JPH09259357A - Cash register - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To record only the video image of a criminal to be evidence without leaving the video images of other customers when a robbery is generated, to save a memory for video recording and to save a cost required for installing a video camera. SOLUTION: This cash register is provided with a camera 2 for photographing the video image linked with the operation of opening the drawer 5 of the register, the memory 12 for preserving the video image photographed by the camera and a timer 6 for starting counting synchronized with the opening of the drawer. Then, a device for the inhibiting the subscribing of the video image preserved in the memory 12 by a CPU 11 and automatically transmitting the photographed video image to a prescribed security department in the case that the counted value of the timer 6 exceeds a prescribed value is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cash register, and more particularly to a cash register having a crime prevention function,
And a crime prevention system using the register.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The anti-crime function of a register used in a retail store or the like has been to prevent theft of each individual register (a special lock mechanism or the like). In addition, to report the incident to the police mechanism, a telephone or the like was installed or a separate independent security system was installed and this security system was operated either when the incident occurred or thereafter. However, with this crime prevention function-equipped register, if the crime prevention function is destroyed and the drawer is released, it is no longer possible to prevent theft. In this case, there was a fear that the case was reported after the criminal escaped, which would make it difficult to resolve the case early.
Further, this crime prevention system has a drawback that a specific action (such as pressing a button) is required to report an incident, and the criminal may not be able to report before escaping in order to avoid danger.

Therefore, as a register capable of automatically reporting a case to a police agency when a theft case occurs, and a crime prevention system using the register, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-4768.
Conventionally, there has been provided the one as shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication, "Register with Security Function and Security System". This conventional security-equipped register is equipped with a control device that issues an alarm when a theft occurs and a communication device that transmits the alarm issued by the control device to a network center, so that the police can automatically detect the incident. It was a cash register with a crime prevention function. Also, in order to take a proof image at the time of the crime, a surveillance device that constantly photographs the inside of the store and the vicinity of the cash register installation location with a video camera and constantly records the captured image on a magnetic tape with a video tape recorder. Was installed.

[0004]

However, the former register with the crime prevention function described above cannot record a video of the criminal as evidence. Further, when the latter surveillance device using a video camera is used, for example, a memory for storing one day's worth of image data is required. In addition, there was a problem of invasion of customer privacy. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cash register that records only images of criminals as evidence and does not leave images of other customers when a theft case occurs. Another object of the present invention is to provide a cash register which saves a memory for recording video and saves a cost required for installing a video camera.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the cash register of the present invention is provided with a camera for taking an image in synchronization with an operation of opening a drawer of the register.

Further, the cash register of the present invention which achieves the above object is provided with a memory for storing images taken by a camera and a timer for starting counting in synchronization with opening of the drawer, and the count value of the timer is predetermined. When the value exceeds the value, the video stored in the memory is prohibited from being overwritten, and the captured video is automatically transmitted to a predetermined security department by the communication device.

[0007]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a cash register according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing its appearance. Cash register of this embodiment
Like the conventional register, 1 is equipped with a keyboard 4, a display 3, a drawer 5, a timer 6 and a modem 7 and an electronic still camera 2. Part 14
Drawer control unit 15, timer control unit 18, camera control unit
It includes a communication control unit 16, a CPU 11, a memory 12, and a bus 17 for passing addresses / data.

FIG. 5 shows the drawer 5. A money case 51 is stored in the drawer 5 so as to be freely drawn out. On the back of this money case 51,
A locking claw 52 that locks the money case 51 in a closed state is attached, and a locking portion 53 that hooks the locking claw 52 is attached to the drawer 5. Further, the drawer 5 is provided with an opening spring 54 which is kept in a compressed state with the back surface of the closed money case 51. When the drawer 5 is opened, the money case 5 is opened by the opening spring 54.
At the same time that 1 is pushed forward, the locking claw 52 separates from the locking portion 53. By electrically detecting the state of the locking part 53, the CPU 11 determines whether the drawer 5 is opened and notifies the camera control part 16
Issue a command to shoot a camera.

The modem 7 is connected to a network center via a communication network and transmits a signal emitted from the communication control unit 19.

When there is a key input from the keyboard 4, the keyboard control unit 13 sends this to the CPU 11. Then, the CPU 11 processes the input data and displays the processing result on the display 3.

