Patent Publication Number: US-2023162268-A1

Title: Registration apparatus and control method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-189098, filed on Nov. 22, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     An embodiment described herein generally relates to a registration apparatus and a control method for a registration apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, in stores such as supermarkets and mass retailers, a system in which registration processing for a commodity to be purchased by a customer and payment processing for the commodity registered in the registration processing are performed by different apparatuses has been adopted. For example, in a system called semi-self-service system, a registration apparatus that executes registration processing in accordance with an operation of a clerk and a payment apparatus that executes payment processing for a commodity registered by the registration apparatus through an operation of a customer are used. Further, in recent years, a system in which registration processing is performed by a mobile terminal operated by a customer, and payment processing is performed using a payment apparatus installed in a store has also been employed. 
     In addition, electronic payments such as credit card payment, electronic money payment, and code payment are also used as payment methods other than cash payment. 
     Incidentally, in the above-mentioned semi-self-service system or the like, if there are a plurality of payment apparatuses, a clerk selects one payment apparatus to be used from among those payment apparatuses. For example, there has been conventionally proposed a technique in which a button capable of selecting each of a payment method and a payment apparatus is displayed on a screen of the registration apparatus, and the payment method and payment information are transmitted to the payment apparatus selected by a user or a clerk. 
     However, in the related art, while the payment information can be transmitted to the selected payment apparatus, there is room for further improvement in the method of selecting the payment apparatus. For example, the time and effort required for accounting operations differ between cash payment and electronic payment, and the time required for accounting operations in cash payment tends to be longer than in electronic payment. Hence, selecting the payment apparatus in consideration of the payment method makes it possible to improve the processing efficiency. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a checkout system according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram showing an example of a layout of registration apparatuses and payment apparatuses according to the embodiment that are arranged in a store according to the embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a server apparatus according to the embodiment. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a payment apparatus management file according to the embodiment. 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the registration apparatus according to the embodiment. 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the registration apparatus according to the embodiment. 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram showing an example of a payment method selection screen displayed on a customer display device according to the embodiment. 
         FIG.  8    is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the payment apparatus according to the embodiment. 
         FIG.  9    is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the registration apparatus according to the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to one embodiment, a registration apparatus is included in a checkout system including a plurality of payment apparatuses for performing payment processing for a commodity purchased according to a predetermined payment method on the basis of payment information of the commodity purchased by a customer, and provides the payment information to one of the plurality of payment apparatuses. The registration apparatus includes a storage device, an input device, a reception device, and a controller. The storage device stores management information of the plurality of payment apparatuses. The input device inputs a commodity code for specifying the purchased commodity. The reception device receives a designation of the payment method. The controller specifies a commodity corresponding to the commodity code input by the input device and registers sales data indicating contents relating to a transaction of the specified commodity. The controller selects a payment apparatus that performs payment processing for the purchased commodity from payment apparatuses corresponding to the designated payment method received by the reception device on the basis of the management information of the plurality of payment apparatuses, the management information being stored in the storage device. The controller generates payment information of the purchased commodity on the basis of the registered sales data. Further, the controller outputs the generated payment information to the selected payment apparatus. 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that in the drawings the same reference numerals denote the same or similar parts. In addition, the present invention is not limited by the embodiment to be described below. 
       FIG.  1    is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a checkout system according to an embodiment. As shown in  FIG.  1   , the checkout system  1  includes a registration apparatus  10 , a payment apparatus  20 , and a server apparatus  30 . 
     The registration apparatus  10 , the payment apparatus  20 , and the server apparatus  30  are communicably connected to each other via a wired or wireless network  50 . The number of registration apparatuses  10  and payment apparatuses  20  connected to the network  50  is not particularly limited, and a plurality of payment apparatuses  20  are provided in this embodiment. 
     The registration apparatus  10  and the payment apparatus  20  are arranged in an area where checkout (registration and payment) of commodities is performed (see  FIG.  2   ) in a store such as a supermarket or a mass retailer, and provide a checkout (registration and payment) system called semi-self-service system, for example.  FIG.  2    is a diagram showing an example of the layout of the registration apparatuses  10  and the payment apparatuses  20  arranged in the store. 
     The registration apparatus  10  is installed on, for example, a table-like worktable  40 . The registration apparatus  10  is operated by a clerk  51  to perform registration processing for commodities to be purchased by a customer  52 . The payment apparatus  20  is operated by the customer  52  to perform payment processing for the commodities registered by the registration apparatus  10 . In this case, it is favorable that the number of payment apparatuses  20  is equal to or larger than the number of registration apparatuses  10 . 
     In the layout of  FIG.  2   , the customer  52  who will purchase commodities puts commodities in a shopping basket or the like and carries the commodities to the registration apparatus  10 . The clerk  51  of the registration apparatus  10  uses a reading device such as a barcode scanner to input a commodity code, with which each commodity can be identified, from a barcode or the like attached to the commodity to the registration apparatus  10 , thus sequentially registering the commodities. When the registration of the commodities is completed, the registration apparatus  10  delivers payment information for paying for the registered commodities to the payment apparatus  20  to be a payment destination of the commodities (hereinafter, also referred to as an accounting destination). 
     On the other hand, when the registration of the commodities is completed by the registration apparatus  10 , the customer  52  moves the commodities, i.e., shopping basket, to the payment apparatus  20  of the accounting destination. The customer  52  then operates the payment apparatus  20  to cause the payment apparatus  20  to execute payment processing based on the payment information. As described above, since the registration and the accounting can be separated in the semi-self-service system, the processing efficiency such as shortening a checkout waiting time or the like can be achieved. 
     Referring back to the description of  FIG.  1   , the server apparatus  30  is a server apparatus such as a store server. The server apparatus  30  stores and manages various types of information relating to checkout. For example, the server apparatus  30  stores and manages a commodity master  3502 , a member master  3503 , a payment apparatus management file  3504 , and the like, which will be described later (see  FIG.  3   ). 
     Next, the configuration of each of the above-mentioned apparatuses will be described. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the server apparatus  30 , the registration apparatus  10 , and the payment apparatus  20  will be described in this order. 
     First, the configuration of the server apparatus  30  will be described.  FIG.  3    is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the server apparatus  30 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the server apparatus  30  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  301 , a read only memory (ROM)  302 , and a random-access memory (RAM)  303 . 
     The CPU  301  is an exemplary processor and comprehensively controls the operation of the server apparatus  30 . The ROM  302  stores various programs. The RAM  303  is a workspace for expanding programs and various types of data. The CPU  301 , the ROM  302 , and the RAM  303  are connected to each other via a bus or the like to form a controller  300  of the computer. In the controller  300 , the CPU  301  executes various types of processing by operating in accordance with a control program  3501  stored in the ROM  302  or a storage device  305  and expanded in the RAM  303 . 
     The controller  300  is connected to a communication device  304  and the storage device  305  via a bus or the like. The communication device  304  is a communication interface connectable to the network  50 . The communication device  304  communicates with external apparatuses such as the registration apparatus  10  and the payment apparatus  20  via the network  50 . 
     The storage device  305  includes a hard disk drive (HDD), a flash memory, and the like and maintains stored contents even when the power is turned off. The storage device  305  stores, for example, the control program  3501 , the commodity master  3502 , the member master  3503 , and the payment apparatus management file  3504 . 
     The control program  3501  is a control program for controlling the operation of the server apparatus  30 . The commodity master  3502  stores the commodity information of commodities sold in the store in association with the commodity code of each of the commodities, for example. Here, the commodity code is an example of a commodity identifier with which the type of commodity can be identified (specified). The commodity information includes information on a commodity, such as the commodity name and unit price of a corresponding commodity. The member master  3503  stores member information of the member in association with a member code of a customer who has done member registration (hereinafter, also referred to as member). Here, the member code is an example of a user identifier with which each member can be identified. The member information includes information on a member, e.g., the name, age, and contact information such as e-mail address of a corresponding member. 
     The payment apparatus management file  3504  is a storage area or data file for managing the status of the payment apparatus  20 . Specifically, the payment apparatus management file  3504  stores and manages a payment method that can be handled by each payment apparatus  20 , a processing status of the payment processing performed by the payment apparatus  20 , and the like. 
       FIG.  4    is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the payment apparatus management file  3504 . As shown in  FIG.  4   , the payment apparatus management file  3504  stores a corresponding method, a current status, a reservation status, and the like in association with a payment apparatus ID for identifying each payment apparatus  20 . 
     Here, the item of the corresponding method is to show a payment method that can be handled by the payment apparatus  20  corresponding to the payment apparatus ID. Examples of the payment method include electronic payments using a credit card, electronic money, a two-dimensional code, and the like, in addition to a cash payment method (cash). 
     The example of  FIG.  4    shows that, among the five payment apparatuses  20  with the payment apparatus IDs # 01  to # 05 , the payment apparatuses  20  with # 01  and # 02  are the payment apparatuses  20  exclusively for cash payment, the payment apparatuses  20  with # 03  and # 04  are the payment apparatuses  20  for both cash payment and electronic payment, and the payment apparatus  20  with # 05  is the payment apparatus  20  exclusively for electronic payment. 
     Note that the information stored in the “corresponding method” column is not limited to the example of  FIG.  4   . For example, the “corresponding method” column may store payment methods obtained by subdividing the types of electronic payment such as credit card payment, electronic money payment, and code payment in accordance with the functions of the payment apparatus  20 . Further, the “corresponding method” column may store payment methods subdivided for each company providing the electronic payment service and for each type of services. 
     Information indicating the processing status of the payment apparatus  20  is stored in the items of the current status and the reservation status. Here, the item of the current status indicates the current status of the payment apparatus  20  corresponding to the payment apparatus ID. The item of the current status stores, for example, whether or not the payment apparatus  20  is executing payment processing, and if it is executing, details of the payment processing. 
     As an example, the “current status” column stores a state indicating whether the payment processing is being executed or standby, and the like. Note that if the payment processing is being executed, it is favorable to hold a transaction ID relating to the payment processing being executed, the payment method used in the payment processing, and the like together, as shown in  FIG.  4   . As a result, by referring to the “current status” column, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not each of the payment apparatuses  20  is executing the payment processing, and if the payment processing is being executed, easily confirm the payment method to be used. 
     The example of  FIG.  4    indicates that, among the five payment apparatuses  20  with the payment apparatus IDs # 01  to # 05 , the payment apparatuses  20  with # 01  to # 03  are executing the payment processing by cash. The example of  FIG.  4    also indicates that the payment apparatuses  20  with # 04  and # 05  are executing the payment processing by electronic payment. 
     Note that the information stored in the “current status” column is not limited to the example of  FIG.  4   . For example, a status indicating use prohibition such as failure, the remaining amount of change, and the like may be stored as the status of the payment apparatus  20 . 
     The item of the reservation status indicates the status of the unprocessed payment information allocated to the payment apparatus  20  corresponding to the payment apparatus ID, i.e., an allocation status. In other words, the item of the reservation status stores the status of payment processing to be executed by the payment apparatus  20 . 
     As an example, in the “reservation status” column, a transaction ID with which a transaction relating to the payment information allocated to the payment apparatus  20  can be identified and a payment method to be used in the transaction are stored in association with each other. The transaction ID stored in the reservation status is subjected to payment processing in the payment apparatus  20  through the operation of the customer or the like after the preceding payment processing (payment processing in the “current status” column) is completed in the corresponding payment apparatus  20 . The transaction ID relating to the newly executed payment processing is moved to the “current status” column and deleted from the “reservation status” column. In other words, by referring to the “reservation status” column, it is possible to confirm the number of pieces of payment processing to be processed by the payment apparatus  20  and its payment method. 
     The example of  FIG.  4    indicates that, among the five payment apparatuses  20  with the payment apparatus IDs of # 01  to # 05 , one transaction (cash payment) is scheduled to be allocated to the payment apparatus  20  with # 02  and one transaction (electronic payment) is scheduled to be allocated to the payment apparatus  20  with # 04 . 
     Note that the information stored in the “reservation status” column is not limited to the example of  FIG.  4   . For example, the number of pieces of payment information allocated to the payment apparatus  20  for each payment method may be stored as the reservation status. 
     The controller  300  implements various types of processing and functions by cooperating with the control program  3501 . For example, the controller  300  provides the commodity master  3502 , the member master  3503 , and the payment apparatus management file  3504  stored in the storage device  305  in a state capable of being referred to by the registration apparatus  10  and the payment apparatus  20 . 
     Further, for example, the controller  300  updates the payment apparatus management file  3504  in response to the notification from the registration apparatus  10  and the payment apparatus  20 . For example, when receiving an allocation notification instructing a transaction ID, a payment method, and a payment apparatus ID from the registration apparatus  10 , the controller  300  registers the transaction ID and the payment method instructed by the allocation notification in association with each other in the “reservation status” column relating to the payment apparatus ID. 
     Further, for example, when receiving a payment processing start notification instructing the transaction ID from the payment apparatus  20 , the controller  300  confirms whether or not the instructed transaction ID exists in the “reservation status” column of the payment apparatus ID corresponding to the payment apparatus  20  of the notification source. If the instructed transaction ID exists in the “reservation status” column, the controller  300  moves the information (transaction ID, payment method) corresponding to the transaction ID to the “current status” column, and updates the “current status” column to the state of being executed. 
     Note that, in response to the start notification, the controller  300  may transmit a payment method corresponding to the instructed transaction ID to the payment apparatus  20 . Further, if the instructed transaction ID does not exist in the “reservation status” column, the controller  300  may transmit an error notifying that the payment apparatus  20  of accounting destination is incorrect. In this case, the controller  300  may specify a payment apparatus ID, the instructed transaction ID of which is registered in the “reservation status” column, from the payment apparatus management file  3504  and may transmit the specified payment apparatus ID as the correct accounting destination to the payment apparatus  20  of the notification source. 
     Further, for example, when receiving a payment processing end notification from the payment apparatus  20 , the controller  300  updates the “current status” column of the payment apparatus ID corresponding to the payment apparatus  20  of the notification source to a standby state. 
     Further, for example, the controller  300  may acquire the payment information together with the allocation notification from the registration apparatus  10 . In this case, the controller  300  stores and manages the payment information transmitted from the registration apparatus  10  in the storage device  305  or the like in association with the transaction ID. When the start notification is notified from the payment apparatus  20 , the controller  300  updates the “current status” column relating to the payment apparatus  20 , reads the payment information corresponding to the indicated transaction ID from the storage device  305  or the like, and transmits the payment information to the payment apparatus  20 . Note that the transaction ID associated with the payment information may be included in the allocation notification or may be included in the payment information itself. 
     Next, the configuration of the registration apparatus  10  will be described.  FIG.  5    is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the registration apparatus  10 . As shown in  FIG.  5   , the registration apparatus  10  includes a CPU  101 , a ROM  102 , and a RAM  103 . 
     The CPU  101  is an exemplary processor and comprehensively controls the operation of the registration apparatus  10 . The ROM  102  stores various programs. The RAM  103  is a workspace for expanding programs and various types of data. The CPU  101 , the ROM  102 , and the RAM  103  are connected to each other via a bus or the like to form a controller  100  of the computer. In the controller  100 , the CPU  101  executes various types of processing by operating in accordance with a control program  1501  stored in the ROM  102  or the storage device  105  and expanded in the RAM  103 . 
     The controller  100  is connected to a communication device  104  and the storage device  105  via a bus or the like. The communication device  104  is a communication interface connectable to the network  50 . The communication device  104  communicates with external apparatuses such as the payment apparatus  20  and the server apparatus  30  via the network  50 . 
     The storage device  105  includes an HDD, a flash memory, and the like, and maintains stored contents even when the power is turned off. The storage device  105  stores, for example, the control program  1501 . 
     The control program  1501  is a control program for controlling the operation of the registration apparatus  10 . Note that the storage device  105  may store the above-mentioned commodity master  3502  provided from the server apparatus  30 , and the like. 
     Further, the controller  100  is connected with a clerk display device  106 , a customer display device  107 , an operation device  108 , a scanner  109 , a card reading device  110 , and the like via a bus or the like. 
     The clerk display device  106  is a display/operation device such as a touch panel disposed for a clerk who operates the registration apparatus  10 . The customer display device  107  is a display/operation device such as a touch panel disposed for a customer. The clerk display device  106  and the customer display device  107  display various types of information under the control of the controller  100 . 
     The operation device  108  includes various operation buttons such as a number key and a closing key, and outputs key information corresponding to the operation of the operator to the controller  100 . The operation device  108  may include touch panels of the clerk display device  106  and the customer display device  107 . 
     The scanner  109  is a reading device capable of reading a code symbol such as a bar code or a two-dimensional code. For example, the scanner  109  reads the commodity code from the code symbol attached to a commodity and outputs the read commodity code to the CPU  101 . 
     The card reading device  110  is a reading device that reads information from a card medium such as a magnetic card or an IC card. For example, the card reading device  110  reads user identification information such as a member ID from a card medium (e.g., a member card) owned by the customer, and outputs the read user identification information to the CPU 
     In the configuration of the registration apparatus  10  described above, the controller  100  implements functional units for executing various types of processing by cooperating with the control program  1501 .  FIG.  6    is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the registration apparatus  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , the controller  100  of the registration apparatus  10  executes the control program  1501  to implement a commodity registration module  11 , an accounting destination selection module  12 , a payment information generation module  13 , and an output processing module  14  as functional units. 
     The commodity registration module  11  is an example of registration means. The commodity registration module  11  executes registration processing for a commodity to be purchased by a customer. Specifically, the commodity registration module  11  acquires the commodity code input from the operation device  108  and the scanner  109  as commodity identification information. Next, the commodity registration module  11  specifies a commodity corresponding to the acquired commodity code from the commodity master  3502 . The commodity registration module  11  then registers the sales data of the specified commodity, the sales data indicating the contents relating to the commercial transaction. 
     For example, the commodity registration module  11  acquires commodity information of the specified commodity from the commodity master  3502 . Next, the commodity registration module  11  associates the acquired commodity information with the number of commodities separately input (the number of purchases), and generates them as sales data. The commodity registration module  11  then stores the generated sales data in the RAM  103 , the storage device  105 , or the like, thus registering the commodity. 
     The accounting destination selection module  12  is an example of reception means, selection means, and notification means. The accounting destination selection module  12  selects a payment apparatus  20  to be an accounting destination on the basis of the payment method desired by the customer. 
     Specifically, the accounting destination selection module  12  receives a designation of the payment method desired by the customer from among payment methods that can be handled by the respective payment apparatuses  20 . Here, the payment methods that can be handled by the payment apparatuses  20  can be specified by referring to the “corresponding method” column of the payment apparatus management file  3504  (see  FIG.  4   ). 
     In addition, various forms are possible regardless of the method of receiving the payment method. For example, the accounting destination selection module  12  may display an operation screen (hereinafter, a payment method selection screen) for designating (or selecting) a payment method on the clerk display device  106  or the customer display device  107 , thereby receiving an operation of designating a payment method from the clerk or the customer. In this embodiment, a form in which a designation of the payment method desired by the customer is received via the payment method selection screen displayed on the customer display device  107  will be described. 
       FIG.  7    is a diagram showing an example of the payment method selection screen displayed on the customer display device  107 . As shown in  FIG.  7   , an operation button  1072  for selecting cash payment and an operation button  1073  for selecting electronic payment are displayed on the payment method selection screen  1071 . When the operation button  1072  is operated, the accounting destination selection module  12  accepts cash payment as the payment method desired by the customer. When the operation button  1073  is operated, the accounting destination selection module  12  accepts electronic payment as the payment method desired by the customer. If the payment method that can be handled by the payment apparatus  20  is subdivided, it is favorable that options displayed on the payment method selection screen  1071  are also subdivided and displayed. 
     When the payment method is designated, the accounting destination selection module  12  selects the payment apparatus  20  to be the accounting destination from the payment apparatuses  20  corresponding to the designated payment method. Specifically, the accounting destination selection module  12  refers to the “corresponding method” column of the payment apparatus management file  3504 , and extracts the payment apparatuses  20  corresponding to the designated payment method. The accounting destination selection module  12  then selects one payment apparatus  20  to be the accounting destination from the extracted payment apparatuses  20 . 
     Here, various methods can be employed for selecting the payment apparatus  20 . For example, the accounting destination selection module  12  refers to the “current status” column and the “reservation status” column of the extracted payment apparatus  20 , and preferentially selects the payment apparatus  20  with fewer users. As an example, the accounting destination selection module  12  preferentially selects the payment apparatus  20  in which the “current status” column is in standby or the “reservation status” column is empty. Further, for example, if the “current status” column is “in execution” in any of the payment apparatuses  20 , the accounting destination selection module  12  preferentially selects the payment apparatus  20  having the smallest number of transaction IDs registered in the “reservation status” column. 
     Further, for example, if the designated payment method is electronic payment and if the extracted payment apparatuses  20  include a payment apparatus  20  that handles cash payment and electronic payment and a payment apparatus  20  exclusively for electronic payment, it is favorable that the accounting destination selection module  12  preferentially selects the payment apparatus  20  exclusively for electronic payment. Since the time and effort required for accounting operations differs between cash payment and electronic payment, the time required for payment processing in cash payment tends to be longer than in electronic payment. Hence, if the payment method is electronic payment, the payment processing is performed by the payment apparatus  20  exclusively for electronic payment, so that the processing efficiency thereof can be improved as a whole as compared with the payment processing performed by the payment apparatus  20  corresponding to both electronic payment and cash payment. 
     Further, it is favorable that the accounting destination selection module  12  selects the payment apparatus  20  to be the accounting destination on the basis of the payment method of the payment processing being executed or scheduled to be executed by the extracted payment apparatus  20 . 
     For example, if the designated payment method is cash payment and if the extracted payment apparatuses  20  include a plurality of payment apparatuses  20  that handle cash payment and electronic payment, the accounting destination selection module  12  preferably reduces the priority of the payment apparatus  20  that is executing or is scheduled to execute the payment processing by cash payment to select a payment apparatus  20  as an accounting destination. As a result, the processing efficiency of the payment apparatus  20  as a whole can be improved. 
     In addition, the payment apparatus  20  may be selected on the basis of other conditions relating to the payment apparatus  20 . For example, if the distance between the registration apparatus  10  and the payment apparatus  20  is registered in the payment apparatus management file  3504  or the like, the accounting destination selection module  12  may preferentially select the payment apparatus  20  that is closer to the registration apparatus  10  in which the commodity registration has been performed. Further, for example, if the remaining amount of money (hereinafter, also referred to as stock) for each denomination stored in a depositing/dispensing device  209  of the payment apparatus  20  is registered in the payment apparatus management file  3504  or the like, and if the designated payment method is cash payment, the accounting destination selection module  12  may preferentially select the payment apparatus  20  with a large stock. 
     The various conditions for selecting the payment apparatus  20  described above (hereinafter, also referred to as selection conditions) may be used alone or may be used in combination. In addition, the selection conditions are not limited to the examples described above. 
     Note that in this embodiment the accounting destination selection module  12  automatically selects (determines) the payment apparatus  20  of the accounting destination, but it may be configured to present selection candidates and allow the clerk or the customer to select them. For example, the accounting destination selection module  12  may cause the clerk display device  106  to display an operation screen in which options representing the extracted payment apparatuses  20  are arranged in the order of priority based on the selection conditions described above to prompt the clerk to perform selection. In this case, the accounting destination selection module  12  selects the payment apparatus  20  selected via the operation screen as the accounting destination. 
     When selecting the payment apparatus  20  as the accounting destination, the accounting destination selection module  12  displays the payment apparatus ID of the selected payment apparatus  20  on the clerk display device  106  and the customer display device  107  to notify the payment apparatus  20  of the accounting destination. At this time, the accounting destination selection module  12  may cause the customer display device  107  to display a screen for guiding the position of the payment apparatus  20  of the accounting destination. 
     Note that the timing at which the accounting destination selection module  12  receives the payment method and selects the payment apparatus  20  is not particularly limited. For example, the accounting destination selection module  12  may display the payment method selection screen  1071  at the start of the commodity registration to receive the designation of the payment method during the commodity registration. Further, for example, the accounting destination selection module  12  may display the payment method selection screen  1071  at the timing at which the closing key is operated, to receive the designation of the payment method during a period before the registration processing is completed. 
     The payment information generation module  13  generates payment information used for payment processing in the payment apparatus  20  on the basis of the sales data registered during one transaction. Specifically, when the end of the commodity registration is instructed via the operation device  108 , the payment information generation module  13  generates payment information on the basis of the sales data registered before such an instruction is performed. 
     Here, the payment information includes a transaction ID with which each transaction can be identified. Specifically, the payment information generation module  13  assigns a transaction ID, with which each transaction can be identified, to a transaction for each transaction, and includes the transaction ID in the payment information. Further, the payment information includes at least information with which a total amount obtained by totaling the amounts of the commodities purchased by the customer can be specified. For example, the payment information generation module  13  may include, in the payment information, a total amount obtained by multiplying the unit price of the commodity included in each piece of the sales data by the number of purchases. Further, the payment information generation module  13  may include the payment method received by the accounting destination selection module  12  in the payment information. 
     The output processing module  14  is an example of output means. The output processing module  14  outputs the payment information generated by the payment information generation module  13 . Specifically, the output processing module  14  performs output processing for delivering the payment information of the commodity registered in the commodity registration module  11  to the payment apparatus  20  selected by the accounting destination selection module  12  in response to the instruction to terminate the commodity registration. 
     For example, in the case of the configuration in which the payment information is directly transmitted from the registration apparatus  10  to the payment apparatus  20 , the output processing module  14  outputs (transmits) the payment information to the payment apparatus  20  selected by the accounting destination selection module  12 . Further, for example, in the case of the configuration in which the payment information is provided to the payment apparatus  20  via the server apparatus  30 , the output processing module  14  transmits the payment apparatus ID of the payment apparatus  20  selected by the accounting destination selection module  12  to the server apparatus  30  together with the payment information generated by the payment information generation module  13 . Further, for example, in the case of the configuration in which the payment apparatus  20  reads the payment information and the transaction ID coded into a code symbol, the output processing module  14  outputs the code symbol coded while including the payment apparatus ID of the payment apparatus  20  selected by the accounting destination selection module  12 . In this case, the code symbol may be output from a printer device (not shown) connected to the registration apparatus  10 . Note that the code symbol is a bar code or a two-dimensional code, for example. 
     In addition, the output processing module  14  associates the payment method received by the accounting destination selection module  12 , the payment apparatus ID of the payment apparatus  20  selected by the accounting destination selection module  12 , and the transaction ID given by the payment information generation module  13  with each other in response to an instruction to terminate the commodity registration, and transmits the allocation notification to the server apparatus  30 . As a result, the controller  300  of the server apparatus  30  associates the payment method and the transaction ID transmitted from the registration apparatus  10  with each other, and registers them in the “reservation status” column of the corresponding payment apparatus ID in the payment apparatus management file  3504 . 
     Next, the configuration of the payment apparatus  20  will be described.  FIG.  8    is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the payment apparatus  20 . As shown in  FIG.  8   , the payment apparatus  20  includes a CPU  201 , a ROM  202 , and a RAM  203 . 
     The CPU  201  is an exemplary processor and comprehensively controls the operation of the payment apparatus  20 . The ROM  202  stores various programs. The RAM  203  is a workspace for expanding programs and various types of data. The CPU  201 , the ROM  202 , and the RAM  203  are connected to each other via a bus or the like to form a controller  200  of the computer. In the controller  200 , the CPU  201  executes various types of processing by operating in accordance with a control program  2501  stored in the ROM  202  or a storage device  205  and expanded in the RAM  203 . 
     The controller  200  is connected to a communication device  204  and the storage device  205  via a bus or the like. The communication device  204  is a communication interface connectable to the network  50 . The communication device  204  communicates with external apparatuses such as the registration apparatus  10  and the server apparatus  30  via the network  50 . 
     The storage device  205  includes an HDD, a flash memory, and the like and maintains stored contents even when the power is turned off. The storage device  205  stores, for example, the control program  2501 . The control program  2501  is a control program for controlling the operation of the payment apparatus  20 . Note that the storage device  205  may store the above-mentioned commodity master  3502  provided from the server apparatus  30 , and the like. 
     Further, the controller  200  is connected to a display device  206 , an operation device  207 , a scanner  208 , the depositing/dispensing device  209 , a card reading device  210 , a printer  211 , and the like via a bus or the like. 
     The display device  206  is a display device such as a touch panel. The display device  206  displays various images under the control of the controller  200 . The operation device  207  includes various operation buttons, and outputs key information corresponding to an operation of the operator to the controller  200 . The operation device  207  may include a touch panel provided to the display device  206 . 
     The scanner  208  is a reading device capable of reading a code symbol such as a bar code or a two-dimensional code. For example, the scanner  208  reads a code symbol for electronic payment (code payment) represented on a paper medium, a customer terminal, or the like and outputs the read result to the CPU  201 . 
     The depositing/dispensing device  209  receives cash (bills or coins) inserted into a money depositing port (not shown), and separates and stores the cash for each denomination. Further, the depositing/dispensing device  209  pays out change from a dispensing port (not shown) under the control of the controller  200 . Note that if the payment apparatus  20  is exclusive for electronic payment, the payment apparatus  20  may exclude the depositing/dispensing device  209 . 
     The card reading device  210  is a reading device that reads information from a card medium. For example, the card reading device  210  reads information relating to electronic payment from a card medium such as a credit card or an electronic money card. 
     The printer  211  is a printing device such as a thermal printer. Under the control of the controller  200 , the printer  211  prints a receipt indicating the contents of a transaction at the end of the payment processing. 
     In the configuration of the payment apparatus  20  described above, the controller  200  implements various types of processing and functions by cooperating with the control program  2501 . 
     For example, the controller  200  executes the payment processing for commodities on the basis of the payment information of the commodities in one transaction registered by the registration apparatus  10 . In this case, the payment information includes at least information capable of specifying the breakdown of each registered commodity and the total amount. For example, the payment information may include the commodity code of each registered commodity and the number of purchases thereof, or may include part or all of the commodity information. In addition, the payment information includes a transaction ID with which a transaction relating to the payment information can be specified, and a payment method selected at the time of registration. Note that the transaction ID and the payment method may be attached to the payment information as information independent of the payment information. 
     The payment information may be obtained in a variety of ways. For example, if the payment information is directly transmitted from the registration apparatus  10  to the payment apparatus  20 , the controller  200  acquires the payment information transmitted to its own payment apparatus  20 . In this case, the payment apparatus  20  may notify the server apparatus  30  of the transaction ID and payment method included in the acquired payment information as the allocation notification. 
     For example, when the payment information is transmitted from the registration apparatus  10  to the server apparatus  30 , the controller  200  acquires the payment information allocated to its payment apparatus  20  from the server apparatus  30 . In this case, the controller  200  may transmit the transaction ID input through the operation device  207 , the scanner  208 , or the like to the server apparatus  30  as the payment processing start notification. 
     For example, if the payment information is output in the form of a code symbol, the controller  200  may acquire the payment information from the code symbol via the scanner  208 . 
     Further, when starting the payment processing on the basis of the payment information, the controller  200  notifies the server apparatus  30  of the transaction ID included in the payment information as the payment processing start notification. Note that when an error is transmitted from the server apparatus  30  as a response to the start notification, the controller  200  causes the display device  206  to display a message indicating that the payment apparatus  20  as the accounting destination is different. Further, when the payment apparatus ID is transmitted as an error from the server apparatus  30 , the controller  200  causes the display device  206  to display a message indicating the position or the like of the payment apparatus  20  corresponding to the payment apparatus ID as a correct accounting destination. 
     Further, when starting the payment processing on the basis of the payment information, the controller  200  executes the payment processing of paying the total amount of the commodities by the payment method included in the payment information. For example, if the payment method is cash payment, the controller  200  executes payment processing on the basis of the amount of money deposited in the depositing/dispensing device  209 , and instructs the depositing/dispensing device  209  to dispense the change as necessary. Further, for example, if the payment method is electronic payment, the controller  200  executes payment processing on the basis of the information relating to electronic payment input via the scanner  208  or the card reading device  210 . Note that if the configuration in which the payment method is notified from the server apparatus  30 , the payment processing may be executed using the notified payment method. 
     When the payment processing is completed, the controller  200  causes the printer  211  to print a receipt on which the transaction content is printed, and transmits the transaction ID included in the payment information for which the payment processing has been completed, as a payment processing completion notification, to the server apparatus  30 . 
     The checkout system  1  of this embodiment is provided by the registration apparatus  10 , the payment apparatus  20 , and the server apparatus  30  described above. Specifically, after the payment information of the commodities registered by the registration apparatus  10  is delivered to the payment apparatus  20  selected by the registration apparatus  10 , the payment processing is executed on the basis of the delivered payment information by the payment method desired by the customer in the payment apparatus  20 . Further, the status of each payment apparatus  20  is collectively managed by the server apparatus  30  and is referred to when the registration apparatus  10  performs processing of selecting an accounting destination. 
     An example of the operation of the registration apparatus  10  described above will be described below.  FIG.  9    is a flowchart showing an example of the processing executed by the registration apparatus  10 . 
     First, in the registration apparatus  10 , when the registration processing is started by an operation of a clerk or the like, in Step S 11 , the accounting destination selection module  12  of the controller  100  causes the customer display device  107  to display the payment method selection screen  1071  (see  FIG.  7   ). Next, in Step S 12 , the accounting destination selection module  12  determines whether or not a designation of the payment method is received via the payment method selection screen  1071 . If the designation of the payment method is not received (Step S 12 ; No), the processing of the controller  100  proceeds to Step S 14 . If the designation of the payment method is received (Step S 12 ; Yes), the processing of the controller  100  proceeds to Step S 13 . In Step S 13 , the accounting destination selection module  12  of the controller  100  stores the designated payment method in the RAM  103  or the like. Subsequently, the processing of the controller  100  proceeds to Step S 14 . Note that the customer display device  107  may delete the payment method selection screen  1071  or switch to another screen at the timing at which the designation of the payment method is received. 
     Subsequently, in Step S 14 , the commodity registration module  11  of the controller  100  determines whether or not a commodity code is input via the scanner  208 . If a commodity code is not input (Step S 14 ; No), the processing of the controller  100  proceeds to Step S 17 . 
     If a commodity code is input (Step S 14 ; Yes), the processing of the controller  100  proceeds to Step S 15 . In Step S 15 , the commodity registration module  11  of the controller  100  specifies a commodity corresponding to the input commodity code on the basis of the commodity master  3502 . Next, in Step S 16 , the commodity registration module  11  of the controller  100  registers the sales data including the commodity name, the unit price, the number, and the like of the specified commodity in the RAM  103  or the like. Subsequently, the processing of the controller  100  proceeds to Step S 17 . 
     Subsequently, in Step S 17 , the controller  100  determines whether or not an instruction to terminate the commodity registration is received via the operation device  108  or the like. If the instruction to terminate the registration is not received (Step S 17 ; No), the processing of the controller  100  proceeds to Step S 18 . In Step S 18 , the controller  100  determines whether or not the payment method is received by checking the stored state of the payment method in the RAM  103 . In this case, if the controller  100  determines that the payment method is not received because the payment method is not stored (Step S 18 ; No), the processing of the controller  100  returns to Step S 12 . Further, if the controller  100  determines that the payment method is received because the payment method is stored (Step S 18 ; Yes), the processing of the controller  100  returns to Step S 14 . 
     On the other hand, if the instruction to terminate the registration is received (Step S 17 ; Yes), the processing of the controller  100  proceeds to Step S 19 . In Step S 19 , the accounting destination selection module  12  of the controller  100  refers to the payment apparatus management file  3504  and extracts a payment apparatus  20  corresponding to the payment method stored in Step S 13 . Next, in Step S 20 , the accounting destination selection module  12  selects the payment apparatus  20  to be an accounting destination on the basis of the status of the extracted payment apparatus  20  (information in the “current status” and “reservation status” columns) or the like. Next, in Step S 21 , the accounting destination selection module  12  causes the clerk display device  106  and the customer display device  107  to display a screen for notifying the selected payment apparatus  20 . 
     Subsequently, in Step S 22 , the payment information generation module  13  of the controller  100  generates payment information for one transaction on the basis of the sales data and the like registered in the RAM  103  and the like. Note that the payment information generation module  13  may include the payment method stored in Step S 13  and the payment apparatus ID of the payment apparatus  20  selected in Step S 20  in the payment information. 
     Subsequently, in Step S 23 , the output processing module  14  of the controller  100  transmits the payment information generated in Step S 22  to the payment apparatus  20  to be the accounting destination on the basis of the selection result in Step S 20 . In Step S 24 , the output processing module  14  transmits an allocation notification including the payment method stored in Step S 13 , the payment apparatus ID of the payment apparatus  20  selected in Step S 20 , and the transaction ID of the current transaction to the server apparatus  30 , and terminates the processing. 
     Note that in the above processing the accounting destination selection module  12  of the controller  100  selects the payment apparatus  20  of the accounting destination after the operation to terminate the registration, but the present invention is not limited to this. The payment apparatus  20  of the accounting destination may be selected at the timing at which the designation of the payment method is received. 
     As described above, the registration apparatus  10  according to this embodiment is a registration apparatus that constitutes the checkout system  1  together with the payment apparatus  20 , and registers commodities to be purchased by a customer and receives a designation of a payment method desired by the customer. In addition, the registration apparatus  10  selects the payment apparatus  20  to be the accounting destination from the payment apparatuses  20  corresponding to the received payment method, and performs output processing for delivering the payment information to the selected payment apparatus  20 . As a result, the registration apparatus  10  can select the payment apparatus to be the accounting destination in consideration of the payment method desired by the customer, so that the payment apparatus can be efficiently selected. 
     Further, the registration apparatus  10  selects a payment apparatus to be a payment destination on the basis of the processing status of the payment apparatus  20  and the payment method of the payment processing being executed or scheduled to be executed by the payment apparatus  20 . As a result, in the checkout system  1 , the payment processing performed in the payment apparatus  20  can be efficiently advanced, so that it is possible to shorten the waiting time required for accounting and to improve the processing efficiency of the entire checkout system  1  eventually. 
     Note that the embodiment described above can also be implemented by appropriately modifying a part of the configuration or function of each of the apparatuses described above. Therefore, in the following, some modifications according to the embodiment described above will be described as other embodiments. Note that in the following description points different from the embodiment described above will be mainly described. Specifically, the same reference numerals denote the points common to those already described, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Further, the modifications to be described below may be implemented individually or in combination as appropriate. 
     (Modification 1) 
     In the embodiment described above, a customer designates a payment method every time the customer purchases a commodity, but for example, the customer may skip the payment method designation operation by managing the designated payment method in association with user identification information with which the customer can be identified. 
     In the case of implementing the configuration according to this modification, for example, the member ID held in the member card can be used as the user identification information. Specifically, the accounting destination selection module  12  of the controller  100  transmits a registration request in which the member ID and the payment method are associated with each other to the server apparatus  30  when the designation of the payment method is received in a state where the member ID is read by the card reading device  110 . Upon receiving the registration request from the registration apparatus  10 , the server apparatus  30  stores the payment method in association with the corresponding member ID in the member master  3503 . Subsequently, when the member ID is read by the card reading device  110  in the next and subsequent transactions, the accounting destination selection module  12  reads out the payment method corresponding to the member ID from the member master  3503  and receives the payment method. As a result, in this modification, it is possible to omit every designation operation of the payment method for the member who has once designated the payment method. 
     Note that the accounting destination selection module  12  of the controller  100  may display the payment method associated with the member ID (hereinafter, also referred to as the previous payment method) on the payment method selection screen  1071  (see  FIG.  7   ), thereby allowing the customer to confirm whether to changes the payment method or not. In this case, if the payment method is newly designated from the payment method selection screen  1071 , the accounting destination selection module  12  updates the previous payment method with the designated payment method. Further, if the payment method is not designated from the payment method selection screen  1071 , the accounting destination selection module  12  selects the payment apparatus  20  of the accounting destination by using the previous payment method. 
     (Modification 2) 
     In the embodiment described above, the registration apparatus  10  is a stationary commodity-sales-data-processing apparatus installed in a store, but the present invention is not limited to such a form. For example, the registration apparatus  10  may be a portable terminal such as a smartphone owned by a customer, or a portable terminal such as a tablet terminal lent to a customer by the store. 
     In this case, the registration apparatus  10  may have the configuration similar to that of the registration apparatus  10  described in the above embodiment. Note that the registration apparatus  10  may include a single display device for the operator. Further, the scanner  109  may be externally attached as a separate unit or may cooperate with an imaging device included in the registration apparatus  10  to read a code symbol from an image captured by the imaging device. Further, the card reading device  110  may be externally attached as a separate unit or may be removed. 
     Further, the functional configuration of the registration apparatus  10  is also similar to that of the registration apparatus  10  described in the above embodiment. Note that the output processing module  14  of the controller  100  may cause the display device of its own apparatus to output the transaction ID, the payment information, and the like coded into a code symbol. 
     For example, in the case of the configuration in which payment information is transmitted from the registration apparatus  10  to the payment apparatus  20  or the server apparatus  30 , the output processing module  14  of the controller  100  may cause the display device to output the coded transaction ID. In this case, the user (customer) of the registration apparatus  10  causes the scanner  208  of the payment apparatus  20  to read the code symbol displayed on the registration apparatus  10 , whereby the payment information corresponding to the transaction ID can be read out by the payment apparatus  20 . 
     Further, for example, if the payment information is transmitted to the payment apparatus  20  via the code symbol, the output processing module  14  of the controller  100  may cause the display device to output the coded payment information. In this case, the user (customer) of the registration apparatus  10  can transmit the payment information to the payment apparatus  20  by causing the scanner  208  of the payment apparatus  20  to read the code symbol displayed on the registration apparatus  10 . In either case, the payment apparatus ID of the payment apparatus  20  selected by the accounting destination selection module  12  of the controller  100  may be included in the code symbol. 
     Further, if the registration apparatus  10  is a portable terminal such as a smartphone owned by the customer, a payment method designated once may be stored in the storage device  105  or the like, and the payment method may be used when an accounting destination is selected by the accounting destination selection module  12  of the controller  100 . As a result, in this modification, it is possible to omit each designation operation of the payment method for the customer who has designated the payment method once. 
     Note that the accounting destination selection module  12  of the controller  100  may display the payment method stored in the storage device  105  or the like (hereinafter, referred to as the previous payment method) on the payment method selection screen  1071 , thereby allowing the customer to confirm whether to changes the payment method or not. In this case, if the payment method is newly designated from the payment method selection screen  1071 , the accounting destination selection module  12  updates the previous payment method with the designated payment method. Further, if the payment method is not designated from the payment method selection screen  1071 , the accounting destination selection module  12  selects the payment apparatus  20  of the accounting destination by using the previous payment method. 
     (Modification 3) 
     In the embodiment described above, the server apparatus  30  collectively manages the statuses of the respective payment apparatuses  20 , but the present invention is not limited to such a form. For example, a single registration apparatus  10  or a single payment apparatus  20  serving as a representative may be configured to collectively manage the statuses of the respective payment apparatuses  20 . Further, for example, each of the payment apparatuses  20  may manage the status thereof and notify the registration apparatus  10  of the status in response to a request or the like from the registration apparatus  10 . With such a configuration, it is possible to provide the effect similar to that in the embodiment described above. 
     Note that the program executed by each apparatus of the embodiment (and modifications) described above is provided in a state of being incorporated in advance in a ROM, a storage device, or the like. The program executed by each apparatus of the embodiment described above is a file in an installable format or executable format and may be provided by recording the program on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, a digital versatile disk (DVD), or the like. 
     In addition, the program executed by each apparatus of the embodiment described above may be provided by storing the program on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloading it via the network. Further, the program executed by each apparatus of the embodiment described above may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. 
     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.