JP6763544B2 - Product registration device, program, and control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for properly using a device for paying a product.

At cash register terminals in stores such as supermarkets, (1) processing to register products to be settled (reading barcodes, etc.) and (2) processing to settle registered products (receipt of payment, return of change, etc.) Two processes are performed.

Then, there is an operation method in which the function of such a cash register terminal is separated into two devices, and the process of (1) and the process of (2) are performed by different devices. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a sales management system in which a registration device used for the processing of (1) and an accounting device used for the processing of (2) are separately provided. The clerk registers the product using the registration device. Then, when the product registration is completed, the registration device issues a registration receipt. The purchaser moves to the accounting device with the registration receipt and has the accounting device read the registration receipt. Then, since the accounting process based on the contents of the registration receipt can be performed, the purchaser operates the accounting device (such as inputting the price) to perform the accounting. Hereinafter, the method of performing the settlement processing using the information using the information read from the portable medium such as the registration receipt by the accounting device will be referred to as the sheet method. In addition, hereinafter, the accounting device is also referred to as a settlement device.

Further, as described above, there is also a method of designating a settlement device for performing settlement processing of a product registered by a certain product registration device from the product registration device without using a registration receipt or the like (hereinafter, a designation method). In the case of this method, the purchaser asks the clerk which payment device has been designated, and moves to the payment device to perform the payment.

Generally, in the designated method, a payment device corresponding to the product registration device is placed near each product registration device. Then, a certain product registration device designates a settlement device corresponding to the product registration device as a settlement device for performing the settlement processing of the registered product.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-186495

The designation method has an advantage that the customer can use the payment device intended by the clerk. On the other hand, the sheet method has an advantage that the customer can freely select the payment device. Thus, these methods have different advantages.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for properly using a payment device.

The first product registration device of the present invention is a product registration device in a system including a product registration device and a plurality of payment devices. The product registration device can transmit the settlement information regarding the settlement process of the product registered as the settlement target to the settlement device. The product registration device associates the settlement information with one of the plurality of settlement devices, and transmits the settlement information to the associated settlement device as a first processing means, and the settlement information is a portable medium. It has a second processing means for outputting to, and a control means for selecting the first processing means or the second processing means based on predetermined information.
The second product registration device of the present invention is a product registration device in a system including a product registration device and a plurality of payment devices. The product registration device can transmit the settlement information regarding the settlement process of the product registered as the settlement target to the settlement device. The product registration device associates the settlement information with one of the plurality of settlement devices, and transmits the settlement information to the associated settlement device with a first processing means and a portable medium. A second processing means for outputting to, and a display control means for displaying a selection screen on which the first processing means or the second processing means can be selected as a means for acquiring the settlement information and processing the acquired settlement information. Have. The acquired settlement information is not displayed on the selection screen.

The program of the present invention operates a computer as the information processing apparatus of the present invention.

The first control method of the present invention is executed by a computer that realizes a product registration device in a system including a product registration device and a plurality of payment devices. The product registration device can transmit the settlement information regarding the settlement process of the product registered as the settlement target to the settlement device. The control method includes the settlement information, along with associated with one of said plurality of settlement apparatus, a first processing step of transmitting to the settlement apparatus to which the adjustment information is associated, said settlement information to the portable medium It has a second processing step to be output, and a control step for selecting the first processing step or the second processing step based on predetermined information.
The second control method of the present invention is executed by a computer that realizes a product registration device in a system including a product registration device and a plurality of payment devices. The product registration device can transmit the settlement information regarding the settlement process of the product registered as the settlement target to the settlement device. The control method includes the settlement information, along with associated with one of said plurality of settlement apparatus, a first processing step of transmitting to the settlement apparatus to which the adjustment information is associated, said settlement information to the portable medium get a second processing step of outputting, the settlement information, and the steps to process the payment information the acquired, and displays the first process step or the second of the processing steps selectable selection screen display It has a control step. The acquired settlement information is not displayed on the selection screen.

According to the present invention, a technique for properly using a payment device is provided.

The above-mentioned objectives and other objectives, features and advantages will be further clarified by the preferred embodiments described below and the accompanying drawings below.

It is a block diagram which illustrates the information processing system which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of processing executed by the information processing system of Embodiment 1. It is a figure which illustrates the information processing system 2000 in the case where each functional component is mounted inside the product registration apparatus. It is a figure which illustrates the information processing system 2000 when each functional component is mounted inside the server apparatus. It is a block diagram which illustrates the hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus. It is a figure which illustrates the layout of the product registration apparatus, the 1st settlement apparatus, and the 2nd settlement apparatus which the information processing system of an Example has. It is a 2nd figure which illustrates the layout of the product registration apparatus, the 1st settlement apparatus, and the 2nd settlement apparatus. FIG. 3 is a third diagram illustrating the layout of a product registration device, a first payment device, and a second payment device. FIG. 1 is a first diagram illustrating a selection screen displayed by the control unit. FIG. 2 is a second diagram illustrating a selection screen displayed by the control unit. It is a flowchart which illustrates the flow of the process executed by the information processing system of Embodiment 2. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing executed by the information processing system of the third embodiment. It is a 1st flowchart which illustrates the flow of the process executed by the information processing system of Embodiment 4. 2 is a second flowchart illustrating a flow of processing executed by the information processing system of the fourth embodiment. It is a flowchart which illustrates the flow of the process executed by the information processing system of Embodiment 5.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all drawings, similar components are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an information processing system 2000 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, each block represents a functional unit configuration, not a hardware unit configuration.

The information processing system 2000 includes a product registration device 3000, a first settlement device 4020, and a second settlement device 4040. In a store that uses the information processing system 2000, the product is settled using the product registration device 3000, the first settlement device 4020, and the second settlement device 4040. Here, the number of the product registration device 3000, the first settlement device 4020, and the second settlement device 4040 installed is one or more, respectively.

The product registration device 3000 is used in a process of registering a product as a settlement target. The clerk operates the product registration device 3000 to register each product purchased by the customer as a payment target. As a result, settlement information is generated. The settlement information is information related to the settlement processing of the product registered as the settlement target.

Each settlement device is used for settlement (payment of price, etc.) of products registered as settlement targets. After the product registration in the product registration device 3000 is completed, the customer goes to the checkout device. The settlement device performs the settlement process using the settlement information generated as a result of the registration process by the product registration device 3000. Specifically, the settlement device presents the price to the customer, counts the input price, and refunds the change.

The information processing system 2000 further includes a first processing unit 2020, a second processing unit 2040, and a control unit 2060. The first processing unit 2020 associates the settlement information with the first settlement device. When the settlement information is associated with the first settlement device 4020, the customer performs the settlement process with the first settlement device 4020 to which the settlement information is associated.

The second processing unit 2040 associates the settlement information with the identification information read from the portable medium in the second settlement device 4040, or outputs the settlement information to the portable medium. In this case, the customer takes the portable medium and goes to an arbitrary second settlement device 4040, and causes the second settlement device 4040 to read the portable medium to perform the settlement process.

The control unit 2060 controls whether the first processing unit 2020 or the second processing unit 2040 processes the settlement information.

