Self checkout terminal and control method of the same

[0018] This embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0019] figure 1 It is a perspective view of the appearance of the self-checkout terminal 1 in this embodiment. The self-service checkout terminal 1 includes a load-receiving surface 5 provided with a commodity that has been inputted with a PLU (Price Look Up: price (single product) inquiry form) code, and a pair of hook parts for hooking the handle part of the shopping bag The commodity placement table 2 of 6, a commodity placement table 3 provided with a load receiving surface 7 on which a commodity for which a PLU code has not been entered is placed, and a main body 4 provided on the commodity placement table 2.

[0020] The product placing table 2 has a weight measuring unit (not shown) that measures the weight of the product placed on the load receiving surface 5 and the weight of the product placed in the shopping bag mounted on the hook portion 6, and the product placing table 3 It has a weight measurement unit (not shown) that measures the weight of the product placed on the load receiving surface 7. The weights measured by these weight measurement units are used in weight calibration to prevent omission or improper input of the PLU code.

[0021] The main body 4 includes a display unit 8 (main display), a caption display 9, a reading window 10 (reading section) for scanning barcodes attached to commodities, a receipt issuing port 11 for discharging receipts, and electronic money The electronic settlement terminal 12 through which the medium performs wireless communication.

[0022] The display unit 8 is a display with a touch panel in which a touch panel is mounted on a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), or OEL (Organic Electro-Luminescence).

[0023] The caption display 9 is a display of CRT, LCD, OEL, or VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display), etc., with the display surface facing the same direction as the display unit 8 and arranged between the display unit 8 and the reading window 10. In addition, providing the caption display 9 between the display unit 8 and the reading window 10 has the same meaning as installing the caption display 9 at a position closer to the reading window 10 than the display unit 8.

[0024] figure 2 It is a block diagram showing the control circuit of the self-checkout terminal 1. The control circuit of the self-checkout terminal 1 connects ROM (Read Only Memory) 21, RAM (Random Access Memory) 22, timer 23, and communication I/F through buses such as address bus and data bus. (Interface: interface) 24, HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 25, display unit controller 26, caption display controller 27, electronic settlement terminal controller 28, printer controller 29, and scanner I/F 30 It is connected to a CPU 20 (Central Processing Unit) that has a function as a control center. Furthermore, the communication I/F 24 is connected to a communication cable 32 that is communicatively connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) installed in the store, and the display unit controller 26 is connected to the display 8a and the touch panel 8b of the display unit 8. The caption display controller 27 is connected to the caption display 9, the electronic settlement terminal controller 28 is connected to the electronic settlement terminal 12, the printer controller 29 is connected to the receipt printer 33, and the scanner I/F 30 is connected to Scanner 34.

[0025] The ROM 21 stores fixed data such as BIOS (Basic Input Output System).

[0026] The RAM 22 forms various working storage areas according to processing conditions. In particular, during the execution of the checkout process, a sales data storage area for storing sales data obtained by adding the number of sales points to product information is formed.

[0027] The timer 23 starts a timing operation at the timing when an instruction is issued from the CPU 20, and outputs an interrupt signal to the CPU 20 according to the timing of the prescribed time.

[0028] The display unit controller 26 converts the display data output from the CPU 20 into a video signal and outputs it to the display 8a, and calculates the coordinates of the contact operation position based on the electrical signal output from the touch panel 8b, and notifies the CPU 20. The display 8a displays information based on the video signal output from the display unit controller 26 to the customer operating the self-checkout terminal 1. The touch panel 8b is, for example, a resistive touch panel (resistive touch panel) configured to output the amount of voltage drop corresponding to the contact position.

[0029] The caption display controller 27 converts the display data output from the CPU 20 into a video signal, and outputs it to the caption display 9. The caption display 9 displays information based on the video signal output from the caption display controller 27 to a customer who checks out in the self-checkout terminal 1.

[0030] The electronic settlement terminal controller 28 controls the communication timing of the electronic settlement terminal 12 and an electronic money storage medium (electronic money storage medium) such as an IC card or a portable communication terminal, and notifies the CPU 20 that the electronic settlement terminal 12 receives the electronic money Electronic money information detected by the medium.

