Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20040041022?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=No.+6,411,949
Timestamp: 2014-11-28 16:14:22
Document Index: 426731162

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 82', 'art 83', 'art 82', 'art 83', 'art 83', 'art 57', 'art 381', 'art 382', 'art 381', 'art 383', 'art 382', 'art 381', 'art 382', 'art 383', 'art 383', 'art 381', 'art 382', 'art 84', 'art 381', 'art 382', 'art 383', 'art 381', 'art 382', 'art 383', 'art 381', 'art 382', 'art 383']

Patent US20040041022 - POS system, network system, method of generating printing data for POS ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA POS system is made up of: a POS terminal having a printing apparatus for printing on a receipt based on printing data, and a terminal apparatus for obtaining input information inputted by a user and for generating receipt printing information; a POS server connected to the POS terminal through a network,...http://www.google.com/patents/US20040041022?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20040041022 - POS system, network system, method of generating printing data for POS system, and method of managing sales & advertisement information in network systemAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20040041022 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 10/457,794Publication dateMar 4, 2004Filing dateJun 9, 2003Priority dateJun 10, 2002Also published asCN1248124C, CN1469259A, DE60308098D1, DE60308098T2, EP1372097A1, EP1372097B1, US7014110, US7156304, US20050247781Publication number10457794, 457794, US 2004/0041022 A1, US 2004/041022 A1, US 20040041022 A1, US 20040041022A1, US 2004041022 A1, US 2004041022A1, US-A1-20040041022, US-A1-2004041022, US2004/0041022A1, US2004/041022A1, US20040041022 A1, US20040041022A1, US2004041022 A1, US2004041022A1InventorsMasahiro Minowa, Toshiro Horikawa, Kazuyuki Yokoyama, Tsutomu NobutaniOriginal AssigneeMasahiro Minowa, Toshiro Horikawa, Kazuyuki Yokoyama, Tsutomu NobutaniExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (10), Classifications (23), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetPOS system, network system, method of generating printing data for POS system, and method of managing sales & advertisement information in network systemUS 20040041022 A1Abstract A POS system is made up of: a POS terminal having a printing apparatus for printing on a receipt based on printing data, and a terminal apparatus for obtaining input information inputted by a user and for generating receipt printing information; a POS server connected to the POS terminal through a network, for controlling the POS terminal; a memory card for providing advertising information; and printing data generating part for generating printing data by adding the advertising information provided by the memory card to the receipt printing information obtained by the terminal apparatus. The printing data generating part is constituted by an additional apparatus connectable to the printing apparatus. Images(17) Claims(27)
[0104] It may also be so arranged that an advertising information is added by using a flag; then, the processing such as the following becomes possible. Namely, in case the adding condition information is �detect data array having coincident condition� and �set flag 1,� �if data array n having coincident condition is detected, set flag 1� is performed as action 1, and �replace advertising data n with data array n having coincident condition, and reset flag 1� is performed as action 2. [0105] In this embodiment, as the adding condition, there is included �information about the number of times of addition of the advertising information.� This �information about the number of times of addition of the advertising information� is not detected out of the receipt printing information to be transmitted from the terminal apparatus 40. The addition of the advertising information is determined based on the result of counting, by the printing data generating part 82 (see FIG. 4), of the number of times of adding the advertising information as counted by an advertising information addition number-of-times counting part 83. Therefore, this �condition for the number of times of addition� is stored in advance in the interface unit 51. In this embodiment, it is so arranged that, whenever the number of times of advertising has exceeded a predetermined number of times, the addition of the advertising addition information is stopped. In other words, in this processing, the number of times of adding the advertising information by the printing data generating part 82 is counted by the advertising information addition number-of-times counting part 83 and, if the number of times of counting meets the adding condition (in case the predetermined number of times has not exceeded), the addition of the advertising information can be determined. [0106] The �information about the number of times of adding advertising information� which is the result of counting the number of times of addition by the advertising information addition number-of-times counting part 83 (see FIG. 4) is stored in the memory card 52 and, therefore, the number of times of addition can be obtained from the memory card 52. An advertising fee to be paid by an advertiser or sponsor 110 (manufacturer, or the like) is computed from the number of times of addition obtained as described above. Details thereof will be given hereinafter. [0107] As the �condition for the number of times of addition,� it may also be so arranged that the range is set of the number of times of addition, aside from the upper