JPS6214297A - Pos system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention provides product data for a certain number of products to be sold at this electronic cash register in each electronic cash register connected to one file control unit. The present invention relates to a POS system having a temporary storage memory for storing.

[Conventional technology]

In the point-of-sale information management system, which is adopted in the A-sales registration operations of retailers, supermarkets, etc., for example, as shown in Figure 11, a plurality of electronic cash registers (ECR) 1 Therefore, it is connected to one file control unit 3.File control unit 3
For example, in a storage unit such as a magnetic disk recording device, product data such as product name, unit price, etc., sales data such as number of sales items, sales amount, etc. for all products registered for sale at each electronic cash register 1 are stored as PLU codes, etc. A center file 4 is provided to store each code. In addition,
5 in the figure is a backup file in case it becomes impossible to search the product data stored in the center file 4 for some reason, or it becomes impossible to tally the number of sales and sales amount of each product. .

Then, when the product code of the product sold to the customer from each electronic cashage or Resosta 1 is entered by keystrokes on the keyboard as an input device or by operation of the No-no-code scanner, this product code is sent to the file control unit 3 as product data. The information is sent via the transmission path 2 as inquiry information. The file control unit 3 that has received the inquiry information from each electronic cash register 1 searches the center file 4 using the product code of this inquiry information.

Then, the product data corresponding to the product code is read and sent to the corresponding electronic cash register 1. The electronic cash register 1 that has received the product data executes sales operations using the product name, unit price, etc. of this product data. When the sales operation is completed, sales data such as the sales amount and number of items sold at the electronic cash register 1 are sent to the file control section 3 together with the product code. Then, the file control unit 3 cumulatively stores the number of sales items and sales amount of the received light collection data in the sales number area and sales amount area for the product of the corresponding product code in the center file 4. This completes the sales registration process for one product.

With a POS system configured in this way, the above-mentioned sales registration process can be performed at each electronic cash register 1 and 1.
Since it is carried out between the file control unit 3 of the
The amount of data passing through transmission line 2 increases significantly, and transmission line 2
The load on itself and the line control circuit (not shown) increases.

As a result, if the transmission line 2 and the line control circuit break down, the sales registration operations at all electronic cash registers 1 will become impossible. In general, to avoid such a situation, as shown in FIG. , a terminal file 8 in which product data of all products is filed by product code is installed in each electronic cash machine connected to one file control unit 6 via a transmission line 2, and each electronic cash register 7 When a product code is entered from the keyboard or barcode scanner, this product code is used to search within the terminal file 8 and find the name of the corresponding product.

Read product data such as unit price and execute sales operations. Then, sales data such as the number of items sold and the sales amount are sent to the file control unit 6 via the transmission line 2, as described above. The file control unit 6 updates the sales number and sales amount of the corresponding product in the center file 9 based on the received sales data.

In a PoS system with such a configuration, each electronic cash register 7 does not send product data inquiry information to the file control unit 6, and the file control unit 6 does not send inquiry information for product data to each electronic cash register 7. Since there is no need to transmit product data using the transmission line 2, the amount of data passing through the transmission path 2 is significantly reduced.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, even in the POS system in which each electronic cash register 7 is provided with a terminal file 8 as described above, the following problems still need to be solved. In other words, since the terminal file 8 provided in each electronic carriage and Reno Stuff needs to store the product data of all products sold in this sales floor, the center file 9 provided in the file control unit 6 and the #1 terminal file are Requires the same amount of storage capacity. As a result, each electronic cash register 7 becomes larger and the manufacturing cost increases.

In addition, in general, the unit price of each product changes frequently in suit markets, etc., so every time the unit price changes, all electronic cashiers, register 7 terminal files, etc.
It is necessary to change the unit price stored in . Therefore, there are problems in that the work of changing the unit price is extremely complicated, which not only increases the burden on the operator, but also reduces the efficiency of the entire sales operation. Furthermore, there is also a concern that the probability of erroneous operation occurring when changing the unit price increases.

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide each electronic cash register with a temporary storage memory in which a certain number of frequently used product data are stored. To provide a POS system that can reduce the amount of data transmitted between each electronic cash register and a file control unit without significantly increasing the storage capacity of each electronic cash register and register, and improve the efficiency of the entire sales registration operation. There is a particular thing.

[Means for solving problems]

Each electronic cash reno star in the POS system of the present invention includes a registration frequency counter that counts the number of times product sales registration operations have been performed, a predetermined number of data areas for storing each product data, and a predetermined number of data areas for storing count values. When a product code is input from the input device, the product data in the temporary memory is searched using this product code, and when the corresponding product data is detected, the product data is searched based on this product data. and conduct sales operations. In addition, when the corresponding product data is not detected, inquiry information including the product code is sent to the file control unit, and in response to this inquiry, the corresponding product data sent from the file control unit is transferred to the free data area in the temporary storage memory. Store it in Furthermore, when there is no free data area in the temporary storage memory to store the corresponding product data, the product data in the data area corresponding to the smallest count value among the count values stored in each counter area is deleted. The corresponding product data is stored in the data area of the lever. Further, after the sales registration operation is performed, the count value of the registration number counter is stored in the counter area corresponding to the corresponding product data.

When the count value of this registration number counter exceeds the limit number, after the sales operation for one customer is completed, the count values of each counter area are rewritten to continuous values starting from a predetermined value of 1, for example, in descending order, and the maximum count of the counter area is rewritten. The value is stored in a registration counter.

In another invention, when the number of free data areas for storing the corresponding product data in the temporary storage memory falls below a predetermined limit number.

After the completion of sales work for one customer, the product data in each data area is sequentially deleted from the lowest count value of the counter area corresponding to this data area until the free data area reaches the limit number.

[Effect]

With a POS system configured in this way, when a product code is input from the input device at each electronic cash register, the temporary storage memory is first searched, and when the corresponding product data is detected, the detected product Sales operations are executed using the data, and when the corresponding product data is not detected, inquiry information is sent to the file control unit.

Then, when the product data corresponding to this inquiry information is sent from the file control section, this product data is stored in the free data area in the temporary storage memory. At the same time, the count value of the registration number counter that is incremented by 1 is stored in the counter area of the data area where this product data is stored. Then, when the free data area of the temporary storage memory runs out, the product data having the smallest count value is deleted and the product data newly sent from the file control section is stored. Therefore, as a result, only a certain number of frequently used product data are stored in the temporary storage memory.

In another invention, when the number of free data areas in the temporary storage memory falls below a certain limit, after the sales operation for one customer is completed, the counter values are counted in order of decreasing value until the number of free data areas reaches the above-mentioned limit. Product data will be deleted.

Therefore, a certain number of frequently used product data are stored in the temporary storage memory, and a free data area larger than the limit is always reserved for new customers.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the entire POS system of the embodiment, including a plurality of electronic cash registers (ECRs) I
J is connected to one file control unit 13 via a transmission line 12. In a storage section such as a magnetic disk recording device of the file control section 13, product data such as product name, unit price, etc., sales data such as sales number, sales amount, etc. for all products registered for sale at each electronic cash register 11 are stored in a PLU. A center file 14 is provided to store each product code such as a code.

In addition, 15 in the figure is center file 1 due to some reason.
It becomes impossible to search the product data stored in 4.
This is a backup file in case it becomes impossible to tally the number of sales and sales amount for each product. Further, each electronic cash register 11 is provided with a temporary storage memory 16 consisting of a RAM, a magnetic disk recording device, etc.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing each electronic cash register 1, in which 17 is a CP that executes various arithmetic operations.
U (central processing unit).

This CPU 17 is connected via a pass line 18 to a ROM 19 for storing fixed data such as control programs, a RAM 2Z for temporarily storing variable data such as product codes entered manually from the keyboard 20, and a RAM 2Z for storing fixed data such as control programs. A keyboard interface 22 receives key signals from the keyboard 20 for inputting product codes and tightening operations manually, and a display unit 23 sends display data to a display section 23 that displays electronically the product name, unit price, total amount, etc. of the product being sold. a printer/drawer interface 27 that drives and controls a printer 25 that prints out the item name, unit price, total amount, etc. on a receipt, a drawer 26 that stores money, a memory interface 28 of the temporary storage memory 16, and a transmission line 12. A connected transmission control circuit 29 and a registration frequency counter 3 that counts the number of times sales registration operations for products are performed (total number of products sold)
Controls 0 etc.

