Accounting device and its program

Abstract

Ensure that expired products are collected. [Solution] The accounting device comprises an acquisition means, a reconfirmation means, and a settlement means. The acquisition means acquires information on purchased items entered by the buyer through terminal operation and confirmed not to be expired. The reconfirmation means checks whether there are any expired items among the purchased items based on the information acquired by the acquisition means. If the reconfirmation means confirms that there are expired purchased items, the settlement means settles the transaction with the other purchased items excluding the expired purchased items.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an accounting device and a program therefor.

Background Art

[0002] Food products sold in retail stores usually have a sales expiration date, which is commonly referred to as an expiration date or a best - before date. Foods with an expiration date can be safely eaten within that period. Foods with a best - before date can be eaten deliciously with unchanged quality within that period. Therefore, if products past their sales expiration date are sold, there is a concern that the store's credibility with consumers will be damaged.

[0003] Therefore, in many retail stores, store employees regularly walk through the sales floor to collect products that have passed their sales expiration date. However, with such manual work, it is difficult to collect all products that have passed their sales expiration date without omission, and improvement is required.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention is to provide an accounting device that can reliably collect products that have passed their sales expiration date.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In one embodiment, the accounting device comprises an acquisition means, a reconfirmation means, and a settlement means. The acquisition means acquires information on purchased items entered as purchased goods by the purchaser through terminal operation and confirmed not to be expired. The reconfirmation means checks, based on the information acquired by the acquisition means, whether there are any expired items among the purchased goods. If the reconfirmation means confirms that there are expired purchased goods, the settlement means settles the transaction with the other purchased goods excluding the expired purchased goods. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a self-checkout system according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the buyer terminal. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing a system of barcode symbols attached to a product in one embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the transaction processing server. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of a transaction file. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the accounting machine. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of the registration file. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a block diagram showing the main functional configuration of the transaction processing server's processor. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the essential steps of the information processing performed by the transaction processing server's processor according to the transaction processing program. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a sequence diagram of the main event signals exchanged between the buyer terminal and the transaction processing server. [Figure 11] Figure 11 shows an example of a registration screen displayed on the touch panel of a buyer's terminal. [Figure 12]Figure 12 shows an example of a registration screen on the buyer's terminal's touch panel where a pop-up message indicating a sales deadline error is displayed. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a block diagram showing the main functional configuration of the accounting machine's processor. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a flowchart showing the essential steps of information processing performed by the accounting machine's processor according to the accounting processing program. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is a flowchart showing the specific steps for processing expired products as described in Figure 14. [Figure 16] Figure 16 shows an example of a registration screen displayed on the touch panel of an accounting machine. [Figure 17] Figure 17 shows an example of a registration screen on the touch panel of a cashier machine, where a pop-up message indicating that a cashier is being called is displayed. [Figure 18] Figure 18 shows an example of a registration screen on the touch panel of a cashier machine, where a pop-up for expired products is displayed. [Figure 19] Figure 19 shows an example of a collection receipt. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The following describes an embodiment of an accounting device that can reliably collect expired products, using drawings as illustrations. In this embodiment, an accounting device for a self-checkout system using a mobile terminal is provided as an example.

[0009] [Overview of the Self-Checkout System] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a self-accounting system 100 according to the present embodiment. The self-accounting system 100 is constructed in a retail store that sells foods with a sales expiration date such as a consumption expiration date or a shelf life. The self-accounting system 100 includes a plurality of purchaser terminals 10, a transaction processing server 20, a store server 30, a plurality of accounting machines 40, and a store clerk terminal 50. The self-accounting system 100 connects the transaction processing server 20, the store server 30, each accounting machine 40, and the store clerk terminal 50 via a communication network 60. The communication network 60 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network). The LAN may be a wired LAN or a wireless LAN. Alternatively, the communication network 60 includes the Internet, and both or either one of the transaction processing server 20 and the store server 30 may be placed in a cloud environment.

[0010] The self-accounting system 100 connects a base station 70 capable of wireless communication with the purchaser terminal 10 to the communication network 60. The base station 70 is installed in a sales floor where products such as foods are displayed. Thus, the self-accounting system 100 enables data communication between a plurality of purchaser terminals 10 located in the sales floor, the transaction processing server 20, the store server 30, each accounting machine 40, and the store clerk terminal 50.

[0011] The purchaser terminal 10 is a mobile terminal operated by a purchaser who visits the store. The purchaser terminal 10 is used as a device for inputting data of purchased products to be purchased by the purchaser in the sales floor by self-operation when the purchaser puts the purchased products into a shopping basket. For example, a smartphone owned by the purchaser, a mobile terminal lent by the retail store to the purchaser, or a tablet terminal attached to a shopping cart can be the purchaser terminal 10. Incidentally, the purchaser can be referred to as a customer, a shopper, a consumer, etc.

[0012] The transaction processing server 20 is a server computer that processes data related to commercial transactions with the purchaser, who is the operator of the purchaser terminal 10. Specifically, the transaction processing server 20 processes data related to commercial transactions with the purchaser based on the data of the purchased goods input via the purchaser terminal 10. Then, the transaction processing server 20 outputs the data related to commercial transactions with the purchaser to the accounting machine 40 that the purchaser operates self-service.

[0013] The store server 30 is a server computer that collects data on each product sold in the retail store and manages the sales, inventory, etc. of the entire retail store. To achieve such management, the store server 30 has a product master and a sales master. The product master is a database in which item data such as the unit price and product name of the product identified by the product code is preset in association with the product code that individually identifies each product. The sales master is a database that aggregates item data such as the incoming quantity, sales quantity, and sales amount of the product identified by the product code in units of, for example, one business day, in association with the product code of each product.

[0014] The accounting machine 40 is an information device that settles commercial transactions with the purchaser based on the data related to commercial transactions obtained from the transaction processing server 20. The accounting machine 40 receives payment of the price by self-operation of the purchaser. The accounting machine 40 supports various payment methods such as cash, credit card, electronic money, and code settlement. The accounting machine 40 calculates the price of the purchased goods based on the data related to commercial transactions, and when the payment amount equal to or more than the price is input by at least one payment method, it performs processing for settling the commercial transaction. Such an accounting machine 40 is installed in an accounting area (cash register) separated from the sales floor. The accounting machine 40 is an example of an accounting device. The accounting machine 40 can be referred to as a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal, a settlement terminal, etc.

[0015] The employee terminal 50 is an information device operated by an employee. The employee terminal 50 is used by an employee, referred to as an attendant, to monitor the status of the customer terminal 10 and the checkout machine 40. The employee terminal 50 is installed in a space where the attendant is on standby. The employee terminal 50 may also be carried by the employee.

[0016] [Description of the buyer terminal configuration] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the buyer terminal 10. The buyer terminal 10 comprises circuit components such as a processor 11, internal memory 12, external memory 13, wireless unit 14, and I / O (Input / Output) interface 15, and a system transmission line 16. The system transmission line 16 includes an address bus, data bus, control signal lines, etc. The buyer terminal 10 constitutes a computer by connecting each circuit component to the system transmission line 16.

