Patent Application
20240029045
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-117322, filed Jul. 22, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments described herein relate generally to a reading apparatus, a transaction processing system, and a method carried out by a reading apparatus.
A transaction processing system such as a point-of-sale (POS) system that acquires identification information of a target item of a transaction and processes the transaction for the item is known.
Further, with regard to this type of transaction processing system, for example, a coupon is issued in accordance with an item targeted for a transaction. In other words, another processing may be executed in addition to the transaction processing based on the acquired identification information of the item.
However, it requires a major overhaul of an existing transaction processing system to add the function of additional processing such as coupon processing. In view of such circumstances, it has been desired to be able to easily change an existing system for performing transaction processing using the identification information of an item so as to be able to perform additional processing.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a reading apparatus, a transaction processing system, and a method by which the function of additional processing can be easily added to an existing system configured to acquire identification information of an item and perform processing related to the identification information.
In one embodiment, a reading apparatus used in a transaction processing system for reading an item code of an item in registration and checkout processing, includes a camera, a first interface connectable to a first device configured to perform registration and checkout processing on one or more items, one or more second interfaces connectable to one or more second devices configured to perform particular processing different from the registration and checkout processing, a memory in which one or more addresses of the second devices can be stored, and a controller. The controller is configured to: upon receipt of an image of a symbol attached to an item from the camera, decode the symbol and acquire an item code of the item, control the first interface to transmit the item code to the first device, determine whether one or more addresses of the second devices are stored in the memory, and upon determining that one or more addresses of the second devices are stored in the memory, control the second interfaces to transmit the item code to the second devices using the addresses thereof.
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
The POS terminal system 100 includes a transaction processing apparatus 1, a scanner 2, a touch panel 3, a coupon issuing device 4, and a monitoring device 5. The transaction processing apparatus 1, the scanner 2, the touch panel 3, the coupon issuing device 4, and the monitoring device 5 are configured as independent devices. In the example of
The transaction processing apparatus 1 is an information processing apparatus that performs an information processing for processing a transaction of an item by performing a registration process for creating a list of items (hereinafter, referred to as transaction items) to be purchased in response to an instruction from an operator (e.g., a store clerk or a customer), a checkout process for payment of the transaction items included in the list, or the like.
The scanner 2 is a reading apparatus that optically reads a barcode attached to or displayed on an item or the like, and decodes data represented by the barcode (hereinafter, referred to as barcode data). The barcode data represented by the barcode displayed on the item or the like includes identification information for identifying the item. The identification information is, for example, a so-called item code such as a JAN (Japanese Article Number) or IAN (International Article Number) code. That is, the scanner 2 is an example of an input apparatus for inputting identification information of an item.
The touch panel 3 includes, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display and an input device such as a touch sensor. The touch panel 3 displays a screen for notifying the operator of various kinds of information by the display device. The touch panel 3 receives an operation for various instructions by the operator through the input device. At least a part of the screen displayed by the touch panel 3 is a graphical user interface (GUI) screen.
The coupon issuing device 4 is a printer that issues a coupon.
The monitoring device 5 monitors actions of the operator of the POS terminal system 100.
The transaction processing apparatus 1 includes a processor 11, a memory 12, an auxiliary storage unit 13, a printer 14, an interface unit 15, a communication unit 16, and a transmission path 17. The processor 11, the memory 12, the auxiliary storage unit 13, the printer 14, the interface unit 15, and the communication unit 16 are connected to the transmission path 17. The transaction processing apparatus 1 may include elements other than these elements.
The processor 11, the memory 12, and the auxiliary storage unit 13 are connected via the transmission path 17, and constitute a controller for executing information processing to be executed by the transaction processing apparatus 1.
The processor 11 corresponds to a central part of the computer. The processor 11 executes information processing for controlling each unit to perform various functions of the transaction processing apparatus 1 based on various information processing programs such as an operating system, firmware, and an application program stored in the memory 12 and the auxiliary storage unit 13.
The memory 12 corresponds to a main memory of the transaction processing apparatus 1. The memory 12 includes a read-only memory area and a rewritable memory area. In the memory 12, one or more of the information processing programs are stored in the read-only memory area. In some cases, the memory 12 stores data necessary for the processor 11 to execute a process for controlling each unit in the read-only memory area or the rewritable memory area. The rewritable memory area is used as a work area for the processor 11.