As shown in FIG. 3, each temporary storage memory 16 contains:
A data area 31 that stores product data including the product name, unit price, and status of the corresponding product for each product code such as the PLU code, and the product data in this data area 31 are searched, and sales operations are performed using this product data. A counter area 32 is formed in which the count value of the registration number counter 30 at the time of the registration is stored. The number of data areas 31 and counter areas 32 installed is, for example, 10.
This is a predetermined constant number such as 0.

In addition, in the center file 14 provided in the file control unit 13, as shown in FIG. A data area 33 for storing product data including product name, unit price, and status, and a sales data area 34 for cumulatively storing the number of sold items and sales amount are formed.

The CPU 17 of each electronic cash register 11 is configured to execute registration processing for one product according to the flowchart of FIG. 5 when the product code of a sales product is input from the keyboard 20 via the keyboard interface 22. There is. That is, the temporary storage memory 16 is searched using the input product code. When the corresponding product code is detected in the temporary storage memory 16 at Pl, the product name,
Product data such as unit price and status are read out and the sales registration process shown in FIG. 6 is executed at P2 based on the product data.

In the sales registration process shown in FIG. 6, the product name included in the product data and the sales amount determined based on the unit price are displayed on the display unit 23, and the printer 25 prints out the product name and sales amount on a receipt. Next, sales data such as the number of items sold and sales amount are registered in a sales summary file for each electronic cash register 11 formed in its own RAM 21. When the registration in the own sales summary file is completed, the sales data is transferred to the file control unit 8 via the transmission control circuit 29 and the transmission line 12. ,7. A2
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'Update the number of sales items and sales amount in the data area 34.

When the sales registration processing work at P2 in Figure 5 is completed,
Registration number of registration counter 30 1゜color y
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The count value after 1 is read out and stored in the counter area 32 of the corresponding product code in the temporary storage memory 16. This completes the sales registration process for one product.

If the applicable product code is not detected in the temporary storage memory 16 at Pl, inquiry information incorporating this product code is sent to the file control unit 13. File control section 1
When the product data of the corresponding product code retrieved from the center file 14 of No. 3 is input via the transmission path 12 and the transmission control circuit 29, the input product data is used at P3 to perform the same sales registration process as P1. Execute. When the process P3 is completed, the free data area 31 of the temporary storage memory 16 is searched. Then, the free data area 31 in Pl
If exists, the product data obtained from the file control unit 13 this time is stored in the free data area 31.

If no free data area 31 is detected in the temporary storage memory 16 at Pl, the product stored in the data area 31 corresponding to the smallest counter value among all the counter values stored in all the counter areas 32 The data is deleted and the product data input from the file control unit 13 this time is stored in the data area 31. Thereafter, the value of the registration number counter 30 is incremented by one, and the counted value is stored in the counter area 32 corresponding to the input product code.

FIG. 7 shows the tightening process when a tightening command is input by key operation on the keyboard 20. FIG. That is, when the registration process shown in FIG. 5 for all products sold to one customer is completed and a closing command is input from the keyboard 20, the total amount is calculated, displayed on the display section 23, and printed on the receipt. Execute normal closing processing such as output and registration in the sales summary file.

Next, the count value of the registration number counter 30 is checked. Then, at P5, the count value of the registration number counter is
If it is 5ooo or more, which is a predetermined limit number, the counter value in the counter area 32 is searched and updated from 1 in order of decreasing counter value. In other words, the counter area 32 in which the minimum count value is stored is updated. 1 is stored as a new count value, and 2 is stored as a line break count value in the counter area 32 where the second smallest count value is stored. In this way, the count values in all the counter areas 32 are rewritten to continuous values starting from 1. When the rewriting is completed, the last rewritten count value of the counter area 320, that is, the maximum count value, is set in the registration number counter 30.

With a POS system configured in this way, the center file 13 provided in the file control unit 13 stores product data and sales data for all products sold at each electronic cash register 11. Temporary memory 16 for each electronic cage, 1 register
The product data of the product inquired from the electronic cash register 11 to the file control unit 13 and the count value of the registration number counter 30 at the time when the product data is retrieved, that is, at the time when the product with this product data is registered for sale. is memorized. Naturally, when the product is registered for sale, the count value in the counter area 32 corresponding to this product is updated to a new count value. Therefore, large count values are always stored in the counter area 32 of products that sell well. On the other hand, the count value in the counter area 32 for products that are searched for infrequently, that is, products that do not sell well, has a low chance of being updated, so even if the total number of sales registrations including other products increases, the value will remain small. be.

