Self-service checkout device, checkout system, privilege processing machine, control method in self-service checkout device, and program

Abstract

To provide a self-checkout device, a checkout system, a privilege processing machine, and a control method and a program in the self-checkout device, allowing a customer to more smoothly use a privilege such as a coupon in checkout.SOLUTION: The self-service checkout device 1 includes the communication unit 203 capable of communicating with the first management device 2 that manages the privilege information related to the privilege, the privilege acquiring unit 201a that acquires the privilege information available for checkout from the first management device 2, the display and input device 11 for presenting information to the customer, and the outputting unit 201a that causes the display and input device 11 to output the privilege information acquired by the privilege acquiring unit 101a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a self-service checkout device that processes the payment for purchased goods or services by customer operation, a checkout system, a reward processing machine used in the self-service checkout device, and a control method and program for the self-service checkout device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, self-service checkout machines that allow customers to pay for purchased items themselves have been installed in various stores. At the self-service checkout machine, purchased items are registered using a scanner such as a barcode reader. After registering all purchased items, the customer pays by cash, credit card, electronic payment, or the like. This completes the payment, and the self-service checkout machine issues a receipt.

[0003] It is also preferable that coupons and other benefits can be used for payment at such self-service checkout devices. The following Patent Document 1 describes a self-service checkout device that displays a confirmation screen on a touch panel asking whether or not to use a coupon when a customer has a scanner read a bill such as a receipt. The customer operates the "Yes" or "No" button on the confirmation screen depending on whether or not they want to use the coupon. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-053031 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, a customer is provided with an opportunity to use a coupon at the time of payment. However, since the customer is simply asked whether or not to use a coupon, the customer cannot immediately determine whether or not they have a coupon that can be used.

[0006] In view of such problems, the present invention aims to provide a self-service checkout device, a checkout system, a reward processing machine, and a control method and program for a self-service checkout device that allows customers to more smoothly use rewards such as coupons when paying. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A first aspect of the present invention relates to a self-service checkout device that allows customers to register products or services to be purchased and to settle the payment for the registered products themselves. The self-service checkout device of this aspect includes a communication unit capable of communicating with a management device that manages benefit information related to benefits, a benefit acquisition unit that acquires the benefit information available for the settlement from the management device, an output unit that presents information to the customer, and an output processing unit that causes the output unit to output the benefit information acquired by the benefit acquisition unit.

[0008] The self-service checkout device according to this aspect presents the customer with reward information about rewards available for payment, allowing the customer to easily understand which rewards are available for payment. This allows the customer to easily use the rewards they own when paying.

[0009] In the self-service checkout device of this embodiment, the output unit is provided with a display unit for displaying information, and the output processing unit may be configured to display image information indicating the content of the benefit on the display unit when outputting the benefit information.

[0010] With this configuration, the customer can easily understand the benefits available for payment by referring to the image information.

[0011] In this configuration, the image information may include a media image of the bonus.

[0012] With this configuration, by referring to the medium image, the customer can easily understand the benefits that can be used for payment, and can smoothly check whether or not he or she owns the medium for the benefit.

[0013] Here, the display unit is used for the registration and settlement of the product or service to be purchased, and the output processing unit may be configured to include the image information in at least one of a series of processing screens for the registration and settlement operations.

[0014] According to this configuration, image information showing the contents of the benefits is displayed on the payment processing screen, so that the customer can easily understand the benefits that can be used for payment.

[0015] In this case, the output processor may be configured to include the image information in a first processing screen of the series of processing screens.

[0016] According to this configuration, image information showing the contents of the benefits is displayed on the first processing screen during checkout, so that the customer can understand the benefits available for checkout when starting the checkout operation and can check in advance whether or not he or she has the benefit in question.

[0017] Alternatively, the output processing unit may include the image information in a processing screen for registration among the series of processing screens.

[0018] According to this configuration, image information showing the contents of the benefits is displayed on the processing screen referred to for product registration, so that the customer can smoothly grasp the benefits that can be used for payment.

[0019] The output processing unit may also include the image information in a processing screen related to a payment method selection operation among the series of processing screens.

[0020] According to this configuration, image information showing the contents of the benefits is displayed when the payment method is selected, so that the customer can easily understand the benefits available for payment.

[0021] In the self-service checkout device according to this aspect, the benefit information may be distributed benefit information relating to benefits that are distributed regardless of the customer's purchasing history.

[0022] This configuration allows customers to easily understand the information about the benefits that are distributed and available for use at checkout, regardless of their purchase history, and thus allows customers to easily use the benefits they own at checkout.

[0023] In the self-checkout device according to this aspect, the bonus information may be issued bonus information related to a bonus issued based on a customer's purchase history. In this case, the management device may manage the issued bonus information in association with customer identification information, the self-checkout device may include a reading unit that reads the identification information from a recording medium, the bonus acquisition unit may transmit the identification information read by the reading unit to the management device to acquire the issued bonus information, and the output processing unit may be configured to output the issued bonus information to the output unit.

[0024] This configuration allows customers to easily understand information about benefits that have been issued based on their purchase history and can be used for payment, allowing customers to easily use the benefits they own when paying.

[0025] In the self-service checkout device according to this aspect, the benefit information may be conditional benefit information about a benefit that becomes available when a predetermined condition is satisfied. In this case, the benefit acquisition unit may be configured to acquire the predetermined condition and the conditional benefit information from the management device, and the output processing unit may be configured to output the predetermined condition and the benefit information about the conditional benefit to the output unit.

[0026] This configuration allows the customer to understand that the reward is issued under certain conditions, and the customer can then take action to fulfill the conditions to obtain the reward and use it for payment.

[0027] In this case, the management device may further manage guidance information for guiding the user to the fulfillment of the specified conditions, the benefit acquisition unit may further acquire the guidance information from the management device, and the output processing unit may further be configured to output the guidance information to the output unit.

[0028] According to this configuration, the customer can smoothly obtain the conditional benefit by taking action in accordance with the guidance information.

[0029] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a payment system, which includes the self-service payment device according to the first aspect and the management device.

[0030] According to the settlement system of this aspect, the same effects as those of the first aspect can be achieved.

[0031] A third aspect of the present invention relates to a reward processing machine used in combination with a self-service checkout machine where customers register products or services to be purchased and pay for the registered products themselves. The reward processing machine of this aspect includes a communication unit capable of communicating with a management device that manages reward information related to rewards, a reward acquisition unit that acquires the reward information available for the payment from the management device, and a transmission processing unit that transmits the reward information acquired by the reward acquisition unit to the checkout machine.

[0032] By combining the reward processing machine with the settlement machine, the reward processing machine according to this aspect can present reward information about rewards that can be used for settlement to the customer, allowing the customer to smoothly use the rewards they own when settling their bill.

[0033] A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to a control method for a self-service checkout device that allows a customer to register products or services to be purchased and to settle the payment for the registered products by themselves. The control method of this aspect communicates with a management device that manages benefit information related to benefits, acquires the benefit information available for the settlement from the management device, and presents the acquired benefit information to the customer by outputting it to an output unit that presents the information to the customer.

[0034] According to the control method of this aspect, the same effects as those of the first aspect can be achieved.

[0035] A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to a program that causes a control unit of a self-service checkout device, which allows customers to register products or services to be purchased and to settle the payment for the registered products, to execute predetermined functions. The program of this aspect causes the control unit to execute the following functions: communicating with a management device that manages benefit information related to benefits, acquiring the benefit information available for the settlement from the management device, and outputting the benefit information acquired by the benefit acquisition unit to an output unit that presents the information to the customer.

[0036] According to the program of this aspect, the same effects as those of the first aspect can be achieved. [Effects of the Invention]

[0037] As described above, the present invention aims to provide a self-service checkout device, a checkout system, a benefit processing machine, and a control method and program for a self-service checkout device that allows customers to more smoothly use benefits such as coupons when checking out.

[0038] The effects and significance of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments, however, the embodiments shown below are merely examples of how the present invention can be implemented, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0039] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a settlement system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the settlement machine and the bonus processing machine according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] 3A is a diagram showing the configuration of distribution benefit management information managed by the first management device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the configuration of store-specific management information managed by the first management device according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] 4(a) is a diagram showing the configuration of issued privilege management information managed by the first management device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 4(b) is a diagram showing the configuration of customer-specific management information managed by the first management device according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process for using a distributed bonus medium executed by the control unit of the settlement machine according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process for acquiring distributed bonus information executed by the control unit of the bonus processing machine according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of a processing screen when benefit information is displayed on the initial processing screen for a checkout procedure according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of a processing screen for registering a product to be purchased when benefit information is output to the processing screen according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of a processing screen for selecting a payment method according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a processing screen for selecting a payment method including an image for using a benefit according to the embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process of determining whether or not a bonus can be used, which is executed by the control unit of the bonus processing machine according to the embodiment. [Figure 12]12(a) and 12(b) are flowcharts showing the process for applying the issued bonus media issued based on the customer's purchase history to the settlement according to the embodiment. The process in FIG. 12(a) is performed by the control unit of the settlement machine, and the process in FIG. 12(b) is performed by the control unit of the bonus processing machine. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a processing screen for receiving from a customer whether or not issued special benefit information is to be used, according to the embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the configuration of conditional benefit management information according to the first modification. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the configuration of a processing screen according to the first modification example, in which conditional benefit information and acquisition conditions are displayed on the initial processing screen for payment procedures. [Figure 16] 16(a) to 16(c) are diagrams schematically showing the process of acquiring a conditional benefit according to the first modification. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of the processing screen according to the first modification, in which conditional benefit information and acquisition conditions are displayed on the initial processing screen for the settlement procedure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a payment system 5. Fig. 1 shows a front view of a self-service payment device 1 as seen from the front.

