WO2010008105A1

WO2010008105A1 - Display having embedded processor for pos system and pos system having the same

Info

Publication number: WO2010008105A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/004185
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeon Sub Shin
Original assignee: Cnp Technology Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2008-07-14
Filing date: 2008-07-17
Publication date: 2010-01-21
Also published as: KR20100007516A

Abstract

Disclosed is a customer display used in a POS system, the customer display including: a com munication unit for receiving product information, product list, or data; a display unit for displaying product information, product list, or pre-stored data on a screen; an embedded CPU for receiving the product information, the product list, or the data and performing operation processing of information or data so as to display processed results on the display unit; and an expansion input/output port for providing an interface for communication with an exterior device. Also disclosed is a POS system including: a barcode scanner for scanning barcodes attached to products; a POS terminal for receiving product information from the barcode scanner; and a customer display for displaying data stored in a storage unit or product information transmitted from the POS terminal on a screen.

Description

DISPLAY HAVING EMBEDDED PROCESSOR FOR POS SYSTEM AND POS SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a Point of Sales (hereinafter, referred to as "POS") system and a display used therein, more particularly to a display which reduces data processing loads and power consumption of the conventional POS terminal by including an embedded CPU, and a POS system equipped with the same.

[2]

Background Art

[3] The term POS is used to refer to such a process as gathering sales-related data in a wide variety of locations (e.g. supermarkets, convenience stores, or the like) where a business transaction occurs. A POS system collectively conducts a series of actions required for sales, such as credit inquiry, and adjustment of an inventory database instantly when barcodes of products are read.

[4] To this end, the POS system uses a particular terminal or a personal computer (PC) equipped with a barcode reader, an optical scanner, or a card reader on the counter. The POS system may be connected on-line with a central computer in order to perform credit inquiry or inventory adjustment. Alternatively, the POS system may use a separate computer to store daily transactions before transmitting them to a main computer for batch processing.

[5] The POS system facilitates management of distribution-related data and provides the convenience of sales transactions. So, it is used in a wide variety of large retail stores (e.g. department stores, warehouse chains, or the like) and retail stores (e.g. convenience stores, retail outlets, or the like). Since a POS system used in the retail stores is powered on throughout business hours, there are problems of unnecessary electricity consumption and stability for the POS system.

[6] An embedded system has a hardware in which a software is embedded to operate a system, and supports only dedicated functions. Unlike a PC, the embedded system has particular requirements, and conducts only pre-defined tasks. A PC includes an operating system (OS) embedded in a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk. However, in the case of the embedded system, a RAM disk is created simultaneously while an OS and application programs stored in a ROM (e.g. a flash memory) as data in the form of an image are run, and then the OS and the application programs are loaded and run on the created RAM disk.

[7] The embedded system is designed at low prices to conduct only selected functions. This is because some functions require rapid processing, while others do not require fast processing.

[8] In general, the whole structure of the embedded system is intentionally simplified to reduce manufacturing cost, as compared with the hardware of a general-purpose computer system. Since a large number of embedded systems are produced in million units, reduction in production cost emerges as a matter of primary concern. Some embedded systems do not require significant processing capabilities and resources, so that they include a relatively slow processor and a small-sized memory mounted thereon in order to reduce the production cost.

[9] The software embedded in a ROM or a flash memory of a hardware device is called firmware. Programs on the embedded system are operated with limited hardware resources, under real-time limitations. Embedded systems may have no file system and use a flash drive as a storage medium. Also, the embedded systems may include a small-sized, if any, keypad or liquid crystal display (LCD) as a user interface.

[10] The embedded system is designed to be run stably without errors, during a long period of time. Therefore, firmwares are subjected to thorough development and text processes, as compared with softwares used in PCs. Most embedded systems use chip materials relatively insensitive to physical impairment (e.g. a flash memory), instead of parts sensitive to impairment caused by mechanical operations, such as a disk drive, a switch, a button, or the like.

[11] The conventional POS system used in retail stores is provided with a display for customers conveniences. With the recent popularization of a flat-panel display, an LCD is widely used as a display provided with the POS system. An LCD monitor requires much more data for displaying than the conventional vacuum fluorescent display (VFD). A display provided for customers conveniences in the conventional POS system has disadvantages in that, since the central processing unit (CPU) of a POS terminal occupies its resources in order to process mass data, a graphic card must be installed on the POS terminal. Therefore, the CPU of the POS terminal is required to have superior capabilities to that of the conventional POS terminal. Moreover, it is associated with severe heat emission and thus adversely affects stability of the system.

[12] Therefore, there is a need for the development of a new display for customers which can solve the above-described problems of the conventional POS system and provide various additional functions. In particular, an embedded CPU must be used in order to achieve stable operations without imposing data processing loads on a POS terminal and replay multimedia data.

[13]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[14] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a display for a customer (hereinafter, referred to as customer display ) used in a POS system which reduces data processing loads of the CPU of a POS terminal and provides advertisement effects using multimedia data and low power consumption, by including a unique embedded CPU, and a POS system equipped with the same.

