Information processing device

Abstract

To provide a POS terminal that is an information processing device capable of reducing a burden on a clerk.SOLUTION: A control section of a POS terminal determines, when receiving a cleaning article from a customer, whether or not there is past image information identical or similar to current image information obtained by an imaging section, in a plurality of pieces of the past image information relating to the customer. When determining that there is the past image information identical or similar to the current image information, the control section makes a touch panel section display the past image information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a POS terminal (cash register) that is an information processing device is known, for example, as described in Patent Document 1 below.

[0003] This conventional POS terminal is installed in a dry cleaning shop and operated by a store clerk, and includes, for example, a control unit, a memory unit, a touch panel unit that serves as an input unit and display unit, and a printing unit (printer unit).

[0004] When accepting (receiving) laundry items from customers who visit the store, the dry cleaning store clerk (operator) operates the POS terminal appropriately to carry out the required reception and accounting procedures for each customer who visits the store. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-138489 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Incidentally, for example, at a POS terminal in a typical retail store, the barcode of the product is read to input the product, so the same product can be input (registered) at the same price, but at a dry cleaning shop, the items that customers leave for cleaning (consigned items) do not have barcodes attached to them to identify them.

[0007] Therefore, for example, in a store where the unit price for a "half court" and a "coat" is different, the fee (cleaning fee) varies depending on the length of the court, so the store clerk must understand such fees and accept the order at the correct price, which places a heavy burden on the store clerk (operator) who is in charge of reception.

[0008] One of the objects of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide an information processing device that can reduce the burden. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] An information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a photographing unit that photographs items to be cleaned to obtain image information, a display unit that displays the information, and a control unit that controls the display unit. When receiving items to be cleaned from a customer, the control unit determines whether or not there is past image information about the customer that is identical or similar to the current image information obtained by the photographing unit, and if it determines that there is past image information that is identical or similar to the current image information, it displays the past image information on the display unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the burden. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a POS terminal that is an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 10 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing of the POS terminal of the same. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen (item input screen) displayed on the POS terminal. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen (a screen showing search results) displayed on the POS terminal. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen (item input screen) displayed on the POS terminal. [Figure 6]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen (inquiry screen) displayed on the POS terminal. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen (item input screen) displayed on the POS terminal. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen (item input screen) displayed on the POS terminal. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen (item input screen) displayed on the POS terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0013] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a POS terminal which is an information processing device. This POS terminal 1 is installed in, for example, a dry cleaning shop and is operated (used) by a clerk (operator) of the dry cleaning shop.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the POS terminal 1 is a POS register for receiving cleaning orders from customers visiting a store, such as a dry cleaner, and for making payments for the items to be cleaned (items left in storage).It is equipped with a control unit 2 which is an information processing unit, a memory unit 3 which stores (registers) information, a touch panel unit 4 which is an input unit and display unit that is operated by a store clerk using a touch to input information and displays the information, a printing unit 5 which prints (outputs) printed materials such as slips, and a reading unit 6 which reads information such as barcodes.

[0015] The POS terminal 1 also includes a photographing unit 7 such as a camera that photographs the items to be cleaned before the cleaning process and acquires image information (still image information, moving image information) each time a cleaning item is received from a customer.

[0016] Still image information, which is image information acquired by the photographing unit 7, is stored (registered) for each customer in the storage unit 3. That is, for example, when receiving laundry items from a customer who visits the store (each time a customer receives a laundry item), still image information (a color photograph of the laundry item), which is image information acquired by the photographing unit 7, is stored in the storage unit 3 in association with the customer information of the same customer.

[0017] That is, in this POS terminal 1, still image information of cleaning items that the store clerk has previously accepted for each of a plurality of customers (member customers) is stored and saved in the storage unit 3.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of the processing performed by the POS terminal 1, and the flow of processing performed when receiving cleaning items will be described with reference to this flowchart.

[0019] First, the POS terminal 1 retrieves customer information of a customer who has visited the dry cleaning shop by reading the customer's membership card or the like (step 1).

[0020] Next, the photographing unit 7 photographs the cleaning item brought by the customer before cleaning, and acquires image information of the cleaning item (step 2).

[0021] Next, the control unit 2 of the POS terminal 1 determines (searches) whether or not there is a past image that is identical to or similar to the still image information (hereinafter simply referred to as the "current image") that is the current image information acquired by the photographing unit 7, among the still image information (hereinafter simply referred to as the "current image") that is the past image information to be searched for stored in the memory unit 3 for the same customer (step 3).

[0022] Then, when the control unit 2 of the POS terminal 1 determines that there is a previous image that is identical or similar to the current image, the control unit 2 causes the touch panel unit 4 to display the previous image that is determined to be identical or similar (step 4).

[0023] Therefore, the store clerk can easily input (register) the same cleaning item that has been received in the past by selecting a past image (one or more selection candidate buttons) displayed on the touch panel unit 4 that shows the same cleaning item as the cleaning item related to the current image.

[0024] In other words, if the inquiry screen described below is not displayed, a past image showing the same cleaning item (clothing, etc.) as this time is selected, and the cleaning item related to the selected past image is automatically called up and entered (registered) as an item to be accepted.

[0025] In addition, when a past image displayed on the touch panel unit 4 is selected, if a value-added service was added to the laundry item related to the selected past image at the time of reception when the image was photographed, or if the laundry item was added as a branded item, the control unit 2 of the POS terminal 1 causes an inquiry screen (screen for confirming the addition) indicating this to be displayed on the touch panel unit 4 (step 5).

[0026] Value-added services include, for example, "water-repellent finish," "crease-crease finish," "sweat-wicking finish," "flame-retardant finish," "fluffy finish," "photocatalytic finish," "antibacterial finish," "stain removal," "glue-free finish," "strong glue," etc., and require additional fees. Similarly to value-added services, brand-name items such as expensive clothing also require additional fees.

[0027] Then, on the inquiry screen displayed on the touch panel unit 4, a confirmation is made as to whether or not the same value-added service etc. is to be added this time (step 6). If it is added, the same value-added service etc. is automatically entered again this time along with the cleaning items (step 7). On the other hand, if it is not added, only the cleaning items are automatically entered (step 8).

[0028] Next, on the overwrite confirmation screen displayed on the touch panel unit 4, it is confirmed whether or not the current image acquired this time should be overwritten by the store clerk on one previous image selected this time (for example, if overwritten every time, the previous previous image) (step 9), and if overwriting is to be performed, the overwriting is executed (step 10), whereas if not overwriting, the current image is associated with the customer information together with its photographing date and the product name and stored (saved) in the storage unit 3 separately from the previous image (step 11). That is, in either case, in order to update the information, the latest current image is newly registered (updated) together with its photographing date and the product name and saved.

[0029] In order to prevent multiple past images from being stored for the same laundry item from the same customer, and all of these past images from becoming searchable, it is preferable to overwrite and delete the previous past image each time, but this configuration is not limited to this. For example, it is also possible to configure the latest current image to be stored and accumulated each time a request is made, without overwriting the current image over the previously selected past image.

[0030] Also, for example, instead of overwriting the current image over the past image selected this time, the past image may be excluded from search targets. In this case, instead of the overwrite confirmation screen described below, a confirmation screen is displayed superimposed on the product input screen to confirm whether or not the past image (the past image selected this time using the selection candidate button) should be excluded from search targets at the next and subsequent receptions. Then, if the store clerk wants to exclude the past image from search targets, he or she touches the "Yes" button on the confirmation screen, and if he or she does not want to exclude the past image from search targets, he or she touches the "No" button on the confirmation screen.

[0031] On the other hand, if the control unit 2 determines in step 3 that there is no image identical or similar to the current image among the registered past images of the same customer, the clerk operates the selection button 16, which will be described later, to input (register) the current laundry items as in a normal reception (step 12). Note that even if a past image determined to be similar is displayed, if the laundry items associated with the similar past image are different from the current items, the clerk will operate the selection button 16 in the same way to input the normal items.

[0032] In addition, the current image of the current cleaning item, along with the date of photographing at the time of reception (which is the first time) and the item name, is stored (saved) in memory unit 3 in association with the customer information of the customer who is leaving the cleaning item (step 13).

[0033] Next, the flow of processing when receiving items for cleaning will be specifically described with reference to the screens shown in FIGS.

[0034] At the POS terminal 1, first, when a customer visits the dry cleaning store, the customer information for that customer is retrieved by, for example, reading the customer's membership card, and then a screen such as that shown in Figure 3 is displayed on the touch panel unit 4 as a product input screen for inputting (registering) the items (products) to be cleaned by that customer into the cash register.

[0035] The screen shown in Figure 3 (screen for entering products) has a customer information display section 11 that displays customer information about the customer (for example, "Light Taro"), a CS information display section 12 that displays customer-related information (CS information) related to the customer, and a transaction information display section 13 that displays transaction information about the entered cleaning products.