<Processing flow>
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the information processing system 2000 of the first embodiment. The control unit 2060 determines whether to process the settlement information by the first processing unit 2020 or the second processing unit 2040 (S102). When the first processing unit 2020 is to process the settlement information (S104: first processing unit), the process of FIG. 2 proceeds to step S106. On the other hand, when the second processing unit 2040 is allowed to process the settlement information (S104: second processing unit), the process of FIG. 2 proceeds to step S110.

In step S106, the first processing unit 2020 associates the settlement information with any first settlement device 4020. The settlement process based on the settlement information is performed by the first settlement device 4020 to which the settlement information is associated (S108).

On the other hand, in step S110, the second processing unit 2040 associates the settlement information with the identification information read from the portable medium in the second settlement device 4040, or outputs the settlement information to the portable medium. The settlement process based on the settlement information is performed by the second settlement device 4040 that reads the portable medium (S112).

As described above, the information processing system 2000 of the present embodiment controls which of the first settlement device 4020 and the second settlement device 4040 performs the settlement process based on the settlement information. When the first settlement device 4020 is allowed to perform the settlement process, there is an advantage that, for example, the customer can use a specific settlement device. On the other hand, when the second settlement device 4040 is used, there is an advantage that, for example, the customer can freely select which second settlement device 4040 to use. According to the information processing system 2000 of the present embodiment, the settlement device can be appropriately used by allowing the control unit 2060 to perform control in consideration of these advantages.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in more detail.

<Implementation method of information processing system 2000>
The first processing unit 2020, the second processing unit 2040, and the control unit 2060 are implemented by one or more information processing devices. For example, all of these functional components are mounted inside the product registration device 3000 (FIG. 3).

Further, it is assumed that the information processing system 2000 has a product registration device 3000, a first settlement device 4020, and a server device 5000 that is communicably connected to the first settlement device 4020, respectively. In this case, the first processing unit 2020, the second processing unit 2040, and the control unit 2060 may be mounted inside the server device 5000 (FIG. 4). Further, a part of these functional components may be mounted inside the product registration device 3000, and the remaining functional components may be mounted inside the server device 5000 (not shown).

<Product registration process by product registration device 3000>
Various known techniques can be used in the process of registering the product to be settled using the product registration device 3000. For example, the product registration device 3000 registers the product as a settlement target by reading a symbol such as a barcode attached to the product.

The settlement target in one settlement process may include a plurality of products. For example, the product registration device 3000 receives one or more products registered between the time when the operation for instructing the start of the registration process for the settlement target is received and the time when the operation for instructing the end of the registration process for the settlement target is received. Register as a settlement target in one settlement process. The settlement information related to a certain settlement process indicates the ID (Identifier) of each product registered as the target of the settlement process. In addition, the settlement information may further indicate the transaction number, the amount of each product, the total amount, and the like.

<About settlement information>
For example, the settlement information is generated by the product registration device 3000 that registers the product included in the settlement information as the settlement target. In this case, the product registration device 3000 transmits the generated settlement information to the server device 5000 or stores it in a storage device accessible from the product registration device 3000. The server device 5000 that has received the settlement information stores the settlement information in a storage device accessible from the server device 5000.

Further, for example, the settlement information may be generated by the server device 5000. In this case, for example, the server device 5000 acquires the information about the product registered as the settlement target from the product registration device 3000, and generates the settlement information using the information. Then, the server device 5000 stores the generated settlement information in a storage device accessible from the server device 5000.

Further, the product registration device 3000 and the server device 5000 may store the settlement information in a storage device accessible from the first settlement device 4020 and the second settlement device 4040.

Since various known techniques can be used as a specific method for generating settlement information, the description thereof will be omitted.

For example, the first settlement device 4020 and the second settlement device 4040 transmit a request indicating the ID of the settlement information to the server device 5000 or the product registration device 3000 in order to acquire the settlement information. The server device 5000 or the product registration device 3000 transmits the settlement information associated with the ID of the received settlement information to the first settlement device 4020 and the second settlement device 4040.

Further, the first settlement device 4020 and the second settlement device 4040 may acquire the settlement information stored in the storage device accessible by themselves.

<Details of the first processing unit 2020>
There are various methods in which the first processing unit 2020 associates the first settlement device 4020 with the settlement information. For example, the first processing unit 2020 associates the first settlement device 4020 with the settlement information by associating the ID of the first settlement device 4020 with the ID of the settlement information. Specifically, the first processing unit 2020 transmits the ID of the settlement information to the first settlement device 4020 to be associated. The first settlement device 4020 acquires the settlement information associated with the ID of the received settlement information from the server device 5000 or the like.

Further, for example, the first processing unit 2020 may associate the settlement information with the first settlement device 4020 by transmitting the settlement information to the first settlement device 4020 to be associated.

Here, when the first processing unit 2020 is mounted inside the server device 5000, the first processing unit 2020 acquires the ID or the settlement information of the settlement information to be associated from the product registration device 3000.

The first settlement device 4020 associated with the settlement information by the first processing unit 2020 may be the first settlement device 4020 specified by the user, or is determined by the first processing unit 2020 based on preset conditions. It may be the first settlement device 4020 to be performed. Here, the user is a customer, a clerk, or the like. The method of associating the settlement information with the first settlement device 4020 designated by the user will be described in the second embodiment.

There are various methods in which the first processing unit 2020 determines the first settlement device 4020 to be associated with the settlement information. For example, the first processing unit 2020 determines the first settlement device 4020 to be associated with the settlement information based on the state of each first settlement device 4020. For example, the first processing unit 2020 associates the settlement information with the first settlement device 4020 that can perform the settlement processing based on the newly associated settlement information. Here, the first settlement device 4020 that can perform the settlement process based on the newly associated settlement information is, for example, the first settlement device 4020 that is not currently used by the customer. The details of the first settlement device 4020 that can perform the settlement process based on the newly associated settlement information will be described in the third embodiment.

Further, for example, the first processing unit 2020 associates the settlement information with the first settlement device 4020 that is previously associated with the product registration device 3000 that has registered the product indicated by the settlement information. The first settlement device 4020 associated with a certain product registration device 3000 in advance is, for example, the first settlement device 4020 near the flow line of the customer who uses the product registration device 3000. Here, the flow line of the customer who uses the product registration device 3000 is a route through which the customer who uses the product registration device 3000 passes. The first processing unit 2020 acquires information indicating the correspondence between the product registration device 3000 and the first settlement device 4020 from the storage device stored inside or outside the information processing system 2000, and thereby obtains the product registration device. Grasp the correspondence between 3000 and the first settlement device 4020.

If there are a plurality of first settlement devices 4020 associated with the first settlement device 4020 that the customer can immediately start using and the product registration device 3000 that has registered the product indicated by the settlement information, the first processing unit 2020 associates the settlement information with one of the plurality of first settlement devices 4020. For example, the first processing unit 2020 refers to the first settlement device 4020 installed at the position closest to the product registration device 3000 that has registered the product indicated by the settlement information among the plurality of first settlement devices 4020. , Associate the settlement information. Further, for example, the first processing unit 2020 may randomly select one from the plurality of first settlement devices 4020 and associate the settlement information with the selected first settlement device 4020.

