JPH09259355A - Confirmation processing system for packaged product - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a shop clerk and a customer able to confirm the shape and color, etc., of a product and delivery the product by viewing the image data of the product displayed at a display without opening a package. SOLUTION: After a product code, a bar code 8 for instance, attached to the package 7 of the product 6 is read by a bar code reader 5, an image data read part 12 refers to a product data file 11. The image data 15 of the product corresponding to the product code 36 are stored in the product data file 11 and they are displayed at the display 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a packaged product confirmation processing system for confirming the contents of a packaged product at a store or a distribution center without opening the package.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a mass retailer handling electric appliances, etc., products are packed in a cardboard box or the like in advance and stored in a store or a warehouse. Take out and hand it to the customer. In this case, for example, when the customer specifies the color, type, etc. of the product, the store clerk opens a part of the package to check whether the product specified by the customer is correct and hand it to the customer. ing.

[0003]

The conventional system as described above has the following problems to be solved. According to the customer's specification, the clerk opens the lid and confirms the contents packed in the cardboard box while showing the contents to the customer.When handing the goods to the customer, it is necessary to repack the goods. . Moreover, when the packaging is performed strictly, the work of unpacking and the work of repacking become very complicated. In addition, in the case of a large product, the packing operation itself is often not easy.

[0004]

The present invention employs the following structure to solve the above problems. <Structure 1> A product in which a product code input unit for inputting a product code attached to a packaged product and product data including the product code of the product and image data showing the appearance of the product are stored in association with each other. A data file, an image data reading unit that reads the image data of the product corresponding to the product code obtained from the product code input unit from the product data file, and a display unit that displays the read image data A confirmation processing system for packed products, which is characterized in that

<Explanation> The product code is a symbol, number, or the like that can identify the packed product, and may be represented by characters or a graphic such as a bar code. "Attached to a packaged product" means that the packaged product is attached so that it can be recognized from the outside. Therefore, it means that it is printed or attached to the outside of the package or box, or displayed on the place where it can be seen through the gap of the package of the product itself. The input of the product code includes the input using a keyboard or the like and the input using an automatic barcode reading device or the like.

[0006] The product data file constitutes a file in which the image data of the product can be read using the product code as a key. The product data file may be stored in the internal storage device, the external storage device, or another information processing device connected via a communication line. Image data refers to data that is photographed or drawn so that the shape and color of a product can be recognized. By displaying this image data on the display unit, it is possible to confirm the shape and color of the product stored therein without unpacking. If the image data is not color, the color is
You may express by the character etc. which were written in image data. The product data stored in the product data file together with the image data may include information such as the product model number, type, and standard. Displaying these on the display unit further facilitates product confirmation work. The display is
It may be any display output device such as a display or a printer.

<Structure 2> In the structure 1, a confirmation processing system for packed products, wherein the product code input unit and the display unit are incorporated in a store terminal device.

<Explanation> When handing over a product packed in accordance with a customer's order at a store, it is necessary to ask the customer to confirm the contents of the packing. For that purpose, the system of the present invention is used. Therefore, it is preferable that a product code input unit and a display unit are provided in a store terminal device provided at a cash register or the like.

<Structure 3> In Structure 2, the display unit includes a customer display for displaying image data showing the appearance of the product and a staff display for displaying the product data other than the image data in characters. A featured confirmation system for packed products.

<Explanation> The customer confirms the appearance of the product,
The product data such as the model number and type of the product are displayed on separate displays so that a staff member can confirm the product data. Therefore, the respective displays are arranged so as to be easily viewed by the customer and the staff.

<Structure 4> In Structure 1, the display section has
A window that displays image data that shows the appearance of the product,
A confirmation processing system for a packaged product, characterized in that a window for displaying product data other than image data in text is also displayed.

<Explanation> For example, when this system is used in a distribution center or the like, an attendant can quickly confirm the contents of the packed product and arrange for the delivery destination.
In this case, the clerk can work while collectively displaying the entire data stored in the product data file on the display. Therefore, an image data window for confirming the appearance of the product and a window for displaying other product data in characters are provided.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to specific examples. <Specific Example> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the system configuration of the present invention. This system is provided, for example, in the POS terminal 1 or the like in a mass retailer of electric appliances and the like. This P
The OS terminal 1 is an example of a store terminal device according to the present invention. The POS terminal 1 is provided with a keyboard 2 for manually inputting a product code or for other operations, and displays 3, 4 for displaying various kinds of guidance during the operation. Further, a bar code reader 5 for reading a bar code attached to a product or the like is provided.

