JPH03219393A - Sales information transmission system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transfer sales information generated at one balance to the other balance and confirm the sales information each time by receiving the sales information to be transmitted, storing it and transmitting the stored sales information corresponding to a request. CONSTITUTION:When the sales information of one customer is generated at one sales information processor A, the information is transmitted from the processor A to a carrying transmission storing medium M and stored. Next, when the information is moved to another sales information processor B and the processor B is operated, the sales information stored from the transmission storing medium to the processor B is transmitted to the processor B as a moving destination. In that case, the information received at the processor B is displayed on displays 3 and 4 of the processor B and confirmed. In such a way, the sales information of one customer generated at one sales information processor A is transmitted through the transmission storing medium M, which is moved together with the customer, to the other sales information processor B. Thus, the shopping information of the customer is transferred between balances and only by confirming displayed contents, it is recognized whether communication is normal or not.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a price scale that calculates and displays a price by multiplying measurement data and a unit price, or to register a purchase amount.

The present invention relates to sales information transmission technology in a network system such as a cash register that performs settlement, and a host computer that exchanges information with these cash registers to analyze sales information, customer information, etc., and performs production management, inventory management, and customer management.

(Prior art) Stores that weigh and sell meat, prepared foods, etc., use price scales that calculate and display selling prices from product unit prices and weighing data.Recently, however, multiple price scales are used within one store. Each department is connected with a communication cable.
Even if a customer goes to each department and makes a purchase, that customer's shopping information is transferred to another scale, so that the total amount can be settled at the time of the final purchase.

Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 61-5606, 61-5607, and 61-18125 are known as disclosing such techniques.

(Problem to be Solved) However, with this conventional device, it is necessary to lay a communication cable, which not only deprives the freedom of changing the placement of the scale, but also requires the wiring of the communication cable for the scale installed on the showcase. This poses a problem in that the aesthetic appearance of the sales floor is impaired.

One method for solving this problem is to communicate each weighing amount wirelessly. However, with this method, there is a problem in terms of communication reliability, and in particular, since the information to be transmitted is customer purchase information, there is a problem that it is difficult to ensure complete reliability if the information is transmitted by relying on machines.

On the other hand, there is a method of transferring customer shopping information by weight via a highly portable storage medium such as a magnetic card or an IC card. According to this, although it is superior to the former in terms of reliability of information transmission, it has the disadvantage that the card has to be inserted and removed from the read/write device every time it is transferred, making the operation cumbersome. In the field where cards are handled, there is a problem in that the cards must be handled with care, especially in terms of hygiene.

This invention is intended to solve these problems,
The purpose is to provide a highly reliable sales information transmission system that allows purchase information to be confirmed each time it is transferred.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the sales information transmission system of the present invention includes a sales information processing device that calculates and displays a purchase amount, and a sales information processing device that is equipped with a sales information processing device that transmits and receives purchase information. and a transmission storage medium that receives and stores purchase information transmitted from the communication means and transmits the stored purchase information to the communication means in response to a request from the communication means. It is something that

The sales information processing device includes a price scale that calculates and displays a product price from weighing data and a unit price, or a cash register that registers and settles purchase amounts, and the transmission storage medium includes a communication device, It is composed of a microcomputer, a battery, etc., is compact and portable, and is capable of communicating only with the communication means of the sales information processing device.

Communication between the two is performed by radio waves or optical communication using infrared rays, etc., but the communication distance is approximately 1 meter to avoid interference with the same communication means installed in other sales information processing equipment. The design is such that communication is possible only when an operator carrying a transmission storage medium faces the sales information processing device to operate it.

(Function) In the sales information transmission system configured as described above, when purchase information of - customers is generated in one sales information processing device A, the information is transferred from the processing device A to a transmission storage medium carried by the operator. is sent to and stored. Next, when that operator moves to another sales information processing device B and operates that processing device B, the purchase information stored there is transmitted from the operator's transmission storage medium to the destination processing device B. be done. At this time, the information received by the processing device B is displayed on the display of the processing device B and confirmed by the operator. In this way, one sales information processing device A
The purchase information of one customer generated in 1 is transmitted to another sales information processing device B via the transmission storage medium of the operator who moves with the customer. Further, when new purchase information is generated in the processing device B, the generated new purchase information is added to the previous purchase information received from the transmission storage medium, and is transmitted again to the transmission storage medium and stored. . In this way, the shopping information of one customer is transferred between the sales information processing devices via the transmission storage medium.

