Commodity registration device and program

Abstract

To notify a shopper of a fact that payment limited cost is insufficient before registration of a commodity(s) for once transaction is completed.SOLUTION: A commodity registration device of the embodiment comprises: registration means; acquisition means; and notification means. The registration means registers a commodity which is a payment object. The acquisition means acquires payment limited cost of a payment method which is used for payment of the commodity which is a payment object. The notification means performs a notification operation for notifying a person who performs payment of a fact that the payment limited cost is insufficient when the payment limited cost acquired by the acquisition means is less than a payment amount for performing payment of the commodity which has been registered as the payment object before registration for one transaction is completed on the registration means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a product registration device and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] When purchasing a product, in a conventional product registration device, the payment amount is notified to the shopper after the registration of the products for one transaction is completed, and then the payment method is determined. When making a payment using a payment method with a payment limit, such as a prepaid electronic money card or a debit card, if the payment limit based on the electronic money balance or the bank account balance is insufficient, the shopper must pay the shortfall in cash or the like. For this reason, in a payment using a conventional product registration device, the shopper may not realize that the payment limit is insufficient until the registration of the products for one transaction is completed and the payment method is determined. In this case, the shopper must start preparing cash or the like to pay the shortfall after the registration of the products for one transaction is completed, which causes a problem of time-consuming payment. For these reasons, it is desirable to notify a shopper that the payment limit is insufficient before the registration of products for one transaction is completed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-018482 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] To provide a merchandise registration device and program capable of notifying a shopper that the payment limit of a payment method is insufficient before the registration of merchandise for one transaction is completed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A product registration device according to an embodiment includes a registration means, an acquisition means, and a notification means. The registration means registers products to be paid for. The acquisition means acquires a payment limit for a payment method to be used for the payment of the products to be paid for. The notification means performs a notification operation to notify a settlor that the payment limit is insufficient when the payment limit acquired by the acquisition means is less than the payment amount for paying for products registered as the payment target before registration of one transaction by the registration means is completed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a commodity registration device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main circuit configuration of the product registration device. [Diagram 3] 3 is a flowchart of a control process by a CPU in FIG. 2 . [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the screen of the touch panel in FIGS. [Diagram 5] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the screen of the touch panel in FIGS. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the screen of the customer-side display device in FIGS. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] Hereinafter, a product registration device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the same elements in the following drawings and descriptions are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of a product registration device 1 according to this embodiment. The product registration device 1 is connected to a reader / writer 2 . The product registration device 1 performs various data processing related to product sales, such as registering products to be paid for and calculating payment amounts. For example, a point of sales (POS) terminal or an electronic cash register (ECR) can be used as the product registration device 1. The product registration device 1 includes a main body 10, a touch panel 11, a customer side display device 12, an input device 13, a printer 14, and a scanner 15.

[0009] The main body 10 includes many of the various elements that constitute the product registration device 1, which will be described later.

[0010] The touch panel 11 functions as a display device that displays a screen for notifying the operator of various information, and also functions as an input device that accepts touch operations by the operator. The customer side display device 12 displays various information for the shopper to confirm.

[0011] An operator inputs various information through the input device 13. As the input device 13, a keyboard, a keypad, a button, or the like can be used. The printer 14 prints receipts, etc. The printer 14 can use various types of printers, such as a dot matrix printer, inkjet printer, thermal printer, laser printer, or other printers. Scanner 15 reads the barcode displayed on the product and outputs the product code represented by the barcode. In Fig. 1, scanner 15 is a type that is held in the hand, but it may be a type that is fixed to a cash register or the like.

[0012] The reader / writer 2 reads information recorded on cards for using a payment method with a payment limit, such as a debit card, an electronic money card, or a point card. The reader / writer 2 can also write information on the cards.