In the present invention, as shown in the upper left of the figure, the bar code 8 is read in a state where the product 6 is packed 7 so that the product confirmation process can be performed. The barcode 8 is an example of a product code attached to the product packed in the present invention. It consists of a number of well-known lines that are optically read and processed. The bar code reader 5 is an example of a product code input unit that reads and inputs a product code in the present invention. The keyboard 2 described above also corresponds to the product code input unit.

Further, in the POS terminal 1, the product data file 11 in which the image data 15 relating to the product is stored in association with the product code 36 thus read as a key, and the image data reading section 12 for performing the read control. Is provided. Further, a display 13 for displaying the read image data 15 is provided. As shown in the figure, the display 13 is configured to display the image data 15 of the products stored in the package 7.

A more specific structure of the POS terminal 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a specific block diagram of the POS terminal 1. As shown in this figure, the POS terminal 1
Is connected to and controlled by the host station 20 via a communication line together with a number of similar POS terminals 1 provided in a mass retailer. The operation of the POS terminal 1 itself is controlled by the processor 21 as shown in FIG. Processor 21
A keyboard 2, a memory 23, a CD-ROM reader 24, a floppy disk device 25, displays 3, 4, a printer 27, a bar code reader 28, a communication controller 29, and a disk controller 30 are connected to the keyboard 2.
The communication control unit 29 is connected to the higher-level station 20 via a communication line, and controls communication between the higher-level station 20 and the POS terminal 1. The disk control unit 30 is connected to the disk 31 and controls reading / writing of the product data file 11 stored in the disk 31. The memory 23 is a storage device that stores an operation program of the processor 21 and the like. CD-ROM
The reading device 24 is, for example, a device that reads the contents of the product data file 11 stored in the CD-ROM 35 and outputs the contents to each unit. The floppy disk device 25 is used for inputting / outputting sales data and the like. The keyboard 2 and the displays 3 and 4 are as described with reference to FIG. 1, and are given the same reference numerals. Printer 2
Reference numeral 7 is an apparatus for printing a receipt or the like. The bar code reader 5 is also as described above. The disk 31 is composed of, for example, a magnetic disk device or the like. As described above, the image data read from the product data file 11 is displayed on the display 13 connected to the POS terminal 1.

In the specific example of this figure, the disk 31
Example of storing the product data file 11 in the CD-RO
The example in which the product data file 11 is stored in M35 and the example in which the product data file 11 is stored on the higher station 20 side are all shown. However, the product data file 11 may be stored in any one of the locations. These reading processes and the like will be specifically described later.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the contents of the product data file 11. The product data file 11 shown in the figure stores, for example, a product code 36, image data 15, and product data 14 in association with each other. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, when the product code 36 obtained by reading the bar code 8 with the bar code reader 5 is searched as a key,
The corresponding image data 15 and product data 14 are read. Note that, for example, as shown in this figure, image data 1
Since 5 is an image of a perspective view, a front view, a side view, a top view, and the like of the product, which is stored, it is displayed on the display at once, or displayed while switching pages. In addition, it is also preferable to store the image data 15 as a so-called moving image in which the product is viewed from various directions so that the customer can check the appearance of the product in more detail.

The product data 14 is, for example, a product name,
The standard or the like may be included in the image data, but may be separately stored as character data as shown in this figure. In that case, for example, the POS terminal 1 shown in FIG.
It becomes possible to display on the display 3 etc. attached to. Here, for example, the product name, product color, size, etc. are stored as character data.

The system of the present invention having the above configuration operates as follows. FIG. 4 shows a processing flowchart of the system of the present invention. First, confirm the product that the customer wants,
It is assumed that the clerk has carried the product 6 in the corresponding packaging 7 to the POS terminal 1. Here, the staff member is the POS
The product confirmation key provided on the keyboard 2 of the terminal 1 is pressed down (step S1). The POS terminal 1 monitors whether the product confirmation key has been pressed (step S).
2). When the product confirmation key is pressed, the POS shown in FIG.
On the display 3 of the terminal 1, for example, a guidance display such as "Please input the product code" is displayed (step S
3).

