Transaction processing system, transaction processing device and information processing program

Abstract

To improve registration efficiency for a transaction article by a friction card without greatly increasing the burden on an operator.SOLUTION: A transaction processing system comprises a photography device and a read device attached to a cart, recognition means, and first and second registration means. The photography device photographs an article put in an article storage space of the cart. The read device reads an article code. The recognition means recognizes the article based upon features of the article appearing in an image obtained by the photography device. The first registration means registers an article identified with the article code read by the read device as a transaction article. The second registration means registers the article recognized by the recognition means as a transaction article except that a transaction article registered latest has been already registered by the first registration means and identical to the article recognized by the recognition means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a transaction processing system, a transaction processing device, and an information processing program. [Background technology]

[0002] A system has been proposed that recognizes products placed in a shopping cart by an operator such as a customer based on a photograph of the product and automatically registers the product as a transaction item. Such a system is called a frictionless cart, an AI (artificial intelligence) cart, a smart cart, or an intelligent cart. However, depending on how the product is captured in the image, it may not be possible to correctly recognize the product, and automatic registration may not be completed. In view of these circumstances, it has been desired to improve the efficiency of registering trading commodities in friction carts without significantly increasing the burden on the operator. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-67430 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a transaction processing system, a transaction processing device, and an information processing program that can improve the efficiency of registering transaction items in a friction cart without significantly increasing the burden on the operator. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A transaction processing system according to an embodiment includes a photographing device, a reading device, a recognition means, a first registration means, and a second registration means. The photographing device is attached to a cart and photographs a commodity to be placed in the commodity storage space of the cart. The reading device is attached to the cart and reads a commodity code. The recognition means recognizes the commodity based on the characteristics of the commodity appearing in the image obtained by the photographing device. The first registration means registers the commodity identified by the commodity code read by the reading device as a transaction commodity. The second registration means registers the commodity recognized by the recognition means as a transaction commodity, except when the most recently registered transaction commodity has been registered by the first registration means and the transaction commodity is identical to the commodity recognized by the recognition means. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a transaction processing system according to an embodiment and a main circuit configuration of a cart terminal. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of transaction data. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which the cart terminal is attached to the cart. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart of a transaction process. [Diagram 5] 1 is a flowchart of a transaction process. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a guide screen. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a registration screen. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a warning screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] An example of an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a transaction processing system 1 according to this embodiment and a main circuit configuration of a cart terminal 100. As shown in FIG. The transaction processing system 1 is configured so that a cart terminal 100, a billing machine 200, a POS server 300, and an attendant terminal 400 can communicate with each other via a communication network 2.

[0008] The communication network 2 may be the Internet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a public communication network, a mobile communication network, or the like, either alone or in appropriate combination. As an example, the communication network 2 may be a combination of the Internet and a mobile communication network. Although any number of cart terminals 100, accounting machines 200, POS servers 300, and attendant terminals 400 may be included in transaction processing system 1, only one of each is shown in FIG.

[0009] The cart terminal 100 is an information processing device attached to a shopping cart (hereinafter referred to as a cart) provided in a store. The cart terminal 100 is loaned to a customer who is shopping in the store together with the cart. The cart terminal 100 is an information processing device that executes a transaction process for registering a product that the customer plans to purchase as a transaction product in response to an operation by the customer. In other words, the cart terminal 100 is an example of a transaction processing device. Note that the operator of the cart terminal 100 may be a store clerk.

[0010] The payment machine 200 is an information processing device that is installed in a store and executes payment processing related to the settlement of the price of a transaction product registered by the cart terminal 100. The payment machine 200 is operated by an operator during payment processing. The operator of the payment machine 200 is usually a customer. In some cases, the operator of the payment machine 200 is a store clerk.

[0011] The POS server 300 is an information processing device that executes management processing for managing the buying and selling of goods that is processed by the transaction processing in the cart terminal 100 and the transaction processing in the payment device 200 . Attendant terminal 400 is an information processing terminal operated by a store clerk. Attendant terminal 400 is an information processing device for a user interface related to information processing to support the work of the store clerk regarding the transaction processed by transaction processing system 1. The work of the store clerk is, for example, to monitor the implementation status of the transaction being processed and to support the customer appropriately.

