Patent Publication Number: US-2010117831-A1

Title: Commodity sales data processing apparatus and control method therefor

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-289090, filed Nov. 11, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a commodity sales data processing apparatus that performs checkout processing for transactions in a commodity sales store, a service providing store, and the like and a control method therefor. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A commodity sales data processing apparatus such as a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal is used for checkout processing for transactions in a commodity sales store and a service providing store. The commodity sales data processing apparatus stores various kinds of important information in a memory installed in the inside thereof. For example, a commodity sales data processing apparatus that can perform settlement using a credit card and a debit card encrypts communication texts and transmits and receives the communication texts to and from a host computer of a financial institution designated by a card for settlement to improve security. Therefore, key data required for encryption and restoration of a cryptogram is recorded in advance in a memory incorporated in the commodity sales data processing apparatus. If the key data is used, since access to the host computer of the financial institution is possible without the intervention of a data processing apparatus, illegal acts can be easily committed. When a sales amount, a password for a store system, and the like are stored in the memory, it is likely that these kinds of information are also illegally acquired. Further, since a large amount of money may be stored in a drawer incorporated in or connected to the commodity sales data processing apparatus, thefts targeting the money could occur. When a person who attempts to illegally acquire various data or steal the money in this way carries away a main body of the commodity sales data processing apparatus together with the data or the money, there is probability that even a security system and the like of a POS terminal is known. 
     In view of such circumstances, various inventions for improving security of commodity sales data processing apparatuses are devised. For example, like a cash register described in JP-A-2004-145391, some commodity sales data processing apparatus includes a theft preventing device that sounds an alarm when a vibration sensor senses vibration. 
     However, the theft preventing device described in JP-A-2004-145391 detects vibration caused when a drawer is opened. An operation state and a stop state of the theft preventing device are switched according to whether power is supplied. Therefore, a cashier needs to switch the theft preventing device from the stop state to the operation state every time the cashier looks away from the commodity sales data processing apparatus. Further, when the cashier opens the drawer in a usual job, if the cashier fails to switch the theft preventing device to the stop state, the alarm is sounded. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention has been devised in view of such circumstances and it is an object of the present invention to provide a commodity sales data processing apparatus including an alarming unit that does not operate when a usual job is only performed and operates when abnormality apparently occurs and a control method for the commodity sales data processing apparatus. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a commodity sales data processing apparatus including: a power supply unit configured to switch a power supply source for a control circuit to an auxiliary power supply when power supply from the outside is stopped; a movement detecting unit configured to detect the movement of a main body of the commodity sales data processing apparatus; and an alarming unit configured to emit an alarm according to the switch of the power supply source for the control circuit to the auxiliary power supply by the power supply unit and the detection of the movement of the main body by the movement detecting unit. 
     Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is an external perspective view of a commodity sales data processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a control circuit of the commodity sales data processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of an example of switch setting processing according to the embodiment; and 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an example of processing performed by units of the control circuit according to the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is an external perspective view of a commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  according to this embodiment. The commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  includes a drawer  2  and a main body placed on the upper surface of the drawer  2 . The main body of the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  includes a cashier display  3 , a customer display  4 , a keyboard  5 , a receipt printer  6 , a card reader  7 , and a speaker  8  as a sound output unit. 
     The cashier display  3  includes a touch panel that displays various kinds of information corresponding to commodity sales processing and the like and recognizes a touch operation position on a screen. 
     The customer display  4  displays a total amount of a transaction, a change amount, and the like. 
     The keyboard  5  includes a ten key, a PLU (Price 
     Look Up) key, a subtotal key, and a cash total key and the like. The ten key is an operation key used for inputting a numerical value. The PLU key is an operation key for declaring the start of registration processing for commodity information. The subtotal key is an operation key for declaring calculation of a total amount of a transaction. The cash total key is an operation key for calculating a change amount and completing the transaction. 
     The receipt printer  6  issues, according to the operation of the cash total key, a receipt on which details of the transaction are printed. 
     The card reader  7  reads information stored in a magnetic card such as a credit card slid in a reading groove provided in a housing. The commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  can perform card settlement in a well-known procedure on the basis of the information read by the card reader  7 . 
     The speaker  8  emits operation sound of the keyboard  5  and alarm sound explained later. 
     The drawer  2  includes a case  2   a  and a money storing unit  2   b  housed in the case  2   a.  The money storing unit  2   b  stores change and the like therein and is urged in a direction of an opening surface of the case  2   a  by a not-shown spring. In a state in which the money storing unit  2   b  is completely housed in the case  2   a,  the money storing unit  2   b  is locked by a not-shown locking member. In this case, the state in which the money storing unit  2   b  is housed in the case  2   a  is maintained. The lock by the locking member is released according to the operation of a predetermined operation key such as the cash total key provided in the keyboard  5 . When the lock by the locking member is released, the money storing unit  2   b  is opened in a sliding manner relatively to the case  2   a.  After the money storing unit  2   b  is once opened, the money storing unit  2   b  can be housed in the case  2   a  again by sliding the money storing unit  2   b  against the urging force of the spring. 
     The commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  includes a theft prevention mechanism for detecting the movement of the main body and the drawer  2  and emitting alarm sound. The theft prevention mechanism is explained below. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a section necessary for realizing the theft prevention mechanism in the control circuit of the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1 . The control circuit includes a motherboard  10  including an alarm determining circuit  11  as an alarming unit, a vibration detector  12  as a vibration detecting unit, a movement detecting circuit  13  as a movement detecting unit, a timer  14  as a time measuring unit, a UPS (uninterrupted power supply circuit)  15 , and switches S 1  and S 2 . 
     The alarm determining circuit  11  outputs a control signal C 1  when both latches A and B are set. The control signal C 1  is transmitted to the speaker  8  when the switch S 2  is set to ON. The speaker  8  sounds alarm sound according to the reception of the control signal C 1 . The latches A and B are holding circuits that maintain, if once set, a set state until the latches A and B are reset thereafter. 
     The vibration detector  12  outputs an electric signal to the movement detecting circuit  13  while the vibration detector  12  detects the vibration of the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1 . The movement detecting circuit  13  specifies, on the basis of an electric signal input from the vibration detector  12 , duration of the vibration or a period of the vibration and determines whether the vibration is abnormal vibration. The abnormal vibration is not vibration caused when the cashier only operates the keyboard  5  or opens and closes the drawer  2  in a usual job but is vibration caused when someone attempts to carry away or destroy the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1 . Therefore, the duration of the vibration is not time of length in which the cashier or a customer only loses balance and touches the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  but is time of, for example, about 10 seconds or longer. The period of the vibration is not a period of a high frequency or an extremely low frequency like the vibration of a waste heat fan caused when the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  and peripheral electronic devices are operating but is a period of, for example, a human walk. When the movement detecting circuit  13  determines that the vibration is the abnormal vibration, the movement detecting circuit  13  outputs a control signal C 2  to the alarm determining circuit  11  and outputs a control signal C 3  to the timer  14  assuming that the movement of the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  is detected. The control signal C 2  is transmitted to the alarm determining circuit  11  when the switch S 1  is set to ON. The alarm determining circuit  11  sets the latch A according to the reception of the control signal C 2 . 
     The UPS  15  includes a power supply circuit  15   a  as a power supply unit and a battery  15   b  as an auxiliary power supply. The power supply circuit  15   a  rectifies the AC voltage of a commercial AC power supply  16 , charges the battery  15   b  with DC voltage after the rectification, and converts the DC voltage after the rectification into DC voltage at a predetermined level and supplies the DC voltage to the control circuit. The power supply circuit  15   a  monitors whether power is supplied from the commercial AC power supply  16 . When the power supply from the commercial AC power supply  16  is stopped, for example, when a plug for connecting the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  and the commercial AC power supply  16  comes off or service interruption occurs, the power supply circuit  15   a  switches the power supply source for the control circuit from the commercial AC power supply  16  to the battery  15   b.  Consequently, the control circuit can operate with power stored in the battery  15   b  even after the power supply from the commercial AC power supply  16  is stopped. Thereafter, when the plug is connected or the power supply is restored, the power supply circuit  15   a  detects resumption of the power supply from the commercial AC power supply  16  and switches the power supply source for the control circuit from the battery  15   b  to the commercial AC power supply  16 . When the power supply circuit  15   a  switches the power supply source from the commercial AC power supply  16  to the battery  15   b  as explained above, the power supply circuit  15   a  outputs a control signal C 4  to the alarm determining circuit  11  and outputs a control signal C 5  to the timer  14 . The alarm determining circuit  11  sets the latch B according to the output of the control signal C 4 . 
     The timer  14  starts measurement of a predetermined time according to the reception of the control signal C 3  from the movement detecting circuit  13  or the reception of the control signal C 5  from the power supply circuit  15   a.  When the measurement of the predetermined time is already started, the timer  14  continues the measurement even if the timer  14  thereafter receives the control signals C 3  and C 5 . When the measurement of the predetermined time is completed, the timer  14  outputs control signals C 6  and C 7  to the alarm determining circuit  11  and stops the measurement. The alarm determining circuit  11  resets the latches A and B according to the reception of the control signals C 6  and C 7 , respectively. 
     The switches S 1  and S 2  can be set to ON or OFF according to operation by a predetermined application executed in a state in which a system of the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  is started or operation by a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) during system startup (a setting unit). This switch setting processing is explained with reference to a flowchart of  FIG. 3 . 
     First, the application or the BIOS controls the cashier display  3  to display a setting screen for the switches S 1  and S 2  on the cashier display  3  and receives the input of ON or OFF of the switches S 1  and S 2  (Act  101 ). At this point, a user can input ON or OFF of the switches S 1  and S 2  with key operation of the keyboard  5  or touch operation of the cashier display  3 . In a state in which the setting screen is displayed, a control unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) determines presence or absence of the input of ON or OFF (Act  102 ). If ON or OFF of the switches S 1  and S 2  is input (Yes in Act  102 ), the control unit stores a type of ON or OFF of the switches S 1  and S 2  in a not-shown nonvolatile memory and ends the processing (Act  103 ). After the setting of the switches S 1  and S 2  are performed in this way, the switches S 1  and S 2  are switched according to the setting stored in the memory. 
     Processing by the control circuit is explained below. 
     Processing performed by the units of the control circuit is explained with reference to a flowchart of  FIG. 4  on the assumption that a person attempting to steal the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  attempts to carry away the main body and the drawer  2  from the store all together. In an example explained below, it is assumed that both the switches S 1  and S 2  are set to ON. 
     First, the vibration detector  12  detects vibration caused when the person attempting to steal the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  attempts to lift the same (Act  201 ). The vibration detector  12  outputs an electric signal to the movement detecting circuit  13  while the vibration is detected. The movement detecting circuit  13  determines, on the basis of the input electric signal, whether this vibration is the abnormal vibration (Act  202 ). If the electric signal is output from the vibration detector  12  continuously for the predetermined time or more as explained above or when the electric signal is output at a predetermined period, the movement detecting circuit  13  determines that the vibration is the abnormal vibration (Yes in Act  202 ). The movement detecting circuit  13  outputs the control signal C 2  to the alarm determining circuit  11  and outputs the control signal C 3  to the timer  14  via the switch S 2  assuming that the movement of the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  is detected. The alarm determining circuit  11  sets the latch A according to the reception of the control signal C 2  (Act  203 ). The timer  14  starts the measurement of the predetermined time according to the reception of the control signal C 3  (Act  204 ). If the movement detecting circuit  13  determines that the vibration detected by the vibration detecting circuit  13  is not the abnormal vibration (No in Act  202 ), the control signals C 2  and C 3  are not output. Therefore, the latch A is not set and the timer  14  does not operate. 
     As explained above, the power supply circuit  15   a  monitors whether the power is supplied from the commercial AC power supply  16  (Act  205 ). For example, when the person attempting to steal the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  starts to carry the same and pulls out the plug by force, since the power supply from the commercial AC power supply  16  stops, the power supply source is switched to the battery  15   b.  If the power supply source is switched to the battery  15   b  in this way (No in Act  205 ), the power supply circuit  15   a  outputs the control signal C 4  to the alarm determining circuit  11  and outputs the control signal C 5  to the timer  14 . The alarm determining circuit  11  that receives the control signal C 4  sets the latch B (Act  206 ). The timer  14  that receives the control signal C 5  starts the measurement of the predetermined time (Act  207 ). When the timer  14  already operates according to the control signal C 3  output from the movement detecting circuit  13 , the timer  14  continues the measurement of the predetermined time. On the other hand, if the power supply source is not switched to the battery  15   b  (Yes in Act  205 ), the control signals C 4  and C 5  are not output. Therefore, the latch B is not set. Even when the timer  14  is not operating yet, the timer  14  does not operate. 
     While such processing is performed, the alarm determining circuit  11  monitors whether the latches A and B are set (Act  208 ). If both the latches A and B are set (Yes in Act  208 ), the alarm determining circuit  11  outputs the control signal C 1  to the speaker  8  via the switch S 2 . The speaker  8  that receives the control signal C 1  emits predetermined alarm sound (Act  209 ). The speaker  8  continues to emit the alarm sound until predetermined release processing is performed or the power stored in the battery  15   b  is exhausted. On the other hand, if at least one of the latches A and B is not set (No in Act  208 ), since the alarm determining circuit  11  does not output the control signal C 1 , the speaker  8  does not emit the alarm sound. 
     After operating according to the reception of the control signal C 3  output from the movement detecting circuit  13  or the control signal C 5  output from the power supply circuit  15   a,  if the measurement of the predetermined time is completed (Yes in Act  210 ), the timer  14  outputs control signals C 6  to C 7  to the alarm determining circuit  11 . The alarm determining circuit  11  resets the latches A and B according to the reception of the control signals C 6  and C 7  (Act  211 ). 
     As explained above, the control circuit monitors presence or absence of the vibration of the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  and the power supply from the commercial AC power supply  16 . After one of the detection of the abnormal vibration and the stop of the power supply from the commercial AC power supply  16  is detected, the speaker  8  emits the alarm sound when the other is detected until the predetermined time is measured by the timer  14 . Therefore, when a store clerk only moves a setting location of the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  slightly in a usual job, even if vibration is detected, the alarm sound is not emitted unless the plug of the power supply is pulled out. For example, even when the plug of the power supply is pulled out or service interruption occurs, the alarm sound is not emitted unless vibration large enough for being determined as the abnormal vibration by the movement detecting circuit  13  is applied to the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1 . 
     When the switch S 1  is set to OFF, the control signal C 2  output from the movement detecting circuit  13  is not transmitted to the alarm determining circuit  11 . Therefore, the power supply from the commercial AC power supply  16  to the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  stops. The speaker  8  does not emit the alarm sound even if vibration is applied to the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1 . 
     When the switch S 2  is set to OFF, the control signal C 1  output from the alarm determining circuit  11  is not transmitted to the speaker  8 . Therefore, the power supply from the commercial AC power supply  16  to the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  stops. The speaker  8  does not emit the alarm sound even if vibration is applied to the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1 . In such a case, even when the system of the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  is shut down, the system may be automatically started to display a warning message on the cashier display  3 . 
     By setting ON or OFF of the switches S 1  and S 2  as explained above, it is possible to change the determination concerning whether an alarm should be given and whether alarm sound should be emitted even when the alarm should be given. Therefore, for example, when the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  is moved on account of a job, the switches S 1  and S 2  can be set such that the alarm is not given. 
     In the embodiment, the movement detecting circuit  13  detects the movement of the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  on the basis of the electric signal output when the vibration detector  12  detects vibration. However, a method of detecting the movement of the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  is not limited to this. For example, a tilt detector (a tilt detecting unit) that detects a tilt of the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  is provided instead of the vibration detector  12 . The tilt detector outputs an electric signal having different voltage according to, for example, a tilt from the horizontal direction of the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1 . When the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  tilts, the movement detecting circuit  13  specifies a tilt angle of the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  on the basis of the voltage of the electric signal output from the tilt detector. When the tilt angle is equal to or larger than a predetermined angle, the movement detecting circuit  13  outputs the control signal C 2  to the alarm determining circuit  11  and outputs the control signal C 3  to the timer  14  assuming that the movement of the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  is detected. 
     Alternatively, the vibration detector  12  and the tilt detector may be used together. In such a case, for example, when the electric signal is continuously output from the vibration detector  12  for the predetermined time or more or the electric signal is output at the predetermined period as explained above or when the tilt angle of the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  specified on the basis of the electric signal output from the tilt detector is equal to or larger than the predetermined angle, the movement detecting circuit  13  outputs the control signal C 2  to the alarm determining circuit  11  and outputs the control signal C 3  to the timer  14 . 
     Rather than setting the latch A according to the detection of the movement of the main body of the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1  by the movement detecting circuit  13 , the latch A may be set according to the detection of vibration by the vibration detector  12 . Even when the latch A is set in this way, as long as vibration is detected and the power supply source is not switched to the battery  15   b,  the alarm determining circuit  11  does not output the control signal C 1 . Therefore, an alarm is not emitted only by the opening of the drawer  2  or the contact of the store clerk. 
     In the embodiment, the switch setting processing is performed according to the operation from the application or the BIOS. However, other setting methods may be adopted for the switch setting processing. For example, a key switch operable by a predetermined key is provided in the main body of the commodity sales data processing apparatus  1 . ON or OFF of the switches S 1  and S 2  may be set according to the operation of the key switch. When the user performs the switch setting processing using the application, the BIOS, or the key switch, the user is requested to input a password. The setting of the switches S 1  and S 2  may be received only when the input password coincides with a password set in advance. 
     In the embodiment, in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 4 , after the processing concerning movement detection (Act  201  to Act  204 ), the processing concerning power supply (Act  205  to Act  207 ) is performed. However, the processing concerning movement detection and the processing concerning power supply may be carried out in opposite order. 
     Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.