Article trade in system

Abstract

To provide an article trade in system with reduced running costs.SOLUTION: An article trade in system 1 comprises: a reception apparatus 21 that includes an identification information acquisition apparatus for acquiring identification information that identifies a user, encodes the acquired identification information to generate an identification code, and outputs it to a recording medium; an identification information reading apparatus 35 that reads the identification code from the recording medium and decodes it into the identification information; a weighing apparatus that measures the weight of an article RS; a control apparatus 40 that calculates the total trade in price, which is associated with each piece of identification information, from the weight of the article RS received from the weighing apparatus and the trade in price for each item of the article RS that is separately stored; and a settlement apparatus 50 that reads the identification code from the recording medium using a settlement identification information reading apparatus 51, decodes it into the identification information, and settles the amount equivalent to the total trade in price in accordance with instructions received from the control apparatus 40 in response to the identification information transmitted to the control apparatus 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an item buying system. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, the concept of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) has been proposed, and efforts are being made in various fields to put it into practice. The SDGs have 17 goals. Among these, Goal 12 (Sustainable Consumption and Production), which aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns, includes the target of "significantly reducing waste emissions through recycling and reuse."

[0003] While recycling and reuse can be achieved through the production activities of companies and other organizations, they can also be achieved through actions that ordinary consumers can take immediately at home. These activities at home are attracting attention as "SDGs from the home."

[0004] Recycling and reuse that ordinary consumers can participate in have traditionally been carried out by (1) bringing items from each household to collection activities for recyclable materials and other items run by local governments or neighborhood associations, and (2) bringing items to businesses that buy and sell unwanted items, such as second-hand clothing stores and recycling shops.

[0005] Regarding (1) above, collection days and times were limited, making it difficult for busy consumers to use. Furthermore, regarding (2) above, even if items were usable, only items that could be resold were purchased, resulting in many valuable items having to be discarded.

[0006] Therefore, it is possible to develop a business model that is easy for busy consumers to use, collects items that cannot be resold, and purchases them according to their value.

[0007] When developing such a business model, the issues are where and how to collect items and how to carry out purchasing operations efficiently.

[0008] The applicant has previously developed a system that takes these problems into consideration and has already obtained a patent for it (Patent Document 1).

[0009] However, this system had problems with cost reductions such as staff reductions. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7232486 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide an item buying system that reduces running costs.

[0012] The contents of the above "Background Art" and "Problem to be Solved by the Invention" indicate the opportunity (trigger) that led to the invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the invention, nor do they permit a limited interpretation of the technical scope of the invention (see 2005 (Gyo-Ke) No. 10042 and the Patent Office Examination Guidelines, Part II, Chapter 2, Section 2, 3.2.1 as of the filing date). [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The present invention provides an item purchasing system comprising: an identification information acquisition device that acquires identification information that identifies a user, a reception device that encodes the acquired identification information to generate an identification code and outputs it to a recording medium; a container to which the recording medium is attached and in which an item is stored; an identification information reading device that reads the identification code from the recording medium and decodes it into the identification information; a weighing device that weighs the container transported by the user as a total container weight including the weight of the item; a control device that is associated with each of the identification information and calculates the weight of the item based on the total container weight received from the weighing device and the weight of the container stored in advance, and calculates a total purchase price from the weight of the item and the purchase price for each item of the item that is stored separately; and a settlement device that reads the identification code from the recording medium using a settlement identification information reading device, decodes it into the identification information, sends it to the control device, and settles an amount equivalent to the total purchase price in accordance with instructions received from the control device for the identification information sent to the control device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an item buying-back system with reduced running costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a goods buying-back system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a transaction database according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a price database according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the goods buying-back system of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a goods buying-back system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a transaction database according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7]10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the goods buying-back system of the second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a goods buying-back system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a goods buying-back system according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The goods buying / selling system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below.

[0017] (First embodiment) 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an article buying and selling system 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the article buying and selling system 1 includes a reception device 21 equipped with an identification information acquisition device, an identification information reading device 35, one or more types of weighing devices, namely, a loading and transporting weighing device 32 and a stationary weighing device 33, a control device 40, and a settlement device 50.

[0018] The identification information acquisition device includes a calculation device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage device such as a memory, and a communication device. The identification information acquisition device receives information for identifying a user from a touch panel or a reader / writer that reads and writes data from a wireless tag, or an imaging device that acquires an image of a driver's license, My Number card, or the like, and transmits the information, such as the personal identification number written on the My Number card, the driver's license number, or various numbers on a health insurance card, to the reception device 21. The identification information acquisition device may also identify a user using information such as a user ID or biometric authentication information that identifies the user and is registered in advance in an authentication system provided in the control device 40, and transmit one of these pieces of information as identification information to the reception device 21.

