table T1 includes the identification information 1a, the device ID of the receipt issuing device 130a, the identification information 1b, and the receipt issuing device 13.
0b device ID, identification information 2a and information about product A (product price, name, etc.), and information that associates identification information 2b with information about product B (product price, name, etc.).

The identification information comparison unit 215 compares the identification information with reference to the identification information table T1 stored in the storage unit 214, and outputs the comparison result to the control unit. For example, the identification information comparison unit 215 selects the device ID of the receipt issuing device 130a based on the identification information 1a, and the receipt issuing device 1
The device ID 30a is output to the control unit. The external server stores the identification information table T1, and the POS terminal 110 transmits identification information (for example, identification information 1a) to the external server, and information associated with the transmitted identification information (for example, the receipt issuing device 130a). (Device ID) may be received.

As the input unit 216, a keyboard, various switches, and the like are assumed, and the input unit 216 outputs the input information to the control unit 211. A liquid crystal panel or the like is assumed as the display unit 217, and information input from the control unit 211 is displayed. The input unit 216 and the display unit 217
Is not included in the configuration of the POS terminal 110, and external input devices and output devices may be used via the communication unit 212.

The identification information reading device 120 includes a reading device control unit 221 and an identification information reading unit 2.
22 and a reader wireless communication unit 223. The identification information reading unit 222
This is a functional block that reads the identification information, and reads the read identification information.
Output to 1. The reading device control unit 221 outputs the identification information input from the identification information reading unit 222 to the reading device wireless communication unit 223, and the reading device wireless communication unit 223
The input identification information is transmitted to the POS terminal wireless communication unit 213.

The receipt issuing device 130 includes an issuing device control unit 231, a receipt issuing unit 232, and an issuing device wireless communication unit 233. The issuing device wireless communication unit 233 receives the information transmitted from the POS terminal wireless communication unit 213 and outputs the information to the issuing device control unit 231. If the information input from the issuing device wireless communication unit 233 is receipt information, the issuing device control unit 231
The receipt is issued to the receipt issuing unit 232, and the receipt issuing unit 232 issues a receipt based on the input information.

Next, an example of a basic operation for issuing a receipt will be described by taking as an example a case where a store clerk performs an accounting process for a product purchased by a shopper. As shown in FIG. 3A, the identification information reader 12
0 (120a, 120b, 120c...) To the barcode scanner 302 (302a, 302).
b, 302c..., the receipt issuing device 130 (130a, 130b, 130c...) is the receipt printer 303 (302a, 303b, 303c...), and the identification information recording medium 1
40 (140a, 140b, 140c...) To bar code 304 (304a, 304b, 3
04c...) FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an example of a schematic layout showing the device arrangement in the store. A cashier counter 301a is installed at the cashier installation location P100a, and a bar code scanner 302a capable of wireless communication with the POS terminal 110a and the POS terminal 110a is installed in the cashier counter 301a. Similarly, the cash register installation location P100b includes a cash register counter 301b, a POS terminal 110b, and a barcode scanner 302b.
0c includes a cashier counter 301c, a POS terminal 110c, and a barcode scanner 302c.
Is installed. Further, the barcode scanner 302a and the POS terminal 110a are associated with each other by prior mutual authentication or the like, and the barcode scanner 302a is set to perform wireless communication with the POS terminal 110a. The same applies to the barcode scanner 302b and the POS terminal 110b, and the barcode scanner 302c and the POS terminal 110c.

Receipt printers 303a and 303b are installed at the printer installation location P200, and a barcode 304a corresponding to the identification information 1a associated with the receipt printer 303a is attached to the receipt printer 303a and associated with the receipt printer 303b. A barcode 304b corresponding to the identification information 1b is pasted on the receipt printer 303b. Note that the barcode 304a may be arranged so that the barcode 304a and the receipt printer 303a correspond to each other without directly attaching the barcode 304a to the receipt printer 303a. Similarly, a barcode 304b may be arranged. The receipt printer 303a and the identification information 1a are associated with each POS terminal 110 (110a, 11).
0b,...) (See the identification information table T1 in FIG. 5A). Similarly, the association between the receipt printer 303b and the identification information 1b is also stored in the storage unit 214 of each POS terminal 110 (see the identification information table T1 in FIG. 5A).

For example, it is assumed that the cash register installation location P100 and the printer installation location P200 are about 5 to 10 m apart. Here, it is assumed that the store clerk A performs the accounting process at the cash register installation location P100a.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart illustrating an example of operations (information output control) of the POS terminal 110, the receipt printer 303, and the barcode scanner 302. The clerk A has a POS terminal 110a
Is used to register the product purchased by the shopper (ACT 410A). For example, the store clerk A has an identification information recording medium 150 attached to the product A by the barcode scanner 302a.
Read (bar code). The identification information reading unit 222 reads the barcode information (identification information 2a) from the identification information recording medium 150 (barcode) attached to the product A, and the reading device wireless communication unit 223 reads the identification information 2a from the POS terminal 110a. Send to. POS
The terminal 110a (POS terminal wireless communication unit 213) receives the identification information 2a, and stores the storage unit 214.
Stores the identification information 2a. The identification information comparison unit 215 compares the identification information table T1 stored in the storage unit 214 with the received identification information 2a, and derives information (price, product name, etc.) regarding the product A corresponding to the received identification information 2a. Then, information regarding the product A is registered. Alternatively, the clerk A may input the product price of the product A from the input unit 216 of the POS terminal 110a as registration of information about the product A.

