JPH05242362A - Method for registering purchased commodity information for distributed check-out system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To speedily execute commodity selection and input work by eliminating waiting time when a customer registers a purchased commodity. CONSTITUTION:When a commodity code inputted by a scanner 14 in a register terminal 12A is not included in a local PLU data file 36, a CPU 32A registers only the commodity code in a RAM 38A, displays 'PLU pending' on a display part 42 and does not execute inquiry to a controller 18A. In the case of transmitting purchased commodity information at a prescribed time, only the commodity code is transmitted to the controller 18A, which supplies a commodity name and price by referring to a PLU master data file 22 and stores the data in a storage file 24. When the purchased commodity information is requested from an adjusting POS terminal 30, the controller 18A outputs the commodity information to which the commodity name and the price are added, to the terminal 30 generating the request.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of registering purchased product information in a distributed checkout system that can be used for point-of-sale management at mass retailers, convenience stores, home centers, department stores, etc. The present invention relates to a method for registering purchased merchandise information in a distributed checkout system that can be performed by itself using a registration terminal.

[0002] Conventionally, in the distribution business, especially in a store that sells products to general customers, it is necessary to calculate the total amount of each product price that the customer intends to purchase, to keep money, to calculate change, and to settle payment. The time and effort required is a problem, and POS can efficiently perform these processes.
The system (point-of-sale system) is being actively introduced.

In the POS system, in general, each product is provided with a barcode for each product, and P is provided at a predetermined position.
The OS terminal and cashier are arranged, and when the cashier inputs the code of each product that the customer wants to purchase with the scanner, the terminal displays and prints out the product name and price, scanning finishes for all products and the total key is When pressed, the terminal automatically calculates and displays the total amount, and when the customer pays out, when the amount is entered, the terminal automatically calculates and displays the change, so that the cashier immediately and accurately. You can give fishing to customers.
In addition, based on the product code read by the POS terminal,
Automatically manage product sales status by month, day, time zone, etc., display sales status and print out according to manager's request. A system that has the function of automatically ordering to the headquarters has also appeared.

By the way, in recent years, due to intensifying competition for customer acquisition, mass retailers tend to become large in scale, and convenience stores are generally open all night, but on the other hand, securing labor is extremely high. It's getting harder. Even if the number of POS terminals installed is commensurate with the scale of the store, if there is not enough manpower, there will be empty POS terminals that are not spares, and even if it is a little crowded, there will be cashier POS terminals.
Customers are concentrated on the terminal, creating a long queue.

In consideration of this point, the registration and the settlement of the purchased products by the code input are separated, and the settlement is performed by the cashier at the settlement terminal, but the registration is performed by the customer himself, so that the cashier's burden is reduced. Out system is proposed. In this system, a customer carries a registered terminal when shopping and scans a barcode of a desired product, and the terminal scans the product name of the corresponding product code from a local PLU (price lookup) data file. The price is searched for, displayed and registered in the memory, and wirelessly transmitted to the controller at a predetermined time. The controller stores the received information in a storage file, and downloads it when a request is made later from the settlement terminal to enable settlement. The present invention intends to improve the method of registering purchased merchandise information that does not exist in the local PLU data file in such a distributed checkout system.

[0006]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a POS system capable of efficiently registering and paying for a customer's purchased merchandise has become widespread in the distribution industry, particularly in mass retailers, convenience stores, department stores and the like. According to this POS system,
Customers can easily enter the product name and price of the product they are trying to purchase using a barcode, calculate the total amount and change with one touch, and display the product name and price of the purchased product, issue receipts, and sell It is also possible to manage the situation. In the conventional POS system, the cashier performs both registration work by inputting the bar code of the purchased product at the POS terminal with a scanner and settlement work such as presenting the total amount and paying change for deposits. Especially when the registration work of the former is heavy and the inside of the store begins to get crowded, immediately,
It creates queues and reduces customer service. In addition, due to the lack of manpower, there are many cases in which there is an empty POS terminal that is not a spare, resulting in a further deterioration of customer service. As a solution to these problems, a distributed checkout system has been proposed in which registration of purchased merchandise and registration of payment are separated by allowing a customer to register purchased merchandise.