Here, there are various methods for the first processing unit 2020 to grasp the first settlement device 4020 installed at the position closest to the product registration device 3000. For example, the first processing unit 2020 grasps the first settlement device 4020 installed at the position closest to the product registration device 3000 by acquiring the position information of the product registration device 3000 and the first settlement device 4020. Further, for example, the first processing unit 2020 acquires information relating the product registration device 3000 and the first settlement device 4020 installed closest to the product registration device 3000, thereby causing the product registration device 3000 to obtain information. The first settlement device 4020 installed at the nearest position is grasped. The position information of each device, the information associated with the product registration device 3000 and the first settlement device 4020, and the like are stored in advance in the internal or external storage unit of the information processing system 2000.

Further, the first settlement device 4020 may randomly select one from all the first settlement devices 4020 and associate the settlement information with the selected first settlement device 4020.

<Details of the second processing unit 2040>
As described above, the second processing unit 2040 associates the settlement information with the identification information read from the portable medium in the second settlement device 4040, or outputs the settlement information to the portable medium. Here, there are various kinds of information that can be read by the second settlement device 4040. The information that can be read by the second settlement device 4040 differs depending on the configuration and function of the second settlement device 4040. Therefore, the operation of the second processing unit 2040 also differs depending on the configuration and function of the second settlement device 4040. Hereinafter, the operation of the first processing unit 2020 will be described in correspondence with the information read from the portable medium by the second processing unit 2040.

<< When the second settlement device 4040 reads the settlement information ID >>
When the second settlement device 4040 reads the ID of the settlement information from the portable medium, the second processing unit 2040 acquires the ID of the settlement information to be associated, and transfers the acquired ID of the settlement information to the portable medium. And output. As a result, the settlement information is associated with the identification information (ID of the settlement information) read from the portable medium. Hereinafter, a method in which the second processing unit 2040 outputs the settlement information ID to the portable medium will be described.

For example, the second processing unit 2040 outputs the portable medium read by the second settlement device 4040. This portable medium is, for example, a sheet such as paper or plastic. At this time, the second processing unit 2040 outputs (prints, records, etc.) the ID of the settlement information to the portable medium. When printing the settlement information ID on the sheet, the settlement information ID is printed using, for example, various codes (character string, bar code, two-dimensional code, etc.). The customer takes the sheet output by the second processing unit 2040 to the second settlement device 4040, and causes the second settlement device 4040 to read the ID of the settlement information printed on the sheet. As a result, the second settlement device 4040 acquires the ID of the settlement information. The sheet may be disposable or may be a reusable rewritable card or the like.

Further, the second processing unit 2040 may output the ID of the settlement information to the portable medium that the customer has in advance without outputting the portable medium. For example, the second processing unit 2040 records the ID of the settlement information on the customer's membership card. Further, for example, the second processing unit 2040 transmits the ID of the settlement information to the customer's mobile terminal. In this case, the customer's mobile terminal has a function of receiving the ID of the settlement information transmitted by the second processing unit 2040 and displaying the ID on the display screen.

There are various methods for the second processing unit 2040 to specify the destination of the settlement information ID. For example, if the customer has registered as a member at the store, the member information should include the e-mail address. In this case, for example, the second processing unit 2040 acquires the e-mail address included in the member information of the customer by reading the membership card or the like presented by the customer. Then, the second processing unit 2040 transmits the ID of the settlement information to the acquired e-mail address as the destination.

Further, for example, a customer installs a dedicated application provided by a store or the like on a mobile terminal in advance. This application has a function of establishing a wireless communication connection with the product registration device 3000. Then, the product registration device 3000 transmits the ID of the settlement information to the application for which the connection has been established.

<< When the second settlement device 4040 reads the settlement information >>
When the second settlement device 4040 reads the settlement information itself from the portable medium, the second processing unit 2040 acquires the settlement information and outputs the ID of the settlement information to the portable medium in the same manner as this settlement. Output the information to a portable medium. In this case, the second settlement device 4040 acquires the settlement information by reading the settlement information from the portable medium.

<< When the second settlement device 4040 reads identification information other than the ID of the settlement information >>
It is assumed that the second settlement device 4040 reads identification information other than the settlement information ID from the portable medium. In this case, the second processing unit 2040 reads this identification information from a portable medium (membership card, mobile terminal, etc.) that the customer has in advance. For example, when this portable medium is a membership card, this identification information is a member ID or the like. The second processing unit 2040 acquires the ID of the settlement information to be associated, and associates the ID of the settlement information with the identification information read from the portable medium. Then, the second processing unit 2040 transmits the ID of the associated settlement information and the identification information read from the portable medium to the server device 5000.

In this case, the second settlement device 4040 reads the identification information from the portable medium and acquires the settlement information based on the identification information. For example, the second settlement device 4040 transmits a request indicating this identification information to the server device 5000. The server device 5000 determines the ID of the settlement information associated with the identification information shown in the acquired request, and transmits the settlement information specified by the ID of the settlement information to the second settlement device 4040.

When the second processing unit 2040 is mounted inside the server device 5000, the second processing unit 2040 acquires the ID and the settlement information of the settlement information to be associated from the product registration device 3000.

<Details of control unit 2060>
The control unit 2060 controls whether the first processing unit 2020 or the second processing unit 2040 processes the settlement information. Here, there are various methods for controlling whether the control unit 2060 processes the settlement information by the first processing unit 2020 or the second processing unit 2040. These specific methods will be described in each embodiment described later.

The timing at which the control unit 2060 operates varies. For example, the control unit 2060 operates at the timing when the product registration by the product registration device 3000 is completed. Further, for example, the control unit 2060 may operate before the start of product registration by the product registration device 3000 or at the timing of receiving an operation to determine the settlement device for processing the settlement information from the clerk.

<Details of payment device>
The settlement device acquires settlement information and performs settlement processing based on the settlement information. A known method can be used as a method of performing the settlement process based on the information (settlement information) used by the settlement device for the settlement process of the product. Details of this known technique are omitted.

The second settlement device 4040 reads identification information other than the settlement information, the settlement information ID, or the settlement information ID from the portable medium. When the information read from the portable medium is the settlement information, the second settlement device 4040 acquires the settlement information by reading the settlement information from the portable medium. When the settlement information is printed on the portable medium as coded information such as a barcode, the second settlement device 4040 calculates the settlement information by decoding the read information.

When the information read from the portable medium is the identification information, the second settlement device 4040 acquires the settlement information associated with the read identification information. Here, when the identification information is printed on the portable medium as coded information such as a bar code, the second settlement device 4040 calculates the identification information by decoding the read information. The method by which the second settlement device 4040 acquires the settlement information based on the identification information is as described above.

<Hardware configuration example>
Each function configuration unit of the information processing device that mounts the first processing unit 2020, the second processing unit 2040, and the control unit 2060 is hardware that realizes each function configuration unit (eg, a hard-wired electronic circuit, etc.). It may be realized, or it may be realized by a combination of hardware and software (eg, a combination of an electronic circuit and a program that controls it).