[0019] The reception device 21 includes a calculation device such as a CPU, a storage device such as a memory, a communication device, an input / output device such as a touch panel that inputs information to the calculation device based on user operation, and a media output device such as a printer device or a wireless tag reader / writer that outputs information to a recording medium such as paper or an RFID, a so-called wireless tag.

[0020] The reception device 21 transmits the identification information received from the identification information acquisition device to the control device 40. The reception device 21 waits for a response from the control device 40, converts the identification information together with the name of the item RS input from the input / output device and other information into a computer-readable code such as a barcode or two-dimensional code on a recording medium, and outputs a container identification tag BC1 to be affixed to the container TR, and a user identification tag BC2 that the user carries and uses when settling the account.

[0021] The identification information reader 35 is installed near the weighing device and reads codes output to a medium, and includes a so-called barcode reader, a reader / writer for wireless tags, etc. The identification information reader 35 reads the identification information written on the container identification tag BC1 affixed to the container TR and transmits it to the control device 40.

[0022] The weighing device (such as a mounted and transportable weighing device 32 or a stationary weighing device 33) measures the weight of the item RS contained in the tare TR as the tare TR or the total weight of the tare TR and the movable tare CR as the total tare weight, and subtracts the weight of the tare TR and, if necessary, the movable tare CR stored in advance in a memory device from the measured total tare weight to calculate the weight of the item RS and transmits the weight together with identification information to the settlement device 50.

[0023] The loading / conveying weighing device 32 includes a conveying unit, such as a belt conveyor or multiple rollers, on which the weighing objects are placed and transported, and a weighing unit located below the weighing object placement surface of the conveying unit. The loading / conveying weighing device 32 weighs the weighed objects placed on it when the weighing objects reach the weighing unit and stop moving. Because the loading / conveying weighing device 32 is high above the installation surface, it can be used to weigh items RS that are heavy enough for a user to carry by hand (hereinafter referred to as "portable items"). Because the stationary weighing device 33 is low above the installation surface, it can be used to weigh items RS that are heavy enough for a user to carry by hand (hereinafter referred to as "unportable items"). The user uses a user-accessible conveying device, such as the loading / conveying unit 31 or a portable tare CR, to transport a tare TR containing the items RS to the weighing device and weigh it.

[0024] In the case of a portable heavy object, the user attaches a container identification tag BC1 to a container TR and places an item RS in the container TR. The container TR containing the item RS is then placed on a loading and conveying unit 31, which is provided as needed, and moved to the loading and conveying weighing device 32 for weighing. The loading and conveying unit 31 is equipped with a device for placing and conveying the objects to be conveyed, such as a belt conveyor or multiple rollers, and the surface on which the objects to be conveyed are placed is adjusted to be approximately the same height as the surface on which the objects to be weighed of the loading and conveying weighing device 32 are placed. During weighing, the identification information reader 35 reads the identification information written on the container identification tag BC1 attached to the container TR and transmits it to the control device 40.

[0025] In the case of an unportable heavy object, the user first attaches the container identification tag BC1 to the container TR, places the container TR on a portable container CR, and places the item RS in the placed container TR. The portable container CR can be a transport device such as a cart that the user can push and move. The portable container CR is then pushed and moved to place it on the stationary weighing device, and the weight of the container TR and the portable container CR is measured by the stationary weighing device 33. At this time, the identification information reader 35 reads the identification information written on the container identification tag BC1 attached to the container TR and transmits it to the control device 40.

[0026] A so-called server device or a store controller can be used as the control device 40. In either case, the control device 40 includes a control unit 41 including a calculation device such as a CPU, a storage unit 42 including a storage device such as a memory, and a communication unit 43 including a communication device.

[0027] The memory unit 42 stores a transaction DB421 (hereinafter, the database will be referred to as DB) that stores identification information and transaction details for each transaction for each user ID, which is an identifier uniquely assigned to a user, and a price DB422 that stores the market price of the item RS and the purchase price of the item RS for each item indicating the type of the item RS.

[0028] The communication unit 43 includes a communication device that communicates with each device in the goods buying / selling system 1, and a communication unit that communicates with an external server 70 via a public communication network 60 such as the Internet.

[0029] The control device 40 can also acquire the market price for each item from the external server 70 via the communication unit 43.

[0030] A so-called kiosk terminal can be used as the settlement device 50. The settlement device 50 includes a settlement identification information reading device 51, such as a barcode reader or a reader / writer for a wireless tag, that reads a code output on a medium, and a cash dispensing device that dispenses cash.

[0031] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the data configuration of the transaction DB 421. As shown in Fig. 2, the transaction DB 421 stores, in a main table, a customer ID, which is an identifier uniquely assigned to each user, identification information, which is an identifier for identifying each user, and other information. In this embodiment, the above-mentioned personal information and the like are stored as the identification information.

[0032] Other information includes, for example, the medium identification number of the electronic money medium used by the user for payment, and the customer's contact information collected as necessary.

[0033] The transaction DB421 stores in a sub-table the transaction ID, which is an identifier uniquely assigned to each transaction, the customer ID as a pointer indicating the relationship with the main table, the transaction date, the item ID for each item involved in the transaction, the market price at the time of purchase, the purchase price, the weight, the purchase amount for each item, and the total purchase amount.

[0034] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the data configuration of the price DB 422. As shown in Fig. 3, the price DB 422 stores an item ID, which is an identifier uniquely assigned to each item of the product RS, an item name corresponding to the item ID, a market price at which the item is purchased, and a purchase price at which the item is purchased.

[0035] Here, the typical items included in the items RS that are eligible for purchase are as follows: Newspapers, magazines, books, and other printed materials Cardboard, cardboard Other papers · Textiles such as clothing Plastic bottles Aluminum products, etc. (Aluminum products include aluminum cans and aluminum pieces.) Iron products (steel cans, iron pieces, iron scraps) Other metal products (copper products, nickel-chrome products) · Products containing precious metals (electronic products, electronic components, and other parts containing gold, silver, platinum, palladium, etc.) Small appliances and other consumer electronics Tableware (ceramics, lacquerware, metal tableware such as forks and spoons) Cookware (pots, kettles, rice scoops, spatulas, etc.) Toys, games, other play equipment, sports equipment, musical instruments containing metal · Plant-derived oils such as tempura oil

[0036] The items included in the RS of goods eligible for purchase are not limited to those listed above, but also include items that are difficult to resell due to their condition at the time of purchase, items that are deemed impossible to purchase at recycling shops, etc., other RS of goods that still have value in the items themselves, and waste that contains valuables.

[0037] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the goods buying-back system 1. As shown in FIG. 4, in step S001, the control unit of the reception device 21 receives, from the identification information acquisition device 10, identification information for identifying a user.

[0038] In step S002, the control unit of the reception device 21 transmits the received vehicle registration number to the control device 40 as identification information.

[0039] In step S003, the control unit 41 of the control device 40 performs a reception process. The reception process, for example, issues a transaction number based on the date and time of the start of the reception process and stores the transaction number in a temporary file in the storage unit 42. Next, based on the received identification information, it determines whether or not there is a customer ID with corresponding identification information stored in the transaction DB 421.

[0040] If the control unit 41 of the control device 40 determines that a customer ID having corresponding identification information is stored in the transaction DB 421, it reads out the customer ID, and if it determines that a customer ID having corresponding identification information is not stored in the transaction DB 421, it issues a new customer ID and stores it in the transaction DB 421. Furthermore, the control unit 41 of the control device 40 issues a new transaction ID and stores it in the transaction DB 421.

[0041] In step S004, the control unit 41 of the control device 40 transmits to the reception device 21 the identification information, the transaction ID, and information indicating that reception has been completed.

[0042] In step S005, the control unit of the reception device 21 outputs a container identification tag BC1 and a user identification tag BC2 on which an identification code in which the identification information and the transaction ID are encoded is written.

[0043] In step S006, the control unit 41 of the control device 40 determines whether identification information has been received from the weighing device. If the control unit 41 determines that identification information has been received from the weighing device (Y in step S006), it proceeds to step S008, and if it determines that identification information has not been received from the weighing device (N in step S006), it returns to step S006.

[0044] In step S007, the control unit of the weighing device decodes the identification code received from the identification information reader 35 into identification information and transmits it to the control device 40.

[0045] In step S008, the control unit 41 of the control device 40 searches the transaction DB 421 based on the identification information received from the weighing device, reads out the item ID from the active transaction ID of the customer ID having the corresponding identification information, and sends a weighing processing instruction together with the read item ID to the weighing device.

[0046] In step S009, the control unit of the weighing device weighs the item RS placed on the weighing device, subtracts the weight of the tare weight TR, etc., and transmits the weighing result to the control device 40.

[0047] In step S010, the control unit 41 of the control device 40 performs a transaction process to calculate the purchase price for each item based on the received weight and the market price and purchase price read by searching the price DB 422 based on the item ID, and store the calculated purchase price in the transaction DB 421.

[0048] In step S011, the control unit 41 of the control device 40 determines whether identification information has been received from the settlement device 50. If the control unit 41 determines that identification information has been received from the settlement device 50 (Y in step S011), the control unit 41 proceeds to step S013, and if the control unit 41 does not determine that identification information has been received from the settlement device 50 (N in step S011), the control unit 41 returns to step S011.

[0049] In step S012 , the control unit of the settlement device 50 decodes the identification code received from the settlement identification information reader 51 into identification information and transmits it to the control device 40 .

