JPH10124517A - Merchandise information reference device and merchandise sales registered data processor having merchandise information reference function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten time required for referring to merchandise information such as the performance or shape of desired merchandise by enabling the input of access information for accessing a data file stored in a server through simple one-action operation. SOLUTION: An electronic cash register 1 is connected through a computer network 2 to plural servers 3a and 3b storing data files storing the image data of merchandise information showing the performance and shapes or the like of various kinds of merchandise. In this case, an input means for inputting the access information composed of the identification information of any server as an access object and the identification information of the data file is composed of a scanner for reading a code encoding this access information through scanning and a core analyzing means for possessing the access information by decoding the code read by this scanner.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a merchandise information reference device and a merchandise sales registration data processing device having a merchandise information reference function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an electronic cash register or POS (point of sale information) terminal for registering sales data of a product purchased by a customer in a storage unit at a retail store and managing the sales of the product. When the data processing device reads the bar code attached to the product by scanning scanning of the scanner, the data processing device acquires the product code from the bar code, searches the product data file with the product code, reads the unit price, and reads the unit price. In general, the product sales data is calculated based on the product sales data.

[0003] In this apparatus, product setting data such as status information such as a product code, a unit price, a product name, and a tax type, which are set in advance in a product data file, are encoded into a two-dimensional data code and attached to the product. A merchandise sales registration data processing device that enables registration of merchandise sales data by reading a dimensional data code with a scanner and eliminates the necessity of a merchandise data file has also been developed.

[0004] By the way, in a retail store that handles large-sized products such as home electric appliances and automobiles, there is a case where there is no stock of the products that the customer wants to purchase. In this case, the clerk is asked by the customer about the performance and form of the product, and if he or she does not have the knowledge, he must refer to the catalog or contact the manufacturer over the phone to deal with it. There was something I could not do.

On the other hand, recently, the Internet has become widespread as a computer network. Therefore, a data file storing image data of product information indicating the performance and form of the product of each company is stored for each product in a computer owned by each manufacturer, and this computer is connected to the Internet to connect to the Internet. A computer functioning as a server, a computer owned by a retail store or an individual can access the WWW server and capture a data file storing image data of a desired product via the Internet, so that the data file can be referred to on a display screen of the computer. A product information reference system has been considered.

[0006]

However, when accessing a WWW server on the Internet and specifying a data file to be stored in the server, the type of communication protocol to be used [HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer)
Protocol)] and access information including a WWW server to be accessed and a server name and data file name as identification information of the data file, so-called URL (Uniform).
Resource Locator) had to be entered from a computer keyboard.

[0007] For this reason, in a retail store using the merchandise information reference system, each store clerk accesses the WWW server of the manufacturer who wants to refer to the merchandise information and specifies the access information so that the data file of the merchandise can be specified. I had to know, and I had to get used to computer keys.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a purpose of the present invention is to provide a simple one-touch operation for inputting access information for accessing a data file stored in a server. It is an object of the present invention to provide a product information reference device and a product sales registration data processing device having a product information reference function, which can significantly reduce the time required for referring to product information such as desired product performance and form. .

[0009]

The invention according to claim 1 of the present application is connected via a computer network to a plurality of servers storing data files storing image data of product information indicating the performance and form of various products. In response to the inputting of the access information including the identification information of the access target server and the identification information of the data file by the input means, access is made to the access target server via the computer network and the specified data file is accessed. A product information reference device that acquires product information image data and outputs the image information by an image output unit, wherein the input unit is a scanner that reads a code obtained by coding access information in a predetermined system by scanning scanning, and a scanner that reads the code by the scanner. Code analysis means for analyzing code to obtain access information It is intended.