limit thereof. In other word, for the number of times of addition in the range of 101 times to 200 times, advertising information which is different from the one used up to 100 times may be employed. [0108] In the same manner as when the data array having coincident condition is detected out of the receipt printing information, there may be employed an arrangement that the �condition for number of times of addition� is stored in the memory card 52 as the adding condition information. [0109] The number of times of addition may also be counted for every advertising information, or else, a total number of times of addition of plural pieces of advertising information may be counted. [0110] The �information about the number of times of issuing receipts� described in Example 4 as the information about the adding condition may also be arranged to be stored in advance in the memory card 52, instead of the arrangement in which it is read out form the memory card 52 in the same manner as the �information about the number of times of adding advertising information.� In this case, there may be provided inside the interface unit 51 a means for counting the number of times of issuing the receipts. [0111] A description will now be made with reference to the flow chart in FIG. 7 about a series of processing from the inputting of the commodity information and customer information to the addition of the advertising information. First, the operator of the POS terminal 20 inputs the commodity information and the customer information (obtain input information, S11) by using the bar code reader 44, the card reader 45 and the key board 43. The inputted information is transmitted to the POS server 30 (obtain input information, S12). The POS server 30 extracts the information about the commodity code, commodity name, and price based on the input information, and generates commodity data which serve as the basis for the commodity information used in printing on the receipt 61 and in displaying on the display 42 (S13). Then, the generated commodity data are transmitted to the terminal apparatus 40 (obtain commodity data, S15). The POS server 30 also performs commodity data control based on the generated commodity data in order to reduce the stock of the inventory block 38 inside the RAM 33 (S14). [0112] The terminal apparatus 40 indicates the commodity information, or the like, on the display 42 a for the operator and on the display 42 b for the customer, based on the input information and the transmitted commodity data (S16), and also generates the receipt printing information (S17). The generated receipt printing information is transmitted to the printing apparatus 50 (interface unit 51). The interface unit 51 then obtains it (obtain receipt printing information, S19). [0113] The interface unit 51 reads out from the memory card 52 the advertising information and the adding condition information (S18), and judges whether the transmitted receipt printing information contains therein information that meets the adding condition to thereby determine as to whether the advertising information shall accordingly be added or not (S20). In case the advertising information is added (i.e., in case the receipt printing information meets the adding condition and in case the number of times of advertising falls short of a predetermined time; S20, Yes), the number of times of adding is counted (S21), and stores it into the memory card 52 from time to time (S22). It is thus arranged that the number of times of adding the advertising can be confirmed from the used memory card 52. [0114] Then, the advertising information correlated with the adding condition information that has met the adding condition is added to the end of the receipt printing information to thereby generate the printing data (S23). The printing apparatus 50 performs printing on the receipt based on the printing data (S24). On the other hand, in case the advertising information is not added (i.e., in case the receipt printing information does not meet the adding condition and/or in case the number of times of advertising has reached the predetermined number of times), the printing data are generated without adding the advertising information (by making the receipt printing information to be the printing data as it is, S25), and the printing is performed on the receipt (S24). [0115] As described above, the information about the number of times of adding is arranged to be stored in the memory card 52 (S25) and be capable of confirming the number of times of adding the advertising information from the used memory card 52. A description will now be made about the method of distributing and recovering the memory card 52 (distribution/collection system 100) with reference to FIG. 8. [0116] In this distribution/collection system 100, the advertiser or sponsor 110 such as the manufacturer, or the like, places an order with an advertising agency 120 for advertisement. Based on this order, the advertising agency 120 places an order with a manufacturing company 130 for manufacturing a memory card 52. The manufacturing company 130 forms the advertising information and adding condition based on the requests to thereby manufacture a memory card 52 having stored therein the above. Thereafter, the manufacturing company 130 asks a service company 160 for distributing and/or collecting a memory card to distribute the manufactured memory card 52 either directly or through the advertising agency 120. [0117] The service company 160 distributes this memory card 52 to a shop 15 which is equipped with the POS terminal 20 with the interface unit 51 which is installed