Commodity sales data processing apparatus with multiple tag readers

A commodity sales data processing apparatus includes a registration unit a first antenna positioned to read information from a wireless tag in a first region in which an article is to be placed for registration in a sales transaction. A first tag reader sends article information read from the wireless tag in the first region to the registration unit. A second antenna is positioned to read information from the wireless tag a second region. A second tag reader is connected to second antenna and configured to send article information read from the wireless tag to the registration unit to register the article in the sale transaction, if not already registered, and transmit a sale finished command to the wireless tag when the article has already been registered in the transaction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-173500, filed Sep. 24, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a commodity sales data processing apparatus.

BACKGROUND

There is a commodity sales data processing apparatus, such as a POS (Point of Sales) terminal, having a function of collectively reading, with a wireless tag reader, tag information being transmitted by multiple wireless tags attached to different commodities being purchased in a sales transaction and then executing commodity registration processing for the sales transaction.

After the execution of the commodity registration processing, information indicating that the commodity has been sold (purchased) is written into the wireless tags of the commodities in the transaction by a sales finishing command.

However, if the wireless tags are being collectively read, the time required for the collective reading increases if the information indicating that each commodity has been sold must be written in the wireless tags as part of the transaction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An object of embodiments is to provide a commodity sales data processing apparatus that can write information in wireless tags indicating that a commodity has been sold but reducing the time required for collectively reading wireless tags.

In general, according to an embodiment, a commodity sales data processing apparatus includes a registration unit configured to register articles to be purchased in a sales transaction. A first region is provided in which an article to be purchased is initially placed. A first antenna is positioned to read information from a wireless tag on the article when the article is placed in the first region. A first tag reader is connected to the first antenna and configured to send article information read from the wireless tag to the registration unit to register the article in the sales transaction. A second region is provided in which the article to be purchased is to be placed after being removed from the first region. A second antenna is positioned to read information from the wireless tag on the article when the article is in the second region. A second tag reader is connected to second antenna and configured to send article information read from the wireless tag to the registration unit to register the article in the sale transaction, if not already registered, and transmit a sale finished command to the wireless tag when the article has already been registered.

A commodity sales data processing apparatus according to a non-limiting example embodiment is explained with reference to the drawings. The commodity sales data processing apparatus explained in this embodiment is a system with which a customer performs settlement for purchased commodities by himself or herself. Such a system/apparatus may be referred to as a self-checkout system/apparatus.

Commodity Information Reading Devices

FIG. 1is an exterior view illustrating one example of a commodity sales data processing apparatus50according to an embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the commodity sales data processing apparatus50includes a commodity information reading device10, a commodity information reading device40, and a checkout device30, which is a POS (Point of Sales) terminal. These components are arranged in the stated order from right-to-left in the diagram.

The commodity information reading device10performs reading processing for reading a commodity code of a commodity being purchased by a customer and commodity registration processing for registering the commodity as read by the reading processing.

The commodity information reading device40performs processing (reading processing) for reading a commodity code of a commodity being purchased by a customer, commodity registration processing for registering the commodity as read by the reading processing, and erasing processing for erasing an RFID tag attached to the commodity.

The checkout device30performs commodity sales data processing including a payment process for the commodities registered by the commodity registration processing.

The commodity sales data processing apparatus50in this example includes two commodity information reading devices, that is, more particularly, the commodity information reading device10and the commodity information reading device40. However, in other examples, the commodity sales data processing apparatus50may include just one commodity information reading device. In such a case, the commodity information reading device only has to control a flat antenna18set on a commodity placing table10a, a sacker table40a, and a flat antenna16.

Commodity Information Reading Device10

The commodity information reading device10includes the commodity placing table10aand a reading unit10b.

The commodity placing table10ais a table or counter region on which commodities H, which are articles being purchased by a customer, or a shopping basket storing the commodities H is temporarily placed during the initial stage of the commodity registration process. RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags22are attached to the commodities H. The RFID tags22are an example of a wireless tag. The RFID tags22store tag information. The tag information is, for example, commodity codes capable of identifying the commodities H. The commodity placing table10ais a first region where the commodities H attached with the RFID tags22are initially placed.