The auxiliary storage unit 13 corresponds to an auxiliary storage portion of the transaction processing apparatus 1. The auxiliary storage unit 13 comprises well-known storage devices such as, for example, an electric erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a hard disc drive (HDD), or a solid state drive (SSD). The auxiliary storage unit 13 stores data used by the processor 11 to perform various types of processing, and data generated by processing by the processor 11. The auxiliary storage unit 13 may store an application program. In the present embodiment, the auxiliary storage unit 13 stores a transaction processing program PRA. The transaction processing program PRA is an application program of a processing sequence related to information processing for processing a transaction.
The transaction processing program PRA is typically stored in the auxiliary storage unit 13 when the transaction processing apparatus 1 is transferred. However, the transaction processing program PRA may be written in the auxiliary storage unit 13 by the processor 11 in response to an operation by any operator after the transfer of the transaction processing apparatus 1. However, in this case, the auxiliary storage unit 13 of the transaction processing apparatus 1 may store programs of the same kind that differ in version from the transaction processing program PRA. The program written in the auxiliary storage unit 13 later is used instead of the program of the same type having the different version. The transaction processing program PRA can be copied and installed from a removable, non-transitory computer readable recording medium such as a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, an optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, or from an external computer by communication via a network.
The printer 14 issues various types of vouchers by printing various types of information on a receipt sheet. The various vouchers are receipts representing the contents of the transaction and the like. The voucher issued by the receipt printer is discharged from the receipt issuing port OA shown in
The scanner 2 and the touch panel 3 are connected to the interface unit Another external device such as a checkout terminal that executes payment processing by one or more of various payment methods such as credit payment, electronic money payment, and barcode payment may be connected to the interface unit 15. The interface unit 15 is an interface circuit for data exchange between the scanner 2 and the touch panel 3 or other connected external devices and the processor 11. As the interface unit 15, for example, a well-known interface device conforming to universal serial bus (USB) standard can be used.
The communication unit 16 is a communication interface circuit that performs data communication via a communication network 200. The communication network 200 is, for instance, a local area network (LAN). As the communication unit 16, if the communication network 200 is a LAN, well-known communication devices adapted to LAN can be used.
The transmission path 17 includes an address bus, a data bus, a control signal line, and the like. Various data and signals are transmitted and received between the connected units via the transmission path 17.
The scanner 2 includes a processor 21, a memory 22, an auxiliary storage unit 23, a camera 24, an interface unit 25, a communication unit 26, a wireless communication unit 27, and a transmission path 28. The processor 21, the memory 22, the auxiliary storage unit 23, the camera 24, the interface unit 25, the communication unit 26, and the wireless communication unit 27 are connected to the transmission path 28. Note that the scanner 2 may include elements other than these elements.
The processor 21, the memory 22, and the auxiliary storage unit 23 are connected to each other via the transmission path 28, and constitute a controller for executing information processing to be executed by the scanner 2. The outline of the functions of the processor 21, the memory 22, the auxiliary storage unit 23, the communication unit 26, and the transmission path 28 is the same as those of the processor 11, the memory 12, the auxiliary storage unit 13, the communication unit 16, and the transmission path 17, and thus description thereof is omitted. However, the auxiliary storage unit 23 stores a scanner program PRB in place of the transaction processing program PRA. The scanner program PRB is an application program of a process sequence related to information processing for performing the function of the scanner 2.
The auxiliary storage unit 23 stores notification destination data DAA. The notification destination data DAA includes information for notifying one or more devices defined as notification destinations other than the transaction processing apparatus 1, of the item code. For example, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the coupon issuing device 4 and the monitoring device 5 are the notification destinations of the item code. Then, the notification destination data DAA includes information such as an IP address required to communicate with the coupon issuing device 4 via the communication network 200 using the communication unit 26 or a device address for communicating with the monitoring device 5 using the wireless communication unit 27.