[0041] The payment system 5 includes a self-service checkout device 1, a first management device 2, and a second management device 3. The self-service checkout device 1 is installed in a store and can communicate with the first management device 2 and the second management device 3 outside the store via an external communication network 4 such as the Internet. The first management device 2 manages information related to benefits such as coupons that can be used for payment. The second management device 3 manages the purchase history of the store. If the second management device 3 is installed on the same premises as the self-service checkout device 1, the second management device 3 and the self-service checkout device 1 may be connected via a LAN (Local Area Network). The first management device 2 and the second management device 3 are, for example, configured as server computers.

[0042] The self-service checkout device 1 is a device that allows customers to pay for purchased items themselves. The self-service checkout device 1 comprises a checkout machine 10 and a bonus processing machine 20. On the left and right sides of the checkout machine 10, there are placed tables 30 and 40 for placing shopping baskets and the like. A table 50 is installed at the back of the table 40 on the right side, and the bonus processing machine 20 is installed on this table 50. The bonus processing machines 20 are arranged next to the checkout machine 10 on the right side.

[0043] The settlement machine 10 has a table 10a, on which products can be placed, near the center in the vertical direction. The settlement machine 10 has a display input unit 11, a barcode reader 12, a card payment unit 13, a card insertion slot 14, and a receipt outlet 15 above the table 10a. The settlement machine 10 also has a banknote deposit slot 16a, a banknote withdrawal slot 16b, a coin deposit slot 17a, and a coin withdrawal slot 17b below the table 10a.

[0044] The display input unit 11 is used to display the settlement screen and input settlement operations. The display input unit 11 is configured, for example, by a touch panel. The display input unit 11 may also be an input / output interface of another type. Furthermore, the display unit and the input unit may be arranged separately.

[0045] The barcode reader 12 reads barcodes attached to products and barcodes displayed on mobile phones and the like when making electronic payments. The barcode reader 12 can read both two-dimensional and three-dimensional barcodes. When a customer holds a barcode over the barcode reader 12, the barcode is read by the barcode reader 12.

[0046] The card payment unit 13 is used for payments by credit card. The card payment unit 13 has, for example, a groove for guiding the credit card in one direction to read card information from the magnetic stripe of the credit card, and a group of keys for inputting a personal identification number. Reading of card information may be performed by communication with the IC circuit of the credit card (RFID, etc.).

[0047] The card slot 14 is used by customers to insert their ID cards. ID cards are issued when the customer is a member of the store or a group company that includes the store. When paying for purchased items, the customer inserts their ID card into the card slot 14 at a predetermined timing. As a result, upon completion of the payment, the settlement machine 10 transmits the customer's membership ID read from the ID card along with payment information (transaction log) for the purchased items to the second management device 3. This allows the second management device 3 to manage the customer's purchase history.

[0048] The receipt outlet 15 is used to output a receipt. When the payment process is completed, a receipt showing the payment details is output from the receipt outlet 15.

[0049] The banknote deposit port 16a is used to deposit banknotes when settling a bill. The banknote withdrawal port 16b is used to dispense banknotes as change or rejected banknotes. The coin deposit port 17a is used to deposit coins when settling a bill. The coin withdrawal port 17b is used to dispense coins as change or rejected coins.

[0050] The reward processing machine 20 is a device that processes paper media (reward media) that display rewards. In this embodiment, coupons are used as an example of reward media. However, reward media that the reward processing machine 20 can process are not limited to coupons, and may also include time-limited vouchers, gift certificates, point vouchers, etc. A point voucher is a reward medium that can increase the redemption rate of points that can be used equivalent to cash more than usual. For example, if the redemption rate of a point voucher is doubled, using the point voucher can double the redemption rate of points relative to the purchase price.

[0051] In this embodiment, examples of bonus media available to customers include bonus media (distributed bonus media) that are distributed to customers by a store or a group company including the store regardless of their purchasing history, and bonus media (issued bonus media) that are issued specifically to a customer when their purchasing history meets certain conditions.

[0052] The bonus processing machine 20 has an insertion slot 21 for inserting bonus media. The bonus processing machine 20 determines whether the inserted bonus media can be used. This determination method will be explained later with reference to FIG. 11. The bonus processing machine 20 also executes a process to obtain bonus information related to bonuses that can be used at the store from the first management device 2. This process will be explained later with reference to FIG. 6.

[0053] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the settlement machine 10 and the bonus processing machine 20.

[0054] In addition to the display input unit 11, barcode reader 12, and card payment unit 13 shown in Figure 1, the settlement machine 10 also includes a control unit 101, a memory unit 102, an ID card reader 103, a print output unit 104, a communication unit 105, a banknote transport unit 106, a banknote recognition unit 107, a coin transport unit 108, a coin recognition unit 109, and an audio output unit 110.

[0055] The control unit 101 includes an arithmetic circuit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and controls each unit according to a program stored in the storage unit 102. The storage unit 102 includes storage media such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a hard disk, and stores programs for the control unit 101 to control each unit. The storage unit 102 is also used as a work area when the control unit 101 performs control processing.

[0056] The ID card reader 103 reads card information from an ID card inserted through the card slot 14 in Fig. 1 and outputs it to the control unit 101. The print output unit 104 generates a receipt on which the payment details are printed, under the control of the control unit 101, and sends the generated receipt from the receipt outlet 15 in Fig. 1. The communication unit 105 communicates with the communication unit 203 of the first management device 2, the second management device 3, or the bonus processing machine 20 under the control of the control unit 101.

[0057] During a deposit process, the banknote transport unit 106 transports banknotes deposited through the banknote deposit port 16a to a banknote storage unit or the banknote withdrawal port 16b inside the settlement machine 10, and during a withdrawal process, transports banknotes from the banknote storage unit to the banknote withdrawal port 16b. The banknote recognition unit 107 recognizes the denomination of banknotes transported through the banknote transport unit 106. If the denomination of a deposited banknote can be identified, the banknote is transported to a banknote storage unit of the corresponding denomination. If the denomination of a deposited banknote cannot be identified, the banknote is transported to the banknote withdrawal port 16b as a rejected banknote. Banknotes as change are transported from a banknote storage unit of the corresponding denomination to the banknote withdrawal port 16b.

[0058] During a deposit process, the coin transport unit 108 transports coins deposited through the coin deposit port 17a to a coin storage unit or the coin withdrawal port 17b inside the settlement machine 10, and during a withdrawal process, it transports coins from the coin storage unit to the coin withdrawal port 17b. The coin identification unit 109 identifies the denomination of coins transported through the coin transport unit 108. If the denomination of the deposited coin can be identified, the coin is transported to the coin storage unit of the corresponding denomination. If the denomination of the deposited coin cannot be identified, the coin is transported to the coin withdrawal port 17b as a rejected coin. Change coins are transported from the coin storage unit of the corresponding denomination to the coin withdrawal port 17b.

[0059] The audio output unit 110 includes a speaker and outputs a predetermined sound under the control of the control unit 101. For example, during the payment procedure, the audio output unit 110 outputs a guidance sound for the payment operation.

[0060] In this embodiment, the function of the output processing unit 101a, which causes the output unit (the display input unit 11 and the audio output unit 110) to output benefit information relating to benefits that can be used for settlement, is given to the control unit 101 by a program stored in the storage unit 102. This function will be described later with reference to FIG. 5.

[0061] The bonus processing machine 20 includes a control unit 201, a communication unit 203, a bonus transport unit 204, and a bonus reading unit 205.

[0062] The control unit 201 is configured by a microcomputer and controls each unit using firmware stored in an internal memory. The communication unit 203 communicates with the communication unit 105 of the first management device 2 or the settlement machine 10 under the control of the control unit 201.

[0063] The bonus transport unit 204 transports bonus media inserted through the insertion slot 21 in FIG. 1 to a bonus storage unit within the bonus processing machine 20, or returns the bonus media to the insertion slot 21. Under the control of the control unit 201, the bonus reader unit 205 acquires front and back images of the bonus media being transported through the bonus transport unit 204 and outputs them to the control unit 201. The front and back images are acquired so that an image of the printed side of the bonus can be acquired regardless of whether the bonus media is inserted front or back. As will be described later, these front and back images are used to determine whether the bonus media inserted through the insertion slot 21 corresponds to a usable bonus. Usable bonus media are transported to the storage unit, and unusable bonus media are returned to the insertion slot 21.

