Information processing device and program

Abstract

To ensure that transactions are properly executed in response to cases where an information processor continuously reads commodity codes in response to an operation of a customer.SOLUTION: An information processor includes: reading means for reading a commodity code in response to an operation of a customer himself / herself; registration means for registering a commodity corresponding to the commodity code read by the reading means; and display means for displaying information on the commodity registered by the registration means. The display means displays a confirmation screen indicating that the commodity corresponding to the same commodity code has already been registered by the registration means when the same commodity code is continuously read by the reading means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART There is known a technology for a self-payment terminal (full self-checkout) in which a customer performs various operations for executing product sales data processing by himself / herself (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-205023 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In transactions using information processing devices compatible with full self-service, product codes are attached to products as barcodes, etc. Customers register products by having the information processing device read the product codes attached to the products. In this case, even though the customer intended to perform the operation to read the product code once, the information processing device may end up reading the product code twice in succession. It is preferable for the information processing device to be able to handle such an occurrence of multiple readings of the product code and carry out the transaction appropriately.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to enable transactions to be carried out appropriately in response to cases where an information processing device successively reads product codes in response to a customer's operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is an information processing device comprising a reading means for reading a product code in response to an operation by a customer, a registration means for registering a product corresponding to the product code read by the reading means, and a display means for displaying information about the product registered by the registration means, wherein when the same product code is read consecutively by the reading means, the display means displays a confirmation screen indicating that a product corresponding to the same product code has already been registered by the registration means.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a program for causing an information processing device to function as a reading means for reading a product code in response to a customer's own operation, a registration means for registering a product corresponding to the product code read by the reading means, and a display means for displaying information about the product registered by the registration means, wherein the display means is a program that, when the same product code is read consecutively by the reading means, displays a confirmation screen indicating that a product corresponding to the same product code has already been registered by the registration means. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a POS system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of installation of a POS terminal in the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of a POS terminal according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a POS terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a product registration screen in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a consecutive registration confirmation screen in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure executed by the POS terminal in relation to product registration in the first embodiment. [Figure 8]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a consecutive registration confirmation screen in the third embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a product registration screen that transitions depending on the procedure for a customer to make a payment in the fourth embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a product registration screen to which the screen transitions in response to a case where the same product is registered twice in succession in the fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] First Embodiment [POS system configuration example] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a POS (Point Of Sales) according to one embodiment of the present invention. The POS system 1 shown in Fig. 1 includes three POS terminals 20-1, 20-2, and 20-3, a store controller 10, and a management device 30, all of which are communicatively connected via a LAN 11. Hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between the POS terminals 20-1, 20-2, and 20-3, they will be collectively referred to as the POS terminal 20.

[0010] The POS system 1 can be introduced into various stores, but the following description will be given taking as an example a case where the POS system 1 is introduced into a convenience store.

[0011] The store controller 10 is installed, for example, in the backroom of a store and stores a product master. The product master is information in which product information for each product sold in the store is registered. For example, when performing product registration processing, the POS terminal 20 uses information such as the product name and price of the product registered using the product master.

[0012] The management device 30 stores, for example, transaction results for the POS terminal 20. The management device 30 may also execute control to realize predetermined functions of the POS terminal 20 and the store controller 10. The management device 30 may be installed in the store, or may be provided as a cloud server outside the store.

[0013] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of installation of the POS terminal 20. Fig. 2(A) is a perspective view of the POS terminal 20 etc. as seen from the customer side. Fig. 2(B) is a perspective view of the POS terminal 20 etc. as seen from the store clerk side. As shown in Fig. 2(A), a counter is placed on the right side of the POS terminal 20 as seen from the customer (hereinafter simply referred to as customer) side.

[0014] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of a POS terminal. Fig. 3(A) is a perspective view of the POS terminal 20 as seen from the customer side. Fig. 3(B) is a perspective view of the POS terminal 20 as seen from the store clerk side. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the POS terminal 20. In Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the same parts are given the same reference numerals.

[0015] An example of the configuration of the POS terminal 20 shown in Fig. 4 will be described below with reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. The POS terminal 20 includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, a hard disk 204, a customer display unit 205, a customer scanner unit 206, a card reader 208, a change dispenser 209, a store clerk display unit 210, a key operation unit 211, a store clerk scanner unit 212, a printing unit 213, an audio output unit 214, a communication unit 215, an imaging unit 216, and a sign pole 217. These can communicate with each other via a bus.

[0016] The CPU 201 is a central processing unit that controls the operation of the POS terminal 20 by reading and executing programs stored in the ROM 202 . The ROM 202 is a read-only memory that stores various types of information used by the CPU 201, including programs.

[0017] The RAM 203 is a read / write memory that stores various information. For example, the RAM 203 stores information acquired from the outside (e.g., a product master acquired from the store controller 10) and information generated during processing (e.g., registration information generated during the registration process, settlement information generated during the settlement process, etc.). In the following description, either or both of the registration information and the settlement information may be referred to as transaction information.

[0018] The hard disk 204 stores various types of information. For example, the hard disk 204 may store programs executed by the CPU 201 instead of the ROM 202. Furthermore, the hard disk 204 may store information acquired from the outside or information generated during processing instead of the RAM 203. Instead of the hard disk 204, a storage device such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) may be provided.

[0019] The customer-side display unit 205 is a touch display for customers, which displays various information to customers and accepts various inputs from customers. The customer-side scanner unit 206 is a scanner unit for customer use, and optically reads, for example, barcodes (product codes, etc.) attached to products.

[0020] Although the customer-side scanner unit 206 is used when a customer registers a product, the customer may register the product by other methods. For example, if an order button for a product is displayed on the customer-side display unit 205, the customer can operate (press) the order button to register the product.

[0021] The card reader 208 is capable of reading information from various cards (credit cards, transportation cards, etc.) and executing processing corresponding to payment. The card reader 208 is also capable of reading information from membership cards, point cards, etc. The card reader 208 of this embodiment may include, for example, a card recognition unit (reading unit), a display unit, and an operation unit, but it is sufficient if it includes at least a card recognition unit.

[0022] The change machine 209 (cash settlement unit) is a cash settlement mechanism that has an input port for banknotes and coins and an output port for banknotes and coins, calculates the amount of money inserted into the input port, calculates the change amount, which is the difference between the input amount and the purchase amount, and dispenses the change from the output port.

[0023] The store clerk side display unit 210 is a touch display for the store clerk, and displays various information to the store clerk and receives various inputs from the store clerk. The key operation unit 211 is made up of various keys (buttons) and receives various inputs from the store clerk. The store clerk scanner unit 212 is a scanner unit for store clerks, and optically reads, for example, barcodes (product codes, etc.) attached to products and store clerk codes attached to store clerk name tags.

[0024] Although the clerk-side scanner unit 212 is used when the clerk registers a product, the clerk may register the product by other methods. For example, if a key corresponding to a product (such as a key corresponding to a sports newspaper) is arranged on the key operation unit 211, the clerk can operate (press) that key to register the product. Also, if a preset key corresponding to a product is displayed on the clerk-side display unit 210, the clerk can operate that preset key to register the product.

[0025] The printing unit 213 is a printing unit that ejects media, and prints and issues various media such as receipts. The printing unit 213 is a single printing unit that can be rotated to face from the store clerk side to the customer side, or from the customer side to the store clerk side (the direction of the media issuing port). The orientation of the printing unit 213 may be changed manually, or may be changed automatically (mechanically controlled, etc.) in response to, for example, a transition in operating mode. The correctness of the orientation of the printing unit 213 may be detected by a sensor or the like.

