Product registration apparatus, product registration control method, and program

• US 20060074772A1
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Toyokawa, Takashi, Kamasaki, Shouta
• Application Number:
  US11/283,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20060074772A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/046 Arrangement of recording means in or on check-out counters record carriers or readers per se G06K
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0018 Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means
• 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 1/01 Details for indicating displaying information in general G09F, G09G

Abstract

A screen keyboard has an operation screen with an arrangement of product keys displayed on a display panel having disposed thereon a touch panel, thereby causing a product registration operation through an operation of a product key. A screen transition control unit causes a main operation screen to be displayed on the display panel of the screen keyboard, and also causes a screen selection key to be displayed. After switching from the main operation screen to another operation screen in accordance with an operation on the screen selection key, the screen transition control unit recognizes satisfaction of a predetermined condition, such as a lapse of a prescribed time, and then automatically effects a transition to the main operation screen.

Claims

1. A product registration apparatus, comprising:

a screen keyboard that displays an operation screen having product keys arranged on a display panel having disposed thereon a touch panel, the screen keyboard causing a product registration process by an operation of the product keys; and

a screen transition control unit that causes a main operation screen and a screen selection key to be displayed on the display panel of the screen keyboard, recognizes satisfaction of a predetermined condition after switching from the main operation screen to another operation screen in accordance with an operation on the screen selection key, and effects a transition to the main operation screen.

2. The product registration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screen transition control unit effects a transition to the main operation screen from the operation screen after switching upon recognition of product registration by a scanner that reads a bar code of a product.

3. The product registration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screen transition control unit effects a transition to the main operation screen from the operation screen after switching upon recognition of an operation on a product key on the operation screen after switching.

4. The product registration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screen transition control unit monitors an elapsed time from a time when the main operation screen is switched to the other operation screen, and, upon recognition of an operation on a product key, resets the elapsed time to start monitoring the elapsed time from the beginning, and upon recognition of a lapse of a predetermined time without an operation on a product key, effects a transition to the main operation screen.

5. The product registration apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the screen transition control unit effects a transition to the main operation screen upon recognition of a key operation through a physical keyboard separately provided to the screen keyboard while monitoring the elapsed time.

6. The product registration apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the screen transition control unit effects a transition to the main operation screen upon recognition of an operation on a number-of-products key, a discount key, or a correction key through a physical keyboard.

7. The product registration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screen transition control unit effects a transition to the main operation screen upon recognition of non-detection of a checker by a sensor mounted on a scanner that reads a bar code of a product.

8. The product registration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screen transition control unit effects a transition to the main operation screen upon detection, by a sensor, of a movement of a registered product to a basket.

9. The product registration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screen transition control unit effects a transition to the main operation screen upon detection of a change in weight of the basket, the detection being made by a load sensor disposed on a lane on which a basket accommodating a product is placed,

10. A product registration control method with a screen keyboard that displays an operation screen having product keys arranged on a display panel having disposed thereon a touch panel, the screen keyboard causing a product registration process by an operation of the product keys, the method comprising:

an initial displaying step of causing a main operation screen and a screen selection key to be displayed on the display panel having disposed thereon the touch panel of the screen keyboard;

a screen switching step of switching from the main operation screen to another operation screen in accordance with an operation on the screen selection key; and

an initial screen transition step of recognizing satisfaction of a predetermined condition after the switching to the other operation screen, and effecting a transition to the main operation screen.

11. The product registration method according to claim 10, wherein, in the screen transition step, an elapsed time from a time when the main operation screen is switched to the other operation screen is monitored, and, upon recognition of an operation on a product key, the elapsed time is reset to start monitoring the elapsed time from the beginning, and upon recognition of a lapse of a predetermined time without an operation on a product key, a transition to the main operation screen is effected.

12. The product registration method according to claim 11, wherein the screen transition control step effects a transition to the main operation screen upon recognition of a key operation through a physical keyboard separately provided to the screen keyboard while monitoring the elapsed time.

13. A program that causes a computer including a product registration apparatus including a screen keyboard that displays an operation screen having product keys arranged on a display panel having disposed thereon a touch panel, the screen keyboard causing a product registration process by an operation of the product keys, to perform steps comprising:

an initial displaying step of causing a predetermined main operation screen and a screen selection key to be displayed on the display panel having disposed thereon the touch panel of the screen keyboard;

a screen switching step of switching from the main operation screen to another operation screen in accordance with an operation on the screen selection key; and

an initial screen transition step of recognizing satisfaction of a predetermined condition after the switching to the other operation screen, and effecting a transition to the main operation screen.

14. The program according to claim 13, wherein, in the screen transition step, an elapsed time from a time when the main operation screen is switched to the other operation screen is monitored, and, when an operation on a product key is recognized, the elapsed time is reset to start monitoring the elapsed time from the beginning, and when a lapse of a predetermined time is recognized without an operation on a product key, a transition to the main operation screen is effected.

15. The program according to claim 14, wherein the screen transition control step effects a transition to the main operation screen upon recognition of a key operation through a physical keyboard separately provided to the screen keyboard while monitoring the elapsed time.