Abstract:
A merchandise sales processing apparatus communicates with a money changer machine for automatically dispensing cash, acquires a sales figure in a transaction, acquires a differential amount in the money changer occurred in the transaction from the money changer, decides if the acquired sales figure matches the acquired price of the fluctuating currency, and acquires a transaction date and time on the transaction if the sales figure does not match the differential amount, and stores the transaction date and time in the memory.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   The present application is based on Japanese Priority Document P2003-298599 filed on Aug. 22, 2003, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a merchandise sales data processing apparatus such as an electronic cash register or a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal, and more particularly to a merchandise sales data processing apparatus connected to a money changer. 
   2. Discussion of the Background 
   A system where a POS terminal is connected to a money changer is known in the related art. In this system at the close of a transaction, the POS terminal calculates a change (money remaining from the transaction) by subtracting the purchase price from an amount of deposited money. And the POS terminal sends data showing the amount of resulting change to the money changer. Then, the money changer automatically dispenses money equal to that amount of change. Thus, a cashier inserts the money paid by a customer into the money changer in the transaction, and hands the money dispensed from the money changer along with a receipt to the customer. The money paid by the customer is in this way re-circulated as change money. The money is therefore stored within a section of the money changer except when being exchanged between the customer and cashier and therefore cannot be removed unless the cover of the money changer is opened with a key. The above system in this way prevents crimes such as cash robberies. 
   However, the above system does allow illegal actions such as the cashier appropriating money received from the customer instead of inserting the money into the money changer. To prevent such illegal actions, an apparatus for checking which cashier performed an illegal transaction is disclosed in JP-A No.198866/1998. 
   In the money changer, the differential amount between credit amount and disbursement amount usually matches the sales price. However, problems may occur where these figures do not match for some reason. One cause might be illegal actions by the cashier as described above. Other causes might for example include entering the wrong figure as the deposit amount, or loosing the deposit money due to the cashier dropping it on the floor when attempting to insert the deposit money into the money changer, etc. 
   To solve the problem of the differential between the credit amount and disbursement amount in the money changer not matching the sales amount, it is important to analyze the cause of the problem. The technique disclosed in JP-A No.198866/1998 allows determining which cashier caused the problem. However, analyzing the causes of the problem even just this information was difficult. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention has an object of analyzing the cause of the problem of the differential between the credit amount and disbursement amount in the money changer not matching the sales amount. 
   The object of the present invention is achieved by a novel merchandise sales data processing apparatus. 
   According to the novel merchandise sales data processing apparatus of the present invention comprises: a portion for executing merchandise sales processing; a portion for executing data communication with a money changer which automatically dispenses change; a portion for obtaining a sales amount in the sales processing executed in a transaction; a portion for obtaining a differential amount in the money changer occurred in the transaction based on information obtained by the data communication with the money changer; a portion for obtaining determination whether or not the obtained sales amount and the obtained differential amount match each other; and a portion for acquiring a transaction date and time on the transaction and storing the transaction date and time into a memory if the determination results show that the sales amount and the differential amount do not match each other. 
   Another aspect of the novel merchandise sales data processing apparatus of the present invention comprises: a portion for executing merchandise sales processing; a portion for executing data communication with a money changer which automatically dispenses change; a portion for entering a deposit amount in the transaction; a portion for obtaining a credit amount to the money changer in the transaction based on information acquired by the data communication with the money changer; a portion for obtaining a determination whether or not the input deposit amount and the obtained credit amount match each other; and a portion for acquiring a transaction date and time, and storing the transaction date and time into a memory if the determination results show that the deposit amount and the credit amount do not match each other. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete appreciation of the present invention and the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an example of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram showing a money changer; 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a POS terminal; 
       FIG. 4  is a table showing the structure of a balance/sales file; 
       FIG. 5  is a table showing the structure of a money reception error management file; 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing an example of the sales processing flow; 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing another example of the system; 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing another example of the sales processing flow; 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing another example of the sales processing flow; and 
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing another example of the sales processing flow. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail in accordance with  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 10 . 
     FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a system of the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , in the system, a POS terminal  1  as a merchandise sales data processing apparatus is connected via a communication cable  3  to a money changer  2 . 
     FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram showing the money changer  2 . The money changer  2  handles bank bills and coins as currency. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the money changer  2  has a money storage  11  which holds bank bills and coins according to the currency denomination, a memory  12  for holding the number of bills of each currency denomination stored in the money storage  11 , a money entry slot  13  to which bank bills and coins are input as payment from a customer or change money, a sorting means  14  for sorting money inserted from the money entry slot  13  (credit) by currency denomination and storing into the money storage  11 , and a count means  15  for counting the number of bills of each currency denomination sorted by the sorting means  14 . 
   The money changer  2  further comprises a POS interface  16  to receive change data sent from the POS terminal  1 , a dispensed money calculation means  17  which calculates the number of bills or coins of each currency denomination based on change data received via the POS interface  16  and data on the number of bills or coins of each currency denomination stored in the memory  12 , a dispensing means  18  for dispensing one at a time each currency denomination stored in the money storage  11 , a change dispensing slot  19  for receiving money dispensed by the money dispensing means  18  from the money storage  11 , a dispensed money count means  20  for counting the number of each currency denomination dispensed by the money dispensing means  18 , a money dispensing control means  21  for operating the money dispensing means  18  to dispense money until the number of each denomination of dispensed money counted by the dispensed money count means  20  matches the number of each currency denomination calculated by the dispensed money calculation means  17 , and an update means  22  for updating the value in the memory  12  based on the number of each currency denomination of the inserted money counted by the count means  15  and the number of each denomination of dispensed money counted by the dispensed money count means  20 . 
   The money changer  2  further comprises a cash balance calculation means  23  for reading the number bills and coins of each currency denomination data stored in the memory  12  and calculating the current balance when a balance request command is received via the POS interface  16 , and sends the current balance via the POS interface  16  to the POS terminal  1 . 
     FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing the POS terminal  1 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the POS terminal  1  contains a microcomputer  31 , a keyboard  32  as an input means, a mode key  33 , a cashier display unit  34 , a customer display unit  35 , a code scanner  36 , and a thermal printer  37 , etc. 
   In the microcomputer  31 , a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  38  for central control of the respective units is connected via a bus line  39  such as an address bus or a data bus, with a ROM (Read Only Memory)  40  holding previously stored fixed data such as a startup program, a RAM (Random Access Memory)  41  including various buffers such as a sales buffer and a print buffer for storing different types of rewritable data, and a timer  42  for calculating the date and time. The RAM  41  is backed up by a battery (not shown). 
     FIG. 4  is a table showing the structure of the balance/sales file F 1 . The balance/sales file F 1  as shown in  FIG. 4  is created in the RAM  41  for sales processing described later on. The balance/sales file F 1  has a pre-credit balance area  51  for storing the money changer  2  pre-credit balance of the transaction, a post-credit balance area  52  for storing the money changer  2  transaction post-credit balance, a differential amount area  53  for storing the money changer  2  differential amount of the transaction, and a sales amount area  54  for storing the sales amount of the transaction. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , a HDD (Hard Disk Drive)  55  is connected as a storage section to the CPU  38  by a bus line  39 . Data files of different types as well as a computer program to operate the microcomputer  31  are stored in the HDD  55 . Among the different data files are a merchandise master file (not shown) which holds merchandise names and unit prices associated with merchandise codes, a journal file (not shown) which holds sales details such as sales data and journal data such as the sales amounts linked to the transaction numbers, and a money reception error management file F 2  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     FIG. 5  is a table showing the structure of the money reception error management file F 2 . The money reception error management file F 2  holds information relating to a transaction where a money receiving error occurred in the money changer  2 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the money reception error management file F 2  has a transaction date and time area  61  in which the date and time of the transaction having the money receiving error are stored, a transaction number area  62  in which the transaction number is stored, a cashier ID area  63  in which a cashier ID for specifying the cashier is stored, a pre-credit balance area  64  in which a pre-credit balance in the money changer  2  for the transaction is stored, a post-credit balance area  65  in which the post-credit balance in the money changer  2  for the transaction is stored, a differential amount area  66  in which a differential amount in the money changer  2  for the transaction is stored, and a sales amount area  67  in which the sales amount for the transaction is stored. Note that the transaction date and time is information for specifying the transaction. 
   The computer program stored in the HDD  55  is written, with various files such as the merchandise master file into the RAM  41  upon start-up of the POS terminal  1 , and the respective units can therefore be controlled by the microcomputer  31 . 
   The respective units controlled by the microcomputer  31  will next be described while referring to.  FIG. 3 . 
   The keyboard  32  includes different keys such as numeric keys, a PLU key, a section key, a subtotal key, a deposit/current sum key and a clear key. The keyboard  32  is connected via a keyboard controller  68  to the bus line  39 , and a signal for the corresponding depressed key is input to the microcomputer  31  by the operation of the keyboard controller  68 . 
   A mode key  33  is connected via a mode key controller  69  to the bus line  39 , and a signal corresponding to the selection position is input to the microcomputer  31  by an operation of the mode key controller  69 . The microcomputer  31  sets the operation mode of the POS terminal  1  to a registration mode, a setting mode, a checkout mode or an inspection mode. 
   The cashier display unit  34  and the customer display unit  35  are connected via display controllers  70  and  71  to the bus line  39 . When display data from the microcomputer  31  is input to the display controller  70  and. 71 , these display units show predetermined items under the control of the display controllers  70  and  71 . 
   The code scanner  36  optically scans the merchandise code such as a bar code. The code scanner  36  is connected via a scanner controller  72  to the bus line  39 . The scanner controller  72  transmits the scanned merchandise code data to the microcomputer  31 . 
   The thermal printer  37  is connected via a printer controller  73  to the bus line  39 , and is controlled by the microcomputer  31 . The thermal printer  37  further includes a cutter (not shown) which is driven and controlled by the microcomputer  31 . The thermal printer  37  functions such that the necessary items are printed as a receipt on a receipt paper which is a long sheet (not shown) and the paper is cut and issued as a receipt. 
   In the POS terminal  1 , a communication interface  74  is connected by the bus line  39  via the communication cable  3  to the money changer  2  for exchanging data with the money changer  2 , and is controlled by the microcomputer  31 . 
     FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of sales processing. The sales processing performed by the CPU  38  in accordance with the computer program will be described while referring to the flowchart in  FIG. 6 . The sales processing is executed in registration mode. To perform a registration operation in registration mode, the cashier enters the cashier ID. In registration mode, a cashier ID area to store the cashier ID is formed in the RAM  41 , and the input cashier ID is stored in the cashier ID area. 
   First, as shown in  FIG. 6 , when the registration mode is selected, the balance/sales file F 1  as shown in  FIG. 4  is formed in the RAM  4 , and the current balance in the money changer  2  (hereinafter, balance A) is obtained (step S 1 ). More specifically, a request command requesting transmission of balance A is sent to the money changer  2 . The current balance A then sent from the money changer  2  is received. Upon being received, the balance A in the money changer  2  is stored as a pre-credit balance (hereinafter, pre-credit balance B) in the pre-credit balance area  51  of the balance/sales file F 1  (step S 2 ). 
   The process is then in standby until an accounting operation starts (step S 3 ). The accounting operation is, for example, the scanning and inputting of the merchandise code with the code scanner  36 . When the scanned-input of merchandise code with the code scanner  36  has then been performed, the merchandise master file is searched based on the scanned-input merchandise code, the merchandise name and a unit price corresponding to the merchandise code are read (scanned), and the sale is registered based on the merchandise code, the read merchandise name and the unit price. This processing is repeated until the subtotal key is depressed. In response to the depression of the subtotal key, the sales amount of the transaction (hereinafter, sales amount C) is then calculated and obtained (step S 4 ). More specifically, the sales amount is stored in the sales amount area  54  of the balance/sales file F 1 . 
   Next, when a closing declaration indicating registration of commodities purchased by the customer has been completed and that the customer has paid in cash is detected by the pressing of the deposit/current sum key, the deposit amount from the customer (hereinafter, deposit amount D) input by numeric keys on keyboard  32  is obtained (step S 5 ), the sales amount C is then subtracted from the deposit amount D to obtain a change amount E, and the change data is transmitted to the money changer  2  (step S 6 ). The thermal printer  37  then prints and issues a receipt, and the recording of the journal in the journal file is performed. 
   The money changer  2  receives the change data from the POS terminal  1 , and dispenses change based on this change data. 
   The process is then in standby until a balance acquisition time point in the money changer  2  (N at step S 7 ) is reached. The balance acquisition time point determines the point at which the balance A in the money changer  2  is obtained again upon termination of transaction. The balance acquisition time point is for example, a point at which the accounting start operation is performed in the next transaction (transaction subsequent to the present transaction). As another example, the balance acquisition time point may be a point after a predetermined period from the closing declaration at step S 5 . In this case, if the accounting start operation of the next transaction is performed within the predetermined period after the closing declaration at step S 5 , then the time that the accounting start operation is performed becomes the balance acquisition time point without waiting for the predetermined period. The cashier inputs deposit money from a customer into the money changer by the balance acquisition time point. 
   In the case where the accounting start operation of the next transaction has been detected or it is determined that the predetermined period has elapsed from the closing declaration and the balance acquisition time point has been reached (Y at step S 7 ), the balance A in the money changer  2  at this point is obtained (step S 8 ). More particularly, as in the case of step S 2 , a request command requesting transmission of the current balance A is sent to the money changer  2 . The current balance A sent from the money changer  2  is received. The balance A in the money changer  2  upon being received is stored as a post-credit balance (hereafter, post-credit balance F) into the post-credit balance area  52  of the balance/sales file F 1  (step S 9 ). 
   Next, the pre-credit balance B is subtracted from the post-credit balance F to obtain a differential amount in balance amount (hereafter, differential amount G) in the money changer  2  in the present transaction. The differential amount is stored in the differential amount area  53  of the balance/sales file F 1  (step S 10 ). The differential amount G in the money changer  2  in the current transaction and the sales amount C are then compared with each other and it is determined whether or not the amounts correspond to each other (step S 11 , determination means). At this time, if all deposit money has been inserted into the money changer  2 , the differential amount G and the sales amount C are the same. 
   At step S 11 , if determined that the differential amount G and the sales amount C match each other (Y at step S 11 ), since there is no problem in the money receiving operation, the process then proceeds to step S 12 . 
   If determined at step S 11  that the differential amount G and the sales C do not match each other (N at step S 11 ), since there is a problem in the money receiving operation, then the date and time of the transaction, the transaction number, the cashier ID, the pre-credit balance B, the post-credit balance F, the differential amount G and the sales amount C are stored as error information in the respective areas  61  to  67  of the money reception error management file F 2  (step S 13 ). The storage of data in the money reception error management file F 2  therefore indicates from the determination results that the differential amount G and the sales amount C do not match each other. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S 12 . 
   At step S 12 , it is determined whether or not the registration mode has been terminated, and if the registration mode has been terminated (Y at step S 12 ), then the process ends, while if not terminated (N at step S 12 ), the process returns to step S 2  to perform the sales processing in the next transaction. It should be noted that at step S 2 , the most recently obtained balance A in the money changer  2  is stored as the pre-credit balance B. In this case, the balance A obtained at step S 8  and handled as the post-credit balance F at step S 9  is stored as the pre-credit balance B into the pre-credit balance area  51  of the balance/sales file F 1 . 
   As a method of obtaining the differential amount G in the money changer  2  at step S 10 , the subtraction of the pre-credit balance amount B from the post-credit balance amount F may be replaced by subtracting the change amount E from the actual credit amount (hereafter, credit amount H) into the money changer  2  calculated in the change amount  2  obtained from the money changer  2 . 
   In the present embodiment, information relating to a transaction where the sales amount C and the differential amount G in the money changer  2  do not match each other such as information on a transaction with a money receiving problem, is stored while linked with transaction date and time into the money reception error management file F 2 , so that the time at which the money receiving error occurred can be specified. The cause of the money receiving error can be found for example by checking the transaction at that time captured by a surveillance camera installed in the shop. Possible causes of money receiving errors include the cashier theft by misappropriating deposit money, erroneous input of deposit amount, the cashier dropping the money to the floor after inserting the deposit money into the money changer  2 , etc. 
   Since the date and time of the transaction can be specified, the status of the transaction, such as the shop being crowded or not can be found. Situations where money receiving errors occur can therefore be analyzed. 
   Since the cause of money receiving error can be correctly analyzed, the cashier can be prevented from being falsely charged with theft. 
   Since this money receiving error check is performed at each transaction, the cashier knows it is impossible to misappropriate deposit money from a customer and this type of fraud can therefore be prevented. 
   In the present embodiment, the differential amount can be easily obtained by subtracting the pre-credit balance B from the post-credit balance F in the money changer  2 . 
   In the present embodiment, a single money changer to handle bank bills and coins was described as the money changer connected to the POS terminal  1 . However, two money changers to respectively handle bank bills and coins may be connected to the POS terminal  1 . 
     FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing another example of the system according to the present embodiment. The system in  FIG. 7  has a coin money changer to handle only coins. Accordingly, in the system in  FIG. 7 , a coin money changer  81  and a drawer  82  to hold bank bills are connected via the communication cable  3  to the POS terminal  1 . The coin money changer  81  lacks the sections relating to bank bills in the above-described money changer  2 , but other sections are the same as those in the money changer  2 . The drawer  82  opens/closes a drawer (not shown) as a bank bill storage section under control of the POS terminal  1 . The drawer  82  does not manage the balance inside the drawer. In this case, the balance in the drawer  82  cannot be managed by the POS terminal  1 . The POS terminal  1  therefore checks for the presence/absence of money receiving errors only for coins handled by the coin money changer  81 . 
     FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing another example of the flow of sales processing. The sales processing in  FIG. 8  is performed in the system configuration as shown in  FIG. 7 . The point differing from the sales processing in  FIG. 6  is that step S 11  in  FIG. 6  is replaced with step S 21 . In step S 21 , the sales amount C and the differential amount G are compared with each other in amounts less than that of a bill of a minimum denomination (1000 Yen in the embodiment), and it is determined whether or not they match each other. Accordingly, since the credit of an amount less than that of the minimum denomination bill (1000 Yen in the embodiment) can be checked, information on a transaction having a money receiving problem is stored while linked with the transaction date and time into the money reception error management file F 2 , so that the time of the occurrence of money receiving error can be specified. Thus even in cases where the money changer  2  handles only coins, the cause of money receiving error can be found. 
     FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing another example of the flow of sales processing. The sales processing in  FIG. 9  is based on use of the system in  FIG. 1 . The sales processing in  FIG. 9  can therefore be performed with a configuration similar to the system configuration for the sales processing in  FIG. 6 . The point differing from the sales processing in  FIG. 6  is the process of finding the presence/absence of money receiving errors in  FIG. 9 . Hereafter, the difference from the sales processing in  FIG. 6  will be described. 
   After the processing at steps S 1  to S 9  is complete, a credit amount H in the money changer  2  in the transaction is obtained (step S 15 , credit amount acquisition means). More particularly, the credit amount H is obtained as
 
credit amount  H =post-credit balance  F −pre-credit balance  B +change amount  E.  
 
Since the post-credit balance F is a balance after dispensing of change, the change amount E is added. Alternatively, the credit amount H may be obtained from the money changer  2 .
 
   The credit amount H is compared with the deposit amount D, input from the keyboard  32  as input means at step S 5 , and it is determined whether or not the credit amount H and the deposit amount D match each other (step S 16 ). 
   If determined in step S 16  that the credit amount H and the deposit amount D match each other (Y at step S 16 ), the process proceeds to step S 12  since there is no problem in the money receiving operation. 
   If determined at step S 16  that the credit amount H and the deposit amount D do not match each other (N at step S 16 ), since there is a problem in the money receiving operation, the process proceeds to step S 13 , and the error information is stored into the money reception error management file F 2  (step S 13 ). In this case, the date and time of the transaction, the transaction number, the cashier ID, the pre-credit balance B, the post-credit balance F, the differential amount G and the sales amount C, and further the credit amount H and the deposit amount D, are stored in the money reception error management file F 2  as the error information. At this time, an area for storing the deposit amount D (not shown) may be added to the money reception error management file F 2 . The process then proceeds to step S 12 . Since information on a transaction having a money receiving problem is stored in the money receiving error management file F 2  while linked with the transaction date and time, the time that the money receiving error occurred can be specified. 
     FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing another example of the flow of sales processing. As in the case of the sales processing in  FIG. 8 , the sales processing in  FIG. 10  is performed with the system configuration in  FIG. 7 . However, in the sales processing in  FIG. 10 , processing similar to that in the sales processing in  FIG. 9  is performed to find if there money receiving errors. The point differing from the sales processing in  FIG. 9  is that step S 16  is replaced with step S 31  in  FIG. 10 . In step S 31 , the credit amount H and the deposit amount D are compared with each other within amounts less than that of a minimum denomination bill (1000 Yen in the embodiment), and it is determined whether or not they match each other. Accordingly, since the credit of an amount less than that of the minimum denomination bill (1000 Yen in the embodiment) can be checked, information on a transaction having a money receiving problem is stored while linked with the transaction date and time into the money reception error management file F 2 , and the time that a money receiving error occurs can be specified. Therefore even in cases where the money changer  2  handles only coins, the cause of money receiving error can be found. 
   At steps S 11 , S 16 , S 21  and S 31  in  FIGS. 6 ,  8 ,  9  and  10 , if it is determined that the sales amount C and the differential amount G do not correspond with each other (N at step S 11  and S 21 ) or if it is determined that the credit amount H and the deposit amount D do not correspond with each other (N at step S 16  and S 31 ), then the process proceeds to step S 13 , in which the error information is stored. At the same time, notification is given with information that the sales amount C and the differential amount G do not match each other or the credit amount H and the deposit amount D do not match each other. The notification may be given by a display on the cashier display unit  34  or emission of a warning tone from a speaker installed in the POS terminal  1 . The occurrence of a money receiving error can therefore be reported when it occurs. The notification of money receiving error effectively discourages the cashier from stealing the customer&#39;s deposit money, and therefore helps prevent crimes of this type. 
   Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.