Product registration device and recording medium

Abstract

To provide a reading device, a commodity registration device and a program, capable of reading commodity information with the same feeling as when reading a code symbol by using an optical reading unit, even when a user uses a radio tag reading unit to read a radio tag.SOLUTION: A reading device of an embodiment includes: an optical reading unit that reads a code symbol attached to a commodity; a radio tag reading unit that reads a radio tag attached to the commodity; a detection unit that detects that the commodity is in a commodity reading region in which the optical reading unit can read the code symbol; and a notification control unit that performs control for allowing a notification unit to generate notification sound when the optical reading unit has read the code symbol attached to the commodity, and control for allowing the notification unit to generate notification sound when the optical reading unit has read the radio tag attached to the commodity and the detection unit has detected that the commodity is in the commodity reading region.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention is ,quotient The present invention relates to a product registration device and a recording medium. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are known reading devices that include both an optical reading unit that reads code symbols such as barcodes and two-dimensional codes, and a wireless tag reading unit that reads wireless tags such as RFID tags, as well as product registration devices that perform product registration processing based on information (product information) read by the reading device.

[0003] In such reading devices and product registration devices, when a code symbol or wireless tag attached to a product is successfully read, an alarm sound is emitted to notify the user of the successful reading. However, since the optical reading unit and the wireless tag reading unit have different reading areas, the timing of the alarm sound may differ when a code symbol is read and when a wireless tag is read.

[0004] For example, there are cases where the wireless tag reading unit succeeds in reading the wireless tag attached to a product and an alarm sounds before the user brings the product close to the reading window of the optical reading unit, and the user is confused by the difference in sensation compared to when the user holds the product over the reading window of the optical reading unit to have the code symbol attached to the product read. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for reading product information in a manner similar to that of reading a code symbol using an optical reading unit, even when the user uses a wireless tag reading unit to read the wireless tag. Business The present invention provides a product registration device and a recording medium. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In an embodiment Product RegistrationThe device includes an optical reading unit that reads a code symbol attached to a product, a wireless tag reading unit that reads a wireless tag attached to the product, and a detection unit that detects that the product is placed in a product reading area where the optical reading unit can read the code symbol. a registration unit that performs a registration process to register information about the product; and The alarm unit emits an alarm sound. Report A notification control unit that controls to notify the registration unit performs the registration process based on information of the code symbol when the optical reading unit reads the code symbol attached to the product and the wireless tag reading unit has not read the wireless tag attached to the product, and when the wireless tag reading unit reads the wireless tag attached to the product, performs the registration process based on information of the wireless tag based on the detection unit detecting that the product is in the product reading area, and if the detection unit does not detect the product for a predetermined time, performs the registration process when the predetermined time has elapsed, and the notification control unit issues a notification sound based on the execution of the registration process. . [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a POS terminal according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the POS terminal according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the POS terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process of the POS terminal according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] With reference to the drawings, ,quotient An embodiment of a product registration device and a recording medium will be described. In this embodiment, an example in which the product registration device according to the present invention is applied to a POS (Point Of Sale) terminal will be described. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described below.

[0009] (Configuration of POS terminal according to embodiment) 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of a POS terminal according to an embodiment. The POS terminal 1 includes a main body 2, a monitor 3, an operation panel 4, a scanner 5, an RFID reader 7, an antenna 8, and the like.

[0010] The main body 2 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and is erected on a soccer table S. The height of the main body 2 is preferably set to, for example, about the eye height of a user on the soccer table S. The soccer table S is a stand for placing a shopping basket or the like containing products.

[0011] The main body 2 is provided with a reading window 51 which serves as an opening. A scanner 5, an RFID reader 7, and an antenna 8 are installed inside the reading window 51. A user holds a product C over the reading window 51 to read (image) the product. The main body 2 also includes a speaker 6 which emits an alarm sound or the like (not shown in FIG. 1).

[0012] The monitor 3 is a display device. The monitor 3 is provided above the reading window 51. The monitor 3 is a display device with a touch panel configured with a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The monitor 3 displays the name, price, etc. of a registered product to the user in response to a product registration process by the POS terminal 1. The monitor 3 is an example of a "display unit."

[0013] The operation panel 4 is provided near (on the side of) the monitor 3. The operation panel 4 has keys and the like for performing various operations. Note that, although an example in which the monitor 3 and the operation panel 4 are separate bodies is shown in Fig. 1, the monitor 3 and the operation panel 4 may be provided integrally.

[0014] The scanner 5 reads the code symbol attached to the product. In this embodiment, the scanner 5 has an imaging element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary MOS) and an imaging lens. The imaging lens forms an image of an imaging area on the imaging element. The imaging area refers to an area that is imaged on the area of ​​the imaging element from the reading window 51 through the imaging lens.

[0015] The scanner 5 captures an image of the outside of the main body 2 through the reading window 51. For example, the scanner 5 optically captures an image of a barcode or two-dimensional code printed on the package of the product C. The scanner 5 is an example of an "optical reading unit," and the barcode or two-dimensional code is an example of a "code symbol."

[0016] Here, it is assumed that the barcode or two-dimensional code printed on the packaging of product C contains data such as the product identifier (product code) and price encoded in the barcode or two-dimensional code.

[0017] The POS terminal 1 according to this embodiment can detect, by the commodity detection unit 123 described later, that a commodity C is placed in the commodity reading area based on an image captured by the scanner 5.

[0018] Here, the product reading area refers to an area in which the optical reading unit can read a code symbol attached to a product. In this embodiment, the product reading area is an area in which the scanner 5 can read barcodes, two-dimensional codes, etc. It is not necessary for the product reading area to completely match the area in which the optical reading unit can read a code symbol attached to a product. It may be an area slightly larger than the area in which the code symbol can be read. It may also be an area slightly smaller than the area in which the code symbol is read.

[0019] In this embodiment, it is important that the user does not feel any difference between the operation of reading a code symbol and the operation of reading a wireless tag. For this reason, the reading area is defined as an area that can give the user the feeling of reading a wireless tag with the scanner 5. The area in which a code symbol can be read is defined as the product reading area with the intention that it is an area in which the user does not feel any difference when reading a code symbol with the scanner 5. Therefore, it does not have to completely match the area in which a code symbol can be read.

[0020] The RFID reader 7 reads the wireless tag attached to the product. In this embodiment, the RFID reader 7 reads the information stored in the RFID tag by emitting radio waves from the antenna 8. Note that the RFID reader 7 is an example of a "wireless tag reading unit", and the RFID tag is an example of a wireless tag.

[0021] The antenna 8 is installed inside the reading window 51 and radiates radio waves. In this embodiment, the antenna 8 radiates radio waves forward (in the negative y-axis direction) of the POS terminal 1, thereby forming a radiation range in front of the POS terminal 1 where communication with an RFID tag is possible.

[0022] Moreover, the reading window 51 is made of a material that transmits radio waves, and the back surface of the main body 2, which is the surface on which the reading window 51 is not provided, is made of a material that blocks (or reflects) radio waves. This allows the RFID reader 7 to read an RFID tag attached to a product located in front of the POS terminal 1, but prevents the RFID reader 7 from erroneously reading an RFID tag attached to a product located on the back side of the main body 2.

[0023] In this embodiment, the RFID reader 7 and the antenna 8 are installed in the reading window 51, but the installation location of the RFID reader 7 and the antenna 8 is not limited thereto. For example, the RFID reader 7 and the antenna 8 may be installed under the soccer table S.

[0024] In this embodiment, a user can read a barcode, two-dimensional code, etc., attached to a product by holding the product over the reading window 51. Therefore, it can be said that the reading window 51 is present within an area where the scanner 5 can read barcodes, two-dimensional codes, etc. In addition to the scanner 5, an RFID reader 7 and an antenna 8 are also provided within the reading window 51.

[0025] The area where the optical reading unit can read the code symbol attached to the product and the radiation area where it can communicate with the RFID tag overlap. However, the radiation area is generally larger than the area where the code symbol can be read. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the information of the RFID tag can be obtained before the product is held over the reading window 51.

[0026] It is also preferable that the radiation area includes an area where the code symbol can be read. This allows the information in the RFID tag to be read by bringing the product close to the reading window. However, the radiation area does not have to include an area where the code symbol can be read.

[0027] 1 (upstream side of the POS terminal 1), the RFID reader and antenna may be installed, and the radiation area may be set to a range that does not include the area where the code symbol can be read. This allows the information on the RFID tag of the product C to be read as it moves from the shopping basket a to the reading window 51. After that, when the product C moves to the reading window 51, the product detection unit 123 detects the product C.

[0028] The radiation area does not include an area where the code symbol can be read, and may be provided, for example, on the shopping basket b side in Fig. 1 (downstream side of the POS terminal 1). However, in this case, when a user moves a product C with an RFID tag attached, the product C is removed from the shopping basket a, passed through the reading window 51, and when it reaches the radiation area, the information on the RFID tag is read. When the product C is then moved again to the reading window, the product detection unit 123 detects the product C (the product C is detected after the information on the RFID tag is read).

[0029] In the case of reading a code symbol, there are cases where reading is not performed correctly when the product C passes through the reading window 51, in which case the user does not feel any particular discomfort because the product C is moved again to the reading window 51. However, it is more efficient for the user to operate the product if the radiation area is provided upstream of the reading window position rather than downstream of the reading window position (downstream of the direction of product movement, i.e., in the direction of shopping basket b).

[0030] In other words, in this embodiment, it can be said that the RFID reader 7 and the antenna 8 are provided within the reading area of ​​the scanner 5.

[0031] Next, a description will be given of the operation of a user such as a customer or an operator who uses the POS terminal 1. In the following description, it is assumed that a code symbol such as a barcode or two-dimensional code and an RFID tag or an RFID tag is attached to the product C, and that no code symbol is attached. First, the user takes out the product C from the shopping basket a containing the product C before the product registration process, and passes it in front of the reading window 51.

[0032] The POS terminal 1 reads the barcode, two-dimensional code, or other code symbol attached to the product C and the RFID tag, and if the RFID tag is not read, it sounds an alarm from the speaker 6 to inform the user that the barcode, two-dimensional code, or other code has been read, and performs product registration processing. After hearing the sound, the user places the product C in the shopping cart b for storing registered products C.

[0033] The product registration process (registration process) refers to a process of storing the product name, price, etc. of the product based on the read product information (product code, etc.) Since this is a well-known process, a detailed description will be omitted.

[0034] Furthermore, when the POS terminal 1 detects from the image captured by the scanner 5 that the RFID tag is in the product reading area when the RFID tag is read, it sounds an alarm from the speaker 6 to inform the user that the RFID tag has been read, and performs product registration processing. If both a barcode or two-dimensional code and an RFID tag are read, the RFID tag reading result takes precedence. After the user hears the sound, he or she places product C in the shopping cart b for storing product C that has been registered.

[0035] If the product registration process fails, the POS terminal 1 issues a sound to inform the user of the error from the speaker 6. In this case, the user does not move the product C to the shopping cart b, but takes measures according to the cause and redoes the product registration process.

[0036] Although an example of the configuration of the POS terminal 1 has been described above, the configuration of the POS terminal 1 is not limited to the above. For example, in addition to the above configuration, the POS terminal 1 may be provided with a hand scanner or the like for reading barcodes, two-dimensional codes, and the like attached to large products that are difficult to hold up to the reading window 51.

[0037] (POS terminal hardware configuration) Next, a description will be given of the hardware configuration of the POS terminal 1. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the P POS terminal 1 according to the embodiment.

[0038] The POS terminal 1 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 11, and an input / output controller 13.

[0039] The control unit 10 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 101, a read only memory (ROM) 102, and a random access memory (RAM) 103. The CPU 101 is connected to the ROM 102 and the RAM 103 via a bus line 12.

[0040] The CPU 101 loads various programs stored in the ROM 102 and the storage unit 11 into the RAM 103. The CPU 101 controls the POS terminal 1 by operating according to the various programs loaded into the RAM 103. That is, the control unit 10 has a general computer configuration. The RAM 103 also has an RFID information storage unit that temporarily stores information read by the RFID reader 7 from an RFID tag.

[0041] In addition, the control unit 10 is connected to a storage unit 11 and an input / output controller 13 via a bus line 12 .

[0042] The storage unit 11 is a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), in which stored information is retained even when the power is turned off. The storage unit 11 stores programs including a control program. The control program is a program for implementing the functions of the POS terminal 1. The storage unit 11 also stores a product master 111, an alarm sound file 112, and the like. The product master 111 and the alarm sound file 112 will be described later.

[0043] The input / output controller 13 is connected to the monitor 3, the operation panel 4, the scanner 5, the speaker 6, the RFID reader 7, and the antenna 8. In addition, the input / output controller 13 controls various pieces of hardware connected thereto based on instructions from the control unit 10.

[0044] The monitor 3 displays various buttons for operating the POS terminal 1, product information read by the POS terminal 1, and the like.

[0045] The operation panel 4 detects user operations on various buttons and the like, and transmits information corresponding to the operations to the control unit 10. Note that instead of the operation panel 4, a touch panel may be provided on the monitor 3, and buttons and the like required for operation may be displayed as necessary.

[0046] The scanner 5 has been described above, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The speaker 6 issues a notification sound. The speaker 6 is an example of a "notification unit."

[0047] The RFID reader 7 operates the antenna 8 to emit radio waves from the antenna 8. In addition, the RFID reader 7 acquires tag information from the RFID tag received by the antenna 8, and outputs the tag information to the control unit 10 via the input / output controller 13.

[0048] (Functional configuration of POS terminal) Next, a description will be given of the functional configuration of the POS terminal 1. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the POS terminal according to the embodiment.

[0049] The POS terminal 1 includes an image acquisition unit 121 , a decoding unit 122 , a product detection unit 123 , an information acquisition unit 124 , a product registration unit 125 , a notification control unit 126 , a display control unit 127 , and a selection unit 128 .

[0050] Some or all of these functional units may be implemented as software by the cooperation of the processor (CPU 101) and various programs (e.g., control programs) stored in the memory (ROM 102, storage unit 11). Also, some or all of these functional units may be implemented as hardware by a dedicated circuit or the like.

[0051] The image acquisition unit 121 acquires an image captured by the scanner 5. Specifically, when an instruction to start a transaction is given by an operation on the operation panel 4, the image acquisition unit 121 starts importing image data captured by the scanner 5 via the input / output controller 13.

[0052] Furthermore, when an instruction to end the transaction is given by operation on the operation panel 4 or the like, the image acquisition unit 121 stops taking in the image data.

[0053] The decoding unit 122 extracts the encoded information by decoding the information. Specifically, the decoding unit 122 detects an area representing a barcode, a two-dimensional code, or the like from the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit 121, and executes a process for decoding the encoded data held by the barcode, the two-dimensional code, or the like.

[0054] The commodity detection unit 123 detects that a commodity is placed in a commodity reading area where the optical reading unit can read a code symbol.

[0055] In this embodiment, the commodity detection unit 123 detects that a commodity is placed in a commodity reading area where the scanner 5 can read barcodes, two-dimensional codes, etc., based on the image acquired by the image acquisition unit 121. Specifically, when it is confirmed that a commodity is present in the image acquired by the image acquisition unit 121, it detects that a commodity is placed in the commodity reading area. Note that the commodity detection unit 123 is an example of a "detection unit."

[0056] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the product detection unit 123 detects that a product is in the product reading area based on the image acquired by the image acquisition unit 121, but the product detection unit 123 may also detect that a product is in the product reading area based on the detection results of an infrared sensor or the like that is separately provided in the main body unit 2.

[0057] The information acquiring unit 124 acquires product information. In this embodiment, the information acquiring unit 124 acquires information decoded by the decoding unit 122 or information read from an RFID tag by the RFID reader 7. Specifically, when the decoding unit 122 has succeeded in the decoding process but the RFID reader 7 has not read the information stored in the RFID tag, the information acquiring unit 124 acquires the information decoded by the decoding unit 122 as product information.

[0058] On the other hand, if the RFID reader 7 succeeds in reading information from the RFID tag, the decoding unit 122 acquires the information read from the RFID tag when the product detection unit 123 detects that a product is in the product reading area, even if the decoding process is successful. In other words, the information read by the RFID reader 7 from the RFID tag is acquired with priority over the information decoded by the decoding unit 122.

[0059] The product registration unit 125 performs a product registration process. In this embodiment, the product registration unit 125 refers to the product master 111, checks whether the product information acquired by the information acquisition unit 124 exists in the product master 111, and performs a product registration process if the product information exists in the product master 111. The product registration unit 125 is an example of a "registration unit".

[0060] The notification control unit 126 controls the notification unit to emit an alarm sound when the optical reading unit reads the code symbol attached to the product. The notification control unit 126 also controls the notification unit to emit an alarm sound when the wireless tag reading unit reads the wireless tag attached to the product and the product detection unit 123 detects that the product is in the product reading area.

[0061] The notification sound has a function of indicating that the code symbol or RFID tag has been read, but it may also be associated with product registration and have a function of indicating that product registration has been completed.

[0062] In this embodiment, the information acquisition unit 124 acquires information decoded by the decoding unit 122 as product information. The product registration unit 125 performs registration processing based on the product information acquired by the information acquisition unit 124. When the product registration processing by the product registration unit 125 is successful, the notification control unit 126 controls the speaker 6 to emit a notification sound to notify the user. The notification sound notifies the user that the product registration processing has been successful based on information stored in a barcode, a two-dimensional code, or the like.

[0063] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the product detection unit 123 detects that a product has been placed in the product reading area, the information acquisition unit 124 acquires the information read from the RFID tag as product information, and the product registration unit 125 succeeds in the product registration process, the notification control unit 126 controls the speaker 6 to emit a notification sound based on the information stored in the RFID tag to notify that the product registration process has been successful.

[0064] The notification control unit 126 and the product registration unit 125 may operate separately. Specifically, when the RFID reader 7 succeeds in reading information from the RFID tag, the product registration unit 125 performs product registration processing based on the information read from the RFID tag even if the product detection unit 123 does not detect that a product is in the product reading area. However, it does not sound a notification sound. In addition, it does not control the display control unit 127, which will be described later, to display that the product registration processing has been performed. In other words, the user cannot clearly recognize whether the product registration processing has been performed or not.

[0065] Thereafter, when the product detection unit 123 detects that a product is in the product reading area, the notification control unit 126 controls the speaker 6 to emit a notification sound to notify the user that the product registration process has been successful. This allows the user to clearly recognize that the product registration process has been successful. This allows the product registration process to be performed quickly, as the product registration process can be executed while reading information from the RFID tag.

[0066] In addition, the timing of outputting the notification sound can be set to the same as the timing of reading the code symbol, so that the user does not feel uncomfortable. In other words, by shifting the timing of the notification sound from the timing of the successful product registration process, the user's discomfort can be eliminated.

[0067] In addition, in this embodiment, if the product information acquired by the information acquisition unit 124 does not exist in the product master 111 and the product registration unit 125 fails to complete the product registration process, the notification control unit 126 controls the speaker 6 to sound an error sound to notify the user.

[0068] In this embodiment, the alert sound that notifies that the product registration process has been successful based on information stored in a barcode or two-dimensional code, the alert sound that notifies that the product registration process has been successful based on information stored in an RFID tag, and the error sound if the product registration process has failed are all different sounds.

[0069] The display control unit 127 controls the display unit to display, when the product registration unit 125 has performed product registration processing based on code symbol information, that the product registration processing has been performed based on the code symbol information, and, when the product registration unit 125 has performed product registration processing based on wireless tag information, controls the display unit to display, when the product registration unit 125 has performed product registration processing based on wireless tag information, that the product registration processing has been performed based on the wireless tag information.

[0070] In this embodiment, when the information acquisition unit 124 acquires the information decoded by the decoding unit 122 as product information and the product registration unit 125 succeeds in the product registration process, the display control unit 127 controls the monitor 3 to display a message indicating that the product registration process has been completed based on the information stored in the RFID tag.

[0071] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the display control unit 127 controls the monitor 3 to display, when the information acquisition unit 124 acquires the information read from the RFID tag as product information and the product registration unit 125 has successfully completed the product registration process, a message indicating that the product registration process has been completed based on the information stored in the RFID tag.

[0072] The selection unit 128 selects an alarm sound based on the user's selection. In this embodiment, the selection unit 128 selects an alarm sound that notifies the user that the product registration process has been successful based on information stored in a barcode or a two-dimensional code, an alarm sound that notifies the user that the product registration process has been successful based on information stored in an RFID tag, an error sound when the product registration process has failed, and the like from the alarm sounds stored in the alarm sound file 112.

[0073] Next, a description will be given of information stored in the storage unit 11 of the POS terminal 1. The storage unit 11 stores a product master 111 and an alarm sound file 112.

[0074] The product master 111 is a file that stores product information for each product sold in the store. In this embodiment, the product information includes a product code that can identify the type of product, a product name, a price, and the like. Since the products handled in the store change daily, the product master 111 is updated with information transmitted from a server device (not shown) connected to the POS terminal 1 as needed. The product master 111 may be configured to be stored in a storage unit of the server device or the like.

[0075] The notification sound file 112 is a file in which notification sounds to be sounded from the speaker 6 are stored.

[0076] As described above, the notification sound in this embodiment includes, for example, a notification sound that notifies that the product registration process has been successful based on information stored in a barcode or a two-dimensional code, a notification sound that notifies that the product registration process has been successful based on information stored in an RFID tag, an error sound when the product registration process has failed, etc. The notification sound file 112 may be configured to be stored in a storage unit of a server device or the like.

[0077] (POS terminal processing) Next, a process of the POS terminal 1 according to the embodiment will be described below. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a process of the POS terminal according to the embodiment.

[0078] First, in response to a transaction start instruction from a user, the RFID reader 7 emits radio waves from the antenna 8 and starts reading the RFID tag (step S101). At the same time, the image acquisition unit 121 starts acquiring the image captured by the scanner 5 and starts reading the barcode, two-dimensional code, etc. (step S102).

[0079] The information acquiring unit 124 checks whether the RFID reader 7 is reading the information stored in the RFID tag (checks whether the information read from the RFID tag is stored in the RFID information storage unit of the RAM 103) (step S103). If the RFID reader 7 is reading the information stored in the RFID tag (step S103: Yes), the information acquiring unit 124 checks whether the product detection unit 123 has detected that a product is in the reading area of ​​the scanner 5 based on the image acquired by the image acquiring unit 121 (step S104).

[0080] If it is not detected that a commodity is in the reading area of ​​the scanner 5 (step S104: No), step S104 is repeated until the commodity detection unit 123 detects that a commodity is in the reading area of ​​the scanner 5 based on the image acquired by the image acquisition unit 121. In other words, after the RFID reader 7 reads the information stored in the RFID tag, the commodity registration process based on the information is not executed.

[0081] When it is detected that a product is in the reading area of ​​the scanner 5 (step S104: Yes), the information acquisition unit 124 acquires the information stored in the RFID tag read by the RFID reader 7 as product information (step S106). The product registration unit 125 collates the product information acquired by the information acquisition unit 124 with the product master 111, and checks whether the product information acquired by the information acquisition unit 124 exists in the product master 111 (step S108).

[0082] If the product information does not exist in the product master 111 (step S108: No), the notification control unit 126 controls the speaker 6 to emit a notification sound to notify the user that the product registration process has failed (step S113).

[0083] Then, the control unit 10 checks whether an instruction to end the product registration process has been received (step S115). If the instruction to end the product registration process has not been received (step S115: No), steps S101 to S115 are repeated until an instruction to end the product registration process is received.

[0084] If an instruction to end the product registration process has been received (step S115: Yes), the display control unit 127 controls the monitor 3 to display a message indicating that the transaction process is about to begin, and ends this process (step S116).

[0085] On the other hand, if the product information exists in the product master 111 in step S108 (step S108: Yes), the product registration unit 125 performs product registration processing based on the information stored in the RFID tag read by the RFID reader 7 (step S110).

[0086] The notification control unit 126 controls the speaker 6 to emit a notification sound to notify the user that the product registration process has been successful based on the information stored in the RFID tag read by the RFID reader 7 (step S112). In addition, the display control unit 127 controls the monitor 3 to display, based on the information stored in the RFID tag read by the RFID reader 7, that the product registration process has been successful.

[0087] Thereafter, the above-mentioned processes in steps S115 and S116 are performed, and this process ends.

[0088] On the other hand, if the RFID reader 7 has not read the information stored in the RFID tag in step S103 (step S103: No), the information acquisition unit 124 checks whether the decoding unit 122 has succeeded in the decoding process (step S105). If the decoding process has not succeeded (step S105: No), the process returns to step S101 and continues.

[0089] If the decoding process is successful (step S105: Yes), the information acquisition unit 124 acquires information such as the barcode or two-dimensional code read by the scanner 5 as product information (step S107). The product registration unit 125 compares the product information acquired by the information acquisition unit 124 with the product master 111, and checks whether the product information acquired by the information acquisition unit 124 exists in the product master 111 (step S109).

[0090] If the product information does not exist in the product master 111 (step S109: No), the notification control unit 126 controls the speaker 6 to emit a notification sound to notify that the product registration process has failed (step S113). After that, the above-mentioned steps S115 to S116 are performed, and this process ends.

[0091] On the other hand, if the product information exists in the product master 111 in step S108 (step S109: Yes), the product registration unit 125 performs product registration processing based on the information stored in the RFID tag read by the RFID reader 7 (step S111).

[0092] The notification control unit 126 controls the speaker 6 to emit a notification sound to notify that the product registration process has been successful based on information such as a barcode or two-dimensional code read by the scanner 5 (step S114). In addition, the display control unit 127 controls the monitor 3 to display, based on information such as a barcode or two-dimensional code read by the scanner 5, that the product registration process has been successful.

[0093] Thereafter, the above-mentioned processes in steps S115 and S116 are performed, and this process ends.

[0094] (Effect of POS terminal) Next, the effects of the POS terminal 1 according to the embodiment will be described. The POS terminal 1 according to the embodiment includes a commodity detection unit 123 that detects that a commodity is placed in a commodity reading area where the scanner 5 can read barcodes, two-dimensional codes, and the like, and an alarm control unit 126 that controls the speaker 6 to emit an alarm sound to alarm if the commodity detection unit 123 detects that a commodity is placed in the commodity reading area when the RFID reader 7 reads an RFID tag attached to the commodity.

[0095] The notification control unit 126 controls the speaker 6 to emit an alarm sound when the RFID reader 7 reads a product with an RFID tag attached, and when the product detection unit 123 detects that the product has entered a product reading area where the scanner 5 can read barcodes, two-dimensional codes, etc.

[0096] Therefore, even if the user has the RFID reader 7 read a product that has an RFID tag attached but no code symbol, no sound will be emitted until the product detection unit 123 detects that the product has entered the product reading area, so the user can perform the product registration process in the same way as when the user has the scanner 5 read a product that has a barcode, two-dimensional code, etc. attached.

[0097] The POS terminal 1 according to this embodiment also includes a product registration unit 125 that registers product information, and a monitor 3 that displays the information. The product registration unit 125 performs product registration processing based on information such as a barcode or two-dimensional code attached to a product read by the scanner 5, or information on an RFID tag attached to a product read by the RFID reader 7.

[0098] When the product registration unit 125 performs product registration processing based on information such as a barcode or two-dimensional code attached to a product read by the scanner 5, the monitor 3 displays a message indicating that the product registration processing has been performed based on information such as a barcode or two-dimensional code, and when the product registration unit 125 performs product registration processing based on information from an RFID tag attached to a product read by the RFID reader 7, the monitor 3 displays a message indicating that the product registration processing has been performed based on information from the RFID tag.

[0099] As a result, when a user performs product registration processing for a product that has both a barcode, two-dimensional code, etc., and an RFID tag attached thereto, the user can know which information was used to perform the registration.

[0100] Moreover, the POS terminal 1 according to this embodiment includes a selection unit 128 that selects an informative sound based on a user's selection.

[0101] The selection unit 128 can select, based on the user's selection, the type of alert sound to be used for each of the following: an alert sound that notifies the user that the product registration process has been successful based on information stored in a barcode or two-dimensional code, an alert sound that notifies the user that the product registration process has been successful based on information stored in an RFID tag, and an error sound if the product registration process has failed.

[0102] By having the selection unit 128 select different sounds for each of these alarm sounds based on the user's selection, the user can recognize from the difference in the alarm sounds that "the reading of the barcode, two-dimensional code, etc. has been successful," "the reading of the RFID tag has been successful," or "the product registration process has failed."

[0103] In addition, since the selection unit 128 can select the notification sound, the store can select in advance a notification sound that matches the atmosphere of the store. Furthermore, if the selection unit 128 is able to select the notification sound based on the customer's selection, it becomes possible to have children enjoy the time spent during the product registration process by selecting, for example, the sound of an animal that children like as the notification sound.

[0104] Moreover, the POS terminal 1 according to this embodiment is provided with a scanner 5, an RFID reader 7, and an antenna 8 within the reading window 51. Since the user holds any product over the reading window 51, this configuration brings the RFID tag attached to the product closer to the antenna 8, and is expected to have the effect of increasing the success rate of reading the RFID tag.

[0105] For example, when an RFID tag is attached to a metal product, the response wave from the RFID tag is blocked by the reflected wave from the metal surface, making it difficult for the RFID reader 7 to read the RFID tag. However, even in such a case, if the RFID tag is brought closer to the antenna 8, it is considered that the possibility of successful reading increases.

[0106] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

[0107] For example, the above embodiment has been described taking the POS terminal 1 as an example of a product registration device. The present invention may be applied to a reading device that reads product information and has a scanner 5, an RFID reader 7, an antenna 8, etc. In other words, the present invention can be applied to a reading device that reads product information, rather than a device that registers products.

[0108] In this case, a reading window that serves as an opening is provided in the main body of the reading device. A scanner, RFID reader, and antenna are installed inside the reading window. The main body also has a speaker that emits an alarm sound. It also has a control unit and a memory unit that control the configuration of these. The detection unit and alarm control unit are the same as those described above.

[0109] For example, the program executed by the POS terminal 1 in the above embodiment is provided by being pre-installed in a storage medium (ROM 102 or storage unit 11) provided in the POS terminal 1, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be configured to be provided by being recorded in an installable or executable format on a computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a digital versatile disk (DVD).

[0110] In addition, the storage medium is not limited to a medium independent of a computer or an embedded system, but also includes a storage medium that stores or temporarily stores a program downloaded via a LAN, the Internet, etc.

[0111] In the above embodiment, after it is confirmed in step S103 that the information on the RFID tag has been read, the product registration process based on the information is not executed. The process waits until the product detection unit 123 detects a product in the product reading area. However, the following method may be adopted.

[0112] Information is read from the RFID tag, and the read information is stored (acquired) in the RFID information storage unit. The acquired product information is compared with the product master 111, and it is confirmed whether the product information acquired by the information acquisition unit 124 exists in the product master 111. The confirmation result is stored in the RAM 103, and the system waits until the product detection unit 123 detects the product.

[0113] This makes it possible to quickly process the product registration process or to notify the user that the product registration has failed when the product detection unit 123 detects a product in the product reading area.

[0114] In other words, after the information acquisition unit 124 reads information from the RFID tag, it does not immediately execute the product registration process or notify the user that product registration has failed (error notification), but waits until the product detection unit 123 detects a product in the product reading area. Then, when the product detection unit 123 detects a product, it executes the registration process or error process.

[0115] This makes it take the user longer to perform the registration process than if the information acquisition unit 124 reads the information from the RFID tag and immediately performs the product registration process or notifies the user of an error, but it eliminates the sense of incongruity felt when reading a code symbol and when reading an RFID tag.

[0116] As described above, the radiation area is larger than the product reading area. If the radiation area does not overlap with the reading area, it is possible that the product detection unit 123 cannot detect the product after reading the information of the RFID tag. In that case, for example, product registration may be performed after a predetermined time has elapsed in step 104.

[0117] This allows a user who does not feel uncomfortable with the timing of the notification sounds for RFID reading and code symbol reading to efficiently proceed with product registration without moving products that do not have a code symbol to the reading window 51.

[0118] In another example, if a predetermined time has elapsed in step S104, an error process may be executed, such as by displaying an error message on the monitor 3, such as "Please move the product to the reading window 51."

[0119] This allows the user to proceed with product registration by moving a product that does not have a code symbol to the reading window 51. The predetermined time may be any time that does not cause the user to feel uncomfortable when reading the product, and may be, for example, 3 seconds.

[0120] Furthermore, another process is as follows. After it is confirmed in step S103 that the information of the RFID tag has been read, the product registration process is executed based on the information. However, no notification is executed. When the product detection unit 123 detects a product, the notification control unit 126 notifies the speaker 6 that the product registration process has been successful based on the information stored in the RFID tag read by the RFID reader 7. Alternatively, an error notification is executed.

[0121] This allows a notification to be issued when a product is held over the reading window 51. The execution of the product registration process that appears to the user can be made the same as in the case of a code symbol.

[0122] The program executed by the POS terminal 1 of the above embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. The program executed by the POS terminal 1 of the above embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. [Explanation of symbols]

[0123] 1 POS terminal 2 Main unit 3 Monitors 4 Operation Panel 5. Scanner 6 Speakers 7 RFID Reader 8 Antennas 10 Control section 11 Storage section 12 Bus Lines 13 Input / Output Controllers 101 CPU 102 ROM 103 RAM 121 Image acquisition unit 122 Decoder 123 Product detection unit 124 Information Acquisition Department 125 Product Registration Department 126 Notification control section 127 Display control section 128 Selection [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0124] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-348133 A

Claims

1. an optical reading unit that reads a code symbol attached to the product; a wireless tag reading unit that reads a wireless tag attached to the product; a detection unit that detects that the commodity is placed in a commodity reading area where the optical reading unit can read the code symbol; A registration unit that performs a registration process to register information about the product; a notification control unit that controls a notification unit to emit a notification sound when the registration process is completed; Equipped with the registration unit performs the registration process based on information about the code symbol when the optical reading unit has read the code symbol attached to the product and the wireless tag reading unit has not read the wireless tag attached to the product; when the wireless tag reading unit has read the wireless tag attached to the product, the registration unit performs the registration process based on information about the wireless tag based on the detection unit's detection that the product is in the product reading area; and when the detection unit has not detected the product for a predetermined time, the registration unit performs the registration process when the predetermined time has elapsed. The notification control unit generates a notification sound based on the execution of the registration process. Product registration device.

2. A selection unit that selects the notification sound based on a user's selection is further provided. The product registration device according to claim 1.

3. A recording medium storing a program for controlling a product registration device by a computer, The computer, a detection unit that detects that the commodity is placed in a commodity reading area where an optical reading unit that reads a code symbol attached to the commodity can read the code symbol; A registration unit that performs a registration process to register information about the product; a notification control unit that controls a notification unit to emit a notification sound when the registration process is completed; Functioning as a the registration unit performs the registration process based on information about the code symbol when the optical reading unit has read the code symbol attached to the product and a radio tag reading unit that reads a radio tag attached to the product has not read the radio tag attached to the product; when the radio tag reading unit has read the radio tag attached to the product, the registration unit performs the registration process based on information about the radio tag based on the detection unit's detection that the product is in the product reading area; and when the detection unit has not detected the product for a predetermined time, the registration process is performed when the predetermined time has elapsed. The notification control unit generates a notification sound based on the execution of the registration process. The program was memorized Recording medium.

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