[0013] The following describes a payment method having a payment limit. For debit cards, the payment limit is the balance in the bank account, etc. Alternatively, if the debit card user or the debit card service provider sets a limit on the amount that can be paid with a debit card, the payment limit is the smaller of the balance in the account or the upper limit. In addition, in the case of an electronic money card, the balance of electronic money is the payment limit. In addition, in the case of a points card, the payment limit is the value obtained by converting the points balance into a monetary value. The above-mentioned payment limit is recorded in at least one of the server and the card for using the payment method.

[0014] The medium for storing information for using the payment method may be any of a magnetic card, a contact IC (integrated circuit) card, and a contactless IC card. In addition, the medium is not limited to a card type medium, and a contactless IC chip mounted on a portable electronic device such as a smartphone or a mobile phone may be used as the medium for storing the above information. The reader / writer 2 shown in Fig. 1 is of a type that reads and writes information from a contactless IC card or a contactless IC chip. The reader / writer 2 may be of a type that reads and writes information from a magnetic card or a contact IC card. In other words, the reader / writer 2 used is of a type that can read and write information from a medium that stores information for using a payment method.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the product registration device 1. As shown in FIG. The main body 10 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 101, a main memory 102, an auxiliary storage device 103, a communication interface 104, a network interface 105, and a bus 106.

[0016] The CPU 101 corresponds to the central part of a computer that performs processing and control necessary for the operation of the product registration device 1. The CPU 101 controls each part to realize various functions of the product registration device 1 based on programs such as an operating system and application software stored in the main memory 102. Furthermore, the CPU 101 may also control the reader / writer 2 via the communication interface 104.

[0017] The main memory 102 corresponds to the main storage portion of the computer. The main memory 102 stores programs such as the operating system and application software. The main memory 102 also stores data referenced by the CPU 101 when performing various processes. The main memory 102 is also used as a so-called work area for storing data temporarily used by the CPU 101 when performing various processes.

[0018] The auxiliary storage device 103 corresponds to the auxiliary storage portion of the computer. The auxiliary storage device 103 is, for example, an EEPROM (electric erasable programmable read-only memory), a HDD (hard disk drive), or an SSD (solid state drive). The auxiliary storage device 103 stores data used by the CPU 101 in performing various processes, or data generated by the processes in the CPU 101. The auxiliary storage device 103 may also store programs such as the operating system or applications described above. The main memory 102 or the auxiliary storage device 103 also stores a product list, which is a list of products registered as purchased products.

[0019] The programs stored in the main memory 102 or the auxiliary storage device 103 include a control program described with respect to the control processing described below. As an example, the product registration device 1 is transferred to the user with the control program stored in the main memory 102 or the auxiliary storage device 103. However, the product registration device 1 may be transferred to the user without the control program being stored in the main memory 102 or the auxiliary storage device 103. The control program transferred to the user separately may be written to the main memory 102 or the auxiliary storage device 103 under the operation of the user or a serviceman. The transfer of the control program in this case may be realized by recording it on a removable recording medium such as a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, an optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, or by downloading it via a network.

[0020] The communication interface 104 is an interface for the product registration device 1 to communicate with the reader / writer 2. The communication interface 104 uses, for example, RS-232C, USB (universal serial bus), SCSI (small computer system interface), IEEE 1394, Ethernet (registered trademark), or other interface standards. The network interface 105 is an interface for the product registration device 1 to communicate via the network 3 . The bus 106 includes an address bus and a data bus, and is a transmission path for each unit of the product registration device 1 to exchange signals.

[0021] The network 3 is a communication network including a mobile phone network such as 3G (3rd generation) or LTE (long term evolution), the Internet, a LAN (local area network), a dedicated line, or other communication lines.

[0022] The server 4 is connected to the product registration device 1 via the network 3. The server 4 may store the account balance or the payment limit of the above-mentioned payment method. The server 4 may be a server with an existing configuration.

[0023] The operation of the product registration device 1 when a shopper purchases a product will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the contents of the process described below are merely examples, and various processes that can achieve similar results can be used as appropriate.

[0024] 3 is a flowchart of a control process performed by the CPU 101. The CPU 101 executes this control process based on a control program stored in the main memory 102 or the auxiliary storage device 103.

