JP7355570B2 - Receipt image generation device, information processing program, and receipt image generation method - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a receipt image generation device, an information processing program, and a receipt image generation method.

In response to the introduction of the reduced tax rate system, measures have been taken to make it easier to identify products to which the reduced tax rate has been applied by adding a mark such as "ke" or "light" near the product name on the receipt. Various measures have been devised.
However, it is difficult to say that the display using marks is easy to understand, and it is expected that more effective measures will be desired.

Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-15109

The problem to be solved by the present invention is a receipt image generation device, an information processing program, and a receipt image generation method that make it possible to easily confirm which tax rate has been applied to each product that is the subject of a transaction. The goal is to provide the following.

The receipt image generation device of the embodiment includes an acquisition means and a generation means. The acquisition means includes a plurality of character string data, including at least character string data of a character string representing a product name and character string data of a character string representing a transaction amount, for each product that is the subject of one transaction, and Exchange data including a predetermined mark associated with a product to which the consumption tax rate of is applied is obtained. The generation means displays each of the character strings represented by the character string data included in the exchange data acquired by the acquisition means, and further displays a plurality of character strings related to the product associated with the mark included in the exchange data. Image data regarding a receipt image is generated in which the display color of at least one of the character strings is different from the display color of the other character strings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main circuit configuration of a POS terminal according to an embodiment. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of data records included in the condition database in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of sales processing by the processor in FIG. 1. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a paper receipt issued by the POS terminal shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing information representing a character string included in exchange data and represented on the paper receipt shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a paper receipt issued by the POS terminal shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing information representing a character string included in exchange data and represented on the paper receipt shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the processor in FIG. 1 in electronic receipt agent processing. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a data record read by the processor in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a data record read by the processor in FIG. 1;

An example of an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that in this embodiment, a POS terminal having a function as a receipt image generation device will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of a POS terminal according to this embodiment.
FIG. 1 shows an electronic receipt system including POS terminals 101 and 102 and a receipt server 103. Data communication is possible between the POS terminals 101 and 102 and the receipt server 103 via a communication network 200. As the communication network 200, the Internet, a VPN (virtual private network), a LAN (local area network), a public communication network, a mobile communication network, etc. can be used alone or in an appropriate combination.

The POS terminals 101 and 102 have different information processing specifications related to product sales, and in this embodiment, they are used by different retailers (Company A and Company B). However, in FIG. 1, only the basic components of the POS terminals 101 and 102 are shown. Many of these basic configurations are often the same regardless of differences in transaction data processing specifications. Therefore, in FIG. 1, components having similar functions among the components of the POS terminals 101 and 102 are designated with the same reference numerals. However, elements included in the POS terminals 101 and 102 and indicated by the same reference numerals do not necessarily represent the same device, and different devices may be used. Note that the POS terminals 101 and 102 may have the same hardware configuration.

The POS terminals 101 and 102 include a processor 1, a main memory 2, an auxiliary storage unit 3, a clock section 4, an input device 5, a display device 6, a barcode reader 7, a printer 8, a communication interface 9, and a transmission path 10. The processor 1 , main memory 2 , auxiliary storage unit 3 , clock section 4 , input device 5 , display device 6 , barcode reader 7 , printer 8 , and communication interface 9 are connected by a transmission path 10 .

In the POS terminals 101 and 102, a processor 1, a main memory 2, and an auxiliary storage unit 3 are connected through a transmission path 10, thereby forming a computer that controls the POS terminals 101 and 102.
The processor 1 corresponds to the central part of the computer. The processor 1 controls each part to realize various functions of the POS terminals 101 and 102 according to information processing programs such as an operating system and application programs.

The main memory 2 corresponds to the main memory portion of the computer. Main memory 2 includes a nonvolatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The main memory 2 stores the above information processing program in a nonvolatile memory area. Further, the main memory 2 may store data necessary for the processor 1 to execute processing for controlling each unit in a non-volatile or volatile memory area. The main memory 2 uses a volatile memory area as a work area in which data is rewritten by the processor 1 as appropriate. The volatile memory area includes an area for storing a list of purchased products, a so-called registration processing area.