in advance on the POS terminal (printing apparatus 50). [0118] The used memory card 52 that has been used by being mounted on the interface unit 51 has stored therein the information about the number of counting of the times of addition as described above. This used memory card 52 is collected by the service company 160 at a regular interval or after the lapse of a predetermined period of time and is returned to the manufacturing company 130. The manufacturing company 130 reads the number of times of addition of the advertising from the used memory card 52 and, based on the number of times of addition, receives a computed royalty from the advertising agency 120. The advertising agency 120, in turn, recovers the advertising fee from the advertiser 110 and pays the distribution/collection fee to the service company 160, and the fee for using the advertising medium to the shop 15 equipped with the POS terminal 20. [0119] In this manner, by offering the advertising information by means of the memory card 52, the distribution and collection thereof can be done easily. In addition, the shop having the POS terminal 20 need only to replace the interface unit 51 and need not largely modify the existing POS system 10. As a result, the POS system 10 that is capable of adding the advertising information can be established with the minimum amount of investment and can earn the fees for using the advertising medium. [0120] As the service company 160, the following may be considered as candidates, e.g., traders who frequently visit the shop 15, domestic-use parcel delivery companies, transportation companies who frequently visit the shop 15 if the shop 15 a supermarket, a convenience store, or the like. According to this arrangement, the delivery and collection of the memory card can be made at the time of picking up the parcels, delivering the commodities, or the like. It follows that they need not go to the trouble of visiting the shops only for the purpose of delivering and/or collecting the memory card 52, resulting in an efficient distribution of the cards and collecting of the fees by the service company 160. [0121] The used memory card 52 has stored therein the information about the count number of the times of the addition. It may be so arranged that this count number is displayed on the display which is disposed in the printing apparatus 50. [0122] A description will now be made about a second embodiment of this invention with reference to FIG. 9. In the above-described first embodiment, it is so arranged that the advertising information is provided or offered from the memory card 52. In this embodiment, on the other hand, the advertising information can be obtained not only from the memory card 52 (252), but also from those distributed through a network. The following description will be focused mainly on what is different from the first embodiment. [0123] As shown in FIG. 9, the interface unit 251 has disposed therein an operation indicator lamp 255 on the front side (this side in the figure), an input/output port (network interface) 250 which can be connected to the network, an interface section 254 for use by the terminal apparatus, and a slot 256 for mounting the memory card 252. The input/output port 250 is capable of connection to a network cable such as local area network (LAN) cable, or the like. [0124] Further, it is possible to obtain the advertising information through this input/output port 250 and, thus, the input/output port 250 serves the function auxiliary to the memory card 252. According to this arrangement, in case there is a deficiency in the memory card 252 or in case there occurs a trouble with a device for reading the information from the memory card 252, such a deficiency or trouble can be quickly coped with. [0125] Preferably, an arrangement is made such that the adding condition information can also be obtained through the input/output port 250. According to this arrangement, it is possible to provide the same kind of information as the memory card 252 so as to deal with an unexpected trouble, or the like. It is also possible to arrange that all the advertising information and the adding condition information are obtained through the input/output port 250 without providing the slot 256 for mounting the memory card 256. [0126] A description will now be made about a third embodiment of this invention with reference to FIGS. 10 through 13. In the above-described embodiments, it is so arranged that the printing data are generated by the interface unit 51 which is detachably mounted on the printing apparatus 50. In this embodiment, on the other hand, the printing data are generated by an adapter device 351 (also referred to as an additional apparatus) which is connected to the printing apparatus 50 as a device outside of, or external to, the printing device 50. In this embodiment, the advertising information is obtained from a control server 70 which is connected through an adapter device 351 and a network (second network 12). Therefore, a description will be made only about what is different from the above-described embodiments. The constituent elements which are the same as those in the first embodiment, such as the POS server 30, are explained by giving the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment. [0127] As shown in FIG. 10, the POS system 10 of this embodiment is made up of: a plurality of POS terminals 20 (only one is illustrated) which obtains the input information; a POS server 30 which is connected to the POS terminals 20 through a first network 11 so as to control the input information inputted into the POS terminals 20; a