[0025] In Act 1, the CPU 101 resets the product list stored in the main memory 102 or the auxiliary storage device 103. That is, the CPU 101 instructs the main memory 102 or the auxiliary storage device 103 to reset the product list to a state in which no products are registered.

[0026] In Act 2, the CPU 101 checks whether or not the product code has been read. That is, the CPU 101 checks whether or not the barcode attached to the product has been read by the scanner 15. If the product code has not been read, the CPU 101 judges "No" in Act 2 and proceeds to Act 3.

[0027] In Act 3, the CPU 101 judges whether or not it has been decided to use a payment method having a payment limit for the payment. That is, the CPU 101 checks whether or not a card or the like for using a payment method having a payment limit has been read by the reader / writer 2. If it has not been decided to use a payment method having a payment limit for the payment, the CPU 101 judges No in Act 3 and proceeds to Act 4.

[0028] In Act 4, the CPU 101 checks whether an operation to instruct completion of registration has been performed. That is, the CPU 101 checks whether a predetermined operation to instruct completion of registration, such as pressing a subtotal button, has been performed. Note that an operation to instruct completion of registration must be performed after at least one product has been registered as an operational rule. The behavior of the CPU 101 when an operation to instruct completion of registration is performed when no product has been registered may be determined by the designer of the control program of the CPU 101. For example, the CPU 101 ignores the operation to instruct completion of registration. Alternatively, the CPU 101 may be configured such that the operation to instruct completion of registration cannot be performed when no product has been registered. If no operation to instruct completion of registration has been performed, the CPU 101 judges No in Act 4 and returns to Act 2. Thus, the CPU 101 repeats Acts 2 to 4 until a product code is read, a decision is made to use a payment method with a payment limit for payment, or an operation to instruct completion of registration is performed.

[0029] If the product code is read by the scanner 15 during the standby state of Act 2 to Act 4, the CPU 101 judges "Yes" in Act 2 and proceeds to Act 5. In Act 5, the CPU 101 registers the read product code in the product list. That is, the CPU 101 instructs the main memory 102 or the auxiliary storage device 103 to add the read product code to the product list. In this process, the CPU 101 operates as a registration unit. Also, in Act 5, the CPU 101 displays a list of products registered in the product list on the touch panel 11. That is, the CPU 101 generates an image corresponding to the product registration screen 200, and instructs the touch panel 11 to display this image. If a product code is registered in a product list while the product registration screen 200 is already displayed on the touch panel 11, the product registration screen 200 is updated to a display corresponding to the product list in which the product code is registered. That is, the CPU 101 generates an image corresponding to the updated product registration screen 200, and instructs the touch panel 11 to display this image.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a product registration screen 200. The product registration screen 200 shown in FIG. The product name, unit price, number of items, and amount of the products registered in the product list are displayed in the product area 210. Note that the product area 210 may also display whether each product is tax-inclusive or tax-exclusive, the product code, or other information about the product.

[0031] The amount area 220 displays the subtotal amount, the tax-exclusive amount, and the total amount for the products registered in the product list. Here, the subtotal amount is the total amount of the products registered in the product list. The tax-exclusive amount is the total amount of the tax-exclusive amount for the products registered in the product list. The total amount corresponds to the payment amount for the products registered in the product list.

[0032] After completing the process of Act 5, the CPU 101 returns to the standby state of Acts 2 to 4. Thus, CPU 101 registers the product code in the product list every time the product code is read, until the payment method is determined or an operation instructing completion of registration is performed.

[0033] If an operation to instruct completion of registration is performed with one or more products registered during the standby state of Act 2 to Act 4, the CPU 101 judges "Yes" in Act 4 and proceeds to Act 6. In Act 6, the CPU 101 performs a payment process for the products registered in the product list, with the shopper as the payer. The payment process here can be a well-known process, so a description of this process will be omitted. In Act 6, the CPU 101 issues a receipt, etc. That is, the CPU 101 instructs the printer 14 to issue a receipt, etc. After completing the processing of Act 6, the CPU 101 returns to Act 1.

