Abstract:
A terminal unit, to which commodity information is input, processes the input commodity information. The terminal unit includes a first conversion unit for converting transaction information including at least the input commodity information into information corresponding to a high density bar code, the transaction information being information regarding the transaction of one or a plurality of commodities, and a bar code printing unit for printing the high density bar code on a sheet based on the information obtained by the first conversion unit. The terminal unit may further includes a reading unit for optically reading the high density bar code, printed on the recording sheet, representing the transaction information and for outputting the transaction information represented by the bar code, the transaction information being processed by the terminal unit.

Description:
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/337,222, filed Nov. 7 , 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,781. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Inventions 
     The present invention generally relates to a terminal unit, such as a POS (Point-of-Sale) terminal unit, and more particularly to a terminal unit in which commodity information input therein can be converted into a bar code and vice versa. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, in stores, in order to register information (including names, identification codes, unit prices, quantity and the like) on commodities bought by customers, POS (Point-of-Sales) terminal units have been used. The POS terminal units print the information on receipt papers and journal papers and transmit the information to a host computer. The information processed day the POS terminal units is referred to as transaction information. The transaction information includes commodity information and other information regarding the transaction. The commodity information may include a commodity name, an identification code of a commodity, a unit price of a commodity, a number of commodities of each kind and consumption tax. Other information may include a total price, a date, a name of an operator of a POS terminal unit, a commodity dealing department and an identification number of a POS terminal unit. 
     If incorrect commodity information (e.g. the unit price of a commodity or the quantity of a commodity) is registered by a POS terminal unit by mistake so that a receipt paper on which the incorrect commodity information has been printed is given to a customer, the registered incorrect commodity information must be corrected. In this case, in order to correct the incorrect commodity information which has been registered, an operator manually inputs, with reference to the transaction information on the receipt paper, the incorrect commodity information into the POS terminal unit by using a keyboard. 
     In a host computer coupled to a plurality of POS terminal units, transaction data items including information about commodities transmitted from the POS terminal units are aggregated. In this system formed of the POS terminal units and the host computer, if a trouble occurs in the host computer, the above transaction data items can not be aggregated in the host computer. In this case, transaction data items printed on journal papers in the respective POS terminal units are used as backup data. That is, the transaction data items are manually input, with reference to the journal papers, into the POS terminal units. 
     In the conventional POS terminal unit, as has been described above, to correct registered information and to aggregate transaction data items in place of the host computer, transaction data items must be manually input with reference to receipt papers or journal papers. Thus, input errors may easily occur. 
     In addition, for example, the following service for customers has been proposed. 
     In the host computer, transaction information supplied from the POS terminal units is aggregated for each customer having a membership card. When an aggregate request is input to a POS terminal unit along with a membership number identifying a customer, transaction information which has been aggregated for the customer is transmitted from the host computer to the POS terminal unit. The aggregated transaction information for the customer is printed by the POS terminal unit and the printout is given to the customer. The customer can use the printout as accounts for himself (herself). This service is referred to as an accounts supply service. 
     However, to provide this accounts supply service, the aggregated transaction information for each customer must be usually stored in a storage unit of the host computer. In addition, a customer not having a membership card can not obtain the accounts supply service. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to provide a novel and useful terminal unit, such as a POS terminal unit, in which the disadvantages of the aforementioned prior art are eliminated. 
     A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a terminal unit capable of printing out commodity information, which has been registered, having a form which can be easily input to the terminal unit. 
     The above objects of the present invention are achieved by a terminal unit, to which commodity information is input, for processing input commodity information, the commodity information being information regarding one or a plurality of commodities in a transaction, the terminal unit comprising: first conversion means for converting transaction information including at least the input commodity information into information corresponding to a bar code, the transaction information being information regarding the transaction of one or a plurality of commodities; and bar code printing means for printing the bar code on a sheet based on the information obtained by the first conversion means. 
     According to the present invention, sine the commodity information is printed on a recording paper as a bar code, the commodity information can be easily input to the terminal unit by scanning the bar code. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a terminal unit capable of easily processing target commodity information items which have been input therein. 
     The above object of the present invention is achieved by a terminal unit further including reading means for optically reading the bar code, printed on the recording sheet, representing the transaction information and for outputting the transaction information represented by the bar code, the transaction information being processed by the terminal unit. 
     According to the present invention, target commodity information items which have been input to the terminal unit can be easily obtained by optically reading the bar code, printed on the recording sheet, representing the transaction information including the target commodity information items. As a result, the target commodity information items which have been input to the terminal unit can be easily processed. 