Next, when the staff member reads the bar code 8 attached to the package 7 shown in FIG. 1 using the bar code reader 5 and inputs the product code 36, the image data reading section 12 starts the reading process. To be done. That is, in step S5, the process of waiting for the input of the product code 36 is performed, and when the product code 36 is input, the process proceeds to any one of steps S6, S7, and S8 shown in FIG. When the product data file 11 is stored in the disc 31 shown in FIG. 2, the disc is accessed to read the image data corresponding to the product code (step S6). If the product data file 11 is CD-R
In the case where the CD-ROM 35 is stored in the OM 35, for example, an attendant is urged to attach the corresponding CD-ROM 35, and
The image data 15 is read using the CD-ROM reading device 24 shown in FIG. Further, when the product data file 11 is stored in the upper station 20 shown in FIG. 2, the necessary image data 15 is transferred from the upper station 20 via the communication control unit 29 shown in FIG. receive.

After the processing in any of these steps S6, S7, S8 is completed, the process proceeds to step S9, and it is judged whether or not the corresponding image data 15 is found. If the corresponding image data 15 is found, the image data 15 is displayed on the display 13 shown in FIG. For example, at the same time, the display 3 of the POS terminal 1
The product data 14 is displayed on. Thereby, the clerk refers to the product data 14, and the customer confirms by the image data 15 displayed on the display 13 whether or not the product is his / her designated product. In this way, the product is confirmed without unpacking and the customer receives the product.

On the other hand, in step S9 of FIG. 4, when it is determined that the corresponding image data is not found, the process proceeds to step S11, and the guidance display "Data not found" is displayed on the display 3 of the POS terminal 1. To do. Since the above-described operation is performed, the display 3 of the POS terminal 1 shown in FIG.
The display 13 for displaying the image data 15 is preferably arranged so as to face the customer. Further, when the information about the product is displayed in text in the image data 15, both the staff member and the customer may view the display 13 at the same time. In such a case, it is not always necessary to display the product data 14. Of course, the product data file 11 may also be configured to omit the product data 14 and store only the image data.

FIG. 5 shows a modified block diagram of the system of the present invention. In the above specific example, the POS terminal 1 is placed at a store such as a mass retailer so that the product in the package can be confirmed as part of customer service. However, for example, in a distribution center or the like, the work of sorting the products in a packaged state and shipping the products is frequently performed. In such a case, it is convenient if the product can be confirmed without opening the package so that the product can be delivered exactly according to the order form. The system of the present invention can also be used in such a distribution center. In that case, for example, the structure is as shown in FIG.

As shown in this figure, this system is also provided with an image data reading section 12, a product data file 11, a bar code reader 5 and the like similar to the example shown in FIG. Of course, the keyboard 2 and the like may be provided in addition to the barcode reader 5 for inputting the product code. The image data reading unit 12 includes the processor 21 and the like shown in FIG. The function and operation are exactly the same as the example shown in FIG. 1, and the image data 15 corresponding to the product code 36 read by the barcode reader 5 is read from the product data file 11. The image data 15 is displayed on the display 40. At a distribution center or the like, an attendant refers to the display 40, so that it is preferable to display not only the image data 15 showing the appearance of the product but also various kinds of information about the product. Therefore,
For example, as shown in this figure, the image data 15 is displayed in the first window 41, and the product data 14 including various kinds of information about the product is displayed in the second window 42. These are simultaneously displayed on the screen of the display 40. Of course, these may be freely switched and displayed. By doing so, the person in charge of delivering the goods can confirm the goods stored in the packing without opening the packing of the goods and smoothly sort and arrange the goods.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a specific example of a system configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a specific block diagram of the POS terminal 1.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of contents of a product data file 11.

FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart of the system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a modified example of the system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 POS terminal 2 keyboard 3 display 5 bar code reader (product code input section) 6 product 7 packaging 8 bar code (product code) 11 product data file 12 image data readout unit 13 display 14 product data 15 image data

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Product data in which a product code input unit for inputting a product code attached to a packaged product and product data including image data showing the appearance of the product are stored in association with each other. A file, an image data reading unit that reads image data of a product corresponding to the product code obtained from the product code input unit from the product data file, and a display unit that displays the read image data. A confirmation processing system for packed products characterized by. 2. The packed product confirmation processing system according to claim 1, wherein the product code input unit and the display unit are incorporated in a store terminal device. 3. The display unit according to claim 2, wherein the display unit includes a customer display for displaying image data representing the appearance of the product, and a staff display for displaying product data other than the image data in characters. A confirmation processing system for packaged goods. 4. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein a window for displaying image data showing an appearance of a product and a window for displaying product data other than the image data in characters are displayed together. A confirmation processing system for packaged goods.