[0034] If the CPU 101 determines that a payment method having a payment limit is to be used for payment during the standby state of Act 2 to Act 4, the CPU 101 judges "Yes" in Act 3 and proceeds to Act 7. In Act 7, CPU 101 acquires the payment limit for the payment method. That is, when CPU 101 acquires the payment limit for the payment method from server 4, CPU 101 instructs network interface 105 to send information for causing server 4 to transmit the payment limit. Then, CPU 101 instructs network interface 105 to receive the payment limit transmitted from server 4. In this process, CPU 101 operates as an acquisition means. Also, when CPU 101 acquires the payment limit for the payment method from a card or the like for using the payment method, CPU 101 instructs reader / writer 2 to acquire the payment limit from the card or the like. In this process, CPU 101 operates as an acquisition means.

[0035] In Act 8, the CPU 101 judges whether the payment limit is short of the total amount. That is, the CPU 101 calculates the total amount from the prices of the products registered in the product list, and compares it with the payment limit obtained in Act 7 to judge whether the payment limit is short of the total amount, i.e., whether the payment limit is less than the total amount. If the payment limit is equal to or greater than the total amount, the CPU 101 judges No in Act 8 and proceeds to Act 9.

[0036] In Act 9, the CPU 101 checks whether the product code has been read. That is, the CPU 101 checks whether the barcode attached to the product has been read, similar to Act 2. If the product code has not been read, the CPU 101 judges No in Act 9 and proceeds to Act 10.

[0037] In Act 10, the CPU 101 checks whether an operation to instruct completion of registration has been performed. That is, the CPU 101 checks whether an operation to instruct completion of registration has been performed, similar to Act 4. If an operation to instruct completion of registration has not been performed, the CPU 101 judges No in Act 10 and returns to Act 9. Thus, the CPU 101 repeats Acts 9 and 10 until a product code is read or an operation to instruct completion of registration is performed.

[0038] If the product code is read during the standby state of Act 9 and Act 10, the CPU 101 judges "Yes" in Act 9 and proceeds to Act 11. In Act 11, the CPU 101 registers the read product code. That is, the CPU 101 adds the read product code to the product list in the same manner as in Act 5. In this process, the CPU 101 operates as a registration unit. Furthermore, the CPU 101 displays or updates the product registration screen 200 in accordance with the product list at this point in time, similarly to Act 5. After completing the process of Act 11, the CPU 101 returns to Act 8. In this case, the CPU 101 recalculates the total amount based on the product list updated in Act 11, and compares the total amount with the payment limit. Thus, the CPU 101 registers the product code in the product list every time the product code is read, until the total amount exceeds the payment limit or an operation instructing completion of registration is performed.

[0039] Meanwhile, if an operation to instruct completion of registration is performed in a state where one or more products have been registered while the CPU 101 is in the standby state in Act 9 and Act 10, the CPU 101 judges "Yes" in Act 10 and proceeds to Act 12. In Act 12, the CPU 101 performs a payment process for the products registered in the product list, with the shopper as the payer. In this payment process, the CPU 101 performs the payment using the payment method determined in Act 3. The specific payment process can be performed using a well-known method, so a description thereof will be omitted. In Act 12, the CPU 101 issues a receipt, etc. That is, the CPU 101 instructs the printer 14 to issue a receipt, etc. After completing the processing of Act 12, the CPU 101 returns to Act 1.

[0040] If the payment limit is less than the total amount, the CPU 101 judges "Yes" in Act 8 and proceeds to Act 13. In Act 13, the CPU 101 starts a notification operation to notify the shopper that the payment limit is insufficient for the total amount. That is, the CPU 101 generates an image corresponding to a first notification screen, and instructs the touch panel 11 to display this image. Through this process, the CPU 101 and the touch panel 11 cooperate to realize a function as a first display means. Furthermore, the CPU 101 instructs the customer-side display device 12 to display a second notification screen 300. Through this process, the CPU 101 and the customer-side display device 12 cooperate to realize a function as a second display means.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first notification screen 201 as an example. 5 includes a product area 210 and a price area 220, similar to the product registration screen 200. The first notification screen 201 further includes a notification area 230 arranged so as to overlap a portion of the product area 210 and the price area 220.

[0042] The notification area 230 includes a shortfall notification 231 , a notification instruction 232 , a payment limit 233 , a shortfall amount 234 , a confirmation button 235 , and a change button 236 .

[0043] The insufficient amount notification 231 is a character string for notifying the operator that the payment limit is insufficient for the total amount. For example, it may display "The payment limit is insufficient." The notification instruction 232 is a character string for notifying the operator to notify the shopper that the payment limit is insufficient for the total amount. For example, it may display "Please notify the customer." The payment limit 233 displays the payment limit of the payment method. In Fig. 5, the payment limit is 1,068 yen. The deficit amount 234 indicates the amount by which the settlement limit is short of the total amount. Fig. 5 shows a case where the deficit amount is 120 yen.

[0044] The confirmation button 235 is a button that allows the operator to operate when the operator has confirmed the content displayed in the notification area 230. The change button 236 is a button that allows the operator to operate when canceling the decision on the payment method to be used for payment and changing it to another payment method.

[0045] The display of the notification area 230 as described above prompts the operator to notify the shopper that the payment limit is insufficient for the total amount. In other words, the display of the notification area 230 is a direct notification to the operator, but an indirect notification action to the shopper. Therefore, the display of the notification area 230 is an example of a notification action for notifying the shopper that the payment limit is insufficient for the total amount.

[0046] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second notification screen 300 as an example. The second notification screen 300 shown in FIG. 6 includes a shortfall notification 301 , a settlement limit 302 , a total amount 303 , and a shortfall amount 304 .

[0047] The shortfall notification 301, the settlement limit amount 302, and the shortfall amount 304 indicate the same contents as the shortfall notice 231, the settlement limit amount 233, and the shortfall amount 234. The total price for the products registered in the product list at this point in time is displayed as the total price 303. Fig. 6 shows a case where the total price is 1,188 yen.

[0048] Thus, in the processes of Act 8 and Act 13, the CPU 101, the touch panel 11, and the customer display device 12 function as a notification means. The CPU 101 functions as a notification control means. The touch panel 11 and the customer display device 12 function as a notification device.

[0049] In Act 14, the CPU 101 checks whether a predetermined operation indicating that the notification operation has been confirmed has been performed. If the confirmation button 235 has not been operated, the CPU 101 judges No in Act 14 and proceeds to Act 15.

[0050] In Act 15, the CPU 101 checks whether a predetermined operation for canceling the decision of the payment method and changing to another payment method has been performed. If the change button 236 is not operated, the CPU 101 judges No in Act 15 and returns to Act 14. Thus, the CPU 101 repeats Act 15 and Act 16 until the confirmation button 235 or the change button 236 is operated.

[0051] If the change button 236 is operated during the standby state of Act 14 and Act 15, the CPU 101 judges Yes in Act 15 and returns to Act 2. At this time, the CPU 101 cancels the decision of the payment method to be used for the payment and performs processing to end the notification operation, and returns to Act 2. In the processing to end the notification operation here, the CPU 101 instructs the touch panel 11 to end the display of the notification area 230, and instructs the customer-side display device 12 to end the display of the second notification screen 300. In this case, the CPU 101 returns to the standby state of Act 2 to Act 4, and can change to a payment method having another payment limit amount in Act 3. Thus, the CPU 101 operates as a change means in the processing of Act 15 and Act 3.

[0052] If the confirmation button 235 is operated during the standby state of Act 14 and Act 15, the CPU 101 judges the result as Yes in Act 14 and proceeds to Act 16. In Act 16, the CPU 101 ends the notification operation. That is, the CPU 101 instructs the touch panel 11 to end the display of the notification area 230.

