CASH REGISTERING APPARATUSING APPARATUS, POINT SERVER AND CASH REGISTRATION METHOD

In accordance with an embodiment, a cash registering apparatus comprises an input/output apparatus configured to input or output information; a communication interface configured to carry out communication with an external apparatus; a first reading section configured to read a first ID from a storage medium in which the first ID is stored and output a second ID which is fixedly assigned to the first ID based on the first ID; and a control section configured to receive accumulated points corresponding to the second ID from a point server in which accumulated points are stored for each second ID and carry out a checkout processing based on the accumulated points.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with an embodiment, there is provided a cash registering apparatus comprising an input/output apparatus configured to input or output information; a communication interface configured to carry out communication with an external apparatus; a first reading section configured to read a first ID from a storage medium for storing the first ID and output a second ID which is fixedly assigned to the first ID based on the first ID; and a control section configured to receive accumulated points corresponding to the second ID from a point server in which accumulated points are stored for each second ID and carry out a checkout processing based on the accumulated points.

Embodiments of the cash registering apparatus, the point server and a cash registration program are described below in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

In accordance with an embodiment, a cash registering apparatus comprises an input/output apparatus configured to input or output information; a communication interface configured to carry out communication with an external apparatus; a first reading section configured to read a first ID from a storage medium in which the first ID is stored and output a second ID which is fixedly assigned to the first ID based on the first ID; and a control section configured to receive accumulated points corresponding to the second ID from a point server in which accumulated points are stored for each second ID and carry out a checkout processing based on the accumulated points.

FIG. 1is an external perspective view illustrating a cash registering apparatus100. As shown inFIG. 1, the cash registering apparatus100comprises a touch panel202serving as an input/output apparatus; a keyboard203serving as an input apparatus; a first card reader204A serving as a first reading section; and a second card reader204B serving as a second reading section.

The first card reader204A reads a first ID from a card serving as a storage medium and generates, based on the read first ID, a second ID which is fixedly assigned to the first ID. The second card reader204B reads the first ID from the card.

The storage medium, which may be, for example, an IC card for storing a wireless tag, may be in any form as long as the storage medium is capable of storing the first ID. Further, the storage medium may also be a traffic IC card for paying the train fare or the bus fare or a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone comprising a wireless tag or the so-called credit card.

The first ID may be stored in a memory of a wireless tag or recorded in a magnetic stripe.

Further, the cash registering apparatus100may connects auxiliary apparatuses such as a scanner for reading a barcode attached to a commodity, a drawer for storing cash or a printer for forming an image for the transacted content on a recording medium.

The cash registering apparatus100may be used in a stand-alone manner or used by being connected with a store controller which has the same constitution as that of the cash registering apparatus100. The store controller sends the information relating to a commodity stored therein to the connected cash registering apparatus100every time the information is changed.

FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating constitutions of the cash registering apparatus100and a point server300. As shown inFIG. 2, the cash registering apparatus100comprises a CPU (Central Processing Unit)201serving as a control section, a touch panel202, a keyboard203, a card reader204, a communication interface (hereinafter referred to as I/F)205for communicating with an external device, a memory206such as a ROM (Read-Only Memory) or a RAM (Random-Access Memory) serving as a storage apparatus, an auxiliary storage apparatus207serving as a nonvolatile storage apparatus such as a hard disk or even a flash ROM, a first card reader204A, and a second card reader204B.

The point server300comprises a CPU301serving as a control section of the point server, a communication I/F302, a memory303and an auxiliary storage apparatus304serving as a nonvolatile storage apparatus such as a hard disk or even a flash ROM;

The cash registering apparatus100and the point server300are connected via the communication I/F205, a communication network400and the communication I/F302.

The auxiliary storage apparatus207stores a price database (database is hereinafter referred to as DB)207A for storing unit price for each commodity and a transaction file207B for storing the content of a transaction.

The auxiliary storage apparatus304stores a customer DB304A for storing a second ID and accumulated points for each second ID.

In the present embedment, the point server300is arranged independent from a settlement server such as a server for the settlement of, for example, traffic fare. A user decides whether or not to pay with points before a settlement. An operator inputs an instruction to use points for settlement to the cash registering apparatus100if it is selected to settle with points.

If an instruction to use points for settlement is input, the cash registering apparatus100reads a first ID from a card using the first card reader204A.

Based on the read first ID, the first card reader204A generates and outputs a second ID which is fixedly assigned to the first ID.

For example, a code called as IDi containing an alphabet is stored in a traffic IC card as the first ID. The first card reader204A converts the IDi into a second ID including integers and outputs the second ID.

The cash registering apparatus100inquires of the point server300about accumulated points based on the second ID.

The point server300retrieves the customer DB304A based on the second ID to read accumulated points and sends the accumulated points to the cash registering apparatus100.

The cash registering apparatus100settles a payment based on the points and instructs the point server300to subtract the points corresponding to the payment amount from the accumulated points.

Further, the second card reader is used when it is selected to settle based on the first ID. For example, the second card reader is used when settles a payment with the charged amounts in the traffic IC card.

A cash registration program is stored in the auxiliary storage apparatus207. The control section201reads the cash registration program from the auxiliary storage apparatus207and stores in the memory206, and reads a command from the memory206in sequence and executes the read commands.

FIG. 3is a diagram illustrating data constitution of the price DB207A. As shown inFIG. 3, the price DB207A stores, for each commodity, a commodity code fixedly assigned to a commodity, a name representing the name of the commodity, a unit price representing the specified price of the commodity, and a department representing a sales department.

In the data examples, the commodity code is ‘4000000001234’, the name is ‘canned coffee 250 ml’, the unit price is ‘100’, and the department is ‘5010’.

FIG. 4is a diagram illustrating data constitution of the transaction file207B. As shown inFIG. 4, the transaction file207B stores, for each transaction, a commodity code, a name, a unit price and a quantity representing a sales quantity.

In the data examples, the commodity code is ‘4000000001234’, the name is ‘canned coffee 250 ml’, the unit price is ‘100’, and the quantity is ‘6’.

FIG. 5is a diagram illustrating the data constitution of the customer DB304A. As shown inFIG. 5, the customer DB304A stores, based on the first ID recorded in a card, a second ID fixedly assigned to the first ID and accumulated points of each second ID. Further, the stored data is not limited to these.

FIG. 6is flowchart illustrating a point-based settlement operation of the cash registering apparatus100. As shown inFIG. 6, in ACT601, the cash registering apparatus100determines whether or not an instruction of a point-based payment is input. If the cash registering apparatus100determines that an instruction of a point-based payment is input, the flow proceeds to ACT602, and if the cash registering apparatus100determines that an instruction of a point-based payment is not input, the flow returns to ACT601.

In ACT602, the cash registering apparatus100reads a first ID from a card with the first card reader204A.

In ACT603, the cash registering apparatus100converts, using the first card reader204A, the first ID to a second ID which is fixedly assigned based on the first ID.

In ACT604, the cash registering apparatus100sends an accumulated point inquiry and the second ID to the point server300together.

In ACT605, the point server300receives the second ID and the accumulated point inquiry request.

In ACT606, the point server300retrieves the customer DB304A based on the received second ID and reads accumulated points of the second ID.

In ACT607, the point server300sends the second ID and the accumulated points to the cash registering apparatus100as a response.

In ACT608, the cash registering apparatus100receives the response from the point server300.

In ACT609, the cash registering apparatus100determines whether or not the payment subtotal is below the accumulated points. If the cash registering apparatus100determines that the subtotal is below the accumulated points, the flow proceeds to ACT611, and if the cash registering apparatus100determines that the subtotal is not below the accumulated points, the flow proceeds to ACT610.

In ACT610, the cash registering apparatus100determines whether or not there is an input indicating using all points. If the cash registering apparatus100determines that there is an input indicating using all points, the flow proceeds to ACT611, and if the cash registering apparatus100determines that there is no input indicating using all points, the flow returns to ACT610.

In ACT611, the cash registering apparatus100calculates the points to be subtracted from the accumulated points and sends the subtraction points and a point subtraction processing request to the point server300.

In ACT612, the point server300receives the subtraction points and the point subtraction processing request.

In ACT613, the point server300subtracts the subtraction points from the accumulated points and stores the accumulated points after subtraction processing in the customer DB304A as new accumulated points.

In ACT614, the point server sends the second ID and the accumulated points after subtraction processing to the cash registering apparatus100as a subtraction response.

In ACT615, the cash registering apparatus100receives the subtraction response.

In ACT616, the cash registering apparatus100carries out checkout closing processing.

FIG. 7is flowchart illustrating a point-based accumulated point inquiry operation of the cash registering apparatus100. As shown inFIG. 7, in ACT701, the cash registering apparatus100determines whether or not an accumulated point inquiry instruction is input. If the cash registering apparatus100determines that an accumulated point inquiry instruction is input, the flow proceeds to ACT702, and if the cash registering apparatus100determines that an accumulated point inquiry instruction is not input, the flow returns to ACT701.

In ACT702, the cash registering apparatus100reads a first ID from a card with the first card reader204A.

In ACT703, the cash registering apparatus100converts, using the first card reader204A, the first ID to a second ID which is fixedly assigned based on the first ID.

In ACT704, the cash registering apparatus100sends an accumulated point inquiry and the second ID to the point server300together.

In ACT705, the point server300receives the second ID and the accumulated point inquiry request.

In ACT706, the point server300retrieves the customer DB304A based on the received second ID and reads accumulated points of the second ID.

In ACT707, the point server300sends the second ID and the accumulated points to the cash registering apparatus100as a response.

In ACT708, the cash registering apparatus100receives the response from the point server300.

In ACT709, the cash registering apparatus100displays the accumulated points on the touch panel202serving as a display apparatus.

In ACT710, the cash registering apparatus100prints the accumulated points using a printer.

As stated above, according to the present embodiment, a cash registering apparatus100comprises an input/output apparatus configured to input or output information; a communication interface205configured to carry out communication with an external apparatus; a first reading section configured to read a first ID from a storage medium in which the first ID is stored and output a second ID which is fixedly assigned to the first ID based on the first ID; and a control section configured to receive accumulated points corresponding to the second ID from a point server300in which accumulated points are stored for each second ID and carry out a checkout processing based on the accumulated points.

Thus, an effect that a point service can be used without issuing a new card is achieved.