U.S. patent application number 15/260489 was filed with the patent office on 2016-12-29 for commodity sales data processing apparatus, portable terminal and method.
The applicant listed for this patent is TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Shota Konishi.
Application Number | 20160379197 15/260489 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51260098 |
Filed Date | 2016-12-29 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20160379197 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Konishi; Shota |
December 29, 2016 |
COMMODITY SALES DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS, PORTABLE TERMINAL AND
METHOD
Abstract
A portable terminal includes a wireless communication adopter
and a processor. The wireless communication adopter executes
wireless communication with a commodity sales data processing
apparatus. The processor executes settlement processing on the
basis of commodity information and in response to receiving the
commodity information containing a price of a commodity from the
commodity sales data processing apparatus via the wireless
communication adopter. Additionally, the processor transmits, via
the communication adopter, settlement information resulting from
the settlement processing, to the commodity sales data processing
apparatus.
Inventors: |
Konishi; Shota; (Tokyo-to,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
51260098 |
Appl. No.: |
15/260489 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14170688 |
Feb 3, 2014 |
|
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15260489 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/3672 20130101;
G06Q 20/202 20130101; G06Q 20/208 20130101; G06Q 20/3278 20130101;
G06Q 20/3227 20130101; G06Q 20/18 20130101; G06Q 20/325 20130101;
G06Q 20/204 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 20/20 20060101
G06Q020/20; G06Q 20/32 20060101 G06Q020/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 4, 2013 |
JP |
2013-019669 |
Oct 29, 2013 |
JP |
2013-224145 |
Claims
1. A portable terminal, comprising: a wireless communication
adopter that executes wireless communication with a commodity sales
data processing apparatus; and a processor that executes:
settlement processing on the basis of commodity information and in
response to receiving the commodity information containing a price
of a commodity from the commodity sales data processing apparatus
via the wireless communication adopter; and transmission processing
via the wireless communication adopter to transmit settlement
information resulting from the settlement processing, to the
commodity sales data processing apparatus.
2. The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein the
processor executes: transmission processing to transmit a request
for shopping history information via the wireless communication
adopter to the commodity sales data processing apparatus, and
reception processing to receive the shopping history information
via the wireless communication adopter.
3. The portable terminal according to claim 2, wherein the
processor executes: transmission processing to transmit a request
for recommendation information identifying a recommended commodity
via the wireless communication adopter, and reception processing to
receive the recommendation information via the wireless
communication adopter.
4. The portable terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a
display that displays a checkout key enabling a commodity to be
registered, wherein the processor executes: transmission processing
to transmit a signal to the commodity sales data processing
apparatus via the wireless communication adopter, the signal
indicating that the checkout key is operated in accordance with an
operation of the checkout key displayed; and the settlement
processing on the basis of the settlement information received from
the commodity sales data processing apparatus in accordance with
the signal that is transmitted.
5. The portable terminal according to claim 4, wherein the display
further displays a settlement key; and the processor executes, if
the settlement key is operated, the settlement processing on the
basis of the settlement information received from the commodity
sales data processing apparatus.
6. A communication method for a portable terminal, the method
comprising: executing a communication with a commodity sales data
processing apparatus via a wireless communication adopter;
executing settlement processing on the basis of commodity
information and in response to receiving the commodity information
containing a price of a commodity from the commodity sales data
processing apparatus via the wireless communication adopter; and
executing transmission processing via the wireless communication
adopter to transmit settlement information resulting from the
settlement processing, to the commodity sales data processing
apparatus.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No.
14/170,688 filed on Feb. 3, 2014, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] The present application is based upon and claims the benefit
of priorities from Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-019669
filed on Feb. 4, 2013 and Japanese Patent Application No.
2013-224145 filed on Oct. 29, 2013, the entire contents of which
are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD
[0003] Embodiments described herein relate to a commodity sales
data processing apparatus, a portable terminal and a method.
BACKGROUND
[0004] In a supermarket or department store, the purchased
commodities are registered and settled using a commodity sales data
processing apparatus, such as a POS (Point of Sales) terminal or a
register, which comprises an optical reader. To register a
commodity using the commodity sales data processing apparatus, the
optical reader is used to read a commodity code such as a barcode
or a two-dimensional code attached to the commodity, and the
commodity sales data processing apparatus executes a commodity
registration based on the read commodity code. The commodity sales
data processing apparatus prints commodity information or
settlement information serving as a result of the commodity
registration on a receipt paper and then issues the receipt. The
customer takes the issued receipt to keep an account of household
expense with the receipt information such as the commodity
information or the checkout information printed on the receipt.