[0036] The screen shown in Figure 3 also has a product display section 14 that displays multiple selection buttons 16 for selecting cleaning items (products), etc., and a color / pattern processing display section 15 that displays multiple selection buttons 17 for selecting color / patterns and value-added services (processing methods, etc.).

[0037] Furthermore, the screen shown in Figure 3 has a display section 21 for displaying images that displays image information being captured by the photographing unit 7, which photographs the items to be cleaned before the cleaning process is completed, i.e., moving image information (real-time video) when the items to be cleaned are received.

[0038] Here, when the dry cleaning store receptionist touches the image search operation button (the "Image Recognition" button) 23 on the product input screen shown in Figure 3, the control unit 2 displays the search result (determination result) on the touch panel unit 4, for example, as shown in Figure 4.

[0039] In other words, when the operation button 23 is touched, the current image acquired by the photographing unit 7 based on the touch operation of the operation button 23 is displayed in the current image display section 26, and the result of the determination by the control unit 2 as to whether there is a past image that is identical to or similar to the current image is displayed in the result display section 27.

[0040] In short, when a store clerk touches the operation button 23, the control unit 2 determines whether or not there is a past image that is identical to or similar to the current image displayed in the current image display section 26 among the registered past images related to the search target stored (saved) in the memory unit 3 for the same customer (for example, "Light Taro") currently being served, and the result of this determination is displayed in the result display section 27, for example, as shown in the screen in Figure 4.

[0041] More specifically, if the control unit 2 determines that there is a past image that is identical or similar to the current image, then, as shown in FIG. 4, the past image that the control unit 2 has determined to be identical or similar is displayed in the result display section 27 as a selection candidate button 28 (28a, 28b) along with the date of shooting of the past image and its product name.

[0042] 4, selection candidate button 28 (28a) is an operation button that indicates, for example, a past image, "color photo of half court," its photographing date, "December 3, 2023," and its product name, "half court." Also, selection candidate button 28 (28b) is an operation button that indicates, for example, a past image, "color photo of court," its photographing date, "January 3, 2024," and its product name, "coat."

[0043] Furthermore, when multiple past images are extracted as selection candidates in this way, they are displayed in order of similarity to the current image, and similarity may be determined not only based on whether the images are similar, but also on the recentness of the date they were taken.The selection candidates displayed here are limited to past images taken of only the cleaning items of the current customer, thereby improving the efficiency of image search.

[0044] Furthermore, the screen shown in FIG. 4 has, in addition to the selection candidate button 28, a number of operation buttons, namely, for example, a "retake" button 31, a "no matching product" button 32, and a "confirm" button 33. For example, if you want to take a new image this time, you can simply touch the "retake" button 31.

[0045] Then, when the store clerk looks at the screen shown in Figure 4 and recognizes (judges) that among the displayed past images there is a past image in which the same cleaning item as the cleaning item related to the current image was photographed, the store clerk touches the selection candidate button 28 (28a) indicating that past image, and then presses the "Confirm" button 33 to select that past image.

[0046] 5, the cleaning product (e.g., "half coat") associated with the selected past image is automatically entered. Therefore, the store clerk only needs to select (operate) the selection candidate button 28, and does not need to select (operate) the selection button 16 displayed on the product display section 14.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 5, the transaction information display unit 13 also displays a mark (such as a red circle) 35 indicating that the item is a dry-cleaned item related to a registered past image.

[0048] At this time, an overwrite confirmation screen for confirming whether or not to overwrite the current image with the previous image (the previous image selected this time using the selection candidate button) is displayed superimposed on the product input screen, and this overwrite confirmation screen has multiple operation buttons, such as a "Yes" button 51 and a "No" button 52.

[0049] If the store clerk wishes to overwrite the current image over the previous image, he or she can simply touch the "Yes" button 51. On the other hand, if the store clerk wishes to register the current image separately without overwriting the previous image, he or she can simply touch the "No" button 52.

[0050] Furthermore, if the cleaning item associated with the past image selected using the selection candidate button 28 had additional value added (e.g., "water-repellent finish") and was a branded item (e.g., an item with the brand name "AAAAA") added to it at the time the past image was taken (e.g., the previous time of reception), then, unlike FIG. 5 above, an inquiry screen indicating this will be displayed superimposed on the product input screen, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0051] This inquiry screen has multiple operation buttons, such as a "Yes" button 36 and a "No" button 37. The store clerk who sees this screen then asks the customer whether they would like to add the customer this time as well, and if they confirm, touches the "Yes" button 36.

