Patent Application
20250131800
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-180323, filed on Oct. 19, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a guide system, a management device, and a method for controlling a management device.
In recent years, in mass retailers such as a supermarket, an introduction of a self-service checkout apparatus in which a customer him- or herself as a shopper performs checkout processing is in progress. Therefore, in such self-service checkout apparatuses, there are proposed a variety of techniques for leading and guiding the customer who performs the checkout processing to an unoccupied checkout apparatus.
Meanwhile, due to an increase in cashless settlement rate in recent years, an installation of a cashless settlement self-service checkout apparatus is increasing.
However, when the cashless settlement self-service checkout apparatus and the self-service checkout apparatus in which a cash settlement can also be used are included in an installation layout of the same payment place, personnel for managing and leading the customers in accordance with the settlement methods which the customers are going to use become necessary, and there is a problem that a gross profit per man-hour of a store degrades.
When it is unachievable to arrange such personnel, it is necessary to adopt a separate payment place layout in which the cashless settlement self-service checkout apparatus and the self-service checkout apparatus available for the cash settlement are separated from each other. When adopting such a separate layout, it is unachievable to effectively use the apparatuses in accordance with ever-changing utilization rates of the respective checkout apparatuses, and thus, the return on investment (ROI) tends to degrade.
A problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide a guide system, a management device, and a method for controlling the management device which make it possible to introduce appropriate checkout apparatuses to the customers who use the payment place where a plurality of checkout apparatuses different in class in which the checkout apparatus can achieve a settlement is installed.
In one embodiment, a guide system includes a plurality of first checkout apparatuses, at least one second checkout apparatus, an introduction device, and a management device. The first checkout apparatuses are checkout apparatuses configured to accept settlements with a first settlement method and a second settlement method. The second checkout apparatus is a checkout apparatus configured to accept a settlement with the second settlement method. The introduction device introduces an available checkout apparatus. The management device determines the first checkout apparatus available for the first settlement method and the first and second checkout apparatuses available for the second settlement method based on unoccupied statuses of the first and second checkout apparatuses and a priority order set in advance, and makes the introduction device introduce the result.
Some embodiments of a checkout apparatus will hereinafter be described using the drawings.
The store server SS provides a variety of services related to the checkout system to the checkout apparatuses connected with the communication network NW. Further, the store server SS transmits display information representing contents to be displayed on the display device DD to each of the display devices DD connected with the communication network NW.
In the present embodiment, the checkout system includes a plurality of self-service terminals SE and one or more cashless settlement self-service terminal CL as the checkout apparatuses. The self-service terminals SE are each a checkout apparatus having a checkout function available for both of cash payment and cashless payment in which cash is not used. The self-service terminal SE is an example of a first checkout apparatus which is capable of accepting the cash settlement as a first settlement method and the cashless settlement as a second settlement method. The cashless settlement includes a credit card settlement, an electronic money settlement, a point settlement, a code settlement, and so on. Further, the cashless settlement self-service terminal CL is a checkout apparatus having the checkout function available for cashless payment in which cash is not used. The cashless self-service terminal CL is an example of a second checkout apparatus which is capable of accepting the cashless settlement as the second settlement method. The cashless settlement includes a credit card settlement, an electronic money settlement, a point settlement, a code settlement, and so on.
These self-service terminals SE and cashless settlement self-service terminals CL are installed in a payment place as a checkout area of a store, and shoppers as customers who complete shopping act as operators. The customer who puts the purchased article in a shopping basket or loads a shopping cart with the purchased article in a salesroom where articles are displayed, and then moves to the payment place, operates the self-service terminal SE or the cashless settlement self-service terminal CL to perform registration processing of the purchased article and checkout processing, namely payment, on transaction data of the purchased article the article registration of which is completed. As described above, the shoppers perform the settlement related to the transaction from the article registration to the payment by him- or herself.
Further, the self-service terminal SE or the cashless settlement self-service terminal CL is not necessarily required to have a function of registering the purchased article. In this case, the shopper performs the article registration of the article to be purchased by the shopper him- or herself using a tablet terminal attached to a shopping cart or the like, a portable terminal owned by the shopper, or the like in advance during shopping in the salesroom of the store. Further, the self-service terminal SE which does not have the function of registering the purchased article executes the checkout processing on the transaction data of the purchased article the article registration of which is performed by the shopper him- or herself with either of the cash payment method and the cashless payment method. Further, the cashless settlement self-service terminal CL which does not have the function of registering the purchased article executes the checkout processing on the transaction data of the purchased article the article registration of which is performed by the shopper him- or herself with the cashless payment method.
It should be noted that the checkout apparatus can be reworded as a settlement terminal, a payment device, a payment terminal, and so on. Further, an ordinary POS terminal having an article registration function and a settlement function may be applied as the checkout apparatus in the present checkout system.
The attendant terminal AT is a terminal which is operated by a sales clerk as an attendant. The attendant terminal AT displays a list of the purchased articles which are registered in each of the checkout apparatuses or the like on a display device. Further, when an error occurs in any of the checkout apparatuses, the attendant terminal AT announces information of that error. The attendant monitors the checkout apparatuses based on the information displayed in the attendant terminal AT, or the information thus announced. Further, the attendant terminal AT may be provided with a function as the checkout apparatus to be operated by the attendant. In the attendant terminal AT, it is possible to perform the cash settlement and the cashless settlement, and at the same time, to deal with settlements which require a manual operation such as a settlement with a cash voucher or a gift voucher which are not machine-readable, returning of an article, and refund.