When the merchandise registration for all the merchandise is completed, the clerk A informs the shopper of the total price, receives money, and inputs the received price to the input unit 216 of the POS terminal 110a (ACT420A).
). Next, the store clerk A carries the barcode scanner 302a and moves from the cash register installation location P100a to the printer installation location P200. Then, the identification information recording medium 140 (bar code) attached to the receipt printer 303 to be used is read by the bar code scanner 302a (ACT 430A). Here, assuming that the receipt printer 303a is used, the identification information reading unit 222 of the barcode scanner 302a reads the barcode information (identification information 1a) from the barcode 304a pasted on the receipt printer 303a, and the reading device wirelessly The communication unit 223 sends the barcode information (identification information 1a) to the POS terminal 110a.
(ACT440A).

The POS terminal wireless communication unit 213 receives the barcode information (identification information 1a) (ACT4
50A), the receipt printer to be used is determined (ACT460A). That is, the identification information comparison unit 215 refers to the identification information table T1 stored in the storage unit 214 and derives (selects) a receipt printer from the received barcode information. Since the barcode information is the barcode information (identification information 1a) of the barcode 304a, the receipt printer 303a is derived (selected). The POS terminal 110a transmits receipt print information (output information) to the receipt printer 303a (ACT 470A).

The issuing device wireless communication unit 233 of the receipt printer 303a receives the received receipt print information (ACT480A). The issuing device control unit 231 of the receipt printer 303a outputs the received receipt printing information to the receipt issuing unit 232, and the receipt issuing unit 232 issues a receipt (ACT 490A). Thereafter, the issued receipt is delivered from the clerk A to the shopper.

Next, for example, the clerk A is the POS terminal 110a, the clerk B is the POS terminal 110b, the clerk C is the POS terminal 110c, and the deposit process (ACT420A) is completed almost simultaneously, and the clerk A and the clerk B enter the printer installation place P200. Assume that the store clerk A who has moved in the order of the store clerk C and arrived first reads the barcode 304a by the barcode scanner 302a. The store clerk B who has moved to the printer installation location P200 next to the store clerk A reads the barcode 304b attached to the receipt printer 303b not used by the store clerk A with the barcode scanner 302b. Next, the clerk C who has moved to the printer installation location P200 waits for the clerk A or the clerk B to take the issued receipt, and then completes the receipt printer 303a or 303b previously completed.
The bar code 304a or 304b is read and a receipt is issued. As a result, even when the deposit process is completed almost simultaneously, a plurality of receipts are not issued from one receipt printer 303, and the usage status is confirmed and the receipt printer 303a or 303b selected on the spot is used. A receipt can be issued.

As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, one or a plurality of receipt printers are installed at a position distant from the POS terminal 110, and one or a plurality of receipt printers are shared. In this case, receipts are issued in order from one or a plurality of receipt printers. However, since receipts are issued in front of the clerk who is an operator of the POS terminal, it is possible to prevent the receipts from being mixed up.

In the above description, the case where the barcode scanner 302a and the POS terminal 110a are associated with each other in a one-to-one manner has been described in advance. However, any barcode scanner and POS terminal can be associated with each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, a plurality of POS terminals 110 and a plurality of barcode scanners 302 (302a, 302b, 302c, 302d
302e, 302f) and the number of barcode scanners 302 is greater than the number of POS terminals 110.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, store clerk A then carries barcode scanner 302a,
The barcode 305 pasted on the POS terminal 110 to be used is converted into the barcode scanner 30.
Read with 2a (ACT410B). Here, it is assumed that the POS terminal 110a is used, and the identification information reading unit 222 of the barcode scanner 302a reads the barcode information (identification information 3a) from the barcode 305a pasted on the POS terminal 110a, and the reading device wirelessly The communication unit 223 transmits the barcode information (identification information 3a) and the device ID of the barcode scanner 302a to each POS terminal 110 (110a, 110b,...) (AC
T420B).

The POS terminal wireless communication unit 213 of each POS terminal 110 receives barcode information (identification information 3a).
) And the device ID of the barcode scanner 302a (ACT430B), each POS terminal 110 determines the association between the POS terminal and the barcode scanner 302a (ACT4).
40B). That is, the identification information comparison unit 215 of each POS terminal 110 refers to the identification information table T2 stored in the storage unit 214, and determines the barcode information (identification information 3a) and the barcode scanner 302a device ID from the received barcode information. The code scanner 302a is associated with the POS terminal 110a corresponding to the identification information 3a. This establishes communication between the POS terminal 110a and the barcode scanner 302a, and information from the barcode scanner 302a is stored in P
It is transmitted to the OS terminal 110a.

After the POS terminal 110a and the barcode scanner 302a are associated with each other, information output control can be executed as in FIG. 4A. In addition, after transmitting the receipt printing information, the POS terminal 110a cancels the association between the barcode scanner 302a and the POS terminal 110a. Alternatively, when a receipt is issued and the POS terminal 110a receives receipt issued information from the receipt printer, the barcode scanner 302a and the POS terminal 110
Cancel the association of a.

For example, when there are a large number of shop assistants, a barcode scanner is distributed to each shop assistant to improve efficiency, and the number of POS terminals and receipt printers is less than the number of barcode scanners, thereby reducing system installation costs. Can be achieved. Further, the system setting cost can be further reduced by making the number of printers smaller than the number of POS terminals. In addition, each store clerk can reliably receive the desired receipt without making a mistake.

Note that all the processing and control procedures described above can be executed by software. For this reason, the control system 100 (eg, PO
The above-described processing and control can be easily realized simply by installing and executing on the S terminal.

For example, the control system 100 (for example, a POS terminal) can read the program from a computer-readable storage medium, store the read program in the storage device of the storage unit 214, and complete the installation of the program. Or control system 1
00 (for example, a POS terminal) can download the program, store the downloaded program in the storage device of the storage unit 214, and complete the installation of the program. As a result, the control system 100 can easily realize the processing and control based on the installed program.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.
This application is a divisional application whose original application is Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-17447. Hereinafter, the invention described in the scope of claims of the original application will be appended.
[C1]
An identification information reading device that reads first identification information and transmits the first identification information, and reads second identification information and transmits the second identification information;
Receiving the first identification information from the identification information reading device; receiving the second identification information from the identification information reading device; and outputting a first information associated with the second identification information An information processing device that selects a device and transmits output information based on the first identification information to the first information output device;
Receiving the output information from the information processing apparatus and outputting the output information;
An information output control system comprising:
[C2]
The identification information reading device is a barcode scanner, reads the first identification information from a first barcode for identifying a product, and transmits the first identification information to the information processing device by wireless communication. In addition, the second identification information is read from the second barcode for identifying the first information output device, and the second identification information is transmitted to the information processing device by wireless communication [C1. ] Information output control system.
[C3]
The information processing apparatus executes a checkout process based on product information associated with the first identification information, and transmits receipt issue information based on the checkout process to the first information output apparatus by wireless communication.
The first information output device is a receipt issuing device, and the [C1] or [C2] information output control system issues a receipt based on the receipt issue information.
[C4]
And a second information output device associated with the third identification information.
The identification information reader reads the first identification information and transmits the first identification information, reads the third identification information and transmits the third identification information,
The information processing apparatus receives the first identification information from the identification information reading apparatus, receives the third identification information from the identification information reading apparatus, and is associated with the third identification information. Selecting the second information output device, and transmitting the output information based on the first identification information to the second information output device,
The information output control system according to any one of [C1] to [C3], wherein the second information output device receives the output information from the information processing device and outputs the output information.
[C5]
Receiving means for receiving first identification information read by the identification information reading device and receiving second identification information read by the identification information reading device;
Selecting means for selecting an information output device associated with the second identification information;
Transmitting means for transmitting output information based on the first identification information to the information output device;
An information output control device comprising:

Control system 110 (110a, 110b, 110c) ... POS terminal 120 (120a, 120b, 120c) ... Identification information reader 130 (130a, 130b, 130c) ... Receipt Issuing device 140 (140a, 140b) ... identification information recording medium 150 (150a, 150b) ... identification information recording medium 211 ... control unit 212 ... communication unit 213 ... POS Terminal wireless communication unit 214 ··· storage unit 215 ··· identification information comparison unit 216 ··· input unit 217 ··· display unit 221 ··· reading device control unit 222 ··· identification information Reading unit 223... Reading device wireless communication unit 231... Issuing device control unit 232... Receipt issuing unit 233. 1 (301a, 301b, 301c)... Register counter 302 (302a, 302b, 302c)... Bar code scanner 303 (303a, 303b)... Receipt printer 304 (304a, 304b). ·barcode

Claims (1)

A first information output device; a second information output device;
A plurality of information processing devices more than the information output device;
An identification information reader;
With
The identification information reading device reads the first identification information attached to the first information processing apparatus included in the plurality of information processing devices, the device ID of the first identification information and the identification information reading device To the plurality of information processing devices,
The plurality of information processing devices receive the first identification information and the device ID,
The first information processing apparatus and the identification information reading apparatus establish communication,
The identification information reading apparatus, when transmitting the second identification information and the second identification information affixed to said first information output device for read the first information processing apparatus, the first The first information processing device selects the corresponding first information output device from the received second identification information, and transmits the first receipt print information to the selected first information output device; the first information output device receives the first receipt printing information to output the first receipt printing information,
The identification information reading device reads the third identification information pasted on the second information output device and transmits the third identification information to the first information processing device. The first information processing device selects the corresponding second information output device from the received third identification information, and transmits the second receipt print information to the selected second information output device. The second information output device receives the second receipt print information and outputs the second receipt print information .