FIG. 12 shows the overall structure of a conventional distributed checkout system. Reference numeral 10 denotes a shopping cart in which the customer carries the desired product to be purchased, and a plurality of shopping carts are prepared in each store, each of which is identified by a unique identification number. FIG. 15 shows an overall perspective view of the shopping cart 10A. 12A is a registration terminal that is installed in the cart and that allows the customer to register the purchased product by himself / herself. The registered terminal 12A has a scanner 14, an antenna 16, etc. for inputting the product code by reading the bar code displayed on the product. It has the functions of inputting the bar code displayed on the screen, displaying the purchased product information such as the product name and price, and performing wireless transmission. 18
Is a controller installed in a predetermined location of the store for performing overall control of the system, and all the products displayed in the store including the antenna 19, the wireless transmission / reception device 20 connected to the antenna, seasonal products, and the like ( (For example, hundreds of thousands of kinds), a PLU master data file 22 that stores a product code, a product name, and a price as a pair, a storage file 24 that stores purchase product information, and a registration terminal and a storage file that control these files. In the meantime, it has a controller body 26 for exchanging data between the accumulation file and the settlement POS terminal. 28 is a premises line, and 30 is a settlement POS terminal which is installed at a predetermined location in the store and which inputs the purchased merchandise information related to the desired registration terminal from the controller and performs the settlement process for the customer, via the premises line. Connected to the controller body.

FIG. 13 is an electrical configuration diagram of the registration terminal 12, 32 is a CPU for controlling the registration terminal as a whole, 34 is a ROM in which a control program is stored, and 36 is a product code for a product of several thousand kinds. , A local PLU data file in which product names and prices are stored in association with each other, for example, an IC with a built-in nonvolatile rewritable EEPROM or the like.
Composed of a memory card. 38 is a RAM for temporarily storing the product name, price, etc. corresponding to the product code input by the scanner, 40 is the wirelessly transmitted purchase product information (product code, product name, price, etc.) of the product input by the scanner Alternatively, when a product that does not exist in the local PLU data file is input, a wireless transmission / reception unit that transmits a product code to inquire the controller and receives a response (product name, price) from the controller, The antenna 16 is connected. 42 is a display unit for displaying the product name and price of the product input by the scanner for one product, 44 is an operation unit, and has a power key, a registration key, a return key, a total key and the like. 46 is a battery device that supplies power to each part of the terminal, 48 is a bus, CPU 32, ROM 3
4, local PLU data file 36, RAM 38,
In addition to the wireless transmission / reception unit 40, the display unit 42, the operation unit 44, the battery device 46, the scanner 14 is connected.

FIG. 14 is an electrical configuration diagram of the settlement POS terminal 30, and 50 is a CP for controlling the entire settlement POS terminal.
U and 52 are ROMs in which a control program is stored, 54 is a keyboard, and a numeric keypad for inputting an identification number, a deposit amount, etc. attached to each shopping cart, a total key,
It has a deposit key, etc. 56 is a RAM for temporarily storing various data, 58 is a display for displaying the customer's purchased merchandise information, 60 is a receipt printer for printing out the purchased merchandise information, the total amount and the like, and 62 is a communication with the controller via the premises line 28. A communication interface 64 for performing is a bus, to which the CPU 50, the ROM 52, the keyboard 54, the RAM 56, the display 58, the receipt printer 60, and the communication interface 62 are connected.

In the distributed checkout system configured as described above, the customer pulls out the shopping cart 10A placed at a predetermined location, presses the power key of the registration terminal 12 to turn on the power, and presses the registration key to enable registration. After that (the registration key only needs to be pressed once at the beginning), the shopping cart 10A is pressed and the product is circulated in the store for shopping. If you have a product you want to purchase,
The scanner 14 is applied to the bar code displayed on the product, and the scanner 14 reads the bar code to input the product code. Then, the product code is registered in the RAM 38,
The corresponding product name and price are retrieved from the local PLU data file 36, registered in the RAM 38 as purchased product information in association with the product code, and the product name and price are displayed on the display unit 42, for example, "Mikan". , "550
It is displayed as "Yen". Similarly, when there is another desired product to be purchased, the scanner 1
4 and read the product code, RAM38
A product code, a product name, and a price are associated with each other and registered, and displayed on the display unit 42 as "canned" or "280 yen".