[0031] The receipt printer 33 is, for example, a so-called thermal printer, which is configured such that the receipt paper as thermal paper (thermal paper) is sandwiched by a thermal print head and a roller edge and conveyed by a conveying roller. The ticket printed by the ticket printer 33 is discharged from the ticket issuing port 11. The printer controller 29 drives the receipt printer 33 to form a pattern based on the print data received from the CPU 20 on the receipt paper.

[0032] The scanner 34 optically reads the barcode lifted to the reading window 10 to generate barcode data, and output it to the scanner I/F 30. The scanner I/F 30 notifies the CPU 20 of the barcode data output from the scanner 34.

[0033] In addition to application files and OS (Operating System: Operating System) files, HDD 25 also stores PLU files 40 of stored product information, and content that should be displayed on the caption display 9 corresponding to the operation settings of the self-checkout terminal 1 The display content table 41. In addition, the HDD 25 has a function as a storage section in this embodiment.

[0034] image 3 It is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the PLU file 40. The PLU file 40 corresponds to a PLU code uniquely assigned to each product sold in the store, and stores product information composed of the name, unit price, and origin information of each product.

[0035] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the display content table. The display content table 41 corresponds to the actions of the self-checkout terminal 1 in each processing situation, and stores information that should be displayed on the caption display 9. In the example shown in the figure, as the operation of the self-checkout terminal 1, "standby" indicating a standby state in which the checkout process is not being performed, "checkout start" indicating the start of the checkout process, and barcode reading by the scanner 34 are stored. "Barcode scanning" at the time and "settlement" at the time of settlement. The action "standby" corresponds to "CM information" indicating commercial information such as stores. The action "start of checkout" corresponds to "reading window guidance" which stores information indicating the line of sight of the customer to the position of the reading window 10. The action "barcode scanning" corresponds to "product information" in which product information indicating the product whose barcode has been read is stored. The action "settlement" corresponds to "point information" that stores information indicating the points given to the customer of the transaction object.

[0036] Next, the operation of the self-checkout terminal 1 will be described.

[0037] (Checkout processing)

[0038] First, the checkout process using the self-checkout terminal 1 will be described.

[0039] When the customer places the shopping basket containing the goods before purchase on the load receiving surface 7 of the goods placing table 3, the weight measuring unit built in the goods placing table 3 reacts and measures the total weight of these goods . With this as a trigger, the checkout process starts, and the scanner 34 transitions to the barcode reading standby state.

[0040] At this time, when the customer takes out the product from the shopping basket placed on the product placing table 3 and lifts the barcode attached to the product to the reading window 10, the scanner 34 detects the PLU code (identification information). At this time, the CPU 20 retrieves the product information corresponding to the detected PLU code from the PLU file 40, and stores the sales data corresponding to the number of sold products in the found product information in the storage area for sales data storage formed by the RAM 22 in.

[0041] In this way, while receiving the input of the PLU code, the display 8a of the display unit 8 displays the total key announcing the completion of the input of the PLU code. After completing the input of product information for all products, when the customer touches and operates the total key, the payment for the transaction is calculated based on the sales data stored in the storage area for storing the sales data, and displayed on On the display 8a. After the payment is displayed, the electronic settlement terminal 12 is controlled by the electronic settlement terminal controller 28 and transitions to a state of waiting for communication with the electronic money medium.

[0042] At this time, when the customer lifts his own electronic money medium to the electronic settlement terminal 12, the electronic money information necessary for electronic settlement is read from the electronic money medium. When the electronic money information is notified from the electronic settlement terminal controller 28, the CPU 20 performs electronic money settlement in a well-known order, completes one transaction and ends the settlement process.

[0043] (Reflective subtitle display processing)

[0044] Next, the caption display processing, which is the characteristic processing in this embodiment, will be described. This process is also included in the execution of the checkout process, and continues to be executed while the system of the self-checkout terminal 1 is activated.

[0045] Figure 5 It is a flowchart of processing executed by the CPU 20 in the caption display processing. In addition, the caption display processing is realized by the control of software stored in the ROM 21 and the HDD 25.

[0046] The CPU 20 waits to be stored in the display content table through the timer 23, the communication I/F 24, the display 8a, the touch panel 8b, the electronic settlement terminal 12, the receipt printer 33 and the scanner 34, etc., which constitute the self-checkout terminal 1 Action in 41 (ACT1). Furthermore, when any device performs an action stored in the display content table 41 (YES in ACT1), the type of its action is discriminated (ACT2).