[0017] The processor 11 corresponds to the central part of the computer described above. The processor 11 controls various parts in order to realize various functions as a buyer terminal 10 according to the operating system or application program (application software). The processor 11 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

[0018] The internal memory 12 corresponds to the main memory portion of the computer described above. The internal memory 12 includes a non-volatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The non-volatile memory area of ​​the internal memory 12 stores the operating system or application programs. The volatile memory area of ​​the internal memory 12 stores data necessary for the processor 11 to perform processing to control each part. The internal memory 12 also uses the volatile memory area as a work area where data is rewritten as needed by the processor 11. The non-volatile memory area is, for example, ROM (Read Only Memory). The volatile memory area is, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory).

[0019] External memory 13 corresponds to the auxiliary storage portion of the computer described above. For example, an SD memory card, USB memory, etc., can serve as external memory 13. External memory 13 stores data used by the processor 11 for various processing tasks, or data created by processing performed by the processor 11. External memory 13 may also store the application programs described above.

[0020] The wireless unit 14 is a circuit for transmitting and receiving data signals to and from the base station 70 in accordance with a predetermined wireless communication protocol.

[0021] The I / O interface 15 is a circuit for transmitting and receiving data signals to and from various devices such as the touch panel 101 and the camera 102.

[0022] The touch panel 101 functions as both a display device and an input device for the buyer terminal 10. The buyer terminal 10 displays images, text, and other information necessary for the buyer terminal on the touch panel 101. The buyer terminal 10 accepts touch operations on the touch panel 101 as operator input to the buyer terminal 10.

[0023] Camera 102 is an imaging device built into the buyer terminal 10. The buyer terminal 10 can read machine-readable codes such as barcodes and two-dimensional codes from images captured by camera 102.

[0024] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the system of barcode symbols BC attached to products in this embodiment. Barcode symbols BC represent a data sequence including product code, date and time, expiration flag (expiration F), and check digit (C / D) using a barcode. The data sequence consists of, for example, a 26-digit number.

[0025] The product code is a code used to individually identify each product item. Each product sold in a retail store has a unique product code assigned to it. The date and time are the date and time of the expiration date. The expiration flag is a 1-bit data that identifies whether or not a date and time has been set. Generally, food products have an expiration date, such as a best-before date, but non-food products do not have an expiration date. Therefore, the expiration flag of the barcode symbol BC attached to food products will be a value indicating that a date and time has been set, for example, "1". The expiration flag of the barcode symbol BC attached to non-food products will be a value indicating that a date and time has not been set, for example, "0". The check digit is a value added to detect errors in the data sequence of the barcode symbol BC. Note that non-food products may also have a barcode symbol consisting of, for example, a 14-digit number sequence, excluding the date and time and expiration flag.

[0026] The buyer terminal 10 can read the data of the barcode symbol BC, namely the product code, date and time, expiration flag, check digit, etc., by extracting and analyzing the image of the barcode symbol BC from the image captured by the camera 102.

[0027] [Description of the transaction processing server configuration] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the transaction processing server 20. The transaction processing server 20 comprises circuit components such as a processor 21, main memory 22, auxiliary storage device 23, clock 24, and communication interface 25, as well as a system transmission line 26. The transaction processing server 20 constitutes a computer by connecting each circuit component to the system transmission line 26.

[0028] The processor 21 corresponds to the central part of the computer described above. The processor 21 controls various parts to realize various functions as a transaction processing server 20 according to the operating system or application program. The processor 21 is, for example, a CPU. The processor 21 may also be, for example, an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), SoC (System on a Chip), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). Alternatively, the processor 21 may be a combination of several of these.

[0029] Main memory 22 corresponds to the main memory portion of the computer described above. Main memory 22 includes a non-volatile memory area and a volatile memory area. In the non-volatile memory area, main memory 22 stores the operating system or application programs. Main memory 22 may also store data necessary for the processor 21 to perform processing to control each part in the non-volatile or volatile memory area. Main memory 22 uses the volatile memory area as a work area where data is rewritten as appropriate by the processor 21. The non-volatile memory area is, for example, ROM. The volatile memory area is, for example, RAM.

[0030] The auxiliary storage device 23 corresponds to the auxiliary storage portion of the computer described above. For example, EEPROM (Electric Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or SSD (Solid State Drive) can be auxiliary storage devices 23. The auxiliary storage device 23 stores data used by the processor 21 in performing various processes, or data created by processing performed by the processor 21. The auxiliary storage device 23 may also store the application programs described above.

[0031] Clock 24 measures the date and time. Processor 21 processes the date and time measured by clock 24 as the current date and time.

[0032] The communication interface 25 connects to the communication network 60. The transaction processing server 20 communicates data with devices connected to the communication network 60, namely the store server 30, the accounting machine 40, and the employee terminal 50, via the communication interface 25. The transaction processing server 20 can also communicate data with the buyer terminal 10 connected to the base station 70 via the communication interface 25.

[0033] In this configuration, the transaction processing server 20 uses a portion of the volatile memory area in the main memory 22 as the area for creating transaction files 221. The transaction processing server 20 can then create and store one or more transaction files 221 simultaneously in this area.

[0034] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of the transaction file 221. As shown in the figure, the transaction file 221 can store multiple first data records, each consisting of the following items: product code, date and time, expiration flag, product name, unit price, quantity, and amount, associated with a series of record numbers. The transaction processing server 20 creates a transaction file 221 for each buyer terminal 10 connected to the base station 70. Each time a barcode symbol BC is read by a buyer terminal 10, the transaction processing server 20 sequentially saves the first data record of the product identified by the product code contained in that barcode symbol BC to the transaction file 221 corresponding to that buyer terminal 10.

[0035] When the transaction processing server 20 receives an accounting request from the buyer terminal 10, it outputs a transaction file 221 corresponding to that buyer terminal 10 to the accounting machine 40. The accounting machine 40 settles the commercial transaction with the buyer based on the data in the transaction file 221. In other words, the data in the transaction file 221 is an example of data related to a commercial transaction. Data related to a commercial transaction can be rephrased as data necessary for settling a commercial transaction.

[0036] [Explanation of the accounting machine's configuration] Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the accounting machine 40. The accounting machine 40 comprises circuit components such as a processor 41, main memory 42, auxiliary storage device 43, clock 44, communication interface 45 and I / O interface 46, and a system transmission line 47. The accounting machine 40 constitutes a computer by connecting each circuit component to the system transmission line 47.

[0037] The processor 41 corresponds to the central part of the computer described above. The processor 41 controls each part in order to realize various functions of the accounting machine 40 according to the operating system or application program (application software). The processor 41 is, for example, a CPU.

[0038] Main memory 42 corresponds to the main memory portion of the computer described above. Main memory 42 includes a non-volatile memory area and a volatile memory area. In the non-volatile memory area, main memory 42 stores the operating system or application programs. Main memory 42 may also store data necessary for the processor 41 to perform processing to control each part in the non-volatile or volatile memory area. Main memory 42 uses the volatile memory area as a work area where data is rewritten as appropriate by the processor 41. The non-volatile memory area is, for example, ROM. The volatile memory area is, for example, RAM.

