JPH04137067A - Automatic ordering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve working efficiency by generating the image data of an ordering slip based on the ordering information of goods, and automatically facsimile-transmitting the image data of the ordering slip via a facsimile part by information with respect to a telephone number for facsimile stored in the memory part of the goods. CONSTITUTION:When the ordering information of the goods is inputted via an input part 12, the image data of the ordering slip is generated in the inside based on the ordering information, and also, the information with respect to the telephone number for facsimile of a wholesaler is read out from the memory parts 41, 42 to the goods. The facsimile parts 21, 26, 31-37 are operated, and the image data of the ordering slip is automatically facsimile-transmitted to a corresponding wholesaler. Thereby, the generation of the ordering slip and time and labor required for sending can be simplified, and the working efficiency can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an automatic ordering device that simplifies the process of ordering products from wholesalers in stores.

[Conventional technology] Traditionally, when a store orders products from a wholesaler, a store clerk checks the inventory of each product, classifies the required products by wholesaler, and writes the product name and quantity ordered on an order slip. It was common practice to place an order by sending the thus created order slip to the relevant wholesaler by facsimile, mail, or the like.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the past, store clerks had to write necessary information by hand on designated slip forms to create order slips for each wholesaler. Work efficiency was poor because the items had to be sent to the wholesaler separately by mail or facsimile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide an automatic ordering device that can improve work efficiency by simplifying the effort required to create and send ordering slips.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The automatic ordering device of the first invention of the present application includes a facsimile unit that performs facsimile communication of image information, and a memory that stores information regarding the facsimile phone number of the wholesaler of each product for each product. an input section for inputting product order information manually; an order slip creation means for creating an image button of an order slip based on the product order information entered through the input section; and an input section for manually inputting product order information. and an order slip transmitting means for automatically transmitting the image data of the order slip by facsimile via the facsimile section based on the information regarding the facsimile telephone number stored in the storage section of the input product.

The automatic ordering device of the second invention of the present application is provided with the facsimile unit, and further stores the inventory quantity and ordering information of each product in the storage unit, and stores the inventory quantity or the preset order quantity of the products. an ordering product selection means for selecting an ordering product, an ordering slip creation means for creating image data of an ordering slip based on the ordering information of the product selected by the selection means, and a facsimile telephone number for the product selected by the selection means. and order slip transmitting means for automatically transmitting order slip image data by facsimile via a facsimile unit based on information regarding the order slip.

[Function] In the automatic ordering device of the first invention of the present application, when ordering information for a product is inputted through the input section, image data of an ordering slip is created internally based on the ordering information. Also,
Information regarding the wholesaler's facsimile telephone number for the product is read from the storage unit. Then, the facsimile unit operates and the image data of the order slip is automatically sent by facsimile to the corresponding wholesaler.

In the automatic ordering device of the second invention of the present application, when a product whose stock quantity has reached a preset order number is selected by the order product selection means, the image data of the order slip is processed based on the order information of the product. is created. Further, information regarding the facsimile telephone number of the wholesaler for the product is read from the storage section. Then, the facsimile unit operates and the image data of the order slip is automatically transmitted by facsimile.

[Example 1] Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to a store controller in a PO5 (point of sale) system will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the system configuration of this embodiment.

A POS system 1 installed in a store has multiple POS terminals 2 for registering sales products, and a function for collecting and aggregating sales data of products registered for sale at these POS terminals 2. A store controller 3 provided therein is connected in-line via a transmission line 4 such as an HDLC (high-level data link control) line. And the above store controller 3
is capable of facsimile communication with a facsimile machine 7 installed at each wholesaler via a telephone line 5 and an exchange 6.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the store controller 3. As shown in the figure, a keyboard is installed on the top surface of the controller main body 11 which has a built-in dual floppy disk driver (hereinafter abbreviated as FDD). 12.CR
A T-display 13 and a printer 14 are provided.

Here, the keyboard 12 includes numerical keys, character keys, data keys for human input, an execution key, an end key, a cancel key, etc.
Various function keys are provided to modify input data. The CRT display 13 displays key manual data and various control screens. The printer 14 prints a sales summary report of products registered for sale at each POS terminal 2.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the store controller 3. As shown in FIG. In the same figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a CPU constituting the main body of the control section, and this CPU 21 is connected to the transmission line 4.
A transmission control circuit 22 for controlling data transmission and reception with each POS terminal 2 is also connected through the POS terminal 2.

In addition, a ROM 23 in which program buttons for controlling each part of the CPU 21, character generator data of printed characters and display characters, etc. are stored;
RA equipped with various types of memory used for data processing
M24, a clock circuit 25 that measures date and time, a data compression/expansion circuit 26 that compresses and expands image data, an FDD 28 that reads and writes data to and from a floppy disk 27 as an auxiliary storage device, and the keyboard 12.
An input processing device interface 29 for controlling the CRT display 13 and printer 14 is connected to the CPU 21 via a path line 30, respectively.

Further, a facsimile modem 31 and a telephone circuit 32 are connected to the CPU 21. The facsimile modem 31 and telephone circuit 32 are connected to a network control device 34 having a relay contact circuit 33. The relay contact circuit 33 is switched and controlled by the CPU 21.

By this switching operation of the relay contacts, the telephone line 5 is connected to the telephone circuit 32 or to the facsimile modem 31. When the telephone line 5 is connected to the facsimile modem 31, the telephone line 5 is connected to the facsimile modem 31 via the network control device 34.
Of the signals input to the
The DTMF circuit 35 detects the multi-frequency input signal and notifies the CPU 21 of the detection result. Further, a polarity reversal detection circuit 36 detects polarity reversal of the telephone line 5 and notifies the CPU 21 whether the other party is connected or disconnected. A bell detection circuit 37 is connected to the telephone circuit 32 . When the bell detection circuit 37 detects a bell sound signal in the telephone circuit 32, it notifies the CPU 21 of the detection.

Here, the CPU 21, data compression/expansion circuit 16, facsimile modem 31, telephone circuit 32, network control device 3
4. The DTMF circuit 35, the polarity reversal detection circuit 36, and the bell detection circuit 37 constitute a facsimile section that performs facsimile communication of image information.

On the other hand, in the store controller 3 having the above configuration, the product file 4 shown in FIG. 4 is stored on the floppy disk 27.
1, a wholesaler file 42 and a slip file 43 are formed.

The product file 41 includes records consisting of each product's product name, unit price, cumulative sales, cumulative sales amount, inventory quantity, previous order date, previous order quantity, and wholesaler code, or by product code assigned to each product. remembered.

Above, the wholesaler file 42 includes the facsimile machine 7.
Records consisting of the wholesaler name, facsimile telephone number, and slip number 42 of each wholesaler who owns the wholesaler are stored, or by wholesaler code assigned to each wholesaler.

The above-mentioned slip file 43 stores format data of a plurality of types of order slips for wholesalers, classified by slip number assigned to each slip.

Here, the product file 41 and the wholesaler file 42 constitute a storage section that stores information regarding the facsimile telephone number of the wholesaler of each product for each product.

The RAM 24 also has a buffer for temporarily storing key data from the keyboard 12, display data for the CRT display 13, print data for the printer 14, etc., and data received from each POS terminal 2. A buffer etc. is formed for this purpose. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, there is a slip format development memory 51 that develops the image of the slip format created based on the slip format data in the slip file 43, and a slip format development memory 51 for developing the image of the slip format created based on the slip format data in the slip file 43. An order data storage memory 52 for storing order data and a facsimile memory 53 for storing image data for facsimile transmission are formed.

The CPU 21 is programmed to execute the process shown in FIG. 6 when the CPU 21 is instructed to start ordering by manually pressing the keys on the keyboard 12. In other words, the floppy disk 2 is
7, all records of the product file 41 are taken in, classified by wholesaler code, an ordering screen as shown in FIG. 7 is edited, and displayed on the CRT display 13 by wholesaler code. In this case, for example, prioritize the wholesaler code in ascending order and display the order screen with the highest priority first.
Thereafter, each time a screen switching instruction is issued from the key fob 12, the display screen is switched according to the priority order.