[0047] In the processing of ACT1 and ACT2, for example, the processing of notifying the execution program of the caption display processing of the intention to execute each action is incorporated into the execution program of each action stored in the display content table 41, and the caption The execution program of the display processing may detect each action based on receiving the notification. In addition, by determining which program to receive the notification in the execution program of the caption display processing, the type of the action is specified.

[0048] In this way, when the category of the action is determined, the CPU 20 specifies the display content corresponding to the category of the action from the display content table 41 (ACT3). Then, based on the designated display content, the display data displayed on the caption display 9 is generated (ACT4), and the generated display data is output to the caption display controller 27. At this time, the caption display controller 27 generates a video signal based on the output display data, outputs it to the caption display 9, and displays an image based on the display data (ACT5).

[0049] After the image is displayed on the caption display 9, the CPU 20 again waits for the operation (ACT1) stored in the display content table 41 to be performed, and when the operation is detected, executes the processing of ACT2 to ACT5.

[0050] currently using Figure 4 When the data structure of the display content table 41 is shown, use Image 6 The case where the image displayed on the caption display 9 is changed in the caption display processing will be described.

[0051] When the settlement process involved in a transaction is completed, the timer 23 starts timing. Then, when the timer 23 ends the predetermined time, the display 8a of the display unit 8 displays the CM information or operation guidance of the store, and transitions to a state of waiting for the next transaction. When this action is detected (YES in ACT1), the CPU 20 discriminates that the category of the action is "standby" (ACT2). At this time, the CPU 20 specifies the "CM information" corresponding to the action "standby" from the display content table 41 as the display content (ACT3). At this time, the CPU 20 detects the CM information for display to the caption display 9 from the database stored in the HDD 25 or the storage server connected via the communication cable 32, and generates display data (ACT4). The CPU 20 outputs the display data thus generated to the caption display controller 27, so that the caption display 9 displays Image 6 The illustrated telop displays an image like 50 (ACT5). The caption display 50 displays the information of the promotion informing the store as CM information.

[0052] When the self-checkout terminal 1 is in a standby state, when a shopping basket is placed on the load receiving surface 7 of the product placement table 3, the checkout process described above starts. When this action is detected (YES in ACT1), the CPU 20 recognizes that the category of the action is "start of checkout" (ACT2). At this time, the CPU 20 specifies the "read window guide" corresponding to the action "checkout start" from the display content table 41 as the display content (ACT3). At this time, the CPU 20 detects the image pattern guiding the position of the reading window from the database stored in the HDD 25 or the storage server connected via the communication cable 32, and generates display data representing the pattern (ACT4). The CPU 20 outputs the display data thus generated to the caption display controller 27 so that Image 6 An image like the illustrated caption display 51 is displayed on the caption display 9 (ACT5). The caption display 51 displays characters composed of “barcode scanning” and a downward arrow to guide customers to the position of the reading window 10 provided below the caption display 9.

[0053] While the self-checkout terminal 1 is waiting for the barcode reading, when the barcode attached to the commodity is lifted to the reading window 10, the PLU code is read from the barcode. When this action is detected (YES in ACT1), the CPU 20 recognizes that the category of the action is "barcode scanning" (ACT2). At this time, the CPU 20 specifies the "product information" corresponding to the action "barcode scan" from the display content table 41 as the display content (ACT3). At this time, the CPU 20 acquires the product information stored in the PLU file 40 corresponding to the read PLU code, and generates display data including a part of the acquired product information (ACT4). The CPU 20 outputs the display data thus generated to the caption display controller 27 so that Image 6 An image like the illustrated caption display 52 is displayed on the caption display 9 (ACT5). The caption display 52 displays the name, unit price, and origin information of the product that customers pay special attention to in the product information such as "product A ¥200 made in Hokkaido". In addition, the product information displayed on the display 8a of the display unit 8 includes the product image, the name of the category to which the product belongs, and manufacturer information in addition to the product name, unit price, and origin information. That is, the product information displayed on the caption display 9 has a smaller amount of information than the product information displayed on the display 8a.

