KR200321449Y1 - Customer self checkout apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a customer autonomous calculation device.

Customer autonomic calculation device according to the present invention, the user interface unit; A product scanning unit for detecting an identification code of a purchased product; A payment unit receiving payment from a customer, paying a balance, and issuing a receipt; A monitoring unit which detects whether there is a product missing a product scanning and transmits monitoring information to the control unit; A data storage unit; And receiving the autonomous calculation request signal from the user interface unit, receiving identification code information from the product scanning unit, storing the data in the data storage unit, transmitting the purchase price information to be paid to the user interface unit, and receiving deposit information from the payment unit. It is characterized in that it comprises a control unit for transmitting the difference payment information calculating the difference with the purchase price information to be settled, the payment unit, receiving the monitoring information from the monitoring unit and sending an alarm signal to the information desk.

Thereby, the customer can directly calculate the product purchased without a separate cashier.

Description

Customer self checkout apparatus

The present invention relates to a calculating device, and more particularly, to a calculating device having a POS terminal device for purchasing a product at a store and paying for the purchased product.

Recently, due to the spread of large discount stores, computing devices having point-of-sale (POS) terminals have become common.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional computing device.

Referring to FIG. 1, such a computing device includes a barcode scanning device, a cash register, a credit card reader, and a POS terminal. Therefore, the sales information is sent to the server as soon as the customer scans the purchased product with a bar code, so the relevant database is linked according to the real-time sales information, so that accurate information can be collected and the customer can pay the purchase price by cash or credit card. Can be.

However, the conventional computing device necessarily requires a cashier for product scanning or purchase payment. Therefore, even when the customer is crowded at a large discount store, when the cashier is short, an idle calculation device is generated and the waiting time of the customer is increased. On the contrary, when the customer is small, an idle cashier is generated.

In other words, even if there is a calculation device installed according to the number of cashiers to be input, there is a case that it is not fully utilized and may cause inconvenience to the customer, and smooth calculation is difficult due to the increase or decrease of the number of customers.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a customer autonomous calculation device that allows customers to directly calculate the goods purchased without a separate cashier so that the installed calculation device can be fully utilized despite the increase or decrease of the number of customers.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional computing device,

2 is a schematic diagram of a store management system to which the customer autonomous calculation device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is applied,

Figure 3a is a perspective view of the customer autonomous calculation device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 3b is a perspective view of the information desk to help the use of the customer autonomous calculation device 1 of the present invention,

Figure 4a is a block diagram of a customer autonomous calculation device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

4b to 4e are detailed block diagrams of a customer autonomous computing device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the customer autonomous calculation device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

*** Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawing ***

401 control unit 402 user interface unit

403: product scanning unit 404: payment unit

405: Monitoring unit 410 ~ 413: Data storage unit

410: customer information database 411: purchase information database

412: Payment Information Database 413: Product Information Database

The object may include a user interface unit for receiving an autonomic calculation request signal from a customer and transmitting the same to a control unit; A product scanning unit which detects an identification code of a purchased product scanned by a customer and transmits identification code information to the control unit; A payment unit for receiving the payment from the customer and transmitting the deposit information to the controller, receiving the balance payment information from the controller, paying the balance, and issuing a receipt; A monitoring unit which detects whether there is a product whose identification code is not received in the product scanning unit among the products purchased by the customer, transmits the monitoring information to the control unit and displays an alarm; A data storage unit for storing at least one of customer information, purchase product information, product information, or payment information; And receiving the autonomous calculation request signal from the user interface unit, storing the received identification code information in the data storage unit, and purchasing price information calculated by referring to the purchase product information and product information of the data storage unit. And a control unit for transmitting difference payment information for notifying a difference between the purchase price information and the payment information to the payment unit, and transmitting an alarm signal to an information desk in response to the monitoring information. Is achieved by a customer autonomous computing device.

Here, the product scanning unit preferably includes at least one of a fixed scanner processing unit, a hand scanner processing unit, or a mobile scanner processing unit capable of directly scanning an identification code of a purchased product while the customer moves.

The payment unit may include at least one of a credit card processing unit, a gift certificate processing unit, a check processing unit, a bill processing unit, a coin processing unit, a coupon processing unit, and a receipt issuing unit, so that the customer can select various payment methods. Do.

