WO2002007062A1

WO2002007062A1 - A system for calculation and payment of goods price and a method of the same

Info

Publication number: WO2002007062A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/001222
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jong-Duk Park
Original assignee: Dun, Hong-Woong
Priority date: 2000-07-18
Filing date: 2001-07-16
Publication date: 2002-01-24
Also published as: KR20020007628A; KR100435204B1; AU2001271112A1

Abstract

When a customer visits a store, he is provided with a pocket PC and membership is verified by inputting fingerprint. The customer inputs goods to purchase and pays using the pocket PC. The Pocket PC connected with a store server transfers information inputted by the customer to the store server. The store server connected with bank networks accomplishes transaction approval process and saves the transaction content of the customer to a database of the store server. To check out customer's purchase, his purchase content is compared with goods which he carries before he leaves the store. After the check out, the customer receives a receipt. If he chooses cash payment as payment method, he pays by cash when he receives the receipt. In this way, the customer has not to wait long time at counter, and labor reduction can be achieved. Using the information saved in the database of the store server, customer's purchasing pattern and bent can be analyzed and personal advertisement can be made.

Description

A System for Calculation and Payment of Goods Price and a Method of the Same

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for calculating and settling for a price when a consumer makes a purchase at a store.

(b) Description of the Related Art In general, when a buyer makes a purchase at a supermarket or a discount store, the buyer uses a shopping cart to carry desired goods to a counter, and a clerk reads the individual goods one by one using a barcode reader or inputs goods data by manipulating a keyboard so that the corresponding price is calculated, and the buyer pays with cash or by credit card. In the case of using a credit card, the clerk receives the credit card, reads it through a card reader to check credit worthiness, and prints a bill to get the buyer's signature.

^•Because of this process, much time is required, and accordingly, the buyer may wait for a long time at the counter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for calculating and settling for a price without a buyer waiting a long time at a counter.

In one aspect of the present invention, a system for calculating

and settling for goods prices by a customer who visits a store comprises: a

terminal for the customer to input a buying product, calculate a price and

settle for it; a goods checker for the buying product possessed by the

customer who leaves the store; and a store server connected to the terminal and the goods checker, for determining whether the buying product history

input from the terminal is matched with the buying product history input from

the goods checker. The system further comprises a database connected to the store

server, for storing customer information and the customer's transaction

history information; and a printer for printing receipts according to the store server's instruction.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for calculating

and settling for goods prices using a terminal by a customer who visits a store comprises: (a) the customer using the terminal and inputting a buying

product; (b) the customer using the terminal and calculating a price of the

buying product and settling for it; and (c) checking whether the buying

product possessed by the customer is matched with the history of the

product settled for in (b).

The (b) step comprises: the customer selecting a method for

settling the buying price through the terminal; determining whether the method is a cash settlement; and checking the customer's credit worthiness

through a bank network and obtaining a transaction approval when it is not a

cash settlement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and

constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of

the invention: FIG. 1 shows a system for calculating and settling for a price

according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a task flowchart of a system for calculating and settling for a price according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, only the preferred embodiment

of the invention has been shown and described, simply by way of illustration

of the best mode contemplated by the inventor(s) of carrying out the

invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in

various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention.

Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not restrictive.

FIG. 1 shows a system for calculating and settling for a price according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The system for calculating and settling for a price comprises a store server 100, a pocket personal computer (PC) 101 or a portable scanner 102, a printer 103, a goods checker 104 and a database 105. Further, a bank network 200 is connected to the system, and a buyer 300 accesses the system.

The store server 100 manages the whole system's data flows and logic decisions, and is connected to an external device such as a bank network 200.