[0012] The cart terminal 100 includes a processor 101, a main memory unit 102, an auxiliary memory unit 103, a touch panel 104, an interface unit 105, a wireless communication unit 106, and a transmission path 107. The processor 101 is capable of communicating with the main memory unit 102, the auxiliary memory unit 103, the touch panel 104, the interface unit 105, and the wireless communication unit 106 via the transmission path 107.

[0013] The processor 101, the main storage unit 102, and the auxiliary storage unit 103 are connected via a transmission line 107 to constitute a computer that performs information processing for controlling the cart terminal 100. The processor 101 corresponds to the central part of the computer. The processor 101 executes information processing for controlling each part to realize various functions of the cart terminal 100 in accordance with information processing programs such as an operating system and application programs.

[0014] The main memory unit 102 corresponds to the main memory portion of the computer. The main memory unit 102 includes a read-only memory area and a rewritable memory area. The main memory unit 102 stores a part of the information processing program in the read-only memory area. The main memory unit 102 may also store data required for the processor 101 to execute processes for controlling each part in the read-only memory area or the rewritable memory area. The main memory unit 102 uses the rewritable memory area as a work area for the processor 101.

[0015] The auxiliary storage unit 103 corresponds to the auxiliary storage portion of the computer. The auxiliary storage unit 103 may be, for example, an EEPROM (electric erasable programmable read-only memory), a HDD (hard disk drive), an SSD (solid state drive), or any other known storage device. The auxiliary storage unit 103 stores data used by the processor 101 in performing various processes and data generated by the processes in the processor 101. The auxiliary storage unit 103 may also store the information processing program. In this embodiment, the auxiliary storage unit 103 stores a cart terminal program PRA, which is one of the information processing programs. The cart terminal program PRA is an application program in which the procedure of the control process for realizing various functions of the cart terminal 100 is described. This control process includes a transaction process, which will be described later. A part of the storage area of ​​the auxiliary storage unit 103 is used as an area for storing transaction data DAA. The transaction data DAA is data representing a list of transaction products registered for one transaction.

[0016] The touch panel 104 displays a screen for presenting information to the operator. In other words, the touch panel 104 is an example of a display device. The touch panel 104 also inputs instructions by the operator touching the screen. External devices such as a scanner 198 and a camera 199 are connected to the interface unit 105. The interface unit 105 interfaces data transmission and reception with the connected external devices. As the interface unit 105, an existing USB (universal serial bus) controller or the like can be used.

[0017] The scanner 198 optically reads optically readable code information (hereinafter referred to as barcode), such as one-dimensional barcodes and two-dimensional codes. As the scanner 198, various well-known devices, such as a type using an infrared sensor or a type using a photographing device, can be used. In other words, the scanner 198 is an example of a reading device. Note that instead of the scanner 198, a photographing device attached to the same surface as the touch panel 104 of the cart terminal 100 may be used.

[0018] The camera 199 captures an image of a shooting range that includes the entire internal space of the shopping basket placed on the cart. The camera 199 then outputs image data that represents the image obtained by shooting. The camera 199 may repeat shooting at regular intervals, or may take pictures in response to an instruction from the processor 101. In other words, the camera 199 is an example of a shooting device. Instead of the camera 199, a shooting device attached to the surface of the cart terminal 100 opposite to the touch panel 104 may be used.

[0019] The wireless communication unit 106 executes communication processing for wirelessly performing data communication via the communication network 2. For example, an existing wireless communication device for wireless LAN can be used as the wireless communication unit 106. Note that instead of or in addition to the wireless communication unit 106, a communication unit connected to the communication network 2 by wire may be used. The transmission path 107 includes an address bus, a data bus, and control signal lines, and transmits data and control signals between the connected components. As the basic hardware of the cart terminal 100, it is assumed that the hardware of a tablet-type information processing device, for example, is used.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of transaction data DAA. The transaction data DAA is generated in relation to a transaction being processed at the cart terminal 100 and stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 . The transaction data DAA includes a field FAA, and may further include any number of fields following the field FAB. A transaction code is set in the field FAA as an identifier for the transaction. If there are registered trading products as the subject of the transaction, fields FAB, FAC, ... associated with each of the trading products are added to the transaction data DAA. Product data DAB relating to each separate trading product is set in the fields FAB, FAC, ....