In addition, the monitoring unit, at least one of the surveillance camera processing unit, the weight sensing packing unit processing unit for detecting the total weight of the purchased goods to detect whether there is no missing goods compared to the total weight of the scanned goods, alarm lamp processing unit, or information desk alarm processing unit It is effective to prevent the omission without scanning the goods purchased by the customer.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic diagram of a store management system to which the customer autonomous calculation device 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Referring to FIG. 2, the customer autonomous computing device 1 is installed in a business store, and one guide desk 2 is installed and one helper is arranged for approximately two to six customer autonomous computing devices 1. . Furthermore, the customer autonomous computing device 1 is connected to the store server 5 via the hub 3 by LAN. In addition, the router 6 is connected to a remote headquarters server 7 or a VAN 8 for financial settlement. In addition, the client computer 4 located in the office is also connected to the LAN through the hub 3.

Therefore, purchase information, payment information, etc. generated in the customer autonomous calculation device 1 in the store are provided to the store server 5 or the headquarters server 7 in real time (Point of sale) and used as various store management and marketing materials. Can be. In addition, even when the customer pays for the credit card, the customer autonomous calculator 1 may be connected to a remote VAN to additionally implement an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) function.

3A is a perspective view of a customer autonomous computing device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the customer autonomous calculator 1 includes a touch screen 301, a speaker 302, and the like for interfacing with a user, and includes a fixed scanner 303 and a hand scanner 304 for scanning a product. Or a mobile scanner 305 to which the customer can move and scan the goods.

Therefore, the customer can not only scan the purchased product with the fixed scanner 303 or the hand scanner 304 in front of the customer autonomous calculator 1, but also scan the product to be purchased directly with the mobile scanner 305 while shopping in the store. The scanned product identification information may be input through a mobile scanner receiver not shown at once.

In addition, the customer autonomous calculator 1 is a credit card entry / exit 306, check entry 307, coupon and gift card entry 308, receipt exit 309, bill entry / exit ( 310 or a coin inlet / outlet 311.

Accordingly, the customer may select one of various payment methods to pay for the purchase price, and if a difference between the deposit amount and the purchase amount occurs, the customer may receive the difference and receive a receipt.

Further, the customer autonomous calculator 1 includes a surveillance camera 312, an alarm lamp 313, or a weight-sensing packing stand 314 that monitors whether a customer misses a scanning of a product to be purchased. Call button 315 and the like can be called.

Therefore, when a problem occurs during the autonomous calculation process, the customer may press the call button 315 to receive help from a helper disposed in the information desk 2.

On the other hand, if the difference is detected by detecting the total weight of the goods purchased by the customer in the weight sensor and compared to the weight information on the scanned data storage unit to generate an alarm to prevent the missing of the scanning of the purchased goods Can be.

In addition, the customer autonomous calculator 1 includes a POS terminal 316 further including a control unit for implementing a customer autonomous calculation function according to the present invention in addition to the existing POS function.

3b is a perspective view of the information desk 2 which assists in the use of the customer autonomous computing device of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 3b, the information desk (2) is a remote control monitor 321 to help the helper help the customer's calculation process, the monitoring monitor 322 connected to the monitoring camera to monitor the customer's calculation process, It is provided with a recording equipment 324 for customer surveillance recording connected to the surveillance camera to record a real-time video screen, and a POS terminal 323 for processing of missing goods.

The surveillance monitor 322 connected to the surveillance camera allows the assistant to monitor the customer's calculation process and intervene if necessary. Furthermore, the customer surveillance recording equipment 324 connected with the surveillance camera records the customer's calculation process.

4A is a block diagram of a customer autonomous computing device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the customer autonomous computing device 1 includes a user interface unit 402, a product scanning unit 403, a payment unit 404, a monitoring unit 405, a control unit 401, and a data storage unit ( 410 to 413.

The user interface unit 402 provides the customer with guide information for explaining the autonomic calculation procedure, receives the autonomous calculation request signal from the customer, and transmits it to the control unit 401. Receive information from other customers or display information needed by customers.