[0064] In this embodiment, the function of the benefit acquisition unit 201a that acquires benefit information that can be used for settlement from the first management device 2 and the function of the transmission processing unit 201b that transmits the acquired benefit information to the settlement machine 10 are given to the control unit 201 by firmware stored in the built-in memory of the control unit 101. These functions will be described later with reference to FIG. 6.

[0065] FIG. 3(a) is a diagram showing the structure of the distributed privilege management information managed by the first management device 2. As shown in FIG.

[0066] The distributed bonus management information is information about the above-mentioned distributed bonus media (bonus media distributed regardless of purchase history). The distributed bonus management information is composed of bonus number, bonus name, bonus reading information, medium image, issue period, usable period, and usable days, all of which are linked together. The distributed bonus information for each bonus is composed of information on the items other than the "bonus number."

[0067] "Benefit number" is a serial number assigned to each benefit. "Benefit name" is the name of each benefit (for example, weekend-only coupon, etc.). "Benefit read information" is information indicating the content of the benefit read from the distributed benefit medium (for example, 10% off, etc.). "Medium image" is an image of the distributed benefit medium. "Issue period" is information indicating the period during which each benefit was issued, and includes the issue start date and issue end date. "Usable period" is information indicating the period during which each benefit can be used, and includes the use start date and use end date. "Number of usable days" is information indicating the number of days during which the benefit can be used, based on the issue date of each benefit.

[0068] The "number of days available" is registered when the available period is specified in days, and is not registered when the "available period" is registered. Therefore, either the "available period" or the "number of days available" is registered in each row of the distribution benefit management information.

[0069] Distributed bonus media issued by individual stores or group companies of multiple stores are sent to the administrator of the first management device 2. The administrator scans the received distributed bonus media to obtain an image of the distributed bonus media, and processes the obtained image with OCR software. This allows text information such as the name of the bonus, its content (for example, 10% off or 500 yen discount), and its validity period to be obtained from the distributed bonus media.

[0070] In the OCR process, the administrator operates the interface of the first control device 2 so that, among the text information, the name of the benefit is registered in "Benefit Name," and the content and validity period of the benefit are registered in "Benefit Reading Information" and "Usable Period," respectively. If the validity period is expressed in days, the administrator operates the interface of the first control device 2 so that this number of days is registered in "Usable Days."

[0071] The administrator then registers the scanned image in the "medium image" field, and then registers the issue period for the bonus media notified by the store or group company in the "issue period" field. The "bonus number" is automatically assigned when this information is registered. In this way, one line of information about the bonus is newly added to the distribution bonus management information.

[0072] Instead of OCR processing, the "Benefit Name," "Benefit Reading Information," and "Usage Period" (or "Number of Available Days") may be manually entered and registered. In this case, this information is provided by the store to the administrator. Also, instead of sending the actual bonus medium to the administrator, an image of the bonus medium may be sent by email or other means from the store or a group company to the administrator. In this case, the administrator performs the above-mentioned OCR processing on the received image.

[0073] FIG. 3(b) is a diagram showing the configuration of store-specific management information managed by the first management device 2. As shown in FIG.

[0074] The store-specific management information is composed of a store number and a bonus number linked together. The "store number" is a management number assigned to each store in advance. The "bonus number" is the "bonus number" in Figure 3(a).

[0075] The administrator of the first management device 2 registers one line of new information in the distributed bonus management information of FIG. 3(a), and then links the bonus number assigned to this line with the store number of the store to which the bonus applies. Bonuses issued by group companies are linked to the store numbers of stores designated by the group companies as eligible to use the bonus. As a result, the bonus number in the one line of information is added to the bonus number linked to the store number in the store-specific management information. In this way, information on available distributed bonus media is managed for each store.

[0076] The store number of each store is preset in the settlement machine 10 of that store and is shared between the settlement machine 10 and the first management device 2. The set store number is stored in the memory unit 102 of the settlement machine 10 and is used during the process of obtaining distribution benefit information, which will be described later.

[0077] Fig. 4(a) is a diagram showing the configuration of issued privilege management information managed by the first management device 2. Fig. 4(b) is a diagram showing the configuration of customer-specific management information managed by the first management device 2.

[0078] The issued bonus management information is information relating to the issued bonus media (bonus media issued specifically to customers based on their purchase history) described above. The issued bonus management information is configured by omitting the "Issue Period" item from the distributed bonus management information in Figure 3(a). The issued bonus management information is registered in the first management device 2 in the same manner as the distributed bonus information described above.

[0079] The customer-specific management information is information for managing the bonus media issued to each customer (member ID). The customer-specific management information is composed of the member ID, bonus number, issue date, usage status, and usage date and time, all of which are linked together.

[0080] "Member ID" is identification information assigned to each member customer and is included in the card information stored on the above-mentioned ID card. "Benefit number" is the "Benefit number" in Figure 4(a). "Issue date" is information indicating the date on which the benefit was issued. "Usage status" is information indicating whether the benefit has been used. "Use date and time" is information indicating the date and time on which the benefit was used.

[0081] As described above, when the customer's ID card is inserted into the card slot 14 at the time of payment, the purchase information related to the payment is sent from the payment machine 10 to the second management device 3 together with the member ID read from the ID card. As a result, the second management device 3 manages the purchase history of each customer (each member ID).

[0082] Here, if the customer's purchase history meets the conditions for issuing a special benefit based on the current purchase information (for example, the purchase amount since the previous special benefit was issued reaches a set amount), the second management device 3 issues a special benefit unique to the customer. At this time, the second management device 3 sends a medium image of the issued special benefit to the payment machine 10 that sent the purchase information. As a result, when issuing a receipt, the payment machine 10 also sends out the issued special benefit medium on which the special benefit is printed from the receipt outlet 15.

[0083] The second management device 3 also transmits the benefit number of the issued benefit to the first management device 2, along with the customer's member ID. As a result, the first management device 2 adds a new row to the customer-specific management information in FIG. 4(b), and registers the member ID and benefit number received from the second management device 3 in the "member ID" and "benefit number" fields of this row. Furthermore, the first management device 2 registers the date on which this information was received in the "issue date" field of this row, and registers information indicating that the benefit has not been used in the "usage status" field. The "usage date and time" field is left blank. In this way, the registration of one row's worth of information is completed.

[0084] In this embodiment, the payment system 5 in Fig. 1 uses the various information in Figs. 3(a), (b) and 4(a), (b) to perform control that enables customers to more smoothly use benefits such as coupons at the time of payment. More specifically, when a customer performs payment operations, information indicating the benefits that can be used at the time of payment is notified to the customer via the display input unit 11 of the payment machine 10, etc. This control will be described below.

[0085] Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the process for using the distributed bonus medium executed by the control unit 101 of the settlement machine 10. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the process for acquiring the distributed bonus information executed by the control unit 201 of the bonus processing machine 20.

[0086] Steps S101 to S107 in Fig. 5 are performed by the control unit 101 using the function of the output processing unit 101a in Fig. 2. In the following, the description will be given assuming that the control unit 101 performs the processing in Fig. 5, without making any particular reference to the output processing unit 101a.

[0087] 6 are performed by the control unit 201 using the function of the privilege acquisition unit 201a in Fig. 2, and steps S204 to S206 are performed by the control unit 201 using the function of the transmission processing unit 201b in Fig. 2. In the following, the description will be made assuming that the control unit 101 performs the processing in Fig. 6, without particularly referring to the privilege acquisition unit 201a and the transmission processing unit 201b.

[0088] 5, when the customer starts the payment procedure (S101: YES), the control unit 101 of the payment machine 10 transmits a start notification to the bonus processing machine 20 (S102). At this time, the control unit 101 transmits the store number stored in the memory unit 102 together with the start notification.

[0089] The determination in step S101 is YES, for example, when the customer performs some operation on the initial screen (first processing screen) displayed on the display input unit 11. Alternatively, if detection means (such as a human sensor or camera) capable of detecting a customer facing the payment machine 10 is installed in the payment machine 10, the determination in step S101 may be YES when the detection means detects that a customer is facing the payment machine 10.

[0090] Referring to Figure 6, when the control unit 201 of the bonus processing machine 20 receives the start notification and store number sent from the settlement machine 10 in step S102 of Figure 5 (S201: YES), it sends the received store number and an inquiry notification inquiring about available bonuses to the first management device 2 (S202).

[0091] When the first management device 2 receives the inquiry notification, it compares the store number received with the inquiry notification with the store-specific management information in Figure 3(b) to identify the bonus number linked to the received store number. Furthermore, the first management device 2 compares the identified bonus number with the distributed bonus management information in Figure 3(a) to identify the distributed bonus information linked to the identified bonus number. The first management device 2 then compares the "usable period" and "usable days" of the identified distributed bonus information with the current date to determine whether the identified distributed bonus information is currently available.

[0092] If the above process determines that there is available distributed bonus information, the first management device 2 transmits the available distributed bonus information to the bonus processing machine 20 that made the inquiry. If there is no available distributed bonus information, the first management device 2 transmits a response indicating this to the bonus processing machine 20 that made the inquiry. If the store number received from the bonus processing machine 20 does not exist in the store-specific management information in Figure 3(b) or if no bonus number is linked to the received store number, the first management device 2 also transmits a response indicating that there is no available bonus information to the bonus processing machine 20 that made the inquiry.

[0093] Returning to Fig. 6, when the control unit 201 of the bonus processing machine 20 receives the inquiry result from the first management device 2 (S203: YES), it determines whether the inquiry result includes available distributed bonus information (S204). If the determination in step S204 is YES, the control unit 201 transmits the distributed bonus information included in the inquiry result to the settlement machine 10 (S205). On the other hand, if the determination in step S204 is NO, the control unit 201 transmits a response to the settlement machine 10 indicating that there is no available bonus information (S206). In this way, the control unit 201 ends the processing in Fig. 6.

[0094] Returning to Fig. 5, when the control unit 101 of the settlement machine 10 receives a response sent in either step S205 or S206 of Fig. 6 (S103: YES), it determines whether the received response includes the distribution bonus information (S104). If the received response does not include the distribution bonus information (S104: NO), the control unit 101 ends the processing of Fig. 5.

[0095] On the other hand, if the received response includes the distributed bonus information (S104: YES), the control unit 101 determines whether the timing of the current checkout procedure is the timing to output the distributed bonus information (S105). The output timing of the bonus information may be set to a predetermined timing between the start of the checkout procedure and the settlement. This will be described later with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10.

[0096] If the determination in step S105 is YES, the control unit 101 outputs the distributed bonus information received in step S103 (S106). In step S106, the control unit 101 generates image information indicating the content of the bonus from the received distributed bonus information, and displays the image information on the display input unit 11. The image information may include a medium image included in the distributed bonus information, and may further include information indicating, as an image, the text information in the bonus reading information included in the distributed bonus information.

[0097] In step S106, the control unit 101 may further cause the audio output unit 110 to output audio indicating the content of the bonus based on the received distributed bonus information. For example, the control unit 101 may convert text information in the bonus reading information included in the distributed bonus information into audio and cause the audio output unit 110 to output the audio.

[0098] Thereafter, when the timing to end the output of the distributed bonus information arrives (S107: YES), the control unit 101 ends the output of the distributed bonus information (S108). Then, when the screen transitions to a screen for selecting a payment method (S109: YES), the control unit 101 receives an input from the customer regarding whether or not to use the bonus (S110). For example, the control unit 101 may include a button for selecting whether or not to use the bonus on the screen for selecting a payment method.

[0099] If the customer proceeds to the payment procedure without making any input regarding the use of the benefit on this screen (S110: NO), the control unit 101 ends the processing in Fig. 5. On the other hand, if the customer makes an input to use the benefit (S110: YES), the control unit 101 executes the processing to use the benefit (S111) and ends the processing in Fig. 5.

[0100] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the initial processing screen 300 for the checkout procedure when distribution benefit information is displayed on the processing screen 300.

[0101] Before the customer performs any operation, the processing screen 300 includes only a message 301 inquiring whether or not a plastic bag is required, and two selection buttons 302a and 302b for responding to the inquiry. In this state, when the customer operates either selection button 302a or 302b, the determination in step S101 of Fig. 5 becomes YES, and available benefit information is acquired from the first management device 2. Here, even if either selection button 302a or 302b is operated, the processing screen 300 remains unchanged without transitioning to the next processing screen until the determination result in step S104 of Fig. 5 is obtained.

[0102] If the determination result in step S104 is NO, the screen transitions to the next processing screen. If the determination result in step S104 is YES, a message 303, a bonus information display area 304, and a button 305 are added to the area on the right side of the processing screen 300, as shown in Fig. 7. That is, here, the output timing in step S105 in Fig. 5 is the timing when the initial processing screen 300 is displayed.

[0103] Message 301 prompts the customer to choose whether or not to purchase a shopping bag. The customer refers to this message and selects either selection button 302a or 302b. In the example of Figure 7, selection button 302a is selected.

[0104] Message 303 notifies the customer that a benefit can be used in the payment. The benefit information display area 304 displays medium images 304a included in the distributed benefit information acquired in step S104 of FIG. 5. Here, four pieces of distributed benefit information are acquired from the first management device 2, and the medium images 304a included in each piece of distributed benefit information are displayed in the benefit information display area 304. If more medium images 304a exist, the customer can display the remaining medium images 304a by operating scroll bar 304b.

[0105] By referring to the bonus information display area 304, the customer can understand the bonuses available for payment. The customer can compare the bonus media currently in their possession with the medium image 304a displayed in the bonus information display area 304 to confirm whether they own the bonus media available for payment. The customer then operates button 305. In response to this, the screen transitions to the next processing screen. As a result, the determination in step S107 of FIG. 5 becomes YES, and the output of bonus information ends.

[0106] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of the processing screen 310 for registering a product to be purchased when benefit information is output to the processing screen 310.

[0107] Here, the output timing in step S105 in FIG. 5 corresponds to the timing at which the processing screen 310 for registering the product to be purchased is displayed.

[0108] Products to be purchased are registered by holding the barcode attached to each product over the barcode reader 12 shown in Fig. 1. This causes information such as the product name and price linked to the barcode information read by the barcode reader 12 to be obtained from a database that manages this information. This database is obtained in advance by the checkout machine 10 via the communication unit 105 from a host system installed in the store, and is stored in the memory unit 102.

[0109] The processing screen 310 has a list area 311 and a tally area 312 as display areas for registering products to be purchased. The list area 311 displays a list of information such as the name and price of each registered product. The tally area 312 displays the total price (subtotal) of all products displayed in the list area 311, as well as the total amount after applying discounts and consumption tax. Each time a product is registered (scanned), the list area 311 and the tally area 312 are updated.

[0110] Message 313 and bonus information display area 314 are similar to message 303 and bonus information display area 304 in Fig. 7. Bonus information display area 314 includes available medium images 314a and a scroll bar 314b. By referring to bonus information display area 314, customers can understand available bonuses and can also check whether they currently own these bonuses.

[0111] Button 315 is a button for registering products that do not have barcodes (such as vegetables). When button 315 is operated, a sub-screen for product selection is displayed. The customer uses this sub-screen to register products that do not have barcodes.

[0112] After completing the registration of all products eligible for purchase, the customer operates button 316. This results in a YES determination in step S107 of Fig. 5, and the output of the distribution bonus information is terminated. Also, a processing screen for selecting a payment method is displayed, and the YES determination is made in step S109 of Fig. 5.

[0113] The distributed bonus information may be displayed on either the processing screen 300 or the processing screen 310. When the bonus information (bonus information display area 304) is displayed on the processing screen 300 of FIG. 7, the message 313 and the bonus information display area 314 are omitted from the processing screen 310 of FIG. 8. When the bonus information (bonus information display area 314) is displayed on the processing screen 310 of FIG. 8, the message 303 and the bonus information display area 304 are omitted from the processing screen 300 of FIG. 7. In this case, the screen transitions to the next screen in response to the customer selecting either the selection button 302a or 302b. The distributed bonus information may be displayed on both the processing screen 300 and the processing screen 310.

[0114] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of the processing screen 320 displayed in step S109 of FIG.

[0115] The processing screen 320 is divided into areas A1 and A2 on the left and right. Area A1 includes a purchase price display section 321a, a payment amount display section 321b, and a balance display section 321c. The purchase price display section 321a displays the total purchase price. The payment amount display section 321b displays the total amount deposited by the customer into the settlement machine 10. The balance display section 321c displays the remaining balance required for settlement.

[0116] Area A2 contains a message 322 and five selection buttons 323a to 323e. Message 322 encourages the customer to use a special offer (coupon). Selection buttons 323a to 323c are buttons for selecting cash, credit card, and electronic money as payment methods. Selection button 323d is a button for selecting the use of a special offer (coupon). Selection button 323e is a button for reading an ID card.

[0117] If the customer chooses to pay by cash, they select selection button 323a. This causes a guidance image for cash payment and a button for confirming the payment to be displayed in area A2. The customer refers to the guidance image and inserts bills and coins into the bill deposit slot 16a and coin deposit slot 17a in FIG. 1. This updates the amounts displayed in each section of area A1. When the display in the balance display section 321c reaches 0, the button for confirming the payment included in area A2 is enabled. The customer operates this button. This completes the settlement. In response, a receipt for the settlement is sent out from the receipt outlet 15 as described above.

[0118] Furthermore, if the customer selects payment by credit card, they operate selection button 323b, and if they select payment by electronic money, they select selection button 323c. As described above, payment by credit card is made using the card payment unit 13 in FIG. 1. Payment by electronic money is made, for example, by the customer displaying a barcode for payment by electronic money on their mobile phone or the like and having this barcode read by barcode reader 12. In either case, a receipt for the settlement is sent out from receipt outlet 15 upon completion of the payment.

[0119] 7 or 8, the customer operates the selection button 323d before selecting the selection buttons 323a to 323c, thereby changing the display in area A2 to a screen for using the privilege.

[0120] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a processing screen 320 including an image for using a special offer.

[0121] When the selection button 323d in Fig. 9 is operated, a screen for using a benefit is displayed in area A2 as shown in Fig. 10. Area A2 includes a heading 324, a message 325, a benefit display area 326, a benefit application area 327, and a button 328 for returning to the previous screen.

[0122] A heading 324 indicates that area A2 is an operation area for using a benefit. A message 325 prompts the customer to insert the distributed benefit medium into the benefit processing machine 20 to apply the benefit. A benefit display area 326 displays medium images 326a of the benefits that can be used for the transaction. When the scroll bar 326b is operated, the medium images 326a displayed in the benefit display area 326 are scrolled up and down. A benefit application area 327 shows the benefit used for the transaction.

[0123] The customer checks the available distributed bonus media by comparing the medium image 326a displayed in the bonus information display area 304 with the distributed bonus media he or she owns. Then, the customer inserts the distributed bonus media to be used for this transaction into the insertion slot 21 of the bonus processing machine 20.

[0124] The control unit 201 of the bonus processing machine 20 determines whether the inserted distributed bonus medium is usable or not, and transmits the determination result to the settlement machine 10. In other words, the control unit 201 of the bonus processing machine 20 has the function of an usability determination unit that determines whether the bonus that the customer is trying to apply to the settlement can be used or not, using a program stored in its internal memory. The usability determination process will be described later with reference to Figure 11.

[0125] If the inserted bonus medium is usable, the distributed bonus medium is transported to a bonus storage unit in the bonus processing machine 20. If the inserted bonus medium is not usable, the distributed bonus medium is returned from the insertion slot 21.

[0126] When the control unit 101 of the settlement machine 10 receives from the reward processing machine 20 a determination result that the distributed reward medium that the customer is attempting to apply is available, the control unit 101 applies the reward of the distributed reward medium to the settlement. As a result, the display in the balance display section 321c in area A1 of FIG. 10 changes to the amount after the reward is applied. In addition, a text image indicating the applied reward is displayed in the reward application area 327 in area A2, and among the medium images 326a displayed in the reward display area 326, the medium image 326a corresponding to the applied reward is highlighted (by adding a red frame, changing the display color, increasing brightness, etc.). After confirming these displays, the customer operates button 328 to return the screen to the state of FIG. 9 and make payment for the remaining balance after the reward is applied.

[0127] If the control unit 101 of the settlement machine 10 receives from the bonus processing machine 20 a determination result that the distributed bonus medium that the customer is attempting to use is unavailable, the control unit 101 may display a message indicating this in area A2. This message may be displayed, for example, in the empty space below the bonus information display area 304, or a pop-up screen containing the message may be superimposed on area A2. In this case, the customer may try to use another distributed bonus medium, or cancel the application of the bonus and operate button 328.

[0128] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the process executed by the control unit 201 of the bonus processing machine 20 to determine whether or not a bonus can be used.

[0129] When the select button 323d in Figure 9 is operated, the control unit 101 of the payment machine 10 sends a benefit use notification together with its own store number to the benefit processing machine 20. When the control unit 201 of the benefit processing machine 20 receives the benefit use notification from the payment machine 10 (S301: YES), it waits for a benefit medium to be inserted into the insertion slot 21 (S302). When a benefit medium is inserted into the insertion slot 21 (S302: YES), the benefit reading unit 205 reads an image of the inserted benefit medium. Then, the control unit 201 sends a request to the first management device 2 to determine whether the benefit medium can be used, along with the read medium image and the store number received from the payment machine 10 (S303).

[0130] The first management device 2 compares the received store number with the store-specific management information in FIG. 3(b) to identify the bonus numbers available at that store. Furthermore, it identifies currently available bonuses among the bonuses associated with the identified bonus numbers by referencing the distributed bonus management information in FIG. 3(a). The first management device 2 then extracts, from the medium images linked to the identified currently available bonuses, those that match the medium image received from the bonus processing machine 20. If the extraction is successful, the first management device 2 transmits the distributed bonus information linked to the extracted medium image to the bonus processing machine 20, along with a determination result that the bonus medium is available. On the other hand, if the extraction is unsuccessful, it transmits a determination result indicating that the bonus medium is unavailable to the bonus processing machine 20, which is the source of the transmission.

[0131] Returning to FIG. 11, when the control unit 201 of the bonus processing machine 20 receives the determination result from the first management device 2 (S304: YES), it transmits the received determination result (including the distributed bonus information received from the first management device 2, if applicable) to the settlement machine 10 (S305). As a result, the control unit 101 of the settlement machine 10 performs processing to apply or not apply the bonus, as described with reference to FIG. 10. Furthermore, the control unit 201 of the bonus processing machine 20 performs processing to store or return the bonus medium inserted from the insertion slot 21, depending on the determination result received from the first management device 2 (S306). In this way, the control unit 201 ends the processing of FIG. 11.

[0132] Next, the process for using the issued special offer medium will be described.

[0133] 12(a) and 12(b) are flowcharts showing the process for applying the issued bonus media issued based on the customer's purchase history to the settlement. The process in FIG. 12(a) is performed by the control unit 101 of the settlement machine 10, and the process in FIG. 12(b) is performed by the control unit 101 of the bonus processing machine 20.

[0134] The settlement machine 10 prompts the customer to read their ID card at a predetermined timing during the settlement procedure. In this embodiment, the processing screen 320 for the settlement procedure shown in FIG. 9 includes a selection button 323e for prompting the customer to read their ID card. If the customer has an ID card, the customer operates the selection button 323e. As a result, a guidance image prompting the customer to insert their ID card into the card slot 14 is displayed in area A2. The customer inserts their ID card into the card slot 14 according to the guidance image, causing the settlement machine 10 to perform the ID card reading process. On the other hand, if the customer does not have an ID card, the customer operates the selection buttons 323a to 323d without operating the selection button 323e in FIG. 9.

[0135] Referring to FIG. 12(a), when the control unit 101 of the settlement machine 10 reads the ID card inserted by the customer (S401), it transmits the member ID from the read card information to the benefit processing machine 20 (S402).

[0136] Referring to Figure 12(b), when the control unit 201 of the benefit processing machine 20 receives a member ID from the settlement machine 10 (S501: YES), it sends an inquiry notification to the first management device 2 along with the received member ID, inquiring whether or not there is a benefit (issued benefit medium) that is uniquely available to the customer (S502).

[0137] The first management device 2 extracts a bonus number that is linked to the received member ID and that has not yet been used (usage status is "not yet") from the customer-specific management information of Figure 4(b). If the first management device 2 is able to extract the bonus number, it extracts the issued bonus information corresponding to that bonus number from the issued bonus management information of Figure 4(a). Then, the first management device 2 transmits an inquiry result including the extracted issued bonus information to the bonus processing machine 20 that made the inquiry. On the other hand, if the first management device 2 is unable to extract a bonus number for an unused bonus from the customer-specific management information of Figure 4(b), it transmits an inquiry result indicating that there is no available issued bonus information to the bonus processing machine 20 that made the inquiry.

[0138] When the control unit 201 of the bonus processing machine 20 receives the inquiry result in this way (S503: YES), it transmits the received inquiry result to the settlement machine 10 (S504). Then, the control unit 201 ends the processing of FIG. 12(b).

[0139] 12(a), when the control unit 101 of the settlement machine 10 receives an inquiry result from the reward processing machine 20 (S403: YES), it determines whether the inquiry result includes issued reward information (S404). If the inquiry result includes issued reward information (S404: YES), the control unit 101 executes a process to receive from the customer whether or not the issued reward information is to be used (S405). On the other hand, if the inquiry result does not include issued reward information (S404: NO), the control unit 101 skips step S405 and ends the process of FIG. 12(a).

[0140] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a processing screen 320 for receiving from the customer whether or not the issued special benefit information displayed in step S405 of FIG. 12(a) is to be used.

[0141] The configuration of the processing screen 320 is substantially the same as that shown in Figure 10. Message 325 prompts the customer to insert the issued bonus medium into the bonus processing machine 20 to apply the bonus issued based on the purchase history. The bonus display area 326 displays a medium image 326a of the issued bonus medium that can be used for the payment. When the control unit 101 of the payment machine 10 displays the processing screen shown in Figure 13, it sends a bonus usage notification to the bonus processing machine 20, including the member ID read from the ID card.

[0142] The customer then inserts the issued bonus medium that matches the displayed medium image 326a into the insertion slot 21 of the bonus processing machine 20. The control unit 201 of the bonus processing machine 20 then queries the first management device 2 as to whether the inserted issued bonus medium can be used, using the same process as in FIG. 11 . That is, when the control unit 201 receives a bonus use notification from the settlement machine 10 (S301: YES), it waits for the issued bonus medium to be inserted into the insertion slot 21 (S302). Thereafter, when the issued bonus medium is inserted, the control unit 201 transmits a request to the first management device 2 to determine whether the medium can be used, along with the medium image read from the inserted issued bonus medium and the member ID included in the bonus use notification (S303).

[0143] The first management device 2 compares the received member ID with the customer management information in Fig. 4(b), extracts unused benefit numbers linked to the member ID, and extracts from the issued benefit management information in Fig. 4(a) the issued benefit information linked to the extracted benefit numbers, for which the current day is included in the available period or number of available days.The first management device 2 then determines whether the medium image received from the benefit processing machine 20 matches the medium image included in any of the extracted issued benefit information.