The display device DD is a display device such as a liquid crystal display. The display device DD displays display information which is transmitted from the store server SS, and which is for performing display for introducing a device which is available at the present moment in the checkout apparatuses included in the checkout system to the shoppers who are going to check out. The display device DD is an example of an introduction device for introducing the available checkout apparatus. Therefore, the introduction device can be rephrased as displaying the display information for performing display for introducing the available checkout apparatus. It can be said that the introduction device performs the display showing an unoccupied cash register (a device which is not used, namely an unoccupied device) corresponding to the settlement method.
In the payment place CE, an entrance for cash payment shoppers and an entrance for cashless payment shoppers are set separately from each other, and exits thereof are set commonly to the both shoppers. In the entrance for the cash payment shoppers, a first entrance lane AL1 in which the cash payment shoppers SC stand for checkout is disposed. The first entrance lane AL1 is an example of a first standby lane for the first settlement method. Further, in the entrance for the cashless payment shoppers, a second entrance lane AL2 in which the cashless payment shoppers SC stand for checkout is disposed. The second entrance lane AL2 is an example of a second standby lane for the second settlement method. In the exit, an exit lane EL passed by the shoppers SC who complete the checkout is disposed.
Further, in the payment place CE, one display device DD is installed so as to correspond to the first entrance lane AL1, and another display device DD is installed so as to correspond to the second entrance lane AL2. It can also be said that the display devices DD are arranged one by one in the entrance of the cash payment shoppers and the entrance of the cashless payment shoppers. In other words,
It should be noted that cash register numbers R1 through R9 for uniquely identifying the respective checkout apparatuses are assigned to nine checkout apparatuses including the self-service terminals SE and the cashless settlement self-service terminals CL. The cash register numbers R1 through R9 can be assigned as appropriate by an administrator of the store server SS.
A sales clerk SP is assigned to the attendant terminal AT.
The processor 11 corresponds to a central portion of the computer described above. The processor 11 controls each unit so as to realize a variety of types of functions as the store server SS with an operating system or a control program. The processor 11 is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU). The processor 11 can also be, for example, a micro processing unit (MPU), a system on a chip (SoC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Alternatively, the processor 11 can be what is obtained by combining some of these with each other.
The main memory 12 corresponds to a main storage portion of the computer described above. The main memory 12 includes a nonvolatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The main memory 12 stores the operating system or the control program in the nonvolatile memory area. The main memory 12 stores data which is necessary for the processor 11 to execute processing for controlling each unit in the nonvolatile memory area or the volatile memory area in some cases. The main memory 12 uses the volatile memory area as a work area in which data is rewritten as appropriate by the processor 11. The nonvolatile memory area is, for example, a read only memory (ROM). The volatile memory area is, for example, a random access memory (RAM).
The auxiliary storage device 13 corresponds to an auxiliary storage portion of the computer described above. For example, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a hard disc drive (HDD), or a solid state drive (SSD) may be the auxiliary storage device 13. The auxiliary storage device 13 stores data which is used by the processor 11 when performing a variety of types of processing, data which is generated by the processing in the processor 11, and so on. The auxiliary storage device 13 stores the control program described above in some cases.
The input-and-output device 14 is a user interface including input equipment such as a keyboard or a mouse, and display equipment such as a liquid crystal display. It should be noted that the store server SS is not necessarily required to have the input-and-output device 14. As the user interface on this occasion, it is possible to use a management terminal not shown which is capable of making communication via a communication network NW using the communication interface 15. The management terminal may include, for example, a personal computer, a smartphone, or a tablet computer.
The communication interface 15 performs data communication in compliance with a communication protocol set in advance with an external device which is connected via the communication network NW. The external device is, for example, the self-service terminal SE, the cashless settlement self-service terminal CL, the attendant terminal AT, the display device DD, or the like.
The store server SS is provided with an article master database 131, a store member master database 132, a sales data database 133, a guide configuration table 134, and a terminal status table 135 in the auxiliary storage device 13. In
The article master database 131 stores data related to articles to be sold in the store. The article master database 131 stores data such as an article ID, an article name, a price, and a class name taking one article as one record. The article ID is a unique code set for each article in order to individually identify the article.
The store member master database 132 stores data related to customers who registered as members such as point members, namely so-called affiliates. The store member master database 132 includes data of, for example, a member ID taking one member as one record. Personal information such as gender, age, name, address, and contact of the member may be included. The member ID is a unique code set for each member in order to individually identify the member. The member owns a recording medium on which the member ID is recorded. The recording medium is, for example, a magnetic card, a contact integrated circuit (IC) card, a noncontact IC card, or a smartphone. The purchaser can appreciate a benefit as the member by inputting the member code into the checkout apparatus at any timing before making payment, namely settlement, on the checkout apparatus. Regarding an input method of the member code, reading from the medium by the shopper SC with a scanner or a reader provided to the checkout apparatus and so on are available, and the input method is not particularly limited.
