JP4975652B2 - Product sales processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a merchandise sales processing apparatus that executes merchandise sales processing and proxy transaction processing such as charge storage by consignment from the outside.

  A store such as a convenience store is installed with a merchandise sales processing device, such as a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal, which performs a sales process by reading a bar code of a product that a shopper wants to purchase. This POS terminal can perform not only merchandise sales processing but also agency transaction processing such as charge storage by external consignment.

  However, the agency transaction processing may take time, and during that time, many shoppers may line up at the cash register and cause trouble for the shoppers.

Therefore, there is a POS terminal that is provided with a hold key and that can set and cancel the hold of the agency transaction process during the execution of the agency transaction process (for example, Patent Document 1). In this POS terminal, by setting the suspension of the agency transaction process, the agency transaction process can be interrupted and the normal merchandise sales process can be executed, and many shoppers lined up at the cash register can be offered. Thereafter, by canceling the suspension of the agency transaction process, it is possible to return to the agency transaction process before the suspension.
JP 2001-243555 A

  After setting up the proxy transaction process, a large number of shoppers rushed in, or the clerk forgot that the proxy transaction process was set up. It may continue. In this case, the requester of the proxy transaction will be kept waiting for a long time, which will bother the requester, for example, if the proxy transaction has a payment deadline, the date will change and the payment deadline will not be completed. It may elapse. There is a problem that an arrears fee is imposed on the client when the payment deadline has passed.

  The present invention takes the above circumstances into consideration, and its purpose is to make it possible for the staff to accurately recognize that the suspension of the agency transaction processing is set, so that the agency transaction processing remains suspended. An object of the present invention is to provide a merchandise sales processing device capable of solving the problem that the processing continues indefinitely.

The merchandise sales processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention executes merchandise sales processing and agency transaction processing by consignment, and sets suspension of the agency transaction processing during execution of the agency transaction processing. The first operation means and a counting means for counting the number of executions each time the merchandise sales process for one person from the merchandise registration operation to the payment operation is executed when the proxy transaction process is put on hold. And a second operating means for releasing the suspension of the proxy transaction process, and when the suspension of the proxy transaction process is set, the higher the count value of the counting means, the higher the value of the counting means. when the informing means for informing at the level, hold the proxy transaction processing is set, specifies the continuation or cancellation of the pending before the agency transaction processing when held by said second operating means is released Displays proxy transaction processing screen because, that when said number of executions being counted by the counting means reaches a set value is predetermined is required there that released pending still setting state of the proxy transaction processing Control means for displaying a hold limit notification screen .

  According to the merchandise sales processing apparatus of this invention, it is possible to cause the staff to accurately recognize that the suspension of the agency transaction processing is set. As a result, it is possible to solve the problem that other processing continues indefinitely while the proxy transaction processing is suspended.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of a merchandise sales processing system according to the present invention is shown in FIG.

  1 is a server installed in a store, a control unit 2, a ROM 3 for storing a control program, a RAM 4 for data storage, a hard disk drive (HDD) 5 in which a large number of data files are stored, a display unit 6, an operation unit 7, And a network interface (I / F) 8 and the like. A plurality of POS terminals 20, which are product sales processing apparatuses of the present invention, are connected to the network interface 8 of the server 1 via the communication network 10.

  The POS terminal 20 includes a keyboard 22, a mode switch 23, a card reader 24, a touch panel type operator display unit 25, a customer display unit 26, an electronic journal 27 that stores a journal in an electronic medium, a printer 28 that prints a receipt and a journal, and a product. A hand-held scanner 29 for optically reading a barcode attached to the control unit 30, a control unit 30, a ROM 31 for storing a control program, a RAM 32 for storing data, a hard disk drive (HDD) 33 for storing data, an electronic sound unit 34, a network It has an interface (I / F) 35 and the like, and has an appearance as shown in FIG.

  That is, the POS terminal 20 includes a drawer 21 having a drawer 21a for storing cash and the like, and a main body provided on the drawer 21, and is installed at a cash register counter in the store. The main body of the POS terminal 20 is provided with a keyboard 22, a mode switch 23, a card reader 24, a touch panel type operator display unit 25, a customer display unit 26, an electronic journal 27, a printer 28, and the like. Further, a hand-held scanner 29 is led out from the main body of the POS terminal 20. The keyboard 22 has a hold key 22a as an operation means for setting and canceling the hold of the agency transaction process during the execution of the agency transaction process.

On the other hand, the control unit 30 of the POS terminal 20 has the following means (1) to (6) as main functions.
(1) When the proxy transaction process is being executed, if the hold key 22a is pressed, the proxy transaction process is set to hold, and then the hold key 22a is pressed, or the confirmation / clear display described later. Control means for releasing suspension of proxy transaction processing when the pattern 25c is touched.

  (2) When the suspension of proxy transaction processing is set, the number of executions N is counted each time the other product sales processing is executed, for example, from the product registration operation to the payment operation. And counting means for clearing the count value N when releasing the hold.

  (3) Notification means for notifying the fact that the proxy transaction process is put on hold at an arousing level corresponding to the count value N of the counting means.

  (4) Control means for forcibly releasing the suspension of proxy transaction processing when the suspension of proxy transaction processing is set and the count value N of the counting means reaches a predetermined upper limit set value Ns.

  (5) When the suspension of the agency transaction process is released, the contents of the agency transaction process before the suspension are displayed on the touch panel type operator display unit 25, and the agency transaction for designating the continuation or cancellation of the agency transaction process Control means for displaying a processing screen on the touch panel type operator display unit 25.

  (6) Control means for stopping the agency transaction process and outputting the history of the agency transaction process up to that time when cancellation is designated on the agency transaction process screen. Specific output methods are print output by the printer 28 and transmission output to the server 1 which is a host system.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When an agency transaction process such as charge storage is being executed (YES in step 101), if the hold key 22a is pressed (YES in step 102), the agency transaction process is suspended (step 103). When hold of the agency transaction process is set, a hold notification screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the touch panel type operator display unit 25. On this hold display screen, hold display pattern 25a, “There is a transaction on hold. ”Message display pattern 25b and confirmation / clear display pattern 25c, and the hold display pattern 25a is lit once every 3 seconds (step 104). The lighting once every 3 seconds is for informing the staff at the minimum first arousal level that the suspension of the proxy transaction process is set.

  When the merchandise sales process for one person from the merchandise registration operation to the price payment operation, for example, is executed (YES in step 105), the number of executions is N. Is increased by "1" (N ← N + 1; step 106).

  Then, an operation for canceling the holding of the agency transaction process, for example, a pressing operation of the holding key 22a or a touch operation of the confirmation / clear display pattern 25c of the holding notification screen on the touch panel type operator display unit 25 is monitored (step) 107). As long as there is no release operation (NO in step 107) and the number of executions N has not reached the set value “3” (NO in step 108), “once every 3 seconds” of the hold display pattern 25a in step 104 above. “Lit” continues.

  While the execution count N does not reach the set value “3” (NO in step 108), the hold key 22a is pressed, or the hold notification screen confirmation / clear display pattern 25c on the touch panel type operator display unit 25 is touched. (YES in step 107), the suspension of the proxy transaction process is released (step 109). With this cancellation, the number of executions N is cleared (N ← 0; Step 110), and the display of the hold notification screen and the intermittent lighting of the hold display pattern 25a on the touch panel type operator display unit 25 are released, and the touch panel is displayed. The proxy transaction processing screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the formula operator display unit 25 (step 111). The proxy transaction processing screen includes a display of a continuation button pattern 25e and a cancel button pattern 25f in addition to the content display area 25d representing the content of the proxy transaction processing.

  When the cancel button pattern 25f is touch-operated (YES in step 112), the proxy transaction process is stopped, and the proxy transaction process history up to that time is printed out and transmitted to the server 1 (step 1). 113). The transmitted history is stored in the hard disk drive 5 of the server 1 as an electronic journal file.

  When the continuation button pattern 25e is touched (NO at step 112), or after the proxy transaction process is stopped by touching the cancel button pattern 25f, the hold notification screen display or the hold display pattern 25a is displayed on the touch panel type operator display unit 25. Is transmitted to the server 1 (step 114). The transmitted history is stored in the hard disk drive 5 of the server 1 as a proxy transaction processing file.

  On the other hand, the number of executions N is a set value with no operation (pressing the hold key 22a or touching the check / clear display pattern 25c on the hold notification screen) canceling the holding of the proxy transaction process (NO in step 107). When “3” or more (YES in step 108), on the condition that the number of executions N is less than the set value “6” (YES in step 115), the hold display pattern of the hold display screen on the touch panel type operator display unit 25 25a is switched from “lighting once every 3 seconds” to “lighting once every 2 seconds” (step 116). At the same time, an “alarm sound once every 2 seconds” is emitted from the electronic sound unit 34 (step 117). This “lights once every 2 seconds” and “alerts once every 2 seconds” indicate that the suspension of proxy transaction processing is still in the set state at a second alert level higher than the first alert level. It is for notifying to.

  If the hold key 22a is pressed or the confirmation / clear display pattern 25c on the hold notification screen is touch-operated by a staff member who notices this notification (YES in step 107), the suspension of the proxy transaction process is released (step 109). . Thereafter, the same processing from step 110 to step 114 is performed.

  If the number of executions N is equal to or greater than the set value “6” (NO in step 108, NO in step 115) without performing an operation to cancel the suspension of the agency transaction process (NO in step 108), the execution number N is set to the upper limit. On condition that the value Ns is less than, for example, the set value “10” (YES in step 118), the hold display pattern 25a on the hold display screen in the touch panel type operator display unit 25 is set to “once every 2 seconds”. “ON” is switched to “ON once per second” (step 119). At the same time, the “warning sound once every 2 seconds” is switched to “warning sound once per second” (step 120), and the volume of the warning sound is increased by 20% (step 121). . This "once per second", "warning sound once per second", and "volume up 20%" indicate that the proxy transaction process is still on hold than the second alert level. This is for informing the attendant at a high third arousal level.

  If the hold key 22a is pressed or the confirmation / clear display pattern 25c on the hold notification screen is touch-operated by a staff member who notices this notification (YES in step 107), the suspension of the proxy transaction process is released (step 109). . Thereafter, the same processing from step 110 to step 114 is performed.

  If there is no operation for canceling the suspension of the agency transaction process (NO in step 107), and the number of executions N exceeds the set value “10” (YES in step 108, NO in step 115, NO in step 118), then "Once per second" and "Once per second warning sound" continue (steps 122 and 123), the volume of the warning sound is further increased by 20% (step 124). At the same time, the hold display screen previously displayed on the touch panel type operator display unit 25 is switched to the display of the hold limit notification screen shown in FIG. 6, and an error message indicating that further transactions cannot be performed is displayed (step 125). ). In other words, on the hold display screen, there is a hold display pattern 25a, “There is a transaction on hold. Since the specified number of times has been exceeded, it is not possible to conduct a transaction that is still on hold. Error message display pattern 25g and confirmation / clear display pattern 25c, and the hold display pattern 25a continues to be "lit once per second" as before.

  The display of the hold limit notification screen is for notifying the attendant at the maximum fourth alert level that the hold of the proxy transaction process is still in the set state and that the release is necessary.

  When the confirmation / clear display pattern 25c is touched on the hold limit notification screen (YES in step 126), the proxy transaction process is forcibly released (step 109). Thereafter, the same processing from step 110 to step 114 is performed.

  In this way, when the suspension is set during the execution of the agency transaction process, the number of executions N of other processes is counted, and the fact that the suspension is set is gradually increased with the arousing level corresponding to the counted value N. By notifying strongly, it is possible to make the attendant accurately recognize that the hold is set. In addition, there are several types of notifications such as intermittent lighting, changes in the time interval of the intermittent lighting, warning sound generation, volume change of the warning sound, and message display. Notification with a high degree of appeal is possible.

  Accordingly, it is possible to solve the problem that the other merchandise sales process continues indefinitely while the suspension of the proxy transaction process is set, and the proxy transaction process can be reliably performed as early as possible. Therefore, the waiting time of the client of the proxy transaction can be shortened as much as possible, and the client of the proxy transaction is not inconvenienced. If it is an agency transaction that has a payment deadline, the agency transaction processing can be completed before the payment deadline expires, preventing a problem such that a late charge is imposed on the client after the payment deadline has passed. be able to.

  In addition, when the agency transaction process is stopped, the history of the agency transaction process up to that time is printed out and transmitted to the server 1, so that it is possible to appropriately manage what agency transaction process has been executed. it can.

  Further, since the display of the hold notification screen on the touch panel type operator display unit 25 and the lighting history of the hold display pattern 25a are transmitted to the server 1, how the staff acted in response to the notification is, for example, a reference for personnel management. Can be used as material.

  In the above embodiment, intermittent lighting, change in the time interval of the intermittent lighting, warning sound generation, change in volume of the warning sound, and message display are adopted as the notification means. There is no limitation on the type and number, and it can be selected as appropriate according to the type of the store, the installation status of the POS terminal 20, and the like. In addition, this invention is not limited to each said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation implementation is possible in the range which does not change a summary.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the merchandise sales processing system concerning one Embodiment. The figure which shows the external appearance of one Embodiment. The flowchart for demonstrating the effect | action of one Embodiment. The figure which shows the pending | holding alerting | reporting screen in one Embodiment. The figure which shows the agency transaction processing screen in one Embodiment. The figure which shows the pending | holding limit alerting | reporting screen in one Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Server, 2 ... Control part, 10 ... Communication network, 20 ... POS terminal, 22 ... Keyboard, 22a ... Hold key, 25 ... Touch panel type operator display part, 25a ... Hold display pattern, 25b ... Message display pattern, 25c ... Confirm / clear display pattern, 25d ... content display pattern, 25e ... continue button pattern, 25f ... cancel button pattern, 30 ... control unit

Claims (2)

In the product sales processing device that executes product sales processing and agency transaction processing by consignment,
A first operating means for setting a suspension of the agency transaction process during execution of the agency transaction process;
When the suspension of the agency transaction process is set, a counting unit that counts the number of executions each time a product sales process for one person from a product registration operation to a payment operation is executed;
A second operating means for releasing the suspension of the agency transaction process;
When the suspension of the agency transaction process is set, an informing means for informing the setting at an arousing level that is higher as the count value of the counting means is larger ;
When the suspension of the agency transaction process is set, when the suspension is released by the second operation means, the agency transaction process screen for designating the continuation or cancellation of the agency transaction process before the suspension is displayed. When the number of executions counted by the counting means reaches a predetermined set value , a control for displaying a hold limit notification screen indicating that the hold of the proxy transaction process is still in the set state and needs to be released Means,
A product sales processing apparatus comprising: When cancel is designated on the agency transaction processing screen, the control means for stopping the agency transaction processing before the suspension and outputting the history of agency transaction processing up to that time,
The product sales processing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

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