JP6795674B2 - Checkout system, payment device and its programs - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to checkout systems, payment devices and programs thereof.

As a checkout system for mass retailers, there is a type in which the product data input unit and the transaction settlement unit are separated. The input unit waits for the input of data related to product sales. When the data is input, the input unit generates transaction data to be settled based on the data and transfers the transaction data to the settlement unit. The settlement unit waits for payment of the payment amount for the transaction amount calculated based on the transaction data. When a payment amount equal to or greater than the transaction amount is deposited, the settlement unit processes the settlement of the transaction in which the transaction amount occurs.

Electronic money payment is one of the payment methods for the payment amount. Electronic money payment uses a storage medium (IC card, mobile phone, smartphone, etc.) in which electronic money is stored in advance. If the electronic money balance is greater than the transaction amount, the settlement unit deducts the transaction amount from the electronic money balance. Thus, the transaction is settled.

If the balance of electronic money is less than the transaction amount, the settlement unit cannot deduct the transaction amount from the balance of electronic money. In this case, as one method, the payment unit disables electronic money payment. The payment unit waits for payments other than electronic money. Alternatively, the payment unit sets the balance of electronic money to "0". Then, the settlement unit waits for payment other than electronic money for the balance obtained by subtracting the balance of electronic money from the transaction amount.

The electronic money stored in the storage medium can be charged (deposited) by using a dedicated deposit device. Recently, it is also possible to charge electronic money by using a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal that constitutes a checkout system. However, the conventional POS terminal cannot charge the electronic money after the data related to the product for sale is input until the transaction related to the sale of the product is settled.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-344123

The problem to be solved by the embodiment of the present invention is a checkout system, a payment device, and a payment device thereof that can charge electronic money even after the data related to the product for sale is input and before the transaction related to the sale of the product is settled. It is intended to provide a program.

In one embodiment, the checkout system comprises an input unit and a payment unit. The input unit includes output means. Output means, payments and input data relating to commodity sales or services provided, it receives designation of the charge amount for the electronic money, and a charge amount specified and be settled transaction data generated based on the input data Output to the unit. The payment unit includes a display unit, a reader / writer, a receiving means, a first display means, and an addition means. The reader / writer reads the balance of electronic money stored in the storage medium and rewrites the balance. The receiving means receives the transaction data output from the input unit and the charge amount. The first display means causes the display unit to display the total amount of the amount calculated based on the transaction data received by the receiving means and the charge amount. When the reader / writer reads the balance less than the total amount, the addition method is electronic money via the reader / writer, provided that the amount equal to or greater than the shortfall amount obtained by subtracting the balance from the total amount is deposited by a payment method other than electronic money. Add the shortfall to your balance.

The perspective view of the checkout system in embodiment. The block diagram of the product registration device and the payment device constituting the checkout system. The schematic diagram which shows the data memory area formed in the RAM of the product registration apparatus and the payment apparatus. The flow chart which shows the main procedure of the control processing which CPU of a product registration apparatus executes according to a control program. The flow chart which shows the specific processing procedure of the charge processing shown in FIG. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the charge screen displayed on the touch panel of a product registration device. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the amount input screen displayed on the touch panel of a product registration device. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the transfer destination selection screen displayed on the touch panel of a product registration apparatus. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the notification screen displayed on the touch panel of a product registration device. The flow chart which shows the main procedure of the control processing which the CPU of a payment apparatus executes according to a control program. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the payment screen displayed on the touch panel of the payment device. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the charge request screen displayed on the touch panel of a payment device. In the second embodiment, a flow chart showing a main procedure of a control process executed by a CPU of a payment device according to a control program. In the second embodiment, a schematic diagram showing an example of a payment screen displayed on the touch panel of the payment device. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the settlement screen when the balance of electronic money is insufficient for the transaction amount. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the settlement screen when the balance of electronic money is sufficient for the transaction amount.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a checkout system in which electronic money can be charged even after data relating to a product for sale is input but before a transaction relating to the sale of the product is settled will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the input unit and the payment unit are separated, the input unit is operated by a clerk, and the payment unit is operated by a shopper. A so-called semi-self-type checkout system is provided with an electronic money charging function. Is applied.

(First Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the checkout system 10 according to the present embodiment. The checkout system 10 includes at least one product registration device 11 and at least one payment device 12. FIG. 1 shows a checkout system 10 including two product registration devices 11 and four payment devices 12. The number of the checkout system 10 including the product registration device 11 and the payment device 12 is arbitrary, and the ratio of the number of the product registration device 11 to the payment device 12 is also arbitrary. The product registration device 11 and the payment device 12 are installed in a checkout corner of a store such as a supermarket.

The clerk 21 of the above-mentioned store, which plays a role called a checker, is the operator of the product registration device 11. The operator of the payment device 12 is a shopper 22 who purchases a product sold at the above-mentioned store. However, the payment device 12 may be operated by the clerk 21.

The product registration device 11 is attached to the work table 23 in FIG. The work table 23 has a rectangular top plate. By arranging the plurality of work tables 23 so that the longitudinal directions of the top plates are substantially parallel to each other, a passage for the shopper 22 is formed.

The product registration device 11 includes functions for registering purchased products, generating payment information, payment processing, and notifying the payment device 12 of payment information. The registration process is a process of registering a product purchased by the shopper 22 as a purchased product. The settlement process is a process for settling a transaction related to the sale of purchased products. Payment information is information required for payment processing. That is, the product registration device 11 functions as an input unit for data related to product sales. In addition, the product registration device may function as a settlement unit for transactions related to product sales.

When the payment information is notified from the product registration device 11, the payment device 12 performs a payment process based on the payment information. That is, the settlement device 12 functions as a settlement unit for transactions related to product sales.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the product registration device 11 and the payment device 12. The product registration device 11 and the payment device 12 are both connected to a LAN (local area network) 13 which is a network. As the network, another communication network such as the Internet or a wireless LAN can be used instead of the LAN 13. Alternatively, information may be exchanged between the product registration device 11 and the payment device 12 via a server.

The product registration device 11 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 11a, a ROM (read-only memory) 11b, a RAM (random-access memory) 11c, an auxiliary storage unit 11d, a drawer opening unit 11e, a scanner 11f, and two touch panels 11g1, Includes 11g2, printer 11h, card reader / writer 11i, communication unit 11j and transmission system 11k.

The CPU 11a, ROM 11b, RAM 11c, and auxiliary storage unit 11d are connected by a transmission system 11k to form a computer.
The CPU 11a corresponds to the central part of the computer. The CPU 11a controls each unit to realize various functions as the product registration device 11 based on the operating system, middleware, and application program stored in the ROM 11b and the RAM 11c.

The ROM 11b corresponds to the main memory portion of the computer. The ROM 11b stores the operating system. The ROM 11b may store the middleware or application program. Further, the ROM 11b may store data to be referred to when the CPU 11a performs various processes.

The RAM 11c corresponds to the main memory portion of the computer. The RAM 11c stores data that the CPU 11a refers to when performing various processes. Further, the RAM 11c is used as a so-called work area for storing data temporarily used by the CPU 11a for performing various processes.

The auxiliary storage unit 11d corresponds to the auxiliary storage portion of the computer. The auxiliary storage unit 11d stores data used by the CPU 11a to perform various processes or data generated by the processes in the CPU 11a. As the auxiliary storage unit 11d, for example, an EEPROM (electric erasable programmable read-only memory), an HDD (hard disk drive), an SSD (solid state drive), or the like can be used.

