Self checkout terminal and control method of the same

According to one embodiment, a self checkout terminal includes a reading section, a main display, a ticker display and a controller. The reading section reads identification information of a commodity from the commodity. The main display displays information relating to the commodity whose identification information is read by the reading section to an operator. The ticker display displays information in the same direction as the main display and is provided at a position closer to the reading section than the main display. The controller controls the ticker display and causes arbitrary information to be selectively displayed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-205067, filed on Sep. 4, 2009; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein related generally to a self checkout terminal in which a customer himself/herself operates to complete a series of accounting processes and a control method of the same.

BACKGROUND

In general, a counter selling type POS (Point Of Sales) terminal in which a cashier operates to register sales data includes a customer side display to display the amount of money of a registered commodity to a customer during accounting. In some of this type of POS terminals, not only the amount of money of the registered commodity, but also an advertisement of a store and a commodity, news, weather prediction and the like are displayed on the customer side display.

In recent years, in a retail store such as a supermarket or a convenience store, a self checkout type accounting system becomes popular. In this system, a self checkout terminal is used which is a kind of POS terminal and by which a customer himself/herself can complete a series of accounting processes.

The customer himself/herself, who tries to settle the account by the self checkout terminal, holds a barcode attached to a purchased commodity to a reading window of a scanner provided on the housing surface of the terminal, and registers commodity information. When the registration of the commodity information of all commodities is completed, the customer pays for the purchase with cash, card, electronic money or the like and completes the series of accounting processes. In addition to the registered commodity information, the guidance of an operation method for a customer unfamiliar with the operation is displayed on the display provided on the self checkout terminal.

When the self checkout type accounting system as stated above is introduced, it is unnecessary to allocate a clerk to each checkout counter, and the labor cost can be remarkably reduced.

When settling the account by the self checkout type POS terminal, the customer must hold the barcode attached to the commodity to the reading window of the scanner, and accordingly, the frequency of seeing the information displayed on the display is decreased. Then, even if the advertisement of the store and commodity, news, weather prediction and the like are displayed on the display, there is a fear that the content is not sufficiently transmitted to the customer and becomes useless.

Besides, even if the guidance of the operating method is displayed on the display, the customer performs the accounting process while confirming both the reading window and the display, a time required until completion of the account is increased, and there is a fear that another customer is made to wait.

Under such circumstances, in the self checkout terminal, it is necessary to provide a unit configured to improve the information transmitting capacity of the display and a unit configured to smooth the accounting process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, according to one embodiment, a self checkout terminal includes a reading section, a main display, a ticker display and a controller. The reading section reads identification information of a commodity from the commodity. The main display displays information relating to the commodity whose identification information is read by the reading section to an operator. The ticker display displays information in the same direction as the main display and is provided at a position closer to the reading section than the main display. The controller controls the ticker display and causes arbitrary information to be selectively displayed.

FIG. 1is an outer appearance perspective view of a self checkout terminal of this embodiment. The self checkout terminal1includes a commodity placement stand2provided with a receiving surface5on which a commodity whose a PLU (Price Look Up) code is inputted is placed and a pair of hook sections6to which a handle portion of a shopping bag is hooked, a commodity placement stand3provided with a receiving surface7on which a commodity whose PLU code is not inputted is placed, and a main body4mounted on the commodity placement stand2.

The commodity placement stand2includes a weight measuring unit (not shown) to measure the weight of a commodity placed on the receiving surface5and the weight of a commodity packed in the shopping bag attached to the hook section6. The commodity placement stand3includes a weight measuring unit (not shown) to measure the weight of a commodity placed on the receiving surface7. The weight measured by the weight measuring units is used for weight check to prevent input omission of the PLU code and unfairness.

The main body4includes a display unit8(main display), a ticker display9, a reading window10(reading section) used for scanning of a barcode attached to a commodity, a receipt issue port11to discharge a receipt, and an electronic settlement terminal12to wireless communicate with an electronic money storage medium.

The display unit8is a display with a touch panel in which a touch panel is attached to a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an OEL (Organic Electro-Luminescence) or the like.

The ticker display9is a display, such as a CRT, an LCD, an OEL or a VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display), which is provided between the display unit8and the reading window10and the display surface of which is directed in the same direction as the display unit8. Incidentally, that the ticker display9is provided between the display unit8and the reading window10has the same meaning as that the ticker display9is provided at a position closer to the reading window10than the display unit8.