control server 70 which is connected to the POS terminals through a second network 12 so as to control the advertising information; and an adapter device 351 which is connected to the POS terminals 20 and the control server 70 so as to generate the printing data to be printed on the receipt 61. [0128] The POS server 30 has memories such as a ROM 32, RAM 33, or the like, aside from a control device (CPU 31) so as to perform the processing of the information stored in the buffer 39, or the like, inside the RAM 33 according to the control program as stored in the ROM 32. The POS terminal 20, on the other hand, is provided with: a terminal apparatus 40 for generating the receipt printing information based on the commodity data to be transmitted from the POS server 30 and input information; and a printing apparatus 50 (a receipt printer) which performs printing on the receipt 61 based on the receipt printing information. These two apparatuses 20, 50 are connected together through an adapter device 351. [0129] The adapter device 351 is connected to the control server 70 through the second network 12 and obtains through a connector 356 the receipt printing information to be generated by the terminal apparatus 40. The advertising information obtained from the control server 70 is added to the receipt printing information to thereby generate the printing data to be printed on the receipt 61. The generated data are transmitted to the printing apparatus 50 through a connector 357. Like in the interface unit 51 in the above-described embodiment, the adapter device 351 is connected to the control server 70 in order to establish a POS system which can issue the receipt (see FIG. 6) having added thereto the advertising information. By directly connecting the terminal apparatus 40 and the printing apparatus 50 without passing through the adapter device 351, it is possible to issue the receipt having printed thereon an ordinary receipt printing information. [0130] The printing apparatus 50 prints on the receipt based on the printing data generated by the adapter device 351. The receipt 61 with the advertising information added thereto can thus be issued, whereby the advertisement is offered to the customer 60. In this embodiment, it is also possible to print the advertising information in color irrespective of whether the terminal apparatus is capable of printing a color print or not (i.e., even in case where the receipt printing information is not arranged to include the color information). [0131] On the other hand, the control server 70 has a memory such as a ROM 72, a RAM 73, or the like, aside from a control device (CPU 71), and performs the processing of information stored in a buffer 79, or the like, inside the RAM 73 according to the control program stored in the ROM 72. Particularly, the RAM 73 has therein: an advertising information block 75 for storing therein the advertising information (inclusive of those constituted by character array (text data), command, graphics (image) data, bar code, two-dimensional symbols, or the like); an adding condition information block 76 for storing therein the adding condition information which is the condition for adding the advertising information; and an adding number of times block (a block for the adding number of times) 77 for storing therein the number of times of adding the advertising information transmitted from the POS terminal 20. The CPU 71 provides the POS terminal 20 with the advertising information and the adding condition information, and also obtains the information about the number of times of adding the advertising information and stores it in the adding number of times block 77. When the stored number of times of addition has reached a predetermined number, the CPU 71 stops the offering of the advertising information. [0132] The advertising information block 75 and the adding condition information block 76 store therein plural pieces of advertising information and adding condition information, respectively. They are stored in correlation with each other and provides the POS terminal 20 with the information together with the related information. Therefore, as to which advertising information shall be added out of the plural pieces of provided advertising information, is determined based on which adding condition is met by the receipt printing information obtained by the adapter device 351. [0133] Next, a description will now be made about the arrangement of the adapter device 351 with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the POS terminal 20 as seen from the side of operation by the operator, and FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of the POS terminal 20 as seen from the customer side. As shown therein, the POS terminal 20 is made up of: the terminal apparatus 40 whose main part is constituted by the main-body case 48; the adapter device 351 which is connected to the terminal apparatus 40 by a cable and is connected to the control server 70 through the second network 12; and the printing apparatus 50 which is connected to the adapter device 351 by a cable. [0134] Aside from the keyboard 43, the display 42 a, 42 b and the bar code reader, the terminal apparatus 40 is provided on the left side surface of the main-body case 48 with an interface section 47 for connection to the adapter device 351, and an interface section 66 for connection to the POS server 30 through the first network 11. The printing apparatus 50 is further provided on the rear side thereof with a printer-side interface section 85 which is connected to the printing apparatus 50 by a cable through the adapter device 351 and the connector 53. [0135] The main-body case of the adapter device 351 is constituted into a box shape and is provided on the front side thereof with: an operation indicator lamp 355; an interface section 354 for the terminal apparatus; and an interface section 358 for the printing apparatus. The interface section 354 for the terminal apparatus is connected to the terminal apparatus 40 and the interface section 358 for the printing apparatus is connected to the printing apparatus 50 by cables through the connectors 356, 357, respectively. On the rear side of the adapter device 351 there is disposed an input/output port (interface section for the control server) 352, which is connected in the form of network to the control server 70 through the second network 12. [0136] A description will now be made about the arrangement of the adapter device 351 with reference to a function block diagram in FIG. 13. The control part 57 of the adapter device 351 is provided with the following: i.e., an �advertising information addition determining part 381� which reads out the advertising information and the adding condition information transmitted from the control server 70 and which, when receipt printing information that meets the adding condition information has been detected, determines to add the advertising information co-related with the adding condition information; a �printing data generating part 382� which generates the printing data by adding to the receipt printing information the advertising information that has been determined to be added by the advertising information addition determining part 381; and an �advertising information addition number-of-times counting part 383� which counts the number of times of adding the advertising information by the printing data generating part 382. [0137] In the same manner as in the interface unit 51 in the first embodiment, the adapter device 351 has an arrangement in which the memory such as the CPU, the ROM, the RAM, or the like, is disposed inside the control part. Therefore, the description thereof is omitted. Description is also omitted about the respective processing in the �advertising information addition determining part 381,� �printing data generating part 382,� �advertising information addition number-of-times counting part 383� as well as the adding processing of the advertising information are the same as those in the first embodiment. [0138] The �information about the number of times of adding the advertising information� which is the result of counting the number of adding times in the advertising information addition number-of-times counting part 383 is transmitted to the control server 70, and the number of times of addition can be obtained from the control server 70. Based on this number of times of addition, the advertising fee to be paid by the advertiser (manufacturer, or the like) is computed. [0139] The adding condition information may be so arranged as to be stored in advance in the adapter device 351 instead of being provided from the control server 70. In this case, there may be provided inside the adapter device 351 a means for counting the number of times of issuing the receipts. [0140] The information about the number of adding times is transmitted to the control server 70 and is stored from time to time so that the number of times of advertisement addition can be obtained from the control server 70. Therefore, as a result of access by the advertising agency, or the like, to this control server 70, the number of times of addition of the advertising information can be obtained and, based on it, the royalty (fee for using the advertising medium, or the like) can be computed. In this manner, by computing the royalty based on the number of times of addition of advertisement, a new advertising system can be established. [0141] In the above-described embodiment, the terminal apparatus 40 and the printing apparatus 50 are connected to the adapter device 351 through the connectors 46, 53, respectively. However, though not illustrated, an arrangement may be made that the connection is wirelessly made. According to this arrangement, the freedom of laying out the printing apparatus 50 and the adapter device 35 is improved, and the ease of operation is not prevented by the cables, or the like. [0142] A description will now be made about the POS system (network system) according to a fourth embodiment of this invention with reference to FIGS. 14 through 16. In this embodiment, a description is made about the network system in which a Web server is added to the POS system as described in the third embodiment. The network system 1 of this embodiment can efficiently provide the plural control servers 70 with the advertising information and the adding condition information. Point service can also be provided to the customer 60. [0143] As shown in FIG. 14, the network system 1 of this invention is made up of: a POS system 10 having a POS terminal 20, a POS server 30 which controls the POS terminal 20, a control server 70 which provides the POS terminal 20 with the advertising information and which obtains the input information from the POS terminal 20, and an adapter device 351 which is connected to the POS terminal 20 and the control server and which generates the printing data based on the receipt printing information; and a Web server 5 which is connected to a plurality of POS systems 10 (only three are illustrated) through a network 2 (a third network), which provides the control server 70 with the advertising information, and which performs customer control over all of the control servers 70 based on the receipt printing information obtained by the control server 70. [0144] As shown in FIG. 15, the customer control in the Web server 5 is performed based on the receipt printing information to be transmitted from the terminal apparatus 40 to the adapter device 351. It is now described in sequence. The receipt printing information obtained by the adapter device 351 through an interface section 354 for the terminal apparatus is subjected to a judgment at an advertising information addition determining part 381 as to whether the receipt printing information shall be added or not. The receipt printing information is also used to generate the printing data at a printing data generating part 382. The receipt printing information is further transmitted to the Web server 5 through an interface section 352 for the control server and the control server 70. The Web server 5 computes, e.g., the grand total of the points to be given to the individual customer 60 based on the customer information and the commodity information contained in this receipt printing information. [0145] As a method of computing the grand total of points, it is possible to give points depending on the purchased amount, purchased items, purchased date, number of times of purchasing, or the like. When the point has reached a predetermined point, a bonus point may be additionally given as a part of variations in the method of computing. [0146] The information about the grand total of the points as computed by the Web server 5 is transmitted to the adapter device 351 through the control server 70 and the interface section 352 for the control server. The information about the grand total of the points is printed on the receipt 61 at a printing part 84, whereby the grand total of the points can be presented to the customer 60 (see FIG. 16). [0147] By presenting the grand total of the points as described above, the customer can avail himself/herself of the merits in the following manner. Namely, once the customer has collected, e.g., 1000 points, he/she is entitled to obtain a merchandise coupon that can be used for purchasing commodities equivalent to an amount of 1000 yen. In this manner, the customer 60 will be motivated to purchase the commodities to attain a target of 1000 points while confirming the present number of points, whereby the customer's motivation for purchasing can be accelerated. [0148] The grand total of the points may rely on any of the systems presently in service. For example, a system which is put in service on a shop-by-shop basis, a system which is commonly utilized by a plurality of shops 15 (i.e., a so-called common-point service), or the like, may serve the purpose. Instead of presenting the grand total of points each time of purchasing, the following system may also be employed. Namely, the point granted depending on the amount of purchasing is printed on the receipt 61, this point is collected by the customer 60, and the collected receipts 61 are presented to the shop so that the customer 60 can enjoy the services offered in return for the points. [0149] Instead of printing the number of points each time of purchasing as shown in FIG. 16, an alternative system may be employed in which, only when the grand total of the points has reached a predetermined number of points, a coupon is printed so that the customer 60 can enjoy the services equivalent to the number of points. In this system, when the computed grand total of the points has reached, e.g., 100 points, this figure is printed on the receipt so that the customer 60 can use the printed receipt as a coupon for purchasing commodities equivalent to 100 yen. [0150] The advertising information and the adding condition information are arranged to be provided from the control server 70 so that only the information about the grand total of the points is provided by the Web server 5 (see FIG. 14). Alternatively, all pieces of information (advertising information, adding condition information, and information about the grand total of points) are provided by the Web server 5. According to this arrangement, it is possible to transmit the same advertising information and the adding condition information to a plurality of control servers 70. Therefore, the Web server 5 can offer the advertising information and the adding condition information efficiently. In addition, by offering the common customer control (point service) for each of the tie-up groups, the common point service can be offered within the same tie-up group. [0151] Still furthermore, the following arrangement may also be made. Namely, an advertising information addition determining part 381, a printing data generating part 382, and an advertising information addition number-of-times counting part 383 are all disposed inside the Web server 5. The printing data are generated based on the receipt printing information transmitted through the adapter device 351, and this printing data are transmitted to the adapter device 351 so that the printing apparatus 50 can be provided with the printing data. In other words, in this arrangement, the adapter device 351 is provided only with an interface section 354 for the terminal apparatus, an interface section 358 for the printing apparatus, and the interface section 352 for the control server. Alternatively, the arrangement may be made that the control server 70 is similarly provided with the advertising information addition determining part 381, the printing data generating part 382, and the advertising information addition number-of-times counting part 383. According to this arrangement, the construction of the adapter device 351 can be simplified, so