Patent Publication Number: US-2011073645-A1

Title: Article sales data processing apparatus and transaction display method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-220539, filed Sep. 25, 2009; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to an article sales data processing apparatus which scans code symbols by using a code scanner and carries out various kinds of processing for article sales based on the scanned code symbols. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A point of sales (POS) terminal is an example of an article sales data processing apparatus. A store such as a supermarket introduces a POS terminal as a settlement terminal. As the POS terminal is introduced, an article code is allocated to each article that is sold in the store. An article code is symbolized in the form of a code symbol such as barcode and then attached to an article. When a salesclerk uses a code scanner to optically scan a code symbol attached to an article, the article code of the article is inputted to the POS terminal. 
     When the article codes of all the articles that one customer intends to purchase are inputted to the POS terminal, the salesclerk operates the POS terminal and carries out checkout with this customer. However, even though the salesclerk carries out the checkout, if the customer takes long to pay the price of the articles, the checkout is suspended then. 
     Conventionally, an electronic cash register having a function of temporarily suspending an operation for the first customer is known. This electronic cash register can scan the barcode on an article that the subsequent customer intends to purchase while the operation for the first customer is suspended. 
     On the electronic cash register, a display screen of a display device is vertically or horizontally divided into equal parts. The electronic cash register displays information of the articles to be purchased including the articles codes inputted by using the code scanner, for each of the first customer and the subsequent customer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an article sales data processing apparatus as a whole in a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the article sales data processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing the flow of article code input executed by a microcomputer of an article code input device. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing an example of display contents displayed on a scan display of the article code input device during the article code input. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view showing an example of display contents displayed on a customer display of the article code input device during the article code input. 
         FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  are schematic views showing an example of display contents displayed on a settlement display of a POS terminal during the execution of settlement. 
         FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  are explanatory views showing operation procedures to operate a touch panel and switch the order of transactions. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view showing an example of transition of display contents on the settlement display of the POS terminal during the execution of settlement. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view showing an example of display contents displayed on the settlement display of the POS terminal during the execution of settlement in a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view showing an example of display contents displayed on the settlement display of the POS terminal during the execution of settlement in a third embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In general, according to one embodiment, an article sales data processing apparatus includes an input unit, a search unit, a storage unit, and a display unit. The input unit inputs an article code. The search unit searches a data file storing article information including an article name and a unit price corresponding to an article code of each article, and acquires article information corresponding to the article code inputted by the input unit. The storage unit stores a first transaction number indicating a first transaction and article information about the first transaction, a second transaction number indicating a second transaction after the first transaction and article information about the second transaction, and a third transaction number indicating a third transaction after the second transaction and article information about the third transaction. The display unit displays the transaction number of and a total amount for the first transaction, the transaction number of and a total amount for the second transaction, and the transaction number of and a total amount for the third transaction that are stored in the storage unit at the same time, in one display area. 
     Hereinafter, plural embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Each embodiment is an example of application to an article sales data processing apparatus  101  introduced in an checkout area of a supermarket. This apparatus  101  inputs article codes and carries out settlement while customers and articles brought by the customers are moved in one direction. 
     First Embodiment 
     A first embodiment will be clarified with reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the article sales data processing apparatus  101  as a whole. An elongate rectangular counter  110  is installed in a checkout area of a supermarket. The counter  110  divides the checkout area into a salesclerk space  102   a  and a customer space  102   b.    
     In the salesclerk space  102   a , a checker  105   a  and a cashier  105   b  stand by. The checker  105   a  is in charge of scanning a code symbol  108  using an article code input device  111 . The cashier  105   b  is in charge of settlement using a POS terminal  112 . 
     In the customer space  102   b , a customer passage  104  is prescribed along a lateral side of the counter  110 . A customer  103  brings an article  106  which the customer intends to purchase and which is put in a shopping basket  107 , to the checkout area. The customer  103  places the shopping basket  107  on the counter  110  and then moves the customer passage  104  in a direction from bottom right to top left in  FIG. 1 . The customer  103  then carries out checkout of the article  106  which the customer intends to purchase, with salesclerks (the checker  105   a  and the cashier  105   b ). 
     The article sales data processing apparatus  101  includes the article code input device  111  as an input unit, and the POS terminal  112  as a settlement unit. The article code input device  111  is installed upright at a position that is substantially central in the direction of the longer side of the counter  110  and close to the customer space  102   b  on the top side of the counter  110 . The POS terminal  112  is installed together with a drawer  127   a , on a POS terminal installing table  113 . The POS terminal installing table  113  is installed at a position that is downstream in the direction of the movement of the customer  103  moving along the customer passage  104  and near the counter  110  within the salesclerk space  102   a . The POS terminal  112  is connected with the article code input device  111  by a connection cord  159  in such a manner that data can be communicated. 
     The article code input device  111  includes a code scanner  114  (see  FIG. 2 ). The article code input device  111  is also provided with a scan window  114   a  facing the direction of the salesclerk space  102   a . The code scanner  114  optically scans the code symbol  108  attached to each article that is sold in the supermarket, via the scan window  114   a . The code scanner  114  decodes the scanned code symbol  108  to an article code. The decoded article code is inputted to the POS terminal  112  via the connection cord  159 . 
     The article code input device  111  further has a scan display  115 , a scan touch panel  116 , a keyboard  116   a , a customer display  117 , and a customer touch panel  118 . 
     The scan display  115  is attached to the top end of the article code input device  111 , with the display surface of the scan display  115  facing the direction of the salesclerk space  102   a . The scan touch panel  116  is arranged by being superimposed on the display surface of the scan display  115 . The keyboard  116   a  is attached to the right side of the display surface of the scan display  115 . The customer display  117  is attached to the back side of the scan display  115 , with the display surface of the customer display  117  facing the direction of the customer space  102   b . The customer touch panel  118  is arranged by being superimposed on the display surface of the customer display  117 . 
     The checker  105   a  stands at a position facing the article code input device  111 , in the salesclerk space  102   a . When the shopping basket  107  is placed on the counter  110 , the checker  105   a  positions the shopping basket  107  to the right side of the article code input device  111 , that is, upstream in the direction of the movement of the customer  103  moving along the customer passage  104 . Subsequently, the checker  105   a  scans the code symbol  108  attached to the article  106  which the customer intends to purchase and is put in the shopping basket  107 . 
     First, the checker  105   a  positions an empty shopping basket  109  to the left side of the article code input device  111  on the top side of the counter  110 , that is, downstream in the direction of the movement of the customer  103  moving along the customer passage  104 . Then, the checker  105   a  takes the article  106  from the shopping basket  107  and holds the code symbol attached to the article  106  over the scanning window  114   a . The checker  105   a  then confirms that the code symbol is scanned by the code scanner  114 , through a sound or display. After the code symbol is scanned by the code scanner  114 , the checker  105   a  puts the article  106  in the shopping basket  109 . The checker  105   a  repeats the above scan until there is no longer any article  106  in the shopping basket  107 . 
     The cashier  105   b  stands at a position facing the POS terminal  112  in the salesclerk space  102   a . The cashier  105   b  operates the POS terminal  112  to carry out settlement based on the article code inputted to the POS terminal  112  from the article code input device  111 . 
     The POS terminal  112  has a housing  122  which has a receipt issue port  120  and a magnetic card reading groove  121  provided on the top side of the housing  122 . The housing  122  has a keyboard  123  and a settlement display  124  mounted on the top side. The display  124 , functioning as a display unit, has a touch panel  125 . The touch panel  125  is arranged by being superimposed on the display surface of the display  124 . 
     The POS terminal  112  has a receipt printer  126  (see  FIG. 2 ) and a magnetic card reader  127  (see  FIG. 2 ) included in the housing  122 . The receipt printer  126  prints a receipt. The POS terminal  112  issues the receipt printed by the receipt printer  126 , from the receipt issue port  120 . The magnetic card reader  127  reads information stored on a magnetic card inserted in the magnetic card reading groove  121  and inputs the information to a microcomputer  150  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     The POS terminal  112  is connected with an IC card reader-writer  128 . The reader-writer  128  reads data from and writes data to an IC card by short-distance wireless communication. The IC card reader-writer  128  is attached near the downstream edge in the direction of the movement of the customer  103  moving along the customer passage  104 , on the top side of the counter  110 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the article sales data processing apparatus  101 . The POS terminal  112  is equipped with the microcomputer  150  as an information processing unit. The microcomputer  150  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  151 , a read only memory (ROM)  152 , and a random access memory (RAM)  153 . 
     The microcomputer  150  controls the driving of the keyboard  123 , the touch panel  125 , the settlement display  124 , the receipt printer  126 , the magnetic card reader  127 , the drawer  127   a , a hard disk  154 , an external device interface  155 , and a LAN interface  156 . 
     The hard disk  154  saves data files and a program PG 1 . The data files include an article data file F 1 , a sales data file F 2 , and a display data file F 3 . The program PG 1  includes an operating system (OS), a driver program, and an application program. 
     The article data file F 1  stores article information such as article names and article unit prices corresponding to article codes. The sales data file F 2  stores sales information. The display data file F 3  stores image data such as various icons to be displayed on the settlement display  124 . 
     The external device interface  155  implements data communication between the POS terminal  112  and the article code input device  111  and data communication between the POS terminal  112  and the IC card reader-writer  128 . The LAN interface  156  implements data communication between a store controller  158  connected via a local area network (LAN)  157  arranged in the store and the POS terminal  112 . 
     The microcomputer  150  reads all or a part of the program PG 1  into the RAM  153  when the POS terminal  112  is started. As the program PG 1  is read, the microcomputer  150  executes the following processings  1  to  5  according to the description of the program PG 1 . An article data file F 4  and a display data file F 5  will be described later. 
     1. Settlement. 
     2. Processing to send the sales information stored in the sales data file F 2  to the store controller  158 . 
     3. Processing to store the article information and image data distributed from the store controller  158 , in the article data file F 1  or the display data file F 3 . 
     4. Processing to send the article information to the article code input device  111  and implement synchronization of the article data file F 1  and the article data file F 4  between the article code input device  111  and the POS terminal  112 . 
     5. Processing to send the image data to the article code input device  111  and implement synchronization of the display data file F 3  and the display data file F 5  between the article code input device  111  and the POS terminal  112 . 
     The article code input device  111  is equipped with a microcomputer  160  as an information processing unit. The microcomputer  160  controls the driving of the code scanner  114 , the scan display  115 , the scan touch panel  116 , the keyboard  116   a , the customer display  117 , the customer touch panel  118 , an external device interface  161 , and a hard disk  162 . 
     The hard disk  162  saves the article data file F 4 , the display data file F 5 , and a program PG 2 . The program PG 2  includes an OS, a driver program, and an application program. 
     The microcomputer  160  reads the program PG 2  when the article code input device  111  is started. As the program PG 2  is read, the microcomputer  160  implements various kinds of processing including article code input according to the description of the program PG 2 . 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing the flow of the article code input. When the article code input is started, the microcomputer  160  waits for an input of an article code (ACT  101 ). 
     When an article code is inputted from the code scanner  114  (YES in ACT  101 ), the microcomputer  160  executes search (ACT  102 ). That is, the microcomputer  160  searches the article data file F 4  in order to acquire article information corresponding to the article code inputted from the code scanner  114 . Here, the microcomputer  160  functions as a search unit. 
     When the article information is acquired by the search, the microcomputer  160  executes article information display (ACT  103 ). That is, the microcomputer  160  displays information of article name, unit price and the like included in the article information that is acquired this time, on the scan display  115  and the customer display  117 . 
     When the article information is displayed by the article information display, the microcomputer  160  executes article information transmission (ACT  104 ). That is, the microcomputer  160  sends the article information that is acquired this time, to the POS terminal  112  via the external device interface  161 . 
     When the article information is sent by the article information transmission, the microcomputer  160  determines whether there is a closing operation or not (ACT  105 ). When there is no closing operation (NO in ACT  105 ), the microcomputer  160  waits for an input of a new article code (ACT  106 ). 
     When a new article code is inputted (YES in ACT  106 ), the microcomputer  160  executes search in order to acquire article information corresponding to this article code (ACT  102 ). 
     Where there is a closing operation from the keyboard  116   a  (YES in ACT  105 ) before a new article code is inputted (NO in ACT  106 ), the microcomputer  160  executes transaction finalization (ACT  107 ). That is, the microcomputer  160  sends closing information to the POS terminal  112  via the external device interface  161  in order to finalize the article information sent to the POS terminal  112  as the article information about one transaction. 
     When the closing information is sent by the transaction finalization, a series of processes of the article code input end. 
     While executing the article code input, the microcomputer  160  causes the scan display  115  to display a registration screen.  FIG. 4  shows an example of the displayed registration screen. In the registration screen, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a category button section  202 , an article button section  203 , a search button section  204 , and an article information display section  201  are arranged in order from the top to the full width of the screen. 
     The article information display section  201  displays the article name  205 , the unit price  206  and the number of individual items  207  included in the article information acquired by the search (ACT  102  in  FIG. 3 ), in the timing of executing the article information display (ACT  103  in  FIG. 3 ). The number of individual items  207  increases as the same article code is inputted consecutively. Therefore, the checker  105   a  can learn the details of the article information inputted to the POS terminal  112  on the basis of the display content in the article information display section  201 . 
     The article information display section  201  displays the total amount  208 , the total number of items  209 , and a request content icon  210 . The total amount  208  and the total number of items  209  are calculated on the basis of the article information acquired after the input of the article code is started. The display contents of the total amount  208  and the total number of items  209  are updated in the timing of executing the article information display. The request content icon  210  will be described later. 
     The category button section  202 , the article button section  203  and the search button section  204  display button images to assist the checker  105   a  in inputting the article code to the POS terminal  112  via the scan touch panel  116 . The data of each button image is stored in the display data file F 5 . 
     The category button section  202  includes plural category buttons  202   a  to which the categories of articles sold in the supermarket are allocated. As the checker  105   a  touches one of the category buttons  202   a , plural article buttons  203   a  indicating plural articles belonging to the category allocated to that category button  202   a  are deployed in the article button section  203 . 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 4 , the category button  202   a  corresponding to “vegetables” is touched. In the article button section  203 , the article buttons  203   a  of “pumpkin”, “cucumber”, “Welsh onion” and the like are deployed. 
     The deployment of the article buttons  203   a  in the article button section  203  is also implemented by a touch on a search button  204   a  included in the search button section  204 . For example, when the search button  204   a  of “A” is touched, various article buttons  203   a  to input article codes of article names starting with “A” are deployed in the article button section  203 . 
     As the checker  105   a  touches one of the article buttons  203   a , the microcomputer  160  executes the search, the article information display, and the article information transmission, using the article code of the article allocated to that article button  203   a . Therefore, the checker  105   a  can input the article code without using the code scanner  114 . 
     While executing the article code input, the microcomputer  160  causes the customer display  117  to display a customer screen.  FIG. 5  shows an example of the displayed customer screen. In the customer screen, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the article information display section  201  is arranged in the top half and a request button display section  211  is arranged in the bottom half. The elements included in the article information display section  201  is the same as the elements displayed on the scan display  115  and therefore will not be described further in detail here. 
     In the request button display section  211 , button images are displayed including a small checkout bag request button  211   a , a large checkout bag request button  211   b , a paper bag request button  211   c , a disposable chopsticks request button  211   d , a credit card settlement declaration button  211   e , and a point use declaration button  211   f . The data of each button image is stored in the display data file F 5 . 
     The customer  103  confirming the customer screen can touch the buttons  211   a  to  211   f  in the request button display section  211 . The time when the customer can touch the buttons  211   a  to  211   f  is not limited to when the checker  105   a  is carrying out the operation to scan the code symbol  108 . Even after the checker  105   a  operates the closing key provided on the keyboard  106   a , the customer can touch the buttons before the transaction with the next customer  103  is started. 
     The microcomputer  160  causes the scan display  115  to display the request content icon  210  corresponding to the touched buttons  211   a  to  211   f . The microcomputer  160  also sends request information indicating that the buttons  211   a  to  211   f  are touched, to the POS terminal  112 . 
     During the startup of the device, the microcomputer  150  of the POS terminal  112  waits for reception of information sent from the article code input device  111  according to the description of the program PG 1 . When article information (article name, unit price and the like) is received from the article code input device  111 , the microcomputer  150  stores the received article information in the RAM  153 . 
     When closing information is received from the article code input device  111 , the microcomputer  150  finalizes the article information that is stored in the RAM  153  and is not finalized yet, as article information about one transaction. The microcomputer  150  holds the finalized article information about one transaction in the RAM  153  until settlement ends, which will be described later. 
     Even before the settlement ends with respect to the finalized article information about one transaction, when article information is received from the article code input device  111 , the microcomputer  150  stores the received article information in the RAM  153 . Meanwhile, when closing information is received from the article code input device  111 , the microcomputer  150  finalizes the article information that is stored in the RAM  153  and is not finalized yet, as article information about one transaction. 
     Therefore, finalized article information about each transaction and article information that is not finalized yet as article information about one transaction are stored in the RAM  153 . That is, in the RAM  153 , first article information about the transaction that should be settled first (hereinafter referred to as the earliest transaction), second article information about the second transaction, and third article information about the third transaction are stored in predetermined areas, respectively. Here, the RAM  153  functions as a storage unit. 
     During the startup of the device, the microcomputer  150  executes the settlement according to the description of the program PG 1 . That is, the microcomputer  150  calculates the transaction amount that the customer should pay on the basis of the article information finalized as the earliest transaction, of the article information stored in the RAM  153 . The microcomputer  150  then carries out settlement of the transaction amount. 
     For example, when deposit amount data is inputted from the keyboard  123  of the POS terminal  112 , the microcomputer  150  carries out settlement by cash. When magnetic information on a credit card is read by the magnetic card reader  127 , the microcomputer  150  carries out settlement by credit card. When an IC card storing electronic money information held by the customer  103  is held over the IC card reader-writer  128 , the microcomputer  150  carries out settlement by electronic money. 
     After the settlement is completed, the microcomputer  150  stores various kinds of information including the transaction amount, the deposit amount, the amount of change, and the article information about this transaction in the sales data file F 2 . The microcomputer  150  also controls the driving of the receipt printer  126  and outputs the printed receipt from the receipt issue port  120 . 
     In order to assist the cashier in the settlement, the microcomputer  150  causes the settlement display  124  to display a settlement screen while carrying out the settlement.  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  show an example of the displayed settlement screen. 
     The microcomputer  150  defines a settlement area  302  and two settlement waiting areas  303  that are smaller than the settlement area  302  in advance in a display area  301  of the settlement display  124 . 
     The settlement area  302  is provided on the left side within the display area  301 . The settlement area  302  occupies half the width of the display area  301  or more, and has a height such that the top and bottom of the settlement area  302  are close to the top and bottom within the display area  301 . The two settlement waiting areas  303  are vertically arrayed between the right end side of the display area  301  and the right end side of the settlement area  302 . 
     The microcomputer  150  controls the settlement display  124  while carrying out the settlement. With this control, the settlement area  302  displays a settlement window  304  as a first area. The upper settlement waiting area  303  displays a next-customer window  305  as a second area. The lower settlement waiting area  303  displays a customer-after-next window  306  as a third area. 
     The area of the settlement window  304  occupies approximately three-fourths of the entire area of the settlement display  124 . The next-customer window  305  and the customer-after-next window  306  occupy the remaining area, which is approximately one-fourth. 
     The settlement screen shown in  FIG. 6A  will now be described. The settlement window  304  displays transaction amount information  307  about the earliest transaction as the first transaction. Moreover, at the top left part of the settlement window  304 , a first transaction number  304   a  of “1” is displayed indicating that the information about the earliest transaction is displayed. 
     The transaction amount information  307  includes the transaction amount  308 , the number of items sold  309 , the deposit amount  310 , and the amount of change  311 . The transaction amount  308  is calculated by the microcomputer  150  on the basis of the unit price included in the article information about the earliest transaction, of the article information stored in the RAM  153 . The microcomputer  150  displays the transaction amount  308  irrespective of whether the article information is finalized as the article information about the earliest transaction or not. When necessary, a proper amount of tax is added to or a discount amount is subtracted from the transaction amount  308 . 
     The number of items sold  309  is calculated by the microcomputer  150  on the basis of the number of individual items included in the article information about the earliest transaction, of the article information stored in the RAM  153 . The deposit amount  310  is inputted to the POS terminal  112  when the cashier  105   b  operates the POS terminal  112  after the article information about the earliest transaction is finalized. 
     The settlement screen shown in  FIG. 6A  shows “cash 10,200 yen” as the deposit amount  310  and “points used 9pt”. “Cash 10,200 yen” is the amount inputted by the cashier  105   b  via the keyboard  123  of the POS terminal  112 . “Points used 9pt” is the points that are acquired as the cashier  105   b  swipes the member card received by the cashier  105   b  from the customer  103 , through the magnetic card reading groove  121 . In this example of the settlement screen, 1 point is converted to 1 yen and thus used for settlement. 
     The member card is provided with a magnetic tape on which a member code is stored. As the cashier  105   b  swipes the member card through the magnetic card reading groove  121 , the member code is inputted to the POS terminal  112  via the magnetic card reader  127 . The microcomputer  150  of the POS terminal  112  sends the inputted member code to the store controller  158  in order to acquire point information for the customer  103  stored in a point database within the store controller  158 . 
     The amount of change  311  is the amount as a result of subtracting the transaction amount  308  from the deposit amount  310 . As the cashier  105   b  presses a settlement key provided on the keyboard  123  in the state where the deposit amount  310  is inputted, the amount of change  311  is displayed. The pressing of the settlement key triggers the processing to store sales data in the sales data file F 2 , the processing to drive the receipt printer  126  and issue a receipt, and the processing to send an open signal to the drawer  127   a . The microcomputer  150  executes all these processings. 
     A switch button  312  to switch to a registration detail screen is arranged at a top right part of the settlement window  304 . The switch button  312  is grayed out before the article information about the earliest transaction is finalized. When the article information about the earliest transaction is finalized, the switch button  312  is highlighted (see screens  401  and  402  of  FIG. 8 ). 
     As the cashier  105   b  touches the switch button  312  while the switch button  312  is highlighted, the microcomputer  150  displays a screen showing the details of the article information about the earliest transaction, in the entire display area  301 . The detail screen shows the article information including the article name and unit price stored in the RAM  153 . Also, a return button is arranged in the detail screen. When the return button is touched, the microcomputer  150  returns the display content in the display area  301  to the state of  FIG. 6A . 
     The next-customer window  305  and the customer-after-next window  306  correspond to transactions following the earliest transaction. More specifically, the next-customer window  305  corresponds to a transaction that is second in order, which is the second transaction. The customer-after-next window  306  corresponds to a transaction that is third in order, which is the third transaction. 
     At a top left part of the next-customer window  305 , a second transaction number  305   a  of “2” is displayed which indicates that the information about the second transaction is displayed. At a top left of the customer-after-next window  306 , a third transaction number  306   a  of “3” is displayed which indicates that the information about the third transaction is displayed. 
     The next-customer window  305  and the customer-after-next window  306  display the state of the corresponding transactions, respectively. The display of the state includes a first state indicating that the article information about one transaction is finalized and the customer is waiting for settlement, a second state where the checker  105   a  is now having the code symbol  108  read and inputting the article code and the article information is not finalized, and a third state where the input of the article code is not started. 
       FIG. 6A  shows the display area  301  where the second transaction is in the first state and the third transaction is in the second state. The next-customer window  305  in the first state displays the transaction amount  313  as the total amount of the second transaction, and the number of items sold  314 . The transaction amount  313  and the number of items sold  314  are calculated by the microcomputer  150  on the basis of the article information about the second transaction stored in the RAM  153 . 
     At a top right part of the next-customer window  305 , a switch button  315  to switch to a registration detail screen is arranged. As the cashier  105   b  touches the switch button  315 , the microcomputer  150  displays a screen showing the details of the article information about the second transaction, in the entire display area  301 . 
     The customer-after-next window  306  in the second state displays a message  316  indicating that the code symbol  108  is now being read with respect to the third transaction, for example, a message “Registration in progress”. The customer-after-next window  306  does not display any of the transaction amount  313 , the number of items sold  314  and the registration detail screen switch button  315 . 
     By the way, when the second or third transaction is in the third state where even the reading of the code symbol  108  is not carried out yet, the microcomputer  150  does not display the next-customer window  305  or the customer-after-next window  306 . The microcomputer  150  draws the settlement waiting areas  303  in the same color as the background color (see screens  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  404  of  FIG. 8 ). 
     In  FIG. 6A , a request icon  317  is displayed at a lower part of the settlement window  304 . As the customer  103  in the earliest transaction touches the buttons  211   a  to  211   f  in the request button display section  211  displayed on the customer display  117 , the request icon  317  is displayed. These image data are stored in the display data file F 3 . 
     With the request icon  317 , the settlement screen shown in  FIG. 6A  shows that the large checkout bag request button  211   b  and the point use declaration button  211   f  are pressed by the customer  103  who carries out the earliest transaction. Similarly, a request icon  318  is displayed at a lower part of the next-customer window  305 . That is, with the request icon  318 , the settlement screen shows that the buttons  211   a  to  211   f  in the request button display section  211  are pressed by the customer who carries out the second transaction. 
     The settlement screen shown in  FIG. 6B  will now be described. This screen is shown when four or more customers are waiting for payment. As shown in  FIG. 6B , the microcomputer  150  displays a pop-up window  325  at the site where the request icon  318  should be displayed in the customer-after-next window  306 . The microcomputer  150  then displays the number of transactions with respect to the fourth and the subsequent transactions in the window  325 . 
       FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  are explanatory views showing the operation procedures to operate the touch panel  125  from the settlement screen and switch the order of transactions. The display contents of the settlement window  304 , the next-customer window  305  and the customer-after-next window  306  displayed on the settlement display  124  can be switched by a drag operation on the touch panel  125 . Moreover, with this switching, the order of transactions is switched as well. 
     More specifically, when the microcomputer  150  determines that there is a drag operation on the touch panel  125 , the microcomputer  150  detects the coordinates of the starting point of the drag operation and the coordinates of the ending point. The microcomputer  150  then determines whether or not the coordinates of the starting point and the coordinates of the ending point are included in two different areas of the settlement area  302  and the two settlement waiting areas  303 . When these coordinates are included in two different areas, the microcomputer  150  switches the order of the transaction corresponding to the area including the coordinates of the starting point and the transaction corresponding to the area including the coordinates of the ending point, of the article information stored in the RAM  153 , and re-stores the order. The microcomputer  150  updates the display contents on the settlement display  124 . 
       FIG. 7A  shows an example in which the cashier  105   b  strokes the touch panel  125  to drag from the next-customer window  305  to the settlement window  304 . In this case, the coordinates of the starting point of the drag are included in the upper settlement waiting area  303  and the coordinates of the ending point are included in the settlement area  302 . 
     The microcomputer  150  re-stores the article information about the earliest transaction of the article information stored in the RAM  153 , as the article information about the second transaction. The microcomputer  150  also re-stores the article information about the second transaction as the article information about the earliest transaction. Moreover, the microcomputer  150  adjusts the display contents in the settlement window  304  and the next-customer window  305  displayed on the settlement display  124 , on the basis of the contents re-stored in the RAM  153 . 
     As a result, the settlement screen displays the contents of the earliest transaction and the contents of the second transaction that are switched, as shown in  FIG. 7B . The cashier  105   b  can carry out settlement of the second transaction first. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic view showing an example of transition of the display contents on the settlement display  124  of the POS terminal  112  during the execution of the settlement. Hereinafter, the case of carrying out checkout in a two-people system involving the checker  105   a  and the cashier  105   b  using the article sales data processing apparatus  101  according to this embodiment in which the screen display as shown in  FIG. 8  is provided, will be described. 
     First, the checker  105   a  stands in front of the article code input device  111  and scans the code symbol  108 . Then, the transaction amount  308  and the number items sold  309  for articles on which the scanning of the code symbol  108  is finished are displayed in the settlement window  304  on the settlement display  124  (screen  401  of  FIG. 8 ). At this time, since the article information about the earliest transaction is not finalized, the switch button  312  grayed out. 
     When the scanning of the code symbols  108  of all the articles  106  put in the shopping basket  107  is finished, the checker  105   a  presses the closing key provided on the keyboard  116   a . Thus, the article information about the earliest transaction is finalized and the switch button  312  is highlighted (screen  402  of  FIG. 8 ). 
     The cashier  105   b  stands in front of the POS terminal  112  and carries out the settlement with the customer  103 , while the switch button  312  is highlighted. The cashier  105   b  receives cash and the member card from the customer  103  and inputs the information of the deposit amount  310  to the POS terminal  112 . Then, the deposit amount  310  and the amount of change  311  are displayed on the settlement display  124  (screen  402  of  FIG. 8 ). 
     In this stage, the transactions following the earliest transaction are not started yet. Therefore, only a background color  319  is shown in the settlement waiting areas  303 . 
     As the checker  105   a  starts scanning the code symbol  108  with respect to the customer  103  who carries out the second transaction before the settlement of the earliest transaction is completed, the next-customer window  305  is displayed in the upper settlement waiting area  303  (screen  403  of  FIG. 8 ). 
     In this state, the article information about the second transaction is not finalized yet. Therefore, the message  316  “registration in progress . . . ” is displayed in the next-customer window  305 . 
     When the article information about the second transaction is finalized, the message  316  “registration in progress . . . ” disappears from the next-customer window  305 . The transaction amount  313 , the number of items sold  314 , the switch button  315  and the request icon  318  are displayed in the next-customer window  305  (screen  404  of  FIG. 8 ). 
     Subsequently, as the checker  105   a  starts scanning the code symbol  108  with respect to the customer  103  who carries out the third transaction, the customer-after-next window  306  including the message  316  “registration in progress . . . ” is displayed in the lower settlement waiting area  303  (screen  405  of  FIG. 8 ). 
     Then, when the article information about the third transaction is finalized, the message  316  “registration in progress . . . ” disappears from the customer-after-next window  306 . The transaction amount  313 , the number of items sold  314 , the switch button  315  and the request icon  318  are displayed in the customer-after-next window  306  (screen  406  of  FIG. 8 ). 
     In this manner, in the article sales data processing apparatus  101  according to this embodiment, the next-customer window  305  and the customer-after-next window  306  are displayed in the display area  301  on the settlement display  124 . As the checker  105   a  carries out the scanning of the code symbols  108  one after another, the states of the transactions following the earliest transaction is displayed in the next-customer window  305  and the customer-after-next window  306 . That is, which state each transaction is in, of the first state where the article information is finalized, the second state where the input of the article code is in progress and the article information is not finalized yet, and the third state where the input of the article code is not started, is displayed. 
     As the difference among the displays of the first state, the second state and the third state shown in the next-customer window  305  and the customer-after-next window  306 , how each screen looks is largely different, as shown in  FIG. 6A ,  FIG. 6B ,  FIG. 7A ,  FIG. 7B  and  FIG. 8 . Therefore, the cashier  105   b  can confirm the input status of the article information about each of the second and subsequent transactions while carrying out the settlement of the earliest transaction, watching the settlement display  124 . Thus, the cashier  105   b  can concentrate on the settlement. 
     Moreover, in the article sales data processing apparatus  101  according to this embodiment, the transaction amount information  307  for the earliest transaction is largely displayed in the display area  301 . On the contrary, the detailed information including article name and unit price is not displayed unless the switch button  312  is touched and designated. Therefore, there is no risk that the cashier  105   b  mistakes the transaction amount between the earliest transaction and the second and subsequent transactions. 
     In this manner, the article sales data processing apparatus  101  allows the cashier  105   b  and the checker  105   a  to concentrate on their respective works and can realize faster checkout. Thus, the state where the customer waits for payment of the price of articles can be solved. 
     Moreover, in the article sales data processing apparatus  101  according to this embodiment, when the article information about the second and subsequent transactions following the earliest transaction is finalized, the transaction amount  313  and the number of items sold  314  are displayed in the next-customer window  305  and the customer-after-next window  306 . Therefore, the cashier  105   b  can estimate the contents of the second and subsequent transactions simply by viewing the settlement display  124  while the progress of the earliest transaction is delayed. Therefore, the cashier  105   b  can carry out the settlement more efficiently. 
     Furthermore, in the article sales data processing apparatus  101  according to this embodiment, the order of transactions can be switched by a drag on the settlement display  124 . For example, when the progress of the settlement with respect to the first customer  103  is delayed, the settlement with respect to the second customer  103  can be carried out. Thus, checkout can be carried out more efficiently. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 9 . The same parts as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described further in detail. In the second embodiment, the shapes of the settlement area  302  and the settlement waiting areas  303  defined in the display area  301  on the settlement display  124  and the contents displayed in these areas are different from the shapes and contents described in the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic view showing an example of the display contents displayed on the settlement display  124  of the POS terminal  112  during the execution of the settlement. The settlement area  302  is provided on the upper side and to the full width within the display area  301  on the settlement display  124 . In the display area  301 , a number of settlement waiting people display area  320  and fourth settlement waiting areas  303  are laterally arrayed below the settlement area  302 . 
     The settlement area  302  displays an article information list  321  showing the details of the article information about the earliest transaction in the form of a table. The article information list  321  provides fields indicating “article name”, “unit price”, “quantity”, “discount”, “amount”, and “tax” in the direction of columns, and describes records indicating the article information about the earliest transaction in the direction of rows. When scroll buttons  322  displayed on the right end of the settlement area  302  are touched, the article information list  321  scrolls in the direction of rows. The settlement area  302  displays the transaction amount  308  and the number of items sold  309  below the article information list  321 . 
     The number of settlement waiting people display area  320  displays the number of transactions in which settlement is waited for, except for the earliest transaction. Viewing the number displayed in number of settlement waiting people display area  320 , the cashier  105   b  can grasp how many customers are waiting for the payment of the price of articles. 
     The settlement waiting areas  303  display the article code input status for each transaction including the earliest transaction, in the form of icons. The settlement waiting areas  303  are arrayed laterally and arranged at four positions. In order from the left, the settlement waiting areas  303  correspond to the earliest transaction, the second transaction, the third transaction, and the fourth transaction. 
     In each settlement waiting area  303 , an illustration image  323  expressing the customer  103  and a graph  324  expressing the number of article items which the customer  103  intends to purchase are displayed. Moreover, the request icon  318  as in the first embodiment is displayed in each settlement waiting area  303  as well. 
     The illustration image  323  is displayed when the scanning of the code symbol  108  is started and the transaction is started. The graph  324  is a bar graph which increases in proportion to the number of items sold in each transaction. The graph  324  is formed as a result of showing, in the form of icons, the numbers of items sold  309  and  314  displayed in the settlement window  304  and the next-customer window  305  or the like in the first embodiment. These image data are stored in the display data file F 3 . 
     Also with the article sales data processing apparatus  101  according to this embodiment, the cashier  105   b  can confirm the input status of the article information about each transaction following the earliest transaction while carrying out settlement, viewing the transaction amount  308  for the earliest transaction which is largely displayed in the display area  301 . Thus, the apparatus allows the cashier  105   b  and the checker  105   a  to concentrate on their respective works and can realize faster checkout. Consequently, the state where the customer waits for the payment of the price of articles can be solved. 
     Moreover, in the article sales data processing apparatus  101  according to this embodiment, the number of items sold  309  in each transaction is expressed as an icon and displayed as the graph  324  in the settlement waiting area corresponding to the transaction. Therefore, the cashier  105   b  can grasp, at a glance, the number of article items which the customer  103  waiting for settlement intends to purchase. Thus, checkout can be made more efficient. 
     Third Embodiment 
     Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 10 . The same parts as in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described further in detail. In the article sales data processing apparatus  101  according to this embodiment, the article information list  321  of  FIG. 9  is displayed in the settlement window  304  of  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B . In this case, tabs  501  and  502  are displayed on the screen in order to narrow the display areas of the next-customer window  305  and the customer-after-next window  306  (see  FIG. 10 ), whereas the screen is divided for display in  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B . 
     The tabs  501  and  502  display different illustrations  511  and  512  for the second transaction and the third transaction, respectively. The total amounts  521  and  522  for the transactions are displayed on the tabs. When the tab  501  or the tab  502  is touched, the microcomputer  150  switches the display contents so that the article information list showing the details of the second transaction or the third transaction is shown on substantially the entire screen. 
     The settlement window  304  has a tab  503  as well. The tab  503  displays an illustration  513  indicating the earliest transaction, and the transaction amount  523  and the number of items sold  524  in the earliest transaction. 
     The article sales data processing apparatus  101  is not limited to the description of the embodiments. For example, the contents displayed in the next-customer window  305  shown in  FIG. 6A  can simply be two pieces of information of the transaction number  305   a  “2” indicating the second transaction and the transaction amount  313 . The contents displayed in the customer-after-next window  306  can be similarly configured. 
     Moreover, the display of the transaction number  305   a  “2” indicating the second transaction shown in  FIG. 6A  may be changed to an illustration image expressing the customer as shown in  FIG. 9 . The other transaction numbers  304   a  and  306   a  can be similarly configured. 
     As for the illustration image, though the illustration indicating a person is shown in  FIG. 9 , for example, an illustration of a car, animal or the like may be used in  FIG. 6A ,  FIG. 6B  and  FIG. 9 . Different illustrations of cars or animals may be used for the earliest transaction, the second transaction, and the third transaction (for example, an illustration of a bear for the earliest transaction, an illustration of a dog for the second transaction, and an illustration of a cat for the third transaction). Thus, the transactions can easily be distinguished visually. 
     Although the example where different people operate the article code input device and the POS terminal is described, it is also possible that one person operates the article code input device and the POS terminal. Moreover, a POS terminal device with a handy scanner may be used instead of the article code input device. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.