The information processing device is implemented as various computers such as a PC (Personal Computer), a portable terminal, or a server machine. Here, the information processing system 2000 may be mounted on a dedicated computer for mounting the information processing system 2000, or may be mounted on a general-purpose computer including other applications and the like.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the information processing device 1000. The information processing device 1000 includes a bus 1020, a processor 1040, a memory 1060, a storage 1080, an input / output interface 1100, and a network interface 1120. The bus 1020 is a data transmission line for the processor 1040, the memory 1060, the storage 1080, the input / output interface 1100, and the network interface 1120 to transmit and receive data to and from each other. However, the method of connecting the processors 1040 and the like to each other is not limited to the bus connection. The processor 1040 is an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The memory 1060 is, for example, a memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory) or ROM (Read Only Memory). The storage 1080 is a storage device such as a hard disk, an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a memory card. Further, the storage 1080 may be a memory such as RAM or ROM.

The input / output interface 1100 is an interface for connecting the information processing device 1000 and the input / output device. The input / output device is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or a display. When the information processing device 1000 is a product registration device 3000, the input / output device further includes a bar code reader or the like used for product registration.

The network interface 1120 is an interface for connecting the information processing device 1000 to an external device (such as a payment device). The network interface 1120 may be a network interface for connecting to a wired line or a network interface for connecting to a wireless line.

The storage 1080 stores a program for realizing the function of the information processing device 1000. Specifically, it stores a program module that realizes the functions of the first processing unit 2020, the second processing unit 2040, and the control unit 2060. The processor 1040 realizes the functions of the first processing unit 2020, the second processing unit 2040, and the control unit 2060 by executing each of these program modules. Here, when executing each of the above modules, the processor 1040 may read these modules onto the memory 1060 and then execute the modules, or may execute the modules without reading them onto the memory 1060.

The hardware configuration of the information processing device 1000 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. For example, each program module may be stored in memory 1060. In this case, the information processing device 1000 does not have to include the storage 1080.

Further, the function of the information processing system 2000 may be realized by a plurality of information processing devices 1000 (such as a product registration device 3000 and a server device 5000).

<Example>
Hereinafter, the flow in which the payment of products is performed using the information processing system 2000 will be illustrated using a specific layout of each device. The operation of the information processing system 2000 described below is an example of the operation of the information processing system 2000 described above.

<< About layout >>
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the layout of the product registration device 3000, the first settlement device 4020, and the second settlement device 4040 included in the information processing system 2000 of the embodiment. Each of the first settlement devices 4020 is installed near the product registration device 3000 along the flow line of the customer 10. On the other hand, the second settlement device 4040 is installed at a place slightly away from the product registration device 3000. According to this layout, the distance between the first settlement device 4020 closest to the product registration device 3000 and the product registration device 3000 is the second settlement device 4040 and its product registration closest to the product registration device 3000. It is shorter than the distance to the device 3000.

As described above, the first settlement device 4020 acquires the settlement information associated with the first settlement device 4020 by the first processing unit 2020. Therefore, unlike the second settlement device 4040, which acquires the settlement information based on the information read from the portable medium, the first settlement device 4020 can acquire the settlement information without reading the identification information or the like from the portable medium. Therefore, the customer who uses the first settlement device 4020 does not need to have the settlement device read the portable medium. Therefore, it can be said that the first settlement device 4020 is easier for the customer to operate. By installing the first settlement device 4020, which is easy to operate in this way, near the product registration device 3000, a settlement device that is easy to operate for customers (children, elderly people, etc.) who are unfamiliar with the handling of the settlement device can be provided. There is an advantage that the clerk who operates the product registration device 3000 can support such a customer while using the product.

However, the layout of the first settlement device 4020 and the second settlement device 4040 is not limited to the layout of FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the positions of the first settlement device 4020 and the second settlement device 4040 may be opposite to those in the case of FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the layout may be such that both the first settlement device 4020 and the second settlement device 4040 are installed along the flow line of the customer 10.

<< About the flow of payment >>
Hereinafter, the flow of payment of products in the store with the layout shown in FIG. 6 will be illustrated. The clerk 20 who operates the product registration device 3000 receives the product from the customer 10 and registers the product as a settlement target. At this time, the control unit 2060 determines whether to process the settlement information by the first settlement device 4020 or the second settlement device 4040. For example, the control unit 2060 receives an input from the clerk 20 indicating whether the first settlement device 4020 or the second settlement device 4040 processes the settlement information.

Here, it is assumed that the clerk 20 specifies that the first settlement device 4020-1 should process the settlement information. In this case, the control unit 2060 causes the first processing unit 2020 to process the settlement information. The first processing unit 2020 associates the settlement information with the first settlement device 4020-1. Specifically, the first processing unit 2020 transmits the ID of the settlement information to the first settlement device 4020-1. The first settlement device 4020-1 acquires the settlement information associated with the ID of the received settlement information from the server device 5000 (not shown).

The clerk 20 tells the customer 10 to use the first checkout device 4020-1. The customer 10 goes to the first settlement device 4020-1 to perform the settlement process. Specifically, the first settlement device 4020-1 presents the total amount of goods and the like to the customer 10. Then, when the customer 10 inputs the price and the like, the settlement process is completed.

On the other hand, it is assumed that the clerk 20 specifies that the second settlement device 4040 processes the settlement information. In this case, the control unit 2060 causes the second processing unit 2040 to process the settlement information. The second processing unit 2040 outputs a portable medium on which the ID of the settlement information is printed. Customer 10 receives the output portable medium and goes to any second checkout device 4040. Then, the customer 10 causes the second settlement device 4040 to read the portable medium. The second settlement device 4040, which reads the settlement information ID from the portable medium, acquires the settlement information associated with the settlement information ID from the server device 5000, and presents the total price of the product to the customer 10. .. Then, when the customer 10 inputs the price and the like, the settlement process is completed.

The above-mentioned embodiment shows an example in which each of the first settlement device 4020 and the second settlement device 4040 is mounted inside one information device. However, both the first settlement device 4020 and the second settlement device 4040 may be mounted inside one information processing device. That is, one information processing device is provided with both a function of operating as the first settlement device 4020 and a function of operating as the second settlement device 4040.

In this case, for example, the information processing device accepts a setting indicating whether to operate as the first settlement device 4020 or the second settlement device 4040. Further, for example, this information processing device automatically determines whether to operate as the first settlement device 4020 or the second settlement device 4040 based on the type of acquired information. Specifically, this information processing device operates as the first settlement device 4020 when, for example, the settlement information or the ID of the settlement information is received from the first processing unit 2020. On the other hand, this information processing device operates as the second settlement device 4040 when, for example, the identification information or the settlement information is read from the portable medium.

[Embodiment 2]
The information processing system 2000 of the second embodiment is represented by, for example, FIG. 1 like the information processing system 2000 of the first embodiment. Except for the points described below, the functions of the information processing system 2000 of the second embodiment are the same as the functions of the information processing system 2000 of the first embodiment.

The control unit 2060 of the second embodiment accepts input by the user. Then, the control unit 2060 determines which of the first processing unit 2020 and the second processing unit 2040 is to process the settlement information based on the received input.

For example, the control unit 2060 displays a selection screen on a display screen connected to the product registration device 3000. 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating the selection screen 30 displayed by the control unit 2060.

The selection screen 30 of FIG. 9 has a button 40 and a button 50. When the button 40 is pressed, the control unit 2060 causes the first processing unit 2020 to process the settlement information. On the other hand, when the button 50 is pressed, the control unit 2060 causes the second processing unit 2040 to process the settlement information.

When the button 40 is pressed when there are a plurality of first settlement devices 4020, for example, the first processing unit 2020 selects one first settlement device 4020 from among the plurality of first settlement devices 4020, for example. , The settlement information is associated with the first settlement device 4020. For example, the first processing unit 2020 associates the settlement information with the first settlement device 4020 installed at the position closest to the product registration device 3000 that has registered the product to be purchased by the customer. Here, the method by which the first processing unit 2020 grasps the first settlement device 4020 closest to a certain product registration device 3000 is as described in the first embodiment.

Further, when the button 40 is pressed when there are a plurality of first settlement devices 4020, for example, the first processing unit 2020 may further display a screen for selecting one from the plurality of first settlement devices 4020. .. In this case, the control unit 2060 associates the settlement information with the first settlement device 4020 selected on the screen.

Here, the name of the button 50 is "ticketing" in FIG. 9, but this name is merely an example. As described in the first embodiment, the processing performed by the second processing unit 2040 is not limited to the output (ticketing) of the portable medium. The names of the button 40 and the button 50 can be set arbitrarily. For example, when the installation location of the first settlement device 4020 and the installation location of the second settlement device 4040 are given different names, the name of the button 40 and the name of the button 50 are the installation location and the first of the first settlement device 4020, respectively. 2 Set as the installation location for the settlement device 4040.

The selection screen 30 of FIG. 10 has a button 50 and a button 60. The button 60 is a button for designating the first settlement device 4020. For example, when the button 60-1 is pressed, the control unit 2060 causes the first processing unit 2020 to process the settlement information. Specifically, the first processing unit 2020 associates the settlement information with the first settlement device 4020 named "settlement device 1".

For example, when the clerk causes the first settlement device 4020 to process the settlement information, the clerk looks at the information about each first settlement device 4020 displayed on the selection screen 30 and determines the first settlement device 4020 to process the settlement information. .. In FIG. 10, for each first settlement device 4020, (1) the state of the settlement device (standby, in use, etc.), (2) the number of people waiting (the number of customers lined up in the settlement device), and the latest settlement information are shown. The transmitted transmission time, (3) the number of products registered as the settlement target in the latest settlement information, (4) the settlement amount in the settlement process, (5) the state of payment to the settlement device, and (6) the current settlement. The attributes of the customer using the device are displayed. The settlement amount represents the amount that the customer should pay. The state of deposit indicates how many yen is currently deposited in the settlement device or the remaining amount to be paid to the settlement device. Customer attributes represent the customer's age and characteristics (such as agility of movement).

There are various ways for the user to press each button displayed on the selection screen 30. For example, when the display displaying the selection screen 30 has a touch panel, the user presses each button with a finger or the like. Further, for example, the user may press each button by operating various input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse.

The methods for performing the various selection operations illustrated above are not limited to the methods performed through the selection screen. For example, in order to realize the same function as the selection screen 30 of FIG. 9, the button 40 and the physical buttons corresponding to the button 50 may be provided in the product registration device 3000 or its surroundings. Further, for example, in order to realize the same function as the selection screen 30 of FIG. 10, physical buttons corresponding to the button 50 and the button 60 may be provided in the product registration device 3000 or its surroundings. Further, both the button on the selection screen and the physical button may be used, such that the button 50 is realized by a physical button and the button 60 is realized by a button on the selection screen.

<Processing flow>
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing executed by the information processing system 2000 of the second embodiment. The control unit 2060 receives an input by the user (S202). When the input by the user is the input for designating the first settlement device 4020 (S204: first settlement device), the process of FIG. 11 proceeds to step S206. When the input by the user is the input for designating the second settlement device 4040 (S204: second settlement device), the process of FIG. 11 proceeds to step S110.

In step S206, the first processing unit 2020 causes the first settlement device 4020 designated by the user to process the settlement information. After that, the process of FIG. 11 proceeds to step S108.

The flow after step S108 and the flow after step S110 are the same as in FIG. 2.

<Hardware configuration example>
For example, the information processing system 2000 of the second embodiment is realized by using one or more information processing devices 1000 (see FIG. 5) like the information processing system 2000 of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, each program module stored in the storage 1080 described above further includes a program that realizes each function described in the present embodiment.

According to the present embodiment, it is determined whether to perform the settlement process in the first settlement device 4020 or the second settlement device 4040 based on the input by the customer or the clerk. Therefore, an appropriate payment device can be used at the discretion of the customer or the clerk.

[Embodiment 3]
The information processing system 2000 of the third embodiment is represented by FIG. 1 in the same manner as the information processing system 2000 of the first embodiment, for example. The information processing system 2000 of the third embodiment has the same functions as the information processing system 2000 of the first embodiment except for the points described below.

The control unit 2060 of the third embodiment determines whether the first processing unit 2020 or the second processing unit 2040 processes the settlement information according to the state of the settlement device. Specifically, the control unit 2060 causes the first processing unit 2020 to process the settlement information when the first settlement device 4020 can perform the settlement processing based on the settlement information newly associated by the first processing unit 2020. On the other hand, when the first settlement device 4020 cannot perform the settlement processing based on the settlement information newly associated by the first processing unit 2020, the control unit 2060 causes the second processing unit 2040 to process the settlement information.

<About "state of payment device">
Various situations can be considered as specific situations representing "a case where the first settlement device 4020 cannot perform the settlement process based on the settlement information newly associated by the first processing unit 2020". For example, in this situation, (1) the first settlement device 4020 is performing settlement processing based on other settlement information. In other words, the first settlement device 4020 is being used by another customer. Hereinafter, the situation of (1) is referred to as "in use".

Further, for example, in the situation representing "when the first settlement device 4020 cannot perform the settlement process based on the settlement information newly associated by the first processing unit 2020", (2) the first settlement device 4020 is used for other settlement information. The situation is that the settlement process based on the method is not performed and new settlement information cannot be processed. Specifically, there is a situation where the first settlement device 4020 is out of order, a situation where the communication line between the first settlement device 4020 and the outside is out of order, and the like. When the communication line with the outside is out of order, the first settlement device 4020 cannot acquire the settlement information, so that the settlement process based on the settlement information cannot be performed. Hereinafter, the situation of (2) is referred to as "offline".

The information processing system 2000 defines the use, offline, or both as "when the first settlement device 4020 cannot perform settlement processing based on the settlement information newly associated by the first processing unit 2020". However, the information processing system 2000 may treat situations other than in-use and offline as "when the first settlement device 4020 cannot perform settlement processing based on the settlement information newly associated by the first processing unit 2020".

The definition of "when the first settlement device 4020 cannot perform the settlement process based on the settlement information newly associated by the first processing unit 2020" is set in advance in the control unit 2060, for example. However, the control unit 2060 may acquire the setting information representing this definition from the internal or external storage device of the information processing system 2000.

The first settlement device 4020, which can perform the settlement process based on the settlement information newly associated by the first processing unit 2020, cannot perform the settlement process based on the settlement information newly associated by the first processing unit 2020. It is a first settlement device 4020 other than the settlement device 4020.

Here, regarding the determination as to whether or not the first settlement device 4020 can perform the settlement process based on the newly associated settlement information, the first settlement device 4020, which is the determination target of the control unit 2060, is all installed in the store. It may be the first settlement device 4020 of the above, or it may be a part of the first settlement device 4020.

When only a part of the first settlement device 4020 is the determination target, there are various methods in which the control unit 2060 determines the first settlement device 4020 to be the determination target. For example, the control unit 2060 sets the first settlement device 4020, which is associated in advance with the product registration device 3000 used for registering the product purchased by the customer, as the above-mentioned determination target. In this case, the control unit 2060 acquires information indicating the association between the product registration device 3000 and the first settlement device 4020 from a storage unit provided inside or outside the information processing system 2000. The first settlement device 4020 associated with the product registration device 3000 is, for example, the first settlement device 4020 installed near the flow line of the customer who uses the product registration device 3000.

Further, for example, the control unit 2060 may determine the first settlement device 4020 to be determined as described above by using the position information of the first settlement device 4020. Specifically, first, information indicating an area in the store is associated with the product registration device 3000 in advance. This area is, for example, an area representing the vicinity of the flow line of a customer who uses the product registration device 3000. The control unit 2060 acquires the area associated with the product registration device 3000 used for registering the product purchased by the customer, and the position information of each first settlement device 4020. Then, the control unit 2060 sets only the first settlement device 4020 whose position information indicates within this region as the determination target.

<How to get the "state of the checkout device">
For example, the control unit 2060 acquires information representing the state of the first settlement device 4020 from each first settlement device 4020. Further, for example, the state of each first settlement device 4020 may be monitored by the server device 5000. For example, the server device 5000 confirms the status of each first settlement device 4020 by sending a message or the like to each first settlement device 4020 periodically or irregularly. Further, for example, the server device 5000 may receive a message indicating the state of the first settlement device 4020 from each first settlement device 4020 periodically or irregularly. When the control unit 2060 is mounted inside the product registration device 3000, the control unit 2060 acquires the state of each first settlement device 4020 from the server device 5000.

<Processing flow>
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing executed by the information processing system 2000 of the third embodiment. The control unit 2060 determines whether or not the first settlement device 4020 is in use or offline (S302). When the first settlement device 4020 is in use or offline (S302: YES), the process of FIG. 12 proceeds to step S110. On the other hand, when the first settlement device 4020 is neither in use nor offline (S302: NO), the process of FIG. 12 proceeds to step S304.

In step S304, the first processing unit 2020 determines which first settlement device 4020 is associated with the settlement information. Here, the method for determining the first settlement device 4020 to be associated with the settlement information by the first processing unit 2020 is as described in the first embodiment. The first processing unit 2020 associates the settlement information with the determined first settlement device 4020 (S306). After that, the process of FIG. 12 proceeds to step S108.

The flow after step S108 and the flow after step S110 are the same as in the case of FIG.

According to the present embodiment, which of the first settlement device 4020 and the second settlement device 4040 is to perform the settlement process is automatically determined based on the state of the settlement device. Specifically, if the first settlement device 4020 can be used, the first settlement device 4020 is made to perform the settlement processing, and if the second settlement device 4040 cannot be used, the second settlement device 4040 is made to perform the settlement processing. .. As a result, for example, the default settlement device to be used by the customer is set to the first settlement device 4020, and when the first settlement device 4020 cannot be used, the second settlement device 4040 can be used.

<Modification example>
The control unit 2060 may set the default of the settlement device to be used by the customer to the second settlement device 4040, and may control to use the first settlement device 4020 when the second settlement device 4040 cannot be used. In this case, the handling of the first processing unit 2020 and the second processing unit 2040 is the reverse of the above case. Specifically, the control unit 2060 causes the first processing unit 2020 to process the settlement information when the second settlement device 4040 cannot perform the settlement processing based on the new settlement information (the first settlement device 4020 performs the settlement processing). To). Here, the control unit 2060 acquires the state of the second settlement device 4040 in the same manner as the method of acquiring the state of the first settlement device 4020.

Whether the first settlement device 4020 or the second settlement device 4040 is used as the default settlement device is determined, for example, by the layout of the store. For example, the administrator of the information processing system 2000 sets the first settlement device 4020 as the default settlement device when the first settlement device 4020 is installed near the product registration device 3000 as shown in FIG. , The control unit 2060 is set. On the other hand, the administrator of the information processing system 2000 sets the second settlement device 4040 as the default settlement device when the second settlement device 4040 is installed near the product registration device 3000 as shown in FIG. , The control unit 2060 is set. Further, the control unit 2060 may acquire information indicating the layout of the store and automatically determine which payment device is to be the default based on the information. For example, the control unit 2060 determines the type of the settlement device closest to the product registration device 3000, and sets the settlement device of that type as the default settlement device.

<Hardware configuration example>
For example, the information processing system 2000 of the third embodiment is realized by using one or more information processing devices 1000 (see FIG. 5) like the information processing system 2000 of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, each program module stored in the storage 1080 described above further includes a program that realizes each function described in the present embodiment.

[Embodiment 4]
The information processing system 2000 of the fourth embodiment is represented by FIG. 1 in the same manner as the information processing system 2000 of the first embodiment, for example. The information processing system 2000 of the fourth embodiment has the same functions as the information processing system 2000 of the first embodiment except for the points described below.

The control unit 2060 of the fourth embodiment determines whether the first processing unit 2020 or the second processing unit 2040 processes the settlement information according to the attribute of the customer who uses the settlement device. Customer attributes represent the customer's age and characteristics (such as agility of movement).

<Control based on customer age>
Children and the elderly are likely to want to use the product registration device 3000, which is as close as possible to the product registration device 3000, because their physical strength is inferior to that of young adults. In addition, children and the elderly are more likely to ask the clerk how to operate the payment device because they are less accustomed to operating the device than young adults. Therefore, it is more convenient for both the customer and the clerk to use the checkout device near the product registration device 3000 where the clerk is.

In addition, children and the elderly are considered to take longer to move to the checkout device than young adults. Therefore, the total time required for the settlement of the product is shortened when the settlement device close to the product registration device 3000 is used. The total time is the total time of the time for registering the product in the product registration device 3000, the time for moving from the product registration device 3000 to the payment device, and the time for performing the payment processing in the payment device. It is considered that the shorter the total time, the higher the utilization efficiency of the store and the higher the customer satisfaction.

Therefore, when the customer is a child or an elderly person, the control unit 2060 controls the customer to use a payment device close to the product registration device 3000 that has registered the product to be purchased by the customer. Here, "when the customer is a child" is, for example, a case where the age of the customer is equal to or less than a certain predetermined value. Further, "when the customer is an elderly person" is, for example, a case where the age of the customer is equal to or higher than a certain predetermined value. These predetermined values are set in advance in the control unit 2060, for example. However, the control unit 2060 may acquire these predetermined values from the internal or external storage device of the information processing system 2000.

The process of "controlling the customer to use a payment device close to the product registration device 3000 that has registered the product purchased by the customer" is, for example, the following process. First, it is assumed that the first settlement device 4020 is the settlement device closest to the product registration device 3000 that registered the product. In this case, when the customer is a child or an elderly person, the control unit 2060 causes the first processing unit 2020 to process the settlement information. As a result, the customer will use the first settlement device 4020. On the other hand, it is assumed that the settlement device closest to the product registration device 3000 that registered the product is the second settlement device 4040. In this case, when the customer is a child or an elderly person, the control unit 2060 causes the second processing unit 2040 to process the settlement information. As a result, the customer will use the second settlement device 4040.

<Control based on customer movement agility>
Customers who are not agile can expect a long time to move from the product registration device 3000 to the checkout device. As described above, it is preferable that the customer who takes a long time to move to the settlement device uses the settlement device near the product registration device 3000 in which the product to be purchased by the customer is registered.

Therefore, when the customer's operation is not agile, the control unit 2060 controls to use a payment device close to the product registration device 3000 that has registered the product to be purchased by the customer. Here, "when the customer's movement is not agile" is, for example, a case where an index value representing the customer's movement agility is equal to or less than a certain predetermined value. The index value representing the agility of the customer's movement is, for example, a value representing the agility of the customer's movement in five stages. The predetermined value is set in the control unit 2060 in advance, for example. However, the control unit 2060 may acquire the predetermined value from an internal or external storage device of the information processing system 2000.

Here, the specific process of "controlling the customer to use a settlement device close to the product registration device 3000 that registered the product purchased by the customer" is based on the age of the customer. It is the same as that described in the case of performing control.

The above-mentioned customer attributes may be manually input to the information processing system 2000, or may be automatically acquired by the information processing system 2000. In the former case, for example, the customer's attribute is input by a clerk who operates the product registration device 3000 and registers the product to be purchased by the customer. For example, the clerk estimates the age from the customer's face and inputs it, and inputs the agility of the customer's operation from the operation when the customer presents the product basket to the clerk.

When the information processing system 2000 automatically acquires the customer attributes, for example, the customer attributes are stored in advance in the internal or external storage unit of the information processing system 2000 in a state associated with the customer ID (member ID, etc.). Has been done. In this case, the clerk reads the customer's membership card or the like using the product registration device 3000. The information processing system 2000 acquires the customer's ID read by the product registration device 3000, and acquires the customer's attribute associated with the acquired customer's ID.

<Processing flow 1>
FIG. 13 is a first flowchart illustrating the flow of processing executed by the information processing system 2000 of the fourth embodiment. In this example, the control unit 2060 controls based on the age of the customer. Here, it is assumed that the settlement device closest to the product registration device 3000 that registered the product is the first settlement device 4020.

The control unit 2060 determines whether or not the age of the customer is equal to or less than the first predetermined value or equal to or greater than the second predetermined value (S402). When the age of the customer is equal to or less than the first predetermined value or equal to or greater than the second predetermined value (S402: YES), the process of FIG. 13 proceeds to step S304. On the other hand, when the age of the customer is larger than the first predetermined value and smaller than the second predetermined value (S402: NO), the process of FIG. 13 proceeds to step S110.

The flow after step S304 and the flow after step S110 are the same as in the case of FIG.

<Processing flow 2>
FIG. 14 is a second flowchart illustrating the flow of processing executed by the information processing system 2000 of the fourth embodiment. In this example, the control unit 2060 controls based on the agility of the customer's operation. Here, it is assumed that the settlement device closest to the product registration device 3000 that registered the product is the first settlement device 4020.

The control unit 2060 determines whether or not the index value indicating the agility of the customer's operation is equal to or less than a predetermined value (S502). When the index value is equal to or less than a predetermined value (S504: YES), the process of FIG. 14 proceeds to step S304. On the other hand, when the index value is larger than the predetermined value (S504: NO), the process of FIG. 14 proceeds to step S110.

The flow after step S304 and the flow after step S110 are the same as in the case of FIG.

<Hardware configuration example>
For example, the information processing system 2000 of the fourth embodiment is realized by using one or more information processing devices 1000 (see FIG. 5) like the information processing system 2000 of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, each program module stored in the storage 1080 described above further includes a program that realizes each function described in the present embodiment.

According to the present embodiment, which of the first settlement device 4020 and the second settlement device 4040 is to perform the settlement processing is automatically determined based on the attributes of the customer. As a result, each customer can be made to use an appropriate settlement device according to the attribute of the customer, and it is possible to improve the utilization efficiency of the settlement device and the customer satisfaction.

[Embodiment 5]
The information processing system 2000 of the fifth embodiment is represented by FIG. 1, like the information processing system 2000 of the first embodiment, for example. The information processing system 2000 of the fifth embodiment has the same functions as the information processing system 2000 of the first embodiment except for the points described below.

The control unit 2060 of the fifth embodiment determines whether the first processing unit 2020 or the second processing unit 2040 processes the settlement information according to the settlement target registered by the product registration device 3000.

When the number of products to be settled is large or the weight of the products to be settled is heavy, it is considered that the customer wants to use a settlement device close to the product registration device 3000. Further, in these cases, it is considered that the time required for the customer to move to the settlement device is long, so that the total time required for the settlement of the product is considered to be long.

Therefore, when the number of products to be settled is large or the weight of the products to be settled is heavy, the control unit 2060 provides the customer with a settlement device close to the product registration device 3000 that has registered the products to be purchased by the customer. Control to use. Here, "when the number of products is large" is, for example, a case where the number of products is equal to or greater than a certain predetermined value. Further, "when the weight of the product is heavy" is, for example, a case where the weight of the product is equal to or more than a certain predetermined value. When there are a plurality of products registered as payment targets, the "weight of the product" means the total weight of each product. Here, the control unit 2060 acquires, for example, the weight of each product from a database that manages information about each product. Each of the above predetermined values is set in advance in the control unit 2060, for example. However, the control unit 2060 may acquire these predetermined values from the internal or external storage device of the information processing system 2000.

Here, the specific process of the process of "controlling the customer to use the settlement device close to the product registration device 3000 that registered the product purchased by the customer" was described in the fourth embodiment. Same as processing.

<Processing flow>
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing executed by the information processing system 2000 of the fifth embodiment. Here, it is assumed that the settlement device closest to the product registration device 3000 that registered the product is the first settlement device 4020.

The control unit 2060 determines whether or not the number of products is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value or the weight of the products is equal to or greater than the second predetermined value (S602). When the number of products is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value or the weight of the products is equal to or greater than the second predetermined value (S602: YES), the process of FIG. 15 proceeds to step S304. On the other hand, when the number of products is smaller than the first predetermined value and the weight of the products is smaller than the second predetermined value (S602: NO), the process of FIG. 15 proceeds to step S110.

The flow after step S304 and the flow after step S110 are the same as in the case of FIG.

<Hardware configuration example>
For example, the information processing system 2000 of the fifth embodiment is realized by using one or more information processing devices 1000 (see FIG. 5) as in the information processing system 2000 of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, each program module stored in the storage 1080 described above further includes a program that realizes each function described in the present embodiment.

According to the present embodiment, which of the first settlement device 4020 and the second settlement device 4040 is to perform the settlement processing is automatically determined based on the number of products to be purchased and the weight of the products. As a result, each customer can be made to use an appropriate payment device according to the number of products purchased by the customer and the weight of the product, and the efficiency of use of the payment device is improved and the customer satisfaction is improved. be able to.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, these are examples of the present invention, and combinations of the above embodiments and various configurations other than the above embodiments can be adopted.

For example, in the third to fifth embodiments, when the first settlement device 4020 is to perform the settlement process, the first settlement device 4020 to perform the settlement process is automatically determined by the first processing unit 2020. However, in the third to fifth embodiments, the user may specify the first settlement device 4020 for performing the settlement process. In this case, for example, after the control unit 2060 determines that the first processing unit 2020 processes the settlement information, the first processing unit 2020 selects the first settlement device 4020 as described in the second embodiment. Display the screen. This selection screen is, for example, the selection screen 30 of FIG. In this case, the selection screen 30 may or may not display the button 50. When the button 50 is displayed, even if the first settlement device 4020 is to perform the settlement processing by the determination of the control unit 2060, the second settlement device 4040 is allowed to perform the settlement processing at the discretion of the clerk or the customer. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to realize flexible store operation that can prioritize the judgment of the clerk or the customer.

Hereinafter, an example of the reference form will be added.
1. 1. An information processing system including a product registration device and a first settlement device and a second settlement device that perform settlement processing using the settlement information of products registered by the product registration device, respectively.
The first processing means for associating the settlement information with the first settlement device,
A second processing means that associates the settlement information with the identification information read from the portable medium in the second settlement device, or outputs the settlement information to the portable medium.
A control means for controlling whether the settlement information is processed by the first processing means or the second processing means, and
Information processing system with.
2. 2. The control means controls whether to process the first processing means or the second processing means based on the input by the user. Information processing system described in.
3. 3. The control means is settled by either the first processing means or the second processing means according to the state of the settlement device, the attribute of the customer who uses the settlement device, or the settlement target registered by the product registration device. Control whether information is processed 1. Information processing system described in.
4. 2. When the first settlement device cannot perform the settlement process based on the settlement information newly associated by the first processing means, the control means causes the second processing means to process the settlement information. Information processing system described in.
5. The control means controls whether the first processing means or the second processing means processes the settlement information according to the attributes of the customer who uses the settlement device. Information processing system described in.
6. When the number of registered products is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value, or when the weight of the registered products is equal to or greater than the second predetermined value, the control means processes the settlement information in the first processing means. 3. Information processing system described in.
7. The distance between the product registration device and the first payment device is shorter than the distance between the product registration device and the second payment device. To 6. The information processing system described in any one.
8. 1. 1. To 7. An information processing apparatus having at least one of a first processing means, a second processing means, and a control means in the information processing system according to any one.
9. Computer 8. A program that operates as the information processing device described in.
10. A control method executed by a computer that controls an information processing system including a first settlement device and a second settlement device that perform settlement processing using the product registration device and the settlement information of the product registered in the product registration device, respectively. And
The first processing step of associating the settlement information with the first settlement device,
A second processing step of associating the settlement information with the identification information read from the portable medium in the second settlement device or outputting the settlement information to the portable medium.
A control step that controls whether to process the settlement information in the first processing step or the second processing step,
Control method having.
11. The control step controls whether to process the first processing step or the second processing step based on the input by the user. The control method described in.
12. The control step is settled in either the first processing step or the second processing step according to the state of the settlement device, the attribute of the customer who uses the settlement device, or the settlement target registered in the product registration device. 2. Control whether the information is processed. The control method described in.
13. The control step causes the second processing step to process the settlement information when the first settlement apparatus cannot perform the settlement processing based on the settlement information newly associated by the first processing step. The control method described in.
14. The control step controls whether the first processing step or the second processing step processes the settlement information according to the attributes of the customer who uses the settlement device. The control method described in.
15. In the control step, when the number of registered products is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value, or when the weight of the registered products is equal to or greater than the second predetermined value, the settlement information is processed in the first processing step. Let, 12. The control method described in.
16. The distance between the product registration device and the first settlement device is shorter than the distance between the product registration device and the second settlement device. To 15. The control method according to any one.

This application claims priority on the basis of Japanese Application Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-039632 filed on February 27, 2015, and incorporates all of its disclosures herein.

Claims (8)

The product registration device in a system including a product registration device and a plurality of payment devices.
The product registration device can transmit payment information regarding the payment processing of the product registered as the payment target to the payment device.
A first processing means that associates the settlement information with one of the plurality of settlement devices and transmits the settlement information to the associated settlement device.
A second processing means for outputting the settlement information to a portable medium,
A control means for selecting the first processing means or the second processing means based on predetermined information, and
Product registration device with. The product registration device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined information is the state of the payment device, the attribute of the customer who uses the payment device, or the registered payment target. The product registration device according to claim 2, wherein the control means selects the second processing means when the settlement device cannot perform the settlement processing based on the settlement information newly transmitted by the first processing means. The control means claims that the first processing means is selected when the number of registered products is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value or when the weight of the registered products is equal to or greater than the second predetermined value. The product registration device according to 2. The product registration device in a system including a product registration device and a plurality of payment devices.
The product registration device can transmit payment information regarding the payment processing of the product registered as the payment target to the payment device.
A first processing means that associates the settlement information with one of the plurality of settlement devices and transmits the settlement information to the associated settlement device.
A second processing means for outputting the settlement information to a portable medium,
A display control means for displaying a selection screen on which the first processing means or the second processing means can be selected as means for acquiring the settlement information and processing the acquired settlement information.
Have,
A product registration device in which the acquired settlement information is not displayed on the selection screen. A program for operating a computer as the product registration device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A control method executed by a computer that realizes the product registration device in a system including a product registration device and a plurality of payment devices.
The product registration device can transmit payment information regarding the payment processing of the product registered as the payment target to the payment device.
A first processing step of associating the settlement information with one of the plurality of settlement devices and transmitting the settlement information to the associated settlement device.
The second processing step of outputting the settlement information to the portable medium and
A control step for selecting the first processing step or the second processing step based on predetermined information, and
Control method having. A control method executed by a computer that realizes the product registration device in a system including a product registration device and a plurality of payment devices.
The product registration device can transmit payment information regarding the payment processing of the product registered as the payment target to the payment device.
A first processing step of associating the settlement information with one of the plurality of settlement devices and transmitting the settlement information to the associated settlement device.
The second processing step of outputting the settlement information to the portable medium and
Acquiring the adjustment information, and the steps for processing the acquired settlement information, and a display control step of displaying the first process step or the second processing step selectable selection screen,
Have,
A control method in which the acquired settlement information is not displayed on the selection screen.

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