The sales data database 133 stores the sales data generated in the transactions which is transmitted from each of the checkout apparatuses when the settlement is completed, namely when the transaction is completed. The sales data database 133 stores transaction data representing a transaction content of an article as a settlement target, and settlement data related to the settlement of that transaction taking one transaction as one record. The transaction data includes an article name (article code) and a price of the article subjected to the settlement, a total amount of the articles, and so on. The settlement data includes a deposit amount paid by the purchaser, an amount of change, and so on when the payment was made in cash, or includes information of the payment method when cashless payment was made. Further, the sales data may include elements such as a member code, a corporate code (corporate name) representing a company which operates the store, a store code (store name), a phone number of the store, an address thereof, transaction time and date, a transaction number (receipt number), a cash register number, and a name of the person in charge. It should be noted that the elements included in the sales data are not limited to these examples, and may include other elements, and elements such as the phone number and the address may also be eliminated. In the checkout apparatus, for example, by reading a code symbol printed on or attached to an article with a scanner to obtain the article code, and then reading article data of the article identified by the article code from an article data file provided to the checkout apparatus, and then registering the article data in the transaction data, the sales data including the transaction data and the settlement data is updated and then stored. The article data file may be a copy of the article master database 131. Further, when the member code is obtained from the recording medium with the scanner, the checkout apparatus confirms whether the member code is registered in a store member data file provided to the checkout apparatus, and when the member code is registered, the checkout apparatus adds the member code to the transaction data as the store member code to thereby update and then store the sales data. When the settlement process is completed, namely when one transaction is completed, the checkout apparatus prints the sales data on a sheet to thereby issue a paper receipt corresponding to one transaction, and at the same time, transmits the sales data corresponding to the one transaction to the store server SS. The sales data database 133 stores the sales data transmitted from each of the checkout apparatuses in such a manner.
The guide configuration table 134 stores a variety of configurations related to an introductory display of an unoccupied cash register input in advance by the administrator.
As shown in
The display surface means an introductory display surface of the display device DD for introducing an unoccupied cash register to the shoppers in the payment place CE. Display surfaces DS1 through DS3 shown in
It should be noted that although the three display surfaces DS1 through DS3 are set in
The cash register number is an identifier assigned to the checkout apparatus in each of the checkout apparatus classes. The example in
The class priority order represents a priority order related to the classes of the checkout apparatuses. The class priority order is an example of a priority order of the settlement method.
The cash-register introduction priority order represents a priority order of the checkout apparatus regarding which one of the checkout apparatuses is introduced first when there are two or more unoccupied cash registers. In the example in
When the cash registers assigned for each of the checkout apparatus classes become full, and when the cash register assigned to another class is used as the cash register for that class, the in-class cash-register-full configuration represents an order of the cash registers to newly be assigned to that class. When the cash registers assigned for each of the checkout apparatus classes is full means in other words that there is no unoccupied cash register. In other words, all of the checkout apparatuses assigned are all in use. The in-class cash-register-full configuration is an example of a priority order when assigning the checkout apparatus which belongs to the settlement method in a lower priority order to a settlement method in a higher priority order. In the example in
It should be noted that in the example in
Further, in the example in
The terminal status table 135 stores a use status at the present moment with respect to each of the checkout apparatuses.
As shown in
The assigned class represents that the cash register currently operates as what class of the checkout apparatus.
The use status represents whether that cash register is currently in use. In this use status, a round mark represents that the cash register is not in use, namely unoccupied, and an X mark represents that the cash register is in use. A hyphen represents an exemption.
Then, each unit to be installed in the processor 11 of the store server SS will be described. The processor 11 implements, for example, a sales data receiving unit 111, a configuration unit 112, a use status detection unit 113, an assignment change unit 114, and an introduction unit 115. The units installed in the processor 11 can also be referred to as functions. It can be said that the units installed in the processor 11 are installed in a control unit including the processor 11 and the main memory 12.
The sales data receiving unit 111 receives the sales data corresponding to one transaction which is transmitted from the checkout apparatus when the one transaction is completed with the communication interface 15. The sales data receiving unit 111 stores the transaction data thus received in the transaction data database 133.
The configuration unit 112 receives a variety of types of configuration information with respect to configuration items in the guide configuration table 134 due to an operation of the administrator of the store server SS using the input-and-output device 14. The configuration unit 112 stores the variety of types of configuration information thus received in the guide configuration table 134.
The use status detection unit 113 detects the use statuses of the self-service terminals SE and the cashless settlement self-service terminals CL. The use status detection unit 113 is an example of a detection unit for detecting an unoccupied status of each of the self-service terminals SE as the first checkout apparatuses and the cashless settlement self-service terminals CL as the second checkout apparatuses. For example, in the present embodiment, as described later, the self-service terminals SE and the cashless settlement self-service terminals CL are configured so as to transmit a human detection notice when there is a human in an operation range thereof. Therefore, the use status detection unit 113 can detect whether each of the checkout apparatuses is in use based on whether this human detection notice is received with the communication interface 15. The use status detection unit 113 stores the use status thus detected in the terminal status table 135.
The assignment change unit 114 changes the assigned class of each of the checkout apparatuses based on the use status of each of the checkout apparatuses stored in the terminal status table 135 and the variety of configurations related to the introductory display of the unoccupied cash register stored in the guide configuration table 134. The details of the change in assigned class will be described later. The assignment change unit 114 is an example of an assignment unit which determines the first checkout apparatus available for the first settlement method and first and second checkout apparatuses available for the second settlement method based on the unoccupied status of each of the first and second checkout apparatuses detected by the detection unit and the priority order set in advance. The assignment change unit 114 updates the assigned class of the terminal status table 135 with the assigned class thus changed.