[0144] If the first management device 2 judges YES, it transmits a judgment result indicating that the issued bonus medium is usable to the sender bonus processing machine 20, along with the issued bonus information corresponding to the issued bonus medium. The first management device 2 also updates the "usage status" field in the transmitted issued bonus information to "used" and registers the current date and time in the "usage date and time" field. On the other hand, if the first management device 2 judges NO, it transmits a judgment result indicating that the issued bonus medium is not usable to the sender bonus processing machine 20.

[0145] When the control unit 201 of the bonus processing machine 20 receives the determination result in this way (S304: YES), it transmits the received determination result to the settlement machine 10 (S305), and executes a process to store or return the inserted bonus medium depending on the determination result (S306). As a result, the control unit 201 executes the process of FIG.

[0146] If the determination result received in step S305 indicates that the bonus medium is usable, the control unit 101 of the settlement machine 10 updates the processing screen 320 to the state after the bonus medium has been applied, as shown in FIG. 13, based on the issued bonus information received together with the determination result. On the other hand, if the determination result received by the control unit 101 indicates that the bonus medium is not usable, the control unit 101 maintains the processing screen 320 without updating it. At this time, the control unit 101 may display a message indicating that the inserted bonus medium is not usable on the processing screen 320 of FIG. 13, for example, in an empty area below the bonus display area 326, and may further output a sound version of this message from the audio output unit 110 of FIG. 2.

[0147] <Effects of the embodiment> According to this embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

[0148] As shown in Figure 2, the self-service checkout device 1 includes a communication unit 203 capable of communicating with a first management device 2 that manages benefit information related to benefits, a benefit acquisition unit 201a that acquires benefit information (distribution benefit information, issuance benefit information) that can be used for settlement from the first management device 2, an output unit (display input unit 11, print output unit 104, audio output unit 110) for presenting information to the customer, and an output processing unit 101a that outputs the benefit information acquired by the benefit acquisition unit 201a to the output unit.

[0149] As shown in Figures 5, 6 and 12(a) and (b), the control units 101, 201 of the self-service checkout device 1 communicate with the first management device 2 that manages benefit information (distributed benefit information, issued benefit information) related to benefits using the functions of the output processing unit 101a and the benefit acquisition unit 201a (S202, S502), acquire benefit information that can be used for settlement from the first management device 2 (S203, S204, S503), and output the acquired benefit information to the output unit for presenting information to the customer, thereby presenting it to the customer (S106, S405).

[0150] With this configuration, as shown in Figures 7, 8, 10, 13, and 15, the customer is presented with benefit information (distributed benefit information, issued benefit information) regarding benefits that can be used for settlement, allowing the customer to smoothly grasp the benefits that can be used for their own settlement. Therefore, the customer can smoothly use the benefits that they own when settling their bill.

[0151] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the self-service checkout device 1 is equipped with a display unit (display input unit 11) for displaying information, and as shown in Figures 7, 8, 10, and 13, the output processing unit 101a, when outputting bonus information, displays image information (information on the right side of each screen) indicating the content of the bonus on the display unit (display input unit 11).

[0152] With this configuration, the customer can easily understand the benefits available for payment by referring to the image information.

[0153] As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 10, and 13, the image information indicating the contents of the bonus includes bonus medium images 304a, 314a, and 326a.

[0154] With this configuration, customers can easily understand the benefits available for settlement by referring to the medium images 304a, 314a, and 326a, and can smoothly check whether they own the media for the benefit (distributed benefit media, issued benefit media).

[0155] As shown in Figures 7 to 10 and 13, the display unit (display input unit 11) is used for registering and settling the items to be purchased, and the output processing unit 101a includes image information indicating the contents of the benefit in at least one of a series of processing screens 300, 310, 320 for the registration and settling operations.

[0156] According to this configuration, image information showing the contents of the benefits is displayed on the payment processing screens 300, 310, 320, so that the customer can easily understand the benefits that can be used for payment.

[0157] For example, the output processing unit 101a includes image information indicating the contents of the special offer in the first processing screen 300 shown in FIG.

[0158] According to this configuration, image information showing the contents of the benefits is displayed on the initial processing screen 300 during checkout, so that the customer can understand the benefits available for checkout at the start of the checkout process and can check in advance whether or not they have the relevant benefits.

[0159] Alternatively, the output processing unit 101a may include image information indicating the details of the benefit in the processing screen 310 for product registration shown in FIG. 8, among the series of processing screens 300, 310, and 320.

[0160] According to this configuration, image information showing the contents of the benefits is displayed on the processing screen 310 referred to for product registration, so that the customer can smoothly grasp the benefits that can be used for payment.

[0161] Furthermore, the output processing unit 101a includes image information showing the contents of the benefit in the processing screen 320 related to the selection operation of the payment method shown in (39) and (310) among the series of processing screens 300, 310, and 320.

[0162] According to this configuration, image information showing the contents of the benefits is displayed when the payment method is selected, so that the customer can easily understand the benefits available for payment.

[0163] As shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), one type of benefit information presented to a customer in this embodiment is distribution benefit information regarding benefits that are distributed regardless of the customer's purchase history.

[0164] This configuration allows customers to easily understand the information about the benefits that are distributed and available for use at checkout, regardless of their purchase history, and thus allows customers to easily use the benefits they own at checkout.

[0165] As shown in Figures 4(a) and (b), one type of benefit information presented to a customer in this embodiment is issued benefit information related to benefits issued based on the customer's purchase history, and the first management device 2 manages the issued benefit information by linking it with the customer's identification information (member ID). As shown in Figure 2, the self-service checkout device 1 includes a reading unit (ID card reader 103) that reads the identification information (member ID) from a recording medium (ID card), and the benefit acquisition unit 201a transmits the identification information (member ID) read by the reading unit (ID card reader 103) to the first management device 2 to acquire the issued benefit information. As shown in Figure 13, the output processing unit 101a outputs the issued benefit information (medium image 326a, etc.) to the output unit (display input unit 11).

[0166] This configuration allows customers to easily understand information about benefits that have been issued based on their purchase history and can be used for payment, allowing customers to easily use the benefits they own when paying.

[0167] As shown in Fig. 1, self-service checkout device 1 includes a reward processing machine 20 used in combination with a self-service checkout machine 10, which allows customers to register products to be purchased and pay for the registered products by themselves. As shown in Fig. 2, reward processing machine 20 includes a communication unit 203 capable of communicating with first management device 2 that manages reward information related to rewards, a reward acquisition unit 201a that acquires reward information (distributed reward information, issued reward information) that can be used for payment from first management device 2, and a transmission processing unit 201b that transmits the reward information acquired by reward acquisition unit 201a to checkout machine 10.

[0168] According to this configuration, by combining the payment machine 10 with the reward processing machine 20, reward information on rewards that can be used for payment can be presented to the customer. Therefore, the customer can smoothly use the rewards that he or she owns when paying.

[0169] <Change example 1> In the above embodiment, the bonus information (distributed bonus information, issued bonus information) available for settlement was obtained from the first management device 2, displayed on the display input unit 11 of the settlement machine 10, and made available for use by the customer. In contrast, in modified example 1, conditional bonus information available under certain conditions is obtained from the first management device 2, and the conditions and the contents of the conditional bonus information are displayed on the display input unit 11.

[0170] The customer can acquire the conditional benefit information by performing an operation to satisfy the conditions displayed on the display / input unit 11. The acquired conditional benefit information may be used in the current payment procedure, or may be used in subsequent payment procedures.

[0171] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the configuration of the conditional benefit management information.

[0172] The conditional benefit management information has a configuration in which "acquisition conditions" are added to the distributed benefit management information of Figure 3(a). The "acquisition conditions" register the conditions for acquiring the corresponding conditional benefit information. For example, the "acquisition conditions" may be "acquire the official application program of the store or group company and register as a member." The "acquisition conditions" may further include guidance information to guide the user toward fulfilling the conditions. For example, the guidance information may be information indicating how to acquire the above-mentioned application program. The "acquisition conditions" including the guidance information may be in the form of information that can be displayed on the payment machine 10, such as text information or image information.

[0173] The first control device 2 stores the store control information of Fig. 3(b) together with the conditional benefit information of Fig. 14. The registration of this information is performed by the administrator of the first control device 2, as in the above embodiment.

[0174] As in the above embodiment, the conditional benefit information can be acquired by the control unit 201 (benefit acquisition unit 201a) of the benefit processing machine 20. The flow of the acquisition process is generally the same as the process flow of FIG. 6. In Modification Example 1, the information acquired from the first management device 2 in the process of FIG. 6 is simply changed from benefit information to conditional benefit information and acquisition conditions. Therefore, the process of acquiring the conditional benefit information and acquisition conditions will be described here with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6.

[0175] When the control unit 201 receives a start notification and a store number from the payment machine 10 (S201), it sends an inquiry to the first management device 2, together with the store number, asking whether there is any conditional benefit information available at the store (S202).

[0176] As in the above embodiment, the first management device 2 executes a process to extract conditional benefit information that can be used at the store based on the received store number, the store-specific management information of Figure 3(b), and the conditional benefit management information of Figure 14.

