JPH10269457A - Merchandise managing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set merchandise name data in the alphanumerics and Japanese syllabary (KANA) characters and Chinese characters(KANJI) of merchandise to a merchandise file by just once inputting the merchandise name data concerning one piece of that merchandise. SOLUTION: When a merchandise code is inputted and the merchandise name data in alphanumerics KANA characters are inputted by character keys, a KANA/KANJI converting software is activated, and the merchandise name data in these alphanumerics and KANA characters are converted to the merchandise name data in one or plural ways of KANJI characters so as to be selected. When one kind is selected out of them, the merchandise name data in these selected KANJI characters are set to the merchandise file together with the key-inputted merchandise name data in alphanumerics and KANA characters.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a merchandise management apparatus having a merchandise file for storing at least merchandise name data in alphanumeric kana and kanji corresponding to a merchandise code specifying each merchandise.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a large-scale supermarket having various sales floors such as a food sales floor, a clothing sales floor, and a home electronics sales floor, a server computer is installed in each sales floor and a POS (point of sale information) in the sales floor is provided. Management) Connect the terminals with a communication line, install a host computer in a store office, etc., and connect the server computers at each sales floor with the communication line. A merchandise management system has been constructed in which each server computer manages merchandise on a sales floor basis and a host computer manages merchandise for the entire store.

In such a product management system, a product master file in which product information such as a product code, a product name, and a price of all products sold in a store is prepared and installed in a host computer, and the product master file is prepared. On the basis of the above data, each server computer creates and loads a product local file storing product information of each product to be sold at the sales floor. When a product code is input from a scanner or the like, each POS terminal acquires and displays product information such as a product name and price corresponding to the input product code by referring to a product local file of a server computer connected to the line. , Printing, etc., and a sales registration process of merchandise sales data is performed based on the price. In addition, the host computer collects and processes the product sales data that has been subjected to the sales registration processing at the POS terminal of each store via each server computer after the store is closed, and processes the entire store by product, store, or time zone. Output a sales analysis report. Here, the host computer functions as a host device of the product management system, that is, a so-called product management device.

By the way, the host computer can use Chinese characters in addition to alphanumeric kana characters as characters for display and printing. However, POS terminals sometimes use only alphanumeric kana characters in order to reduce the price of products. Many. However, if a product name or the like is printed in alphanumeric kana characters in a sales analysis report created by the host computer, it becomes very difficult to see. Therefore, conventionally, two types of product names in alphanumeric characters and kanji have been set as product name data in the product master file, and the product name in alphanumeric kana characters has been used in the POS terminal, and the product The product name was used.

[0005]

However, when a product name of each product is set in a product master file in a host computer in a conventional product management system of this kind, first, a product code of a product whose name is to be set is set. Enter Next, a product name using alphanumeric kana characters is input and set in a product name area for alphanumeric kana characters corresponding to the corresponding product code in the product master file. Finally, after declaring a kanji input and activating the kana-kanji conversion software resident on the host computer, enter the alphanumeric kana character and convert it to the desired kanji, and if the desired kanji has been converted, the corresponding product in the above product master file It was set in the product name area for kanji corresponding to the code.

