JPH10188140A - Product sales registration data processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily input a home address for obtaining information relating to a product from a home page on an internet communication network. SOLUTION: Then home address of the home page for providing the information is registered corresponding to respective product codes in an item file 27, and when the product code of a desired product is inputted by a bar code scanner at the time of an internet connection mode, the home address of the pertinent product code is read from the item file 27 and the home page is accessed through a provider on the internet communication network. Thus, in the case of wanting to access the home page on the internet communication network relating to a certain product and obtain the information relating to the product, just the internet connection mode is set and a bar code attached to the product is read by the bar code scanner.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a merchandise sales registration data processing apparatus such as a POS (Point Of Sale) terminal having a bar code scanner, which is constructed on the basis of a personal computer (personal computer) and which can be connected to an Internet communication network. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in this type of product sales registration data processing device, a PLU in which product information such as a product name and a unit price is set in advance in a memory in correspondence with a unique product code assigned to each product. Prepare the file as a single item file,
When the barcode attached to the product is read by a barcode scanner and the product code is input, the PLU file is searched and product information such as a product name and a unit price corresponding to the input product code is read, and these products are read. Based on the information, product registration processing, display processing of product name, price, etc., and printing processing on receipt paper or journal paper by a receipt / journal printer are performed, and after the final payment is completed, a receipt is issued and the cashier I'm giving it. By using the barcode and the barcode scanner in this manner, the input operability is improved.

[0003] In recent years, with the spread of personal computers, the development of the Internet communication network has been remarkable, and various types of information can be easily provided on homepages on the Internet. As one use form, various homepages have been established by merchandise manufacturers or their sales agents, and many types of POS terminals and the like which are configured based on personal computers and which can be connected to the Internet have appeared. According to such a POS terminal that can be connected to the Internet, the Internet connection mode is set via the keyboard or the like, and the home address of a desired homepage (information provision by a WWW server on the Internet) is input to the Internet communication network. Will be able to access the homepage through a provider. That is, it is possible to access the Internet communication network by inputting the home address of a desired WWW server using commercially available browser software or the like. As a result, information on the product can be obtained from the home page.

[0004]

However, the only way to access a desired homepage on the Internet communication network is to enter the home address using a keyboard, which is troublesome. In particular, the home addresses are all similar, and input errors often occur.
Also, if the time required to input the home address is long, P
This may impair the original business performance of the OS terminal, etc., and is not desirable. For example, it is virtually impossible to access the homepage when the cashier is facing the customer. It is also subject to restrictions on the use of.

[0005] In view of the above, according to the present invention, it is possible to input a home address for obtaining information on a product from a homepage on the Internet communication network by a simple operation, and to sell the product which makes the best use of the Internet communication network. It is an object to provide a registration data processing device.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a merchandise sales registration data processing apparatus which stores merchandise information such as a merchandise name and a unit price in correspondence with a unique merchandise code assigned to each merchandise in advance. When a product code of a product is input by reading a bar code with a bar code scanner, a single product file is provided, the single product file is searched and product information corresponding to the input product code is read, and it can be connected to the Internet communication network. A product sales registration data processing device, in which a home address of a homepage that provides information corresponding to each product code is registered in advance in the single product file, and the product code of a desired product is stored in the bar in the Internet connection mode. Reads the home address of the corresponding product code from the single item file when input by code scanner And so as to access the website via the provider on the Internet communication network Te. Therefore, if you want to access the homepage on the Internet communication network for a certain product and obtain information about the product, set it to the Internet connection mode and read the barcode attached to the product with a barcode scanner. Often, entering a home address becomes easier. For this purpose, the home address for each product code may be stored in advance by using a part of the single product file together with the barcode scanner used for the original product registration process, etc. It can be realized without need.

Here, in order to realize the first aspect of the present invention, when a bar code scanner reads a bar code into a computer connectable to an Internet communication network, and a bar code scanner inputs a bar code of the bar code, each bar code is input in advance. A single product file storing product information such as a product name and a unit price corresponding to the unique product code assigned to the product is searched and the product sales registration data processing device that reads out product information corresponding to the input product code is operated. A program for recording a home address of a home page that provides information on the product in association with each product code in a single product file, and a control program for storing the control program in the Internet connection mode. When the product code of the product is input by the barcode scanner, it corresponds from the single item file A function of reading home address of the product code that reads home address makes it possible to use the medium to achieve the function of accessing the website via the provider on the Internet communication network, to the computer. According to this, the control program recorded on the medium expands the single item file to one in which the home address is registered for each item code, and also inputs the item code by the barcode scanner in the Internet connection mode in actual use. This single file is utilized for accessing the homepage based on the home address read from the single file, and the homepage is accessed via a provider on the Internet communication network. Therefore, if you want to access the homepage on the Internet communication network for a certain product and obtain information about the product, set it to the Internet connection mode and read the barcode attached to the product with a barcode scanner. Often, entering a home address becomes easier.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The merchandise sales registration data processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is applied to an open POS terminal 1 based on a personal computer as one of the embodiments. Nowadays, it is generally possible to connect such a POS terminal 1 to a provider 3 of the Internet communication network 2,
In the present embodiment as well, it is assumed that connection to the provider 3 is possible via the Internet connection board 3 and the modem 4 as shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the POS terminal 1.
The POS terminal 1 is mounted on the drawer 5 and controls opening and closing of a drawer 6 of the drawer 5. The POS terminal 1 has a flat casing shape in which an area for receiving an operation of an operator is inclined, and a keyboard 7, a key key 8, a receipt issuing port 9, a journal window in which various keys are collected in the inclined operation area. 10 are provided. A display 11 is arranged on the upper right side of the POS terminal 1, and a customer display unit (RIU) 12 is provided on the back surface. The display 11 is composed of a liquid crystal display, and its display surface faces the operator. The customer side display unit 12 is also formed of a liquid crystal display, and its display surface is directed to the customer side who will face the operator at the time of merchandise sales registration. Further, the POS terminal 1 is connected to a barcode scanner 13 for optically reading a barcode attached to a product or the like.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the POS terminal 1. The POS terminal 1 has a built-in microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as a microcomputer) 14 as a computer, and the microcomputer 14 drives and controls each unit. The microcomputer 14 is a CPU that centrally controls each unit.
ROM 15 which stores fixed data in advance via bus line 16 and R which stores variable data in a rewritable manner
The AM 18 is connected and configured. The RAM 18
In practice, a plurality of are provided for each application, and are used for applications such as an image memory (VRAM) and a work area.

An HDD 19 (hard disk drive) is connected to the bus line 16 connected to the CPU 15, and the HDD 19 stores a control program. Therefore, the HDD 19 is a medium on which the control program is recorded. When the POS terminal 1 starts,
The control program stored in the HDD 19 is written into the RAM 18, whereby the microcomputer 14 enters a state where the drive of each unit can be controlled. The components that are driven and controlled by the microcomputer 14 will be described below.

The keyboard 7 is, as shown in FIG.
Various key groups such as a numeric key 7a for inputting an amount and the like, a deposit / current total key 7b for declaring a closing in a product sales registration business, and a department key 7c for designating a product department are provided for each block. It has an arrayed appearance structure. In the present embodiment, as one of such keys, a product information key for setting an Internet connection mode for accessing a homepage on the Internet communication network 2 is provided. Such a keyboard 7 is, as shown in FIG.
The input control circuit 20 is connected to the bus line 16 via the input control circuit 20, and inputs a signal corresponding to a pressed key to the microcomputer 14 by the operation of the input control circuit 20.

The key 8 is switched by a plurality of types of keys (not shown). In this case, the switchable position differs depending on the type of the key. The key 8 is also connected to the bus line 16 via the input control circuit 20, and inputs a signal corresponding to the switching position to the microcomputer 14 by the operation of the input control circuit 20. The microcomputer 14 sets the operation mode of the POS terminal 1 to a registration mode, a checkout mode, an inspection mode, an entry mode, or the like according to the output signal of the key key 8.

The display 11 and the customer side display unit 12 are both connected to the bus line 16 via respective drivers 21 and 22, and display data from the microcomputer 14 is input to the drivers 21 and 22. When,
Driven by these drivers 21 and 22, a predetermined item is displayed.

The bar code scanner 13 is connected to the bus line 16 via an input control circuit 23, and transmits bar code data read by the bar code scanner 13 to the microcomputer 14 by the operation of the input control circuit 20. .

In addition, the POS terminal 1 has a built-in printer unit 24.
Is also controlled by the microcomputer 14. The printer unit 24 is mainly composed of an R / J printer (receipt journal printer) 25 connected to the bus line 16, and includes a driver 26 interposed and connected between the R / J printer 25 and the bus line 16. Including. Therefore, when print data from the microcomputer 14 is input to the driver 26, the R / J printer 25 is driven by the driver 26 and prints the contents corresponding to the print data.

Here, in addition to the control program, the HDD 19 also stores a single product file 27 of a product as shown in FIG. The single item file 27 contains PLU (Price
It has a file structure of a Look Up) file structure, and stores, for each product code (JAN code) for specifying each product, product information such as a product name, a unit price, and a maker of the product in a rewritable manner. In the present embodiment, a home address storage field 27a is also reserved for such a single item file 27. This home address storage field 2
In 7a, a home address of a homepage by a WWW server on the Internet communication network 2 that provides information on the product in association with each product code is stored in advance. This home address is, for example, a URL (Unifo
rm Resource Locator) address,
The basic format is specified by describing a protocol name: // server (host name) / directory name / file name. However, some products do not have a homepage established by the maker or the like. In this case, the home address storage section 27a
Is left blank.

The function of the control program stored in the HDD 19 to be executed by the microcomputer 14 will be described. In the POS terminal 1 after activation, an operation mode is selected according to the switching position of the key key 8. That is, according to the output signal generated by the switching position of the key 8, the microcomputer 14
The operation mode of the OS terminal 1 is set to a registration mode, a checkout mode, an inspection mode, an entry mode, or the like.

For example, when the registration mode is set, a merchandise sales registration operation is performed. In the merchandise sales registration business, when the cashier reads the barcode attached to each merchandise with the barcode scanner 13 and the merchandise code is input, the single-item file 27 is searched by the merchandise code and the corresponding item is registered. The product information such as the product name and unit price of the product code is read and provided for the product registration process. When all the commodities related to one transaction have been registered, and the closing of one transaction is declared by pressing the deposit / current total key 7b, commodity sales data is generated. Microcomputer 14
The R / J printer 25 develops the merchandise sales data in the image memory in the RAM 18 to generate print data, and issues a receipt print and journal print via the R / J printer 25.

In such a registration mode, when the product information key on the keyboard 7 is depressed and the Internet connection mode is set, a home address search process or the like by the barcode scanner 13 is performed. That is, in the Internet connection mode, when the bar code attached to a desired product is read by the bar code scanner 13 and the product code is input, the single product file 27 is read.
The home address of the corresponding product code is read from the inside, and this home address information is
The process of transmitting to the above provider 3 is performed. Thereafter, a process of accessing the home page of the home address is performed by an access process on the browser software in the Internet communication network 2. As a result of accessing the homepage, information on the product provided from the homepage is temporarily taken into the image memory in the RAM 18 and is provided for display on the display 11 as appropriate.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing the flow of a home address search process when the product information key is depressed and the Internet connection mode is set. The barcode scanner 13 determines whether or not a product code has been input (step S1). If the product code has been input, the home address corresponding to the product code is searched from the single product file 27 (S1).
2). As a result of the search, if the corresponding home address does not exist (N in S3), the home page cannot be accessed as it is, so that error processing is performed (S4), and the process returns. On the other hand, if the corresponding home address exists (Y in S3), the home address is read and transmitted to the provider 3 on the Internet communication network 2 (S3).
5). Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the processing shifts to processing by browser software on the Internet communication network 2, and
Access processing to the target homepage is automatically performed based on the transmitted home address information (S1).
1). As a result, the POS terminal 1 is provided with information on the product on the homepage.

The other processes in the registration mode and the processes in the checkout mode and the inspection mode are the same as the similar processes performed by the conventional POS terminal, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, when the POS terminal 1 is set to the entry mode, a list of executable tasks is displayed on the display 11. This work list includes rewriting work for the single item file 27. In this work, when home address information is entered by using the keyboard 7 or the like in association with the product code, the home address storage field 2
The registration process for 7a is executed.

In the implementation, ECR and POS
The system may be applied to a store controller or the like provided in a backyard or the like. In short, a barcode scanner may be provided.

In this embodiment, the HDD 19 is used as a medium on which the control program is recorded, but the medium may be an FD (floppy disk),
A semiconductor element such as OM17 may be used.

Further, the home address registered in the home address storage section 27a of the single item file 27 is not limited to the manufacturer, but may be a home address for accessing a home page by a sales agent. May be the home address or the like that is set to.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when it is desired to obtain information on the homepage of the Internet communication network 2 for an arbitrary product, the information is attached to the target product as in the case of the product sales registration business. If the bar code is read by the bar code scanner 13 and the product code is input, the home address is automatically searched and accessible, so that the input operation of the home address is extremely simple and short.

As a result, for example, even when the cashier is engaged in merchandise sales registration facing the customer,
When it is desired to obtain the information provided by the maker regarding the product specified in response to the customer's request, the product information key is pressed, the mode is set to the Internet connection mode, and the bar code is read with the bar code scanner 13 for the target product. By accessing the homepage and displaying the obtained information on the customer side display unit 12, the information can be provided to the customer. In this case, information provided in this case may include information on a prize, information on a special sale period, and the like. In addition, how to use the information on the product obtained through the homepage on the Internet communication network 2 depends on the operation of each store or the like. For example, in a store controller equipped with a barcode scanner, By accessing the homepages of manufacturers and distributors using the method described above, it is possible to make inventory inquiries regarding the product.For example, information obtained by accessing the homepage using the above method through a desired product can be obtained through a printer. It is also possible to adopt a usage form of printing out and using it for advertisement in a store.

[0029]

According to the merchandise sales registration data processing device of the present invention, a single item file storing merchandise information such as a merchandise name and a unit price corresponding to a unique merchandise code assigned in advance to each merchandise. A product connectable to the Internet communication network, wherein when the product code of the product is input by reading the barcode with a barcode scanner, the single product file is searched and the product information corresponding to the input product code is read. A sales registration data processing device,
Register the home address of the homepage that provides information corresponding to each product code in the single item file,
When a product code of a desired product is input by the barcode scanner in the Internet connection mode, the home address of the corresponding product code is read from the single product file, and the homepage is accessed via a provider on the Internet communication network. Therefore, if you want to access the homepage on the Internet communication network for a certain product and obtain information about the product, set the Internet connection mode and read the barcode attached to the product with a barcode scanner. Often, the home address can be easily input. For this reason, the home address for each product code is used by using a part of a single product file together with a barcode scanner used for the original product registration process. It is sufficient to store it in advance, and hardware It can be realized without requiring a change of the above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a single item file showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external structure of the POS terminal.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the POS terminal.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of a home address search process in the Internet connection mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Commodity sales registration data processing device 2 Internet communication network 3 Provider 13 Barcode scanner 27 Single item file

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A single item file storing product information such as a product name and a unit price corresponding to a unique product code assigned to each product in advance, and a bar code scanner reads the bar code to read the product code of the product. Is input, a product sales registration data processing device connectable to an Internet communication network, which searches the single product file and reads product information corresponding to the input product code. The home address of a homepage that provides information in association with the information is registered in advance, and when the product code of a desired product is input by the barcode scanner in the Internet connection mode, the home address of the corresponding product code is obtained from the single product file. Read and access the homepage via a provider on the Internet communication network. Commodity sales registration data processing apparatus is characterized in that so as to scan.