The introduction unit 115 generates the display information for the introductory display to be displayed on the display surface of each of the classes set in the guide configuration table 134 in accordance with the assigned class stored in the terminal status table 135, and then transmits the display information to each of the display devices DD with the communication interface 15. The display information of the introductory display includes first introductory information representing the self-service terminals SE available for the cash payment use, and second introductory information which represents the cashless settlement self-service terminals CL available for the cashless payment use, and which represents the self-service terminals SE in some cases. A specific example of the display information for the introductory display will be described later. The introduction unit 115 is an example of an output unit which outputs the first introductory information which is determined by the assignment unit, and which represents the first checkout apparatus available for the first settlement method and the second introductory information which is determined by the assignment unit, and which represents the first and second checkout apparatuses available for the second settlement method to the display device DD as an external device.
It should be noted that the store server SS can be realized by, for example, using a general-purpose computer device for a server as hardware, and writing a control program into the main memory 12 or the auxiliary storage device 13. It should be noted that the control program may be stored in the main memory 12 or the auxiliary storage device 13 when delivering the store server SS, or may also be delivered separately from the general-purpose computer device described above. In the latter case, the control program is delivered as a removable recording medium such as a magnetic disc, a magnetooptic disc, an optical disc, or a semiconductor memory recording the control program, or is delivered via a network.
Then, a configuration of the checkout apparatus will be described.
First, the self-service terminal SE will be described.
The processor 21 corresponds to a central portion of the computer described above. The processor 21 controls each unit so as to realize a variety of types of functions as the self-service terminal SE with an operating system or a control program. The processor 21 is, for example, a CPU. The processor 21 may be, for example, an MPU, an SoC, a DSP, a GPU, and ASIC, a PLD, or an FPGA. Alternatively, the processor 21 can be what is obtained by combining some of these with each other.
The main memory 22 corresponds to a main storage portion of the computer described above. The main memory 22 includes a nonvolatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The main memory 22 stores the operating system or the control program in the nonvolatile memory area. The main memory 22 stores data which is necessary for the processor 21 to execute processing for controlling each unit in the nonvolatile memory area or the volatile memory area in some cases. For example, the main memory 22 stores a transaction file 221. The transaction file 221 is a data file for storing the sales data corresponding to one transaction processed by the self-service terminal SE. The main memory 22 uses the volatile memory area as a work area in which data is rewritten as appropriate by the processor 21. The nonvolatile memory area is, for example, a ROM. The volatile memory area is, for example, a RAM.
The auxiliary storage device 23 corresponds to an auxiliary storage portion of the computer described above. For example, an EEPROM, an HDD, or an SSD may be the auxiliary storage device 23. The auxiliary storage device 23 stores data which is used by the processor 21 when performing a variety of types of processing, data which is generated by the processing in the processor 21, and so on. For example, the auxiliary storage device 23 may store the article data file and the store member data file described above. The auxiliary storage device 23 stores the control program described above in some cases.
The scanner 24 reads the code symbol from the article. To each of the articles to be sold in a store, the code symbol obtained by coding an article ID or the like for identifying that article is attached. The code symbol is, for example, a barcode. The code symbol may be, for example, a two-dimensional data code. The scanner 24 may be of a type which reads the code symbol by scanning with a laser beam, or of a type which reads the code symbol from an image taken by an imaging device.
The touch panel 25 is configured by a display for displaying a variety of screens to the shopper SC who operate the self-service terminal SE, and a touch sensor for detecting touch input to the screen by the shopper SC.
The camera 26 sets a terminal operating range as an imaging area, in which the shopper SC is assumed to be located in the terminal operating range when the shopper SC performs operations such as an operation of taking out a purchased article from a shopping basket or a shopping cart to make the scanner 24 scan the barcode of the purchased article, and an operation of making a payment with cash or a credit card. Thus, it is possible for the camera 26 to shoot the shopper SC who operates that self-service terminal SE.
The automatic change dispenser 27 includes a coin unit 271 and a bill unit 272. The coin unit 271 sorts out coins dropped in a coin slot one by one to identify the denomination, and then houses the coins in a safe by denomination. The coin unit 271 takes out the coins of the corresponding denomination from the safe based on, for example, change data, and then pays them out to a coin dispensing port. The bill unit 272 sorts out bills inserted in a bill slot one by one to identify the denomination, and then houses the bills in the safe by denomination. The bill unit 272 takes out the bills of the corresponding denomination from the safe based on, for example, change data, and then pays them out to a bill dispensing port.
The card reader 28 reads card data recorded on a card medium such as a credit card or a reward card. The card reader 28 draws in the card medium inserted into a card slot inside the main body to read the card data, and then discharge the card medium from the card slot.
The reader-and-writer 29 performs reading and rewriting of electronic money recorded on an electronic money medium. The electronic money medium is, for example, a noncontact IC card. The electronic money medium may also be an electronic device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal.
The printer 30 prints a receipt data representing a content of a business transaction or the like on a receipt form. The receipt form on which the receipt data is printed is discharged from an issue port, cut by a cutter, and then issued as a receipt or a voucher.
The communication interface 31 performs data communication in compliance with a communication protocol set in advance with an external device which is connected via the communication network NW. The external device is, for example, the store server SS, the attendant terminal AT, or the like.
The processor 21 implements, for example, an operator detection unit 211 in addition to a well-known processing unit related to the article registration and the settlement. The units installed in the processor 21 can also be referred to as functions. It can be said that the units installed in the processor 21 are installed in a control unit including the processor 21 and the main memory 12.
The operator detection unit 211 detects presence or absence of the shopper SC as the operator who operates that self-service terminal SE from the camera-shot images obtained by the camera 26 at regular time intervals. The operator detection unit 211 detects the presence or absence of a human using a human recognition technique such as a well-known face detection method.
The cashless settlement self-service terminal CL does not handle cash, and is therefore not provided with the automatic change dispenser 27. The cashless settlement self-service terminal CL has substantially the same configuration as that of the self-service terminal SE except the fact that the automatic change dispenser 27 is absent.
The attendant terminal AT has substantially the same configuration as that of the self-service terminal SE shown in
An operation of the guide system applied to the checkout system having such a configuration will hereinafter be described. It should be noted that an operation related to the checkout in the checkout system is the same as that in a well-known checkout system, and therefore, the description thereof will be omitted. Further, an operation related to setting to the guide configuration table 134 in the guide system is nothing but performing setting for each of the configuration items, and therefore, the description thereof will also be omitted. Therefore, an operation related to the introduction of the unoccupied cash register will be described here.
In the store server SS, the use status of each of the checkout apparatuses is detected (ACT103) based on the human detection notice transmitted from each of the checkout apparatuses at regular time intervals different from the regular time intervals in the checkout apparatuses. In the store server SS, an unoccupied cash register available for the cash payment and an unoccupied cash register available for the cashless payment are determined (ACT104) based on the unoccupied status of each of the checkout apparatuses and the priority order set in advance. Then, the store server SS transmits (ACT105) introductory information representing the unoccupied cash register thus determined to the display device DD.
The display device DD which receives the introductory information displays (ACT106) the introductory information.
The operation of the store server SS in ACT103 through ACT105 will hereinafter be described in detail.
As ACT1, the use status detection unit 113 installed in the processor 11 receives the human detection notice transmitted from each of the checkout apparatuses, namely each of the self-service terminals SE and each of the cashless settlement self-service terminals CL, with the communication interface 15. It should be noted that out of the checkout apparatuses, the attendant terminal AT does not transmit the human detection notice as described above.
As ACT2, the use status detection unit 113 determines whether there is the checkout apparatus which makes the transition to the unoccupied state from the in-use state in the checkout apparatuses from which the human detection notice is not received, namely the unoccupied cash registers. Specifically, the use status detection unit 113 confirms the use status of that cash register number in the terminal status table 135 with respect to each of the unoccupied cash registers from which the human detection notice is received, and then determines that the transition from the in-use state to the unoccupied state is made when the use status represents the in-use state. When the use status is already set to the unoccupied state, the use status detection unit 113 determines that the transition from the in-use state to the unoccupied state is not made. When there is the checkout apparatus which made the transition from the in-use state to the unoccupied state, the use status detection unit 113 determines YES in ACT2, and then proceeds to ACT14. When there is no checkout apparatus which made the transition from the in-use state to the unoccupied state, the use status detection unit 113 determines NO in ACT2, and then proceeds to ACT3.
As ACT3, the use status detection unit 113 updates the use status in the terminal status table 135 based on the human detection notice thus received.
As ACT4, the assignment change unit 114 installed in the processor initializes a value of an internal counter n to “1.” The value of the internal counter n is used for designating the priority order of the class priority order in the guide configuration table 134.
As ACT5, the assignment change unit 114 determines whether there is an unoccupied cash register in the checkout apparatus class in the priority order represented by the value of the internal counter n. Specifically, the assignment change unit 114 obtains the checkout apparatus class in the priority order represented by the value of the internal counter n from the guide configuration table 134. Then, the assignment change unit 114 determines the presence or absence of an unoccupied cash register by determining whether there is the use status representing the unoccupied state in the use status of the cash register numbers to which the assigned class corresponding to that checkout apparatus class is assigned in the terminal status table 135. When there is no unoccupied cash register, the assignment change unit 114 determines NO in ACT5, and proceeds to ACT1l. When there is an unoccupied cash register, the assignment change unit 114 determines YES in ACT5, and proceeds to ACT6.
As ACT6, the assignment change unit 114 determines whether the number of the unoccupied cash registers is two or more. When there is just one unoccupied cash register, the assignment change unit 114 determines NO in ACT6, and proceeds to ACT1l. When there are two or more unoccupied cash registers, the assignment change unit 114 determines YES in ACT6, and proceeds to ACT7.
As ACT7, the assignment change unit 114 determines whether the status of the unoccupied cash register is determined with respect to all the classes in the guide configuration table 134. When the determination is completed in all the classes, the assignment change unit 114 determines YES in ACT7, and proceeds to ACT9. When the determination in all the classes is not completed, the assignment change unit 114 determines NO in ACT7, and proceeds to ACT8.
As ACT8, the assignment change unit 114 “increments” the value of the internal counter n. Subsequently, the assignment change unit 114 proceeds to ACT5.
In such a manner, the assignment change unit 114 proceeds with the determination of the unoccupied cash register in sequence from the checkout apparatus class higher in class priority order in the guide configuration table 134 until the determination of the status of the unoccupied cash register is completed with respect to all the classes in the guide configuration table 134.
As ACT9, the introduction unit 115 installed in the processor 11 determines a display order of the unoccupied cash registers to be displayed on the display devices DD. Specifically, the introduction unit 115 determines the display order in each of the checkout apparatus classes in accordance with the status of the unoccupied cash register at the present moment stored in the terminal status table 135, and the cash-register introduction priority order and the in-class cash-register-full configuration set in advance in the guide configuration table 134.
As ACT10, the introduction unit 115 makes the display devices DD perform the introductory display representing the unoccupied cash registers. Specifically, the introduction unit 115 generates display information representing the unoccupied cash registers arranged in the display order thus determined for each of the checkout apparatus classes. Then, the display information is transmitted to each of the display devices DD with the communication interface 15 in accordance with the display surface set in the guide configuration table 134.