[0050] In step S013, the control unit 41 of the control device 40 searches the transaction DB 421 based on the identification information received from the settlement device 50, reads the purchase price for each item and the total purchase price from the active transaction ID of the customer ID having the corresponding identification information, and sends a settlement processing instruction to the settlement device 50.

[0051] In step S014, the control unit of the settlement device 50 performs settlement processing to dispense cash equivalent to the received total purchase price.

[0052] In step S015, the control unit of the settlement device 50 transmits information to the control device 40 that the settlement has been completed.

[0053] In step S016, the control unit 41 of the control device 40 performs a transaction closing process to store information indicating that the settlement has been completed in the corresponding transaction ID and close the transaction, and then ends the process.

[0054] As described above, the goods purchasing system 1 of this embodiment is equipped with an identification information acquisition device that acquires identification information that identifies a user, a reception device 21 that encodes the acquired identification information to generate an identification code and outputs it to a recording medium, an identification information reading device 35 that reads the identification code from the recording medium and decodes it into identification information, a weighing device that measures the weight of the goods RS, a control device 40 that is associated with each identification information and calculates the total purchase price from the weight of the goods RS received from the weighing device and the purchase price for each item of goods RS that is stored separately, and a settlement device 50 that reads the identification code from the recording medium using a settlement identification information reading device 51, decodes it into identification information, and settles an amount equivalent to the total purchase price in accordance with instructions received from the control device 40 for the identification information sent to the control device 40.

[0055] Therefore, according to this embodiment, there is no need for staff to handle reception and staff to handle settlement, equipment costs are reduced, the time required to purchase items RS is shortened, and it is difficult for staff to commit fraud, which has the effect of providing an item purchasing system with reduced running costs.

[0056] (Second embodiment) 5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the goods buying and selling system 1 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the goods buying and selling system 1 includes an identification information acquisition device 10 including an imaging device 11, a reception device 21, an identification information reading device 35, one or more types of weighing devices, namely, a loading and transporting weighing device 32 and a stationary weighing device 33, a control device 40, and a settlement device 50.

[0057] The imaging device 11 is a so-called camera that captures an image of an object and outputs image data. The imaging device 11 captures an image of the license plate of the vehicle of the user who brings in the article RS and outputs the captured image to the identification information acquisition device 10.

[0058] The identification information acquisition device 10 includes a calculation device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage device such as a memory, and a communication device. The identification information acquisition device 10 extracts the vehicle registration number printed on the license plate from the image data received from the imaging device 11, converts it into text data, and then transmits it to the reception device 21. For this process, a publicly known application for converting images into text data can be used.

[0059] The reception device 21 includes a calculation device such as a CPU, a storage device such as a memory, a communication device, an input / output device such as a touch panel that inputs information to the calculation device based on user operation, and a media output device such as a printer device or a wireless tag reader / writer that outputs information to a recording medium such as paper or an RFID, a so-called wireless tag.

[0060] The reception device 21 transmits the vehicle registration number received from the identification information acquisition device 10 as identification information to the control device 40. The reception device 21 waits for a response from the control device 40, converts the identification information together with the name of the item RSRS input from the input / output device into a computer-readable code such as a barcode or two-dimensional code on a recording medium, and outputs a container identification tag BC1 to be affixed to the container TR and a user identification tag BC2 to be carried by the user and used when settling the account.

[0061] The identification information reader 35 is installed near the weighing device and reads codes output to a medium, and includes a so-called barcode reader, a reader / writer for wireless tags, etc. The identification information reader 35 reads the identification information written on the container identification tag BC1 affixed to the container TR and transmits it to the control device 40.

[0062] The weighing device (such as a mounted and transportable weighing device 32 or a stationary weighing device 33) measures the weight of the item RS contained in the tare TR as the tare TR or the total weight of the tare TR and the movable tare CR as the total tare weight, and subtracts the weight of the tare TR and, if necessary, the movable tare CR stored in advance in a memory device from the measured total tare weight to calculate the weight of the item RS and transmits the weight together with identification information to the settlement device 50.

[0063] The loading / conveying weighing device 32 includes a conveying unit, such as a belt conveyor or multiple rollers, on which the weighing objects are placed and transported, and a weighing unit located below the weighing object placement surface of the conveying unit. The loading / conveying weighing device 32 weighs the weighed objects placed on it when the weighing objects reach the weighing unit and stop moving. Because the loading / conveying weighing device 32 is high above the installation surface, it can be used to weigh items RS that are heavy enough for a user to carry by hand (hereinafter referred to as "portable items"). Because the stationary weighing device 33 is low above the installation surface, it can be used to weigh items RS that are heavy enough for a user to carry by hand (hereinafter referred to as "unportable items"). The user uses a user-accessible conveying device, such as the loading / conveying unit 31 or a portable tare CR, to transport a tare TR containing the items RS to the weighing device and weigh it.