After registration of the merchandise, when a merchandise to be returned occurs, the merchandise return key is pressed (the merchandise return key is pressed for each product), and then the barcode attached to the merchandise is scanned by the scanner 1.
4 Read it and enter the product code. If the return request is the above-mentioned canned food, " Canned food " and " 280 yen" are displayed on the display 42.
And the purchased product information for one canned product having the same product code in the RAM 38 is deleted. When the customer's desired product is special and the product code read by the scanner 14 does not exist in the local PLU data file 36, the registration terminal 12A wirelessly transmits the product code and the identification number via the wireless transmission / reception unit 40 to the controller 18 side. Send to and make an inquiry. The product code and the identification number are received by the wireless transmission / reception device 20 and sent to the controller main body 26, and the controller main body 26 searches the PLU master data file 22 for the product name and price corresponding to the product code. Then, the registration terminal 12 that wirelessly issues an inquiry by using the wireless transmission / reception device 20 together with the product name and price together with the identification number.
Send to. The registration terminal 12 sends the inquiry result to the wireless transmission / reception unit 4
0 is received, the product code is registered in the RAM 38 in association with the product code, and the product name and price are displayed on the display unit 42.

As described above, when all the desired products have been registered, if the total key is pressed, the registration terminal 10 is in the RAM.
The total amount is calculated from all the purchased merchandise information registered in 38 and displayed on the display unit 42, and all the purchased merchandise information (the merchandise code, the merchandise name, the price) in the RAM 38 is stored together with the identification number of the shopping cart 10. To the controller 18A side via the wireless transmission / reception unit 40. The transmission signal is received by the wireless transmission / reception device 20 of the controller 18A, and then sent to the controller main body 26,
Stored file 2 by associating purchased merchandise information with identification numbers
Accumulate in 4.

On the other hand, when the customer who has finished shopping pushes the shopping cart 10A and comes to the settlement POS terminal 30, the cashier uses the keyboard 54 to key in the identification number attached to the shopping cart 10A. Settlement P
The OS terminal 30 uses the identification number and the terminal number unique to each settlement POS terminal via the communication interface 62 to request the controller main body 26 for the purchased product information related to the registration terminal used by the customer, and the controller main body that has received the request Two
Reference numeral 6 reads out all the purchased product information (here, product name and price) corresponding to the identification number from the accumulated file and outputs (downloads) it to the settlement POS terminal 30 of the requesting terminal number. The settlement POS terminal 30 temporarily registers the input purchase merchandise information in the RAM 56 and displays it on the display 58.
When there is no particular problem and the cashier presses the total key, the settlement POS terminal 30 calculates the total amount using the purchased product information in the RAM 54, registers it in the RAM 56 and displays it in the display 58, and , The receipt printer 60 starts to print out the purchase item information and the total amount, the customer makes money, the cashier presses the deposit key and enters the amount with the numeric keypad, the difference is calculated and displayed as the change amount. To do. The cashier pays the change to the customer and gives the receipt.

According to the distributed checkout system described above, since the customer himself / herself registers the purchased goods, the cashier only has to perform purely the settlement work, and the settlement is completed in a short time. Therefore, a long waiting at the settlement POS terminal 30 is required. There is a queue, customers are not kept waiting, and a small number of people can handle it sufficiently, so it is possible to build a system that matches the current situation of manpower shortage.

[0015]

However, in the conventional system described above, if the product entered by the customer at the registration terminal 12A does not exist in the local PLU data file 36, the controller 18A is wirelessly inquired, and the controller 18A Since the search is performed from the PLU master data file 22 and the search result is returned wirelessly to the registration terminal 12A that issued the inquiry, it is normal for the product name and price to be displayed after the product code is entered with the scanner. But 5
It takes a time of about 2 seconds, and when the other registered terminal 12A is inquiring, the customer is further required to wait, so that the customer cannot proceed with the shopping one after another, and sometimes the customer waits for a long time. At that time, there is a possibility that the registration terminal 12A may be mistaken for a failure, which may unnecessarily annoy a staff member or may cause the registration terminal 12A to be broken by causing a failure. From the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a purchase product information registration method of a distributed checkout system that allows a customer to proceed with product selection and input work without waiting when registering a purchase product. is there.