[0005] However, with the popularization of a portable terminal such
as a mobile phone, a smart phone or a tablet PC, customers hope to
use a portable terminal to receive and display settlement
information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a POS terminal according to
a first embodiment;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a POS terminal on which a
portable terminal is held;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware
arrangement of a POS terminal;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware
arrangement of a portable terminal;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating the
functional components of a POS terminal;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating the
functional components of a portable terminal;
[0012] FIG. 7-1 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a control
processing carried out by a POS terminal and a portable
terminal;
[0013] FIG. 7-2 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a control
processing carried out by a POS terminal and a portable
terminal;
[0014] FIG. 7-3 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a control
processing carried out by a POS terminal and a portable
terminal;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen of a portable
terminal; and
[0016] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a control
processing carried out by a POS terminal and a portable terminal
according to a second embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] In accordance with an embodiment, a portable terminal,
comprises a wireless communication adopter that executes wireless
communication with a commodity sales data processing apparatus; and
a processor that executes: settlement processing on the basis of
commodity information and in response to receiving the commodity
information containing a price of a commodity from the commodity
sales data processing apparatus via the wireless communication
adopter; and transmission processing via the wireless communication
adopter to transmit settlement information resulting from the
settlement processing, to the commodity sales data processing
apparatus.
[0018] In accordance with an embodiment, a portable terminal
comprises a wireless communication section; a settlement processing
unit configured to execute, if commodity information containing the
price of a commodity is received from a commodity sales data
processing apparatus through the wireless communication section, a
settlement processing based on commodity information; and a
settlement information sending unit configured to send settlement
information resulting from the settlement processing executed by
the settlement processing unit to the commodity sales data
processing apparatus.
[0019] In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes
determining whether or not wireless communication with a portable
terminal of a customer is established; and wirelessly transmitting
information for the display of settlement information based on
commodity specification information input from an input section on
the portable terminal from a wireless communication section to the
portable terminal on condition that the wireless communication with
the portable terminal is determined to be established.
[0020] The commodity sales data processing apparatus, the portable
terminal and the method according to a first embodiment are
described in detail below with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 8. The
commodity sales data processing apparatus is, for example, a POS
terminal or a register. In the first embodiment, a POS terminal is
described as an example of the commodity sales data processing
apparatus. Additionally, the present invention is not limited to
the first embodiment which will be described below.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a POS terminal 1 according
to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a POS
terminal 1 on a portable terminal holding section 5 of which a
portable terminal 7 is held. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the POS
terminal 1 is arranged in a store, and the portable terminal 7 is
detachably held on the portable terminal holding section 5 of the
POS terminal 1. The POS terminal 1 registers the commodities
purchased by a customer to update sales information of the
commodities and settles the amount paid by the customer. In the
first embodiment, the POS terminal 1 is described as a self-type
POS terminal which is operated by the customer. Additionally, the
POS terminal 1 may also be a POS terminal which is operated by an
operator.
[0022] In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the POS terminal 1 comprises a main
body 2, a handle 3, a code reader 4 serving as an input section for
inputting a commodity code for specifying a commodity, a portable
terminal holding section 5 and a light-emitting section 6. The
lower portion of the main body 2 is substantially formed in a
rectangular parallelepiped shape. The code reader 4 having a
reading window on a vertical side of the main body 2 is arranged
inside the rectangular parallelepiped shaped portion of the main
body 2. An inclined portion 51 inclined from the front side to the
back side of the main body 2 is formed on the main body 2 at a
position upper than the code reader 4. The portable terminal
holding section 5 is arranged on the main body 2 along the inclined
portion 51. On the main body 2, the handle 3 is formed at the upper
side of the portable terminal holding section 5 along the inclined
portion 51.
[0023] A circuit board or a power supply for the POS terminal 1 is
arranged inside the main body 2. The handle 3 is used to carry the
POS terminal 1. The code reader 4 has a CCD (Charge Coupled Device)
image sensor which is arranged in the main body 2. The code reader
4 reads a commodity code from a code symbol such as a barcode or a
two-dimensional code attached to a commodity. The code reader 4
reads the image of a commodity using the image sensor, recognizes a
commodity code from the code symbol contained in the image, and
inputs the commodity code. Further, the code reader 4 may also be
various other readers, such as a reader which optically reads a
commodity code by irradiating a laser light and then receiving the
reflection light reflected from the code of a commodity, a reader
which reads a commodity code from a captured image, and the like.
Further, it is not limited to the code recognition, object
recognition for recognizing an object based on the feature amount
of the object may also be used.
[0024] The portable terminal 7 may be any portable PC such as a
portable phone, a smart phone or a tablet PC. In the first
embodiment, a tablet PC is described as an example of the portable
terminal 7. The portable terminal holding section 5 comprises a
flat inclined portion 51 which is formed on the upper portion of
the main body 2 and a support portion 52 which is arranged at the
lower end of the inclined portion 51 to face the inclined portion
51 at a distance substantially equivalent to the thickness of the
portable terminal 7. The POS terminal 1 carries the portable
terminal 7 with the inclined portion 51 while supporting the
portable terminal 7 with the lower end of the inclined portion 51
and the support portion 52, thereby holding the portable terminal
7.
[0025] A NFC (Near Field Communication) device 24 serving as the
wireless communication section for carrying out near-distance
wireless communication is arranged inside the main body 2 of the
POS terminal 1 at a position nearby the center of the inclined
portion 51. The NFC device 24 is located at such a position where
when the portable terminal 7 is held on the POS terminal 1, the NFC
device 24 is nearby and opposite to a NFC device 37 arranged in the
portable terminal 7. In this state, the POS terminal 1 and the
portable terminal 7 communicate with each other through NFC devices
thereof.