The application program stored in the ROM 11b or the auxiliary storage unit 11d includes a control program described for the control process described later. The transfer of the product registration device 11 is generally performed in a state where the control program is stored in the ROM 11b or the auxiliary storage unit 11d. However, the product registration device 11 may be transferred in a state where the control program is not stored in the ROM 11b or the auxiliary storage unit 11d. In this case, the control program is recorded and transferred to a removable recording medium such as a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, an optical disk, or a semiconductor memory. Alternatively, the control program may be transferred via the network, and the control program may be written to the auxiliary storage unit 11d of the separately transferred product registration device 11 described above.

The drawer opening unit 11e automatically opens the drawer for accommodating money.
The scanner 11f reads the product information and obtains the product code of the product. As the scanner 11f, various well-known types can be used as they are. The scanner 11f may be compatible with only one of the various well-known types, or may be compatible with a plurality of types. That is, the scanner 11f may include a fixed or handy two-dimensional code scanner. Further, the scanner 11f may include a type that identifies a product from an image of the product by using an image recognition technique.

Of the two touch panels 11g1 and 11g2, one touch panel 11g1 is for the clerk and the other touch panel 11g2 is for the customer. The touch panels 11g1 and 11g2 both include a display device and a touch sensor. The display device has an arbitrary screen such as a GUI screen. As the display device, a well-known device such as a color LCD can be used. The touch sensor is arranged so as to overlap the display surface of the display device. The touch sensor detects the touch position of the operator on the display surface of the display device and sends the position information to the CPU 11a. A well-known device can be used as the touch sensor.

The touch panel 11g1 for the clerk is provided on the work table 23 so that the display screen faces the work space side of the clerk 21. The customer touch panel 11g2 is provided on the work table 23 so that the display screen faces the aisle side for the shopper 22.

The printer 11h issues a receipt by printing various character strings or images on the receipt paper. As the printer 11h of this type, for example, a thermal printer or a dot impact printer can be used.

The card reader / writer 11i has a function of reading data recorded on the card and a function of writing data to the card. Cards may include membership cards called member's cards, point cards, etc., as well as payment cards such as credit cards, debit cards, electronic money cards, and prepaid cards. The card reader / writer 11i reads and rewrites the electronic money data (balance, etc.) stored in the electronic money card. The card reader / writer 11i may be any of magnetic, contact, or non-contact devices, and may include a plurality of types of devices.

The communication unit 11j performs data communication with a plurality of payment devices 12 connected via the LAN 13. The communication unit 11j can also perform data communication with another product registration device 11 via the LAN 13.

The transmission system 11k transmits data exchanged between the CPU 11a, ROM 11b, RAM 11c, auxiliary storage unit 11d, drawer opening unit 11e, scanner 11f, touch panel 11g1, 11g2, printer 11h, card reader / writer 11i, and communication unit 11j. .. As the transmission system 11k, a well-known one including various buses such as a system bus and various interface circuits connecting these buses and each part can be used.

As the hardware of such a product registration device 11, for example, an existing POS terminal can be used.

The payment device 12 includes a CPU 12a, a ROM 12b, a RAM 12c, an auxiliary storage unit 12d, an automatic change machine 12e, a scanner 12f, a touch panel 12g, a printer 12h, a card reader / writer 12i, a communication unit 12j, and a transmission system 12k.

The CPU 12a, ROM 12b, RAM 12c, and auxiliary storage unit 12d are connected by a transmission system 12k to form a computer.

The CPU 12a corresponds to the central part of the computer. The CPU 12a controls each unit in order to realize various operations as the payment device 12 based on the operating system, middleware, and application program stored in the ROM 12b and the RAM 12c.

The ROM 12b corresponds to the main storage portion of the computer. The ROM 12b stores the operating system. The ROM 12b may store the middleware or application program. The ROM 12b may also store data that the CPU 12a refers to when performing various processes.

The RAM 12c corresponds to the main memory portion of the computer. The RAM 12c stores data that the CPU 12a refers to when performing various processes. Further, the RAM 12c is used as a so-called work area for storing data temporarily used by the CPU 12a for performing various processes.

The auxiliary storage unit 12d corresponds to the auxiliary storage portion of the computer. The auxiliary storage unit 12d stores data used by the CPU 12a to perform various processes or data generated by the processes in the CPU 12a. As the auxiliary storage unit 12d, for example, EEPROM, HDD, SSD, or the like can be used.

The application program stored in the ROM 12b or the auxiliary storage unit 12d includes a control program described for the control process described later. The transfer of the payment device 12 is generally performed with the control program stored in the ROM 12b or the auxiliary storage unit 12d. However, the payment device 12 may be transferred in a state where the control program is not stored in the ROM 12b or the auxiliary storage unit 12d. In this case, the control program is recorded and transferred to a removable recording medium such as a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, an optical disk, or a semiconductor memory. Alternatively, the control program may be transferred via the network, and the control program may be written to the auxiliary storage unit 12d of the separately transferred payment device 12 described above.

The automatic change machine 12e collects the inserted coins and banknotes. Further, the automatic change machine 12e discharges coins and banknotes as change.

The scanner 12f reads the product information and obtains the product code of the product. As the scanner 12f, various well-known types can be used as they are. The scanner 12f may be compatible with only one of the various well-known types, or may be compatible with a plurality of types. That is, the scanner 12f may include a fixed or handy two-dimensional code scanner. Further, the scanner 12f may include a type that identifies a product from an image of the product by using an image recognition technique.

The touch panel 12g includes a display device and a touch sensor. The display device makes the screen an arbitrary screen such as a GUI screen. As the display device, a well-known device such as a color LCD can be used. The touch sensor is arranged so as to overlap the display surface of the display device. The touch sensor detects the touch position of the operator on the display surface of the display device and sends the position information to the CPU 12a. A well-known device can be used as the touch sensor.

The printer 12h issues a receipt by printing various character strings or images on the receipt paper. As this type of printer, for example, a thermal printer or a dot impact printer can be used.

The card reader / writer 12i has a function of reading data recorded on the card and a function of writing data to the card. Cards may include membership cards called member's cards, point cards, etc., as well as payment cards such as credit cards, debit cards, electronic money cards, and prepaid cards. The card reader / writer 11i reads and rewrites the electronic money data (balance, etc.) stored in the electronic money card. The card reader / writer 12i may be any of magnetic, contact, or non-contact devices, and may include a plurality of types of devices.

The communication unit 12j performs data communication with a plurality of product registration devices 11 connected via the LAN 13. The communication unit 11j can also perform data communication with another payment device 12 via the LAN 13.

The transmission system 12k transmits data exchanged between the CPU 12a, ROM 12b, RAM 12c, auxiliary storage unit 12d, automatic change machine 12e, scanner 12f, touch panel 12g, printer 12h, card reader / writer 12i, and communication unit 12j. As the transmission system 12k, a well-known one including various buses such as a system bus and various interface circuits connecting these buses and each part can be used.

As the hardware of such a payment device 12, for example, an existing self-POS terminal can be used.

As described above, the checkout system 10 in which the product registration device 11 as the input unit and the payment device 12 as the payment unit are separated has the data memory areas 31 and 32 shown in FIG. 3 in the product registration device 11 and the payment device 12. It is formed in the RAMs 11c and 12c, respectively.

The data memory area 31 is an area for storing a plurality of records RC1, RC2, RC3, ... Consisting of each data of product code, product name, unit price, quantity, amount of money, and attribute. The product code is a unique code for individually identifying each product. Each product is given a product code represented by, for example, a barcode. The product name and unit price are the product name and the price per item determined by the product code of the same record. The quantity and amount are the sales data of the product determined by the product code of the same record, that is, the quantity sold and the sales amount corresponding to the quantity.

Although not shown, the checkout system 10 connects a database server via LAN 13. This database server has a product database for setting product information such as product name and unit price in association with the product code of each product. When the product code is input in the product registration device 11 or the payment device 12, the CPUs 11a and 12a inquire the database server for the product information using the product code. The database server that receives this inquiry accesses the product database and reads the product information associated with the product code from the product database. Then, the database server notifies the product registration device 11 or the payment device 12 of the product information via the LAN 13. The CPUs 11a and 12a of the product registration device 11 or the payment device 12 generate a record related to product sales based on the product information notified from the database server and store it in the data memory area 31.

The product registration device 11 accepts input of a charge amount for electronic money. When the charge amount is input, the CPU 11a generates a record related to the charge amount and stores it in the data memory area 31. The record related to the charge amount uses preset data (for example, "999999999" and "charge") as the product code and product name. For records related to the charge amount, the charge amount is the unit price, and "1" is the number. Therefore, the sales amount of the record related to the charge amount is equal to the charge amount.

The attribute identifies whether the records RC1, RC2, RC3, ... Are the records related to the sale of goods or the records related to the charge amount. In the present embodiment, the attribute of the record related to product sales is set to "0", and the attribute of the record related to the charge amount is set to "1". Needless to say, the value of the attribute is not limited to the above example. Incidentally, in FIG. 3, records RC1 and RC3 show records related to product sales, and record RC2 shows records related to the charge amount.

Such a data memory area 31 is referred to as a transaction memory. Hereinafter, the product registration device 11 is represented by the transaction memory 31a, and the product registration device 12 is represented by the transaction memory 31b.

The data memory area 32 is an area for storing the total number and the total amount of money. The total number is the total number stored in each record RC1, RC2, RC3, ... Stored in the transaction memory 31. The total amount is the total amount of each record RC1, RC2, RC3, ... Stored in the transaction memory 31.

Such a data memory area 32 is referred to as total memory. Hereinafter, the product registration device 11 is represented by the total memory 32a, and the product registration device 12 is represented by the total memory 32b.

4 and 5 are flow charts showing the main procedures of the control process executed by the CPU 11a of the product registration device 11 according to the control program. 6 to 9 are schematic views showing various screen examples displayed on the touch panels 11g1 and 11g2 of the product registration device 11 by the control process. FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a main procedure of control processing executed by the CPU 12a of the payment device 12 according to the control program. 11 to 12 are schematic views showing various screen examples displayed on the touch panel 12g of the payment device 12 by the control process. Hereinafter, the operation of the checkout system 10 will be described with reference to these figures. The content of the process described below is an example, and various processes capable of obtaining similar results can be appropriately used.

First, the operation of the product registration device 11 will be described.
When the product registration device 11 is started in the mode of performing the purchase product registration process, the CPU 11a starts the control process of the procedure shown in the flow chart of FIG. First, the CPU 11a clears the transaction memory 31a and the total memory 32a (Act1). Next, the CPU 11a displays the registration screen on a part of the screens of the clerk touch panel 11g1 and the customer touch panel 11g2 (Act2).

The registration screen shows the contents of the transaction memory 31a and the total memory 32a, and causes the clerk 21 and the shopper 22 to confirm the implementation status of the registration process. The CPU 11a displays various button images such as a product button, a subtotal button, and a charge button outside the registration screen area of the clerk touch panel 11g1 screen. Further, the CPU 11a displays the charge button on a part of the screen of the customer touch panel 11g2. The product button is operated when the clerk 21 specifies a product. The subtotal button is operated when the clerk commands the output of the subtotal amount. The charge button is operated when the clerk orders the charge (payment) to the electronic money.

With the registration screen displayed, the clerk 21 operates, for example, the scanner 11f or the product button to sequentially input the product code of the product purchased by the shopper 22. Then, when the product codes of all the purchased products have been entered, the clerk 21 touches the subtotal button.

If the shopper 22 requests to charge the electronic money before touching the subtotal button, the clerk touches the charge button. Instead of the clerk touching the charge button, the shopper 22 may touch the charge button displayed on the customer touch panel 11g2.

The CPU 11a that displays the registration screen confirms whether or not the product code of the product to be registered for purchase has been input (Act 3). When the product code is not entered (NO in Act3), the CPU 11a confirms whether or not the charge button has been touched (Act4). The charge button includes not only the one displayed on the clerk touch panel 11g1 but also the one displayed on the customer touch panel 11g2. If the charge button is not touched (NO in Act4), the CPU 11a again confirms whether or not the product code of the product to be registered for purchase has been entered (Act3). Therefore, the CPU 11a waits for the product code to be input or the charge button to be touched in the processing of Act 3 and Act 4.

When the product code is input via the scanner 11f or the product button (YES in Act 3), the CPU 11a detects the product information such as the product name and the unit price associated with the product code and set in the product database. .. Further, the CPU 11a calculates the sales amount by multiplying this unit price by the number of units sold. Then, the CPU 11a registers a record including the product code, the product name, the unit price, the number of units sold, the sales amount, and the attribute "0" in the transaction memory 31a. Further, the CPU 11a adds the number of units sold and the sales amount to the total memory 32a (Act 5). When the record related to the product sale is registered in the transaction memory 31a in this way, the CPU 11a updates the registration screen so as to conform to the contents of the transaction memory 31a and the total memory 32a (Act 6).

Here, the CPU 11a is a storage means that receives input of data related to product sales and stores transaction data (= record whose attribute is "0") to be settled based on the input data in transaction memory 31a as a storage unit. To configure.

When the charge button is touched (YES in Act4), the CPU 11a executes the charge process (Act7).
FIG. 5 is a flow chart concretely showing the procedure of the charge processing. That is, when the charge process is started, the CPU 11a displays the charge screen SC1 (see FIG. 6) on the screen of the customer touch panel 11g2 (Act 21).

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an example of the charge screen SC1. As shown, the charge screen SC1 includes a display area R1 and buttons B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, and B8.

Button B1 is for the shopper 22 to specify a charge amount of 1000 yen. Button B2 is for the shopper 22 to specify a charge amount of 2000 yen. Button B3 is for the shopper 22 to specify a charge amount of 3000 yen. Button B4 is for the shopper 22 to specify a charge amount of 5,000 yen. Button B5 is for the shopper 22 to specify a charge amount of 10,000 yen. The button B6 is for the shopper 22 to specify an arbitrary charge amount other than the amount set in the buttons B1, B2, B3, B4, and B5.

The shopper 22 who requested the charge of electronic money confirms the presence or absence of the buttons B1 to B5 on which the amount to be charged is displayed. Then, if there is a button, the shopper 22 touches the button. If there is no button, the shopper touches button B6.

When any one of the buttons B1 to B5 is touched, the charge amount set for the buttons B1 to B5 is displayed in the display area R1. When charging the amount displayed in the display area R1, the shopper 22 touches the button B7. When canceling the charge, the shopper 22 touches the button B8.

When the button B6 is touched, the CPU 11a switches the screen of the customer touch panel 11g2 from the charge screen SC1 to the amount input screen SC2 (see FIG. 7).
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the amount input screen SC2. As shown in the figure, the amount input screen SC2 includes a display area R2, ten-key buttons B11 of "0" to "9", and other buttons B12, B13, and B14.

The numeric keypad B11 is for the shopper 22 to input an arbitrary charge amount. In this embodiment, the charge amount is in units of 1000 yen. The upper limit of the charge amount is 20000 yen. That is, when the charge amount is 4000 yen, 6000 yen to 9000 yen, or 11000 yen to 20000 yen, the shopper 22 inputs a numerical value of the fourth digit or more with the numeric keypad button B11. For example, when the charge amount is 8000 yen, the shopper 22 may touch the number “8” on the numeric keypad B11. The CPU 11a displays the charge amount input via the numeric keypad B11 in the display area R2.

When correcting the amount displayed in the display area R2, the shopper 22 touches the button B12. When the button B12 is touched, the CPU 11a clears the display area R2. When charging the amount displayed in the display area R2, the shopper 22 touches the button B13. When returning the screen of the customer touch panel 11g2 to the charge screen SC1, the shopper 22 touches the button B14.

The CPU 11a, which displays the charge screen SC1 on the customer touch panel 11g2, waits for the charge amount to be input (Act 22). When the charge amount nn, nnn is input via the buttons B1 to B5 of the charge screen SC1 or the numeric keypad B11 of the amount input screen SC2 (YES in Act22), the CPU 11a displays the charge amount nn, nnn in the display area R1. Or it is displayed on R2 (Act23). The CPU 11a confirms whether or not to execute the charge (Act24). When the OK button B7 or B13 on the charge screen SC1 or the amount input screen SC2 is touched, the CPU 11a considers that the charge is executed. When the stop button B8 on the charge screen SC1 is touched, the CPU 11a considers that the charge is stopped.

When executing the charge (YES in Act24), the CPU 11a has the product code "999999999", the product name "charge", the unit price "nn, nnn", the quantity "1", the amount "nn, nnn" and the attribute "1". The record including the above is registered in the transaction memory 31a. Further, the CPU 11a adds the number and the amount of money to the total memory 32a (Act25). When the record related to the charge amount is registered in the transaction memory 31a in this way, the CPU 11a updates the registration screen so as to conform to the contents of the transaction memory 31a and the total memory 32a (Act26).

When the charge is not executed (NO in Act24), the CPU 11a does not execute the processes of Act25 and Act26. This completes the charge process.

Here, the CPU 11a constitutes an additional means for accepting the input of the charge amount for the electronic money and adding the input charge amount data to the transaction memory 31.

The explanation is returned to FIG.
After updating the registration screen in Act6 or Act26, the CPU 11a confirms whether or not the subtotal button has been touched (Act8). If the subtotal button is not touched (NO in Act8), the CPU 11a waits for the product code to be input again or the charge button to be touched (Act3, Act4).

When the product code is input (YES in Act3) in the standby state of Act3 and Act4, the CPU 11a executes the processing of Act5 and Act6. When the charge button is touched (YES in Act4), the CPU 11a executes the charge process of Act7.

When the subtotal button is touched (YES in Act8), the CPU 11a generates payment information based on the contents of the transaction memory 31a and the total memory 32a at this time (Act9). Then, the CPU 11a displays the transfer destination selection screen SC3 (see FIG. 8) on a part of the screen of the clerk touch panel 11g1 (Act 10).

FIG. 8 shows an example of the transfer destination selection screen SC3. The transfer destination selection screen SC3 includes display areas R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and buttons B21, B22, B23, B24, B25, B6, and B7.

The display area R3 displays the total number and the total amount of the total memory 32a. The display area R4 displays various messages. Buttons B21 and B22 are for the clerk 21 to specify that a discount is applied to the total amount. The button B23 is for the clerk 21 to specify that a part of the screen area of the clerk touch panel 11g1 is returned to the registration screen.

The display areas R5 to R8 display whether or not the payment information can be transferred to each of the four payment devices 12. Buttons B24 to B27 are for the clerk 21 to specify the transfer of payment information to each of the four payment devices 12. The payment device 12 does not accept the transfer of payment information while the payment process is being executed. In the display areas R5 to R8 associated with the payment device 12 in such a state, "transfer not possible" is displayed. On the contrary, "transferable" is displayed in the display areas R5 to R8 associated with the payment device 12 that accepts the transfer of payment information. The display form of the buttons B24 to B27 may be different depending on whether or not the associated payment device 12 accepts the transfer of payment information. Alternatively, if the associated payment device 12 does not accept the transfer of payment information, the buttons B24 to B27 may be hidden.

When the transfer destination selection screen SC3 is displayed, the CPU 11a waits for the payment device 12 as the transfer destination of the payment information to be specified (Act 11). The CPU 11a may confirm the occurrence of another event such as another operation being performed in the standby state here, and may shift to the processing according to the occurrence event. For example, when any of the buttons B21 and B22 is touched by the clerk 21, the CPU 11a changes the total amount included in the payment information according to the subsequent instruction by the clerk 21.

The clerk 21 who has confirmed the transfer destination selection screen SC3 determines the payment device 12 to transfer the transaction data based on the information in the display areas R5 to R8. Then, the clerk touches the buttons B24 to B27 corresponding to the payment device 12 determined as the transfer destination.

When any of the buttons B24 to B27 of the transfer destination selection screen SC3 is touched in the standby state of Act11, the CPU 11a considers that the payment device 12 has been designated. When the payment device 12 is designated (YES in Act 11), the CPU 11a outputs payment information to the designated payment device 12 (Act 12).

Specifically, the CPU 11a is a communication unit that outputs payment information to the LAN 13 using the communication address set in the designated payment device 12 as the destination address and the communication address set by itself as the source address. Control 11j. As a result, the payment information in which the destination address and the source address are set is transmitted via the LAN 13. Then, this payment information is received by the payment device 12 whose destination address matches the communication address. The payment device 12 that has received the payment information can determine the product registration device that is the source of the payment information by storing the source address of the payment information.

Here, the CPU 11a constitutes a selection means for selecting one payment device from the plurality of payment devices 12. Further, the CPU 11a and the communication unit 11j constitute an output means for outputting the data of the transaction memory 31a to the selected payment device 12 when the input end command of the data related to the product sale is received.

When the payment information is output, the CPU 11a causes the notification screen SC4 (see FIG. 9) to be displayed on a part of the screens of the clerk touch panel 11g1 and the customer touch panel 11g2 (Act 13). An example of the notification screen SC4 is shown in FIG. The notification screen SC4 includes display areas R9 and R10 and a button B31. The button B31 is displayed only on the clerk touch panel 11g1. Button B31 is not displayed on the customer touch panel 11g2.

The display area R9 displays an image for causing the clerk 21 and the shopper 22 to recognize that the semi-self payment has been selected. The semi-self settlement is a settlement form in which the settlement device 12 executes the settlement process in response to the operation by the shopper 22. The display area R10 represents the total number and the total amount of money included in the payment information, and displays to which of the four payment devices 12 the payment information including such contents has been transferred. The button B31 is for the clerk 21 to instruct to close the notification screen SC4. The CPU 11a finishes the information processing of the procedure shown in the flow chart of FIG. 4 in response to the touch of the button B31. Then, the CPU 11a repeats the processing after Act 1 again in the same manner as described above.

When the buttons B24 to B27 associated with the payment device 12 that does not accept the transfer of payment information are touched, the CPU 11a does not determine Yes in Act11. Thus, the CPU 11a does not accept the designation of the payment device 12 that does not accept the transfer of payment information. Therefore, if all of the payment devices 12 are in an operation stopped state or an operating state in which the transfer of payment information is not accepted, the CPU 11a does not wait for the designation of the payment device 12.

The clerk 21 who has confirmed the notification screen SC4 notifies the shopper 22 that the payment device 12 displayed in the display area R10 should be used for payment among the payment devices 12. At this time, the printer 11h of the product registration device 11 may output a paper on which the number of the payment device displayed in the display area R10 is printed and hand this paper to the shopper 22. Upon receiving the notification, the shopper 22 moves to the designated payment device 12 and performs an operation for payment.

Therefore, next, the operation of the payment device 12 will be described.
When the payment device 12 is activated, the CPU 12a starts the control process of the procedure shown in the flow chart of FIG. First, the CPU 12a sets the screen of the touch panel 12g as a standby screen (Act 31). The standby screen indicates that the user is not in a situation where payment processing is performed, and what kind of information may be displayed may be arbitrary. For example, it is assumed that the standby screen represents a message indicating that payment processing cannot be performed, or displays an arbitrary image representing an advertisement or the like as a screen saver. After the screen of the touch panel 12g is set as the standby screen, the CPU 12a waits for the payment information to be received (Act 32).

As described above, the CPU 11a of the product registration device 11 transmits payment information from the communication unit 11j to the LAN 13 in the process of Act 12 of FIG. This payment information is received by the communication unit 12j provided in the payment device 12 which is the destination.

Upon receiving the payment information (YES in Act 32), the CPU 12a expands the payment information into the transaction memory 31b and the total memory 32b (Act 33). That is, the CPU 12a stores the records of the product name, the unit price, the number of units sold, the sales amount, and the attributes included in the payment information in the transaction memory 31b. Similarly, the CPU 12a stores the total number of purchased products and the total amount of money included in the payment information in the total memory 32b.

When the settlement information is expanded in the transaction memory 31b and the total memory 32b, the CPU 12a confirms whether or not the record expanded in the transaction memory 31b includes a record related to the charge amount (Act 34). That is, the CPU 12a examines the attributes of the records expanded in the transaction memory 31b. Then, when the record having the attribute "1" is detected, the CPU 12a considers that the record related to the charge amount is included. When all the attributes of the records expanded in the transaction memory 31b are "0", the CPU 12a considers that the record related to the charge amount is not included.

When the record related to the charge amount is not included (NO in Act34), the CPU 12a displays the payment screen SC5 (see FIG. 11) on a part of the screen of the touch panel 12g (Act35).

An example of the payment screen SC5 is shown in FIG. The payment screen SC5 includes display areas R11 and R12 and buttons B41, B42 and B43. The display area R11 displays an operation guidance that prompts the shopper 22 who operates the payment device 12 to select a payment method. The display area R12 displays the total number and the total amount stored in the total memory 32b as the number of points traded with the shopper 22 and the transaction amount. The button B11 is for the shopper 22 to specify that the payment method is cash. The button B12 is for the shopper to specify that the payment method is electronic money. The button B13 is for the shopper 22 to specify to call the clerk 21.

The shopper 22 who confirms the payment screen SC5 decides whether to settle with cash or electronic money. When making a payment in cash, the shopper 22 touches the button B41 and inserts cash of the total amount or more into the automatic change machine 12e. When making a payment with electronic money, the shopper 22 touches the button B42 and causes the card reader / writer 12i to read the data of the electronic money card.

In the payment screen SC5, cash payment and electronic money payment are illustrated as payment methods, but the payment method is not limited to cash payment and electronic money payment. The payment device 12 may settle the transaction by another payment method such as a credit card or a gift certificate.

The CPU 12a displaying the payment screen SC5 waits for the button B41 corresponding to cash payment or the button B42 corresponding to electronic money payment to be touched (Act 36). Then, when the button B41 or B42 is touched (YES in Act36), the CPU 12a executes the payment process by the payment method selected by the touched button (Act37). That is, when the button B41 is touched, the CPU 12a executes the settlement processing of the transaction in which the total amount has occurred, provided that cash of the total amount or more has been inserted into the automatic change machine 12e. When the button B42 is touched, the CPU 12a executes the settlement processing of the transaction in which the total amount has occurred, provided that the balance of the electronic money read from the electronic money card by the card reader / writer 12i is equal to or more than the total amount. To do. Since these payment processes are well known in existing self-POS terminals, the description thereof is omitted here.

Here, the CPU 12a constitutes a processing means that accepts the payment of the payment amount and processes the settlement of the transaction in which the transaction amount occurs on the condition that the payment amount equal to or more than the transaction amount (total amount) is paid.

When the settlement process is completed, the CPU 12a edits the print data of the receipt based on the contents of the transaction memory 31b and the total memory 32b. Then, the CPU 12a operates the printer 12h to issue a receipt (Act 38). When the receipt is issued, the CPU 12a finishes the information processing of the procedure shown in the flow chart of FIG. Then, the CPU 12a repeats the processing after Act 31 in the same manner as described above.

On the other hand, when the record expanded in the transaction memory 31b includes a record related to the charge amount (YES in Act34), the CPU 12a has a charge request screen SC6 (see FIG. 12) as a part of the screen of the touch panel 12g. ) Is displayed (Act39).

An example of the charge request screen SC6 is shown in FIG. The charge request screen SC6 includes display areas R21, R22, R23 and a button B51. The display area R21 displays an operation guidance for urging the shopper 22 who operates the payment device 12 to deposit the charge amount. The display area R22 displays the charge amount included in the record related to the charge amount. If the records expanded in the transaction memory 31b include a plurality of records related to the charge amount, the total charge amount of each record is displayed in the display area R22. In the display area R23, the amount of money put into the automatic change machine 12e is displayed. The button B51 is for the shopper 22 to specify to call the clerk 21.

The shopper 22 who confirms the charge request screen SC6 causes the card reader / writer 12i to read the data of the electronic money card, and inserts cash equal to or more than the charge amount into the automatic change machine 12e.

The CPU 12a that displays the charge request screen SC6 waits for cash to be inserted into the automatic change machine 12e (Act40). When cash is inserted (deposited) (YES in Act 40), the CPU 12a displays the inserted amount in the display area R23. Then, the CPU 12a confirms whether or not the input amount displayed in the display area R23 is equal to or greater than the charge amount displayed in the display area R22 (Act 41). When the input amount is less than the charge amount (NO in Act41), the CPU 12a waits for cash to be further input into the automatic change machine 12e (Act40).

When the input amount exceeds the charge amount (YES in Act41), the CPU 12a waits for the data of the electronic money card to be read by the card reader / writer 12i (Act42). If the data on the electronic money card is read (YES in Act 42), the CPU 12a adds the charge amount to the balance of the electronic money included in the data on the electronic money card (Act 43). Further, the CPU 12a reduces the charge amount from the total amount stored in the total memory 32b. Further, the CPU 12a subtracts the number of records related to the charge amount from the total points stored in the total memory 32b (Act44).

Here, the CPU 12a is provided on the condition that when the data of the transaction memory 31a output from the product registration device 11 includes the data of the charge amount, the payment amount equal to or more than the charge amount is deposited by a payment method other than electronic money. , A charging means for adding a charge amount to the balance of electronic money via a card reader / writer 12i is configured. Specifically, when the data of the transaction memory 31a output from the product registration device 11 includes the data of the charge amount, the CPU 12a is provided on the condition that the payment amount equal to or more than the charge amount is deposited by a payment method other than electronic money. , The charge amount is added to the balance of electronic money via the card reader / writer 12i, and the transaction amount is updated to the amount obtained by subtracting the charge amount.

When the charge of the electronic money is completed, the CPU 12a confirms whether or not the charge amount has changed (Act 45). If the input amount is larger than the charge amount, the CPU 12a considers that change has occurred. If the charge amount and the input amount are equal, the CPU 12a considers that no change has occurred.

When change has occurred (YES in Act 45), the CPU 12a orders the automatic change machine 12e to pay out the difference between the input amount and the charge amount as change (Act 46). By this command, change is paid out from the automatic change machine 12e.

After instructing the automatic change machine 12e to pay out, or when no change has occurred (NO in Act45), the CPU 12a displays the payment screen SC5 (see FIG. 11) on a part of the screen of the touch panel 12g (Act35). ). After that, the CPU 12a repeats the processes of Act 35 to Act 38 in the same manner as described above.

In the store where the checkout system 10 operating as described above is introduced, the shopper 22 who wants to charge the electronic money of the electronic money card offers the charge to the clerk 21 at the time of accounting for the purchased product. The clerk 21 who receives the charge offer touches the charge button before completing the registration of the purchased product of the shopper 22 in the product registration device 11.

When the charge button is touched, the charge screen SC1 is displayed on the customer touch panel 11g2 of the product registration device 11. The shopper 22 who confirmed the charge screen SC1 inputs the charge amount. When the charge amount is input, the product registration device 11 stores the record related to the charge amount in the transaction memory 31a. A record related to the purchased product is also registered in the transaction memory 31a.

In the transaction memory 31a shown in FIG. 3, a record when a shopper 22 who purchases one product A having a unit price of 600 yen and two products B having a unit price of 1000 yen inputs a charge amount of 5,000 yen. RC1, RC2, RC3 are stored. When the clerk 21 touches the subtotal button in this state, the transfer destination selection screen SC3 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the clerk touch panel 11g1. Here, the clerk 21 selects the payment device 12 of "C" among the four payment devices 12 identified by "A", "B", "C", and "D" as the transfer destination, and presses the button B26. When is touched, the payment information generated based on the contents of the transaction memory 31a and the total memory 32a is transferred to the payment device 12 of "C". Further, the notification screen SC4 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the clerk touch panel 11g1 and the customer touch panel 11g2. Therefore, the shopper 22 moves to the payment device 12 of "C" and performs an operation for payment.

At this time, since the payment information transferred to the payment device 12 of "C" includes the record RC2 related to the charge amount, the charge request screen SC6 shown in FIG. 12 is the touch panel 12g of the payment device 12 of "C". Is displayed in. Therefore, the shopper 22 first puts a charge amount of 5,000 yen into the automatic change machine 12e and holds the electronic money card over the card reader / writer 12i. At this time, if the shopper 22 puts in, for example, 10,000 yen, the change amount of 5,000 yen is paid out from the automatic change machine 12e. When the charge amount of 5,000 yen is inserted, 5,000 yen is added to the balance of the electronic money stored in the electronic money card. For example, if the balance before charging is 600 yen, the balance will be increased to 5600 yen by this charging.

When the charging of the electronic money is completed, the payment screen SC5 shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the touch panel 12g of the payment device 12 of "C". At this time, the transaction amount displayed in the display area R12 is an amount of 2600 yen excluding the charge amount of 5000 yen. Therefore, the shopper 22 selects a payment method. In the case of cash settlement, the shopper 22 touches the button B41 and inserts cash having a transaction amount of 2600 yen or more into the automatic change machine 12e. In the case of electronic money payment, the shopper 22 touches the button B42 and holds the electronic money card over the card reader / writer 12i. When the shopper 22 chooses to settle with electronic money, the balance of the electronic money card becomes 3000 yen by paying the transaction amount of 2600 yen.

As described above, according to the checkout system 10 of the first embodiment, even after the data related to the product for sale is input in the product registration device 11, before the transaction related to the sale of the product is settled in the payment device 12. In addition, the shopper 22 can charge the electronic money.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the second embodiment will be described.
In the first embodiment, when the payment information includes a record related to the charge amount, the payment device 12 first charges the electronic money with the charge amount, and then calculates based on the record related to product sales. Processed the settlement of the transaction amount. In the second embodiment, when the payment information includes a record related to the charge amount, the payment device 12 charges the electronic money and setstles the transaction amount calculated based on the record related to the sale of goods. Are processed in a batch.

That is, in the second embodiment, the information processing procedure of the payment device 12 is different from that of the first embodiment. For the remaining portion, the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment. Therefore, FIGS. 1 to 9 are used as they are in the second embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing a main procedure of the control process executed by the CPU 12a of the payment device 12 according to the control program in the second embodiment. 14 to 16 are schematic views showing various screen examples displayed on the touch panel 12g of the payment device 12 by the control process. Hereinafter, the operation of the checkout system 10 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to these figures. The content of the process described below is an example, and various processes capable of obtaining similar results can be appropriately used.

When the payment device 12 is activated, the CPU 12a starts the control process of the procedure shown in the flow chart of FIG. First, the CPU 12a sets the screen of the touch panel 12g as a standby screen (Act 51). After the screen of the touch panel 12g is set as the standby screen, the CPU 12a waits for the payment information to be received (Act 52). Upon receiving the payment information (YES in Act 52), the CPU 12a expands the payment information into the transaction memory 31b and the total memory 32b (Act 53). When the settlement information is expanded in the transaction memory 31b and the total memory 32b, the CPU 12a confirms whether or not the record expanded in the transaction memory 31b includes a record related to the charge amount (Act 54). When the record related to the charge amount is not included (NO in Act54), the CPU 12a displays the payment screen SC5 on a part of the screen of the touch panel 12g (Act35 in FIG. 10). After that, the CPU 12a repeats the processes of Act 35 to Act 38 in FIG. 10 in the same manner as described above.

On the other hand, when the record expanded in the transaction memory 31b includes a record related to the charge amount (YES in Act 54), the CPU 12a has the electronic money settlement screen SC7 (FIG. 14) as a part of the screen of the touch panel 12g. (See)) is displayed (Act55).

An example of the payment screen SC7 is shown in FIG. The payment screen SC7 includes display areas R31, R32, R33 and a button B61. The display area R31 notifies the shopper 22 who operates the payment device 12 that the payment is electronic money. The display area R32 displays the operation guidance for electronic money payment to the shopper 22. The display area R33 displays the total number of the total memory 32b and the total amount of money as the number of points traded with the shopper 22 and the transaction amount. The button B61 is for the shopper 22 to specify to call the clerk 21.

The shopper 22 who confirmed the payment screen SC7 in FIG. 14 causes the card reader / writer 12i to read the data of the electronic money card.

The CPU 12a displaying the payment screen SC7 waits for the data of the electronic money card to be read by the card reader / writer 12i (Act56). If the data of the electronic money card is read (YES in Act56), the CPU 12a compares the balance of the electronic money included in the data of the electronic money card with the total amount of the total memory 32b, and the balance is calculated. Check if there is a shortage with respect to the total amount (Act57).

When the balance is insufficient with respect to the total amount (YES in Act57), the CPU 12a displays the insufficient amount in the display area R32 of the payment screen SC7 (Act58). The shortfall is calculated by subtracting the balance from the total amount.

FIG. 15 is a settlement screen SC7 when 7,000 yen is insufficient because the balance of electronic money is 600 yen with respect to the transaction amount of 7,600 yen. In this case, the balance of the electronic money and the guidance for prompting the payment of the shortage amount are displayed in the display area R32 of the payment screen SC7.

The shopper 22 who confirmed the payment screen SC7 of FIG. 15 inserts cash equal to or greater than the shortage amount into the automatic change machine 12e.

The CPU 12a displaying the shortage amount waits for cash to be inserted into the automatic change machine 12e (Act 59). When cash is inserted (YES in Act 59), the CPU 12a confirms whether or not the input amount is equal to or greater than the shortage amount (Act 60). When the input amount is less than the shortage amount (NO in Act60), the CPU 12a waits for cash to be further input into the automatic change machine 12e (Act59).

When the input amount exceeds the shortage amount (YES in Act60), the CPU 12a proceeds to the process of Act64.

On the other hand, if the balance is not insufficient for the total amount (NO in Act57), the CPU 12a sets the charge amount included in the record related to the charge amount among the records expanded in the transaction memory 31b on the settlement screen SC7. Is displayed in the display area R32 of (Act61). If the records expanded in the transaction memory 31b include a plurality of records related to the charge amount, the total charge amount of each record is displayed in the display area R32.

FIG. 16 is a settlement screen SC7 when there is no shortage because the balance of electronic money is 8600 yen with respect to the transaction amount of 7600 yen. In this case, the balance of the electronic money and the guidance for prompting the payment of the charge amount are displayed in the display area R32 of the payment screen SC7.

The shopper 22 who confirmed the payment screen SC7 in FIG. 16 inserts cash equal to or greater than the charge amount into the automatic change machine 12e.

The CPU 12a displaying the charge amount waits for cash to be inserted into the automatic change machine 12e (Act62). When cash is inserted (YES in Act62), the CPU 12a confirms whether or not the input amount is equal to or greater than the charge amount (Act63). When the input amount is less than the charge amount (NO in Act63), the CPU 12a waits for cash to be further input into the automatic change machine 12e (Act62).

When the input amount exceeds the charge amount (YES in Act63), the CPU 12a proceeds to the process of Act64.

In Act64, the CPU 12a confirms whether or not change has occurred. If the input amount is larger than the shortage amount, or if the input amount is larger than the charge amount, the CPU 12a considers that change has occurred. If the input amount is equal to the shortage amount or the charge amount, the CPU 12a considers that no change has occurred.

When change has occurred (YES in Act65), the CPU 12a orders the automatic change machine 12e to pay out the difference between the input amount and the shortage amount or the charge amount as change (Act65). By this command, change is paid out from the automatic change machine 12e.

After instructing the automatic change machine 12e to pay out, or when no change has occurred (NO in Act64), the CPU 12a uses the card reader / writer 12i to add a shortage or charge to the balance of electronic money included in the data of the electronic money card. Add the amount (Act66). As described above, the charge amount is the charge amount included in the record related to the charge amount in the records expanded in the transaction memory 31b. When a plurality of records related to the charge amount are included in the records expanded in the transaction memory 31b, the total charge amount of each record is added to the balance.

When the charge of the electronic money is completed, the CPU 12a executes the payment process using the electronic money (Act67). That is, the CPU 12a is a transaction in which the total amount is generated on the condition that the amount obtained by adding the shortage amount or the charge amount to the balance of the electronic money read from the electronic money card by the card reader / writer 12i is equal to or more than the total amount of the total memory 32b. Execute the payment process of. Since this payment process is a well-known matter in existing self-POS terminals, the description here will be omitted.

When the settlement process is completed, the CPU 12a edits the print data of the receipt based on the contents of the transaction memory 31b and the total memory 32b. Then, the CPU 12a operates the printer 12h to issue a receipt (Act68). When the receipt is issued, the CPU 12a finishes the information processing of the procedure shown in the flow chart of FIG. Then, the CPU 12a repeats the processing after Act 51 again in the same manner as described above.

Here, the CPU 21a waits for the card reader / writer 12i to read the balance of electronic money when the payment information includes a record related to the charge amount. Then, the CPU 21a waits for the payment of the shortage amount when the balance is less than the transaction amount calculated from the payment information, and the balance of the electronic money via the card reader / writer 12i on the condition that the amount of the shortage amount or more is paid. It is provided with a charging means for adding the shortage amount to. In this case, the CPU 21a processes the settlement of the transaction with the balance of the electronic money after the shortage amount is added.

Further, the CPU 21a waits for the payment of the charge amount when the balance is equal to or more than the transaction amount, and adds the charge amount to the balance of the electronic money via the card reader / writer 12i on the condition that the amount equal to or more than the charge amount is deposited. Provide means. In this case as well, the CPU 21a processes the settlement of the transaction with the balance of the electronic money after the charge amount is added.

Even in stores where the checkout system 10 that operates as described above is introduced, the shopper 22 who wants to charge the electronic money of the electronic money card can charge the amount from the charge screen SC1 displayed on the customer touch panel 11g2 of the product registration device 11. Is the same as in the first embodiment until is input.

Here, it is assumed that the shopper 22 who purchases one product A having a unit price of 600 yen and two products B having a unit price of 1000 yen inputs a charge amount of 5,000 yen. Further, it is assumed that the clerk 21 selects the payment device 12 of "C" as the transfer destination among the four payment devices 12 identified by "A", "B", "C", and "D". Then, the shopper 22 moves to the payment device 12 of “C” and performs an operation for payment.

At this time, since the payment information transferred to the payment device 12 of "C" includes the record RC2 related to the charge amount, the electronic money payment screen SC7 shown in FIG. 14 is the payment device 12 of "C". It is displayed on the touch panel 12g. That is, a total of 7600 yen, which is the total amount of the purchased products of 2600 yen and the charge amount of 5000 yen, is displayed as the transaction amount.

Therefore, the shopper 22 holds the electronic money card over the card reader / writer 12i. At this time, assuming that the balance of electronic money is 600 yen, the balance is insufficient for the transaction amount, so as shown in FIG. 15, guidance for prompting payment of the insufficient amount of 7,000 yen is provided on the payment screen SC7. Is displayed.

Therefore, the shopper puts cash equal to or greater than the shortage amount, for example, 10,000 yen into the automatic change machine 12e. Then, in the payment device 12 of "C", 3000 yen is paid out as change from the automatic change machine 12e. In addition, the total amount of the purchased products is reduced by 2600 yen from the balance of the electronic money of 7600 yen charged with the shortage of 7000 yen, and the balance of the electronic money is rewritten to 5000 yen.

Thus, the shopper 22 paid a part of the purchase amount of 2600 yen with the balance of the electronic money of 600 yen, paid the rest with cash (the amount once charged to the electronic money), and charged the electronic money with 5000 yen. Equivalent.

On the other hand, assuming that the balance of electronic money is 8600 yen, the balance is sufficient for the transaction amount, so as shown in FIG. 16, guidance prompting the payment of the charge amount of 5000 yen is displayed on the settlement screen SC7. To.

Therefore, the shopper puts cash equal to or more than the charge amount, for example, 10,000 yen into the automatic change machine 12e. Then, in the payment device 12 of "C", 5000 yen is paid out as change from the automatic change machine 12e. In addition, the total amount of the purchased products is reduced by 2600 yen from the balance of the electronic money charged with the charge amount of 5000 yen of 13600 yen, and the balance of the electronic money is rewritten to 11000 yen.

In this way, the shopper 22 pays the purchase amount of 2600 yen with the balance of the electronic money of 8600 yen and charges the electronic money with 5000 yen.

As described above, the checkout system 10 of the second embodiment can have the same effect as that of the first embodiment.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
For example, in the above embodiment, the charge screen SC1 is displayed on the screen of the customer touch panel 11g2, but the charge screen SC1 may be displayed on the screen of the clerk touch panel 11g1. In this case, the clerk may input the charge amount offered by the shopper 22 from the charge screen SC1.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the charge amount is deposited in cash is shown, but the charge amount is not necessarily limited to cash. The charge amount may be deposited by a method other than electronic money such as a gift certificate or a credit card.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the semi-self-type checkout system is illustrated, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to the semi-self-type checkout system. For example, even in a checkout system in which a clerk operates a payment unit, the electronic money charging function can be applied in the same manner as in each embodiment. Further, the electronic money charging function can be applied to a checkout system in which the input unit and the payment unit are not separated but integrated, that is, a so-called face-to-face POS terminal or a self-service POS terminal.

Further, the above embodiment exemplifies a check-out system for transactions related to the sale of products, but for example, a check-out system for transactions related to service provision such as usage fees for parking lots and sports facilities, admission fees for amusement parks, etc. Is also applicable.

In addition, although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.
Hereinafter, the inventions described in the claims of the original application of the present application will be added.
[1] A storage unit including an input unit and a settlement unit, which receives input of data related to product sales or service provision and stores transaction data to be settled in a storage unit based on the input data. When the means, the additional means for accepting the input of the charge amount for the electronic money and the data of the input charge amount to be added to the storage unit, and the data input end command relating to the product sale or the service provision are received, the said The payment unit includes an output means for outputting the data of the storage unit to the payment unit, and the payment unit has a reader / writer that reads the balance of the electronic money stored in the storage medium and rewrites the balance, and a payment amount. A process of accepting a deposit and processing the settlement of a transaction in which the transaction amount occurs on the condition that the payment amount equal to or greater than the transaction amount calculated based on the data of the storage unit output from the input unit is deposited. When the data of the charge amount is included in the data of the storage unit output from the input unit and the means, the payment amount equal to or more than the charge amount is paid by a payment method other than the electronic money. A checkout system including a charging means for adding the charge amount to the balance of the electronic money via the reader / writer.
[2] When the data of the storage unit output from the input unit includes the data of the charge amount, the charging means waits for the payment of the charge amount, and the amount equal to or more than the charge amount is deposited. [1] 1. The additional note [1] 1, wherein the charge amount is added to the balance of the electronic money via the reader / writer, and the transaction amount is updated to the amount obtained by subtracting the charge amount. Checkout system.
[3] When the data of the storage unit output from the input unit includes the data of the charge amount, the charging means waits for the reader / writer to read the balance of the electronic money, and the balance becomes When the transaction amount is less than the transaction amount, the balance of the electronic money is waited for by subtracting the balance from the transaction amount, and the balance of the electronic money is received via the reader / writer on condition that the amount equal to or more than the shortage amount is deposited. [1], wherein the charge amount is added to, and the processing means processes the settlement of the transaction with the balance of the electronic money after the charge amount is added by the charge means. Checkout system.
[4] When the data of the storage unit output from the input unit includes the data of the charge amount, the charging means waits for the reader / writer to read the balance of the electronic money, and the balance becomes When the transaction amount is equal to or greater than the transaction amount, the charge amount is awaited and the charge amount is added to the balance of the electronic money via the reader / writer on the condition that the charge amount or more is deposited. The checkout system according to the appendix [1], wherein the processing means processes the settlement of the transaction with the balance of the electronic money after the charge amount is added by the charging means.
[5] There are a plurality of the payment units with respect to the input unit, and the input unit further includes a selection means for selecting one payment unit from the plurality of payment units, and the output means includes the output means. The checkout system according to any one of the appendices [1] to [4], wherein the data in the storage unit is output to the payment unit selected by the selection means.

10 ... Checkout system, 11 ... Product registration device, 12 ... Payment device, 11a, 12a ... CPU, 11b, 12b ... ROM, 11c, 12c ... RAM, 11d, 12d ... Auxiliary storage unit, 11e ... Drawer opening unit, 12e ... Automatic change machine, 11f, 12f ... Scanner, 11g1,11g2,12g ... Touch panel, 11h, 12h ... Printer, 11i, 12i ... Card reader / writer, 11j, 12j ... Communication unit, 13 ... LAN, 21 ... Clerk, 22 ... Shoppers, 31a, 31b ... Transaction memory, 32a, 32b ... Total memory.

Claims (7)

Equipped with an input unit and a payment unit,
The input unit is
Products and sales or services of data related to the provision input, receives designation of the charge amount for the electronic money, the payment unit and the charge amount specified and be settled transaction data that is generated based on the inputted the data was Output means to output to
Equipped with
The payment unit
Display and
A reader / writer that reads the balance of electronic money stored in the storage medium and rewrites the balance,
A receiving means for receiving the transaction data and the charge amount output from the input unit, and
A first display means for displaying the total amount of the amount calculated based on the transaction data received by the receiving means and the charge amount on the display unit.
When the balance less than the total amount is read by the reader / writer, the amount equal to or greater than the shortage amount obtained by subtracting the balance from the total amount is deposited by a payment method other than the electronic money, via the reader / writer. And an addition means to add the shortage to the balance of the electronic money
Check-out system equipped with. The payment unit
Processing means for processing the settlement of the transaction data in the balance of the electronic money after the deficit has been added by the adding means,
The checkout system according to claim 1, further comprising. The payment unit
When the reader / writer reads the balance less than the total amount, the second display means for displaying the shortage amount obtained by subtracting the balance from the total amount on the display unit.
The checkout system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising. The second display means also displays the balance of electronic money read by the reader / writer.
The checkout system according to claim 3. And input data relating to commodity sales or services provided, receives designation of the charge amount for the electronic money, inputs for outputting said charge amount specified and be settled transaction data that is generated based on the inputted the data was In the payment device that constitutes the checkout system together with the unit
Display and
A reader / writer that reads the balance of electronic money stored in the storage medium and rewrites the balance,
A receiving means for receiving the transaction data and the charge amount output from the input unit, and
A first display means for displaying the total amount of the amount calculated based on the transaction data received by the receiving means and the charge amount on the display unit.
When the balance less than the total amount is read by the reader / writer, the amount equal to or greater than the shortage amount obtained by subtracting the balance from the total amount is deposited by a payment method other than the electronic money, via the reader / writer. And an addition means to add the shortage to the balance of the electronic money,
A payment device equipped with. Processing means for processing the settlement of the transaction data in the balance of the electronic money after the deficit has been added by the adding means,
5. The payment device according to claim 5, further comprising. And input data relating to commodity sales or services provided, receives designation of the charge amount for the electronic money, inputs for outputting said charge amount specified and be settled transaction data that is generated based on the inputted the data was A computer of a payment device equipped with a display unit and a reader / writer that reads the balance of electronic money stored in the storage medium and rewrites the balance by configuring a checkout system together with the unit.
A receiving means for receiving the transaction data and the charge amount output from the input unit,
When the charge amount is included in the data received by the receiving means, the first display means for displaying the total amount of the amount calculated based on the transaction data received by the receiving means and the charge amount on the display unit. ,as well as,
When the balance less than the total amount is read by the reader / writer, the amount equal to or greater than the shortage amount obtained by subtracting the balance from the total amount is deposited by a payment method other than the electronic money, via the reader / writer. An addition means for adding the shortfall to the balance of the electronic money.
A program to function as.