[0016]

FIG. 1 illustrates the principle of the present invention. Reference numeral 12A is a registration terminal for the customer to register the purchased product by himself / herself, and usually a plurality of registration terminals are provided which can be identified by an identification number. 14 is a scanner that inputs a product code by reading a bar code attached to the product, 16 is an antenna, 32A is a CPU that controls the entire registration terminal, 36 is a local PLU data file, 38
A is a RAM for registering the purchased product information, 40 is a wireless transmission / reception unit for wirelessly transmitting the purchased product information to the controller side, 4
Reference numeral 2 is a display unit that displays the product name and price. 18A is a controller installed at a predetermined location in the store to perform overall control of the system, 19 is an antenna, 20 is a wireless transmission / reception device connected to the antenna, and 22 is a display including seasonal products in the store. All products (for example, hundreds of thousands of products)
PLU that stores the product code, product name, and price of each
A master data file, 24 is an accumulation file for accumulating purchased merchandise information, and 26A is for controlling these, while supplementing necessary data between the registration terminal and the accumulation file, and between the accumulation file and the settlement POS terminal. It is a controller body that exchanges data. Reference numeral 30 denotes a settlement POS terminal which is installed at a predetermined location in the store and which inputs the purchased merchandise information related to the desired registration terminal from the controller and performs settlement processing for the customer. It is connected.

[0017]

When the customer inputs the product code with the scanner 14 of the registration terminal 12A, the CPU 32A searches the local PLU data file 36 for a corresponding code, and if there is, registers the product name and price in the RAM 38A and displays them. Display the product name and price in the section 42, and if there is no corresponding code in the local PLU data file 36, R
Only the product code is registered in the AM 38A, and "PLU hold" is displayed on the display unit 42. After performing the same process for each product for which the product code is input, the purchased product information registered in the RAM 38A is transmitted to the controller 18A side by the wireless transmission / reception unit 40 together with the identification number associated with the registration terminal 12A. The transmission signal is received by the wireless transmission / reception device 20 and input to the controller main body 26A. The controller main body 26A stores the input purchase merchandise information in the accumulation file 24 in association with the identification number. At this time, regarding the merchandise whose purchase merchandise information is only the merchandise code, from the PLU master data file 22. By searching for the corresponding product name and price and adding these product names and prices, the purchased product information in the storage file 24 is supplemented. After that, when there is a request from the settlement POS terminal 30 for the purchased product information by the identification number, the controller body 26
A reads out the purchased product information of the corresponding identification number from the accumulation file 24 and outputs it to the settlement POS terminal 30 which issued the request.

As a result, when the customer inputs a product that does not exist in the local PLU data file 36, the product code is the controller 18 as the purchased product information.
After being sent to A, the controller 18A refers to the PLU master data FI 22 and supplements the product name and price and stores them in the storage file 24.
When outputting to 0, complete purchase merchandise information can be outputted, the settlement processing is not disabled, and the registration terminal 12A can wirelessly inquire the controller 18A of the merchandise name and price. Since it is not done, the customer does not need to wait for these information to be returned from the controller 18A, and it can be confirmed from the "PLU hold" display on the display unit 42 that the registration of the purchased merchandise itself has been made correctly. You can proceed with the selection and input of the next product quickly and with peace of mind.

[0019]

2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, in which the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. Reference numeral 10A denotes a shopping cart in which the customer carries the desired product for purchase, and a plurality of shopping carts are prepared at each store and each is identified by a unique identification number. 12A is a registration terminal that is installed in the cart and that allows the customer to register the purchased product by himself / herself. The registered terminal 12A has a scanner 14, an antenna 16, etc. for inputting the product code by reading the bar code displayed on the product. It has the functions of inputting the barcode displayed on the screen, displaying the purchased product information such as the product name and price, and transmitting it wirelessly. Reference numeral 18A denotes a controller installed at a predetermined location in the store for performing overall control of the system, including an antenna 19, a wireless transmission / reception device 20 connected to the antenna,
PLU master data file 22 that stores the product codes, product names, and regular prices of all products (eg, hundreds of thousands) displayed in the store including seasonal products, PLU time that stores time service information A service data file 23, a storage file 24 for storing purchased product information,
A timer 25 for measuring time, and controlling these,
Between the registration terminal and the accumulated file, accumulated file and settlement P
Controller main body 2 for exchanging purchase product information while adding or changing necessary data with the OS terminal
It has 6A. This controller main body 26A includes the purchased product information wirelessly sent from the registration terminal 12A,
When there is only the product code, it has a function of supplementing the corresponding product name and price from the PLU master data file 22.

