KR20010076838A - System for managing rental goods in rental and delivery shop - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A system for managing a lending commodity in a commodity lending store is provided to manage a commodity of a lending store by connecting each computer of each lending store to a central host computer through a communication network and managing members and loaned money using a smart card and transmitting each lending information to the central host computer. CONSTITUTION: A central host computer(1) manages account information of each lending commodity and performs a network managing function. A computing unit(2) is connected to the central host computer(1) and manages each member information through a self-database and transmits lending information of each commodity to the central host computer(1) and controls each unit. The first bar code reading unit reads bar codes being allocated in the lending commodities. The first smart card reading unit is provided to each member and has an inherent number and reads a smart card storing lending information of commodities and paying possible amount information. An attaching and detaching unit inserts magnetic information on commodities or removes magnetic information from commodities.

Description

Rental goods management system in goods rental shop {SYSTEM FOR MANAGING RENTAL GOODS IN RENTAL AND DELIVERY SHOP}

The present invention relates to a rental goods management system at a rental shop, and more particularly, to a rental goods management system for effectively managing rental goods at a video or book rental shop.

In general, at a video tape rental or book rental store, the owner purchases a video tape or a book and rents it to customers. In addition, information or rental relations for each customer are processed manually or using a separate computer. In addition, even when member management is performed, a bar code or a magnetic card is used to manage the card. Therefore, there is a problem that the possibility of illegal copying of the card remains.

In order to solve this problem, Korean Patent Publication No. 96-18964 proposes a data loan management apparatus and method using a portable card. That is, Patent Publication No. 96-18964 is a method for managing loans and returns for materials such as books and tapes using an IC card. Information for identifying a user in a portable IC card, information on the total number of loans, By using the IC card for data loan management, including information on data loans and returns and index information, and simultaneously recording data on data loans and returns on the user's IC card and the loan manager's computer. The loan status can be easily inquired and the contents that enable mutual authentication between the loan manager and the lender regarding the data loan and return are described.

However, the invention of this Patent Publication No. 96-18964 is also limited to individual rental shops, for example, the owners do not purchase the goods supplied to each rental shop, but are freely supplied by each manufacturer, and the revenue generated therefrom is distributed. A chain-based sales system requires a new management system. In other words, a video tape production company or the like distributes the tape to each rental shop free of charge, and a sales system of distributing profits according to the rental performance of each tape requires a new rental article management system.

Accordingly, the present invention is to provide a system that satisfies the above conditions, the present invention is that the computers of each rental shop is connected to the central host computer through a communication network, using a smart card to manage membership and loans, each rental It is an object of the present invention to provide a rental goods management system that can effectively manage the goods of a rental shop by transferring information to a central host computer.

1 is a block diagram of a rental goods management system according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram of a POS terminal according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a block diagram of an unmanned return terminal according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

1: central host computer 2: computer

3: POS terminal 4: Unmanned return terminal

11, 31: Main control part 12, 32: ROM

13, 33: RAM 14, 34: monitor

15, 35: keyboard 16: smart card reader

17, 36: barcode reader 18: printer

19: VCR and camera 20: antenna and buzzer

21: magnetization and demagnetization part 22, 39: communication port

37: return door control part 38: magnetizing part

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a rental goods management system, comprising: a central host computer for managing accounting information for each rental item and performing a network management function; Computing means connected to the central host computer through a communication network, and manages information for each member through its own database, and transmits rental information of each item to the central host computer, and is installed corresponding to each rental store controlling each means. ; Means for reading a barcode uniquely assigned to the rental article; Means for reading a smart card provided to each member, having a unique number and storing rental information and payable amount information of the article; And magnetization and demagnetization means for writing magnetic information on the article or removing the magnetized magnetic information.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram of a rental goods management system according to the present invention, in which 1 is a central host computer, 2 is a computer installed at each rental shop, and 3 is a rental / return dedicated terminal connected to a computer at each rental shop. Sale) terminal, 4 denotes an unmanned return dedicated terminal connected to each rental store's computer.

The central host computer 1 manages each information for each rental shop, and is provided with a function for accounting and settlement, a network management function, and a database for storing information for each rental shop. These functions can be implemented by common known techniques. The computer 2 is provided for each rental shop, which is for temporarily storing the information of each rental shop and then transferring the information to the central host computer 1 through a communication network. The computer 2 has its own database, which stores personal information about members, information related to each member's loans and the amount of money charged in a smart card, and provides rental information of the goods to the central host computer 1. To send. The POS terminal 3 is for processing lending and returning of goods and the costs related thereto in association with the computer 2. The unmanned return terminal 4 is provided separately so that the customer can return the goods in cooperation with the computer 2 when there is no clerk at night or the like, and is provided with a function only for returning the goods.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, the computer 2 and the POS terminal 3 are described as being separately provided. However, in a small shop, it is also possible to equip one computer with the function of the POS terminal and the communication function with the central host computer. .

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the POS terminal 3 according to the present invention, in which 11 is a main controller, 12 is a read-only memory ROM, 13 is a memory, 14 is a monitor, and 15 is a keyboard. 16 represents a smart card reader, 17 represents a barcode reader, 18 represents a printer, 19 represents a video recorder (VCR) and a camera, 20 represents an antenna and a buzzer, 21 represents a magnet and demagnetization unit, and 22 represents a communication port.

The main control unit 11 performs a function of controlling each function unit of the POS terminal as a whole and a communication function with the computer 2, and operates by loading a program stored in the ROM 12 which is a read-only memory. The memory 13 is composed of an SRAM and the like, and the main control unit 11 is provided for temporarily storing and reading member rental information. That is, the memory 13 is a memory having a capacity of 4 megabytes, the main control unit 11 temporarily stores the current loan, return and fee information, and the main control unit 11 is stored in the memory 13 It is used to read the information and send it to the computer 2 via the communication port 22. The keyboard 15 is provided for inputting data such as a member's password or for selecting contents displayed on the monitor 14, and the monitor 14 is provided for displaying contents processed by the main control unit 11. do. The smart card reader 16 reads the rental related information and the fee related information of the smart card under the control of the main control unit 11, and updates the information. In the present invention, the smart card stores a card number, a member number, a rental time, the number of rentals, the quantity, and the remaining amount of money information. The smart card reader 16 inserts such a smart card and is provided for reading and updating information.

Bar code reader 17 is provided for reading a bar code uniquely assigned to each rental article. The printer 18 is provided for issuing a receipt or the like related to the rental of goods to the customer. The video recorder (VCR) and the camera 19 are provided for the security of the rental shop. When the unauthorized transport of the rental goods is detected by the antenna 20, the main controller 11 operates the VCR and the camera 19, Take a picture of the time. The antenna and the buzzer 20 are installed in the door and the like, and when the magnetized loaned goods are carried out through the door, the antenna and the buzzer 20 detect and notify the main controller 11 to generate an alarm sound. The magnetizing and demagnetizing unit 21 performs a function of demagnetizing the normally loaned article and remagnetizing the normally returned article. The communication port 22 is an RS-232C communication port, which is a general serial communication port, and provides a path for communicating with the computer 2.

Figure 3 is a block diagram of an unmanned return terminal according to the present invention, 31 is a main control unit, 32 is a ROM, 33 is a RAM, 34 is a monitor, 35 is a keyboard, 36 is a bar code reader, 37 is a return door control, 38 Are magnetized parts, and 39 are communication ports, respectively.

The unmanned return terminal 4 is provided separately to return the loaned goods by the customer when there is no clerk, such as at night, and has a minimum function unit for returning the functions provided in the POS terminal 3. do. That is, the unmanned return terminal 4 includes a main controller 31, a RAM 33, a ROM 32, a keyboard 35, a monitor 34, a barcode reader 36, a communication port 39, and magnetization ( magnetizing) and a return door controller 37 for controlling the opening and closing of the door of the collection box so that the customer can return the goods to the collection box in the normal case.

It looks at the operation of the rental article management system according to the present invention having the configuration as described above.

First, the customer selects the rental article, presents the rental article to the clerk, and simultaneously inserts the smart card into the smart card reader 16. The customer then enters the password of the smart card via the keyboard 15. When the password is input through the keyboard 15, the main control unit 11 requests an inquiry to the computer 2 through the communication port 22 from the card number acquired through the smart card reader 16 and the input password. . As the normal member from the computer 2, when the member's information is transmitted, the monitor 14 displays its information. The information displayed on the monitor 14 displays information on the member's personal information and loans, cumulative points (miles), as well as the amount of arrears and the amount remaining on the smart card. Then, the barcode of the rental article selected by the customer is read through the barcode reader 17. When the bar code information is input, the main controller 11 records the input information in the loan related field of the member management table and records the loan time. If sufficient amount of money remains in the smart card, the fee information of the smart card is updated. Of course, if the amount of smart card is insufficient here, it can be charged. When the above process is completed, the magnetization and demagnetization unit 21 demagnetizes the electromagnetic field (EM) sensor of the rental article, and issues a receipt through the printer 18. The main control unit 11 updates the member related information stored in the RAM 13 through this process, and then transfers the stored member information to the computer 2 if communication with the computer 2 can be normally performed. . When the updated information is input from the main control unit 11 in the computer 2, a message for storing it in its own database and transmitting it to the central host computer 1 is generated. Here, the computer 2 generates a message to be transmitted to the host computer 1 at regular intervals, and the transmission message includes a list of loaned goods and the number of loans.

When the customer returns the rental goods, a smart card, which is a member card owned by the customer, is inserted into the smart card reader 16 and the password is input. The main control unit 11 transmits the information to the computer 2. The authentication process. If authentication is normally performed, the member information corresponding to the smart card is transmitted from the computer 2 to the main control unit 11. Then, the main control unit 11 obtains the barcode of the article through the barcode reader 17, records it in the corresponding area of the member information, and records the return time thereof. Then, the main control unit 11 checks whether there is a late payment by comparing the loan time and the return time, and if there is a late payment, updates the rate information of the smart card. Then, the updated member information is transmitted to the computer 2. In addition, the returned goods are magnetized again through the magnetizing and demagnetizing unit 21. On the other hand, in the present invention by storing the loan and return information, respectively, by checking whether there is return information corresponding to the loan list, it is possible to check the goods returned by the customer.

On the other hand, in the present invention as a security device for preventing theft of the article, the antenna and the buzzer 20, the VCR and the camera 19 is provided. That is, when the magnetized article passes between the two antennas, the antenna detects this and notifies the main controller 11 and generates an alarm sound through its buzzer. Then, the main control unit 11 operates the VCR and the camera 19 to photograph the viewpoint.

On the other hand, when there is no cashier at night, the return is made by the unmanned return terminal, the process is as follows.

When the customer places the loaned item on the return table, the main controller 31 obtains the barcode of the item through the barcode reader 36. Then, by using the obtained barcode information as an index key, information stored in the RAM is searched to check whether there is matched information. If there is no matched information here, barcode information is sent to the computer 2 to check whether there is matched information. If there is matched information, the main controller 31 magnetizes the article through the magnetizing section 38, and then controls the return door control section 37 to allow the article to enter the storage container. On the other hand, if there is no matched information, the return door control unit 37 is controlled to be taken out to the customer again.

It is also conceivable to further include a smart card reader in the unmanned return terminal 4. That is, it is also conceivable that the unmanned return terminal 4 is further provided with a smart card reader, and after the customer reads the smart card, the user inputs a password and processes it as if a clerk is present. In this case, the smart card number is used as the index key.

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and various substitutions, modifications, and changes can be made in the art without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. It will be apparent to those of ordinary knowledge.

According to the present invention made as described above, the computers of each rental shop is connected to the central host computer through a communication network, by using a smart card to manage the membership and loans, and transfer each rental information to the central host computer, the goods of the rental shop effectively Can manage.

Claims (8)

In a rental goods management system at a goods rental shop, A central host computer that manages accounting information for each rental item and performs a network management function; Computing means connected to the central host computer through a communication network, and manages information for each member through its own database and transmits rental information of each item to the central host computer, and is installed in correspondence with each rental store controlling each means. ; First barcode reading means for reading a barcode uniquely assigned to the rental article; First smart card reading means for reading a smart card provided to each member, having a unique number, and storing rental information and payable amount information of the article; And Magnetization and demagnetization means for writing magnetic information on goods or removing magnetized magnetic information Rental goods management system comprising a. The method of claim 1, Means for detecting passing of the rented item in a seated state, notifying the computing means thereof and generating an alarm sound; And Under the control of the computing means, a means for photographing and recording the time point at which the rental goods in the magnetized state passes Rental goods management system characterized in that it further comprises. The method according to claim 1 or 2, As a means for returning goods when there is no clerk at night, Main control means connected to said computing means for controlling each functional unit; Memory means for temporarily storing data under the control of the main control means; Input means for inputting data; Display means; Second barcode reading means for reading a barcode under the control of the main control means; Magnetizing means for writing magnetic information on a rental article under the control of the main control means; And Means for controlling the return door of the storage container under the control of the main control means when the information corresponding to the read barcode exists Rental goods management system characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 3, wherein And second smart card reading means for reading a smart card connected to the main control means, provided to each member, assigned a unique number, and storing the rental information and the payable amount information of the article. Rental goods management system. In a rental goods management system at a goods rental shop, A central host computer that manages accounting information for each rental item and performs a network management function; A computing means connected to the central host computer through a communication network and corresponding to each rental shop that manages information for each member through its own database and transmits rental information of each item to the central host computer; First main control means for communicating with the computing means through a communication port and controlling each functional unit; First memory means for temporarily storing data under the control of the main control means; First input means for inputting data; First display means; First barcode reading means for reading a barcode uniquely assigned to the rental article; First smart card reading means for reading a smart card provided to each member, having a unique number, and storing rental information and payable amount information of the article; And Magnetization and demagnetization means for writing magnetic information on goods or removing magnetized magnetic information Rental goods management system comprising a. The method of claim 5, Means for detecting passing of the rented item in a seated state, notifying the computing means thereof and generating an alarm sound; And Under the control of the computing means, a means for photographing and recording the time point at which the rental goods in the magnetized state passes Rental goods management system characterized in that it further comprises. The method according to claim 5 or 6, As a means for returning goods when there is no clerk at night, Second main control means connected to the computing means to control each functional unit; Second memory means for temporarily storing data under the control of the second main control means; Second input means for inputting data; Second display means; Second barcode reading means for reading a barcode under the control of the second main control means; Magnetizing means for writing magnetic information on a rental article under the control of the second main control means; And Means for controlling the return door of the storage container under the control of the main control means when the information corresponding to the read barcode exists Rental goods management system characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 7, wherein A second smart card reading means for reading a smart card connected to the second main control means, provided to each member, assigned a unique number, and storing rental information and payable amount information of the article; Rental goods management system, characterized in that.