[0026] The audio output unit 214 outputs audio. For example, the audio output unit 214 outputs audio guidance and the like. The communication unit 215 transmits and receives information to and from other devices (other POS terminals 20, store controller 10).

[0027] The imaging unit 216 is provided to capture an image of a customer performing operations related to the transaction from a position adjacent to the customer. The captured image captured by the imaging unit 216 can be used as a monitoring image for monitoring the customer performing the transaction. The POS terminal 20 can also store the captured image captured by the imaging unit 216 in a storage device such as the hard disk 204.

[0028] The sign pole 217 is a part that lights up in a predetermined pattern and color to give a predetermined notification to store staff.

[0029] [Overview of each operation mode] Next, the operation modes of the POS terminal 20 will be described. The POS terminal 20 has a plurality of operation modes. Specifically, the POS terminal 20 has four operation modes (normal mode, full self-service mode, double scan mode, and semi-self-service mode). Note that the operation modes described below are operation modes related to accounting during normal business (operation modes related to product registration processing and settlement processing), and do not include a counting mode for counting and inquiring about sales and inventory, a maintenance mode for store clerks or maintenance personnel to perform setup and maintenance work, a training mode for training new employees, etc. In this embodiment, the term "accounting" is a concept that includes, for example, from product registration in one transaction to settlement (payment) of the registered product. In the following description, as a separate approach from the classification of the above-mentioned four operation modes, the mode in which the POS terminal 20 executes the product registration process may be referred to as the registration mode, and the mode in which the POS terminal 20 executes the settlement process may be referred to as the settlement mode.

[0030] [Normal mode] The normal mode is an operation mode in which the clerk side executes the registration process and the customer side executes the settlement process. That is, in the normal mode, the clerk side is in the registration mode and the customer side is in the settlement mode. In other words, the POS terminal 20 operates in the registration and settlement mode when viewed from the entire process from the registration process to the settlement process.

[0031] In the normal mode, the clerk registers the purchased items of the customer on the clerk side (clerk side scanner unit 212, clerk side display unit 210, key operation unit 211). In other words, the POS terminal 20 executes the registration process of the purchased items by the operation of the clerk (operation of the clerk side scanner unit 212, clerk side display unit 210, key operation unit 211, etc.).

[0032] When the clerk has completed the registration process, the customer checks the total amount of the purchased items on the clerk-side display unit 210, and settles the bill by inserting coins into the change dispenser 209 or operating the card reader 208. In other words, the POS terminal 20 executes the settlement process according to the customer's operation (inserting coins into the change dispenser 209, operating the card reader 208), etc.

[0033] The customer may wait until the registration process is completed by the store clerk (until the total amount is confirmed), or may insert money into the change dispenser 209 before the registration process is completed. In other words, the POS terminal 20 can accept deposits during the registration process.

[0034] The store clerk may wait until the customer has completed the payment (until the customer has received the change and receipt), or may register the items purchased by the next customer. In other words, the POS terminal 20 can register the items purchased by the next customer while the payment is being processed. The store clerk may also be absent while the customer is paying. In other words, the store clerk may finish serving the customer while the customer is paying.

[0035] Furthermore, if there is change, the POS terminal 20 controls the dispenser 209 to dispense the change and change notes to prevent the customer from forgetting to take the change. After a sensor or other device detects that the customer has removed the change and change notes, the POS terminal 20 controls the printing unit 213 to issue a receipt. This is also true in other operating modes. As described above, in normal mode (as well as double scan mode), a store clerk may or may not be present in front of the customer receiving the change. If a store clerk is present, the above-described control does not necessarily need to be performed (i.e., the dispensing of change and change notes and the issuance of a receipt may be performed simultaneously, or the receipt may be issued first). Furthermore, the timing of dispensing change and change notes and issuing a receipt may be controlled depending on the current operating mode and the presence / absence of a store clerk (for example, the presence / absence of a store clerk is detected by a sensor).

[0036] [Full Selfie Mode] The full self-service mode is an operation mode in which the customer side performs the registration process and the settlement process. That is, in the full self-service mode, the customer side is in both the registration mode and the settlement mode. In other words, the POS terminal 20 operates in the registration and settlement mode when viewed from the entire process from the registration process to the settlement process.

[0037] In the full self-service mode, the customer registers the purchased items on the customer side (customer side scanner unit 206, customer side display unit 205). That is, the POS terminal 20 executes the registration process of the purchased items by the customer's operation (scanning by the customer side scanner unit 206, touching the customer side display unit 205).

[0038] When the registration process is completed, the customer checks the total amount of the purchased items on the customer side display unit 205 and settles the bill by inserting coins into the change dispenser 209 or, in the case of credit card payment, operating the card reader 208. In other words, the POS terminal 20 executes the settlement process according to the customer's operation (inserting coins into the change dispenser 209, operating the card reader 208).

[0039] As described above, in the full self-service mode, the customer performs both the registration process and the payment process, but this does not mean that the store clerk cannot do anything. In other words, even when the POS terminal 20 is operating in the full self-service mode, the store clerk code can be scanned using the store clerk scanner unit 212. Furthermore, even when the POS terminal 20 is operating in the full self-service mode, various information can be displayed on the store clerk display unit 210. For example, during operation in full self-service mode, the clerk-side display unit 210 may be configured to display the same screen as that displayed on the customer-side display unit 205, depending on the registration process and payment process being performed on the customer side. In other words, the clerk-side display unit 210 may display a mirrored version of the content displayed on the customer-side display unit 205. This allows the clerk to understand what operations the customer is performing and the processing status of the POS terminal 20 in full self-service mode.

[0040] [Double Scan Mode] The double scan mode is an operation mode in which the registration process is performed on both the clerk side and the customer side, and the settlement process is performed on the customer side. That is, in the double scan mode, both the clerk side and the customer side are in registration mode, and the customer side is in settlement mode. In other words, the POS terminal 20 operates in the registration and settlement mode when viewed from the entire process from registration to settlement.

[0041] In double scan mode, the clerk registers the purchased items on the clerk side (clerk scanner unit 212, clerk display unit 210, key operation unit 211), and the customer registers the purchased items on the customer side (customer scanner unit 206, customer display unit 205). In other words, the POS terminal 20 executes the registration process of the purchased items through operations by the clerk (scanning with clerk scanner unit 212, touching the clerk display unit 210, pressing the key operation unit 211, etc.) and operations by the customer (scanning with customer scanner unit 206, touching the customer display unit 205).

[0042] When the registration process is completed, the customer checks the total amount of the purchased items on the customer side display unit 205 and settles the bill by inserting coins into the change dispenser 209 or, in the case of credit card payment, operating the card reader 208. In other words, the POS terminal 20 executes the settlement process according to the customer's operation (inserting coins into the change dispenser 209, operating the card reader 208).

[0043] The store clerk may wait until the customer completes the payment (until the customer receives the change and receipt), or may register the items purchased by the next customer. In other words, the POS terminal 20 can register the items purchased by the next customer while the payment is being processed. The store clerk may also be absent while the customer is paying. In other words, the store clerk may finish serving the customer while the customer is paying.

[0044] [Semi-selfie mode] The semi-self-service mode is an operation mode for two or more POS terminals 20, in which the registration process is performed by the store clerk at at least one POS terminal 20, and the settlement process is performed by the customer at another POS terminal 20. That is, in the semi-self-service mode, one or more POS terminals 20 are in the registration-only mode, and the other one or more POS terminals 20 are in the settlement-only mode.