Finally, when the operator operates the cash register, the customer's shopping information is transferred from the transmission storage medium carried by the operator to the cash register and cleared.

(Example) Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an external view of a sales information transmission system in which a sales information processing device A is used as a fee scale. In this diagram,
1 is a weighing pan, 2 is an input device, and on the keyboard are zero key and tare keys required for weighing, numeric keys for inputting numerical information, and addition for adding the calculated price of additional orders to the total purchase amount up to that point. keys, a total key used for settlement processing, a deposit amount key, a PLO key to call up the unit price of each registered product, etc. are arranged. 3 is a display that displays unit price, weight, calculated price, etc.; 4 is a display that displays communication information and operation messages; 5 is a printer that prints purchase information on receipt paper or labels; 6 is a transmitter/receiver. The communication means M with built-in is a portable transmission storage medium containing the same transceiver as the communication means 6, and is designed to be attached to the operator's jacket or the like.

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the above system.
A weighing pan 1 (not shown) is connected to a rotor self that converts mechanical strain caused by a load into an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal.
The load cell output is input to a signal processing device 8 consisting of an amplifier circuit, a filter circuit, a digital-to-analog conversion circuit, etc., and output as a digital weight signal. Reference numeral 9 denotes a control means consisting of a microcomputer, which inputs the digital weight signal and also controls an input device 22, a display 3,
4. It is designed to control the printer 5 and the like. The control will be described in detail later along with the operations of the communication means 6 and the transmission storage medium M.

FIG. 3(a) is a block diagram of the configuration of the communication means 6 (transmission storage medium M) when the FM method is adopted as the transmission method. An antenna 61 is an oscillator that outputs a carrier wave;
62 is a modulation circuit that frequency-modulates the carrier wave with the output pulse (communication data) of the microcomputer 64; 63 is a
This is a demodulation circuit that demodulates the received modulated wave into a pulse signal.

Fig. 3 0)) is a block diagram of the configuration of the communication means 6 (transmission storage medium M) when an optical communication method is adopted. The carrier wave output from the microcomputer 64 is pulse-modulated by the modulation circuit 62° using output pulses (communication data) from the microcomputer 64, and is output to the LED driver 65. 66 is a G connected to the LED driver 65
an aAs infrared light emitting diode; 67 is an infrared sensing photodiode transmitted from the GaAs infrared light emitting diode on the opposite side (receiving side); 68 is a waveform shaping circuit that shapes the received wave; 63' is a modulation circuit; This is a demodulation circuit that demodulates the received wave into a pulse signal.

In order to reduce power consumption, the battery-operated transmission storage medium M is designed so that the main power is turned on and the microcomputer 64 operates only when there is a call from the communication means 6.

Further, the structure of the cash register is that a cash drawer is attached in place of the weighing mechanism such as the rotor self and the signal processing device 8, and the other basic structure is the same as that shown in FIG.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7, an explanation will be given of the operating procedure of the store clerk as the operator and the associated operations of the sales information processing device A and the transmission storage medium M.

When operating the fee scale A, first of all, the addition key of the input device 2 is operated in order to confirm the information stored in the transmission storage medium M (step 401 in FIG. 4). Then,
The control means 9 executes steps 504 to 508 in FIG. 5, and the communication means 6 executes steps 601 to 604 in FIG. 6, and then steps 601, 602 to 605, 606. Each is executed. Further, in the transmission storage medium M, step 70
1 to step 705, followed by steps 701 to 7
Steps 706 to 70B are respectively executed from 04 onwards. As a result, the ID code and purchase information stored in the transmission storage medium M are received by the scale via the communication means 6, and the new purchase information calculated by the scale A is received by the communication means 6.
via the transmission storage medium M and stored therein. However, since no purchase information has been generated at this point, both the purchase amount stored in the transmission storage medium M and the new total purchase amount calculated in step 507 are zero. Therefore, the display 4 of scale A displays zero as the total purchase amount.