[0021] One item of product data DAB includes fields FBA, FBB, FBC, and FBD. Field FBA contains a product code as an identifier for the associated trading product. Field FBB contains a product name defined for the associated trading product. Field FBC contains a unit price for the associated trading product. Field FBD contains a quantity for the associated trading product. The product data may contain various other information, such as discount information.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of how the cart terminal 100 is attached to the cart. The cart 900 includes a caster portion 910, a handle frame portion 920, and a basket receiving portion 930. The caster unit 910 has four wheels 911 for smoothly moving the cart 900 on a floor surface. The wheels 911 are attached to a frame 912 in a state capable of rotating around an axis in the vertical direction.

[0023] The handle frame portion 920 includes a pair of vertical frames 921, 921 and a handle bar 922. The vertical frames 921, 921 are erected above the two wheels of the caster portion 910. The handle bar 922 connects the upper ends of the vertical frames 921, 921 together. The basket receiving portion 930 is provided horizontally from a midway portion of the handle frame portion 920. The basket receiving portion 930 holds a shopping basket SB as a container for storing merchandise. The caster portion 910 is also capable of holding a shopping basket SB on the frame 912. In other words, merchandise is stored inside the shopping basket SB located above the basket receiving portion 930, and the space above the basket receiving portion 930 corresponds to the merchandise storage space.

[0024] A customer using the cart 900 is typically positioned in front of the handle frame portion 920 in Fig. 3. The customer pushes the cart 900 while gripping the handle bar 922. That is, in this case, the direction in which the basket receiving portion 930 protrudes relative to the handle frame portion 920 is the forward direction of the cart 900.

[0025] The camera 199 is attached to the middle of the handle bar 922 in a state in which it can photograph the inside of the shopping basket SB held by the basket receiving part 930 from above in a bird's-eye view. The basket receiving part 930 of the cart 900 may be changed to a storage part having a shape capable of directly storing products, and the camera 199 may photograph the inside of this storage part in a bird's-eye view. In this case, the space inside the storage part becomes the product storage space. A pole 940 is attached to one of the vertical frames 921 so that its tip is located above the handle bar 922. The cart terminal 100 described above is attached to the tip of the pole 940 with the touch panel 104 facing the opposite side to the forward direction. A battery case 950 is attached between the vertical frames 921, 921 on the lower end side of the handle frame portion 920. The battery case 950 houses a battery used as an external power source for the cart terminal 100.

[0026] The scanner 198 shown in Fig. 3 is an example of a handheld type that is held by a customer using the cart 900. The scanner 198 shown in Fig. 3 is connected to the cart terminal 100 by a cable. However, the scanner 198 may be fixed to, for example, the handlebar 922 in such a position that it can read the barcodes displayed on products held up from the opposite side to the forward direction. The scanner 198 may be provided in any form as long as it is capable of reading the barcodes of products that are not placed in the shopping basket SB.

[0027] Next, the operation of the transaction processing system 1 configured as described above will be described. Note that the contents of the various processes described below are merely examples, and it is possible to change the order of some of the processes, omit some of the processes, or add other processes as appropriate. For example, in the following explanation, in order to easily explain the characteristic operations of this embodiment, the explanation of some of the processes is omitted. For example, when some kind of error occurs, a process may be performed to deal with the error, but the description of such a process is omitted.

[0028] The customer performs a predetermined operation for starting use on the unused cart terminal 100. When this operation is performed, the processor 101 starts a transaction process based on the cart terminal program PRA. 4 and 5 are flowcharts of the transaction process. 4, the processor 101 displays a guide screen on the touch panel 104. The guide screen is a screen for informing the customer that the cart terminal 100 is starting up for transaction processing and what to do if the product placed in the shopping cart SB is not automatically registered.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the guide screen. In addition, in the screen examples shown in FIG. 6 and other figures, some display objects may be omitted from the illustration. 6, a text message displayed in area ARA informs the customer that if the product placed in shopping basket SB is not automatically registered, the customer should register the product using scanner 198. Also, on the guidance screen shown in Fig. 6, a text message displayed in area ARB informs the customer that the system is currently running.

[0030] Thus, the processor 101 executes information processing based on the cart terminal program PRA, and the computer having the processor 101 as its central part functions as a guidance means. Note that the guidance here may be provided by another method, such as playing back a voice message, instead of or in addition to displaying a guidance screen.