[0054] When the checkout process is executed in the self-checkout terminal 1, when the total key displayed on the display 8a of the operation display unit 8 is touched and the electronic money medium is lifted to the electronic settlement terminal 12, the electronic money medium is performed in the well-known order as described above. Currency settlement. When this action is detected (YES in ACT1), the CPU 20 discriminates that the category of the action is "settlement" (ACT2). At this time, the CPU 20 specifies the "point information" corresponding to the action "settlement" from the display content table 41 as the display content (ACT3). At this time, the CPU 20 generates display data including the number of points newly awarded in the transaction and the number of accumulated points awarded to the electronic money medium (ACT4). The CPU 20 outputs the display data thus generated to the caption display controller 27 so that Image 6 An image like the illustrated caption display 53 is displayed on the caption display 9 (ACT5). The caption display 53 displays the number of points in the form of "this time points 50p accumulated points 253p", so that customers can know the number of newly given points and accumulated points.

[0055] As explained above, the self-service checkout terminal 1 in this embodiment has a caption display 9 in addition to the display unit 8 as the main display unit. The caption display 9 is installed at a position closer to the reading window 10 for the scanner 34 than the display unit 8. According to the placement of the caption display 9 in such a position, even during the operation of lifting the barcode attached to the purchased product to the reading window 10, the customer can easily view the display content of the caption display 9, and To accurately convey the information you want to convey to customers.

[0056] In addition, the information displayed on the caption display 9 is selectively converted in accordance with the operation of the self-checkout terminal 1. Therefore, it is possible to convey to the customer the most appropriate information corresponding to the processing situation.

[0057] Specifically, according to the start of the checkout process, information indicating the position of the reading window 10 is displayed on the caption display 9. In this way, even a customer who is unskilled in the operation can understand at a glance the barcode attached to the product lifted to the reading window 10. In addition, based on the barcode that has been read by the scanner 34, the product information of the product is displayed. In this way, since the customer can confirm both the product information displayed on the caption display 9 and the reading window 10 without greatly adjusting the line of sight, the work efficiency of product information input is significantly improved and the checkout process is coordinated.

[0058] (Modification)

[0059] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the caption display 9 is provided between the display unit 8 and the reading window 10 has been described. However, the installation position of the caption display 9 can also be deformed within a range where the distance between the caption display 9 and the reading window 10 does not exceed the distance between the display unit 8 and the reading window 10. In other words, the caption display 9 can be installed below the reading window 10 or on the left and right sides. However, with regard to the installation position of the caption display 9, there is a concern that the caption display 9 may be hidden by the customer's own hand or product performing the barcode scanning operation. Therefore, it is desirable to install the caption display 9 in a position where the visibility can be sufficiently ensured in consideration of the shape of the housing of the self-checkout terminal.

[0060] In addition, the scanner 34 reads the barcode lifted to the reading window 10 to input the PLU code of the purchased product. However, the scanner 34 can also read other symbols such as a two-digit code attached to the product to read information about the designated product. In addition, a camera may be provided instead of the scanner 34, and the category of the product may be distinguished based on the color and shape of the product itself lifted to the reading window 10.

[0061] In addition, the caption display 9 may not be provided, and the display area of ​​the caption display is provided in the display surface of the display unit 8. At this time, the caption display area is provided on the side of the reading window 10 of the display position of information such as merchandise information or guidance displayed on the display 8a of the display unit 8 that is considered as the most interesting information of the customer. Even in this way, since the distance for moving the customer's line of sight is shortened, the effect of coordination of the checkout process is not lost.

[0062] In addition, the combination of the action of switching the display of the caption display 9 and the display content can of course also be introduced in a combination other than the one exemplified in the embodiment. For example, consider displaying the weather forecast or news during the standby checkout process, displaying the expiration date or shelf life of the product when entering product information, and displaying the payment for the electronic settlement terminal 12 when the input of the PLU code is completed. Guidance of payment methods, etc.

[0063] In addition, changes are added to the combination of actions and display content disclosed in the embodiments. For example, in the described embodiment, the CM information is displayed during the standby checkout process, and information on the position of the guide reading window 10 is displayed on the caption display 9 according to the checkout process has started. However, even if the checkout process has not started, the information guiding the position of the reading window 10 may be displayed before the product information is input. At this time, if the product is placed on the product placing table 3 as a trigger, instead of starting the checkout process, the checkout process may be started by lifting the product to the reading window 10.

[0064] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, but it is obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications can be made as long as they do not substantially depart from the inventive point and effects of the present invention. Therefore, all such modifications are also included in the protection scope of the present invention.