[15]

Technical Solution

[16] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a customer display used in a POS system, the customer display including: a communication unit for receiving product information, product list, or data; a display unit for displaying product information, product list, or pre-stored data on a screen; an embedded CPU for performing operation processing of information or data so as to receive the product information, the product list, or the data and to display processed results on the display unit; and an expansion input/output port for providing an interface for communication with an exterior device.

[17] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a POS system including: a barcode scanner for scanning barcodes attached to products; a POS terminal for receiving product information from the barcode scanner; and a customer display for displaying data stored in a storage unit or product information transmitted from the POS terminal on a screen, wherein the customer display includes: a communication unit for receiving product information, product list, or data; a display unit for displaying product information, product list, or pre-stored data on a screen; an embedded CPU for performing operation processing of information or data so as to display the product information, the product list, or the data on the display unit; and an expansion input/output port for enabling communication with other devices.

[18]

Advantageous Effects

[19] According to the present invention, by providing an embedded CPU into a customer display in a POS system, loads of a CPU of a POS terminal is reduced, thereby achieving low power consumption and high system stability. Moreover, it is possible to display advertisements including multimedia data such as moving pictures, audio, and so on, on the customer display.

[20] Furthermore, an expansion input/output port is added to the customer display, so that it is possible to prevent shortage of input/output ports, unlike the conventional POS system. [21]

Brief Description of Drawings

[22] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[23] Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a customer display according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[24] Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a customer display according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

[25] Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a POS system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[26]

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

[27] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

[28] Fig. 1 is a customer display 100 of a POS system according to the present invention.

The customer display 100 includes a communication unit 105 for receiving information, including product information, payment information, advertisements, and so on, a display unit 101 for displaying the product information, the payment information, the advertisements, and so on, an embedded CPU 103 for gathering various types of data to display on the display unit and performing operation processing, and an expansion input/output port 102 that enables connection between a POS terminal and a peripheral device in order to exchange data.

[29] The display unit 101 includes an LCD panel, a plasma display panel (PDP), and so on. The display unit 101 may further include a touch pad, so as to provide various functions such as receipt of customer's signature.

[30] The embedded CPU 103 performs operation processing of data to display on the display unit. The conventional POS system displays simple data such as product information and payment information on a customer display, but the current tendency of a POS system is toward a mass POS system for increasing customer's convenience and raising the efficiency of product advertisement. Therefore, use of the conventional customer display causes slow data transmission rate and a great deal of data required to perform operation processing by a POS terminal. That is, the conventional customer display is inadequate for a POS system that requires stability and real-time processing. In such a case, in order to overcome such a disadvantage, a display may be used by separately adding a graphic card thereto.

[31] Alternatively, the embedded CPU 103 is built into the customer display, so that it is possible to increase data processing speed, and to replay multimedia data without adding a separate graphic card.

[32] The expansion input/output port 102 acts as an interface through which the customer display is connected to other peripheral devices in order to perform various functions. The communication unit 105 enables the customer display to be connected to the POS terminal in order to receive product information and payment information.

[33] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. When product information is read through a barcode or RFID reader, the product information is displayed on the customer display. Meanwhile, the customer display 100 displays various types of product advertisements while receiving information of the selected products through the barcode or RFID reader.

[34] The product advertisements include a format of multimedia data. In this case, the multimedia data for advertisements may be received from a storage medium present in the exterior of the customer display through the expansion input/output port 102 or the communication unit 105. For example, the multimedia data may be received through the communication unit 105 from a DB server or through a POS terminal of the POS system. Furthermore, the multimedia data may be received from a medium such as a removable storage device through the expansion input/output port 102. This is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not to be limited thereto.

[35] As described above, the product advertisements include multimedia data. So, there have been problems in heat emission of the POS terminal itself, replay speed, and stability of a system when the conventional POS terminal displays results of operation processing on the customer display. However, according to an embodiment of the present invention, since the embedded CPU 103 of the customer display performs operation processing of multimedia data and replays the data on the customer display, it is possible to promote the improvement of the replay speed and stability of the system without causing data processing overloads and the heat emission of the POS terminal.

[36] Because the advertisements include voice data and moving picture data, it is possible to effectively advertise product information for customers. Therefore, the advertisements enable the customer display to provide not only the function of displaying simple product information and payment information, but also the function for publicizing products.

[37] Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. When product information is read through a barcode or RFID reader, the product information is displayed on the customer display. Meanwhile, the customer display 100 displays various types of product advertisements while receiving information of selected products by the barcode or RFID reader.

[38] As described above, the product advertisements are multimedia data. The multimedia data may be stored in a storage unit 104 of the customer display 100. For example, the storage unit may be a hard disk drive (HDD) or a chip-type non-volatile memory. When the storage unit is embedded into the customer display 100, there is an advantage of an increase in data access speed. This corresponds to merely an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not to be limited thereto. Fig. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment where the removable storage device 204 acting as the storage device is embedded in the customer display.