     For example, the target commodity information can be easily corrected by using the transaction information obtained by the reading means. 
     Further, the target commodity information can be easily aggregated by using the transaction information obtained by the reading means. 
     In addition, the aggregate result may be printed out on a recording sheet. The aggregate result may be also transmitted to a host unit coupled to the terminal unit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system of a host computer connected over a network to a POS terminal unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating an example of a receipt paper on which transaction data items have been printed; 
     FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of a journal paper on which transaction data items have been printed; 
     FIGS. 3A,  3 B,  3 C and  3 D are diagrams illustrating examples of high density codes; 
     FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a layout in a keyboard; 
     FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen of a display unit; 
     FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a correct receipt obtained in a correction mode; 
     FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a structure of data aggregated for each terminal; 
     FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a structure of data aggregated for each dealing department; 
     FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a form on which aggregated data items are arranged; 
     FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a form supplied in the accounts supply service; and 
     FIGS. 10A and 10B are flow charts illustrating a process carried out by a POS terminal unit. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A description will given of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1 shows a POS terminal unit  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a POS terminal unit has a keyboard  11 , a scanner  12 , a controller  13 , a first conversion unit  14 , a printer unit  15 , a bar code determination unit  16 , a second conversion unit  17 , a driver circuit  18 , a network control unit  20 , a display driving circuit  22 , a display unit  23  and a storage unit  24 . Information about commodities bought by customers are input by means of the keyboard  11  and the scanner  12 . 
     The scanner  12  optically scans a bar code, such as a JAN code, provided on each commodity and outputs commodity information including a commodity name, a commodity code and the like. The bar code determination unit  16  determines, based on information supplied from the scanner  12 , whether the scanner  12  has scanned a normal bar code which is provided on each commodity or a high-density bar code which will be described later. When the bar code determination unit  16  determines that the scanner  12  has scanned the normal bar code, the commodity information is supplied to the controller  13  via the bar code determination unit  16 . The storage unit  24  has a first unit  24   a  storing a price lookup table (PLU), a second unit  24   b  storing a hard-total (HT) aggregate and a memory  24   c . The controller  13  adds a unit price to the commodity information with reference to the price look-up table stored in the first unit  24   a  of the storage unit. The commodity information including the commodity name, the commodity code, the unit price and the number of commodities of each kind is stored in the memory  24   c . The controller also performs an aggregate process for aggregating commodity information of respective commodities. The result thereof is stored, as the aggregate result (hard-total), in the second unit  24   b  of the storage unit  24 . The commodity information items corresponding to the respective commodities are supplied to the driver circuit  18 . The driver circuit  18  drives printers of the printer unit (PRNTR)  15  based on the commodity information items, so that commodity information items (e.g. commodity names, commodity codes, unit prices, the number of commodities and consumption tax) are printed on receipt and journal media (e.g., a receipt paper and a journal paper). The aggregate results stored in the second unit  24   b  of the storage unit  24  are supplied to the network control unit  20  via the controller  13  and transmitted from the network control unit  20  to the host computer  40  via the network  30 . The host computer  40  carries out management of transactions based on the aggregate results supplied from the respective POS terminals  10  (of which only one is shown in FIG.  1 ). 
     When an input operation performed by using the scanner  12  and the keyboard  11  is completed, the commodity information in a transaction is read out from the memory  24   c . The commodity information read out from the memory  24   c  and other information such as a total price of commodities in a transaction, an identification number of the POS terminal, a commodity dealing department, a date and an operator name are supplied to the first conversion unit  14  via the driver circuit  18 . The first conversion unit  14  converts the above information into pattern data corresponding to a high density bar code. 
     The high density bar code is also referred to as a multi-dimensional bar code (e.g. a two-dimensional bar code). The high density bar code differs from the normal bar code such as the JAN code in that English characters and Japanese characters (Kana characters and Chinese characters) can be coiled into the high density bar code. That is, an amount of information represented by the high density bar code is significantly greater than an amount of information represented by the normal bar code. Examples of the high density bar code are shown in FIGS. 3A,  3 B,  3 C and  3 D. A code pattern shown in FIG. 3A is referred to as a PSD  417 , a code pattern shown in FIG. 3B is referred to as a DATACODE, a code pattern shown in FIG. 3C is referred to as a VERICODE and a code pattern shown in FIG. 3D is referred to as a code  16   k . The high density bar code can represent the above transaction information, such as commodity names, commodity codes, unit prices, the number of commodities, the total price of commodities in a transaction, the identification number of the POS terminal, the commodity dealing department, the date and the operator name. 
     The transaction information printed on the receipt paper and the journal paper for a transaction is converted into pattern data corresponding to a high density bar code by the first conversion unit  14  and printed on the receipt paper and the journal paper as respectively shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The journal paper is printed for a store. Thus, in a case where the above transaction information is printed as the high density bar code, only the total price and the operator name may be printed as characters on the journal. On the other hand, the receipt paper is printed for a customer. Thus, commodity names, prices, consumption tax and the like must be printed as characters on the receipt papers 
     The keyboard  11  is formed as shown in FIG.  4 . Referring to FIG. 4, the keyboard  11  has ten keys  100 , a register key  101 , a total key  102 , a correction key  103 , a substitute aggregate key  104 , an accounts supply key  105 , a cash key  110  and a credit card key  111 . The register key  101  is operated for the normal register operation. The correction key  103  is operated to correct commodity information which has been input. The substitute aggregate key  104  is operated to aggregates commodity information items in place of the host computer  40 . The account supply key  105  is operated for the account supply service. 
     The scanner  12  can optically read the high density bar code printed on the receipt paper and the journal paper. When the bar code determination unit  16  determines that the bar code read by the scanner  12  is the high density bar codes, information output from the scanner  12  is supplied to the second conversion unit  17  via the bar code determination unit  16 . The second conversion unit  17  converts the information supplied from the scanner  12  into character information corresponding to the transaction information represented by the high density bar code read key the scanner. The character information is supplied to the controller  13 . The controller  13  processes the transaction information (corresponding to the character information) and supplies a part (the commodity information) of the transaction information to the display driving circuit  22 . The display driving circuit  22  drives the display unit  23  based on the commodity information, so that the display unit  23  displays the commodity information. 
     A process is executed in the POS terminal in accordance with the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. 
     Referring to FIG. 10A, after a key of the keyboard  11  is operated (S 1 ), it is determined whether the operated key is the register key  101 . In the case of a register operation, a bar code, representing commodity information, provided on each commodity is scanned day the scanner  12  after the register key  101  is operated. In this case, it is determined, in step S 2 , that the operated key is the register key  101 . The information from the scanner  12  and the keyboard  11  is then supplied to the controller  13  (S 3 ). A commodity information item is printed on the receipt paper and the journal paper every time the commodity information is input to this POS terminal unit (S 4 ). Commodity information items (prices) are aggregated (S 5 ), and the itemized commodity information and the aggregate results are stored in the storage unit  24  (S 6 ). After this, it is determined whether-or not the register operation is completed, that is, whether or not the total key  102  is operated (S 7 ). If the total key  102  has not yet been operated, commodity information items for the next commodity are processed in accordance with the same steps S 3 , S 4 , S 5  and S 6 . These steps are repeated until the total key  102  is operated. 
     If the total key  102  is operated (S 7 ), the total price of the commodities, the consumption tax and other transaction information are printed on the receipt paper. After this, the commodity information items for the present transaction are read out from the memory  24   c  (S 8 ). The commodity information items from the memory  24   c  and other transaction information supplied from the controller  13  are converted into pattern data corresponding to the high density bar code by the first conversion unit  14  (S 9 ). The pattern data from the first conversion unit  14  is supplied to the printer unit  15 , so that the printer unit  15  prints the high density bar code representing the commodity information items on the receipt paper and the journal paper as respectively shown in FIG. 2A and 2B (S 10 ). The receipt paper (FIG. 2A) on which characters corresponding to the transaction information including the commodity information items have been printed is given by the operator to the customer. 
     In a case where the operator is aware that an error has occurred in the register operation, the operator operates the correction key  103  of the keyboard  11 . In this case, after it is determined, in step S 2 , that the operated key is not the register key  101 , it is determined, in step S 11 , that the correction key  103  has been operated. After this, the high density bar code printed on the receipt paper is scanned by the scanner  12  (S 12 ). The high density bar code represents the commodity information including information to be corrected. Since the bar code determination unit  16  determines, in this case, that the scanner  12  has scanned the high density bar code, the information output from the scanner  12  is supplied to the second conversion unit  17  via the bar code determination unit  16 . The second conversion unit  17  converts the information supplied from the scanner  12  into character information corresponding to the transaction information represented by the high density bar code (S 13 ). The transaction information is then stored in the memory  24   c  (S 14 ). The transaction information includes incorrect information which has been registered in the last register operation. The commodity information included in the transaction information is read out from the memory  24   c  and is then displayed by the display unit  23  as shown in FIG. 5 (S 15 ). The operator looks at the screen of the display unit  23  and can confirm that the commodity information includes the incorrect information. In this state, when the operator operates the total key  102 , the. transaction information stored in the memory  24   c  is supplied to the printer unit  15  via the controller  13  and the driver circuit  18 . As a result, the transaction information to be corrected is printed on a receipt paper as shown in FIG. 6 (S 16 ). In addition, the commodity information items, such as prices of commodities and the number of commodities of each kind, are subtracted from the aggregate result stored in the second unit  24   b  (the HT aggregate) of the storage unit  24  (S 17 ). After this, the commodity information items including correct information items, to which the incorrect information items are changed, are input by using the keyboard  11 , and added to the aggregated result from which the incorrect data has been subtracted. 
     Only incorrect information selected from the commodity information items displayed by the display unit  23  may be subtracted from the aggregate results. 
     If a trouble, such as a network malfunction, occurs in the system so that the host computer  40  can not execute the aggregation of the commodity information items, the journal papers are collected, from the respective POS terminal units coupled to the host computer, at one or some selected POS terminals. In each POS terminal to which the journal papers are collected, the following operations, referred to as a substitute aggregation, are carried out. 
     First, the operator operates the substitute aggregate key  104 . In this case, it is determined, in step S 11 , that the correction key  103  is not operated, and the process proceeds to step S 18  shown in rig.  10 B. Referring to FIG. 10B, it is determined, in step S 18 , that the substitute aggregate key  104  has been operated. After the substitute aggregate key  104  is operated, the high density bar codes printed on the collected journal papers are scanned by the scanner  12  one by one (S 19 ). Information output from the scanner  12  is supplied to the second conversion unit  17  via the liar code determination unit  16 . The second conversion unit  17  converts the information supplied from the scanner  12  into character information corresponding to the transaction information represented by the high density bar codes (S 20 ). The controller  13  aggregates commodity information items (e.g. prices and the number of commodities) included in the transaction information supplied from the second conversion unit  17  in a predetermined area of the memory  24   c  (S 21 ). In this substitute aggregate process, the commodity information items are classified into groups for respective POS terminals  10  and the classified commodity information items in each group are aggregated for each commodity dealing department, as shown in FIG.  7 A. The commodity information items may be classified into groups for respective commodity dealing departments and the classified commodity information items in each group may be aggregated for each POS terminal, as shown in FIG.  7 B. The substitute aggregate process in steps S 19 , S 20  and S 21  is repeated until the high density bar codes on all journals have been completely processed (S 22 ). After this, an aggregate result, for a POS terminal, is read out from the predetermined area of the memory  24   c  and printed in a form as shown in FIG. 8 by the printer unit  15  (S 23 ). 
     If the host computer is recovered, the aggregate results stored in the memory  24   c  may be transmitted from the network control unit  20  to the host computer  40 . 
     The accounts supply service for a customer may be performed as follows. 
     In a case where a customer brings receipt papers which have been collected in a predetermined period (e.g. a month) to a store, an operator of a POS terminal unit operates the accounts supply key  105 . In this case, it is determined, in step S 18  shown in FIG. 10B, that the substitute aggregate key  104  has not been operated. The high density bar codes printed on the receipt papers brought by the customer are scanned by the scanner  12  (S 24 ). Information output from the scanner  12  is converted, by the second conversion unit  17 , into character information corresponding to the transaction information (commodity names, commodity codes, unit prices, numbers of commodities, dates and the like) represented by the high density bar codes (S 25 ). The controller  13  aggregates commodity information items (e.g. prices. and the number of commodities) included in the transaction information supplied from the second conversion unit  17  in a predetermined area of the memory  24   c  (S 26 ). After this, the aggregate result is read out from the predetermined area of the memory  24   c  and printed in a form as shown in FIG. 9 (S 28 ). The customer receives the printed form, which can be used as a household accounts in the predetermined period (e.g. a month). 
     According to the POS system as has been described above, the high density bar code representing the transaction information including commodity information items is printed on a receipt paper and a journal paper. Thus, the trading information can be input to the POS terminal  10  by optically reading the high density bar code without performing the manual input operation using the keyboard. In addition the commodity information obtained by optically reading the high density bar code can be used to correct commodity information which has been registered and for various services. The aggregation of commodity information items can be performed by using high density bar codes printed on the journal papers in the respective POS terminal units  10 . 
     The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments, and variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention.