JPH06337885A - Commodity rental managing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To remove time loss required for data inquiry between terminals in the case of providing a lending terminal and a returning terminal to share lending operation and returning operation. CONSTITUTION:After executing lending operation, the lending terminal 1 writes its lending commodity data in a lending file 7 and a lending information file 8. When informing operation is selected, the commodity lending data stored in the file 8 are transmitted to the returning terminal 2. The terminal 2 writes the received data in a return side lending file 9 and executes returning operation by using the file 9. Then the terminal 2 stores commodity returning data in a return informing file 10, and at the time of selecting informing operation, transmits the data to the terminal 1. At the time of receiving the commodity returning data, the terminal 1 deletes lending data corresponding to the received data from the file 7. After transmitting all data, the contents of respective files 8, 10 are cleared.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a commodity lending management device used as a POS (point-of-sale information management) system for shops renting out video tapes, compact discs, books, etc. to customers who have contracted for membership, so-called rental shops. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional POS system for rental stores processes a product lending operation and a product returning operation with a single terminal. That is, when the product is registered for lending, the product lending data including the product code of the corresponding product and the member number of the member customer is created, and is written and saved in a file. When the return registration of the product is performed at a later date, the file is managed by searching the file and confirming that the file is rented, and then deleting the corresponding product lending data from the file.

[0003]

However, since conventionally the product lending operation and the product returning operation are processed by one terminal, there is a problem that the waiting time of the customer is increased and the serviceability is deteriorated during congestion. there were.

Therefore, the master / satellite type POS system used in the retail store is also introduced in the rental store, and the master machine and the satellite machine share the product lending work and the returning work to enhance the processing capacity. Can be considered.

In this case, since a file for storing the fixed data of each product or member customer and the product lending data is provided in the master machine, if the master machine is a dedicated return business machine, the satellite machine lending business in case of communication error There is a problem that can not be processed. On the other hand, since the return work can be processed from the receipt issued at the time of lending and the returned merchandise, the problem is small even if a communication abnormality occurs. Therefore,
It is desirable to use the master machine as the rental business machine and the satellite machine as the return business machine.

However, even in this case, the satellite machine normally inquires whether or not the product lending data corresponding to the master machine is managed in a file every time a return operation occurs in the satellite machine, and an inquiry is made. There is a concern that the time loss required for will frequently occur.

The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to improve the processing capacity by sharing the product lending business and the product returning business. An object of the present invention is to provide a product lending management device capable of reducing time loss during returning work as much as possible.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A product lending management device of the present invention is a product file for storing product fixed data corresponding to product identification data attached to each product, and a member attached to each member customer. A member file for storing member fixed data corresponding to the identification data, an identification data input means for inputting the member identification data and the product identification data, and the product identification data by referring to the product file and the member file based on the input data by this input means And a lending terminal including a lending data creating means for creating product lending data including member identification data, a lending side lending file for storing the product lending data created by the creating means, and a lending notification file, and the product lending data. A return side lending file to be stored, identification data input means for inputting member identification data and product identification data, A return data creating means for creating the product return data by referring to the return side lending file based on the input data by the input means, and a return terminal having a return notification file for storing the product return data created by the creating means, Are connected to each other via communication means, and means for selecting a notification service are provided to the lending terminal and the returning terminal.

[0009] Then, the lending terminal sends lending data stored in the lending notification file to the returning terminal through the communication means when the notification operation is selected, and the lending data by this notifying means. When the product return data is received through the file clear means and the communication means, which clears the lending notification file after the transmission of
The lending data deletion means for deleting the item lending data corresponding to the received item returning data from the lending side lending file is provided, and the returning terminal stores the item returning data stored in the returning notification file when the notification operation is selected. To the lending terminal through the communication means, a file clear means for clearing the return notification file when the return data has been transmitted by this notifying means, and the receipt of the commodity lending data through the communication means And a lending file creating means for writing the product lending data to the lending file on the return side.

[0010]

According to the present invention having such a configuration, when the product identification data of the rented product and the member identification data of the member customer are input by the identification data input means in the lending terminal, the product including the input data Lending data is created and written in the lending-side lending file and lending notification file. In this way, the lending side lending file and the lending notification file store lending data of the products registered for lending at the lending terminal.