[0026] The NFC device 24 executes near-distance wireless
communication. The communication distance of the NFC device 24 is
from several centimeters to dozens of centimeters. The NFC device
24 establishes communication with the portable terminal 7 held on
the portable terminal holding section 5 and exchanges information
between the POS terminal 1 and the portable terminal 7.
[0027] The light-emitting section 6 is formed around the code
reader 4 in an annular shape. The light-emitting section 6 is
formed by a transparent acrylic plate, and the whole annular
acrylic plate emits light when the light source (not shown)
arranged in the main body 2 emits light. The light-emitting section
6 emits blue light when the POS terminal 1 is in a standby state,
yellow light during a commodity registration process, and red light
if a settlement is not ended smoothly or the apparatus is in
abnormality state.
[0028] The portable terminal 7 comprises a display section 8 for
displaying various keys or information and an operation section 9
consisting of a touch panel arranged on the display section 8. The
display section 8 faces diagonally upward when the portable
terminal 7 is held on the portable terminal holding section 5. The
customer operates the operation section 9 with fingers based on the
keys or information displayed on the display section 8.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware
arrangement of the POS terminal 1 according to the first
embodiment. In FIG. 3, the POS terminal 1 comprises a CPU (Central
Processing Unit) 11 constituting a control main body, a ROM (Read
Only Memory) 12 for storing various programs, a RAM (Random Access
Memory) 13 functioning as the working area of the CPU 11 and
serving as a storage unit and a memory section 14 consisting of a
HDD for storing various programs. The memory section 14 stores
application software sent from the POS terminal 1 to the portable
terminal 7. When installed and started in the portable terminal 7,
the application software executes information transmission and
reception with the POS terminal 1 in the potable terminal 7. The
CPU 11, the ROM 12, the RAM 13 and the memory section 14 are
connected with each other through a data bus line 15.
[0030] The CPU 11, the ROM 12, the RAM 13 and the memory section 14
constitute a control section 100, which executes a control
processing which will be described later by enabling the CPU 11 to
operate according to a program stored in the ROM 12 or the memory
section 14 and expanded in the RAM 13.
[0031] Further, the data bus line 15 is connected with the code
reader 4 and the NFC device 24 through a controller 21.
[0032] The memory section 14, which is a nonvolatile storage device
such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory, stores a control
program for controlling the POS terminal 1 or a commodity master
141 for storing the commodity information (commodity name,
commodity price and the like) corresponding to a commodity code
specifying a commodity.
[0033] Further, the data bus line 15 is connected with a LAN line
23 via a LAN I/F (Interface) 22 and another POS terminal 1 or an
upper device via the LAN line 23.
[0034] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware
arrangement of the portable terminal 7. In FIG. 4, the portable
terminal 7 comprises a CPU 31 constituting a control main body, a
ROM 32 for storing various programs, a RAM 33 functioning as the
working area of the CPU 31 and a memory section 34 consisting of a
HDD for storing various programs. The CPU 31, the ROM 32, the RAM
33 and the memory section 34 are connected with each other through
a data bus line 35.
[0035] The CPU 31, the ROM 32, the RAM 33 and the memory section 34
constitute a control section 300, which executes a control
processing which will be described later by enabling the CPU 31 to
operate according to a control program stored in the ROM 32 or the
memory section 34 and expanded in the RAM 33. Further, the
commodity code is read by the POS terminal 1, and the RAM 33 has a
commodity information storage section 331 which stores the
commodity information sent from the POS terminal 1. The memory
section 34, which is a nonvolatile storage device such as a flash
memory, stores a control program for controlling the portable
terminal 7.
[0036] Further, the data bus line 35 is connected with the display
section 8 and the operation section 9 via a controller 36. The data
bus line 35 is further connected with a NFC device 37 serving as
the wireless communication section through the controller 36. The
NFC device 37 has the same function with the aforementioned NFC
device 24.
[0037] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating the
functional components of the POS terminal 1. The POS terminal 1
realizes a determination unit 101 and a communication unit 102 by
enabling the control section 100 to operate according to various
programs stored in the ROM 12 or the memory section 14.
[0038] The determination unit 101 has a function of determining
whether or not wireless communication with the portable terminal 7
of a customer is established.
[0039] The communication unit 102 wirelessly transmits information
for the display of settlement information based on the commodity
code input from the input section on the portable terminal 7 from
the wireless communication section to the portable terminal 7 on
condition that the determination unit 101 determines that wireless
communication with the portable terminal 7 is established.
[0040] FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating the
functional components of the portable terminal 7. the portable
terminal 7 realizes a settlement processing unit 301 and a
settlement information sending unit 302 by enabling the control
section 300 to operate according to various programs stored in the
ROM 32 or the memory section 34.
[0041] The settlement processing unit 301 executes, if commodity
information containing the price of a commodity is received from
the POS terminal 1 through the wireless communication section, a
settlement processing based on commodity information.
[0042] The settlement information sending unit 302 sends the
settlement information resulting from the settlement processing
executed by the settlement processing unit 301 to the POS terminal
1.
[0043] FIG. 7-1, FIG. 7-2 and FIG. 7-3 are flowcharts illustrating
the flow of a control processing carried out by the POS terminal 1
and the portable terminal 7. In FIG. 7-1, FIG. 7-2 and FIG. 7-3,
the control section 100 (determination unit 101) of the POS
terminal 1 determines whether or not the portable terminal 7 is
recognized (ACT SP11). When the portable terminal 7 is held on the
portable terminal holding section 5, the control section 100
communicates with the NFC device 37 of the portable terminal 7 via
the NFC device 24 and recognizes the portable terminal 7, thereby
establishing wireless communication between the POS terminal 1 and
the portable terminal 7. If it is determined that the portable
terminal 7 is recognized (YES in ACT SP11), the control section 100
sends a signal indicative of the recognition on the portable
terminal 7 to the portable terminal 7 via the NFC device 24 (ACT
SP12).
[0044] The control section 300 of the portable terminal 7
determines whether or not the signal indicative of the recognition
is received from the POS terminal 1 (ACT SP51). If the signal is
not received (NO in ACT SP51), the control section 300 executes ACT
SP60. If it is determined that the signal is received (YES in ACT
SP51), the control section 300 displays, on the display section 8,
a selection screen on which `whether or not to receive application
software from the POS terminal 1' is displayed (ACT SP52). The
application software, which is stored in the memory section 14, is
software for the display of a menu screen which will be described
later with reference to FIG. 8 on the display section 8 of the
portable terminal 7. Further, the application software is software
for acquiring various kinds of information from the POS terminal 1.
Moreover, the application software is also software for the
operator to output a settlement instruction to the POS terminal
1.
[0045] Further, if the control section 100 determines that the
portable terminal 7 is not recognized (NO in ACT SP11), the control
section 100 executes a normal processing without using the portable
terminal 7 (ACT SP18).
[0046] The customer views the display screen of the display section
8 to determine whether or not to receive the application software.
The control section 300 determines whether or not `receive the
application software` is selected (ACT SP53). If it is determined
that `not receive the application software` is selected (NO in ACT
SP53), the control section 300 executes ACT SP60. If it is
determined that `receive the application software` is selected (YES
in ACT SP53), the control section 300 sends a signal indicative of
the need of the application software and the customer code of the
customer stored in the portable terminal 7 from the NFC device 37
to the POS terminal 1 through the NFC device 24 (ACT SP54).
[0047] The control section 100 of the POS terminal 1 determines
whether or not the signal indicative of the need of the application
software is received from the portable terminal 7 (ACT SP13). If it
is determined that the signal indicative of the need of the
application software is not received (NO in ACT SP13), the control
section 100 executes ACT SP21. If it is determined that the signal
indicative of the need of the application software is received (YES
in ACT SP13), the control section 100 executes an authentication
processing of the customer code of the customer received from the
portable terminal 7 (ACT SP14). As to the authentication
processing, if a customer can be specified by confirming the
existence of a customer code based on the customer information
stored in an upper device (not shown), then the customer can be
authenticated. If it is determined that the customer is
authenticated (YES in ACT SP15), the control section 100 (sending
unit 103) sends the application software to the portable terminal 7
(ACT SP16). If it is determined that the customer is not
authenticated (NO in ACT SP15), the control section 100 sends a
signal indicative of a rejected authentication to the portable
terminal 7 (ACT SP17).
[0048] The control section 300 of the portable terminal 7
determines whether or not the application software is received from
the POS terminal 1 (ACT SP55). If it is determined that the
application software is received (YES in ACT SP55), the control
section 300 installs the received application software in the RAM
33 of the portable terminal 7 (ACT SP56). Then, the control section
300 determines whether or not the installation of the application
software is completed (ACT SP57). The control section 300 waits
until the installation is completed (NO in ACT SP57), and if it is
determined that the installation is completed (YES in ACT SP57),
the control section 300 sends a signal indicative of the completion
of the installation to the POS terminal 1 (ACT SP58). Then, the
control section 300 starts the application software, and displays
the menu screen shown in FIG. 8 on the display section 8 (ACT
SP59).
[0049] Further, if the control section 300 determines that the
application is not received (NO in ACT SP55), then the control
section 300 determines whether or not a rejection signal is
received (ACT SP98). After determining no rejection signal is
received (NO in ACT SP98), the control section 300 waits to receive
the application software. After determining a rejection signal is
received (YES in ACT SP98), the control section 300 proceeds to ACT
SP60.
[0050] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the menu screen of the
portable terminal 7. In FIG. 8, the display section 8 of the
portable terminal 7 displays a message 41 for a customer. Further,
the display section 8 displays a commodity and information
retrieval key 42, a recommend key 43, a shopping history key 44 and
a checkout key 45.
[0051] When the commodity and information retrieval key 42 is
operated, traceability information specifying the manufacturer or
distribution channel of a selected commodity and recipe information
of the selected commodity are displayed. When the recommend key 43
is operated, information introducing recommended commodities of the
store is displayed with reference to the shopping history of the
customer specified by the customer code. When the shopping history
key 44 is operated, the shopping history of the customer specified
by the customer code is displayed. When the checkout key 45 is
operated, a commodity registration can be carried out for an
authenticated customer.
[0052] The control section 300 of the portable terminal 7
determines whether or not the checkout key 45 is operated (ACT
SP60). If the checkout key 45 is operated (YES in ACT SP60), the
control section 300 sends a signal indicating that the checkout key
45 is operated to the POS terminal 1 (ACT SP61). Then, the control
section 300 executes the processing in ACT SP71. If it is
determined that the checkout key 45 is not operated (NO in ACT
SP60), the control section 300 sequentially determines whether or
not the commodity and information retrieval key 42 is operated (ACT
SP62). If it is determined that the commodity and information
retrieval key 42 is operated (YES in ACT SP62), the control section
300 sends a signal indicating that the commodity and information
retrieval key 42 is operated to the POS terminal 1 (ACT SP63).
Then, the control section 300 executes the processing in ACT
SP71.
[0053] If it is determined that the commodity and information
retrieval key 42 is not operated (NO in ACT SP62), the control
section 300 sequentially determines whether or not the recommend
key 43 is operated (ACT SP64). If it is determined the recommend
key 43 is operated (YES in ACT SP64), the control section 300 sends
a signal indicating that the recommend key 43 is operated to the
POS terminal 1 (ACT SP65). Then, the control section 300 executes
the processing in ACT SP71. If it is determined that the recommend
key 43 is not operated (NO in ACT SP64), the control section 300
sequentially determines whether or not the shopping history key 44
is operated (ACT SP66). If it is determined the shopping history
key 44 is operated (YES in ACT SP66), the control section 300 sends
a signal indicating that the shopping history key 44 is operated to
the POS terminal 1 (ACT SP67). If it is determined that the
shopping history key 44 is not operated (NO in ACT SP66), the
control section 300 proceeds to ACT SP68.
[0054] The control section 100 (determination unit 101) of the POS
terminal 1 determines whether or not the signal indicative of the
completion of the installation of the application software sent in
ACT SP58 is received from the control section 300 of the portable
terminal 7 (ACT SP21). If it is determined that the signal is
received (YES in ACT SP21), it is determined whether or not the
signal sent in ACT SP61 indicating that the closing key 45 is
operated is received from the control section 300 of the portable
terminal 7 (ACT SP22). If it is determined that the signal
indicating that the checkout key 45 is operated is received (YES in
ACT SP22), then the control section 100 enables the code reader 4
to be capable of reading a code (ACT SP23). Next, a signal
instructing to display the information indicating that the code can
be read is sent to the portable terminal 7 (ACT SP24). Then, it is
determined that whether or not a commodity code is input by reading
the code attached to a commodity (ACT SP25). If it is determined
that a commodity code is input (YES in ACT SP25), the control
section 100 (storage unit 104) acquires the commodity information
(commodity price and commodity name and the like) corresponding to
the commodity code from the commodity master 141 stored in the
memory section 14 and stores the acquired commodity information and
the commodity code in the RAM 13 (ACT SP26). Then, the control
section 100 (communication unit 102) sends all the stored commodity
information to the portable terminal 7 (ACT SP27). Further, if it
is determined that no commodity code is input (NO in ACT SP25), the
control section 100 executes the processing in ACT SP28.
[0055] The control section 300 determines whether or not the
commodity information sent in ACT SP27 is received (ACT SP68). If
it is determined that the commodity information is received (YES in
ACT SP68), the control section 300 stores the received commodity
information in the commodity information storage section 331 of the
RAM 33 (ACT SP69). Then, the stored commodity information is
displayed on the display section 8 (ACT SP70). Then, the control
section 300 executes the processing in ACT SP71. If it is
determined that no commodity information is received (NO in ACT
SP68), the control section 300 proceeds to the processing in ACT
SP71.
[0056] Further, in the POS terminal 1, the light-emitting section 6
which emits blue light in a standby state emits yellow light during
a commodity registration process. Moreover, the control section 100
determines whether or not a signal indicating that the end key (not
shown) is operated is received from the portable terminal 7 (ACT
SP28). If it is determined that the signal is received (YES in ACT
SP28), the control section 100 (communication unit 102) sends the
settlement information obtained according to the stored commodity
information and the total amount of commodities to the portable
terminal 7 (ACT SP81). If it is determined that the signal is not
received (NO in ACT SP28), the control section 100 returns to ACT
SP25 to wait for the input of a next commodity code. The settlement
information refers to receipt information containing names, amount
and the total amount of the purchased commodities based on
commodity information and total amount information.
[0057] Further, if it is determined that the checkout key 45 is not
operated (NO in ACT SP22), the control section 100 determines
whether or not the signal sent in ACT SP63 and indicating that the
commodity and information retrieval key 42 is operated is received
(ACT SP31). If it is determined that the commodity and information
retrieval key 42 is operated (YES in ACT SP31), the control section
100 determines whether or not a commodity code is input (ACT SP32).
The control section 100 waits until a commodity code is input (NO
in ACT SP32), and if it is determined that a commodity code is
input (YES in ACT SP32), the control section 100 acquires, from an
upper device, recipe information or traceability information of the
commodity represented by the commodity code and sends the acquired
information to the portable terminal 7 (ACT SP33).
[0058] Further, if it is determined that the commodity and
information retrieval key 42 is not operated (NO in ACT SP31), the
control section 100 determines whether or not the signal sent in
ACT SP65 and indicating that the recommend key 43 is operated is
received (ACT SP34). If it is determined that the signal is
received (YES in ACT SP34), the control section 100 acquires, from
an upper device, recommended commodity information corresponding to
the customer represented by the customer code and sends the
acquired information to the portable terminal 7 (ACT SP35).
[0059] Further, if it is determined that the recommend key 43 is
not operated (NO in ACT SP34), the control section 100 determines
whether or not the signal sent in ACT SP67 and indicating that the
shopping history key 44 is operated is received (ACT SP36). If it
is determined that the signal is received (YES in ACT SP36), the
control section 100 acquires, from an upper device, shopping
history information of the customer represented by the customer
code and sends the acquired information to the portable terminal 7
(ACT SP37). If it is determined the signal is not received (NO in
ACT SP36), the flow returns to ACT SP22.
[0060] On the other hand, if the control section 100 determines
that the signal indicative of the completion of the installation of
the application software is not received (NO in ACT SP21), the
control section 100 determines whether or not a commodity code is
input in this state (ACT SP41). If it is determined that a
commodity code is input (YES in ACT SP41), as the installation of
the application software is not completed, the control section 100
sends the information indicating that the code cannot be read to
the portable terminal 7 (ACT SP42). If no commodity code is input
(NO in ACT SP41), the control section 100 proceeds to the
processing in ACT SP81.
[0061] Sequentially, the control section 300 of the portable
terminal 7 determines whether or not the settlement information
based on the processing in ACT SP81 is received (ACT SP71),
determines whether or not recipe information or traceability
information is received (ACT SP91), determines whether or not
recommended commodity information is received (ACT SP93), and
determines whether or not shopping history information is received
(ACT SP95).
[0062] If it is determined that the settlement information is
received (YES in ACT SP71), the control section 300 stores the
received commodity information and settlement information in the
RAM 33 (ACT SP72). Then, the control section 300 displays the
stored commodity information and settlement information on the
display section 8 (ACT SP73). In the first embodiment, the receipt
information, including commodity names, prices and the total amount
of the purchased commodities, is displayed. The customer determines
whether or not to settle the content based on the displayed
settlement information and operates the settlement key (not shown)
displayed on the display section 8 after determining to settle the
content. The control section 300 determines whether or not the
settlement key is operated (ACT SP74). The control section 300
waits until the settlement key is operated (NO in ACT SP74), and
the control section 300 sends settlement information to the POS
terminal 1 (ACT SP75) if it is determined that the settlement key
is operated (YES in ACT SP74).
[0063] The control section 100 of the POS terminal 1 determines
whether or not the settlement information is received from the
portable terminal 7 (ACT SP82). If it is determined that settlement
information is received (YES in ACT SP82), the control section 100
executes a settlement processing in the POS terminal 1 (ACT SP83).
Then, the control section 100 sends a signal indicating that a
settlement processing is carried out to the portable terminal 7
(ACT SP84). If it is determined that no settlement information is
received (NO in ACT SP82), the control section 100 proceeds to ACT
SP85.
[0064] The control section 300 of the portable terminal 7
determines whether or not a signal indicative of a settlement
processing is received from the POS terminal 1 (ACT SP76). The
control section 300 waits until a signal indicative of a settlement
processing is received (NO in ACT SP76), and the control section
300 executes a settlement processing based on the electronic money
information stored in the RAM 33 of the portable terminal 7 (ACT
SP77) if it is determined that a signal indicative of a settlement
processing is received (YES in ACT SP76). Sequentially, the control
section 300 sends a signal indicative of the completion of the
settlement processing to the POS terminal 1 when the settlement
processing is ended (ACT SP78). Then, the control section 300 ends
the processing.
[0065] The control section 100 of the POS terminal 1 determines
whether or not the signal indicative of the completion of the
settlement processing is received (ACT SP85). If it is determined
the signal is received (YES in ACT SP85), the control section 100
ends the settlement processing carried out in the POS terminal 1
(ACT SP86). Then, the settlement completion information is sent to
an upper device. If it is determined that no signal indicative of
the completion of the settlement processing is received (NO in ACT
SP85), the control section 100 ends the processing.
[0066] When all settlement processing is ended, the control section
100 changes the color of the light emitted from the light-emitting
section 6 from yellow to blue. Additionally, the control section
100 executes an error processing and makes the light-emitting
section 6 emit red light if a settlement processing is not ended
smoothly, or the portable terminal 7 is taken down before a
settlement processing is completed, or it is determined that
another improper processing is being carried out.
[0067] Further, if the control section 300 of the portable terminal
7 determines that no commodity information and settlement
information is received (NO in ACT SP71), the control section 300
determines whether or not the recipe information or traceability
information sent in ACT SP33 is received (ACT SP91). If it is
determined that the recipe information or traceability information
is received (YES in ACT SP91), the control section 300 displays the
received recipe information or traceability information on the
display section 8 (ACT SP92).
[0068] If it is determined that no recipe information is received
(NO in ACT SP91), the control section 300 sequentially determines
whether or not the recommended commodity information sent in ACT
SP35 is received (ACT SP93). If it is determined that the
recommended commodity information is received (YES in ACT SP93),
the control section 300 displays the received recommended commodity
information on the display section 8 (ACT SP94).
[0069] If it is determined that no recommended commodity
information is received (NO in ACT SP93), the control section 300
sequentially determines whether or not the shopping history
information sent in ACT SP37 is received (ACT SP95). If it is
determined that the shopping history information is received (YES
in ACT SP95), the control section 300 displays the received
shopping history information on the display section 8 (ACT
SP96).
[0070] If it is determined that no shopping history information is
received (NO in ACT SP95), the flow returns to ACT SP71.
[0071] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, if no customer code is
received, the POS terminal 1 sends no software relating to
checkout, recommendation or shopping history when the application
is sent in ACT SP16. Thus, when a menu is displayed in the portable
terminal 7 in ACT SP59, the recommend key 43, the shopping history
key 44 and the checkout key 45 are grayed out and cannot be
operated. Thus, a nonmember customer assigned with no customer code
can only operate the commodity and information retrieval key
42.
[0072] Further, the application software received in ACT SP55 and
installed in ACT SP56 is started only when the portable terminal 7
is within the range of the NFC device 24 and is not started if the
portable terminal 7 is out of the range of the NFC device 24. Thus,
the portable terminal 7 is set within the range of the NFC device
24 so that various kinds of information provided to the portable
terminal 7 can be acquired or a commodity registration processing
using the portable terminal 7 can be carried out.
[0073] However, the commodity information and settlement
information received in ACT SP71, the recipe information or
traceability information received in ACT SP91, the recommended
commodity information received in ACT SP93 and the shopping history
information received in ACT SP95, once received, can be displayed
on the display section 8 again even if the portable terminal 7 is
out of the range of the NFC device 24.
[0074] Thus, according to the first embodiment, as commodity
information or settlement information is sent from the POS terminal
1 to the portable terminal 7, commodity information can be acquired
with the portable terminal 7.
[0075] Further, in the first embodiment, as commodity information
is stored in the RAM 13 only when it is determined that the
wireless communication with the portable terminal 7 is established,
only a member carrying the portable terminal 7 can carry out a
commodity registration processing.
[0076] Further, in the first embodiment, the portable terminal 7 is
detachably held.
[0077] Further, in the first embodiment, as application software is
sent which enables the sending of settlement information to the
portable terminal 7 if the existence of the portable terminal 7 is
recognized, the application software can be automatically sent to
the portable terminal 7.
[0078] Further, in the first embodiment, as receipt information of
the purchased commodities is sent to the portable terminal 7,
receipt information can be acquired with the portable terminal 7.
Moreover, the acquired receipt information can be displayed on the
portable terminal 7.
[0079] The commodity sales data processing apparatus, the portable
terminal and the program according to a second embodiment are
described in detail below with reference to FIG. 9. The commodity
sales data processing apparatus is, for example, a POS terminal or
a register. In the second embodiment, a POS terminal is described
as an example of the commodity sales data processing apparatus.
Additionally, the present invention is not limited to the second
embodiment which will be described below.
[0080] The second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment in
hardware arrangement which includes the constitution shown in FIG.
1-FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, and the constitution is thereof not described
herein repeatedly. The flowcharts illustrating a control processing
carried out in the second embodiment are the same with that shown
in FIG. 7-1 and FIG. 7-2, and are therefore not described
repeatedly. The `(3)` in FIG. 7-2 is connected with `(8)` in FIG.
9, the `(4)` in FIG. 7-2 is connected with `(9)` in FIG. 9, and the
`(5)` in FIG. 7-2 is connected with `(10)` in FIG. 9.
[0081] The control section 300 of the portable terminal 7
determines whether or not the settlement information based on the
processing in ACT SP181 is received (ACT SP171), determines whether
or not recipe information or traceability information is received
(ACT SP191), determines whether or not recommended commodity
information is received (ACT SP193), and determines whether or not
shopping history information is received (ACT SP195).
[0082] If it is determined that the settlement information is
received (YES in ACT SP171), the control section 300 stores the
received commodity information and settlement information in the
RAM 33 (ACT SP172). Then, the control section 300 displays the
stored commodity information and settlement information on the
display section 8 (ACT SP173). In the second embodiment, the
receipt information, including commodity names, prices and the
total amount of the purchased commodities is displayed. The
customer determines whether or not to settle the content based on
the displayed settlement information and operates the settlement
key (not shown) displayed on the display section 8 after
determining to settle the content. The control section 300
determines whether or not the settlement key is operated (ACT
SP174). The control section 300 waits until the settlement key is
operated (NO in ACT SP174), and if it is determined that the
settlement key is operated (YES in ACT SP174), the control section
300 calculates a payment amount based on the commodity information
stored in the commodity information storage section 331 (ACT
SP175). That is, the control section 300 adds up commodity prices
based on the commodity information stored in the commodity
information storage section 331 to calculate a payment amount to be
paid.
[0083] Next, the control section 300 (settlement processing unit
301) executes a settlement processing of deducting the payment
amount calculated in ACT SP175 from the electronic money
information stored in the memory section 34 of the portable
terminal 7 and read from the RAM 33 (ACT SP176). Then, the control
section 300 (settlement information sending unit 302) sends a
signal indicative of the completion of the settlement processing as
well as the settlement information to the POS terminal 1 (ACT
SP177) when the settlement processing is ended. Then, the control
section 300 ends the processing.
[0084] The control section 100 of the POS terminal 1 determines
whether or not the signal indicative of the completion of the
settlement processing and the settlement information are received
(ACT SP182). If it is determined that the signal is received (YES
in ACT SP182), the control section 100 accumulates the current
sales information based on the received settlement information and
updates the sales information stored in the RAM (ACT SP183). Then,
the control section 100 ends the settlement processing carried out
in the POS terminal 1 (ACT SP184). Next, the obtained settlement
information is sent to an upper device. If it is determined that no
signal indicative of the completion of the settlement processing
and settlement information is received (NO in ACT SP182), the
control section 100 ends the processing.
[0085] When all settlement processing is ended, the control section
100 changes the color of the light emitted from the light-emitting
section 6 from yellow to blue. Additionally, the control section
100 executes an error processing and makes the light-emitting
section 6 emit red light if a settlement processing is not ended
smoothly, or the portable terminal 7 is taken down before a
settlement processing is completed, or it is determined that
another improper processing is being carried out.
[0086] Further, if the control section 300 of the portable terminal
7 determines that no commodity information or settlement
information is received (NO in ACT SP171), the control section 300
determines whether or not the recipe information or traceability
information sent in ACT SP33 is received (ACT SP191). If it is
determined that the recipe information or traceability information
is received (YES in ACT SP191), the control section 300 displays
the received recipe information or traceability information on the
display section 8 (ACT SP192).
[0087] If it is determined that no recipe information is received
(NO in ACT SP191), the control section 300 sequentially determines
whether or not the recommended commodity information sent in ACT
SP35 is received (ACT SP193). If it is determined that the
recommended commodity information is received (YES in ACT SP193),
the control section 300 displays the received recommended commodity
information on the display section 8 (ACT SP194).
[0088] If it is determined that no recommended commodity
information is received (NO in ACT SP193), the control section 300
sequentially determines whether or not the shopping history
information sent in ACT SP37 is received (ACT SP195). If it is
determined that the shopping history information is received (YES
in ACT SP195), the control section 300 displays the received
shopping history information on the display section 8 (ACT
SP196).
[0089] If it is determined that no shopping history information is
received (NO in ACT SP195), the flow returns to ACT SP171.
[0090] In addition, according to the second embodiment, the
portable terminal 7 receives commodity information and executes a
settlement processing based on the received commodity information.
Thus, on the basis of the first embodiment, the customer can carry
out a settlement processing using the portable terminal 7. Further,
by executing the settlement processing in the portable terminal 7,
the workload of the POS terminal 1 can be reduced.
[0091] While the first and second embodiments have been described,
these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and
are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the
novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of
other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and
changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made
without departing from the spirit of the invention. The
accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover
such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and
spirit of the invention.
[0092] For example, in the embodiments described herein, only a
member assigned with a customer code can executes a checkout
processing by using the portable terminal 7, however, any person
who can be specified in any way, even if a nonmember assigned with
no customer code, can executes a checkout processing.
[0093] Further, in the embodiments described herein, in addition to
a checkout processing, a commodity and information retrieval
processing, a recommended commodity retrieval processing and
shopping history information are also provided, which, however, are
not necessary.
[0094] Further, in the embodiments described herein, a settlement
processing is executed with electronic money, however, credit
settlement and other settlement approaches are also applicable.
[0095] Further, in the embodiments described herein, the POS
terminal 1 recognizes the portable terminal 7 when the portable
terminal 7 is set on the portable terminal holding section 5,
however, the portable terminal 7, as long as located in the
effective function range of the NFC device 24, may not be held on
the POS terminal 1.
[0096] Further, in the embodiments described herein, the commodity
master 141 is arranged in the memory section 14 of the POS terminal
1, however, the commodity master 141 may also be arranged in an
upper device such as a store server.
[0097] The programs executed in the commodity sales data processing
apparatus of the embodiments above are recorded in a
computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible
disk (FD), a CD-R and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) in the form of
installable or executable file.
[0098] Further, the programs executed in the commodity sales data
processing apparatus of the present embodiment may be stored in a
computer connected with a network such as internet, and downloaded
via the network. Further, the programs executed in the commodity
sales data processing apparatus of the present embodiment may also
be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.
[0099] Further, the programs executed in the commodity sales data
processing apparatus of the present embodiment may also be provided
by being assembled in a ROM in advance.
* * * * *