As described above, conventionally, unless the same product name data is input twice for one product, it is possible to set the product name data using alphanumeric kana characters and the product name data using kanji characters in the product master file. could not.
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to set the product name data in alphanumeric characters and the product name data in kanji of the product in the product file just by inputting the product name data once for one product. An object of the present invention is to provide a merchandise management device that can reduce the work load of business and the time required for creation.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a product file storing at least product name data in alphanumeric kana characters and product name data in kanji corresponding to a product code of each product is provided. In a product management device, a keyboard having resident kana / kanji conversion software for converting alphanumeric kana characters to kanji, code input means for inputting a product code for specifying each product, and a keyboard provided with various character keys When the product code is inputted by the code input means and the product name data by the alphanumeric kana characters is inputted by the character keys of the keyboard, the kana-kanji conversion software is activated and the product name by the alphanumeric kana characters The data is converted to one or more types of kanji product name data and made selectable, and one type is selected from among them. Then, the product name data in the selected kanji is set together with the product name data in the alphanumeric kana characters entered by the character keys in the product file in association with the product code entered by the input means. It is.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the merchandise management apparatus having the merchandise file, the merchandise code is input by the code input means, and the merchandise name data by alphanumeric kana characters is input by the character keys of the keyboard. And the product name data in alphanumeric characters
A kana-kanji conversion means for converting into a plurality of types of kanji product name data, a name selection means for selecting one type of kanji product name data obtained by conversion by the kana-kanji conversion means, and a name selection means Name setting means for setting the product name data of the kanji selected by the character string and the product name data of the alphanumeric kana characters entered by the character keys together with the product code entered by the input means in the product file It is.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a host computer 1 of a merchandise management system for a large-scale supermarket shown in FIG. 1 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The merchandise management system shown in FIG. 1 includes a host computer 1 installed in a store office or the like, and a plurality of POS servers 2 installed in sales floors such as a food sales floor, a clothing sales floor, and a home electronics sales floor. The first POS server 2 is connected to the first communication line 3 and the second POS server 2 is connected to the second communication line 4.
The POS terminals 5 in the sales floor are connected to each other via the Internet.

As shown in FIG. 2, the host computer 1 stores a product name in alphanumeric kana characters (ANK characters), a product name in kanji characters, A product master file 6 in which product information such as a product price is preset is installed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the host computer 1. As shown in FIG. As shown
The host computer 1 has a CPU constituting a control unit main body.
(Central processing unit) 11, ROM (read only memory) storing in advance program data such as an initial program loader, character generator data for alphanumeric kana characters, and character generator data for kanji.
Memory) 12, a program RAM (random access memory) 13 for loading various application programs and the like, a work RAM 14 in which various memory areas for temporarily storing data are formed, and a first communication line 3 for connection. Communication controller 15 for controlling data communication with each POS server 2 and an HDD (hard disk drive) device 1 for storing and holding various files such as the product master file 6 and various programs.
The HDD controller 17 controls writing / reading of data to / from the HDD 6. The host computer 1 includes various input / output device interfaces such as a scanner interface 18, a keyboard interface 19, a display interface 20, and a printer interface 21.
2. The program RAM 13, the data RAM 14, the communication controller 15, the HDD controller 16, and various input / output device interfaces 18, 19, 20, 21 are electrically connected by bus lines 22 such as an address bus and a data bus.

The scanner interface 18 is connected to a scanner 23 as code input means for optically reading a bar code or the like corresponding to a product code for specifying each product. The keyboard interface 19 is connected to a keyboard 24 provided with various function keys such as a numeric keypad, an execution key, an end key, a next candidate key, a previous candidate key, and a cancel key, in addition to various character keys of alphanumeric kana characters. ing.

The display interface 20 includes a display device 25 capable of displaying alphanumeric kana characters and kanji characters such as a CRT display and a liquid crystal display.
Are connected. The printer interface 21 is connected to a printer device 26 capable of printing alphanumeric kana characters and Chinese characters, such as a laser printer and an ink jet printer.

Now, the host computer 1 having such a configuration will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, Kana-Kanji conversion software 41 is resident in the program RAM 13 as an application program particularly used for the name setting work of the product master file 13. The type of the kana-kanji software 41 is not particularly limited, and a commercially available one may be used.

The host computer 1 having such a configuration
As the memory area used in the name setting work of the product master file 13, the input product code area 51, ANK is stored in the work RAM 14, as shown in FIG.
Various memory areas for a character name area 52, a plurality of kanji name candidate areas 53, and a rank counter 54 are formed.

When the CPU 11 selects the name setting job from the job menu screen displayed on the display device 25 by key input or the like,
The processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is executed.
That is, when the processing of the name setting task is started, first, S
It waits for a product code to be input as T (step) 1. The bar code data read by the scanner 23 is taken in via the scanner interface 17, and the bar code data is analyzed to obtain the product code of the product for which the name is to be set. This product code is temporarily stored in the input product code area 51. Remember.

Next, as ST2, the product master file 6 is searched for the product code in the input product code area 51. As a result, if the input product code is set in the product master file 6 (YES in ST3), ST
As 4, it waits for input of product name data using alphanumeric kana characters. If the input product code is not set in the product master file (NO in ST3), the input product code is added to the product master file 6 in ST5, and the product name data in alphanumeric kana characters is added in ST4. Wait for input.

In step ST4, when commodity name data in alphanumeric kana characters is input by various character keys of the keyboard 24, the commodity name data is temporarily stored in the ANK character name area 52 and displayed on the display device 25. Next, in step ST6, the kana-kanji conversion software 41 is started, and the ANK character name area 52 is set.
Is converted into product name data using one or more kanji characters. And
The product name data of one or a plurality of kanji obtained by the conversion is temporarily stored in the kanji name candidate area 53 (a kana-kanji conversion means).

Next, as ST8, a product name setting process specifically shown in FIG. 7 is executed. That is, after the count value n of the ranking counter 54 is initially set to [1], the candidate ranking from the kanji name candidate area 53 is nth, that is, 1st.
The product name data in the kanji of the place is read and displayed on the display device 25. In this state, it waits for a key input.

Here, when the next candidate key is input, the count value n of the order counter 54 is counted up by [1]. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the kanji name candidate area 53 has the product name data with the n-th candidate rank. If there is data, the product name data whose candidate rank is nth is read out and displayed on the display device 25.
To be displayed. In this state, it waits for a key input again.
On the other hand, when there is no product name data of the nth rank, the product name data by the alphanumeric kana characters stored in the ANK character name area 52 is stored in the product master file 6 in the input product code. The product name data area is set in the product name data area in alphanumeric characters corresponding to the product code stored in the area 51, and the product name setting process ends.

When the previous candidate key is input,
The count value n of the order counter 54 is counted down by [1]. At this time, if the count value n becomes [0], it is returned to [1]. Thereafter, the merchandise name data having the n-th candidate rank is read from the kanji name candidate area 53 and displayed on the display device 25. In this state,
Wait for key input again.

When the execution key is input, the product name data of the kanji currently displayed on the display device 25 is selected (name selection means). Read the product name data. The product name data in kanji and the product name data in alphanumeric characters stored in the ANK character name area 52 are stored in the product master file 6.
Of the product name data area in kanji and the product name data area in alphanumeric kana characters corresponding to the product code stored in the input product code area 51 (name setting means). This ends the product name setting process.

When the cancel key is input in the key input standby state, the product name setting process is immediately terminated. When the input of the execution key is detected after the end of the product name setting process in this manner (YE in FIG. 6, ST9)
S), returning to ST1, waits for the input of the product code of the next product for which the name is to be set. If the end key is detected after the product name setting process is completed (see FIG. 6,
(YES in ST10), the processing of the name setting task ends.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when setting the product name data in the product master file 6 by operating the host computer 1, the operator first uses the scanner 23 to apply the barcode attached to the name setting target product. A product code is input by performing a reading operation. Then
The character keys on the keyboard 24 are operated to input product name data in alphanumeric kana characters.

Then, the kana-kanji conversion software 41 is activated, and the product name data of the alphanumeric kana characters inputted by the key is converted into one or more kinds of product name data of kanji. Then, the merchandise name data of the first candidate kanji is displayed on the display device 25 together with the merchandise name data of the alphanumeric kana characters entered by key.

If the kanji displayed on the display device 25 does not correspond, the next candidate key is pressed.
Then, the next candidate data is displayed from the product name data of the kanji converted by the kana-kanji conversion software 41. When the corresponding data is displayed as the product name data in kanji in this way, the execution key is pressed. Then, the product master file 6
Then, in correspondence with the product code of the product for which the name is to be set, product name data in alphanumeric kana characters input by key and product name data in kanji selected from the automatically converted characters are set.

