Patent Publication Number: US-2018032986-A1

Title: Checkout system for managing settlement process interruption and control method thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-151052, filed Aug. 1, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to a checkout system for managing settlement process interruption and a control method thereof. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A settlement device in self-service type checkout apparatus or a semi-self-service type checkout system performs a settlement process according to an operation performed by a customer. 
     Such a settlement device may have a function of calling a salesperson in order to perform a process which cannot be performed by a customer, such as issuing of a receipt. As an example, if a customer operates a button for calling a salesperson, the settlement process is interrupted, and a manager at a service area, for example, is notified. The notified manager goes to a settlement device and deals with the process interruption. 
     In a settlement device operated in the above-described way, the manager is required to perform an operation for canceling the process interruption. 
     Thus, it is desirable to reduce the burden on the manager due to cancellation of process interruption. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a checkout system according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating example configurations of a settlement device and a POS server. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a position detection process performed by the POS server. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a control process for manager calling performed by the settlement device. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a control process for manager calling performed by the POS server. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments provide a checkout system for managing settlement process interruption and a control method thereof, capable of reducing a burden on a manager due to cancellation of process interruption. 
     A checkout system according to an embodiment includes a settlement device, a management terminal, and a camera. The settlement device starts a settlement processing based on generated settlement information, and then determines that the settlement processing is interrupted. In response to the determination that the settlement processing is interrupted, the settlement device receives image data from the camera and generates a calling screen indicating that a manager is called. Based on the received image data, the settlement device determines whether the manager is positioned in a predetermined checkout area proximate to the settlement device. When the manager is determined to be positioned in the predetermined checkout area, the settlement device stops displaying the calling screen and resumes the settlement processing. 
     Hereinafter, a description will be made of an example of an embodiment with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a checkout system  10  according to the present embodiment. 
     The checkout system  10  includes at least one commodity registration device  11 , at least one settlement device  12 , and a single management terminal  13 .  FIG. 1  illustrates two commodity registration devices  11  and four settlement devices  12 . The checkout system  10  may include any number of commodity registration devices  11  and settlement devices  12 , and any ratio between the number of commodity registration devices  11  and the number of settlement devices  12  may be used. The commodity registration devices  11 , the settlement devices  12 , and the management terminal  13  are provided in a checkout area of a store such as a supermarket. 
     An employee  21  of the store who performs a function as a so-called checker is an operator of the commodity registration device  11 . A shopper  22  who is settling the price of a commodity sold at the store is an operator of the settlement device  12 . However, a partial operation on the commodity registration device  11  may be performed by the shopper  22 . The settlement device  12  may be operated by an employee. An employee  23  of the store who performs a function as a manager is an operator of the management terminal  13 . 
     In  FIG. 1 , each commodity registration device  11  is attached to a work table  31 . The work tables  31  are arranged to form passages for the shopper  22 . The commodity registration device  11  performs purchase registration, which is a process of registering a commodity carried by a shopper for purchasing. As hardware of the commodity registration device  11 , for example, an existing POS terminal may be used. 
     The settlement device  12  receives settlement information from the commodity registration device  11 , and performs a settlement process based on the settlement information. 
     The management terminal  13  performs various processes in order to monitor operation situations of each of the settlement devices  12 . The management terminal  13  performs processes for various services such as a commodity return process. The management terminal  13  is attached to a service counter  32  in  FIG. 1 . The service counter  32  is positioned in a service area adjacent to the checkout area. The employee  23  is positioned as illustrated in  FIG. 1  in the vicinity of the service counter  32 . The service area is preferably defined as a space through which the shopper  22  does not pass. Access of shoppers to the service area is more preferably restricted. However, the employee  23  may leave the service area in order to deal with a shopper. A plurality of employees  23  may be positioned in the service area. 
     As hardware of the management terminal  13 , for example, an existing general purpose computer or tablet terminal may be used. The management terminal  13  may be provided with a device used as basic hardware, and may be a computer including a CPU, a ROM, RAM, and an auxiliary storage unit configured to perform appropriate control processes so as to realize various functions. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of the checkout system  10  including the settlement device  12  and a POS server  15 . 
     The checkout system  10  includes the commodity registration device  11 , the settlement device  12 , and the management terminal  13  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The checkout system  10  also includes a camera  14  and the POS server  15 . 
     The camera  14  is provided on, for example, a ceiling of the checkout corner, and provides imaging from a bird&#39;s eye perspective of the entire checkout area. The camera  14  repeatedly performs image generation at a predetermined time interval, and repeatedly outputs the generated image data. The camera  14  communications via a local area network (LAN)  16 . The camera  14  sends the generated image data to the POS server  15  via the LAN  16 . As the camera  14 , an existing network camera or the like may be used. The camera  14  obtains an image corresponding to an imaging region including at least the settlement device  12  and the service area of the employee. As the camera  14 , a security camera or the like may be used. 
     The POS server  15  may be a so-called store server provided in the store, or a so-called headquarter server provided in a headquarter performing overall management of a plurality of stores. The POS server  15  collects sales data. The POS server  15  manages data used for the commodity registration device  11  and the settlement device  12 . In other words, the POS server  15  has the same function as that of an existing POS server. The POS server  15  functions as a control device controlling the settlement device  12 . 
     The commodity registration device  11 , the settlement device  12 , the management terminal  13 , the camera  14 , and the POS server  15  are all connected via the LAN  16 . Instead of the LAN  16 , other communication networks such as the Internet may be used. Thus, the commodity registration device  11 , the settlement device  12 , and the management terminal  13  can perform communication with the POS server  15  via the LAN  16 . The POS server  15  can perform communication with the camera  14  via the LAN  16 . 
     The settlement device  12  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  12   a , a read only memory (ROM)  12   b , a random access memory (RAM)  12   c , an auxiliary storage unit  12   d , an automatic change machine  12   e , a scanner  12   f , a touch panel  12   g , a printer  12   h , a communication unit  12   i , and a bus  12   j.    
     The CPU  12   a , the ROM  12   b , the RAM  12   c , and the auxiliary storage unit  12   d  are connected to each other via the bus  12   j , so as to form a computer. 
     The CPU  12   a  corresponds to a main processor of the computer. The CPU  12   a  controls the respective elements so as to realize various functions of the settlement device  12  on the basis of an operating system, middleware, and application programs stored in the ROM  12   b  and the RAM  12   c.    
     The ROM  12   b  corresponds to a main storage device of the computer. The ROM  12   b  stores the operating system. The ROM  12   b  may store the middleware or the application programs. The ROM  12   b  may store data which is referred to when the CPU  12   a  performs various processes. 
     The RAM  12   c  corresponds to a working storage device of the computer. The RAM  12   c  stores data which is ref erred to when the CPU  12   a  performs various processes. The RAM  12   c  is also used as a so-called work area which stores data temporarily used when the CPU  12   a  performs various processes. 
     The auxiliary storage unit  12   d  corresponds to an auxiliary storage device of the computer. The auxiliary storage unit  12   d  stores data used when the CPU  12   a  performs various processes, or data generated through processes in the CPU  12   a.    
     The automatic change machine  12   e  receives input coins and bank notes. The automatic change machine  12   e  discharges coins and bank notes as change. 
     The scanner  12   f  reads a barcode attached to a commodity so as to obtain a commodity code of the commodity. As the scanner  12   f , various well-known scanners may be used. 
     The touch panel  12   g  includes a display device and a touch sensor. As the touch panel  12   g , a well-known device may be used. 
     The printer  12   h  prints various character strings or images on a receipt sheet, so as to issue a receipt. 
     The communication unit  12   i  is a communication interface that performs communication via the LAN  16 . 
     The bus  12   j  transmits data between the constituent elements of the settlement device  12 . 
     As hardware of the settlement device  12 , for example, an existing self-service checkout POS terminal or a semi-self-service settlement device may be used. 
     The POS server  15  includes a CPU  15   a , a ROM  15   b , a RAM  15   c , an auxiliary storage unit  15   d , a communication unit  15   e , and a bus  15   f.    
     The CPU  15   a , the ROM  15   b , the RAM  15   c , and the auxiliary storage unit  15   d  are connected to each other via the bus  15   f , so as to form a computer. The computer controls the respective elements so as to realize various operations as the POS server  15 , similar to the computer provided in the commodity registration device  11 . A part of a storage region of the auxiliary storage unit  15   d  is used to store a position list L 1  which will be described later. 
     The communication unit  15   e  performs communication via the LAN  16 . 
     The bus  15   f  transmits data between the constituent elements of the POS server  15 . 
     As hardware of the POS server  15 , for example, an existing general purpose server device may be used. 
     The application programs stored in the ROMs  12   b  and  15   b  or the auxiliary storage units  12   d  and  15   d  include a control program for performing a control process which will be described later. The settlement device  12  and the POS server  15  are provided in a state in which the control program is generally stored in the ROMs  12   b  and  15   b  or the auxiliary storage units  12   d  and  15   d . However, the settlement device  12  and the POS server  15  may also be provided in a state in which the control program is not stored in the ROMs  12   b  and  15   b  or the auxiliary storage units  12   d  and  15   d . In such instances, the control program may also be provided on a removable recording medium, or through communication using a network. In this case, for example, a user or a service person performs an operation, and thus the control program is written to the ROMs  12   b  and  15   b  or the auxiliary storage units  12   d  and  15   d . As the removable recording medium, for example, a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disc, an optical disc, or a semiconductor memory may be used. 
     Next, an operation of the checkout system  10  configured as described above will be described. The process described below is only an example, and various processes causing the same result to be obtained may be used as appropriate. 
     When the POS server  15  is activated, the CPU  15   a  clears the position list L 1 . Thereafter, if the POS server  15  is brought into a normal operation state, the CPU  15   a  starts a position detection process based on the control program stored in the ROM  15   b  or the auxiliary storage unit  15   d  every predetermined start timing. A start timing of the position detection process is expected to be at a predetermined time interval, but, for example, a designer of the control program may set any timing. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating the position detection process performed by the CPU  15   a.    
     In Act  1 , the CPU  15   a  receives image data output from the camera  14 . 
     In Act  2 , the CPU  15   a  extracts a person included in an image indicated by the image data incorporated in Act  1 . A well-known technique may be applied when implementing the process in Act  2 . 
     In Act  3 , the CPU  15   a  determines a position of the person extracted in Act  2 . In a case where more than one person are extracted in Act  2 , the CPU  15   a  determines a position of each person. Therefore, the CPU  15   a  performs the position detection process based on the control program, and thus the computer having the CPU  15   a  as a main processor functions as a determination unit determining a position of a person included in an image on the basis of the image captured by the camera. 
     In Act  4 , the CPU  15   a  checks whether or not there is a newly detected person among the persons extracted in Act  2 . Specifically, the CPU  15   a  checks whether or not each of the persons extracted in Act  2  is registered in the position list L 1 . The position list L 1  includes position information indicating the latest determined position and tracking information for a person stored in correlation with a management number for each extracted person. The tracking information is information which is referred to in order to determine whether or not the person extracted in Act  2  is the same as a person already registered in the position list L 1 . Any information may be used as the tracking information, and may be defined by, for example, a designer of the control program of the CPU  15   a . It is expected that, as the tracking information, for example, information indicating features such as clothing reflected in the image, or position information regarding a position detected in the past is used. 
     If a new person (i.e., other than a person already registered in position list L 1 ) is extracted, the CPU  15   a  determines Yes, and proceeds to Act  5 . Any well-known technique of recognizing whether or not each person reflected in images which are repeatedly captured in the same imaging region is the same person may be applied to the process in Act  4 . 
     In Act  5 , the CPU  15   a  adds a management number, different from management numbers already written in the position list L 1 , to the position list L 1  in correspondence with the newly extracted person. Then, the CPU  15   a  proceeds to Act  6 . If all of the persons extracted in Act  2  are persons with the corresponding management numbers already written in the position list L 1 , the CPU  15   a  determines No in Act  4 , and skips Act  5  and proceeds to Act  6 . 
     In Act  6 , the CPU  15   a  updates the position list L 1  so that position information indicating the determined position of each person extracted in Act  2  is stored in correlation with the management number added to the person. If the updating of the position list L 1  is completed, the CPU  15   a  finishes the position detection process. If a management number in the position list L 1  does not correspond to any person extracted in Act  2 , the CPU  15   a  deletes the management number and information correlated with the management number from the position list L 1 . 
     Thus, the POS server  15  manages a position of each person present in the imaging region of the camera  14  in the position list L 1  in correlation with a management number added to the person. Therefore, the POS server  15  tracks a person present in the imaging region of the camera  14 . 
     The commodity registration device  11  performs purchase registration according to a well-known process. Settlement information generated by the commodity registration device  11  due to the purchase registration is transmitted to the settlement device  12 . A process performed in a settlement device or the like of an existing semi-self-service type checkout system may be applied to a method of determining the settlement device  12  which is a transmission destination of the settlement information and a method of transmitting the settlement information without being changed. Various proposals are made on the determination method and the transmission method, and any one thereof may be applied. 
     If the commodity registration device  11  notifies the settlement device  12  of settlement information, the settlement device  12  performs a settlement process based on the settlement information. For example, a process performed in a settlement device or the like of an existing semi-self-service type checkout system may be applied to the settlement process without being changed. Therefore, the CPU  12   a  performs a control process based on the control program, and thus the computer having the CPU  12   a  as a main processor functions as a settlement unit. 
     If an amount of money used as a settlement amount is shown in the settlement information, the CPU  12   a  performs the settlement process as a process for settling the amount of money. However, if an amount of money used as a settlement amount is not shown in the settlement information, the CPU  12   a  performs a process of calculating a settlement amount. If the CPU  12   a  calculates a settlement amount in the above-described way, the settlement device  12  is also referred to as an accounting device. 
     Meanwhile, the CPU  12   a  performs a control process related to manager calling on the basis of the control program stored in the ROM  12   b  or the auxiliary storage unit  12   d  separately from a process related to the settlement process. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a control process related to manager calling performed by the CPU  12   a.    
     In Act  11 , the CPU  12   a  checks whether or not an event (hereinafter, referred to as a calling event) causing a manager to be called occurs. For example, a designer of the settlement device  12  may define any particular event as a calling event. As an example of the calling event, a salesperson calling button displayed on the touch panel  12   g  may be subject to a touch operation. As another example of the calling event, a state requiring maintenance may occur such as a case where coins for change are required to be supplemented. If a calling event occurs, the CPU  12   a  determines Yes, and proceeds to Act  12 . 
     In Act  12 , if other processes such as a settlement process are in progress, the CPU  12   a  interrupts the process. 
     In Act  13 , the CPU  12   a  generates a calling screen on the touch panel  12   g . The calling screen is a screen for providing notice that a salesperson is being called. 
     In Act  14 , the CPU  12   a  requests the POS server  15  to call a manager. Specifically, the CPU  12   a  sends, for example, predefined request information (hereinafter, referred to as calling request information) for calling the manager from the communication unit  12   i  to the POS server  15  via the LAN  16 . If the calling request information is transmitted to the POS server  15  via the LAN  16 , the calling request information is received by the communication unit  15   e . The CPU  12   a  causes an identification code for identifying the settlement device  12  and an identification code for identifying the occurred calling event to be included in the calling request information. 
     Meanwhile, in the POS server  15 , the CPU  15   a  performs a control process related to manager calling on the basis of the control program stored in the ROM  15   b  or the auxiliary storage unit  15   d.    
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a control process related to manager calling performed by the CPU  15   a.    
     In Act  21 , the CPU  15   a  checks whether or not calling request information is received. If calling request information is not received, the CPU  15   a  repeatedly executes Act  21 . Thus, in Act  21 , the CPU  15   a  waits for a request for manager calling. If the calling request information is received by the communication unit  15   e , the CPU  15   a  determines Yes, and proceeds to Act  22 . 
     In Act  22 , the CPU  15   a  sends a request to the management terminal  13  to perform a notification. Specifically, the CPU  15   a  sends, for example, predefined request information for a notification (hereinafter, referred to as notification request information) from the communication unit  15   e  to the management terminal  13  via the LAN  16 . If the notification request information is transmitted to the management terminal  13  via the LAN  16 , the notification request information is received by the management terminal  13 . The CPU  15   a  causes the two identification codes included in the calling request information as described above to be included in the notification request information. The request for a notification is an example of a notification process for performing a notification according to a notification operation which will be described later. Therefore, the CPU  15   a  performs the control process based on the control program, and thus the computer having the CPU  15   a  as a main processor functions as a notification unit. 
     If the notification request information is received, the management terminal  13  starts a notification operation for notifying the employee  23  that an action with respect to the settlement device  12  is necessary. The notification operation is displaying a notification screen on a display device indicating that an action with respect to in the settlement device  12  is necessary. The management terminal  13  notifies the employee  23  of the settlement device  12  identified by the identification code included in the notification request information and the calling event according to the notification operation. Thus, the management terminal  13  functions as a notification device performing a notification operation for notifying the employee  23  in the service area of the occurrence of a calling event. 
     The CPU  15   a  of the POS server  15  makes the request for a notification in Act  22 , and then proceeds to Act  23 . 
     In Act  23 , the CPU  15   a  checks whether or not the employee  23  is in the service area. Specifically, the CPU  15   a  checks whether or not position information indicating a position in the service area is included in the position list. If the position information indicating the position in the residence space is included in the position list, the CPU  15   a  determines Yes, and proceeds to Act  24 . In the above-described position detection process, whether or not a person extracted from the image data is the employee  23  is not checked. However, generally, the shopper  22  does not enter the service area, whereas the employee  23  normally is in the service area, and thus there is a high probability that a person present in the service area may be the employee  23 . Therefore, in the present embodiment, if a person is present in the service area, the employee  23  is regarded as being present in the service area. 
     In Act  24 , the CPU  15   a  checks whether or not all management numbers correlated with position information indicating positions in the service area in the position list L 1  are already stored in the RAM  15   c  or the auxiliary storage unit  15   d . If the management number is not stored yet, the CPU  15   a  determines No, and proceeds to Act  25 . 
     In Act  25 , the CPU  15   a  stores, in the RAM  15   c  or the auxiliary storage unit  15   d , a management number in correlation with correlated with the position information that is not already stored in the RAM  15   c  or the auxiliary storage unit  15   d . Thus, a management number of the employee  23  positioned in the service area when the management terminal  13  performs a notification operation is stored in the RAM  15   c  or the auxiliary storage unit  15   d . Consequently, the computer having the CPU  15   a  as a main processor functions as a management unit which manages position information of a person whose determined position, when the notification is performed, is located in the service area. 
     Thereafter, the CPU  15   a  proceeds to Act  26 . If the position information indicating a position in the service area is not included in the position list, and thus No is determined in Act  23 , the CPU  15   a  skips Act  24  and Act  25 , and proceeds to Act  26 . If all of the management numbers correlated with position information indicating positions in the service area in the position list are already stored in the RAM  15   c  or the auxiliary storage unit  15   d , the CPU  15   a  determines Yes in Act  24 , and skips Act  25  to proceed to Act  26 . 
     In Act  26 , the CPU  15   a  checks whether or not the employee  23  moves to the settlement device  12  which made the request for the manager calling. Specifically, the CPU  15   a  checks whether or not any one of pieces of the position information correlated with the management numbers in the position list stored in the RAM  15   c  or the auxiliary storage unit  15   d  indicates a position of the settlement device  12  which made a request for the manager calling. The position during management is a position where the employee  23  should stand in order to address a calling event, and is defined by, for example, a worker installing the checkout system  10 . If there is no matching, the CPU  15   a  determines No, and returns to Act  23 . Thus, in Act  23  to Act  26 , the CPU  15   a  waits for the employee  23  that is in the service area when the management terminal  13  is notified to move to the settlement device  12  which made a request for the manager calling. If the employee  23  has moved to the settlement device  12 , the CPU  15   a  determines Yes in Act  26 , and proceeds to Act  27 . 
     In Act  27 , the CPU  15   a  requests the settlement device  12  which made a request for the manager calling to cancel the calling state. Specifically, the CPU  15   a  sends, for example, predefined request information (hereinafter, referred to as cancellation request information) for cancellation from the communication unit  15   e  to the settlement device  12  via the LAN  16 . Thereafter, the CPU  15   a  returns to a waiting state in Act  21 . If the cancellation request information is transmitted to the settlement device  12  via the LAN  16 , the cancellation request information is received by the communication unit  12   i  of the settlement device  12 . 
     Returning now to  FIG. 4 , after displaying the display calling screen, the settlement device  12  (Act  13 ), the CPU  12   a  requests the POS server  15  to call the manager in Act  14  in  FIG. 4 , and then proceeds to Act  15 . 
     In Act  15 , the CPU  12   a  checks whether or not a cancellation request is made. The CPU  12   a  determines No if the cancellation request information is not received by the communication unit  12   i  as described above, and proceeds to Act  16 . 
     In Act  16 , the CPU  12   a  checks whether or not a cancellation instruction is given through an operation on the touch panel  12   g . If a cancellation instruction is not given, the CPU  12   a  returns to Act  15 . 
     Thus, in Act  15  and Act  16 , the CPU  12   a  waits for a cancellation request or a cancellation instruction to be made or given. If the cancellation request information is received by the communication unit  12   i  as described above, the CPU  12   a  determines Yes in Act  15 , and if a cancellation instruction is given, the CPU  12   a  determines Yes in Act  16 . The CPU  12   a  proceeds to Act  17  in either case. 
     In Act  17 , the CPU  12   a  stops displaying the calling screen on the touch panel  12   g.    
     In Act  18 , the CPU  12   a  checks whether or not the settlement device  12  is required to perform an operation (hereinafter, referred to as a cancellation operation) in order to cancel the calling event. For example, if coins for change are required to be supplemented, the settlement device  12  is required to perform an operation for supplementing coins. If a cancellation operation is necessary as in this example, the CPU  12   a  determines Yes, and proceeds to Act  19 . 
     In Act  19 , the CPU  12   a  checks whether or not the cancellation operation is completed. If the cancellation operation is not completed, the CPU  12   a  determines No, and repeatedly executes Act  19 . Thus, in Act  19 , the CPU  12   a  waits for the cancellation operation to be completed. If the cancellation operation is completed, the CPU  12   a  determines No, and proceeds to Act  20 . 
     In the present embodiment, a control process related to the cancellation operation is performed according to a process or a thread which is different from that in the control process illustrated in  FIG. 4 , and description thereof will be omitted. 
     On the other hand, for example, if the employee  23  issues a receipt in which necessary items are written on a receipt sheet by handwriting, the settlement device  12  is not required to perform an operation for this. If a cancellation operation is not necessary, as in this example, the CPU  12   a  determines No in Act  18 , skips Act  19 , and proceeds to Act  20 . 
     In Act  20 , the CPU  12   a  cancels the interruption state set in Act  12 , and resumes the interrupted process. Thereafter, the CPU  12   a  returns to a waiting state in Act  11 . 
     However, the process in Act  17  performed by the CPU  12   a  is one of a series of processes for canceling the interruption state which is set due to the occurrence of the calling event, and is an example of a process related to addressing the calling event. Therefore, the CPU  12   a  performs a control process based on the control program, and thus the computer having the CPU  12   a  as a main processor functions as a control unit. 
     According to the above-described checkout system  10 , the following effects are achieved. 
     Display of a calling screen in the settlement device  12  according to the occurrence of a calling event in the settlement device  12  is automatically ended if a person present in the service area moves to a position during management which is defined for the settlement device  12  after the management terminal  13  starts a notification. Therefore, the employee  23  is not required to perform an operation to end the display of the calling screen, and a burden on the employee  23  due to cancellation of process interruption can be reduced. 
     If a cancellation operation can be started without receiving an instruction from the employee  23 , the CPU  12   a  may perform a process for starting the cancellation operation as a part of the control process illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In the above-described way, the employee  23  is not also required to perform an operation for starting a cancellation operation, and thus a burden on the employee  23  can be further reduced. 
     If a position of the employee  23  in the image is changed from the service area to a different position, the POS server  15  determines that the employee  23  moves to the settlement device  12 . Therefore, a device such as a sensor for detecting that the employee  23  comes close to the settlement device  12  is not required to be provided, and thus the detection can be realized with a simple configuration. 
     According to the embodiment, a position detection process is performed by the POS server  15 , and a result thereof can be used in common for determination of whether or not the respective employees  23  go to a plurality of settlement devices  12 . Therefore, efficiency of this process can be improved as a whole of the system compared with a case where the settlement devices  12  perform each position detection process. 
     In the present embodiment, the following various modifications may occur. 
     The CPU  12   a  may perform a position detection process. In this case, the computer having the CPU  12   a  as a main processor functions as a determination unit. In this case, the CPU  12   a  may execute Act  23  to Act  26  in the control process illustrated in  FIG. 5  instead of Act  14  to Act  16  in the control process illustrated in  FIG. 4 , and may proceeds to Act  17  if Yes is determined in Act  26 . In this case, the computer having the CPU  12   a  as a main processor functions as a notification unit, a management unit, and a control unit. 
     A CPU of the management terminal  13  may perform at least one of the position detection process illustrated in  FIG. 3  and the control process illustrated in  FIG. 5 . If the CPU of the management terminal  13  performs the position detection process illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a computer having the CPU as a main processor functions as a determination unit. If the CPU of the management terminal  13  performs the control process illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a computer having the CPU as a main processor functions as a notification unit, a management unit, and a control unit. However, in this case, in Act  22 , the CPU of the management terminal  13  starts a notification operation instead of making a request for a notification. In other words, the CPU of the management terminal  13  performs a process for performing the notification operation as a notification process using the notification unit. 
     There is a case where a physical feature of the face or the like of a person located in a service area is extracted from an image captured by the camera  14  or another camera. In this case, the CPU  15   a  may check whether or not the person located in the service area is the employee  23  acting as a manager on the basis of the feature. In Act  25 , the CPU  15   a  may store only a management number of the person confirmed as the employee  23 . In the above-described way, for example, even if a person other than the employee  23  enters the service area, and that person then moves near the settlement device  12  in which a calling event occurs, display of a calling screen is not wrongly finished. Since there is no problem even if a person other than the employee  23  enters the service area, a degree of freedom of defining the service area can be improved. In this case, the computer having the CPU  15   a  as a main processor functions as a recognition unit which recognizes that a person reflected in an image is a manager. 
     Some or all of the functions realized by each of the CPU  12   a  and the CPU  15   a  may be realized by hardware such as a logic circuit which performs information processing which is not based on a program. Each of the functions may be realized by combining software control with the hardware such as a logic circuit. 
     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.