Monitoring terminal

Abstract

To enable a display effective for further improving a sales-promotion effect to be performed on an information terminal.SOLUTION: A terminal management device includes an image generation unit and an output unit. In response to registration of a new purchased commodity on an information terminal, the image generation unit generates, in one screen region, a registration image including a registration region including images indicating purchased commodities and a sales-promotion list region in which images of sales-promotion information related to the purchased commodities are arranged in registration order of the purchased commodities. Herein, the image generation unit deletes, among the images included in the sales-promotion list region, an image of the oldest sales-promotion information in the registration order and adds an image of sales-promotion information related to the new purchased commodity to an arrayed position of an image of the latest sales-promotion information in the registration order in the sales-promotion list region, thereby generating the registration image including the images of the sales-promotion information. The output unit outputs the registration image to the information terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 28

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a terminal management device and a program for causing a computer to function as the terminal management device. [Background technology]

[0002] A semi-self-service product sales system has already been put into practical use, in which the product registration function and the accounting function of a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal are separated into a registration machine and an accounting machine, with the registration machine operated by a store clerk and the accounting machine operated by the customer. A product sales system that simplifies the product registration operation in the POS terminal by having a customer walk around the sales floor with an information terminal with wireless communication function and register the data of the product they wish to purchase in the information terminal themselves is also known.

[0003] In view of this, the introduction of a product sales system in which customers themselves register the products they have purchased by operating an information terminal and then pay for the products themselves using an accounting machine is being considered. In such a product sales system, it has been proposed to promote sales of other products by receiving information on products related to the registered purchased product from a server and displaying it as a hierarchical menu. There is a demand for a method of displaying promotional information that is effective in improving the effectiveness of sales promotion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-293769 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a terminal management device and a program therefor that can perform, on an information terminal, a display that is effective in improving the effectiveness of sales promotion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In one embodiment, the terminal management device is a terminal management device for a product sales system in which users of information terminals operate their respective information terminals at a sales floor to register products to be purchased, and the users use a payment machine to make payments for the purchased products. This terminal management device includes an image generation unit and an output unit. In response to the registration of new purchased products at the information terminal, the image generation unit generates a registration image including a registration area including an image showing the purchased product and a promotion list area in which images of promotional information related to the purchased product are arranged based on the order of registration of the purchased product in one screen area. Here, the image generation unit deletes the image of the promotional information with the oldest registration order from among the images included in the promotion list area, and adds the image of the promotional information related to the newly purchased product to the arrangement position of the image of the promotional information with the most recent registration order in the promotion list area, thereby generating a registration image including an image of the promotional information. The output unit outputs the registration image to the information terminal. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a product sales system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] Schematic diagram showing an example of a store layout in which the product sales system has been installed. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of a first server in the product sales system. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the main data structure of a product data record stored in a product database in the first server. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the main data structure of a member data record stored in a member database in the first server. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the main data structure of a promotional data record stored in a promotional database in the first server. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of a second server in the product sales system. [Figure 8]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an information terminal table in the second server. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a registration list written in the information terminal table. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a sales promotion list written in the information terminal table. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a shopping list written in the information terminal table. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a payment machine table in the second server. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of a monitoring terminal in the product sales system. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of an information terminal in the product sales system. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a cart to which the information terminal is attached. [Figure 16] 4 is a flowchart showing the main information processing procedures executed by a processor of the information terminal. [Figure 17] 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a login interrupt process executed by a processor of the second server. [Figure 18] 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a product registration interrupt process executed by a processor of the second server. [Figure 19] 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a product registration interrupt process executed by a processor of the second server. [Figure 20] 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a product registration interrupt process executed by a processor of the second server. [Figure 21] 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of transaction interrupt processing executed by a processor of the second server. [Figure 22] 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of accounting request interrupt processing executed by a processor of the second server. [Figure 23] 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of an accounting end interrupt process executed by a processor of the second server. [Figure 24] 11 is a flowchart showing the steps of a face-to-face transaction interrupt process executed by a processor of the second server. [Diagram 25]11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a timeout interrupt process executed by a processor of the second server. [Figure 26] 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a monitoring image creation process executed by a processor of the second server. [Figure 27] 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a batch cancel interrupt process executed by a processor of the second server. [Figure 28] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a registration image displayed on a touch panel of the information terminal. [Figure 29] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a registration area in the registration image. [Diagram 30] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a staff member confirmation image displayed on a touch panel of the information terminal. [Diagram 31] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a plastic bag confirmation image displayed on the touch panel of the information terminal. [Diagram 32] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a member barcode image displayed on a touch panel of the information terminal. [Diagram 33] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a monitoring image displayed on a touch panel of the monitoring terminal. [Diagram 34] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a payment machine status display section displayed on the monitoring image. [Diagram 35] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a terminal status display section displayed on the monitoring image. [Diagram 36] 13 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a monitoring image displayed on the touch panel of the monitoring terminal. [Figure 37] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a collective cancellation confirmation image displayed on a touch panel of the information terminal. [Figure 38] 11 is a flowchart showing an extracted part of the procedure of main information processing executed by a processor of an information terminal in a product sales system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 39] 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a product selection interrupt process executed by a processor of a second server in the product sales system. [Diagram 40] 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a product cancellation interrupt process executed by a processor of the second server. [Diagram 41]FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the main data structure of a sales promotion data record stored in a sales promotion database of a first server in a product sales system according to a third embodiment. [Diagram 42] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an information terminal table of a second server in the product sales system. [Diagram 43] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a purchase history list written in the information terminal table. [Diagram 44] 11 is a flowchart showing a part of the login interrupt process executed by a processor of the second server. [Diagram 45] 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a registration image displayed on a touch panel of an information terminal in a product sales system according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Below, we will use the drawings to explain an embodiment of a terminal management device that can display on an information terminal information that is effective in further improving promotional effectiveness in a product sales system in which customers themselves operate an information terminal to register purchased products and then pay for those purchased products themselves at a cash register.

[0009] [First embodiment] 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a product sales system according to this embodiment. The product sales system includes a first server 10, a second server 20, a POS terminal 30, a payment machine 40, an information terminal 50, and a monitoring terminal 60. The first server 10, the second server 20, the POS terminal 30, and the payment machine 40 are connected to a network 70 such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

[0010] Both the information terminal 50 and the monitoring terminal 60 are equipped with wireless units. An access point 80 is connected to a network 70. The information terminal 50 and the monitoring terminal 60 perform wireless communication with the access point 80. The access point 80 relays communication between each device connected to the network 70, i.e., the first server 10, the second server 20, the POS terminal 30, and the accounting machine 40, and the information terminal 50 and the monitoring terminal 60.

[0011] A store may have multiple POS terminals 30, accounting machines 40, and information terminals 50. There may also be two or more monitoring terminals 60 and access points 80 depending on the size of the store. At least one of the first server 10 and the second server 20 communicates with a customer terminal via a public network. The customer terminal is, for example, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or a PC owned by a customer. The public network is, for example, the Internet. In this embodiment, the first server 10 connects to the public network as a center server. The second server 20 communicates with the POS terminal 30 as a store server.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the layout of a store in which the product sales system has been introduced. A shopping cart used by customer M1, who is a purchaser or consumer, when shopping in a store has an information terminal 50. In the following description, the shopping cart is referred to as cart C. The customer is the user of the information terminal 50. The information terminal 50 may be included in the cart C or in a shopping basket. Customer M1 goes around the sales floor with cart C and places the products to be purchased in cart C. Customer M1 operates the information terminal 50 to register the purchased products. After completing the registration of the purchased products, customer M1 goes to the counter register G1 or self-checkout register G2 and settles the transaction by paying for the purchased products. After the payment, customer M1 bags the products at a bagger counter SU as necessary.

[0013] At the counter register G1, cashier M2, a store clerk in charge of accounting, registers the purchased items and processes the payment. The counter register G1 has a POS terminal 30. The counter register G1 has a scanner. The scanner may be a fixed type or a handheld type. Cashier M2 registers the sales data of the purchased items in the POS terminal 30 by scanning the barcodes of the purchased items one by one with the scanner SC. The POS terminal 30 calculates the payment amount of the registered purchased items. The customer M1 pays the amount equivalent to the payment amount to cashier M2. The payment can be made with cash, credit card, electronic money, points, gift certificates, etc. The POS terminal 30 is an example of a product sales processing device that processes the registration and accounting of purchased items.

[0014] Self-checkout register G2 allows customer M1 to register and pay for purchased items. Self-checkout register G2 has a payment machine 40. The second server 20 calculates the payment amount for the purchased items registered by customer M1 using information terminal 50. The second server 20 notifies payment machine 40 of the payment amount via network 70. Customer M1 pays the amount equivalent to the payment amount to payment machine 40 that has been notified of the payment amount. The payment can be made by cash, credit card, electronic money, points, etc.

[0015] The attendant counter AT is located near the self-checkout register G2. As described above, in the store of this embodiment, the customer M1 can operate the information terminal 50 and the payment machine 40, and can perform the entire process from registering the purchased items to paying for them by himself. However, on the other hand, there may be a situation where a store clerk must intervene. For example, a specialized salesperson may need to provide information to the customer M1 who is purchasing medicines. There may be a case where the information on the discount sticker is forgotten to be entered into the information terminal 50, and the regular price is registered. Or, there may be a case where the barcode of the item is scanned by the information terminal 50, but an error occurs and registration is not possible. There may also be a case where an error occurs in the payment machine 40, such as a coin jam or receipt paper running out.

[0016] To quickly respond to such an event, an attendant M3, who is a store clerk in charge of serving customers, is always present at the attendant counter AT. The attendant counter AT is equipped with a monitoring terminal 60. The attendant M3 uses the monitoring terminal 60 to monitor the status of each information terminal 50 and the payment machine 40.

[0017] Next, the configurations of the first server 10, the second server 20, the information terminal 50, and the monitoring terminal 60 will be described. The POS terminal 30 may be the same as a POS terminal used in a store that has an existing face-to-face register G1. The payment machine 40 may be the same as a payment machine used in a semi-self-service product sales system. Descriptions of the configurations of the POS terminal 30 and the payment machine 40 will be omitted.

[0018] First, the configuration of the first server 10 will be described. 3 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the first server 10. The first server 10 includes a processor 11, a main memory 12, an auxiliary storage device 13, a communication interface 14, a gateway device 15, and a system transmission path 16. The system transmission path 16 includes an address bus, a data bus, a control signal line, and the like. The first server 10 connects the processor 11, the main memory 12, the auxiliary storage device 13, the communication interface 14, and the gateway device 15 to the system transmission path 15. The first server 10 constitutes a computer by the processor 11, the main memory 12, the auxiliary storage device 13, and the system transmission path 15 that connects them.

[0019] The processor 11 corresponds to the central part of the computer. The processor 11 controls each part to realize various functions of the first server 10 according to an operating system and application programs. The processor 11 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

[0020] The main memory 12 corresponds to the main storage portion of the computer. The main memory 12 includes a nonvolatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The main memory 12 stores an operating system and application programs in the nonvolatile memory area. The main memory 12 may store data required for the processor to execute processes for controlling each part in the nonvolatile or volatile memory area. The main memory 12 uses the volatile memory area as a work area where data is appropriately rewritten by the processor. For example, the nonvolatile memory area is ROM (Read Only Memory). The volatile memory area is RAM (Random Access Memory).

[0021] The auxiliary storage device 13 corresponds to the auxiliary storage portion of the computer. For example, an EEPROM (Electric Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), or an SSD (Solid State Drive) is used as the auxiliary storage device 13. The auxiliary storage device 13 stores data used by the processor 11 when performing various processes and data created by the processes in the processor 11. The auxiliary storage device 13 may also store the above application programs.

[0022] The communication interface 14 transmits and receives data in accordance with a communication protocol between each unit connected via the network 70. The gateway device 15 connects to a public network.

[0023] The first server 10 includes a product database 131, a member database 132, and a sales promotion database 133 in the auxiliary storage device 13. In Fig. 3, the database is abbreviated as DB.

[0024] Product database 131 stores data on each product sold in the store. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the main data structure of product data record 131R for each product stored in product database 131. As shown in Fig. 4, product data record 131R includes items such as product ID, product name, price, category name, link promotion ID, and restriction flag.

[0025] The product ID is a unique code assigned to each product to identify each product individually. The product name and price are the name of the product identified by the product ID and the selling price per unit.

[0026] The classification name is information that identifies the classification to which the product identified by the product ID belongs. For example, the product "apple" has many varieties such as "Fuji", "Jonagold", and "Red Delicious", and a different product ID is set for each variety. However, regardless of the variety, the classification name is unified as "apple".

[0027] The link promotion ID is a code that identifies promotion information associated with the product identified by the product ID among the promotion information stored in the promotion database 133. Promotion information associated with the product is, for example, information about campaigns that can be participated in by purchasing the product, information about bargain items that can be given discount benefits, information about coupons that can be obtained, etc. Incidentally, if no promotion information is associated with the product, a null value is set as the link promotion ID. In this embodiment, one product is associated with one promotion information, but two or more promotion information may be associated.

[0028] The restriction flag is one bit of information for identifying whether or not the product identified by the product ID is an age-restricted product, such as alcoholic beverages, tobacco, etc. In this embodiment, the restriction flag of a product with an age restriction is set to "1", and the restriction flag of a product without an age restriction is set to "0".

[0029] Member database 132 stores data on customers who have registered as point members or the like, that is, so-called members. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the main data structure of member data record 132R for each member stored in member database 132. As shown in the figure, member data record 132R includes items such as member ID, purchase history data, and shopping data. The member ID is a unique code set for each member to identify each member individually. Members own a recording medium on which the member ID is recorded. The recording medium is, for example, a magnetic card, a contact type IC (Integrated Circuit) card, a contactless IC card, a smartphone, etc. The purchase history data is data indicating the purchase history of what the member identified by the member ID purchased and when.

[0030] The shopping data is data on products that a member identified by the member ID plans to purchase. A customer can, for example, operate a customer terminal to access the first server 10 via a public network and register the shopping data in his / her own member data record 132R. The shopping data includes the name of the product that is planned to be purchased. The name may be a product name or a category name set in the product data record 131R. In other words, a customer who plans to purchase the product "apple" regardless of the variety may register the name "apple" as the shopping data. On the other hand, a customer who plans to purchase the product "apple" with the product name "Fuji apple", for example, may register the name "Fuji apple" as the shopping data.

[0031] The promotion database 133 stores promotion information related to campaigns, special sales, coupons, etc. as described above. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the main data structure of the promotion data record 133R for each piece of information stored in the promotion database 133. As shown in the figure, the promotion data record 133R includes a promotion ID and promotion data. The promotion ID is a unique code set for each piece of promotion information in order to identify the promotion information individually. The promotion data is image data that specifically represents the promotion information. By making the promotion ID the same as the link promotion ID of the product data record 131R, it becomes possible to link the product specified by the product ID with the promotion information. As described above, this is the case where one piece of promotion information is associated with one product. If two or more pieces of promotion information are associated with one product, the link promotion ID includes multiple promotion IDs.

