RECEIPT PRINTER, RECEIPT PRINTER CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM

• US 20110004530A1
• Filed: 06/17/2010
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Aonuma, Masashi, Kuriyama, Toshio, Miyagawa, Akira
• Granted Patent: US 8,321,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

A receipt printer, a control method for a receipt printer, and a program whereby producing counterfeit printout is not possible. A receipt printer 20 has a storage unit 61 that stores encrypted information obtained by encrypting registered information, a specific information acquisition unit 62 that acquires specific information from a POS terminal 10, a comparison unit 63 that compares the specific information with the registered information decrypted from the encrypted information, a printing permission unit 64 the permits printing when the comparison unit 63 confirms a data match, and a printing unit 65 that prints when printing is permitted by the printing permission unit 64.

Claims

1. A receipt printer comprising:

a storage unit that stores encrypted information obtained by encrypting registered information;

a specific information acquisition unit that acquires specific information from an external source;

a comparison unit that compares the specific information with the registered information decrypted from the encrypted information;

a printing permission unit that permits printing when the comparison unit verifies a data match; and

a printing unit that prints when printing is permitted by the printing permission unit.

2. The receipt printer described in claim 1, wherein:

the specific information acquisition unit acquires specific information contained in transaction information acquired from a POS terminal as an external source; and

the printing unit prints the transaction information when printing is permitted by the printing permission unit.

3. The receipt printer described in claim 1, wherein:

the specific information acquisition unit acquires the specific information by reading a specific recording medium as the external source.

10. The receipt printer described in claim 1, wherein:

the registered information includes at least one of a store ID identifying a store where the receipt printer and POS terminal are installed, a register ID uniquely identifying a POS terminal, and a clerk ID identifying an operator of a cash register in the store.

11. The receipt printer described in claim 3, wherein:

the specific recording medium is a magnetic card, an IC card, or a printed medium on which a specific code is printed.

4. A receipt printer comprising:

a storage unit that stores registered information;

a reading unit that reads a specific recording medium to which first specific information is recorded;

a first comparison unit that compares the first specific information and the registered information;

a mode setting unit that when the first comparison unit verifies a data match activates a printing enabled mode permitting printing;

a transaction information acquisition unit that acquires transaction information contained in second specific information from a POS terminal;

a second comparison unit that compares the second specific information and the registered information;

a printing permission unit that permits printing when the printing enabled mode is active and the second comparison unit confirms a data match; and

a printing unit that prints the transaction information when printing is permitted by the printing permission unit.

5. The receipt printer described in claim 4, wherein:

the storage unit stores encrypted information obtained by encrypting the registered information; and

the first comparison unit and second comparison unit use the registered information decrypted from the encrypted information for comparison.

6. The receipt printer described in claim 5, wherein:

the printing unit prints registered information or encrypted information together with the transaction information.

7. The receipt printer described in claim 4, wherein:

the mode setting unit activates, in conjunction with receipt printer power turning off, a printing disabled mode that does not permit printing.

8. The receipt printer described in claim 4, further comprising:

a switching signal acquisition unit that acquires from the POS terminal a switching signal for switching to a printing disabled mode that does not permit printing;

the mode setting unit activating the printing disabled mode when the switching signal is received.

9. The receipt printer described in claim 4, further comprising:

a positioning information acquisition unit that acquires positioning information indicating an installation position of the receipt printer;

the printing unit printing the positioning information together with the transaction information.

12. A control method for a receipt printer having a storage unit that stores encrypted information obtained by encrypting registered information, the control method comprising as steps executed by the receipt printer:

a step of acquiring specific information from an external source;

a step of reading the encrypted information from the storage unit and decrypting the encrypted information;

a step of comparing the acquired specific information and the decrypted registered information; and

a step of permitting printing when a data match is confirmed.

13. The control method for a receipt printer described in claim 12, wherein:

the step of acquiring specific information acquires specific information contained in transaction information acquired from a POS terminal as an external source; and

the transaction information is printed when printing is permitted by the step that permits printing.

14. The control method for a receipt printer described in claim 12, wherein:

the step of acquiring specific information acquires the specific information by reading a specific recording medium as the external source.

18. A program that causes a computer to execute the steps of the control method for a receipt printer described in claim 12.

15. A control method for a receipt printer having a storage unit that stores registered information, the control method comprising as steps executed by the receipt printer:

a step of reading a specific recording medium to which first specific information is recorded;

a step of comparing the read first specific information and registered information read from the storage unit;

a step of setting a printing mode to a printing enabled mode permitting printing when a data match between the first specific information and the registered information is confirmed;

a step of acquiring transaction information containing second specific information from a POS terminal;

a step of comparing the acquired second specific information and the registered information read from the storage unit;

a step of permitting printing when the printing enabled mode is active and a data match between the second specific information and the registered information is confirmed; and

a step of printing the transaction information when printing is permitted.

16. The control method for a receipt printer described in claim 15, wherein:

the step of setting the printing mode activates, in conjunction with the receipt printer power turning off, a printing disabled mode that does not permit printing.

17. The control method for a receipt printer described in claim 15, further comprising:

a step of acquiring from the POS terminal a switching signal for switching to a printing disabled mode that does not permit printing;

the step of setting the printing mode activating the printing disabled mode when the switching signal is received.

19. A program that causes a computer to execute the steps of the control method for a receipt printer described in claim 15.