The product scanning unit 403 detects the identification code of the purchased product scanned by the customer and transmits the identification code information to the control unit 401.

The payment unit 404 receives the payment from the customer according to the payment method selected by the customer and transmits the deposit information to the control unit 401. In addition, the balance is received from the control unit 401, the balance is paid, and a receipt is issued. That is, in addition to the functions of the conventional cash register, an ATM (financial automatic teller machine) function is added.

The monitoring unit 405 detects whether there is a product without an identification code in the product scanning unit 403 among the products purchased by the customer, transmits the monitoring information to the control unit 401, and operates the alarm lamp 313. That is, when a missing product is detected in the product scanning process, the alarm lamp 313 is operated, and the alarm signal is transmitted to the controller to transmit the alarm signal to the information desk.

The data storage units 410 to 413 include a customer information database 410, a purchase information database 411, a product information database 412, and a payment information database 413.

The customer database 410 stores information about the customer, such as the customer's identification number, password, address, or contact information. The purchase information database 411 stores purchase information such as identification information or purchase quantity of a purchase product for each date of the customer. In addition, the payment information database 412 stores the payment means, payment amount, or difference payment information selected by the customer. The product information database 413 stores information such as identification information, price, weight, inventory quantity, or distribution period of all products displayed in the store. In this case, each database may refer to necessary information such as a purchase price to be paid and a total weight of a purchased product through a customer identification number or product identification information.

The control unit 401 receives the autonomic calculation request signal from the user interface unit 402, receives the identification code information from the product scanning unit 403, stores it in the data storage units 410 to 413, and stores the data storage unit 410. 413), the purchase price is calculated and the purchase price information to be paid is transmitted to the user interface unit 402, the payment information is received from the payment unit 404 to calculate the difference with the purchase price information to be paid. The difference payment information is transmitted to the payment unit 404, and receives the monitoring information from the monitoring unit 405 and transmits an alarm signal to the guide desk (2).

4B is a detailed block diagram of a customer autonomous computing device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4B, the UI unit 402 includes a touch screen 4021 and a speaker 4022. The customer autonomous calculator 1 displays an icon or a button for requesting autonomous calculation on a screen (not shown) of the touch screen 4021. When the customer presses a predetermined icon or button on the touch screen 4021 to send an autonomous calculation request signal, the customer autonomous calculation device 1 sends out guide information for explaining the autonomic calculation procedure through the speaker 4022. In addition, when the customer has a problem during the autonomic calculation process, pressing the call button 315 may request the helper. In addition, the customer may receive customer information, payment method selection information, and the like, and display purchased items, purchase price information, payment information, and difference payment information.

4c is a detailed block diagram of the customer autonomous calculation device 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4C, the product scanning unit 403 includes a fixed scanner 4031, a hand scanner 4032, or a mobile scanner 4033. The mobile scanner 4033 is also referred to as a portable shopping system scanner (PSS) scanner. When a customer shops at a store, the mobile scanner 4033 scans the identification code information of a product to be purchased while directly carrying the purchased product, and the scanned product information is used by the customer autonomous calculation device (1). A device that can be entered at a time. When the customer autonomous calculation device 1 includes a mobile scanner, the customer autonomous calculator 1 may include a receiving unit capable of receiving scanning information from the mobile scanner.

4d is a detailed block diagram of a customer autonomous computing device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4D, the payment unit 404 includes a credit card processing unit 4041, a gift certificate processing unit 4042, a check processing unit 4043, a banknote processing unit 4044, a coin processing unit 4045, a coupon processing unit 4046, or A receipt issuing unit 4047 is provided. The customer can select a payment method via the user interface 402. When the customer deposits the purchase price with the selected payment method, the deposit information is transmitted to the control unit 401. In addition, the balance is received from the control unit 401, the balance is paid, and a receipt is issued.

4E is a detailed block diagram of a customer autonomous computing device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4E, the monitoring unit 405 includes a monitoring camera 4051, a weight sensing packing bag 4052, an alarm lamp 4053, or an information desk alarm signal processing unit 4054. When a missing product is detected in the product scanning process, the alarm lamp 4053 is operated, and an alarm signal 4054 is transmitted to the controller 401 to transmit an alarm signal to the information desk.

Surveillance camera (4051) is connected to the surveillance monitor 322 of the information desk to provide a real-time video screen for the assistant to monitor the customer's autonomous calculation process, and also the recording equipment for the customer surveillance recording provided in the information desk ( 324 also transmits the video screen.

Meanwhile, the weight sensing package 4052 detects the calculated weight of the purchased goods and calculates the total weight of the scanned goods based on the product information database and the purchase information database of the data storage unit 410 to 413, and the difference between them is different. Detect if it occurs. That is, it detects whether there is a product without an identification code in the product scanning unit among the products purchased by the customer, transmits monitoring information to the control unit, and activates an alarm lamp.

5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the customer autonomous calculation device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the control unit 401 of the customer autonomous calculation device 1 receives an autonomous calculation request signal from a customer through the user interface 402 (S501). The identification code information of the product scanned by the customer is received from the product scanning unit 403 and stored in the purchase information database 411 of the data storage unit 410 to 413 (S502). After the product scanning is completed, the purchase price information to be paid by the customer is calculated by referring to the purchase information database 411 and the product database 413 of the data storage unit 410 to 413 and transmitted to the user interface unit 402 (S503). ). Subsequently, the payment information received by the customer from the payment unit 404 is received, the difference is calculated by comparing the payment information with the customer in step S503, and the calculated difference payment information is transmitted to the payment unit 404 (S504). ). Finally, the monitoring unit 405 receives the monitoring information on whether there is a product that has not received the identification information in the product scanning unit 403 of the goods purchased by the customer and transmits an alarm signal to the information desk (2). (S505). If the process is completed normally, the payment information is stored in the payment information database 412 (S506).

The above description is only an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and those skilled in the art may implement the present invention in a modified form without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be construed as including the various embodiments within the scope equivalent to the contents described in the utility model claims, without being limited to the above-described examples.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a customer autonomous calculation device for calculating the customer directly purchased goods without a separate cashier.

That is, according to the present invention, the customer can directly scan the identification code of the product directly purchased, and pay the purchase price directly by cash, check, credit card, gift certificate, etc. using an added ATM (financial automated teller machine) function. .

Therefore, the retailer can reduce the number of cashiers that are conventionally arranged for each computing device, and can reduce costs by reducing idle cashiers or idle computing devices that are caused by the increase or decrease of the number of customers.

In addition, from the customer's point of view, it is possible to use all of the calculation devices installed without the idle calculation device generated due to the increase or decrease of the number of input cashier can reduce the customer waiting time.

Claims (4)

A user interface unit receiving an autonomic calculation request signal from a customer and transmitting the same to a control unit; A product scanning unit which detects an identification code of a purchased product scanned by a customer and transmits identification code information to the control unit; A payment unit for receiving the payment from the customer and transmitting the deposit information to the controller, receiving the balance payment information from the controller, paying the balance, and issuing a receipt; A monitoring unit which detects whether there is a product whose identification code is not received in the product scanning unit among the products purchased by the customer, transmits the monitoring information to the control unit and displays an alarm; A data storage unit for storing at least one of customer information, purchase product information, product information, or payment information; And Receives the autonomous calculation request signal from the user interface unit, stores the received identification code information in the data storage unit, and purchase price information calculated by referring to the purchase product information and product information of the data storage unit in the user interface unit. And a control unit which transmits difference payment information indicating a difference between the purchase price information and the payment information to the payment unit and transmits an alarm signal to an information desk in response to the monitoring information. Customer autonomous computing device. The method of claim 1, The product scanning unit, And a fixed scanner processing unit, a hand scanner processing unit, or a mobile scanner processing unit capable of directly scanning an identification code of a purchased product while the customer is moving. The method of claim 1, The payment unit, And a credit card processing unit, a gift certificate processing unit, a check processing unit, a bill processing unit, a coin processing unit, a coupon processing unit, or a receipt issuing unit. The method of claim 1, The monitoring unit, Surveillance camera processing unit, by detecting the total weight of the purchased goods to compare with the total weight of the scanned goods to detect whether there is no missing goods packaging unit processing, alarm lamp processing unit, or information desk alarm processing unit Customer autonomous computing system.