Monitoring terminal and its program

Abstract

To ensure that the information terminal can be rotated efficiently.SOLUTION: A terminal management device includes a memory unit, an output unit, and a control unit. The memory unit stores information on purchased articles registered by information terminals for each information terminal. The output unit outputs the information on the purchased articles stored in the memory unit for each information terminal to an accounting machine where a user who made a registration with the information terminal performs accounting. The control unit deletes from the memory unit the information on the purchased articles that have been accounted for by the accounting machine, and also deletes from the memory unit the information on the purchased articles registered by the information terminal for which cancellation has been specified from the outside.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 27

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 on a POS terminal by having customers walk around the sales floor with an information terminal with wireless communication capabilities and register the data of the products they wish to purchase on the information terminal themselves is also already known.

[0003] The introduction of a merchandise sales system in which customers themselves register their purchases using an information terminal and then pay for those purchases using an accounting machine is being considered. To introduce such a merchandise sales system, it is necessary to efficiently rotate the information terminals. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-095026 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-108010 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 efficiently rotate information terminals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In one embodiment, the terminal management device is a terminal management device for a merchandise sales system in which users of information terminals operate their respective information terminals in a sales area to register purchased items and then pay for the purchased items at a cash register. The terminal management device includes a memory unit, an output unit, and a control unit. The memory unit stores information about the purchased items registered at the information terminals for each information terminal. The output unit outputs the information about the purchased items stored in the memory unit for each information terminal to a cash register where the user who registered the purchased items at the information terminal pays. The control unit deletes from the memory unit information about the purchased items paid for at the cash register, and also deletes from the memory unit information about the purchased items registered at an information terminal that has been externally designated for cancellation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a product sales system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] A schematic diagram showing an example of the layout of a store that has introduced this product sales system. [Figure 3] A block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the first server in the product sales system. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the main data structure of a product data record stored in a product database in the first server. [Figure 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 sales promotion data record stored in a sales promotion 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. 2 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. 10 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 checkout 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] 3 is a flowchart showing the main information processing procedures executed by the processor of the information terminal. [Figure 17] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a login interrupt process executed by a processor of the second server. [Figure 18] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of product registration interrupt processing executed by a processor of the second server. [Figure 19] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of product registration interrupt processing executed by a processor of the second server. [Figure 20] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of product registration interrupt processing executed by a processor of the second server. [Figure 21] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of transaction interrupt processing executed by a processor of the second server. [Figure 22] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of accounting request interrupt processing executed by the processor of the second server. [Figure 23] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the accounting end interrupt process executed by the processor of the second server. [Figure 24] 10 is a flowchart showing the steps of a face-to-face transaction interrupt process executed by a processor of the second server. [Figure 25] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a timeout interrupt process executed by a processor of the second server. [Figure 26] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a monitoring image creation process executed by a processor of the second server. [Figure 27]10 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 image displayed on a touch panel of the information terminal. [Figure 30] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an attendant confirmation image displayed on the touch panel of the information terminal. [Figure 31] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a plastic bag confirmation image displayed on the touch panel of the information terminal. [Figure 32] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a member barcode image displayed on the touch panel of the information terminal. [Figure 33] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a monitoring image displayed on a touch panel of the monitoring terminal. [Figure 34] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a cashier status display section displayed on the monitoring image. [Figure 35] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a terminal status display section displayed on the monitoring image. [Figure 36] 10 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a monitoring image displayed on the touch panel of the monitoring terminal. [Figure 37] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a cancellation confirmation image displayed on the touch panel of the information terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Below, we will use the drawings to explain an embodiment of a terminal management device that can efficiently rotate information terminals 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] 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration 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 a wireless unit. An access point 80 is connected to a network 70. The information terminal 50 and the monitoring terminal 60 communicate wirelessly with the access point 80. The access point 80 relays communications between the information terminal 50 and the monitoring terminal 60 and 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.

[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 customer terminals via a public network. Examples of customer terminals include tablet terminals, smartphones, and personal computers owned by customers. Examples of the public network include 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 layout of a store that has introduced this product sales system. The shopping cart used by customer M1, who is a purchaser or consumer, when shopping in the store has an information terminal 50. In the following explanation, the shopping cart will be referred to as cart C. The customer is the user of the information terminal 50. The information terminal 50 may be included in cart C or in a shopping basket. Customer M1 walks around the sales floor with cart C and places the products he or she wants to purchase into cart C. Customer M1 operates the information terminal 50 to register the products he or she has purchased. After registering the products, customer M1 goes to the counter register G1 or self-checkout register G2 and settles the transaction by paying for the products. After payment, customer M1 bags the products at a bagger SU as needed.

[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 scans the barcodes of the purchased items one by one with the scanner SC, thereby registering the sales data of the purchased items in the POS terminal 30. The POS terminal 30 calculates the payment amount for 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, or other vouchers. The POS terminal 30 is an example of a product sales processing device that processes the registration and accounting of purchased items.

[0014] At the self-checkout register G2, customer M1 registers and pays for the purchased items. The 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 the information terminal 50. The second server 20 notifies the payment amount to the payment machine 40 via the network 70. Upon being notified of the payment amount, customer M1 pays the amount equivalent to the payment amount to the payment machine 40. 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, customer M1 can operate the information terminal 50 and the payment machine 40, allowing the customer to perform the entire process from registering the purchased items to paying for them by themselves. However, there may be situations where a store clerk's intervention is unavoidable. For example, there may be cases where a specialized salesperson must provide information to customer M1 who is purchasing medicines. There may be cases where the information on a discount sticker is forgotten to be entered into the information terminal 50, resulting in the regular price being registered. There may also be cases where an error occurs when scanning the barcode of a product with the information terminal 50, preventing registration. There may also be cases where an error occurs in the payment machine 40, such as a coin jam or the receipt paper running out.

[0016] To be able to deal with such events quickly, an attendant M3, who is a store clerk in charge of serving customers, is stationed 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 payment machine 40.

[0017] Next, the configurations of the first server 10, second server 20, information terminal 50, and monitoring terminal 60 will be described. The POS terminal 30 may be the same as a POS terminal used in a store with 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 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, etc. 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 16. 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 16 connecting 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 in accordance with 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 to control each part in either the nonvolatile or volatile memory area. The main memory 12 uses the volatile memory area as a work area where data is rewritten by the processor as appropriate. 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 (registered trademark) (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 application programs described above.

[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] The product database 131 stores data on each product sold in the store. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the main data structure of the product data record 131R for each product stored in the product database 131. As shown in Fig. 4, the product data record 131R includes items such as a 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 it 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 "Koumei," and a different product ID is assigned to 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 from the promotion information stored in the promotion database 133. Promotion information associated with the product may include, for example, information about campaigns that can be participated in by purchasing the product, information about special sales items that offer discount benefits, and information about available coupons. 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 piece of promotion information, but two or more pieces of promotion information may also be associated.

[0028] The restriction flag is one bit of information that identifies whether the product identified by the product ID is an age-restricted product, such as alcoholic beverages, tobacco, etc. In this embodiment, the restriction flag for products with age restrictions is set to "1," and the restriction flag for products without age restrictions is set to "0."

[0029] The member database 132 stores data related to customers who have registered as point members or other members, so-called members. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the main data structure of the member data record 132R for each member stored in the member database 132. As shown in the figure, the member data record 132R includes items such as a member ID, purchase history data, and shopping data. The member ID is a unique code assigned to each member to individually identify them. Members own a recording medium on which their member ID is recorded. Examples of recording media include magnetic cards, contact IC (Integrated Circuit) cards, contactless IC cards, and smartphones. The purchase history data indicates the purchasing history of a member identified by their member ID, i.e., what they purchased and when.

[0030] 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 their own member data record 132R. Shopping data includes the name of the product that the customer plans to purchase. The name may be the product name or the 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 can simply register the name "apple" as their shopping data. On the other hand, a customer who plans to purchase the product "apple" with the product name "Fuji apple," for example, can simply register the name "Fuji apple" as their shopping data.

[0031] The promotion database 133 stores promotional information related to campaigns, special sales, coupons, etc., as described above. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the main data structure of a promotional data record 133R for each piece of information stored in the promotion database 133. As shown in the figure, the promotional data record 133R includes a promotion ID and promotional data. The promotion ID is a unique code assigned to each piece of promotional information to individually identify it. The promotional data is image data that specifically represents the promotional information.

[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, main memory 22, auxiliary storage device 23, and communication interface 24 are connected to the system transmission path 25. The second server 20 comprises the processor 21, main memory 22, auxiliary storage device 23, and the system transmission path 25 that connects them to form a computer. The general description of the processor 21, main memory 22, auxiliary storage device 23, and communication interface 24 may be the same as the description for the first server 10.

[0033] The second server 20 functions as a terminal management device for the product sales system. To realize its function as a terminal management device, the second server 20 uses 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 storing 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: terminal ID, terminal status ST1, member ID, accounting machine ID, first timer T1, second timer T2, third timer T3, counter N, registration list, sales promotion list, shopping list, accounting code, and ranking.

[0035] Area A1 is an area for writing a unique terminal ID assigned to each information terminal 50 to individually identify each information terminal 50. 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, i.e., the so-called terminal status ST1. Terminal status ST1 represents "waiting," "registering," "checkout," and "abandoned." "Waiting" is the state from when the previous customer has finished their checkout until the next customer logs in. "Registering" is the state from when they log in until the checkout is approved. "Checkout" is the state from when the checkout is approved until the checkout is completed. "Abandoned" is the state after the "registering" state has been left without any operation for a certain period of time.

[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 measuring the time elapsed since login. Area A6 is an area for writing the value of a second timer T2 for measuring the time 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 measuring the time 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 sales promotion data items.

[0038] Area A9 is an area for writing registration list L1 shown in FIG. 9, which lists information about products registered on information terminal 50. Area A10 is an area for writing promotion list L2 shown in FIG. 10, which lists promotional 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 members who have logged in to information terminal 50. Area A12 is an area for writing an accounting code that is assigned to each transaction to identify the transaction in which products are registered on information terminal 50. Area A13 is an area for writing the ranking of the information terminal 50 when its status 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 a registration list L1. The registration list L1 lists, in numerical order, the product ID, product name, number of items, price, first flag F1, second flag F2, and third flag F3. The first flag F1, second flag F2, and third flag F3 will be explained later.

[0040] 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a promotion list L2. The promotion list L2 lists, in numerical order, a promotion ID, promotion data, product ID, and a fourth flag F4. The fourth flag F4 will be explained later.

[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 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: payment machine ID, payment machine status ST2, first error flag EF1, and second error flag EF2.

[0043] Area B1 is an area for writing a unique payment machine ID assigned to each payment machine 40 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 from when the previous customer's payment has finished until the next customer's payment begins. "Payment in progress" is the state from when one customer's payment begins until it is completed.

[0044] Area B3 is used to write the first error flag EF1, which uses one bit of information to indicate whether 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 one bit of information whether an error has occurred in the change dispenser of the accounting machine 40. The accounting machine 40 has a change dispenser for collecting deposits and dispensing change. For example, if a coin jam occurs in the accounting machine 40, a change dispenser error occurs. When a change dispenser 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, etc. 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 connecting 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 in accordance with 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 store data required for the processor to execute processes to control each part in either the nonvolatile or volatile memory area. The main memory 62 uses the volatile memory area as a work area where data is rewritten by the processor as appropriate. 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, HDD, or 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 application programs described above.

[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 constitutes a computer by the processor 51, the main memory 52, the auxiliary storage device 53, and the system transmission path 58 connecting them. The processor 51, the main memory 52, the auxiliary storage device 53, and the wireless unit 54 may be generally described in the same manner as for 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 an IC card reader if the recording medium is a contact IC card. If the recording medium 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, for example, by electrically connecting a scanner 56 and a reader 57 to a tablet terminal TM shown in Figure 15, which is equipped with a processor 51, a main memory 52, an auxiliary storage device 53, a wireless unit 54 and a touch panel 55.

[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 has caster sections C1 for movement, a handle frame section C2, and a basket holder C3. The caster sections C1 have four wheels for smooth movement on the floor. The handle frame section C2 includes a pair of vertical frames C21, C21 erected on the rear wheel side of the caster sections C1, and a handle bar C22 connecting the upper ends of these vertical frames C21, C21. The basket holder C3 is located forward from the midpoint of the handle frame section C2. A shopping basket BA for storing products is placed on the basket holder C3 and caster sections C1 of the cart C.

[0059] The scanner 56 is located midway along the handlebar C22. The scanner 56 is attached to the handlebar C22 so that the reading window faces forward. A pole C4 is attached to one of the vertical frames C21 of the cart C. The tip of the pole C4 is located higher than the handlebar 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 slot faces backward. In FIG. 15, the reader 57 is a magnetic card reader. A battery BT is attached to the lower end of the handle frame portion C2, spanning the vertical frames C21. The battery BT provides power for the tablet terminal TM and the scanner 56.

[0060] FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the main information processing steps executed by the processor 51 of the information terminal 50. FIGS. 17 to 27 are flowcharts showing the main information processing steps executed by the processor 21 of the second server 20. FIGS. 28 to 32 and 37 are examples of images displayed on the touch panel 55, which is a display device of the information terminal 50. FIGS. 33 to 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 just an example. As long as similar results can be obtained, the processing procedures and contents are not particularly limited.

[0061] First, the operation of the information terminal 50 will be described. In Act 1 of FIG. 16 , the processor 51 of the information terminal 50 displays an initial image on the touch panel 55. The initial image is arbitrary. For example, the processor 51 sets 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, a member, arrives at the store, he or she takes out an empty cart C from the cart storage area. Customer M1 confirms that an initial image is displayed on the touch panel 55 of the information terminal 50 attached to cart C. After confirming this, 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] In Act 2, the processor 51 waits for login. 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 occurred and proceeds to YES in Act 2. In Act 3, the processor 51 controls the wireless unit 54 to transmit a login command to the second server 20. 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] Upon receiving the login command via the communication interface 24, the processor 21 of the second server 20 starts the login interrupt process shown in the flowchart of Fig. 17. First, in Act 21, the processor 21 detects the terminal ID from the login command. In Act 22, the processor 21 searches the information terminal table 221 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 the login terminal ID.

[0065] If the terminal status ST1 is "waiting", the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 22. In Act 23, the processor 21 detects the member ID from the login command. In Act 24, the processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to make an authentication inquiry of the member ID to the first server 10. 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 query command. Processor 11 accesses member database 132 and reads member data record 132R that includes 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] If the processor 11 is able to read the corresponding member data record 132R from the member database 132, it 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 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. In Act 26, the processor 21 checks whether the approval response includes shopping data.

[0069] If the logged-in customer M1 has registered shopping data in advance, the shopping data will be included in the approval response. If the shopping data has not been registered, the shopping data will not be included in the approval response. If the shopping data is included in the approval response, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 26. In Act 27, the processor 21 creates a shopping list L3 from the shopping data. That is, the processor 21 creates the shopping list L3 by assigning a series of numbers to the names that make up 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. In Act 28, the processor 21 sets all fifth flags F5 corresponding to each number in the shopping list L3 to "0". If the approval response does not include shopping data, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 26. The processor 21 does not execute the processes of Act 27 and Act 28 described above.