that the adapter device 351 can be offered to each of the shops 15 at a low price. [0152] The Web server 5 may also be arranged to perform, aside from the computation of the grand total of the points, the customer control based on the customer information and commodity information contained in the receipt printing information, such as the preparation of the customer list, the preparation of the commodity purchase list by each of the customers 60, or the like. [0153] According to this embodiment, it is possible to perform the following jobs without largely modifying the exiting POS servers 30 and the terminal apparatuses 40. The jobs in question are to compute by the Web server 5 the grand total of the points to individual customer 60 and to offer services pertinent to the points. In other word, it is possible to establish at a minimum amount of investment the network system that can perform the efficient customer information control and the advertising information control. [0154] In the third and fourth embodiments, the arrangement is that the advertising information and the adding condition information are provided from the control server 70 to the adapter device 351. Alternatively, it may also be so arranged that these pieces of information are stored in the memory card 152 for mounting on the adapter device 351, whereby the advertising information and the adding condition information can be presented from the memory card 152. [0155] In the adapter device 351 in this alternative arrangement, the adapter device 351 is provided with a mounting slot into which and out of which the memory card 152 can be mounted and detached, respectively. By mounting the memory card 152 into this slot the advertising information and the adding condition information can be obtained. The advertising information addition determining part 381 determines to add the advertising information when the receipt printing information meets the adding condition information and, based on the result, the printing data are generated in the printing data generating part 382. [0156] The information about the number of times of adding the advertising information as counted by the advertising information addition number-of-times counting part 383 is stored in the memory card 152. The advertising addition information can thus be obtained from the used memory card 152 and, based thereon, it becomes possible for the shop 15 to receive from the advertiser the royalty (fee for using the advertising medium, or the like). For the advertising system (distribution/collecting system 100 of the memory cards) using the memory card 152, the embodiment as explained in the first embodiment (see FIG. 8) can be used and, therefore, its explanation is omitted. According to this arrangement, since the advertising information is stored in the memory card 152 which is detachably mounted on the adapter device 351, the advertising information can be easily replaced by replacing it. In addition, by offering the advertising information by using the memory card 152, the distribution and collection thereof can be easily performed. [0157] As described hereinabove, according to the POS system 10 and the interface unit 51 in the first and second embodiments, by inserting the memory card 52 into the interface unit 51 mounted on the board slot 59 of the printing apparatus 50, the advertising information is read out. The advertising information is then added to the receipt printing information obtained from the terminal apparatus. Therefore, without carrying out large-scale modification to the existing POS server 30 and the terminal apparatus 40, there can be established a POS system 10 in which the advertising information can be added. In addition, since the advertising information is stored in the memory card 52, the advertising information can be easily changed by replacing the memory card 52. As a result, it is possible to provide the customer 60 with the timely advertisement. [0158] Furthermore, since the condition (adding condition information) for adding the advertising information is also stored in the memory card 52, the addition of the advertising information can be limited by setting various conditions. As a result, the contents of the advertisement and the method of advertising can be diversified. Further, since the advertising information and the adding condition information are stored in the memory card 52 and can be offered at the same time, waste of time can be prevented. [0159] Furthermore, since the number of times of adding the advertising information is counted and the information is stored in the memory cars 52, the number of times of addition can be obtained from the used memory card 52 and, based thereon, the advertising fee, royalty, and the fee for using the advertising medium can be computed. As a result, a new advertising system can be established. [0160] According to the POS system 10, adapter device 351, and the network system 1 according to the third and fourth embodiments, the printing data are generated by adding the advertising information to the receipt printing information as obtained from the terminal apparatus 40 inside the adapter device 351 as a result of connecting the adapter device 351 to the printing apparatus. Therefore, without modifying at all the exiting POS server 30 and the POS terminal 20, there can be established a POS system in which the advertising information can be added. [0161] Still furthermore, since the advertising information is provided from the control server 70 which is connected to a plurality of POS terminals 20, the control server 70 can control in a lump over the plurality POS terminals. On the other hand, since the POS terminal 20 can timely obtain the advertising information. As a result, easy handling can be made of the advertisement whose advertising period is limited. [0162] In addition, since the control server 70 also provides the condition under which the advertising is added (advertising adding condition), the addition of the advertising information can also be restricted. As a result, the contents of the advertisement and the method of advertising can be diversified. Since the advertising information and the adding condition information can be offered simultaneously, it is possible for the control server 70 to save extra time. [0163] Still furthermore, since the number of times of adding the advertising information is counted and the information is stored in the control server 70, it is possible to obtain from the control server 70 the number of times of adding and, based on it, to compute the advertising fee and the royalty. As a result, a new advertising system can be established. [0164] In the above-described embodiments, the receipt printing information is obtained from the interface unit 51 or the adapter device 351 and, based on it, a determination is made as to whether the advertising information shall be added or not. It may be so arranged that the input information (commodity information and input information) inputted by the operator is directly obtained and, based on it, a determination is made as to whether the advertising information shall be added or not. According to this arrangement, a determination as to whether the advertising information shall be added or not can be made by an input of a relatively simple data construction such as reading with a bar code reader, reading with a card reader, or the like. Therefore, as compared with the case in which the determination is made based on the receipt printing information of relatively complicated data construction, a determination can be made easily as to whether the advertising information shall be added or not. Further, in case the commodity information and the customer information can be simultaneously obtained by means of a bar code reader, or the like, the reading out of the customer information can be made easily as compared with the case in which the customer information is extracted from the receipt printing information. [0165] In the above-described embodiments, examples are used in which the memory card 52 is used as the memory medium. Aside from the memory card, there can be used a compact disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, flexible disc, or the like. As the memory card, it is preferable to use exiting memory cards such as a compact flash (registered trademark), smart medium, memory stick, or the like. [0166] It is possible to modify the system arrangement, apparatus arrangement, or the like, without departing from the scope of this invention. [0167] As described above, according to the POS system, the network system, the method of generating printing data for a POS system, and the method of managing sales and advertisement information in the network system of this invention, there can be established a POS system that can add the advertising information without largely modifying the existing POS server and the terminal apparatuses. [0168] The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2002-168917 filed Jun. 10, 2002 and 2002-168918 filed Jun. 10, 2002 are incorporated by reference. Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7083091 *Feb 25, 2004Aug 1, 2006Fujitsu LimitedCommodity information management program, computer readable medium storing the program, and data structure of commodity classification master database used by the programUS7188154 *Mar 19, 2001Mar 6, 2007Seiko Epson CorporationReceipt printing and issuing system, an added-value printing processing method and a data storage medium using the sameUS7344070Dec 22, 2004Mar 18, 2008Seiko Epson CorporationPOS system, input/output control apparatus for use in a POS system, and methodUS7731084 *May 23, 2005Jun 8, 2010Seiko Epson CorporationDevices and methods for monitoring transaction data from point-of-sale devicesUS8038060 *Aug 3, 2007Oct 18, 2011Seiko Instruments Inc.ID image providing deviceUS20050286079 *Jun 22, 2005Dec 29, 2005Akimasa TakagiPrinting apparatus and printing methodUS20100153225 *Feb 26, 2010Jun 17, 2010Jay FerroPrinting Dynamic Image Content on ReceiptsUS20110141494 *Apr 6, 2010Jun 16, 2011Yu LiangjianSystem, apparatus, and method for oriented switch of promotion informationUS20130013390 *Jul 4, 2012Jan 10, 2013Edesix LimitedPoint of Sale SystemUS20130117100 *Nov 2, 2012May 9, 2013Neal Harley LandersSystem for Distributing Advertisements to Multiple Locations* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification235/383International ClassificationG06Q30/00, G07G1/00, G07G1/14, G07G5/00Cooperative ClassificationG06Q30/0226, G07G5/00, G06Q30/0272, G06Q30/02, G06Q30/0273, G06Q30/0268, G07G1/00, G06Q30/0277, G07G1/14European ClassificationG06Q30/02, G06Q30/0272, G06Q30/0277, G06Q30/0226, G06Q30/0268, G06Q30/0273, G07G5/00, G07G1/14, G07G1/00Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionAug 21, 2013FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Aug 19, 2009FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Oct 8, 2003ASAssignmentOwner name: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MINOWA, MASAHIRO;HORIKAWA, TOSHIRO;YOKOYAMA, KAZUYUKI;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:014578/0771;SIGNING DATES FROM 20030902 TO 20030919RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google