After that, when the notification service is selected on the lending terminal, the product lending data stored in the lending notification file is transmitted to the return terminal through the communication means, and after the transmission, the lending notification file is cleared. It

On the other hand, in the return terminal which has received the product lending data through the communication means, the product lending data is written in the return-side lending file.

When the product identification data of the product to be returned and the member identification data of the member customer are input by the identification data inputting means in the terminal for return, the return-side lending file is searched by the input data and the product is returned. Data is created,
Written to the return notification file. In this way, the return notification file stores return data of the product registered for return by the return terminal.

After that, when the notification operation is selected on the return terminal, the product return data stored in the return notification file is transmitted to the lending terminal through the communication means, and after the transmission, the return notification file is cleared. It

On the other hand, in the lending terminal which has received the product return data through the communication means, the product lending data corresponding to the received product return data is deleted from the lending side lending file.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a master / satellite type POS system in which a master machine 1 and a satellite machine 2 are interconnected via a communication line 3 is used for renting goods according to the present invention. The case where the device is applied will be described.

The master machine 1 functions as a lending terminal for registering a commodity lending operation, and the satellite machine 2 functions as a return terminal for registering a commodity returning task. In addition,
The master machine 1 is also capable of performing registration processing for product return work.

The master machine 1 has a member file 5, a product file 6, a lending-side lending file 7 and a lending notification file 8 in addition to a tally file 4 for tallying the sales by lending of products. On the other hand, the satellite device 2 has a return-side lending file 8 and a return notification file 9.

The member file 5 stores in advance member fixed data such as name, address, telephone number, expiration date of members, etc. of all customers who have become members, for each member number as member identification data assigned to each member. It was done.

The merchandise file 6 corresponds to merchandise codes as merchandise identification data preset for all merchandise to be rented, merchandise name, lending fee (unit price) per day, 1
Product fixed data such as extension fee per day is stored in advance.

The lending-side lending file 7, the lending-notification file 8 and the returning-side lending file 9 store and store the product lending data 11 in the data format shown in FIG. 2A.

The return notification file 10 stores and stores the product return data 12 in the data format shown in FIG. 2B in the order of registration.

In FIG. 2, the "flag" is for distinguishing the product lending data 11 and the product returning data 12. "Product code", "Product name", "Unit price" and "Extension fee" are part of the fixed product data set in the product file 6, and "Member number" and "Member name" are set in the member file 5 It is a part of the fixed member data. In addition, "loan date" and "scheduled return date" are the data that is generated when registering the loan, and "return date" and "additional charge"
Is data that is generated at the time of return registration.

The master machine 1 and the satellite machine 2 are composed of the same hardware. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the master machine 1 and the satellite machine 2.

The main control unit 21 is composed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and the like, and according to a preset control program, a file storage unit 23, a clock unit 24, a communication control unit 25 and an I / O connected by a bus line 22. The operation of each unit of the device control unit 26 is controlled.

The file storage unit 23 is an external storage device such as a RAM card, a hard disk device, a floppy disk device, etc., and various files shown in FIG.
In the case of, the files 4-8 are stored, and in the case of a satellite machine, the files 9 and 10) are stored.

The clock unit 24 measures the current date and time, and the date measured by the clock unit 24 is the lending date when the loan is registered and the return date when the return is registered.

The communication control unit 25 controls transmission / reception of data between terminals via the communication line 3. Here, each communication control unit 2 of the master machine 1 and the satellite machine 2
5 and the communication line 3 constitute a communication means for interconnecting the master machine 1 and the satellite machine 2.

The I / O device controller 26 controls data input from various input devices and data output to various output devices. The input devices include a card reader 27, a bar code scanner 28, a keyboard 29 and a mode. The switch 30 is connected, and the display 31 and the printer 32 as output devices are connected.

The card reader 27 is used for reading data magnetically recorded on a magnetic card issued to each member customer, that is, a so-called member card. A membership number as member identification data is magnetically recorded on the membership card.

The bar code scanner 28 is used to read the bar code attached to each product. The barcode corresponds to the product code as the product identification data. Here, the card reader 27 and the bar code scanner 28 constitute identification data input means for inputting member identification data and product identification data.

The keyboard 29 is used to switch between lending and returning operations, declare the end of each operation, enter the lending period, etc. in the case of the master machine 1, and to declare the end of the returning operation in the case of the satellite machine 2. To be done.

The mode switch 30 selectively selects an opening mode for executing a startup operation before opening, a normal mode for executing a lending or returning operation during opening, and a closing mode for executing a shutdown operation after opening. It is a switch to do.

Note that the master device 1 and the satellite device 2 select the notification work by selecting the store closing mode. Here, the mode switch 30 constitutes means for selecting the notification work.

The display unit 31 is used for displaying the rental fee calculated by the loan registration, the additional fee calculated by the return registration, and the like, and the printer 32 is used for the rental receipt issued by the loan registration and the return registration. It is used for printing the returned receipt issued.

In the following description, the respective parts shown in FIG. 3 are distinguished by adding a symbol "M" to the master machine 1 side and a symbol "S" to the satellite machine 2 side.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the registration processing of the lending business in the master machine 1, in the state where the normal mode is selected by the mode switch 30M, the keyboard 29M.
This process is executed when the return work is not switched by the key input of.

That is, the main control section 21M waits for the member code of the member customer to be input in ST (step) 1. Then, the card data of the membership card is read by the card reader 27M, and when the membership number in the card data is entered, the membership file 5 is searched using the membership number as a search key, and the membership fixed data of the relevant membership number is set. The validity of the member is checked whether the current date measured by the clock unit 24M has passed the expiration date of the member. If the validity of the member is confirmed, the result is “OK” and the member file 5
Read the member fixed data of the member from.

Next, the main controller 21M waits for the product code of the rented product to be input in ST2. Then, the bar code scanner 28M reads the bar code of the rented product, and when the product code corresponding to the bar code is input, the product file 6 is searched using the product code as a search key, and the product fixed data of the corresponding product code is obtained. Check the validity of the product such as whether it is set.
When the validity of the product can be confirmed, the result is "OK", and the product fixed data of the product is read from the product file 6.

Next, the main control section 21M waits for the commodity lending period to be input in ST3. Then, when the lending period data is input by the key operation input of the keyboard 29M, the lending fee (= lending period x unit price) is calculated from the lending period data and the unit price data of the read commodity fixed data, and displayed on the display 31M. Let

Next, the main control section 21M sets the current date (year, month, and day) measured by the clock section 24M as the lending date in ST4, and adds the lending period key-input to the current date. 2 as the scheduled return date, together with the member fixed data and the product fixed data read from the files 5 and 6, the product lending data 1 in the data format shown in FIG. 2A.
Create 1 (rental data creating means).

Then, the product lending data 11 is written in the lending side lending file 7 and the lending notification file 8.

After that, if the product code of the next product to be rented is input before the end of the lending business is declared, the second and subsequent points are registered for lending. Repeat the process.

When the end declaration of the lending business is detected by the key operation input of the keyboard 29M at ST5, the main control section 21M calculates the total lending fee of all the lending products registered this time and displays it on the display 31M. Further, the printer 32 issues a lending receipt on which the names, lending fees, lending dates, planned return dates, total lending fees, etc. of all lending products registered this time are printed.

After that, if the sales total data of the total file 4 is updated with the lending fee of the lending product registered this time, the total lending fee, etc., this lending operation registration process is terminated.

If the validity cannot be confirmed in the member check of the member file 5 and the product check of the product file 6, "NG" is displayed and an error display is displayed.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the registration process of the return work in the master machine 1, in the state where the normal mode is selected by the mode switch 30M, the keyboard 29M.
This process is executed when the return operation is switched by the key input of.

That is, the main control section 21M waits for the member code of the member customer and the product code of the returned product to be input in ST6 and ST7. Then, the card data of the membership card is read by the card reader 27M,
Enter the member number in the card data, then the bar code scanner 28M reads the bar code of the returned product, and enter the product code corresponding to the bar code, then lend the member number and product code as a search key. The side lending file 7 is searched.