PLU time service data file 23
As shown in FIG. 3, the PLU master data file 2
In particular, regarding the specific service product that provides the time service on the day, the data of the product code, product name, normal price, service price, service start time, and service end time are stored in pairs for each product. There is. Returning to FIG. 2, 28 is a private line, and 30 is one or more installed at a predetermined location in the store, and inputs the purchased merchandise information related to the desired registration terminal from the controller 18A, and performs a payment process for the customer. And is connected to the controller main body 26A via the premises line 28.

FIG. 4 is an electrical configuration diagram of the registration terminal 12A, 32A is a CPU for controlling the entire registration terminal, and 34A is a CPU.
Is a ROM in which a control program is stored, and 36 is a local PLU data file in which product codes, product names, and prices of products of thousands of types are associated and stored. For example, a nonvolatile and rewritable EEPROM or the like is used. It is composed of an IC memory card. This local PLU data file enables time service by changing the price data of a specific product to the price wirelessly transmitted from the controller. 38A is an RA for temporarily storing the product name, price, etc. corresponding to the product code input by the scanner
M and 40 wirelessly transmit the purchased product information (product code, product name, price, or product code) of the product input by the scanner, and perform the time service. Therefore, the product of the time service product transmitted from the controller. A wireless transmission / reception unit that receives a code and a service price or a normal price, and is connected to an antenna 16. 42 is a display unit for displaying the product name and price of the product input by the scanner for one product, 44 is an operation unit, such as a power key, a registration key,
It has a return key and a total key. 46 is a battery device that supplies power to each part of the terminal, 48 is a bus, and CP
U32A, ROM34A, local PLU data file 36, RAM38A, wireless transceiver 40, display 4
2, the operation unit 44, the battery device 46, the scanner 14
Are connected. In the RAM 38A, as shown in FIG. 5, the product code of the purchased product input by the scanner 14,
Although the product name and price are registered, for products that do not exist in the local PLU data file 36, only the product code is registered. The electrical configuration of the settlement POS terminal 30 is exactly the same as that of FIG.

6 to 8 are flowcharts showing the operation of the registration terminal 12A, FIGS. 9 and 10 are flowcharts showing the operation of the controller 18A, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the settlement POS terminal 30. Will be described with reference to FIG. It should be noted that the products subject to the time service are limited to some of the products registered in the local PLU data file 36. The customer who enters the store pulls out the shopping cart 10A placed at a predetermined location, and the registration terminal 1
Press the power key on the operation unit 44 of 2A to turn on the power.
Then, the CPU 32A causes the power of the battery device 46 to be supplied to each unit (steps 101 and 102 in FIG. 6). Next, if the customer presses the registration key to enable registration, the scanner 1
4 becomes the operating state (steps 103 and 104).

In this state, while pushing the shopping cart 10A, the user goes around the store for shopping. When there is a desired product for purchase, the scanner 14 is applied to the barcode displayed on the product, and the scanner 14 scans the barcode to input the product code. Then, CPU3
2A registers the entered product code in RAM38A,
In addition, the same product code is searched for in the local PLU data file 36, and if it exists, the corresponding product name and price are associated with the product code and the RAM 3 is used as purchase product information.
The product name and the price are displayed on the display unit 42, for example, as "Mikan" or "550 yen" (steps 105 to 109). By looking at this display, the customer can know that the desired product has been correctly registered and the product price. Similarly, when there is another desired product to be purchased, if the barcode attached to the product is read by the scanner 14 and the product code is input, the product code is stored in the RAM 38A.
The product name and the price are registered in association with each other, and displayed on the display unit 42 as "canned food" or "280 yen".

If the local PLU data file 36
When there is no product that corresponds to (N in step 108)
O), the CPU 32A simply registers the product code in the RAM 38A as purchase product information, does not make a wireless inquiry to the controller 18A as in the conventional case, displays "PLU hold" on the display unit 42, and notifies the customer. Informs that the desired product has been correctly registered, so as not to be mistaken for a failure of the terminal (step 110). "PLU hold"
The display of may be changed to another predetermined display such as “code registration”. As a result, the customer can proceed promptly with peace of mind to the selection and input work of the next desired product. After registration of a product, if there is a product that you want to return, press the return key (press the return key for each product), then scan the barcode attached to the product with the scanner 14 and enter the product code. .. Then, the CPU 32A has a RAM 38A.
Search for a product with the same code from among the items (step 11
1-114), if there is none, it is displayed as "not applicable" on the display unit 42 to indicate that it is an erroneous operation (step 115),
If there is more than one product with the same code in RAM38A,
The purchase item information for one of the items is deleted (step 116), and if the return request is the above-mentioned canned food, it is displayed with an underline such as " canned food " or " 280 yen" in the display section 42, and the returned product is correctly returned. This indicates that the processing is completed (step 117). Then, the process returns to step 105.

On the other hand, the controller main body 26A of the controller 18A uses the timer interrupt process, for example, if the minimum service unit is 15 minutes, A
Among the service products stored in the PLU time service data file 23 such as M10: 00, AM10: 15, AM10: 30, etc., the current time measured by the timer 25 is the service start time or the service. Whether or not there is a match with the end time (step 501 or 505 in FIG. 10), and if there is a match with the service start time and the current time, the product code and the service price thereof are wirelessly transmitted and received. Wirelessly notifies all registered terminals 12A simultaneously (steps 502 to 50).
4) If there is a service end time that matches the current time, the product code and the normal price are simultaneously notified to each registered terminal 12A by the wireless transmission / reception device 20 (step 5).
06-508). These notifications may be performed once or may be repeated multiple times. When the notification is received by the wireless transmission / reception unit 40, the CPU 32A causes an interrupt, and the local P
The price of the corresponding product in the LU data file 36 is rewritten to the notified service price or normal price (see FIG. 8).
Step 301).

As a result, the local PL of the registration terminal 12A
In the U data file 36, the price data of a certain service product on the day is set to the service price when the time is within the service time zone, and is set to the normal price when the time is outside the service time zone. So, for example,
The mandarin orange is the service product of the day, and the service price is "4.
00 yen ", the service start time is PM 5:30, and the service end time is PM 6:00 (see FIG. 3),
When the product code is input at, for example, PM5: 45 within the service time period, the price is “400 yen” in the purchased product information of oranges registered in the RAM 38A, and the product code is input at PM5: 20 before the service time period. When you do, the price becomes "550 yen".

As described above, when the registration of all desired products is completed, the product code and product name of the products existing in the local PLU data file 36 among the products entered by the customer are stored in the RAM 38A. For those prices that are registered as a pair and do not exist in the local PLU data file 36, only the product code is registered (see FIG. 5). When the customer presses the total key on the registration terminal 12A after the registration of the products to be purchased is completed, the CPU 32A checks whether the product names and prices of all the purchased products registered in the RAM 38A are known (20
1, 202), and when it is known, the total amount is calculated and displayed on the display unit 42 as "total XX yen" (step 20).
3) If the answer is NO in step 202, only products whose prices are known are totaled to make a partial total, and the display unit 42 displays “Partial total ○
"○ yen" is displayed (step 204). And RA
The purchased product information registered in the M38A (the product code, the product name, and the price of the product that existed in the local PLU data file 36, and only the product code of the product that did not exist) is stored in the shopping cart 10A.
The wireless transmission / reception section 40 is transmitted together with the identification number of the above to the controller 18A side (step 205). After the transmission signal is received by the wireless transmission / reception device 20 of the controller 18A, it is sent to the controller body 26A, and the controller body 26A stores the purchased product information in the storage file 24 in association with the identification number (step 401 in FIG. 9). , 40
2).

Subsequently, the controller main body 26A searches the purchased product information stored this time for a product whose product name and price are not known and only has the product code (step 403). , PLU master data file 22 is searched for a product name and price corresponding to the product code, and these product name and price are added to supplement the purchased product information in the storage file 24 (step 404).