[0032] Next, the configuration of the second server 20 will be described. 7 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the second server 20. Similar to the first server 10, the second server 20 includes a processor 21, a main memory 22, an auxiliary storage device 23, a communication interface 24, and a system transmission path 25, and the processor 21, the main memory 22, the auxiliary storage device 23, and the communication interface 24 are connected to the system transmission path 25. The second server 20 constitutes a computer by the processor 21, the main memory 22, the auxiliary storage device 23, and the system transmission path 25 that connects them. The outline of the processor 21, the main memory 22, the auxiliary storage device 23, and the communication interface 24 may be the same as that of the first server 10.

[0033] The second server 20 functions as a terminal management device of the product sales system. To realize the function as the terminal management device, the second server 20 uses a part of the volatile area in the main memory 22 as an information terminal table 221 and a checkout machine table 222. The information terminal table 221 has an area for holding various information for each information terminal 50 provided in each cart C.

[0034] 8 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the information terminal table 221. The information terminal table 221 has areas A1 to A13 for writing each piece of information such as a terminal ID, a terminal status ST1, a member ID, a payment machine ID, a first timer T1, a second timer T2, a third timer T3, a counter N, a registration list, a sales promotion list, a shopping list, a payment code, and a ranking.

[0035] Area A1 is an area for writing a unique terminal ID set for each information terminal 50 in order to identify each information terminal 50 individually. In FIG. 8, the terminal IDs are represented as TB1, TB2, TB3, TB4, .... The terminal ID is terminal identification information. Area A2 is an area for writing information indicating the state of the information terminal 50 identified by the corresponding terminal ID, that is, the so-called terminal status ST1. The terminal status ST1 represents "waiting", "registering", "accounting", and "abandoned". "Waiting" is the state from when the previous customer has finished their account until the next customer logs in. "Registering" is the state from when they log in until the account is approved. "Accounting" is the state from when the account is approved until the account is completed. "Abandoned" is the state in which the terminal has been left without any operation for a certain period of time from the "registering" state.

[0036] Area A3 is an area for writing the member ID of the member who has logged in to the information terminal 50. Area A4 is an area for writing the payment machine ID of the payment machine 40 that will process the payment for the products registered on the information terminal 50. Each payment machine 40 has a unique payment machine ID to identify it individually.

[0037] Area A5 is an area for writing the value of a first timer T1 for timing the time that has elapsed since login. Area A6 is an area for writing the value of a second timer T2 for timing the time that has elapsed since the barcode of a product with a discount sticker is scanned. Area A7 is an area for writing the value of a third timer T3 for timing the time that has elapsed since the last purchased product was registered after login. Area A8 is an area for writing the value of a counter N for counting the number of promotional data items.

[0038] Area A9 is an area for writing registration list L1 shown in FIG. 9 which lists information related to products registered on information terminal 50. Area A10 is an area for writing promotion list L2 shown in FIG. 10 which lists promotion information associated with products registered on information terminal 50. Area A11 is an area for writing shopping list L3 shown in FIG. 11 which lists shopping data of a member who has logged in to information terminal 50. Area A12 is an area for writing an accounting code which is assigned to each transaction in order to identify the transaction in which product registration has been performed on information terminal 50. Area A13 is an area for writing the ranking when the status of information terminal 50 is displayed on monitoring terminal 60. The accounting code and ranking will be explained later.

[0039] 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the registration list L1. The registration list L1 describes, in a series of numerical order, the product ID, the product name, the number of items, the price, the first flag F1, the second flag F2, and the third flag F3. The first flag F1, the second flag F2, and the third flag F3 will be explained later. The registration list L1 of the information terminal table 221 functions as a first table in which, for each information terminal 50, information on purchased items registered at the information terminal 50 is described.

[0040] 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a promotion list L2. The promotion list L2 lists a promotion ID, promotion data, product ID, and a fourth flag F4 in a series of numerical order. The fourth flag F4 will be explained later. The sales promotion list L2 of the information terminal table 221 functions as a second table that describes, for each information terminal 50, sales promotion information related to the purchased item described in the registration list L1 as the first table.

[0041] 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a shopping list L3. The shopping list L3 lists names and a fifth flag F5 in a series of numerical order. The fifth flag F5 will be explained later.

[0042] 12 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the payment machine table 222. The payment machine table 222 has areas B1 to B4 for writing each piece of information, namely, the payment machine ID, the payment machine status ST2, the first error flag EF1, and the second error flag EF2.

[0043] Area B1 is an area for writing a unique payment machine ID set for each payment machine 40 in order to individually identify each payment machine 40. Area B2 is an area for writing the payment machine status ST2. The payment machine status ST2 is information indicating the state of the payment machine 40 identified by the payment machine ID. The payment machine status ST2 represents "idle" and "payment in progress." "Idle" is the state after the previous customer's payment has been completed and before the next customer's payment begins. "Payment in progress" is the state after one customer's payment has been completed and before it is completed.

[0044] Area B3 is an area for writing the first error flag EF1, which indicates with 1 bit information whether or not an error has occurred in the printer of the accounting machine 40. The accounting machine 40 has a printer for printing receipts. For example, if the accounting machine 40 runs out of receipt paper, a printer error occurs. When a printer error occurs, the first error flag EF1 changes from "0" to "1". After that, when the error is resolved, the first error flag EF1 returns from "1" to "0."

[0045] Area B4 is an area for writing a second error flag EF2 which indicates, with 1-bit information, whether or not an error has occurred in the change machine of the accounting machine 40. The accounting machine 40 has a change machine for collecting deposits and dispensing change. For example, if a coin jam occurs in the accounting machine 40, a change machine error occurs. When a change machine error occurs, the second error flag EF2 changes from "0" to "1". After that, when the error is resolved, the second error flag EF2 returns from "1" to "0".

[0046] Next, the configurations of the monitoring terminal 60 and the information terminal 50 will be described. 13 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the monitoring terminal 60. The monitoring terminal 60 includes a processor 61, a main memory 62, an auxiliary storage device 63, a wireless unit 64, a touch panel 65, and a system transmission path 66. The system transmission path 66 includes an address bus, a data bus, a control signal line, and the like. The monitoring terminal 60 connects the processor 61, the main memory 62, the auxiliary storage device 63, the wireless unit 64, and the touch panel 65 to the system transmission path 66 directly or via a signal input / output circuit. The monitoring terminal 60 constitutes a computer by the processor 61, the main memory 62, the auxiliary storage device 63, and the system transmission path 66 that connects them.

[0047] The processor 61 corresponds to the central part of the computer. The processor 61 controls each part to realize various functions of the monitoring terminal 60 according to an operating system and application programs. The processor 61 is, for example, a CPU.

[0048] The main memory 62 corresponds to the main storage portion of the computer. The main memory 62 includes a nonvolatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The main memory 62 stores an operating system and application programs in the nonvolatile memory area. The main memory 62 may also store data required for the processor to execute processes for controlling each part in the nonvolatile or volatile memory area. The main memory 62 uses the volatile memory area as a work area where data is appropriately rewritten by the processor. For example, the nonvolatile memory area is ROM. The volatile memory area is RAM.

[0049] The auxiliary storage device 63 corresponds to the auxiliary storage portion of the computer. For example, an EEPROM, a HDD, or an SSD is used as the auxiliary storage device 63. The auxiliary storage device 63 stores data used by the processor 61 when performing various processes and data created by the processes in the processor 61. The auxiliary storage device 63 may also store the above-mentioned application programs.

[0050] The wireless unit 64 wirelessly transmits and receives data to and from the access point 80 in accordance with a wireless communication protocol.

[0051] The touch panel 65 is a device that serves as both an input device and a display device for the monitoring terminal 60. The monitoring terminal 60 is equipped with a browser for displaying images on the touch panel 65 based on image data created by a Web server such as the second server 20.

[0052] The monitoring terminal 60 may be a computer device such as a tablet terminal, a notebook computer, or a desktop computer.

[0053] FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the information terminal 50. The information terminal 50 includes a processor 51, a main memory 52, an auxiliary storage device 53, a wireless unit 54, a touch panel 55, a scanner 56, a reader 57, and a system transmission path 58. The system transmission path 58 includes an address bus, a data bus, a control signal line, and the like. The information terminal 50 connects the processor 51, the main memory 52, the auxiliary storage device 53, the wireless unit 54, the touch panel 55, the scanner 56, and the reader 57 to the system transmission path 58 directly or via a signal input / output circuit. The information terminal 50 configures a computer by the processor 51, the main memory 52, the auxiliary storage device 53, and the system transmission path 58 connecting them. The outline of the processor 51, the main memory 52, the auxiliary storage device 53, and the wireless unit 54 may be the same as that of the monitoring terminal 60.

[0054] The touch panel 55 is a device that serves as both an input device and a display device for the information terminal 50. The information terminal 50 is equipped with a browser for displaying images on the touch panel 55 based on image data created by a Web server such as the second server 20.

[0055] The scanner 56 has a camera as an imaging unit, and reads a code symbol such as a barcode or a two-dimensional data code from an image captured by the camera.

[0056] Reader 57 reads the member ID recorded on the recording medium. Reader 57 is a magnetic card reader if the recording medium is a magnetic card, and is an IC card reader if the recording medium is a contact IC card. In the case of a recording medium that uses RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), such as a contactless IC card or a smartphone, an RFID reader is used as reader 57.

[0057] The information terminal 50 is configured by electrically connecting a scanner 56 and a reader 57 to a tablet terminal TM shown in FIG. 15, which includes a processor 51, a main memory 52, an auxiliary storage device 53, a wireless unit 54 and a touch panel 55, for example.

[0058] FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an example of a cart C to which an information terminal 50 is attached. The cart C is equipped with caster parts C1 for movement, a handle frame part C2, and a basket receiving part C3. The caster parts C1 have four wheels for smooth movement on a floor surface. The handle frame part C2 includes a pair of vertical frames C21, C21 erected on the rear wheel side of the caster parts C1, and a handle bar C22 connecting the upper ends of these vertical frames C21, C21. The basket receiving part C3 is located forward from the midpoint of the handle frame part C2. The cart C places a shopping basket BA for storing products on the basket receiving part C3 and the caster parts C1.

[0059] The scanner 56 is located in the middle of the handle bar C22. The scanner 56 is attached to the handle bar C22 so that the reading window faces forward. The cart C has a pole C4 attached to one of the vertical frames C21. The tip of the pole C4 is located above the handle bar C22. The tablet terminal TM is attached to the tip of the pole C4 so that the screen of the touch panel 55 faces backward. The reader 57 is attached to the tablet terminal TM so that the card slit faces backward. In FIG. 15, the reader 57 is a magnetic card reader. The battery BT is attached to the lower end side of the handle frame portion C2 across the vertical frames C21, C21. The battery BT serves as a driving power source for the tablet terminal TM and the scanner 56.

[0060] FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the procedure of main information processing executed by the processor 51 of the information terminal 50. FIG. 17 to FIG. 27 are flow charts showing the procedure of main information processing executed by the processor 21 of the second server 20. FIG. 28 to FIG. 32 and FIG. 37 are examples of images displayed on the touch panel 55, which is a display device of the information terminal 50. FIG. 33 to FIG. 36 are examples of images displayed on the touch panel 65, which is a display device of the monitoring terminal 60. Below, the main operations of the product sales system according to this embodiment will be explained using each figure. The contents of the processing explained below are one example. As long as similar results can be obtained, the processing procedure and processing contents are not particularly limited.

[0061] First, the operation of the information terminal 50 will be described. The processor 51 of the information terminal 50 displays an initial image on the touch panel 55 in Act 1 of FIG. 16. The initial image is arbitrary. The processor 51 sets, for example, an image explaining the login procedure as the initial image. Image data of the initial image is received from the second server 20. The processor 21 of the second server 20 distributes image data of the initial image to the information terminal 50 whose terminal status ST1 is "waiting". The information terminal 50 waiting for login displays the initial image on the touch panel 55.

[0062] When customer M1, who is a member, arrives at the store, he or she takes out an empty cart C from the cart area. Customer M1 checks that an initial image is displayed on the touch panel 55 of the information terminal 50 attached to the cart C. After checking, customer M1 logs in. In other words, customer M1 has reader 57 read the data on the recording medium on which the member ID is recorded.

[0063] The processor 51 waits for login in Act 2. When the reader 57 reads the data from the recording medium on which the member ID is recorded, the processor 51 determines that login has been performed, and proceeds to YES in Act 2. The processor 51 controls the wireless unit 54 to transmit a login command to the second server 20 in Act 3. The wireless unit 54 wirelessly transmits the login command. The login command includes the member ID read by the reader 57 and the terminal ID of the information terminal 50. The access point 80 receives the login command. The access point 80 transmits the login command to the second server 20 via the network 70.

[0064] The processor 21 of the second server 20, which has received the login command via the communication interface 24, starts the login interrupt process shown in the flow chart of Fig. 17. First, the processor 21 detects a terminal ID from the login command in Act 21. The processor 21 searches the information terminal table 221 in Act 22, and checks the terminal status ST1 associated with the terminal ID detected from the login command. In the following description, the terminal ID detected from the login command is referred to as a login terminal ID.

[0065] If the terminal status ST1 is "Waiting", the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 22. The processor 21 detects the member ID from the login command in Act 23. The processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to make an authentication inquiry of the member ID to the first server 10 in Act 24. The communication interface 24 transmits an authentication inquiry command. The authentication inquiry command includes the member ID. The first server 10 receives the authentication inquiry command via the network 70.

[0066] Processor 11 of first server 10 detects the member ID from the authentication inquiry command. Processor 11 accesses member database 132 and reads member data record 132R including the member ID. If member data record 132R for the member ID is not registered in member database 132, processor 11 controls communication interface 14 to send a denial response to second server 20. Communication interface 14 transmits a response signal of the denial response to second server 20.

[0067] When the processor 11 is able to read out the corresponding member data record 132R from the member database 132, the processor 11 controls the communication interface 14 to send an approval response to the second server 20. The communication interface 14 sends a response signal of the approval response to the second server 20. The approval response includes the shopping data of the member data record 132R.

[0068] The processor 21 of the second server 20, which has controlled the transmission of the authentication inquiry command, waits for a response signal from the first server 10 in Act 25. If the processor 21 receives an approval response signal within a certain period of time, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 25. The processor 21 checks whether the approval response includes shopping data in Act 26.

[0069] If the customer M1 who has logged in has registered shopping data in advance, the shopping data is included in the approval response. If the customer M1 has not registered shopping data, the shopping data is not included in the approval response. If the shopping data is included in the approval response, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 26. The processor 21 creates a shopping list L3 from the shopping data in Act 27. That is, the processor 21 creates the shopping list L3 by adding a series of numbers to the names constituting the shopping data. The processor 21 saves the shopping list L3 in the area A11 associated with the login terminal ID of the information terminal table 221. The processor 21 sets all the fifth flags F5 corresponding to each number of the shopping list L3 to "0" in Act 28. If the shopping data is not included in the approval response, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 26. The processor 21 does not execute the above-mentioned processes of Act 27 and Act 28.

[0070] The processor 21 creates a registered image P1 shown in FIG. 28 in Act 29. The processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to transmit an approval response to the information terminal 50 that transmitted the login command in Act 30. The processor 21 further controls the communication interface 24 to transmit image data of the registered image P1 to the information terminal 50 in Act 31. The communication interface 24 transmits a response signal of the approval response and image data of the registered image P1 via the network 70. The access point 80 wirelessly transmits the response signal and image data. The information terminal 50 that transmitted the login command receives the response signal and image data wirelessly transmitted from the access point 80.

[0071] The processor 21, which has controlled the transmission of the response signal and image data, changes the terminal status ST1 associated with the login terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 from "waiting" to "registering" in Act 32. The processor 21 resets the value of the counter N associated with the login terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 to "0" in Act 33. Furthermore, the processor 21 starts the counting operation of the first timer T1 associated with the login terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 in Act 34. With this, the processor 21 ends the login interrupt process.

[0072] If the terminal status ST1 is not "Waiting", the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 22. If the response from the first server 10 is a denial response, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 25. The processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to transmit a denial response to the information terminal 50 that has transmitted the login command in Act 35. The communication interface 24 transmits a response signal of the denial response via the network 70. The access point 80 wirelessly transmits the response signal of the denial response. The information terminal 50 that has transmitted the login command receives the response signal of the denial response wirelessly transmitted from the access point 80.

[0073] Returning to the explanation of Figure 16. The processor 51 of the information terminal 50 that controlled the transmission of the login command in Act 3 waits for a response signal from the second server 20 in Act 4. When a response signal of a denial response is received via the wireless unit 54, the processor 51 proceeds to NO in Act 4. The processor 51 determines the login to be an error. If the login is an error, the processor 51 displays an error notification image including a confirmation button on the touch panel 55. If the confirmation button is touched, the processor 51 returns the image on the touch panel 55 to the initial image and waits for the next login.

[0074] When the processor 51 receives a response signal of an approval response via the wireless unit 54, the processor 51 proceeds to YES in Act 4. In Act 5, the processor 51 displays the registered image P1 on the touch panel 55 based on the image data received together with the approval response.

[0075] Fig. 28 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a registered image P1. As shown in Fig. 28, the registered image P1 includes a registration list area PA1, a promotion list area PA2, a shopping memo area PA3, a touch button BU1 for "products without barcodes," and a touch button BU2 for "checkout."

[0076] The registration list area PA1 is located in the center of the registration image P1. The registration list area PA1 is an area for displaying the registration list L1 described in the area A9 associated with the login terminal ID of the information terminal table 221. Before the start of product registration, the registration list area PA1 is blank.

[0077] The promotion list area PA2 is located at the top of the registered image P1. The promotion list area PA2 has multiple promotion areas along the top edge of the registered image P1. FIG. 28 shows four promotion areas PA21, PA22, PA23, and PA24. Each promotion area PA21, PA22, PA23, and PA24 displays the promotion information of the promotion list L2 described in the area A10 associated with the login terminal ID of the information terminal table 221. The promotion area PA21 on the left side of the screen displays the promotion information most recently registered in the promotion list L2. The promotion areas PA22, PA23, and PA24 to the right of the promotion area PA21 sequentially shift the promotion information previously registered. Before product registration begins, the promotion list area PA2 is also blank. Promotional information not associated with the purchased product, such as "Tomorrow is sale day," may be displayed in the promotional areas PA21, PA22, PA23, and PA24 of the registered image P1 before product registration begins.

[0078] The shopping memo area PA3 is located on the left side of the screen of the registered image P1. The shopping memo area PA3 is an area for displaying the shopping list L3 described in the area A11 associated with the login terminal ID of the information terminal table 221. If the logged-in customer M1 has registered shopping data in advance, the shopping memo area PA3 displays information on the shopping list L3 based on that shopping data. If the logged-in customer M1 has not registered shopping data in advance, the shopping memo area PA3 is left blank. Alternatively, the shopping memo area PA3 itself may be omitted from the registered image P1.

[0079] The touch button BU1 for [Item without barcode] and the touch button BU2 for [Checkout] are located at the bottom of the registered image P1. To be more specific, the touch button BU1 for [Item without barcode] is located on the left side of the screen, and the touch button BU2 for [Checkout] is located on the right side. The arrangement of the touch buttons BU1 and BU2 may be reversed.

[0080] The touch button BU1 for [product without barcode] is used when a customer registers a product without a barcode in the information terminal 50. Many products sold in a store are provided with a barcode corresponding to the product ID of the product. For this reason, a customer M1 who uses a cart C to perform self-registration operates the scanner 56 to read the barcode attached to the product before placing the purchased product in the shopping cart BA at the sales floor. When the barcode is read by the scanner 56, the product ID represented by the barcode is input to the information terminal 50. That is, the product is registered. On the other hand, some products such as fresh foods may not have a barcode attached. When the purchased product does not have a barcode attached, the customer M1 touches the touch button BU1. Then, touch buttons corresponding to products without barcodes, so-called product buttons, are displayed on the touch panel 55, so the customer M1 touches the product button corresponding to the purchased product. When the product button is touched, the product ID of the product corresponding to the product button is input to the information terminal 50. That is, the product is registered.

[0081] The [Checkout] touch button BU2 is used when a customer declares the checkout of the purchased items. In other words, customer M1 who has self-registered the purchased items using cart C touches touch button BU2 when moving to the checkout.

[0082] Returning to the explanation of Figure 16. In Act 5, processor 51 displays registration image P1 on touch panel 55, and checks whether product registration has been performed in Act 6. If product registration has not been performed, processor 51 proceeds to NO in Act 6. In Act 7, processor 51 checks whether the [Checkout] touch button BU2 has been touched. If the [Checkout] touch button BU2 has not been touched, processor 51 proceeds to NO in Act 7. Processor 51 returns to Act 6. Here, processor 51 waits for product registration to be performed or for the [Checkout] touch button BU2 to be touched in Act 6 and Act 7.

[0083] When it is confirmed that the product registration has been performed in the standby state of Act 6 and Act 7, the processor 51 proceeds to YES in Act 6. The processor 51 controls the wireless unit 54 to transmit a product registration command to the second server 20 in Act 8. The wireless unit 54 wirelessly transmits the product registration command. The product registration command includes the terminal ID of the information terminal 50 and the product ID of the registered product. That is, when the barcode of the registered product is read by the scanner 56, the product registration command includes the product ID obtained from the barcode. When the registered product is selected by touching a product button, the product registration command includes the product ID assigned to the product button. The product registration command is received by the access point 80 and sent to the second server 20 via the network 70.

[0084] The processor 21 of the second server 20, which receives the product registration command via the communication interface 24, starts the product registration interrupt process shown in the flow charts of Fig. 18 to Fig. 20. First, the processor 21 detects a product ID from the product registration command in Act 41. The processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to make an inquiry about product data to the first server 10 in Act 42. The communication interface 24 transmits a product inquiry command. The product inquiry command includes the product ID. The product inquiry command is transmitted to the first server 10 via the network 70.

[0085] The processor 11 of the first server 10 receives the product inquiry command via the communication interface 14 and detects the product ID from the product inquiry command. The processor 11 accesses the product database 131 and reads out the product data record 131R including the product ID. If the product data record 131R for the product ID cannot be read out from the product database 131, the processor 11 controls the communication interface 14 to transmit an abnormal response to the second server 20. The communication interface 14 transmits a response signal of the abnormal response to the second server 20.

[0086] When the processor 11 is able to read out the corresponding product data record 131R from the product database 131, the processor 11 controls the communication interface 14 to transmit a normal response to the second server 20. The communication interface 14 transmits a response signal of the normal response to the second server 20. The normal response includes product data such as the product ID, product name, price, category name, link promotion ID, and restriction flag of the product data record 131R.

[0087] The processor 21 of the second server 20 that controlled the transmission of the product inquiry command waits for a response signal from the first server 10 in Act 43. If the processor 21 receives a normal response signal within a certain time, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 43. The processor 21 adds the product data included in the normal response to the registration list L1 of the information terminal table 221 in Act 44. That is, the processor 21 adds the product ID, product name, points, and price to the registration list L1 in the area A9 associated with the terminal ID included in the product registration command of the information terminal table 221. The product ID and product name are included in the product data. The points are "1". The price is the price of the product data. In the following description, the terminal ID included in the product registration command is referred to as a registered terminal ID. The processor 21 sets the first to third flags F1 to F3 of the added product data to "0" in Act 45.

[0088] The processor 21 determines whether the registered product is a product with a discount sticker in Act 46. In this embodiment, a discount sticker indicating discount information is attached to a product that is subject to discount, and a discount mark is attached to a part of the barcode. The discount information is, for example, a discount amount or a discount rate. If the image of the barcode photographed by the scanner 56 of the information terminal 50 includes a discount mark, the processor 21 determines that the registered product is a product with a discount sticker. If the registered product is not a product with a discount sticker, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 46. The processor 21 proceeds to processing in Act 53.

[0089] If the registered product is a product with a discount sticker, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 46. The processor 21 starts a timer count operation of the second timer T2 associated with the registered terminal ID of the information terminal table 221 in Act 47. The processor 21 checks whether discount information has been received in Act 48. If discount information has not been received, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 48. The processor 21 checks whether the second timer T2 has timed out in Act 49. For example, the second timer T2 times out after counting 15 seconds. If the second timer T2 has not timed out, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 49. The processor 21 returns to Act 48. The processor 21 waits for the reception of discount information or the timeout of the second timer T2 in Act 48 and Act 49.

[0090] If the purchased product has a discount sticker attached, customer M1 who is self-registering must operate scanner 56 to read the information on the discount sticker. If the registered product has a discount sticker attached, processor 21 may display guidance on touch panel 55 of information terminal 50 to instruct the user to read the discount sticker with scanner 56.

[0091] When the discount information is read by the scanner 56 of the information terminal 50, the wireless unit 54 wirelessly transmits the discount information. The discount information is received by the access point 80 and sent to the second server 20 via the network 70.

[0092] When the processor 21 of the second server 20 detects that discount information has been received via the communication interface 24 before the second timer T2 times out, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 48. The processor 21 performs discount processing in Act 50. For example, the processor 21 obtains a discount amount based on the discount information, and subtracts the discount amount from the price of the product data added to the registration list L1 in the processing of Act 44. The processor 21 stops the second timer T2 in Act 51. After that, the processor 21 proceeds to the processing of Act 53.

[0093] If the second timer T2 times out, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 49. In Act 52, the processor 21 changes the second flag F2 of the product data added to the registration list L1 in the processing of Act 44 from "0" to "1". After that, the processor 21 proceeds to the processing of Act 53. If the customer M1 has the scanner 56 read the information on the discount sticker before the second timer T2 times out, the registered product is discounted with the discount information on the discount sticker and described in the registration list L1. However, if the second timer T2 times out, the registered product is described in the registration list L1 without being discounted. In other words, the registered product has a discount sticker reading error. The second flag F2 becomes "1" for the registered product with the discount sticker reading error.

[0094] In Act 53, the processor 21 checks the restriction flag of the product data. If the restriction flag is "0", that is, if the registered product has no age restriction, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 53. The processor 21 proceeds to Act 61 in FIG.

[0095] If the restriction flag is "1", that is, if the registered product is an age-restricted product, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 53. In Act 54, the processor 21 changes the third flag F3 of the product data added to the registration list L1 in the process of Act 44 from "0" to "1". In other words, the third flag F3 becomes "1" for the registered product with an age restriction.

[0096] The processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to transmit image data of the age verification image to the information terminal 50 which transmitted the product registration command in Act 55. The processor 21 proceeds to Act 61 in Fig. 19. The communication interface 24 transmits the image data of the age verification image via the network 70. The access point 80 transmits this image data wirelessly. The information terminal 50 which transmitted the product registration command receives the image data wirelessly transmitted from the access point 80.

[0097] In the information terminal 50 that has received the image data of the age verification image, the age verification image is displayed on the touch panel 55. For example, the age verification image displays a confirmation button together with a message such as "Are you over 20 years old?", so that the customer M1 who has confirmed the age verification image touches the confirmation button. Then, the age verification image is erased, and the screen of the touch panel 55 returns to the registered image P1.

[0098] If the processor 21 does not receive a response signal of a normal response to the transmission of the product inquiry command within a certain time, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 43. The processor 21 executes a virtual product registration process. For example, the product data record 131R of the registered product may have been deleted from the product database 131. In this case, the processor 21 cannot receive a response signal of a normal response. The processor 21 adds only the product ID of the registered product to the registration list L1 as the virtual product registration process. The product name, points, and price are not added to the registration list L1. The processor 21 sets the first flag F1 of the product data to which only the product ID has been added to "1" as Act 58, and sets the second flag F2 and the third flag F3 to "0". The processor 21 proceeds to Act 61 of FIG. 19. The first flag F1 becomes "1" for the product registered by the virtual product registration process.

[0099] In Act 61, the processor 21 creates a registration list image based on the registration list L1 in the area A9 associated with the registered terminal ID of the information terminal table 221. The registration list image is an image displayed in the registration list area PA1 of the registration image P1. That is, the registration list image is an image in which the product names, points, and prices of the product data registered in the registration list L1 are arranged in a list form, as shown in FIG. 28. The order of the arrangement is such that the more recently registered products are placed at the top, that is, the order is descending from the product with the largest registration number in the registration list L1. The registration number is represented as "No." in FIG. 9. The product data most recently added to the registration list L1 can be distinguished by making the text color different from that of other product data, making the background color different, or the like. The example in FIG. 28 shows a case where the background color is different. A [Cancel] touch button BU3 is displayed for each product data. The [Cancel] touch button BU3 is operated by the customer M1 when canceling the purchase of the product of the corresponding product data during shopping. When the [CANCEL] touch button BU3 is touched, the points and price of the corresponding product in the registration list area PA1 become "0." The [CANCEL] touch button BU3 is erased.

[0100] The processor 21 checks whether promotional information is set in association with the registered product in Act 62. That is, the processor 21 checks the link promotion ID included in the product data in the response signal of the normal response received in Act 43. If the link promotion ID is a null value, the processor 21 determines that promotional information is not set. If a code is set as the link promotion ID, the processor 21 determines that promotional information is set. If promotional information is not set, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 62. The processor 21 proceeds to processing of Act 71.

[0101] If the promotion information is set, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 62. In Act 63, the processor 21 searches the promotion list L2 in the area A10 associated with the registered terminal ID in the information terminal table 221. The processor 21 checks whether the link promotion ID included in the product data has already been registered in the promotion list L2.

[0102] If the link promotion ID is not registered in the promotion list L2, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 64. In Act 65, the processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to inquire about promotion data from the first server 10. The communication interface 24 transmits a promotion inquiry command. The promotion inquiry command includes the link promotion ID. The promotion inquiry command is transmitted to the first server 10 via the network 70.

[0103] The processor 11 of the first server 10, which receives the promotion inquiry command via the communication interface 14, detects the link promotion ID from the promotion inquiry command. The processor 11 accesses the promotion database 133 and reads out the promotion data record 133R including the link promotion ID. If the promotion data record 133R for the promotion ID is not registered in the promotion database 133, the processor 11 controls the communication interface 14 to send a normal response indicating no promotion to the second server 20. The communication interface 14 sends the normal response indicating no promotion to the second server 20.

[0104] If the processor 11 can read out the corresponding promotion data record 133R from the promotion database 133, the processor 11 controls the communication interface 14 to transmit a normal response including the promotion data to the second server 20. The communication interface 14 transmits the normal response including the promotion data to the second server 20.

[0105] The processor 21 of the second server 20 that controlled the transmission of the promotion inquiry command checks whether or not a normal response including promotion data is received in Act 66. If a normal response without promotion data is received, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 66. The processor 21 proceeds to processing in Act 71.

[0106] If a normal response including promotion data is received, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 66. The processor 21 counts up the counter N in the area A8 associated with the registered terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 by "1" in Act 67. The processor 21 adds data to the promotion list L2 in the area A10 associated with the registered terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 in Act 68. The data consists of the product ID of the registered product, a link promotion ID associated with the product ID, and promotion data in which the link promotion ID is set. The data is added to the area with the same number as the counter N.

[0107] If the link promotion ID has already been registered in the promotion list L2, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 64. In Act 69, the processor 21 shifts the link promotion ID and the promotion data and product ID registered in the promotion list L2 together with the link promotion ID to the area with the same number as the counter N.

[0108] After completing the processing of Act 68 or Act 69, the processor 21 sets the fourth flag F4 of the area having the same number as the counter N in the promotion list L2 to "1" and sets the fourth flag F4 of the areas having other numbers to "0" in Act 70. Then, the processor 21 proceeds to Act 71. The fourth flag F4 becomes "1" for the promotion information associated with the newly registered product.

[0109] In Act 71, the processor 21 checks whether the counter N is a value greater than "0." If the count N is "0," the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 71. The processor 21 proceeds to Act 81 in FIG.

[0110] If the counter N is greater than "0", the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 71. In Act 72, the processor 21 creates a promotion image based on the promotion list L2 in the area A10 associated with the registered terminal ID in the information terminal table 221. When the processor 21 finishes creating the promotion image, it proceeds to Act 81 in FIG.

[0111] The promotion image is an image displayed in the promotion list area PA2 of the registration image P1. That is, as shown in FIG. 28, the promotion image is an image in which promotion information generated from promotion data registered in the promotion list L2 is arranged in areas PA21, PA22, PA23, and PA24. Specifically, the promotion information is displayed in areas PA21, PA22, PA23, and PA24 in ascending order of numbers in the promotion list L2. The promotion information generated from the promotion data with the fourth flag F4 set to "1", that is, the promotion information displayed in area PA21, is made distinguishable from the promotion information displayed in the other areas PA22, PA23, and PA24. For example, the frame color and background color of only area PA21 are made the same as the text color and background color of the registered product newly added to the registration list area PA1, so that the promotion information can be distinguished from the other promotion information. The example in FIG. 28 shows a case where the background color is made the same as the background color of the newly added registered product. The processor 21 functions as an image generating unit by executing the processes of Act 61 to Act 72 in cooperation with the communication interface 24, which is a communication unit. In response to the registration of a new purchased item in the information terminal 50, the image generating unit generates a registration image P1 including a registration list area PA1 including an image showing the purchased item and a promotion list area PA2 in which images of promotional information related to the purchased item are arranged based on the registration order of the purchased item in one screen area. The image generating unit deletes the image of the promotional information with the oldest registration order among the images included in the promotion list area PA2, and adds the image of the promotional information related to the new purchased item to the promotion area PA21, which is the arrangement position of the image of the promotional information with the latest registration order in the promotion list area PA2, thereby generating the registration image P1 including the image of the promotional information. In the example of FIG. 28, the number of images of the promotional information is four. The processor 21 executes the processes of Act 65 to Act 68 in cooperation with the communication interface 24, which is a communication unit, and functions as a control unit that, in response to registration of a new purchased item on the information terminal 50, queries the first server 10, which serves as a server that stores related promotional information for each item, about promotional information related to the purchased item, acquires the promotional information from the server 10, and adds the information to a second table secured in the main memory 22, which is a storage unit. The second table may be a promotional list L2 that describes the acquired promotional information for each information terminal 50, secured in the information terminal table 221 secured in the main memory 22. By executing the processing of Act 67 and Act 69, the processor 21 functions as a control unit that writes promotional information related to the purchased item in a second table secured in the main memory 22 in correspondence with information indicating the order in which the promotional information is stored. By executing the processing of Act 64 and Act 69, when a new purchased item is registered on the information terminal 50, if promotional information related to the purchased item is already stored in the second table of the main memory 22, the processor 21 functions as a control unit that reassociates the promotional information in the second table with information indicating the latest storage order.

[0112] In Act 81, the processor 21 determines whether or not the shopping list L3 is stored in the area A11 associated with the registered terminal ID of the information terminal table 221. If the shopping list L3 is not stored, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 81. The processor 21 proceeds to Act 86.

[0113] If the shopping list L3 is saved, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 81. The processor 21 searches for the shopping list L3 in Act 82. The processor 21 checks whether the registered product is included in the shopping list L3 in Act 83. That is, the processor 21 checks whether the name that matches the product name or category name of the registered product exists in the shopping list L3. If there is no matching name, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 83. The processor 21 proceeds to Act 85.

[0114] If a matching name exists, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 83. The processor 21 changes the fifth flag F5 corresponding to the matching name in the shopping list L3 from "0" to "1" in Act 84. Thereafter, the processor 21 proceeds to Act 85. The fifth flag F5 becomes "1" for the name of the product for which product registration has been performed among the names described in the shopping list L3.

[0115] In Act 85, the processor 21 creates a shopping memo image using the information of the shopping list L3. After completing the creation of the shopping memo image, the processor 21 proceeds to Act 86.

[0116] The shopping memo image is an image displayed in the shopping memo area PA3 of the registered image P1. That is, the processor 21 forms the shopping memo image by arranging the names registered in the shopping list L3 in order from top to bottom of the screen as shown in Fig. 28. The processor 21 erases the names whose fifth flag F5 is set to "1". For example, the processor 21 erases the names whose fifth flag F5 is set to "1" by drawing a strikethrough line through them. Alternatively, the processor 21 erases the names whose fifth flag F5 is set to "1" by making the character density of the names lighter than the other names.

[0117] In Act 86, the processor 21 edits the registered image P1. That is, the processor 21 edits the registered image P1 so that the registration list image created in Act 61, the promotion image created in Act 72, and the shopping memo image created in Act 85 are displayed in the areas PA1, PA2, and PA3, respectively.

[0118] The processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to transmit the registered image P1 to the information terminal 50 which transmitted the product registration command in Act 87. The communication interface 24 transmits the image data of the registered image P1 edited in Act 86 via the network 70. The access point 80 transmits this image data wirelessly. The information terminal 50 which transmitted the product registration command receives the image data wirelessly transmitted from the access point 80.

[0119] The processor 21 functions as an output unit that outputs the registered image P1 to the information terminal 50 in cooperation with the communication interface 24 by the process of Act 87.

[0120] After controlling the transmission of the registered image P1, the processor 21 starts the counting operation of the third timer T3 associated with the registered terminal information ID of the information terminal table 221 in Act 88. If the third timer T3 has already started, the processor 21 restarts the third timer T3. With this, the processor 21 ends the product registration interrupt process.

[0121] Returning to the explanation of Figure 16. The processor 51 of the information terminal 50, which controlled the transmission of the product registration command in Act 8, returns to Act 5. That is, the processor 51 updates the registration image P1 displayed on the touch panel 55 based on the image data newly received from the second server 20.

[0122] The product name, number of items, and price of the product that the customer M1 self-registered are added to the registration list area PA1. If the registered product is in the shopping list L3, the name of the registered product is deleted from the shopping memo area PA3. If promotional information is set in association with the registered product, a promotional image based on the promotional information is displayed in the promotional area PA21 of the promotion list area PA2. If other promotional information is already displayed in the promotional areas PA21 to PA23, it is shifted to the promotional areas PA22 to PA24 on the right, and the promotional information displayed in the promotional area PA24 is no longer displayed. However, if the promotional information of the registered product is already displayed in the promotional area PA21, the promotional image does not change. If the promotional information of the registered product is displayed in the promotional area PA22, for example, the promotional information is moved to the promotional area PA21, and the promotional information previously displayed in the promotional area PA22 is shifted to the promotional area PA22. The same applies if the promotional information of the registered product is displayed in the other promotional areas PA23 and PA24.

[0123] Every time a product is registered, the processor 51 proceeds to YES in Act 6. The processor 51 repeats the processes of Act 8 and Act 5.

[0124] Incidentally, for products registered by the virtual product registration process, the first flag F1 is set to "1". For registered products with the first flag F1 set to "1", the name is displayed as "Product registration error", as shown in the display example PR1 in FIG. 29. Instead of the points and price, the guidance "A staff member will check this at the time of payment" is displayed. An icon IC1 is displayed to indicate that the product registration is in error.

[0125] For registered products with a discount sticker reading error, the second flag F2 is set to "1". For registered products with the second flag F2 set to "1", the name will be "Discount Sticker Error", as shown in the display example PR2 in Figure 29. Instead of the points and amount, the guidance "An attendant will check this at the time of payment" is displayed. Icon IC2 indicating a discount sticker error is displayed.

[0126] For registered products with age restrictions, the third flag F3 is set to "1." For registered products with the third flag F3 set to "1," an icon IC3 indicating that the product is an age-restricted product is displayed, as shown in a display example PR3 in FIG.

[0127] For the product for which cancellation is instructed by touching the [Cancel] touch button BU3, the points and price may not be set to "0" in the registration list area PA1. As shown in the display example PR4 of FIG. 29, the product name, points and price may be crossed out and the [Cancel] touch button BU3 may be erased. As shown in FIG. 29, the order of error items such as "Product Registration Error" and "Discount Sticker Error" may be changed so that they are located at the top of the registration list area PA1. The order of error items such as "Product Registration Error" and "Discount Sticker Error" may be left unchanged so that the more recently registered products are placed at the top, so that it is helpful for the customer M1 who is searching for the product corresponding to the error in the shopping cart BA. In order to make it easier to see the position of the row of the error item such as "Product Registration Error" and "Discount Sticker Error", the background color of the position corresponding to the row of the error item in the scroll bar at the right end of FIG. 29 may be made different from the background color of the position not corresponding to the error item.

[0128] Returning to the explanation of Figure 16. If the [Checkout] touch button BU2 is pressed during the standby state in Act 6 and Act 7, the processor 51 proceeds to YES in Act 7. In Act 9, the processor 21 controls the wireless unit 54 to transmit a checkout command to the second server 20. The wireless unit 54 wirelessly transmits the checkout command. The checkout command includes the terminal ID of the information terminal 50.

[0129] Upon receiving the accounting command via the communications interface 24, the processor 21 of the second server 20 initiates the accounting interrupt process shown in the flow chart of Figure 21. First, the processor 21 searches the information terminal table 221 for the terminal ID included in the accounting command in Act 101. In the following description, the terminal ID included in the accounting command will be referred to as the accounting terminal ID. The processor 21 checks whether or not data with the first flag F1 set to "1" exists in the registration list L1 in area A9 associated with the accounting terminal ID.

[0130] If there is no data with the first flag F1 set to "1", the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 101. In Act 102, the processor 21 checks whether there is data with the second flag F2 set to "1" in the registration list L1.

[0131] If there is also no data in which the second flag F2 is set to "1", the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 102. In Act 103, the processor 21 controls the communication interface to send an approval response to the information terminal 50 that sent the checkout command. Furthermore, in Act 104, the processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to send image data of the plastic bag confirmation image P3 shown in FIG. 31 to the information terminal 50. The communication interface 24 sends a response signal of the approval response and image data of the plastic bag confirmation image P3 via the network 70. The access point 80 wirelessly transmits the response signal and image data. The information terminal 50 that sent the checkout command receives the response signal and image data wirelessly transmitted from the access point 80.

[0132] In Act 101, if data in which the first flag F1 is set to "1" exists in the registration list L1, the processor 21 proceeds to YES and proceeds to processing in Act 111. In Act 102, if data in which the second flag F2 is set to "1" exists, the processor 21 also proceeds to YES and proceeds to processing in Act 111. The processor 21 controls the communication interface to transmit a denial response to the information terminal 50 that transmitted the accounting command in Act 111. The processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to transmit image data of the staff confirmation image P2 shown in FIG. 30 to the information terminal 50 in Act 112. The communication interface 24 transmits a response signal of the denial response and image data of the staff confirmation image P2 via the network 70. The access point 80 wirelessly transmits the response signal and image data. The information terminal 50 that transmitted the accounting command receives the response signal and image data wirelessly transmitted from the access point 80.

[0133] Returning to the explanation of Figure 16. In Act 10, the processor 51 of the information terminal 50 that controlled the transmission of the accounting command in Act 9 waits for a response signal from the second server 20. If a response signal of a denial response is received via the wireless unit 64, the processor 51 proceeds to NO in Act 10. In Act 11, the processor 51 displays an attendant confirmation image P2 on the touch panel 55 based on the image data received together with the response signal.

[0134] Fig. 30 is a schematic diagram showing one display example of the attendant confirmation image P2. As shown in Fig. 30, the attendant confirmation image P2 includes a "Yes" touch button BU4 along with guidance GA1 notifying that an attendant confirmation is required due to an error in the self-registration of the product. After checking the attendant confirmation image P2, customer M1 goes to attendant counter AT and makes a request to attendant M3.

[0135] Upon receiving a request from customer M1, attendant M3 performs an operation to delete the data of the product for which the first flag F1 is set to "1" or the second flag F2 is set to "1" from registration list L1. This operation may be performed from monitoring terminal 60 or from information terminal 50. Alternatively, it may be performed from accounting machine 40, or from another computer device connected to network 70.

[0136] If the data of the product for which the first flag F1 is set to "1" or the second flag F2 is set to "1" has been deleted from the registration list L1, the customer M1 touches the "Yes" touch button BU4.

[0137] The processor 51, which has controlled the display of the staff confirmation image P2, waits for a confirmation operation to be performed in Act 12. If the processor 51 detects that the touch button BU4 for [Yes], which is a confirmation operation, is touched, the process proceeds to YES in Act 12. The processor 51 returns to Act 5. That is, the processor 51 returns the screen of the touch panel 55 to the registered image P1.

[0138] After confirming that the screen of the touch panel 55 has returned to the registered image P1, customer M1 again touches the [Checkout] touch button BU2. As a result, the processor 21 of the second server 20 judges NO in Act 101 and NO in Act 102 in Fig. 21, and therefore executes the processes of Act 103 and Act 104. As a result, the information terminal 50 receives a response signal of an approval response and image data of the shopping bag confirmation image P3.

[0139] When the processor 51 receives the response signal of the approval response via the wireless unit 54, the processor 51 proceeds to YES in Act 10. In Act 13, the processor 51 causes the touch panel 55 to display a plastic bag confirmation image P3 based on the image data received together with the response signal.

[0140] Fig. 31 is a schematic diagram showing an example of how the plastic bag confirmation image P3 is displayed. As shown in Fig. 31, the plastic bag confirmation image P3 includes a "Yes" touch button BU5 and a "No" touch button BU6, along with guidance GA2 inquiring about whether or not to purchase a plastic bag. After checking the plastic bag confirmation image P3, if customer M1 wishes to purchase a plastic bag, he or she touches touch button BU5, goes to attendant counter AT, and receives a plastic bag. If customer M1 does not wish to purchase a plastic bag, he or she touches touch button BU6 and does not receive a plastic bag.

[0141] In Act 14, the processor 51 controls the wireless unit 54 to transmit the plastic bag information to the second server 20. The wireless unit 54 wirelessly transmits the plastic bag information. The plastic bag information is information indicating the purchase of a plastic bag when the "Yes" touch button BU5 is touched in the plastic bag confirmation image P3, and is information indicating the non-purchase of a plastic bag when the "No" touch button BU6 is touched.

[0142] The processor 21 of the second server 20, which has controlled the transmission of the plastic bag confirmation image P3 in Act 104 of Fig. 21, waits for plastic bag information in Act 105. If the processor 21 receives plastic bag information indicating a purchase of a plastic bag, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 105. The processor 21 adds the sales data of the plastic bag to the registration list L1 in Act 106. If the processor 21 receives plastic bag information indicating a non-purchase of a plastic bag, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 105. The processor 21 skips the process of Act 106.

[0143] If the price of a plastic bag is fixed, the sales data for the plastic bag may be set in advance. If the price of a plastic bag varies depending on the size, etc., the barcode on the plastic bag is scanned with scanner 56 when the customer receives the plastic bag. When the barcode on the plastic bag is scanned, the sales data for the plastic bag is added to registration list L1 in the same manner as for registering a normal product.

[0144] The processor 21 issues a new accounting code in Act 107. The accounting code is unique, for example, by combining a date and a series of transaction numbers, and will not overlap with other accounting codes. The processor 21 saves the member code in the area A12 associated with the accounting terminal ID in the information terminal table 221.

[0145] In Act 108, the processor 21 converts the accounting code into a barcode to create the accounting barcode image P4 shown in Fig. 32. In Act 109, the processor 21 controls the communications interface 24 to transmit the accounting barcode image P4 to the information terminal 50 that sent the accounting command. The communications interface 24 transmits image data of the accounting barcode image P4 via the network 70. The access point 80 transmits this image data wirelessly. The information terminal 50 that sent the accounting command receives the image data wirelessly transmitted from the access point 80.

[0146] After controlling the transmission of image data of accounting barcode image P4, processor 21 changes the terminal status ST1 associated with the accounting terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 from "registering" to "accounting in progress" in Act 110. Thus, upon completing the processing of Act 110 or completing the processing of Act 112 described above, processor 21 stops the counting operation of third timer T3 associated with the accounting terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 in Act 113. With this, processor 21 ends the accounting interrupt processing.

[0147] Returning to the explanation of Figure 16. In Act 14, the processor 51 of the information terminal 50 that transmitted the shopping bag information waits for the accounting barcode image P4 in Act 15. When the image data of the accounting barcode image P4 is received via the wireless unit 54, the processor 51 proceeds to YES in Act 15. In Act 16, the processor 51 displays the accounting barcode image P4 on the touch panel 55 based on the image data. With this, the processor 51 ends the post-login processing.

[0148] Fig. 32 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display of the accounting barcode image P4. As shown in Fig. 32, the accounting barcode image P4 includes a barcode BC that represents the accounting code. After checking the accounting barcode image P4, customer M1 proceeds to an available accounting machine 40 at self-checkout G2 and uses a scanner connected to that accounting machine 40 to read and operate the barcode BC of the accounting barcode image P4.

[0149] When the barcode BC is read by the scanner of the payment machine 40, the payment machine 40 transmits a payment request command including the payment code obtained from the barcode BC and the payment machine ID unique to that payment machine to the second server 20 via the network 70.

[0150] The processor 21 of the second server 20 that has received the accounting request command starts the accounting request interrupt process of Fig. 22. First, the processor 21 detects the accounting code included in the accounting request command in Act 121. The processor 21 searches the information terminal table 221 in Act 122 to check the terminal status ST1 associated with the terminal ID for which the same accounting code is stored in area A12. In the following description, the terminal ID for which the same accounting code is stored in area A12 is referred to as the accounting request terminal ID. If the terminal status ST1 is other than "accounting in progress", the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 122. The processor 21 ends this interrupt process as an error.

[0151] If the terminal status ST1 is "payment in progress", the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 122. In Act 123, the processor 21 saves the payment machine ID included in the payment request command in area A4 associated with the payment request terminal ID in the information terminal table 221. In Act 124, the processor 21 controls the registration list L1 stored in area A9 associated with the payment request terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 to be sent to the payment machine 40 that sent the payment request command. Furthermore, in Act 125, the processor 21 searches the payment machine table 222, and sets the payment machine status ST2 corresponding to the payment machine ID included in the payment request command to "payment in progress". With this, the processor 21 ends the payment request interrupt process.

[0152] The communications interface 24 transmits the data in the registration list L1 to the payment machine 40 via the network 70. The payment machine 40 is then able to carry out the payment process based on the data in the registration list L1. Customer M1 pays the payment amount, calculated based on the data in the registration list L1, to the payment machine 40. When the payment process is completed, the payment machine 40 transmits a payment end command, which includes the same payment code and payment machine ID as the payment request command, to the second server 20 via the network 70.

[0153] The processor 21 of the second server 20, which has received the accounting end command, starts the accounting end interrupt process of Fig. 23. First, the processor 21 detects the accounting code included in the accounting end command in Act 131. In Act 132, the processor 21 searches the information terminal table 221 and checks the terminal status ST1 associated with the terminal ID for which the same accounting code is stored in area A12. In the following description, the terminal ID for which the same accounting code is stored in area A12 is referred to as the accounting end terminal ID. If the terminal status ST1 is other than "accounting in progress", the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 132. The processor 21 ends this interrupt process as an error.

[0154] If the terminal status ST1 is "checkout in progress", the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 132. The processor 21 searches the checkout machine table 222 in Act 133, and sets the checkout machine status ST2 corresponding to the checkout machine ID included in the checkout end command to "idle". The processor 21 searches the shopping list L3 in the area A11 associated with the checkout end terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 in Act 134. The processor 21 determines whether or not there is data with the fifth flag set to "1" in Act 135. If there is data with the fifth flag set to "1" in the shopping list L3, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 135. The processor 21 edits the shopping list L3 in Act 136. That is, the processor 21 deletes the data with the fifth flag F5 set from the shopping list L3. If there is no data with the fifth flag set to "1" in the shopping list L3, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 135. The processor 21 does not execute the process of Act136.

[0155] Then, in Act 137, the processor 21 controls to transmit the member data to the first server 10. The member data includes a member ID in area A3 associated with the transaction completion terminal ID in the information terminal table 221, a registration list L1 in area A9, and a shopping list L3 in area A11.

[0156] Upon receiving the transaction data, processor 11 of first server 10 adds the data in registration list L1 included in the transaction data to the purchase history data in member database 132 identified by the member ID included in the transaction data. Processor 11 then changes the shopping data in member database 132 to the data in shopping list L3 included in the transaction data.

[0157] The processor 21 of the second server 20, which controlled the transmission of the transaction data, initializes the information associated with the transaction completion terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 in Act 138. That is, the processor 21 clears the member ID in area A3, the transaction machine ID in area A4, the registration list L1 in area A9, the promotion list L2 in area A10, the shopping list L3 in area A11, and the transaction code in area A12. The processor 21 resets the values ​​of the first timer T1 in area A5, the second timer T2 in area A6, and the third timer T3 in area A9 to "0". In addition, the processor 21 resets the value of the counter N in area A8 to "0".

[0158] After that, the processor 21 changes the status ST1 associated with the transaction completion terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 from "transaction in progress" to "waiting" in Act 139. With this, the processor 21 ends the transaction completion interrupt process.

[0159] Meanwhile, customer M1 who has performed self-registration by operating the information terminal 50 installed in cart C can also complete the transaction at the counter register G1. When the transaction is completed at the counter register G1, cashier M2 inputs the terminal ID of the information terminal 50 into the POS terminal 30. For example, the information terminal 50 has a barcode indicating the terminal ID. Cashier M2 inputs the terminal ID by scanning the barcode with a scanner. Alternatively, the information terminal 50 has an RFID tag attached that wirelessly transmits the terminal ID. Cashier M2 inputs the terminal ID by reading the data on the RFID tag with an RFID reader connected to the POS terminal 30.

[0160] When the terminal ID is entered, a face-to-face transaction command is transmitted from the POS terminal 30 to the second server 20 via the network 70. The face-to-face transaction command includes the terminal ID entered at the POS terminal 30.

[0161] The processor 21 of the second server 20 that receives the face-to-face payment command starts the face-to-face payment interruption process of Fig. 24. First, the processor 21 detects the terminal ID included in the face-to-face payment command in Act 141. The processor 21 checks the terminal status ST1 associated with the terminal ID included in the face-to-face payment command in the information terminal table 221 in Act 142. In the following description, the terminal ID included in the face-to-face payment command in the information terminal table 221 is referred to as the face-to-face terminal ID. If the terminal status ST1 is "waiting", the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 142. The processor 21 ends the face-to-face payment interruption process.

[0162] If the terminal status ST1 is other than "Waiting", the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 142. In Act 143, the processor 21 initializes the information associated with the face-to-face terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 as described above. Then, in Act 144, the processor 21 changes the terminal status ST1 associated with the face-to-face terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 to "Waiting". With this, the processor 21 ends the face-to-face transaction interrupt process.

[0163] The terminal status ST1 being "Waiting" means that the customer M1 has not logged in to the information terminal 50. In other words, the customer M1 has completed the transaction at the counter register G1 without performing self-registration. In this case, even if the terminal ID of the information terminal 50 is entered into the POS terminal 30, the processor 21 of the second server 20 will not execute the processes of Act 143 and Act 144.

[0164] For example, when the terminal status ST1 is "registering", it means that the customer M1 who logged in to the information terminal 50 has completed the transaction at the face-to-face register G1. In this case, the member ID is written in the area A3 associated with the terminal ID of the information terminal 50 in the information terminal table 221. When the customer M1 has registered shopping data, the shopping list L3 is stored in the area A11. When the customer M1 has performed self-registration, the registration list L1 and the sales promotion list L2 are stored in the areas A9 and A10, respectively. The information terminal 50 cannot be used unless these areas are initialized and the terminal status ST1 is returned to "standby". The processor 21 executes the processes of Act 143 and Act 144 to return the information terminal 50 used by the customer M1 who switched from self-registration to the face-to-face register G1 to a usable state.

[0165] However, when making a transaction at the counter register G1, the store clerk M2 may forget to input the terminal ID of the information terminal 50 into the POS terminal 30. If the terminal ID is forgotten to be input, data related to the information terminal 50 remains in the information terminal table 221 even after the transaction is completed. The terminal status ST associated with the terminal ID of the information terminal 50 is "registering". For this reason, the next customer cannot log in to the information terminal 50, and the cart C is left unattended.

[0166] The third timer T3 is restarted each time the processor 21 of the second server 20 executes product registration interrupt processing. When the processor 21 executes checkout interrupt processing, the third timer T3 is stopped. In other words, if the processor 21 executes product registration interrupt processing in response to a product registration command and then does not receive the next product registration command or checkout command from the information terminal 50 that sent the product registration command, the third timer T3 corresponding to the terminal ID of the information terminal 50 continues to count up.

[0167] 25 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the timer monitoring process executed by the processor 21 of the second server 20. The processor 21 starts this timer monitoring process at intervals of, for example, one minute. That is, the processor 21 checks the time count of the third timer T3 in Act 151. The processor 21 determines whether or not the third timer T3 has counted a preset first threshold time TM1, for example, five minutes, in Act 152. If the time count of the third timer T3 associated with all terminal IDs is less than the first threshold time TM1, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 152. The processor 21 ends the timer monitoring process.

[0168] If the time count of at least one third timer T3 is equal to or longer than the first threshold time TM1, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 152. The processor 21 checks the terminal status ST1 corresponding to the third timer T3 that has counted the first threshold time TM1 in Act 153. If the terminal status ST1 is "registering", the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 153. The processor 21 changes the terminal status ST1 from "registering" to "abandoned" in Act 154. If the terminal status ST1 is other than "registering", the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 153. The processor 21 does not execute the process of Act 154. With this, the processor 21 ends the timer monitoring process.

[0169] In this way, the information terminal 50 installed in the abandoned cart C is managed in the information terminal table 221 with the terminal status ST1 set to "abandoned". A member ID is written in area A3 of the information terminal table 221 associated with the terminal ID with this terminal status ST1 of "abandoned". If the customer has registered shopping data, a shopping list L3 is stored in area A11. If the customer has self-registered, a registration list L1 and a sales promotion list L2 are stored in areas A9 and A10, respectively. As mentioned above, the information terminal 50 cannot be used unless these areas are initialized and the terminal status ST1 is returned to "standby".

[0170] In this embodiment, the data in the information terminal table 221 of the information terminal 50 provided in the abandoned cart C can be initialized by remote control from the monitoring terminal 60. Next, the operation of the monitoring terminal 60 will be described.

[0171] 33 is an example of a monitoring image P11 displayed on the touch panel 65, which is a display device of the monitoring terminal 60. This example shows a case where the number of payment machines 40 is three.

[0172] A total of 15 status display units (T1)-(T15) are arranged in a matrix of 5 rows and 3 columns in the monitoring image P11. The three status display units (T1)-(T3) in the first to third rows of the first column are payment machine status display units Ta that display the status of the payment machine 40. The status display units (T4) and (T5) in the fourth and fifth rows of the first column and the status display units (T4)-(T15) in the second and third columns are terminal status display units Tb that display the status of the information terminal 50.

[0173] The status display units (T1) to (T15) are, for example, identical in shape, size, background color, etc. In this regard, for example, the cash register status display unit Ta and the terminal status display unit Tb may be differentiated by making at least a part of the shape, size, background color, etc. different.

[0174] In addition, the monitoring image P11 is arranged with an [In Operation] touch button BU11, an [Waiting] touch button BU12, an [All Units] touch button BU13, a monitoring image layout button BU14, a detailed image layout button BU15, etc. The arrangement and number of status display sections of the monitoring image P11 shown in Fig. 33 are merely an example. It goes without saying that these can be appropriately changed depending on the screen size of the touch panel 65, the number of payment machines 40 and information terminals 50, etc.

[0175] FIG. 34 is an example of the payment machine status display section Ta. The payment machine status display section Ta consists of a first area Ta1 on the left side of the screen and a second area Ta2 on the right side of the screen. The first area Ta1 displays the payment machine ID of the payment machine 40. In FIG. 34, the payment machine ID is "Q1". In FIG. 33, the payment machine IDs are "Q1", "Q2", and "Q3". The second area Ta2 displays the status of the payment machine 40. Specifically, the second area Ta2 displays whether the payment machine 40 is in an "idle" state before a payment process, or in an "in payment" state where a payment process is being performed. The display of such a status is based on the payment machine status ST2 in the payment machine table 222. Incidentally, FIG. 34 shows that the payment machine 40 is in an "idle" state.

[0176] The second area Ta2 displays a mark MC1 that lights up when an error occurs in the printer of the accounting machine 40, and a mark MC2 that lights up when an error occurs in the change machine. When the first error flag EF1 in the accounting machine table 222 becomes "1", the mark MC1 lights up. When the second error flag EF2 in the accounting machine table 222 becomes "1", the mark MC2 lights up.

[0177] [A] to [E] in FIG. 35 are examples of the terminal status display section Tb. The terminal status display section Tb is composed of a first area Tb1 on the left side of the screen and a second area Tb2 on the right side of the screen. The second area Tb2 displays the status of the information terminal 50. Specifically, the second area Tb2 displays whether the information terminal 50 is [on standby], [registering], [checkout], or [abandoned]. The display of such a status is based on the terminal status ST1 in the information terminal table 221. Incidentally, the terminal status display section Tb shown in [A] in FIG. 35 indicates that the information terminal 50 is [on standby]. The terminal status display section Tb shown in [B] and [C] in FIG. 35 indicates that the information terminal 50 is [registering]. The terminal status display section Tb shown in [D] in FIG. 35 indicates that the information terminal 50 is [checkout]. The terminal state display section Tb shown in [E] of FIG. 35 indicates that the information terminal 50 is in the [Abandoned] state.

[0178] The second area Tb2 displays mark MC3, which lights up when a product with a "product registration error" is registered in the registration list L1, mark MC4, which lights up when a product with a "discount sticker error" is registered, and mark MC5, which lights up when a product with an age restriction is registered. When the registration list L1 contains data in which the first flag F1 is "1", mark MC3 lights up. When the registration list L1 contains data in which the second flag F2 is "1", mark MC4 lights up. When the registration list L1 contains data in which the third flag F3 is "1", mark MC5 lights up.

[0179] The first area Tb1 is an area that allows the state of the information terminal 50 to be identified by color or the like. In the normal state in which no error or the like has occurred during [Waiting], [Registering], or [Checkout], the background color of the first area Tb1 is, for example, blue. In the example of FIG. 35, the background color of the first area Tb1 of the terminal status display unit Tb shown in [A] and [D] is blue. In the case of [Checkout], the first area Tb1 displays the checkout machine ID of the checkout machine 40 that is performing the checkout process. In the example of FIG. 35, the checkout machine ID is displayed in the first area Tb1 of the terminal status display unit Tb shown in [D]. In the case of [Registering], if a product with an age restriction has been registered and a warning is required for the clerk, the background color of the first area Tb1 is a color that calls for warning, for example, yellow. In the example of FIG. 35, the background color of the first area Tb1 of the terminal status display unit Tb shown in [B] is yellow. In the [Registering] state, if a clerk's intervention is required for the transaction due to a "product registration error" or "discount sticker error", the background color of the first area Tb1 is a color that indicates a warning, for example, red. In the example of FIG. 35, the background color of the first area Tb1 of the terminal status display unit Tb shown in [C] is red. In the [Abandoned] state, the background color of the first area Tb1 is a color that indicates another warning, for example, black. The second area Tb2 displays a mark MC6 indicating that the device is in an abandoned state. In the example of FIG. 35, the background color of the first area Tb1 of the terminal status display unit Tb shown in [E] is black, and the mark MC6 is displayed in the second area Tb2.

[0180] 26 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the monitoring image creation process executed by the processor 21 of the second server 20. The processor 21 starts this monitoring image creation process at intervals of, for example, 10 seconds. First, the processor 21 selects an information terminal 50 whose terminal status ST1 is "during checkout" from the information terminal table 221 in Act 161. The processor 21 ranks the selected information terminals 50 from 1st place to ath place in descending order of the count value of the first timer T1 in Act 162, and stores the rankings in the area A13 of the information terminal table 221. The ath place is a rank corresponding to the number of information terminals 50 that are "during checkout". If there is no information terminal 50 whose terminal status ST1 is "during checkout", the processor 21 does not execute the process of Act 162.

[0181] The processor 21 selects an information terminal 50 whose terminal status ST1 is "registering" from the information terminal table 221 in Act 163. The processor 21 calculates the remaining points of the shopping list L3 for each selected information terminal 50 in Act 164. The remaining points are the number of names registered in the shopping list L3 minus the names whose fifth flag F5 is set to "1". If the shopping list L3 is not saved, the remaining points are set to a specified value, for example, "100". The processor 21 sets the rankings of the selected information terminals 50 from a+1st place to a+bth place in order of the least remaining points in Act 165, and stores the rankings in the area A13 of the information terminal table 221. The bth place is a ranking corresponding to the number of information terminals 50 that are "registering". The processor 21 determines whether or not there are information terminals 50 with the same remaining points in Act 166. If at least two or more customers who have not registered shopping data in advance have logged in, there will be multiple information terminals 50 with a remaining number of "100". If there are information terminals 50 with the same remaining number of points, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 166. In Act 167, the processor 21 sets the ranking in descending order of the count value of the first timer T1. If there is no information terminal 50 with the terminal status ST1 of "registering", the processor 21 does not execute the processes of Act 164 to Act 167.

[0182] In Act 168, the processor 21 selects an information terminal 50 whose terminal status ST1 is "abandoned" from the information terminal table 221. The processor 21 sets ranks from a+b+1st to a+b+cth for the information terminals 50 selected in Act 165 in the order of the terminal IDs set in the information terminal table 221, and stores the ranks in area A13 of the information terminal table 221. The cth rank is a rank corresponding to the number of information terminals 50 that are "abandoned". If there is no information terminal 50 whose terminal status ST1 is "abandoned", the processor 21 does not execute the process of Act 169.

[0183] The processor 21 selects an information terminal 50 whose terminal status ST1 is "on standby" from the information terminal table 221 in Act 170. The processor 21 sets ranks for the selected information terminals 50 in Act 171 from a+b+c+1st to a+b+c+dth in the order of the terminal IDs set in the information terminal table 221, and stores the ranks in area A13 of the information terminal table 221. The dth rank is a rank corresponding to the number of "on standby" information terminals 50. If there is no information terminal 50 whose terminal status ST1 is "on standby", the processor 21 does not execute the process of Act 171.

[0184] In Act 172, the processor 21 generates a monitoring image P11 based on the data in the information terminal table 221 and the payment machine table 222. That is, the processor 21 creates a payment machine status display section Ta for each payment machine 40 based on the payment machine ID, payment machine status ST2, first error flag EF1 and second error flag EF2 in the payment machine table 222. The processor 21 places the payment machine status display section Ta of each payment machine 40 in the status display section (T1), status display section (T2) and status display section (T3) of the monitoring image P11.

[0185] The processor 21 creates a terminal status display section Tb for each information terminal 50 based on the terminal ID, terminal status ST1, and the first to third flags F1 to F3 in the registration list A9 in the information terminal table 221. The processor 21 selects the terminal status display sections Tb of each information terminal 50 ranked from 1st to 12th, and arranges them in the status display sections (T4) to (T15) in order from 1st place.

[0186] Once the processor 21 has created the monitoring image P11, it controls the communication interface 24, which is a communication unit, to transmit the monitoring image P11 to the monitoring terminal 60 in Act 173. The communication interface 24 transmits image data of the monitoring image P11 via the network 70. The access point 80 wirelessly transmits this image data. The monitoring terminal 60 receives the image data wirelessly transmitted from the access point 80. The touch panel 65 of the monitoring terminal 60 displays the monitoring image P11 shown in FIG. 33.

[0187] When the [In Operation] touch button BU11 of the monitoring image P11 is touched, the processor 21 executes a monitoring image creation process that omits the processes of Act 161 and Act 162 and the processes of Act 170 and Act 171 of Fig. 26. The monitoring image P11 is narrowed down to only the terminal status display section Tb that indicates the status of the information terminal 50 of [Checkout], [Registering], or [Abandoned]. When the [Waiting] touch button BU12 is touched, the processor 21 executes a monitoring image creation process that omits the processes of Act 161 to Act 169 of Fig. 26. The monitoring image P11 is narrowed down to only the terminal status display section Tb that indicates the status of the information terminal 50 of [Waiting].

[0188] Incidentally, as shown in Fig. 33, the monitoring image P11 includes a touch button BU16 for page forwarding. The cash register status display section Ta and the terminal status display section Tb are touch buttons.

[0189] As shown in FIG. 26, the processor 21 of the second server 20, after controlling the transmission of the monitoring image, checks whether the touch button BU16 for page forwarding has been touched in Act 174. If the touch button BU16 has not been touched, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 174. The processor 21 checks whether the payment machine status display unit Ta or the terminal status display unit Tb has been touched in Act 175. If the payment machine status display unit Ta or the terminal status display unit Tb has not been touched, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 174. The processor 21 checks whether a timer interrupt signal has been detected in Act 176. If the timer interrupt signal has not been detected, the processor 21 returns to Act 174. That is, the processor 21 waits for the touch button BU16 for page forwarding to be touched, the payment machine status display unit Ta or the terminal status display unit Tb to be touched, or a timer interrupt signal to be detected.

[0190] If the timer interrupt signal is detected, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 176. The processor 21 executes the process from Act 161 again.

[0191] If the page-turning touch button BU16 is touched, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 174. The processor 21 returns to Act 172. That is, the processor 21 re-creates the monitoring image P11. For example, the processor 21 creates the monitoring image P11 in which each status display section (T1) to (T15) is a terminal status display section Tb ranked from 13th to 27th. When the attendant M3 touches the page-turning touch button BU16, each status display section (T1) to (T15) displays terminal status display sections Tb2 ranked from 13th to 27th.

[0192] The pattern of the monitoring image P11 created by the processor 21 when the page-turning touch button BU16 is operated is not limited to the above. For example, a monitoring image P11 may be created in which the status display sections (T1) to (T3) in which the cash register status display section Ta is located are fixed, and terminal status display sections Tb2 ranked 13th to 24th are located relative to the remaining status display sections (T4) to (T15).

[0193] If the payment machine status display unit Ta or the terminal status display unit Tb is touched, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 175. The processor 21 acquires the registration list L1 in Act 177. For example, if the payment machine status display unit Ta of a payment machine 40 whose status is [Payment in progress] is touched, the processor 21 searches the information terminal table 221 and acquires the registration list L1 in which the payment machine ID of that payment machine 40 is associated with the terminal ID described in area A4. If the terminal status display unit Tb of an information terminal 50 whose status is [Registering] is touched, the processor 21 searches the information terminal table 221 and acquires the registration list L1 associated with the terminal ID of that information terminal 50.

[0194] Once the registration list L1 has been acquired, the processor 21 returns to Act 172 and creates the monitoring image P11 again. Specifically, the processor 21 creates the monitoring image P11 including a detailed image showing the touched payment machine status display section Ta or terminal status display section Tb, and the contents of the registration list L1 acquired in the processing of Act 177, such as the product name, points, price, etc. The processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to transmit the monitoring image P11 to the monitoring terminal 60 in Act 173.

[0195] For example, by touching the accounting machine status display unit Ta, the attendant M3 can check information on the purchased item of the customer M1 who is making a payment at the accounting machine 40 whose status is displayed on the accounting machine status display unit Ta. For example, by touching the terminal status display unit Tb where the mark MC5 is lit and the first area Tb1 is yellow, the attendant M3 can check information on the purchased item of the customer M1 who has purchased an age-restricted item. For example, by touching the terminal status display unit Tb where the mark MC3 or mark MC4 is lit and the first area Tb1 is red, the attendant M3 can check information on the purchased item of the customer M1 for which a "product registration error" or a "discount sticker error" has occurred.

[0196] When the processor 21 controls the transmission of the monitoring image P11 including the detailed image in Act 173, the processor 21 ignores the timer interrupt in Act 176. For example, in response to detecting that the layout button BU14 for the monitoring image is touched, the processor 21 returns to the process of Act 161.

[0197] Fig. 36 is an example of a monitoring image P11 when the terminal status display section Tb showing the [Abandoned] state is touched. As shown in Fig. 36, the monitoring image P11 includes the touched status display section Tb, a detailed image P111 showing the product name, number, price, etc. of the product registered on the information terminal 50 whose status is displayed on the status display section Tb, and a [Cancel all] touch button BU17. When the terminal status display section Tb showing the [Registering] state is touched, the detailed image P111 is displayed but the [Cancel all] touch button BU17 is not displayed.

[0198] As described above, an information terminal 50 whose terminal status ST1 is managed as "abandoned" cannot be used unless the information in the information terminal table 221 is initialized. When attendant M3 finds the terminal status display section Tb shown in [E] of Fig. 35, he / she touches the terminal status display section Tb. When the terminal status display section Tb is touched, the monitoring image P11 of Fig. 36 is displayed. Attendant M3 touches the [Cancel all] touch button BU17.

[0199] When the processor 61 of the monitoring terminal 60 detects that the [CANCEL ALL] touch button BU17 has been touched, it controls the wireless unit 64 to transmit a blanket cancel command to the second server 20. The wireless unit 64 wirelessly transmits the blanket cancel command. The blanket cancel command includes the terminal ID of the information terminal 50 assigned to the touched terminal status display section Tb. The blanket cancel command is received by the access point 80 and sent to the second server 20 via the network 70.

[0200] The processor 21 of the second server 20, which has received the batch cancellation command via the communication interface 24, starts the batch cancellation interrupt process shown in the flow chart of FIG. 27. First, the processor 21 detects the terminal ID from the batch cancellation command in Act 181. The processor 21 searches the information terminal table 221 in Act 182, and checks the terminal status ST1 associated with the terminal ID detected from the batch cancellation command. In the following description, the terminal ID detected from the batch cancellation command is referred to as the cancellation terminal ID. If the terminal status ST1 is other than "left", the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 182. The processor 21 ends the batch cancellation interrupt process.

[0201] If the terminal status ST1 is "left", the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act182. The processor 21 checks whether the third timer T3 associated with the cancelled terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 has elapsed a second threshold time TM2, for example, 15 minutes, which is longer than the first threshold time TM1, in Act183. If the third timer T3 has elapsed the second threshold time TM2, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act183. The processor 21 proceeds to processing in Act186.

[0202] If the third timer T3 has not reached the second threshold time TM2, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 183. The processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to transmit image data of the cancellation confirmation image P12 shown in FIG. 37 to the monitoring terminal 60. The communication interface 24 transmits the image data of the cancellation confirmation image P12 via the network 70. The access point 80 wirelessly transmits this image data. The monitoring terminal 60 receives the image data wirelessly transmitted from the access point 80. The monitoring terminal 60 displays the cancellation confirmation image P12 on the touch panel 65.

[0203] Fig. 37 is a schematic diagram showing one display example of the cancellation confirmation image P12. As shown in Fig. 37, the cancellation confirmation image P12 includes a "Yes" touch button BU21 and a "No" touch button BU22, along with guidance GA3 inquiring whether or not to perform collective cancellation. After checking the cancellation confirmation image P12, the attendant M3 checks again whether or not to permit collective cancellation. If collective cancellation is permitted, the attendant M3 touches the touch button BU21. If collective cancellation is to be cancelled, the attendant M3 touches the touch button BU22.

[0204] The processor 21, which has controlled the transmission of image data of the cancellation confirmation image P12, waits for an instruction input as to whether or not to perform the collective cancellation in Act 185. When it is detected that the touch operation of the [No] touch button BU22 of the cancellation confirmation image P12 is performed, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 185. The processor 21 ends this collective cancellation interrupt process.

[0205] When it is detected that the touch operation of the [Yes] touch button BU22 of the cancellation confirmation image P12 is performed, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 185. The processor 21 proceeds to the process of Act 186.

[0206] In Act 186, the processor 21 initializes information associated with the cancellation terminal ID in the information terminal table 221. That is, the processor 21 clears the member ID in area A3, the accounting machine ID in area A4, the registration list L1 in area A9, the promotion list L2 in area A10, the shopping list L3 in area A11, and the accounting code in area A12. The processor 21 resets the values ​​of the first timer T1 in area A5, the second timer T2 in area A6, and the third timer T3 in area A9 to "0". Furthermore, the processor 21 resets the value of the counter N in area A8 to "0".

[0207] After that, the processor 21 changes the status ST1 associated with the cancellation terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 from "abandoned" to "waiting" in Act 187. With this, the processor 21 ends the batch cancellation interrupt process.

[0208] When the collective cancel interrupt process is executed, the data in the information terminal table 221 related to the information terminal 50 whose terminal status ST1 was "abandoned" is initialized. The information terminal 50 whose data in the information terminal table 221 has been initialized can be used as a terminal for self-registration.

[0209] As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, the second server 20 writes the information of the purchased items registered in the information terminal 50 as a registration list L1 in the information terminal table 221 in the main memory 22 for each information terminal. The second server 20 writes the sales promotion information associated with each purchased item as a sales promotion list L2 in the information terminal table 221 in the main memory 22 for each information terminal. The second server 20 arranges the latest images, for example, four images, of the promotion information related to the purchased items registered in the information terminal 50 in the sales promotion list area PA2 of the registered image P1. The information terminal 50 receives the registered image P1 from the second server 20 and displays it on the touch panel 55. The touch panel 55 of the information terminal 50 displays the registered image P1 to present the customer M1 with multiple pieces of promotion information including the latest one. Displaying the registered image P1 in this way is an effective display for further improving the promotion effect on the customer M1.

[0210] According to this embodiment, the second server 20 places the latest promotional information in the promotion list area PA2 in the registered image P1. Here, the second server 20 places the latest promotional information in the promotion area PA21 at the left end of the promotion list area PA2 in the registered image P1. The second server 20 creates an image that is visually different from other promotional information so that the latest promotional information can be identified as being related to the latest purchased item. The information terminal 50 receives the registered image P1 from the second server 20 and displays it on the touch panel 55. The customer M1 views the registered image P1 displayed on the touch panel 55 of the information terminal 50. By viewing the registered image P1, the customer M1 can easily recognize which of the multiple promotional information is related to the purchased item that has just been registered. In other words, the customer M1, who has just registered the purchased item and should be interested, can easily identify that the promotional information is related.

[0211] According to this embodiment, the second server 20 generates an image in which the purchased item just registered is placed at the top of the registration list area PA1 that displays the list of purchased items in the registration image P1. The second server 20 creates an image that makes it possible to identify the purchased item just registered. The information terminal 50 receives the registration image P1 from the second server 20 and displays it on the touch panel 55. From the display of the registration image P1 on the touch panel 55 of the information terminal 50, the customer M1 can easily determine the relationship between the purchased item and the sales promotion information.

[0212] According to this embodiment, if the promotion information is already written in the promotion list L2, the second server 20 shifts the promotion information to the most recent written order in the promotion list L2. The promotion list area PA2 in the registered image P1 does not include images of the same promotion information more than once. The limited promotion list area PA2 can be effectively utilized.

[0213] According to this embodiment, if the link information of the purchased item is already registered in the promotion list L2, the second server 20 does not inquire about the promotion information of the first server 10. This configuration does not waste limited communication resources, and therefore can reduce power consumption by the communication interface 24.

[0214] [Second embodiment] In the first embodiment, the sales promotion information is displayed in response to the registration of a product as a trigger, whereas in the present embodiment, the display of the sales promotion information is changed in response to other triggers as well.

[0215] The configuration of the product sales system according to the second embodiment may be similar to the configuration of the product sales system according to the first embodiment.

[0216] The operation is as follows. FIG. 38 is a flow diagram showing a part of the main information processing procedure executed by the processor 51 of the information terminal 50 in the product sales system according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, if the product registration is not performed in Act 6, the processor 51 proceeds to NO. The processor 51 checks whether any product is touched from the list of purchased products displayed in the registration list area PA1 of the registration image P1, that is, whether a product selection operation is performed. If the product selection operation is not performed, the processor 51 proceeds to NO in Act 191. The processor 51 checks whether the [Cancel] touch button BU3 is touched in Act 192, that is, whether a product cancellation operation is performed. If a product cancellation operation is not performed, the processor 51 proceeds to NO in Act 192. The processor 51 checks whether the [Checkout] touch button BU2 is touched in Act 7. In Act 6, Act 191, Act 192, and Act 7, the processor 51 waits for a product to be registered, a product to be selected, a product to be cancelled, or the [Checkout] touch button BU2 to be touched.

[0217] When it is confirmed that a product selection operation has been performed in the standby state of Act 6, Act 191, Act 192, and Act 7, the processor 51 proceeds to YES in Act 191. The processor 51 controls the wireless unit 54 to transmit a product selection command to the second server 20 in Act 193. The wireless unit 54 wirelessly transmits the product selection command. The product selection command includes the terminal ID of the information terminal 50 and the product ID of the selected product. The access point 80 receives the product selection command and sends it to the second server 20 via the network 70.

[0218] The processor 21 of the second server 20, which receives the product selection command via the communication interface 24, starts a product selection interrupt process shown in the flowchart of FIG. The processor 21 detects the product ID from the product selection command in Act 201. The processor 21 searches the sales promotion list L2 in the area A10 associated with the registered terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 in Act 202. If the sales promotion data associated with the product ID is not registered in the sales promotion list L2 in Act 203, the processor 21 proceeds to NO. The processor 21 ends the product selection interrupt process.

[0219] If promotion data associated with the corresponding product ID is registered in the promotion list L2, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 203. In Act 204, the processor 21 shifts the corresponding product ID, promotion ID, and promotion data to the area with the same number as the counter N. In Act 205, the processor 21 sets the value of the fourth flag F4 of the area with the same number as the counter N in the promotion list L2 to "1" and sets the value of the fourth flag F4 of the areas with other numbers to "0."

[0220] In Act 206, the processor 21 creates a promotion image based on the promotion list L2 in the area A10 associated with the registered terminal ID in the information terminal table 221. In Act 207, the processor 21 edits the promotion list area PA2 in the registered image P1.

[0221] The processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to transmit the registered image P1 to the information terminal 50 that transmitted the product registration command in Act 208. The communication interface 24 transmits the image data of the registered image P1 edited in Act 207 via the network 70. The access point 80 wirelessly transmits this image data. The information terminal 50 that transmitted the product registration command receives the image data wirelessly transmitted from the access point 80.

[0222] Returning to the explanation of Figure 38. The processor 51 of the information terminal 50, which has controlled the transmission of the product selection command in Act 193, returns to the above Act 5. That is, the processor 51 updates the registered image P1 displayed on the touch panel 55 based on the image data newly received from the second server 20.

[0223] By updating the registration image P1, the display of the touch panel 51 of the information terminal 50 transitions as follows. If promotional information is set in association with the product selected by the customer M1 from the registration list area PA1, the information terminal 50 displays a promotional image based on the promotional information in the promotional area PA21 of the promotion list area PA2. At this time, if other promotional information is already displayed in the promotional areas PA21 to PA23, they are shifted to the promotional areas PA22 to PA24 on the right side in sequence. The promotional information originally displayed in the promotional area PA24 is no longer displayed. If the promotional information of the selected product is already displayed in the promotional area PA21, the promotional image in the promotional list area PA2 does not change. If the promotional information of the selected product was displayed in, for example, the promotional area PA22, the promotional information is moved to the promotional area PA21, and the promotional information previously displayed in the promotional area PA22 is shifted to the promotional area PA22. The same applies if the promotional information of the selected product was displayed in the other promotional areas PA23 and PA24.

[0224] Every time a product is selected, the processor 51 proceeds to YES in Act 191. The processor 51 repeats the processes of Act 193 and Act 5.

[0225] When it is confirmed that a product cancellation operation has been performed in the standby state of Act 6, Act 191, Act 192, and Act 7, the processor 51 proceeds to YES in Act 192. The processor 51 controls the wireless unit 54 to transmit a product cancellation command to the second server 20 in Act 194. The wireless unit 54 wirelessly transmits the product cancellation command. The product cancellation command includes the terminal ID of the information terminal 50 and the product ID of the product for which the [Cancel] touch button BU3 has been touched. The access point 80 receives the product cancellation command and sends it to the second server 20 via the network 70.

[0226] The processor 21 of the second server 20, which receives the product cancellation command via the communication interface 24, starts a product cancellation interrupt process shown in the flowchart of FIG. The processor 21 detects the product ID from the product cancellation command in Act 211. The processor 21 sets the points and price of the corresponding product ID in the registration list L1 of the area A9 associated with the registered terminal ID of the information terminal table 221 to "0" in Act 212.

[0227] In Act 213, the processor 21 searches the sales promotion list L2 in the area A10 associated with the registered terminal ID in the information terminal table 221. In Act 214, if the sales promotion data associated with the corresponding product ID is not registered in the sales promotion list L2, the processor 21 proceeds to NO. The processor 21 ends the product cancellation interrupt process.

[0228] If the promotion data associated with the corresponding product ID is registered in the promotion list L2, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 214. The processor 21 deletes the corresponding product ID, the promotion ID, and the promotion data in Act 215. The processor 21 counts down the value of the counter N in the area A8 associated with the registered terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 by "1" in Act 216.

[0229] In Act 217, the processor 21 checks whether the value of the counter N is greater than "0." If the value of the counter N is "0," the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 217. The processor 21 proceeds to Act 220.

[0230] If the value of the counter N is greater than "0", the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 217. In Act 218, the processor 21 sets the value of the fourth flag F4 of the area having the same number as the counter N in the promotion list L2 to "1", and sets the value of the fourth flag F4 of the areas having other numbers to "0".

[0231] In Act 219, the processor 21 creates a promotion image based on the promotion list L2 in the area A10 associated with the registered terminal ID in the information terminal table 221. In Act 220, the processor 21 edits the promotion list area PA2 in the registered image P1.

[0232] The processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to transmit the registered image P1 to the information terminal 50 which transmitted the product cancellation command in Act 221. The communication interface 24 transmits the image data of the registered image P1 edited in Act 220 via the network 70. The access point 80 wirelessly transmits this image data, and the information terminal 50 which transmitted the product cancellation command receives it.

[0233] Returning to the explanation of Figure 38. The processor 51 of the information terminal 50, which has controlled the transmission of the product cancellation command in Act 194, returns to the above Act 5. That is, the processor 51 updates the registered image P1 displayed on the touch panel 55 based on the image data newly received from the second server 20.

[0234] By updating the registered image P1, the display on the touch panel 51 of the information terminal 50 transitions as follows. When the customer M1 cancels the product by touching the [Cancel] touch button BU3 in the registration list area PA1, if promotional information is set in association with the product, the promotional area PA21 in the promotion list area PA2 will no longer display a promotional image based on the promotional information. If the promotional information is already displayed in any of the promotional areas PA21 to PA24, the display will disappear and the promotions displayed in the promotional areas to the right of it will shift leftward in sequence. The promotional area PA24 will display the promotional information associated with the registered product five products ago that was shifted rightward from the promotion list area PA and deleted. If the promotional information of the canceled product is not already displayed in the promotion list area PA2, the image in the promotion list area PA2 will not change.

[0235] Every time the product is cancelled, the processor 51 proceeds to YES in Act 192. The processor 51 repeats the processes of Act 194 and Act 5.

[0236] As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, when the customer M1 selects a purchased item from the registration list area PA1 using the touch panel 55 of the information terminal 50, the second server 20 places an image of promotional information related to the selected purchased item in the promotion area PA21 for the latest promotional information in the promotion list area PA2. The information terminal 50, which receives this registration image P1 from the second server 20, displays this registration image P1, which includes an image of promotional information related to the selected purchased item in the promotion area PA21, on the touch panel 55. In this way, by switching the display to promotional information related to previously registered items, the customer M1 can view promotional information that he or she overlooked during shopping or that he or she wants to check again. Since the promotional information that the customer M1 was interested in can be presented again, a sales effect can be expected.

[0237] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when a purchased item is cancelled, the second server 20 deletes the image of the promotion information related to the cancelled item from the promotion list area PA2, or makes it so that it is no longer included in the promotion list area PA2. This prevents the limited promotion list area PA2 from being wasted by presenting promotion information related to an item that the customer M1 is no longer interested in.

[0238] [Third embodiment] The sales promotion information includes coupons that can be used the next time the customer visits the store, etc. In the product sales system according to the third embodiment, such sales promotion information that should be displayed the next time the customer M1, who is a member, visits the store is displayed in the sales promotion list area PA2 the next time the customer M1 logs in, not at the time of product registration.

[0239] The configuration of the product sales system according to the third embodiment may be basically the same as the configuration of the product sales system according to the first embodiment, except for the parts described below.

[0240] 41 is a schematic diagram showing the main data structure of the promotion data record 133R stored in the promotion database 133 of the first server 10 in the product sales system according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, the promotion data record 133R includes display time data in addition to the promotion ID and promotion data. This display time data indicates whether the promotion information is to be displayed at the time of product registration or at the next login. For example, this display time data is set as 1-bit data, with the value set to "0" when the promotion information is to be displayed at the time of product registration and the value set to "1" when the promotion information is to be displayed at the next login.

[0241] 42 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the information terminal table 221 provided in the main memory 22 of the second server 20. The information terminal table 221 in this embodiment has an area A14 for writing information of a purchase history list, in addition to the configuration of the information terminal table 221 in the first embodiment.

[0242] 43 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the purchase history list L4 described in the area A14. The purchase history list L4 describes at least the product IDs in a series of numerical order.

[0243] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 44 is a flowchart showing a part of the procedure of the login interrupt process executed by the processor 21 of the second server 20. The processor 21 sets all the fifth flags F5 corresponding to each number in the shopping list L3 to “0” in Act 28, and then in this embodiment, determines whether or not purchase history data is included in the approval response from the first server 10 in Act 231.

[0244] In this embodiment, in response to an authentication inquiry for a member ID, if purchase history data is stored in the member data record 132R of the member database 132 identified by the member ID, the processor 11 of the first server 10 includes the purchase history data in the approval response. The purchase history data includes at least the product ID. The purchase history data included in the approval response may be all of the purchase history data stored in the member data record 132R. From the viewpoint of communication volume and storage capacity in the second server 20, it is desirable to set some kind of limit on the purchase history data included in the approval response. For example, the purchase history data included in the approval response may be data from the most recent data up to a certain number of days ago. For example, the purchase history data included in the approval response may be data corresponding to the second server 20 that made the authentication inquiry. For example, the purchase history data included in the approval response may be data from the most recent data up to a certain number of days ago among the data corresponding to the second server 20 that made the authentication inquiry.

[0245] If the logged-in customer M1 has purchased a product in advance, the approval response includes purchase history data. If no product has been purchased, the approval response does not include purchase history data. If the approval response does not include purchase history data, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 231. The processor 21 proceeds to processing in Act 28.

[0246] If the approval response includes shopping data, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 231. The processor 21 creates a purchase history list L4 from the purchase history data in Act 232. That is, the processor 21 creates the purchase history list L4 by assigning a series of numbers to the product IDs constituting the purchase history data. The processor 21 saves the purchase history list L4 in the area A14 associated with the login terminal ID of the information terminal table 221.

[0247] The processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to inquire about promotional data from the first server 10 in Act 233. The communication interface 24 transmits a promotional data inquiry command. The promotional data inquiry command includes the product ID included in the purchase history list L4 saved in Act 232. The promotional data inquiry command is transmitted to the first server 10 via the network 70.

[0248] The processor 11 of the first server 10, which has received the promotional data inquiry command via the communication interface 14, detects the product ID from the promotional data inquiry command. The processor 11 accesses the product database 131 and reads out the product data record 131R including the product ID. The processor 11 accesses the promotion database 133 using the link promotion ID included in the product data record 131R and reads out the promotion data record 133R including the promotion ID corresponding to the link promotion ID. If the promotion data record 133R for the corresponding promotion ID is not registered in the promotion database 133, the processor 11 controls the communication interface 14 to send a normal response indicating no promotion to the second server 20. The communication interface 14 sends the normal response indicating no promotion to the second server 20.

[0249] When the processor 11 reads out the corresponding promotion data record 133R from the promotion database 133, it checks the display time data of the corresponding promotion data record 133R. If the value of the display time data is "0", this is the same as when the promotion data record 133R of the corresponding promotion ID is not registered in the promotion database 133. The processor 11 controls the communication interface 14 to send a normal response indicating no promotion to the second server 20. The communication interface 14 sends the normal response indicating no promotion to the second server 20.

[0250] If the value of the display time data of the corresponding promotion data record 133R is “1”, the processor 11 controls the communication interface 14 to send a normal response including the promotion data to the second server 20. The communication interface 14 sends the normal response including the promotion data to the second server 20.

[0251] The processor 21 of the second server 20 that controlled the transmission of the promotion inquiry command checks whether or not a normal response including promotion data is received in Act 234. If a normal response without promotion data is received, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 234. The processor 21 proceeds to the process of Act 29.

[0252] If a normal response including promotion data is received, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 234. The processor 21 counts up the value of the counter N in the area A8 associated with the registered terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 by "1" in Act 235. The processor 21 adds data to the promotion list L2 in the area A10 associated with the registered terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 in Act 236. The data consists of the product ID of the purchased product, a link promotion ID associated with the product ID, and promotion data in which the link promotion ID is set. The processor 21 adds this data to the area with the same number as the value of the counter N.

[0253] In Act 237, the processor 21 sets the value of the fourth flag F4 of the area having the same number as the value of the counter N in the promotion list L2 to "1", and sets the value of the fourth flag F4 of the areas having other numbers to "0". In Act 238, the processor 21 creates a promotion image based on the promotion list L2 in the area A10 associated with the registered terminal ID in the information terminal table 221. When the processor 21 finishes creating the promotion image, it proceeds to Act 29. Thereafter, as described in the first embodiment, the processor 21 generates a registered image and transmits it to the information terminal 50 that transmitted the login command.

[0254] If the purchase history list L4 stored in Act 232 contains a plurality of product IDs, the processor 21 repeats the process from Act 233 for each product ID in turn.

[0255] Through such processing, the information terminal 50 that transmitted the login command can present to the customer M1 the sales promotion information that is set to be displayed at the time of login.

[0256] When a promotion inquiry command is received from the second server 20 during product registration, the processor 11 of the first server 10 reads out the promotion data record 133R from the promotion database 133 using the link promotion ID included in the promotion inquiry command. If the promotion data record 133R for that promotion ID has not been registered in the promotion database 133, or if it has been registered but the value of the display time data is "1", the processor 11 controls the communication interface 14 to send a normal response indicating no promotion to the second server 20. The communication interface 14 sends the normal response indicating no promotion to the second server 20.

[0257] The processor 11 can read the corresponding promotion data record 133R from the promotion database 133, and if the value of the display time data is “0”, controls the communication interface 14 to transmit a normal response including the promotion data to the second server 20. The communication interface 14 transmits the normal response including the promotion data to the second server 20.

[0258] This allows the information terminal 50 to present to the customer M1 the sales promotion information that is set to be displayed at the time of product registration.

[0259] As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, the second server 20 checks the purchasing history of customer M1 when customer M1 logs in, and places an image of promotional information in the promotion list area PA2 based on the purchasing history. This allows the second server 20 to present promotional information that should be displayed the next time customer M1 visits the store, leading to sales promotion.

[0260] The number of bits of the display time data of the promotion data record 133R stored in the promotion database 133 of the first server 10 may be further increased so that the promotion information can be displayed not only at the time of product registration and the next login, but also at both the time of product registration and the next login. For example, the value of the display time data is "01" when the promotion information is displayed at the time of product registration, "10" when the promotion information is displayed at the next login, and "11" when the promotion information is displayed both at the time of product registration and the next login. The display time data may be appropriately assigned values ​​such as "at login", "at product registration", "at checkout", "at checkout completion", "at next login", "at next product registration", "at next checkout", and "at next checkout completion". In addition to individual products, specific departments / classes, total amounts, etc. may also be properties of the promotion information to be presented.

[0261] The display time data may include a relative expiration date, such as a number of days from the purchase date. The display time data does not need to include an absolute expiration date, such as a certain month and date. This is because when the absolute expiration date passes, the promotion data record 133R is deleted or the display time data of the promotion data record 133R is rewritten.

[0262] Although an embodiment of the terminal management device capable of performing a display on an information terminal that is effective in improving the effectiveness of sales promotion has been described above, the embodiment is not limited to this.

[0263] For example, the registration image displayed on the touch panel 55 of the information terminal 50 in the product sales system may be a registration image P5 as shown in FIG. 45. This registration image P5 includes a registered product area PA5 instead of the registration list area PA1 of the registration image P1. This registered product area PA5 displays information about the latest registered product. The registration image P5 further includes a [barcode scan] touch button BU23 and a [shopping cart] touch button BU24 in addition to the registration image P1. The [barcode scan] touch button BU23 is a button that is touched when registering a product using the scanner 56. The [shopping cart] touch button BU24 includes an image indicating that it is a shopping cart, an image indicating the total amount, and an image indicating the number of registered products. When the [shopping cart] touch button BU24 is touched, a list of registered products is displayed. When the [shopping cart] touch button BU24 is touched, the registration image P5 may be switched to the registration image P1 as shown in FIG. 28.

[0264] In the above embodiment, the product data most recently added to the registration list L1 can be distinguished from other product data by making the text color or background color different. The product data may be further distinguished by displaying it in a dynamic manner, such as by blinking or displaying it with a shining frame. This further improves the distinguishability of the product data. This further encourages the customer M1 to touch the related sales promotion information.

[0265] In response to the customer M1 touching the sales promotion information, the second server 20 may display more detailed sales promotion information on the information terminal 50. Such an operation is generally performed, and the details thereof will be omitted here.

[0266] The second server 20 may be configured so that, when the customer M1 slides the touch panel 55, past promotion information that is not displayed in the promotion list area PA2 is displayed on the information terminal 50.

[0267] In the above embodiment, the case where the information terminal 50 is provided in the cart C is exemplified. In this regard, the information terminal 50 does not necessarily have to be provided in the cart C. The customer may carry the information terminal 50 around the sales floor and operate the information terminal 50 as necessary to register purchased items.

[0268] The second server 20 is generally transferred with the program stored in ROM. However, this is not limiting, and the program may be transferred without being stored in ROM. In this case, the program etc. transferred separately from the second server 20 may be written to a writable storage device provided in the second server 20 in response to an operation by a user or the like. The program etc. may be transferred by recording it on a removable recording medium or by communication via the network 70. The form of the recording medium is not important as long as it can store the program and is readable by the device, such as a CD-ROM or memory card.

[0269] Although several other embodiments of the present invention have been described, 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 scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. The invention as originally claimed is set forth below. [1] A terminal management device for a product sales system in which users of information terminals each operate the information terminal at a sales floor to register products to be purchased and the users then use a cash register to pay for the purchased products, the terminal management device comprising: an image generation unit that generates a registration image including an image of the promotional information in one screen area in response to the registration of a new purchased product on the information terminal, the registration image including a registration area including an image of the purchased product and a promotional list area in which images of promotional information related to the purchased product are arranged based on the order in which the purchased products were registered; an image generation unit that deletes the image of the promotional information that was registered the oldest among the images included in the promotional list area and adds the image of the promotional information related to the newly purchased product to the position of the image of the promotional information that was registered most recently in the promotional list area, thereby generating a registration image including the image of the promotional information; and an output unit that outputs the registration image to the information terminal. [2] The terminal management device described in Appendix [1], wherein the image generation unit generates an image of the promotional information related to the newly purchased item in the promotional list area of ​​the registered image as an image that is distinguishable from images of the promotional information related to other purchased items. [3] The image generation unit includes an image showing multiple purchased items in the registration area of ​​the registered image, and generates an image showing the new purchased item and an image of the promotional information related to the new purchased item in the registration area and the promotional list area of ​​the registered image as an image that is distinguishable from images showing other purchased items and images of the promotional information related to the other purchased items. [4] A terminal management device as described in appendix [1], further comprising a memory unit for storing information, the memory unit storing a first table describing, for each information terminal, information of the purchased items registered at the information terminal, and a second table describing, for each information terminal, promotional information related to the purchased items described in the first table; and a control unit for, in response to the registration of a new purchased item at the information terminal, inquiring of a server storing promotional information related to each item for the purchased item, obtaining the promotional information from the server, and adding the information to the second table in the memory unit, wherein the image generation unit reads out the promotional information described in the second table of the memory unit from the newly written information, and generates an image of the promotional information. [5] The control unit writes promotional information related to the purchased item in the second table of the memory unit in association with information indicating the storage order of the promotional information, and when registering the new purchased item at the information terminal, if promotional information related to the purchased item has already been written in the second table of the memory unit, the control unit re-associates the corresponding promotional information in the second table with information indicating the latest description order, and the image generation unit reads out the promotional information and generates an image of the promotional information based on the information indicating the description order in the second table of the memory unit. [6] A program for realizing the function of generating a registration image including an image of the promotional information and the function of outputting the registration image to the information terminal, in a computer of a terminal management device of a product sales system in which users of information terminals operate their respective information terminals at a sales floor to register products to be purchased and the users use an accounting machine to pay for the purchased products, in response to the registration of new purchased products on the information terminal, by generating a registration image including, in one screen area, a registration area including an image of the purchased product and a promotional list area in which images of promotional information related to the purchased product are arranged based on the order in which the purchased products were registered, the image of the promotional information with the oldest registration order among the images included in the promotional list area, and adding the image of the promotional information related to the newly purchased product to the promotional list area in the position of the image of the promotional information with the most recent registration order. [Explanation of symbols]

[0270] 10...first server, 20...second server, 30...POS terminal, 40...accounting machine, 50...information terminal, 60...monitoring terminal, 70...network, 80...access point, 11,21,51,61...processor, 12,22,52,62...main memory, 13,23,53,63...auxiliary storage device, 14,24...communication interface, 54,64...wireless unit, 55,65...touch panel, 56...scanner, 57...reader, 131...product database, 132...membership database, 133...sales promotion database, 221...information terminal table, 222...accounting machine table, BU3...[Cancel] touch button, C...cart, L1...registration list, L2...sales promotion list, L3...shopping list, L4...purchase history list, P1,P5...registered image, PA1...registration list area, PA2...promotion list area, PA21~PA24...promotion area, PA5...registered product area.

Claims

1. A monitoring terminal for monitoring a plurality of information terminals operated by users in order to register purchased items at a sales floor, displaying a monitoring image on one screen of a plurality of terminal status display sections for each of the plurality of information terminals, the display sections respectively indicating whether the status of the information terminal is waiting before registering a purchase item, is in the process of registering a purchase item, or is the registered purchase item being processed at an accounting device; the terminal status display unit includes a standby display indicating that the status of the information terminal is standby, a registration display indicating that the status of the information terminal is registering, and a checkout display indicating that the status of the information terminal is checking out, A monitoring terminal in which the waiting display, the registration display, and the checkout display are arranged in one direction.

2. A monitoring terminal for monitoring a plurality of information terminals operated by users in order to register purchased items at a sales floor, displaying a monitoring image on one screen of a plurality of terminal status display sections for each of the plurality of information terminals, the display sections respectively indicating whether the status of the information terminal is waiting before registering a purchase item, is in the process of registering a purchase item, or is the registered purchase item being processed at an accounting device; the terminal status display unit includes a standby display indicating that the status of the information terminal is standby, a registration display indicating that the status of the information terminal is registering, and a checkout display indicating that the status of the information terminal is checking out, The monitoring image further includes an active button on the screen; When the operating button is operated, a monitoring terminal displays a monitoring image that is limited to the terminal status display section of the information terminal that is in the registration state and the terminal status display section of the information terminal that is in the checkout state.

3. A monitoring terminal for monitoring a plurality of information terminals operated by users in order to register purchased items at a sales floor, displaying a monitoring image on one screen of a plurality of terminal status display sections for each of the plurality of information terminals, the display sections respectively indicating whether the status of the information terminal is waiting before registering a purchase item, is in the process of registering a purchase item, or is the registered purchase item being processed at an accounting device; the terminal status display unit includes a standby display indicating that the status of the information terminal is standby, a registration display indicating that the status of the information terminal is registering, and a checkout display indicating that the status of the information terminal is checking out, The monitoring image further includes a waiting button on the screen; When the standby button is operated, the monitoring terminal displays the narrowed down monitoring image on a terminal status display unit of the information terminal in the standby state.

Images