Then, when the product lending data 11 having the same member number and product code is set in the lending-side lending file 7, the result is "OK", and the return date and clock in the product lending data 11 are set as ST8. The current date measured by the section 24M is compared.

Here, if the current date has passed the planned return date, the lending period is extended, so in ST9, an additional charge (from the number of days elapsed from the planned return date and the extension charge in the product lending data 11) ( = Elapsed days × extension fee) is calculated and displayed on the display 31M.

On the other hand, if the current date is the scheduled return date or earlier, there is no extension of the lending period, so ST9
Is not processed.

Next, the main control section 21M deletes the corresponding lending merchandise data 11 from the lending side lending file 7 and the lending notification file 8 in ST10.

Thereafter, if the product code of the next product to be returned is entered before the end of the returning work is declared, it means that the member has registered the second and subsequent items, and therefore the main control unit 21M causes the above-mentioned ST7. The following processing is repeated.

When the end of the return work is declared by the key operation input of the keyboard 29M at ST11, the main control unit 21M calculates the total extension fee of all the return products registered this time (0 yen if there is no extension of the period). Then, it is displayed on the display 31M. Further, the printer 32 is caused to issue a return receipt on which the names of all the returned products registered this time, the extension fee, the return date, the total extension fee, etc. are printed.

After that, if the sales totalization data of the totalization file 4 is updated with the extension fee of the return merchandise registered this time, the total extension fee, etc., the return processing registration process is terminated.

If it is confirmed in the check of the lending-side lending file 7 that the corresponding data does not exist, "N
“G” is displayed, and an error display is displayed.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the return processing registration processing in the satellite machine 2. This processing is executed when the normal mode is selected by the mode switch 30S.

That is, the main control section 21S waits for input of the member code of the member customer and the product code of the returned product in ST12 and ST13. Then, the card data of the membership card is read by the card reader 27S, the member number in the card data is input, and then the barcode of the returned product is read by the barcode scanner 28S, and the product code corresponding to the barcode is read. When is input, the return side lending file 9 is searched using the member number and the product code as search keys.

When the product lending data 11 having the same member number and product code is set in the lending-side lending file 9, the result is "OK", and the return date and clock in the product lending data 11 are set as ST14. The current date measured by the section 24S is compared.

Here, if the current date has passed the scheduled return date, the lending period is extended, so in ST15, an additional fee is added from the number of days elapsed from the scheduled return date and the extension fee in the corresponding commodity lending data 11. (= Elapsed days x Extension fee) is calculated and displayed on the display 31S.

On the other hand, if the current date is the return date or earlier, there is no extension of the lending period, so ST1
The process of 5 is not performed.

Next, the main control section 21S changes the data other than the flag of the corresponding commodity lending data 11 in ST16 to
The current date of the clock unit 24M is added as a return date, and if the additional charge is calculated, the additional charge is added, and if not calculated, "0" is added, respectively.
Product return data 12 in the data format shown in (b)
Is created (return data creation means).

Then, the product return data 12 is written in the return notification file 10. Further, in ST17, the corresponding lending product data 11 is deleted from the returning lending file 9.

After that, if the product code of the next product to be returned is entered before the end of the return work is declared, the return control is the second or subsequent return registration of the member, so the main control unit 21S causes the above-mentioned ST13. The following processing is repeated.

When the end of the return work is declared by the key operation input of the keyboard 29S in ST18, the main control section 21S calculates the total extension fee of all the return products registered this time (0 yen if there is no extension of the period). Then, it is displayed on the display 31S. Further, the printer 32 is caused to issue a return receipt on which the names, extension fees, return dates, total extension fees, and the like of all returned products registered this time are issued, and the registration process of this return operation is completed.

If it is confirmed that the corresponding data does not exist in the check of the return side lending file 9, "N"
“G” is displayed, and an error display is displayed.

FIG. 7A is a flow chart showing the main processing of the closing operation in the master machine 1, in which the mode switch 30 is used.
When the closing mode is selected by M, this process is executed.

