Data processing device

Abstract

To provide a data processing device that uses a wireless tag to register data, the data processing device minimizing movement of eye line and focus.SOLUTION: A registration device 10 to which a data processing device is applied comprises a wireless tag reader 15, a display 16, and a mounting table 18. The wireless tag reader reads data related to an article from a wireless tag attached to the article. The display displays data read from the wireless tag by the wireless tag reader. The mounting table has a positioning mark 19 provided at the center of the mounting surface and indicating a position where an item or a container containing the item should be placed to read the wireless tag attached to the article, and a display screen of the display adjacent to the outer periphery of the positioning mark is arranged in the mounting table.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a data processing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Self-checkout systems in which shoppers themselves register and settle purchases of goods (hereinafter referred to as purchased goods) have become widely used. In this checkout system, a data processing device such as a registration device includes a scanner that scans a barcode attached to a product by a shopper, and the data processing device reads the barcode data. Then, the data processing device acquires and registers product data related to the product, such as the product name, product number, and price, corresponding to the read barcode data from a product master database. This product data is presented to the shopper by being displayed on a display provided in the data processing device.

[0003] In recent years, data processing devices that attach a wireless tag such as an RFID tag that records product data related to an article, such as the product name, product number, and price, to the article and register the purchased product by reading the wireless tag have begun to be used (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such a data processing device using a wireless tag, it is only necessary to place the product or a container such as a product cage containing the product in the reception area of a reader that reads the wireless tag, eliminating the need to scan each product one by one.

[0004] In such a data processing device using a wireless tag, a display device that presents the read product data to the shopper is installed at a position and in a different orientation from the placement section where the product or container is placed. Therefore, a shopper who uses this type of data processing device for the first time, that is, an inexperienced shopper, may not know where to look next after placing the product or container on the placement section. Further, even if the viewing location is known, there is a problem that focus shift occurs in a shopper who has a problem with focusing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Document

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The problem to be solved by the embodiment of the present invention is to be able to suppress the movement of the line of sight and focus in a data processing apparatus that performs data registration using a wireless tag.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In one embodiment, the data processing apparatus includes a wireless tag reader, a display, and a mounting table. The wireless tag reader reads data related to an article from a wireless tag attached to the article. The display displays the data read from the wireless tag by the wireless tag reader. The mounting table has a positioning mark at the center of the mounting surface indicating a position where the article or a container containing the article should be placed to read the wireless tag attached to the article, and the display screen of the display is disposed close to the outer periphery of the positioning mark.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [First Embodiment] The data processing device according to the first embodiment is an example applied to a registration device in which a customer who is a shopper registers purchased goods.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement mode of the checkout area CA in a checkout system including a registration device 10 to which the data processing device according to the first embodiment is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, in the checkout area CA provided in the store, two registration devices 10 and two settlement devices 20 are arranged. In FIG. 1, an example in which two registration devices 10 and two settlement devices 20 are installed in the checkout area CA is shown, but the number of registration devices 10 and settlement devices 20 installed in the checkout area CA is not particularly limited. Also, the number of registration devices 10 and the number of settlement devices 20 do not have to be the same and may be different from each other.

[0011] The registration device 10 is a device for a customer CS, who is a shopper, to perform product registration for purchased products. The settlement device 20 is a device for performing settlement processing for the products purchased by the customer CS. As shown in FIG. 1, the settlement device 20 is installed at a position in the middle of the flow line from the registration device 10 toward the soccer table ST. Note that the settlement device can be paraphrased as a cash register, a payment terminal, an accounting device, an accounting terminal, etc.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of the checkout system. In the checkout system, a plurality of registration devices 10 and a plurality of settlement devices 20 are connected via a LAN (Local Area Network). Note that the LAN may be a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, or a combination of wired and wireless.

[0013] Here, a usage example of the checkout system in the checkout area CA will be described. When the customer CS enters from the store entrance, in FIG. 1, the customer CS goes to the product sales floor (not shown in the figure) and puts the products to be purchased into the product basket. Then, after finishing putting all the products to be purchased into the product basket, the customer CS goes to the checkout area CA of the store and gets in line behind other customer CSs waiting in the waiting lane for product registration. Then, when it is the customer CS's turn, the customer CS places the product basket on a placement table (not shown) of the registration device 10. Then, the registration device 10 reads a wireless tag attached to the purchased products in the product basket and acquires product data of each purchased product. The registration device 10 displays the acquired product data on the display screen of the touch panel provided in the registration device 10.

[0014] Customer CS checks this display content and touches a predetermined key for settlement displayed on the touch panel. In response to this touch operation, the registration device 10 calculates the total amount of the products registered in one transaction corresponding to Customer CS, etc., and generates registration information including those and information such as the device number of the registration device 10. Also, the registration device 10 identifies one of the settlement devices 20 that is not in use. Then, the registration device 10 displays the device number, etc. of the identified settlement device 20 on the display screen of the touch panel. Customer CS moves to the location where the displayed settlement device 20 is installed with the product cage containing the purchased products for settlement. Customer CS who has moved to the location where the identified settlement device 20 is installed executes the settlement process using that settlement device 20.

[0015] In response to a start operation from Customer CS, or in response to the detection of Customer CS by a sensor or the like, the settlement device 20 displays a settlement guide or the like according to the registration information transmitted from the registration device 10 via the LAN. Customer CS inserts cash corresponding to the price according to the displayed guide, or pays the price, that is, executes the settlement process, by using an electronic commerce (EC) method such as credit card settlement, electronic money settlement, point settlement, or code settlement. Code settlement is also referred to as mobile settlement or smartphone settlement, etc. For example, it can be used by associating a code with a credit card or electronic money in advance in a product purchase app installed on an information terminal such as a smartphone owned by Customer CS. In response to the completion of the settlement, the settlement device 20 issues a receipt. Customer CS receives the issued receipt. Customer CS who has completed the settlement moves to, for example, the soccer table ST with the product cage containing the purchased products, and can transfer the products from the product cage to a product bag or the like using the soccer table ST. Then, the customer who has finished transferring the products into the product bag exits the checkout area CA from the exit of the checkout area CA not shown, and further exits the store.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a registration device 10 to which the data processing apparatus according to the first embodiment is applied, that is, in which the data processing apparatus is incorporated. As shown in FIG. 3, the registration device 10 includes a processor 11, a main memory 12, an auxiliary storage device 13, a LAN interface 14, an RFID reader 15, a touch panel 16, and a system bus 17. The system bus 17 includes an address bus, a data bus, control signal lines, and the like. The system bus 17 mutually connects the processor 11 with the main memory 12, the auxiliary storage device 13, the LAN interface 14, the RFID reader 15, and the touch panel 16. The computer of the registration device 10 is configured by connecting the processor 11, the main memory 12, and the auxiliary storage device 13 via the system bus 17.

[0017] The processor 11 corresponds to a central part of the above computer. The processor 11 controls each part in order to realize various functions of the registration device 10 and the data processing apparatus according to the present embodiment according to an operating system or a control program. The processor 11 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor 11 may be, for example, an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), an SoC (System on a Chip), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). Alternatively, the processor 11 may be a combination of a plurality of these.

[0018] The main memory 12 corresponds to the main storage part of the above computer. The main memory 12 includes a non-volatile memory area and a volatile memory area. In the non-volatile memory area, the main memory 12 stores an operating system or an application program. The main memory 12 may store, in either the non-volatile or volatile memory area, data necessary for the processor 11 to execute processes for controlling each part. The main memory 12 uses the volatile memory area as a work area where data is appropriately rewritten by the processor 11. The non-volatile memory area is, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory). The volatile memory area is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory).

[0019] The auxiliary storage device 13 corresponds to the auxiliary storage part of the above computer. For example, an EEPROM (Electric Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or an SSD (Solid State Drive) etc. can be the auxiliary storage device 13. The auxiliary storage device 13 stores data used by the processor 11 to perform various processes, data created by the processes in the processor 11, etc. The auxiliary storage device 13 may store the above application program.

[0020] The application program stored in the main memory 12 or the auxiliary storage device 13 includes a registration program described regarding the information processing executed by the registration device 10. The method for installing the registration program in the main memory 12 or the auxiliary storage device 13 is not particularly limited. The registration program can be recorded on a removable recording medium, or distributed through communication via a network and installed in the main memory 12 or the auxiliary storage device 13. The form of the recording medium is not limited as long as it can store a program and can be read by the device, such as a CD-ROM, a memory card, etc.