In such a manner, in each of the classes of the checkout apparatus, when there are two or more unoccupied cash registers, such display information as to introduce first the unoccupied cash register higher in priority in accordance with the cash-register introduction priority order set in advance in the guide configuration table 134 is generated, and thus, it is possible to display the display information thus generated on the respective display devices DD installed so as to correspond respectively to the first and second entrance lanes AL1, AL2 as the introductory display.
Further, as ACT11, the assignment change unit 114 installed in the processor 11 determines whether there is a cash-register-full configuration. Specifically, the assignment change unit 114 determines whether the cash register number is set in the in-class cash-register-full configuration corresponding to the checkout apparatus class in the priority order represented by the value of the internal counter n in the guide configuration table 134. When the cash register number is set, the assignment change unit 114 can determine that there is the cash-register-full configuration. When there is no cash-register-full configuration, the assignment change unit 114 determines NO in ACT11, and proceeds to ACT7. When there is the cash-register-full configuration, the assignment change unit 114 determines YES in ACT11, and proceeds to ACT12.
As ACT12, the assignment change unit 114 determines whether any of the checkout apparatuses with the cash register numbers set in the in-class cash-register-full configuration is unoccupied. Specifically, the assignment change unit 114 determines whether the use status of that cash register number is in the unoccupied state in the terminal status table 135. When there is no unoccupied cash register, the assignment change unit 114 determines NO in ACT12, and proceeds to ACT7. When there is an unoccupied cash register, the assignment change unit 114 determines YES in ACT12, and proceeds to ACT13.
As ACT13, the assignment change unit 114 checks the guide configuration table 134 to determine whether the unoccupied cash register is the checkout apparatus which belongs to the class lower in class priority order. When the unoccupied cash register is not lower in class priority order, the assignment change unit 114 determines NO in ACT13, and proceeds to ACT7. When the unoccupied cash register is lower in class priority order, the assignment change unit 114 determines YES in ACT13, and proceeds to ACT14.
As ACT14, the assignment change unit 114 changes the assigned class of the cash register number of the unoccupied cash register in the terminal status table 135 to that checkout apparatus class in the priority order represented by the value of the internal counter n in accordance with the in-class cash-register-full configuration in the guide configuration table 134. Subsequently, the assignment change unit 114 proceeds to ACT5.
By executing the processing in ACT5 through ACT14 using the terminal status table 135 which is changed in such a manner, when there is no unoccupied cash register in the class of each of the checkout apparatuses, such display information as to guide to use an unoccupied cash register in the class lower in priority as an unoccupied cash register in that class is generated in accordance with the cash-register introduction priority order and the in-class cash-register-full configuration set in advance in the guide configuration table 134, and thus, it is possible to display the display information as the introductory display on the respective display devices DD installed so as to correspond respectively to the first and second entrance lanes AL1, AL2.
As ACT15, the assignment change unit 114 determines whether the change of the assigned class of the checkout apparatus in which the transition from the in-use state to the unoccupied state is made is completed. Specifically, the assignment change unit 114 confirms whether the assigned class of the cash register number of that checkout apparatus in the terminal status table 135 is the same as the configuration of the checkout apparatus class of the cash register number in the guide configuration table 134. Unless those coincide with each other, the assignment change unit 114 determines that the change in assigned class is completed. When the change in assigned class is not completed, the assignment change unit 114 determines NO in ACT15, and proceeds to ACT3. When the change in assigned class is completed, the assignment change unit 114 determines YES in ACT15, and proceeds to ACT16.
As ACT16, the assignment change unit 114 restores the assigned class thus changed to the initial assignment. Specifically, the assignment change unit 114 restores the assigned class of that checkout apparatus in the terminal status table 135 to the checkout apparatus class of the cash register number set in the guide configuration table 134. Subsequently, the assignment change unit 114 proceeds to ACT3.
A specific example of the unoccupied cash register introduction will hereinafter be described.
It is assumed that, for example, the use status of each of the cash registers becomes as in the terminal status table 135 shown in
In ACT11, since the in-class cash-register-full configuration of the cashless settlement self-service terminal CL is set in the guide configuration table 134, the process proceeds to ACT12 from ACT11. In ACT12, since it can be determined that the cash register numbers R1, R4, and R5 out of the cash register numbers R1 through R5 set in the guide configuration table 134 are unoccupied from the terminal status table 135, the process proceeds to ACT13 from ACT12. Further, in ACT13, it is determined that those unoccupied cash registers are the self-service terminals SE in the priority order lower than that class priority order, and the process proceeds to ACT14 from ACT13. Therefore, in ACT14, assigned class change processing for assigning the self-service terminal SE with the cash register number R5 to the cashless settlement self-service is executed in accordance with the in-class cash-register-full configuration in the guide configuration table 134.
Thus, the storage content of the terminal status table 135 is rewritten from the state shown in
Subsequently, when the process proceeds to ACT6 from ACT5, since the checkout apparatuses with the cash register numbers R6, R5 are unoccupied cash registers, the process proceeds to ACT7 from ACT6 as a result on the grounds that the number of the unoccupied cash registers is two or more. Further, in ACT7, since there is the checkout apparatus class the determination of which is not completed, the process proceeds to ACT8, and since the counter value is “incremented by 1,” processing with respect to the self-service terminal SE in which the class priority order is set to “2” in the guide configuration table 134 is executed as a result.
In this case, in ACT5, the unoccupied cash register the assigned class of which is the self-service in the terminal status table 135 is determined as a result, and the cash register numbers R1 and R4 are determined as the unoccupied cash registers as shown in
In this case, in ACT5, the unoccupied cash register the assigned class of which is the attendant in the terminal status table 135 is determined as a result, but the use status with respect to the attendant is exempt from the determination as shown in
In ACT9, regarding the cash register numbers R1, R4 corresponding to the unoccupied cash registers as the self-service terminals SE, the display order of the cash register number R1 and the cash register number R4 is determined in accordance with the cash-register introduction priority order in the guide configuration table 134. Further, regarding the cash register numbers R5, R6 corresponding to the unoccupied cash registers as the cashless settlement self-service terminal CL, the display order of the cash register number R6 and the cash register number R5 is determined in accordance with the cash-register introduction priority order and the in-class cash-register-full configuration in the guide configuration table 134. Then, in ACT10, the display information related to the unoccupied cash registers as the self-service terminals SE, and the display information related to the cashless settlement self-service terminals are generated, and the respective pieces of the display information are transmitted to the respective display devices DD in accordance with the display surface set in the guide configuration table 134.
Thus, such introductory display as shown in
As shown in
Further, as shown in
It should be noted that it is assumed that the procedure of the information processing shown in
Further, the shopper SC who looks at the introduction of the unoccupied cash register on the first display surface DS1 or the second display surface DS2 moves from the first entrance lane AL1 or the second entrance lane AL2 to the unoccupied cash register with the cash register number R1 or R6 displayed with the larger size. When continuing such an introductory display as shown in
In the checkout apparatus with the cash register number R5 which is used as a substitute for the cashless settlement self-service terminal CL despite the self-service terminal SE, when the checkout by the shopper SC is completed, then the shopper SC moves away from that checkout apparatus, and thus, that checkout apparatus turns to an unoccupied cash register, this fact is detected in ACT2. Thus, the process proceeds to ACT15 from ACT2, it is determined in ACT15 that the assignment is changed, and in ACT16, the checkout apparatus with the cash register number R5 becomes available for the self-service SE which is the initial assignment. Obviously, depending on the status of unoccupied cash registers at that moment, there is a possibility that the checkout apparatus with the cash register number R5 is used again as a substitute for the cashless settlement self-service terminal CL in a processing procedure which proceeds to ACT3 from ACT16.
As described above, according to the guide system relate to the first embodiment, in the checkout system in which the plurality of self-service terminals SE as the first checkout apparatuses which can accept the settlement with the cash payment as the first settlement method and the cashless payment as the second settlement method and one or more cashless settlement self-service terminal CL as the second checkout apparatus which can accept the settlement with the cashless payment are installed in the payment place CE, the display device DD as the introduction device which introduces the available checkout apparatus to, for example, the customer, and the store server SS as the management apparatus which determines the self-service terminal SE available for the cash payment and the self-service terminal SE and the cashless settlement self-service terminal CL which are available for the cashless payment based on the unoccupied status of each of the self-service terminal SE and the cashless settlement self-service terminal CL and the priority order set in advance and stored in the guide configuration table 134, and which makes the display device DD introduce the result are provided.
Therefore, according to the guide system related to the first embodiment, since it is possible to introduce an appropriate checkout apparatus as the unoccupied cash register in accordance with the unoccupied state of each of the checkout apparatuses and the priority order, it becomes possible to introduce the appropriate checkout apparatuses to the customers who use the payment place CE in which a plurality of checkout apparatuses different in class in which the checkout apparatus can achieve a settlement.
Further, the priority order set in advance includes the class priority order as the priority order of the settlement method, and the store server SS assigns the checkout apparatus which belongs to the settlement method in the lower priority order to the settlement method in the higher priority order when the checkout apparatus which belongs to the settlement method in the higher priority order is full.
Therefore, according to the guide system in the first embodiment, when there is no unoccupied cash register which belongs to a certain settlement method, it becomes possible to introduce the checkout apparatus which belongs to a settlement method lower in priority order than that settlement method as the unoccupied cash register of that settlement method.
Here, the priority order set in advance further includes the in-class cash-register-full configuration which is a priority order when assigning the checkout apparatus which belongs to the settlement method in a lower priority order to a settlement method in a higher priority order.
Therefore, according to the guide system related to the first embodiment, it becomes possible to determine in advance which one of the checkout apparatuses should be used when introducing the checkout apparatus which belongs to the settlement method in the lower priority order as an unoccupied cash register of that settlement method.
Further, the guide system in the first embodiment includes the first and second display surfaces DS1, DS2 as the introduction device, and the store server SS makes the first display surface DS1 display, for example, the unoccupied cash register number displays FN11, FN12 as the first display information representing the checkout apparatuses which are available for the cash payment arranged side by side in accordance with the priority order set in advance, and makes the second display surface DS2 display, for example, the unoccupied cash register number displays FN21, FN22 as the second display information representing the checkout apparatuses which are available for the cashless payment arranged side by side in accordance with the priority order set in advance.
Therefore, according to the guide system related to the first embodiment, it is possible to introduce the respective unoccupied cash registers separately for the respective settlement methods.
Here, the guide system includes the first display device DD having the first display surface DS1 and the second display device DD having the second display surface DS2 as the introduction device, the first display device DD is disposed in the first entrance lane AL1 which is the first standby lane for cash payment out of the standby lanes which are separately provided respectively for the cash payment and cashless payment, and in which the shoppers SC wait for settlement, and the second display device DD is disposed in the second entrance lane AL2 as the second standby lane for the cashless payment.
Therefore, according to the guide system related to the first embodiment, in each of the entrance lanes separately provided to the respective settlement methods, it is possible to display the unoccupied cash registers used in that settlement method.
Further, the store server SS as the management device according to the first embodiment is provided with the use status detection unit 113 as the detection unit for detecting the unoccupied status of each of the self-service terminals SE as the plurality of first checkout apparatuses which can accept the settlement with the cash payment as the first settlement method and the cashless payment as the second settlement method, and the cashless settlement self-service terminals CL as one or more second checkout apparatuses which can accept the cashless payment, the assignment change unit 114 as the assignment unit which determines the self-service terminal SE available for the cash payment and the self-service terminal SE and the cashless settlement self-service terminal CL which are available for the cashless payment based on the unoccupied status of each of self-service terminal SE and the cashless settlement self-service terminal CL detected by the use status detection unit 113, and the priority order set in advance and stored in the guide configuration table 134, and the introduction unit 115 as the output unit which outputs the first introductory information representing the self-service terminal SE available for the cash payment, and the second introductory information representing the self-service terminal SE and the cashless settlement self-service terminal CL which are available for the cashless payment determined by the assignment change unit 114 to the display device DD as the external device.
Therefore, according to the store server SS in the first embodiment, since it is possible to introduce an appropriate checkout apparatus as the unoccupied cash register in accordance with the unoccupied state of each of the checkout apparatuses and the priority order, it becomes possible to introduce the appropriate checkout apparatuses to the customers who use the payment place CE in which a plurality of checkout apparatuses different in class in which the checkout apparatus can achieve a settlement.
In such an installation layout in the payment place CE, it is possible to install totally two display devices DD respectively for the first and second entrance lanes AL1, AL2 independently of each other. Further, as shown in
As described above, even when adopting the display method in which the display screen of the display device DD is divided into a plurality of display parts, it is possible for the management device configured as the guide system and the store server SS to obtain substantially the same advantages as those of the first embodiment.
The embodiments of the guide system and the management device are hereinabove described, but such embodiments are not limited thereto.
For example, in the embodiments, the description is presented citing the self-service type checkout system in which the shopper executes the article registration as an example, but it is possible to adopt a checkout system in which the sales clerk performs the article registration, and the shopper performs the checkout processing on the transaction data of the purchased article on which the sales clerk performed the article registration. In other words, the checkout apparatus disposed in the payment place CE may be a semi-self-service type checkout apparatus in which the sales clerk performs the article registration and the shopper performs the checkout. Alternatively, it is assumed that the sales clerk performs the article registration with a registration device in a registration place provided separately from the payment place CE, and it is possible for the checkout apparatus disposed in the payment place CE to be the checkout apparatus for accepting only the checkout of the shopper based on the transaction data.
Further, it is assumed that a single display device DD is installed in each of the entrance lanes in the first embodiment, and a single display device DD is installed collectively in the two lanes in the second embodiment, but it is possible to install a plurality of display devices DD in each of the entrance lanes.
Further, it is possible to arrange that a sales clerk is assigned to the entrance of the payment place CE, and the sales clerk orally introduces the checkout apparatus to the shoppers. In this case, it is sufficient for the display device DD to be installed at a position where the unoccupied cash register (an occupied apparatus) can be introduced to the clerk instead of the shopper.
Further, in the first embodiment, only the introduction of the unoccupied cash register corresponding to that settlement method is displayed on the display device DD for each of the entrance lanes, but it is also possible to additionally perform the introduction of the unoccupied cash register corresponding to other settlement methods as in the second embodiment. This makes it possible for the shoppers SC who stand in the entrance lane to confirm the fact that the checkout apparatus of other settlement method is unoccupied, and then change the settlement method to use the unoccupied cash register.
Further, the priority order set to each of the configuration items of the cash-register introduction priority order and the in-class cash-register-full configuration in the guide configuration table 134 is not necessary required for the administrator to designate the order. As shown in
Alternatively, it is also possible to arrange that the processor 11 randomly determines the priority order from the cash register numbers thus set. In this case, it is possible for the processor 11 to periodically change the order set randomly as described above. Since the higher the priority order of the checkout apparatus is the higher the chance of use of that checkout apparatus is, by periodically changing the priority order as described above, it is possible to prevent the use frequencies of the respective checkout apparatuses from being uneven.
Further, in the first and second embodiments, it is assumed that the store server SS determines the use statuses of the self-service terminals SE and the cashless settlement terminals CL based on the presence or absence of the human detection notice transmitted from those terminals, but it is possible to determine the use status using other information in stead thereof, or in addition thereto. For example, since the attendant terminal AT collects the statuses representing the operation status and the error status in each of the self-service terminals SE and the cashless settlement self-service terminals CL, the store server SS can know the use status of each of the checkout apparatuses by obtaining the status information of each of the checkout apparatuses from the attendant terminal AT.
In addition, although some embodiments of the present disclosure are described, these embodiments are illustrative only, and it is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. These novel embodiments can be implemented with other various aspects, and a variety of omissions, replacements, and modifications can be made within the scope or the spirit of the present disclosure. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope of the present disclosure, and at the same time, included in the present disclosure set forth in the appended claims, and the equivalents thereof.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-180323 | Oct 2023 | JP | national |