Next, the store clerk checks the ID code and purchase amount displayed on the display 4 and checks the communication status (step 402 in FIG. 4). This improves the reliability of information transmission and also makes it possible to check the battery.

Incidentally, the above ID code specifies the transmission storage medium M or the store clerk who carries it, and the code is registered in advance.

When the preparations are completed and an order is received from the customer, the clerk operates the input device 2 to input the product unit price, then takes out the product from the showcase and weighs the required amount (steps 403 and 404 in FIG. 4). Then, the control means 9 executes the loop process from step 501 to step 503 and each process of steps 504, 509, and 517, and displays 5 unit prices, 5 weights, and 5 prices on the display 3.

If there are no additional orders at that point, payment processing will begin. That is, the user inputs the deposit amount by operating the input device 2, and then operates the settlement key (Fig.
07). Then, in the control means 9, step 503.5
04, the processes from step 509 to step 516 are executed, and in response to this, the communication means 6 executes steps 601 to 604, and subsequent steps 602 to 605, 607, and 608, respectively.
Further, in the transmission storage medium M, steps 701 to 705 are performed, followed by steps 701 to 704 .
706, 707, 709, and 710 are respectively executed. As a result, the ID code and purchase information stored in the transmission storage medium M are transferred to the scale A side via the communication means 6.
Furthermore, the stored purchase information is erased from the transmission storage medium M.

However, at this point, the customer's purchase information has not yet been stored in the transmission storage medium M, so the addition result in step 512 is the same value as the product price calculated in step 502.

When the change is displayed on the display 3, the clerk calculates the change and hands it to the customer along with the product and receipt (
(Steps 408, 409 in FIG. 4).

On the other hand, if there is an additional order, the addition key is operated without operating the settlement key (step 410 in FIG. 4).

Then, the same process as described above is performed by the control means 92 and the communication means 6.
．． The first purchase information calculated in step 507 by the transmission storage medium M is transmitted to the transmission storage medium M via the communication means 6 and stored therein. Further, the purchase information is displayed on the display 3 and confirmed by the store clerk (step 411 in FIG. 4).

If the customer then moves to another showcase to purchase a different product, the clerk will also move with the customer, and once the customer receives the order there, the staff will move to another showcase to purchase a different product, and once the customer receives the order, the staff will move to another showcase to purchase another product. First, operate the addition key (Step 4 in Figure 4).
14,401). Then, the process from step 504 to step 508 is executed in the same way as described above on the destination scale, and the ID code and the first purchase information stored in the transmission storage medium M are transferred to the communication means 6. The image is transferred to the frame side via the frame and displayed on the display 4. After confirming the displayed contents (step 402 in FIG. 4), the clerk takes out the ordered product and begins weighing it in the same way as described above.

If there is no need to move, the product remains there and takes out the added product from the showcase (step 413 in FIG. 4), and begins the same weighing process as described above. That is,
After inputting the unit price of the product, the required amount of the product is placed on the weighing pan 1 and weighed (steps 403 and 404 in FIG. 4). Then, the control means 9 performs steps 501 to 503.
The loop processing up to Steps 504, 509, and 517 is executed, and the unit price per weight per price of the product is calculated and displayed.

After such operations, when the clearing key is operated, the control means 9
Now, enter the purchase information for the first item stored in the transmission storage medium M via the communication means 6 (Step 511), and then enter the purchase amount for the first item and the 2nd item calculated in Step 502.
The purchase amount of the item is added and displayed on the display 3 (step 512). The transmission storage medium M also transmitted the stored purchase information for the first item (step 705 in Figure 7).
After that, in response to the execution of step 516 by the control means 9, the stored purchase information for the first item is deleted (step 7 in FIG. 7).
710).