[0053] In Act 17, the CPU 101 checks whether the product code has been read in the same manner as in Act 2. If the product code has not been read, the CPU 101 judges "No" in Act 17 and proceeds to Act 18. In Act 18, the CPU 101 checks whether an operation to instruct completion of registration has been performed in the same manner as in Act 4. If an operation to instruct completion of registration has not been performed, the CPU 101 judges No in Act 18 and returns to Act 17. Thus, the CPU 101 repeats Act 17 and Act 18 until a product code is read or an operation to instruct completion of registration is performed.

[0054] If the product code is read during the standby state of Act 17 and Act 18, the CPU 101 judges "Yes" in Act 17 and proceeds to Act 19. In Act 19, the CPU 101 registers the read product code in the same manner as in Act 5. In this process, the CPU 101 operates as a registration means. The CPU 101 also updates the product registration screen 200 in the same manner as in Act 5. The CPU 101 also updates the price display on the second notification screen 300 to the price corresponding to the product registered in the product list. That is, the CPU 101 generates an image corresponding to the display, and instructs the customer side display device 12 to display this image. After completing the process of Act 19, the CPU 101 returns to Act 17. Thus, CPU 101 adds a product code to the product list every time the product code is read, until an operation instructing completion of registration is performed.

[0055] If an operation to instruct completion of registration is performed during the standby state of Act 17 and Act 18, the CPU 101 judges "Yes" in Act 18 and proceeds to Act 20. In Act 20, the CPU 101 performs a payment process for the products registered in the product list, with the shopper as the payer. In this payment process, since the payment limit is insufficient for the payment amount using only the payment method determined in Act 3, the shortfall is added and the payment process is performed. The shortage can be added using various payment methods such as cash, credit card, debit card, electronic money, and points. Furthermore, if the payment method determined in Act 3 is a payment method for which the payment limit can be raised, the CPU 101 may raise the payment limit and make the payment. For example, if an electronic money card is used as the payment method, the CPU 101 can raise the payment limit by instructing the reader / writer to add electronic money to the electronic money balance. The payment process when using each of the above payment methods and the process of adding electronic money to the electronic money balance can be performed using well-known processes, so a description of these processes will be omitted. In Act 21, the CPU 101 issues a receipt or the like. That is, the CPU 101 instructs the printer 109 to issue a receipt or the like. After completing the processing of Act 21, the CPU 101 returns to Act 1.

[0056] As described above, the product registration device 1 performs a notification operation to notify the shopper that the payment limit is insufficient for the total amount before the registration of the products for one transaction is completed. This notification operation allows the shopper to recognize that the payment limit of the payment method to be used is insufficient for the payment amount before the registration of the products for one transaction is completed. Therefore, the shopper can consider whether to change the payment method or make preparations to pay the shortfall while the remaining products are being registered. As a result, it becomes possible to quickly complete the payment after the product registration is completed. Incidentally, preparations to pay the shortfall include, for example, having cash ready.

[0057] As the above-mentioned notification operation, the product registration device 1 displays the information on the touch panel 11 or the customer-side display device 12. Therefore, the operator or the shopper can easily visually confirm that the payment limit is insufficient for the total amount. The product registration device 1 also changes the payment method to be used in response to an operation by an operator when the payment limit of the payment method to be used is insufficient for the total amount, so that the shopper can change to a payment method with a higher payment limit.

[0058] The product registration device 1 can also notify the customer of the shortfall in the total payment amount when notifying the customer of the shortfall in the payment limit. This allows the customer to easily estimate the shortfall in the payment amount, and the customer can prepare cash or the like to cover the shortfall more quickly.

[0059] This embodiment can be modified as follows.

[0060] The CPU 101 may determine whether the payment limit is insufficient for the total amount after reading the product code and before registering the product in the product list. In this case, if the payment limit is insufficient for the amount calculated by adding the unit price of the product identified by the last read product code to the total amount of the products already registered in the product list, a notification to that effect is given. In this way, a notification to that effect can be given before the payment limit becomes insufficient for the total amount.