Furthermore, when the free data area 31 in the temporary storage memory 16 runs out, the searched counter area 32 is rewritten with new product data in descending order of the count value. Therefore, the temporary storage memory 16 always stores product data of products that sell well. As a result, the number of product data inquiries from each electronic cash register 11 to the file control unit 13 is significantly reduced, so the amount of data passing through the transmission path 12 is reduced, and each electronic cash register 11, register 11, and file control unit 13 The number of processes can be reduced and the processing efficiency of the entire POS system can be improved. As a result, it becomes possible to connect many electronic cash registers 11 to one file control unit 13 in a POS system.

Further, in the POS system of the present invention, even if a failure occurs in the transmission line 12, each electronic cash register 11
registers sales for the product data stored in its own temporary storage memory 16 at its own electronic cash register 11.
Since it can be carried out only within the premises, the rate of inconvenience to customers is reduced.

Figure 8 is a graph showing the number of items sold in a certain period of time for each item, and the items are arranged in order of best selling items. As is clear from this graph, the number of sales of some products that sell well accounts for a considerable proportion of the total number of sales. For example, 20-inch products account for more than 60% of the total sales, as shown by the diagonal lines. Therefore, for example, the number of data areas 3 of the temporary storage memory 16 of each electronic cash register 1 is set to 2 of the total number of products.
If the value is set to 0%, it will be necessary to make an inquiry to the file control unit 13 for product data for 60 or more products sold at each electronic cash register 11. As a result, the temporary storage memory 16 has a small storage capacity.
The number of inquiries can be significantly reduced simply by providing the following.

Also, for example, if 8000 products are sold and the count value of the registration number counter 30 exceeds the limit value of 8000,
When the sales operation for one customer is completed, each count value in each counter area 32 of the temporary storage memory 16 is rewritten from 1 to a continuous value for each error that does not result in a sale. The maximum count value after being rewritten at the same time is set in the registration number counter 30. In this way, when the total number of units sold exceeds the limit value, each counter area 32 of the temporary storage memory is automatically
is initialized to a small value while maintaining the sales rate information. Therefore, the operator (cashier) of each electronic cash register 11 does not need to initialize the registration counter 3o and the counter area 32 of the temporary storage memory 16. In addition, since the timing of automatic initialization is the time when the sales registration business for one customer is completed, the customer will not be kept waiting during the initialization process operation period. Since the storage capacity of the counter area 32 is sufficient as long as it can store at most a four-digit number, the provision of the counter area 32 does not significantly increase the storage capacity.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of each electronic cash register in a POS system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Note that the block diagram of the entire system, the block diagram of each electronic cash register, the temporary storage memory, and the configuration of the center file are the same as in the previous embodiment.

In this embodiment, if product data is input from the file control unit 13 at P6 and there is no free data area 31 in the temporary storage memory 16, during the sales registration process for this product, the most Do not update product data corresponding to small count values.

FIG. 10 shows the tightening process when a tightening command is input by key operation on the keyboard 20 in this embodiment. That is, when the registration process shown in FIG. 9 for all products sold to one customer is completed and a closing command is input from the keyboard 2o, the total price is calculated and the display section 23
Execute normal closing processing such as displaying on the sales receipt, printing on the receipt, and registering in the sales summary file.

Next, the free data area 31 in the temporary storage memory 16 is searched. If the number of free data areas is less than the predetermined limit number of 20 at P7, the counter area 32
is searched and the product data is deleted in order of decreasing counter value until the number of free data areas 31 reaches 20.

Note that if there are 20 or more free data areas 31 at P7, there is no need to delete the product data.

With a POS system configured in this way, after the sales registration process for one customer is completed, the temporary storage memory 16
20 or more free data areas 31 are always secured. As mentioned above, the number of products sold to one customer for which product data is not stored in the temporary storage memory 16 is 20.
The probability of exceeding this is considered to be extremely small. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of times storage contents are rewritten, such as deleting product data in the temporary storage memory 16 and storing new product data, during sales registration, and improves the processing speed of sales registration operations for one customer. You can improve your service. In addition,
After the closing operation, money is exchanged with the customer, so the electronic cash register 11 is generally idle, and old product data in the temporary memory 16 is deleted during this idle time.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. The number of data areas 31 installed in the temporary storage memory 16, the number of free data areas secured after the tightening operation, the limit number of registration counters, etc. are not particularly limited, and the installation location of this system, types of sales products, etc. It can be set arbitrarily by

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, each electronic cash register is provided with a temporary storage memory in which a certain number of frequently used product data are stored. Therefore, the amount of data transmitted between each electronic cash register and the file control section can be reduced without significantly increasing the storage capacity of each electronic cash register, and the efficiency of the entire sales registration process can be improved. Furthermore, it is possible to improve service to customers.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the entire POS system according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing each electronic cash register of the embodiment, and Figs. 3 and 4 are memory storage of the embodiment. Figures 5 to 7 showing the main memories of the unit.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of each electronic cash register of the same embodiment, FIG. 8 is a sales number graph for explaining the effects of the same embodiment, and FIGS. 9 and 10 are for other embodiments of the present invention. A flowchart showing the operation of each electronic cash register in the related POS system, and FIGS. 11 and 12 are block diagrams showing the conventional POS system. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11...m child cache register, 12...transmission path, 13...file control unit, 14...center file, 16...temporary storage memory, 17...CPU. 20... Keyboard (input device), 30... Registration number counter, 31... Data area, 32... Counter area.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A file control unit having a center file that stores product codes of sales products inputted through each input device of a plurality of electronic cash renostas, and product data such as the unit price of each product corresponding to each product code. Sales operations are performed based on the product data of the corresponding product code sent from this file control unit as inquiry information, and sales data such as the sales amount and number of items sold are sent to the center 7 file of the file control unit. In a POS system that performs aggregation registration, each electronic cash register has a registration frequency counter that counts the number of times that sales registration operations have been performed for the sales product, a predetermined number of data areas that store the product data, and a count value. a temporary storage memory comprising a predetermined number of counter areas for storage; a search means for searching for product data in the temporary storage memory using the product code when the product code is input from the input device; a sales means that performs the sales operation based on this product data when the corresponding product data is detected; and a sales means that sends the inquiry information to the file control section when the corresponding product data is not detected by the search means. an inquiry means; a data storage means for storing the corresponding product data sent from the file control unit in response to the inquiry means in a free data area in the temporary storage memory; and a data storage means for storing the corresponding product data in the temporary storage memory. When there is no free data area to store data, the product data in the data area corresponding to the smallest count value among the count values stored in each counter area is deleted and the corresponding product data is transferred to this data area. data updating means for storing data; counter area updating means for storing the count value of the registration number counter in a counter area corresponding to the product data after the sales registration operation is carried out; When the predetermined limit number is exceeded, the count values in each of the counter areas are continuously rewritten starting from a predetermined value in descending order after the sales operation for one customer is completed, and the maximum count value in the counter area is stored in the registration number counter. A POS system comprising counter initialization means. (2) The product code of the sales product input through each input device of a plurality of electronic cash registers is sent to a file control unit having a center file that stores product data such as the unit price of each product corresponding to each product code. Sales operations are performed based on the product data of the corresponding product code sent as inquiry information and sent from this file control unit, and sales data such as sales amount and number of items sold are aggregated and registered in the center file of the file control unit. In the POS system, each of the electronic cash registers stores a registration frequency counter that counts the number of times a sales registration operation for the sales product has been performed, a predetermined number of data areas for storing data on each of the products, and a count value. a temporary storage memory comprising a predetermined number of counter areas; a search means for searching product data in the temporary storage memory using the product code when the product code is input from the input device; a sales means that performs the sales operation based on the product data when data is detected; and an inquiry means that sends the inquiry information to the file control unit when the corresponding product data is not detected by the search means. and a data storage means for storing the corresponding product data sent from the file control unit in response to the inquiry means into a free data area in the temporary storage memory, and a data storage means for storing the product data sent from the file control unit in response to the inquiry means, Counter area updating means for storing the count value of the number counter in the counter area corresponding to the corresponding product data; and when the number of free data areas in the temporary storage memory falls below a predetermined limit number, sales operations for one customer are terminated. Deleting means for subsequently deleting the product data in each data area in order from the smallest count value in the counter area corresponding to this data area until the free data area reaches the limit number; and When the predetermined limit number is exceeded, the count value in each counter area is rewritten to a continuous value starting from a predetermined value in descending order after the sales operation for one customer is completed, and the maximum count value in the counter area is set to the registration number counter. A POS characterized by comprising: counter initialization means for storing
system.