The auxiliary storage unit 3 corresponds to the auxiliary storage portion of the computer. As the auxiliary storage unit 3, a storage unit using a well-known storage device such as an EEPROM (electric erasable programmable read-only memory), an HDD (hard disc drive), or an SSD (solid state drive) can be used. The auxiliary storage unit 3 stores data used by the processor 1 to perform various processes and data generated by processing by the processor 1. The auxiliary storage unit 3 stores a part of the above information processing program.

The information processing programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 3 of the POS terminal 101 include a sales processing program P1 and an agent program P2.
The sales processing program P1 is an application program. The sales processing program P1 describes information processing related to product sales (hereinafter referred to as sales processing).
Agent program P2 is an application program. The agent program P2 describes a process for generating electronic receipt data based on exchange data generated by sales processing based on the sales processing program P1 and transmitting it to the receipt server 103.

The programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 3 of the POS terminal 102 include a sales processing program P3 and an agent program P2.
That is, the auxiliary storage unit 3 of the POS terminal 102 stores the same agent program P2 as the POS terminal 101, but does not store the sales processing program P1, but stores the sales processing program P3 instead.
The sales processing program P3 is an application program. The sales processing program P3 describes sales processing.

The sales processing program P1 is created by an arbitrary creator so as to be suitable for store operation and sales management at Company A. The sales processing program P3 is created by an arbitrary creator so as to be suitable for store operation and sales management at Company B. However, the sales processing program P1 and the sales processing program P3 may have the same main body of the information processing program, but may have different settings for various processes based on the information processing program. The agent program P2 is created by an arbitrary creator under the management of a service provider who provides an electronic receipt service using the receipt server 103, for example.

Generally, the POS terminals 101 and 102 are transferred with the sales processing programs P1 and P3 stored in the auxiliary storage unit 3. Note that in this case, the sales processing programs P1 and P3 may be stored in the main memory 2. However, the POS terminals 101 and 102 may be transferred without the sales processing programs P1 and P3 being stored in the main memory 2 or the auxiliary storage unit 3. In this case, the sales processing programs P1 and P3 are recorded on a removable recording medium such as a magnetic disk, magneto-optical disk, optical disk, semiconductor memory, etc. and transferred. Alternatively, the sales processing programs P1 and P3 are transferred via the network. The sales processing programs P1 and P3 may be written into the main memory 2 or auxiliary storage unit 3 of the separately transferred POS terminals 101 and 102, respectively.

The agent program P2 is typically not stored in the auxiliary storage unit 3 when the POS terminals 101, 102 are transferred. The agent program P2 is downloaded from the receipt server 103 or another server to the POS terminals 101, 102 via the communication network 200, for example, and written into the auxiliary storage unit 3. However, the agent program P2 may be recorded on a removable recording medium such as a magnetic disk, magneto-optical disk, optical disk, semiconductor memory, etc. and transferred. Alternatively, the POS terminals 101 and 102 may be transferred while the agent program P2 is stored in the auxiliary storage unit 3. In this case, the agent program P2 may be stored in the main memory 2.

The clock unit 4 constantly performs timekeeping operations and outputs date and time information representing the current date and time.
The input device 5 receives an operation by an operator and outputs input information according to the operation. As the input device 5, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel can be used.
The display device 6 displays images representing various types of information to be presented to the operator. As the display device 6, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display) or a touch panel can be used.

The barcode reader 7 reads a barcode representing a membership code for identifying a member of the smart receipt service. The barcode is typically displayed on a display mounted on an information terminal owned by the member. The barcode reader 7 may be used in common with a device for reading a barcode that is displayed on a product and represents a product code for identifying the product, or a device for that purpose may be provided separately from the barcode reader 7. Good too.

The printer 8 prints various character strings, images, etc. on receipt paper. Then, the printer 8 issues a paper receipt by ejecting the printed receipt paper to the outside of the POS terminals 101 and 102. As the printer 8, for example, a thermal printer or a dot impact printer can be used.

Communication interface 9 performs data communication via communication network 200 . In other words, the communication interface 9 is an example of a communication device.
The transmission line 10 includes an address bus, a data bus, a control signal line, etc., and transmits data and control signals exchanged between connected parts.

Although only the POS terminals 101 and 102 are shown in FIG. 1, the electronic receipt system typically includes a plurality of POS terminals other than the POS terminals 101 and 102. The user of these POS terminals may be Company A or Company B, or a retailer other than Company A and Company B may be the user. A sales processing program P1 is stored in the auxiliary storage unit 3 of each POS terminal used by Company A. A sales processing program P3 is stored in the auxiliary storage unit 3 of each POS terminal used by Company B. The POS terminal used by a retailer other than Company A and Company B is assisted by a sales processing program created by an arbitrary creator to adapt to the store operation and sales management of the user retailer. It is stored in the storage unit 3. The agent program P2 is stored in the auxiliary storage unit 3 of each POS terminal regardless of the user.

Next, the operation of the POS terminal 101 configured as above will be explained. Note that the contents of the processes described below are merely examples, and the order of some processes may be changed, some processes may be omitted, or other processes may be added as appropriate.

Before starting to use the POS terminal 101, the condition database D1 and the user code D2 are stored in the auxiliary storage unit 3. For example, the condition database D1 is distributed along with the agent program P2, and is stored in the auxiliary storage unit 3 during an installation process for storing the agent program P2 in the auxiliary storage unit 3. Alternatively, the condition database D1 is stored in the auxiliary storage unit 3 under the instructions of an operator during installation or maintenance work of the POS terminal 101. The user code D2 is a user code that is written during the installation work of the POS terminal 101 to distinguish a retailer who uses the electronic receipt service using the POS terminal 101 from other users of the electronic receipt service. It will be done. Note that the user code is given to a retailer under the control of a service provider, for example, when signing a contract for use of an electronic receipt service.

The condition database D1 is a collection of data records representing conditions for the agent program P2 to generate electronic receipt data. The data record is associated with a retailer utilizing a POS terminal 101, 102, or other POS terminal. The data record then represents conditions regarding the associated retailer. In other words, the condition database D1 is associated with each retailer who is a user of a POS terminal that may be included in the electronic receipt system, and includes data records adapted to each retailer, for example, for providing an electronic receipt service. Created under the control of the service provider.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the data record DR1 included in the condition database D1.
Data record DR1 includes fields F11, F12, F13, F14, and F15. The user code of the associated retailer is set in field F11. The code of the mark (hereinafter referred to as tax mark) used by the associated retailer to indicate that the product is subject to a reduced tax rate on the paper receipt is set in the field F12. Field F13 is set with position data representing the position where the tax mark is placed on the paper receipt issued by the associated retailer. In the field F14, a color code of a display color (hereinafter referred to as a reference color) basically used in an electronic receipt image is set as a reference color code. In the field F15, a color code of a display color (hereinafter referred to as a special color) used to represent a product to which the reduced tax rate is applied in an electronic receipt image is set as a special color code.

The condition database D1 and user code are similarly written to the auxiliary storage unit 3 of the POS terminal 102 and other POS terminals. However, the user code D3 assigned to Company B is written in the auxiliary storage unit 3 of the POS terminal 102. The user code written in the auxiliary storage unit 3 of the other POS terminals may be the user code D2 or the user code D3, or may be another user code.
Thus, by storing the condition database D1, the auxiliary storage unit 3 functions as a storage means.

When the POS terminal 101 is activated in an operating mode in which transaction data processing is to be performed, the processor 1 starts sales processing according to the sales processing program P1.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of sales processing by the processor 1 of the POS terminal 101.

In ACT1, the processor 1 checks whether the registration operation by the operator has been started. If the processor 1 cannot confirm the corresponding operation, the processor 1 determines NO and proceeds to ACT2.
In ACT2, the processor 1 checks whether the membership code has been scanned. Then, if the scanning of the membership code cannot be confirmed, the processor 1 determines NO and returns to ACT1.
Processor 1 thus waits for registration to be initiated or membership code to be scanned as ACT1 and ACT2.

The operator holds a barcode representing a membership code over the barcode reader 7 before performing a registration operation for a transaction for which the electronic receipt service is desired. Then, the barcode reader 7 scans the barcode and extracts the membership code from the barcode. In response to this, the processor 1 determines YES in ACT2 and proceeds to ACT3.

In ACT3, the processor 1 stores the membership code extracted by the barcode reader 7 in the main memory 2 or the auxiliary storage unit 3. After this, the processor 1 returns to the standby state for ACT1 and ACT2. Note that when the processor 1 proceeds to ACT3 again in response to the membership code being scanned again, the processor 1 replaces the membership code stored in the main memory 2 or the auxiliary storage unit 3 with the newly extracted membership code. overwrite with .
As described above, in this embodiment, the member code is acquired before the start of product registration, and the member code is not acquired after the start of product registration. However, the processor 1 may acquire the membership code even during product registration.

When starting registration, the operator performs a registration operation regarding the purchased product to be traded. If the registration operation is performed while in the standby state of ACT1 and ACT2, the processor 1 determines YES in ACT1 and proceeds to ACT4.
As ACT4, the processor 1 performs registration processing and accounting processing. The registration process is a process for registering the products purchased by the shopper in the purchased product list. As the registration process, a process similar to that performed in an off-the-shelf POS terminal can be used. Accounting processing includes accounting processing and payment processing. The accounting process is a process of calculating the price of the products registered in the purchased product list. The payment process is a process of paying the price calculated by the account process. As the accounting process, a process similar to that performed in an off-the-shelf POS terminal can be used.

As ACT5, the processor 1 generates transaction data. The transaction data includes data collected by a POS server (not shown). What specific data is included in the transaction data is arbitrary and may be determined by, for example, the designer of the sales processing program P1 or the administrator of the POS terminal 101. Note that the processor 1 may immediately send the transaction data generated here to the POS server, etc., or may send the transaction data accumulated in the auxiliary storage unit 3 to the POS server, etc. at any subsequent timing. .

In ACT6, the processor 1 generates journal data. Journal data is data for checking the history of transactions processed by the POS terminal 101. What specific data is included in the journal data is arbitrary and may be determined by, for example, the designer of the sales processing program P1 or the administrator of the POS terminal 101. Journal data may be printed and recorded on journal paper, or may be stored as electronic data. Journal data as electronic data is typically stored in the auxiliary storage unit 3. However, the journal data may be stored on a POS server or recorded on a portable storage medium.

As ACT7, the processor 1 checks whether the shopper is a member of the electronic receipt service. Then, if the membership code is not stored in the main memory 2 or the auxiliary storage unit 3 in ACT3, the processor 1 determines NO and proceeds to ACT8.
In ACT8, the processor 1 generates print data for printing a character string representing the transaction details on the receipt paper based on the list of purchased products and the results of the accounting process.
In ACT9, the processor 1 sends the above print data to the printer 8, and issues a paper receipt by causing the printer 8 to print according to the print data. The processor 1 then ends the sales process shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a paper receipt RE1 issued by the POS terminal 101.
The paper receipt RE1 represents various information regarding the details of the transaction using various character strings.
Area AR1 in paper receipt RE1 represents the date and time of the transaction, the cash register number for identifying POS terminal 101, and the employee number and name of the operator of POS terminal 101. Note that "YYYY", "MM", "DD", "DW", "TI", "MI", "RRRR", "NNNNNNNNNN", and "○○○○" in area A1 of Figure 4 actually indicate the year, month, Characters are set to represent the day, day of the week, hour, minute, cash register number, employee number, and name.

Area AR2 in paper receipt RE1 represents information regarding the purchased product that is the subject of the transaction (hereinafter referred to as product information). In area AR2, two rows from the top form one set. The character strings represented in one set of two lines represent product information regarding a product identified by one product code.
For example, the first two lines indicate that two products with the product name "AAAAAAA" and a unit price of 100 yen were traded for a total of 200 yen. The "ke" placed at the beginning of the first line is a tax mark indicating that the reduced tax rate has been applied. A tax mark is an example of identification information for identifying the applied tax rate.
In this way, area AR2 represents a list of purchased products to be traded.

Area AR3 in the paper receipt RE1 includes the total amount including tax, the total amount of consumption tax, the amount of consumption tax to which the standard tax rate is applied, the amount to which the reduced tax rate of consumption tax is applied, and the receipt number. and store no. represents. Note that "NNNN" and "SSSS" in area AR3 in FIG. 4 are actually set to four-digit decimal numbers.

On the other hand, if the membership code is stored in the main memory 2 or the auxiliary storage unit 3 in ACT3, the processor 1 determines YES in ACT7, and proceeds to ACT10.
As ACT10, the processor 1 generates exchange data. The exchange data is data that includes information to be represented on the electronic receipt regarding the current transaction in a predetermined format. For example, the processor 1 extracts predetermined information from transaction data such as paper receipt print data, journal data, and transaction data, and generates exchange data by arranging the information in a predetermined format. . The information included in the exchange data is mainly character string data representing the character string represented on the paper receipt. Furthermore, the processor 1 includes the membership code stored in the main memory 2 or the auxiliary storage unit 3 in ACT3 in the exchange data.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing information representing a character string included in the exchange data and represented in area AR2 of paper receipt RE1.
The first line in FIG. 5 corresponds to the first two lines of area AR2. In other words, the information shown in {} is product information regarding a product identified by one product code. Product information regarding this one product is expressed by surrounding each of a plurality of character strings with "" and separating the character strings with :.
Note that the processor 1 saves the generated exchange data in the auxiliary storage unit 3 with a predetermined file name.

In ACT11, the processor 1 activates electronic receipt agent processing. The processor 1 then ends the sales process shown in FIG. However, the processor 1 may wait until the electronic receipt agent processing activated here is completed and then end the sales processing.

Also in the POS terminal 102, the processor 1 executes the sales process in the same general flow as the sales process described above. However, the paper receipt issued at the POS terminal 102 is different from the paper receipt RE1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an example of a paper receipt RE2 issued by the POS terminal 102. Note that FIG. 6 shows only the area representing the product list of the paper receipt RE2 issued for a transaction with the same content as the transaction shown in the paper receipt RE1.
In the paper receipt RE2, for example, the first two lines indicate that two products with the product name "AAAAAAAAA" and a unit price of 100 yen were traded for a total of 200 yen, but each information The notation format is partially different.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing information representing a character string included in the exchange data and represented in the area shown in FIG. 6 of the paper receipt RE2.
Although the content of the information shown in the exchange data differs depending on whether it is generated by the POS terminal 101 or the POS terminal 102, the form is the same.

When the electronic receipt agent is activated, the processor 1 executes electronic receipt agent processing based on the agent program P2 in a thread separate from the sales processing shown in FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the processor 1 in electronic receipt agent processing. An electronic receipt agent is realized by the processor 1 executing this electronic receipt agent processing.

As ACT 21, the processor 1 reads the exchange data generated by the sales process and stored in the auxiliary storage unit 3 as described above into the work area of the main memory 2 for electronic receipt agent processing. Note that in the subsequent processing, the processor 1 processes the exchange data read here. Therefore, when the term "exchange data" is simply used hereinafter, it refers to the exchange data read into the main memory 2. In this way, the processor 1 obtains the exchange data. Thus, by the processor 1 executing information processing based on the agent program P2, the computer having the processor 1 as a central part functions as an acquisition means.

In ACT 22, the processor 1 reads the data record DR1 associated with the user among the data records DR1 included in the condition database D1 into the work area of the main memory 2 for electronic receipt agent processing. For example, the processor 1 finds a data record DR1 whose user code set in the field F11 matches the user code stored in the auxiliary storage unit 3 from among the data records DR1 included in the condition database D1. That is, in the POS terminal 101, the processor 1 finds the data record DR1 in which the user code D2 of company A is set in the field F11. Furthermore, in the POS terminal 102, the processor 1 finds a data record DR1 in which the user code D3 of company B is set in the field F11. When the processor 1 finds the corresponding data record DR1, it reads it into the work area of the main memory 2 for electronic receipt agent processing. Note that in the subsequent processing, the processor 1 refers to the data record DR2 read here. Therefore, hereinafter, when simply writing "data record DR1", it refers to the data record DR1 read into the main memory 2.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the data record DR1 read by the processor 1 of the POS terminal 101 in ACT22.
FIG. 9 is an example where the user code of company A, which is the user of the POS terminal 101, is "0001". In the paper receipt RE1 issued by the POS terminal 101, "ke" is a tax mark, and is placed first among the character strings included in the product information regarding one product. Therefore, "8350", which is the character code for "ke", is set in field F12, and "1" is set in field F13. In addition, in an electronic receipt related to a transaction processed at the POS terminal 101, "black" is set as the standard color and "blue" is set as the special color, and fields F14 and F15 are filled with each color. The codes "#000000" and "#0000ff" are respectively set.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the data record DR1 read by the processor 1 of the POS terminal 102 in ACT22. In the paper receipt RE2 issued by the POS terminal 102, "light" is the tax mark, and is placed fourth in the character string included in the product information regarding one product. Therefore, "8C79", which is the character code for "light", is set in field F12, and "4" is set in field F13. In addition, in an electronic receipt related to a transaction processed at the POS terminal 102, "black" is set as the standard color and "green" is set as the special color, and fields F14 and F15 are filled with each color. Codes "#000000" and "#008000" are respectively set.

In ACT23, the processor 1 generates image data as data representing an image of a portion of the electronic receipt image that precedes the product list, based on the exchange data and data record DR1. Note that the processor 1 applies a display color corresponding to the color code set in the field F14 of the data record DR1 to the character string represented in the receipt image represented by the image data generated here. In other words, in the above specific example, the display color of the corresponding character string is "black" in both the POS terminal 101 and the POS terminal 102.

In ACT 24, the processor 1 extracts one piece of product data included in the exchange data.
In ACT 25, the processor 1 checks whether the extracted product data has a tax mark. For example, the processor 1 determines that the character of the mark code set in the field F12 of the data record DR1 is not placed at the position represented by the position data set in the field F13 of the data record DR1 in the extracted product data. If so, it is determined that there is no tax mark. If there is no tax mark, the processor 1 determines NO and proceeds to ACT26.
In ACT26, the processor 1 updates the image data so that the character string included in the product data extracted in ACT24 is represented in the standard color.

On the other hand, if the characters of the mark code are placed in the position, the processor 1 determines that there is a tax mark, determines YES in ACT25, and proceeds to ACT27.
In ACT27, the processor 1 updates the image data so that the character string included in the product data extracted in ACT24 is represented in a special color.

After the processor 1 updates the image data in ACT26 or ACT27, it proceeds to ACT28.
In ACT28, the processor 1 checks whether there is any product data that has not been extracted in ACT24 in the exchange data. Then, the processor 1 determines YES if there is unextracted product data, and repeats ACT24 and subsequent steps in the same manner as described above. However, in ACT24, the processor 1 extracts product data that has not been extracted yet while looping the processing of ACT24 to ACT28.

In this way, the processor 1 sequentially updates the image data so that the character strings included in each piece of product data included in the exchange data are represented in the standard color or special color depending on the presence or absence of the tax mark. Thereby, the processor 1 generates image data representing an image in which the display color of the character string regarding each product is changed depending on the presence or absence of the associated tax mark. Thus, by the processor 1 executing information processing based on the agent program P2, the computer having the processor 1 as a central part functions as a generating means. If the processor 1 proceeds to ACT28 after extracting all product data, the processor 1 determines NO and proceeds to ACT29.

In ACT29, the processor 1 updates the image data to add an image of the part of the electronic receipt image after the product list based on the exchange data and data record DR1. Note that the processor 1 applies the reference color to the character string included in the image to be added here.

In ACT30, the processor 1 generates electronic receipt data as data including the image data updated in ACT29 and the membership code included in the exchange data. Note that the processor 1 may include arbitrary data other than the image data and the membership code in the electronic receipt data.

In ACT 31, the processor 1 transmits electronic receipt data to the receipt server 103. For example, the processor 1 sends electronic receipt data to the receipt server 103 from the communication interface 9 to the communication network 200 . Processor 1 then ends the electronic receipt agent process.

When the electronic receipt data is transmitted to the receipt server 103 via the communication network 200, the receipt server 103 updates the electronic receipt database to include the electronic receipt data. When receiving a request to display an electronic receipt image from a user terminal (not shown) via the communication network 200, the receipt server 103 instructs the user terminal to display the electronic receipt image included in the electronic receipt data. As a result, if the user terminal has a color display, the displayed color of the character string in the product list in the electronic receipt image is changed depending on whether the standard tax rate or the reduced tax rate is applied. This allows the viewer of the electronic receipt image to easily determine the tax rate applied to each product based on the difference in display color.

Furthermore, the POS terminals 101 and 102 determine whether a tax mark is included in the product data based on the conditions described in the data record DR1 associated with the user in the condition database D1. Thereby, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, even if the characters used as the tax mark and the placement position of the tax mark in the exchange data differ from user to user, the presence or absence of the tax mark can be reliably determined.

Further, according to the POS terminals 101 and 102, colors to be used as the reference color and special color are determined based on the conditions described in the data record DR1 associated with the user in the condition database D1. This allows each user to customize the color coding depending on whether the standard tax rate or reduced tax rate is applied.

This embodiment can be modified in various ways as follows.

A special color may be applied to only part of the character strings included in product data regarding products to which the reduced tax rate is applied. For example, a special color may be applied only to the character string representing the product name.

In the exchange data, a tax mark may be included in product data regarding products to which the standard tax rate is applied.

The tax mark may be a mark such as an asterisk.

A special color may be applied to character strings included in product data regarding products to which the standard tax rate is applied, and a standard color may be applied to character strings included in product data regarding products to which the reduced tax rate is applied.

The reference color may be common to all users.

Electronic receipt agent processing may be performed by receipt server 103. In this case, the receipt server 103 will have the function of a receipt image generation device. Further, the electronic receipt agent processing may be executed by a device different from the POS terminals 101 and 102 and the receipt server 103. In this case, it can be implemented as an independent receipt image generation device whose main function is to execute electronic receipt agent processing, or it can be implemented as a device such as a POS server that has a main function other than executing electronic receipt agent processing. Additionally, it can also function as a receipt image generation device. Note that if the electronic receipt agent processing is executed by a device different from the POS terminal, exchange data may be acquired from the POS terminal by communication via the communication network 200, for example.

Each function realized by the processor 1 through information processing can be partially or entirely realized by hardware that executes information processing not based on a program, such as a logic circuit. Further, each of the above functions can also be realized by combining software control with hardware such as the above logic circuit.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and gist of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Processor, 2... Main memory, 3... Auxiliary storage unit, 4... Clock part, 5... Input device, 6... Display device, 7... Barcode reader, 8... Printer, 9... Communication interface, 10... Transmission line, 101...POS terminal, 102...POS terminal, 103...Receipt server, 200...Communication network.

Claims (5)

Contains a plurality of character string data for each product that is the subject of one transaction, including at least character string data of a character string representing the product name and character string data of a character string representing the transaction amount, and the prescribed consumption tax rate is an acquisition means for acquiring exchange data including a predetermined mark associated with the applied product; and each of the character strings represented by the character string data included in the exchange data acquired by the acquisition means. a receipt in which at least one character string among a plurality of character strings related to the product with which the mark included in the exchange data is associated is displayed in a different color from the display color of other character strings; generation means for generating image data regarding the image;
A receipt image generation device comprising: Using a predetermined one of the characters or symbols that can be included in the character string as the mark,
The generating means generates the receipt image as an image in which the mark included in the exchange data and at least one of a plurality of character strings related to the product with which the mark is associated are expressed in the same line.
The receipt image generation device according to claim 1. At least one of the position including the mark and the mark is associated with each of a plurality of different types of exchange data, and the position including the mark and the mark in the associated exchange data; storage means for storing data records representing at least one of the
Furthermore,
The acquisition means acquires a predetermined one type of the plurality of types of exchange data,
The generation means detects a mark included in the exchange data acquired by the acquisition means based on the data record associated with the exchange data acquired by the acquisition means.
The receipt image generation device according to claim 1 or claim 2. The computer included in the receipt image generation device,
Contains a plurality of character string data for each product that is the subject of one transaction, including at least character string data of a character string representing the product name and character string data of a character string representing the transaction amount, and the prescribed consumption tax rate is an acquisition means for acquiring exchange data including a predetermined mark associated with the applied product; and each of the character strings represented by the character string data included in the exchange data acquired by the acquisition means. a receipt in which at least one character string among a plurality of character strings related to the product with which the mark included in the exchange data is associated is displayed in a different color from the display color of other character strings; generation means for generating image data regarding the image;
An information processing program that makes it work. The computer included in the receipt image generation device is
Contains a plurality of character string data for each product that is the subject of one transaction, including at least character string data of a character string representing the product name and character string data of a character string representing the transaction amount, and the prescribed consumption tax rate is obtaining exchange data including a predetermined mark associated with the applicable product;
Displays each of the character strings represented by the character string data included in the acquired exchange data, and further displays one of a plurality of character strings related to the product with which the mark included in the exchange data is associated. generating image data regarding a receipt image in which the display color of at least one character string is different from the display color of other character strings;
Receipt image generation method.