[0031] In ACT12, the processor 101 generates new transaction data DAA for the target transaction. That is, the processor 101, for example, determines a new transaction code different from transaction codes for identifying other transactions according to a predetermined rule, generates new transaction data DAA that includes this transaction code but does not include product information related to the transaction product, and stores the new transaction data DAA in the auxiliary storage unit 103. As ACT13, the processor 101 displays a registration screen on the touch panel 104. The registration screen is a screen for allowing a customer to recognize the registration status of a transaction product.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the registration screen. In the registration screen shown in FIG. 7, an image showing the registration status is placed in the area ARC. The registration screen shows the button BUA. The registration screen shows the text message CMA. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the image placed in the area ARC shows that a total of two items have been registered, one each of the items with the product names "AAAAAAAAAA" and "BBBBBBBBBB" and the unit prices of 178 yen and 198 yen, respectively, and the reference price is 406 yen. The reference price is the amount obtained by subtracting the discount amount from various services such as coupon services from the total unit price of all the transaction items. If the transaction is settled without changing the transaction items and the applied services, this reference price will be the settlement amount. The image placed in the area ARC changes sequentially according to the registration status of the transaction items. However, since the transaction items have not yet been registered when ACT13 is executed, the area ARA at this time does not show the information of each item, and an image showing a total of 0 items and a reference price of 0 yen is placed. The button BUA is a soft key for the operator to instruct the transaction. The text message CMA informs the customer that if the product placed in the shopping basket SB has not been automatically registered, the customer should register the product using the scanner 198. The contents of the registration screen may be determined as appropriate by, for example, the creator of the cart terminal program PRA. Thus, by the processor 101 executing information processing based on the cart terminal program PRA, the computer with the processor 101 as its central part functions as a display means.

[0033] In ACT 14, the processor 101 checks whether it is time to capture an image. If the processor 101 cannot confirm the event, it determines NO and proceeds to ACT 15. The capture timing is assumed to be, for example, immediately after proceeding from ACT 13 to ACT 14, and at regular time intervals thereafter, and may be appropriately determined by, for example, the creator of the cart terminal program PRA.

[0034] In ACT15, the processor 101 checks whether the product code has been read using the scanner 198. If the processor 101 cannot check this event, it determines NO and proceeds to ACT16. In ACT 16, the processor 101 checks whether a transaction has been specified. If the processor 101 cannot confirm the event, it determines NO and returns to ACT 14. Thus, in ACT14 to ACT16, the processor 101 waits for the timing to obtain the item, for the product code to be read, or for a payment to be specified.

[0035] A customer searches for a product to be traded in the store. The customer then removes the product to be purchased from the sales floor and places it in the shopping basket SB. Alternatively, the customer has the barcode of the product removed from the sales floor read by the scanner 198, and then places the product in the shopping basket SB. Note that the customer does not have to place the product whose barcode has been read by the scanner 198 in the shopping basket SB.

[0036] The barcode data represented by the barcode of the product includes a product code as an identifier of the product. When the barcode data including the product code is output by the scanner 198 by reading the barcode, the processor 101 determines that the product code has been read as YES in ACT15 and proceeds to ACT17.

[0037] In ACT17, the processor 101 registers the product identified by the product code included in the barcode data as a transaction product. For example, the processor 101 updates the transaction data DAA so that the corresponding product is included as one of the transaction products. Thus, the processor 101 executes information processing based on the cart terminal program PRA, and the computer having the processor 101 as its central part functions as a first registration means.

[0038] In ACT18, the processor 101 updates the registration screen so that the image arranged in the area ARC represents the transaction status represented by the updated transaction data. The processor 101 does not change the button BUA and the text message CMA in the updated registration screen. Then, the processor 101 returns to the standby state of ACT14 to ACT16.

[0039] When the acquisition timing arrives, the processor 101 determines YES in ACT 14 and proceeds to ACT 21 in FIG. As ACT21, processor 101 acquires image data output by camera 199. For example, if camera 199 repeats shooting at a constant cycle, processor 101 acquires image data output by camera 199 in response to the most recent shooting. For example, if camera 199 shoots in response to an instruction from processor 101, processor 101 instructs camera 199 to shoot, and acquires image data output by camera 199 in response to the instruction. Then, processor 101 stores the acquired image data in main storage unit 102 or auxiliary storage unit 103. In ACT22, the processor 101 checks whether a product has been put into the shopping basket SB. If the processor 101 cannot check the event, it determines NO and returns to the standby state of ACT14 to ACT16 in FIG.