When an order screen for each wholesaler code is displayed and an execution instruction is received from the keyboard 12, one of the product numbers on the screen is designated from the keyboard 12, and then the system waits for the number of items to be ordered to be input.

That is, the keyboard 12 functions as an input section for inputting product order information. When the CPU 21 detects that these pieces of information have been input via the keyboard 12, the information is calculated by multiplying the product name and unit price corresponding to the corresponding product number, the input quantity to order, and the unit price and the quantity to order. The order data consisting of the amount of money is stored in the order data storage memory 52. Further, the number of ordered items and the amount to be ordered are displayed on the ordering screen of the CRT display 13 in correspondence with the corresponding product number.

Next, when the product number is specified again from the keyboard 12 and the order quantity is input, the corresponding order data is stored in the order data storage memory 52 in the input order in the same manner as above, and the order quantity and price are stored. is displayed on the ordering screen of the CRT display 13 in correspondence with the corresponding product number. Thereafter, the same process is repeated each time the product number is specified and the order quantity is input.

On the other hand, after inputting order data, when ordering is instructed manually using the keys on the keyboard 12, a record corresponding to the wholesaler code on the currently displayed ordering screen is imported from the wholesaler file 42 on the floppy disk 27, and then the record corresponding to the wholesaler code on the currently displayed order screen is imported.
3, the slip format data corresponding to the slip number in the imported wholesaler record is taken in, and an image of the slip format created based on the slip format data is developed in the slip format development memory 51. Next, the image data of the order slip is edited by combining the image of the slip format developed in the development memory 51 with the order data stored in the storage memory, and is stored in the facsimile memory 53. (Order slip creation means) Next, the facsimile telephone number in the wholesaler record is converted into a dial signal, and the telephone circuit 32 makes a dial call. When the polarity reversal detection circuit 3.6 detects the polarity reversal of the line 5, the line is connected, so the relay contact circuit 33 is switched and controlled to connect the telephone line 5 to the facsimile modem 31, and the facsimile memory 53 After compressing the image data in the data compression/expansion circuit 26,
Facsimile transmission is performed via the facsimile modem 31. (Order Slip Transmission Means) Thereafter, the image data in the facsimile memory 53 is printed out on recording paper by the printer 14. Also, based on the order data stored in the order data storage memory 52, the previous order date and the previous order quantity of the corresponding product record are updated to the date and current order quantity indicated by the clock circuit 25, respectively. Thereafter, after clearing the slip format expansion memory 51, order data storage memory 52, and facsimile memory 53, the next priority order screen for each wholesaler is displayed.

Then, when an instruction is given again to execute the process using the keys on the keyboard 12, the same process as described above is repeated. On the other hand, if the end is instructed manually using the keys on the keyboard 12, all records of the product file 41 are written to the floppy disk 27, and this work is ended.

In this embodiment configured as described above, each time a sales registration of a product purchased by each customer is performed at each POS terminal 2, sales data consisting of the number of sales items and sales amount for each product is sent to the store controller 3. Collected and aggregated by product. Then, based on the aggregation results, the product file 4
1. The cumulative sales points, cumulative sales amount, and inventory quantity for each product are updated almost in real time.

Therefore, the person in charge of ordering operations at the store operates keys on the keyboard 12 of the store controller 3 at appropriate times to designate ordering operations. Then, an order screen for each wholesaler code as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the CRT display 13, and the number of items in stock on that screen is displayed.

It is determined whether an order is necessary or not, taking into account the previous order date and the previous order quantity. If there is one or more products that need to be ordered, the user first enters the product number corresponding to the product on the screen for each product, and then enters the current quantity to be ordered. Then, the product name and unit price 2 of the corresponding product
The ordered quantity and amount (unit price x ordered quantity) are stored in the order data storage memory 52 in the order of input, and the ordered quantity and amount are displayed in the currently ordered quantity area and amount area corresponding to the applicable product on the screen.