[0061] The CPU 101 may be capable of registering a product during the notification operation. That is, the CPU 101 waits for the reading of a product code in the standby state of Act 14 and Act 15, and when the product code is read by the scanner 15, performs the same process as in Act 2 and Act 5 to register the product in the product list.

[0062] During the notification operation, the CPU 101 may delete a registered product in response to an operation by the operator. Also, during the notification operation, the CPU 101 may delete a registered product in response to an operation by the operator and register another product instead.

[0063] In the above description, the notification area 230 is arranged so as to overlap a part of the product area 210 and the price area 220, but this is not limited thereto. For example, a part of the product registration screen may be used as the notification area 230. Also, the display of the product registration screen may be stopped and only the notification area 230 may be displayed on the touch panel 11. In this case, the CPU 101 generates an image corresponding to the display and instructs the touch panel 11 to display this image.

[0064] The CPU 101 may raise the payment limit at any time in response to a request from a shopper. That is, the CPU 101 waits for an instruction to raise the payment limit in at least one of the standby states of Acts 2 to 4, Acts 9 and 10, Acts 14 and 15, and Acts 17 and 18. When the instruction is received, the CPU 101 raises the payment limit.

[0065] The payment limit and the shortfall amount may be displayed at all times on the product registration screen, not just when the notification area 230 is displayed.

[0066] In the above explanation, the payment process is performed by the product registration device 1, but a payment device externally attached to the product registration device 1 may perform the payment process based on instructions from the CPU 101. In addition, if the payment device is capable of communicating via the network 3, the payment device may obtain the payment limit of the payment method from the server 4 based on instructions from the CPU 101.

[0067] In the above description, the reader / writer 2 is attached externally to the merchandise registration device 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the reader / writer 2 may be built into the merchandise registration device 1.

[0068] The payment process may be performed at a semi-self-service checkout device. In this case, information on the products registered in the product list and the payment amount are transmitted to the checkout device, and the payment process is performed at the checkout device. If it is possible to transmit the information read by the reader / writer 2 to the checkout device, the information may also be transmitted to the checkout device. If it is not possible to transmit the information or if writing is required on a card or the like for using the payment method, the checkout device reads and writes the information stored on the card or the like for using the payment method.

[0069] The product registration device may be a self-service type, in which case the operator is a shopper.

[0070] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1...product registration device, 2...reader / writer, 3...network, 4...server, 10...main body, 11...touch panel, 12...customer side display device, 15...scanner, 101...CPU, 102...main memory, 103...auxiliary memory device, 104...communication interface, 105...network interface, 201...first notification screen, 230...notification area, 300...second notification screen.

Claims

1. A registration means for registering products to be subject to payment; an acquisition means for acquiring a payment limit for a payment method used for the payment of the product to be settled; and a notification means for performing a notification operation for notifying a settler that the payment limit is insufficient when the payment limit acquired by the acquisition means is less than the payment amount for the product registered as the payment target before the registration of one transaction in the registration means is completed. A product registration device comprising:

2. a change means for changing the payment method used for the payment of the product to be paid for to another payment method when the payment limit acquired by the acquisition means is less than the payment amount for the product registered as the payment target before the registration of one transaction in the registration means is completed; The product registration device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

3. The notification means notifies the shortfall in the settlement limit amount.

3. The product registration device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The notification means includes at least one of a first display means for displaying a message to prompt an operator to notify the settlor that the settlement limit amount is insufficient, and a second display means for displaying a message to notify the settlor that the settlement limit amount is insufficient.

4. The product registration device according to claim 1,

5. A computer that controls a product registration device having an alarm device, A registration means for registering products to be subject to payment; an acquisition means for acquiring a payment limit for a payment method used for the payment of the product to be settled; and a notification control means for controlling a notification device to perform a notification operation to notify a settler that the payment limit is insufficient when the payment limit acquired by the acquisition means is less than the payment amount for the product registered as the settlement target before the registration of one transaction in the registration means is completed; A program to make it function as such.

Images