The buyer 300 uses the pocket PC 101 or the portable scanner 102 at the store (e.g., a supermarket or a discount store) that adopts the system of the present invention. That is, the buyer 300 inputs desired goods through the pocket PC 101 or the portable scanner 102, calculates the corresponding price and settles for it. The store may provide the buyer with either of the pocket PC 101 or the portable scanner 102 or with both of them so that the buyer may select a desired terminal. A personal digital assistant (PDA) or a mobile phone can also be used as a substitute for the pocket PC 101 or the portable scanner 102.

The pocket PC 101 may adopt various information input methods such as keyboard manipulation, touch screen, and voice recognition, all of them or individually. In this instance, it is desirable to adopt the input method

through voice recognition as a default since it is very convenient for any user.

The portable scanner 102 reads barcodes provided on packages of

goods, and includes a screen for displaying goods history and a device for

the user to input information or instructions.

It is desirable for the pocket PC 101 or the portable scanner 102 to include functions of wire or wireless communication with the store server 100,

printing transaction histories, and recognizing fingerprints. In this instance,

the pocket PC 101 or the portable scanner 102 may include a communication connection device, or it may access the store server 100 through an additional access port.

The printer 103 performs data output on paper such as printing receipts, and is wire or wirelessly connected with the store server 103.

The goods checker 104 checks whether the goods history input by the buyer is matched with the actually bought goods, and comprises a goods

recognizer and a display. The goods recognizer checks goods by recognizing -

the barcode attached to the goods' packages, and the display displays the

checked goods on the screen.

The goods recognizer recognizes automatic transfer tools such as

conveyer belts, and automatically transferred goods. Detailed recognition

methods are as follows.

The first method is to weigh the goods to check them. That is, the first method uses the fact that each product has a different weight. Weights

of corresponding products are previously input, and the buying product is

weighed using an electronic scale. In this instance, the weights of the

products can be individually weighed, or total weight of all the products is

measured and then compared with a previously generated product table per

weight so as to check categories and amounts of the products. This method

minimizes rejection of the buyer generated when the buyer checks the products, and reduces installation cost, but may lack reliability in setting error

ranges and determining products.

The second method is to recognize the barcodes through X-ray

projection, that is, to read one-dimensional barcodes using the X-ray's

projection characteristics. In this instance, the barcodes are formed with metallic material' through which the X-rays cannot penetrate, to distinguish

the products. This method provides relative high accuracy of checking the

products, but increases installation cost and uses small amounts of X-rays.

-^*■ > The third method is to use two-dimensional barcodes to check the products. When the two-dimensional barcodes are used instead of the

general one-dimensional barcodes, the products can be checked at any

angular position through 360 degrees of barcode scanning, and they can

also be checked remotely. The two-dimensional barcodes have been

developed by MacSoftBank Company.

The fourth method is to capture images using an infrared ray camera. By applying laser characteristics to the infrared ray characteristics, the

products can be projected to capture their images so that they may be stored

and used later for proof, and the fourth method provides less rejection to the

user and reduces installation and maintenance fees. In the case of using the infrared ray camera, space between the products in a shopping cart is

obtained using a thin line or an optical cable so as to improve checking accuracy. In the case of capturing images by camera, features and packages

of the products are previously input, and the captured images are transmitted

to a computer so that the products are checked through image decipher. The

captured images are stored for proof. Also, the images are captured in four directions so as to minimize error occurrences.

- The fifth method is to pick out all the products on a counter or a

^■ predetermined checking place, check them, and put them into the shopping

cart again. The products picked out of the shopping cart are provided on the conveyer belts and are passed through a device in which a barcode reader

or a camera is installed so that the corresponding products' history is

checked.

The sixth method is a method for detecting electromagnetic fields or

using radio frequency (RF) waves used in a stealth protection system so as

to check the product history.

The goods checker 104 wire or wirelessly connected to the store

server 100 transmits the read data to the store server 100. Persons may be provided to the goods checker 104 to receive cash and manually check the products.

The database 105 stores buyers' data such as residence registration

numbers, addresses, names, telephone numbers, banks and fingerprints, and other data such as the buyers' transaction histories. The database 105

connected to the store server 100 provides data desired by the store server

100 to the store server 100, and stores data input by the store server 100.