[0039] The auxiliary storage device 43 corresponds to the auxiliary storage portion of the computer described above. For example, an EEPROM (registered trademark), HDD, or SSD may be the auxiliary storage device 43. The auxiliary storage device 43 stores data used by the processor 41 in performing various processes, or data created by the processing performed by the processor 41. The auxiliary storage device 43 may also store the application program described above.

[0040] Clock 44 measures the date and time. Processor 41 obtains the date and time measured by clock 44 as the current date and time.

[0041] The communication interface 45 connects to the communication network 60. The accounting machine 40 communicates data with the devices connected to the communication network 60, namely the transaction processing server 20, the store server 30, and the employee terminal 50, via the communication interface 45.

[0042] The I / O interface 46 is a circuit for transmitting and receiving data signals with devices such as the touch panel 401, card reader 402, scanner 403, printer 404, cash handling machine 405, lamp 406, and speaker 407.

[0043] The touch panel 401 is a display and input device for the accounting machine 40. The accounting machine 40 displays images, text, etc., necessary for the accounting machine 40 on the touch panel 401. The accounting machine 40 processes touch operations on the touch panel 401 as operator input to the accounting machine 40.

[0044] The card reader 402 is a device that reads data recorded on a card medium such as a credit card. If the card medium is a magnetic card, the card reader 402 is a magnetic card reader. If the card medium is an IC card, the card reader 402 is an IC card reader. The accounting machine 40 may be equipped with either a magnetic card reader or an IC card reader as the card reader 402, or it may be equipped with both. The card reader 402 may also be a card reader / writer that has a function to write data to the card medium.

[0045] The scanner 403 is a device that reads machine-readable codes such as barcodes or two-dimensional codes. The scanner 403 may be a handheld device operated by an operator, or it may be a stationary device built into the main body of the accounting machine 40.

[0046] The printer 404 is a device that prints various receipt-related data onto receipt paper. The receipt paper printed with data by the printer 404 is cut by a cutter and issued from the receipt issuing slot. The printer 404 can be implemented, for example, by a thermal printer or a dot matrix printer.

[0047] The cash handling machine 405 is a device that has a safe for storing banknotes and coins by denomination, and a mechanism for taking out banknotes or coins equivalent to the change amount from the safe and dispensing them to the dispensing slot. When the cash handling machine 405 is notified of the change amount by the processor 41, it calculates the number of banknotes or coins to be dispensed for each denomination that corresponds to the change amount. The cash handling machine 405 then takes out the calculated number of banknotes or coins for each denomination from the safe and dispenses them to the dispensing slot.

[0048] Lamp 406 is a device that selectively emits light in, for example, blue and red. The color of light emitted by Lamp 406 allows the store clerk to know the current status of the payment machine 40, such as whether it is idle, operational, or if an error has occurred.

[0049] Speaker 407 is a device that outputs various sounds. The accounting machine 40 outputs synthesized speech from speaker 407 to the operator, for example, to guide them on how to operate the machine. If an error occurs, the accounting machine 40 emits a warning sound to notify the operator of the error.

[0050] In this configuration, the accounting machine 40 uses a portion of the volatile memory area in the main memory 42 as the area for the registration file 421.

[0051] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of the registration file 421. As shown in the figure, the registration file 421 can store multiple second data records, each consisting of the items product code, product name, unit price, quantity, and amount, associated with a series of record numbers. The accounting machine 40 generates a second data record based on the data of the first data record stored in the transaction file 221 obtained from the transaction processing server 20, and stores it in the registration file 421.

[0052] [Description of Transaction Processing Server Functions] Figure 8 is a block diagram showing the main functional configuration of the processor 21 of the transaction processing server 20. As shown in the figure, the processor 21 has the functions of a product acquisition means 211, an expiration date confirmation means 212, a product registration means 213, an expiration date notification means 214, an accounting acceptance means 215, and an accounting authorization means 216.

[0053] The product acquisition means 211 is a function that acquires data related to purchased products by the purchaser, who is the operator of the purchaser terminal 10, through data communication with the purchaser terminal 10. In the purchaser terminal 10, the camera 102 reads the data of the barcode symbol BC attached to the purchased product. In addition, if the purchaser purchases two or more products, the quantity is also entered via the touch panel 101. The product acquisition means 211 acquires data related to the purchased product, such as the barcode symbol BC data or quantity data.

[0054] The expiration date verification means 212 is a function that checks whether the sales expiration date of the purchased product has expired. The expiration date verification means 212 obtains the date and time of the sales expiration from the data of the barcode symbol BC. The expiration date verification means 212 then checks whether the current date and time, which is measured by the clock 24, has passed the date and time of the sales expiration. If the current date and time has not passed the date and time of the sales expiration, the expiration date verification means 212 determines that the sales expiration date of the purchased product has not expired. If the current date and time has passed the date and time of the sales expiration, the expiration date verification means 212 determines that the sales expiration date of the purchased product has expired.

[0055] The product registration means 213 has the function of saving a first data record related to a purchased product in the transaction file 221 if the sales period for the purchased product has not expired. Specifically, the product registration means 213 obtains the product code, date and time, and expiration flag from the barcode symbol BC of the purchased product. The product registration means 213 also searches the product master using the product code to obtain the product name and unit price. The product registration means 213 then generates a first data record by adding the quantity and amount to the product code, date and time, expiration flag, product name, and amount, and saves it in the transaction file 221 in record number order. The quantity is "1" if the quantity data has not been obtained by the product acquisition means 211, and the quantity if the quantity data has been obtained. The amount is the unit price multiplied by the quantity.

[0056] The expiration notification means 214 is a function that notifies the buyer, who is the operator of the buyer terminal 10, that the purchased product has expired when the sales period for the purchased product has expired. For example, the expiration notification means 214 notifies the buyer of the expiration by displaying text or an image on the touch panel 101 of the buyer terminal 10 that the sales period for the purchased product has expired. The expiration notification means 214 may also notify the store clerk, who is the operator of the store clerk terminal 50, of the expiration.

[0057] The accounting reception means 215 is a function that receives accounting requests from the buyer terminal 10. When the buyer, who is the operator of the buyer terminal 10, finishes shopping in the store, they touch the accounting button BTb (see Figure 11) displayed on the touch panel 101 to indicate that they want to pay. In response to this accounting instruction, the buyer terminal 10 outputs an accounting request command, which the accounting reception means receives.

[0058] The accounting authorization means 216 is a function that authorizes accounting to the buyer terminal 10. When the accounting authorization means 216 receives an accounting request from the accounting reception means 215, it generates an accounting code necessary for accounting and stores that accounting code in the transaction file 221. Subsequently, the accounting authorization means 216 outputs the accounting code to the buyer terminal 10 that made the accounting request.

[0059] The functions described above as the product acquisition means 211, the expiration date confirmation means 212, the product registration means 213, the expiration date notification means 214, the accounting acceptance means 215, and the accounting authorization means 216 are all realized by information processing performed by the processor 21 in accordance with the transaction processing program.

