Self-scanning POS system, self-scanning registration terminal, control apparatus for self-scanning registration terminal and POS apparatus for self-scanning registration terminal

• US 5,557,088 A
• Filed: 11/29/1994
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Frontech Limited (Fujitsu Limited), Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Terada, Kyoko, Shimizu, Chizu, Suzuki, Chizuo
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEPPERD, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US08/350,984
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 255/383
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0096 Identification of the cart or merchandise, e.g. by barcodes or radio frequency identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00

Abstract

A POS system which readily allows introduction of a self-scanning function. The POS system includes a POS apparatus including a settlement terminal for effecting final settlement of the accounts for a purchased commodity or commodities, and one or a plurality of self-scanning registration terminals accommodated in the POS apparatus by way of a control apparatus and each including a commodity code reader for reading a commodity code applied to a commodity. The control apparatus communicates commodity purchase information based on commodity code information read by the commodity code reader of the self-scanning registration terminal or any of the self-scanning registration terminals between the self-scanning registration terminal and the POS apparatus. The POS system can be applied in the distribution industry, particularly in a store such as a mass sales store, a convenience store or a supermarket.

Claims

1. A self-scanning POS system, comprising:

a POS apparatus including a settlement terminal for effecting final settlement of the accounts for a purchased commodity or commodities;

one or a plurality of self-scanning registration terminals accommodated in said POS apparatus and each including commodity code reading means for reading a commodity code applied to a commodity; and

a control apparatus interposed between said POS apparatus and said self-scanning registration terminal or terminals for communicating commodity purchase information based on commodity code information read by said commodity code reading means of said self-scanning registration terminal or any of said self-scanning registration terminals between the self-scanning registration terminal and said POS apparatus.

2. A self-scanning POS system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said self-scanning registration terminal or each of said self-scanning registration terminals includes commodity code information notification means for notifying, when a commodity code is read by said commodity code reading means, the commodity code information to said control apparatus, and said control apparatus includes commodity information retrieval means for retrieving commodity information of the commodity corresponding to the commodity code information notified from said self-scanning registration terminal or any of said self-scanning registration terminals by said commodity code information notification means, and commodity information notification means for notifying the commodity information retrieved by said commodity information retrieval means to the self-scanning registration terminal.

3. A self-scanning POS system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said self-scanning registration terminal or each of said self-scanning registration terminals further includes execution sales price determination means for calculating and determining a sales price of a commodity whose commodity code has been read by said commodity code reading means based on commodity information notified from said control apparatus by said commodity information notification means.

4. A self-scanning POS system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the detailed transaction information is obtained based on commodity information notified from said control apparatus by said commodity information notification means and a sales price determined by said execution sales price determination means.

5. A self-scanning POS system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said self-scanning registration terminal or each of said self-scanning registration terminals further includes display means for displaying thereon commodity information including commodity information notified from said control apparatus by said commodity information notification means and a sales price determined by said execution sales price determination means.

6. A self-scanning POS system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said self-scanning registration terminal or each of said self-scanning registration terminals further includes an end key adapted to be operated upon ending of purchasing of a commodity or commodities, and first terminal identification information notification means for notifying terminal identification information unique to the self-scanning registration terminal to said control apparatus when said end key is operated, and said POS apparatus includes second terminal identification information notification means for notifying, when terminal identification information of said self-scanning registration terminal or any of said self-scanning registration terminals is inputted from said settlement terminal, the terminal identification information to said control apparatus while said control apparatus includes registration terminal control means for holding terminal identification information notified from said self-scanning registration terminal or any of said self-scanning registration terminals by said first terminal identification information notification means to control an operation condition of the self-scanning registration terminal, determination means for determining whether or not the terminal identification information notified from said POS apparatus by said second terminal identification information notification means is held by said registration terminal control means, and detailed transaction information requesting means for requesting, when it is determined by said determination means that the terminal identification information is held by said registration terminal control means, the self-scanning registration terminal corresponding to the terminal identification information to notify the detailed transaction information stored in said storage means.

7. A self-scanning POS system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said self-scanning registration terminal or each of said self-scanning registration terminals further includes detailed transaction information notification means for notifying, when notification of the detailed transaction information is requested from said control apparatus by said detailed transaction information requesting means, the detailed transaction information stored in said storage means to said settlement terminal of said POS apparatus by way of said control apparatus.

8. A self-scanning POS system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said settlement terminal includes inputting means for inputting commodity information to register the commodity information into or modify the detailed transaction information after the detailed transaction information is notified from the self-scanning registration terminal by said detailed transaction information notification means.

9. A self-scanning POS system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said POS apparatus includes terminal identification information notification means for notifying, when terminal identification information of said self-scanning registration terminal or any of said self-scanning registration terminals is inputted from said settlement terminal, the terminal identification information to the self-scanning registration terminal corresponding to the terminal identification information by way of said control apparatus, and said self-scanning registration terminal or each of said self-scanning registration terminals further includes an end key adapted to be operated upon ending of purchasing of a commodity or commodities, condition control means for controlling and holding, when said end key is operated, that the self-scanning registration terminal is in an end condition, determination means for referring to said condition control means to determine whether or not the self-scanning registration terminal is in an end condition at the point of time when terminal identification information is notified from said POS apparatus by said terminal identification information notification means, and detailed transaction information notification means for notifying, when it is determined by said determination means that the self-scanning registration terminal is in an end condition, the detailed transaction information stored in said storage means to said settlement terminal of said POS apparatus by way of said control apparatus.

10. A self-scanning POS system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said self-scanning registration terminal or each of said self-scanning registration terminals further includes display means for displaying thereon commodity information including commodity information notified from said control apparatus by said commodity information notification means and a sales price determined by said execution sales price determination means.

11. A self-scanning POS system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said self-scanning registration terminal or each of said self-scanning registration terminals further includes an end key adapted to be operated upon ending of purchasing of a commodity or commodities, and first terminal identification information notification means for notifying terminal identification information unique to the self-scanning registration terminal to said control apparatus when said end key is operated, and said control apparatus includes registration terminal control means for holding terminal identification information notified from said self-scanning registration terminal or any of said self-scanning registration terminals by said first terminal identification information notification means to control an operation condition of the self-scanning registration terminal.

12. A self-scanning POS system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said self-scanning registration terminal or each of said self-scanning registration terminals includes customer identification information inputting means for inputting customer identification information unique to a customer who uses said self-scanning registration terminal or any of said self-scanning registration terminals, and said POS apparatus includes inquiring means for determining, when customer identification information inputted from said customer identification information inputting means is received by way of said control apparatus, based on the customer identification information whether use of the self-scanning registration terminal is to be permitted or rejected.

13. A self-scanning POS system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said self-scanning registration terminal or each of said self-scanning registration terminals includes control means for disabling use of the self-scanning registration terminal when information received from said inquiring means of said POS apparatus by way of said control apparatus represents that use of the self-scanning registration terminal is to be rejected but enabling use of the self-scanning registration terminal when the information represents that use of the self-scanning registration terminal is to be permitted.

14. A self-scanning POS system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said self-scanning registration terminal or each of said self-scanning registration terminals includes use rejection notification means for notifying, when information received from said inquiring means of said POS apparatus by way of said control apparatus represents that use of the self-scanning registration terminal is to be rejected, such rejection to the customer.

15. A self-scanning POS system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said commodity code reading means serves also as said customer identification information inputting means.

16. A self-scanning POS system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said customer identification information inputting means is constructed as a bar code reader which reads and inputs a membership number in the form of a bar code of a membership card possessed by a customer as the customer identification information.

17. A self-scanning POS system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said customer identification information inputting means is constructed as a magnetic code reader which reads and inputs a membership number in the form of a magnetic code of a membership card possessed by a customer as the customer identification information.

18. A self-scanning POS system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said POS apparatus further includes a customer data base for storing commodity purchase information of individual customers for individual customer identification information, and registration means for registering, when a customer uses said self-scanning registration terminal or any of said self-scanning registration terminals, commodity purchase information transmitted thereto from the self-scanning registration terminal by way of said control apparatus into said customer data base in accordance with the customer identification information unique to the customer.

19. A self-scanning registration terminal, comprising:

commodity code reading means for reading a commodity code applied to a commodity; and

said self-scanning registration terminal being accommodated by way of a control apparatus in a POS apparatus which includes a settlement terminal for effecting final settlement of the accounts for a purchased commodity or commodities;

said self-scanning registration terminal communicating commodity purchase information based on commodity code information read by said commodity code reading means with said POS apparatus by way of said control apparatus and wherein detailed transaction information is communicated to the settlement terminal by said control apparatus.

20. A self-scanning registration terminal as claimed in claim 19, further comprising commodity code information notification means for notifying, when a commodity code is read by said commodity code reading means, the commodity code information to said control apparatus.

21. A self-scanning registration terminal as claimed in claim 20, further comprising execution sales price determination means for calculating and determining a sales price of a commodity whose commodity code has been read by said commodity code reading means based on commodity information of the commodity corresponding to the commodity code information notified from said control apparatus in response to the commodity code information notified to said control apparatus by said commodity code information notification means.

22. A self-scanning registration terminal as claimed in claim 21, wherein the detailed transaction information is obtained based on commodity information notified from said control apparatus and a sales price determined by said execution sales price determination means.

23. A self-scanning registration terminal as claimed in claim 22, further comprising display means for displaying thereon commodity information including commodity information notified from said control apparatus and a sales price determined by said execution sales price determination means.

24. A self-scanning registration terminal as claimed in claim 22, further comprising detailed transaction information notification means for notifying, when notification of the detailed transaction information is requested from said control apparatus, the detailed transaction information stored in said storage means to said settlement terminal of said POS apparatus by way of said control apparatus.

25. A self-scanning registration terminal as claimed in claim 21, further comprising display means for displaying thereon commodity information including commodity information notified from said control apparatus and a sales price determined by said execution sales price determination means.

26. A self-scanning registration terminal as claimed in claim 19, further comprising an end key adapted to be operated upon ending of purchasing of a commodity or commodities, and terminal identification information notification means for notifying, when said end key is operated, terminal identification information unique to said self-scanning registration terminal to said control apparatus.

27. A control apparatus for a self-scanning registration terminal interposed between a POS apparatus including a settlement terminal for effecting final settlement of the accounts for a purchased commodity or commodities and one or a plurality of self-scanning registration terminals each including commodity code reading means for reading a commodity code applied to a commodity such that said self-scanning registration terminal or terminals are accommodated in said POS apparatus by way of said control apparatus, wherein said control apparatus communicates commodity purchase information based on commodity code information read by said commodity code reading means of said self-scanning registration terminal or any of said self-scanning registration terminals between the self-scanning registration terminal and said POS apparatus, and wherein detailed transaction information is communicated to said settlement terminal.

28. A control apparatus for a self-scanning registration terminal as claimed in claim 27, comprising:

commodity information retrieval means for retrieving commodity information of a commodity corresponding to commodity code information read by said commodity code reading means and notified from the self-scanning registration terminal; and

commodity information notification means for notifying the commodity information retrieved by said commodity information retrieval means to the self-scanning registration terminal.

29. A control apparatus for a self-scanning registration terminal as claimed in claim 28, further comprising registration terminal control means for holding terminal identification information notified from said self-scanning registration terminal or any of said self-scanning registration terminals to control an operation condition of the self-scanning registration terminal.

30. A control apparatus for a self-scanning registration terminal as claimed in claim 29, further comprising determination means for determining whether or not terminal identification information notified from said settlement terminal of said POS apparatus is held by said registration terminal control means, and detailed transaction information requesting means for requesting, when it is determined by said determination means that the terminal identification information is held by said registration terminal control means, notification of the detailed transaction information to the self-scanning registration terminal corresponding to the terminal identification information.

31. A control apparatus for a self-scanning registration terminal as claimed in claim 27, further comprising registration terminal control means for holding terminal identification information notified from said self-scanning registration terminal or any of said self-scanning registration terminals to control an operation condition of the self-scanning registration terminal.

32. A control apparatus for a self-scanning registration terminal as claimed in claim 31, further comprising determination means for determining whether or not terminal identification information notified from said settlement terminal of said POS apparatus is held by said registration terminal control means, and detailed transaction information requesting means for requesting, when it is determined by said determination means that the terminal identification information is held by said registration terminal control means, notification of detailed transaction information to the self-scanning registration terminal corresponding to the terminal identification information.

33. A POS apparatus for a self-scanning registration terminal, comprising:

a settlement terminal for effecting final settlement of the accounts for a purchased commodity or commodities;

said POS apparatus accommodating by way of a control apparatus one or a plurality of self-scanning registration terminals each including commodity code reading means for reading a commodity code applied to a commodity;

said POS apparatus communicating commodity purchase information based on commodity code information read by said commodity code reading means with the self-scanning registration terminal by way of said control apparatus, and said control apparatus controlling the communication to said terminal of detailed transaction information.

34. A POS apparatus for a self-scanning registration terminal as claimed in claim 33, further comprising terminal identification information notification means for notifying terminal identification information of said self-scanning registration terminal or any of said self-scanning registration terminals inputted from said settlement terminal to the self-scanning registration terminal or said control apparatus.

35. A POS apparatus for a self-scanning registration terminal as claimed in claim 33, further comprising inquiring means for determining, when customer identification information is received from said self-scanning registration terminal or any of said self-scanning registration terminals by way of said control apparatus, based on the customer identification information whether use of the self-scanning registration terminal is to be permitted or rejected.

36. A serf-scanning POS system comprising:

a self-scanning registration terminal including commodity code reading means for reading a commodity code applied to a commodity; and

a control apparatus for controlling said self-scanning registration terminal;

said self-scanning registration terminal including commodity code information notification means for notifying, when a commodity code is read by said commodity code reading means, the commodity code information to said control apparatus, and display means for displaying thereon commodity information regarding the commodity whose commodity code has been read by said commodity code reading means;

said control apparatus including a commodity information file for storing commodity information of commodities corresponding to commodity codes, and commodity information retrieval means for retrieving from said commodity information file commodity information corresponding to commodity code information notified from said self-scanning registration terminal by said commodity code information notification means;

said commodity information file having stored in advance therein display contents to be automatically displayed on said display means of said self-scanning registration terminal when a predetermined discount sales condition is satisfied as commodity information of a commodity corresponding to a commodity code,

wherein said control apparatus further includes commodity code information notification means for notifying commodity information retrieved by said commodity information retrieval means to said self-scanning registration terminal, and said self-scanning registration terminal further includes a preset file in which various sales conditions including the predetermined discount sales condition are stored in advance for individual commodities, discount sale condition determination means for reading out, in accordance with commodity information notified from said control apparatus by said commodity code information notification means, the predetermined discount sales condition of the commodity stored in said preset file and determining whether or not the predetermined discount sales condition is satisfied, execution sales price determination means for reading out, in accordance with the commodity information notified from said control apparatus by said commodity code information notification means, the sales conditions of the commodity stored in said preset file and calculating and determining a sales price of the commodity whose commodity code has been read by said commodity code reading means based on the thus read out sales conditions and the commodity information notified from said control apparatus by said commodity code information notification means, and display control means for editing and producing, when it is determined by said discount sales condition determination means that the predetermined discount sales condition is satisfied, display data for said display means based on the display contents notified as the commodity information from said control apparatus by said commodity code information notification means, the other commodity information and the sales price determined by said execution sales price determination means and controlling said display means to display the display data thereon.

37. A self-scanning POS system comprising:

a self-scanning registration terminal including commodity code reading means for reading a commodity code applied to a commodity; and

a control apparatus for controlling said self-scanning registration terminal;

said self-scanning registration terminal including commodity code information notification means for notifying, when a commodity code is read by said commodity code reading means, the commodity code information to said control apparatus, and display means for displaying thereon commodity information regarding the commodity whose commodity code has been read by said commodity code reading means;

said control apparatus including a commodity information file for storing commodity information of commodities corresponding to commodity codes, and commodity information retrieval means for retrieving from said commodity information file commodity information corresponding to commodity code information notified from said self-scanning registration terminal by said commodity code information notification means;

said commodity information file having stored in advance therein display contents to be automatically displayed on said display means of said self-scanning registration terminal when a predetermined discount sales condition is satisfied as commodity information of a commodity corresponding to a commodity code,

wherein said control apparatus further includes a preset file in which various sales conditions including the predetermined discount sales condition are stored in advance for individual commodities, discount sales condition determination means for reading out, based on commodity information retrieved by said commodity information retrieval means, the predetermined discount sales condition of the commodity stored in said preset file and determining whether or not the predetermined sales condition is satisfied, execution sales price determination means for reading out, in accordance with the commodity information retrieved by said commodity information retrieval means, the sales conditions of the commodity stored in said preset file and calculating and determining a sales price of the commodity whose commodity code has been read by said commodity code reading means based on the thus read out sales conditions and the commodity information retrieved by said commodity information retrieval means, display data edition means for editing and producing, when it is determined by said discount sales condition determination means that the predetermined discount sales condition is satisfied, display data for said display means of said self-scanning registration terminal based on the display contents retrieved as the commodity information by said commodity information retrieval means, the other commodity information and the sales price determined by said execution sales price determination means, and display data notification means for notifying the display data edited and produced by said display data edition means to said self-scanning registration terminal, and said self-scanning registration terminal further includes control means for controlling said display means to display thereon the display data notified from said control apparatus by said display data notification means.