[0021] The LAN interface 14 is a communication device for communicating with the settlement device 20 via the LAN.

[0022] The RFID reader 15 reads the RFID tag attached to the product. The RFID reader 15 outputs the product data stored in the RFID read from the RFID tag to the processor 11. The RFID tag is an example of a wireless tag. The product is an example of an article with a wireless tag attached. The RFID reader 15 is an example of a wireless tag reader that reads data related to an article from a wireless tag attached to the article.

[0023] The touch panel 16 is a device that combines an input device and a display device. The touch panel 16 displays information to the customer CS, who is the operator of the registration device 10, and accepts operation inputs from the customer CS according to the control of the processor 11. The display device is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel, and displays information about the operating state of the registration device 10 in images and characters. One of the information to be displayed is the product data read by the RFID reader 15. The touch panel 16 is an example of a display that displays data read from a wireless tag by a wireless tag reader. The input device is a transparent touch key matrix provided on the surface of the display device, and outputs information based on the position touched by the customer CS to the processor 11.

[0024] Figure 4 is a plan view showing an example of the appearance of the registration device 10. Further, Figure 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the positional relationship of the main part of the registration device 10. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the registration device 10 includes a mounting table 18 for mounting the purchased product or the product cage BK in which the purchased product is accommodated. The product cage BK is an example of a container in which articles are accommodated. Here, in Figure 4, the lower part of the drawing is the front position where the customer CS stands. The left-right direction of the registration device 10 in the left-right direction of the customer CS standing at this front position (X-axis direction), the direction in which the customer CS is facing is the depth direction (Y-axis direction), and the direction orthogonal to these is the up-down direction (Z-axis direction) of the registration device 10.

[0025] Although not particularly shown in the drawings, the registration device 10 is arranged such that its back surface is in contact with the wall. Alternatively, by arranging a restricting member on at least a part of the back surface of the registration device 10 and on the back side of the side surface, the standing position of the customer CS during the registration operation may be restricted to the front of the registration device 10.

[0026] On the mounting table 18 of the registration device 10, a guide mark 19 indicating the position for mounting a product or a product basket BK is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the guide mark 19 is provided in the central portion of the mounting table 18. As shown in FIG. 5, the RFID reader 15 is disposed below this guide mark 19. The guide mark 19 indicates the reading range of the RFID reader 15 on the mounting table 18. That is, the area of the mounting surface surrounded by the guide mark 19 corresponds to the reading range of the RFID reader 15. The guide mark 19 is an example of a positioning mark indicating the position where an article or a container containing the article should be placed in order to read a wireless tag attached to the article.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the touch panel 16 is embedded and installed on the front right side of the customer CS standing in front of the registration device 10, close to the outer periphery of the guide mark 19 provided on the mounting table 18 with respect to the X-axis direction of the registration device 10.

[0028] Here, the proximity between the outer periphery of the guide mark 19 and the touch panel 16 means a relationship in which the product or product basket BK placed on the mounting surface of the mounting table 18 according to the guide mark 19 and the touch panel 16 are within the same visual field of the customer CS.

[0029] Note that the arrangement position of the touch panel 16 in the XY-axis directions is not limited to this. In the arrangements shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, there is no problem in terms of checking the display content of the touch panel 16. However, the touch panel 16 also has a function as an operation member for inputting instructions to the registration device 10. The arrangements shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are easy to use for a right-handed customer CS, that is, a customer with a right dominant hand. However, for a left-handed customer CS, that is, a customer with a left dominant hand, the product cage BK gets in the way during operation, making it a difficult-to-use arrangement.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing another example of the appearance of the registration device 10, and FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the positional relationship of the main part of the registration device 10 in FIG. 6. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, for a left-handed customer CS, the touch panel 16 can be embedded and installed on the front left side of the customer CS standing in front of the registration device 10, close to the outer periphery of the guide mark 19 provided on the mounting table 18.

[0031] Also, FIGS. 8 and 9 are plan views showing another arrangement example of the touch panel 16 in the registration device 10, respectively. In this way, regarding the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, the touch panel 16 may be installed such that the end on the guide mark 19 side of the touch panel 16 is arranged near the outer periphery of the mounting position of the product or the product cage BK indicated by the guide mark 19. That is, the touch panel 16 is at a position that does not overlap with the reading range of the RFID reader 15 on the mounting table 18 indicated by the guide mark 19, that is, the product registration position, and as long as at least a part of it is on the front side of the customer CS standing in front of the registration device 10 with respect to the area of the mounting surface surrounded by the guide mark 19, it may be arranged anywhere on the mounting table 18.

[0032] Regarding the arrangement position of the touch panel 16 in the Z-axis direction of the registration device 10, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, it is arranged within a range where no focus shift occurs with respect to the focus on the articles placed on the mounting surface, which is the upper surface of the mounting table 18, or the products stored in the product cage BK. More specifically, for example, the glass surface on the uppermost surface of the touch panel 16 is arranged to be flush with the mounting surface of the mounting table 18.

[0033] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the registration device 10 for explaining the display direction of data on the touch panel 16. As shown in FIG. 10, the touch panel 16 is installed on the mounting table 18 in a direction for displaying characters and images based on the merchandise data read from the RFID tag in an orientation that is easy for the customer CS to view from the standing position. Alternatively, the processor 11 may control the display of the touch panel 16 so as to perform such a display.

[0034] In such a registration device 10, the customer CS places the purchased merchandise or the merchandise cage BK containing the same within the reading range of the RFID reader 15 indicated by the guide mark 19 on the mounting table 18. Then, the RFID reader 15 of the registration device 10 reads the RFID tag attached to each purchased merchandise and outputs the read merchandise data to the processor 11. The processor 11 temporarily stores the merchandise data of each purchased merchandise in the main memory 12, generates display data based on the merchandise data, and displays it on the display screen of the display device of the touch panel 16.

[0035] The customer CS checks the display content and performs a touch operation on a predetermined key such as "Proceed to Accounting" for instructing to start the settlement displayed together with the display data on the touch panel 16. In response to this touch operation, the processor 11 calculates the total amount and the like based on the merchandise data registered in one transaction corresponding to the customer CS temporarily stored in the main memory 12, and generates registration information including information such as the device number of the registration device 10. Further, the processor 11 identifies one of the settlement devices 20 that is not in use. Then, the processor 11 displays the device number and the like of the identified settlement device 20 on the touch panel 16. The customer CS moves to the location where the displayed settlement device 20 is installed with the merchandise cage BK containing the purchased merchandise that has been registered for settlement. Then, the customer CS who has moved to the location where the identified settlement device 20 is installed executes a settlement process using the settlement device 20.

[0036] As described above, the registration device 10 to which the data processing device according to the first embodiment is applied includes an RFID reader 15 that reads data related to a product from an RFID tag attached to the product, a touch panel 16 that displays the product data read from the RFID tag by the RFID reader 15, and a guide mark 19 that indicates a position where the product or the product cage BK containing the product should be placed in order to read the RFID tag attached to the product, the guide mark 19 being located at the center of the placement surface, and a placement table 18 on which the display screen of the touch panel 16 is disposed in proximity to the outer periphery of the guide mark 19. Therefore, according to the data processing device according to the first embodiment, the product with the RFID tag attached thereto and the touch panel 16 that displays the product data read from the RFID tag are arranged in proximity to the placement table 18, so that the movement of the customer CS's line of sight and focus can be suppressed.

[0037] In addition, in the registration device 10 to which the data processing device according to the first embodiment is applied, the touch panel 16 is arranged within a range where no focus shift occurs with respect to the focus of the eyes adjusted to the product placed on the placement surface or the product contained in the product cage BK in the vertical direction with respect to the placement surface of the placement table 18, and is located on either the right side or the left side of the region of the placement surface surrounded by the guide mark 19. Therefore, even when the customer CS changes the viewing target from the product to the touch panel 16 or vice versa, no focus shift occurs. Thus, even for a customer CS who has a problem with focusing the eyes, no focus shift will occur, and the burden on the customer CS can be minimized. In addition, since the position of the touch panel 16 is arranged on the right side or the left side of the region of the placement surface surrounded by the guide mark 19, it is easy for a right-handed or left-handed customer CS to operate, and the customer CS can confirm the data displayed on the touch panel 16 without moving the line of sight from the placement position of the product or the product cage BK.

