Patent Publication Number: US-11640594-B2

Title: Method for processing a purchase transaction using a plurality of transaction systems

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/220,363, filed on Apr. 1, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/687,081, filed on Nov. 18, 2019, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/042,315, filed on Jul. 23, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,482,448, issued on Nov. 19, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/477,323, filed on Apr. 3, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,032,154, issued on Jul. 24, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/988,406, filed on Jan. 5, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,619,976, issued on Apr. 11, 2017, which is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-002392, filed Jan. 8, 2015, Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-003431, filed Jan. 9, 2015, Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-105761, filed May 25, 2015, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-239946, filed Dec. 9, 2015; the entire contents of all of these applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein generally relate to a method for processing a purchase transaction using a plurality of transaction systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the related art, a self-registration system is known as a system that can simplify a purchase transaction. In the self-registration system, a customer launches a self-registration program on a hand-held computing device and registers data of commodities to be purchased through the computing device. As the data registered are transmitted to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, a process required to complete the transaction at the POS terminal can be simplified. 
     In the related art, an electronic receipt system is also known as a system that can digitalize contents of a purchase transaction. In the electronic receipt system, a customer launches an electronic receipt program on a computing device and sends a request for electronic receipts related to purchase transactions made by the customer. 
     Usually, for each of the above computer-based commerce systems, a customer needs a customer (user) ID to log into the system and an authentication process of the system is separately established. It would be desirable if a plurality of computer-based commerce systems can be used in a single purchase transaction in a more convenient manner. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    schematically illustrates a retail store having a commodity sales processing system according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a block diagram of the commodity sales processing system. 
         FIG.  3    is a block diagram of a POS apparatus in the commodity sales processing system. 
         FIG.  4    is a block diagram of a portable information terminal in the commodity sales processing system. 
         FIG.  5    is a block diagram of a support server in the commodity sales processing system. 
         FIG.  6    schematically illustrates a data structure of a commodity transaction file. 
         FIG.  7    is a block diagram of an electronic receipt server in the commodity sales processing system. 
         FIG.  8    schematically illustrates a data structure of an electronic receipt file. 
         FIG.  9    schematically illustrates a data structure of a linkage table. 
         FIG.  10    is a flowchart illustrating a main procedure of a processing carried out by a processor of the portable information terminal according to a self-registration terminal program. 
         FIG.  11    is a flowchart illustrating a main procedure of a process carried out by a processor of the support server according to a self-registration terminal program. 
         FIG.  12    is a flowchart illustrating a main procedure of a process carried out by a processor of the POS apparatus according to a control program when the POS apparatus receives a settlement request. 
         FIG.  13    is a flowchart illustrating a main procedure of a process carried out by a processor of the electronic receipt server according to an electronic receipt server program. 
         FIG.  14    is a block diagram of a portable information terminal according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG.  15    schematically illustrates a data structure of a commodity transaction file according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG.  16    is a flowchart illustrating a part of a process carried out by a processor of the portable information terminal according to a self-registration terminal program in the second embodiment. 
         FIG.  17    is a block diagram of a POS apparatus according to a third embodiment. 
         FIG.  18    is a flowchart illustrating a main procedure of a process carried out by a processor of the POS apparatus according to a control program in the third embodiment when the POS apparatus receives a settlement request. 
         FIG.  19    is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process carried out by a processor of the portable information terminal according to a fourth embodiment. 
         FIG.  20    is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process carried out by a processor of the support server according to the fourth embodiment. 
         FIG.  21    is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process carried out by a processor of the POS apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. 
         FIG.  22    is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process carried out by a processor of an electronic receipt server according to the fourth embodiment. 
         FIG.  23    is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process carried out by a processor of a portable information terminal according to the fourth embodiment. 
         FIG.  24    is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process carried out by a processor of a portable information terminal according to the fourth embodiment. 
         FIG.  25    is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process carried out by a processor of an electronic receipt server according to the fourth embodiment. 
         FIGS.  26 - 28    each schematically illustrate a screen displayed on a touch panel of the portable information terminal according to the fourth embodiment. 
         FIG.  29    schematically illustrates a data structure of a commodity transaction file according to a fifth embodiment. 
         FIG.  30    is a flowchart illustrating a part of a process carried out by a processor of the portable information terminal according to the fifth embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to an embodiment, a method for processing a purchase transaction of a customer at a store using a plurality of transaction systems connected over a network, the transaction systems including a store server, a user computing device in which the customer has installed a self-registration program, and an electronic receipt server, includes the steps of: launching the self-registration program in the user computing device; capturing with the user computing device, an image of a product code identifier placed on a product to be purchased; generating a transaction file with respect to a transaction to be made by a customer at the store, the transaction file containing a product code of the product to be purchased, the product code being transmitted from the user computing device when the user computer device captures the image of the product code identifier placed on the product, a first user ID of the customer that was created for the customer when the customer installed the self-registration program on the user computing device, and an indicator of whether or not the customer has opted in to receive electronic receipts; generating an electronic receipt for the transaction based on the transaction file; storing a conversion table containing the first user ID for the self-registration, in association with a second user ID of the customer that was created for the customer when the customer opted in to receive electronic receipts; converting the first user ID contained in the transaction file to the second user ID based on the conversion table, when the indicator indicates that the customer has opted in to receive electronic receipts; and storing in a storage device by the electronic receipt server, the electronic receipt in association with the second user ID converted from the first user ID. The electronic receipt server transmits the stored electronic receipt over the network in response to a request received over the network from a computing device associated with the second user ID. 
     Embodiments of a commodity sales processing system in which a self-registration system is associated with an electronic receipt system, are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     First Embodiment 
     [Commodity Sales Processing System] 
       FIG.  1    schematically illustrates a retail store  100  having a commodity sales processing system, and  FIG.  2    is a block diagram of the commodity sales processing system. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , the commodity sales processing system includes a facing-type POS (Point Of Sales) apparatus  10 , a self-service POS apparatus  20 , and a relay device  30  in the retail store  100 . Further, as shown in  FIG.  2   , the commodity sales processing system includes a store server  40 , a self-registration support server (hereinafter referred to as a support server)  50 , and a router  60  in the retail store  100 . Moreover, in the retail store  100 , the commodity sales processing system includes a LAN (Local Area Network)  70  with which the POS apparatuses  10  and  20 , the relay device  30 , the store server  40 , the support server  50 , and the router  60  are connected. The LAN  70  may be a wired LAN or a wireless LAN. The router  60  relays data communication between the LAN  70  and a network  200 . 
     In the commodity sales processing system, POS apparatuses  10 ,  20 , and the support server  50  function as a commodity sales processing apparatus. The support server includes a registration unit having a commodity detector configured to detect commodity codes input by customers, and the POS apparatuses  10 ,  20  function as a settlement unit having an input device for inputting sales data. 
     The electronic receipt server  80  is connected with the network  200 . The electronic receipt server  80  also stores electronic receipt data, i.e., electronic receipts. By accessing the electronic receipt server  80  from an information processing apparatus  210  connected with the network  200 , a customer can browse his or her electronic receipts on the information processing apparatus  210 . The information processing apparatus  210  may be a personal computer, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, or the like. The network  200  is, for example, the Internet or a mobile communication network. 
     Although only the commodity sales processing system of one store is shown in  FIG.  2   , the commodity sales processing systems of a plurality of retail stores  100  may be connected with the network  200 . Moreover, the commodity sales processing systems of the retail stores  100  may share the electronic receipt server  80 . 
     [POS Apparatus (Commodity Sales Data Processing Apparatus)] 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the facing-type POS apparatus  10  located at a checkout counter  2  in a checkout region  1  is operated by a cashier  3 . The POS apparatus  10  includes a scanner  11  located on the checkout counter  2 . The scanner  11  is also operated by the cashier  3 . The cashier  3  faces a customer  4  waiting to check out across the checkout counter  2 . The cashier  3  reads, with the scanner  11 , a barcode affixed on a commodity  5  to be purchased by the customer  4 . The scanner  11  sends barcode data obtained by reading the barcode to the POS apparatus  10 . The POS apparatus  10  specifies the commodity  5  according to the barcode data sent from the scanner  11  and registers sales quantities, the sales amount and the like of the commodity  5 , in a transaction region in memory. Further, the POS apparatus  10  displays the commodity name, the sales quantities, the sales amount and total amount of the commodities  5  registered in the transaction region, on a display  13 . The display  13  includes a display  13   a  for operator and a display  13   b  for customer. 
     If the commodities  5  purchased by the customer  4  are all registered, then the cashier  3  inputs payment data through the input device of the POS apparatus  10 . For example, the cashier  3  operates a keyboard  12  to input an amount paid by the customer. The POS apparatus  10  executes a settlement process on the commodity transaction with the customer  4  according to the payment data. During the settlement process, the POS apparatus  10  drives a printer  14  to issue a receipt (hereinafter referred to as a paper receipt) by printing the details of the commodity transaction on receipt paper. If the customer  4  is an electronic receipt member (subscriber), then the issuing of the paper receipt may be optional. 
     The self-service POS apparatus  20  is located at the checkout region  1  for the customer  4  to operate. The POS apparatus  20  has a scanner  21 , a touch panel  22 , an automatic change dispensing machine  23 , and a printer  24  for printing a receipt. The customer  4  standing in front of the POS apparatus  20  operates the scanner  21  to read the barcode affixed on a commodity  5  to be purchased by the customer  4 . The POS apparatus  20  specifies the commodity  5  according to the barcode read by the scanner  21  and registers the sales quantities, the sales amount, and the like of the commodity  5  in a transaction region. Further, the POS apparatus  20  displays the commodity name, the sales quantities, the sales amount, and the total amount of commodities  5  registered in the transaction region, on the touch panel  22 . 
     After the registration processing of the sales commodities  5  is completed, the customer  4  inputs payment data through the input device of the POS apparatus  20 . For example, the customer  4  operates the touch panel  22  to select a payment method. If a cash payment is selected, the customer  4  puts cash into the automatic change dispensing machine  23 . If an electronic money payment is selected, the customer  4  directs an electronic money card to a reader/writer (not shown). The POS apparatus  20  carries out a settlement process for the commodities transaction for the customer  4  according to the payment data. During the settlement process, the POS apparatus  20  drives the printer  24  to issue a paper receipt on which the content of the commodity transaction is printed. If the customer  4  is an electronic receipt member (subscriber), then the issuing of the paper receipt may be optional. 
     Instead of or in addition to the foregoing payment methods, other payment methods such as credit card payment and merchandise coupon payment may be included in the payment methods available in the POS apparatus  20 . Instead or in addition to cash payment, other payment methods such as electronic money payment, credit card payment, or merchandise coupon payment can also be included in the payment methods available in the POS apparatus  10 . 
     The POS apparatus  10  or  20  is referred to as a commodity sales data processing apparatus. 
       FIG.  3    is a block diagram of the POS apparatus  10  or  20 . The POS apparatus  10  or  20  includes a processor  101 , a main memory  102 , an auxiliary storage device  103 , a communication interface  104  and an I/O (Input/Output) interface  105 . The processor  101  is connected with the main memory  102 , the auxiliary storage device  103 , the communication interface  104  and the I/O interface  105  via a system transmission line  106  including an address bus line, a data bus line, a control signal line and the like. 
     The POS apparatus  10  or  20  comprises a computer including the processor  101 , the main memory  102 , the auxiliary storage device  103 , and the system transmission line  106  connecting these sections. 
     The processor  101  acts as a central component of the computer. The processor  101  controls each section to perform the various functions of the POS apparatus  10  or  20  according to an operating system or application program. 
     The main memory  102  acts as main memory of the computer. The main memory  102  includes a nonvolatile memory unit and a volatile memory unit. The main memory  102  stores an operating system or application program in the nonvolatile memory unit. Further, in some cases, the main memory  102  also stores data required by the processor  101  to control each component in the nonvolatile or volatile memory unit. The main memory  102  uses the volatile memory unit as a work area for the processor  101  to rewrite data properly. The work area includes a transaction region. The transaction region is a region in which the sales data of the commodities sold in a commodity transaction and the settlement data of the commodity transaction are stored. 
     The auxiliary storage device  103  acts as auxiliary memory of the computer. The auxiliary storage device  103  may be, for example, an EEPROM (Electric Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), a HDD (hard disk drive) or an SSD (solid state drive). The auxiliary storage device  103  persistently stores the data used by the processor  101  to carry out various processes or the data generated in the process carried out by the processor  101 . The auxiliary storage device  103  may also store the foregoing operating system and application program. 
     The communication interface  104  is an interface for carrying out data communication between the store server  40  and the support server  50  which are connected with each other via the LAN  70 . 
     The I/O interface  105  is an interface for data communication among various input/output devices. In the case of facing-type POS apparatuses  10 , the scanner  11 , the keyboard  12 , the display for operator  13   a,  the display for customer  13   b,  and the printer  14  are connected with the I/O interface  105 . In the case of the self-service POS apparatus  20 , the scanner  21 , the touch panel  22 , the automatic change dispensing machine  23 , and the printer  24  are connected with the I/O interface  105 . 
     No specific limitations are given to the number of the facing-type POS apparatuses  10  or the self-service POS apparatuses  20  installed in a retail store  100 . A proper number of facing-type POS apparatuses  10  and a proper number of self-service POS apparatuses  20  are installed in the retail store  100  according to the scale or the layout inside the retail store  100 . Further, it is not necessary to include both of the facing-type POS apparatuses  10  and the self-service POS apparatuses  20 . Instead, only one of the facing-type POS apparatus  10  and the self-service POS apparatus  20  may be installed at the checkout region  1  for the commodity sales processing system. 
     The POS ID of each of the POS apparatuses  10  and  20  is stored in the auxiliary storage device  103 . The POS ID of each of the POS apparatuses  10  and  20  may also be stored in the main memory  102 . The POS ID is the fixed identification information of each of the POS apparatuses  10  and  20 . The POS ID of each of the POS apparatuses  10  and  20  is also unique. The store server  40  and the support server  50  identify each of the POS apparatuses  10  and  20  connected with the LAN  70  according to the POS ID of the POS apparatus  10  or  20 . 
     Each of the POS apparatuses  10  and  20  is marked with a barcode  7  representing the POS ID thereof. For example, as shown in  FIG.  1   , in the case of the facing-type POS apparatuses  10 , a barcode  7  is marked on a surface of the scanner  11  opposite to the side where the cashier  3  operates the scanner  11 , that is, on the side of the customer  4 . In the case of the self-service POS apparatus  20 , the barcode  7  is marked on the front side of the housing of the self-service POS apparatus  20  opposite to the customer  4 . Further, the position of the barcode  7  shown in  FIG.  1    is only an example. No specific limitations are given to the position of the barcode  7 . In addition, the barcode  7  may be replaced by a two-dimensional code. 
     [Store Server] 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the store server  40  includes a commodity database  41 . In the commodity database  41 , the commodity data, for example, the commodity name and the price, of each commodity sold in the retail store  100  is stored in association with the commodity code thereof. The commodity code is unique to each commodity  5 . Each commodity  5  has a barcode of the commodity displayed thereon. By reading the barcode using the scanner  11  or  21 , the POS apparatus  10  or  20  registers the sales data of the commodity  5  in the transaction region. 
     The store server  40  collects, via the LAN  70 , the sales data of each commodity  5  registered by each of POS apparatuses  10  and  20 . Then, the store server  40  sorts the collected sales data by commodity, by time range and the like. That is, the POS apparatus  10  or  20  and the store server  40  function as a well-known POS system. 
     [Relay Device] 
     The relay device  30  conforms to, for example, a wireless communication standard such as Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity). One or more of the relay devices  30  are located in the retail store so that the wireless communication region of the relay devices  30  substantially covers the entire region of a sales floor  6  and the checkout region  1  in the retail store  100 . The relay device  30  sends or receives data through wireless communication, using one or more portable information terminals  400  existing in the wireless communication region. No specific limitations are given to the number of the relay devices  30 . A proper number of relay devices  30  may be installed in the retail store  100  according to the scale or the internal layout of the retail store  100 . 
     [Portable Information Terminal] 
       FIG.  4    is a block diagram of the portable information terminal  400 . The portable information terminal  400  includes a processor  401 , a main memory  402 , an auxiliary storage device  403 , a touch panel  404 , a camera unit  405 , and a wireless unit  406 . The processor  401  is connected with the main memory  402 , the auxiliary storage device  403 , the touch panel  404 , the camera unit  405 , and the wireless unit  406  via a system transmission line  407  including an address bus line, a data bus line, a control signal line, and the like. 
     The portable information terminal  400  comprises a computer including the processor  401 , the main memory  402 , the auxiliary storage device  403  and the system transmission line  407  connecting these sections. 
     The processor  401  acts as a main component of the computer. The processor  401  controls each section to perform the functions of the portable information terminal  400  according to an operating system or application program. 
     The main memory  402  acts as main memory of the computer. The main memory  402  includes a nonvolatile memory unit and a volatile memory unit. The main memory  402  stores an operating system or application program in the nonvolatile memory unit. Further, the main memory  402  also stores the data required by the processor  401  to control each section in the nonvolatile or volatile memory unit. The main memory  402  uses the volatile memory unit as a work area for the processor  401  to rewrite data properly. 
     The auxiliary storage device  403  acts as auxiliary memory of the computer. The auxiliary storage device  403  is, for example, an EEPROM. A HDD and an SSD may also be used as the auxiliary storage device  403 . The auxiliary storage device  403  persistently stores the data used by the processor  401  to carry out various processes or the data generated in the process carried out by the processor  401 . The auxiliary storage device  403  may also store the foregoing operating system and application program. 
     The touch panel  404  functions as the input device and a display device of the portable information terminal  400 . An icon for starting the foregoing application program may be displayed on the touch panel  404 . 
     The camera unit  405  has a resolution that is sufficient to recognize a barcode. The wireless unit  406  sends data to or receives data from the relay device  30  through wireless communication. For example, among portable information processing apparatuses such as smart phones, mobile phones and tablet terminals, an information processing apparatus having the camera unit  405  and the wireless unit  406  functions as the portable information terminal  400 . 
     By executing a self-registration terminal program P 1 , the portable information terminal  400  with such a structure functions as an information terminal corresponding to a self-registration system. The self-registration system can perform the registration process in place of the POS apparatus  10  or  20  by enabling the customer  4  to register data of a sales commodity through the information terminal. The settlement process of the commodity purchase is executed by the POS apparatus  10  or  20  in the conventional manner. 
     When the processor executes the self-registration terminal program P 1 , the portable information terminal  400  functions as an information terminal corresponding to the self-registration system. The self-registration terminal program P 1  is stored in the auxiliary storage device  403 . Further, a self-registration management region W 1  is formed in the auxiliary storage device  403  of the portable information terminal  400 . 
     By executing an electronic receipt terminal program P 2 , the portable information terminal  400  functions as an information terminal corresponding to an electronic receipt system. The electronic receipt system is a system which formats the information of a receipt (receipt data) generated by each of the POS apparatuses  10  and  20 , stores the electronic receipt data in the electronic receipt server  80 , such that the receipt data can be retrieved by the information processing apparatus  210  via the network  200 . That is, the portable terminal containing the electronic receipt terminal program P 2  functions as the information processing apparatus  210 . 
     When the processor  401  executes the electronic receipt terminal program P 2 , the portable information terminal  400  functions as an information terminal corresponding to the electronic receipt system. The electronic receipt terminal program P 2  is stored in the auxiliary storage device  403 . Further, an electronic receipt management region W 2  is formed in the auxiliary storage device  403  of the portable information terminal  400 . 
     [Support Server (Commodity Data Input Support Server)] 
       FIG.  5    is a block diagram of the support server  50 . The support server  50  includes a processor  501 , a main memory  502 , an auxiliary storage device  503 , and a communication interface  504 . The processor  501  is connected with the main memory  502 , the auxiliary storage device  503 , and the communication interface  504  via a system transmission line  505  including an address bus line, a data bus line, a control signal line, and the like. 
     The support server  50  comprises a computer having the processor  501 , the main memory  502 , the auxiliary storage device  503 , and the system transmission line  505  connecting these sections. 
     The processor  501  acts as a main component of the computer. The processor  501  controls each section to perform the functions of the support server  50  according to an operating system or application program. 
     The main memory  502  acts as main memory of the computer. The main memory  502  includes a nonvolatile memory unit and a volatile memory unit. The main memory  502  stores an operating system or application program in the nonvolatile memory unit. Further, the main memory  502  may also store the data needed by the processor  501  to control each section in the nonvolatile or volatile memory unit. The main memory  502  uses the volatile memory unit as a work area for the processor  501  to rewrite data properly. 
     The auxiliary storage device  503  acts as auxiliary memory of the computer. The auxiliary storage device  503  is, for example, an EEPROM, a HDD, or an SSD. The auxiliary storage device  503  persistently stores the data used by the processor  501  to carry out various processes or the data generated by the process carried out by the processor  501 . The auxiliary storage device  503  may also store the foregoing operating system and application program. 
     The communication interface  504  is an interface for data communication between the store server  40  and each of POS apparatuses  10  and  20  which are connected with each other via the LAN  70 . 
     The support server  50  having the foregoing structure functions as a commodity data input support server that supports a user input of commodity data related to a self-registration process, and has a self-registration server program P 3  in the auxiliary storage device  503 . Further, the support server  50  forms a store information region W 3  and a transaction file region W 4  in the auxiliary storage device  503 . 
     The self-registration server program P 3  stays in the support server  50 . Through the support server  50  executing the self-registration server program P 3  in cooperation with the portable information terminal  400  executing the self-registration terminal program P 1 , the customer  4  can carry out a self-registration process for commodities to be purchased. 
     The store information region W 3  is a region for storing information relating to the retail store (seller)  100 , in which the support server  50  is arranged, for example, seller information such as the name of a store. 
     The transaction file region W 4  is a region for storing a commodity transaction file  510  having a data structure shown in  FIG.  6   . The commodity transaction file  510  is formed for each customer  4  executing a self-registration process. A plurality of commodity transaction files  510  corresponding to a plurality of customers  4  can be synchronously stored in the transaction file region W 4 . 
     The data in the commodity transaction file  510  consists of a self-registration ID, store information, an association flag F, one or more commodity sales data, and a total sales data. 
     The self-registration ID (first ID) is a unique code for identifying a customer  4  who performs a self-registration operation. That is, the self-registration ID (first ID) is an ID of the user of the portable information terminal  400 . A self-registration ID is set for each customer  4  when each customer  4  installs the self-registration terminal program P 1  in the portable information terminal  400 . The self-registration ID is used as an authentication ID for a customer  4  to log into the support server  50  from the portable information terminal  400 . If the customer  4  logs into the support server  50 , then the self-registration ID is stored in the self-registration management region W 1  of the portable information terminal  400 . Each customer  4  is assigned an optional but unique self-registration ID. 
     The association flag F is 1-bit data indicating whether or not the self-registration system is associated with the electronic receipt system. A customer  4  who installs the self-registration terminal program P 1  and the electronic receipt terminal program P 2  in the portable information terminal  400  can make the self-registration system become associated with the electronic receipt system. That is, the customer  4  can download details of the transaction for the commodities self-registered to the portable information terminal  400  as an electronic receipt and browse the details of the commodity transaction. Whether or not the self-registration system is associated with the electronic receipt system can be optionally set by the customer  4 . If the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system is set by the customer  4 , then an association flag F is set in the self-registration management region W 1  of the portable information terminal  400 . If the association is not set, then the association flag F is not set therein. The customer  4  can change the setting of the association flag F by operating the portable information terminal  400 . 
     Further, the support server  50  can use, for example, a conventional server device or a conventional computing device as the basic hardware thereof. The support server  50  may not initially contain the self-registration server program P 3  in the auxiliary storage device  503  thereof, and the self-registration server program P 3  may be installed later. In this case, the self-registration server program P 3  is delivered by being recorded in a removable recording medium such as a magnetic disc, a magneto-optical disc, a compact disc, or a semiconductor memory, or by being downloaded through a network. Moreover, in this case, the self-registration server program P 3  is written into the auxiliary storage device  503  through an operation of the user. 
     [Electronic Receipt Server] 
       FIG.  7    is a block diagram of the electronic receipt server  80 . The electronic receipt server  80  includes a processor  801 , a main memory  802 , an auxiliary storage device  803  and a communication interface  804 . The processor  801  is connected with the main memory  802 , the auxiliary storage device  803 , and the communication interface  804  via a system transmission line  805  including an address bus line, a data bus line, a control signal line, and the like. 
     The electronic receipt server  80  comprises a computer having the processor  801 , the main memory  802 , the auxiliary storage device  803 , and a system transmission line  805  connecting these sections. 
     The processor  801  acts as a main component of the computer. The processor  801  controls each section to perform the functions of the electronic receipt server  80  according to an operating system or application program. 
     The main memory  802  acts as main memory of the computer. The main memory  802  includes a nonvolatile memory unit and a volatile memory unit. The main memory  802  stores an operating system or application program in the nonvolatile memory unit. Further, the main memory  802  may also store the data required by the processor  801  to control each component in the nonvolatile or volatile memory unit. The main memory  802  uses the volatile memory unit as a work area for the processor  801  to rewrite data properly. 
     The auxiliary storage device  803  acts as auxiliary memory of the computer. The auxiliary storage device  803  is, for example, an EEPROM, an HDD, or an SSD. The auxiliary storage device  803  persistently stores the data used by the processor  801  to carry out various processes or the data resulting from the process carried out by the processor  801 . The auxiliary storage device  803  may store also the foregoing operating system and application program. 
     The communication interface  804  is an interface for the data communication between the store server  40  and the information processing apparatus  210  which are connected with each other via the network  200 . 
     The electronic receipt server  80  having this structure contains an electronic receipt server program P 4  in the auxiliary storage device  803 . Further, the electronic receipt server  80  has an electronic receipt region W 5  and a linkage table region W 6  in the auxiliary storage device  803 . 
     The electronic receipt server program P 4  is stored in the electronic receipt server  80 . Through execution of the electronic receipt server program P 4  by the electronic receipt server  80  and the electronic receipt terminal program P 2 , the portable information terminal  400  can display an electronic receipt thereon. 
     The electronic receipt region W 5  is a region for storing an electronic receipt file  810  having a data structure shown in  FIG.  8   . The electronic receipt file  810  is formed for each commodity transaction for which an electronic receipt is generated. A plurality of electronic receipt files  810  corresponding to a plurality of commodity transactions can be simultaneously stored in the electronic receipt region W 5 . 
     The data in the electronic receipt file  810  consists of an electronic receipt ID, a store name, a transaction date and time and a total amount, which represent simplified data of an electronic receipt, and the actual data of the electronic receipt. Further, the simplified data are not limited to the combination of a store name, a transaction date and time, and a total amount. For example, the simplified data may be a combination of a store name and a transaction date and time, or the combination of a transaction date and time, and a total amount. Further, other items different from a store name, a transaction date and time, and a total amount may also be contained in the simplified data. 
     The electronic receipt ID (second ID) is a unique code for identifying a customer  4  using the electronic receipt system. To use the electronic receipt system, a customer  4  carries out a member registration operation with respect to a system manager in advance. The customer  4  who completed the member registration receives a fixed electronic receipt ID assigned by the system manager. The electronic receipt ID is used as an authentication ID for the customer  4  to log into the electronic receipt server  80  from the portable information terminal  400 . If the customer  4  logs into the electronic receipt server  80  from the portable information terminal  400 , an electronic receipt ID is stored in the electronic receipt management region W 2  of the portable information terminal  400 . Each customer  4  who completed the member registration receives a unique electronic receipt ID. That is, the electronic receipt ID (second ID) is an ID used by the customer to receive an electronic receipt. 
     The linkage table region W 6  is a region for storing a linkage table  820  having a data structure shown in  FIG.  9   . The linkage table  820  stores the electronic receipt ID of a customer  4  who sets the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system in association with a self-registration ID. That is, when the customer  4  sets the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system, the electronic receipt ID of the customer  4  is stored in the linkage table  820  in association with a self-registration ID. 
     Here, the electronic receipt server  80  can be set up using, for example, a conventional server device or computer device as the basic hardware thereof. The electronic receipt server  80  may not initially contain the electronic receipt server program P 4  in the auxiliary storage device  803  thereof, and the electronic receipt server program P 4  may be installed later. In this case, the electronic receipt server program P 4  is recorded in a removable recording medium such as a magnetic disc, a magneto-optical disc, a compact disc, or a semiconductor memory, or by being downloaded through a network. Moreover, in this case, the electronic receipt server program P 4  is written into the auxiliary storage device  803  through an operation of the user. 
     [Operation of Commodity Sales Processing System] 
     Next, an operation carried out by the commodity sales processing system when the self-registration system is associated with the electronic receipt system is described below with reference to flowcharts of  FIG.  10   - FIG.  13   .  FIG.  10    is a flowchart illustrating a main procedure of a process carried out by the processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400  according to the self-registration terminal program P 1 .  FIG.  11    is a flowchart illustrating main operation of a process carried out by the processor  501  of the support server  50  according to the self-registration server program P 3 .  FIG.  12    is a flowchart illustrating a main procedure of a process carried out by the processor  101  of the POS apparatus  10  or  20  according to a control program when the POS apparatus receives a settlement request (described below).  FIG.  13    is a flowchart illustrating main procedures of a process carried out by the processor  801  of an electronic receipt server  80  according to the electronic receipt server program P 4 . Here, the content of each processing described below with reference to  FIG.  10   - FIG.  13    is merely an example, and various other processes that can achieve the same structure can be properly performed. 
     Before shopping in the retail store  100 , the customer  4  operates the touch panel  404  of the portable information terminal  400  to start the self-registration terminal program P 1 . That is, the customer  4  touches the icon to launch the self-registration terminal program P 1 , displayed on the touch panel  404 . If the self-registration terminal program P 1  is started, then the processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400  starts the process shown in  FIG.  10   . 
     First, the processor  401  determines whether or not the customer has logged into the support server  50  (Act  1 ). If the self-registration terminal program P 1 , after being launched, is ended without being logged out, the login state of the customer is maintained. A self-registration ID serving as an authentication ID is stored in the self-registration management region W 1  during the login state. 
     If the customer has not logged into the support server  50  (No in Act  1 ), the processor  401  displays a login screen on the touch panel  404  (Act  2 ). A customer  4  logs in by inputting a self-registration ID on the login screen. The customer  4  may input a self-registration ID and a password. 
     When the customer logs in, the processor  401  wirelessly sends login information including the self-registration ID. The login information is received by the relay device  30  and transmitted therefrom to the support server  50  via the LAN  70 . The support server  50  authenticates the login operation. Then, the support server  50  notifies the portable information terminal  400  of the result of the authentication through a route inverse to that for login information. 
     The processor  401  determines whether or not the login is approved (Act  3 ). If it is determined that the login is not approved (No in Act  3 ), the processor  401  may perform a login operation again (Act  2 ). If it is determined that the login is approved (Yes in Act  3 ), the processor  401  stores the self-registration ID used for the login operation in the self-registration management region W 1  (Act  4 ). 
     If the login is approved and the self-registration ID is stored in the self-registration management region W 1  or the self-registration ID is stored in the self-registration management region W 1  during the login process (Yes in Act  1 ), the processor  401  extracts the self-registration ID from the self-registration management region W 1 . Further, the processor  401  extracts an association flag F in the self-registration management region W 1  (Act  5 ). The association flag F is set as ‘1’ if the user sets the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system. The association flag F is set as ‘0’ if the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system is not set. 
     The processor  401  wirelessly sends a registration start command containing the self-registration ID and the association flag F extracted from the self-registration management region W 1  (Act  6 ). The registration start command wirelessly sent from the wireless unit  406  is received by the relay device  30  and transmitted therefrom to the support server  50  via the LAN  70 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  11   , the processor  501  of the support server  50  in which the self-registration server program P 3  runs, waits for the registration start command (Act  21 ). If the processor  501  receives the registration start command sent from the portable information terminal  400 , the processor  501  acquires store information from the store information region W 3  of the auxiliary storage device  503  (Act  22 ). Moreover, the processor  501  generates a commodity transaction file  510  in the transaction file region W 4 . Then, the processor  501  stores the self-registration ID and the association flag F that are contained in the registration start command and the store information acquired from the store information region W 3  in the commodity transaction file  510  (Act  23 ). 
     The processor  501  sends the store information to the portable information terminal  400  from where the registration start command is originally sent (Act  24 ). The store information is wirelessly sent from the relay device  30  and received by the wireless unit  406  of the portable information terminal  400  that has sent the registration start command. Further, not limited to the foregoing sequence, Act  22  and Act  23  may be executed in a reverse sequence. Further, not limited to the foregoing sequence, Act  23  and Act  24  may be executed in a reverse sequence. 
     As shown in  FIG.  10   , the processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400  which has sent the registration start command waits to receive the store information (Act  7 ). If the wireless unit  406  receives the store information (Yes in Act  7 ), the processor  401  displays a registration screen on the touch panel  404  (Act  8 ). Further, the processor  401  drives the camera unit  405  (Act  9 ). Here, not limited to the foregoing sequence, Act  8  and Act  9  may be executed in a reverse sequence. 
     The registration screen displays, for example, the store information. Detail columns, including columns of ‘commodity name’, ‘price’, and ‘total amount’ are displayed on the registration screen. Information for urging the customer  4  to carry out a self-registration operation may also be displayed on the registration screen. The customer  4  who viewed the registration screen starts shopping on the sales floor  6 . Then, the customer  4  photographs the barcode affixed on a commodity  5  to be purchased, using the camera unit  405 . The photographed commodity  5  is placed in a shopping cart. 
     The processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400  waits until a barcode is detected from an image captured by the camera unit  405  (Act  10 ). If the barcode is detected (Yes in Act  10 ), the processor  401  adds the self-registration ID stored in the self-registration management region W 1  to the barcode data and wirelessly sends the processed barcode data (Act  11 ). The barcode data containing the self-registration ID sent from the wireless unit  406  is received by the relay device  30  and transmitted therefrom to the support server  50  via the LAN  70 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  11   , the processor  501  of the support server  50  which has sent the store information to the portable information terminal  400  waits until the barcode data are sent from the portable information terminal  400  (Act  25 ). If the processor  501  receives the barcode data containing the self-registration ID (Yes in Act  25 ), the processor  501  determines whether the barcode data are a commodity code or a POS ID (Act  26  and Act  27 ). A barcode  7  of a POS ID is different in the code system from a barcode of a commodity code. The processor  501  determines the type of the barcode according to the difference in the code system. 
     If the barcode data represent a commodity code (Yes in Act  26 : commodity detector), the processor  501  accesses the store server  40 . Then, the processor  501  acquires, from the commodity database  41  of the store server  40 , commodity data (e.g. commodity name, price) associated with the commodity code (Act  28 ). 
     The processor  501  generates commodity sales data containing a commodity code, a commodity name, a unit price, sales quantities, a sales amount (Act  29 ) after the processor  501  acquires the commodity data. Moreover, the processor  501  registers the commodity sales data in the commodity transaction file  510  specified by the self-registration ID attached to the barcode data (Act  30 : storage module). Further, the processor  501  sends the commodity sales data to the portable information terminal  400  from which the barcode data have been originally sent (Act  31 ). The commodity sales data are wirelessly sent from the relay device  30  and received by the wireless unit  406  of the portable information terminal  400  that has sent the barcode data. Further, not limited to the foregoing sequence, Act  30  and Act  31  may be executed in a reverse sequence. 
     The processor  501  completing the processing in Act  30  and Act  31  waits until new barcode data are from the same portable information terminal  400  (Act  25 ). 
     As shown in  FIG.  10   , the processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400  which sends the barcode data waits until data are sent from the support server  50  (Act  12 ). If the processor  401  receives data from the support server  50  (Yes in Act  12 ), the processor  401  determines whether or not the data are commodity sales data (Act  13 ). If it is determined that the data are commodity sales data (Yes in Act  13 ), the processor  401  displays the commodity name, the price, and the like of a purchased commodity contained in the commodity sales data in detail columns of the registration screen (Act  14 ). Then, the processor  401  waits for detection of a new barcode from an image captured by the camera unit  405  (Act  10 ). 
     In this way, the processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400  carries out Act  10 -Act  14  every time a customer  4  photographs the barcode affixed on a commodity  5  using the camera unit  405 . On the other hand, the support server  50  carries out Act  25 -Act  31 . As a result, a commodity transaction file  510  containing the self-registration ID of the customer  4  is formed in the transaction file region W 4  of the support server  50 . Then, the store information and the association flag F as well as the sales data (commodity data) of the commodity  5  purchased by the customer  4  are stored in the commodity transaction file  510 . 
     The customer  4  who has finished shopping in the sales floor  6  goes to the checkout region  1  to carry out settlement operation. The settlement may be carried out at the checkout counter  2  or the self-service POS apparatus  20 . To settle the payment for the commodities to be purchased at the checkout counter  2 , the customer  4  photographs the barcode  7  marked on the scanner  11  located on the checkout counter  2  using the camera unit  405 . To settle the payment of purchased commodities using the self-service POS apparatus  20 , the customer  4  photographs the barcode  7  marked on the housing of the POS apparatus  20  using the camera unit  405 . 
     If the customer  4  photographs the barcode  7  using the camera unit  405 , the processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400  carries out an operation same as the one carried out when the customer  4  photographs the barcode affixed on a commodity  5 . That is, if a barcode is detected from an image obtained by the camera unit  405  (Yes in Act  10 ), the processor  401  attaches the self-registration ID stored in the self-registration management region W 1  to the barcode data and wirelessly sends the barcode data along with the self-registration ID (Act  11 ). The barcode data containing the self-registration ID sent from the wireless unit  406  are received by the relay device  30  and transmitted therefrom to the support server  50  via the LAN  70 . 
     On the other hand, if the processor  501  receives the barcode data containing the self-registration ID (Yes in Act  25 ), the processor  501  of the support server  50  determines whether the data are a barcode of a commodity code or a barcode  7  of a POS ID (Act  26  and Act  27 ). If the data are a barcode  7  of a POS ID (Yes in Act  27 ), the processor  501  determines that the POS apparatus  10  or  20  corresponding to the POS ID is a settlement object (settlement POS apparatus) (Act  32 ). 
     For example, the processor  501  inquires each of the POS apparatuses  10  and  20  that are connected with each other via the LAN  70  about the POS ID. Moreover, the processor  501  determines that the POS apparatus  10  or  20  in response to the POS ID detected according to the barcode data is a settlement POS apparatus. The processor  501  sends a settlement request to the settlement POS apparatus  10  or  20  if the settlement POS apparatus  10  or  20  is determined (Act  33 ). Here, the settlement request is sent to the settlement POS apparatus  10  or  20  via the LAN  70 . 
     The processor  101  of the settlement POS apparatus  10  or  20  receiving the settlement request carries out a process in accordance with the procedure shown in  FIG.  12   . That is, the processor  101  determines whether or not a commodity transaction is being continued (Act  41 ). 
     In case of the self-service POS apparatus  20 , the commodity transaction of the customer  4  is ended when another customer photographs a barcode  7  using the camera unit  405  thereof. However, in case of the facing-type POS apparatuses  10 , the commodity transaction of the customer  4  may not be ended even when another customer photographs a barcode  7  using the camera unit  405  thereof. If the commodity transaction of a customer is not ended, the processor  101  determines that a commodity transaction is being continued. In this case (Yes in Act  41 ), the processor  101  waits for completion of the commodity transaction. If the commodity transaction is completed (No in Act  41 ), the processor  101  sends an approval response to the support server  50  (Act  42 ). 
     As shown in  FIG.  11   , the processor  501  of the support server  50  which has sent the settlement request to the settlement POS apparatus  10  or  20  waits for an approval response (Act  34 ). After receiving the approval response from the settlement POS apparatus  10  or  20  (Yes in Act  34 ), the processor  501  detects the commodity transaction file  510  having the self-registration ID attached to the barcode data. Then, the processor  501  sends the data in the commodity transaction file  510  to the settlement POS apparatus  10  or  20  (Act  35 : a first transmitting module). 
     As shown in  FIG.  12   , the processor  101  of the settlement POS apparatus  10  or  20  which has sent the approval response to the support server  50  waits for the commodity transaction file  510  (Act  43 ). The processor  101  loads the commodity sales data contained in the commodity transaction file  510  to the transaction region of the main memory  102 , if the processor  101  receives the data contained in the commodity transaction file  510  from the support server  50  via the communication interface  504  (Yes in Act  43 ). Then, the processor  101  displays the information, such as the commodity name and the price, contained in the commodity sales data loaded to the transaction region, on the display  13   a  or the touch panel  22  (Act  44 ). 
     Then, the processor  101  waits for input of payment data (Act  45 ). If the barcode of a commodity is read by the scanner  11  or  21  while processor  101  is waiting for the input of payment data, the processor  101  identifies the commodity according to the barcode and loads the sales data thereof to the transaction region. 
     If payment data are input via the keyboard  12  or the touch panel  22  (Yes in Act  45 ), then the processor  101  carries out, according to the payment data, a settlement process corresponding to the commodity sales data stored in the transaction region. During the settlement process, the processor  101  generates print data of the receipt data (Act  46 : a generation module). 
     After the settlement process is ended, the processor  101  checks the association flag F contained in the commodity transaction file  510  sent from the support server  50  (Act  47 ). Here, if the association flag F is set to be ‘1’, the customer  4  completing a self-registration operation sets the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system. If the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system is set (Act  47 : Yes), the processor  101  generates an electronic receipt by formatting the receipt data (Act  48 ). Further, the processor  101  displays, on the display  13   a  or the touch panel  22 , a screen to inquire the customer  4  about whether or not to issue a paper receipt. Moreover, the processor  101  waits for an input indicating whether or not to issue a paper receipt (Act  49 : a reception module). 
     Here, if an input indicating no issue of a paper receipt is received through the operation on the keyboard  12  or touch panel  22  (No in Act  49 ), the processor  101  adds the self-registration ID contained in the commodity transaction file  510  to the electronic receipt. Then, the processor  101  sends the electronic receipt having the self-registration ID added thereto, to the electronic receipt server  80  (Act  50 : a second transmitting module). 
     On the other hand, if an input indicating issue of a paper receipt is received through the operation on the keyboard  12  or touch panel  22  (Yes in Act  49 ), the processor  101  controls the printer  14  or  24  to issue a paper receipt (Act  51 : a control module). Also if the association flag F contained in the commodity transaction file  510  is set as ‘0’ (No in Act  47 ), the processor  101  causes a paper receipt to be issued (Act  51 ). 
     In this way, if the electronic receipt is sent to the electronic receipt server  80  or issue of a paper receipt is instructed, the processor  101  sends a settlement end command to the support server  50  (Act  52 ). Then, the processor  101  ends the process carried out when a settlement request is received. 
     As shown in  FIG.  11   , the processor  501  of the support server  50  which has sent the commodity transaction file  510  to the settlement POS apparatus  10  or  20  waits for a settlement end command (Act  36 ). If the processor  501  receives a settlement end command from the settlement POS apparatus  10  or  20  (Yes in Act  36 ), the processor  501  wirelessly sends the settlement end command to the portable information terminal  400  which has sent the barcode data of a POS ID (Act  37 ). Further, the processor  501  deletes the commodity transaction file  510  the data in which is sent to the settlement POS apparatus  10  or  20 , from the transaction file region W 4  (Act  38 ). Then, the processor  501  ends the process carried out after the registration start command is received. Further, not limited to the foregoing sequence, Act  37  and Act  38  may be executed in a reverse sequence. Further, the commodity transaction file  510  deleted from the transaction file region W 4  may also be stored in another region formed in the auxiliary storage device  503 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  10   , the processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400  which receives the barcode data waits for data from the support server  50  (Act  12 ). If the data are received from the support server  50  (Yes in Act  12 ), the processor  401  determines whether or not the data are commodity sales data (Act  13 ). If the received data are not commodity sales data (No in Act  13 ), the processor  401  determines whether or not the received data are an end command (Act  15 ). If the data received are the end command (Yes in Act  15 ), the processor  401  deletes the registration screen displayed on the touch panel  404  (Act  16 ). Then, the processor  401  ends the process carried out according to the self-registration terminal program P 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  13   , the processor  801  of the electronic receipt server  80  waits to receive data (Act  61 ). After the processor  801  receives the data via the network  200  (Yes in Act  61 ), the processor  801  determines whether or not the data received are an electronic receipt (Act  62 ). If it is determined that the received data is an electronic receipt (Yes in Act  62 ), the processor  801  identifies the ID included in the data is a self-registration ID or an electronic receipt ID (Act  63 ). 
     If an electronic receipt ID is added to the electronic receipt (No in Act  63 ), the processor  801  generates an electronic receipt file  810  containing the electronic receipt ID and the electronic receipt, and stores the generated electronic receipt file  810  in the electronic receipt region W 5  (Act  65 ). 
     If a self-registration ID is added to the electronic receipt (Yes in Act  63 ), the processor  801  retrieves the linkage table  820 . Then, the processor  801  searches an electronic receipt ID set in the linkage table  820  in association with the self-registration ID (Act  64 ). Then, the processor  801  converts the self-registration ID to the electronic receipt ID found in the linkage table  820 . After converting the self-registration ID into the electronic receipt ID, the processor  801  generates an electronic receipt file  810  containing the electronic receipt ID obtained by the conversion and the electronic receipt and stores the generated electronic receipt file  810  in the electronic receipt region W 5  (Act  65 ). Then, the processor  801  ends the process carried out when an electronic receipt is received. 
     In this way, the self-registration ID of a customer  4  who completed a self-registration operation is added to the electronic receipt of a commodity transaction of the commodities registered through the self-registration operation, and the electric receipt data containing the self-registration ID are sent to the electronic receipt server  80 . If the electronic receipt contains the self-registration ID, the electronic receipt server  80  converts the self-registration ID into the electronic receipt ID of the customer  4 . Then, the electronic receipt server  80  generates an electronic receipt file  810  containing the electronic receipt ID and stores the generated electronic receipt file  810  in the electronic receipt region W 5 . On the other hand, when the electronic receipt server  80  receives electronic receipt containing an electronic receipt ID but not a self-registration ID, the electronic receipt server  80  generates an electronic receipt file  810  containing the electronic receipt ID and stores the generated electronic receipt file  810  in the electronic receipt region W 5 . 
     The electronic receipt ID is used as an authentication ID for the customer  4  who is an electronic receipt member (subscriber) to log in the electronic receipt server  80  from the portable information terminal  400 . Thus, the customer  4  who completed a self-registration operation using the portable information terminal  400  can browse, using the portable information terminal  400 , the electronic receipt for the commodity transaction of the commodities registered through the self-registration operation. 
     Further, not limited to the portable information terminal  400 , the apparatus that can log in the electronic receipt server  80  using an electronic receipt ID may also function as the information processing apparatus  210  such as a personal computer and the like. Thus, an electronic receipt for a commodity transaction of the commodities registered through a self-registration operation may also be browsed on the information processing apparatus  210  such as a personal computer and the like. 
     Moreover, the customer  4  and the cashier  3  do not need to input an electronic receipt ID using the POS apparatus  10  or  20  for the commodities registered through a self-registration operation. As a result, the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system causes no increased workload for the customer  4  and the cashier  3 . 
     According to the present embodiment, the self-registration system can simplify the commodity registration by the cashier and reduce time required for the settlement process. In addition, the electronic receipt system can reduce time required to issue paper receipts. By combining the self-registration system and the electronic receipt system, processing speed of the checkout region  1  can be largely improved, which leads to reduction of customers&#39; wait time at the checkout region  1 . Further, as the customers  4  do not need to present their electronic receipt ID at the checkout region  1 , customer convenience can be improved. 
     In the present embodiment, the POS apparatuses  10 ,  20  generate the electronic receipt and transmit it to the electronic receipt server  80 . Alternatively, the store server  40  or the support server  50  may generate the electronic receipt and transmit it to the electronic receipt server  80 . 
     In case of the store server  40 , the commodity sales data or the payment data that are necessary to generate the electronic receipt are transmitted from the POS apparatuses  10 ,  20  to the store server  40 . On the other hand, in case of the support server  50 , the payment data and the self-registration ID are transmitted from the POS apparatuses  10 ,  20  to the support server  50 , because the commodity sales data are stored in the commodity transaction file  510  of the support server  50 . 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, a second embodiment is described below with reference to  FIG.  14   - FIG.  16   . Here, elements shown in  FIG.  14   - FIG.  16    that correspond to those described in the first embodiment are depicted with same reference signs and therefore may not be described in detail. 
       FIG.  14    is a block diagram of a portable information terminal  400 - 2  according to the second embodiment. The portable information terminal  400 - 2  is different from the portable information terminal  400  according to the first embodiment in the data stored in the self-registration management region W 1  of the auxiliary storage device  403 . That is, the portable information terminal  400 - 2  stores an electronic receipt ID in the self-registration management region W 1 . 
     Similar to the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, the customer  4  determines whether or not the self-registration system is associated with the electronic receipt system. If it is set that the self-registration system is associated with the electronic receipt system, the processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400  sets an association flag F in the self-registration management region W 1 . Further, the processor  401  stores the electronic receipt ID used by the customer  4  to log in the electronic receipt server  80  in the self-registration management region W 1 . 
     The electronic receipt ID is stored in the electronic receipt management region W 2  by logging in the electronic receipt server  80 . When setting the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system, the customer  4  starts the electronic receipt terminal program P 2  in advance to log into the electronic receipt server  80 . If so, the electronic receipt ID is stored in electronic receipt management region W 2 , and then the processor  401  copies the electronic receipt ID stored in the electronic receipt management region W 2  to the self-registration management region W 1 . The processor  401  also sets the association flag F. The electronic receipt ID is not deleted even if the customer  4  logs out of the electronic receipt server  80 . Similarly, the association flag F is not reset, even if the customer  4  logs out of the electronic receipt server  80 . That is, if the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system is set, the electronic receipt ID is stored and the association flag F is set in the self-registration management region W 1 . When the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system is deactivated, the customer  4  launches the self-registration program P 1  and performs a predetermined operation to delete the electronic receipt ID from the electronic receipt management region W 2 , and to clear the association flag. 
       FIG.  15    schematically illustrates a data structure of a commodity transaction file  510 - 2  stored in the transaction file region W 4  of the support server  50  according to the second embodiment. The commodity transaction file  510 - 2  according to the second embodiment is different from the commodity transaction file  510  according to the first embodiment in the number of types of the IDs stored therein. Only a self-registration ID is stored in the commodity transaction file  510  according to the first embodiment. However, besides the self-registration ID, an electronic receipt ID is also stored in the commodity transaction file  510 - 2  according to the second embodiment. 
       FIG.  16    is a flowchart illustrating a part of a process carried out by the processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400 - 2  in accordance with the self-registration terminal program P 1  in the second embodiment. As shown in  FIG.  16   , in the second embodiment, Acts  71  and  72  are performed between Act  5  (detecting a self-registration ID and an association flag F) and Act  6  (sending a registration start command). 
     That is, the processor  401  carries out Act  71  after completing Act  5 . In Act  71 , the processor  401  determines whether or not an association flag F is detected in the self-registration management region W 1 . No association flag F is detected if the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system is not set in the portable information terminal  400 . In this case, the processor  401  carries out Act  6  as the result of Act  71  is determined to be ‘No’. That is, the processor  401  wirelessly sends the registration start command which is acquired from the self-registration management region W 1  containing the self-registration ID and the association flag F. 
     In contrast, the association flag F is detected if the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system is set in the portable information terminal  400 - 2 . In this case, the processor  401  carries out Act  72  as the result of Act  71  is determined to be ‘Yes’. 
     In Act  72 , the processor  401  detects an electronic receipt ID from the self-registration management region W 1 . After detecting an electronic receipt ID, the processor  401  carries out Act  6 . That is, the processor  401  wirelessly sends the registration start command containing a self-registration ID, an electronic receipt ID, and the association flag F, which are acquired from the self-registration management region W 1 . The process carried out after Act  6  in the second embodiment is the same as that carried out after Act  6  in the first embodiment. 
     Then, similarly to the first embodiment, after receiving the registration start command, the support server  50  carries out a process according to the procedure shown in  FIG.  11   . However, Act  23  in the second embodiment is partially different from Act  23  in the first embodiment. Specifically, in Act  23  of the first embodiment, the processor  501  generates a commodity transaction file  510  according to the self-registration ID and the association flag F that are contained in the received registration start command, and the store information acquired in Act  22 . In contrast, in Act  23  of the second embodiment, the processor  501  also generates a commodity transaction file  510  according to the self-registration ID and the association flag F that are contained in the registration start command. 
     However, as described with reference to  FIG.  16   , in addition to the self-registration ID and the association flag F, an electronic receipt ID may be also contained in the registration start command in some cases. In these cases, the processor  501  generates a commodity transaction file  510 - 2  in Act  23 . That is, the processor  501  generates the commodity transaction file  510 - 2  (storage module) according to the self-registration ID and the association flag F that are contained in the received registration start command and the store information acquired in Act  22 . 
     Further, similarly to the first embodiment, the processor  101  of the POS apparatus  10  or  20  that receives the settlement request carries out a process in accordance with the procedure shown in  FIG.  12   . However, in Act  5 , the processor  101  attaches the electronic receipt ID contained in the commodity transaction file  510 - 2  to an electronic receipt. The self-registration ID is not added to the electronic receipt. The processor  101  sends the electronic receipt containing the electronic receipt ID to the electronic receipt server  80  (second transmitting module). 
     Similarly to the first embodiment, the processor  801  of the electronic receipt server  80  that receives the electronic receipt carries out a process in accordance with the procedure shown in  FIG.  13   . However, as the ID added to the electronic receipt is an electronic receipt ID, the result of the determination of Act  63  should be ‘NO.’ Thus, Act  64  is not executed. For that reason, in the second embodiment, the linkage table  820  is not needed in the electronic receipt server  80 . 
     According to the second embodiment, the self-registration system can be associated with the electronic receipt system d without increasing the workload of the customer  4  and the cashier  3  in a similar manner as the first embodiment. As a result, the processing speed of the checkout region  1  can be largely improved, and customers&#39; wait time can be reduced. Also, as the customers  4  do not need to present their electronic receipt ID at the checkout region  1 , customer convenience can be improved. 
     Moreover, according to the second embodiment, it would be beneficial that a conventional electronic receipt server can be used as the electronic receipt server  80 . 
     Further, according to the second embodiment, the customer  4  can change the setting of whether to receive a paper receipt or an electronic receipt, by changing the setting of the association flag F in the portable information terminal  400 - 2 . It would be easy for the customer to change the setting in each purchase transaction. 
     In the second embodiment, the association flag F is set in the portable information terminal  400 - 2 , but the association flag F may not be set therein in other embodiments. For example, the electronic receipt server  80  may contain a member database, which stores the association flag F for each electronic receipt ID. Then, if the registration start command from the portable information terminal  400 - 2  contains the electronic receipt ID, the processor  501  of the support server  50  may receive the association flag F in the member database, and store the received association flag F in the commodity transaction file  510 - 2 . 
     Third Embodiment 
     Next, a third embodiment is described below with reference to  FIG.  17   - FIG.  18   . Here, elements shown in  FIG.  17   - FIG.  18    that correspond to those described in the first embodiment are depicted with the same reference signs and not described in detail. 
       FIG.  17    is a block diagram of a POS apparatus  10 - 3  or  20 - 3  according to the third embodiment. The POS apparatus  10 - 3  or  20 - 3  is different from the POS apparatus  10  or  20  in formation of a linkage table region W 7  in the auxiliary storage device  103 . The linkage table region W 7  is a region for storing a linkage table  820  having the data structure shown in  FIG.  9   . 
     In the first embodiment, the electronic receipt server  80  comprises a linkage table  820 . In the third embodiment, the POS apparatus  10 - 3  or  20 - 3  comprises a linkage table  820 , and the electronic receipt server  80  comprises no linkage table  820 . 
       FIG.  18    is a flowchart illustrating a main procedure of a process carried out by the processor  101  of the POS apparatus  10 - 3  or  20 - 3  according to a control program when the POS apparatus  10  or  20  receives the settlement request (described below). Further, the procedure ( FIG.  10   ) of the process carried out by the processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400  according to the self-registration terminal program P 1  and the procedure ( FIG.  11   ) of the process carried out by the processor  501  of the support server  50  according to the self-registration server program P 3  in the third embodiment are the same as those described in the first embodiment, and therefore not described here. 
     The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that Act  48  is carried out after Act  81  if the result of the determination in Act  47  is ‘Yes’, as shown in  FIG.  18   . 
     That is, if it is determined that the association flag F contained in the commodity transaction file  510  sent from the support server  50  is set as ‘1’ (Yes in Act  47 ), the processor  101  searches the linkage table  820  for the electronic receipt ID set in the linkage table  820  in association with the self-registration ID, and converts the self-registration ID into the electronic receipt ID (Act  81 ). Then, the processor  101  generates an electronic receipt by formatting the receipt data (Act  48 ). Further, not limited to the foregoing sequence, Act  81  and Act  48  may be executed in a reverse sequence. 
     That is, in the third embodiment, the POS apparatuses  10 - 3  and  20 - 3  both comprise a linkage table  820 . If the association flag F contained in the commodity transaction file  510  sent from the support server  50  is set as ‘1’, the POS apparatus  10 - 3  or  20 - 3  converts the self-registration ID to an electronic receipt ID. Moreover, the POS apparatus  10 - 3  or  20 - 3  adds the electronic receipt ID in the electronic receipt generated based on the commodity sales data stored in the commodity transaction file  510  and sends the processed electronic receipt to the electronic receipt server  80 . 
     As a result, also according to the third embodiment, the self-registration system can be associated with the electronic receipt system without increasing the workload of the customer  4  and the cashier  3 . Further, the processing speed of the checkout region  1  can be largely improved, and customers&#39; wait time can be reduced. Also, as the customers  4  do not need to present their electronic receipt ID at the checkout region  1 , customer convenience can be improved. 
     Moreover, as an electronic receipt containing an electronic receipt ID is sent to the electronic receipt server  80 , a conventional electronic receipt can be used as the electronic receipt server  80 . 
     In the present embodiment, the POS apparatuses  10 ,  20  generate the electronic receipt and transmit it to the electronic receipt server  80 . Alternatively, the store server  40  or the support server  50  may generate the electronic receipt and transmit it to the electronic receipt server  80 . 
     In case of the store server  40 , the commodity sales data or the payment data that are necessary to generate the electronic receipt are transmitted from the POS apparatuses  10 ,  20  to the store server  40 . On the other hand, in case of the support server  50 , the payment data and the self-registration ID are transmitted from the POS apparatuses  10 ,  20  to the support server  50 , because the commodity sales data are stored in the commodity transaction file  510  of the support server  50 . 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     A fourth embodiment is described below with reference to  FIG.  19   - FIG.  28   . Here, elements and steps shown in  FIG.  19   - FIG.  28    that correspond to those described in the first embodiment are depicted with same reference signs and therefore may not be described in detail. In the present embodiment, a terminal ID is used instead of or in addition to the self-registration ID. 
     [Portable Information Terminal] 
     The portable information terminal  400  according to the fourth embodiment has a storage region W 0  for storing a terminal ID in the auxiliary storage device  403 . The terminal ID is an ID unique to the portable information terminal  400 , such as a phone number. 
     [Support Server (Commodity Data Input Support Server)] 
     The data in the commodity transaction file  510  further consists of the terminal ID, in addition to the self-registration ID, store information, the association flag F, one or more commodity sales data, and total data described in the first embodiment. 
     That is, the commodity transaction file  510  functions as a storage module which stores the commodity data of a sales commodity associated with a commodity code input from the portable information terminal  400 , in association with the terminal ID of the portable information terminal  400  and the self-registration ID of the customer  4 . Here, the commodity data may be stored in a file same as the one containing the terminal ID and the self-registration ID or, alternatively, different from the one. 
     [Electronic Receipt Server] 
     The data in the electronic receipt file  810  further consists of the terminal ID, in addition to the electronic receipt ID, the simplified data of an electronic receipt consisting of a store name, the transaction date and time and a total amount, and the actual data of the electronic receipt. 
     [Operations of Commodity Sales Processing System] 
     Next, an operation carried out by the commodity sales processing system when the self-registration system is associated with the electronic receipt system is described below with reference to flowcharts of  FIG.  19   - FIG.  22   .  FIG.  19   - FIG.  22    in the present embodiment correspond to  FIG.  10   - FIG.  13    in the first embodiment, respectively. 
     In Act  5  in  FIG.  19   , the processor  401  further searches the terminal ID in the terminal ID region W 0 , in addition to the search of the self-registration ID in the self-registration management region W 1 . Then, in Act  6 , the processor  401  wirelessly sends the registration start command containing the self-registration ID, the terminal ID, and the association flag F. 
     In Act  23  in  FIG.  20   , the processor  501  of the support server  50 , after receiving the registration start command, stores the self-registration ID, the terminal ID, and the association flag F in the registration start command in the commodity transaction file  510 . 
     As a result, a commodity transaction file  510  containing the self-registration ID of the customer  4  and the terminal ID of the portable information terminal  400  used by the customer  4  is formed in the transaction file region W 4  of the support server  50 . 
     In Act  35 , the processor  501  of the support server  50  sends the commodity data stored in the commodity transaction file  510 , and the terminal ID and the self-registration ID, to the POS apparatus  10  or  20  associated with a POS ID input from the portable information terminal  400 . Here, the processor  501  may send the commodity data, together with or separately from the terminal ID and the self-registration ID. 
     If the input indicating no issue of a paper receipt is received through the operation on the keyboard  12  or touch panel  22  (No in Act  49 ) in  FIG.  21   , the processor  101  further adds the terminal ID to the electronic receipt, in addition to the self-registration ID. Then, in Act  50 , the processor  101  sends the electronic receipt along with the self-registration ID and the terminal ID to the electronic receipt server  80 . 
     In  FIG.  22   , if an electronic receipt ID is added to the electronic receipt (Act  63 : No), the processor  801  creates an electronic receipt file  810  containing the electronic receipt ID and the electronic receipt and stores the created electronic receipt file  810  in the electronic receipt region W 5  (Act  65 ). Here, no terminal ID is stored in the electronic receipt file  810 . 
     If a self-registration ID is not added to the electronic receipt (Act  63 : Yes), the processor  801  searches the linkage table  820 . Then, the processor  801  converts the self-registration ID to an electronic receipt ID which is associated therewith in the linkage table  820  (Act  64 : a conversion module). After converting the self-registration ID to the electronic receipt ID, the processor  801  creates an electronic receipt file  810  according to the converted electronic receipt ID and the electronic receipt, and stores the created electronic receipt file  810  in the electronic receipt region W 5 . Here, the processor  801  stores the terminal ID attached to the electronic receipt together with the self-registration ID in the created electronic receipt file  810  (Act  65 ). Then, the processor  801  ends the process carried out when receiving the electronic receipt. 
     The processor  801  and the electronic receipt file  810  function as a storage module which stores the electronic receipt in association with the electronic receipt ID corresponding to the self-registration ID, and the terminal ID, with reference to the linkage table  820 , when the terminal ID and the self-registration ID are associated with the electronic receipt received from the POS apparatus  10  or  20 . 
     In this way, the electronic receipt for the transaction of the commodities registered by the customer  4  through the self-registration transmitted to the electronic receipt server  80 , together with the self-registration ID of the customer  4  and the terminal ID of the portable information terminal  400  used by the customer  4 . If the electronic receipt contains the self-registration ID, the electronic receipt server  80  converts the self-registration ID to the electronic receipt ID of the customer  4 . Then, the electronic receipt server  80  creates an electronic receipt file  810  containing the electronic receipt ID and the terminal ID, and stores the created electronic receipt file  810  in the electronic receipt region W 5 . On the other hand, if an electronic receipt containing an electronic receipt ID rather than the self-registration ID, the electronic receipt server  80  creates an electronic receipt file  810  containing the electronic receipt ID and stores the created electronic receipt file  810  in the electronic receipt region W 5 . 
     In the electronic receipt file  810 , in addition to the electronic receipt ID, the terminal ID is also stored. The terminal ID is unique to the portable information terminal  400 . Thus, using the portable information terminal  400  containing the electronic receipt terminal program P 1 , an electronic receipt can be retrieved with a terminal ID, instead of an electronic receipt ID. 
     Next, the operations to view, on the portable information terminal  400 , the electronic receipt generated through the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system are described with reference to  FIG.  23   - FIG.  28   .  FIG.  23    and  FIG.  24    are flowcharts illustrating a main procedure of a process carried out by the processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400  according to the electronic receipt terminal program P 2 .  FIG.  25    is a flowchart illustrating a main procedure of a process carried out by the processor  801  of the electronic receipt server  80  according to the electronic receipt server program P 4 .  FIG.  26   - FIG.  28    schematically illustrate a screen displayed on the touch panel  404  of the portable information terminal  400 . Further, the content of each process described below with reference to  FIG.  23   - FIG.  25    is merely an example, and other processes that can achieve the same effect can be performed properly. 
     The customer  4  who desires to view an electronic receipt operates the touch panel  404  of the portable information terminal  400  to activate the electronic receipt terminal program P 2 . To activate it, the customer  4  touches the icon of the electronic receipt terminal program P 2  displayed on the touch panel  404 . If the electronic receipt terminal program P 2  is activated, the processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400  starts the process shown in the flowchart of  FIG.  23   . 
     First, the processor  401  determines whether or not the electronic receipt server  80  is being logged into (Act  71 ). If the electronic receipt terminal program P 2  is ended without being logged out, the login state is maintained. An electronic receipt ID used as an authentication ID is stored in the electronic receipt management region W 2  during the login process. 
     If the electronic receipt server  80  is not being logged into (Act  81 : No), the processor  401  displays a login screen on the touch panel  404  for login (Act  72 ). The customer  4  inputs own electronic receipt ID on the login screen to log in. The customer  4  may input an electronic receipt ID and a password. 
     If the customer  4  logs in, the processor  401  wirelessly sends login information containing the electronic receipt ID. The log information wirelessly sent from the wireless unit  406  is received by a base station (not shown) and sequentially forwarded to the electronic receipt server  80  via the network  200 . The electronic receipt server  80  authenticates the login. Moreover, the electronic receipt server  80  notifies the portable information terminal  400  of the result of the authentication through a route inverse to that of login information. 
     The processor  401  determines whether or not the login is approved (Act  73 ). If it is determined that the login is not approved (Act  73 : No), the processor  401  may perform the login operation again (Act  72 ). If it is determined that the login is approved (Act  73 : Yes), the processor  401  stores the electronic receipt ID used for the login in the electronic receipt management region W 2  (Act  74 ). 
     If the electronic receipt ID is stored in the electronic receipt management region W 2  as the login is approved or when the login is ongoing (Act  71 : Yes), the processor  401  displays the electronic receipt ID on the touch panel  404  (Act  75 ). 
       FIG.  26    illustrates an example of a screen G 1  displayed on the touch panel  404  in Act  75 . As shown in  FIG.  26   , a barcode B 1 , a ‘view’ button B 2  and an ‘end’ button B 3  are displayed on the screen G 1 . The barcode B 1  represents the electronic receipt ID. An electronic receipt member who does not set the association with the self-registration system but prefers reception of the electronic receipt uses the scanner  11  or  21  of the POS apparatus  10  or  20  to read the barcode of the electronic receipt ID when settling a commodity transaction. Then, electronic data indicating the details of the commodity transaction are sent to the electronic receipt server  80  along with the electronic receipt ID. As a result, an electronic receipt file  810  in which the electronic receipt ID and the electronic receipt are stored is stored in the electronic receipt region W 5  of the electronic receipt server  80 . 
     The customer  4  viewing the screen G 1  selects the ‘view’ button B 2  to view the electronic receipt stored in the electronic receipt server  80 . The customer  4  selects the ‘end’ button B 3  to end the view of the electronic receipt. 
     The processor  401  waits for the selection of the ‘view’ button B 2  or the ‘end’ button B 3  displayed on the screen G 1  (Act  76  and Act  77 ). If the selection of the ‘view’ button B 2  is received (Act  76 : Yes), the processor  401  displays an ID selection screen on the touch panel  404  (Act  78 ). 
       FIG.  27    illustrates an example of a screen G 2  displayed on the touch panel  404  in Act  78 . As shown in  FIG.  27   , a ‘user’ button B 4  and a ‘terminal’ button B 5  are displayed on the screen G 2 . 
     To search an electronic receipt by an electronic receipt ID, the customer  4  selects the ‘user’ button B 4 . To search an electronic receipt by a terminal ID, the customer  4  selects the ‘terminal’ button B 5 . 
     The processor  401  waits for the selection of the ‘user’ button B 4  or the ‘terminal’ button B 5  displayed on the screen G 2  (Act 79  and Act  80 ). If the selection of the ‘user’ button B 4  is received (Act  79 : Yes), the processor  401  sends a view request command containing the electronic receipt ID to the electronic receipt server  80  (Act  81 ). If the selection of the ‘terminal’ button B 5  is received (Act  80 : Yes), the processor  401  sends a view request command containing the terminal ID to the electronic receipt server  80  (Act  82 ). The view request command wirelessly sent from the wireless unit  406  is received by the base station and sequentially received by the electronic receipt server  80  via the network  200 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  25   , the processor  801  of the electronic receipt server  80  waits to receive data (Act  101 ). If the data are received via the network  200  (Act  101 : Yes), the processor  801  determines whether or not the received data are a view request command (Act  102 ). If it is determined that the received data are a view request command (Act  102 : Yes), the processor  801  determines whether the ID contained in the command is an electronic receipt ID or a terminal ID (Act  103 : identification module). An electronic receipt ID is different from a terminal ID in code system. The processor  801  determines whether the ID contained in the command is an electronic receipt ID or a terminal ID according to the difference in code system. Further, not limited to the determination method based on a code system, the ID contained in the command may also be identified according to the number of specific digits unique to the electronic receipt ID or the terminal ID. 
     If the ID contained in the view request command is an electronic receipt ID (Act  103 : Yes), the processor  801  searches the electronic receipt region W 5  for an electronic receipt file  810  containing the electronic receipt ID. Then, the processor  801  reads simplified data including a store name, a transaction date and time, and a total amount from each electronic receipt file  810  to create a list of simplified data (Act  104 : creation module). 
     If the ID contained in the view request command is a terminal ID (Act  103 : No), the processor  801  detects, from the electronic receipt region W 5 , an electronic receipt file  810  in which the terminal ID is stored. Moreover, the processor  801  reads simplified data including a store name, a transaction date and time and a total amount from each detected electronic receipt file  810  to create a list of simplified data (Act  105 : creation module). The processor  801  sends the simplified data list representing the electronic receipt data found according to the electronic receipt ID or the simplified data list representing the electronic receipt data found according to the terminal ID to the portable information terminal  400  from which the view request command has been originally sent (Act  106 : a third sending module). 
     The processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400  which has sent the view request command in Act  81  or Act  82  waits to receive the simplified data list from the electronic receipt server  80  (Act  83 ). If the processor  401  receives the simplified data list (Act  83 : Yes), the processor  401  displays the simplified data list on the touch panel  404  (Act  84 ), as shown in  FIG.  24   . 
       FIG.  28    illustrates an example of a screen G 3  displayed on the touch panel  404  in Act  84 . As shown in  FIG.  19   , a simplified data list L 1 , a ‘select’ button B 6 , and a ‘return’ button B 7  are displayed on the screen G 3 . 
     The content of the simplified data list L 1  if the customer  4  selects the ‘user’ button B 4  displayed on the screen G 2 , is different from that of the simplified data list L 1  if the customer  4  selects the ‘terminal’ button B 5  displayed on the screen G 2 . That is, the simplified data (the store name, the transaction date and time, and the total amount) of the electronic receipt file  810  containing the electronic receipt ID of the customer  4  are displayed in the simplified data list L 1  if the customer  4  selects the ‘user’ button B 4 . 
     The electronic receipt file  810  containing the electronic receipt ID of the customer  4  is generated according to a commodity transaction with the customer  4 . The commodity transaction may include not only a commodity transaction base on the self-registration through the portable information terminal  400 , but also a commodity transaction based on a (direct) input to the POS apparatus  10  or  20 . If the customer  4  uses a plurality of portable information terminals  400 , the commodity transaction includes a commodity transaction corresponding to each portable information terminal  400 . Thus, the simplified data of an electronic receipt generated according to a commodity transaction with the customer  4  is displayed in the simplified data list L 1 . 
     On the other hand, the simplified data (the store name, the transaction date and time, and the total amount) of an electronic receipt file  810  containing the terminal ID of the portable information terminal  400  are displayed in the simplified data list L 1  if the customer  4  selects the ‘terminal’ icon B 5 . 
     An electronic receipt file  810  containing the terminal ID of a portable information terminal  400  is generated according to a self-registration through the portable information terminal  400  associated with the terminal ID. Thus, even for the same customer  4 , the commodity transaction according to the self-registration through another portable information terminal  400  having different terminal ID is not searched, because the terminal ID is different. Thus, only the simplified data of an electronic receipt generated according to a commodity transaction through the specific portable information terminal  400  is displayed in the simplified data list L 1 . 
     The customer  4  viewing the simplified data list L 1  selects (touches) a commodity transaction and selects the ‘select’ button B 6 , to download the corresponding electronic receipt from the list. The customer  4  selects the ‘return’ button B 7  to end the display of the simplified data list L 1 . 
     The processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400  displaying the simplified data list L 1  waits for the selection of the ‘select’ button B 6  (Act  85 ) or the ‘return’ button (Act  86 ). If the ‘select’ button is selected (Act  85 : Yes), the processor  401  sends a download request command requesting the electronic receipt corresponding to the simplified data selected (touched) from the simplified data list L 1 , to the electronic receipt server  80  (Act  87 ). The download request command is received by the electronic receipt server  80  via the network  200 . 
     The processor  801  of the electronic receipt server  80  which sends the simplified data list waits to receive the download request command (Act  107 ). If the download request command is received from the portable information terminal  400  (Act  107 : Yes), the processor  801  reads the electronic receipt requested from the electronic receipt file  810  containing the selected simplified data. Then, the processor  801  downloads the data of the electronic receipt in the portable information terminal  400  from which the download request command has been originally sent (Act  108 ). 
     The processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400  which has sent the download request command waits to receive the download of the electronic receipt (Act  88 ). If the electronic receipt is downloaded via the wireless unit  406 , then the processor  401  stores the electronic receipt in the electronic receipt management region W 2  of the auxiliary storage device  403  (Act  89 ). Sequentially, the processor  401  waits for the selection of the ‘select’ button B 6  (Act  85 ) or the selection of the ‘return’ button (Act  86 ). 
     If the ‘return’ icon B 7  is selected (Act  86 : Yes), the processor  401  returns to carry out Act  75 . That is, the processor  401  causes the screen of the touch panel to return to the display screen G 1  of the electronic receipt ID. The processor  401  waits for the selection of the ‘view’ button B 2  (Act  76 ) or the ‘end’ button B 3  (Act  77 ). 
     If the ‘end’ button B 3  is selected (Act  77 : Yes), the processor  401  deletes the display screen G 1  of the electronic receipt ID (Act  91 ). Then, the processor  401  ends the process carried out according to the electronic receipt terminal program P 2 . 
     The data of the electronic receipt stored in the electronic receipt management region W 2  of the portable information terminal  400  are displayed on the touch panel  404  of the portable information terminal  400 . By selecting the ‘user’ button B 4  on the screen G 2 , the customer  4  can view the electronic receipt associated with the electronic receipt ID, which is used by the customer  4  to log into the electronic receipt server  80 . Further, by selecting the ‘terminal’ button B 5  on the screen G 2 , the customer  4  can view the electronic receipt associated with the terminal ID of the portable information terminal  400  used by the customer  4 . 
     For example, it is assumed that a first portable information terminal  400   a  is used by the customer  4  for the self-registration during five commodity transactions and a second portable information terminal  400   b  is used by the (same) customer  4  for the self-registration of another five commodity transactions. Moreover, it is assumed that the customer  4  receives an electronic receipt for each commodity transaction. 
     In this case, in either one of the portable information terminals  400   a  or  400   b,  by selecting the ‘user’ button B 4  on the screen G 2 , a simplified data list L 1  relating to electronic receipts for all ten commodity transactions is displayed on the touch panel  404  of the portable information terminal  400   a  or  400   b.    
     On the other hand, if the ‘terminal’ button B 5  is selected on the screen G 2  displayed on the touch panel  404  of the portable information terminal  400   a,  a simplified data list L 1  relating to electronic receipts for the five commodity transactions for which self-registrations are carried out using the portable information terminal  400   a  is displayed on the touch panel  404 . Simplified data relating to electronic receipts for the other five commodity transactions for which self-registrations are carried out using the portable information terminal  400   b  are not included in the list L 1 . 
     Contrarily, a simplified data list L 1  relating to electronic receipts for the five commodity transactions for which self-registrations are carried out using the portable information terminal  400   b  is displayed on the touch panel  404  of the portable information terminal  400   b,  if the ‘terminal’ button B 5  is selected on the screen G 2  displayed on the touch panel  404  of the portable information terminal  400   b.  Simplified data relating to electronic receipts for the other five commodity transactions for which self-registrations are carried out using the portable information terminal  400   a  are not included in the list L 1 . 
     Thus, a retrieval using the ‘terminal’ button B 5  is effective if the customer  4  knows the commodity transaction carried out through the portable information terminal  400 . A retrieval using the ‘user’ button B 4  is effective if the commodity transaction is not through the self-registration, or if the customer  4  does not know the commodity transactions carried out through the portable information terminal  400 . 
     Fifth Embodiment 
     Next, a fifth embodiment is described below with reference to  FIG.  29   - FIG.  30   . Here, elements shown in  FIG.  29   - FIG.  30    that correspond to those described in the above embodiments are depicted with same reference signs and therefore may not be described in detail. The present embodiment corresponds to the second embodiment, and the terminal ID is used for the self-registration, similarly to the fourth embodiment. 
       FIG.  29    schematically illustrates a data structure of a commodity transaction file  510 - 2  stored in the transaction file region W 4  of the support server  50  according to the fifth embodiment. The commodity transaction file  510 - 2  according to the fifth embodiment is different from the commodity transaction file  510  according to the fourth embodiment in the number of the stored IDs. A self-registration ID and a terminal ID are stored in the commodity transaction file  510  of the fourth embodiment. In addition to a self-registration ID and a terminal ID, an electronic receipt ID is also stored in the commodity transaction file  510 - 2  of the fifth embodiment. 
       FIG.  30    is a flowchart illustrating a part of a process carried out by the processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400 - 2  according to the self-registration terminal program P 1  in the fifth embodiment. As shown in  FIG.  30   , in the fifth embodiment, Acts  111  and  112  are carried out between the detection process of a self-registration ID, a terminal ID, and an association flag F in Act  5  and the sending process of the registration start command in Act  6 . 
     That is, the processor  401  carries out Act  111  after completing Act  5 . In Act  111 , the processor  401  determines whether or not an association flag F is detected in the self-registration management region W 1 . No association flag F can be detected if the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system is not set by the portable information terminal  400 - 2 . In this case, the processor  401  carries out Act  6 , determining that the result of Act  111  is ‘No’. That is, the processor  401  wirelessly sends the registration start command containing the self-registration ID, the terminal ID, and the association flag F acquired from the self-registration management region W 1 . 
     On the other hand, the association flag F is detected if the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system is set by the portable information terminal  400 - 2 . In this case, the processor  401  carries out Act  112 , determining that the result of Act  111  is ‘Yes’. 
     In Act  112 , the processor  401  detects an electronic receipt ID from the self-registration management region W 1 . After detecting an electronic receipt ID, the processor  401  carries out Act  6 . That is, the processor  401  wirelessly sends the registration start command containing the self-registration ID, the terminal ID, and the electronic receipt ID and the association flag F acquired from the self-registration management region W 1 . The process next to Act  6  of the fifth embodiment is the same as that next to Act  6  of the first embodiment. 
     Then, similarly to the first embodiment, after the support server  50  receives the registration start command, the support server  50  carries out a process according to the procedure shown in  FIG.  11   . However, Act  23  carried out in the fifth embodiment is partially different from Act  23  carried out in the first embodiment. That is, in the first embodiment, the processor  501  creates a commodity transaction file  510  according to the store information acquired in Act  22 , the self-registration ID, the terminal ID, and the information indicated by the association flag F which are contained in the received start command in Act  23 . In the fifth embodiment, in Act  23 , the processor  501  creates a commodity transaction file  510  according to the self-registration ID, the terminal ID, and the association flag F contained in the registration start command. 
     However, in addition to the self-registration ID, the terminal ID, and the association flag F, an electronic receipt ID may be also contained in the registration start command in some cases. In these cases, the processor  501  creates a commodity transaction file  510 - 2  in Act  23 . That is, the processor  501  creates a commodity transaction file  510 - 2  (storage module) according to the self-registration ID, the terminal ID, the electronic receipt ID and the association flag F that are contained in the received registration start command, and the store information acquired in Act  22 . 
     Further, like in the first embodiment, the processor  101  of the POS apparatus  10  or  20  receiving the request command carries out a process according to the procedure shown in  FIG.  12   . During the process, the processor  101  adds the electronic receipt ID contained in the commodity transaction file  510 - 2 , together with the terminal ID, in the data of the electronic receipt in Act  50 . The self-registration ID is not attached to the electronic receipt. The processor  101  sends the electronic receipt associated with the electronic receipt ID and the terminal ID to the electronic receipt server  80 . 
     Like in the first embodiment, the processor  801  of the electronic receipt server  80  that receives the electronic receipt carries out the process according to the procedure shown in  FIG.  13   . During this process, as the ID associated with the electronic receipt is an electronic receipt ID, the result of Act  63  should be ‘NO.’ Thus, Act  64  is not executed. That is, in the fifth embodiment, the linkage table  820  set in the electronic receipt server  80  is not needed. 
     Like in the first embodiment, in the fifth embodiment, the self-registration system can be associated with the electronic receipt system without increasing the workload of the customer  4  and cashier  3 . Moreover, an electronic receipt corresponding to a commodity transaction conducted through the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system can be retrieved from the electronic receipt server  80  by using the terminal ID of the portable information terminal  400 - 2  used in the self-registration as a search key. 
     Sixth Embodiment 
     Next, a sixth embodiment is described. The present embodiment corresponds to the third embodiment, and the terminal ID is used for the self-registration, similarly to the fourth embodiment. 
     According to the sixth embodiment, the self-registration system can be associated with the electronic receipt system without increasing the workload of the customer  4  and cashier  3 . An electronic receipt for a commodity transaction conducted through the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system can be retrieved from the electronic receipt server  80  using the terminal ID of the portable information terminal  400  used for the self-registration as a search key. Moreover, as an electronic receipt associated with an electronic receipt ID is sent to the electronic receipt server  80 , a conventional electronic receipt can be used for the electronic receipt server  80 .Although several embodiments are described, the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments. For example, in the foregoing embodiments, whether or not to associate the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system can be set by the customer  4 . Alternatively, the association of the self-registration system with the electronic receipt system may be fixed. In this case, the association flag F is not needed. Further, the processor  101  of the POS apparatus  10  or  20  does not need to carry out Act  47  shown in  FIG.  12   . Further, in the foregoing embodiments, the customer  4  can select a type of receipt to receive, i.e., a paper receipt or an electronic receipt. Alternatively, the electronic receipt may be always selected, and the paper receipt as an option. In this case, Acts  47 ,  49 , and  51  shown in  FIG.  12    may be omitted. 
     The second transmitting module can be any module that adds the self-registration ID to an electronic receipt and sends the processed electronic receipt to the electronic receipt server  80  when a self-registration ID is associated with the commodity sales data (commodity data) of commodity transaction to be settled, that is, the input of commodity data is through the self-registration operation with the portable information terminal  400 . 
     Further, in the foregoing embodiments, a customer  4  itself registers commodity data using the portable information terminal  400 , but the input of commodity data is not limited to the self-registration. For example, a shop clerk may accompany the customer  4  and operate the portable information terminal  400  to input the data of a commodity purchased by the customer  4 . 
     Further, in the foregoing embodiments, in order to determine a POS apparatus  10  or  20  as a settlement object, the customer  4  photographs the barcode of the POS apparatus  10  or  20  using the camera unit  405 . If the portable information terminal  400  is provided with a NFC (Near Field Communication) reader, a NFC tag instead of a barcode  7  may be attached to the POS apparatus  10  or  20 , so that the NFC reader can read a POS ID from the NFC tag. 
     Further, in the first embodiment, in Act  64  the processor  801  of the electronic receipt server  80  converts the self-registration ID to the electronic receipt ID with reference to the linkage table  820 . However, the conversion process may not be carried out. The processor  801  may only extract the electronic receipt ID which is set in the linkage table  820  in association with the self-registration ID. That is, the processor  801  may generate an electronic receipt file  810  containing the extracted electronic receipt ID and the electronic receipt, and stores the generated electronic receipt file  810  in the electronic receipt region W 5  in Act  65 . 
     Similarly, in Act  81  of the third embodiment, the processor  101  of the POS apparatus  10 - 3  or  20 - 3  converts the self-registration ID to an electronic receipt ID with reference to the linkage table  820 . Alternatively, the processor  101  may extracts the electronic receipt ID set in the linkage table  820  in association with the self-registration ID. Then, the processor  101  may add the extracted electronic receipt ID to the electronic receipt and sends the processed electronic receipt to the electronic receipt server  80  in Act  50 . 
     For example, in the foregoing embodiments, in Act  11  shown in  FIG.  19   , the processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400  embeds the self-registration ID in the barcode and wirelessly sends the barcode data containing the self-registration ID. Alternatively, in Act  11 , the processor  401  may embeds the self-registration ID and the terminal ID in the barcode and wirelessly sends the barcode data. 
     Further, in the foregoing embodiments, in Act  78  shown in  FIG.  23   , the processor  401  of the portable information terminal  400  displays an ID selection screen on the touch panel  404 . That is, in the foregoing embodiments, the keys for searching electronic receipts include an electronic receipt ID and a terminal ID. Alternatively, only the terminal ID can be used as the key for searching the electronic receipts. That is, the electronic receipt that can be searched by the portable information terminal  400  may also be limited to commodity transactions registered through the self-registration by the portable information terminal  400 . In this case, if the selection of the ‘view’ button B 2  is received in Act  76  (Act  76 : Yes), the processor  401  sends a view request command containing the terminal ID to the electronic receipt server  80  (Act  82 ). 
     Further, in the foregoing embodiments, the store server  40  and the support server  50  are located in the retail store  100 . Alternatively, the functions of both the store server  40  and the support server  50  may be integrated in one server. Further, the portable information terminal  400  is not necessarily carried by a customer  4 . For example, the portable information terminal  400  may be replaced by an information terminal mounted on a shopping cart. 
     Further, in the foregoing embodiments, the electronic receipt server  80  stores the electronic receipt in the electronic receipt file  810  in association with an electronic receipt ID and a terminal ID. Alternatively, the electronic receipt server  80  may store the electronic receipt in the electronic receipt file  810  only in association with the terminal ID. That is, the electronic receipt may not be stored in association with an electronic receipt ID. In this case, the customer  4  using the electronic receipt system extracts the electronic receipt using the terminal ID of the portable information terminal  400 . That is, the processor  501  may send the commodity data stored in the commodity transaction file  510 , together with the terminal ID, to the POS apparatus  10  or  20  designated by the data input from the portable information terminal  400 . When the terminal ID is associated with commodity data, the processor  101  associates the terminal ID with an electronic receipt and then sends the electronic receipt associated with the terminal ID to the electronic receipt server  80 . When the terminal ID is associated with an electronic receipt received from the POS apparatus  10  or  20 , the storage module stores the electronic receipt associated with the terminal ID. 
     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 invention. 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 invention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.