Abstract:
A false act of a clerk at a store is monitored at a host computer under utilization of a communication network by detecting a false key operation in reference to a count which can be flexibly set in an item sales register or the like. The sales processing unit reads out in sequence the stored function numbers, collates them with the function numbers of the depressing limit in sequence, and if the result shows a coincided state, the sales processing unit adds 1 to the limit counter of the corresponding key, compares the value of the limit counter of the corresponding key with the corresponding limit count of the depressing limit master, and if the value of the limit counter exceeds the limit count, the sales processing unit outputs to the communication unit an instruction that the fact showing of the depressing action of the corresponding key exceeded the limit count is sent to the host computer, and causes the communication unit to send it. In addition, an instruction for displaying an alarm at the screen display unit indicating that the depressing of the corresponding key exceeds the limit count is issued and this is displayed at the display.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to a keystroke trapping system, a keystroke trapping method and a keystroke trapping program, and more particularly a keystroke trapping system, a keystroke trapping method and a keystroke trapping program capable of easily monitoring a false act.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    An invention described in the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 4 (1992)-195497 concerning a key-input relates to an item sales registration device comprised of a work releasing mechanism for releasing a drawer after detecting a series of input operations at a keyboard, and a cashier recording means for recording a working cashier&#39;s identification information inputted through the keyboard, wherein the invention is comprised of a cashier input means for inputting a work cashier&#39;s identification information; a private releasing mechanism for releasing the drawer in response to a coincidence between an identification information inputted through the cashier input means and an identification information recorded at the cashier recording means; a releasing counter for sensing an operation of the private releasing mechanism to count the count; and a releasing record means for recording the detected count of the releasing counter together with the work cashier&#39;s identification information.  
           [0005]    In addition, an invention described in the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 4 (1992)-217099 concerning an input error is comprised of an input error detecting means at an input means; correcting means for correcting an entry inputted through said input means; and informing means for informing this status when the entry is corrected by said correcting means in the case that the input error is not detected by said input error detecting means.  
           [0006]    An invention described in the gazette of the aforesaid Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 4 (1992)-195497 shows a problem that only a false act concerning a releasing of the drawer can be detected.  
           [0007]    In addition, an invention described in the gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 4 (1992)-217099 shows a problem that there is no flexibility in the count because an alarm is produced when the count upon depressing of the clear key becomes twice under no error condition. In addition, it shows another problem that its management is not sufficiently carried out because no alarm is communicated to a host computer.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to solve the aforesaid prior art problems in the item sales registration in a POS terminal system and the like, detect a false key operation in reference to the times that can be set in a flexible manner and monitor a false of a store worker at a host computer through utilization of a communication network.  
           [0009]    The keystroke trapping system of the present invention, comprising:  
           [0010]    a first means for adding  1  to a limit counter of a depressed function key corresponding to a function number;  
           [0011]    a second means for comparing value of the limit counter of the function key corresponding to the function number with a corresponding limit count.  
           [0012]    The keystroke trapping method of the present invention, comprising:  
           [0013]    a first step for adding 1 to a limit counter of a depressed function key corresponding to a function number;  
           [0014]    a second step for comparing value of the limit counter of the function key corresponding to the function number with a corresponding limit count.  
           [0015]    The keystroke trapping program for causing a computer to perform a process of the present invention, comprising:  
           [0016]    a first step for adding 1 to a limit counter of a depressed function key corresponding to a function number;  
           [0017]    a second step for comparing value of the limit counter of the function key corresponding to the function number with a corresponding limit count. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a block diagram for showing a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a block diagram for showing details of one example of a keyboard.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a block diagram for showing details of a processing unit.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a flowchart for showing an operation of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is an illustrative view for showing the contents of the sales data.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is an illustrative view for showing the contents of a depressing limit master.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 is an illustrative view for showing details of the limit counter.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8 is a flowchart for showing an operation of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]    Referring to FIG. 1, the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is comprised of a processing unit  100  acting as a processor and the like; ROM  101  (Read-Only-Memory); a keyboard  102 ; a display  103 ; a drawer  104 ; a touch screen  105 ; a memory unit  106  (memory, hard-disk and the like) storing a depressing limit master  604  and sales data; a communication port  107 ; a clock  108 ; a bar-code scanner  109 ; a printer  110 ; a bus  200  connecting the processing unit  100 , ROM  101 , keyboard  102 , display  103 , drawer  104 , touch screen  105 , memory unit  106 , communication port  107 , clock  108 , bar-code scanner  109  and printer  110  to each other; and a host computer  300 .  
         [0028]    A constitution other than the host computer  300  can be realized as a POS terminal installed at a store.  
         [0029]    In addition, the host computer  300  is meant by a computer set at a headquarter of chain stores and the like and is used for collecting precise data per day at each of the stores or sending the data to the POS terminal of each of the stores and the like when a menu is changed. If a computer for use in collecting and delivering data is present in a store, the computer becomes the host computer  300 .  
         [0030]    Referring now to FIG. 2, the keyboard  102  includes a Tender key  801 , Department key  802 , Ten-keys  803  and some function keys (Cancel key  804 , Clear key  805 , Void key  806 , No Sale key  807 , Transaction Void key  808  and the like).  
         [0031]    Cancel key  804  is a key for canceling the sales processing. That is, Cancel key  804  is a key for use in canceling a registration of all the items during a time in which a customer is registering the items to be purchased.  
         [0032]    Clear key  805  is a key for use in canceling a registration of the items registered just before it. This cancel key enables an operator to cancel an erroneous depressed information (depressed just before it) because the erroneous depressing action for the key is frequently carried out under application of this system. Only the registration of the item just before it can be cancelled through this key.  
         [0033]    Void key  806  is a key for use in canceling the registration of the items registered during sales work. Different from Clear key  805 , Void key  806  can cancel every items being sold, so that sometimes this key is also called as an item correction key.  
         [0034]    No Sale key  807  is a key for forcedly releasing the drawer  104 . Normally, the drawer  104  is released to open after processing of the counting act. However, it is sometimes happened in the practical situation at a store that the sales are not made, but only releasing of the drawer  104  is required for exchanging money and the like. For performing such an operation as above, this key is provided.  
         [0035]    Transaction Void key  808  is utilized when it is desired to correct a bill once counted. For example, when the count is already finished while one item is not counted, depressing this key enables an operation to be carried out for calling up a target transaction information stored in the memory unit  106 , newly adding a lacked item and counting it again.  
         [0036]    Referring next to FIG. 3, the processing unit  100  is constituted by an input unit  401 , sales processing unit  402 , screen display unit  403 , totalizing unit  404 , communication unit  405  and printing unit  406 .  
         [0037]    Next, referring to the drawings, an operation of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.  
         [0038]    At first, a case (case  1 ) having all the items of a customer already completed for registration will be described.  
         [0039]    Referring to FIG. 4, when Tender key  801  (of the keyboard  102 ) for a tendering operation is depressed, the input unit  401  at the processing unit  100  inputs a signal from Tender key  801  and outputs it to a sales processing unit  402 .  
         [0040]    The sales processing unit  402  instructs the totalizing process against the totalizing unit  404 . The totalizing unit  404  totalizes counting data (an item name, number of items, price, price x number of items purchased by a customer) registered and stored in the memory unit  106  in response to an instruction from the sales processing unit  402  so as to perform the totalizing process for generating the sales data including the total amount (a step S 1  in FIG. 4). Then, the sales processing unit  402  stores the sales data generated by the totalizing unit  404  in the memory unit  106  (a step S 2 ).  
         [0041]    Referring to FIG. 5, the sales data includes a department data  601 , header  602  and tender data  603 . The department data  601  includes data concerning respective items registered during a registration process at the time of purchasing the item (item information, amount, quantity, function information and the like). In detail, the item data includes, for example, transaction No., department, positive/negative, quantity, amount, PLU code, PLU index No., function No., item discount, subtotal discount, price and weight or the like.  
         [0042]    In this case, the function No. is a number corresponding to each of the depressed function keys at a practical scene corresponding to a customer. The function Nos. are recorded in an order where the corresponding keys are depressed.  
         [0043]    In addition, the header  602  includes a total amount information having a tax and the like. In detail, the header  602  includes a transaction No., cashier No., table No., transaction status information, sales status, No. of store, item count, receipt issue count, tax type, No. of guest, item void count, item void amount, tax %, tax amount, tax % (VAT), VAT amount, subtotal, tax total, total, and change or the like, for example.  
         [0044]    In addition, the tender data  603  includes a deposited amount from a customer or card information at the time of card vender and the like. In detail, it includes a transaction No., tender, deposit, card No., authorization No., expiry date and card holder, for example.  
         [0045]    Then, the sales processing unit  402  outputs an instruction for printing a receipt against the printing unit  406 . The printing unit  406  makes a printing data of the receipt on the basis of the sales data stored in the memory unit  106  in response to an instruction from the sales processing unit  402  and causes the printer  110  to print data on the receipt (a step S 3 ).  
         [0046]    Then, the sales processing unit  402  performs a monitoring process. The sales processing unit  402  reads out in sequence the function Nos. in the department data  601  on the sales data stored in the memory unit  106 , and collates them in sequence with the function Nos. of the depressing limit master  604  stored in advance in the memory unit  106  (a step S 41 ).  
         [0047]    Referring to FIG. 6, each of the function Nos. of Cancel key  804 , Clear key  805 , Void key  806 , No Sale key  807 , Transaction Void key  808  in the depressing limit master  604  corresponds to “37”, “35”, “36”, “87” and “40”, respectively, and the corresponding limit counts are “1”, “2”, “4”, “1” and “1”, respectively.  
         [0048]    The sales processing unit  402 , upon coincidence as a result of function Nos. (a step S 41 /YES) adds  1  to the limit counter of the corresponding key in the sales processing unit  402  (a step S 42 ).  
         [0049]    Referring to FIG. 7, the limit counter is constituted by limit counters corresponding to all the function keys contained in the depressing limit master  604 . For example, they are a limit counter  701  for the Cancel key  804 ; a limit counter  702  for the Clear key  805 ; a limit counter  703  for a Void key  806 ; a limit counter  704  for No Sale key  807 ; and a limit counter  705  for Transaction Void key  808 .  
         [0050]    Next, the sales processing unit  402  compares a value of the limit counter of the corresponding key with the corresponding limit count of the depressing limit master  604  (a step S 43 ), and if a value of the limit counter exceeds the limit count (a step S 43 /YES), the sales processing unit  402  outputs against the communication unit  405  an instruction to send it to the host computer  300  that the depressing of the corresponding key exceeds the limit count. The communication unit  405  sends it to the host computer  300  through the communication port  107  that the depressing of the corresponding key exceeds the limit count under an instruction from the sales processing unit  402  (a step S 44 ).  
         [0051]    Next, in the case that the results of collation between the function Nos. are not coincided to each other (a step S 41 /NO), or in the case that a value of the limit counter does not exceed the limit count (a step S 43 /NO) or after performing the step S 44  in FIG. 4, the sales processing unit  402  checks whether or not the processing is carried out for all the function Nos. of the department data  601  (a step S 45 ), and if there are present not-yet-processed function Nos. (a step S 45 /NO), the sales processing unit  402  returns to the processing of a step S 41  in FIG. 4 and executes a processing against a next function No. In addition, in the case that all the function Nos. for the department data  601  are processed (a step S 45 /YES), the sales processing unit  402  resets all the limit counters (a step S 5 ).  
         [0052]    Then, there will described a case (a case  2 ) in which the inputs are provided from input units such as the keyboard  102 , touch screen  105  and bar-code scanner  109  or the like.  
         [0053]    Referring to FIG. 8, the input unit  401  of the processing unit  100  inputs a signal and outputs it to the sales processing unit  402  when an inputting of the item reading or the key depressing is carried out through the keyboard  102 , touch screen  105  and bar-code scanner  109  (a step R 1  in FIG. 8). The sales processing unit  402  judges whether or not the depressing of the function key is present (a step R 2 ), and if the depressing of the function key is present (a step R 2 /YES), it may collate the function No. corresponding to the function key (a correspondence between the function key and the function No. is given in advance as information at the sales processing unit  402 ) with the function No. of the depressing limit master  604  stored in advance in the memory unit  106  in sequence (a step R 3 ).  
         [0054]    The sales processing unit  402  adds  1  to the limit counter of the corresponding key in the sales processing unit  402  (a step R 4 ) when the results of collation of the function numbers are coincided to each other (a step R 3 /YES).  
         [0055]    Next, the sales processing unit  402  compares the value of the limit counter of the corresponding key with the corresponding limit count of the depressing limit master  604  (a step R 5 ) and if the value of the limit counter exceeds the limit count (a step R 5 /YES), it outputs against the screen display unit  403  an instruction for displaying that the depression of the corresponding key exceeds the limit count. The screen display unit  403  displays it under an instruction from the sales processing unit  402  at the display  103  or the like that the depressing of the corresponding key exceeds the limit count (a step R 6 ).  
         [0056]    It is efficient that the aforesaid cases  1  and  2  are exclusively applied.  
         [0057]    Next, a second preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail in reference to the drawings as follows.  
         [0058]    The second preferred embodiment of the present invention is a method including each of the steps shown in FIG. 4 or FIG.  8  as its procedure.  
         [0059]    Next, a third preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail in reference to the drawings.  
         [0060]    The third preferred embodiment of the present invention is a program to cause the computer (for example, the processing unit  100 ) to execute each of the procedures of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0061]    While the present invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the subject matter encompassed by the present invention is not limited to those specific embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to include all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the following claims.