The drawer control unit 15 receives the command from the CPU 11 by operating the keyboard 4 and opens the drawer 5. When the drawer 5 is closed, a signal indicating it is sent to the CPU 11.

The timer control unit 18 starts the timer 6 when the drawer 5 is opened, and counts the time until the drawer 5 is closed.

When the drawer 5 is opened, the camera control section 16 receives a command from the CPU 11 to take a picture of the camera, and the memory 1
Overwrite the image on 2. And CPU11 is a timer control unit
When a signal indicating that the count value of the timer 6 exceeds a predetermined value is received from 18, the video stored in the memory 12 is prohibited from overwriting.

When the count value of the timer 6 is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the communication control section 19 automatically transmits the photographed image to a predetermined security department. The display control unit 14 displays the image stored in the memory 12 on the display 3 in response to a request.

Next, the operation of the above cash register 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the drawer control unit 15 opens the drawer 5 in response to a key input, the camera control unit 16 performs camera shooting,
A person in the vicinity of the cash register 1 is overwritten and photographed in the memory 12. Further, the timer control unit 18 starts the timer 6 and counts the time until the drawer 5 is closed.

When the drawer 5 is closed before the count value of the timer 6 reaches a predetermined value, the next key input is awaited. If the drawer 5 cannot be closed within a predetermined time, it is determined that a crime has occurred, and the image stored in the memory 12 is prohibited from being overwritten. Then, the photographed video is automatically transmitted to a predetermined security department to make a wanted order through the network. If requested, the captured video will be displayed on the display controller.
Display on display 3 by 14. Therefore, the displayed video data can be provided to the police who arrived at the scene as crime evidence, or can be transmitted by a communication device.

The second embodiment will be described based on the cash register of the above embodiment.

The image of the wanted person is stored in the memory 12 in advance.

Cash register 1 in the second embodiment
The operation of will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the drawer control unit 15 opens the drawer 5 in response to a key input, the camera control unit 16 shoots a camera, and a person near the cash register 1 is overwritten in the memory 12. Then, a search is made to see if the image of the same person as the image at that time is stored in the memory 12. If there is no matching image, wait for the next key input.
If there is a matching image, the taken image is prohibited from being overwritten, and the specified security department is automatically notified and the taken image is transmitted.

[0022]

As described above, the cash register of the present invention is provided with a camera for shooting an image in synchronization with the operation of opening the drawer of the register, a memory for storing the image taken by the camera, and the opening of the drawer. It is equipped with a timer that starts counting in synchronization, and when the count value of the timer exceeds a predetermined value, the video stored in the memory is prohibited from being overwritten and the captured video is automatically sent to a predetermined security department. It is configured to include a device for transmitting. Therefore, when leaving the image of the criminal as evidence of a theft case, the image of the other person is not left, so the memory capacity can be saved and the cost can be reduced as compared with the video camera, and the privacy of the customer can be improved. Can be protected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a cash register according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the cash register in FIG.

3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the cash register of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of a cash register in the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an internal configuration diagram of a drawer.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Cash register, 2 ... Electronic still camera,
3 ... Display, 4 ... Keyboard, 5 ... Drawer, 6 ... Timer, 7 ... Modem,
11 ... CPU, 12 ... Memory, 13 ...
Keyboard control unit, 14 ... Display control unit, 15
Drawer control unit, 16 ... Camera control unit, 17 ... Address / data bus, 18 ... Timer control unit, 19 ... Communication control unit, 51 ... Money case, 52 ... Locking claw, 53 ... Locking unit,
54 ... Opening spring.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cash register for storing cash, comprising: a camera for referring to the photographed image for photographing the image in synchronization with the opening operation of the drawer opening. 2. The cash register according to claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing images taken by a camera and a timer for starting counting in synchronization with opening of the drawer, and the count value of the timer is predetermined. A cash register, wherein when the value exceeds the value, the video stored in the memory is prohibited from being overwritten. 3. The cash register according to claim 2, wherein when the count value of the timer exceeds a predetermined value, the captured image is automatically transmitted to a predetermined security department. . 4. The cash register according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of sets of cameras and memories. 5. The cash register according to claim 4, wherein a camera is installed on the side of the cash register and inside the drawer.