FIG. 2is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the self checkout terminal1. The control circuit of the self checkout terminal1is constructed such that a ROM (Read Only Memory)21, a RAM (Random Access Memory)22, a timer23, a communication I/F (Interface)24, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive)25, a display controller26, a ticker display controller27, an electronic settlement terminal controller28, a printer controller29and a scanner I/F30are connected through a bus line31, such as an address bus and a data bus, to a CPU20(controller) to function as the center of control. A communication cable32communication connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) provided in a store is connected to the communication I/F24. A display8aand a touch panel8bof the display unit8are connected to the display controller26. The ticker display9is connected to the ticker display controller27. The electronic settlement terminal12is connected to the electronic settlement terminal controller28. A receipt printer33is connected to the printer controller29, and a scanner34is connected to the scanner I/F30.

The ROM21stores fixed data such as BIOS (Basic Input/Output System).

The RAM22forms various working storage areas according to processing scenes. Especially, during execution of an accounting process, the RAM forms a sales data storage area for storing sales data including commodity information and the number of sales attached thereto.

The timer23starts a clocking operation at timing instructed by the CPU20, and outputs an interrupt signal to the CPU20when a specified time is clocked.

The display controller26converts display data outputted from the CPU20into a video signal and outputs it to the display8a, and further, calculates a coordinate of a contact operation position based on an electric signal outputted from the touch panel8b, and notifies it to the CPU20. The display8adisplays information based on the video signal outputted from the display controller26to the customer who operates the self checkout terminal1. The touch panel8bis, for example, a resistive touch panel constructed so as to output a voltage drop amount corresponding to a contact position.

The ticker display controller27converts the display data outputted from the CPU20into a video signal and outputs it to the ticker display9. The ticker display9displays information based on the video signal outputted from the ticker display controller27to the customer who settles the account by the self checkout terminal1.

The electronic settlement terminal controller28controls communication timing between the electronic settlement terminal12and an electronic money storage medium such as an IC card or a portable communication terminal, and notifies the CPU20of the electronic money information detected by the electronic settlement terminal12from the electronic money storage medium.

The receipt printer33is a so-called thermal printer constructed such that for example, a receipt sheet of a thermal paper is nipped between a thermal head and a platen roller and is conveyed by a conveyance roller. A receipt printed by the receipt printer33is discharged from the receipt issue port11. The printer controller29drives the receipt printer33and forms a pattern based on the print data received from the CPU20on the receipt sheet.

The scanner34optically reads the barcode held to the reading window10, generates barcode data and outputs it to the scanner I/F30. The scanner I/F30notifies the CPU20of the barcode data outputted from the scanner34.

The HDD25stores an application file and an OS (Operating System) file and further stores a PLU file40to store commodity information, and a display content table41in which content to be displayed on the ticker display9is set according to the operation of the self checkout terminal1. Incidentally, the HDD25functions as a storage section in this embodiment.

FIG. 3is a schematic view showing an example of a data structure of the PLU file40. The PLU file40stores commodity information including a name, unit price, producing district information, which corresponds to a PLU code uniquely assigned to each commodity sold in the store.

FIG. 4is a schematic view showing an example of a data structure of the display content table41. The display content table41stores information to be displayed on the ticker display9, which corresponds to an operation in each process scene of the self checkout terminal1. In the illustrated example, “standby” to indicate a standby state where an accounting process is not performed, “accounting start” to indicate the time of start of the accounting process, “barcode scan” to indicate the read time of a barcode by the scanner34, and “settlement” to indicate the settlement time of a transaction are stored as the operation of the self checkout terminal1. For the operation “standby”, “CM information” indicating commercial information of the store and the like is correspondingly stored. For the operation “accounting start”, “reading window guide” to indicate information for guiding the customer's eye to the position of the reading window10is correspondingly stored. For the operation “barcode scan”, “commodity information” indicating commodity information of the commodity whose barcode is read is correspondingly stored. For the operation “settlement”, “point information” indicating information relating to the point given to the customer of the transaction object is correspondingly stored.

Next, the operation of the self checkout terminal1will be described.

Accounting Process

First, an accounting process using the self checkout terminal1will be described.

When the customer places a shopping basket containing commodities before purchase on the receiving surface7of the commodity placement stand3, the weight measuring unit incorporated in the commodity placement stand3reacts and measures the total weight of the commodities. This triggers the accounting process, and the scanner34shifts to the barcode read standby state.

At this time, when the customer takes out a commodity from the shopping basket put on the commodity placement stand3and holds the barcode attached to the commodity to the reading window10, the scanner34detects the PLU code (identification information) represented by the barcode. At this time, the CPU20retrieves the commodity information corresponding to the detected PLU code from the PLU file40, and stores sales data in which the found commodity information corresponds to the number of sales commodities into the storage area for sales data storage formed in the RAM22.