[0064] In the case of a portable heavy object, the user attaches a container identification tag BC1 to a container TR and places an item RS in the container TR. The container TR containing the item RS is then placed on a loading and conveying unit 31, which is provided as needed, and moved to the loading and conveying weighing device 32 for weighing. The loading and conveying unit 31 is equipped with a device for placing and conveying the objects to be conveyed, such as a belt conveyor or multiple rollers, and the surface on which the objects to be conveyed are placed is adjusted to be approximately the same height as the surface on which the objects to be weighed of the loading and conveying weighing device 32 are placed. During weighing, the identification information reader 35 reads the identification information written on the container identification tag BC1 attached to the container TR and transmits it to the control device 40.

[0065] In the case of an unportable heavy object, the user first attaches the container identification tag BC1 to the container TR, places the container TR on a portable container CR, and places the item RS in the placed container TR. The portable container CR can be a transport device such as a cart that the user can push and move. The portable container CR is then pushed and moved to place it on the stationary weighing device, and the weight of the container TR and the portable container CR is measured by the stationary weighing device 33. At this time, the identification information reader 35 reads the identification information written on the container identification tag BC1 attached to the container TR and transmits it to the control device 40.

[0066] A so-called server device or a store controller can be used as the control device 40. In either case, the control device 40 includes a control unit 41 including a calculation device such as a CPU, a storage unit 42 including a storage device such as a memory, and a communication unit 43 including a communication device.

[0067] The memory unit 42 stores a transaction DB421 (hereinafter, the database will be referred to as DB) that stores identification information and transaction details for each transaction for each user ID, which is an identifier uniquely assigned to a user, and a price DB422 that stores the market price of the item RS and the purchase price of the item RS for each item indicating the type of the item RS.

[0068] The communication unit 43 includes a communication device that communicates with each device in the goods buying / selling system 1, and a communication unit that communicates with an external server 70 via a public communication network 60 such as the Internet.

[0069] The control device 40 can also acquire the market price for each item from the external server 70 via the communication unit 43.

[0070] A so-called kiosk terminal can be used as the settlement device 50. The settlement device 50 includes a settlement identification information reading device 51, such as a barcode reader or a reader / writer for a wireless tag, that reads a code output on a medium, and a cash dispensing device that dispenses cash.

[0071] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the data configuration of the transaction DB 421. As shown in Fig. 6, the transaction DB 421 stores, in a main table, a customer ID which is an identifier uniquely assigned to each user, identification information which is an identifier for identifying each user, and other information.

[0072] In this embodiment, the vehicle registration number written on the license plate of the vehicle entered by the user is stored as the identification information.

[0073] Other information includes, for example, the medium identification number of the electronic money medium used by the user for payment, and the customer's contact information collected as necessary.

[0074] The transaction DB421 stores in a sub-table the transaction ID, which is an identifier uniquely assigned to each transaction, the customer ID as a pointer indicating the relationship with the main table, the transaction date, the item ID for each item involved in the transaction, the market price at the time of purchase, the purchase price, the weight, the purchase amount for each item, and the total purchase amount.

[0075] The data configuration of the price DB 422 of this embodiment is similar to the data configuration of the price DB 422 of the first embodiment.

[0076] 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the goods buying / selling system 1. As shown in FIG.

[0077] In step S102, the control unit of the reception device 21 transmits the received vehicle registration number to the control device 40 as identification information.

[0078] In step S103, the control unit 41 of the control device 40 performs a reception process. The reception process, for example, generates a transaction number based on the date and time of the start of the reception process and stores the transaction number in a temporary file in the storage unit 42. Next, based on the received identification information, it determines whether or not there is a customer ID with corresponding identification information stored in the transaction DB 421.

[0079] If the control unit 41 of the control device 40 determines that a customer ID having corresponding identification information is stored in the transaction DB 421, it reads out the customer ID, and if it determines that a customer ID having corresponding identification information is not stored in the transaction DB 421, it issues a new customer ID and stores it in the transaction DB 421. Furthermore, the control unit 41 of the control device 40 issues a new transaction ID and stores it in the transaction DB 421.

[0080] In step S104, the control unit 41 of the control device 40 transmits to the reception device 21 the identification information, the transaction ID, and information indicating that reception has been completed.

[0081] In step S105, the control unit of the reception device 21 outputs a container identification tag BC1 and a user identification tag BC2 on which an identification code in which the identification information and the transaction ID are encoded is written.

[0082] In step S106, the control unit 41 of the control device 40 determines whether identification information has been received from the weighing device. If the control unit 41 determines that identification information has been received from the weighing device (Y in step S106), it proceeds to step S108, and if it does not determine that identification information has been received from the weighing device (N in step S106), it returns to step S106.

[0083] In step S107, the control unit of the weighing device decodes the identification code received from the identification information reader 35 into identification information and transmits it to the control device 40.