The camera 24 captures an image scanned from a window WA shown in
The interface unit 25 is connected to the interface unit 15 of the transaction processing apparatus 1. The interface unit 25 is an interface for data communication between the processor 21 and the processor 11 together with the interface unit 15. As the interface unit 25, a well-known interface device conforming to the same standard as that of the interface unit 15 can be used.
The wireless communication unit 27 performs direct wireless data communication with a wireless communication device such as the monitoring device 5. As the wireless communication unit 27, for example, a conventional communication device conforming to Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi (registered trademark) can be used. The communication between the wireless communication unit 27 and the wireless communication device may be performed via an access point or the like.
The coupon issuing device 4 includes a processor 41, a memory 42, an auxiliary storage unit 43, a printer 44, a communication unit 45, and a transmission path 46. The processor 41, the memory 42, the auxiliary storage unit 43, the printer 44, and the communication unit 45 are connected to the transmission path 46. The coupon issuing device 4 may include elements other than these elements.
The processor 41, the memory 42, and the auxiliary storage unit 43 are connected via the transmission path 46 to constitute a controller for executing information processing to be executed by the coupon issuing device 4.
The outline of the functions of the processor 41, the memory 42, the auxiliary storage unit 43, the communication unit 45, and the transmission path 46 is the same as those of the processor 11, the memory 12, the auxiliary storage unit 13, the communication unit 16, and the transmission path 17, and thus description thereof is omitted. However, the auxiliary storage unit 43 stores a coupon issuance program PRC in place of the transaction processing program PRA. The coupon issuance program PRC is an application program of a process sequence related to information processing for performing the function of the coupon issuing device 4.
The printer 44 creates various coupons by printing various kinds of information on coupon sheets. The coupon created by the printer 44 is discharged from a coupon issuing port OB shown in
The monitoring device 5 includes a processor 51, a memory 52, an auxiliary storage unit 53, a camera 54, a wireless communication unit 55, and a transmission path 56. The processor 51, the memory 52, the auxiliary storage unit 53, the camera 54, and the wireless communication unit 55 are connected to the transmission path 56. The monitoring device 5 may include elements other than these elements.
The processor 51, the memory 52, and the auxiliary storage unit 53 are connected to each other via the transmission path 56, and constitute a controller for executing information processing to be executed by the monitoring apparatus 5. The outline of the functions of the processor 51, the memory 52, the auxiliary storage unit 53, and the transmission path 46 is the same as those of the processor 11, the memory 12, the auxiliary storage unit 13, and the transmission path 17, and thus description thereof will be omitted. However, the auxiliary storage unit 53 stores the monitoring program PRD in place of the transaction processing program PRA. The monitoring program PRD is an application program of a process sequence related to information processing for performing the function of the monitoring device 5.
The camera 54 captures an overhead view of the periphery of the transaction processing apparatus 1 in order to monitor an action of the operator when an item is held up in front of the window WA of the scanner 2 or when the touch panel 3 is operated.
The wireless communication unit 55 wirelessly communicates with the wireless communication unit 27 of the scanner 2. The wireless communication unit 55, together with the wireless communication unit 27, enables data exchange between the processor 51 and the processor 21. As the wireless communication unit 55, an existing communication device conforming to the same standard as that of the wireless communication unit 27 can be used.
Next, the operation of the POS terminal system 100 configured as described above will be described.
When the scanner 2 is activated, the processor 21 starts executing information processing based on the scanner program PRB.
The transaction processing apparatus 1 acquires a member code or the like as the identifier of the operator when the operator holds the barcode representing the barcode data including the corresponding member code over the window WA. The transaction processing apparatus 1 acquires an item code as the identifier of an item to be registered as a transaction item when the operator holds the barcode representing the barcode data including the corresponding item code over the window WA. When the barcode held over the window WA is in the images captured by the cameras 24, the processor 21 can extract the barcode by the barcode extracting process in ACT 2. Then, if the barcode can be extracted in ACT 2, the processor 21 determines YES in ACT 3, and proceeds to ACT 4.