[0045] In the semi-self mode, the store clerk registers the purchased items of the customer on the store clerk side (store clerk scanner unit 212, store clerk display unit 210, key operation unit 211) of the POS terminal 20 in the registration-only mode. In other words, the POS terminal 20 executes the registration process of the purchased items by the operation of the store clerk (operation of the store clerk scanner unit 212, store clerk display unit 210, key operation unit 211, etc.).

[0046] When the clerk has completed the registration process, the customer moves to the POS terminal 20 in the settlement-only mode, checks the total amount of the purchased items on the clerk-side display unit 210, and settles the bill by inserting coins into the change machine 209 or operating the card reader 208. In other words, the POS terminal 20 executes the settlement process according to the customer's operation (inserting coins into the change machine 209, operating the card reader 208), etc.

[0047] When the registration process is completed at the POS terminal 20 in the registration-only mode, the customer moves from the POS terminal 20 in the registration-only mode to the POS terminal 20 in the settlement-only mode, and the information necessary for the settlement process (such as the registration information generated at the POS terminal 20 in the registration-only mode) is supplied to the POS terminal 20 to which the customer has moved.

[0048] The destination POS terminal 20 (the POS terminal 20 in the settlement-only mode that executes the settlement process) may be specified by the POS terminal 20 in the registration-only mode. Alternatively, a medium (a medium on which a barcode or the like for obtaining information necessary for the settlement process is printed) may be issued by the POS terminal 20 in the registration-only mode, and the POS terminal 20 in the settlement-only mode that reads the medium may be set as the destination POS terminal 20.

[0049] In the semi-self-service mode, after the store clerk has transmitted the registration information, the store clerk can register the next customer's purchase. Also, after the store clerk has transmitted the registration information, the store clerk may be absent.

[0050] [Regarding the consecutive registration confirmation screen] In the case of the POS terminal 20 set to the full self-service mode, the customer himself performs the operations required for the transaction, from product registration to payment. When a customer makes a transaction using the POS terminal 20 in the full self-service mode, the customer performs an operation to have the product code read for each product that the customer wishes to purchase in the product registration stage.

[0051] As described above, when a customer has a product code read when registering a product, the customer may intend to read the product code of one product with one operation, but the customer-side scanner unit 206 of the POS terminal 20 may read the same product code two or more times in succession.

[0052] In the event that the same product code has been read multiple times in succession, the POS terminal 20 may operate in one way, such as accepting the reading of the next product code without notifying the customer. In this case, the product registration process is not interrupted, but the customer may not notice. If the customer completes the payment without noticing, the customer may end up paying more than the price for the product they intended to purchase.

[0053] As another operation of the POS terminal 20 when the same product code has been read multiple times in succession, for example, a dialog window may be displayed to notify the customer that the same product code has been read multiple times in succession, and the product registration corresponding to the product code read the second time or later may be performed or not performed depending on the operation performed on the dialog window. However, in this case, a customer who is trying to purchase multiple of the same product may mistakenly think that the same multiple products have been registered, even though the product registration corresponding to the product code read the second time or later has not been performed, and may proceed with the transaction.

[0054] Therefore, the POS terminal 20 of this embodiment is configured to display a consecutive registration confirmation screen as described below in response to the result that the same product code has been read multiple times in succession, thereby preventing the customer from completing the payment without realizing it and preventing the customer from mistakenly thinking that an unregistered product is registered and proceeding with the payment.

[0055] 5 shows an example of a product registration screen displayed on the customer-side display unit 205 of the POS terminal 20 in full self-service mode. The product registration screen in the figure includes a registration guidance area AR11, a registered product area AR12, and a payment transition instruction button BT12.

[0056] The registration guidance area AR11 is an area where customers are given guidance regarding product registration. In addition, the registration guidance area AR11 displays messages, images, etc., guiding customers to perform product registration operations by having the customer-side scanner unit 206 read the barcode (which may be another code such as a two-dimensional code) attached to the product to be registered.

[0057] In addition, in the registration guidance area AR11 of the same figure, an item designation registration instruction button BT11 is located to display a screen (item designation registration screen) for specifying and registering the item for the product to be registered if the product to be registered does not have a barcode attached. When the item designation registration instruction button BT11 is operated, the item designation registration screen is displayed, and the customer can register the product by selecting the product to be registered from the product items displayed on the displayed item designation registration screen.

[0058] The registered product area AR12 is an area where information about the products registered up to now is presented. In the registered product area AR12 in the same figure, a list item for each registered product, the number of registered products (number of registered products (number of purchased products)), and the total price of the registered products are displayed. In this case, the registered product area AR12 shows that one "mineral water" has been registered. That is, in the registered product area AR12, one list item corresponding to one "mineral water" is arranged, the number of registered items is "1 item", and the total price is "98 yen" corresponding to the one registered "mineral water".

[0059] Additionally, a surveillance image IM is displayed at the bottom left of the product registration screen in the figure. The surveillance image IM displays an image captured by the imaging unit 216 corresponding to the current time. By displaying the surveillance image IM in this manner, customers are made aware that they are being monitored by imaging while they are paying. This helps to prevent fraudulent behavior by customers.

[0060] As shown in the figure, when one "mineral water" has been registered, the customer registers another "mineral water" as the next product, which is the same item. In other words, the customer has performed an operation to have the customer-side scanner unit 206 read the product code of the same item, "mineral water," twice in a row, for the previous registration and the current registration.

[0061] In this case, the POS terminal 20 reads the same product code twice in succession. As a result, the POS terminal 20 registers two identical products in succession, corresponding to each of the two identical product codes that it reads in succession.

[0062] When the same product code is read twice in succession in this way, one of the following two cases occurs. One is when the customer intentionally causes the product codes of the same two products to be read in sequence, as in the example explained here. The other is when the customer intends to perform an operation to read the product code of one product, but the customer-side scanner unit 206 ends up reading the product code of that one product twice in succession. In this way, when the same product code is read twice consecutively, the POS terminal 20 displays a consecutive registration confirmation screen. Even when the POS terminal 20 reads the product code of one product twice in succession, the POS terminal 20 sequentially registers the same two products according to the two product codes that are sequentially read.

[0063] Product registration can be performed not only by having the customer-side scanner unit 206 read the product code, but also by operating the item designation registration instruction button BT11 to display the item designation registration screen. The consecutive registration confirmation screen is displayed in response to the case where the same product is registered twice consecutively as a result of the customer-side scanner unit 206 reading the same product code twice consecutively. If the same product is registered twice consecutively, including product registration by operating the item designation registration screen, the consecutive registration confirmation screen may not be displayed.

[0064] 6 shows an example of a consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30. The consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 in the figure is displayed as a dialog window superimposed on the product registration screen. The consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 in the figure displays a message MS informing the customer that the same two products have been consecutively registered (i.e., the same product code has been read twice in succession). Also, the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 has a confirmation button BT30.

[0065] In this case, the second "mineral water" registration was made following the first "mineral water" registration in response to the second reading of the product code for the "mineral water." Therefore, the product registration screen displayed in the background of the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 in Fig. 6 has changed from the state in Fig. 5 to a state that reflects the second registration of "mineral water." Specifically, the arrangement of list items in the registered product area AR12 of the product registration screen has been updated from one list item corresponding to one "mineral water" in Fig. 5 to two list items corresponding to two "mineral waters." Also, the number of purchases hidden by the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 in the registered product area AR12 has been updated from one in Fig. 5 to two. Also, the total amount in the registered product area AR12 has been updated from 98 yen in Fig. 5 to 196 yen.

[0066] When the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 is displayed, the customer can understand that the same product has been registered twice in succession. In this case, if a customer intends to purchase the same two products and performs the operation to read the product code of the same product twice in a row, as in this example, the customer can determine that there is no problem with the same product being registered twice in a row. Also, by looking at the registered product area AR12 on the product registration screen displayed together with the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30, the customer can see that the second product ("mineral water") has already been registered. On the other hand, if the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 is displayed even though the customer has not read the product codes of the same two products consecutively, the customer can determine that the POS terminal 20 mistakenly read the product code twice when reading the product code of the current product.Then, by looking at the registered product area AR12 of the product registration screen displayed together with the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30, the customer can see that because the product code was read twice, two products were also registered in response to the operation to read the current product code. The list item corresponding to the second registration of "mineral water" may be displayed in a different format from the list item corresponding to the first registration of "mineral water." This makes it easier for customers to confirm that the same product has been registered twice in a row.

[0067] The sort order of the list items in the registered product area AR12 may be reversed from the example shown in the figure, by sorting them from top to bottom in order of registration. In this case, the top row of the registered product area AR12 will contain the list item of the most recently registered product.

[0068] When the continuous registration confirmation screen WD30 is displayed, the registration of new products is prohibited. Therefore, even if a customer performs an operation to have the customer-side scanner unit 206 read a product code while the continuous registration confirmation screen WD30 is displayed, the product will not be registered. When a customer has the customer-side scanner unit 206 read a product code while the continuous registration confirmation screen WD30 is displayed, the POS terminal 20 may issue a warning (alert) to warn the customer that product registration is not possible. Such a warning that product registration is not possible may be issued by outputting a warning sound or a voice, for example. Such a warning allows the customer to understand that product registration will not be possible even if the product code is read. The warning that product registration is not possible may be issued by displaying a message in a predetermined manner on the customer-side display unit 205.

[0069] In this case, the customer will operate the confirmation button BT30 regardless of whether the product codes of the same two products are read in sequence or whether the customer-side scanner unit 206 reads the product code of one product twice in succession. In response to the operation of the confirmation button BT30, the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 is cleared, and the product registration screen that was in the background in Fig. 6 is displayed in the foreground. With the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 cleared, product registration, which was previously prohibited, is permitted, and new product registration can be performed by having the customer-side scanner unit 206 read the product code of the product. If the customer has had the product codes of the same two products read in sequence, the customer can resume the product registration operation (the operation of having the customer-side scanner unit 206 read the product codes of the products).

[0070] On the other hand, if the customer-side scanner unit 206 has read the product code of one product twice in succession, it is necessary to delete one of the products that was registered twice in succession from the registration contents. In this case, the customer calls a store clerk, and the clerk who responds to the call comes to the POS terminal 20 and changes the product registration contents. In this case, the clerk may operate the POS terminal 20 to make a correction so as to delete the registration of the product in question from the product registration information showing the product registration results up to that point, or the clerk may cancel the product registration information showing the product registration results up to that point, and register the product again from scratch (or have the customer register it).

[0071] By displaying the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 in this way, if the customer-side scanner unit 206 accidentally reads the product code of the same product twice in a row, the customer can be made aware of this. This prevents the customer from proceeding with the transaction without realizing that an extra product has been registered and paying an extra price. In this case, when the same product code is read twice in succession, the POS terminal 20 executes the product registration corresponding to the second read product code without suspending the product registration, and then displays the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30. Therefore, if a customer reads the product codes of the same two products in sequence, the two read products will already be registered when the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 is displayed. This prevents the customer from proceeding with the transaction without registering the second product.

[0072] [Example of processing procedure] An example of a processing procedure executed by the POS terminal 20 in relation to product registration will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 7. The processing in Fig. 7 starts when the POS terminal 20 displays a product registration screen on the customer-side display unit 205 and waits for product registration to be performed. In addition, in explaining the processing in Fig. 7, an example will be given in which the product registration operation does not involve an operation to specify the product item to be registered from among the product items displayed on the product specification registration screen, but involves an operation to have the customer-side scanner unit 206 read the product code.

[0073] Step S100: The POS terminal 20 waits for product registration to be performed while displaying the product registration screen. Step S102: When the customer causes the customer-side scanner unit 206 to read the product code of the product to be registered in response to an operation by the customer to have the customer-side scanner unit 206 read the product code, the POS terminal 20 executes a product registration process. That is, the POS terminal 20 acquires product information associated with the product code read by the customer-side scanner unit 206 from the product master stored in the store controller 10. The POS terminal 20 includes the acquired product information in the product registration information for this transaction. Step S104: The POS terminal 20 updates the contents of the product registration screen to reflect the result of the product registration process in step S102. By the process in step S104, the newly registered product list item is added, the number of items purchased is changed, the total amount is changed, and so on, in the registered product area AR12 of the product registration screen.

[0074] Step S106: The POS terminal 20 refers to the product registration result of this step S102 and the product registration result of the previous step S102, and determines whether the current product registration has resulted in the same product being registered twice in a row. This determination also corresponds to determining whether the same product code has been read twice in a row.

[0075] Step S108: If it is determined in step S106 that the same product has been registered twice in succession, the POS terminal 20 starts displaying the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 on the customer side display unit 205, superimposing it on the product registration screen.

[0076] Step S110: The POS terminal 20 determines whether or not the customer-side scanner unit 206 has read the product code while the continuous registration confirmation screen WD30 is displayed. Step S112: If it is determined in step S110 that the customer-side scanner unit 206 has read the product code, the POS terminal 20 issues a warning without executing the product registration process according to the read product code. The warning may be issued by outputting a sound as described above, or by displaying a message. In this way, by the processes of steps S110 and S112, while the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 is displayed, product registration processing in response to reading of the product code is prohibited.

[0077] Step S114: After the process of step S112, or if it is determined in step S110 that the product code has not been read, the POS terminal 20 determines whether or not a confirmation operation has been performed by the customer. The confirmation operation in this case is an operation performed by the customer to confirm that the same product has been registered twice in succession, as notified to the customer on the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30. Specifically, the confirmation operation is an operation performed on the confirmation button BT30 arranged on the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30. If it is determined in step S114 that a confirmation operation has not been performed, the process returns to step S110.

[0078] Step S116: If it is determined in step S114 that a confirmation operation has been performed, the POS terminal 20 erases the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 that has been displayed up to that point. As a result of the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 being erased, the product registration screen that was displayed in the background of the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 is now displayed in the foreground on the customer-side display unit 205.

[0079] Step S118: As mentioned above, if the customer has scanned the product codes of the same two products in sequence, the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 is cleared in step S116, and the product registration screen is displayed again, allowing the customer to resume subsequent product registration operations. Alternatively, if product registration for all of the products to be registered has been completed when the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 is cleared and the product registration screen is displayed, the customer can proceed with operations corresponding to subsequent payments. On the other hand, if the customer intended to read the product code of one product but the customer-side scanner unit 206 reads the same product code twice in succession, the store clerk will have to change the registered product details. To change the registered product details, the store clerk operates the POS terminal 20 to set the registration change mode. Therefore, after the successive registration confirmation screen WD30 is cleared in step S116, the POS terminal 20 determines whether or not the registration change mode is set.

[0080] Step S120: When the registration change mode is set, the POS terminal 20 executes a registration change process in accordance with the operation of the store clerk under the set registration change mode. The registration change process may be a process of correcting the product registration information so as to delete the registration of the relevant product from the product registration information indicating the product registration result of one previous transaction. Alternatively, the registration change process may be a process of canceling the product registration information indicating the product registration result of one previous transaction. When the registration change process in step S120 is completed, the registration change mode is terminated and the process returns to the accounting mode for product registration and payment.

[0081] Step S122: After the process of step S120, or if it is determined in step S118 that the registration change mode is not set, the POS terminal 20 determines whether or not a checkout instruction operation has been performed. The checkout instruction operation is an operation performed using the checkout instruction button BT12 on the product registration screen. If it is determined that the settlement transition instruction operation has not been performed, the process returns to step S100.

[0082] Step S124: If it is determined in step S122 that the settlement transition instruction operation has been performed, the POS terminal 20 transitions to the settlement process.

[0083] The consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 may be erased after a certain period of time has elapsed since its display began. In this case, the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 may be erased after the passage of time, and the status of product registration may be switched from prohibited to permitted.

[0084] In addition, in the continuous registration confirmation screen WD30 in Figure 6, one confirmation button BT30 is arranged as a button to be operated by the customer, but instead of the confirmation button BT30, two buttons, for example, a "Yes" button and a "No" button, may be arranged. In this case, the POS terminal 20 may also register the same two products whose product codes were read consecutively. Then, in response to the operation of the "Yes" button, the POS terminal 20 may maintain the registration of the same two products as is. On the other hand, if the "No" button is operated, the POS terminal 20 may cancel the registration of one of the same two products that were registered consecutively. In this case, the POS terminal 20 may cancel the registration of the product that was registered last out of the same two products that were registered consecutively. In this case, it is preferable to display a message on the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 instructing the user to press the "Yes" button to maintain the registration of the same two products, or to press the "No" button to cancel the registration of one of the same two products.

[0085] According to the process shown in the figure, when the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 is displayed, the POS terminal 20 prohibits product registration processing in response to reading of a new product code. As a modification of this embodiment, the POS terminal 20 may be configured to be able to perform product registration processing in response to reading of a new product code even when the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 is displayed. For example, if a customer is accustomed to paying using a self-service POS terminal 20, product registration can be more efficiently carried out by allowing the customer to continue registering products even while the continuous registration confirmation screen WD30 is displayed. In this case, the customer may be allowed to operate the confirmation button BT30 at any time up until the time of issuing a payment transition instruction to close the continuous registration confirmation screen WD30.

[0086] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. As shown in Fig. 6, the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 of the first embodiment is displayed on the product registration screen at a position that is smaller than the product registration screen and is positioned approximately in the vertical center of the product registration screen. By displaying the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 in this manner, a certain amount of area is secured in which the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 and the registered product area AR12 on the product registration screen are not obscured, allowing customers to view, for example, list items. This makes it easy for customers to accurately understand which products, among those registered up to this point, have been registered twice consecutively in response to the current consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30.

[0087] In the POS terminal 20 of this embodiment, when displaying the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30, the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 is not positioned in the center of the product registration screen, but is positioned, for example, at a predetermined position shifted to the left of the position in Fig. 6. This makes it easier to see the registered product area AR12 on the product registration screen after the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 is positioned on the product registration screen. In this case, the POS terminal 20 may set the size as well as the position of the continuous registration confirmation screen WD30 to be small so that more areas of the registered product area AR12 are not obscured, or so that no areas of the registered product area AR12 are obscured.

[0088] The POS terminal 20 may also set a predetermined transparency for the successive registration confirmation screen WD30 so that the area of ​​the product registration screen in the layer below the successive registration confirmation screen WD30 can be seen through. In this case, the POS terminal 20 may, for example, set the transparency of the continuous registration confirmation screen WD30 instead of setting the position and size of the continuous registration confirmation screen WD30, or may set the transparency of the continuous registration confirmation screen WD30 in addition to setting the position and size of the continuous registration confirmation screen WD30.

[0089] <Third embodiment> Next, a third embodiment will be described. According to the explanation of the first embodiment above, when a customer attempts to purchase three or more identical products by having the customer-side scanner unit 206 read the product codes of these three or more identical products in succession, the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 is displayed as follows: That is, the customer performs an operation to read the product code of the first identical product, causing the POS terminal 20 to register the product, and then performs an operation to read the product code of the second identical product, causing the POS terminal 20 to register the product. At this stage, the POS terminal 20 determines that the same product has been registered twice in succession, and first displays the first consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 corresponding to the corresponding identical product. The customer operates the confirmation button BT30 on the displayed first consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 to erase the first consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30. Next, an operation is performed to read the product code of the third identical product, causing the POS terminal 20 to execute product registration. As a result, the POS terminal 20 again determines that the same product has been registered twice in succession, and displays a second consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 corresponding to the corresponding identical product. For example, if the customer intends to purchase the fourth or subsequent identical product, the customer operates the confirmation button BT30 on the second consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 to close the second consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30, and then reads the product code of the fourth identical product to register the product, and repeats the same procedure for each registration of the same product. In this way, in the process in which the customer successively registers three or more identical products, the successive registration confirmation screen WD30 is displayed each time the second or subsequent identical products are registered.

[0090] In the third embodiment, the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30, which is displayed each time the second or subsequent identical product is registered, displays the number of consecutive registrations (number of consecutive registrations) for the same product.

[0091] FIG. 8 shows an example of transition of the display mode of the successive registration confirmation screen WD30 (WD30-1 to WD30-3) in this embodiment. When a customer registers a product in response to reading the first identical product code, and then registers a product in response to reading the first identical product code, the POS terminal 20 first displays a successive registration confirmation screen WD30-1. The consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30-1 includes a consecutive registration count area AR30. The consecutive registration count area AR30 indicates the number of consecutive registrations for the same product. The consecutive registration count indicates the number of consecutive registrations for the same product. The consecutive registration count can also be considered to indicate the number of consecutive registrations for the same product. The consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30-1 is displayed in response to the second registration of the same product. Therefore, the consecutive registration number area AR30 of the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30-1 shows that the consecutive registration number is "2."

[0092] The customer operates the confirmation button BT30 on the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30-1 to close the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30-1, and then performs an operation to read the product code of the third identical product. The POS terminal 20 registers the third identical product in response to the reading of the product code of the third identical product. The POS terminal 20 determines that the same product has been registered twice consecutively since the second registration of the same product, due to the third registration of the same product in this way. Therefore, the POS terminal 20 displays the second consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30-2. Up to this stage, the same product has been registered three times in a row. Therefore, the consecutive registration number area AR30 on the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30-2 shows that the consecutive registration number is "3."

[0093] Next, the customer operates the confirmation button BT30 on the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30-2 to close the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30-2. Next, the customer performs an operation to read the product code of the fourth identical product following the second identical product. The POS terminal 20 registers the fourth identical product in response to the reading of the product code of the fourth identical product. The POS terminal 20 determines that the same product has been registered twice consecutively since the third registration of the same product, due to the fourth registration of the same product in this way. Therefore, the POS terminal 20 displays the third consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30-3. Up to this stage, the same product has been registered four times in a row. Therefore, the consecutive registration number area AR30 on the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30-3 shows that the consecutive registration number is "4."

[0094] In this way, in the process in which the customer successively reads the product codes of the same product and registers the same product consecutively, the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 is displayed each time the second or subsequent identical product is registered. In addition, in this embodiment, the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 displayed in this manner has a consecutive registration count area AR30, which indicates the number of consecutive registrations for the same product up to now. In this way, the number of consecutive registrations is displayed on the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30, so that the customer can immediately know how many consecutive registrations of the same product have been made by looking at the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30.

[0095] The manner in which the number of consecutive registrations is displayed in the consecutive registration number area AR30 is not particularly limited. For example, the number of consecutive registrations may be displayed by the number of images of marks arranged in a predetermined manner.

[0096] <Fourth embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. The product sales data processing system of this embodiment includes a mobile terminal carried by a customer, a settlement device installed in a store, and a transaction management server installed on the cloud. The mobile terminal and the settlement device are each connected to the transaction management server so that they can communicate with each other. The mobile terminal may be owned by the customer, or may be prepared in advance by the store and loaned to customers who shop. The product sales data processing system of this embodiment corresponds to a self-service format in which customers themselves use a mobile terminal at the store to register products, and then use a payment device installed in the store to settle the payment according to the product registration results.

[0097] The mobile terminal used by the customer to register products may be, for example, a smartphone. In this case, a shopping application compatible with the self-service product sales data processing system of this embodiment may be installed on the mobile terminal as a smartphone owned by the customer.

[0098] An example of the procedure by which a customer makes a transaction in the product sales data processing system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When a customer starts shopping at a store, they launch a shopping application on their mobile device. The mobile device with the shopping application launched connects to a transaction management server on the cloud. The mobile device with the shopping application launched also sends, for example, its location information to the transaction management server. This allows the transaction management server to identify the store where the mobile device is being used. The mobile device and transaction management server can then perform transaction-related processing corresponding to the identified store (i.e., the store where the customer is shopping).

[0099] 9(A) shows an example of a shopping application startup screen displayed on the display unit of a mobile device. The startup screen in this figure displays the name of the store identified in the above manner. When a customer wants to start registering a product for shopping, the customer operates a transaction start instruction button BT10 arranged on the start-up screen. In response to the operation of the transaction start instruction button BT10, the mobile terminal sends a transaction start request including customer identification information to the transaction management device. The customer identification information is generated when the user registers a user account in the shopping application and is stored in the mobile terminal.

[0100] When a transaction start request is received from a mobile terminal, the transaction management device generates cart information corresponding to the requested transaction. The cart information is information indicating the product registration results. Cart identification information is assigned to the cart information. The transaction management server sends a transaction start response including the cart identification information assigned to the cart information to the mobile terminal.

[0101] The mobile terminal that has received the transaction start response displays a product registration screen. Figure 9(B) shows an example of the product registration screen that is initially displayed in response to receiving the transaction start response. The product registration screen has a captured image area AR1 and a product registration result area AR2. The captured image area AR1 is an area where a captured image obtained by a camera installed in the mobile terminal is displayed. The product code captured so that it fits within a predetermined range in the captured image displayed in the captured image area AR1 is the target for reading. The product registration result area AR2 is an area that shows the number of registered products (number of registered products) and the total price for the products that have been registered so far, and also has list items corresponding to each registered product.

[0102] A customer holds a mobile terminal with the product registration screen displayed as described above in their hand or has it attached to a shopping cart holder, and then takes a product to be purchased, for example, from a shelf in a store. The customer then uses the camera on the mobile terminal to capture an image of the product code attached to the product, causing the mobile terminal to scan (read) the product code.

[0103] The mobile terminal executes a product registration process in response to scanning the product code. There are two modes for processing cart information in response to the product registration process. One aspect is that each time a product code is scanned (read), the mobile device sends the scanned product code to the transaction management server, thereby allowing cart information indicating the synchronized product registration results to be shared between the mobile device and the transaction management server. In another aspect, the mobile terminal updates the product registration information each time a product code is scanned. Then, when the customer completes the registration of all products and issues a payment instruction (operation of the payment button BT2), the mobile terminal transmits product registration information that reflects the product registration results of all product code scans to the transaction management server. In other words, the mobile terminal transmits the product registration information to the transaction management server all at once upon completion of product registration. The transaction management server generates cart information for the corresponding transaction based on the received product registration information. The following explanation will use the latter case as an example of processing cart information in response to product registration processing, in which the transaction management server generates cart information based on the product registration information sent in bulk by the mobile terminal upon completion of product registration.

[0104] In response to scanning the product code, the mobile terminal executes product registration processing by including product information of the scanned product code in the product registration information. In addition, the mobile terminal reflects the registration result of the product corresponding to the scanned product code on the product registration screen. That is, the mobile terminal displays a list item Itm of products that have been registered so far in the product registration result area AR2, as shown in Fig. 9(C). In response to the new registration of one product by scanning one product code, a list item Itm indicating the product corresponding to the product code scanned this time is added to the product registration result area AR2. The information such as the product name and price (unit price) shown in the list item Itm is obtained, for example, based on the product master sent by the transaction management server in response to the transaction start request. Alternatively, the information such as the product name and price (unit price) shown in the list item Itm may be obtained based on information related to the product included in the product code.

[0105] When the customer has finished registering all the products they wish to purchase, they press the Checkout button BT2 on the product registration screen. In response to pressing the Checkout button BT2, the mobile device sends product registration information indicating the product registration results to the transaction management server. The transaction management server uses the received product registration information to generate cart information for the corresponding transaction.

[0106] In response to the operation of the payment transition button BT2, the mobile terminal displays a payment transition screen in place of the product registration screen that was previously displayed. 9(D) shows an example of the checkout screen. The checkout screen displays a cart identification code CD, which indicates the cart identification information of the cart information corresponding to the current transaction. In this case, the cart identification code CD is a two-dimensional code, but it may also be a barcode (one-dimensional code), for example.

[0107] When the registration transition button BT20 on the payment transition screen is operated, the mobile terminal returns the display to the product registration screen that was displayed immediately before the payment transition screen was displayed, for example, and makes it possible to register a product again.

[0108] After registering the product, the customer goes to a payment device installed in the store to make payment. If multiple payment devices are installed in the store, the customer may go to any payment device at their own discretion. The customer operates the code scanner of the payment device at the destination to read the cart identification code CD displayed on the payment transition screen displayed on the mobile terminal. The settlement device sends a cart information request including the cart identification information indicated by the read cart identification code CD to the transaction management server. The transaction management server sends cart information identified by the same cart identification information included in the received cart information request to the settlement device. The payment device uses the received cart information to carry out payment processing in accordance with the customer's operations. Completion of the payment processing marks the end of the accounting for one transaction. After this, the customer can leave the store with their purchased items.

[0109] An example of the operation of the mobile terminal when the same product is registered twice consecutively during the product registration process in the checkout process performed as described above will be described with reference to FIG. The customer first registered one "potato chip" by scanning the product code of the "potato chip" product with their mobile device. Next, the customer registered another "bottled coffee" by scanning the product code attached to the "bottled coffee" product with their mobile device.

[0110] 10(A) shows a product registration screen displayed on a mobile device according to the results of product registration as described above. In the product registration result area AR2 of the product registration screen in the figure, the list item for the first registered product, "Potato Chips," is placed on the first line, and the list item for the second registered product, "Bottled Coffee," is placed on the second line. The product registration result area AR2 also shows that the number of registered items is two, and the total price is 230 yen.

[0111] In this embodiment, when the same product code is read twice in succession, the mobile terminal displays a consecutive registration confirmation screen to prompt the customer to confirm that the same product code has been read twice in succession.

[0112] One example of a case where the same product code is read twice in succession is when a customer intends to purchase multiple copies of the same product and has the product codes of the same multiple products read.

[0113] Another possibility is that the same product code may be read twice in succession when the product code of a product added to a shopping cart after registration is read as follows: In this embodiment, the mobile terminal is attached to a holder of the shopping cart. When attached to the holder of the shopping cart, the mobile terminal is ready to capture images of the inside of the shopping cart. In this situation, a customer places a bottle of "bottled coffee" into their shopping cart after having had its product code scanned and registered. At this time, when the camera on the mobile device captures an image of the "bottled coffee" in the shopping cart, it may determine that the product code of the "bottled coffee" is the item to be scanned and read. If the product code of a "bottled coffee" is scanned while it is in the shopping cart, the same product code will be scanned twice in succession.

[0114] In this embodiment, if the same product code is read twice in succession, the second registration of the same product is put on hold, and a consecutive registration confirmation screen is then displayed.

[0115] 10B shows an example of a consecutive registration confirmation screen WD40. The consecutive registration confirmation screen WD40 shown in the figure is an example in the form of a dialog window arranged on the product registration screen. In this embodiment, the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD40 is positioned at the top of the product registration screen, so that the product registration result area AR2 can be viewed along with the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD40. This allows the customer to check the product registration results up to now by looking at the product registration result area AR2 while the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD40 is displayed. In this embodiment, the position and size of the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD40 may be determined so that the product registration result area AR2 is not obscured. In this case, as mentioned above, the second registration of the same product is put on hold. Therefore, the content of the product registration result shown in the product registration result area AR2 of the product registration screen displayed as the background of the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD40 remains unchanged from that shown in Figure 10(A).

[0116] The consecutive registration confirmation screen WD40 is arranged with a product name area AR41, a message area AR42, a quantity setting area AR43, a registration instruction button BT41, and a non-registration instruction button BT42.

[0117] The product name area AR41 is an area that displays the product name of the product corresponding to the product code that has been scanned twice consecutively.

[0118] Message area AR42 is an area where a message is displayed informing the customer that the same product code has been scanned twice in succession, and that the product corresponding to the first product code scan has already been registered. The figure shows an example in which the product registration corresponding to the first product code scan has already been completed, and one corresponding product is already in the shopping cart.

[0119] The registration instruction button BT41 is a button that is used to instruct registration of a product whose registration has been put on hold in response to the second scanning of the product code. The non-registration instruction button BT42 is a button that is operated to instruct not to register a product whose registration has been put on hold in response to the second scanning of the product code.

[0120] The quantity setting area AR43 is an area where the customer can specify the registration quantity when registering a product whose registration is pending. The customer can change the registration quantity by operating the plus button BT31 and the minus button BT342 in the quantity setting area AR43. A registration quantity area AR431 in the quantity setting area AR43 is an area in which the currently set registration quantity is displayed. Furthermore, the price area AR432 in the quantity setting area AR43 is an area that displays the price of the product according to the currently set registered quantity.

[0121] If the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD40 is displayed because the product code of an item that has been registered and added to the shopping cart is inadvertently scanned, the customer does not need to register the same item whose product code was scanned a second time. In this case, the customer operates the non-registration instruction button BT42. In response to the operation of the non-registration instruction button BT42, the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD40 is erased, and the same product registration screen that has been displayed up until now is displayed in the foreground. In this case, as shown in Fig. 10(C), the product registration result displayed in the product registration result area AR2 is unchanged from Fig. 10(B).

[0122] On the other hand, if the customer intends to purchase the same item multiple times and has scanned the product codes of the same multiple items, causing the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD40 to be displayed, the same item whose product code was scanned the second time should be registered. In this case, the customer sets the registration quantity as necessary by operating the quantity setting area AR43 on the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD40, and then operates the registration instruction button BT41. When the registration instruction button BT41 is operated, the continuous registration confirmation screen WD40 is also cleared and the product registration screen is displayed in the foreground. However, in this case, the mobile terminal executes a process to register the same product whose product code was scanned a second time in response to the operation of the registration instruction button BT41. Therefore, in the product registration result area AR2 of the displayed product registration screen, as shown in Fig. 10(D), it is indicated that the registration of the same product in response to the second scanning of the product code has been added as the product registration result. Specifically, in Fig. 10(B), in addition to the list item corresponding to one "potato chips" product on the first line and the list item corresponding to one "bottled coffee" product on the second line, a new list item corresponding to one "bottled coffee" product is arranged on the third line.

[0123] As a variation of this embodiment, when the same product code is read twice in succession, the mobile terminal may complete the registration of the same product for the second time without suspending the registration, and then display the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD40. In this case, the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD40 may have confirmation buttons similar to those shown in Fig. 6 arranged thereon, instead of the registration instruction button BT41 and the non-registration instruction button BT42. When confirmation buttons are arranged on the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD40 in this manner, an area where an operation for specifying the registration quantity, such as the quantity setting area AR43, can be performed may also be omitted. In this case, if the customer does not intend to purchase the same product whose product code was scanned a second time, the customer may call a store clerk when making payment at the payment device. The store clerk who responds to the call will operate the payment device to cancel the registration of one of the two registered identical products, and have the customer make the subsequent payment.

[0124] <Modification> Modifications of the above embodiment will now be described.

[0125] [First Modification] In each of the above embodiments, the POS terminal 20 or the mobile terminal may be configured to emit a predetermined electronic sound (or a buzzer sound) each time a product code is read by the customer-side scanner unit 206 or the camera. The customer can recognize that the product code has been successfully read by hearing the electronic sound emitted in response to the product registration operation. In this case, the POS terminal 20 or the mobile terminal may be configured to emit an electronic sound different from the predetermined electronic sound when it determines that the current product code read is the same product code as the previous scan. By changing the electronic sound in this way, the customer can easily notice that the same product code has been read repeatedly. Furthermore, even if the customer does not notice, a nearby store clerk can hear the electronic sound and realize that the same product code has been read repeatedly and take action.

[0126] [Second Modification] In each of the above embodiments, if the customer-side scanner unit 206 or camera does not read the product code correctly, the POS terminal 20 or the mobile terminal may notify the customer of the fact that the product code was not read correctly by using an audio message. For example, if an electronic sound is used to notify the customer, the customer may not recognize that the electronic sound indicates that the product code was not read correctly. Therefore, by specifically informing the customer by audio, the customer can be sure to recognize that the product code was not read correctly.

[0127] [Third Modification] As a modification of the first to third embodiments, the POS terminal 20 may display a screen similar to the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 even when the product code of one product is read, then the product code of another product is read, and then the product code of the first product is read again. In this case, similar to the third embodiment, the POS terminal 20 may display the current total number of the same product that has been registered so far on a screen similar to the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 each time the product code of the same product is read.

[0128] [Fourth Modification] In addition, in response to a settlement transition instruction operation being performed, the POS terminal 20 may display in a predetermined manner so that the customer can confirm the number of the same product that has been registered consecutively (or registered multiple times in total) in the transaction.

[0129] <Summary of the embodiment> [Technical field] The present invention relates to an information processing device and a program. [Background technology] BACKGROUND ART There is known a technology for a self-payment terminal (full self-checkout) in which a customer performs various operations for executing product sales data processing by himself / herself (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art document] [Patent documents] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-205023 A [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be solved by the invention] In transactions using information processing devices compatible with full self-service, product codes are attached to products as barcodes, etc. Customers register products by having the information processing device read the product codes attached to the products. In this case, even though the customer intended to perform the operation to read the product code once, the information processing device may end up reading the product code twice in succession. It is preferable for the information processing device to be able to handle such an occurrence of multiple readings of the product code and carry out the transaction appropriately. The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to enable transactions to be carried out appropriately in response to cases where an information processing device successively reads product codes in response to a customer's operation.

[0130] [Means for solving the problem] (1) One aspect of this embodiment is an information processing device (e.g., POS terminal 20, mobile terminal, product sales data processing device, product data processing device, sales data processing device, product registration device, registration device, etc.) that includes a reading means (e.g., customer-side scanner unit 206, camera of a mobile terminal) that reads a product code in response to an operation by the customer himself / herself, a registration means that registers a product corresponding to the product code read by the reading means, and a display means that displays information about the product registered by the registration means, and when the same product code is read consecutively by the reading means, the display means is an information processing device (e.g., POS terminal 20, mobile terminal, product sales data processing device, product data processing device, sales data processing device, product registration device, registration device, etc.) that displays a confirmation screen (e.g., consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30, WD40) indicating that a product corresponding to the same product code has already been registered by the registration means when the same product code is read consecutively by the reading means.

[0131] According to the above configuration, when the information processing device reads the same product code consecutively, a consecutive registration confirmation screen is displayed indicating that the product corresponding to the product code that was read first among the consecutively read product codes has already been registered by the registration means. This means that if a customer intentionally has the product codes of two identical products read consecutively, the customer can proceed with the rest of the transaction knowing that the product registration has been made or should be made in response to the second reading of the product code. On the other hand, if the product code is unintentionally read twice in succession despite the operation to read the product code of one product, the customer will be able to notice this by looking at the consecutive registration confirmation screen, and the transaction will be properly processed as if the product corresponding to the second reading of the product code had not been registered, and the transaction can then be carried out. In this way, according to this embodiment, even if the information processing device reads the same product code consecutively in response to the customer's operation, the transaction can be carried out appropriately.

[0132] (2) One aspect of this embodiment is the information processing device described in (1), wherein the display means displays the confirmation screen in a manner that allows at least a portion of the area presenting a list of products registered by the registration means to be visible.

[0133] According to the above configuration, the consecutive registration confirmation screen and the product registration results on the product registration screen are displayed so that they can be seen on the same screen. This allows the customer to check the current product registration status while the consecutive registration confirmation screen is displayed.

[0134] (3) One aspect of this embodiment is an information processing device as described in (1) or (2), wherein the display means displays the confirmation screen including an operator (e.g., a registration instruction button BT41), and the registration means registers a product corresponding to a product code that is read later among the same product codes that are read consecutively, based on an operation on the operator.

[0135] According to the above configuration, the product corresponding to the second reading of the product code can be registered in response to operating the registration instruction button BT41 on the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD40. In this case, the customer can instruct whether or not to register the product corresponding to the second reading of the product code by operating the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD40.

[0136] (4) One aspect of this embodiment is an information processing device as described in (1) or (2), wherein the display means displays the confirmation screen including an operator (e.g., a confirmation button BT30), and the registration means registers a product corresponding to a product code that is read last among product codes that are read consecutively, regardless of the confirmation operation on the operator.

[0137] According to the above configuration, when the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 is displayed, the product corresponding to the second reading of the product code has been registered. As a result, if the customer-side scanner unit 206 accidentally reads the product code of one product twice in succession, the display of the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 will allow the customer to realize that an extra product has been registered. Also, if the customer has had the product codes of the same two products scanned in sequence, the two scanned products will already be registered when the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30 is displayed, preventing the customer from proceeding with the checkout without having registered the second product.

[0138] (5) One aspect of this embodiment is an information processing device described in any one of (1) to (4), wherein the display means, in response to the reading means reading the same product code consecutively, displays on the confirmation screen the number of times the same product code has been read (e.g., the number of consecutive registrations) (e.g., the number of consecutive registrations area AR30).

[0139] According to the above configuration, the number of consecutive registrations can be displayed in a manner that sequentially increments in the consecutive registration number area AR30 of the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30, which is displayed each time the product codes of multiple identical products are sequentially read by the customer-side scanner unit 206. This allows the customer to instantly grasp how many of the same products have been registered at the current stage by looking at the consecutive registration confirmation screen WD30.

[0140] (6) One aspect of this embodiment is a program for causing an information processing device to function as a reading means for reading a product code in response to a customer's own operation, a registration means for registering a product corresponding to the product code read by the reading means, and a display means for displaying information about the product registered by the registration means, wherein the display means is a program for, when the same product code is read consecutively by the reading means, displaying a confirmation screen indicating that a product corresponding to the same product code has already been registered by the registration means.

[0141] Note that a program for implementing the functions of the POS terminal 20, mobile terminal, transaction management server, etc. described above may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium may be loaded into a computer system and executed to perform the processing of the POS terminal 20, mobile terminal, transaction management server, etc. Here, "loading a program recorded on a recording medium into a computer system and executing it" includes installing the program on a computer system. The term "computer system" here includes hardware such as an operating system and peripheral devices. The term "computer system" may also include multiple computer devices connected via a network, including the Internet, a WAN, a LAN, a dedicated line, and other communication lines. The term "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as floppy disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks built into a computer system. Thus, a recording medium storing a program may be a non-transitory recording medium such as a CD-ROM. The term "recording medium" also includes internal or external recording media accessible from a distribution server for distributing the program. The program code stored on the distribution server's recording medium may be different from the program code executable on the terminal device. In other words, the format in which the program is stored on the distribution server does not matter as long as it can be downloaded from the distribution server and installed in a form that is executable on the terminal device. The program may be divided into multiple parts, each of which may be downloaded at different times and then combined on the terminal device, or each of the divided programs may be distributed by a different distribution server. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" also includes a storage medium that stores a program for a certain period of time, such as volatile memory (RAM) within a computer system that serves as a server or client when a program is transmitted over a network. The program may also be one that realizes part of the functions described above.Furthermore, the above-mentioned functions may be realized in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system, that is, a so-called differential file (differential program). [Explanation of symbols]

[0142] 1 POS system, 10 store controller, 20 (20-1, 20-2, 20-3) POS terminal, 30 management device, 201 CPU, 202 ROM, 203 RAM, 204 hard disk, 205 customer side display unit, 206 customer side scanner unit, 208 card reader, 209 change dispenser, 210 store clerk side display unit, 211 key operation unit, 212 store clerk side scanner unit, 213 printing unit, 214 audio output unit, 215 communication unit, 216 imaging unit, 217 sign pole

Claims

1. reading means for reading the product code in response to an operation by the customer; a registration means for registering a product corresponding to the product code read by the reading means; a display means for displaying information about the product registered by the registration means, When the same product code is read by the reading means consecutively, the display means displays each of the products corresponding to the same product code in a state reflected on the registration screen, and further displays a consecutive registration confirmation screen indicating that the products corresponding to the consecutively read product codes have already been registered by the registration means. Information processing device.

2. When the same product code is successively read by the reading means, the display means displays each of the products corresponding to the same product code in a state reflected on the registration screen, and further displays each of the products corresponding to the same product code in a different manner on the registration screen. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. the display means displays the successive registration confirmation screen including an operator; The registration means registers the product corresponding to the product code read last among the same product codes read consecutively based on the operation of the operator.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1.

4. the display means displays the successive registration confirmation screen including an operator; The registration means registers the product corresponding to the product code read last among the product codes read consecutively, regardless of the confirmation operation on the operation element.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1.

5. In response to the reading of the same product code by the reading means, the display means displays the number of times the same product code has been read up to that point on the successive registration confirmation screen. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. An information processing device a reading means for reading the product code in response to an operation by the customer; a registration means for registering the product corresponding to the product code read by the reading means; A program for causing the program to function as a display means for displaying information about the product registered by the registration means, When the same product code is read by the reading means consecutively, the display means displays each of the products corresponding to the same product code in a state reflected on the registration screen, and further displays a consecutive registration confirmation screen indicating that the products corresponding to the consecutively read product codes have already been registered by the registration means. program.

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