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

[0071] After controlling the transmission of the response signal and image data, the processor 21 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. In Act 35, the processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to transmit the denial response to the information terminal 50 that has transmitted the login command. 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 FIG. The processor 51 of the information terminal 50, which controlled the transmission of the login command in Act 3, waits for a response signal from the second server 20 in Act 4. If 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 that the login is 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 sales 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 stored in the area A9 associated with the login terminal ID of the information terminal table 221. Before product registration begins, 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 includes multiple promotion areas along the top edge of the registered image P1. Figure 28 shows four promotion areas PA21, PA22, PA23, and PA24. Each promotion area PA21, PA22, PA23, and PA24 displays promotional information from the promotion list L2 described in area A10 associated with the login terminal ID in the information terminal table 221. The promotion area PA21, located on the left side of the screen, displays the promotional 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 display previously registered promotional information. Before product registration begins, the promotion list area PA2 is also blank. Sales promotion information not linked to the purchased product, such as "Tomorrow is sale day," may be displayed in the sales promotion 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 registered image P1 as viewed from the screen. 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 in 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 [Product 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 [Product 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 placement of the touch button BU1 and the touch button BU2 may be reversed.

[0080] The touch button BU1 for "Products without barcodes" is used by customers when registering products without barcodes on the information terminal 50. Many products sold in a store are affixed with barcodes corresponding to the product's product ID. Therefore, customer M1 performing self-registration using cart C operates scanner 56 to read the barcode attached to the purchased product before placing the product in shopping cart BA at the sales floor. When scanner 56 reads the barcode, the product ID represented by the barcode is entered into the information terminal 50. In other words, product registration is performed. 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, customer M1 touches touch button BU1. Touch buttons corresponding to products without barcodes, so-called product buttons, are then displayed on touch panel 55, and customer M1 touches the product button corresponding to the purchased product. By touching the product button, the product ID of the product corresponding to that product button is entered into the information terminal 50. In other words, product registration is performed.

[0081] The [Checkout] touch button BU2 is used by customers when they declare that they want to pay for the purchased items. In other words, customer M1, who has self-registered the purchased items using cart C, touches touch button BU2 when moving on to checkout.

[0082] Returning to the explanation of FIG. In Act 5, processor 51 displays registration image P1 on touch panel 55, and then in Act 6, processor 51 checks whether product registration has been performed. 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 in Act 6 and Act 7 for product registration to be performed or for the [Checkout] touch button BU2 to be touched.

[0083] When it is confirmed that product registration has been performed in the standby state of Act 6 and Act 7, the processor 51 proceeds to YES in Act 6. In Act 8, the processor 51 controls the wireless unit 54 to transmit a product registration command to the second server 20. 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, if the barcode of the registered product is read by the scanner 56, the product registration command includes the product ID obtained from the barcode. If the registered product is selected by touching a product button, the product registration command includes the product ID assigned to that 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 receives the product registration command via the communication interface 24 and starts the product registration interrupt process shown in the flowcharts of Figures 18 to 20. First, in Act 41, the processor 21 detects the product ID from the product registration command. In Act 42, the processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to make an inquiry about product data to the first server 10. The communication interface 24 transmits the 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 that includes the product ID. If the processor 11 is unable to read out the product data record 131R for the product ID from the product database 131, the processor 11 controls the communication interface 14 to send 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] If the processor 11 is able to read the corresponding product data record 131R from the product database 131, the processor 11 controls the communication interface 14 to send a normal response to the second server 20. The communication interface 14 sends 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, which controlled the transmission of the product inquiry command, waits for a response signal from the first server 10 in Act 43. If a normal response signal is received within a certain time, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 43. In Act 44, the processor 21 adds the product data included in the normal response to the registration list L1 of the information terminal table 221. That is, the processor 21 adds the product ID, product name, score, and price to the registration list L1 in area A9 associated with the terminal ID included in the product registration command in the information terminal table 221. The product ID and product name are included in the product data. The score is "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 the registered terminal ID. In Act 45, the processor 21 sets all of the first to third flags F1 to F3 of the added product data to "0". The information terminal table 221 functions as a storage unit that stores information on purchased products registered by the information terminal 50 for each information terminal 50.

[0088] In Act 46, the processor 21 determines whether the registered product is a product with a discount sticker. In this embodiment, a discount sticker indicating discount information is attached to a product that is subject to a discount, and a discount mark is attached to 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. In Act 47, the processor 21 starts the timer count operation of the second timer T2 associated with the registered terminal ID in the information terminal table 221. In Act 48, the processor 21 checks whether discount information has been received. If discount information has not been received, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 48. In Act 49, the processor 21 checks whether the second timer T2 has timed out. 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. In Act 48 and Act 49, the processor 21 waits for either receiving discount information or for the second timer T2 to time out.

[0090] If the purchased product has a discount sticker attached, customer M1 who is self-registering must read the information on the discount sticker by operating scanner 56. If the registered product has a discount sticker, processor 21 may display guidance on touch panel 55 of information terminal 50 instructing customer M1 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". Thereafter, 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 according to the discount information on the discount sticker and stored in the registration list L1. However, if the second timer T2 times out, the registered product is stored in the registration list L1 without being discounted. In other words, a discount sticker reading error occurs for the registered product. The second flag F2 becomes "1" for the registered product for which a discount sticker reading error occurred.

[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 of FIG. 19.

[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 processing of Act 44 from "0" to "1". That is, the third flag F3 becomes "1" for a registered product with an age restriction.

[0096] In Act 55, the processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to transmit image data of the age verification image to the information terminal 50 that transmitted the product registration command. 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 that transmitted the product registration command receives the image data wirelessly transmitted from the access point 80.

[0097] Upon receiving the image data of the age verification image, the information terminal 50 displays the age verification image on the touch panel 55. The age verification image displays a confirmation button along with guidance such as "Are you over 20 years old?", so customer M1, having checked the age verification image, touches the confirmation button. This erases the age verification image, and the screen of the touch panel 55 returns to the registered image P1.

[0098] If the processor 21 does not receive a normal response signal within a certain time period in response to the transmission of the product inquiry command, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 43. The processor 21 executes virtual product registration processing. For example, it is possible that the product data record 131R of the registered product has been deleted from the product database 131. In this case, the processor 21 cannot receive a normal response signal. As the virtual product registration processing, the processor 21 adds only the product ID of the registered product to the registration list L1. The product name, quantity, and price are not added to the registration list L1. In Act 58, the processor 21 sets the first flag F1 of the product data to which only the product ID has been added to "1," 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 is set to "1" for the product registered by the virtual product registration processing.

[0099] In Act 61, the processor 21 creates a registration list image based on the registration list L1 in area A9 associated with the registered terminal ID in 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, as shown in FIG. 28, the registration list image is an image that lists the product names, quantities, and prices of the product data registered in the registration list L1 in a list format. The order is such that the most recently registered product is placed higher, i.e., the product is sorted in descending order from the highest 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 using a different text color or background color from the other product data. 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 corresponding to the product data during shopping. When the [Cancel] touch button BU3 is touched, the number of items and the price of the corresponding product in the registration list area PA1 become "0." The [Cancel] touch button BU3 is erased.

[0100] In Act 62, the processor 21 checks whether promotional information is set in association with the registered product. 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 in Act 71.

[0101] If the sales promotion information is set, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 62. In Act 63, 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. The processor 21 checks whether the link sales promotion ID included in the product data has already been registered in the sales 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] Upon receiving the promotion inquiry command via the communication interface 14, the processor 11 of the first server 10 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 that includes 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 is able to read the corresponding promotion data record 133R from the promotion database 133, 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.

[0105] The processor 21 of the second server 20, which has controlled the transmission of the promotion inquiry command, checks whether a normal response including promotion data has been received in Act 66. If a normal response without promotion data has been received, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 66. The processor 21 then proceeds to processing in Act 71.

[0106] If a normal response including promotional data is received, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 66. In Act 67, 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 68, 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. The data consists of the product ID of the registered product, the link promotion ID associated with the product ID, and the promotional data to 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 with the same number as the counter N in the sales promotion list L2 to "1" and sets the fourth flag F4 of the areas with other numbers to "0" in Act 70. Then, the processor 21 proceeds to Act 71. The fourth flag F4 is set to "1" for the sales promotion information associated with the newly registered product.

[0109] In Act 71, the processor 21 checks whether the counter N is counting a value greater than "0." If the counter N is "0," the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 71. The processor 21 proceeds to Act 81 of FIG. 20.

[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 promotional image based on the promotion list L2 in area A10 associated with the registered terminal ID in the information terminal table 221. After completing the creation of the promotional image, the processor 21 proceeds to Act 81 in FIG.

[0111] The promotional image is an image displayed in the promotional list area PA2 of the registration image P1. That is, as shown in FIG. 28, the promotional image is an arrangement of promotional information generated from promotional data registered in the promotional list L2, arranged in areas PA21, PA22, PA23, and PA24, respectively. Specifically, the promotional information is displayed in areas PA21, PA22, PA23, and PA24 in descending order of the promotional list L2 number. Promotional information generated from promotional data with the fourth flag F4 set to "1," i.e., the promotional information displayed in area PA21, is distinguishable from the promotional information displayed in the other areas PA22, PA23, and PA24. For example, the frame and background colors of area PA21 can be made the same as the text and background colors of the newly added registered product in the registration list area PA1, thereby making it distinguishable from other promotional information. The example in FIG. 28 shows a case where the background color is the same as the background color of the newly added registered product.

[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 shopping list L3 contains a name that matches the product name or category name of the registered product. If a matching name does not exist, 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. In Act 84, the processor 21 changes the fifth flag F5 corresponding to the matching name in the shopping list L3 from "0" to "1". Thereafter, the processor 21 proceeds to Act 85. The fifth flag F5 is set to "1" for the name of the product for which product registration has been performed, among the names stored in the shopping list L3.

[0115] In Act 85, the processor 21 creates a shopping memo image using the information in the shopping list L3. After creating 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 for which the fifth flag F5 is set to "1". For example, the processor 21 erases the names for which the fifth flag F5 is set to "1" by drawing a strikethrough line through them. Alternatively, the processor 21 erases the names for which the fifth flag F5 is set to "1" by making the character density of the names lighter than that of 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 sales promotion image created in Act 72, and the shopping memo image created in Act 85 are displayed in areas PA1, PA2, and PA3, respectively.

[0118] In Act 87, 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. 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 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.

[0119] In Act 88, the processor 21, which has controlled the transmission of the registered image P1, starts the counting operation of the third timer T3 associated with the registered terminal information ID in the information terminal table 221. 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.

[0120] Returning to the explanation of FIG. 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 registered image P1 displayed on the touch panel 55 based on the image data newly received from the second server 20.

[0121] The product name, quantity, and price of the product self-registered by customer M1 are added to the registration list area PA1. If the registered product is also on the shopping list L3, the name of the registered product is deleted from the shopping memo area PA3. If promotional information is associated with the registered product, a promotional image based on that promotional information is displayed in the promotional area PA21 of the promotional list area PA2. If other promotional information is already displayed in the promotional areas PA21-PA23, it is shifted to the promotional areas PA22-PA24 on the right, and the promotional information displayed in the promotional area PA24 is no longer displayed. However, if promotional information for the registered product is already displayed in the promotional area PA21, the promotional image does not change. If promotional information for the registered product was previously displayed in the promotional area PA22, that 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 promotional information for the registered product was previously displayed in the promotional areas PA23 and PA24.

[0122] Every time a product is registered, the processor 51 proceeds to YES in Act 6. The processor 51 repeats the processing of Act 8 and Act 5.

[0123] Incidentally, for products registered through 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 display example PR1 in FIG. 29. Instead of the number and price, the guidance "An attendant will check this at the time of payment" is displayed. An icon IC1 is displayed to indicate that the product registration is in error.

[0124] 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 display example PR2 in Figure 29. Instead of the number and amount, the guidance "An attendant will check this at the time of payment" is displayed. The icon IC2 indicating a discount sticker error is displayed.

[0125] 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 display example PR3 in Fig. 29.

[0126] For products for which cancellation is instructed by touching the [Cancel] touch button BU3, the points and price do not need to be set to "0" in the registration list area PA1. As shown in display example PR4 in FIG. 29, a strikethrough may be displayed for the product name, points, and price, and the [Cancel] touch button BU3 may be removed. As shown in FIG. 29, error items such as "Product Registration Error" and "Discount Sticker Error" may be rearranged so that they are positioned higher in the registration list area PA1. To help customer M1 search for the product with the error in the shopping cart BA, error items such as "Product Registration Error" and "Discount Sticker Error" may remain in the sort order, with newly registered items being ranked higher. To make it easier to identify the location of error items such as "Product Registration Error" and "Discount Sticker Error," the background color of the area corresponding to the error item in the scroll bar at the right end of FIG. 29 may be different from the background color of the area not corresponding to the error item.

[0127] Returning to the explanation of FIG. If the [Checkout] touch button BU2 is pressed during the standby state in Act 6 and Act 7, the processor 21 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.

[0128] 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 flowchart of Figure 21. First, in Act 101, the processor 21 searches the information terminal table 221 for the terminal ID included in the accounting command. 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 data with the first flag F1 set to "1" exists in the registration list L1 in area A9 associated with the accounting terminal ID.

[0129] If there is no data in which the first flag F1 is set to "1", the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 101. In Act 102, the processor 21 checks whether there is data in which the second flag F2 is set to "1" in the registration list L1.

[0130] If there is no data with the second flag F2 set to "1", processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 102. In Act 103, 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, 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.

[0131] 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. In Act 111, the processor 21 controls the communication interface to send a denial response to the information terminal 50 that sent the accounting command. In Act 112, the processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to send image data of the clerk confirmation image P2 shown in FIG. 30 to the information terminal 50. The communication interface 24 transmits a response signal of the denial response and image data of the clerk confirmation image P2 via the network 70. The access point 80 wirelessly transmits the response signal and image data. The information terminal 50 that sent the accounting command receives the response signal and image data wirelessly transmitted from the access point 80.

[0132] Returning to the explanation of FIG. In Act 10, processor 51 of information terminal 50, which controlled the transmission of the accounting command in Act 9, waits for a response signal from second server 20. If a response signal of a denial response is received via wireless unit 64, processor 51 proceeds to NO in Act 10. In Act 11, processor 51 displays staff confirmation image P2 on touch panel 55 based on the image data received together with the response signal.

[0133] Fig. 30 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the display 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 the customer that an attendant's 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.

[0134] Upon receiving a request from customer M1, attendant M3 performs an operation to delete from registration list L1 the data of the product for which first flag F1 is set to "1" or second flag F2 is set to "1." This operation may be performed from monitoring terminal 60, information terminal 50, or payment machine 40, or may be performed by connecting another computer device to network 70.

[0135] If the data of the product for which the first flag F1 is "1" or the second flag F2 is "1" has been deleted from the registration list L1, the customer M1 touches the "Yes" touch button BU4.

[0136] After controlling the display of the staff confirmation image P2, the processor 51 waits for a confirmation operation in Act 12. If the processor 51 detects that the [Yes] touch button BU4, which is a confirmation operation, has been touched, the processor 51 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.

[0137] After confirming that the screen of touch panel 55 has returned to registered image P1, customer M1 again touches the [Checkout] touch button BU2. As a result, processor 21 of second server 20 determines 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, information terminal 50 receives a response signal of approval and image data of plastic bag confirmation image P3.

[0138] 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.

[0139] Figure 31 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display of a plastic bag confirmation image P3. As shown in Figure 31, the plastic bag confirmation image P3 includes a "Yes" touch button BU5 and a "No" touch button BU6, along with guidance GA2 inquiring whether or not to purchase a plastic bag. After checking the plastic bag confirmation image P3, customer M1 touches touch button BU5 if they wish to purchase a plastic bag, goes to attendant counter AT, and receives a plastic bag. If they do not wish to purchase a plastic bag, customer M1 touches touch button BU6 and does not receive a plastic bag.

[0140] In Act 14, processor 51 controls wireless unit 54 to transmit plastic bag information to second server 20. Wireless unit 54 wirelessly transmits the plastic bag information. The plastic bag information is information indicating that a plastic bag will be purchased when touching "Yes" touch button BU5 on plastic bag confirmation image P3, and information indicating that a plastic bag will not be purchased when touching "No" touch button BU6.

[0141] The processor 21 of the second server 20, which 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 plastic bag purchase, 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 plastic bag not being purchased, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 105. The processor 21 skips the processing in Act 106.

[0142] 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 procedure as for registering a normal product.

[0143] 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. Processor 21 saves the accounting code in area A12 associated with the accounting terminal ID in the information terminal table 221.

[0144] In Act 108, processor 21 converts the accounting code into a barcode to create accounting barcode image P4 shown in Figure 32. In Act 109, processor 21 controls communication interface 24 to send accounting barcode image P4 to the information terminal 50 that sent the accounting command. Communication interface 24 sends image data of accounting barcode image P4 via network 70. Access point 80 wirelessly transmits this image data. The information terminal 50 that sent the accounting command receives the image data wirelessly transmitted from access point 80.

[0145] After controlling the transmission of image data for the 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 Act 110. After completing the processing of Act 110 or 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.

[0146] Returning to the explanation of FIG. In Act 14, processor 51 of information terminal 50 that sent the shopping bag information waits for accounting barcode image P4 in Act 15. When image data of accounting barcode image P4 is received via wireless unit 54, processor 51 proceeds to YES in Act 15. In Act 16, processor 51 displays accounting barcode image P4 on touch panel 55 based on the image data. With this, processor 51 ends the post-login processing.

[0147] Figure 32 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the display of a transaction barcode image P4. As shown in Figure 32, the transaction barcode image P4 includes a barcode BC that represents a transaction code. After checking the transaction barcode image P4, customer M1 proceeds to an available transaction machine 40 at self-checkout G2 and uses a scanner connected to that transaction machine 40 to read and operate the barcode BC on the transaction barcode image P4.

[0148] When the barcode BC is read by the scanner of the accounting machine 40, the accounting machine 40 sends an accounting request command including the accounting code obtained from the barcode BC and the accounting machine ID unique to that accounting machine to the second server 20 via the network 70.

[0149] Upon receiving the accounting request command, processor 21 of second server 20 starts the accounting request interrupt process of FIG. 22. First, processor 21 detects the accounting code included in the accounting request command in Act 121. In Act 122, processor 21 searches information terminal table 221 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 terminal status ST1 is other than "accounting in progress," processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 122. Processor 21 ends this interrupt process as an error.

[0150] If the terminal status ST1 is "payment in progress", processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 122. In Act 123, 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, processor 21 controls the registration list L1 saved 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, 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, processor 21 ends the payment request interrupt processing. The processor 21 works in cooperation with the communication interface 24, which is a communication unit, to execute the processing of Act 121 to Act 124, thereby functioning as an output unit that outputs information on purchased items stored for each information terminal 50 in the information terminal table 221, which is a memory unit, to the payment machine 40 where the user who registered on the information terminal 50 makes the payment.

[0151] 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 transaction 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 transaction is complete, the payment machine 40 transmits a transaction end command to the second server 20 via the network 70, which includes the same transaction code and payment machine ID as the transaction request command.

[0152] Upon receiving the accounting end command, processor 21 of second server 20 starts the accounting end interrupt process of FIG. 23. First, in Act 131, processor 21 detects the accounting code included in the accounting end command. In Act 132, processor 21 searches information terminal table 221 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, a terminal ID for which the same accounting code is stored in area A12 is referred to as an accounting end terminal ID. If terminal status ST1 is anything other than "accounting in progress," processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 132. Processor 21 ends this interrupt process as an error.

[0153] If the terminal status ST1 is "checkout in progress", the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 132. In Act 133, the processor 21 searches the checkout machine table 222 and sets the checkout machine status ST2 corresponding to the checkout machine ID included in the checkout completion command to "idle". In Act 134, the processor 21 searches the shopping list L3 in the area A11 associated with the checkout completion terminal ID in the information terminal table 221. In Act 135, the processor 21 determines whether or not there is data with the fifth flag set to "1". 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. In Act 136, the processor 21 edits the shopping list L3. That is, the processor 21 deletes 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 in Act 136.

[0154] Then, in Act 137, the processor 21 controls to send the member data to the first server 10. The member data includes the member ID in area A3 associated with the transaction completion terminal ID in the information terminal table 221, the registration list L1 in area A9, and the shopping list L3 in area A11.

[0155] 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.

[0156] In Act 138, processor 21 of second server 20, which controlled the transmission of the transaction data, initializes the information associated with the transaction completion terminal ID in information terminal table 221. That is, processor 21 clears the member ID in area A3, the transaction machine ID in area A4, the registration list L1 in area A9, the sales promotion list L2 in area A10, the shopping list L3 in area A11, and the transaction code in area A12. Processor 21 resets the values ​​of first timer T1 in area A5, second timer T2 in area A6, and third timer T3 in area A9 to "0." Processor 21 also resets the value of counter N in area A8 to "0."

[0157] Thereafter, in Act 139, processor 21 changes the status ST1 associated with the transaction completion terminal ID in information terminal table 221 from "transaction in progress" to "waiting." With this, processor 21 ends the transaction completion interrupt process. By executing the processes of Act 138 and Act 139, the processor 21 functions as a control unit that deletes information about the purchased items for which the transaction was made at the transaction machine 40 from the information terminal table 221, which serves as a storage unit.

[0158] Meanwhile, customer M1 who has performed self-registration by operating the information terminal 50 provided on cart C can also complete the transaction at counter register G1. When the transaction is completed at counter register G1, cashier M2 enters the terminal ID of information terminal 50 into POS terminal 30. For example, the information terminal 50 has a barcode indicating the terminal ID. Cashier M2 enters 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 enters the terminal ID by reading the data on the RFID tag with an RFID reader connected to the POS terminal 30.

[0159] When the terminal ID is entered, a face-to-face transaction command is sent 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.

[0160] Upon receiving the face-to-face transaction command, the processor 21 of the second server 20 starts the face-to-face transaction interrupt process shown in Figure 24. First, in Act 141, the processor 21 detects the terminal ID included in the face-to-face transaction command. In Act 142, the processor 21 checks the terminal status ST1 associated with the terminal ID included in the face-to-face transaction command in the information terminal table 221. In the following description, the terminal ID included in the face-to-face transaction 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 transaction interrupt process.

[0161] 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. By executing the processes of Act 143 and Act 144, the processor 21 functions as a control unit that deletes information about purchased items registered at the information terminal 50 for which cancellation has been externally specified from the information terminal table 221 serving as a storage unit. In detail, when the processor 21 receives identification information that identifies the information terminal 50 from the POS terminal 30 serving as a product sales processing device via the communication interface 24 serving as a communication unit, it deletes information about purchased items registered at the information terminal 50 identified by the identification information from the information terminal table 221 serving as a storage unit.

[0162] The fact that the terminal status ST1 is "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.

[0163] For example, if the terminal status ST1 is "registering," this means that customer M1, who logged in to the information terminal 50, has completed the transaction at the counter register G1. In this case, the member ID is written in area A3 associated with the terminal ID of the information terminal 50 in the information terminal table 221. If customer M1 has registered shopping data, a shopping list L3 is stored in area A11. If customer M1 has performed self-registration, a registration list L1 and a sales promotion list L2 are stored in 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." By executing the processes of Act 143 and Act 144, the processor 21 can return the information terminal 50 used by customer M1, who switched from self-registration to the counter register G1, to a usable state.

[0164] Incidentally, when making a transaction at the face-to-face register G1, there are cases where the store clerk M2 forgets to input the terminal ID of the information terminal 50 into the POS terminal 30. If the terminal ID is forgotten, data related to the information terminal 50 remains in the information terminal table 221 even after the transaction is completed. The terminal status ST1 associated with the terminal ID of the information terminal 50 is "registering." Therefore, the next customer cannot log in to the information terminal 50, and the cart C is left abandoned.

[0165] The third timer T3 stored in area A7 of the information terminal table 221 restarts each time the processor 21 of the second server 20 executes product registration interrupt processing. When the processor 21 executes transaction interrupt processing, the third timer T3 stops. 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 transaction command from the information terminal 50 that sent the product registration command, the third timer T3 corresponding to the terminal ID of that information terminal 50 continues to count up. The third timer T3 functions as a timing unit that measures, for each information terminal 50, the elapsed time since the last purchased commodity was registered.

[0166] 25 is a flowchart 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, for example, at one-minute intervals. That is, the processor 21 checks the time count of the third timer T3 stored in area A7 of the information terminal table 221 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.

[0167] If the time counted by at least one third timer T3 is equal to or greater than the first threshold time TM1, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 152. In Act 153, the processor 21 checks the terminal status ST1 corresponding to the third timer T3 that has counted the first threshold time TM1. If the terminal status ST1 is "registering", the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 153. In Act 154, the processor 21 changes the terminal status ST1 from "registering" to "abandoned". 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.

[0168] 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 stored in area A3 of the information terminal table 221, which is associated with the terminal ID with the terminal status ST1 set to "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."

[0169] In this embodiment, the data in the information terminal table 221 of the information terminal 50 provided on 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.

[0170] 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. In this example, the number of payment machines 40 is three.

[0171] A total of 15 status display sections (T1) to (T15) are arranged in a matrix of 5 rows and 3 columns on the monitoring image P11. The three status display sections (T1) to (T3) in the first to third rows of the first column are payment machine status display sections Ta that display the status of the payment machine 40. The status display sections (T4) and (T5) in the fourth and fifth rows of the first column and the status display sections (T4) to (T15) in the second and third columns are terminal status display sections Tb that display the status of the information terminal 50.

[0172] The status display sections (T1) to (T15) are, for example, identical in shape, size, background color, etc. In this regard, for example, the cash register status display section Ta and the terminal status display section Tb may be differentiated by making at least some of the shape, size, background color, etc. different.

[0173] In addition, the monitoring image P11 is arranged with an "In Operation" touch button BU11, a "Waiting" touch button BU12, an "All Machines" 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. Needless to say, these can be changed as appropriate depending on the screen size of the touch panel 65, the number of payment machines 40 and information terminals 50, etc.

[0174] Figure 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 Figure 34, the payment machine ID is "Q1." In Figure 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 transaction is processed, or in an "in payment" state while a transaction is being processed. This status display is based on the payment machine status ST2 in the payment machine table 222. Incidentally, Figure 34 shows that the payment machine 40 is in an "idle" state.

[0175] 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 dispenser. 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.

[0176] [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 in "standby," "registering," "checkout," or "abandoned." The display of such 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 in "standby." The terminal status display section Tb shown in [B] and [C] in FIG. 35 indicates that the information terminal 50 is in "registering." The terminal status display section Tb shown in [D] in FIG. 35 indicates that the information terminal 50 is in "checkout." The terminal state display section Tb shown in [E] of FIG. 35 indicates that the information terminal 50 is in the [Abandoned] state.

[0177] 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 data in which the first flag F1 is "1" exists in the registration list L1, mark MC3 lights up. When data in which the second flag F2 is "1" exists in the registration list L1, mark MC4 lights up. When data in which the third flag F3 is "1" exists in the registration list L1, mark MC5 lights up.

[0178] The first area Tb1 is an area that allows the status of the information terminal 50 to be identified by color or other means. In the "Waiting," "Registering," or "Checkout" states, when the information terminal 50 is in a normal state with no errors or other issues, 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 "Checkout" state, the first area Tb1 displays the payment machine ID of the payment machine 40 performing the transaction. In the example of FIG. 35, the payment machine ID is displayed in the first area Tb1 of the terminal status display unit Tb shown in [D]. In the "Registering" state, when an age-restricted product has been registered and a warning is required from the clerk, the background color of the first area Tb1 is a warning color, 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 an attendant'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 will be a color that indicates a warning, such as red. In the example of Figure 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 will be a color that indicates a different warning, such as black. The second area Tb2 displays a mark MC6 indicating that the device is in an abandoned state. In the example of Figure 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.

[0179] 26 is a flowchart showing the steps 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, for example, every 10 seconds. First, in Act 161, the processor 21 selects an information terminal 50 from the information terminal table 221 whose terminal status ST1 is "in progress of checkout." In Act 162, 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, and writes the ranking in area A13 of the information terminal table 221. The ath place is the rank corresponding to the number of information terminals 50 that are "in progress of checkout." If there are no information terminals 50 whose terminal status ST1 is "in progress of checkout," the processor 21 does not execute the process of Act 162.

[0180] In Act 163, the processor 21 selects an information terminal 50 from the information terminal table 221 whose terminal status ST1 is "registering." In Act 164, the processor 21 calculates the remaining points in the shopping list L3 for each selected information terminal 50. 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 has not been saved, the remaining points are set to a predetermined value, for example, "100." In Act 165, the processor 21 ranks the selected information terminals 50 from a+1st place to a+bth place in order of the least remaining points, and writes the rankings in area A13 of the information terminal table 221. The bth place is a rank corresponding to the number of information terminals 50 that are "registering." In Act 166, the processor 21 determines whether there are any information terminals 50 with the same remaining points. If at least two or more customers who have not registered shopping data in advance are 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.

[0181] 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 a rank from a+b+1st place to a+b+cth place for the information terminal 50 selected in Act 165 in the order of the terminal ID set in the information terminal table 221, and describes the rank in area A13 of the information terminal table 221. The cth place 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 processing of Act 169.

[0182] In Act 170, the processor 21 selects an information terminal 50 whose terminal status ST1 is "waiting" from the information terminal table 221. In Act 171, the processor 21 sets a rank for the selected information terminal 50 from a+b+c+1st place to a+b+c+d place in the order of the terminal ID set in the information terminal table 221, and describes the rank in area A13 of the information terminal table 221. The dth place is a rank corresponding to the number of "waiting" information terminals 50. If there is no information terminal 50 whose terminal status ST1 is "waiting", the processor 21 does not execute the processing of Act 171.

[0183] In Act 172, 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, 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 payment machine table 222. Processor 21 places the payment machine status display section Ta for each payment machine 40 in the status display section (T1), status display section (T2), and status display section (T3) of the monitoring image P11.

[0184] Processor 21 creates a terminal status display section Tb for each information terminal 50 based on the terminal ID, terminal status ST1, and first to third flags F1 to F3 in registration list A9 in information terminal table 221. Processor 21 selects terminal status display section Tb for each information terminal 50 ranked from 1st to 12th, and arranges them in status display section (T4) to status display section (T15) in order from 1st place.

[0185] 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 the 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.

[0186] 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 as [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 as [Waiting].

[0187] 33, the monitoring image P11 includes a touch button BU16 for page forwarding. The cashier status display section Ta and the terminal status display section Tb are touch buttons.

[0188] As shown in FIG. 26, after controlling the transmission of the monitoring image, the processor 21 of the second server 20 checks whether the page-next touch button BU16 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 a timer interrupt signal has not been detected, the processor 21 returns to Act 174. That is, the processor 21 waits for the page-next touch button BU16 to be touched, for the payment machine status display unit Ta or the terminal status display unit Tb to be touched, or for a timer interrupt signal to be detected.

[0189] 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.

[0190] If the page-next 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 recreates the monitoring image P11. For example, the processor 21 creates the monitoring image P11 in which each of the status display sections (T1) to (T15) is changed to terminal status display sections Tb ranked from 13th to 27th. When the attendant M3 touches the page-next touch button BU16, each of the status display sections (T1) to (T15) displays terminal status display sections Tb2 ranked from 13th to 27th.

[0191] 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, the status display sections (T1) to (T3) where the cashier status display section Ta is located may be fixed, and a monitoring image P11 may be created in which terminal status display sections Tb2 ranked 13th to 24th are located in the remaining status display sections (T4) to (T15).

[0192] 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 stored 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.

[0193] 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 the touched payment machine status display unit Ta or terminal status display unit Tb, and a detailed image showing the contents of the registration list L1 acquired in the processing of Act 177, such as the product name, points, price, etc. In Act 173, the processor 21 controls the communication interface 24 to send the monitoring image P11 to the monitoring terminal 60.

[0194] For example, by touching the checkout machine status display Ta, attendant M3 can check information about the purchased items of customer M1 who is making a checkout at the checkout machine 40 whose status is displayed on the checkout machine status display Ta. For example, by touching the terminal status display Tb where mark MC5 is lit and the first area Tb1 is yellow, attendant M3 can check information about the purchased items of customer M1 who has purchased an age-restricted item. For example, by touching the terminal status display Tb where mark MC3 or mark MC4 is lit and the first area Tb1 is red, attendant M3 can check information about the purchased items of customer M1 for which a "product registration error" or "discount sticker error" has occurred.

[0195] 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 has been touched, the processor 21 returns to the processing of Act 161.

[0196] 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, quantity, 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.

[0197] 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 [Bulk Cancel] touch button BU17.

[0198] 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 cancel all command to the second server 20. The wireless unit 64 wirelessly transmits the cancel all command. The cancel all command includes the terminal ID of the information terminal 50 assigned to the touched terminal status display section Tb. The cancel all command is received by the access point 80 and sent to the second server 20 via the network 70.

[0199] 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 flowchart of FIG. 27. First, in Act 181, the processor 21 detects the terminal ID from the batch cancellation command. In Act 182, the processor 21 searches the information terminal table 221 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 "abandoned", the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 182. The processor 21 ends the batch cancellation interrupt process.

[0200] If the terminal status ST1 is "abandoned", the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 182. In Act 183, the processor 21 checks whether the third timer T3 associated with the revoked 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. If the third timer T3 has elapsed the second threshold time TM2, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 183. The processor 21 proceeds to processing in Act 186.

[0201] 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.

[0202] Fig. 37 is a schematic diagram showing one display example of a 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 again confirms 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 canceled, the attendant M3 touches the touch button BU22.

[0203] 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 batch cancellation in Act 185. If it detects that the [No] touch button BU22 of the cancellation confirmation image P12 has been touched, the processor 21 proceeds to NO in Act 185. The processor 21 ends this batch cancellation interrupt process.

[0204] When it is detected that the touch operation of the [Yes] touch button BU22 on the cancellation confirmation image P12 has been performed, the processor 21 proceeds to YES in Act 185. The processor 21 proceeds to the processing of Act 186.

[0205] In Act 186, processor 21 initializes information associated with the cancellation terminal ID in information terminal table 221. That is, processor 21 clears the member ID in area A3, the payment machine ID in area A4, the registration list L1 in area A9, the sales promotion list L2 in area A10, the shopping list L3 in area A11, and the payment code in area A12. 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, processor 21 resets the value of counter N in area A8 to "0."

[0206] Thereafter, the processor 21 changes the status ST1 associated with the cancellation terminal ID in the information terminal table 221 from "abandoned" to "standby" in Act 187. With this, the processor 21 ends the batch cancellation interrupt process. The processor 21 functions as a control unit that manages information on purchased items registered on an information terminal 50 whose elapsed time exceeds the first threshold time TM1 in cooperation with the terminal status ST1 of the information terminal table 221 by executing the processing of Act 151 to Act 154 of Figure 25, so that the information can be deleted. 26 and the processes of Act 181 to Act 187 of Fig. 27, the processor 21 makes it possible to identify an information terminal 50 whose elapsed time has exceeded the first threshold time TM1 on the touch panel 65 of the monitoring terminal 60 as a display device. When cancellation is specified via the touch panel 65 of the monitoring terminal 60 as an input device for an information terminal 50 whose elapsed time has exceeded the first threshold time TM1, the processor 21 functions as a control unit that deletes information about the purchased item registered in that information terminal 50 from the information terminal table 221 as a storage unit. Specifically, when a cancellation command is issued via the touch panel 65 serving as an input device for an information terminal 50 that has exceeded the first threshold time TM1, the processor 21 determines whether the elapsed time on the information terminal 50 has exceeded a second threshold time TM2, which is longer than the first threshold time TM1. If the second threshold time TM2 has been exceeded, the processor 21 deletes the information on the purchased items registered on the information terminal 50 from the information terminal table 221 serving as a storage unit. If the second threshold time TM2 has not been exceeded, the processor 21 displays a cancellation confirmation image P12 on the touch panel 65 serving as a display device. The processor 21 deletes the information on the purchased items registered on the information terminal 50 from the information terminal table 221 serving as a storage unit, on the condition that an input permitting the deletion has been received via the touch panel 65 serving as an input device.

[0207] When the batch 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.

[0208] As described above in detail, the second server 20 stores information about purchased items registered on the information terminal 50 as a registration list L1 in the information terminal table 221 for each information terminal. When a transaction for purchased items registered on the information terminal 50 is performed at the payment machine 40 of the self-checkout register G2, the second server 20 deletes all of the data stored in the information terminal table 221 for that information terminal 50. By deleting the data stored in the information terminal table 221, the information terminal 50 returns to its initial state. By returning to its initial state, the information terminal 50 becomes usable. According to this embodiment, the turnover rate of the information terminal 50 increases, allowing the information terminal 50 to be used efficiently.

[0209] There may be cases where a customer who has registered items for purchase using an information terminal 50 completes the payment at the POS terminal 30 of the face-to-face register G1. Even in such a case, when the terminal ID of the information terminal 50 is entered into the POS terminal 30, the second server 20 deletes all data related to the information terminal 50 stored in the information terminal table 221. By deleting the data stored in the information terminal table 221, the information terminal 50 returns to its initial state. By returning to its initial state, the information terminal 50 becomes usable. According to this embodiment, even if a customer changes their payment method from the self-checkout G2 to the face-to-face register G1 during shopping, the information terminal 50 that the customer was using becomes immediately available for use by the next customer.

[0210] Even if a terminal ID is not entered in the POS terminal 30 and the information terminal 50 is left in an unusable state, the second server 20 counts the amount of time the information terminal 50 has been left unused. If the amount of time the information terminal 50 has been left unused exceeds a first threshold time TM1, the second server 20 manages the information terminal 50 as being in an abandoned state. The second server 20 notifies the attendant M3 via the monitoring terminal 60 that an information terminal 50 has been left unused. According to this embodiment, the attendant M3 can easily know that an information terminal 50 has been left unused.

[0211] When attendant M3 becomes aware that an information terminal 50 has been left unattended, he or she touches the [Cancel all] touch button BU17 displayed on the monitoring image P11. When the [Cancel all] touch button BU17 is touched, the second server 20 collectively deletes the data stored in the information terminal table 221 for the information terminal 50. By deleting the data stored in the information terminal table 221, the information terminal 50 returns to its initial state. By returning to its initial state, the information terminal 50 becomes usable. According to this embodiment, an information terminal 50 that has been left unattended can be returned to a usable state by a simple operation remotely.

[0212] If the left-on time is shorter than the second threshold time TM2, the second server 20 displays a cancellation confirmation image P12 on the touch panel 65 of the monitoring terminal 60. For example, some customers may become engrossed in conversation with other customers on the sales floor and not operate the information terminal 50 even after the first threshold time TM1 has elapsed. When the cancellation confirmation image P12 is displayed on the touch panel 65, the attendant M3 confirms whether or not it is OK to cancel. According to this embodiment, the attendant M3 can reduce the risk of accidentally deleting information on the information terminal 50.

[0213] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a terminal management device, that is, the second server 20, that can rotate the information terminals 50 efficiently.

[0214] Although the embodiment of the terminal management device capable of efficiently rotating information terminals has been described above, the embodiment is not limited to this.

[0215] In the above embodiment, the [Cancel all] touch button BU17 is displayed on the monitoring terminal 60. In this regard, for example, the [Cancel all] touch button BU17 may be displayed on the POS terminal 30, and the cashier M2 may issue a command to cancel all transactions.

[0216] 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 with him / herself around the sales floor and operate the information terminal 50 as needed to register the purchased items.

[0217] 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.

[0218] Although several 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 embodied 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 within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. The inventions described in the original claims of this application are set forth below. [1] A terminal management device for a merchandise sales system in which users of information terminals operate the information terminals in the sales area to register products for purchase, and the users pay for the products at a cash register, the terminal management device comprising: a memory unit that stores information about the products registered at the information terminals for each information terminal; an output unit that outputs the information about the products stored in the memory unit for each information terminal to a cash register where the user who registered at the information terminal pays; and a control unit that deletes from the memory unit the information about the products paid for at the cash register, and deletes from the memory unit the information about the products registered at the information terminal that has been instructed to be canceled from an external device. [2] A terminal management device as described in Appendix [1], further comprising a communication unit that communicates with a product sales processing device that processes the registration and accounting of purchased products, wherein when the control unit receives identification information that identifies the information terminal from the product sales processing device via the communication unit, it deletes from the memory unit the information of the purchased products registered at the information terminal identified by the identification information. [3] A terminal management device as described in Appendix [1], further comprising a timing unit for measuring the time elapsed since the last purchased item was registered for each information terminal, and the control unit manages the information of the purchased item registered on the information terminal whose elapsed time exceeds a first threshold time as deletable. [4] A terminal management device as described in appendix [3], further comprising a communication unit that communicates with a monitoring terminal having a display device and an input device, wherein the control unit controls the information terminal whose elapsed time has exceeded the first threshold time so that it can be identified on the display device, and when a cancellation command is issued via the input device to the information terminal whose elapsed time has exceeded the first threshold time, the information on the purchased item registered on that information terminal is deleted from the memory unit. [5] When a cancellation instruction is given via the input device to the information terminal that has exceeded the first threshold time, the control unit determines whether the elapsed time on the information terminal has exceeded a second threshold time that is longer than the first threshold time, and if the elapsed time has exceeded the second threshold time, deletes the information on the purchased items registered on the information terminal from the memory unit; if the second threshold time has not been exceeded, displays a confirmation image on the display device, and deletes the information on the purchased items registered on the information terminal from the memory unit on the condition that input allowing deletion has been received via the input device, in the terminal management device described in Appendix [4]. [6] A program for realizing the following functions in a computer of a terminal management device of a merchandise sales system in which users of information terminals operate their respective information terminals in the sales floor to register purchased items and the users pay for the purchased items at an accounting machine: storing information about the purchased items registered at the information terminals in a memory unit for each information terminal; outputting the information about the purchased items stored in the memory unit for each information terminal to an accounting machine where the user who registered the purchased items at the information terminal pays; deleting information about the purchased items paid for at the accounting machine from the memory unit, and deleting information about the purchased items registered at the information terminal that has been instructed to be canceled from an external device from the memory unit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0219] 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 Na, 57...reader, 131...product database, 132...membership database, 133...sales promotion database, 221...information terminal table, 222...accounting machine table, C...cart, L1...registration list, L2...sales promotion list, L3...shopping list, P1...registration image, P2...attendant confirmation image, P3...plastic bag confirmation image, P4...accounting barcode image, P11...monitoring image, Ta...accounting machine status display unit, Tb...terminal status display unit.

Claims

1. A monitoring terminal for monitoring an information terminal operated by a user to register purchased items at a sales floor, a means for detecting a maintenance operation for maintaining, without deleting, the information of the purchased product registered in the information terminal that is left unused without being operated; a transmitting means for transmitting, when the maintaining operation is detected, to a terminal management device having a memory unit that stores information on the purchased goods registered on the information terminal, an instruction not to delete the information on the purchased goods registered on the information terminal in the abandoned state from the memory unit; A monitoring terminal comprising:

2. the transmitting means transmits a cancellation request for deleting all of the information on the purchased items registered in the information terminal in the abandoned state; 2. The monitoring terminal according to claim 1, wherein said means for detecting a maintaining operation detects said maintaining operation after said cancel request is transmitted.

3. A means for detecting an authorization operation that allows the information on the purchased products registered on the information terminal in the abandoned state to be deleted all at once; The monitoring terminal of claim 2 further comprising:

4. a display means for displaying a cancellation confirmation image on which a first button for accepting the maintaining operation and a second button for accepting the allowing operation are arranged; Further comprising:

4. The monitoring terminal according to claim 3, wherein the means for detecting the maintaining operation detects that the first button has been operated, and the means for detecting the permitting operation detects that the first button has been operated.

5. The monitoring terminal of claim 3, wherein when the transmission means detects the permission operation, it sends an instruction to the terminal management device to permit the information on the purchased items registered on the information terminal in the abandoned state to be deleted from the memory unit.

6. a monitoring terminal computer that monitors an information terminal operated by a user at a sales floor to register purchased items; a means for detecting a maintenance operation for maintaining, without deleting, the information of the purchased product registered in the information terminal that is left unused without being operated; and a transmitting means for transmitting, when the maintaining operation is detected, to a terminal management device having a storage unit that stores information on the purchased goods registered on the information terminal, an instruction not to delete the information on the purchased goods registered on the information terminal in the abandoned state from the storage unit; A program to function as a

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