If the addition key is operated without making a payment, the control means 9 prompts the user to input the purchase information for the first item stored in the transmission storage medium M via the communication means 6 (Step 506), and then inputs the purchase information for the first item stored in the transmission storage medium M. The purchase amount for the second item and the purchase amount for the second item calculated in step 502 are added and displayed on the display 3 (step 507). Subsequently, the purchase information up to that point including the added value is transferred to the communication means 6 (step 508), and in response, the communication means 6 transmits it to the transmission storage medium M together with the ID code (step 606). In response, the transmission storage medium M stores and updates the received new purchase information (step 708 in FIG. 7).

In this way, each time the addition key is operated, the purchase information stored in the transmission storage medium M is recalled to the scale A side.
There, it is added to the newly generated purchase information and sent to the transmission storage medium M again to be stored. Furthermore, this information is also transferred to other scales A as the operator moves. In this way, the shopping information of one customer that is generated one after another on multiple scales is stored and transported in the transmission storage medium M, and when it is finally settled at the cash register, the shopping information of that customer that has been accumulated up to that point is , at which point it will be deleted.

In addition, in the cash register, the processing specific to the scale in FIG. 5 (steps 501 and 502) does not exist;
Other processing is substantially the same as described above.

In addition, in this embodiment, the scale and cash register can be operated at any time, but the transmission storage medium M
It can also be configured so that only those carrying the device are allowed to operate it. For example, a step as shown in FIG. 8 is inserted before step 503 in FIG. 5, and the sales information processing apparatus A is designed to always call the transmission storage medium M. Then, key operations are only permitted when the transmission storage medium M responds and enters a communication state. In this way, troubles with the transmission storage medium M due to battery exhaustion can be detected in advance, and the reliability of information transmission can be further improved.

Furthermore, by using the ID code registered in the transmission storage medium M, it is also possible to provide a process that can only be operated by a specific person. For example, the registration of product unit prices and the output of total data may be made inoperable unless the sales information processing device A recognizes the store manager's ID code.

Further, by checking the ID code of each store clerk using a time recorder or the like equipped with a communication function, it is also possible to manage the labor of each store clerk. Furthermore, it is also possible to store the sales information of each processing device A in the transmission storage medium M, transport this to the host computer, and transfer the stored sales information to the host computer.

Further, in the above embodiment, the transmission storage medium M is carried by the store clerk, but conversely, the customer may carry it while shopping around the store. In this case, for example, the transmission storage medium M is handed to the customer at the entrance of the store, and the customer carries it around while shopping around the store. Then, once the payment has been settled, it will be collected.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, this invention exchanges information in a one-to-one relationship between the sales information processing device and the transmission storage medium, so the safety of information transmission is extremely high, and it can be carried out at close range. Since this is wireless communication, information can be reliably transmitted without laying communication cables on the showcase.

Therefore, it does not spoil the beauty of the area around the showcase. In addition, there is no need for the trouble of inserting and removing a magnetic card or the like into the card league, making it possible to exchange information reliably and safely.

In addition, since the sales information is accumulated through transmission and reception between the sales information processing device and the transmission storage medium, the operator can recognize whether the communication is normal or not just by checking the displayed contents. be able to.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figures are for explaining the present invention in detail, and FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a sales information transmission system when a price scale is used as a sales information processing device, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the system. Configuration block diagram, FIG. 3 [a] is a configuration block diagram of the communication means using the FM communication method, FIG. 3 (bl is a configuration block diagram of the communication means using the optical communication method), and FIG. The flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is as follows.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the control means, FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation of the transmission storage medium, and FIG. 8 is a part of the operation of the control means when used in different ways. It is a flowchart. A-m-Sales information processing device M--Transmission medium storage device 6-Communication means

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A sales information processing device that calculates and displays the purchase amount;
a communication means installed in the processing device for transmitting and receiving purchase information; and a communication means for receiving and storing purchase information transmitted from the communication means, and in response to a request from the communication means;
A sales information transmission system comprising a transmission storage medium for transmitting stored purchase information to the communication means. (2) The sales information transmission system according to claim 1, wherein information is exchanged between a plurality of sales information processing devices via the transmission storage medium. (3) The sales information transmission system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sales information processing device is a fee scale that calculates and displays a product price from measurement data and a unit price. (4) The sales information transmission system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sales information processing device is a cash register.