The commodity placing table10aincludes a human sensor12. The human sensor12is, for example, an infrared sensor and detects the approach of the customer. If the human sensor12detects the approach of the customer, the reading unit10bstarts.

The reading unit10bperforms reading processing for collectively reading, from the RFID tags22, the commodity codes of the commodities H placed on the commodity placing table10a. That is, the reading unit10breceives the commodity codes of the RFID tags22of the commodities H placed on the commodity placing table10a.

The reading unit10bincludes at least two flat antennas18respectively on the commodity placing table10aand a member10cerected in the vertical direction with respect to the commodity placing table10a. That is, the reading unit10bincludes a plurality of flat antennas18having different radio wave radiating directions. The flat antennas18communicate with the RFID tags22attached to the commodities H. A wireless tag reader19(seeFIG. 3) reads the tag information from the RFID tags22superimposed on a received radio wave.

Commodity Information Reading Device40

The commodity information reading device40includes the sacker table40aand a reading unit40b. Like the reading unit10b, the reading unit40bstarts if the human sensor12detects approach of the customer.

The sacker table40ais a table or counter region to be used for bagging the commodities H were subjected to the commodity registration processing by the commodity information reading device10. The customer performs, at the sacker table40a, bagging of the commodities H that have been subjected to the commodity registration processing by the commodity information reading device10. That is, the sacker table40ais a second region where the commodities H are shifted after the commodity placing table10a.

The sacker table40aincludes a bag hook40dfor hanging and holding a shopping bag in which the purchased commodities H can be put. That is, the bag hook40dis a holding member that holds a bag for receiving the commodities H therein.

The customer bags the commodities H in the shopping bag hung on the bag hook40d. Thereafter, the customer performs payment (transaction settlement) at the checkout device30.

When the customer is bagging the commodities H, the reading unit40bperforms reading processing for individually reading, from the RFID tags22, commodity codes of each of the commodities H placed on the sacker table40a. Reading accuracy of a collective reading of multiple RFID tags22is not always 100% in this reading processing. Therefore, after the collective reading is performed, reading is also performed at the stage of the bagging as well, and payment amount is decided only once the bagging is completed.

In addition, when the customer is bagging the commodities H, the reading unit40bwrites, in the RFID tags22attached to the commodities H subjected to the commodity registration processing in the commodity information reading device10or the commodity information reading device40and placed on the sacker table40a, information indicating that the commodities H have been sold.

The reading unit40bincludes at least two flat antennas16respectively in the sacker table40aand a member40cerected in the vertical direction with respect to the sacker table40a. That is, the reading unit40bincludes a plurality of flat antennas16having different radio wave radiating directions. The flat antennas16communicate with the RFID tags22attached to the commodities H. A wireless tag reader17(seeFIG. 3) reads the tag information from the RFID tags22superimposed on a received radio wave.

The wireless tag reader17transmits a sales finishing command to the RFID tags22based on which tag information has been read and writes, in the RFID tags22, information indicating that the commodities H are sold. This prevent a situation in which the commodity codes stored in the RFID tags22already subjected to the commodity registration processing are read again by the wireless tag reader17such that the commodities H might be redundantly registered for sale or a crime prevention gate erroneously activates on the basis of detection of the RFID tags22of already purchased products. That is, the reading unit40bis a second device that transmits information indicating that the commodities H placed on the sacker table40ahave been sold.

The configuration of the checkout device is explained with reference toFIG. 2.FIG. 2is an exterior perspective view of the checkout device30. The checkout device30includes, above a housing35, a currency depositing and dispensing device41, a monitor42, a touch panel43, a receipt printer44, a card reader45, and a light emitting unit46.

The currency depositing and dispensing device41includes a coin depositing port31, a bill depositing port32, a bill dispensing port33, and a coin dispensing port34. The currency depositing and dispensing device41stores bills deposited to the bill depositing port32in a bill storing unit. The currency depositing and dispensing device41stores coins deposited to the coin depositing port31in a coin storing unit. The currency depositing and dispensing device41dispenses bills to the bill dispensing port33in response to a dispensing request for bills from a control unit300(seeFIG. 4). The currency depositing and dispensing device41dispenses coins to the coin dispensing port34in response to a dispensing request for coin from the control unit300.

The monitor42includes the touch panel43on the surface thereof. The monitor42is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal panel. The monitor42displays, with an image or text characters, information relating to a payment process such as a total amount of a transaction. The touch panel43outputs information corresponding to a touched position to the control unit300.

The receipt printer44includes a printing unit and a receipt dispensing port36. The receipt printer44dispenses a receipt printed by the printing unit from the receipt dispensing port36.

The card reader45reads information from and possibly writes information to a credit card or a member card inserted from a card insertion port37.

The light emitting unit46is set at the upper end of a display pole38and emits light if, for example, an abnormality occurs in the operation of the checkout device30. The light emitting unit46includes, for example, an LED that emits light in blue and an LED that emits light in red. The light emitting unit46may include an LED that emits light in a color different from blue and red or may include other light emitting members. Since the light emitting unit46is provided at the upper end of the display pole38, a store clerk present near the checkout device30can easily view the light emitting unit46.

The customer operates the checkout device30to perform processing for paying a price for the commodities H with cash, a credit card, electronic money, or the like. This can be referred to as a payment process or a transaction settlement process. In the payment process, the checkout device30displays, based on commodity registration information received from the commodity information reading device10, a total amount of the transaction and controls processing relating to payment of the total amount. The commodity registration information includes information such as a total amount of the transaction set as a processing target and commodity codes of the transaction commodities. The commodity registration information may include other information necessary for receipt printing, for example, sales promotion information for receipt printing.

Hardware Configuration of a Commodity Information Reading Device

A hardware configuration of the commodity information reading device10(and similarly the commodity in formation reading device40) is explained with reference toFIG. 3.FIG. 3is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the commodity information reading device10(40). InFIG. 3, components common to the commodity information reading device10and the commodity information reading device40are denoted by the same reference numerals and signs. Portions different in some manner between the commodity information reading device10and the commodity information reading device40are denoted with different reference numerals and signs.

A control unit100includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit)101, a ROM (Read Only Memory)102, and a RAM (Random Access Memory)103. The CPU101is connected to the ROM102and the RAM103via a bus line105. The CPU101loads, in the RAM103, a control program P1(P2) stored in the ROM102or a storing unit104. The CPU101operates according to the control program P1(P2) loaded in the RAM103to control the operation of the commodity information reading device10. That is, the control unit100has the configuration of a general-purpose computer and various functions are realized by execution of software instructions.

The control unit100is further connected to the storing unit104, an input and output controller106, and a communication I/F (Interface)107via the bus line105.

The storing unit104is a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, in which stored information is retained even if a power supply is turned off, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or the like. The storing unit104stores programs and the like including the control program P1(P2). The control program P1is a program for exerting the functions included in the commodity information reading device10. The control program P2is a program for exerting the functions included in the commodity information reading device40. The control program P2is different from the control program P1in that the control program P2controls the wireless tag reader17(seeFIG. 3) to transmit a sales finishing command for writing, in the RFID tags22, information indicating that the commodities H are sold.

Note that the control program P1(P2) may be incorporated in the ROM102in advance. The control program P1(P2) may also or instead be recorded in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) as a file of a format installable in the control unit100or a format executable by the control unit100.

Further, the control program P1(P2) may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and may be downloaded through the network. The control program P1(P2) may distributed through a network such as the Internet.

The storing unit104stores a commodity master M1and a commodity registration file F1. The commodity master M1is a master file that stores commodity information of all the commodities H sold in a store. The commodity information includes commodity codes capable of identifying the commodities H, commodity names, prices, and the like. Since the commodities H sold in the store may change everyday, the commodity information reading device10(40) acquires the latest commodity master M1from a store server via the communication I/F107.

The commodity registration file F1is a file that stores commodity codes of the commodities H purchased by the customer as acquired from the commodity master M1.

The input and output (I/O) controller106connects the wireless tag reader19(17) and the human sensor12illustrated inFIG. 3. The input and output controller106controls the operation of the various kinds of hardware connected thereto based on a command from the control unit100.

The communication I/F107performs communication with the checkout device30and the store server.

Hardware Configuration of Checkout Device30

A hardware configuration of the checkout device30is explained with reference toFIG. 4.FIG. 4is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the checkout device30. The checkout device30includes a control unit300, a storing unit304, an input and output (I/O) controller306, and a communication I/F307.

The control unit300includes a CPU301, a ROM302, a RAM303. The CPU301is connected to the ROM302and the RAM303via a bus line305. The CPU301loads, in the RAM303, the control program P3stored in the ROM302or the storing unit304. The CPU301operates according to the control program P3loaded in the RAM303to control the operation of the checkout device30. That is, the control unit300has the configuration of a general-purpose computer that realizes various functions by execution of program instructions.

The control unit300is further connected to the storing unit304, the input and output controller306, and the communication I/F307via the bus line305.

The storing unit304is a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, in which stored information is retained even if a power supply is turned off, an HDD, or the like. The storing unit304stores programs and the like including the control program P2. The control program P2is a program for exerting the functions included in the checkout device30.

The control program P3may be incorporated in the ROM302in advance. The control program P2may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD as a file of a format installable in the control unit300or a format executable by the control unit300. Further, the control program P3may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded through the network. The control program P3may be provided or distributed through the network such as the Internet.

The storing unit304stores a transaction file F2. The transaction file F2is a data file that stores content of the commodity registration file F1received from the commodity information reading device10, payment data recording a result of the payment process executed by the checkout device30, and the like. The transaction file F2is used as data recording a transaction history.

The input and output controller306is connected to the monitor42, the touch panel43, the depositing and dispensing device41, the receipt printer44, the card reader45, and the light emitting unit46illustrated inFIG. 4. The input and output controller306controls the operation of the various kinds of hardware connected thereto based on a command from the control unit300.

The communication I/F307communicates with the commodity information reading device10and the store server.

Functional Aspects of a Commodity Information Reading Device

Functional aspects of a commodity information reading device10(40) are explained with reference toFIG. 5.FIG. 5is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of the commodity information reading device10(and similarly commodity information reading device40) in the embodiment. The control unit100of the commodity information reading device10(40) loads the control program P1(P2) in the RAM103and executes the control program P1(P2) to thereby realize, as functional units, a customer detecting unit110, a wireless-tag reading unit111, a commodity registering unit112, and a communication control unit113illustrated inFIG. 5.

The customer detecting unit110detects that the customer approaches the commodity information reading device10(40). Specifically, the customer detecting unit110monitors an output of the human sensor12to thereby detect the approach of the customer.

The wireless-tag reading unit111performs wireless communication between the wireless-tag reading unit111and the RFID tags22to thereby read tag information transmitted by the RFID tags22.

The wireless-tag reading unit111transmits a sales finishing command to the RFID tags22and writes, in the RFID tags22, information indicating that the commodities H are sold. The commodity information reading device40particularly includes this function.

The commodity registering unit112registers, based on the tag information read by the wireless-tag reading unit111, commodity codes indicating the commodities H in the commodity registration file F1.

The communication control unit113performs communication between the communication control unit113and the checkout device30and the store server and performs transmission and reception of data, files, and the like.

The control unit300of the checkout device30similarly loads the control program P3in the RAM303and executes the control program P3to provided various functional units for performing a payment process. However, detailed explanation of the control unit300is omitted.

Explanation of a Flow of Processing Performed in a Commodity Sales Data Processing System

A flow of processing performed by the commodity sales data processing apparatus50is explained with reference toFIG. 6.FIG. 6is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the processing performed by the commodity sales data processing apparatus50in the embodiment.

First, a flow of processing performed by the commodity information reading device10is explained. The commodity registering unit112registers, in the commodity registration file F1, commodity codes that the wireless tag reading unit111collectively reads from the RFID tags22(Act1).

The communication control unit113transmits the commodity registration file F1to the checkout device30(Act2). Thereafter, the commodity information reading device10ends the processing illustrated inFIG. 6.

In the commodity information reading device40, if the customer bags the commodities H, the commodity registering unit112registers, in the commodity registration file F1, the commodity codes that the wireless-tag reading unit111reads from the RFID tags22attached to the commodities H during bagging (Act3). The wireless-tag reading unit111transmits a sales finishing command to the RFID tags22and writes, in the RFID tags22, information indicating that the commodities H are sold (Act4). The communication control unit113transmits the commodity registration file F1to the checkout device30(Act5). The commodity information reading device40repeatedly executes this processing until a payment process is performed. A flow of processing in Acts1to3is explained below (seeFIG. 7).

A Flow of Processing Performed by the Checkout Device30is explained. The checkout device30receives the commodity registration file F1from the commodity information reading device10(Act6).

Subsequently, the checkout device30performs the payment process (Act7). Thereafter, the checkout device30ends the processing illustrated inFIG. 6.

Explanation of Processing Performed by the Commodity Information Reading Devices10and40

A flow of processing performed by the commodity information reading device10(40) is explained with reference toFIG. 7.FIG. 7is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of commodity registration processing performed by the commodity information reading device10(40) in the embodiment.

The customer detecting unit110determines whether the customer approaches the commodity information reading device10(Act11). If determining that the customer approaches the commodity information reading device10(or alternatively approaches commodity information reading device40in other examples) (Yes in Act11), the customer detecting unit110proceeds to Act12. ON the other hand, if determining that the customer does not approach the commodity information reading device10(40) (No in Act11), the customer detecting unit110repeats Act11.

If it is determined Yes in Act11, the wireless-tag reading unit111of the commodity information reading device10reads the tag information of the RFID tags22(Act12).

Subsequently, the commodity registering unit112of the commodity information reading device10executes commodity registration processing for registering, in the commodity registration file F1, the commodity codes relating to the commodities H based on the tag information previously read in Act12(Act13).

If new commodities H are not detected (No in Act14), the communication control unit113of the commodity information reading device10transmits the commodity registration file F1to the checkout device30(Act15). If new commodities H are detected (Yes in Act14), the communication control unit113of the commodity information reading device10returns to Act12.

The wireless-tag reading unit111of the commodity information reading device40reads the tag information of the RFID tags22(Act16). If the customer is bagging, on the sacker table40a, the commodities H placed on the commodity placing table10a, the wireless-tag reading unit111of the commodity information reading device40reads the commodity codes of the commodities H being bagged.

Subsequently, the commodity registering unit112of the commodity information reading device40executes commodity registration processing for registering, in the commodity registration file F1, the commodity codes relating to the commodities H detected based on the tag information read in Act16(Act17).

Subsequently, the wireless-tag reading unit111of the commodity-information reading device40transmits a sales finishing command to the RFID tags22subjected to the commodity registration processing and writes, in the RFID tags22, information indicating that the commodities H attached with the RFID tags22are sold (Act18). The wireless-tag reading unit111transmits, to those RFID tags22that transmitted the registered commodity codes, information indicating that the commodities H are sold.

Subsequently, the communication control unit113of the commodity information reading device40transmits the commodity registration file F1to the checkout device30(Act19). The commodity information reading device40repeatedly executes this processing until a payment process is performed.

In this way, according to this embodiment, processing for writing information indicating that the commodities H have been sold is performed during the reading of the individual RFID tags22during the bagging after the collective reading of the tag information. Consequently, it is possible to write, in the RFID tags22, information indicating that the commodities H are sold while reducing a time for collectively reading the RFID tags22as compared with the past. During the bagging, since a time for individually bagging the commodities H in a bag is relatively long, even if the information indicating that the commodities H are sold is written in the RFID tags22during the bagging, a total processing time is not affected.

In reading the RFID tags22during the bagging, the customer holds the commodities H and places the commodities H in the bag. Accordingly, even if the commodities H overlap one another while on the commodity placing table10a, the commodities H are typically individually handled (and thus separated from each other) during portions of the bagging process. Accordingly, it is possible to solve the problem in that information indicating that the commodities H are sold cannot be written in the RFID tags22when products are overlapped with one another.