JP7441542B2 - Product sales data processing device, product sales data processing system, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a product sales data processing device, a product sales data processing system, and a program.

2. Description of the Related Art A product sales data processing device is known in which the number of coins per payout (withdrawal) from a deposit/withdrawal device is limited to within a predetermined value (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP2016-12280A

For example, a time lag may occur between when a withdrawal instruction is issued to the product sales data processing device and when the withdrawal process is actually performed in response to, for example, an operation by a store clerk. In such a case, until the withdrawal process corresponding to one withdrawal instruction is performed, there is a possibility that the next withdrawal instruction will be issued to the product sales data processing device. In this case, the product sales data processing device first receives a plurality of withdrawal instructions, and then performs withdrawal processing according to each received withdrawal instruction. When withdrawals are made using these procedures, even if the number of coins that can be withdrawn in one withdrawal process is limited to a certain amount, withdrawals will be made according to each withdrawal instruction. In the process of sequentially performing processing, there is a possibility that the product sales data processing device will be in a near-end state as a result of executing the withdrawal processing at a certain stage.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is intended to avoid a near-end situation from occurring due to execution of withdrawal processing multiple times.

One aspect of the present invention that solves the above-mentioned problems includes a withdrawal receiving means capable of accepting a withdrawal instruction for instructing the withdrawal of cash; , a withdrawal processing means that executes a withdrawal process corresponding to the above-mentioned withdrawal instruction, and after receiving a plurality of withdrawal instructions by the withdrawal acceptance means, a withdrawal processing means that responds to each of the plurality of withdrawal instructions received. The present invention is a product sales data processing device that includes a withdrawal processing control means for controlling a situation in which the amount of retained cash becomes less than the minimum number of coins to be retained due to multiple withdrawal processing being performed.

Further, one aspect of the present invention provides a withdrawal receiving means capable of accepting a withdrawal instruction for instructing the withdrawal of cash, and a withdrawal receiving means capable of accepting a withdrawal instruction for instructing the withdrawal of cash; a withdrawal processing means that executes withdrawal processing corresponding to the instructions; and after receiving the plurality of withdrawal instructions by the withdrawal acceptance means, making multiple withdrawals according to each of the plurality of accepted withdrawal instructions. The present invention is a product sales data processing system that includes a withdrawal processing control means that performs control to avoid a situation where the amount of held cash becomes less than the minimum number of held cash due to processing.

Further, one aspect of the present invention provides a method for controlling a computer to accept a withdrawal instruction for withdrawing cash; a withdrawal processing means that executes a withdrawal process corresponding to a withdrawal process; after the withdrawal acceptance means receives a plurality of withdrawal instructions, a plurality of withdrawal processes are performed according to each of the plurality of received withdrawal instructions; This is a program for functioning as a withdrawal processing control means to avoid a situation where the amount of cash held becomes less than the minimum number of held cash due to the withdrawal process.

According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a near-end situation due to execution of a plurality of withdrawal processes.

It is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a POS system in the first embodiment. It is a figure showing an example of appearance of a registration device and a settlement device in a 1st embodiment. It is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a registration device in the first embodiment. It is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a payment device in the first embodiment. It is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a management device in the first embodiment. It is a diagram explaining an example of a procedure for depositing and withdrawing money between payment devices in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of printed content of a deposit/withdrawal instruction slip in the first embodiment. It is a figure showing an example of a product registration screen in a 2nd embodiment. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure for a deposit/withdrawal process executed by the POS system according to the second embodiment in response to a near-end. It is a figure showing an example of a withdrawal execution screen in a 2nd embodiment. FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure for a deposit/withdrawal process executed by a POS system in a third embodiment in response to a near-end. It is a figure showing an example of a withdrawal designation screen in a 3rd embodiment. It is a figure showing an example of a deposit execution screen in a 3rd embodiment. It is a figure showing an example of a deposit/withdrawal history list screen in a 3rd embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another example of setting accounting groups in the second embodiment or the third embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of minimum retention number information in the fourth embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a process procedure which the payment apparatus in 4th Embodiment performs regarding determination of the occurrence of a near-end state. It is a figure which shows an example of withdrawal upper limit number information in 4th Embodiment. It is a figure showing an example of a withdrawal designation screen in a 4th embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where two withdrawals are made using a payment device. It is a figure showing an example of withdrawal upper limit frequency information in a 4th embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a case where a withdrawal is made using the payment device in the fifth embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a process procedure which the settlement apparatus of 5th Embodiment performs in connection with the withdrawal according to the occurrence of the near-end state. It is a figure which shows the example of the printed content of the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip in the modification of 5th Embodiment.

<First embodiment>
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a POS system 1 (an example of a product sales data processing system) according to the present embodiment. The POS system 1 shown in the figure includes a management device 10, three registration devices 20-1 to 20-3, and six payment devices 30-1 to 30-6.
In the following description, the registration devices 20-1 to 20-3 will be referred to as the registration device 20 unless they are particularly distinguished. Further, if there is no particular distinction between the payment devices 30-1 to 30-6, they will be referred to as payment devices 30.
The management device 10, the registration device 20, and the payment device 30 are interconnected by a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) 11.

Note that the configuration of the POS system 1 shown in the figure is an example. For example, the POS system 1 may include two or less or four or more registration devices 20, or may include five or less or seven or more payment devices 30.

The management device 10 is an information processing device that manages the POS system 1, and manages the registration device 20, payment device 30, etc. in the POS system 1, and manages various information such as a product master. The management device 10 appropriately transmits the latest product master to the registration device 20 and each payment device 30.
The product master is a file that stores product information such as product identification information (for example, JAN code), product name (product name, item name), price, etc. of each product.
The management device 10 acquires a product master reflecting the latest product information from the outside (for example, a server at the headquarters, a removable storage medium), and transmits it to the registration device 20 and each payment device 30 as appropriate.
The management device 10 is placed, for example, in the backyard of a store.

The registration device 20 executes a product registration process for registering products to be purchased. Registration of a product is performed, for example, by using a scanner to read a barcode attached to the product or by operating a preset button displayed on a product registration screen.
The registration device 20 also generates and stores information used for payment of registered products (hereinafter referred to as payment information (an example of registered data)).

Payment information includes payment information identification information for identifying the payment information, registration date and time, product identification information for each registered product, product name, sales price, discount information for each registered product, and information on the product to be purchased. It includes the number of transaction items (number of purchased items) indicating the number of items and the total amount (total amount) of the items to be purchased. Further, the payment information may further include registration device identification information for identifying the registration device 20 that generated the payment information (that is, the registration device 20 that registered the product related to the payment information).
Furthermore, if the customer corresponding to the payment information is a member and member identification information (for example, membership number) is input at the time of product registration, the member identification information may be included in the payment information.

The payment information is used for payment processing in the payment device 30. The settlement process is a process of paying for registered products by selectively using cash, electronic money, a credit card, etc.

In this embodiment, there are a plurality of payment devices 30, and any one of the payment devices 30 executes payment processing using the product registration data generated by the registration device 20. Examples of modes for specifying the settlement device 30 to perform the settlement process from among the plurality of settlement devices 30 include the following first specification mode and second specification mode.

The first designation mode is a mode in which the store clerk specifies, using the registration device 20, the payment device 30 on which the payment processing is to be executed.
That is, by performing an operation for specifying the payment device 30 on the registration device 20, the store clerk designates the payment device 30 to execute the payment process from among the plurality of payment devices 30.
Note that the registration device 20 is configured to display operating information indicating the operating status of each payment device 30, and when the clerk specifies the payment device 30 in the registration device 20, the clerk confirms the operation status of each payment device 30. It may be possible to do so.

When the clerk specifies the payment device 30, payment information including product registration data generated in the registration device 20 is transmitted to the designated payment device 30 via the LAN 11. That is, when the payment device 30 is specified following the product registration process, the registration device 20 transmits payment information including product registration data based on the product registration process to the specified payment device 30.
In the present embodiment, the registration device 20 directly transmits the payment information to the payment device 30, but it may also transmit the payment information to the payment device 30 via the management device 10.

In addition, in the second designation mode, a medium for payment processing (ticket (registered trademark)) is issued from the registration device 20, and the customer reads the bill handed by the clerk into one payment device 30. This is the mode in which it is possible to
That is, the customer specifies which payment device 30 is to perform the payment processing from among the plurality of payment devices 30 by causing the payment device 30 to read the bill handed to him by the clerk.
The registration device ID indicating the issuer's registration device 20 and payment information are printed on the accounting ticket in the form of either a barcode (one-dimensional code) or a two-dimensional code. When the payment device 30 reads the code on the bill, it acquires product registration data from the payment information indicated by the read code.

In the following description, a case where the first designation mode is adopted for the POS system 1 of this embodiment will be taken as an example.

The payment device 30 executes payment processing according to a customer's operation. Further, when the payment processing is completed, the payment device 30 notifies the registration device 20 of the completion of the payment processing.

Next, configuration examples of the registration device 20 and the payment device 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the registration device 20 and the payment device 30. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the registration device 20. As shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the payment device 30. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the registration device 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a storage section 202, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203, a scanner section 204, a clerk display section 205, and a customer display section. It includes a section 205a, an operation section 206, a communication section 207, a buzzer 208, a printing section 209, and a card reader 210. These can communicate with each other via a bus.

The CPU 201 is a central processing unit, and controls the operation of the registration device 20 by reading and executing a program stored in the storage unit 202.
The storage unit 202 is an auxiliary storage device for the CPU 201, and stores various information used by the CPU 201 including programs.

The RAM 203 is the main storage device of the CPU 201 and stores various information. For example, the RAM 203 stores a product master acquired from the management device 10, payment information generated after product registration processing, and the like.
The scanner unit 204 optically reads a barcode (product code) attached to a product.

The store clerk display section 205 is a touch panel (for example, a liquid crystal touch panel), and displays various information for the store clerk.
For example, the store clerk display section 205 displays a product registration screen on which preset buttons associated with product information (product code, etc.) are arranged.

The customer display section 205a displays various information for customers. For example, the customer display section 205a displays the price of the registered product. The customer display section 205a may be a touch panel (for example, a liquid crystal touch panel).

The operation unit 206 includes various operation buttons (such as a subtotal key, a current total key, a numeric key, a correction key, and a preset key) for operating the registration device 20. For example, when an operation button (preset key) is operated, the operation unit 206 receives an operation input regarding product information (product code, etc.) that is registered in advance in the preset key.

The communication unit 207 communicates with other devices via the LAN 11.
The buzzer 208 generates a buzzer sound when a store clerk needs to confirm an operation.
The printing unit 209 prints and issues media as necessary. For example, the printing unit 209 can print and issue a bill.

The card reader 210 is a device that reads information from, for example, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier) tag in the form of an IC (Integra Circuit) card.

In FIG. 2, an example of the appearance of the registration device 20 including a scanner section 204, a store clerk display section 205, an operation section 206, a printing section 209, and a card reader 210 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 4, the payment device 30 includes a CPU 301, a storage section 302, a RAM 303, a scanner section 304, a display section 305, an operation section 306, a communication section 307, a buzzer 308, and a printing section 309. , a payment section 310 , a sign pole 311 , a human sensor 312 , and a card reader 313 . These can communicate with each other via a bus.

The CPU 301 is a central processing unit, and controls the operation of the payment device 30 by reading and executing a program stored in the storage unit 302.
The storage unit 302 is an auxiliary storage device for the CPU 301 and stores various information used by the CPU 301 including programs.

The RAM 303 is the main storage device of the CPU 301 and stores various information. For example, the RAM 303 stores a product master obtained from the management device 10 and payment information obtained from the registration device 20.
The scanner unit 304 optically reads, for example, a code (barcode or two-dimensional code) printed on a bill or a code (membership code) attached to a membership card or the like.

The display unit 305 is a touch panel (for example, a liquid crystal touch panel) and displays various information. For example, the display unit 305 displays a payment screen on which the total amount and the like are displayed.

The operation unit 306 includes various operation buttons (correction key, preset key, etc.) for operating the payment device 30. For example, the operation unit 306 accepts correction of the operation input by operating an operation button (correction key).

The communication unit 307 communicates with other devices via the LAN 11.
When an error or the like occurs, the buzzer 308 generates a buzzer sound to notify the error.
The printing unit 309 prints and issues media. For example, the printing unit 309 prints and issues a paid receipt for the customer to take home when the payment processing (that is, the payment of the purchase price of the product) is completed.

The payment unit 310 performs processing related to payment (settlement). In this embodiment, the type of payment that the payment unit 310 can handle is at least one of the following: payment by cash, payment by using a credit card, and payment by using electronic money. Listed below.
In order to support payment by cash, the payment unit 310 includes a change machine. A change machine has a money slot into which money is inserted (e.g., a bill slot into which banknotes are inserted and a coin slot into which coins are inserted), and a money slot into which money is discharged as change. and an outlet (for example, each has a bill ejection port and a coin ejection port). The payment unit 310 executes a payment using cash using a change machine, and outputs the result of the payment (for example, information indicating whether the payment has been completed) to the CPU 301 via the bus.
Further, when dealing with payment using a credit card, the payment unit 310 includes a credit card reader and performs payment processing using information read by the credit card reader.
Further, in the case of supporting payment using electronic money, the payment unit 310 includes an electronic money reader and performs payment processing using information read by the electronic money reader.

The sign pole 311 has indicator lights of multiple colors, and by lighting or blinking those indicator lights, it can notify information indicating that the payment device 30 is the device designated by the store clerk, and can be operated. To inform someone of something.
The human sensor 312 is a sensor that detects the presence of a person (customer) within a predetermined range in front of the payment device 30 .
The detection output of the human sensor 312 may be used to detect whether or not a person has approached the aircraft, for example, when the payment device 30 automatically displays the payment screen in response to a person approaching the aircraft. Used for judgment. However, the payment device 30 may display the payment screen in response to, for example, receiving payment information or reading a barcode printed on a bill. Sensor 312 may be omitted.

The card reader 313 is a device that reads information from, for example, an RFID tag in the form of an IC card.

FIG. 2 shows an external configuration of the payment device 30 including a scanner section 304, a display section 305, an operation section 306, a printing section 309, a payment section 310, a sign pole 311, a card reader 313, and the like.

A configuration example of the management device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The management device 10 in the figure includes a CPU 101, a storage section 102, a RAM 103, a communication section 104, a display section 105, an operation section 106, and a printing section 107. These parts are able to communicate with each other via a bus.

The CPU 101 is a central processing unit, and controls the operation of the management device 10 by reading and executing programs stored in the storage unit 202.
The storage unit 102 is an auxiliary storage device for the CPU 101, and stores various information used by the CPU 101, including programs.
The RAM 103 is the main storage device of the CPU 101 and stores various information.
The communication unit 104 communicates with other devices via the LAN 11.
Display unit 105 displays various information.
The operation unit 106 collectively represents various operators (buttons, keys, etc.) and input devices (including a keyboard, mouse, etc.) provided in the management device 10.
The printing unit 107 prints on paper.

In the POS system 1 having the above configuration, there may be a near-end state in which the amount of change stored in the change machine of the settlement device 30 is below a certain level during business hours. In this case, for example, it is also possible to withdraw cash managed in the backyard and replenish the payment device 30 in the near-end state with the withdrawn cash. However, in this case, the clerk has to go all the way to the backyard, which is troublesome and time-consuming, and may hinder business operations.
Therefore, in the POS system 1 of this embodiment, the near-end state is resolved by withdrawing cash from the payment device 30 that is not in the near-end state and depositing the withdrawn cash into the payment device 30 that is in the near-end state. It is possible to make deposits and withdrawals between payment devices. If such inter-payment device deposits and withdrawals are performed, the clerk can move between the payment devices 30 in the store without going to the backyard when replenishing cash to the payment device 30 in the near-end state.

Here, two examples of aspects of cash management in the backyard will be explained.
A first example of cash management in the backyard uses a safe. The safe stores cash such as change and sales proceeds. Such a safe is not connected to a communication network such as a network. When cash is deposited or withdrawn from a safe, the deposits and withdrawals are entered (recorded) on a prescribed form.
Furthermore, a second example of the mode of cash management in the backyard is to use a cash processing machine. For example, sales proceeds are input into the cash processing machine. The cash processing machine generates sales data according to the input sales proceeds, and sends the generated sales data to a bank account or the like via the security company's network. The money invested will be collected by the security company. In addition, from the cash processing machine, coins etc. inserted as sales proceeds can be used to create coin bars and withdrawals can be made in units of coins. Cash handling machines have the ability to read barcodes. Therefore, similarly to the settlement device 30, by having the cash processing machine read the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip in the same way, the appropriate money can be withdrawn from the cash processing machine.
The security company collects sales proceeds stored in cash processing machines and delivers change bars. As described above, if the change bar can be withdrawn as appropriation from the sales proceeds stored in the cash processing machine, the store can use the cash processing machine as the withdrawal source in the same way as the settlement device 30. You have the advantage of being able to. Furthermore, security companies also benefit from being able to reduce the frequency of delivery of change bars and the amount of change bars to be delivered.
In addition, identification information such as a bar code is attached to the delivered gold bars. The cash processing machine and the management device 10 can easily obtain information on the denomination and number of coins to be delivered by reading the barcode attached to the coin roll. This allows the store to reduce the burden of deposits and management.
Furthermore, the management device 10 may be configured to be able to manage all or part of the cash (store cash) stored in stores, such as cash processing machines, safes, and POS registers. In this case, by displaying the storage status of store cash on the display unit included in the management device 10, the store clerk can grasp the status of sales proceeds and change at the store. For example, the amount of change that should be kept (held) at the store is less than (or less than) the minimum amount that should be kept (minimum amount held), or the change is greater than the minimum amount but less than a certain amount close to the minimum amount held. In this case, the display unit of the management device 10 may notify that fact. Upon receiving such notification, the store clerk can immediately respond to the notification by ordering the security company to deliver the coins (for example, by inputting an order into the management device 10, etc.).
In addition, the security company receives information from the store's cash processing machine and the store's management device 10 using a terminal connected to the network, and outputs the received information to collect sales proceeds and change at the store. You can understand the situation, etc. This makes it possible for the security company to prepare delivery fees and make plans for collecting sales proceeds before receiving orders from stores, thereby improving operational efficiency.

With reference to FIG. 6, an example of a procedure for inter-payment device deposits and withdrawals performed in the POS system 1 of this embodiment will be described.
Step S1: The payment destination payment device 30-R is in a near-end state. When the payment device 30-R, which has entered the near-end state, detects that it has entered the near-end state, it transmits a near-end notification indicating this to the management device 10.
Step S2: In response to receiving the near-end notification, the management device 10 notifies that the payment device 30-R has entered the near-end state (near-end notification). The near-end notification may be performed by displaying a screen that includes content notifying that the near-end state has been reached. Further, the near-end notification may also be performed by sound.
The monitoring clerk who monitors the display on the management device 10 understands that the payment device 30-R has entered the near-end state by looking at the screen displayed as the near-end notification. Therefore, the monitoring clerk operates the management device 10 to issue the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51.
The management device 10 issues a deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51 in response to an operation for issuing the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51. The deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51 is, for example, a slip in which predetermined contents corresponding to a withdrawal instruction are printed on receipt paper. Specifically, the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51 includes instructions for withdrawing cash stored in a settlement device 30 other than the settlement device 30-R, and depositing the withdrawn cash into the settlement device 30-R as appropriation money. Information indicating this (deposit/withdrawal instruction information) is printed.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the printed contents of the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51. The deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51 shown in the figure includes each print area of a withdrawal source information area AR1, an appropriation information area AR2, a deposit destination information area AR3, and a barcode BC1.
The withdrawal source information area AR1 shows withdrawal source information indicating the settlement device 30 of the withdrawal source. Specifically, in the withdrawal source information area AR1, among the cashier numbers assigned to each payment device 30 under operation at the store, the cashier number corresponding to the payment source payment device 30 is shown. .
The allocated money information area AR2 shows allocated money information indicating the contents of the allocated money. In the example shown in the figure, the details of the cash as the appropriate money (denominations and number of coins for each denomination) are shown as the appropriate money information. Specifically, the allocated money information area AR2 shows that the breakdown of the cash as the allocated money is one 50 yen coin and one 10 yen coin (60 yen in total).
In the deposit destination information area AR3, deposit destination information indicating the payment destination settlement device 30 is shown. Specifically, in the deposit destination information area AR3, the cash register number corresponding to the payment destination payment device 30 is shown.
The barcode BC1 is information obtained by encoding deposit/withdrawal instruction information. Specifically, the deposit/withdrawal instruction information of the barcode BC1 includes a deposit/withdrawal processing identifier. The deposit/withdrawal process identifier is an identifier commonly assigned to the deposit process and the withdrawal process corresponding to the current inter-payment device deposit/withdrawal. In addition, the deposit/withdrawal instruction information of the barcode BC1 includes a payment device identifier (withdrawal source payment device identifier) indicating the payment source payment device 30 that is the same as that shown in the payment source information area AR1, and an appropriated amount information area AR2. , and a payment device identifier (deposit destination payment device identifier) indicating the same payment destination payment device 30 as shown in the payment destination information area AR3.

The explanation returns to FIG. 6.
When issuing the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51 in step S2, the management device 10 determines the appropriation amount to be applied to the payment device 30-R in the near-end state. Determining the amount to be appropriated here means determining the denomination and number of cash for each denomination to be appropriated to the settlement device 30-R. The near-end notification includes near-end status information indicating the near-end status. The near-end status information indicates, for example, the denomination (denomination) that has become near-end and the number of coins for each denomination. The management device 10 may determine the denomination of the appropriated money and the number of coins for each denomination based on the near-end state information.
Furthermore, the management device 10 determines the payment source payment device 30-W from among payment devices 30 other than the payment device 30-R. The management device 10 withdraws money based on, for example, the operating status of the payment devices 30 other than the payment device 30-R and the number of coins of each denomination stored in the change machine of each payment device 30 other than the payment device 30-R. It is sufficient to determine the original payment device 30-W.
Alternatively, the determination of the appropriated money and the payment source settlement device 30-W may be performed by the monitoring clerk as part of the operation for issuing the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51.

The management device 10 that has received the near-end notification in step S1 may further send a near-end notification to each registration device 20 to notify that the payment device 30-R is in the near-end state. The registration device 20 displays the state (status) of each payment device 30 in a predetermined manner, and in response to receiving the near-end notification, notifies that the payment device 30-R is in the near-end state. Perform display. Further, the payment device 30-R itself may also use, for example, a sign pole 311 to notify that it is in a near-end state. When reporting by the sign pole 311, the near-end state may be indicated by, for example, the lighting color of the sign pole 311. Alternatively, the light may be turned on or blinked at a predetermined time to notify the near-end state. Alternatively, a near-end state may be indicated by a specific blinking pattern.
Furthermore, it may be possible to notify that the device is in a near-end state by outputting a notification sound. In this case, the near-end state may be indicated by a specific tone as the notification sound. A notification sound may be output at a predetermined time to notify the near-end state. Alternatively, a notification sound may be output in a predetermined intermittent pattern to notify that the near-end state is reached.
Further, the sign pole 311 and a notification sound may be combined to notify that the device is in a near-end state.
As mentioned above, notifications are also made in each registration device 20 and the payment device 30-R itself, so that the clerk working at the store can know that the payment device 30-R is in the near-end state. can.
In this case, the clerk in charge of deposits and withdrawals between settlement devices to resolve the near-end situation (clerk in charge of deposits and withdrawals) goes to the management device 10 and retrieves the deposit and withdrawal instruction slip 51 issued in step S2. Note that the clerk in charge of deposits and withdrawals may be determined in advance, or may be determined as appropriate depending on the situation at that time. Further, the monitoring clerk who has been monitoring by the management device 10 may work as the clerk in charge of deposits and withdrawals.
The clerk in charge of deposits and withdrawals looks at the content printed in the withdrawal source information area AR1 in the deposit and withdrawal instruction slip 51 and confirms the settlement device 30-W of the withdrawal source. Then, the clerk in charge of deposits and withdrawals brings the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51 and moves to the payment source settlement device 30-W in order to withdraw money from the payment source payment device 30-W.

Step S3: When withdrawing money from the payment source settlement device 30-W, the clerk in charge of deposits and withdrawals first inserts the barcode BC1 of the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51 that he or she brings into the payment source payment device 30-W. It is read by the scanner unit 304. As a result, the payment source settlement device 30-W inputs the deposit/withdrawal instruction information recorded as the barcode BC1.
The input deposit/withdrawal instruction information includes a payment device identifier that specifies the payment source payment device 30. In this case, the withdrawal source settlement device 30-W determines that the withdrawal source settlement device identifier included in the deposit/withdrawal instruction information matches its own settlement device identifier. It recognizes that it has been designated as device 30. As a result, the payment source settlement device 30-W shifts to the payment processing mode.
Note that the payment source payment device 30-W has its own payment device identifier that does not match either the payment source payment device identifier or the deposit destination payment device identifier included in the deposit/withdrawal instruction information read from the barcode BC1. In this case, an error notification may be issued to the effect that the user is not eligible for the current inter-payment device deposit/withdrawal.

Step S4: Next, the clerk in charge of deposits and withdrawals performs an operation to cause the payment source settlement device 30-W to read the clerk ID 60 that he or she owns. The clerk ID card 60 stores clerk information that is information about the corresponding clerk. The clerk information includes a clerk identifier that uniquely indicates the corresponding clerk. In this case, if the clerk identifier is recorded in the form of a barcode (or two-dimensional code) on the clerk ID 60, the clerk in charge of deposits and withdrawals uses the scanner section 304 to read the clerk information from the clerk ID 60. Just do the operation. On the other hand, for example, if the clerk ID is recorded on the IC chip included in the clerk ID 60, or if the clerk ID is recorded magnetically, the clerk in charge of depositing and withdrawing money can use the card reader 313 to open the clerk ID 60. All you have to do is read the store clerk information.
By performing the operation of reading the clerk's card 60 as described above, the payment source payment device 30-W inputs the clerk identifier recorded on the clerk's card 60. By inputting the clerk identifier in step S4, the clerk who performs the withdrawal operation is registered.
Note that the payment source settlement device 30-W may display a guide prompting the clerk in charge of deposits and withdrawals to read the clerk's card at the timing of transitioning to the withdrawal processing mode.

Step S5: After the withdrawal declaration operation is performed as described above, when the barcode BC1 is read and the clerk identifier is input, the payment source settlement device 30-W executes the withdrawal process. do. As a withdrawal process, the payment source settlement device 30-W discharges (withdraws) cash according to the number of coins for each denomination indicated by the appropriation information included in the deposit/withdrawal instruction information read from the barcode BC1 in step S3. I do. When withdrawing money, the money may be discharged from the money discharge port in the payment unit 310. In this way, by making a withdrawal using the settlement device 30-W that is the withdrawal source, the clerk in charge of depositing and withdrawing money obtains the appropriated money 70 as cash.

Step S5-1: Further, the payment source payment device 30-W transmits payment processing result information indicating the result of the payment processing to the management device 10. The withdrawal processing result information includes the date and time of the withdrawal, the clerk identifier of the clerk who performed the withdrawal operation (the clerk identifier input in step S4), information on the number of each coin withdrawn, etc. . The management device 10 includes a storage section in which deposit/withdrawal processing history information is stored. The management device 10 reflects the received withdrawal processing result information in the deposit/withdrawal processing history information stored therein.

Here, a withdrawal error may occur in which the payment source settlement device 30-W does not normally withdraw funds. An example of the processing of the settlement device 30-W of the withdrawal source in response to the occurrence of a withdrawal error as described above will be described.
First, the payment source settlement device 30-W determines that a payment error has occurred when the power is turned off while discharging cash as a payment processing. In addition, the payment source settlement device 30-W determines that a payment error has occurred when the door of the cash storage is opened while cash is being discharged as part of the payment processing. In addition, the payment source settlement device 30-W controlled the discharge of cash as a withdrawal process, but according to the breakdown of the money as the appropriated money specified by the sensor installed at the cash discharge port. If it is not detected that the deposited cash has been normally discharged, it is determined that a withdrawal error has occurred.
If cash is discharged in a situation where a withdrawal error occurs as described above, the discharged cash may not be in accordance with the specified cash breakdown as appropriated funds. Therefore, when a withdrawal error occurs, the payment source settlement device 30-W can accept the return of the discharged cash. When withdrawing cash, the settlement device 30-W displays a guidance screen corresponding to the operation for withdrawing cash. The clerk follows the guidance on the guidance screen and performs an operation to deposit the discharged cash back into the payment source settlement device 30-W. In this way, by making it possible to withdraw cash in accordance with a withdrawal error, store staff can understand that a withdrawal error has occurred, and also ensure that the cash is discharged according to the specified breakdown of the appropriated funds. With a simple operation, the unused cash can be correctly returned to the settlement device 30-W from which it was withdrawn. After this, the clerk can perform the withdrawal operation again.

For example, the clerk in charge of deposits and withdrawals who has obtained the appropriation money 70 in cash checks that the number of coins for each denomination shown in the appropriation information area AR2 of the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51 and the breakdown of the appropriation money 70 for each denomination are the same. Check whether it is correct. Here, if it is confirmed that they match, the clerk in charge of deposits and withdrawals checks the settlement device 30-R of the deposit destination printed in the deposit destination information area AR3 of the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51. , in order to deposit the appropriated money 70, go to the payment destination payment device 30-R.

Step S6: The clerk in charge of depositing goes to the payment destination settlement device 30-R and causes the scanner unit 304 of the payment destination settlement device 30-R to read the barcode BC1 of the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51 that he/she is bringing with him. . As a result, the payment destination settlement device 30-R inputs the deposit/withdrawal instruction information recorded as the barcode BC1. The deposit/withdrawal instruction information includes a payment device identifier that specifies the payment destination payment device 30.
In this case, the payment destination payment device 30-R determines that the payment device identifier specifying the payment destination payment device 30 included in the deposit/withdrawal instruction information matches its own payment device identifier. It is recognized that the settlement device 30 has been designated as the payment destination. As a result, the payment destination settlement device 30-R shifts to the payment processing mode.
Furthermore, if the settlement device 30-R of the deposit destination also does not match its own settlement device identifier with either the withdrawal source settlement device identifier or the deposit destination settlement device identifier included in the deposit/withdrawal instruction information read from the barcode BC1. In this case, an error notification may be provided to the effect that the user is not eligible for the current inter-payment device deposit/withdrawal.

Step S7: The payment destination payment device 30-R, which has shifted to the payment processing mode, first enters a state in which it accepts reading of the clerk's card. At this time, the settlement device 30-R at the deposit destination may display a guide to the clerk in charge of deposits and withdrawals, prompting the clerk to read the clerk's card.
Therefore, in order to register that the clerk in charge of depositing is the clerk who will perform the deposit operation, the clerk in charge of depositing performs an operation to cause the payment destination payment device 30-R to read the clerk's ID 60 that he or she owns. In response to the operation to read the clerk's card 60, the payment destination payment device 30-R inputs the clerk identifier included in the clerk information recorded on the clerk's card 60. In this way, the clerk who performs the deposit operation is registered.

Step S8: After the deposit declaration operation is performed as described above, the payment destination payment device 30-R, which has read the barcode BC1 and inputted the clerk identifier, responds to the deposit as follows. Execute processing (deposit processing).
The payment destination payment device 30-R performs a deposit operation of depositing cash as the appropriation money 70 into the money slot of the payment unit 310. The payment destination payment device 30-R performs payment processing in response to the insertion of cash into the money slot. That is, the payment destination payment device 30-R determines the denomination of each bill or coin inserted into the money slot and counts the number of coins inserted for each denomination. Then, the payment destination settlement device 30-R completes the deposit when the number of coins inserted for each denomination matches the number of coins for each denomination indicated by the allocated money information acquired in response to reading the barcode BC1 in step S6. The deposit process will be completed as if the payment has been made. Further, upon completion of the deposit processing, the settlement device 30-R transmits deposit processing result information indicating the current deposit result to the management device 10. The management device 10 reflects the received deposit processing result information in the deposit/withdrawal processing history information stored therein.

Step S9: When the deposit processing is completed, the payment destination settlement device 30-R issues a deposit result slip 52 indicating the deposit processing result.
Step S9-1: Further, the payment destination payment device 30-R transmits deposit processing result information indicating the result of the current deposit processing to the management device 10. The deposit processing result information includes information such as the date and time of the deposit, the clerk identifier of the clerk who performed the deposit operation (the clerk identifier input in step S7), and the number of each coin actually deposited. The management device 10 reflects the received deposit processing result information in the deposit/withdrawal processing history information stored therein.

In this case, although not shown in the figure, the deposit result slip 52 issued in step S9 shows that the number of coins for each denomination is deposited as indicated by the appropriation information obtained in response to reading the barcode BC1. It is shown that the By looking at the deposit result slip 52, the clerk in charge of deposits and withdrawals can confirm that the appropriate money 70 has been deposited correctly.