The notification data is taken into the transaction processing apparatus 1 by the interface unit 15. In response to this, the processor 11 appropriately performs processing using the barcode data included in the captured notification data. For example, if the barcode data includes a member code, the processor 11 identifies the operator based on the member code. For example, if an item code is included in the barcode data, the processor 11 registers the item identified by the item code as a transaction item. Such a process in the transaction processing apparatus 1 is performed by the processor 11 executing the transaction processing program PRA, and may be, for example, the same process as that performed in another POS terminal.
When the processor 21 finishes notifying the transaction processing apparatus 1 of the barcode data, the scanner 2 proceeds to ACT 6.
In the transaction processing apparatus 1, when the barcode data including the item code is notified a plurality of times while the transaction item related to one transaction is registered, the processor 11 adds the item identified by the item code included in the barcode data to the item list as the transaction item. Then, for example, when the operator instructs a checkout by a predetermined operation on the touch panel 3, the processor 11 performs, for example, well-known checkout processing, and then finishes the processing of one transaction. Thus, the processor 11 executes the information processing based on the transaction processing program PRA, and functions as an updating unit to update the item list.
As described above, the basic function of processing transactions in the POS terminal system 100 is performed by the transaction processing apparatus 1, the scanner 2, and the touch panel 3.
In the coupon issuing device 4, when notification data addressed to the IP address of the coupon issuing device 4 is transmitted through the communication network 200, the communication unit 45 acquires the notification data. In response to this, the processor 41, for example, confirms the item code included in the notification data, and, if a predetermined condition is satisfied with respect to the item identified by the notification code, causes the printer 44 to print a coupon corresponding to the satisfied condition. The process in response to receiving the notification of the barcode data is implemented as information processing by the processor 41 based on the coupon issuance program PRC. The content of the information processing by the processor 41 based on the coupon issuance program PRC may be appropriately determined by the creator of the coupon issuance program PRC or the like. Thus, the coupon issuing device 4 is an example of a processing device that executes a process for issuing a coupon as a predetermined process different from the update of the list based on the notified item code.
In the monitoring device 5, when notification data having the device address of the monitoring device 5 as a destination arrives, the wireless communication unit 55 takes in the notification data. In response to this, the processor 51 confirms, for example, whether the operator who holds the barcode of the item over the window WA correctly performs the action to be taken thereafter, based on the captured images of the cameras 54. The process in response to receiving the notification of the barcode data is executed by the processor 51 based on the monitoring program PRD. The information processing to be executed by the processor 51 may be appropriately determined by the developer of the monitoring program PRD or the like. Thus, the monitoring device 5 is an example of a processing device that executes a process for monitoring as a predetermined process different from the update of the list based on the notified item code.
In this way, in the coupon issuing device 4 and the monitoring device 5, coupon issuance and monitoring related to the transaction processing can be performed by the information processing executed independently of the transaction processing in the transaction processing apparatus 1. That is, the coupon issuing device 4 is added to the system including the transaction processing apparatus 1, the scanner 2, and the touch panel 3, and the coupon issuing device 4 is set as a notification destination in the scanner 2, whereby the coupon issuing function can be easily added. Further, the monitoring device 5 is added to the system including the transaction processing apparatus 1, the scanner 2, and the touch panel 3, and the monitoring device 5 is set as a notification destination in the scanner 2, so that the monitoring function of the action of the operator can be easily added.
Thus, according to the above-described embodiments, the POS terminal system 100 that is designed to acquire the item code of an item and perform the process related to the item code can be easily changed so as to be able to perform another additional process.
Various modifications can be made to the above-described embodiments as follows.
For example, only one of the coupon issuing device 4 and the monitoring device 5 may be used. Any other device may be used instead of or in addition to the coupon issuing device 4 and the monitoring device 5. Such other devices may be connected to the interface unit 25.
Instead of or in addition to using the camera 24, the scanner 2 may also utilize other types of well-known devices, such as reading barcodes utilizing reflection of laser light.
For example, even in an input device that inputs an item code without a scanning operation, such as pressing a button to which an item code is associated or receiving an operation such as inputting a character string corresponding to an item code, ACT 5 and subsequent processes can be performed in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment.
One or more of the functions performed by the processors 11, 21, 41, and 51 may be performed by hardware such as a logic circuit or the like. One or more of the above-described functions can also be performed by software and hardware in combination.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-117332 | Jul 2022 | JP | national |