[0040] If the first acquisition timing is immediately after proceeding from ACT13 to ACT14 in Fig. 4, the image represented by the image data acquired by first executing ACT21 in Fig. 5 will not include the product in most cases. Therefore, when ACT22 is executed for the first time, the processor 101 judges NO and returns to the standby state of ACT14 to ACT16 in Fig. 4. Then, the processor 101 repeats ACT21 and ACT22 in Fig. 5 every time an acquisition timing occurs. At this time, the processor 101 leaves the image data (hereinafter referred to as past data) acquired by executing ACT21 during a predetermined period in the past and already stored in the main memory unit 102 or the auxiliary memory unit 103 as it is in the main memory unit 102 or the auxiliary memory unit 103.

[0041] For example, the processor 101 checks whether a new product has been added to the shopping basket SB based on the difference between the image data (hereinafter referred to as current data) newly acquired in ACT21 and the past data, and if the relevant product is present, it is determined that the product has been added. The processor 101 may also monitor the movement of the hand holding the product based on the current data and multiple past data, and determine that the product has been added based on the result of the monitoring. If the processor 101 determines that the product has been added, it determines YES in ACT22 and proceeds to ACT23.

[0042] As ACT23, the processor 101 executes recognition processing on the inserted product detected by ACT23. The processor 101, for example, inputs current data into a machine-installed image recognition engine, detects the product, and extracts the product's features. The processor 101 then searches for the amount of the extracted features in a collation dictionary, for example, and sets products whose feature amount is equal to or exceeds a threshold as candidate products. Thus, the processor 101 executes information processing based on the cart terminal program PRA, and the computer with the processor 101 as its central part functions as recognition means.

[0043] In ACT24, the processor 101 checks whether the candidate product matches the previously registered trading product. If the two products are different or no trading product has been registered yet, the processor 101 determines that they do not match and proceeds to ACT25. In ACT25, the processor 101 checks whether the previous transaction product was registered by barcode. If the first product was placed in the shopping cart SB without the barcode being read by the scanner 198, the processor 101 determines that the result is NO and proceeds to ACT26.

[0044] In ACT 26, the processor 101 registers the candidate product found in ACT 23 as a trading product. For example, the processor 101 updates the transaction data DAA so that the relevant product is included as one of the trading products. In ACT27, the processor 101 updates the registration screen in the same manner as in ACT18 in Fig. 4. Then, the processor 101 thereafter returns to the standby state of ACT14 to ACT16.

[0045] After the customer has registered the first product in the above manner, if there is another product that the customer wishes to purchase, the customer places that product in the shopping basket SB or has the bar code of that product read by the scanner 198. When the barcode of the new product is read by the scanner 198, the processor 101 executes ACT17 and ACT18 in the same manner as described above, and then returns to the standby state of ACT14 to ACT16. On the other hand, the processor 101 judges YES in ACT14 every time an acquisition timing occurs, proceeds to ACT21, and executes ACT21 to ACT23 in the same manner as described above. At this time, if the new product placed in the shopping basket SB as described above is reflected in the image represented by the image data acquired in ACT21, and the processor 101 succeeds in recognizing the product in ACT23, it performs the following processing according to the customer's behavior.

[0046] (First case: A customer places a previously registered transaction product in the shopping basket SB without having the barcode of the product read by the scanner 198, and places a product different from the previously registered product in the shopping basket SB without having the barcode of the product read by the scanner 198.) The processor 101 judges NO in both ACT24 and ACT25, executes ACT26 and ACT27 in the same manner as described above, and adds the item newly placed in the shopping basket SB to the items to be traded.

[0047] (Second case: A customer places a previously registered product in the shopping basket SB without having the barcode read by the scanner 198, and places the same product as the previously registered product in the shopping basket SB without having the barcode read by the scanner 198.) The processor 101 determines YES in ACT24 because the candidate product matches the previously registered trading product, and proceeds to ACT28. In ACT28, the processor 101 checks whether the previous registration of the transaction item was a barcode registration, in the same manner as in ACT 25. The processor 101 then determines NO because it was not a barcode registration, and proceeds to ACT 26. The processor 101 then executes ACT26 and ACT27 in the same manner as described above, and adds the item newly placed in the shopping cart SB to the transaction items.

[0048] (Third case: A customer places an item whose barcode has been read by the scanner 198 in the shopping cart SB before placing another item therein.) The processor 101 determines YES in ACT24 because the candidate product matches the previously registered product, and proceeds to ACT28. The processor 101 further determines YES because the previous product was registered by barcode, and returns to the standby state of ACT14 to ACT16 in Fig. 4 without performing either ACT26 or ACT27. In other words, the processor 101 does not add the product newly added to the shopping cart SB to the products to be traded because the product has already been registered by barcode.

[0049] (Fourth case: A customer does not put an item whose barcode has been read by the scanner 198 into the shopping basket SB, and puts an item different from the previously registered item into the shopping basket SB without having the barcode read by the scanner 198.) Because the candidate product does not match the previously registered transaction product, the processor 101 determines NO in ACT24 in Fig. 5 and proceeds to ACT25. Then, because the previously registered transaction product is a barcode registration, the processor 101 determines YES in ACT25 and proceeds to ACT29. In ACT29, the processor 101 displays a warning screen on the touch panel 104. The warning screen is a screen for issuing a warning not to put the previously registered product into the shopping cart SB.

[0050] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the warning screen. The warning screen shown in FIG. 8 is a screen in which a window WIA is displayed superimposed on the registration screen that was previously displayed on the touch panel 104. The window WIA shows a text message CMB and a button BUB. The text message CMB warns the customer not to put the previously registered product into the shopping cart SB. The button BUB is a soft key for receiving a declaration from the customer that the warning by the text message CMB has been acknowledged. Thus, the processor 101 executes information processing based on the cart terminal program PRA, and the computer having the processor 101 as its central portion functions as an alarm means.

[0051] The processor 101 waits for a predetermined termination condition regarding the display of the warning screen to be satisfied, and then proceeds to ACT26 in FIG. 5, executes ACT26 and ACT27 in the same manner as described above, and adds the item newly placed in the shopping basket SB to the transaction items. The termination condition is assumed to be, for example, when the button BUB is tapped. The termination condition may be appropriately determined by, for example, the creator of the cart terminal program PRA, such as when a predetermined time has elapsed since the warning screen was displayed.

[0052] Thus, in the first, second and fourth cases, the processor 101 executes ACT26, whereby the commodity recognized in ACT23 is registered as a trade commodity. In other words, the processor 101 executes information processing based on the cart terminal program PRA, whereby the computer having the processor 101 as its central part functions as a second registration means.

[0053] As described above, if a customer places an item whose barcode has been read by scanner 198 into shopping basket SB before placing another item into shopping basket SB, processing as described above as the third case is carried out, and the barcode-registered item is not registered as a duplicate transaction item based on recognition in ACT23.

[0054] However, if an item whose barcode has been read by scanner 198 is placed in shopping basket SB after another item has been placed in shopping basket SB, the above-mentioned third case processing will not be performed, and the first or second case processing will be performed, which may result in duplicate registration. Therefore, a warning screen is displayed to warn the customer, to prevent duplicate registration.

[0055] Now, if a transaction is designated by a predetermined operation such as tapping a button BUA displayed on the registration screen, the processor 101 judges YES in ACT16 in FIG. 4 and proceeds to ACT19. In ACT19, the processor 101 requests, for example, the payment machine 200 to settle the prices for all registered transaction items. That is, the processor 101, for example, passes transaction data to the payment machine 200 and requests the payment machine 200 to settle. Note that, if a payment terminal (not shown) is attached to the cart 900 and the payment terminal is connected to the cart terminal 100, the processor 101 may calculate the amount to be settled and request that the amount be settled by credit card payment, code payment, or the like. Alternatively, the processor 101 may calculate the amount to be settled and request that the amount be settled from an online payment server (not shown), for example.

[0056] As described above, when registering a product as a transaction item, the customer can simply place the product in the shopping basket SB, or have the product's barcode read by the scanner 198. And, as described above, the cart terminal 100 will not register the product twice even if the customer places the product in the shopping basket SB whose barcode has been read by the scanner 198. This makes it possible to improve the efficiency of registering transaction items in the friction cart without significantly increasing the burden on the operator. Furthermore, the cart terminal 100 can prevent duplicate registrations as described above by displaying the warning screen to warn the customer as described above.

[0057] Furthermore, the cart terminal 100 can inform the customer before starting shopping by displaying a text message in the area ARA of the guidance screen that if an item is placed in the shopping basket SB but cannot be registered, the item can be registered using the scanner 198.

[0058] In addition, the cart terminal 100 can always let a customer who is in the process of registering a product know by displaying a text message CMA on the registration screen that if the product cannot be registered even after being placed in the shopping basket SB, the product can be registered using the scanner 198.

[0059] This embodiment can be modified in various ways as follows. A part of the processing executed by processor 101 in the above embodiment may be executed by POS server 300 or any other one or more information processing devices. For example, cart terminal 100 may perform only the user interface operation, and various information processing for identifying the transaction commodity may be executed by a computer provided in POS server 300. In other words, each of the recognition means, the first registration means, the second registration means, the alarm means, the guidance means, and the display means may be provided in any information processing device other than cart terminal 100 included in transaction processing system 1, or may be appropriately distributed among multiple information processing devices included in transaction processing system 1.

[0060] Each function realized by the processor 101 through information processing can be realized in part or in whole by hardware that executes information processing not based on a program, such as a logic circuit, etc. Also, each of the above functions can be realized by combining the above hardware, such as the logic circuit, with software control. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1...transaction processing system, 2...communication network, 100...cart terminal, 101...processor, 102...main memory unit, 103...auxiliary memory unit, 104...touch panel, 105...interface unit, 106...wireless communication unit, 107...transmission path, 198...scanner, 199...camera, 200...accounting machine, 300...POS server, 400...attendant terminal, 900...cart, 930...basket receiving section.

Claims

1. A photographing device attached to the cart for photographing a product to be placed in the product storage space of the cart; A reading device attached to the cart for reading a product code; A recognition means for recognizing a product based on a feature of the product shown in an image obtained by the photographing device; a first registration means for registering a commodity identified by the commodity code read by the reading device as a trading commodity; a second registration means for registering the commodity recognized by said recognition means as a trading commodity, except when the most recently registered trading commodity has been registered by said first registration means and is identical to the commodity recognized by said recognition means; A transaction processing system comprising:

2. an alarm means for performing processing for issuing an alarm when the commodity recognized first by the recognition means after the trading commodity is registered by the first registration means is different from the trading commodity most recently registered by the first registration means; The transaction processing system of claim 1 further comprising:

3. a guidance means for performing a process of instructing the user to have the reading device read the product code when the product placed in the product storage space is not registered as a transaction product at the timing when the user starts using the cart; The transaction processing system of claim 1 further comprising:

4. a display device mounted on the cart; a display means for displaying on the display device, during a period during which the user may place a commodity in the commodity storage space, a screen for instructing the user to have the reading device read a commodity code if the commodity placed in the commodity storage space is not registered as a transaction commodity; 2. The transaction processing system of claim 1, further comprising:

5. A transaction processing device that constitutes a transaction processing system together with a cart to which a photographing device that photographs a commodity placed in a commodity storage space of the cart and a reading device that reads a commodity code are attached, A recognition means for recognizing a product based on a feature of the product shown in an image obtained by the photographing device; a first registration means for registering a commodity identified by the commodity code read by the reading device as a trading commodity; a second registration means for registering the commodity recognized by said recognition means as a trading commodity, except when the most recently registered trading commodity has been registered by said first registration means and is identical to the commodity recognized by said recognition means; A transaction processing device comprising:

6. A computer is provided in a transaction processing device that constitutes a transaction processing system together with a cart to which a photographing device for photographing a commodity placed in a commodity storage space of the cart and a reading device for reading a commodity code are attached, A recognition means for recognizing a product based on a feature of the product shown in an image obtained by the photographing device; a first registration means for registering a commodity identified by the commodity code read by the reading device as a trading commodity; a second registration means for registering the commodity recognized by said recognition means as a trading commodity, except when the most recently registered trading commodity has been registered by said first registration means and is identical to the commodity recognized by said recognition means; An information processing program that enables the system to function as such.

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