That is, first, the main controller 21M determines whether or not the product lending data 11 is stored in the lending notification file 8. If it has not been accumulated, the process proceeds to another closing process.

The product lending data 11 is stored in the lending notification file 8.
If is stored, it controls the communication control unit 25M,
All the accumulated data are transmitted to the satellite device 2 through the communication line 3 (rental data notifying means).

When all the data have been transmitted normally, the lending notification file 8 is cleared (file clearing means).

Next, the main control section 21M starts a built-in timer to measure a preset predetermined time. Then, when the merchandise return data 12 transmitted from the satellite device 2 is received through the communication control unit 25 within this predetermined time, the lending-side lending file 7 is searched, and the received merchandise return data 12 and the product code and member code are received. The lending merchandise data 11 having the same number are extracted and deleted (rental data deleting means).

When the merchandise return data 12 for which the additional charge is larger than 0 yen is received, it is the return data of the merchandise for which the additional charge was collected at the time of return registration, so the totalization file 4 is based on the additional charge data. Update the sales summary data of. After that, the process proceeds to another closing process.

When all the product lending data 11 of the lending notification file 8 cannot be normally transmitted to the satellite device 2, and when the product returning data 12 from the satellite device 2 cannot be received within a predetermined time. , At that time, move to other closing process.

FIG. 7B is a flow chart showing the main processing of the closing operation in the satellite machine 2, and the mode switch 3
When the store closing mode is selected by 0S, this process is executed.

That is, the main control section 21S first waits for the reception of the commodity lending data 11 transmitted from the master machine 1, and the commodity lending data 11 is sent via the communication control section 25S.
Is received, all the received product lending data 11 is written in the return-side lending file 9 (lending file creating means).

Next, the main controller 21S determines whether or not the product return data 12 is stored in the return notification file 10. If it has not been accumulated, the process proceeds to another closing process.

Product return data 1 in return notification file 10
When 2 is stored, the communication control unit 25S is controlled, all the stored data is added to the response message to the reception of the commodity lending data 11, and the data is transmitted to the master machine 1 through the communication line 3. (Return data notification means).

When all the data have been normally transmitted, the return notification file 10 is cleared (file clearing means).

If all the data in the return notification file 10 could not be transmitted normally, the process goes to another closing process at that time.

In the present embodiment having such a configuration, the lending registration of the product is performed by the master machine 1. Then, the product lending data 11 including the product code of the registered product for lending, the member number of the member customer, etc. is accumulated in the lending-side lending file 7 and the lending notification file 8.

Further, when the day-end business is completed and the closing operation is started, all the commodity lending data 11 accumulated in the lending notice file 8 is sent to the satellite device 2 through the communication line 3.
And the lending notification file 8 is cleared.

Therefore, the lending notification file 8 stores the product lending data 11 of all the products lent during the opening of the store for one day. Then, all the product lending data 11 stored in the lending notification file 8 are collectively transmitted to the satellite device 2 by the closing operation.

Thus, 1 transmitted to the satellite device 2
The day-to-day all-item rental data 11 is stored in the return-side lending file 9. Therefore, when the store is opened, the return side loan file 9
The product lending data 11 of all the products rented by the previous day will be stored.

On the other hand, the return registration of the product is usually performed by the satellite machine 1. Then, the product return data 12 including the product code of the product registered for return and the member number of the member customer is accumulated in the return notification file 10. At this time, the commodity lending data 11 of the returned merchandise stored in the returning-side lending file 9 is deleted.

Also, the commodity lending data 1 transmitted from the master machine 1 when the business for one day ends and the closing operation is started
When the satellite device 2 normally receives 1, the product return data 12 accumulated in the return notification file 10 of the satellite device 2 is transmitted to the master device 1 through the communication line 3, and the return notification file 10 is cleared. .

Therefore, the return notification file 10 stores the product return data 12 of all the products returned during the opening of the store for one day. Then, all the product return data 12 accumulated in the return notification file 10 are collectively transmitted to the master machine 1 by the closing operation.

As a result, in the master machine 1, the commodity lending data 1 matching the received commodity return data 12 is received.
All 1 are deleted from the lending side lending file 7. Therefore,
The lending side lending file 7 stores and manages the item lending data 11 of currently lending items.

If the item is returned on the same day as the lending date, the corresponding item lending data 1 is shown in the lending file 9 on the returning side.
1 is not managed, the satellite device 2 cannot process the return registration. However, since the corresponding product lending data is managed in the lending-side lending file 7, the return registration may be processed by the master machine 1.

As described above, according to this embodiment, normally, the product lending operation and the returning operation are performed by the master machine 1 and the satellite machine 2.
In addition to sharing the processing with, the data inquiry from the satellite machine 2 to the master machine 1 can be eliminated, and the time loss due to the inquiry does not occur, so the processing capacity can be greatly improved and the waiting time for member customers can be shortened. Produce an effect.

Further, since the satellite machine 2 does not need to inquire the master machine 1 for data when registering the return work, the burden on the satellite machine 2 can be small.
The master satellite type POS system can be effectively applied to rental shops.

In the above embodiment, the mode switch 30 is used.
Although the case has been described in which the notification business is performed by selecting the closing business, the means for selecting the notification business may be provided independently of the closing business. By doing so, for example, at a predetermined time during business hours, the product lending data accumulated in the lending notification file 8 of the master device 1 is transmitted to the satellite device 2, and the response is used to send the product lending data to the satellite device 2. It is also possible to operate such that the product return data accumulated in the return notification file 10 is transmitted to the master machine 1.

Contrary to the above embodiment, the product return data accumulated in the return notification file 10 of the satellite device 2 is transmitted to the master device 1, and the lending notification of the master device 1 is sent using the response. The commodity lending data stored in the file 8 may be transmitted to the satellite device 2. Further, the product lending data transmission process and the product return data transmission process may be performed independently.

Besides, it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0095]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the processing capacity can be improved by sharing the product lending business and the product returning business, and the time loss during the returning business can be reduced as much as possible. It is possible to provide a product lending management device that can realize effective rental management.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a main data format of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a master machine and a satellite machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a master machine lending operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a master machine return operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a satellite machine return operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a closing operation of the master machine and the satellite machine of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Master machine (rental terminal), 2 ... Satellite machine (return terminal), 3 ... Communication line (communication means), 5 ... Member file, 6 ... Merchandise file, 7 ... Lending side lending file, 8
… Lending notice file, 9… Return side lending file, 10…
Return notification file, 11 ... Merchandise lending data, 12 ... Merchandise return data, 21 ... Main control section, 24 ... Clock section, 25 ... Communication control section, 27 ... Card reader, 28 ... Bar code scanner, 29 ... Keyboard, 30 ... Mode switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A product file storing fixed product data corresponding to product identification data attached to each product, and a member storing fixed member data corresponding to member identification data attached to each member customer. A file, identification data input means for inputting the member identification data and product identification data, and referring to the product file and member file based on the input data by the input means, creating product lending data including product identification data and member identification data Lending data creating means, a lending terminal including a lending-side lending file that stores the product lending data created by the creating means, and a lending notification file, a lending-side lending file that stores the product lending data, and the member identification Identification data input means for inputting data and product identification data, input data by this input means Based on the above, the return-side lending file is referenced to create return-data creating means for creating product-return data, and a return terminal having a return-notification file for storing the product-return data created by this creating means is communicated through the communication means. And providing a means for selecting a notification service to the lending terminal and the return terminal, the lending terminal, when the notification service is selected, the product lending data stored in the lending notification file. Lending data notifying means for transmitting to the return terminal through the communication means, file clearing means for clearing the lending notice file when the notifying means finishes transmitting the commodity lending data, and the commodity returning data through the communication means When receiving, the product lending data corresponding to the received product return data is deleted from the lending side lending file. Lending data deleting means, and the returning terminal sends the product returning data stored in the returning notification file to the lending terminal through the communication means when the notification operation is selected. And a file clear means for clearing the return notice file when the return data has been transmitted by the notifying means, and when the commodity lending data is received through the communication means, the received commodity lending data is returned to the return side lending file. And a lending file creating means for writing into the lending file.