[0052] 7, the cleaning item (e.g., "half coat") associated with the past image selected using the selection candidate button 28 is automatically entered, and additional fees for value-added services and brand-name items are also automatically entered (added). Therefore, the store clerk only needs to select (operate) the selection candidate button 28, and does not need to select (operate) the selection button 16 displayed on the product display section 14 or the selection button 17 displayed on the color / pattern processing display section 15.

[0053] Also in this case, as in FIG. 5, an overwrite confirmation screen is displayed superimposed on the product input screen, and the store clerk operates the "Yes" button 51 or the "No" button 52 on the overwrite confirmation screen.

[0054] If the "No" button 37 is touched on the inquiry screen shown in FIG. 7, no additional fees for value-added services or the like will be added, and the screen will be as shown in FIG.

[0055] On the other hand, if the control unit 2 determines that there are no past images that are identical or similar to the current image, then nothing will be displayed in the result display section 27 on the screen shown in Figure 4, and the store clerk will touch the "No matching products" button 32.

[0056] Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the current image acquired by the photographing unit 7 based on the touch operation of the button 32, that is, the current still image information, is displayed as an image registration button 41 in the image display portion 21.

[0057] Next, when the store clerk touches the image registration button 41 and the corresponding selection button 16, the cleaning item (e.g., "half coat") related to the selection button 16 is input, and the current image of the cleaning item is stored and registered in the memory unit 3, as shown in FIG.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 9, the transaction information display unit 13 also displays a mark (such as a red circle) 35 indicating that the item is a cleaning item related to the registered current image, similar to FIG. 5 above.

[0059] When the order slip shown in Figure 9 is printed by the printing unit 5, the information about the current image displayed on the display section 21 (including the date of photographing and the product name, etc.) and the information about the cleaning product related to this current image are stored in the memory unit 3 and will be used the next time an order is received.

[0060] According to the above-mentioned POS terminal 1, when receiving laundry items from a customer, the control unit 2 of the POS terminal 1 determines whether or not there is past image information about the customer that is the same as or similar to the current image information acquired by the photographing unit 7, and if it determines that there is past image information that is the same as or similar to the current image information, it displays the past image information on the touch panel unit 4, which is the display unit.Therefore, a clerk who is a receptionist at a dry cleaning store, for example, can use the displayed past image information, thereby reducing the burden on the clerk.

[0061] Furthermore, when past image information (candidate selection button) displayed on the touch panel unit 4 is selected, if a value-added service was added to the laundry item or if the laundry item was added as a brand name item at the time of reception when the image of the laundry item related to the selected past image information was photographed, the control unit 2 will display this information on the touch panel unit 4, thereby further reducing the burden on store staff.

[0062] It is preferable that an information processing device such as a POS terminal is configured with a touch panel unit that serves as both an input unit and a display unit, but this is not limited to this, and for example, the input unit and the display unit may be configured separately.

[0063] Furthermore, the information processing device may further include a management server that can communicate with, for example, a POS terminal via a network, and in this case, image information acquired by, for example, the photographing unit may be stored (saved) in the memory unit of the server. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1. POS terminals, which are information processing devices 2. Control section 4. Touch panel display 7. Photography Department 23 Operation buttons 28 Selection candidate button

Claims

1. an imaging unit that captures an image of the cleaning item to acquire image information; a display unit that displays information; a control unit that controls the display unit, The control unit When receiving laundry items from a customer, it is determined whether or not there is past image information about the customer that is the same as or similar to the current image information acquired by the photographing unit; If it is determined that there is past image information that is the same as or similar to the current image information, the past image information is displayed on the display unit.

1. An information processing device comprising:

2. If the control unit determines that there is past image information that is the same as or similar to the current image information, the control unit causes the display unit to display the past image information as a selection candidate button.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

3. By selecting the past image information displayed on the display unit, the cleaning product related to the selected past image information is input.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is a computer.

4. The control unit When past image information displayed on the display unit is selected, If a value-added service was added to the laundry item related to the selected past image information at the time of reception when the image was photographed, that fact is displayed on the display unit.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is a computer.

5. The control unit When past image information displayed on the display unit is selected, If the cleaning item related to the selected past image information was photographed and the cleaning item was also identified as a branded item at the time of reception, that fact is displayed on the display unit.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is a computer.

6. When an operation button on the product input screen displayed on the display unit is operated, the result of the determination as to whether there is past image information that is the same as or similar to the current image information is displayed.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is a computer.

Images