An operation for calculating goods price and settling for it by the system will now be described. ^*' ' FIG. 2 shows a task flowchart of a system for calculating and settling for a price according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In order to use the system for calculating and settling for a price, it is required that a buyer provides the buyer's informatioivthrough a membership' registration, and corresponding data are stored in the database of the present system.

The buyer can use the pocket PC 101 or the portable scanner 102 as a terminal, but hereinafter descriptions will be provided with reference to the pocket PC 101 , and the portable scanner 102 will be further mentioned when the case of using the portable scanner 102 has features different from that of using the pocket PC 101.

When a customer inputs a fingerprint or a password in the pocket PC (or the portable scanner 102) 101 provided in a store (e.g., a supermarket or a discount store) in step S1 1 , the pocket PC 101 transmits the input

fingerprint or the password to the store server 100 in step S21 . The store

server 100 receives this and compares it with the data stored in the database

105 to determine whether the customer is a member in step S31 .

When the customer is found not to be a member, a use denied

message is displayed on the screen of the pocket PC, and benefits of

membership entrance and an entrance method are displayed to lead the customer into member entrance in step S32. However, the customer may

shop without becoming a member. In this case, the pocket PC 101 is

switched to a non-member shopping mode in step S29 to proceed with shopping.

When the customer is found to be a member, the pocket PC 101 is

switched to a shopping mode : so that-rthe buyer may use it, and the

customer's member ID is displayed on the screen of the pocket PC 101 in

step S22. The customer takes the pocket PC 100 to start shopping, puts

desired products in the shopping cart or a basket, and inputs them to the

pocket PC 101 in step S12. In this instance, the customer manipulates a keyboard, touches an item displayed on the screen, or marks desired

products' titles to input desired products.

In the case of using the portable scanner 102, the buyer reads the

corresponding barcodes through the portable scanner 102 to input the

product history. The input product history is displayed on the screen of the pocket PC 101 in step S23. In this instance, the input products' titles, their

prices and the total sum of the prices of the input products are displayed on

the screen of the pocket PC 101. After inputting all desired products, the

customer inputs a purchase termination message in step S13. The input

method is identical with that of the previous step S12, and in the case of

using the portable scanner 102, a method similar to that of the pocket PC

101 is to be used differing from the previous step S12!

When the purchase termination message is input, the pocket PC 101 displays a message for requesting to check again whether the desired

products are matched with the input products in step S24. The customer checks the items again in step S14 to determine whether items to be changed are found in step S15. When items to be changed are found, the

input method of the previous step S13 is used to modify the input items in step S16, and it goes to the step S14. When no item to be changed is found,

a confirmation complete message is input, and the pocket PC 101 displays a

calculated price and settlement methods in step S25.

In this instance, the settlement methods include cash payment and

credit payment that includes direct payment, deferred payment and monthly

payment. Here, the payment methods can be varied according to

membership. The customer selects one of the displayed settlement methods

in step S17, and the pocket PC 101 transmits the selected settlement

method and the buying price to the store server 100 in step S26. The store server 100 determines whether the settlement method is a cash payment in

step S33, and when it is found to be a cash payment, the store server 100

stores a transaction history in the database 105 in step S36, and when it is

found not to be a cash payment, the store server 100 is connected to a bank

network and requests a transaction approval in step S34.

When the bank network 200 checks the customer's credit worthiness

in step S41 , determines whether to approve the transaction in step S42 and

then approves the transaction, the settlement is executed and the transaction history is stored in the database 105 in step S42. When the

transaction is not approved, this transaction failure is reported to the store

server 100, and the store server 100 finds available settlement methods and provides the same on the basis of the customer's credit worthiness and the

data stored in .the database 105 in step S35. The pocket PC 101 receives

them and displays them on the screen in step S27, and the customer repeats the selecting of a desired settlement method of the previous step S17 and

the subsequent steps. Here, the store server 100 may directly execute the

step S41 of checking the credit worthiness and the step S42 of approving the

transaction by receiving the customer's financial information through the

bank network.

