JP3579895B2 - POS (Point of Sale Information) System - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides, for example, a cafeteria-type cafeteria including a plurality of customer-facing terminals that display product information, input customer operations, and receive finalized information, and send the input information to a POS device as order reception information. In particular, the present invention relates to a POS system that can monitor and reduce improper operation or operation error on a customer terminal, thereby improving the service.
[0002]
The POS system is a well-known point-of-sale information management system. By using a computer system, for example, a product code is read at a sales base, and the sales information is centralized to help product management and management improvement. Things.
[0003]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this type of POS system includes a plurality of customer-facing terminals for displaying product information, inputting a customer operation, and receiving confirmation information to send the input information to a POS device as order reception information. ing. For example, in a cafeteria type cafeteria, there is a display shelf provided in the cafeteria, where the same dishes are arranged and provided to customers. The display shelf is provided with at least one customer-ready card reader (hereinafter referred to as a circumscribed reader) for each of the arranged dishes. The circumscribed leader displays the displayed food menu on the screen and sends the customer's operation input and the customer's ID (identifier) card operation to the POS device as order reception information.
[0004]
Here, as a related technique, for example, an employee cafeteria system in a company will be described with reference to FIG. In the employee cafeteria system, sales and management of meal tickets are cashless and automated. That is, by inputting the magnetic card into the circumscribed reader, food data can be collected and totaled by the POS system, and the sales and management of meal tickets become unnecessary.
[0005]
In the illustrated example, the dining room 120 is provided with a POS device 112 connected to the host computer 10 via a bus and a plurality of circumscribed readers 121 to 124. Each of the circumscribed leaders 121 to 124 is provided in front of a display shelf for each dish. When the employee takes out the selected dish from the display shelf, his / her ID card is passed through a circumscribed reader (for example) 124 to read the data, and the POS system transmits this data to the POS device 112. It will be useful for collecting sales information and collecting fees due to salary deductions.
[0006]
In the kitchen 130, the POS device 112 receives the sales information obtained from the circumscribed readers 121 to 124 by the kitchen printer 31, knows the food sold, and uses the sales tendency to add or create food. Further, the kitchen 130 is provided with kitchen checkers 132 and 133. The kitchen checker 132 is directly connected to the circumscribed reader 123, and the kitchen checker 133 is directly connected to the circumscribed reader 124 by, for example, an RS232C interface, which is a widely adopted standard recommended by the American Electrical Industry Association (EIA).
[0007]
The circumscribed reader 124 illustrated in FIG. 10 has a touch panel with an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen, a reading slot for an ID card, a speaker, and the like. For the touch panel, as product information, for example, “dessert, unit price 200 yen, total 200 yen, "200 kcal" is displayed on the screen.
[0008]
Each of the kitchen checkers 132 and 133 illustrated in FIG. 11 checks the processing status of the corresponding circumscribed card reader 123 or 124 on the canteen side. Therefore, it is possible to confirm whether the card reading is "OK" or "error", whether the card is defective, or whether the card has been inserted twice, by the lighting of each lamp and the buzzer sound.
[0009]
Next, the main operation of the circumscribed reader 124 will be described with reference to FIG. 12 and FIG. 9 to FIG.
[0010]
The circumscribed reader 124 receives in advance the product information such as the target product name, the unit price, the number of remaining items, and the calories from the POS device 112 (step S01), and displays, for example, "dessert" on the LCD screen as shown in FIG. .
[0011]
In the case where another product is selected on the touch panel without selecting "dessert" on the screen (NO in step S02), when the customer receives the touch information on the touch on the screen (YES in step S03), the circumscribed leader is selected. 124 displays an image corresponding to the touch button on the LCD screen (step S04), returns the procedure to step S02, and waits for acceptance of card reading.
[0012]
If the above step S02 is "YES" and the card reading is accepted by the card reader by the card operation of the customer, and if the acceptance is normal (YES in step S05), the external reader 124 transmits the acceptance data to the POS device 112 (YES in step S05). Step S06) is performed. Next, a result message such as “Read normal, bad card, or insert twice” regarding the transmission data arrives from the POS device 112, and the external reader 124 displays the result message on the LCD screen (step S07) and displays this message. Is notified to the kitchen confirmation machine 133 (procedure S08). Therefore, the result message is displayed as a lamp on the kitchen confirmation device 133 including "OK, bad card, or twice inserted" as shown in FIG.
[0013]
Subsequent to the step S08, the procedure of the circumscribed leader 124 returns to the step S02.
[0014]
If the above step S05 is “NO” and is not accepted normally, the circumscribed reader 124 displays an error message on the LCO screen (step S09), proceeds to the above step S08, and notifies the kitchen confirming machine 133 of the error message. . Accordingly, an “error” lamp is displayed on the kitchen confirmation device 133.
[0015]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-mentioned conventional POS system, since the circumscribed card reader is provided in the dining room, the circumscribed card reader cannot be monitored on the management side such as a kitchen. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to assist the customer's operation, and it is not possible to monitor, for example, an illegal operation of the customer, such as receiving a product different from the selected menu, or an operation error. .
[0016]
An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem and to improve the service by monitoring illegal operations or operation mistakes in a customer terminal to reduce them and to assist the customer operation. To provide a POS system.
[0017]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A POS system according to the present invention is a system including at least one customer-facing terminal that displays product information, inputs a customer operation, and, when receiving confirmation information, sends the input information to a POS device as order reception information. And further comprising at least one management terminal corresponding to the at least one customer service terminal and having the same function as the customer service terminal, wherein the corresponding pair of the management terminal and the customer service terminal are synchronized terminals. exchanging information of the operation and operation between each other as, by the same process this information in both, and characterized by displaying the same screen on both.
[0018]
With this configuration, the management terminal can monitor and confirm the operation status and operation status of the corresponding customer-facing terminal. Further, the administrator can operate the management terminal and support the operation of the customer by using the screen display of the customer service terminal. Therefore, it is preferable that the corresponding management terminal and the customer corresponding terminal are a fixed pair.
[0019]
One of the specific means of the POS system according to the present invention is to display a food menu on a screen provided in a cafeteria, input a customer operation, and use the customer ID (identifier) card operation as order receiving information. At least one customer card reader for sending to the POS device, wherein at least one management card reader having the same function and corresponding to the at least one customer card reader is provided in the kitchen, and a corresponding pair of card readers is provided. the management card reader and the customer corresponding card reader can exchange information of the operation and operation between each other as a synchronous reader, it is to the same treatment in both this information.
[0020]
Further, it is desirable that the pair of terminals collate and confirm the result of the processing under the same condition.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0022]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. The POS system shown in FIG. 1 includes a host computer 10, a POS device 12 and a deposit machine 13 provided in a canteen 20 and connected by a bus 11, and a plurality of circumscribed readers 21 to 24 serving as customer correspondence terminals, and a kitchen 30. And a kitchen printer 31 for printing out orders and two circumscribed readers 32 and 33 as management terminals.
[0023]
A feature of the present invention is that the same circumscribed readers 32 and 33 as those used for customers are provided as management terminals instead of the above-mentioned kitchen checker.
[0024]
The host computer 10 controls and manages the POS system. The POS device 12 receives the notification of the selection menu and the ID card data from the externally connected readers 21 to 24, 32, and 33 connected to the bus and receives the notification, collects the sales information, and collects the sales information. Information required for information management can be notified to the host computer 10.
[0025]
The customer-facing circumscribed readers 21 to 24 and the management circumscribed readers 32 and 33 have the same structure and function, and only the customer-facing circumscribed leaders 21 to 24 need to transmit data to the POS device 12. Of course, it is also possible to access the POS device 12 from the management external readers 32 and 33 according to predetermined conditions and operations.
[0026]
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the circumscribed reader 21 includes a touch panel with an LCD screen 41, a card reader 42 for recognizing the customer by passing the customer's ID card, and a speaker 43 for confirming operations and the like. In the initial state, a dish name, a unit price, a remaining quantity, calories, and the like as shown in FIG. 3 are displayed on the LCD screen 41 in response to an instruction from the POS device 12. FIG. 3A shows a case where “A set meal” is displayed by selecting only one product, and FIG. 3B shows “salad / natto / egg” in addition to the displayed one product. The case where a plurality of products are selected is shown.
[0027]
Also, for example, when the card reader 42 of the external reader 21 reads the customer's ID card for order confirmation, the reading result is displayed on the LCD screen 41 as "read OK" or "read error" as shown in FIG. Is displayed, and the selection menu and the ID card data are transferred to the POS device 12.
[0028]
Between the POS device 12 and the circumscribed readers 21 to 24, 32, and 33, for example, an SSDL (Slow Speed Data Link) having an RS-485 interface, which is a standard widely recommended by the American Electrical Industry Association (EIA), is used. ). This transmission format is shown in FIG.
[0029]
FIG. 6A shows a specific example of a functional message list between the POS device 12 and the circumscribed readers 21 to 24, 32, and 33. FIG. 6B shows a specific example of a function message list between the circumscribed reader 23 and the circumscribed reader 32 or between the circumscribed reader 24 and the circumscribed reader 33 shown in FIG. .
[0030]
In the example shown in FIG. 1, the circumscribed leader 23 is connected to the circumscribed leader 32, and the circumscribed reader 24 is connected to the circumscribed reader 33 as a synchronous reader for performing a synchronous operation. Then, when one of the synchronous readers operates by an operation input, the input information is transmitted to the reader of the synchronous partner by the electronic message, and both perform the same operation. Therefore, the result is displayed on its own screen, but is also displayed on the screen of the leader of the synchronization partner. That is, the same image is displayed on both screens. This result can be transmitted to each other and confirmed.
[0031]
Next, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, one procedure of the main operation in the customer-facing circumscribed reader 24 will be described.
[0032]
First, it is assumed that the circumscribed reader 24 has received menu information on “hamburger set meal” of a product from the POS device 12 and has displayed it on the LCD screen 41 (procedure S1). Since the circumscribed leader 24 has the circumscribed reader 33 as a synchronous reader, the display data is transmitted to the circumscribed reader 33 (step S3). Therefore, the circumscribed leader 33 displays the same screen as the circumscribed reader 24 as shown in the uppermost part of FIG.
[0033]
In this state, when the external reader 24 designates “mix fly set meal” by touching on the LCD screen before the card reader 42 accepts the reading of the customer's ID card (NO in step S4), the touch is Information is accepted (YES in step S5), and a screen corresponding to this touch button is displayed (step S6). Next, the procedure returns to the above step S2, where there is a synchronous reader, and data indicating that the same touch information has been received is transmitted to the external reader 33 of the synchronous reader by an operation message to display the same screen.
[0034]
If the above step S2 is "NO" and the circumscribed leader 21 does not have a synchronous leader, the step S3 is skipped and the step S4 is continued. If the step S5 is "NO" and there is no touch information, the process waits for either the card reading reception or the touch information reception together with the step S4.
[0035]
When the card reading is accepted in the above step S4 of "YES", the circumscribed reader 24 determines whether or not the card reading is normally accepted (step S11).
[0036]
If the procedure S11 is "YES" and the reception is normal, the external reader 24 transmits this data to the POS device 12 (procedure S12) and waits for the result. Even if the circumscribed reader 24 normally accepts, a result such as “OK, bad card, twice operation” arrives from the POS device 12. Therefore, the circumscribed leader 24 displays the corresponding result message on the screen (step S13), and proceeds to the determination of the presence or absence of the synchronous leader (step S14).
[0037]
If this step S14 is "YES" and there is a synchronous reader, as described above, the data received from the POS device 12 is transmitted to the synchronous reader by an operation message (step S15), and the same screen is displayed on the synchronous reader. The procedure returns to the menu accepting screen display of the first procedure S1. If the step S14 is "NO" and there is no synchronous reader, the procedure immediately returns to the step S1.
[0038]
If the card reader 42 does not normally receive the card data in the above step S11, the external reader 24 determines "error" and displays an error message on the screen (step S16). Proceed to S14.
[0039]
In steps S3 and S15, the circumscribed reader 24 transmits the operation data of the circumscribed reader to the circumscribed reader 33 of the synchronous reader by an operation message. At this time, the circumscribed reader 33 operates in the same manner as when its own touch panel or card reader is operated by the received operation message.
[0040]
Therefore, although not shown in the flowchart, as shown in the latter half of FIG. 8, for example, when a reading error occurs as a result of the reading of the card by the external reader 33, the procedure proceeds to the above-mentioned step S11. From "NO", via step S16, "YES" of step S14 and proceed to step S15. Therefore, the external reader 24, which is a synchronous reader, receives the operation message of the "read error" message and displays a "re-read request" message on the screen.
[0041]
Further, in the above description, since the circumscribed reader performs only simple internal processing such as simple selection of a product, cancellation of selection, reading of a card, and display of a processing result, there is no result confirmation between synchronous terminals. However, by applying the conventional technology, it is easy to make a reply accompanying transmission of information between the paired terminals. As a result, the paired circumscribed leaders can further ensure the same display.
[0042]
In the above description, two external circumscribed readers are paired and two sets are provided as synchronous readers. However, any number of synchronous readers may be used as long as there are at least one pair.
[0043]
Although the above description is directed to a cafeteria, particularly a cafeteria style cafeteria, the present invention is suitable for a system in which one POS device includes a plurality of processing terminals corresponding to customers.
[0044]
In other words, when a customer operates one pair of terminals in a synchronized POS system, for example, a veteran operator manages the other management terminal using the other management terminal, so that not only can the customer be assisted in the operation, but also the unauthorized operation can be performed. Can also be monitored.
[0045]
In the above description, reference is made to the illustrated functional blocks and procedures, but changes such as allocation or separation of procedures by separation / merging of functions are free as long as the above functions are satisfied, and the above description limits the present invention. Not something.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, at least one of, for example, a circumscribed reader, which displays product information, inputs a customer operation, and receives confirmation information to send the input information to the POS device as order reception information. A system including a customer service terminal such as that described above, further comprising at least one management terminal corresponding to at least one customer service terminal and having the same function, wherein the corresponding pair of management terminals and the customer service terminal are And a POS system for exchanging operation and operation information under the same conditions.
[0047]
With this configuration, it is possible to monitor for illegal operations or mistakes in operation at the customer-facing terminal, for example, illegal operations such as removing extra items from the selection menu. In addition, since the clerk assists the management terminal, the operation burden on the customer is reduced, and there is no error in the aggregated data due to an operation error by the customer. In addition to this, by monitoring the management terminal, the operation status of the customer can be grasped, so that appropriate advice to the customer, early troubleshooting, and the like can be performed, and the effect of improving the service can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of the circumscribed leader in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing two embodiments displayed on the LCD screen of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing two forms of a result message when the card reader of FIG. 2 is used.
FIG. 5 is a format diagram showing one embodiment of a transmission format between the POS device and the external reader in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a functional message list between the POS device and the external reader in FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining one procedure of main operations in a customer-facing circumscribed leader in FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a procedure of exchanging information between a POS device, a customer service terminal, and a management terminal in the customer service terminal in FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the related art.
10 is an external perspective view and an LCD screen view showing an embodiment of the circumscribed reader in FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a front view showing one embodiment of the kitchen checker in FIG. 9;
FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining one procedure of main operations in a customer-facing circumscribed leader in FIG. 9;
[Explanation of symbols]
12 POS device 20 Cafeteria 21, 22, 23, 24, 32, 33 Circumscribed reader 30 Kitchen 41 LCD screen 42 Card reader

Claims (5)

A POS system including at least one customer service terminal for displaying information, inputting a customer operation, and receiving the finalized information as order receiving information to a POS device; further comprising at least one management terminal having the same function with corresponding to the terminal, the corresponding pair of the management terminal and the customer service terminal may exchange information of the operation and operation between each other as a synchronous terminal, the A POS system characterized in that information is processed identically by both parties . 2. The POS system according to claim 1, wherein the corresponding management terminal and the customer corresponding terminal are a fixed pair. In a POS system provided in a cafeteria and having at least one customer-ready card reader for displaying a food menu on a screen, inputting a customer operation, and transmitting a customer ID (identifier) card operation as order receiving information to a POS device, A kitchen is provided with at least one management card reader corresponding to at least one customer-ready card reader and having the same function, and a corresponding pair of the management card reader and the customer-ready card reader are mutually operated as a synchronous reader. POS system characterized by exchanging information of the operation and operation between, for the same process in both this information. 5. The pair of management card readers and the corresponding customer card readers according to claim 3, wherein each of the pair of management card readers and the customer correspondence card reader displays the same screen, and when one of the operation inputs is made, the input information is sent to the other, and both are the same. A POS system for performing a process. 5. The POS system according to claim 4, wherein, for an instruction sent from one of the corresponding pair to the other, the result is returned and collated.

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