After completing similar key operations for all products that need to be ordered, the user operates the keyboard 12 to instruct order placement. Then, first, the record corresponding to the wholesaler code of the currently displayed ordering screen is fetched from the wholesaler file 42, and then the slip format data corresponding to the slip number in that record is fetched from the slip file 43. Then, an image of the slip format is developed in the slip format development memory 51 based on the slip format data, and the image of the slip format is combined with the ordering data in the ordering data storage memory 52 to create the image data of the ordering slip. created and stored in the facsimile memory 53. In addition, the facsimile telephone number in the corresponding wholesaler record is automatically dialed through the telephone circuit 32, and a call is made to the other party's facsimile machine 7, which is the wholesaler to which the wholesaler code of the currently displayed order screen is assigned. When the line is connected, the telephone line 5 is connected to the facsimile modem 3.
1 side, and facsimile communication becomes possible. As a result, the image data of the order slip in the facsimile memory 53 is automatically transmitted by facsimile to the facsimile machine 7 of the corresponding wholesaler.

Thereafter, when the image data of the order slip in the facsimile memory 53 is printed out by the printer 14,
The display screen on the CRT display 13 switches to the next ordering screen for each wholesaler code. Therefore, the person in charge of ordering determines the necessity of placing an order, and if necessary, performs the same operation as above, and if not, instructs to switch screens and selects the ordering screen for the next wholesaler code. In this way, the ordering screen for each wholesaler code is sequentially checked, and when the ordering work is completed, the end is instructed by operating a key on the keyboard 12.

As a result, among the previous order date and previous order quantity for each product stored in the product file 41, the order date and order quantity of the currently ordered product are updated to the current data.

In this way, according to this embodiment, the person in charge of ordering
You can place an order or select the necessary products by looking at the display screen on the display 13, and then manually enter the required quantity of each selected product from the keyboard 12. Order slips can be automatically sent by fax. Therefore, the effort required to create and send order slips is simplified, and the work efficiency of ordering operations can be greatly improved. Further, since the automatically transmitted order slip is printed out by the printer 14, it can be saved as a copy of the order slip.

Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described.

Note that in other embodiments, the present invention is also applied to the store controller 3 of the POS system 1, and the first
The overall system configuration shown in the figure, the external configuration of the store controller 3 shown in FIG. 2, and the control circuit configuration of the store controller shown in FIG. The explanation will be omitted.

Further, the wholesaler file 42 and the slip file 43 provided on the floppy disk 27 are also the same as in the previous embodiment, and are therefore given the same reference numerals. Regarding the product file 41, as shown in Fig. 8, order number data, appropriate stock number data, and order flags are stored for each product, so a new reference numeral 81 is added to the explanation. continue. Here, the number of items to be ordered is a guideline for the number of items in stock required for ordering the corresponding product, and the appropriate number of items in stock is a guideline for the store to have sufficient stock of the corresponding product. In addition, the order flag is set to "1" when the corresponding product is currently being ordered, and is automatically set to "0" when the product is delivered and the stock quantity reaches the appropriate stock quantity.
It will be reset to .

Further, the RAM 24 is also provided with a slip format memory 51, an order data storage memory 52, and a facsimile memory 53, as in the previous embodiment. .

The CPU 21 is programmed to execute the process shown in FIG. 9 when the CPU 21 receives product-specific sales data for each product registered for sale at each POS terminal 2. That is, in response to receiving sales data by product, a product record corresponding to the product code of the corresponding product is fetched from the product file 41. Then, sales are registered by adding the sales points and sales amount in the received sales data to the sales points cumulative area and sales amount cumulative area in the product record. In addition, the above sales number is subtracted from the stock number in the product record to obtain a new stock number.

At this point, if the ordering flag in the product record is set, it means that an order is currently being placed, so the product record is written to the product file 41 and the process waits to receive sales data for the next product. On the other hand, if the ordering flag is set, no orders are currently being placed, so it is determined whether the new inventory quantity has become less than the number of ordered items in the record. (Order Product Selection Means) If the number of items in stock is greater than the number of items to be ordered, there is no need to place an order, so the product record is written in the product file 41 and the system waits to receive sales data for the next product.

On the other hand, if the number of items in stock is less than the number of items to be ordered, it is necessary to place an order, so first, an order flag is set.

Next, the current inventory quantity is subtracted from the appropriate inventory quantity in the product record to calculate the order quantity, and the corresponding product code, unit price, quantity ordered, and price (unit price x quantity ordered) are stored in the order data storage memory 52. let After that, similarly to the above embodiment, the wholesaler record corresponding to the wholesaler code in the product record is imported from the wholesaler file 42, and the corresponding voucher format data is imported from the voucher file 43, and the image of the voucher format is converted into a voucher format. Expand to the expansion memory 51. Then, the image data of the order slip is edited from this image of the slip format and the order data stored in the storage memory 52, and is stored in the facsimile memory 5.3. (Order slip creation means) Also, a dial call is made based on the facsimile telephone number in the wholesaler record, and when the line is connected, the image data in the facsimile memory 53 is sent by facsimile. (Order Slip Transmission Means) Thereafter, the image data in the facsimile memory 53 is printed out on recording paper by the printer 14, and the slip format development memory 51, order pig storage memory 52, and facsimile memory 53 are cleared, respectively. Thereafter, the product record is written to the product file 41 and the system waits to receive sales data for the next product.

In another embodiment with such a configuration, when a product is registered for sale at each POS terminal, the product-specific information managed in the product file 81 of the store controller 3 is registered based on the sales data of the product. Stock quantity will be updated. When the stock quantity falls below the predetermined order quantity for each product, an order slip or image data for that product is automatically created internally, and the image data is sent to the facsimile machine 7 of the corresponding wholesaler. The order is sent by facsimile to

Therefore, according to this other embodiment, when the number of products in stock decreases, an order slip for the corresponding product is automatically created, and the order slip is sent to the corresponding wholesaler by facsimile communication. Not only will it have the same effect as above, but it can also make ordering operations unmanned.

Note that in each of the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to a store controller in a POS system, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to apply the present invention to, for example, a standalone electronic cash register, POS terminal, etc. It is. In addition, although the product files 41 and 81, the wholesaler file 42, and the slip file 43 are provided on the floppy disk 27, other auxiliary storage devices such as a hard disk, etc.
It may also be provided in a memory such as E2FROM. It goes without saying that various other modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[1] Effects of the Invention As detailed above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an automatic ordering device that can simplify the time and effort required to create and send order slips and improve work efficiency.

Moreover, according to the invention of Box 2, an excellent effect can be achieved in that ordering operations can be automated.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 7 are diagrams showing one embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall system configuration, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the store controller, and FIG. The figure is a block diagram showing the control circuit of the store controller.
The figure is a diagram of the configuration of files created on the floppy disk, Figure 5 is a diagram of the main memory configuration formed in the RAM, Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the CPU ordering process, and Figure 7 is a table of the ordering screen. FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are diagrams showing other embodiments of the present invention, in which FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a product file, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing related to the present invention with 0 CPUs. It is. 3. Store controller, 7.. Facsimile device, 12.. Keyboard, 13. CRT display, 14.. Printer, 21.. CPU. 23...ROM. 24...RAM. 25... Clock circuit, 27... Floppy disk, 28... FDD, 31... Modem for facsimile, 32... Telephone circuit, 41.81... Product file, 42... Wholesaler file, 43...Slip file. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A facsimile unit that performs facsimile communication of image information, a storage unit that stores information regarding the facsimile telephone number of the wholesaler of each product for each product, an input unit that inputs product order information, and this input unit an ordering slip creating means for creating image data of an ordering slip based on the ordering information of the product inputted through the input section; and a facsimile telephone number stored in the storage section of the product whose ordering information is inputted from the input section. An automatic ordering device comprising: an ordering slip transmitting means for automatically transmitting image data of the ordering slip by facsimile via the facsimile unit based on information regarding the ordering slip. (2) A facsimile unit that performs facsimile communication of image information; a storage unit that stores information regarding the number of items in stock, order information, and the wholesaler's facsimile phone number for each item; and the inventory stored in this storage unit. order product selection means for selecting products whose number has reached a preset order number; and creating image data of an order slip based on the order information stored in the storage unit of the product selected by the selection means. and an order slip that automatically transmits the order slip image data by facsimile via the facsimile section based on information regarding a facsimile telephone number stored in the storage section of the product selected by the selection means. An automatic ordering device characterized by comprising a transmission means and the following.