[0084] In step S108, the control unit 41 of the control device 40 searches the transaction DB 421 based on the identification information received from the weighing device, reads the item ID from the active transaction ID of the customer ID having the corresponding identification information, and sends a weighing processing instruction together with the read item ID to the weighing device.

[0085] In step S109, the control unit of the weighing device weighs the item RS placed on the weighing device, subtracts the weight of the tare weight TR, etc., and transmits the weighing result to the control device 40.

[0086] In step S110, the control unit 41 of the control device 40 performs a transaction process to calculate the purchase price for each item based on the received weight and the market price and purchase price read by searching the price DB 422 based on the item ID, and store the calculated purchase price in the transaction DB 421.

[0087] In step S111, the control unit 41 of the control device 40 determines whether identification information has been received from the settlement device 50. If the control unit 41 determines that identification information has been received from the settlement device 50 (Y in step S111), the process proceeds to step S113, and if the control unit 41 does not determine that identification information has been received from the settlement device 50 (N in step S111), the process returns to step S111.

[0088] In step S112, the control unit of the settlement device 50 decodes the identification code received from the settlement identification information reader 51 into identification information and transmits it to the control device 40.

[0089] In step S113, the control unit 41 of the control device 40 searches the transaction DB 421 based on the identification information received from the settlement device 50, reads the purchase amount for each item and the total purchase amount from the active transaction ID of the customer ID having the corresponding identification information, and sends a settlement processing instruction to the settlement device 50.

[0090] In step S114, the control unit of the settlement device 50 performs settlement processing to dispense cash equivalent to the received total purchase price.

[0091] In step S115, the control unit of the settlement device 50 transmits information to the control device 40 that the settlement has been completed.

[0092] In step S116, the control unit 41 of the control device 40 performs a transaction closing process to store information indicating that the settlement has been completed in the corresponding transaction ID and close the transaction, and then ends the process.

[0093] As described above, the item purchasing system 1 of this embodiment comprises an identification information acquisition device 10 that acquires identification information that identifies a user, a reception device 21 that encodes the acquired identification information to generate an identification code and outputs it to a recording medium, an identification information reading device 35 that reads the identification code from the recording medium and decodes it into identification information, a weighing device that measures the weight of the item RS, a control device 40 that is associated with each identification information and calculates the total purchase price from the weight of the item RS received from the weighing device and the purchase price for each item of the item RS that is stored separately, and a settlement device 50 that reads the identification code from the recording medium using a settlement identification information reading device 51, decodes it into identification information, and settles an amount equivalent to the total purchase price in accordance with instructions received from the control device 40 for the identification information sent to the control device 40.

[0094] Therefore, according to this embodiment, there is no need for staff to handle reception and staff to handle settlement, the time required to purchase items RS is further reduced, and it becomes more difficult for staff to commit fraud, which has the effect of providing an item purchasing system with reduced running costs.

[0095] The identification information reader 35 can also use fingerprint information received from the fingerprint reader as identification information.

[0096] (Third embodiment) In the goods buying / selling system 1 of the second embodiment, the vehicle registration number printed on the license plate is extracted from the image data received from the imaging device 11 and converted into text data, and used as the identification information.

[0097] In contrast, the buying and selling system 1 of this embodiment extracts facial authentication data such as the user's facial features from the image data received from the imaging device 11 as identification information, and uses the extracted features as identification information.

[0098] The following describes the goods buying / selling system 1 of this embodiment, focusing on the differences from the goods buying / selling system 1 of the first embodiment.

[0099] 8 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the goods buying and selling system 1 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the goods buying and selling system 1 includes an identification information acquisition device 10 including an imaging device 11, a reception device 21, an identification information reading device 35, one or more types of weighing devices, namely, a loading and transporting type weighing device 32 and a stationary type weighing device 33, a control device 40, and a settlement device 50.

[0100] The imaging device 11 is a so-called camera that captures an image of an object and outputs image data. The imaging device 11 captures an image of the face of a user who brings in an article RS and outputs the captured image to the identification information acquisition device 10.

[0101] The identification information acquisition device 10 includes a computing device such as a CPU, a storage device such as a memory, and a communication device. The identification information acquisition device 10 extracts the face of the user from image data received from the imaging device 11, extracts features, and then transmits the extracted features to the reception device 21. A known face recognition application can be used for this process.

[0102] The reception device 21 includes a calculation device such as a CPU, a storage device such as a memory, a communication device, an input / output device such as a touch panel that inputs information to the calculation device based on user operation, and a media output device such as a printer device or a wireless tag reader / writer that outputs information to a recording medium such as paper or an RFID, a so-called wireless tag.

[0103] The reception device 21 transmits the vehicle registration number received from the identification information acquisition device 10 as identification information to the control device 40. The reception device 21 waits for a response from the control device 40, converts the identification information together with the name of the item RS input from the input / output device and other information into a computer-readable code such as a barcode or two-dimensional code on a recording medium, and outputs a container identification tag BC1 to be affixed to the container TR and a user identification tag BC2 to be carried by the user and used when settling the account.

[0104] The identification information reader 35 is installed near the weighing device and reads codes output to a medium, and includes a so-called barcode reader, a reader / writer for wireless tags, etc. The identification information reader 35 reads the identification information written on the container identification tag BC1 affixed to the container TR and transmits it to the control device 40.

[0105] The weighing device (such as a mounted and transportable weighing device 32 or a stationary weighing device 33) measures the weight of the item RS contained in the tare TR as the tare TR or the total weight of the tare TR and the movable tare CR as the total tare weight, and subtracts the weight of the tare TR and, if necessary, the movable tare CR stored in advance in a memory device from the measured total tare weight to calculate the weight of the item RS and transmits the weight together with identification information to the settlement device 50.

[0106] The loading / conveying weighing device 32 includes a conveying unit, such as a belt conveyor or multiple rollers, on which the weighing objects are placed and transported, and a weighing unit located below the weighing object placement surface of the conveying unit. The loading / conveying weighing device 32 weighs the weighed objects placed on it when the weighing objects reach the weighing unit and stop moving. Because the loading / conveying weighing device 32 is high above the installation surface, it can be used to weigh items RS that are heavy enough for a user to carry by hand (hereinafter referred to as "portable items"). Because the stationary weighing device 33 is low above the installation surface, it can be used to weigh items RS that are heavy enough for a user to carry by hand (hereinafter referred to as "unportable items"). The user uses a user-accessible conveying device, such as the loading / conveying unit 31 or a portable tare CR, to transport a tare TR containing the items RS to the weighing device and weigh it.

[0107] In the case of a portable heavy object, the user attaches a container identification tag BC1 to a container TR and places an item RS in the container TR. The container TR containing the item RS is then placed on a loading and conveying unit 31, which is provided as needed, and moved to the loading and conveying weighing device 32 for weighing. The loading and conveying unit 31 is equipped with a device for placing and conveying the objects to be conveyed, such as a belt conveyor or multiple rollers, and the surface on which the objects to be conveyed are placed is adjusted to be approximately the same height as the surface on which the objects to be weighed of the loading and conveying weighing device 32 are placed. During weighing, the identification information reader 35 reads the identification information written on the container identification tag BC1 attached to the container TR and transmits it to the control device 40.

[0108] In the case of an unportable heavy object, the user first attaches the container identification tag BC1 to the container TR, places the container TR on a portable container CR, and places the item RS in the placed container TR. The portable container CR can be a transport device such as a cart that the user can push and move. The portable container CR is then pushed and moved to place it on the stationary weighing device, and the weight of the container TR and the portable container CR is measured by the stationary weighing device 33. At this time, the identification information reader 35 reads the identification information written on the container identification tag BC1 attached to the container TR and transmits it to the control device 40.

[0109] A so-called server device or a store controller can be used as the control device 40. In either case, the control device 40 includes a control unit 41 including a calculation device such as a CPU, a storage unit 42 including a storage device such as a memory, and a communication unit 43 including a communication device.

[0110] The memory unit 42 stores a transaction DB421 (hereinafter, the database will be referred to as DB) that stores identification information and transaction details for each transaction for each user ID, which is an identifier uniquely assigned to a user, and a price DB422 that stores the market price of the item RS and the purchase price of the item RS for each item indicating the type of the item RS.

[0111] The communication unit 43 includes a communication device that communicates with each device in the goods buying / selling system 1, and a communication unit that communicates with an external server 70 via a public communication network 60 such as the Internet.

[0112] The control device 40 can also acquire the market price for each item from the external server 70 via the communication unit 43.

[0113] A so-called kiosk terminal can be used as the settlement device 50. The settlement device 50 includes a settlement identification information reading device 51, such as a barcode reader or a reader / writer for a wireless tag, that reads a code output on a medium, and a cash dispensing device that dispenses cash.

[0114] As described above, the buying / selling system 1 of this embodiment uses feature amounts obtained from image data of the user's face as identification information for identifying the user.

[0115] Therefore, according to this embodiment, there is no need for staff to handle reception and staff to handle settlement, and the time required to purchase item RS is shortened, making it more difficult for staff to commit fraud and for users to commit fraud.

[0116] In this embodiment, face recognition data such as feature amounts extracted from an image of a user's face is stored as identification information in the transaction DB 421 instead of or together with the vehicle registration number.

[0117] Furthermore, the operation of the goods buying / selling system 1 of this embodiment is the same as the operation of the goods buying / selling system 1 of the first embodiment, except that face recognition data is used as identification information instead of a vehicle registration number.

[0118] As described above, the buying / selling system 1 of this embodiment uses face recognition data as identification information.

[0119] Therefore, this has the effect of being applicable to users who bring in the item RS by bicycle or the like, rather than by car.

[0120] (Fourth embodiment) In the goods buying / selling system 1 of the first embodiment, staff had to confirm the type of goods RS when weighing them.

[0121] In contrast, the goods purchasing system 1 of this embodiment uses AI, such as a so-called AI, such as a trained model, to confirm the item of the goods RS when weighing it.

[0122] The following describes the goods buying / selling system 1 of this embodiment, focusing on the differences from the goods buying / selling system 1 of the first embodiment.

[0123] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of the goods buying and selling system 1 of this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 9, the goods buying and selling system 1 further includes an imaging device 12 near the weighing device.

[0124] The external server 70 is equipped with a trained model that has been trained using an image of the item RS as an explanatory variable and the item type of the item RS as a target variable. When the external server 70 receives image data of the item RS from the control device 40, it inputs the received image data into the trained model and transmits text data of the item that has been processed and output by the trained model to the control device 40.

[0125] The control device 40 compares the text data of the item received from the external server 70 with the item entered by the user during the reception process to determine whether they match. The control device 40 sends a weighing instruction to the weighing device only if the two match.

[0126] As described above, the item purchasing system 1 of this embodiment further includes an imaging device 12 near the weighing device, and the control device 40 transmits an image of the item RS captured by the imaging device 12 near the weighing device to an external server 70, transmits the image of the item RS captured by the imaging device 12 near the weighing device to a trained model held by the external server 70, which has been trained using the image of the item RS as an explanatory variable and the item of the item RS as a target variable, receives text data of the item processed and output by the trained model from the external server 70, compares the received text data of the item with the item entered by the user during the reception process, and sends a weighing instruction to the weighing device only if the two match.

[0127] Therefore, according to this embodiment, there is no need for staff to check the type of item RS when weighing it, which has the effect of making it possible to further reduce running costs. [Explanation of symbols]

[0128] 1. Item purchase system 10. Identification information acquisition device 11 Imaging device 12 Goals 12 Imaging device 21 Reception device 31 Loading and conveying section 32 Load-carrying weighing device 33 Stationary weighing device 35 Identification information reader 40 Control device 41 Control Unit 42 Storage section 43 Communications Department 50 Payment device 51 Payment identification information reader 70 External Servers 421 Transaction DB 422 Price DB BC1 Tare identification tag BC2 User Identification Tag CR moving tare RS Goods TR Tare

Claims

1. a reception device that includes an identification information acquisition device that acquires identification information that identifies a user, encodes the acquired identification information to generate an identification code, and outputs the generated identification code to a recording medium; a container to which the recording medium is attached and which contains an item; an identification information reader that reads the identification code from the recording medium and decodes it into the identification information; a weighing device that weighs the container carried by the user as a total container weight including the weight of the item; a control device associated with each of the identification information, which calculates the weight of the items based on the total container weight received from the weighing device and the pre-stored weight of the container, and calculates the total purchase price from the weight of the items and the separately stored purchase price of each item of the items; a settlement device that reads the identification code from the recording medium using a settlement identification information reader, decodes it into identification information, and transmits it to the control device, and settles the amount equivalent to the total purchase price in accordance with instructions received from the control device regarding the identification information transmitted to the control device; An item purchasing system comprising:

2. an identification information acquisition device that acquires identification information that identifies a user; a reception device that encodes the acquired identification information to generate an identification code and outputs the code to a recording medium; a container to which the recording medium is attached and which contains an item; an identification information reader that reads the identification code from the recording medium and decodes it into the identification information; a weighing device that weighs the container carried by the user as a total container weight including the weight of the item; a control device associated with each of the identification information, which calculates the weight of the items based on the total container weight received from the weighing device and the pre-stored weight of the container, and calculates the total purchase price from the weight of the items and the separately stored purchase price of each item of the items; a settlement device that reads the identification code from the recording medium using a settlement identification information reader, decodes it into identification information, and transmits it to the control device, and settles the amount equivalent to the total purchase price in accordance with instructions received from the control device regarding the identification information transmitted to the control device; An item purchasing system comprising:

3. the identification information acquisition device, generating face authentication data from image data of the user's face; The control device The buying-back system according to claim 2 , wherein the facial authentication data is used as the identification information.

4. further comprising an imaging device in the vicinity of the weighing device; The control device An item purchasing system as described in claim 2, which sends an image of the item captured by the imaging device near the weighing device to an external server, sends the image of the item to a trained model held by the external server, which has been trained using the image of the item as an explanatory variable and the item type as a target variable, receives text data of the item processed and output by the trained model from the external server, compares the received text data of the item with the item entered by the user during the reception process, and sends a weighing instruction to the weighing device only if the two match.

Images