[0060] A transaction processing program is a type of application program stored in the main memory 22 or auxiliary storage device 23. The method of installing the transaction processing program in the main memory 22 or auxiliary storage device 23 is not particularly limited. The transaction processing program can be recorded on a removable recording medium, or distributed via network communication and installed in the main memory 22 or auxiliary storage device 23. The recording medium can be any form as long as it can store a program and is readable by the device, such as a CD-ROM or memory card.

[0061] [Explanation of Transaction Processing Server Operation] Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the main steps of information processing performed by the processor 21 of the transaction processing server 20 according to the transaction processing program. Figure 10 is a sequence diagram of the main event signals exchanged between the buyer terminal 10 and the transaction processing server 20. Figures 11 and 12 are examples of screens displayed on the touch panel 101 of the buyer terminal 10. The main operations of the transaction processing server 20 will be explained below using each of these figures.

[0062] Here, we will illustrate the case where the buyer's own smartphone is used as the buyer's terminal 10. The buyer can use the smartphone as the buyer's terminal 10 by installing dedicated application software on it. Hereafter, this application software will be referred to as the shopping app.

[0063] When a customer arrives at a retail store equipped with a self-checkout system 100, they launch the shopping app. Once the shopping app is launched, the customer terminal 10 enters entry code reading mode. The entry code is a two-dimensional code system that encodes the retail store's configuration information and is provided, for example, at the entrance of the retail store. The configuration information includes information necessary for the customer terminal 10 to connect with the base station 70, such as the SSID, password, and security information.

[0064] The buyer performs an operation to read the entry code using camera 102. When the entry code is read, the buyer terminal 10 outputs an [entry event] signal to the transaction processing server 20 (ACT101 in Figure 10). The [entry event] signal is transmitted wirelessly via wireless unit 14, received by base station 70, and sent to transaction processing server 20. The [entry event] includes identification information of the buyer terminal 10. The identification information is a terminal-specific ID, also known as a terminal ID. A unique terminal ID is set on the smartphone used as the buyer terminal 10 by installing a shopping application.

[0065] As shown in Figure 9, the processor 21 of the transaction processing server 20 is waiting for a [store entry event] as ACT1. When it receives the signal for the [store entry event] via the communication interface 25, the processor 21 proceeds to ACT2. The processor 21 creates a transaction file 221 as ACT2. The transaction file 221 is associated with the terminal ID included in the [store entry event]. The transaction file 221 associated with the terminal ID is stored in the main memory 22.

[0066] The processor 21, which created the transaction file 221, proceeds to ACT3. As ACT3, the processor 21 outputs a [Registration Start Event] signal to the buyer terminal 10, which is the source of the [Store Entry Event]. The [Registration Start Event] signal is transmitted through the communication network 60 and wirelessly transmitted from the base station 70. As shown in Figure 10, the buyer terminal 10, which is the source of the [Store Entry Event], receives the [Registration Start Event] signal. Upon receiving the [Registration Start Event] signal, the buyer terminal 10 sets the screen of the touch panel 101 to the registration screen SCa (see Figure 11) (ACT102 in Figure 10).

[0067] Figure 11 shows an example of the registration screen SCa. The registration screen SCa is divided into a total area ARa, a details area ARb, and a button area ARc. The total area ARa displays the total number of items and the total price of the items purchased by the buyer in a single transaction. The details area ARb displays detailed information such as the product name, unit price, sales quantity, and sales amount of the purchased items, one line at a time. The button area ARc contains a scan button BTa and a checkout button BTb. The scan button BTa is an operator used to instruct the reading of the barcode symbol BC attached to the purchased items. The checkout button BTb is an operator used to instruct the accounting of the commercial transaction.

[0068] After confirming the registration screen SCa, the buyer, upon finding the product they wish to purchase in the store, presses the scan button BTa before placing the product in their shopping basket, performing an operation to read the barcode symbol BC attached to the product using the camera 102. When the barcode symbol BC is read by the camera 102, the buyer terminal 10 outputs a [product registration event] signal to the transaction processing server 20 (ACT103 in Figure 10). The [product registration event] signal is transmitted wirelessly via the wireless unit 14, received by the base station 70, and sent to the transaction processing server 20. The [product registration event] includes the data of the barcode symbol BC read by the camera 102, namely the product code, date and time, expiration flag, etc. The identification information of the buyer terminal 10 is also included in the [product registration event].

[0069] As shown in Figure 9, the processor 21, which sent the [Registration Start Event] signal in ACT3, proceeds to ACT4. The processor 21 waits for the [Product Registration Event] as ACT4. Upon receiving the [Product Registration Event] signal via the communication interface 25, the processor 21 proceeds to ACT5. As ACT5, the processor 21 acquires the data included in the [Product Registration Event], namely the barcode symbol BC data such as the product code, date and time, and expiration flag, as well as the identification information of the buyer terminal 10. After acquiring the data, the processor 21 proceeds to ACT6. The processor 21 checks the expiration flag included in the data.

[0070] As mentioned above, the expiration flag in the barcode symbol BC attached to food products with expiration dates, best-before dates, etc., is "1". The barcode symbol BC contains the date and time corresponding to the expiration date. On the other hand, the expiration flag in the barcode symbol BC attached to non-food products is "0". The barcode symbol BC does not contain the date and time, or the date and time is set to a NULL value.

[0071] In ACT6, if the expiration flag is "1", processor 21 proceeds to ACT7. In ACT7, processor 21 obtains the expiration date and time from the [product registration event]. Then, in ACT8, processor 21 checks whether the expiration date has passed, that is, whether the current date and time measured by clock 24 has passed the expiration date and time.

[0072] If the current date and time have not passed the expiration date and time, i.e., the product is not expired, processor 21 proceeds to ACT9. Also, if the expiration flag was "0" in ACT6, processor 21 proceeds to ACT9. Processor 21 executes the product registration process as ACT9. That is, processor 21 retrieves the product name and unit price of the product identified by the product code in the [product registration event] from the product master. Processor 21 then generates a first data record containing the product name and unit price and saves the first data record in the transaction file 221 associated with the identification information of the buyer terminal 10 included in the [product registration event]. The first data record also includes the date and expiration flag of the [product registration event].

[0073] After completing the product registration process, the processor 21 proceeds to ACT 10. As ACT 10, the processor 21 outputs a [Registration Approval Event] signal to the buyer terminal 10, which is the source of the [Product Registration Event]. The [Registration Approval Event] signal is transmitted through the communication network 60 and wirelessly transmitted from the base station 70. As shown in [A] of Figure 10, the buyer terminal 10, which is the source of the [Product Registration Event], receives the [Registration Approval Event] signal. The [Product Registration Event] contains the data of the first data record generated during the product registration process.

[0074] Upon receiving the [Registration Permission Event] signal, the buyer terminal 10 updates the registration screen SCa on the touch panel 101 (ACT104 in Figure 10). Specifically, it displays the product name, unit price, and sales quantity of the first data record in one line of the detail area ARb. It also displays the total points and total amount in the total area ARa. The total points are the sum of the quantities of all first data records stored in the transaction file 221. The total amount is the sum of the amounts of all first data records stored in the transaction file 221.

[0075] In ACT8 of Figure 9, if the current date and time has passed the sales deadline, the processor 21 proceeds to ACT11. As ACT11, the processor 21 outputs a [Deadline Error Event] signal to the buyer terminal 10, which is the source of the [Product Registration Event]. The [Deadline Error Event] signal is transmitted through the communication network 60 and wirelessly transmitted from the base station 70. As shown in [B] of Figure 10, the buyer terminal 10, which is the source of the [Product Registration Event], receives the [Deadline Error Event] signal. Upon receiving the [Deadline Error Event] signal, the buyer terminal 10 displays a sales deadline error popup PUa (see Figure 12) on the registration screen SCa of the touch panel 101 (ACT106 in Figure 10).

[0076] Figure 12 shows an example of a registration screen SCa displaying a pop-up PUa indicating an expiration date error. The pop-up PUa displays text instructing the buyer to exchange the purchased item because its expiration date has passed, along with an OK button BTc. Upon seeing this text, the buyer exchanges the expired item for a non-expired item and touches the OK button BTc. The buyer then proceeds to have the barcode symbol BC of the non-expired item read by camera 102.

[0077] Returning to the explanation of Figure 9. After completing the processing of ACT10 or ACT11, the processor 21 proceeds to ACT12. The processor 21 checks whether it has received the following [product registration event] as ACT12. If it has not received the [product registration event], the processor 21 proceeds to ACT13. The processor 21 checks whether it has received the [accounting request event] as ACT13. The [accounting request event] is sent from the buyer terminal 10, where the accounting button BTb is pressed, to the transaction processing server 20, as shown in Figure 10. If it has not received the [accounting request event], the processor 21 returns to ACT11. In this way, the processor 21 waits to receive either a [product registration event] or an [accounting request event] in ACT12 and ACT13.

[0078] When a [product registration event] is received while in the waiting state of ACT12 and ACT13, processor 21 returns to ACT6. Then processor 21 executes the processes from ACT6 onward in the same manner as described above.

[0079] A customer continuing to shop in the store, each time they find an item they wish to purchase, presses the scan button BTa before placing the item in their shopping basket, and performs an operation to read the barcode symbol BC attached to the item using the camera 102. Each time, a [product registration event] is sent from the customer terminal 10 to the transaction processing server 20. The processor 21 of the transaction processing server 20 repeatedly executes the processes of ACT6 to ACT11. Therefore, if the sales period of the purchased item has not expired, the event signals shown in [A] of Figure 10 are exchanged between the customer terminal 10 and the transaction processing server 20. On the other hand, if the sales period of the purchased item has expired, the event signals shown in [B] of Figure 10 are exchanged between the customer terminal 10 and the transaction processing server 20. As a result, the transaction file 221 stores the first data record of the purchased item whose barcode symbol BC was read by the customer's self-operation. However, for purchased items whose expiration date has passed at the time the barcode symbol BC is read, the first data record will not be saved in the transaction file 221.

[0080] After finishing their shopping at the store, the customer touches the checkout button BTb displayed on the registration screen SCa. When the checkout button BTb is pressed, the customer terminal 10 outputs a [checkout request event] signal to the transaction processing server 20 (ACT106 in Figure 10). The [checkout request event] signal is transmitted wirelessly via the wireless unit 14, received by the base station 70, and sent to the transaction processing server 20. The [checkout request event] includes the identification information of the customer terminal 10.

[0081] As shown in Figure 9, when the transaction processing server 20 processor 21, which is in a waiting state for ACT12 and ACT13, receives a signal for a [Accounting Request Event] via the communication interface 25, it proceeds to ACT14. As ACT14, the processor 21 obtains the identification information of the buyer terminal 10 from the [Accounting Request Event] and stores the accounting code in the transaction file 221 associated with that identification information. The accounting code is a unique identification code that is generated each time accounting for a commercial transaction is instructed. Having stored the accounting code, the processor 21 proceeds to ACT15. As ACT15, the processor 21 outputs a signal for an [Accounting Approval Event] to the buyer terminal 10. With this, the processor 21 completes the information processing procedure shown in the flowchart in Figure 9.

[0082] As shown in Figure 10, the [Accounting Approval Event] is sent to the buyer terminal 10 that sent the [Accounting Request Event]. The [Accounting Approval Event] includes an accounting code. Upon receiving the [Accounting Approval Event], the buyer terminal 10 displays the accounting code on the touch panel 101, as shown in ACT107 in Figure 10. The accounting code is converted into a machine-readable code, such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code, and displayed on the touch panel 101.

[0083] Here, processor 21 realizes the function of product acquisition means 211 through the processing of ACT5. Processor 21 realizes the function of expiration date confirmation means 212 through the processing of ACT6 to ACT8. Processor 21 realizes the function of product registration means 213 through the processing of ACT9. Processor 21 realizes the function of expiration date notification means 214 through the processing of ACT11. Processor 21 realizes the function of accounting acceptance means 215 through the processing of ACT13. Processor 21 realizes the function of accounting authorization means 216 through the processing of ACT14 and ACT15.

[0084] [Explanation of accounting machine functions] Figure 13 is a block diagram showing the main functional configuration of the processor 41 of the accounting machine 40. As shown, the processor 41 has the functions of a reading means 411, an acquisition means 412, a reconfirmation means 413, a registration means 414, a settlement means 415, an instruction means 416, an interruption means 417, a notification means 418, a release means 419, and an issuance means 4110.

[0085] The reading means 411 has the function of reading the accounting code from the buyer terminal 10. As mentioned above, the accounting code is displayed on the touch panel 101 of the buyer terminal 10 as a machine-readable code, either a barcode or a two-dimensional code. The reading means 411 reads the machine-readable code displayed on the touch panel 101 via the scanner 403. The reading means 411 then obtains the accounting code from that machine-readable code.

[0086] The acquisition means 412 is a function that acquires information on purchased items that have been entered as purchased items by the buyer through the operation of the buyer terminal 10 and have been confirmed not to be past their expiration date, all at once. The transaction file 221 created in the main memory 22 of the transaction processing server 20 by the product acquisition means 211, expiration date confirmation means 212, and product registration means 213 functions of the processor 21 of the transaction processing server 20 stores the first data record of purchased items that have been entered as purchased items by the buyer through the operation of the buyer terminal 10 and have been confirmed not to be past their expiration date. In addition, the accounting acceptance means 215 and accounting authorization means 216 functions of the same processor 21 store the accounting code in the transaction file 221 associated with the terminal ID of the buyer terminal 10 that made the accounting request. The acquisition means 412 acquires the data in the transaction file 221 that stores the accounting code read by the reading means 411, that is, the information on purchased items that have been entered as purchased items by the buyer through the operation of the buyer terminal 10 and have been confirmed not to be past their expiration date, all at once.

[0087] The reconfirmation means 413 is a function that checks whether there are any expired products among the purchased products based on the information obtained by the acquisition means 412. Generally, expiration dates or best-before dates are a mix of those based on dates and those based on hours. In the case of products with an expiration date based on hours, it is possible that the expiration date has not passed when the purchaser reads the barcode symbol BC using the purchaser terminal 10, but has passed when the purchaser enters the checkout button BTb. Therefore, the reconfirmation means 413 obtains the date and time of the expiration date for each purchased product from the data in the transaction file 221. The reconfirmation means 413 then checks whether the current date and time measured by the clock 44 has passed the date and time of the expiration date. If the current date and time has not passed the date and time of the expiration date, the reconfirmation means 413 determines that the expiration date of the purchased product has not passed. If the current date and time has passed the date and time of the expiration date, the reconfirmation means 413 determines that the expiration date of the purchased product has passed.

[0088] The registration means 414 has the function of saving a second data record for a purchased product that has been determined by the reconfirmation means 413 to have not expired its sales period in the registration file 421. Specifically, the registration means 414 generates a second data record using the product code, product name, unit price, quantity, and amount of the first data record for each purchased product that has been determined to have not expired its sales period, from among the first data records for each purchased product stored in the transaction file 221 acquired by the acquisition means 412, and saves it in the registration file 421.

[0089] The settlement method 415 has the function of settling the transaction with the other purchased items, excluding the expired purchased items, if the reconfirmation method 413 confirms that there are any purchased items that have expired. As mentioned above, the registration file 421 stores a second data record generated from the first data record of each purchased item that has been determined not to have expired, by the function of the registration method 414. In other words, the second data record is the data necessary for settling the other purchased items, excluding the expired purchased items. The settlement method 415 settles the transaction based on the second data record stored in the registration file 421.

[0090] The instruction means 416 has the function of instructing a store employee to collect expired purchased items when the reconfirmation means 413 confirms that there are expired purchased items. The instruction means 416 outputs a data signal to the store employee terminal 50 instructing the employee to collect the expired purchased items. Specifically, the instruction means 416 outputs data to the store employee terminal 50 indicating the name of the expired purchased item along with the date and time it expired, instructing the employee to collect it.

[0091] The interruption means 417 is a function that temporarily disables the customer's self-service operation of the checkout machine 40 in response to the instruction means 416 instructing a store clerk to collect expired purchased items. The interruption means 417 temporarily disables the customer's self-service operation of the checkout machine 40 by preventing the processor 41 from accepting operation input from the touch panel 401 and the card reader 402.

[0092] The notification means 418 is a function that notifies the customer that self-service operation of the accounting machine 40 is unavailable. The notification means 418 notifies the customer, for example, by displaying text or an image on the touch panel 401 that the machine is unavailable. The notification means 418 may also notify the customer that the machine is unavailable using a lamp 406 or a speaker 407.

[0093] The release mechanism 419 is a function that releases the inoperable state of the cashier machine 40. When a store employee is instructed to collect expired purchased goods, they go to the location where the cashier machine 40 is installed and collect the expired purchased goods. After collecting the goods, the employee performs an operation on the cashier machine 40 to release the inoperable state. Upon receiving this operation, the release mechanism 419 releases the inoperable state of the cashier machine 40. Incidentally, once the inoperable state of the cashier machine 40 is released, payment can be made using the payment mechanism 415.

[0094] The issuing means 4110 is a function that, upon receiving an operation input from a store employee to release the inoperable state, issues a return receipt printed with information about the expired product. The issuing means 4110 prints information such as the product name, expiration date and time, and current date and time of the expired product onto receipt paper using the printer 404 and issues it as a return receipt.

[0095] The functions of the aforementioned reading means 411, acquisition means 412, reconfirmation means 413, registration means 414, settlement means 415, instruction means 416, interruption means 417, notification means 418, release means 419, and issuance means 4110 are all realized by information processing performed by the processor 41 in accordance with the accounting processing program.

[0096] An accounting program is a type of application program stored in the main memory 42 or an auxiliary storage device 43. The method of installing the accounting program in the main memory 42 or auxiliary storage device 43 is not particularly limited. The accounting program can be recorded on a removable recording medium, or distributed via network communication and installed in the main memory 42 or auxiliary storage device 43. The recording medium can be any form as long as it can store a program and is readable by the device, such as a CD-ROM or memory card.

[0097] [Explanation of the operation of the accounting machine] Figures 14 and 15 are flowcharts showing the main steps of information processing performed by the processor 41 of the accounting machine 40 according to the accounting processing program. Figures 16 to 18 are examples of screens displayed on the touch panel 401 of the accounting machine 40. Figure 19 is an example of a collected receipt Re. The main operations of the accounting machine 40 will be explained below using each of these figures.

[0098] When a customer touches the payment button BTb to initiate payment, they confirm that the payment code is displayed in machine-readable format on the touch panel 101 of the customer terminal 10, and then move from the sales floor to the checkout area. The customer then operates the scanner 403 of an available checkout machine 40 to have the payment code read.

[0099] As shown in Figure 14, the processor 41 of the accounting machine 40 is waiting for the accounting code to be entered as ACT21. When the processor 41 detects the accounting code from the machine-readable code read by the scanner 403, it proceeds to ACT22. The processor 41 clears the registration file 421 as ACT22.

[0100] After clearing registration file 421, processor 41 proceeds to ACT23. Processor 41 retrieves transaction file 221 as ACT23. Specifically, processor 41 controls the system to send a transaction file request event to transaction processing server 20. This control causes the communication interface 45 to output a data signal for the transaction file request event. The transaction file request event is sent to transaction processing server 20 via the communication network 60. The transaction file request event includes the accounting code detected during processing in ACT21.

[0101] Upon receiving a transaction file request event, the processor 21 of the transaction processing server 20 searches for the transaction file 221 stored in the main memory 22. The processor 21 then finds the transaction file 221 that stores the accounting code included in the transaction file request event and controls the output of a transaction file response event containing the data of this transaction file 221. This control causes the data signal of the transaction file response event to be output from the communication interface 25. The transaction file response event is sent via the communication network 60 to the accounting machine 40 that sent the transaction file request event. Thus, the processor 41 of the accounting machine 40 can obtain the transaction file 221.

[0102] After obtaining the transaction file 221, the processor 41 proceeds to ACT24. For ACT24, the processor 41 sets the screen of the touch panel 401 as the registration screen SCb (see Figure 16).

[0103] Figure 16 shows an example of the registration screen SCb. The registration screen SCb has a multi-line detail area ARd and a total area ARe. The detail area ARd is for displaying the product name, unit price, quantity, and amount of purchased items. The total area ARe is for displaying the total number of purchased items and the total amount.

[0104] The processor 41 of the accounting machine 40, which displays the registration screen SCb, proceeds to ACT25. Processor 41 resets counter n to "0" as ACT25. Next, processor 41 increments counter n by "1" as ACT26. Then, processor 41 checks as ACT27 whether counter n has exceeded the threshold N. The threshold N is the total number of first data records stored in the transaction file 221. In other words, threshold N is the maximum record number of the first data records stored in the transaction file 221.

[0105] If counter n does not exceed threshold N, processor 41 proceeds to ACT28. Processor 41 retrieves the first data record from transaction file 221 whose record number matches the value of counter n as ACT28. Processor 41 then checks the expiration flag of that first data record as ACT29.

[0106] If the expiration flag is "1", that is, if the first data record of a purchased product with a set sales expiration date is obtained, the processor 41 proceeds to ACT30. The processor 41 obtains the expiration date and time from the first data record as ACT30. Then, as ACT31, the processor 41 checks whether the sales expiration date has passed, that is, whether the current date and time measured by the clock 44 has passed the expiration date and time.

[0107] If the current date and time have not passed the expiration date and time, that is, if the sales period has not expired, the processor 41 proceeds to ACT32. Also, if the expiration flag was "0" in ACT29, that is, if the first data record of a purchased product for which no sales period has been set is obtained, the processor 41 also proceeds to ACT32. The processor 41 generates a second data record as ACT32. That is, the processor 41 generates a second data record with the product code, product name, unit price, quantity, and amount of the first data record whose record number matches the value of counter n.

[0108] The processor 41 that generated the second data record proceeds to ACT33. The processor 41 saves the second data record as ACT33 in the registration file 421. At this time, the processor 41 saves the second data records in the registration file 421 in ascending order of record number.

[0109] After saving the second data record to the registration file 421, the processor 41 proceeds to ACT34. The processor 41 updates the registration screen SCb as ACT34. Specifically, the processor 41 updates the registration screen SCb so that the record number, product name, unit price, quantity, and amount of the second data record saved in the registration file 421 are displayed in the detail area ARd in order of record number. The processor 41 also updates the registration screen SCb so that the total quantity and total amount of the second data record saved in the registration file 421 are displayed in the total area ARe.

[0110] After updating the registration screen SCb, processor 41 returns to ACT26. Processor 41 increments counter n by another "1". Then processor 41 determines whether counter n has exceeded the threshold N. If counter n has not exceeded the threshold N, processor 41 executes the processes from ACT28 onwards in the same manner as described above. That is, processor 41 sequentially checks the expiration flag for the first data record stored in transaction file 221. If the expiration flag is "0", processor 41 executes the processes of ACT32 to ACT34. Also, if the expiration flag is "1" and the sales deadline included in that first data record has not expired, processor 41 executes the processes of ACT32 to ACT34. Thus, the registration file 421 stores the product name, unit price, quantity, and amount of purchased products for which no sales deadline has been set, and the product name, unit price, quantity, and amount of purchased products for which the sales deadline has not expired. Then, the registration screen SCb is updated with the data in registration file 421.

[0111] On the other hand, if the current date and time in ACT31 has passed the expiration date and time, the processor 41 proceeds to ACT35. The processor 41 then executes the expiration process as ACT35.

[0112] Figure 15 is a flowchart showing the essential steps of the expiration processing. If the current date and time, measured by the clock 44, has passed the expiration date and time of the first data record obtained from the transaction file 221, i.e., if it is determined that the sales deadline has passed, the processor 41 starts the expiration processing procedure shown in the flowchart of Figure 15.

[0113] The processor 41 notifies the store clerk of the expiration date as ACT41. That is, the processor 41 outputs a data signal to the store clerk terminal 50 to notify the store clerk that it has detected an expired product. Upon receiving this output, the store clerk terminal 50 makes an expiration notification. For example, it makes a notification by displaying text or an image on the display device to inform the store clerk that an expired product has been detected at the checkout machine 40. Upon confirming the notification, the store clerk moves to the checkout area and performs the task of collecting the expired product. Details of this task will be described later.

[0114] The processor 41, having notified the expiration date, proceeds to ACT 42. As ACT 42, the processor 41 sets the operating mode of the accounting machine 40 to suspension mode. Suspension mode is a mode in which the machine does not accept input from the touch panel 401 and the card reader 402. Having set suspension mode, the processor 41 proceeds to ACT 43. As ACT 43, the processor 41 displays a pop-up PUb (see Figure 17) overlaid on the registration screen SCb indicating that a store clerk is being called.

[0115] Figure 17 shows an example of the registration screen SCb displaying a pop-up PUb indicating that a store employee is being called. The pop-up PUb displays text or an image informing the customer that a store employee is being called. Therefore, the customer who sees the pop-up PUb will wait until a store employee arrives. Note that even if the customer touches the touch panel 401 during this waiting period, the touch operation will be ignored because the interruption mode is set.

[0116] The processor 41 of the cashier machine 40, which displays a pop-up Pub indicating that a store clerk is being called, proceeds to ACT 44. The processor 41 waits for store clerk declaration input as ACT 44. Store clerk declaration input is the reading of the store clerk's ID code by the scanner 403.

[0117] The store clerk, having moved to the checkout counter, first performs an operation to scan the barcode showing their own ID code with scanner 403 as part of the process of collecting expired products. Upon receiving this operation, processor 41 determines that a store clerk declaration input has been received. Having received the store clerk declaration input, processor 41 proceeds to ACT 45. As ACT 45, processor 41 displays a pop-up PUc (see Figure 18) of the expired product overlaid on the registration screen SCb.

[0118] Figure 18 shows an example of a registration screen SCb displaying a pop-up PUc for expired products. The pop-up PUc displays text or an image instructing the retrieval of expired products. The pop-up PUc also displays the product name, the expiration date and time, and the current date and time. Furthermore, a confirmation button BTd is displayed. The confirmation button BTd is a software key that a store employee touches to retrieve expired products in accordance with the pop-up PUc.

[0119] Upon seeing the pop-up PUc, the store clerk collects the item with the name displayed on the pop-up PUc from the customer's purchased items. If there are two or more identical items, the clerk checks the expiration date of each item and collects only the expired item. After collecting the items, the clerk touches the confirmation button BTd.

[0120] The processor 41 of the checkout machine 40, which displays the expired product pop-up PUc, proceeds to ACT 46. The processor 41 waits for the confirmation button BTd to be input as ACT 46. Once the processor 41 confirms that the confirmation button BTd has been input via a signal from the touch panel 401, it proceeds to ACT 47. The processor 41 controls the issuance of the recovery receipt Re as ACT 47. This control causes the printer 404 to operate and issue the recovery receipt Re.

[0121] Figure 19 shows an example of a recall receipt Re issued. As shown in the figure, the recall receipt Re has the product name, the date and time of the expiration date, and the current date and time printed on it. Text or an image instructing the employee to attach the recall receipt Re to the recalled product is also printed on the recall receipt Re. The employee attaches the recall receipt Re to the expired product and completes the recall process.

[0122] Returning to the explanation of Figure 15. The processor 41, which controlled the issuance of the collected receipt Re, proceeds to ACT 48. The processor 41 releases the interruption mode as ACT 48. With the interruption mode released, the processor 41 accepts operation input from the touch panel 401 and the card reader 402. Having released the interruption mode, the processor 41 returns to ACT 26 in Figure 14. The processor 41 executes the processing from ACT 26 onward in the same manner as described above.

[0123] In ACT27, when counter n exceeds threshold N, processor 41 proceeds to ACT36. Processor 41 executes settlement processing as ACT36. That is, processor 41 calculates the price of the purchased goods based on the data in the second data record. When a payment amount equal to or greater than that price is entered by any payment method such as cash, credit card, electronic money, or code payment, processor 41 processes the transaction to settle the business. Since such settlement processing is well known, a detailed explanation is omitted here. After completing the settlement processing, processor 41 terminates the information processing procedure shown in the flowchart in Figure 14.

[0124] Here, the processor 41 functions as a reading means 411 by performing the processing of ACT21 in cooperation with the scanner 403. The processor 41 functions as an acquisition means 412 by processing ACT23. The processor 41 functions as a reconfirmation means 413 by processing ACT25 to ACT31. The processor 41 functions as an instruction means 416 by processing ACT41. The processor 41 functions as an interruption means 417 by processing ACT42. The processor 41 functions as a notification means 418 by processing ACT43. The processor 41 functions as a release means 419 by processing ACT48. The processor 41 functions as an issuing means 4110 by processing ACT47.

[0125] [Effects and benefits of self-checkout systems] As detailed above, in the self-checkout system 100 of this embodiment, the processor 21 of the transaction processing server 20 has the functions of product acquisition means 211, expiration date confirmation means 212, product registration means 213, and expiration date notification means 214. With these functions, if a product purchased by a buyer who has read the barcode symbol BC by self-operating the buyer terminal 10 at the sales counter is an expired product whose sales deadline, called the use-by date or best-before date, has passed, the buyer terminal 10 will be notified that it is expired. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a buyer from putting expired products into a shopping cart or the like as purchased items at the sales counter. Furthermore, the first data record including the product code of this expired purchased product is not stored in the transaction file 221.

[0126] However, in the case of products with a time-based sales deadline, there may be cases where the sales deadline has not expired when the buyer reads the barcode symbol BC using the buyer terminal 10, but has expired when the buyer presses the checkout button BTb. In such cases, the first data record, including the product code of the expired purchased product, is stored in the transaction file 221.

[0127] However, in the self-checkout system 100 of this embodiment, the processor 41 of the accounting machine 40 has the functions of a reading means 411, an acquisition means 412, a reconfirmation means 413, and a registration means 414. These functions allow the system to reconfirm whether the expiration date of the purchased goods has expired based on the first data record in the transaction file 221 for the purchaser who is self-operating the accounting machine 40 to complete the checkout. As a result, for purchased goods that have been reconfirmed as not having expired, a second data record is saved in the registration file 421. On the other hand, for purchased goods that have been confirmed to have expired, the second data record is not saved in the registration file 421. In the accounting machine 40, the settlement process for transactions is executed based on the second data record in the registration file 421, through its function as a payment method 415. Therefore, the purchased goods that are settled at the accounting machine 40 are limited to those that have not expired. A customer will not purchase a product that was not expired when the customer scanned the barcode symbol BC at the point of sale, but has expired by the time the customer presses the checkout button BTb. Thus, there is no concern that consumer trust in the store will be undermined.

[0128] Furthermore, the processor 41 of the accounting machine 40 has the functions of an instruction means 416, an interruption means 417, a notification means 418, and a release means 419. These functions allow the accounting machine 40 to notify the store clerk as soon as it detects a purchased item that has expired, so that the clerk can quickly retrieve the expired item. Moreover, since the accounting machine 40 cannot be operated until the clerk retrieves the expired item, the customer is not able to operate the accounting machine 40 by mistake.

[0129] Furthermore, the processor 41 of the accounting machine 40 also functions as an issuing means 4110. This function allows the issuance of a return receipt Re with information about the expired purchased item printed on it, so the store clerk attaches the return receipt Re to the returned expired purchased item. In this way, the expired purchased item can be easily identified from other items.

[0130] The above describes an embodiment of an accounting device that can reliably collect expired products, but the embodiment is not limited to this.

[0131] For example, the processes of ACT47 and ACT48 shown in the flowchart of Figure 15 may be swapped. That is, if input to the confirmation button BTd is detected, the interruption mode may be released first, and then a recovery receipt Re may be issued. Furthermore, it is not necessary to issue a recovery receipt Re. That is, it is also possible to operate without attaching a recovery receipt Re to the recovered expired purchased product.

[0132] In the above embodiment, an example was given in which a smartphone owned by the buyer is used as the buyer terminal 10. The buyer terminal 10 may also be a mobile device lent to the buyer by the retail store, or a tablet device attached to a shopping cart, etc. For example, when a mobile device or tablet device is used as the buyer terminal 10, a screen with a "start shopping" button is displayed as the top screen on the touch panel of the buyer terminal 10, and when the buyer touches the "start shopping" button, the buyer terminal 10 is configured to output a [store entry event] signal to the transaction processing server 20. In this way, even in the above embodiment, a mobile device lent to the buyer by the retail store, or a tablet device attached to a shopping cart, etc. can be used as the buyer terminal 10.

[0133] In addition, several embodiments of the present invention have been described, but these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be carried out in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included within the scope of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as described in the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0134] 10...Purchaser terminal, 20...Transaction processing server, 30...Store server, 40...Accounting machine, 50...Employee terminal, 60...Communication network, 70...Base station, 100...Self-checkout system, 211...Method for acquiring goods, 212...Method for confirming expiration date, 213...Method for registering goods, 214...Method for notifying expiration date, 215...Method for accepting payment, 216...Method for approving payment, 221...Transaction file, 411...Method for reading, 412...Method for acquiring, 413...Method for reconfirming, 414...Method for registering, 415...Method for payment, 416...Method for instructing, 417...Method for interrupting, 418...Method for notifying, 419...Method for canceling, 421...Registered file, 4110...Method for issuing.

Claims

1. A means of acquiring information on purchased items that have been entered as purchased items by the purchaser through terminal operation and have been confirmed not to be expired, Based on the information obtained by the acquisition means, a reconfirmation means confirms whether there are any expired products among the purchased products, If the aforementioned reconfirmation means confirms that there are purchased items that have expired, the payment means settles the transaction with the other purchased items excluding the expired purchased items, An accounting device equipped with the following features.

2. If the aforementioned reconfirmation means confirms that there are expired purchased items, an instruction means instructs the store clerk to collect the expired purchased items. The accounting device according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. The accounting device according to claim 2, wherein the instruction means outputs the name of the expired purchased product along with the date and time it expired and instructs a store employee to collect it.

4. A means for issuing a return receipt that prints information about the expired product upon receiving an input from a store employee who has received the aforementioned instructions. The accounting device according to claim 2, further comprising:

5. The aforementioned payment method is a means of settling a transaction through self-operation by the buyer. If the aforementioned reconfirmation means confirms that there are purchased items that have expired, an interruption means will disable self-operation until a store employee makes a predetermined input. The accounting device according to claim 1, further comprising:

6. The accounting system's computer, A means of acquiring information on purchased items that have been entered as purchased items by the buyer through terminal operation and have been confirmed not to be expired. Based on the information obtained by the acquisition means, a reconfirmation means for checking whether there are any expired products among the purchased products, and If the aforementioned reconfirmation means confirms that there are purchased items that have expired, the payment means settles the transaction with the other purchased items excluding the expired purchased items. A program designed to function as such.

Images