When storing the transaction history in the database 105 in the

previous step S36, the store server 100 enables the pocket PC 101 to output

a transaction history in step S28. In this instance, the method of storing data in the database 105 may be varied according as to whether the customer is

a member or a non-member. For example, when the customer is a member,

the transaction history is stored with reference to the corresponding member

ID so as to accumulate the member's transaction history, and when the

5 customer is not a member, the transaction history is stored with reference to a number of a terminal such as the pocket PC 101 so that the terminal

number is used only when subsequently checking the products, and then the

terminal number is deleted.

^• ' ^• Next, before leaving the store, the customer: . passes the bought lo products through the goods checker 104 in step S18, and the store server

100 receives the product history checked by the goods checker 104,

: -compares it with the history stored in the database 105 and determines

- - ;Y: ^ whether they are matched in step S37. When they are- matched ; the store server 100 enables the printer 103 to print a receipt in step S38, and when

15 they are not matched, it goes to the step S24, and repeats subsequent steps.

-. ^,,.-^,-.^„ . . - ^, .. when the receipt is printed, the customer exchanges the receipt with

a history sheet, receives it and then leaves the store in step S19. In this

instance, if the customer selects cash settlement in the previous step S17,

the customer pays for it in this step.

20 Through the above-described steps the customer can conveniently

make a purchase, by enabling the customer to calculate the buying price and

settle for it so the customer no longer stands and waits at the counter. Also, the store reduces manpower required for calculating the price.

Further, the customer's buying pattern and interests can be analyzed on the basis of the customer information accumulated while the customer is buying desired products, and tailored advertisements can be provided 5 through them.

While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed

' - '^■ embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications

10 • and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A system for calculating and settling for goods prices by a customer who visits a store, comprising: a terminal for the customer to input a buying product, calculate a price and settle for it; a goods checker for the buying product possessed by the customer who leaves the store; and a store server connected to the terminal and the goods checker, for determining whether the buying product history input from the terminal is matched with the buying product history input from the goods checker.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the store server is connected to a bank network and a transaction approval process is executed when the customer selects a credit settlement." :.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a database connected to the store server, for storing customer information and the customer's transaction history information.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the terminal is a pocket personal computer (PC) including an information input device and a display.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the information input device recognizes voices.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the terminal is a portable scanner including an information input device and a display.

7. The system of claim 4 or 6, wherein the terminal has a printing

function of printing transaction history sheets.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a printer for printing

receipts according to the store server's instruction.

9. A method for calculating and settling for goods prices using a

terminal by a customer who visits a store, comprising:

(a) the customer using the terminal and inputting a buying product;

(b) the customer using the terminal and calculating a price of the buying product and settling for it; and

(c) checking whether the buying product possessed by the customer is matched with the history of the product settled for in (b).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein (b) comprises: the customer selecting a method for settling the buying price through the terminal;

determining whether the method is a cash settlement; and

checking the customer's credit worthiness through a bank network

and obtaining a transaction approval when it is not a cash settlement.

1 1 . The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing other available settlement methods when the transaction

approval is denied in the step of obtaining the transaction approval.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein (b) further comprises: storing

the settled transaction history in a database.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the terminal outputs the settled transaction history in (b), and outputs a receipt so that the customer may exchange the receipt with a transaction history sheet and receive it in (c).

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising: (d) checking whether the customer is a member who can use the method for calculating and settling for goods price, before (a).

15. The method of claim 14, wherein (d) is executed when the terminal, recognizes the customer's fingerprint and compares it with a previously stored fingerprint, and when the membership is checked, the terminal is switched to a shopping mode.