According to the invention of claim 2 of the present application, when a code attached to a product is read by scanning scanning of a scanner in a product registration mode, product sales data is acquired based on the code, and the product sales data is stored in a storage unit. In a merchandise sales registration data processing device for performing registration processing and displaying and outputting on a display unit, a computer network to which a plurality of servers storing data files storing image data of merchandise information indicating performance, form, etc. of various merchandise is connected. Upon connection, the access information including the identification information of the server to be accessed and the identification information of the data file is encoded into a code readable by the scanner, and the operation mode is switched between the product registration mode and the product information reference mode. Mode switching means, and a product information reference mode by the mode switching means. When a code of the access information is read by the scanner in a state in which the access information is specified, an access information obtaining means for analyzing the code to obtain the access information, and a computer network based on the access information obtained by the access information obtaining means. Product information obtaining means for accessing a server to be accessed via the server and obtaining product information image data in a specified data file, and product information for displaying the product information image data obtained by the product information obtaining means on a display unit Display control means.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an electronic cash register which functions as a merchandise sales registration data processing device having a merchandise information reference function, and is a public line or ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Broadcastin).
g) and connected to the Internet 2 which is a computer network via a dedicated line. On the Internet 2, there are stored data files which are owned by the manufacturers of the respective products (company A, company B,...) And store the image data of the product information indicating the performance, form, etc. of the products for each product. Computers (hereinafter, referred to as A company server 3a and B company server 3b) functioning as WWW servers.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electronic cash register 1 includes a numeric key, a department key, a subtotal key,
A keyboard 11 provided with various keys such as a current total key k1 and a cancel key, an operator display 12 for displaying a product name and price of a product registered and sold to an operator such as a clerk, a total price of one customer, and the like. Display 13 for displaying the same information on the receipt paper, and prints the registration details information and total information of the goods purchased by one customer on the receipt paper and prints the receipt on the receipt issuing port 1.
A receipt printer 14 issued from 4a, a drawer 15 for storing cash and the like, a scanner 16 for reading a two-dimensional data code by scanning, and a floppy disk 18 removably inserted through a floppy disk slot 17a are accessed. Peripheral devices such as a floppy disk drive (FDD) device 17 for writing and reading data and a hard disk drive (HDD) device 19 for writing and reading data by accessing a previously mounted hard disk are mounted.

A CPU (Centrl Processing Unit) that processes various programs as a control unit that controls these peripheral devices and executes a registration process of merchandise sales data.
20, RO in which fixed data such as programs are stored in advance
M (Read Only Memoly) 21, a RAM (Random Acceses) that forms a storage unit and the like for registering product sales data
s Memoly) 22, the FD to which the FDD device 17 is connected
A D controller 23, an HDD controller 24 to which the HDD device 19 is connected, a keyboard controller 25 to which the keyboard 11 is connected, a scanner controller 26 to which the scanner 16 is connected, and a drawer 15
Is connected to the drawer controller 27, the printer 1
And a display controller 29 to which the operator and customer displays 12 and 13 are connected.

The electronic cash register 1 has a modem 30 mounted thereon, and a computer (Company A servers 3a, B) on the Internet 2 via the modem 30.
Data can be transmitted / received to / from the company server 3b). CPU 20, ROM 21, RAM 22,
The modem 30 and the controllers 23 to 29 of the peripheral devices are connected by bus lines 31 such as an address bus and a data bus.

The electronic cash register 1 performs a product registration mode in which sales data of a product registered for sale is registered in the storage unit, and accesses the company A server 3a and the company B server 3b on the Internet 2. A product information key k2 is provided on the keyboard 11 as a mode switching means for switching between a product information reference mode in which image data of product information indicating the performance, form, and the like of the product are displayed and the image data is displayed on the displays 12 and 13. With the RAM 22
A mode selection flag F which is reset to "0" in the product registration mode and set to "1" in the product information reference mode is stored. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 20 checks the state of the mode selection flag F in response to the input of the product information key k2, and if it has been reset to "0", sets it to "1"; Is set to "0", the program is formed to execute a product information key input process of resetting to "0".

Further, the electronic cash register includes:
When the two-dimensional data code is read by the scanning scan of the scanner 16, the CPU 20 forms a program so as to execute the scanning process shown in FIG. The two-dimensional data code includes product code, unit price,
A product two-dimensional data code that encodes product setting data such as status information such as a product name and tax type, and accesses a company A server 3a and a company B server 3b on the Internet 2 and specifies a data file stored in the server. Access information consisting of a type of communication protocol required for the communication, a server name which is identification information of a server to be accessed and a data file name which is identification information of a data file, that is, a UPL two-dimensional data code which encodes a so-called UPL. There are types.

That is, when starting the scanning process, the CPU 20 first checks the state of the mode selection flag F as ST (step) 1. And "0"
Is reset to the product registration mode, it is determined in step ST2 whether the two-dimensional data code read by the scanner 16 is a product two-dimensional data code. If it is a commodity two-dimensional data code, ST3
The product two-dimensional data code is analyzed to obtain product setting data such as status information such as a product code, a unit price, a product name, and a tax type. Then, as ST4, product sales data is acquired based on the product setting data, and the
The registration process is performed on the storage unit 22. The merchandise sales data is displayed on the operator display 12 and the customer display 13.

On the other hand, when the mode selection flag F is set to "1", the product information reference mode is set, and in step ST5, whether the two-dimensional data code read by the scanner 16 is a UPL two-dimensional data code is determined. Judge. And if it is a UPL two-dimensional data code, ST
In step 6, the UPL two-dimensional data code is analyzed to obtain access information including the type of communication protocol, server name, and data file name (access information obtaining means).

Next, in step ST7, a connection to the Internet 2 is made via the modem 30 based on the access information. As a result, the connection to the Internet 2 is made by the corresponding communication protocol, and a server having the same server name (the A company server 3a or B server) is connected via the Internet 2.
Is connected to the company server 3b), the server accesses the connected server to be accessed in ST8, and acquires image data of the product information stored in the data file specified by the data file name (product information acquisition). means).

Thereafter, as ST9, the image data of the product information obtained from the server to be accessed is displayed on the operator display 12 and the customer display 13 (product information display control means). After that, when the input of the deposit / current total key k1 functioning as the business end key is detected in ST10, the image data of the product information displayed on the operator display 12 and the customer display 13 is deleted in ST11,
This processing ends.

In a retail store using the electronic cash register 1 of this embodiment configured as described above, each product is sold with a product two-dimensional data code attached. FIG.
As shown in (1), a list 40 of each product manufactured by the manufacturer A and storing image data of product information indicating performance, form, and the like is stored in the company A server 3a. Similarly, a list of each product manufactured by the manufacturer B and having image data of product information indicating performance, form, and the like stored in the company B server 3B is also prepared.

The list 40 includes the product name 41 and the UP required to access the company A server 3a and to specify the data file of the product stored in the server.
L42 and a UPL two-dimensional data code 43 that encodes the UPL42 are printed. In the UPL 42 of this embodiment, [htpp] is a type of communication protocol, [www.xxx.co.jp] is a server name for identifying the company A server 3a, and [catalog. ] Is a file name for identifying the data file.

Now, a clerk of such a retail store receives, for example, a personal computer of a manufacturing company A (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer) from a customer.
If a question is asked about the performance, form, etc. of the electronic cash register 1, first, the product information key k 1 arranged on the keyboard 11 of the electronic cash register 1 is input to change the operation mode of the electronic cash register 1. The mode is switched from the product registration mode to the product information reference mode. Next, the UP of the product “PC” printed on the product list 40 of Company A
The two-dimensional data code 43 is scanned by the scanner 16.

Then, the two-dimensional data code 43
Is analyzed, the type of the communication protocol [htpp], the server name of the company A server 3a [www.xxx.co.jp], and the file name of the data file storing the product information image data of the company A personal computer [catalog .pc.] is required. And
The connection to the Internet 2 is performed by the communication protocol HTTP of the procedure shown in FIG. As a result, the server is connected to the company A server 3a via the Internet 2, the connected company A server 3a is accessed, and the data file storing the product information image data of the company A personal computer is read. Then, based on the image data in the data file, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, a product information image 50 including a description of a product function such as the performance, characteristics, and specifications of the personal computer of Company A and its appearance image is used for the operator. It is displayed on the display 12 and the customer display 13. Then, the clerk answers the customer's question from the content of the product information image 50 displayed on the display 12 for the operator. In addition, the customer confirms himself / herself from the contents of the product information image 50 displayed on the customer display 13.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the UP
With a one-touch operation simply by scanning the L two-dimensional data code 43 with the scanner 16, access information for accessing a data file stored in a server on the Internet can be input, and the key to input this access information character by character can be saved. Can be omitted, and the time required for referring to the product information such as the performance and form of the desired product stored in the server can be greatly reduced. Further, it is not necessary to know the type of communication protocol to be used, the name of the WWW server to be accessed, and the name of the data file, and it is not necessary to operate the keyboard to input characters one by one. An operator can easily refer to information on a desired product.

Further, the electronic cash register 1 of the present embodiment is connected to the Internet 2 by providing a modem 30 to a conventional electronic cash register having a scanner 16 capable of reading commodity two-dimensional data codes. A business program for controlling the product information key process shown in FIG. 4 and the scanning process shown in FIG.
, The merchandise information reference system using the Internet 2 can be easily and inexpensively introduced by a retail store. In this case, the business program for controlling the merchandise information key processing shown in FIG. 4 and the scanning processing shown in FIG. 5 is stored as a computer-readable recording medium, for example, on a floppy disk 18 and, if necessary, FDD.
17 to the RAM 22.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the access information is encoded into a two-dimensional data code. However, the access information may be encoded into a barcode and read by a barcode scanner. Further, in the above embodiment, the image data of the product information acquired from the company A server 3a and the company B server 3b via the Internet 2 is displayed on the operator display 1.
2 and the customer display 13 are displayed, but may be displayed on either one of the displays.

According to the present invention, a scanner for reading a two-dimensional data code or a bar code by scanning and scanning is provided in a personal computer connectable to the Internet, and a code for analyzing the code read by the scanner to obtain access information is provided. An analysis unit may be provided to be a dedicated machine for the product information reference device. In this case, the company A server 3a
Alternatively, the image data of the product information acquired from the company B server 3b via the Internet 2 may be printed out on a recording paper by a printer instead of being displayed on a display screen of a personal computer. In addition, it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0029]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
Access information for accessing the data files stored in the server can be input with a simple one-touch operation, and the time required for referring to the product information such as the desired performance and form of the product can be greatly reduced. An information reference device and a product sales registration data processing device having a product information reference function can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of an electronic cash register according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the electronic cash register.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing product information key processing executed by a CPU of the electronic cash register.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a scanning process executed by the CPU of the electronic cash register.

FIG. 6 is an example diagram of a product list used in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a communication protocol according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a product information image in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic cash register 2 ... Internet 3a ... Company A server 3b ... Company B server 11 ... Keyboard 12 ... Operator display 13 ... Customer display 14 ... Printer 16 ... Scanner 20 ... CPU 30 ... Modem

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A computer connected to a plurality of servers storing data files storing product information image data indicating performance, form, etc. of various products,
In response to input of the access information consisting of the identification information of the server to be accessed and the identification information of the data file by the input means, access to the server to be accessed via the computer network is performed, and the product in the specified data file is accessed. A product information reference device that acquires information image data and outputs the obtained information by image output means, wherein the input means reads a code obtained by coding the access information in a predetermined system by scanning scanning, and a scanner that reads the code by the scanner. And a code analyzing means for analyzing the code obtained to obtain the access information. 2. When a code attached to a product is read by a scanning scan of a scanner in a product registration mode,
A product sales registration data processing device that obtains product sales data based on the code, registers the product sales data in a storage unit, and displays and outputs the data on a display unit. Connect to a computer network to which multiple servers storing data files storing data are connected,
Mode switching for encoding access information comprising identification information of a server to be accessed and identification information of a data file into a code readable by the scanner, and switching an operation mode between the commodity registration mode and the commodity information reference mode. Means for reading the code of the access information by the scanner in a state where the commodity information reference mode is designated by the mode switching means, and analyzing the code to obtain the access information; Product information obtaining means for accessing a server to be accessed via the computer network based on the access information obtained by the access information obtaining means and obtaining product information image data in a specified data file; Product information image data obtained by means Product information display control means for displaying data on the display unit,
A merchandise sales registration data processing device having a merchandise information reference function, comprising: