Patent Publication Number: US-2011055642-A1

Title: Article information management apparatus and article information management method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-200285 filed on Aug. 31, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to an article information management apparatus and an article information management method for managing an article master table. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, in a retail store such as a supermarket, article management and sales management are carried out using a POS (point of sales) system. In each store where the POS system is introduced, a store computer to manage an article master table that defines unit prices or the like of articles is provided and articles are sold on the basis of the unit prices registered in this article master table. Since the unit prices registered in the article master table vary daily, the store computer updates the article master table on the basis of update data that is sent from a higher-order host computer every predetermined time period (for example, every 24 hours). 
     There is also a system that enables free setting of unit prices of articles on the store side on the basis of the article master table. For example, JP-A-2008-71225 discloses a technique of providing a range of change limit amount and thus enabling prevention of setting errors on the store side. 
     However, in order to confirm whether update data arrives at the store computer or not, a worker needs to refer to communication history with the host computer each time. Therefore, there is a problem that the operation is troublesome. 
     Moreover, when a person in charge of the work in the store is not familiar with the operation, there is a possibility that the person cannot grasp non-arrival (arrival failure) of update data. The technique disclosed in JP-A-2008-71225 cannot detect arrival failure of unit price update information and therefore cannot solve the above problem. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically showing a POS system. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of an electrical system of a store computer shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows exemplary data items that constitute an article master table shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  shows exemplary data items that constitute a schedule table shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  shows exemplary data items that constitute a store sales table shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing a procedure for unit price update. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing another exemplary procedure for unit price update. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to an embodiment, an article information management apparatus includes: a storage unit which stores table data defining information about each article sold in a store; a receiving unit which receives update data for the table data sent from an external device at a predetermined transmission time; a determination unit which determines whether the update data is received by the receiving unit or not during a lapse of a predetermined time from the transmission time; and a notification unit which notifies that the update data fails to arrive, when the determination unit determines that the update data is not received. 
     According to another embodiment, an article information management method is executed by an article information management apparatus having a storage unit which stores table data defining information about each article sold in a store. The method includes: receiving, by a receiving unit, update data for the table data sent from an external device at a predetermined transmission time; determining, by a determination unit, whether the update data is received by the receiving unit or not during a lapse of a predetermined time from the transmission time; and notifying, by a notification unit, that the update data fails to arrive, when it is determined that the update data is not received. 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the article information management apparatus and the article information management method will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The invention is not limited by the following description of the embodiment. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically showing a POS system  1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the POS system  1  has an in-store system  4  and a host computer  5 . The in-store system  4  has one or plural POS terminals  2  and one store computer  3  which are installed within a store such as a supermarket. These devices are connected by a network N 1  such as LAN. The store computer  3  in each in-store system  4  is connected to the host computer  5  via a network N 2  such as LAN. 
     The POS terminal  2  is a terminal which is arranged at a checkout site or the like in the store and allows a cashier to carry out sales registration of articles. Specifically, in sales processing to carry out checkout of articles, the POS terminal  2  scans a barcode attached to each article by using a code scanner, not shown, and decodes the barcode to acquire article information including an article code, which will be described later. The POS terminal  2  also searches an article master table  381 , which will be described later, stored in the store computer  3  on the basis of the acquired article information, thus acquires an article unit price, an article name or the like of the corresponding article, and generates sales data based on the article code, the number of items sold, the article name, the selling price and the like. Then, the POS terminal  2  calculates total amount of sales every time the article information is acquired, and repeats this operation until a current total key is pressed. When the current total key is pressed, the POS terminal  2  registers the generated sales data on a store sales table  383 , which will be described later, in the store computer  3 , and displays a calculated amount of change on a display device, not shown. 
     The store computer  3  is an article information management apparatus which manages information of the unit price and the like of articles sold in the store and also manages sales data registered from the POS terminal  2  in the store. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of an electrical system of the store computer  3 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the store computer  3  has a control unit  31  including a CPU (central processing unit), a ROM (read only memory), a RAM (random access memory) or the like, not shown. The control unit  31  is configured in such a manner that the control unit  31  can communicate with the POS terminal  2  via a first communication interface  33  connected to a bus  32 . The control unit  31  is also configured in such a manner that the control unit  31  can communicate with the host computer  5  via a second communication interface  34  connected to the bus  32 . 
     An input unit  36 , a display device  37  and a storage unit  38  are connected to the control unit  31  via the bus  32  and an I/O device control unit  35 . The input unit  36  is an input device such as a keyboard or mouse. The display device  37  is a display device such as a liquid crystal display. The storage unit  38  is a storage device such as an HDD (hard disk drive) or SDD (solid state drive). 
     The storage unit  38  stores the article master table  381 , a schedule table  382 , the store sales table  383  and the like, in addition to various control programs executed by the CPU of the control unit  31 . 
       FIG. 3  shows exemplary data items that constitute the article master table  381 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the article master table  381  is constituted by a record including data items such as article code, article name, unit price (selling price), and article classification code. Here, the “article code” is a unique code that is preset for each article in order to identify each article item sold in the store. The “article name”, “unit price” and “article classification code” are information about the article specified by the same article code. 
     The schedule table  382  is a table to store setting information with respect to the execution of unit price update, which will be described later. Here,  FIG. 4  shows exemplary data items that constitute the schedule table  382 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the schedule table  382  is constituted by a record including data items such as execution date, execution time, and alert time interval. 
     Here, the “execution date” and “execution time” are data items for setting the date and time to execute the unit price update, which will be described later. The control unit  31  starts the unit price update, which will be described later, according to the date and time set as the “execution date” and “execution time”. The date set as the “execution date” is not particularly specified. However, it is preferable that the date corresponds to a business day of the store. 
     As the “execution time”, time corresponding to the time (transmission time) when a unit price update file is sent from the host computer  5  is set. For example, where the transmission time for the unit price update file is set to 7:00 a.m., the same time as this transmission time may be set as the “execution time” or time preceding the transmission time (for example, 6:50 a.m.) may be set as the “execution time”. 
     A day of the week may be set as the “execution date”. In such case, the control unit  31  starts the unit price update at the “execution time” on the day of the week that is set as the “execution date”. 
     The “alert time interval” is a data item for setting a time interval at which absence of transmission of the unit price update file from the host computer  5  is notified of, where such absence occurs. Specifically, the control unit  31  waits for reception of the unit price update file from the time set as the “execution time”, and causes the display device  37  to display a screen showing arrival failure of the unit price update file where the unit price update file cannot be received before the lapse of the time set as the “alert time interval” (for example, 30 minutes) from the time set as the “execution time”. 
       FIG. 5  shows exemplary data items that constitute the store sales table  383 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the store sales table  383  is constituted by a record including a data item (store sales data) in which store sales data acquired by totaling sales data sent from each POS terminal  2  within the store is stored and a data item (date) indicating the date when this totaling is carried out. The control unit  31  sends the record stored in the store sales table  383  as sales information to the host computer  5  in prescribed timing. 
     The host computer  5  communicates with each store computer  3  via the network N 2  and centrally controls each in-store system  4 . Specifically, the host computer  5  sends the unit price update file to each store computer  3  in accordance with a predetermined schedule and thereby updates unit prices of articles stored in the article master table  381  in each store computer  3 . In the unit price update file, article codes of articles as subjects of update and the unit prices of the articles are defined in association with each other. 
     The host computer  5  has a storage device (not shown) which stores a general sales table having the same data configuration as the above store sales table  383 . Every time store sales data is sent from each store computer  3 , the host computer  5  registers the store sale data on the general sales table. Alternatively, information to identify each in-store system  4  (store computer  3 ) may be registered in association with store sales data. 
     Hereinafter, the unit price update executed by the control unit  31  of the store computer  3  will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . Here,  FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing the procedure of the unit price update realized by the cooperation between the CPU of the control unit  31  and the control program stored in the storage unit  38 . 
     First, the control unit  31  waits until the current date and time coincides with the date and time set as the “execution date” and “execution time” on the schedule table  382  (No in ACT  11 ). The current date and time is acquired by the control unit  31  from a timer device, not shown, such as RTC (real time clock). 
     When the current date and time coincides with the date and time set as the “execution date” and “execution time” on the schedule table  382  in ACT  11  (Yes in Act  11 ), the control unit  31  sets this current time as a monitoring starting time (ACT  12 ). 
     Subsequently, the control unit  31  monitors a signal inputted to the second communication interface  34  and determines whether a unit price update file is received from the host computer  5  or not (ACT  13 ). Here, when it is determined that the unit price update file is not received (No in ACT  13 ), the control unit  31  determines whether there is the lapse of the time set as the “alert time interval” on the schedule table  382  (for example, 30 minutes) from the monitoring starting time or not (ACT  14 ). Here, when it is determined that there is not the lapse of the alert time interval from the monitoring starting time (No in ACT  14 ), the control unit  31  returns to ACT  13 . That is, the control unit  31  waits for reception of the unit price update file during the time period set as the “alert time interval” from the monitoring starting time. 
     When the unit price update file is sent from the host computer  5  during this waiting period (No in ACT  13 -&gt;No in ACT  14 ), the control unit  31  determines that the unit price update file is received (Yes in ACT  13 ). Then, on the basis of the article code and unit price included in the unit price update file, the control unit  31  updates the unit price corresponding to the article code in question stored in the article master table  381  (ACT  15 ) and ends this processing. 
     Meanwhile, when the waiting period passes while no unit price update file is received (Yes in ACT  14 ), the control unit  31  causes the display device  37  to display a screen showing arrival failure of the unit price update file and thus notifies the operator operating the store computer  3  of the arrival failure of the unit price update file (ACT  16 ). 
     Subsequently, the control unit  31  returns to ACT  12 , thus sets the current time as a new monitoring starting time, and waits for the reception of the unit price update file during the alert time interval from this monitoring starting time. 
     As described above, the store computer  3  according to this embodiment monitors the reception of the unit price update file sent from the host computer  5  at a predetermined time, and when the unit price update file cannot be received during the lapse of a predetermined time period from the predetermined time, the store computer  3  notifies that the unit price update file fails to arrive. Therefore, non-arrival (arrival failure) of update data sent from an external device can be securely detected and notified of. Moreover, since a notification is given every predetermined time period until the unit price update file is received, arrival failure of the unit price update file can be notified of more securely. 
     While the embodiment of the invention is described above, the invention is not limited to the embodiment. Various changes, replacements, additions and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     For example, in the embodiment, when the unit price update file fails to arrive, a message indicating the arrival failure is displayed on the display device  37  of the store computer  3  and the arrival failure is thus notified of. However, the notification method is not limited to the method described in the embodiment. 
     As another notification method, for example, a message notifying of arrival failure (non-arrival) of update data may be sent to the host computer  5  serving as the transmission source of the unit price update file, via the second communication interface  34 . 
     Alternatively, the e-mail address of the manager of the host computer  5  or the manager of the store computer  3  or the like may be stored in advance in the storage unit  38  or the like, and in the case of arrival failure of the unit price update file, an e-mail notifying of the arrival failure of the unit price update file may be sent to this e-mail address via the first communication interface  33  or the second communication interface  34 . 
     Also, an alert sound or the like may be outputted from an audio output device, not shown, to notify of arrival failure of update data. 
     In the above embodiment, the notification of arrival failure is repeated every time period set as the “alert time interval” until the unit price update file is received. However, without being limited to the embodiment, the number of times the notification is given (hereinafter referred to as the upper limit number of times of notification) may be set. Hereinafter, the operation of the store computer  3  in such case will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing another exemplary procedure of unit price update realized by the cooperation between the CPU of the control unit  31  and the control program stored in the storage unit  38 . In this processing, it is assumed that the upper limit number of times of notification (for example, 3 times) is preset in the schedule table  382  in the storage unit  38  or another storage area. 
     First, the control unit  31  waits until the current date and time coincides with the date and time set as the “execution date” and “execution time” on the schedule table  382  (No in ACT  21 ). The current date and time is acquired by the control unit  31  from a timer device, not shown, such as RTC (real time clock). 
     When the current date and time coincides with the date and time set as the “execution date” and “execution time” on the schedule table  382  in ACT  21  (Yes in Act  21 ), the control unit  31  initializes a counter C for counting the number of times of notification to “1” (ACT  22 ). Then, the control unit  31  sets the current time as a monitoring starting time (ACT  23 ). 
     Subsequently, the control unit  31  monitors a signal inputted to the second communication interface  34  and determines whether the unit price update file is received from the host computer  5  or not (ACT  24 ). Here, when it is determined that the unit price update file is not received (No in ACT  24 ), the control unit  31  determines whether there is the lapse of the time set as the “alert time interval” on the schedule table  382  (for example, 30 minutes) from the monitoring starting time or not (ACT  25 ). Here, when it is determined that there is not the lapse of the alert time interval from the monitoring starting time (No in ACT  25 ), the control unit  31  returns to ACT  24 . That is, the control unit  31  waits for the reception of the unit price update file during the time period set as the “alert time interval” from the monitoring starting time. 
     When the unit price update file is sent from the host computer  5  during this waiting period (No in ACT  24 -&gt;No in ACT  25 ), the control unit  31  determines that the unit price update file is received (Yes in ACT  24 ). Then, on the basis of the article code and unit price included in the unit price update file, the control unit  31  updates the unit price corresponding to the article code in question stored in the article master table  381  (ACT  26 ) and ends this processing. 
     Meanwhile, when the waiting period passes while no unit price update file is received (Yes in ACT  25 ), the control unit  31  determines whether the current value of the counter C is equal to or lower than the upper limit number of times of notification (ACT  27 ). Here, when the value of the counter C exceeds the upper limit number of times of notification (No in ACT  27 ), this processing ends. 
     Meanwhile, when it is determined that the value of the counter C is equal to or lower than the upper limit number of times of notification in ACT  27  (Yes in ACT  27 ), the control unit  31  causes the display device  37  to display a screen showing arrival failure of the unit price update file and thus notifies the operator operating the store computer  3  of the arrival failure of the unit price update file (ACT  28 ). 
     Then, the control unit  31  increments the value of the counter C by 1 (ACT  29 ) and returns to ACT  23 . With such a configuration, the number of times a notification is given at the time of arrival failure of the unit price update file can be limited to the upper limit number of times of notification. Therefore, convenience to the user can be realized. 
     Also, while the case of updating the unit price of an article included in the record that is registered in the article master table is described in the above embodiment, the invention may be applied to the case of updating other information about an article such as bargain sale data to specifying a bargain sale article. 
     Moreover, while the example of applying the invention to the store computer  3  is described in the above embodiment, the application of the invention is not limited to this embodiment. The invention can be applied to any device which updates information about an article in accordance with update data sent from an external device at a predetermined time. 
     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 methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms: furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems 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.