JP7553648B2 - Mobile terminal, program and processing method - Google Patents

Description

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a mobile terminal, a program and a processing method .

Conventionally, in stores such as supermarkets and shopping centers, a style of shopping has been used in which a shopping cart that can be moved around the store and in which the products to be purchased are placed is used. A customer pushes a shopping cart around the store and places the products to be purchased into the shopping cart or into a basket attached to the shopping cart. Then, when the customer has finished shopping, the customer moves the shopping cart with the products inside to a checkout section such as a Point of Sales (POS) terminal and pays for the products inside.

Recently, shopping carts have been equipped with a symbol reader that can read code symbols such as barcodes attached to products. When placing an item in the shopping cart, the customer presses a start button to enable the symbol reader. Pressing the start button enables the symbol reader to read code symbols for a specified period of time. The customer has the code attached to the item read by the symbol reader within the specified period of time after pressing the start button, and then places the item in the shopping cart. The shopping cart stores the product information of the product that has been read. In this way, there is no need to have the product that the customer wishes to purchase read again at the product checkout section.

However, symbol readers installed on conventional shopping carts would immediately become unable to read the symbol of one product after reading it. To read the symbol of the next product, the customer had to press the start button again. As a result, even when reading the symbols of multiple products in succession, the customer had to press the start button each time, which was inconvenient for the customer.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal, a program, and a processing method that are capable of reading symbols of a plurality of products consecutively without the need to operate a start button each time.

The mobile terminal of the embodiment is a mobile terminal that moves with a customer and is operated by the customer to register products purchased, and has a reading means that reads a symbol attached to the product to identify the product, a receiving means that can receive operation of an operating unit to start reading the symbol by the reading means, a reading control means that enables the reading of the symbol by the reading means when the receiving means receives the start of reading, and when the reading means reads the symbol, sets a predetermined time and enables the reading of the symbol by the reading means if the elapsed time since the reading means read the symbol is within the predetermined time, a registration means that performs the product registration of the product identified by the symbol read by the reading means, and a cancellation means that collectively cancels the product registration of a plurality of products by the registration means.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a checkout system 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a shopping cart. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the cart terminal. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the POS terminal. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of the cart terminal. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of control processing of the cart terminal. FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of the cart terminal according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of control processing of the cart terminal.

The first embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 6. The second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to Figures 7 and 8. In the first and second embodiments, a cart terminal will be described as an example of a symbol reading device. The present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments described below.

First Embodiment
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an outline of the overall configuration of a checkout system according to a first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in the checkout system 1, a plurality of shopping carts 2 and a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal 5 for performing accounting for products purchased by customers are connected via a network 9 such as a LAN (Local Area Network). A cart terminal 4 (symbol reader) is attached to the shopping cart 2. The cart terminal 4 is connected to the network 9 by a wireless communication line L between the cart terminal 4 and a wireless communication unit 7 equipped with an antenna installed on the ceiling or the like of the store, and the cart terminal 4 is capable of wireless communication with the POS terminal 5. The cart terminal 4 is attached in a direction to display information to a customer pushing the cart. The information displayed to the customer is, for example, product information (product name, price, etc.) of the product to be purchased. The information displayed to the customer is, for example, sales promotion information of the store.

In a store that has introduced such a checkout system 1, a customer borrows a shopping cart 2 at the store entrance. The customer then pushes the shopping cart 2 around the store, picking up products to purchase from shelves (not shown) and placing them in the shopping cart 2. Each product is marked with a code symbol, for example in the form of a barcode or two-dimensional code. The customer reads the code symbol on the product using the symbol reader 49 (reader) (see FIG. 2) of the cart terminal 4 attached to the shopping cart 2. The customer places the product whose code symbol has been read into the shopping cart 2. After the customer has finished reading the code symbols of the products to be purchased, the customer moves the shopping cart 2 to the position of the POS terminal 5 and performs the transaction process. After completing the transaction process, the customer bags the products in the shopping cart 2, returns the shopping cart 2, and leaves the store through the exit.

The shopping cart 2 is connected to the POS terminal 5 and a store server (not shown) via a communication line L, and receives, for example, product master information that stores product information (product name, price, etc.) of products sold at the store from the POS terminal 5 and the store server. The shopping cart 2 is also connected to the POS terminal 5 via a communication line L, and transmits, for example, product information of a product whose code symbol has been read to the POS terminal 5.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the shopping cart 2. The shopping cart 2 is equipped with a basket-shaped storage section 202 with an open top, casters 203 for moving the cart 2, which are arranged below the storage section 202, and a handle section 204 that is connected to the storage section 202 and is held by the customer when moving the shopping cart 2. The entire framework of the shopping cart 2 is formed by a frame 205. The storage section 202 has a net 202a stretched between the frames 205 that constitute the storage section 202, and stores products in a manner that can be seen from the outside. The customer takes the product to be purchased from the shelf and places it in the storage section 202. This allows the customer, the store clerk, etc. to easily know the details of the product stored in the storage section 202. The shopping cart 2 does not have to be equipped with the storage section 202 itself, and may be, for example, equipped with a basket receiving section that receives a product basket that stores products in a manner that can be seen from the outside, and the product basket received by the basket receiving section serves as the storage section 202.

The cart terminal 4 is attached to a part of the handle section 204 side of the frame 205 constituting the storage section 202 via a holder (not shown). The cart terminal 4 has a housing 471, which is provided with a display section 47 consisting of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an operation section 48 consisting of a touch panel attached to the display surface of the display section 47, and a symbol reading section 49 that reads the code symbol. The symbol reading section 49 incorporates an LED (Light Emitting Diode) that is an illumination for illuminating the product with light, a CCD (Charged Coupled Device) image sensor that receives light reflected by the product, and a decoder (none of which are shown) that decodes the light received by the image sensor and converts it into a digital signal, and one side of the symbol reading section 49 is provided with a reading window 491 through which light from the LED is emitted to read the code symbol.

When a customer places an item in the shopping cart 2, the customer holds the symbol affixed to the item over the reading window 491. The symbol reading unit 49 then reads the code symbol. The symbol reading unit 49 also decodes the read code symbol. The cart terminal 4 analyzes the decoded digital signal and obtains a product code that identifies the item. Alternatively, the decoded digital signal may be sent to the POS terminal 5, and the POS terminal 5 may obtain the product code based on the received digital signal.

From here, the hardware configuration of the cart terminal 4 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the cart terminal 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the cart terminal 4 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 43, and a memory unit 44. The CPU 41 is the main controller. The ROM 42 stores various programs. The RAM 43 expands programs and various data. The memory unit 44 stores various programs. The CPU 41, the ROM 42, the RAM 43, and the memory unit 44 are connected to one another via a bus 45. The CPU 41, the ROM 42, and the RAM 43 constitute the control unit 400. That is, the control unit 400 executes control processing related to the cart terminal 4, which will be described later, by the CPU 41 operating in accordance with the control programs stored in the ROM 42 and the memory unit 44 and expanded in the RAM 43.

The RAM 43 includes a product information section 431 and a set time memory section 432. The product information section 431 stores product information of a product whose code symbol has been read by the symbol reading section 49. The set time memory section 432 sets the time from when the start button 481, described below, is operated and the LED is turned on to when it is turned off (i.e., the time during which the symbol reading section 49 can read the code symbol).

The memory unit 44 is composed of a non-volatile memory such as a HDD (Hard Disc Drive) or a flash memory that retains stored information even when the power is turned off. The memory unit 44 includes a control program unit 441, a predetermined time storage unit 442, and a product master 443. The control program unit 441 stores a control program for controlling the cart terminal 4. The predetermined time storage unit 442 stores the time from when the LED turns on to when it turns off (i.e., the time during which the symbol reading unit 49 can read the code symbol), which will be described later in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8. The predetermined time storage unit 442 stores the time to be set in the set time storage unit 432. The predetermined time storage unit 442 stores a first predetermined time and a second predetermined time as the time to be set in the set time storage unit 432. The first predetermined time is, for example, 20 seconds. The second predetermined time is a time shorter than the first predetermined time, for example, 5 seconds. The product master 443 stores product information such as the product name and price of the product in association with the product code for all products sold in the store. The product master 443 is information received from the product master 542 from the POS terminal 5 described below, and has the same contents as the product master 542 stored in the POS terminal 5.

The control unit 400 is also connected to the display unit 47, operation unit 48, and symbol reading unit 49 via the bus 45 and controller 46. Under the control of the control unit 400, the display unit 47 displays images of a start button, an end button, an OK button, and a cancel button. The display unit 47 also displays product information (product name, price, etc.) of the product read by the symbol reading unit 49. When the end button 482 described below is operated, the display unit 47 also displays the total price, tax amount, etc. of the product read by the symbol reading unit 49 (i.e. the product purchased by the customer).

The operation unit 48 has an operation button at a position corresponding to the image of the start button displayed on the display unit 47. The start button 481 is a button that serves as a trigger for turning on the LED of the symbol reading unit 49. When the start button 481 is operated, the control unit 400 turns on the LED.
When the LED is lit, the symbol reader 49 becomes able to read the code symbol. The operation unit 48 also has an end button 482 at a position corresponding to the image of the end button displayed by the display unit 47. The end button 482 is a button that the customer operates when declaring the end of the purchase of the product. The operation unit 48 also has an OK button 483 at a position corresponding to the image of the OK button displayed by the display unit 47. The OK button 483 is a button that the customer operates when there is no problem with the total amount, etc. displayed by the display unit 47. The operation unit 48 also has a cancel button 484 at a position corresponding to the image of the cancel button displayed by the display unit 47. The cancel button 484 is a button that the customer operates when there is a problem with the total amount, etc. displayed by the display unit 47 or when canceling the purchase of the product.

The control unit 400 is also connected to the wireless communication unit 50 via the bus 45. The wireless communication unit 50 is connected to the POS terminal 5 so as to be able to communicate with it via the communication line L, the wireless communication unit 7, and the network 9.

The cart terminal 4 executes sales registration processing for the product whose symbol has been read by the symbol reading unit 49. The sales registration processing executed by the cart terminal 4 refers to a process of displaying product information for the product, which is read from the product master 443 (described later) based on the product code obtained by analyzing the code symbol read by the symbol reading unit 49, and storing the product information in the product information unit 431.

From here, the POS terminal 5 will be described. The POS terminal 5 executes a sales registration process for the code symbols read by a symbol reading unit 61 (described later) provided in the POS terminal 5, among the products sold in the store. The sales registration process refers to a process of displaying the product information (product name, price, etc.) of the product read from the product master 542 (described later) based on the acquired product code, and storing the product information in the RAM 53, etc.

The POS terminal 5 also executes accounting for products that have been registered for sale by the cart terminal 4 and the POS terminal 5. Accounting includes displaying the total amount of the transaction based on the product information of the products that have been registered for sale, and calculating and displaying the amount of change based on the deposit received from the customer. The POS terminal 5 also issues receipts on which product information and payment information are printed.

Next, the hardware configuration of the POS terminal 5 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the POS terminal 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the POS terminal 5 includes a CPU 51, a ROM 52, a RAM 53, and a memory unit 54. The CPU 51 is the main controller. The ROM 52 stores various programs. The RAM 53 expands programs and various data. The memory unit 54 stores various programs. The CPU 51, the ROM 52, the RAM 53, and the memory unit 54 are connected to one another via a bus 55. The CPU 51, the ROM 52, and the RAM 53 constitute the control unit 500. That is, the control unit 500 executes control processing related to the POS terminal 5, which will be described later, by the CPU 51 operating in accordance with the control programs stored in the ROM 52 and the memory unit 54 and expanded in the RAM 53.

The memory unit 54 is composed of a non-volatile memory such as an HDD or flash memory that retains stored information even when the power is turned off. The memory unit 54 has a control program unit 541 and a product master 542. The control program unit 541 stores a control program for controlling the POS terminal 5. The product master 542 stores product information such as the product name and price of each product, corresponding to the product code, for all products sold in the store.

The control unit 500 also includes an operator display unit 57, a customer display unit 58, an operation unit 59, a printing unit 60, a symbol reading unit 61, and a card reading unit 62, which are connected via a bus 55 and a controller 56. The operator display unit 57 displays information such as product information and accounting information to the operator. The customer display unit 58 displays information such as product information and accounting information to the customer. The operation unit 59 is a keyboard including an accounting key 591 for completing a transaction with a customer. The printing unit 60 is, for example, a thermal printer, and issues a receipt on which product information and accounting information related to the transaction are printed. The symbol reading unit 61 has a configuration equivalent to that of the symbol reading unit 49, and reads a code symbol attached to a product in the POS terminal 5. The card reading unit 62 reads card information such as a credit card or debit card. The POS terminal 5 executes accounting processing using the card based on the read card information.

The control unit 500 is also connected to the communication unit 63 via the bus 45. The communication unit 63 is connected to the cart terminal 4 so as to be able to communicate with it via the network 9, the wireless communication unit 7, and the communication line L.

From here, the functional configuration of the cart terminal 4 will be explained. The control unit 400 of the cart terminal 4 functions as an operation determination unit 401, a first readable unit 402, an elapsed time determination unit 403, a symbol reading determination unit 404, a second readable unit 405, a sales registration processing unit 406, a reading end unit 407, and a setting unit 408.

The operation determination unit 401 determines whether the start button 481 has been operated. When the operation determination unit 401 determines that the start button 481 has been operated, the first read enable unit 402 enables the symbol reader 49 to read the code symbol for a first predetermined time. The elapsed time determination unit 403 determines whether the first predetermined time has elapsed. The symbol reading determination unit 404 determines whether the symbol reader 49 has read the code symbol within the first predetermined time. The second read enable unit 405 enables the symbol reader 49 to read the code symbol for a second predetermined time when the symbol reading determination unit 404 determines that the symbol reader 49 has read the code symbol within the first predetermined time. The elapsed time determination unit 403 determines whether the second predetermined time has elapsed. The symbol reading determination unit 404 determines whether the symbol reader 49 has read the code symbol within the second predetermined time.

When the symbol reading determination unit 404 determines that the code symbol has been read within the first or second specified time, the sales registration processing unit 406 executes product sales registration processing based on the read code symbol. When the elapsed time determination unit 403 determines that the first or second specified time has elapsed, the reading termination unit 407 terminates the reading of the code symbol by the symbol reading unit 49. Once the reading termination unit 407 has terminated the reading of the code symbol, the symbol reading unit 49 will no longer be able to read the code symbol until the start button 481 is operated again.

Next, the control process of the cart terminal 4 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the control process of the cart terminal. As shown in FIG. 6, the operation determination unit 401 of the cart terminal 4 determines whether the start button 481 has been operated (S11). When the operation determination unit 401 determines that the start button 481 has been operated (Yes in S11), the first readable unit 402 turns on the LED of the symbol reading unit 49 (S12). When the LED is turned on, the symbol reading unit 49 becomes capable of reading the code symbol. In addition, the setting unit 408 reads out the first predetermined time from the predetermined time storage unit 442 and sets (stores) it in the set time storage unit 432 (S12). In addition, the first readable unit 402 starts subtracting time from the set first predetermined time (S12). The time subtraction is performed by subtracting one second at a time using a counter from, for example, 20 seconds set as the first predetermined time. In this way, the first readable unit 402 enables the symbol reading unit 49 to read the symbol for the first predetermined time.

Next, the elapsed time determination unit 403 determines whether the remaining time subtracted from the first predetermined time has become 0 (i.e., whether the first predetermined time has passed) (S13). If the elapsed time determination unit 403 determines that the remaining time subtracted from the first predetermined time has not become 0 (No in S13), the symbol reading determination unit 404 determines whether the symbol reading unit 49 has read the code symbol (S14). If the symbol reading determination unit 404 determines that the code symbol has not been read (No in S14), the control unit 400 returns to S13. On the other hand, if the symbol reading determination unit 404 determines that the code symbol has been read (Yes in S14), the sales registration processing unit 406 executes sales registration processing of the product based on the product code obtained by analyzing the read code symbol (S15). The control unit 400 stores the product information of the product for which sales registration processing has been performed in the product information unit 431.

Next, the setting unit 408 reads the second predetermined time from the predetermined time memory unit 442 and sets (stores) it in the set time memory unit 432 (S16). The second readable unit 405 also starts subtracting time from the set second predetermined time (S16). Note that since the LED of the symbol reading unit 49 is still on, the second readable unit 405 enables the symbol reading unit 49 to read the code symbol within the second predetermined time.

Next, the elapsed time determination unit 403 determines whether the remaining time subtracted from the second predetermined time has become 0 (i.e., whether the second predetermined time has passed) (S17). If the elapsed time determination unit 403 determines that the remaining time subtracted from the second predetermined time has not become 0 (No in S17), the symbol reading determination unit 404 determines whether the symbol reading unit 49 has read the code symbol (S18). If the symbol reading determination unit 404 determines that the code symbol has not been read (No in S18), the control unit 400 returns to S17. On the other hand, if the symbol reading determination unit 404 determines that the code symbol has been read (Yes in S18), the control unit 400 returns to S15, and the sales registration processing unit 406 executes the sales registration process for the product based on the product code obtained by analyzing the read code symbol (S15). Thereafter, the processes of S15, S16, and S18 are repeated until the determination in S17 is Yes.

On the other hand, if the elapsed time determination unit 403 determines that the remaining time subtracted from the first predetermined time is 0 (i.e., the code symbol has not been read during the first predetermined time) (Yes in S13), the reading termination unit 407 turns off the LED of the symbol reading unit 49 (S25). Also, if the elapsed time determination unit 403 determines that the remaining time subtracted from the second predetermined time is 0 (i.e., the code symbol has not been read during the second predetermined time) (Yes in S17), the reading termination unit 407 turns off the LED of the symbol reading unit 49 (S25). When the LED of the symbol reading unit 49 is turned off, the symbol reading unit 49 cannot read the code symbol, and therefore reading of the code symbol becomes impossible. The control unit 400 then returns to S11.

In addition, in S11, if the operation determination unit 401 determines that the start button 481 was not operated (No in S11), the control unit 400 determines whether the end button 482 was operated (S21). When the customer finishes purchasing products in the store, they move to the location of the POS terminal 5 and operate the end button 482. If it is determined that the end button 482 was operated (Yes in S21), the control unit 400 displays the total amount, which is the sum of the product information and product prices of the registered products, on the display unit 47 (S22).

The control unit 400 then determines whether the OK button 483 has been operated (S23). If it determines that the OK button 483 has been operated (Yes in S23), the control unit 400 transmits the card number identifying the shopping cart 2, the product information displayed on the display unit 47, the total amount, etc. to the POS terminal 5 (S24). The reading end unit 407 then executes the process of S25. The control unit 400 also clears the information stored in the product information unit 431 and the set time memory unit 432. The control unit 400 then returns to S11.

If it is determined that the OK button 483 was not operated (No in S23), the control unit 400 determines whether the cancel button 484 was operated (S26). If it is determined that the cancel button 484 was operated (Yes in S26), the control unit 400 cancels (clears) all information stored in the product information unit 431 and the set time storage unit 432 (S27). The control unit 400 then executes the process of S25. If it is determined that the cancel button 484 was not operated (No in S26), the control unit 400 returns to S23. If it is determined that the end button 482 was not operated (No in S21), the control unit 400 returns to S11.

According to the cart terminal 4 of the first embodiment, when the start button 481 is operated, the symbol reading unit 49 is enabled to read the code symbol for a set first predetermined time. Then, if the code symbol is read by the symbol reading unit 49 within the first predetermined time, the symbol reading unit 49 is enabled to read the code symbol for a set second predetermined time. Then, if the code symbol is read within the first or second predetermined time, the sales registration process for the product identified by the code symbol is executed. This makes it possible to read the symbols of multiple products consecutively.

Second Embodiment
From here, the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7 and Fig. 8. Fig. 7 is a functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of the cart terminal 4 according to the second embodiment. In Fig. 7, the control unit 400 of the cart terminal 4 functions as an operation determination unit 401, a first readable unit 402, an elapsed time determination unit 403, a symbol reading determination unit 404, a second readable unit 405, a sales registration processing unit 406, a reading completion unit 407, a setting unit 408, and a remaining time determination unit 409. The operation determination unit 401, the first readable unit 402, the elapsed time determination unit 403, the symbol reading determination unit 404, the second readable unit 405, the sales registration processing unit 406, and the reading completion unit 407 have the same functions as those in Fig. 6, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

The remaining time determination unit 409 determines whether the remaining time of the first predetermined time or the second predetermined time is longer when the symbol reading determination unit 404 determines that the code symbol has been read. Then, the setting unit 408 sets the second predetermined time when the remaining time determination unit 409 determines that the second predetermined time is longer than the remaining time of the first predetermined time. When the remaining time is longer than the second predetermined time, the setting unit 408 sets the remaining time to the second predetermined time.

Next, the control of the cart terminal 4 according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the control process of the cart terminal 4. In FIG. 8, S11 to S27 are the same control processes as those in FIG. 6, and therefore will not be described. In S15, the sales registration processing unit 406 executes the sales registration process for the product based on the product code obtained by analyzing the read code symbol. Next, the remaining time determination unit 409 determines whether the second elapsed time is longer than the remaining time excluding the time elapsed from the first elapsed time set in S12 until the elapsed time determination unit 403 determines in S14 that the code symbol has been read (S41). If the remaining time determination unit 409 determines that the second elapsed time is longer than the remaining time (Yes in S41), the control unit 400 executes the process from S16 onwards.

Also, if the remaining time determination unit 409 determines that the remaining time is equal to or greater than the second elapsed time (No in S41), the control unit 400 executes the processes from S17 onwards without executing the process of S16. For example, if the first predetermined time is 20 seconds, the second predetermined time is 5 seconds, and the remaining time is 4 seconds, the setting unit 408 sets the second predetermined time. Also, if the remaining time is 10 seconds, the setting unit 408 does not set the second predetermined time, and sets the remaining time to the second predetermined time. The first readable unit 402 continues to subtract time from the remaining time of the first predetermined time. Then, the control unit 400 executes the processes from S17 onwards.

According to the cart terminal 4 of the second embodiment, when the start button 481 is operated, the symbol reading unit 49 is enabled to read the code symbol for a first predetermined time. Then, the symbol reading unit 49 is enabled to read the code symbol for a second predetermined time. Then, if the code symbol is read within the first predetermined time or the second predetermined time, the sales registration process for the product identified by that code symbol is executed. Therefore, it is possible to read the symbols of multiple products consecutively.

The above describes the first and second embodiments of the present invention, but these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments are included within the scope and gist of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the claims.

For example, in the embodiment, the first predetermined time is longer than the second predetermined time. However, this is not limited to the above, and the first predetermined time and the second predetermined time may be the same length. Also, the second predetermined time may be longer than the first predetermined time.

In the embodiment, the cart terminal 4 has been described as an example of a symbol reading device. However, for example, the symbol reading unit 49 may be the symbol reading device.

In the embodiment, an example in which the cart terminal 4 is attached to the shopping cart 2 has been described. However, this is not limiting, and the cart terminal 4 may be attached to, for example, a basket in which products are placed.

The programs executed by the cart terminal 4 in this embodiment are provided in the form of installable or executable files recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a digital versatile disk (DVD).

The program executed by the cart terminal 4 of the embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by downloading it via the network. The program executed by the cart terminal 4 of the embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

The program executed by the cart terminal 4 of the embodiment may also be configured to be provided by being pre-installed in a ROM or the like.

2 Shopping cart 4 Cart terminal 5 POS terminal 49 Symbol reading unit 400 Control unit 401 Operation determination unit 402 First readable unit 403 Elapsed time determination unit 404 Symbol reading determination unit 405 Second readable unit 406 Sales registration processing unit 407 Reading end unit 408 Setting unit 409 Remaining time determination unit 432 Set time storage unit 442 Predetermined time storage unit

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-208152

Claims (5)

A mobile terminal that moves with a customer and is operated by the customer to register products to be purchased,
A reading means for reading a symbol attached to the product to identify the product;
a receiving means for receiving an operation of an operating unit for starting reading of a symbol by the reading means;
a read control means for enabling the reading means to read the symbol when the reception means receives a command to start reading, and for setting a predetermined time when the reading means has read the symbol, and for enabling the reading means to read the symbol if the time elapsed since the reading means read the symbol is within the predetermined time;
a registration means for performing the product registration for the product identified by the symbol read by the reading means;
a canceling means for canceling the product registration of a plurality of products by the registration means at once;
A mobile terminal having: a termination operation unit that is operated to terminate the reading of the symbol,
the canceling means cancels the product registrations collectively on condition that the ending operation unit is operated.
The mobile terminal of claim 1. The display means further comprises a display means for displaying, when the end operation unit is operated, product information and a total price of the products registered up to that point.
The mobile terminal according to claim 2. A computer as a mobile terminal that moves with a customer and is operated by the customer to register products to be purchased,
A reading means for reading a symbol attached to the product to identify the product;
a receiving means for receiving an operation of an operating unit for starting reading of a symbol by the reading means;
a read control means for enabling the reading means to read the symbol when the reception means receives a command to start reading, and for setting a predetermined time when the reading means has read the symbol, and for enabling the reading means to read the symbol if the time elapsed since the reading means read the symbol is within the predetermined time;
a registration means for performing the product registration for the product identified by the symbol read by the reading means;
a canceling means for canceling the product registration of a plurality of products by the registration means at once;
A program to make it function as such. A processing method for a mobile terminal that moves with a customer and operates the mobile terminal to register products to be purchased, comprising the steps of:
A reading step of reading a symbol attached to the product to identify the product;
a receiving step for receiving an operation of an operation unit for starting reading of a symbol by the reading step;
a reading control step for enabling the reading of the symbol by the reading step when the reception step accepts a command to start reading, and for setting a predetermined time when the reading step has read the symbol, and for enabling the reading of the symbol by the reading step when the elapsed time since the reading step read the symbol is within the predetermined time;
a registration step of performing the product registration for the product identified by the symbol read by the reading step;
a canceling step of canceling the product registration of the plurality of products performed in the registration step at once;
A processing method comprising:

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