On the other hand, when the customer who has finished shopping pushes the shopping cart 10A and comes to the settlement POS terminal 30, the cashier key-inputs the identification number attached to the shopping cart 10A. Then, the CPU 50 sends the identification number and each settlement PO via the communication interface 62.
Using the terminal number unique to the S terminal, the customer requests the controller 26A for the purchased product information related to the registered terminal used this time (steps 601 and 602 in FIG. 11). The controller main body 26A that has received the request searches for purchased product information corresponding to the identification number in the storage file 24 (step 40 in FIG. 9).
5, 406), referring to the time measured by the PLU service data file 23 and the timer 25, there is a product that is currently in the time service, but the price does not reflect the time service, and the price remains the normal price. It is checked (step 407) whether or not the accumulated file 24 exists.
After rewriting the price to the service price above and changing it to the purchased product information that reflects the time service (Step 4
08, 409), and all the purchased merchandise information (here, merchandise name and price) corresponding to the identification number are settled P that issued the request.
Output (download) to the OS terminal 30 (step 4)
10). For example, when one of the service products Mikan is registered, it is 550 because it is 5:20 PM and it is before the time service.
The price of the mandarin orange is 550 yen when it is wirelessly transmitted at the normal price of yen and accumulated in the accumulation file 24, but at the time when the settlement POS terminal 30 requests the purchase merchandise information, PM is 5:35. If the orange is in the time service, the price of the orange in the purchased product information is changed to 400 yen.

The CPU 50 of the settlement POS terminal 30 stores the purchased merchandise information transmitted from the controller body 26A in the RAM.
When the cashier pushes the total key, the CPU 50 calculates the total amount by using the purchased product information in the RAM 56, and temporarily registers it in 56 and displays it on the display 58 as a list (steps 603 and 604 in FIG. 11). , R
After registering in AM54 and displaying it on the display 58 (steps 605 to 607), the receipt printer 60 starts to print out the purchased merchandise information and the total amount (step 608), and after the customer pays, the cashier When the deposit key is pressed and the amount is input with the ten keys, the CPU 50 calculates the difference between the deposit and the total amount calculated previously and displays it as a change amount (step 610). The cashier pays the customer for the change and gives the receipt. After the receipt printout is completed (YES in step 611), the CPU 50 returns to step 601. With the above, the settlement process is completed.

According to this embodiment, the customer has a local PL
For a product that does not exist in the U data file 36, only the product code is sent as purchase product information to the controller 18A as PLU hold, and the controller 18A refers to the PLU master data file 22 to display the product name and price. Since it is replenished and stored in the storage file 24, when it is output to the settlement POS terminal 30 later,
Complete purchase product information consisting of a product name / price pair can be output, the settlement process is not disabled, and the registration terminal 12A can wirelessly inquire the controller 18A of the product name and price. Since it is not done, the customer does not need to wait for these information to be returned from the controller 18A, and it can be confirmed from the "PLU hold" display on the display unit 42 that the registration of the purchased merchandise itself has been made correctly. You can proceed to input the next product quickly and with peace of mind.

Regarding a certain time service product,
When the customer entered the product code on the registration terminal 12A, it was before the time service time zone, so the normal price is registered, and the normal price is wirelessly transmitted to the controller 18A and the purchased product information is stored in the storage file 24. Even after the payment is accumulated, the time comes after that, and when the payment POS terminal 30 comes to the payment POS terminal 30 and requests the purchase product information, the current time is still within the time service time. Then, the controller 18A outputs the purchased merchandise information in which the price is changed so that the time service is reflected, so that the settlement using the service price becomes possible. Therefore, even if the customer notices that the time service has started before pressing the total key on the registration terminal 12A, he / she presses the return key for the product registered before the time service, scans the barcode, and returns the product. You don't have to do the troublesome work of scanning the barcode again and registering again, and don't feel uncomfortable even if you notice that the time service started after pressing the total key. The cashier doesn't have to be complained or disliked.

In the above embodiment, when the total key is pressed on the registration terminal, the information of all purchased commodities registered in the RAM is collectively transmitted by radio.
Each time one product code is input by the scanner, the purchased product information (combination of product code, product name, price, or only product code) may be wirelessly transmitted. Further, although the purchased product information transmitted from the registration terminal to the controller includes the product code even if the product name and price are known, the product code may be omitted. In this case, if the product name and price are not known and only the product code is transmitted and the product is stored in the storage file, the product code is replaced with the product name and price retrieved from the PLU master data file to supplement the purchased product information. You can do it. Further, the wireless information transmission between the registration terminal and the controller may be performed by radio waves or by other methods such as optical communication. Also, the controller replenishes the product name and price for the product having only the product code immediately after receiving the purchased product information from the registration terminal, but it may be performed in an appropriate free time. , May be replenished after a request from the settlement POS terminal. Furthermore, if the controller calculates the total amount and outputs the purchased product information and the total amount to the settlement POS terminal,
The cashier does not have to press the total key. Further, the registration terminal does not necessarily have to be installed in the shopping cart, and the customer can carry the registration terminal alone.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, modified examples, and application examples, the present invention can be modified in various ways according to the gist of the present invention described in the claims, and the present invention does not exclude these. ..

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the registration terminal does not have the data corresponding to the product code input by the input means in the local PLU data storage means, the display means can recognize the fact. The specified display is displayed on the product, and only the product code is wirelessly transmitted as the purchase product information for the product, and when the received purchase product information contains only the product code, the controller sends a request from the checkout terminal. When outputting purchased product information for each registered terminal, PL
Since it is configured to output the purchased product information after supplementing the price and the product name with reference to the U master data storage means,
As a result, even if the customer inputs a product that does not exist in the local PLU data file, it will be complete purchase product information when it is output to the payment terminal, so the payment processing will not be disabled and registration will be possible. Since the product name and price are not wirelessly inquired from the terminal to the controller, the customer does not have to wait for the controller to return these pieces of information, and the registered product itself can be registered from the predetermined display on the display means. Since it can be confirmed that the product has been correctly processed, it is possible to quickly proceed to the selection and input work of the next product with peace of mind.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of data stored in a PLU time service data file in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an electrical configuration diagram of a registration terminal in FIG.

5 is an explanatory diagram of purchase merchandise information registered in the RAM in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a first flowchart showing the operation of the registration terminal.

FIG. 7 is a second flowchart showing the operation of the registration terminal.

FIG. 8 is a third flowchart showing the operation of the registration terminal.

FIG. 9 is a first flowchart showing the operation of the controller.

FIG. 10 is a second flowchart showing the operation of the controller.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the settlement POS terminal.

FIG. 12 is an overall configuration diagram of a conventional distributed checkout system.

FIG. 13 is an electrical configuration diagram of the registration terminal in FIG.

14 is an electrical configuration diagram of the settlement POS terminal in FIG.

15 is an external perspective view of the shopping cart in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12A registration terminal 14 scanner 18A controller 20 wireless transmission / reception device 22 PLU master data file 24 accumulation file 26A controller body 30 settlement POS terminal 32A CPU 36 local PLU data file 40 wireless transmission / reception unit 42 display unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A price, a product name, etc. related to a product code input by a customer by referring to an input means (14) used by a customer to input a code of a product to be purchased by a customer and a local PLU data storage means (36). The customer himself / herself registers the purchased merchandise including a means (32A) for obtaining the purchased merchandise information, a display means (42) for displaying the purchased merchandise information, and a transmitting means (40) for wirelessly transmitting the purchased merchandise information to the outside. A registration terminal (12A) capable of wirelessly transmitting purchased product information, a receiving means (20) for receiving wirelessly sent purchased product information, and a PLU master data storage means (2).
2) and a storage unit (24) for storing the purchased product information, and stores the purchased product information wirelessly transmitted from the registration terminal (12A) in the storage unit (24), and stores the storage unit (24) in response to a request. The controller (18A) that outputs the purchased merchandise information accumulated in 24) for each registration terminal, and the controller (1)
In the distributed checkout system including a payment terminal (30) for inputting the purchased merchandise information related to the desired registration terminal in response to a request to the registration terminal (8A), the registration terminal (12A) is a local PLU data storage means. When the data corresponding to the product code input by the input means (14) does not exist in (36), the display means (4
In 2), a predetermined display is displayed so that this fact can be understood, and only the product code is wirelessly transmitted as the purchased product information for the product, and the controller (18A) receives only the product code in the purchased product information. , When the payment terminal (3
0) when outputting the purchase merchandise information for each registered terminal, the purchase merchandise information after supplementing the price and the merchandise name with reference to the PLU master data storage means (22) is output. A method for registering purchased product information in a distributed checkout system characterized by: