Receipt printer, receipt printer control method, and program

• US 8,321,287 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2010
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Miyagawa, Akira, Aonuma, Masashi, Kuriyama, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Danneman, Paul
• Application Number:
  US12/817,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20110004530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 in the receipt printer that stores encrypted information obtained by encrypting registered information;

a transaction information acquisition unit that acquires transaction information from a POS terminal;

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

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

the specific information acquisition unit acquires the specific information contained in the transaction information acquired from a POS terminal as the 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. A receipt printer comprising:

a storage unit in the receipt printer 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 from a POS terminal;

a second specific information acquisition unit that acquires second specific information contained in the transaction information;

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.

7. The receipt printer described in claim 6, 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.

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

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

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

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

10. The receipt printer described in claim 6, 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.

11. The receipt printer described in claim 6, 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 executed by a receipt printer having a storage unit that stores encrypted information obtained by encrypting registered information, the control method comprising:

acquiring specific information from an external source;

reading the encrypted information from the storage unit and decrypting the encrypted information;

comparing the acquired specific information and the decrypted registered information; and

permitting printing when a data match is confirmed;

printing transaction information acquired from a POS terminal.

13. The control method described in claim 12, wherein:

the acquiring step acquires specific information contained in the transaction information acquired from the POS terminal as the external source.

14. The control method described in claim 12, wherein:

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

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program thereon, the program being configured to cause a computer to execute the steps of the control method for a receipt printer described in claim 12.

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

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

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

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;

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

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

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

printing the transaction information when printing is permitted.

16. The control method described in claim 15, wherein:

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

17. The control method described in claim 15, further comprising:

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

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

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program thereon, the program being configured to cause a computer to execute the steps of the control method for a receipt printer described in claim 15.