When the next candidate key is operated and the product name data of all candidates in kanji is confirmed, if there is no corresponding data, the product master file 6 corresponds to the product code of the product whose name is to be set. Then, only the product name data based on the alphanumeric kana characters entered by key is set. In this case, a kanji input declaration is made in the same manner as in the related art, and for example, alphanumeric kana characters may be converted into kanji character by character to set kanji product name data.

As described above, in the present embodiment, 1
Product name data in alphanumeric kana characters for product 1
By simply inputting the number of times, product name data of the product in alphanumeric kana characters and product name data in kanji can be set in the product master file 6. Therefore, especially in a store handling a large variety of products such as a mass merchandising store, the work load required to create and update the product master file 6 can be greatly reduced, and the work time is also reduced.
The effect is great.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the product name setting task for the product master file 6 mounted on the host computer 1, but the present invention is also applied to the product local file mounted on each POS server 2 or each POS terminal 5. It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied as long as two types of alphanumeric kana characters and kanji are set as product names.

In the above embodiment, the product name data of the alphanumeric kana characters entered by the key is converted into the product name data of the kanji by the kana / kanji conversion software 41, and the converted data is displayed one by one on the display device 2.
5 shows a case where a selection is made by displaying the list, but a list of all candidates may be displayed on the display device 25, and one of them may be selected using a numeric keypad or the like.

In the above embodiment, if there is no corresponding product name data in kanji converted by the kana-kanji conversion software 41, only the product name data in alphanumeric kana characters is set.
Although the product name data in kanji is set by the conventional method later, it may be set by the conventional method when there is no corresponding data. In addition, it is needless to say that various modified actual papers can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0033]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
Just enter the product name data once for one product,
Products that can be set in the product file with product name data in alphanumeric kana characters and product name data in kanji, which can reduce the work load required for product file creation work and shorten the creation time A management device can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a product management system for a large-scale supermarket according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a product master file shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram of a main part of the host computer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view showing main programs resident in a program RAM of the host computer.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view showing a main memory area formed in a work RAM of the host computer.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the main part processing of a name setting task executed by the CPU of the host computer.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart specifically showing a product name setting process in FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Host computer (product management device) 6 ... Product master file 11 ... CPU 23 ... Scanner 24 ... Keyboard 25 ... Display device 26 ... Printer device 41 ... Kana-kanji conversion software

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A merchandise management apparatus comprising: a merchandise file storing at least merchandise name data in alphanumeric kana characters and merchandise name data in kanji corresponding to a merchandise code of each merchandise; Resident in kana-kanji conversion software for converting kanji to kanji, code input means for inputting a product code specifying each product, and a keyboard provided with various character keys, and the product code is input by the code input means. When the product name data of the alphanumeric kana character is inputted by the character keys of the keyboard, the kana-kanji conversion software is activated and the product name data of the alphanumeric kana character is converted into one or more kinds of product name data of the kanji. Is converted to selectable, and when one of them is selected, the selected kanji Product management unit and sets a product name data in association with the product code input by the input means to the product file with product-name data alphanumeric kana characters input by the character keys with. 2. A merchandise management apparatus comprising at least a merchandise file storing at least merchandise name data in alphanumeric kana characters and merchandise name data in kanji corresponding to a merchandise code of each merchandise, wherein each merchandise is specified. Code input means for inputting a product code to be input; a keyboard provided with various character keys; a product code input by the code input means; and product name data by alphanumeric kana characters input by the character keys of the keyboard. Then, kana-kanji conversion means for converting the product name data based on the alphanumeric kana character into product name data based on one or more kanji characters, and one of the kanji product name data obtained by conversion by the kana-kanji conversion means. Name selection means for selecting the type; and product name data in kanji selected by the name selection means. Product management apparatus together with the product name data alphanumeric Kana characters input by the character keys, characterized by comprising a name setting means for setting association with the commodity code input by said input means to the product file.