<Second embodiment>
The POS system 1 of the first embodiment described above is operated in such a manner that near-end notification is performed by the management device 10, and deposits and withdrawals are performed using the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51 issued by the management device 10. In such an operation, a monitoring clerk is required to monitor the near-end notification being performed by the management device 10.
As described above, in the POS system 1 of the first embodiment, the near-end notification can be made in the registration device 20 and the payment device 30, so that the clerk on the floor can be made aware of the occurrence of the near-end state. It is possible. In this case, a monitoring clerk is not necessarily required.
However, in any case, since the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51 needs to be issued from the management device 10, the clerk on the floor also needs to go to the management device 10 installed in the backyard, for example. As described above, it may not be preferable from the viewpoint of work efficiency to deploy monitoring personnel to monitor the management device 10 or to have store staff working on the floor visit the management device 10.
Therefore, the POS system 1 of the present embodiment has the following configuration, so that the near-end deposit/withdrawal work can be performed by store staff working on the floor without deploying a store staff to monitor the management device 10. be done.

Here, in the POS system 1 of this embodiment, a case will be described in which the registration device 20 and the payment device 30 shown in FIG. 1 have a correspondence relationship set as follows.
First, an accounting group is set so that the two payment devices 30-1 and 30-2 are associated with the registration device 20-1. That is, the payment for the product registered by the registration device 20-1 is performed by either the payment device 30-1 or 30-2. In this case, the registration device 20-1 is configured to transmit the payment information to either the payment device 30-1 or 30-2. In the store, payment devices 30-1 and 30-2 are installed at positions along the flow line of customers who have registered products using the registration device 20-1.
Further, an accounting group is set so that the two payment devices 30-3 and 30-4 are associated with the registration device 20-2. In the store, payment devices 30-3 and 30-4 are installed at positions along the flow line of customers whose products have been registered using the registration device 20-2.
Further, an accounting group is set so that the two payment devices 30-5 and 30-6 are associated with the registration device 20-3. In the store, payment devices 30-5 and 30-6 are installed at positions along the flow line of customers whose products have been registered using the registration device 20-3.

In the following explanation, the accounting group consisting of the registration device 20-1 and settlement devices 30-1 and 30-2 will be referred to as the first accounting group, and the accounting group consisting of the registration device 20-2 and settlement devices 30-3 and 30-4 will be referred to as the first accounting group. The accounting group consisting of the second accounting group, the registration device 20-3, and the settlement devices 30-5 and 30-6 may be referred to as a third accounting group.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a product registration screen displayed on the clerk display section 205 in the registration device 10 in response to the product registration process.
The product registration screen in the figure has a structure in which sheets (product registration sheets) indicating product registration contents corresponding to each transaction are stacked. A tab is attached to the top of each product registration sheet. In the figure, three product registration tabs TAB1-1, TAB1-2, and TAB1-3 are displayed. The product registration screen in the figure has a structure in which these three product registration sheets are stacked one on top of the other.
Numbers indicating registration order numbers are displayed on the product registration tabs TAB1-1, TAB1-2, and TAB1-3. The registration order number indicates the order in which product registration is started. In the figure, registration order numbers "1", "2", and "3" are displayed on product registration tabs TAB1-1, TAB1-2, and TAB1-3, respectively. This means that the order in which product registration is started is a transaction corresponding to a product registration sheet with product registration tab TAB1-1, a transaction corresponding to a product registration sheet with product registration tab TAB1-2, and a product. This indicates the order of transactions corresponding to the product registration sheet provided with registration tabs TAB1-3.
In the following description, unless there is a particular distinction between the individual product registration tabs TAB1-1, TAB1-2, TAB1-3, etc., they will be referred to as product registration tabs TAB1.

In this embodiment, the fact that three product registration tabs TAB1 are displayed as shown in the figure, that is, three product registration sheets are arranged on the product registration screen means that the registration device 20 has not yet registered the product. This indicates that there are three transactions for which registration has not been completed (product registration is in progress). Of these three product registration sheets, the store clerk can register the product for the corresponding transaction by operating the product registration sheet placed at the forefront. For transactions corresponding to product registration sheets placed below the frontmost sheet, product registration is suspended.
By performing an operation (touch operation) on the product registration tab TAB1, the store clerk moves the product registration sheet with the operated product registration tab TAB1 to the front, and responds to the product registration sheet moved to the front. You can register products for transactions. In other words, by operating the product registration tab TAB1, the store clerk selects the product registration sheet corresponding to any one transaction from among the multiple transactions being registered to become active, and selects the product registration sheet corresponding to the active product registration sheet. You can perform product registration operations in transactions.

In the figure, a product registration sheet with a product registration tab TAB1-1 is shown in an active state. In the active product registration sheet, a product button area AR10 is arranged. In the product button area AR10, product buttons corresponding to each product are arranged. For example, a product name indicating a corresponding product is displayed on the product button.
In the product registration operation, the store clerk can specify the product to be registered by operating the product button. Specifically, when a store clerk wants to specify a product with the product name "Product A" as a registration target, the store clerk operates the product button displayed as "Product A" among the product buttons arranged in the product button area AR10. All you have to do is By operating the product button for "Product A,""ProductB" is designated as a registration target. Next, the store clerk can perform an operation to input, for example, the quantity of "product A". By performing the operations described above for each purchased product, the store clerk can register the products one by one.

The product registration sheet shown in the figure shows that no product has been registered at this stage. In this case, the registered product list area AR11 in the product registration sheet shown in the figure is blank, indicating that there is no registered product.

Furthermore, information about the last registered product is shown in the registered product area AR12. In the example shown in the figure, since there is no registered product yet, the registered product area AR12 does not show any information about the registered product, and the price of the product is also "0" yen. It is shown.
Further, in the total amount area AR13, the total number of products registered so far and the total amount of products registered so far are shown. In the example shown in the figure, since there are no products registered yet, the total number of products registered so far is "0" in the total amount area AR13, and the total amount of products registered so far is also "0". It is shown that it is "0" yen.

Further, on the product registration screen shown in the figure, payment device designation buttons BT1-1 and BT1-2 are arranged. Note that if there is no particular distinction between the payment device designation buttons BT1-1 and BT1-2, they will be referred to as payment device designation button BT1. In explaining the payment device specification button BT1, the product registration screen shown in the figure is displayed on the registration device 20-1 that is set to belong to the same first accounting group as the payment devices 30-1 and 30-2. Let us take as an example the case where .
The payment device specification button BT1 is a button for performing an operation (payment device specification operation) for specifying the payment device 30 on which payment processing is to be executed. In addition, the payment device designation buttons BT1-1 and BT1-2 on the product registration screen displayed on the registration device 20-1 correspond to the payment devices 30-1 and 30-2 of the same first accounting group, respectively.

In the payment device designation button BT1, a payment device status display indicating the current status of the corresponding payment device 30 is performed. In the figure, an example is shown in which the payment device status is displayed by badges BG arranged for each payment device designation button BT1.
Further, an example is shown in which a badge BG displaying "standby" is placed on the payment device designation button BT1-1 in the figure. This state of the payment device designation button BT1-1 indicates that the payment device 30-1 is in a state of waiting for the start of payment processing. At this time, the payment device 30-1 is in a state where the operation corresponding to the payment by the customer has not been started and payment information has not been received.
Further, an example is shown in which a badge BG displaying "in use" is placed on the payment device designation button BT1-2. Further, the characters "Payment machine 2" on the payment device designation button BT1-2 are shaded. The state of this payment device designation button BT1-2 indicates that the payment device 30-2 is executing payment processing based on payment information obtained by receiving payment information in response to a customer's operation.
Note that the color, pattern, etc. of the payment device designation button BT1 itself may be displayed to be changed depending on the state of the payment device 30 as described above.

Note that, depending on the payment device status display, various states other than the above-mentioned "unsupported" (transaction unsupported), "standby", and "in use" may also be shown, such as near-end, near-full, and failure. The payment device status display may be displayed in a manner other than the badge BG, such as by displaying characters or icons to fit within the payment device designation button BT1, or by displaying it in a separate area from the payment device designation button BT1. may be done.

Here, when the registration of all products corresponding to one transaction is completed, the clerk performs a subtotal operation. The subtotal operation may be, for example, an operation on a subtotal key as a mechanical key arranged on the operation unit 206. Alternatively, if subtotal buttons are displayed on the product registration screen, the operation may be performed on the displayed subtotal buttons. Further, although not shown, a sub-plan screen may be displayed instead of the product registration screen in response to a sub-total operation.

After the subtotal operation, the payment device 30 that is to perform the payment processing for the current transaction is designated. Here, an example will be described in which the first designation mode specifies the payment device 30 that executes the payment process through the operation of a store clerk.
According to the payment device designation button BT1 in the figure, the payment device 30 currently on standby is only the payment device 30-1. In this case, the clerk operates the payment device designation button BT1-1.
Note that if both the payment device designation button BT1-1 and the payment device designation button BT1-2 are in a state where "waiting" is displayed, the clerk selects one of the payment device 30-1 and 30-2. It is possible to determine one of the payment devices 30 as the payment device 30 to perform the payment processing, and to operate the payment device designation button BT1 corresponding to the determined payment device 30.

In response to the operation on the payment device designation button BT1-1, the registration device 20 performs a payment process that reflects the product registration results for the transaction corresponding to the product registration sheet to which the product registration tab TAB1-1 is attached. The information is transmitted to the payment device 30-1.
In response to the payment information being sent to the payment device 30-1 as described above, the product registration sheet with the product registration tab TAB1-1 that was previously displayed on the registration device 20 is It can be deleted from the registration screen. Then, instead, for example, a product registration sheet to which a product registration tab TAB1-2 is attached is displayed in the foreground.
Also, when the product registration sheet with the product registration tab TAB1-2 is displayed in the foreground, the registration order number displayed in the product registration tab TAB1-2 will change from "2" to " The registration order number displayed on the product registration tab TAB1-2 is moved up from "3" to "2".
Further, the badge BG of the payment device designation button BT1-1 corresponding to the payment device 30-1 changes from the previous display of "on standby" to "in use."

In this case, the store clerk verbally tells the customer to make payment using the payment device 30-1. The customer goes to the settlement device 30-1 and performs a settlement operation to pay the price. In response to the payment operation, the payment device 30-1 executes payment processing using the payment information transmitted from the registration device 20. Upon completion of the payment process, the payment device 30-1 issues a receipt to the customer indicating the result of the payment process.

Further, on the product registration screen of this embodiment, a withdrawal request button BT2-1 is displayed depending on the status of a deposit/withdrawal procedure performed in response to a near-end state that occurs in a certain payment device 30. In a state where the deposit/withdrawal procedure according to the near end is not performed, the withdrawal request button BT2-1 is in a hidden state.

Note that the withdrawal designation button BT2-2 and the deposit waiting button BT2-3 correspond to the third embodiment and are not particularly displayed in this embodiment, so the explanation here is Omitted.

Withdrawal request button BT2-1 is used to check the near-end state of the payment device 30 of the same accounting group on the product registration screen of the registration device 20 (withdrawal instruction registration device) that issues a withdrawal instruction regarding the deposit/withdrawal process corresponding to the near-end. This button is displayed in response to the occurrence of an event. That is, by displaying the withdrawal request button BT2-1, it is notified that the settlement device 30 is in the near-end state. The withdrawal request button BT2-1 also has the function of requesting the store clerk to issue a withdrawal instruction. By operating the withdrawal request button BT2-1, the clerk can instruct the settlement device 30 (disbursement settlement device) that serves as the withdrawal source to execute the withdrawal process.

With reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. 9, an example of a procedure for a near-end deposit/withdrawal process executed in the POS system 1 of this embodiment will be described.
In this embodiment, near-end deposits and withdrawals are performed between payment devices 30 belonging to the same accounting group. Settlement devices 30 belonging to the same accounting group are arranged close to each other because they are arranged along the customer flow line corresponding to one registration device 20. For this reason, the distance that store staff have to travel for depositing and withdrawing money can be reduced, making it possible to improve operational efficiency.

In the explanation of the figure, the settlement device 30 that is in a near-end state and needs to be deposited with appropriate money for replenishing change (resolving the near-end state) will be referred to as a deposit settlement device. Further, the registration device 20 that issues a withdrawal instruction to the settlement device will be referred to as a withdrawal instruction registration device. Further, the settlement device 30 from which cash is withdrawn as an appropriation for the deposit settlement device will be referred to as a payment settlement device.
The withdrawal instruction registration device belongs to the same accounting group as the deposit settlement device and the withdrawal settlement device. An accounting group including a withdrawal instruction registration device, a deposit settlement device, and a withdrawal settlement device may also be referred to as a deposit/withdrawal target accounting group to distinguish it from other accounting groups.
For example, when the settlement device 30-1 is in a near-end state and becomes a deposit settlement device, the first accounting group to which the settlement device 30-1 belongs becomes the deposit/withdrawal target accounting group. Then, the other settlement device 30-2 belonging to the first accounting group becomes the withdrawal settlement device, and the registration device 20-1 becomes the withdrawal instruction registration device.

Step S101: It is determined that a near-end state has occurred in the deposit settlement device.
Step S102: In response to the determination that a near-end state has occurred, the deposit and settlement device generates information (near-end information) to be transmitted by a near-end notification. For this purpose, the deposit settlement device identifies the denomination that has reached the near-end state, and calculates the number of coins that need to be replenished based on the minimum number of coins to be held for the specified denomination. . The deposit settlement device generates near-end information that includes the specified denomination and the calculated number of coins as information on the denomination and the number of coins that need to be deposited.
Step S103: The deposit settlement device sends a near-end notification to the withdrawal instruction registration device. The near-end notification is a notification that the device itself has entered the near-end state, and includes the near-end information generated in step S102.

Step S104: Upon receiving the near-end notification, the withdrawal instruction registration device displays a withdrawal request button BT2-1 (FIG. 8) on the product registration screen that was being displayed when the near-end notification was received.
Step S105: In response to the display of the withdrawal request button BT2-1, the clerk operating the withdrawal instruction registration device determines that one of the payment devices 30 belonging to the same accounting group is in a near-end state. Understand things. In this case, the clerk operates the withdrawal request button BT2-1. The operation on the withdrawal request button BT2-1 may be, for example, a tap operation.
In response to the operation on the withdrawal request button BT2-1, the withdrawal instruction registration device displays a new withdrawal execution screen on the clerk display section 205. The withdrawal execution screen is a screen on which the clerk performs an operation to instruct the settlement device 30 (ie, the withdrawal settlement device), which serves as a withdrawal source from which the appropriated money is withdrawn, to perform a withdrawal process.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the withdrawal execution screen WD1 displayed on the clerk display section 205 of the withdrawal instruction registration device. The withdrawal execution screen WD1 in the figure is displayed in the form of a window that is placed so as to overlap the product registration screen that has been displayed so far.
The withdrawal execution screen WD1 shows which payment settlement device 30 is the withdrawal settlement device and the deposit settlement device, and also shows the details of the appropriated funds to be deposited and withdrawn. The withdrawal execution screen WD1 in the figure is displayed on the registration device 20-1, which is the withdrawal instruction registration device, in response to the deposit and withdrawal of appropriated funds in the first accounting group. be.
Specifically, in the withdrawal execution screen WD1 in the figure, the number of the withdrawal settlement device is No. 000002, and the number of the deposit settlement device is No. It is shown that it is 000001. That is, in the first accounting group, the settlement device 30-1 is in a near-end state and is used as a deposit settlement device, and the other settlement device 30-2 is shown to be a disbursement settlement device. In this embodiment, two payment devices 30 belong to one accounting group. For this reason, when one of the two settlement devices 30 becomes a near-end state and becomes a deposit settlement device, the other settlement device 30 becomes a withdrawal settlement device.
Further, in the withdrawal execution screen WD1, the breakdown of the appropriated money shows that there are 10 denominations of 1 yen. By looking at such a display, the clerk understands that ten 1 yen coins should be withdrawn from the settlement device 30-2 and deposited into the settlement device 30-1.

For example, if the situation is such that deposits and withdrawals are currently possible, the clerk operates the withdrawal button BT21 arranged on the withdrawal execution screen WD1. The withdrawal button BT21 is a button for performing an operation to instruct the withdrawal settlement device to execute a withdrawal process.
On the other hand, if the clerk determines that the deposit/withdrawal operation is not to be performed at this time because, for example, the situation is not such that withdrawal is possible, the clerk operates the cancel button BT22 located on the withdrawal execution screen WD1.

The explanation returns to FIG. 9.
Step S106: In response to the operation performed on the withdrawal button BT21 arranged on the withdrawal execution screen WD1, the withdrawal instruction registration device receives the operation performed on the withdrawal button BT21.
However, when the withdrawal settlement device is executing the settlement process, the withdrawal instruction registration device may not accept operations on the withdrawal button BT21. Since the registration device 20 monitors the status of each settlement device 30, for example, it can determine whether the payment settlement device is executing the settlement process based on the monitored status. Specifically, the withdrawal instruction registration device may gray out the withdrawal button BT21 so that it cannot be operated while the withdrawal settlement device is executing the settlement process. Alternatively, the withdrawal instruction registration device, when the withdrawal settlement device is executing the settlement process, notifies the user of an error indicating that the operation was not accepted in response to the operation of the withdrawal button BT21 by displaying or the like. You can do it like this.
When the operation on the withdrawal button BT21 is accepted, the display of the withdrawal execution screen WD1 may be erased.

Step S107: In response to receiving the operation on the withdrawal button BT21, the withdrawal instruction registration device transmits a withdrawal instruction to the withdrawal settlement device to instruct execution of withdrawal processing. The withdrawal instruction includes allocated amount breakdown information indicating the details of the allocated amount to be withdrawn from the withdrawal settlement device. If it corresponds to the same figure, the allocation money breakdown information indicating that 10 coins of the denomination of 1 yen are the allowance money is included.
Further, while the deposit/withdrawal operation is being performed, neither the deposit settlement device nor the withdrawal settlement device can execute the settlement process according to the operation by the customer. Therefore, for example, after transmitting a withdrawal instruction, the withdrawal instruction registration device may be in a dormant state and not accept product registration operations or the like.

Step S108: Upon receiving the withdrawal instruction sent from the withdrawal instruction registration device in step S107, the withdrawal settlement device first enters a withdrawal standby state in which it waits for an operation for withdrawal as a withdrawal process. .

Note that, for example, after the operation on the withdrawal button BT21 is performed in step S106, it takes a certain amount of time for the clerk to go to the withdrawal settlement device for the withdrawal operation. Therefore, the start timing of the withdrawal standby state may be set to be a predetermined period of time after the timing when the withdrawal button BT21 is operated.
For this purpose, for example, the withdrawal instruction registration device waits for a predetermined period of time after receiving the operation on the withdrawal button BT21 in step S106, and then transmits the withdrawal instruction in step S107. good.
Alternatively, the withdrawal instruction registration device transmits a withdrawal instruction in step S107 in response to receiving the operation on the withdrawal button BT21 in step S106. Then, the withdrawal settlement device may wait for a predetermined period of time from the timing when the withdrawal instruction is received, and then enter the withdrawal standby state in step S108.

Note that in the withdrawal standby state, payment by the customer may not be accepted. Thereby, it is possible to avoid a problem in which the store clerk has to wait for the customer to withdraw money because the customer uses the payment device to make payment even though the withdrawal instruction has been accepted.

Step S109: For example, the clerk who was operating the withdrawal instruction registration device (this may be a clerk other than the clerk who was operating the withdrawal instruction registration device), even if the clerk who was operating the withdrawal instruction registration device Go there and perform the withdrawal operation. In response to the withdrawal operation, the withdrawal settlement device executes withdrawal processing. That is, the withdrawal settlement device executes a process for discharging cash according to the denomination and number of coins indicated by the appropriation breakdown information included in the received withdrawal instruction.
Here, the withdrawal settlement device that has entered the withdrawal standby state in step S108 displays a screen (withdrawal operation screen) for accepting withdrawal operations. Although illustration is omitted, the withdrawal operation screen may be in the form of a window in which a withdrawal processing execution button and a cancel button for instructing the execution of withdrawal processing are arranged, in accordance with the withdrawal execution screen WD1 in FIG. 10. good. In response to the clerk operating the withdrawal processing execution button, the withdrawal settlement device executes the withdrawal processing in step S109.
In addition, when the withdrawal operation screen is displayed, if the clerk has not yet arrived and the customer attempting to make payment is in front of the withdrawal payment settlement device, the customer may not be able to operate the withdrawal payment settlement device. There is a possibility that you may end up doing this. Therefore, operations on the withdrawal operation screen may not be possible unless a password is input, for example. In addition, if it is necessary to enter a password, the password to be entered may be displayed on the withdrawal execution screen WD1 displayed on the withdrawal instruction registration device so that the clerk can understand the password. good.

Step S110: When the withdrawal processing in step S109 is completed, the withdrawal settlement device transmits a withdrawal completion notification to the withdrawal instruction registration device. The withdrawal completion notification includes, for example, information indicating the result of the withdrawal process executed by the withdrawal settlement device.
In addition to transmitting the withdrawal completion notification in step S110, the withdrawal settlement device notifies the completion of withdrawal processing. The notification of the completion of the withdrawal process may be performed, for example, by displaying a screen (withdrawal process completion notification screen). By viewing the withdrawal process completion notification screen, the clerk who performed the withdrawal process can check whether the denomination, number of coins, etc. You can check whether it is the payment device 30 or not.
Further, on the withdrawal processing completion notification screen, a confirmation button may be arranged to allow the clerk to confirm the completion of the withdrawal processing. In this case, in response to the clerk operating the confirmation button, the withdrawal processing completion notification screen is cleared, and the withdrawal settlement device operates as a normal settlement device and performs the settlement processing in accordance with the settlement instruction from the registration device 20. Transition to executable state.
Alternatively, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of money is provided at the money outlet of the change machine in the payment unit 310. Therefore, if the coins discharged to the coin ejection port during the withdrawal process remain without being taken out by the clerk, the withdrawal settlement device may issue a warning to that effect. Further, the payment settlement device is configured to transition to a state in which normal payment processing is possible in response to determining that all the coins discharged to the coin ejection port through the withdrawal process have been taken out. good. In this case, the transmission of the withdrawal completion notification in step S110 may be executed at the timing when the withdrawal settlement device transitions to a state in which normal settlement processing can be performed.

Step S111: The clerk takes the cash discharged from the payment settlement device through the withdrawal processing in step S109 and moves to the deposit settlement device. In other words, cash as appropriation money is physically transferred.

Step S112: The clerk who has moved to the deposit settlement device with cash as the appropriation money performs a deposit operation to deposit the appropriation money into the deposit settlement device, which has been in a deposit waiting state. In response to the deposit operation, the deposit settlement device executes deposit processing.

Step S113: When the deposit processing in step S112 is completed, the deposit settlement device transmits a deposit completion notification to the withdrawal instruction registration device. The deposit completion notification includes, for example, information indicating the result of the deposit processing executed by the deposit settlement device.
The end of the deposit processing in step S112 corresponds to the case where the money according to the denomination and number of coins to be replenished has been deposited normally. However, although this figure does not reflect the processing, for some reason, the details of the deposited coins, such as the denomination and number of coins, may differ from the correct breakdown that should be replenished. In such a case, if the end of the deposit processing is suspended until the correct breakdown is obtained, the payment will be delayed, so the deposit processing may be forced to end.
For example, during deposit processing, the deposit settlement device displays a deposit operation screen that accepts deposit operations, for example, in a window format similar to the withdrawal execution screen WD1. On the deposit operation screen, the details of the coins to be deposited, such as the denomination and number of coins, are shown. Further, a guide for inserting (depositing) money into the money slot of the change machine is displayed.
The deposit operation screen also displays a confirmation button for the store clerk to operate to confirm the deposit operation, a cancel button for canceling the deposit process, and the like.
If the confirmation button is operated after money is deposited according to the correct denomination and number of coins, the deposit settlement device normally ends the deposit processing. On the other hand, if the confirmation button is operated with money deposited with a breakdown different from the correct denomination and number of coins, the reason input screen for entering the reason why the breakdown is different will be displayed. Is displayed. The reason input screen may be, for example, a screen that allows one reason to be selected from a list showing a plurality of candidate reasons. Reasons for this case include, for example, loss (the coin has been dropped and gotten stuck under something installed), the coin is in poor condition (it has been soiled or damaged to the extent that it cannot be recognized as currency). For example, the state of being in a state of being When the reason is input, for example, the deposit/settlement device forcibly terminates the current deposit/withdrawal process.

Step S114: The withdrawal instruction registration device executes a deposit/withdrawal history registration process in response to receiving the deposit completion notification transmitted in step S113. For example, as part of the deposit/withdrawal history registration process, the withdrawal instruction registration device may include the withdrawal processing result included in the withdrawal completion notification received in step S110 and the withdrawal processing result included in the deposit completion notification received in step S112. Deposit/withdrawal history information that reflects the deposit processing results that were received is sent to the management device 10. The management device 10 stores the received deposit/withdrawal history information. In this way, for example, the management device 10 can manage the history of processing results regarding deposits and withdrawals in response to the occurrence of the near-end state.

With such a configuration, the clerk operating the registration device 20 can notice that a deposit or withdrawal should be made in response to the occurrence of a near-end state. Then, by operating the registration device 20 by the store clerk, instructions for withdrawing money, depositing money, etc. can be made to the payment device 30. This allows the store clerk working on the floor to perform the near-end deposit/withdrawal work without deploying a store clerk to monitor the management device 10.

<Third embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment described above, deposits and withdrawals between payment devices 30 in response to the occurrence of a near-end state are performed within the same accounting group. However, since the payment devices 30 included in one accounting group are part of the payment devices 30 installed in the store, the number of payment devices 30 that serve as payment sources is also limited. Considering this point, it is preferable to enable near-end deposits and withdrawals even between settlement devices 30 of different accounting groups.
The present embodiment is configured to enable near-end deposits and withdrawals between settlement devices 30 of different accounting groups as follows.

The sequence diagram of FIG. 11 shows an example of a procedure of deposit/withdrawal processing corresponding to near-end, which is executed in the POS system 1 of this embodiment. In the figure, in addition to a deposit settlement device, a withdrawal instruction registration device, and a withdrawal settlement device, a master registration device and a deposit instruction registration device are shown. In this embodiment, the deposit settlement device and the withdrawal settlement device may or may not belong to the same accounting group. Furthermore, the withdrawal instruction registration device is a registration device 20 that belongs to the same accounting group as the withdrawal settlement device.

The master registration device is the registration device 20 that functions as a master in the near-end deposit and withdrawal processing in the POS system 1 of this embodiment. The master device may be, for example, one of the registration devices 20 that is operated by a store clerk who is responsible for managing deposits and withdrawals according to the near-end.
In this way, the master registration device is one registration device 20 specified in advance in the POS system 1, so depending on which payment device 30 the near-end state has occurred, it may It may belong to an accounting group, or it may belong to a deposit/withdrawal accounting group. When a master registration device belongs to a deposit/withdrawal target accounting group, the same registration device 20 functions as a master registration device and a withdrawal instruction registration device. In the sequence diagram of the same figure, for convenience of explanation, a case is exemplified in which the master registration device and the withdrawal instruction registration device are different registration devices 20.

The deposit instruction registration device is a registration device 20 that belongs to the same accounting group as the deposit settlement device.

In addition, on the product registration screen of the present embodiment, the withdrawal request button BT2-1 and the withdrawal designation button are selected depending on the status of the deposit/withdrawal procedure performed in accordance with the near-end state that occurs in a certain payment device 30. Either BT2-2 or payment waiting button BT2-3 (FIG. 8) is displayed.
In FIG. 8, for convenience, a withdrawal request button BT2-1, a withdrawal designation button BT2-2, and a deposit waiting button BT2-3 are shown displayed simultaneously. However, in reality, depending on the situation in the deposit/withdrawal procedure, one of the withdrawal request button BT2-1, withdrawal designation button BT2-2, and deposit waiting button BT2-3 is displayed. Further, in a state where the deposit/withdrawal procedure according to the near end is not performed, the withdrawal request button BT2-1, the withdrawal designation button BT2-2, and the deposit waiting button BT2-3 are all hidden.

Step S201: It is determined that a near-end state has occurred in the deposit settlement device.
Step S202: In response to determining that a near-end state has occurred, the deposit settlement device generates near-end information.
Step S203: The deposit settlement device transmits a near-end notification including the near-end information generated in step S202 to the master registration device.

Step S204: The master registration device that has received the near-end notification displays a withdrawal designation button BT2-2 on the product registration screen that was being displayed when the near-end notification was received.
Step S205: The clerk operating the master registration device recognizes that one of the payment devices 30 has reached the near-end state in response to the display of the withdrawal designation button BT2-2. In this case, the clerk operates the withdrawal designation button BT2-2.
In response to the operation on the withdrawal designation button BT2-2, the master registration device causes a new withdrawal designation screen to be displayed on the clerk display section 205. The withdrawal designation screen is a screen on which the clerk can perform an operation to designate the payment device 30 from among the payment devices 30 in the POS system 1 as the payment payment device. Further, on the withdrawal designation screen, an operation may be made to designate the details of the cash to be deposited and withdrawn between the deposit settlement device and the withdrawal settlement device.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a withdrawal designation screen displayed on the clerk display section 205 of the master registration device.
On the withdrawal designation screen, a deposit settlement device area AR21, a withdrawal settlement device area AR22, and a withdrawal settlement device selection area AR23 are arranged.

In the deposit settlement device area AR21, it is shown which deposit settlement device is used. The deposit settlement device is represented by a number assigned to the settlement device 30. In the figure, the number "No. 000001" indicates an example where the deposit settlement device is the settlement device 30-1. Further, in the deposit settlement device area AR21, the number of cash for each denomination currently held by the deposit settlement device is shown.
In the deposit settlement device area AR21 in the figure, the item labeled "1" indicating the denomination of 1 yen is displayed in a different manner from the items of other denominations, so that the denomination of 1 yen is Indicates that the item is designated as a deposit/withdrawal target.
In addition, in the deposit settlement device area AR21 in the figure, the number of coins item corresponding to the 5 yen denomination is displayed in black letters on a white background, but the number of coins items corresponding to the remaining denominations are displayed in black letters on a white background. For example, characters are displayed in red against a background of a predetermined color other than white. Such a display indicates that the denomination of 5 yen is not in a near-end state, but that each denomination other than 5 yen is in a near-end state.
Furthermore, in the deposit settlement device area AR21 and the withdrawal settlement device area AR22, items of denominations of 2,000 yen and 10,000 yen are arranged separately from items of other denominations. On top of that, the 2,000 yen and 10,000 yen denomination items in the deposit settlement device area AR21 and withdrawal settlement device area AR22 are grayed out, indicating that they are not eligible for deposits and withdrawals (deposits and withdrawals are not possible). shown. In addition, in the same figure, the items for each denomination of 1,000 yen and 2,000 yen in the withdrawal settlement device area AR22 are also grayed out, indicating that withdrawals for each denomination of 1,000 yen and 2,000 yen are not possible. is shown.

In the withdrawal settlement device area AR22, it is shown which settlement device 30 is selected as a candidate for the withdrawal settlement device by the operation on the withdrawal settlement device selection area AR23. The payment settlement device is also represented by the number assigned to the settlement device 30. In the same figure, the number “No. 000006” indicates that the settlement device 30-6 has been selected as a candidate for the payment settlement device. Further, in the payment settlement device area AR22, the number of cash for each denomination currently held by the payment settlement device is shown.

The payment settlement device selection area AR23 is an area where an operation for selecting the payment settlement device 30 as a payment settlement device is performed. In the payment settlement device selection area AR23, settlement device selection buttons BT11-1 to BT11-5 corresponding to each settlement device 30 other than the deposit settlement device among the settlement devices 30 in the POS system 1 are arranged. If there is no particular distinction between the payment device selection buttons BT11-1 to BT11-5, they will be referred to as payment device selection buttons BT11.
The arrangement order of the settlement device selection buttons BT11-1 to BT11-5 corresponds to the order in which the number of denominations held by the settlement device 30 other than the deposit settlement device is the largest. In addition, each payment device selection button BT11 shows the number of the corresponding payment device 30 and the number of coins held of the denomination to be applied.
In other words, depending on the arrangement of the payment device selection buttons BT11 in the figure, for 1 yen, which is the denomination to be applied, the payment device 30-2 (No. 000002), payment device 30-5 (No. 000005), payment It is shown that the number of sheets held is larger in the order of the device 30-6 (No. 000006), the payment device 30-3 (No. 000003), and the payment device 30-4 (No. 000004).
In addition, in the payment settlement device selection area AR23, the arrangement order of the settlement device selection buttons BT11 may be made to correspond to the order of the settlement devices 30 whose installation positions are closest to the deposit settlement device. In addition, for example, in response to an operation by a store clerk, the arrangement order of the payment device selection buttons BT11 can be switched between the order in which the number of denominations to be allocated is the largest and the order in which the installation position is closest to the deposit payment and payment device. You can.

For example, the clerk operating the master registration device 1 selects the payment device 30 that should be the payment payment device from among the payment device 30 other than the deposit payment payment device by operating the payment device selection buttons BT11-1 to BT11-5. Candidates can be selected.
The clerk considers, for example, the number of denominations to be applied to each settlement device 30 other than the deposit settlement device, which is indicated by the settlement device selection buttons BT11-1 to BT11-5, the usage status of the settlement device 30 in the store, etc. Then, it is determined which settlement device 30 should be used as the withdrawal settlement device. Then, the user operates the payment device selection button BT11 corresponding to the payment device 30 that has been determined to be the payment payment device. The figure shows a state in which the payment device 30-6 has been selected as a candidate by the user operating the payment device selection button BT11-3. In the figure, the selected payment device selection button BT11-3 is shown highlighted.
Furthermore, in response to the selection of the settlement device 30-6 as a candidate, the number of cash for each denomination held by the settlement device 30-6 is displayed in the payment settlement device area AR22.

Further, on the withdrawal designation screen, a backyard withdrawal designation button BT12, a decision button BT13, and an end button BT14 are arranged.

The backyard withdrawal designation button BT12 is a button that is operated to declare that the deposit and settlement device will be refilled with cash managed in the backyard, for example, instead of withdrawing money from the settlement device.
Cash can be managed in the backyard either by a cash deposit/withdrawal device or by a safe. The deposit/withdrawal device is a device that manages, for example, the number of stored cash for each denomination, and is communicably connected to the POS system 1. The safe is a facility that simply stores cash and does not manage the number of coins for each denomination or communicate with the POS system 1.
When cash is managed by a deposit/withdrawal device in the backyard, for example, the withdrawal instruction registration device may cause the deposit/withdrawal device to execute a withdrawal process in response to an operation on the backyard withdrawal designation button BT12. Can be done. Alternatively, the withdrawal instruction registration device issues a withdrawal slip with the code of the withdrawal instruction information printed, and the scanner of the deposit/withdrawal device reads the code of the withdrawal slip, allowing the deposit/withdrawal device to process the withdrawal. may be executed.
On the other hand, if cash is managed in the backyard using a safe, a deposit/withdrawal slip with a breakdown of the denomination and number of deposits/withdrawals is printed, for example, by a withdrawal instruction registration device. The clerk looks at the deposit/withdrawal slip, confirms it, and withdraws the money from the safe. In addition, when making a deposit, by printing a code according to the deposit instruction on the deposit/withdrawal slip, the scanner of the deposit/payment settlement device can read the code and then execute the deposit processing on the deposit/withdrawal device. can.
In this manner, also in this embodiment, deposits and withdrawals may be made using a medium depending on the situation, such as when the device to be deposited and withdrawn is a safe. Further, for example, depending on the situation, deposits and withdrawals may be performed using the configuration of the first embodiment under the configuration of the POS system 1 of the second embodiment or this embodiment (third embodiment).
The decision button BT13 is a button for performing an operation (withdrawal designation operation) for specifying the settlement device 30 selected as a candidate by the operation on the settlement device selection button BT11 as a disbursement settlement device.
The end button BT14 is a button operated to end the display of the withdrawal designation screen without specifying the withdrawal settlement device.

The explanation returns to FIG. 11.
Step S206: When the decision button BT13 is operated as a withdrawal designation operation, the master registration device accepts the withdrawal designation operation.
Step S207: In response to receiving the withdrawal designation operation, the master registration device transmits a withdrawal designation notification to the withdrawal instruction registration device. The withdrawal instruction registration device is a registration device 20 that belongs to the same accounting group as the payment device 30 designated as the payment settlement device by the withdrawal designation operation. The withdrawal designation notification notifies the withdrawal instruction registration device that one of the payment settlement devices 30 belonging to the same accounting group is a withdrawal payment settlement device. The withdrawal designation notification includes information indicating the payment settlement device 30 designated as the payment settlement device and information indicating the details of the cash to be withdrawn from the payment settlement device.
As a breakdown of the cash to be withdrawn from the withdrawal settlement device, the number of cash may be calculated by the master registration device based on the number of coins of the denomination to be withdrawn held by the withdrawal settlement device. Alternatively, the number of coins may be specified by the clerk through a predetermined operation on the withdrawal designation screen.

The withdrawal instruction registration device executes the process of step S208 in response to receiving the withdrawal designation notification transmitted in step S207. The processing in steps S208 to S211 is similar to steps S104 to S107 in FIG.
Further, in response to receiving the withdrawal instruction transmitted from the withdrawal instruction registration device in step S211, the processing in steps S212, S213, and S214 executed by the withdrawal settlement device is performed in steps S108, S109, and S110 in FIG. The same is true.

Step S221: The master registration device transmits a deposit designation notification to the deposit instruction registration device in addition to transmitting the withdrawal designation notification to the withdrawal instruction registration device in step S207. The deposit designation notification notifies the deposit instruction registration device that one of the payment devices 30 belonging to the same accounting group as the deposit instruction registration device is the deposit payment device. The deposit designation notification includes information indicating the settlement device 30 designated as the deposit settlement device and information indicating the details of the cash to be deposited into the deposit settlement device.
For example, the withdrawal designation screen that has been displayed on the master registration device receives a withdrawal designation operation in step S206, sends a withdrawal designation notification in step S207, and sends a deposit designation notification in step S221. It may be deleted depending on the timing.

Step S222: Upon receiving the deposit designation notification, the deposit instruction registration device displays a deposit wait button BT2-3 (FIG. 8) on the product registration screen that was being displayed when the deposit designation notification was received.
Step S223: In response to the display of the payment waiting button BT2-3, the clerk operating the deposit instruction registration device recognizes that one of the payment devices 30 belonging to the same accounting group has entered the near-end state. grasp. In this case, the clerk operates the payment waiting button BT2-3. The operation on the payment waiting button BT2-3 may be, for example, a tap operation.
In response to the operation on the deposit waiting button BT2-3, the deposit instruction registration device displays a new deposit execution screen on the clerk display section 205. The deposit execution screen is a screen on which the clerk performs an operation to instruct the deposit processing device to which the appropriated funds are deposited to perform deposit processing.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the deposit execution screen WD2 displayed on the clerk display section 205 of the deposit instruction registration device. The deposit execution screen WD2 in the same figure is displayed in the form of a window that is placed so as to overlap the product registration screen that has been displayed so far.
The deposit execution screen WD2 shows which payment settlement device 30 is the payment settlement device or the deposit settlement device, and also shows the details of the appropriated funds to be deposited and withdrawn.
Specifically, on the deposit execution screen WD2 in the figure, the number of the withdrawal settlement device is No. 000006, and the number of the deposit settlement device is No. It is shown that it is 000001. In other words, it is shown that the settlement device 30-1 belonging to the first accounting group is in the near-end state and is set as the deposit settlement device, and the settlement device 30-6 belonging to the third accounting group is set as the withdrawal settlement device. There is.
Further, in the deposit execution screen WD2, the breakdown of the appropriated money shows that there are 10 denominations of 1 yen. By looking at such a display, the clerk operating the deposit instruction registration device knows that he should withdraw 10 1 yen coins from the payment device 30-6 and deposit them into the payment device 30-1.

For example, if the situation is such that deposits and withdrawals are currently possible, the clerk operates the deposit button BT31 arranged on the deposit execution screen WD2. The deposit button BT31 is a button used to instruct the deposit settlement device to perform a deposit process.
On the other hand, if it is determined that the deposit/withdrawal operation is not to be performed at this time because, for example, the situation is not such that depositing is possible, the clerk operates the cancel button BT32 located on the deposit execution screen WD2.

The explanation returns to FIG. 11.
Step S224: In response to the operation performed on the deposit button BT31 arranged on the deposit execution screen WD2, the deposit instruction registration device receives the operation performed on the deposit button BT31. In response to acceptance of the operation on the deposit button BT31, the display of the deposit execution screen WD2 may be erased.
Step S225: In response to receiving the operation on the deposit button BT31, the deposit instruction registration device transmits a deposit instruction to the deposit settlement device to instruct execution of deposit processing. The deposit instruction includes information on the details of the appropriated funds that are to be deposited into the deposit settlement device.
Further, like the withdrawal instruction registration device, the deposit instruction registration device may be in a dormant state and not accept product registration operations, for example, after transmitting the deposit instruction.

Step S226: When the deposit settlement device receives the deposit instruction transmitted from the deposit instruction registration device in step S225, it first enters a deposit waiting state in which it waits for an operation for depositing as a deposit process.

Step S227: The clerk in charge of the deposit/withdrawal operation moves to the deposit/withdrawal device with the cash as the appropriation money discharged from the deposit/withdrawal device through the withdrawal process in step S213. In other words, cash as appropriation money is physically transferred.

Step S228: The clerk who has moved to the deposit settlement device with cash as the appropriation money performs a deposit operation to deposit the appropriation money into the deposit settlement device, which has been in a deposit waiting state. In response to the deposit operation, the deposit settlement device executes deposit processing.
Step S229: When the deposit processing in step S228 is completed, the deposit settlement device transmits a deposit completion notification to the master registration device. The deposit completion notification includes, for example, information indicating the result of the deposit processing executed by the deposit settlement device.

Step S230: The master registration device executes a deposit/withdrawal history registration process in response to receiving the deposit completion notification transmitted in step S229. For example, as part of the deposit/withdrawal history registration process, the master registration device records the withdrawal processing results included in the withdrawal completion notification received in step S214 and the deposit completion notification received in step S229. Deposit/withdrawal history information that reflects the deposit processing results obtained is transmitted to the management device 10. The management device 10 stores the received deposit/withdrawal history information. In this way, for example, the management device 10 can manage the history of processing results regarding deposits and withdrawals in response to the occurrence of the near-end state.

In this embodiment, the clerk in charge of depositing and withdrawing money may be any clerk who operates the withdrawal instruction registration device. Alternatively, the clerk in charge of depositing and withdrawing money may be a clerk who operates the master registration device or a clerk who operates the management device 10.

In this embodiment, the withdrawal settlement device waits for withdrawal based on the withdrawal instruction from the master registration device or the management device 10 without intervening operations by the clerk on the withdrawal instruction registration device or the deposit instruction registration device. may be caused to become a state. In this case, when the withdrawal and settlement device receives a withdrawal operation and executes a withdrawal process, the completion of the withdrawal process is triggered and the deposit and settlement device enters a waiting state for deposits. Then, the deposit settlement device may execute deposit processing in response to the deposit operation.

Further, in the second embodiment and the third embodiment, the deposit/withdrawal history is managed in response to the occurrence of the near-end state in the management device 10 through the processes of step S114 (FIG. 9) and step S230 (FIG. 11). Ru. The deposit/withdrawal history managed in this manner can be output by the management device 10, for example. For example, the deposit/withdrawal history may be output by the management device 10 so as to be displayed on the display unit 105.
FIG. 14 shows an example of a deposit/withdrawal history list screen displayed on the display unit 105 of the management device 10. In the deposit/withdrawal history list screen shown in the figure, list items of deposit/withdrawal history corresponding to one deposit/withdrawal are arranged in the form of buttons. That is, on the deposit/withdrawal history list screen, a deposit/withdrawal history item button BT41 corresponding to each deposit/withdrawal is arranged. In the figure, four deposit/withdrawal history item buttons BT41-1 to BT41-4 are shown arranged as the deposit/withdrawal history item button BT41.
The clerk can select and operate one of the deposit/withdrawal history item buttons BT41 arranged in this way. In response to an operation performed on the deposit/withdrawal history item button BT41, a deposit/withdrawal details screen is displayed that shows details of the deposit/withdrawal history corresponding to the operated deposit/withdrawal history item button BT41, although not shown. .
By looking at the deposit/withdrawal details screen displayed in this way, the clerk can confirm the details of the processing results of past deposits/withdrawals.
Note that the above-described output regarding the deposit/withdrawal history may also be performed in the registration device 20 and the payment device 30.

Note that the withdrawal execution screen WD1 and the deposit execution screen WD2 may be displayed so as to be operable on the settlement device 30 as well. That is, the payment instruction may be sent to the payment payment settlement device, and the payment instruction may be sent to the deposit payment settlement device by the payment settlement device 30 other than the payment payment settlement device or the deposit payment settlement device.
Further, as in the display of the withdrawal request button BT2-1, withdrawal designation button BT2-2, deposit wait button BT2-3, etc. on the registration device 20, notifications corresponding to the near-end (deposit or withdrawal) are displayed on the payment device 30. (One mode of notification to the effect that it is possible) may be performed. For example, in the deposit settlement device, in response to entering a deposit waiting state corresponding to the near-end, it may notify that the deposit is near-end and display a screen on which deposit operations can be accepted. Further, in response to receiving a withdrawal instruction and entering a withdrawal standby state, the withdrawal settlement device may display a display notifying that it is waiting for a withdrawal operation corresponding to the near-end.

In addition, in the description of the second embodiment and the third embodiment above, in a POS system including three registration devices and six payment devices 30 shown in FIG. An example is shown in which three accounting groups are set up. However, the combination of the registration device 20 and the payment device 30 that constitute the accounting group is not limited to the above example.
Another example of setting accounting groups in the second embodiment or the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 15. The POS system 1 in the figure includes four registration devices 20-1 to 20-4 and six registration devices 30-1 to 30-6.
Furthermore, in the POS system 1 shown in the figure, one accounting group (first accounting group) is formed by two registration devices 20-1, 20-2 and three registration devices 30-1, 30-2, 30-3. is set. Furthermore, another accounting group (second accounting group) is set up by the two registration devices 20-3, 20-4 and the three registration devices 30-3, 30-4, 30-5.
That is, in the figure, one accounting group is set by combining two registration devices 20 and three payment devices 30.
Then, in the first accounting group, the registration device 20-1 exclusively uses the settlement device 30-1 to execute the settlement process, and the registration device 20-2 exclusively uses the settlement device 30-3 to execute the settlement process. . That is, for example, the payment device 30-1 only accepts payment instructions (transmission of payment information) from the registration device 20-1. The payment device 30-3 only accepts payment instructions (transmission of payment information) from the registration device 20-2.
On the other hand, the payment device 30-2 can receive payment instructions from either the registration device 20-1 or the registration device 20-2. In other words, the payment device 30-2 is shared by the registration device 20-1 and the registration device 20-2.
Similarly, in the second accounting group, the registration device 20-3 exclusively uses the payment device 30-4, the registration device 20-4 exclusively uses the payment device 30-6, and the payment device 30-5 -3, supplied by 20-4.

The setting of such accounting groups is operated as follows. Specifically, the first accounting group will be explained here as an example.
The payment device 30-1 is installed at a position closest to the registration device 20-1 with respect to the flow line of customers who use the registration device 20-1 to pay their bills. Further, the payment device 30-3 is installed at a position closest to the registration device 20-2 with respect to the flow line of customers who use the registration device 20-2 to pay their bills. The payment device 30-2 is installed, for example, further away from the registration device 20-1 than the payment device 30-1, and further away from the registration device 20-2 than the payment device 30-3.
Normally, when the registration device 20-1 executes the product registration process, a payment instruction is given to the payment device 30-1. Similarly, when the product registration process is executed by the registration device 20-2, a payment instruction is issued to the payment device 30-3. However, when the registration device 20-1 attempts to issue a payment instruction to the payment device 30-1, the payment instruction is not accepted due to the payment device 30-1 being in use or in an error state. may not be possible. In such a case, the registration device 20-1 can issue a payment instruction to the payment device 30-2.
Similarly, the registration device 20-2 normally issues a payment instruction to the payment device 30-3, but if the payment device 30-3 is unable to accept payment instructions, the registration device 20-2 2. Payment instructions can be given.
As described above, in the configuration of the accounting group of this modified example in which two registration devices 20 and three payment devices 30 are combined, the payment device 30 is set to be shared by a plurality of registration devices 20. As a result, in the configuration of the accounting group of this modification, for example, when it is assumed that two registration devices 20 are installed in a store, an accounting group is configured with one registration device 20 and two payment devices 30. The number of payment devices 30 installed can be reduced by one compared to the case where the payment device 30 is installed.

Note that the mode of notification in response to the near-end state is not limited to displaying the withdrawal request button BT2-1, withdrawal designation button BT2-2, deposit wait button BT2-3, etc.
For example, notification in response to the near-end state may be performed by displaying the change information button BT3 shown in FIG. The change information button BT3 may function as, for example, any one of a withdrawal request button BT2-1, a withdrawal designation button BT2-2, and a deposit waiting button BT2-3, depending on the situation.
Further, the near-end state may be notified by, for example, lighting up the sign pole 311 included in the payment device 30 in a predetermined pattern. Furthermore, notification of the near-end state by the sign pole 311 is performed by the deposit settlement device. Alternatively, the payment may be made using a payment settlement device. Alternatively, the deposit settlement device may turn on the light according to a pattern indicating that it is a deposit destination, and the withdrawal settlement device may turn on the light according to a pattern indicating that it is a withdrawal source.

<Fourth embodiment>
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. The configuration of the fourth embodiment can be applied to any of the first to third embodiments.
The payment device 30 refers to the information on the minimum number of sheets held when determining whether or not the payment device 30 is in a near-end state. The minimum number of cash to be held information is information indicating the minimum number of cash that the payment device 30 should hold (minimum number of cash to hold) for each denomination in order to secure change.
For example, the clerk can set the minimum number of coins to be held for each denomination in the minimum number of coins to be held by operating the management device 10. The management device 10 stores in the storage unit 102 the minimum number of coins to be held, in which the minimum number of coins to be held for each denomination is set in this manner.
The settlement device 30 acquires information on the minimum number of sheets to be held from the management device 10 and stores it in the RAM 303, for example, during start processing corresponding to the start of a business day. Then, each time the amount of cash in stock is changed due to, for example, a settlement process, the settlement device 30 refers to the information on the minimum number of coins stored in the RAM 303 and determines whether the denomination is in a near-end state. . Specifically, the settlement device 30 determines whether or not the denomination has become smaller than the minimum number of coins indicated by the minimum number of coins information, among the denominations whose number of coins to hold has been changed due to a change in the amount of cash in stock. judge. If there is a denomination for which the number of denominations has decreased below the minimum number of denominations held, the settlement device 30 determines that a near-end state has occurred for the denomination.

The number of customers shopping at a store varies depending on the time of day. Specifically, the number of customers varies depending on the time of day even in one business day. For example, the number of customers is low in the morning or near closing time, but the number of customers is large in the evening and night. Also, for example, in one week, the number of customers is small on weekdays, but the number of customers is large on holidays. Furthermore, the number of customers increases during times when events are held within the store or near the store. In this way, the number of customers using the store varies depending on the time.

As the number of customers increases, the amount of cash required as change increases. In response to such fluctuations in the number of customers, if the minimum number of coins to be held, which is set in the minimum number of coins to be held, is constant regardless of time, the following problems may occur.
In other words, when the number of customers is small, it is difficult to maintain the minimum number of cash held by the settlement device 30, whereas when the number of customers is large, it is difficult to maintain the minimum number of cash held by the payment device 30. There is a possibility that situations such as the following may occur more easily.

Therefore, in this embodiment, a different minimum number of sheets to be held is set corresponding to each time, and the settlement device 30 determines whether or not a near-end state has occurred based on the minimum number of sheets to be held corresponding to each time. is configured to make a determination.

FIG. 16 shows an example of minimum retention number information in this embodiment. The minimum number of coins to be held in the figure includes information on the minimum number of coins to be held by denomination corresponding to each denomination. One minimum number of coins to be held by denomination information stores the minimum number of coins to be held for each denomination for each of a plurality of time zones.

The flowchart in FIG. 17 shows an example of a processing procedure executed by the payment device 30 in this embodiment regarding determination of occurrence of a near-end state.
Step S301: The payment device 30 waits for a change in the number of cash (money) it holds as a result of, for example, performing payment processing, cash replenishment (deposit), or cash collection (withdrawal). .

Step S302: When the number of cash held by the user changes, the settlement device 30 changes the current time to the corresponding time zone for the denomination (target denomination) for which the change has occurred so that the number of cash is decreased. The corresponding minimum number of sheets to be held is acquired from the minimum number of sheets to be held from the information. As described above, the information on the minimum number of sheets to be held may be stored in the storage unit 302 or the RAM 303 of the payment device 30. Alternatively, in step S302, the settlement device 30 may acquire the minimum number of coins to be held for the target denomination from the minimum number of coins to be held information stored in the management device 10 through communication with the management device 10. good.

Step S303: The settlement device 30 compares the number of coins of the target denomination that it currently holds (the current number of coins held) with the minimum number of coins that it holds acquired in step S302.
Step S304: As a result of the comparison in step S303, the payment device 30 determines whether the current number of sheets held is less than the minimum number of sheets held.
Step S305: If it is determined in step S304 that the current number of sheets held is less than the minimum number of sheets held, it is determined that a near-end state has occurred. The state in which it is determined that a near-end state has occurred corresponds to, for example, step S101 in correspondence with FIG. 9.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S304 that the current number of sheets to be held is equal to or greater than the minimum number of sheets to be held, the process in the figure is ended without executing the process in step S305.

In the above description, the minimum number of sheets to be held is assumed to be uniformly applied to the payment devices 30 in the POS system 1. However, each of the payment devices 30 may make a determination regarding the occurrence of a near-end state using the minimum number of sheets to be held, in which the minimum number of sheets to be held corresponding to the payment device 30 is set. In other words, a plurality of pieces of minimum number of sheets to be held may be prepared such that a different minimum number of sheets to be held is set depending on each payment device 30.
For example, depending on the model of the payment device 30, the number of coins that can be stored may differ between the models, or, for example, some models can handle 2,000 yen bills while others cannot. Furthermore, even if the payment devices 30 are of the same model, the frequency with which they are used by customers may vary greatly between the payment devices 30 due to differences in installation locations. In such a case, by applying the minimum number of coins to be held, which sets a different minimum number of coins for each payment device 30, it is possible to appropriately manage the number of coins of each denomination held in each payment device 30.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when depositing and withdrawing money to eliminate the near-end state, the information on the maximum number of coins to be withdrawn is also used in addition to the minimum number of coins to be held. The withdrawal upper limit number information is information indicating, for each denomination, the upper limit number of coins that can be withdrawn from the settlement device 30 in response to one occurrence of a near-end state.
By using such information on the maximum number of coins to be withdrawn, when withdrawing money from the payment device 30 in response to the occurrence of a near-end state, it is possible to limit the withdrawal of a number of coins greater than the upper limit number of coins to be withdrawn. This makes it easier to avoid running out of money held for change in the settlement device 30 due to a withdrawal corresponding to the occurrence of a near-end situation.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the information on the maximum number of coins to be withdrawn is set to a different number depending on the time for each denomination.
The following can be said about the withdrawal from the settlement device 30, which is the withdrawal source, in response to the occurrence of the near-end state. In a situation where the number of customers is small, there are few opportunities for change to be discharged from the settlement device 30, so there is a margin in the number of coins that can be withdrawn in response to the occurrence of a near-end situation. On the other hand, in a situation where there are many customers, there are many opportunities for change to be discharged from the payment device 30, so the number of coins held by the payment device 30 tends to decrease.
Considering this, in order to prevent the number of coins held in the payment device 30 from becoming smaller than necessary during times when the number of customers is large, the payment method may be It is possible to adopt the idea that it is better to limit the number of coins that can be withdrawn from 30.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, regarding the withdrawal upper limit number of coins information, similar to the minimum holding number of coins information, a different upper limit withdrawal number of coins is set for each denomination depending on the time. The management device 10 stores the withdrawal upper limit number information in the storage unit 102.

FIG. 18 shows an example of withdrawal upper limit number information in this embodiment. The maximum withdrawal number information in the figure includes information on the maximum withdrawal number by denomination corresponding to each denomination. One denomination-specific withdrawal upper limit number information stores the withdrawal upper limit number set for each of a plurality of time slot segments for the corresponding denomination.

In the case of application to the first embodiment, the withdrawal upper limit number information is determined by the management device 10, for example, in step S2 (FIG. 6), when issuing the deposit instruction slip, determines the payment source payment device 30-W. used for.
That is, the management device 10 calculates the number of coins to be appropriated (ie, the number of coins to be withdrawn) for the target denomination, based on the number of coins of the target denomination held in the settlement device 30, which is in a near-end state, for example. The management device 10 acquires the maximum withdrawal number of coins of the target denomination in the time slot segment corresponding to the current time from the maximum withdrawal number information. The management device 10 also obtains the current number of coins of the target denomination held by each payment device 30 that is a candidate for the payment source payment device 30-W.
When the calculated number of appropriated coins is less than the withdrawal upper limit number, the management device 10 determines the settlement device 30 that can withdraw the calculated number of allocated coins. The settlement device 30 that can withdraw the appropriated number of coins means that, if a withdrawal is made based on the appropriated number of coins for the target denomination, the remaining number of coins held after subtracting the withdrawn allocated number from the current number of held coins is the minimum number of coins held. This is a payment device 30 for more than the number of sheets. The management device 10 selects one payment device 30 from among the payment devices 30 that have been determined to be able to withdraw the appropriate number of coins, based on the remaining number of coins held and the usage status of each payment device 30. It may be determined as the original payment device 30-W.
Furthermore, if the calculated number of appropriated coins is greater than the upper limit number of coins to be withdrawn, the number of coins that can be withdrawn for the target denomination is limited to the upper limit number of coins to be withdrawn. Therefore, the management device 10 in this case determines the settlement device 30 that can withdraw the maximum number of coins for withdrawal.

In addition, the withdrawal upper limit number information can be applied to the third embodiment, for example, in the withdrawal settlement device selection area AR23 of the withdrawal designation screen (FIG. 12) displayed by the master registration device in step S205 (FIG. 11). , it is possible to distinguish and present the settlement device 30 that allows withdrawal of money and the settlement device 30 that does not allow withdrawal of money.
In other words, when displaying the withdrawal designation screen, the master registration device calculates the appropriate number of coins for the target denomination by the same process as the above-mentioned management device 10, and sends the payment device 30 that can withdraw the appropriate number of coins, and It is determined whether the payment device 30 is unable to withdraw any other number of appropriated coins.
Then, when displaying the withdrawal designation screen, the master registration device distinguishes and presents settlement devices 30 that allow withdrawals and settlement devices 30 that do not allow withdrawals, in the money settlement device selection area AR23.
Note that if the maximum number of coins to be withdrawn is set as "0", the payment device 30 is determined to be unable to withdraw the appropriate number of coins, regardless of the minimum number of coins to be held, the current number of coins to be held, etc. In other words, if the upper limit number of coins to be withdrawn is set as "0", the number of coins that can be withdrawn from the settlement device 30 will be "0" during the corresponding time period. That is, withdrawals from the settlement device 30 can be prohibited.

FIG. 19 shows an example of the withdrawal designation screen when the withdrawal upper limit number information is used in the application to the third embodiment. In this figure, the same parts as in FIG. 12 are given the same reference numerals.
In the figure, among the payment device selection buttons BT11-1 to BT11-5, payment device selection buttons BT11-1, BT11-2, and BT11-3 are displayed in an active state that can be operated, and the payment device selection buttons BT11-4 and BT11-5 are displayed in a grayed out state indicating that they cannot be operated.
With such a display, the clerk can withdraw money for the payment devices 30-2, 30-5, and 30-6 that correspond to the payment device selection buttons BT11-1, BT11-2, and BT11-3. However, it can be recognized that withdrawal is not possible for the payment devices 30-3 and 30-4 corresponding to the payment device selection buttons BT11-4 and BT11-5.
For example, if withdrawals from any settlement device are not possible, the withdrawal settlement device selection area AR23 itself may be hidden or operations within the withdrawal settlement device selection area AR23 may not be possible. The display may be performed in a manner that indicates the following. Furthermore, in this case, since withdrawals can only be made from the backyard, the backyard withdrawal designation button BT12 may be highlighted in a predetermined manner. As a mode of highlighting the backyard withdrawal designation button BT12, for example, the backyard withdrawal designation button BT12 may be greatly changed in size, changed in color, or blinked in a predetermined pattern.

In addition, in the above description, the withdrawal upper limit number information was explained as being applied uniformly to the payment devices 30 in the POS system 1. However, similar to the above-mentioned minimum retention number information, a plurality of pieces of withdrawal upper limit number information may be prepared corresponding to each of the payment devices 30, and a different upper limit withdrawal number of coins may be set for each payment device 30.

As a modification of the present embodiment, when depositing and withdrawing money to eliminate the near-end state, information on the maximum number of withdrawals may be used in addition to information on the maximum number of coins to be withdrawn. The upper limit number of withdrawals information is information indicating, for each denomination, the upper limit of the number of times withdrawals can be made per certain unit period, for example.

FIG. 20 shows an example of upper limit number of withdrawals information. The upper limit number of withdrawals information may be stored in the storage unit 102 similarly to the upper limit number of withdrawals information. The upper limit number of withdrawals information in the figure includes information on the upper limit number of withdrawals by denomination corresponding to each denomination. One denomination-specific withdrawal upper limit number of times information stores the upper limit number of withdrawals per unit time set for the corresponding denomination. If the upper limit number of withdrawals is "0", for example, it indicates that withdrawal is not possible even if the instructed number of coins to be allocated does not exceed the upper limit number of coins to be withdrawn indicated by the upper limit withdrawal number information.

<Fifth embodiment>
Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. The configuration of the fifth embodiment can be applied to any of the first to fourth embodiments.
First, with reference to FIG. 21, a case will be described in which two withdrawals are made to one settlement device 30. FIG. 21 schematically shows the amount of money in one particular denomination (designated denomination) designated as a withdrawal target in one settlement device 30.
In FIG. 21(a), a state is shown in which the actual amount (indicated by "CR" in the figure) is managed as 100 coins of the designated denomination in the settlement device 30. In addition, in the figure, the provisional balance (indicated by "CL" in the figure) when a withdrawal instruction corresponding to a withdrawal instruction is executed for the number of coins of the same denomination held is also 100 coins, which is the same as the actual balance. The condition is shown. Further, the minimum number of sheets to be held in this case (indicated by "NE" in the figure) is 20 sheets.

In the state shown in the figure, the settlement device 30 receives a withdrawal instruction (first withdrawal instruction) with a withdrawal number of 50 coins for a specific denomination. In this case, the actual amount is 100 coins, so even if the withdrawal process for 50 coins is executed in response to the first withdrawal instruction, the actual amount is 50 coins, which is greater than the minimum number of coins to be held (20 coins). In other words, since the settlement device 30 in this case does not enter a near-end state after the withdrawal process, it determines that the withdrawal process is possible and accepts the first withdrawal instruction.
In response to receiving the first withdrawal instruction, the actual balance of the specified denomination remains unchanged at 100 coins, but the provisional balance is as shown in Figure 21(b). It becomes 50 sheets by subtracting 50 sheets from 100 sheets.

As can be understood from the previous explanation, the withdrawal process requires the clerk in charge of the work to move to the withdrawal settlement device, so after accepting the withdrawal instruction, the corresponding withdrawal is made. There is a time lag before processing starts. Further, even after receiving a withdrawal instruction, the settlement device 30 in this embodiment does not execute other processing such as settlement processing until an operation corresponding to the start of the corresponding withdrawal processing is performed. It's fine.

In this case, the settlement device 30 executes the settlement process at a timing after receiving the first withdrawal instruction but before the corresponding withdrawal process is started, so that the specified denomination of money is Ten sheets were discharged by the payment device 30. As a result, as shown in the transition from FIG. 21(b) to FIG. 21(c), the actual value of the designated denomination is managed as 90 coins, which is 10 coins subtracted from 100 coins. Furthermore, the provisional stock of designated denominations will be 40 coins, which is 10 coins subtracted from 50 coins.

In the state shown in FIG. 21(c), the settlement device 30 further receives a second withdrawal instruction at a timing when the withdrawal process corresponding to the first withdrawal instruction has not yet been executed.
The second withdrawal instruction was to instruct the number of coins to be withdrawn to be 25 coins using the same designated denomination as the first withdrawal instruction. The settlement device 30 determines whether or not a withdrawal can be made in accordance with the withdrawal instruction by comparing the current actual amount of the specified denomination with the number of coins to be withdrawn specified by the withdrawal instruction. Then, since the actual amount of the specified denomination at this stage is 90 coins, even if the withdrawal process for 25 coins is executed in response to the second withdrawal instruction, the actual amount of the designated denomination is 65 coins. , more than the minimum number of sheets to be held (20 sheets). Therefore, the settlement device 30 in this case receives the second withdrawal instruction.

In response to receiving the second withdrawal instruction, as shown in the transition from Figure 21(c) to Figure 21(d), 25 coins are subtracted from 40 coins for the specified denomination. There will be 15 pieces. On the other hand, at the stage of Figure 21(d), the withdrawal process according to the first withdrawal instruction has not yet been executed, so the actual amount of the specified denomination is 90 coins, which is unchanged from Figure 21(c). .
At this stage, the provisional stock of designated denominations was less than the minimum number of coins held. However, the actual number of cards is 90, which is higher than the minimum number of cards held. Therefore, the payment device 30 does not determine that a near-end state has occurred.

Next, under the state shown in FIG. 21(d), the first withdrawal process according to the first withdrawal instruction was executed, and 50 coins of the designated denomination were withdrawn from the settlement device 30. As a result, as shown in the transition from FIG. 21(d) to FIG. 21(e), the actual value of the designated denomination becomes 40 coins, which is 50 coins subtracted from 90 coins.
Next, the payment device 30 further executed a third withdrawal process in response to the second withdrawal instruction, and 25 coins of the specified denomination were withdrawn. As a result, as shown in the transition from Figure 21(e) to Figure 21(f), the actual amount of the designated denomination becomes 15 coins, which is 25 coins subtracted from 40 coins, which at this point matches the provisional balance. do.
In this state, since the actual value of the designated denomination is less than the minimum number of coins to be held, the settlement device 30 determines that a near-end state has occurred.

In this way, when the settlement device 30 receives a withdrawal instruction for the same designated denomination twice or more, it determines whether or not to process the withdrawal according to the withdrawal instruction based on the actual amount of the designated denomination. In some cases, it may be possible to accept withdrawal instructions for the second and subsequent times.
However, as in the case in the figure, a near-end state may occur as a result of executing the withdrawal process corresponding to the received withdrawal instruction. Since such a situation can be interpreted as, for example, a near-end occurring unexpectedly, it is possible to adopt the idea that it should be avoided.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the occurrence of a near-end state as a result of executing the withdrawal process is avoided in the following manner.

FIG. 22 shows an example of a case where a withdrawal is made using one settlement device 30 in this embodiment.
In FIG. 22(a), the actual amount is managed as 100 coins as in the case of FIG. In this case, the provisional stock amount is 100 coins, which is the same as the actual stock amount, and the minimum number of coins held is 20 coins.

In the state shown in the figure, the settlement device 30 receives a withdrawal instruction (first withdrawal instruction) specifying one particular denomination as the designated denomination and instructing the number of coins to be withdrawn of 50 coins. In this case, the settlement device 30 accepts the first withdrawal instruction, assuming that withdrawal processing is possible.
In response to receiving the first withdrawal instruction, the actual balance of the specified denomination remains unchanged at 100 coins, but the provisional balance is as shown in Figure 22(b). It becomes 50 sheets by subtracting 50 sheets from 100 sheets.

The settlement device 30 discharged 10 coins of the designated denomination by executing the settlement process at a timing after receiving the first withdrawal instruction but before starting the corresponding withdrawal process. As a result, as shown in the transition from FIG. 22(b) to FIG. 22(c), the actual value of the designated denomination is managed as 90 coins, which is 10 coins subtracted from 100 coins. Furthermore, the provisional stock of the designated denomination is 40 coins, which is 10 coins subtracted from 50 coins.

In the state shown in FIG. 22(c), when the withdrawal process corresponding to the first withdrawal instruction has not yet been executed, the payment device 30 further sends 25 coins of the same specified denomination as the first withdrawal instruction. A second withdrawal instruction indicating the number of coins to be withdrawn is received.

In the present embodiment, the settlement device 30 may be in a state where, after receiving one withdrawal instruction, it is in a standby state for the withdrawal processing corresponding to the accepted withdrawal instruction and has not yet executed the withdrawal processing. If the newly obtained withdrawal instruction specifies the same denomination as the previous withdrawal instruction, it will not be accepted (rejected) regardless of the instructed withdrawal number.
Therefore, under the state shown in FIG. 22(c), the second withdrawal instruction is not accepted and is rejected. As a result, as shown in FIG. 22(d), the actual amount and provisional amount after the second withdrawal instruction is issued do not change from FIG. 22(c).

However, in this embodiment, even if a withdrawal process is in a waiting state in response to a withdrawal instruction being accepted, a new withdrawal instruction will be sent to the designated denomination for each waiting withdrawal process. If the new withdrawal instruction specifies a denomination different from any of the above, the new withdrawal instruction will be accepted. If the designated denominations for each waiting withdrawal process are different, a near-end state will not occur for any of the designated denominations after the waiting withdrawal process is executed.

Next, under the state shown in FIG. 22(d), the first withdrawal process according to the first withdrawal instruction was executed, and 50 coins of the designated denomination were withdrawn from the settlement device 30. As a result, as shown in the transition from FIG. 22(d) to FIG. 22(e), the actual value of the designated denomination becomes 40 coins, which is 50 coins subtracted from 90 coins. Also, at this stage, the actual amount and provisional amount of the designated denomination match.

Under the state shown in FIG. 22(e), the first withdrawal process corresponding to the first withdrawal instruction has been executed, so that the next withdrawal instruction can be accepted. However, at this stage, even if you issue a withdrawal instruction to the settlement device 30 that instructs the withdrawal number of 25 coins of the same designated denomination, as in the second withdrawal instruction above, in this case, the withdrawal will not be processed. As a result of the gold processing, the actual value of the designated denomination becomes 15 coins, resulting in a near-end situation. Therefore, at this stage, a withdrawal instruction that specifies a withdrawal number of 21 or more coins of the same designated denomination is rejected due to the occurrence of a near-end state.
Therefore, the example in the figure shows a case where a third withdrawal instruction is made for the same designated denomination with a withdrawal number of 15 coins. The settlement device 30 receives the third withdrawal instruction. As the third withdrawal instruction has been accepted, the provisional balance of the designated denomination is 25 coins, which is 40 coins minus 15 coins, as shown in the transition from Figure 22(e) to Figure 22(f). a. The actual value of the designated denomination remains unchanged at 40 coins.

Then, under the state shown in FIG. 22(f), the third withdrawal process corresponding to the third withdrawal instruction was executed. As a result of executing the third withdrawal process, as shown in the transition from Figure 22(f) to Figure 22(g), the actual amount of the specified denomination is managed as 25 coins, which is 40 coins minus 15 coins. be done. At this stage, the actual amount of the designated denomination matches the provisional amount. In this state, since the actual value of the designated denomination is greater than the minimum number of coins to be held, the settlement device 30 does not determine that a near-end state has occurred.

In this way, the settlement device 30 of the present embodiment does not accept the next withdrawal instruction from the time it receives the withdrawal instruction until the withdrawal process corresponding to the received withdrawal instruction is performed. It will be done like this. By restricting the acceptance of withdrawal instructions in this manner, it is possible to avoid an unexpected near-end state as a result of executing the withdrawal process, as explained in FIG. 22.

With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 23, an example of a processing procedure executed by the settlement device 30 of this embodiment in connection with a withdrawal in response to the occurrence of a near-end state will be described. The process in the figure is applicable to the payment source settlement device 30-W in the first embodiment, the payment settlement device in the second embodiment, and the third embodiment.

Step S401: The settlement device 30 determines whether a new withdrawal instruction has been issued to itself. Corresponding to the first embodiment, when the payment source payment device 30-W reads the barcode in step S3 (FIG. 6), it is determined that a new payment instruction has been issued. Further, in correspondence with the second embodiment, the withdrawal settlement device determines that a new withdrawal instruction has been issued in response to receiving the withdrawal instruction in step S107 (FIG. 9). Further, in correspondence with the third embodiment, the withdrawal settlement device determines that a new withdrawal instruction has been issued in response to receiving the withdrawal instruction in step S211 (FIG. 11).

Step S402: If it is determined in step S401 that a new withdrawal instruction has been made, the settlement device 30 makes a withdrawal reservation for the denomination (specified denomination) designated for withdrawal by the new withdrawal instruction. It is determined whether the value of the flag is "1".

The withdrawal reservation flag is stored in, for example, the RAM 303 in correspondence with each denomination.
In this case, the withdrawal reservation flag is "1", indicating that there is a waiting withdrawal process for the corresponding denomination. In other words, the withdrawal reservation flag of "1" indicates the status of the payment device 30, which indicates that a withdrawal instruction specifying the relevant denomination and withdrawal instruction has been received, but the withdrawal processing according to the received withdrawal instruction is has not yet been executed.
Further, the withdrawal reservation flag in this case is "0", indicating that there is no waiting withdrawal process for the corresponding denomination.
That is, in step S402, the settlement device 30 determines whether or not there is a waiting withdrawal process that specifies the same denomination as the new withdrawal instruction as its own status.

Step S403: If it is determined in step S402 that there is a waiting withdrawal process that specifies the same denomination as the new withdrawal instruction, the settlement device 30 accepts the rejection of the withdrawal instruction obtained in step S401. Execute the appropriate processing.
That is, the settlement device 30 in this case does not accept the withdrawal instruction obtained in step S401 and invalidates it.

In response to not accepting the withdrawal instruction, the settlement device 30 may, for example, notify the payment device 30 that it has refused to accept the withdrawal instruction obtained this time due to the status of waiting withdrawal processing. It may be possible to notify the store clerk who performed the operation to instruct the money.
For example, in the first embodiment, the notification may be made by the payment source settlement device 30-W that read the barcode. Further, the management device 10 may also perform the process. Further, under the second embodiment or the third embodiment, the withdrawal instruction may be performed by the withdrawal instruction registration device that transmitted the withdrawal instruction in response to the clerk's operation of the withdrawal button.
In addition, the notification may be performed by displaying on the display unit. Alternatively, notification may be performed accompanied by sound output.

Step S404: If it is determined in step S402 that there is no waiting withdrawal process that specifies the same denomination as the new withdrawal instruction, the settlement device 30 accepts the new withdrawal instruction issued in step S401. accept. In step S404, the settlement device 30 may notify the store clerk that the withdrawal instruction has been received, in addition to accepting the withdrawal instruction.

Step S405: In addition, in response to receiving a new withdrawal instruction in step S404, the settlement device 30 performs a withdrawal for the denomination designated for withdrawal (designated denomination) by the accepted withdrawal instruction. Change the money reservation flag from "0" to "1".

Depending on the processing in steps S401 to S404, a new withdrawal instruction will be rejected if the designated denomination is the same as one of the waiting withdrawal processes; If the designated denominations are different from each other, it may be possible to accept the designated denominations.

Step S406: After the processing in step S405, or if it is determined in step S401 that a new withdrawal instruction has not been obtained, the payment device 30 performs processing in response to any of the payment processing on standby. It is determined whether an operation for executing a withdrawal (withdrawal operation) has been performed.

If it is determined in step S405 that a withdrawal operation has not been performed, the process returns to step S406.
Note that even if a withdrawal operation is performed in a state where there is no payment processing on standby, in step S405, it is treated as if the withdrawal operation has not been performed, and the process returns to step S401. If a withdrawal operation is performed in such a state that there is no payment processing waiting, the cashier will inform the clerk that the withdrawal operation is invalid (error) because there is no payment processing waiting. You may also make a notification to that effect. The device and manner of notification may be the same as in the case of notification of withdrawal instruction rejection in step S403.

Step S407: If it is determined in step S406 that a withdrawal operation has been performed, the settlement device 30 executes a withdrawal process according to the withdrawal operation.
Step S408: Upon completion of the withdrawal process in step S407, the settlement device 30 changes the value of the withdrawal reservation flag from "1" to "0" corresponding to the denomination withdrawn in the withdrawal process executed in step S407. ”. After the process in step S408, the process returns to step S401.
In this way, the value of the withdrawal reservation flag is changed to "0" and the process is returned to step S401, so that from now on, the executed withdrawal process will change the denomination that was targeted for withdrawal. The system becomes ready to accept new specified withdrawal instructions.

In the present embodiment, for example, in at least one of the devices (management device 10, registration device 20, payment device 30) constituting the POS system 1, in response to an operation by a store clerk, it is possible to determine whether the POS system 1 is currently on standby or not. It may be possible to call up and display information regarding withdrawal processing.

In addition, in the above description, when applying the configuration of this embodiment to the first embodiment, the settlement device 30-W of the withdrawal source accepts or rejects a new withdrawal instruction. However, as another example in which the configuration of the present embodiment is applied to the first embodiment, the management device 10 may respond to a new withdrawal process based on the status of the waiting withdrawal process in the settlement device 30. Issuance of the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51 may be restricted.
Specifically, for example, when the management device 10 receives a near-end notification from a payment device 30 in which a near-end state has occurred, it selects a payment device 30 that meets a predetermined condition from among payment devices 30 other than the near-end notification destination. It is determined as the money settlement device 30-W.
The management device 10 determines whether or not a withdrawal process that specifies the same denomination as that for which the near-end notification indicates that the near-end has occurred is on standby in the settlement device 30-W. The management device 10 issues a deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51 unless a withdrawal process specifying the same denomination is on standby. If a withdrawal process specifying the same denomination is on standby, the management device 10 suspends issuance of the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51. Then, if the payment processing specifying the same denomination is completed in the payment device 30-W, the management device 10 releases the hold on issuance of the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51 and issues the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51. do.

Further, a modification of the withdrawal process of this embodiment will be described. Regarding this modification, a specific example will be explained with reference to FIG. 21.
As a specific example of the withdrawal process of this modification, the processes shown in FIGS. 21(a) to 21(e) have been completed. On top of that, when executing the second withdrawal process, the settlement device 30 of this modification has the same Calculate the difference value between the number of denominations held and the minimum number held. If the number of coins held after withdrawal processing is equal to the minimum number of coins held, the difference value is "0", and if the number of coins held after withdrawal processing is greater than the minimum number of coins held, the difference value is a positive value, and withdrawal If the number of sheets held after processing is less than the minimum number of sheets held, the difference value becomes a negative value.
In the example shown in the figure, the minimum number of coins held after the withdrawal process is 15 (=40-25), and the minimum number of coins held is 20, so the difference value is "-5".
A state where the difference value becomes a negative value in this way is a near-end state. Therefore, when the difference value becomes a negative value in this way, the settlement device 30 of this modification changes the number of coins to be withdrawn so that the difference value becomes "0". Specifically, the difference value is added to the number of coins to be withdrawn as instructed by the withdrawal instruction. In this case, the number of coins to be withdrawn after the change is 20 (=25+(-5)).
The settlement device 30 executes a withdrawal process using the changed number of coins to be withdrawn as a second withdrawal process. As a result, the number of coins held after the withdrawal process becomes equal to the minimum number of coins held, and a near-end situation is avoided.
Note that a negative value whose absolute value is larger than the difference value may be added to the number of coins to be withdrawn designated by the withdrawal instruction. In this case, the number of coins held can be greater than the minimum number of coins held after the withdrawal process.

As mentioned above, if a withdrawal process is executed that does not depend on the number of coins to be withdrawn as indicated in the withdrawal instruction, under the first embodiment, the number of coins to be withdrawn as indicated in the withdrawal instruction is changed and The deposit/withdrawal instruction slip (deposit/withdrawal instruction slip corresponding to change in the number of withdrawn coins) indicating that the withdrawal process has been performed may be reissued.

FIG. 24 shows an example of the printed contents of the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51A corresponding to change in the number of withdrawn coins. "0012-2" printed in the header of the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51A corresponding to change in the number of withdrawn coins is a deposit/withdrawal processing number indicating the corresponding deposit/withdrawal process. The original deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51 previously issued in response to the same withdrawal instruction has "0012" printed as the deposit/withdrawal processing number. In other words, depending on the "-2" part of "0012-2" printed in the header of the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51A corresponding to change in the number of withdrawals, it is possible to indicate that it has been reissued in response to a change in the number of withdrawals. shown.
In addition, in the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51A corresponding to the change in the number of withdrawals, the printed portion of the appropriation information area AR2 with the same content as the original deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51 has a line indicating cancellation, for example, as shown in the figure. The withdrawal indicates that the current withdrawal process was invalid.
Then, in the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51A corresponding to change in the number of coins to be withdrawn, an appropriation information area AR2-1 is printed that indicates the content of the appropriation corresponding to the changed number of coins to be withdrawn.
Further, in the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51A corresponding to change in the number of coins to be withdrawn in the figure, a message indicating that there is a change in the number of coins to be withdrawn and the reason for the change are printed.
Further, although not shown, a message or the like instructing the clerk to discard the original deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51 may be printed on the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51A corresponding to change in the number of withdrawals.
The barcode BC1 of the deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51A corresponding to change in the number of withdrawn coins has content that instructs deposit/withdrawal based on the changed number of withdrawn coins.

The deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51A corresponding to change in the number of coins to be withdrawn is issued, for example, at the stage when the settlement device that is the withdrawal source executes the process to change the number of coins to be withdrawn before executing the withdrawal process. You may be allowed to do so. Alternatively, the information may be issued by the management device 10 in response to a notification from the payment device that serves as the withdrawal source.
The clerk who performs the deposit/withdrawal work may perform the withdrawal work and the deposit work using the issued deposit/withdrawal instruction slip 51A corresponding to change in the number of withdrawn coins. As a result, deposits and withdrawals are made so that the payment source settlement device does not enter a near-end state.

<Modified example>
Modifications corresponding to each of the above embodiments will be described below.
[First modification]
The payment device 30 may also be capable of issuing notifications corresponding to a state called "near full." The maximum number of coins that the payment device 30 can hold (maximum number of coins that can be held) for each denomination is determined, for example, according to the specifications of the change machine. The near-full state is a state in which the number of coins of a certain denomination exceeds the maximum number of coins that can be held (threshold value corresponding to near-full), which is determined based on the maximum number of coins that can be held.
When a near-full state occurs, deposits and withdrawals can be made by, for example, withdrawing money from the payment device 30 that is in the near-full state and depositing the money into another payment device 30 that has a surplus capacity. The configurations of the first to third embodiments may be applied to deposits and withdrawals in response to a near-full state.

[Second modification]
In each of the above embodiments, regarding checkout, an example is given in which the configuration is provided with a registration device 20 that performs product registration processing in response to an operation by a store clerk, and a payment device 30 that performs payment processing in response to an operation by a customer. listed.
The configuration of each of the embodiments described above may also be applied to a POS system including a POS register that performs product registration processing and payment processing in response to operations by a store clerk, for example.
Further, the configuration of each of the above embodiments may be applied to a fully self-service type POS register that performs product registration processing and payment processing in response to customer operations.
Furthermore, the configuration of each of the above embodiments is such that one machine is a face-to-face POS register that executes product registration processing in response to the operations of a store clerk, and executes payment processing in response to the operations of a customer facing the store clerk. may also be applied.
Furthermore, the configuration of each of the above embodiments is such that there is a mode in which a store clerk performs operations related to product registration and an operation related to payment, a mode in which a store clerk performs operations related to product registration and a customer performs operations related to payment, and a mode in which a customer performs operations related to product registration. The present invention may also be applied to a POS register that can be switched between a mode for operation and an operation related to payment.

[Third modification]
In the embodiment described above, the mode of specifying the settlement device 30 to execute the settlement process from among the plurality of settlement devices 30 is the mode in which the clerk specifies the settlement device 30 to execute the settlement process using the registration device 20. (first designation mode), and a mode in which the registration device 20 issues a checkout ticket handed to the customer, and the customer reads the checkout ticket handed over by the clerk into one payment device 30 (second designation mode). (designation mode). However, the mode of specifying the payment device 30 is not limited to the above mode. For example, the payment device 30 may be specified as in the third to seventh specification modes below.

As a third designation mode, in response to an operation performed on the send button displayed on the clerk display section 205 upon completion of product registration (or an operation that declares completion of product registration). The registration device 20 may, for example, make a status inquiry to the payment device 30 and recognize the payment device 30 that is capable of payment processing (for example, no failure has occurred and is not in use) and is not in use. One settlement device 30 is determined from among the settlement devices 30 according to a predetermined rule. Then, the registration device 20 transmits the payment information to the determined payment device 30 and instructs it to execute the payment processing.

As a fourth designation mode, the priority order of payment processing is set in advance for the payment device 30. Then, in response to the completion of product registration, a display is displayed on the clerk display section 205 so that the operation of a send button instructing to send payment information to the payment device 30 is enabled. In response to the operation of the send button, the registration device 20 checks whether or not the payment device 30 is capable of payment processing in the order according to the set priority order, and confirms that the payment processing is possible. If not confirmed, the payment device 30 with the next priority is checked. Then, the registration device 20 transmits payment information to the payment device 30 that was first confirmed to be capable of payment processing, and instructs it to execute the payment processing.

The priority order of the payment device 30 according to the predetermined rules in the third designation mode or the payment device 30 in the fourth designation mode is determined based on the number assigned to the payment device 30, for example. It's fine. Alternatively, it may be determined based on the distance from the registration device 20 to the payment device 30. Alternatively, it may be determined based on the relationship between the breakdown of the denominations of change predicted based on the total amount and the number of coins of each denomination stored in the change machine of the settlement device 30.

As a fifth designation mode, the registration device 20 transmits payment information to all payment devices 30. When the payment device 30 that has received the payment information becomes capable of executing payment processing using the payment information included in the payment information that it has received, it sends a payment processing execution notification that notifies that the payment device 30 will execute the payment processing. is sent to the registration device 20 that is the sender of the payment information.
In response to receiving the payment processing execution notification, the registration device 20 displays a display indicating the payment processing device 30 to which the payment processing execution notification is sent (a payment processing execution display). The clerk only has to look at the payment process execution display and tell the customer which payment device 30 is to execute the payment process.
At this time, in addition to displaying the payment processing execution notification, the sign pole 311 of the payment device 30 that sent the payment processing execution notification is lit in a predetermined pattern, or the payment device 30 outputs a predetermined notification sound. It may be possible to notify that the payment process will be executed.

According to the specification of the payment device 30 according to the third to fifth designation modes described above, it is not necessary to determine which payment device 30 should perform the payment process.

As a sixth designation mode, the store clerk places the shopping cart containing the products that have been registered in the registration device 20 in one of the cart storage areas installed corresponding to each payment device 30. move.
The cart storage area is equipped with a sensor (such as a weight sensor or an optical sensor) that detects the shopping cart placed therein. When the sensor determines that a shopping cart has been placed in the cart storage area, the corresponding payment device 30 makes a request, acquires the corresponding payment information from the registration device 20, and executes payment processing. .
In this case as well, the payment device 30 that is to perform the payment process may notify that it will perform the payment process by lighting the sign pole 311 or outputting a notification sound.
Note that instead of the sensor for detecting a placed shopping cart, a human sensor or an imaging device may be provided, for example, corresponding to a store clerk. Then, the registration device 20 determines the movement of the store clerk based on the detection output of the human sensor, the image captured by the imaging device, etc., and based on the determined result, the store clerk It is determined in which of the basket storage areas installed corresponding to the shopping cart the shopping cart is installed. Then, the payment device 30 corresponding to the determined basket storage area may be determined as the payment device 30 that should perform the payment processing.

As a seventh designation mode, the registration device 20 transmits settlement instruction information including settlement information and transfer order information that sets the transfer order among the plurality of settlement devices 30 to a certain settlement device 30. . The transfer order information may specify the transfer order cyclically between the payment devices 30.
If the payment device 30 that has received the payment instruction information is capable of executing the payment processing, it transmits a payment processing execution notification to the registration device 20 that is the source of the payment instruction information, and receives the received payment instruction information. The payment process is executed using the payment information included in the payment information.
On the other hand, if the payment device 30 that has received the payment instruction information is unable to execute the payment process, the payment device 30 that has received the payment instruction information sends the payment to the payment device 30 that is next in the transfer order according to the transfer order information included in the received payment instruction information. Transfer the received payment instruction information. In this way, by sequentially transferring the payment instruction information between the payment devices 30, a procedure corresponding to the designation of the payment device 30 to perform the payment process can be realized.

In each of the above specification modes, the processing related to determining the payment device 30 to execute the payment processing is performed by a predetermined device other than the registration device 20 and the payment device 30, such as the management device 10, registering the product by the registration device 20. It may be executed in response to the completion of processing. The predetermined device other than the registration device 20 and the payment device 30 may be, for example, a device provided for monitoring the state of the payment device 30.

<Summary of embodiments>
The present embodiment (fifth embodiment) will be summarized below.
(1) As explained above, one aspect of the present embodiment includes a withdrawal receiving means capable of accepting a withdrawal instruction for instructing the withdrawal of cash, and a withdrawal instruction that is accepted by the withdrawal receiving means. Depending on the situation, after receiving a plurality of withdrawal instructions by the withdrawal processing means that executes the withdrawal processing corresponding to the withdrawal instruction and the withdrawal acceptance means, each of the plurality of withdrawal instructions received A product sales data processing device (e.g. , payment device 30).
According to the above configuration, the product sales data processing device avoids a situation where the amount of cash held is less than the minimum number of coins held, which is caused by multiple withdrawal processing being performed in response to multiple withdrawal instructions. control as follows. This prevents a near-end situation from occurring due to execution of the withdrawal process multiple times.

(2) One aspect of the present embodiment is the product sales data processing device according to (1), wherein the withdrawal processing control means is configured to control the withdrawal processing after the withdrawal processing means receives the withdrawal instruction. Until the withdrawal processing executed by the withdrawal processing means in response to the withdrawal instruction is completed, the withdrawal processing means is controlled not to accept other withdrawal instructions.
According to the above configuration, after receiving one withdrawal instruction, the product sales data processing device can process other withdrawal instructions until the withdrawal processing according to the received withdrawal instruction is performed. will not be accepted. This prevents the product sales data processing device from continuously performing multiple withdrawal processes after receiving multiple withdrawal instructions. As a result, a near-end situation caused by executing the withdrawal process multiple times can be avoided.

(3) One aspect of the present embodiment is the product sales data processing device according to (2), wherein the withdrawal instruction includes information specifying a denomination to be withdrawn, and the withdrawal processing control The means is configured to collect a received withdrawal instruction from the time the withdrawal processing means receives the withdrawal instruction until the withdrawal processing executed by the withdrawal processing means in response to the received withdrawal instruction is completed. The withdrawal processing means is controlled so as not to accept other withdrawal instructions specifying the designated denomination.
According to the above configuration, when a withdrawal is to be made to a designated denomination from among multiple denominations, if the denomination is different, the withdrawal can be made without waiting for the previous withdrawal process to be completed. Able to give instructions. This makes it possible to efficiently operate the withdrawal process while avoiding near-end situations caused by executing the withdrawal process multiple times.

(4) One aspect of the present embodiment is the product sales data processing device according to (2) or (3), in which the withdrawal receiving means receives the received withdrawal instruction. The present invention further includes a notification means for notifying that other withdrawal instructions cannot be accepted until the withdrawal processing executed by the withdrawal processing means in response to the above is completed.
According to the above configuration, the store clerk accurately understands that the acceptance of the current withdrawal instruction has been refused because the withdrawal processing corresponding to the previously accepted withdrawal instruction has not been completed. be able to.

(5) One aspect of the present embodiment is the product sales data processing device according to (1), in which the withdrawal processing control means makes a withdrawal indicated by a withdrawal instruction received by the withdrawal processing means. When a withdrawal process based on the number of coins is executed, if the held cash is less than the minimum number of coins to be held, the withdrawal processing means Control the execution of withdrawal processing.
According to the above configuration, by changing the number of coins specified by the withdrawal instruction and executing the withdrawal process, a near-end state occurs due to executing the withdrawal process multiple times. This avoids the possibility of

(6) One aspect of the present embodiment includes a withdrawal receiving means capable of accepting a withdrawal instruction for instructing the withdrawal of cash; A withdrawal processing means that executes a withdrawal process corresponding to a withdrawal instruction, and after receiving a plurality of withdrawal instructions by the withdrawal acceptance means, a plurality of withdrawal instructions corresponding to each of the plurality of withdrawal instructions received. The present invention is a product sales data processing system that includes a withdrawal processing control means for controlling a situation in which the amount of held cash becomes less than the minimum number of coins to be held due to the execution of a withdrawal process.

(7) One aspect of the present embodiment is a withdrawal receiving means capable of accepting a withdrawal instruction for instructing the withdrawal of money; , a withdrawal processing means that executes a withdrawal process corresponding to the withdrawal instruction, and after the plurality of withdrawal instructions are received by the withdrawal acceptance means, a plurality of times according to each of the plurality of accepted withdrawal instructions. This is a program for functioning as a withdrawal processing control means for controlling a situation in which the amount of cash held is less than the minimum number of coins held due to the withdrawal processing of .

Note that a program for realizing the functions of the above-mentioned management device 10, registration device 20, payment device 30, etc. is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on this recording medium is read into a computer system. The above-mentioned management device 10, registration device 20, payment device 30, etc. may perform processing by setting and executing the above-mentioned information. Here, "reading a program recorded on a recording medium into a computer system and executing it" includes installing the program on the computer system. The "computer system" here includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. Furthermore, a "computer system" may include a plurality of computer devices connected via a network including communication lines such as the Internet, WAN, LAN, and dedicated lines. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, and storage devices such as hard disks built into computer systems. In this way, the recording medium storing the program may be a non-transitory recording medium such as a CD-ROM. The recording medium also includes a recording medium provided internally or externally that is accessible from the distribution server for distributing the program. The code of the program stored in the recording medium of the distribution server may be different from the code of the program in a format executable by the terminal device. That is, as long as it can be downloaded from the distribution server and installed in an executable form on the terminal device, the format in which it is stored on the distribution server does not matter. Note that a configuration in which a program is divided into a plurality of parts and downloaded at different timings and then combined on a terminal device, or a distribution server that distributes each of the divided programs may be different. Furthermore, a "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a storage medium that retains a program for a certain period of time, such as volatile memory (RAM) inside a computer system that serves as a server or client when a program is transmitted via a network. This shall also include things. Moreover, the above-mentioned program may be for realizing part of the above-mentioned functions. Furthermore, it may be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

1 POS system, 10 management device, 11 LAN, 20 (20-1, 20-2) registration device, 30 (30-1 to 30-3) payment device, 101 CPU, 102 storage section, 103 RAM, 104 communication section , 105 display section, 106 operation section, 107 printing section, 201 CPU, 202 storage section, 203 RAM, 204 scanner section, 205 display section for clerk, 205a display section for customer, 206 operation section, 207 communication section, 208 buzzer, 209 Printing Department, 210 Card Reader, 301 CPU, 302 Storage Department, 303 RAM, 304 Scanner Department, 305 Display Department, 306 Operation Department, 307 Communication Department, 308 Buzzer, 309 Printing Department, 310 Payment Department, 311 Sign Pole, 312 Human detection sensor, 313 card reader

Claims (4)

A plurality of payment devices that execute payment processing in response to customer operations ; and a payment device that is connected to the plurality of payment devices , performs product registration processing that registers products in response to store staff operations, and performs payment processing that corresponds to the registered products. A system comprising: a registration device that executes a process that causes one of the plurality of payment devices to execute a process ,
Receiving means for receiving, at the registration device , information transmitted by the payment device in response to the amount of cash held falling below a certain level;
Withdrawal instruction means for transmitting withdrawal instruction information from the registration device to a payment source payment source, which instructs the payment device to withdraw replenishing cash to the payment device whose held cash is below a certain level;
determining means for determining whether the withdrawal process for the replenishment cash in response to the reception of the withdrawal instruction information is completed;
A system comprising: control means for controlling a new withdrawal instruction by the withdrawal instruction means to be put on hold when the determination means determines that the withdrawal process is not executed. After controlling the new withdrawal instruction to be suspended, the control means may release the suspension of the new withdrawal instruction and execute the new withdrawal instruction if the determination means determines that the withdrawal process has been executed. The system according to claim 1 . a communication means for communicating with a plurality of payment devices that execute payment processing according to customer operations ;
a registration processing unit that executes a product registration process to register a product in response to an operation by a store clerk, and causes one of the plurality of payment devices to perform a payment process corresponding to the registered product;
Receiving means for receiving information transmitted by the settlement device in response to the amount of cash held falling below a certain level;
Withdrawal instruction means for transmitting withdrawal instruction information for instructing the withdrawal of replenishment cash to be replenished to the settlement device whose held cash falls below a certain level to the settlement device that is the withdrawal source;
determining means for determining whether the withdrawal process for the replenishment cash in response to the receipt of the withdrawal instruction information is completed;
A registration device comprising: control means for controlling a new withdrawal instruction by the withdrawal instruction means to be suspended when the determination means determines that the withdrawal process is not executed. A plurality of payment machines execute payment processing in response to customer operations , and a product registration process in which products are registered in response to store staff operations, and one of the plurality of payment payment machines performs payment processing corresponding to the registered product. A computer as a registration device provided in a system having a registration device that executes a process to be executed ,
receiving means for receiving information transmitted by the settlement device in response to the amount of cash held falling below a certain level;
Withdrawal instruction means for transmitting withdrawal instruction information for instructing the withdrawal of replenishment cash to be replenished to the settlement device whose held cash falls below a certain level to the settlement device that is the withdrawal source;
determining means for determining whether the withdrawal process for the replenishment cash in response to the reception of the withdrawal instruction information is completed;
A program for functioning as a control means for controlling a new withdrawal instruction by the withdrawal instruction means to be suspended when the determination means determines that the withdrawal process is not executed.

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