[0038] Note that the touch panel 16 is arranged such that the surface of the display screen of the touch panel 16 and the placement surface of the placement table 18 are in the same plane, and is located on the front side of the region of the placement surface surrounded by the guide mark 19. Accordingly, when placing the product cage BK on the mounting table 18 or trying to lift it from the mounting table 18 and move it, it is possible to prevent the product cage BK from colliding with the touch panel 16, and it can also be made aesthetically pleasing. And the effect of not causing defocus can be made more reliable. Also, since the position of the touch panel 16 is on the front side of the area of the mounting surface surrounded by the guide mark 19, it is easy for the customer CS to operate, and the customer CS can check the data displayed on the touch panel 16 without moving the line of sight from the mounting position of the product or the product cage BK.

[0039] In addition, in the registration device 10 to which the data processing device according to the first embodiment is applied, the touch panel 16 is arranged at a position where the product or the product cage BK placed on the mounting surface according to the guide mark 19 and the display screen of the touch panel 16 are within the same visual field of the customer CS. Therefore, the customer CS can check the data displayed on the touch panel 16 without moving the line of sight from the mounting position of the product or the product cage BK.

[0040] In addition, in the registration device 10 to which the data processing device according to the first embodiment is applied, the area of the mounting surface surrounded by the guide mark 19 corresponds to the reading range of the RFID reader 15. Therefore, by placing the product or the product cage BK within the range defined by the guide mark 19, the RFID tag can be surely read. Also, the customer CS can easily determine the position where the product should be placed when registering the purchased product.

[0041] In addition, in the registration device 10 to which the data processing device according to the first embodiment is applied, the touch panel 16 is installed on the mounting table 18 so that the product data read from the RFID tag is displayed in a direction that is easy for the customer CS to see. Therefore, it is possible to allow the customer CS to check the product data read from the RFID tag attached to the product in the posture when the product is placed on the mounting table 18.

[0042] [Second Embodiment] Next, the second embodiment will be described. Regarding the same configurations and operations as those in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are used, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0043] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a registration and settlement apparatus 30 to which a data processing apparatus according to the second embodiment is applied. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the registration and settlement apparatus 30.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 11, the registration and settlement apparatus 30 includes an RFID reader 15 and a touch panel 16 as described in the first embodiment, a processor 301, a main memory 302, an auxiliary storage device 303, a LAN interface 304, a deposit / withdrawal device 305, a scanner 306, a printer 307, a card reader 308, a touch panel 309, a display 310, and a system transmission path 311. The system transmission path 311 includes an address bus, a data bus, control signal lines, and the like. The system transmission path 311 mutually connects the processor 301 with the main memory 302, the auxiliary storage device 303, the LAN interface 304, the deposit / withdrawal device 305, the scanner 306, the printer 307, the card reader 308, the touch panel 309, the display 310, the RFID reader 15, and the touch panel 16. The computer of the registration and settlement apparatus 30 is configured by connecting the processor 301, the main memory 302, and the auxiliary storage device 303 via the system transmission path 311.

[0045] The processor 301 corresponds to the central part of the above computer. The main memory 302 corresponds to the main storage part of the above computer. The auxiliary storage device 303 corresponds to the auxiliary storage part of the above computer. These, the processor 301, the main memory 302, and the auxiliary storage device 303 are the same as the processor 11, the main memory 12, and the auxiliary storage device 13 in the first embodiment. The LAN interface 304 is the same as the LAN interface 14 in the first embodiment.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 12, the registration and settlement device 30 includes a first housing 312 and a second housing 313. The first housing 312 includes the above-described deposit and withdrawal device 305 and scanner 306. The second housing 313 is placed on the upper surface 314 of the first housing 312 and includes the above-described printer 307, card reader 308, and touch panel 309.