[0177] If the conditional benefit information is extracted, the first management device 2 transmits the extracted conditional benefit information and the associated acquisition conditions as an inquiry result to the benefit processing machine 20 that made the inquiry. If the conditional benefit information is not extracted, the first management device 2 transmits an inquiry result indicating that there is no available conditional benefit information to the benefit processing machine 20 that made the inquiry.

[0178] When the control unit 201 of the bonus processing machine 20 receives the inquiry result in this way (S203: YES), it determines whether or not the received inquiry result includes conditional bonus information and acquisition conditions (S204). If the determination in step S204 is YES, the control unit 201 transmits the conditional bonus information and acquisition conditions included in the inquiry result to the settlement machine 10 (S205). On the other hand, if the determination in step S204 is NO, the control unit 201 transmits a response to the settlement machine 10 indicating that there is no conditional bonus information (S206).

[0179] If the response received from the bonus processing machine 20 includes conditional bonus information and acquisition conditions, the control unit 101 of the settlement machine 10 displays this information on the initial processing screen 300 for the settlement procedure. At this time, as in the above embodiment, a sound may be output from the audio output unit 110 to notify the customer that the conditional bonus information is available. On the other hand, if the response received from the bonus processing machine 20 does not include conditional bonus information and acquisition conditions, the control unit 101 transitions the screen from the initial processing screen 300 to the next processing screen.

[0180] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the configuration of the initial processing screen 300 for the settlement procedure when the conditional benefit information and the acquisition conditions are displayed on the processing screen 300.

[0181] The processing screen 300 in FIG. 15 differs from the processing screen 300 in FIG. 7 in that it includes a message 306 and a benefit display area 307. The message 306 notifies the customer that a coupon can be acquired and that the acquired coupon can be used in the current checkout procedure. The benefit display area 307 displays a medium image 307a of the benefit to be acquired, the conditions for acquiring the benefit, and the method for fulfilling the conditions (guidance information). The customer can scroll the image in the benefit display area 307 up and down by operating the scroll bar 307b.

[0182] 16(a) to 16(c) are diagrams showing a schematic diagram of the process of acquiring a conditional benefit.

[0183] Here, a conditional benefit is acquired using a customer's mobile phone. Figures 16(a) to 16(c) show screens displayed on the touch panel of the mobile phone. The customer acquires an application program according to the official app acquisition method described in the benefit display area 307 of Figure 15. When the customer starts the acquired application program, the initial screen 400 of Figure 16(a) is displayed.

[0184] To become a member, the customer operates button 401. This transitions to a screen for member registration. On this screen, the customer enters necessary information such as their name to register as a member. This completes member registration on the server (application server) that manages the application program. The application program enables communication between the mobile phone and the application server.

[0185] When a customer becomes a new member in this way, a member screen 410 in FIG. 16(b) is displayed. The member screen 410 includes a button 411 for displaying benefit information. When the customer operates this button 411, a benefit display screen 420 in FIG. 16(c) is displayed. The benefit display screen 420 includes a medium image 421 of the benefit, messages 422 and 424, and a barcode 423. The message 422 indicates that the customer has acquired the benefit of the medium image 421, and the message 424 indicates that the barcode 423 should be read by the payment machine 10 when using the benefit.

[0186] The customer is prompted to use the conditional benefit on, for example, the processing screen 320 of FIG. 9. For example, the processing screen 320 of FIG. 9 includes a message prompting the customer to hold the barcode 423 over the barcode reader 12 if there is a conditional benefit. In response, the customer causes the barcode 423 of FIG. 16(c) to be read by the barcode reader 12 of the payment machine 10. This applies the conditional benefit to the payment. The timing for reading the barcode 423 is not limited to this, and the above message may also be included on the processing screen 300 of FIG. 7, for example.

[0187] The control unit 101 of the settlement machine 10 transmits the read barcode information to the application server via the bonus processing machine 20 and inquires whether the bonus corresponding to the barcode information can be used. The application server determines whether bonus information is linked to the received barcode information, and if there is linked bonus information, transmits the bonus information to the settlement machine 10 via the bonus processing machine 20. On the other hand, if there is no bonus information linked to the received barcode information, it transmits an error response to the settlement machine 10 via the bonus processing machine 20, indicating that the bonus corresponding to the barcode cannot be used.

[0188] When the control unit 101 of the settlement machine 10 receives the benefit information, it applies the benefit (for example, a 10% discount) to the total purchase amount. As a result, the remaining balance after the benefit is applied is displayed in the balance display unit 321c of FIG. 9. On the other hand, when the control unit 101 receives an error response, it causes the display input unit 11 to display a message indicating that the benefit of the barcode that the customer held over the barcode reader 12 cannot be used. In this case, the display in the balance display unit 321c of FIG. 9 does not change.

[0189] In this way, the customer can use the conditional benefit acquired through the initial processing screen 300 of FIG. 15 in the current payment procedure. The acquired benefit may also be used in subsequent payment procedures. In this case, the customer operates button 402 on the initial screen 400 of FIG. 16(a) to display the member screen 410 of FIG. 16(b), and then operates button 411. This displays the benefit display screen 420 of FIG. 16(c). Thereafter, the customer, as described above, simply has the barcode reader 12 of the payment machine 10 read the barcode 423 on the benefit display screen 420 in response to the message included in the processing screen 320 of FIG. 9.

[0190] Note that the bonus display area 307 in FIG. 15 may be modified as shown in FIG. 17. In this configuration, a two-dimensional barcode 307c for accessing a site for acquiring an application program is included in the bonus display area 307 as guidance information. In this case, a customer can easily acquire the application program by reading the two-dimensional barcode 307c with the camera of their mobile phone. This makes it easier to acquire the bonus corresponding to the bonus image 307a.

[0191] The conditional perk management information in Fig. 14 may be managed in common with the distributed perk management information in Fig. 3(a). In this case, a "flag" field for distinguishing the conditional perk information from the distributed perk information and an "acquisition condition" field shown in Fig. 15 are added to the data structure in Fig. 3(a), and the "acquisition condition" field in the row with the flag in the distributed perk management information is left blank. In this case, the first management device 2 performs the above-mentioned processing related to the distributed perk information and the conditional perk information by referring to the "flag" field.

[0192] <Effects of Change Example 1> 14, the benefit information presented to the customer in the first modification is conditional benefit information regarding a benefit that becomes available when a predetermined condition is met, and the benefit acquisition unit 201a acquires the predetermined condition and the conditional benefit information from the first management device 2. As shown in FIG. 15, the output processing unit 101a causes the output unit (display input unit 11) to output the predetermined condition (here, member registration via the official app) and benefit information (coupon information) of the conditional benefit.

[0193] This configuration allows the customer to understand that the reward is issued under certain conditions, and the customer can then take action to fulfill the conditions to obtain the reward and use it for payment.

[0194] As explained with reference to Figure 14, the first management device 2 further manages guidance information (method of acquiring the official app) to guide the user to fulfilling a predetermined condition (here, member registration using the official app), the benefit acquisition unit 201a further acquires the guidance information from the first management device 2, and the output processing unit 101a further outputs the guidance information to the output unit (display input unit 11).

[0195] This configuration allows the customer to understand that the reward is issued under certain conditions, and the customer can then take action to fulfill the conditions to obtain the reward and use it for payment.

[0196] <Change example 2> In the above embodiment, information on benefits issued based on a customer's purchase history (issued benefit information, customer-specific management information) was managed by the first management device 2, but this information may also be managed by the second management device 3. In this case, the benefit processing machine 20 only needs to inquire of the second management device 3 about available issued benefit information, and also inquire of the second management device 3 about whether or not the inserted issued benefit medium can be used.

[0197] In the above embodiment, the usability of the inserted bonus medium is determined by comparing the medium image, but this determination is not limited to comparing the medium image and may be performed by other methods. For example, if the bonus medium has a barcode printed thereon that indicates the type of bonus, the issuer, etc., the usability of the bonus medium may be determined based on the information in this barcode.

[0198] In this case, the distributed bonus information in Fig. 3(a) and the issued bonus information in Fig. 4(a) include barcode information, and the bonus processing machine 20 includes a barcode reader that reads the barcode information from the inserted bonus medium. The control unit 201 of the bonus processing machine 20 simply inquires of the first management device 2 about the availability of the bonus medium along with the barcode information read from the bonus medium.

[0199] Furthermore, the issued special offer medium does not necessarily have to be paper, but may be electronic media displayed on a mobile phone, etc., as in the case of FIG. 16(c). In this case, the second management device 3 may provide the issued special offer medium to the customer's mobile phone, for example, via the application server described above. Furthermore, the message 325 in FIG. 10 may be changed to prompt the customer to activate the membership screen, display the barcode of the issued special offer medium on the mobile phone, and hold the displayed barcode over the barcode reader 12 of the settlement machine 10. The control unit 101 of the settlement machine 10 may then send the read barcode to the application server to confirm whether the issued special offer medium can be used.

[0200] <Other change examples> In the above embodiment, communication with the first control device 2 is performed in the bonus processing machine 20, but communication with the first control device 2 may also be performed in the settlement machine 10.

[0201] In this case, the control unit 101 of the settlement machine 10 is given the function of the benefit acquisition unit 201a. Furthermore, step S102 in FIG. 5 is replaced with the same process as step S202 in FIG. 6. In this process, the control unit 101 directly inquires of the first control device 2 whether benefit information for benefits available at the store exists. Then, in step S103 in FIG. 5, the control unit 101 receives a response to the inquiry directly from the first control device 2, and executes the processes from step S104 onwards in accordance with the response.

[0202] Furthermore, as described in the above modified example 2, when the second management device 3 manages issued privilege information and customer-specific management information, the control unit 101 of the settlement machine 10 may communicate with the second management device 3 and perform processing such as confirming available issued privilege information.

[0203] In addition, in the above embodiment, the usability of the bonus medium inserted into the bonus processing machine 20 was determined by a determination request from the bonus processing machine 20 to the first management device 2 through the processing of Figure 11, but this determination may also be made in the control unit 101 of the settlement machine 10.

[0204] In this case, the control unit 101 receives, for example, from the reward processing machine 20, a medium image of the reward medium inserted into the reward processing machine 20, and compares the medium image of the available reward obtained from the first management device 2 via the reward processing machine 20 at the start of settlement with the medium image received from the reward processing machine 20 (the medium image of the inserted reward medium). If the two match, the control unit 101 determines that the inserted reward medium is available, and if the two do not match, the control unit 101 determines that the inserted reward medium is unavailable. Furthermore, if the reward processing machine 20 is capable of storing the medium images of the available rewards obtained from the first management device, this determination may be made by the reward processing machine 20.

[0205] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the self-service checkout apparatus 1 is configured to include the checkout machine 10 and the bonus processing machine 20 separately, but the self-service checkout apparatus 1 may be configured to include both the checkout machine 10 and the bonus processing machine 20 as an integrated unit. In this case, for example, the self-service checkout apparatus 1 would be configured as the checkout machine 10 in FIG. 1 with a bonus medium insertion slot.

[0206] 3(a) is managed by the first management device 2, the issued privilege information may be managed by the second management device 3. In this case, the self-service checkout device 1 may access the second management device 3 in response to reading the ID card and obtain the available issued privilege information from the second management device 3.

[0207] 7 and 8, available benefits are displayed using a medium image. However, the method of informing the customer of available benefits is not limited to this. For example, a text image indicating the available benefits may be displayed on the display input unit 11, or a slip of paper on which a medium image of the available benefits is printed may be sent from the receipt outlet 15.

[0208] Furthermore, the timing of displaying the screen notifying available benefits is not limited to the timing of displaying the processing screens 300 and 310 in Figures 7 and 8. For example, image information for displaying available benefits may be included in multiple processing screens among a series of processing screens for the payment procedure, or a screen for displaying available benefits may be added between two consecutive processing screens.

[0209] In addition, in the above-described modified example 1, the predetermined condition for obtaining the benefit is to register as a member on the official app, but the predetermined condition is not limited to this. For example, the predetermined condition may be that a customer who has already registered as a member watches a predetermined advertisement or promotion on the official app.

[0210] In addition, in the above embodiment, the first management device 2 and the second management device 3 were installed outside the store, assuming that multiple stores would be subject to bonus management, but a management device may be installed inside the store, and bonuses may be distributed and issued independently for each store.

[0211] In this case, the management device may be connected to the self-service checkout device 1 via a communication line or wirelessly. The management device may also manage the information shown in Figures 3(a) and 4(a) and (b). In this case, because each store distributes and issues its own benefits, the store-specific management device shown in Figure 3(b) is omitted, and the benefit number field is omitted from the distributed benefit management information shown in Figure 3(a). In response to the inquiry in step S202 of Figure 6, the management device may determine whether the current day is included in the "available period" or "available days," and generate an inquiry result to be sent to the benefit processing machine 20 that made the inquiry.

[0212] Furthermore, the configuration of the settlement machine 10 is not limited to the configuration shown in the above embodiment, and the configuration of the bonus processing machine 20 may also be other configurations. Furthermore, the configurations of each screen and the configurations of various management information are not limited to the configurations shown in the above embodiment, and may be changed as appropriate.

[0213] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a self-service checkout device is shown in which a product to be purchased is registered by reading a barcode attached to the product, but the self-service checkout device to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be applied to a self-service checkout device such as an ordering device or a ticket vending machine in which a user selects a desired product from a screen displaying food and beverage product options, registers the product to be purchased, and then performs checkout.

[0214] Furthermore, the items handled by the self-service checkout device are not limited to the products described in the above embodiments, but may also be services such as theater performances or bathing at a public bath. In these cases, the present invention can be applied to ticket vending machines for purchasing admission tickets or bath tickets. A customer registers the service to be purchased with the ticket vending machine, which is a self-service checkout device, and then pays for the registered service. This registration is performed by operating the registration screen displayed on the ticket vending machine. In this case, a bonus processing machine similar to that in the above embodiments may be installed next to the ticket vending machine, or the ticket vending machine may have the functionality of a bonus processing machine.

[0215] In addition, the embodiments of the present invention can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0216] 1 Self-payment machine 5. Payment System 10 Payment machine 11 Display input section (output section) 20 Bonus Processing Machine 101a Output processing section 103 ID card reader (reading unit) 105 Communications Department 201a Benefits Acquisition Department 201b Transmission processing unit 203 Communications Department

Claims

1. A self-service checkout device that allows customers to register products or services to be purchased and pay for the registered products by themselves, a communication unit capable of communicating with a management device that manages benefit information relating to benefits; a benefit acquisition unit that acquires the benefit information that can be used for the settlement from the management device; an output unit for presenting information to the customer; an output processing unit that outputs the benefit information acquired by the benefit acquisition unit to the output unit, A self-service checkout device.

2. The self-service checkout device according to claim 1, the output unit includes a display unit for displaying information; the output processing unit causes the display unit to display image information indicating the content of the benefit, when outputting the benefit information. A self-service checkout device.

3. The self-service checkout device according to claim 2, The image information includes a medium image of the bonus. A self-service checkout device.

4. The self-service checkout device according to claim 2, the display unit is used for the registration and settlement of the product or service to be purchased, the output processing unit includes the image information in at least one of a series of processing screens for the registration and the settlement operations; A self-service checkout device.

5. The self-service checkout device according to claim 4, the output processing unit includes the image information in a first processing screen of the series of processing screens; A self-service checkout device.

6. The self-service checkout device according to claim 4, the output processing unit includes the image information in the processing screen for registration among the series of processing screens. A self-service checkout device.

7. The self-service checkout device according to claim 4, the output processing unit includes the image information in a processing screen related to a selection operation of a payment method among the series of processing screens. A self-service checkout device.

8. The self-service checkout device according to claim 1, The benefit information is distribution benefit information regarding benefits to be distributed regardless of the customer's purchase history. A self-service checkout device.

9. The self-service checkout device according to claim 1, The benefit information is benefit information relating to benefits to be issued based on the customer's purchase history, the management device manages the issued privilege information in association with customer identification information; the self-service checkout device includes a reading unit that reads the identification information from a recording medium; the privilege acquisition unit transmits the identification information read by the reading unit to the management device to acquire the issued privilege information; The output processing unit causes the output unit to output the issued privilege information. A self-service checkout device.

10. The self-service checkout device according to claim 1, The benefit information is conditional benefit information regarding a benefit that becomes available upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition, the benefit acquisition unit acquires the predetermined condition and the conditional benefit information from the management device; the output processing unit causes an output unit to output the predetermined condition and benefit information of the conditional benefit. A self-service checkout device.

11. The self-service checkout device according to claim 10, the management device further manages guidance information for guiding the user to satisfy the predetermined condition; the benefit acquisition unit further acquires the guidance information from the management device; The output processing unit further outputs the guidance information to the output unit. A self-service checkout device.

12. The self-service checkout device according to any one of claims 1 to 11; The management device, A settlement system characterized by:

13. A reward processing machine used in combination with a self-service checkout machine that allows customers to register products or services to be purchased and pay for the registered products themselves, a communication unit capable of communicating with a management device that manages benefit information relating to benefits; a benefit acquisition unit that acquires the benefit information that can be used for the settlement from the management device; a transmission processing unit that transmits the privilege information acquired by the privilege acquisition unit to the settlement machine, A bonus processing machine characterized by:

14. A control method for a self-service checkout device in which a customer operates the device to register a product or service to be purchased and to settle the payment for the registered product, comprising: communicating with a management device that manages benefit information relating to benefits; obtaining the benefit information available for the settlement from the management device; The acquired benefit information is output to an output unit for presenting information to the customer, and is presented to the customer. A control method for a self-service payment device.

15. A control unit of a self-service checkout device that allows customers to register products or services to be purchased and to settle the payment for the registered products by themselves, A function of communicating with a management device that manages benefit information related to benefits; a function of acquiring the benefit information available for settlement from the management device; a program for causing an output unit to output the benefit information acquired by the benefit acquisition unit to present the information to the customer;

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