While the input of the PLU code is received in this way, a close key to declare input completion of the PLU code is displayed on the display8aof the display unit8. When the input of the commodity information of all commodities is completed, and when the customer contacts and operates the close key, the purchase price of the transaction is calculated based on the sales data stored in the storage area for storing the sales data, and is displayed on the display8a. After the purchase price is displayed, the electronic settlement terminal12is controlled by the electronic settlement terminal controller28and shifts to the state where communication with an electronic money storage medium is on standby.

At this time, when the customer holds the electronic money storage medium to the electronic settlement terminal12, electronic money information necessary for electronic settlement is read from the electronic money storage medium. When the electronic money information is notified from the electronic settlement terminal controller28, the CPU20performs the electronic money settlement in a well-known procedure to complete the transaction, and ends the accounting process.

Ticker Display Process

Next, a ticker display process which is a characteristic process in this embodiment will be described. This process is continuously performed during activation of the system of the self checkout terminal1including execution of the accounting process.

FIG. 5is a flowchart of a process executed by the CPU20in the ticker display process. Incidentally, the ticker display process is realized by the control of software stored in the ROM21or the HDD25.

The CPU20waits that the operation stored in the display content table41is performed by the respective devices constituting the self checkout terminal1, such as the timer23, the communication I/F24, the display8a, the touch panel8b, the electronic settlement terminal12, the receipt printer33and the scanner34(ACT1). When one of the devices performs the operation stored in the display content table41(Yes at ACT1), the type of the operation is determined (ACT2).

In the process of ACT1and ACT2, for example, a process to notify an execution program of a ticker display process that each operation is executed is incorporated in an execution program of each operation stored in the display content table41, and when the notification is received, the execution program of the ticker display process detects each operation. The execution program of the ticker display process determines that the notification is received from which program, and the type of the operation is specified.

When the type of the operation is determined, the CPU20specifies the display content corresponding to the type of the operation from the display content table41(ACT3). The display data to be displayed on the ticker display9is generated according to the specified display content (ACT4), and the generated display data is outputted to the ticker display controller27. At this time, the ticker display controller27generates a video signal based on the outputted display data and outputs it to the ticker display9, and causes an image based on the display data to be displayed (ACT5).

After the image is displayed on the ticker display9, the CPU20again waits that an operation stored in the display content table41is performed (ACT1), and when detecting the operation, the CPU executes the process of ACT2to ACT5.

When the data structure of the display content table41shown inFIG. 4is used, the state of transition of the image displayed on the ticker display9in the ticker display process will be described with reference toFIG. 6.

When the accounting process relating to one transaction is completed, clocking by the timer23is started. When the timer23finishes clocking of the specified time, the CM information of the store and the operation guidance are displayed on the display8aof the display unit8, and the state shifts to the state of waiting for a next transaction. When this operation is detected (Yes at ACT1), the CPU20determines that the type of the operation is “standby” (ACT2). At this time, the CPU20specifies “CM information” corresponding to the operation “standby” as the display content from the display content table41(ACT3). In this case, the CPU20detects the CM information for display to the ticker display9from the database stored in the HDD25or the store server connected through the communication cable32, and generates the display data (ACT4). The CPU20outputs the display data generated in this way to the ticker display controller27, and causes the ticker display9to display an image such as, for example, a ticker display50shown inFIG. 6(ACT5). The ticker display50displays a message to notify the sale of the store as the CM information.

When the self checkout terminal1is in the standby state, and when the shopping basket is placed on the receiving surface7of the commodity placement stand3, the accounting process is started as described before. When this operation is detected (Yes at ACT1), the CPU20determines that the type of the operation is “accounting start” (ACT2). At this time, the CPU20specifies “reading window guide” corresponding to the operation “accounting start” as the display content from the display content table41(ACT3). In this case, the CPU20detects the image pattern to guide the position of the reading window from the database stored in the HDD25or the store server connected through the communication cable32, and generates display data to represent the pattern (ACT4). The CPU20outputs the display data generated in this way to the ticker display controller27, and causes the ticker display9to display the image such as, for example, a ticker display51shown inFIG. 6(ACT5). The ticker display51displays downward arrows together with the word of “barcode scan”, and guides the customer to the position of the reading window10provided below the ticker display9.

When the self checkout terminal1waits for reading of a barcode, and when the barcode attached to the commodity is held to the reading window10, the PLU code is read from the barcode. When this operation is detected (Yes at ACT1), the CPU20determines that the type of the operation is “barcode scan” (ACT2). At this time, the CPU20specifies “commodity information” corresponding to the operation “barcode scan” as the display content from the display content table41(ACT3). In this case, the CPU20extracts the commodity information stored in the PLU file40correspondingly to the read PLU code, and generates display data including part of the extracted commodity information (ACT4). The CPU20outputs the display data generated in this way to the ticker display controller27, and causes the ticker display9to display the image such as, for example, a ticker display52as shown inFIG. 6(ACT5). The ticker display51is such that the commodity name, unit price, and producing district information, about which the customer appears to be particularly concerned in the commodity information, are displayed such as “commodity name A 200 Yen made in Hokkaido”. Incidentally, the commodity information displayed on the display8aof the display unit8includes a commodity image, a name of a category to which the commodity belongs, manufacturer information and the like in addition to the commodity name, the unit price and the producing district information. That is, the information amount of the commodity information displayed on the ticker display9is smaller than that of the commodity information displayed on the display8a.

When the self checkout terminal1performs the accounting process, and when the close key displayed on the display8aof the display unit8is touched and operated, and the electronic money storage medium is held to the electronic settlement terminal12, the electronic money settlement is performed in the well-known procedure as described before. When this operation is detected (Yes at ACT1), the CPU20determines that the type of the operation is “settlement” (ACT2). At this time, the CPU20specifies “point information” corresponding to the operation “settlement” as the display content from the display content table41(ACT3). In this case, the CPU20generates display data including a point newly given by the transaction and the accumulative point given to the electronic money storage medium (ACT4). The CPU20outputs the display data generated in this way to the ticker display controller27, and cause the ticker display9to display the image such as, for example, a ticker display53as shown inFIG. 6(ACT5). The ticker display53displays the point number such as “point at this time50paccumulated point253p”, and notifies the customer of the newly given point and the accumulative point.

As described above, the self checkout terminal1of this embodiment includes the ticker display9in addition to the display unit8which is the main display unit. The ticker display9is provided at a position closer to the reading window10for scanner34than the display unit8. When the ticker display9is provided at such a position, even when the customer performs the operation of holding the barcode attached to the purchased commodity to the reading window10, the display content of the ticker display9is liable to be noticed by the customer, and information desired to be notified to the customer can be certainly transmitted.

Besides, the information displayed on the ticker display9is selectively switched by the operation of the self checkout terminal1. Thus, the information optimum for the processing scene can be transmitted to the customer.

Specifically, when the accounting process is started, the information indicating the position of the reading window10is displayed on the ticker display9. By this, even the customer unfamiliar to the operation can recognize at a glance that the barcode attached to the commodity has only to be held to the reading window10. Besides, when the scanner34reads the barcode, the commodity information of the commodity is displayed. By this, the customer can confirm both the commodity information displayed on the ticker display9and the reading window10without moving the direction of eyes significantly. Thus, the operation efficiency of the commodity information input is remarkably improved and the accounting process is smoothed.

Modified Example

Incidentally, in this embodiment, the description is made on the case where the ticker display9is provided between the display unit8and the reading window10. However, the installation position of the ticker display9may be modified within the range of not exceeding the distance between the display init8and the reading window10. That is, the ticker display9can be installed below the reading window10, or can be installed on the right or left side. However, according to the installation position of the ticker display9, there is a fear that the ticker display9is shaded by the hand of the customer himself/herself who performs the scanning operation of the barcode or by the commodity. Accordingly, it is desirable that the ticker display9is provided at a position where the visibility can be sufficiently secured in view of the shape of the housing of the self checkout terminal.

Besides, in the embodiment, the scanner34reads the barcode held to the reading window10and inputs the FLU code of the purchased commodity. However, the scanner34may read information to specify the commodity by reading another kinds of symbol, such as a two-dimensional code, attached to the commodity. Besides, a camera is provided instead of the scanner34, and the type of the commodity may be determined from the tint and shape of the commodity itself held to the reading window10.

Besides, the ticker display9is not provided, but a ticker display area may be provided in the display surface of the display unit8. In this case, the ticker display area is provided at a position closer to the reading window10side than the display position of information which appears to be most noticed by the customer, such as the commodity information and guidance displayed on the display8aof the display unit8. Even in this way, since the distance by which the customer moves the eye is shortened, and the effect of smoothing the accounting process is not lost.

Besides, as the combination of the operation of switching the display of the ticker display9and the display content, a combination other than those exemplified in the embodiment may be naturally adopted. For example, it is conceivable that weather prediction and news are displayed at the time of standby of the accounting process, the consumption period or expiration date of a commodity is displayed at the time of input of commodity information, or the guidance of a payment method using the electronic settlement terminal12is displayed at the time of input completion of the PLU code.

Further, the combination of the operation and the display content described in the embodiment may be modified. For example, in the embodiment, when the accounting process is on standby, the CM information is displayed, and when the accounting process is started, the information of guiding the position of the reading window10is displayed on the ticker display9. However, even if the accounting process is not started, the information of guiding the position of the reading window10may be displayed before the commodity information is inputted. In this case, the accounting process is not triggered and started by the placement of the commodity on the commodity placement stand3, but the accounting process may be started when the commodity is held to the reading window10.