[39] Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. When a counter clerk inputs product information using a barcode or RFID reader, the product information is displayed on the customer display 100. After the selected product information is input, a customer pays the price of the product by using payment means.

[40] According to an embodiment of the present invention, when a customer pays the price of the product by means of the payment means such as a credit card, or a check card, it is possible for the customer to directly sign his/her name by mounting a touch pad on the customer display, without requiring a separate input means for customer's signing. The touch pad replaces the separate input means for signing. Therefore, it is possible to enhance durability while avoiding inconvenience caused by the management of a separate input means.

[41] Fig, 3 shows a POS system 300 according to the present invention. The POS system

300 includes a barcode scanner 302, a POS terminal 301, and the customer display 100. The customer display and the POS terminal may be connected wirelessly or wiredly. For example, the interconnection may be achieved through universal serial bus (USB), local area network (LAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), and Bluetooth. This corresponds to merely an embodiment of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not to be limited thereto.

[42] The POS terminal 301 includes a display for a counter clerk (hereinafter, referred to as "counter clerk display"). The counter clerk display shows list of products, selling prices of products, and receipt and payment results for products, and may include a key input device for canceling or holding back the purchase of products read through the barcode scanner. Additionally, the counter clerk display transmits information of the products (e.g. list of selling products, selling prices of products, and receipt and payment results of products) to the customer display. [43] The barcode scanner 302 scans the barcode attached to a package of the selling product, and then transmits the scanned barcode data to the POS terminal 301. Instead of the barcode scanner, an RFID reader may be also used. When a barcode scanner or an RFID reader is impossible to use, a key input device may be used to receive the identification number of a product and transmit the product's data to the POS terminal.

[44] As described above, the customer display 100 may display a product list, selling prices and receipt and payment results of products transmitted from the POS terminal 301, and replay multimedia data that is transmitted from an exterior of the customer display or that is stored in the storage unit 104. Additionally, the customer display 100 is connected to the POS terminal through the communication unit 105 wiredly or wirelessly. The customer display 100 includes the embedded CPU 103, and thus guarantees stability of a system while reducing data processing loads of the POS terminal and heat emission.

[45] Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the

POS system 300, the POS terminal and the customer display 100 may be interconnected wiredly or wirelessly. A LAN or a cable may be used for the wired connection, and a connection by a WLAN or Bluetooth may be used for the wireless connection. The POS terminal and the customer display may use various types of connection means. This means that a connection means may be properly used depending on a circumstance of the space where the POS system is positioned.

[46] Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The customer display 100 may further include an auxiliary device necessary for payment processes such as a receipt printer or a credit card authorization terminal. The customer display 100 is equipped with the expansion input/output port 102 and the embedded CPU 103 which acts as a separate unit, so that it is possible to provide various services by connecting the customer display 100 with various peripheral devices.

[47] The POS system 300 according to the present invention uses a customer display which provides payment information and multimedia data to a customer without addition of a separate graphic card to the POS terminal 301. Therefore, higher system stability is ensured.

[48] While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[49]

Industrial Applicability

[50] The present invention relates to a POS system and a display used therein, and more particularly to a display which reduces power consumption and data processing loads of the conventional POS terminal, by including an embedded CPU, and a POS system equipped with the same.

Claims

[1] A customer display used in a POS system, the customer display comprising: a communication unit for receiving product information, product list, or data; a display unit for displaying product information, product list, or pre-stored data on a screen; an embedded CPU for performing operation processing of information or data so as to receive the product information, the product list, or the data and to display processed results on the display unit; and an expansion input/output port for providing an interface for communication with an exterior device.

[2] The customer display as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a storage unit for storing data to display on the display unit.

[3] The customer display as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the display unit comprises a touch pad, and receives signature input or purchase information identification.

[4] The customer display as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the embedded CPU receives product information wiredly or wirelessly.

[5] The customer display as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the customer display replays multimedia data subjected to operation processing by the embedded

CPU.

[6] The customer display as claimed in claim 2, wherein the storage unit is built into the display.

[7] The customer display as claimed in claim 2, wherein the storage unit comprises a removable storage device.

[8] A POS system comprising: a barcode scanner for scanning barcodes attached to products; a POS terminal for receiving product information from the barcode scanner; and a customer display for displaying data stored in a storage unit or product information transmitted from the POS terminal on a screen, wherein the customer display comprises: a communication unit for receiving product information, product list, or data; a display unit for displaying product information, product list, or pre-stored data on a screen; an embedded CPU for performing operation processing of information or data so as to display the product information, the product list, or the data on the display unit; and an expansion input/output port for enabling communication with other devices.

[9] The POS system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the customer display further comprises a storage unit for storing data to display on the display unit.

[10] The POS system as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the display unit comprises a touch pad, and receives signature input or purchase information identification.

[11] The POS system as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the POS terminal and the customer display are interconnected wiredly or wirelessly.