[0047] Also, on, for example, the right side of the registration and settlement device 30 facing forward, a mounting table 18 for mounting a product or product cage BK is installed. The mounting table 18 mounts at least one of a product and a product cage BK when performing the registration process of purchased products in the registration and settlement device 30. On the mounting table 18, an RFID reader 15, a touch panel 16, and a guide mark 19 are arranged in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0048] The deposit and withdrawal device 305 includes a coin insertion slot 315, a bill insertion slot 316, a bill dispensing slot 317, and a coin dispensing unit 318. The deposit and withdrawal device 305 stores the bills inserted into the bill insertion slot 316 in a bill storage unit (not shown). Also, the deposit and withdrawal device 305 stores the coins inserted into the coin insertion slot 315 in a coin storage unit (not shown). Then, the deposit and withdrawal device 305 dispenses paper change to the bill dispensing slot 317 in response to a change dispensing request from the processor 301. Also, the deposit and withdrawal device 305 dispenses coin change to the coin dispensing unit 318 in response to a change dispensing request from the processor 301.

[0049] The scanner 306 is, for example, an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or an optical scanner as an imaging unit for reading a code symbol for code settlement.

[0050] The printer 307 has a printing unit (not shown) built into the second housing 313 and a receipt issuing port 320 provided on the front surface 319 of the second housing 313. The printer 307 prints a receipt and issues it from the receipt issuing port 320 according to the control of the processor 301.

[0051] The card reader 308 is arranged on the left side of the second housing 313 and on the upper surface 314 of the first housing 312. The card reader 308 reads and writes information on credit cards, membership cards, etc. inserted from the card insertion slot 321. Further, the card reader 308 may be provided with a wireless communication function for enabling contactless payment, also known as touch payment, contactless, or electronic money payment, by wirelessly communicating with a credit card or smartphone equipped with a contactless IC chip or IC tag.

[0052] The touch panel 309 is a device that combines an input device and a display device, and is attached above the second housing 313. The display device is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel, and displays information regarding the operating state of the registration and settlement device 30 in the form of images and characters. The input device outputs information based on the position touched by the customer CS to the processor 301.

[0053] In addition, the registration and settlement device 30 includes a columnar display pole 322 erected on the rear side of the upper surface 314 of the first housing 312. The display pole 322 has a light emitting part 323 at its upper tip.

[0054] The light emitting part 323 includes a plurality of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) that emit blue light and a plurality of LEDs that emit red light. Note that the reason for using a plurality of LEDs is to obtain light emission intensity, so if the intensity can be maintained with a single LED, each color of LED may be single. The light emitting part 323 may use LEDs of colors different from blue and red, or other light emitting elements. Since the light emitting part 323 is provided at the upper end of the tall display pole 322, it is easily visible not only to the customer CS who is the operator of the registration and settlement device 30, but also to store employees such as an attendant, called an attendant, in the checkout area CA.

[0055] When the registration and settlement device 30 is available and waiting for the customer CS, for example, the light emitting unit 323 emits light in a first light emitting state indicating this, for example, blinking blue. Also, when an error occurs or when the customer CS operating the registration and settlement device 30 touches a store clerk call button or the like arranged on the touch panel 309, the light emitting unit 323 emits light in a second light emitting state, for example, blinking red, to notify the store clerk of the call.

[0056] Also, the display pole 322 has a display 310 for displaying images and characters below the light emitting unit 323. The display 310 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel. The display 310 displays, for example, the details of errors generated in the registration and settlement device 30.

[0057] In such a registration and settlement device 30, the customer CS places the purchased goods or the goods basket BK containing them within the reading range of the RFID reader 15 indicated by the guide mark 19 on the mounting table 18. Then, the RFID reader 15 of the registration and settlement device 30 reads the RFID tags attached to each purchased good and outputs the read product data to the processor 301. The processor 301 temporarily stores the product data of each purchased good in the main memory 302 and generates display data based on the product data, which is then displayed on the display screen of the display device of the touch panel 16.

[0058] The customer CS checks this display content and touches a predetermined key such as "Proceed to Accounting" for instructing to start the settlement, which is displayed together with the display data on the touch panel 16. In response to this touch operation, the processor 301 calculates the total amount and the like based on the product data registered in one transaction corresponding to the customer CS temporarily stored in the main memory 12, and generates registration information including details of the purchased goods, the total amount, and other information in one transaction to be processed. Then, the processor 301 displays a settlement guide including this registration information and the like on the display screen of the display device of the touch panel 309.

[0059] Customer CS performs payment settlement, that is, settlement processing, by following the displayed guide to insert cash according to the price, or by using an e-commerce (EC) method such as credit card payment, electronic money payment, point payment, or code payment. Code payment is also referred to as mobile payment or smartphone payment. For example, it can be used by associating a code with a credit card or electronic money in advance in a product purchase application installed on an information terminal such as a smartphone owned by customer CS. In response to the completion of the settlement, the processor 301 issues a receipt by the printer 307 according to the registration information. The registration information may include not only information such as the breakdown of purchased products and the total amount, but also other information necessary for receipt printing. For example, as other information, the registration information can include promotional information for receipt printing. Further, after the processor 301 stores the registered information that has been settled as transaction history information in the auxiliary storage device 303, it clears the information temporarily stored in the main memory 302 to prepare for the processing by the next customer CS.

[0060] As described above, also in the registration settlement device 30 to which the data processing device according to the second embodiment is applied, similar to the first embodiment, an RFID reader 15 that reads data related to a product from an RFID tag attached to the product, a touch panel 16 that displays the product data read from the RFID tag by the RFID reader 15, and a guide mark 19 that indicates the position where the product or the product cage BK containing the product should be placed to read the RFID tag attached to the product are provided at the center of the placement surface, and a display screen of the touch panel 16 is arranged close to the outer periphery of the guide mark 19. Therefore, according to the data processing device according to the second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress the movement of the customer CS's line of sight and focus.

[0061] The embodiments of the data processing device have been described above, but such embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0062] For example, in the first and second embodiments, the positioning mark indicating the reading range of the RFID reader 15 is the guide mark 19 in the form indicating the four corners of the position where the product or the product cage BK should be placed. However, the present invention is not limited to such a form. The positioning mark may be a rectangular guide frame indicating the entire range, or may be in the form of a rectangular area with a different color from the mounting table 18. Furthermore, it does not have to be rectangular.

[0063] Also, although it has been described that the guide mark 19 is arranged at the center of the mounting table 18, the present invention is not limited thereto. The guide mark 19 may coincide with the customer-side end of the mounting table 18 and the customer CS-side end of the guide mark 19 without providing a space between the customer CS.

[0064] In the first and second embodiments, the display for displaying the product data read from the RFID tag by the RFID reader 15 is the touch panel 16. However, a display device without an input function may also be used. In this case, the operation member may be separately installed, for example, in the vicinity of the display device on the mounting surface of the mounting table 18.

[0065] In addition, 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, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope of the invention and are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0066] 10... Registration device, 11,301... Processor, 12,302... Main memory, 13,303... Auxiliary storage device, 14,304... LAN interface, 15... RFID reader, 16,309... Touch panel, 17,311... System transmission path, 18... Mounting table, 19... Guide mark, 20... Settlement device, 30... Registration and settlement device, 305... Deposit and withdrawal device, 306... Scanner, 307... Printer, 308... Card reader, 310... Display, BK... Product cage, CA... Checkout area, CS... Customer, ST... Soccer table.

Claims

1. A wireless tag reader that reads data related to the article from a wireless tag attached to the article, A display that displays the data read from the wireless tag by the wireless tag reader, A mounting table having a positioning mark at the center of the mounting surface for indicating a position where the article or the container in which the article is housed should be placed in order to read the wireless tag attached to the article, and having a display screen of the display disposed adjacent to the outer periphery of the positioning mark, A data processing device comprising the same.

2. The display is arranged in a range where no defocusing occurs with respect to the focus adjusted to the article placed on the mounting surface or the article housed in the container placed on the mounting surface in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface, and is located on either the right side or the left side of the area of the mounting surface surrounded by the positioning mark. The data processing device according to claim 1.

3. The display is arranged such that the mounting surface and the surface of the display screen are in the same plane, and is located on the front side of the area of the mounting surface surrounded by the positioning mark. The data processing device according to claim 1.

4. The display is arranged at a position where the article or the container placed on the mounting surface according to the positioning mark and the display screen are within the same visual field of the operator. The data processing device according to claim 1.

5. The area of the mounting surface surrounded by the positioning mark corresponds to the reading range of the wireless tag reader. The data processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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