JP5502662B2 - Store system and product code reader - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a store system and a product code reader.

  Conventionally, in a store such as a supermarket, a code symbol such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code (for example, QR code (registered trademark)) attached to a product is imaged by a digital camera such as a CCD image sensor and detected from the captured image. A product code reading device is used that reads a product code by detecting and decoding the generated code symbol. The store clerk registers the product purchased by the customer by taking out the product stored in the shopping cart brought to the counter stand and holding it over the digital camera of the product code reader.

  By the way, in recent years, efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions are being promoted by the government and the private sector as part of global warming countermeasures. One of these efforts is to attach a carbon footprint that indicates carbon dioxide emissions, etc. to products so that customers can select products with low carbon dioxide emissions. However, when a product with a small amount of carbon dioxide emission and a product with a large amount of carbon dioxide emission have the same price, there is little advantage for the customer to select a product with a small amount of carbon dioxide emission. In stores, discounts according to the carbon footprint attached to purchased products can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and increase sales. It will take time to input the amount of carbon dioxide emissions. For example, since the conventional product code reader described above cannot read the carbon footprint, the store clerk manually inputs carbon dioxide emissions described in the carbon footprint when registering the product for purchase. Had to be entered.

To solve the problems described above, embodiments of the present invention, the image capturing means, code reading means, emissions reading means, display control means, a store shop system Ru with a sales registration means. Further, embodiments of the present invention is an image and capturing means, and code reading means, and emissions reading means, display control means and, commodity code reading apparatus Ru and output means.

The image capturing unit captures an image captured by the imaging unit. Code reading means reads the code information corresponding to the included before Symbol image Ruco Doshinbo Le. Emissions reading means reads the carbon dioxide emissions that are described in the included Luca over carbon footprint before Symbol image. The display control means displays a symbol display corresponding to the code symbol and a symbol display corresponding to the carbon footprint on the image displayed by the imaging means in the first display area of the display, and displays the display. In the second display area of the vessel, product information corresponding to the code information and a point corresponding to the carbon dioxide emission are displayed in text. Sales registration means registers the sales of goods in accordance with the prior SL code information, and gives points according to the prior SL carbon dioxide emissions.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a checkout system. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the POS terminal and the product code reading device. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the CPU. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the product code reading apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a reading area in the reading window. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a display example using a display device and a customer display device.

  Hereinafter, a store system and a product code reader according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings, taking a checkout system as an example. The checkout system includes a POS terminal that registers and settles a product for one transaction, and a product code reading device that reads a product code attached to the product. This embodiment is an application example to a checkout system introduced in a store such as a restaurant or a supermarket.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a checkout system 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the checkout system 1 includes a POS terminal 11 that performs registration and settlement of commodities related to one transaction. The POS terminal 11 is placed on the upper surface of the drawer 21 on the checkout table 51. The drawer 21 is controlled by the POS terminal 11 for the opening operation. On the upper surface of the POS terminal 11, a keyboard 22 that is pressed down by an operator (a store clerk) is arranged. A display device 23 that displays information toward the operator is provided behind the keyboard 22 when viewed from the operator who operates the keyboard 22. The display device 23 displays information on the display surface 23a. A touch panel 26 is laminated on the display surface 23a. A customer display device 24 is erected so as to be rotatable further behind the display device 23. The customer display device 24 displays information on the display surface 24a. The customer display device 24 shown in FIG. 1 has the display surface 24a facing the front side in FIG. 1, but the customer display device 24 is rotated so that the display surface 24a faces the back side in FIG. Thus, the customer display device 24 displays information to the customer.

  A horizontally long table-shaped counter table 151 is arranged so as to form an L shape with the checkout table 51 on which the POS terminal 11 is placed. A cargo receiving surface 152 is formed on the upper surface of the counter table 151. On the cargo receiving surface 152, a shopping basket 153 for storing the product A with the barcode BC or the carbon footprint M is placed. The shopping basket 153 can be divided into a first shopping basket 153a brought in by a customer and a second shopping basket 153b positioned at a position sandwiching the product code reading device 101 from the first shopping basket 153a. .

  On the receiving surface 152 of the counter table 151, a product code reading device 101 connected to the POS terminal 11 so as to be able to transmit and receive data is installed. The product code reading apparatus 101 includes a thin rectangular housing 102. A reading window 103 is disposed in front of the housing 102. A display / operation unit 104 is attached to the upper portion of the housing 102. The display / operation unit 104 is provided with a display device 106 on which a touch panel 105 is laminated. A keyboard 107 is disposed on the right side of the display device 106. A card reading groove 108 of a card reader (not shown) is provided on the right side of the keyboard 107. A display device 109 for a customer, which is a display device provided to the customer and displays information for the customer, is installed on the back left side of the display / operation unit 104 as viewed from the operator. A customer touch panel 109 a is laminated on the display surface of the customer display device 109.

  In the first shopping basket 153a brought in by the customer, a product A for one transaction is stored. The product A includes a barcode BC in which a product code (code information) related to the product A is encoded, and a carbon footprint M indicating a carbon dioxide emission amount (hereinafter referred to as carbon dioxide emission amount) applied to the product A; Is affixed. The product A is moved to the second shopping basket 153b by the operator's hand. In this movement process, the barcode BC and the carbon footprint M are directed to the reading window 103 of the product code reading apparatus 101. At this time, the imaging unit 164 (see FIG. 2) arranged on the back side of the reading window 103 images the barcode BC and the carbon footprint M. The product code reader 101 reads the product code corresponding to the product A by detecting and decoding the barcode BC attached to the product A included in the image captured by the imaging unit 164. Further, the product code reading apparatus 101 detects the carbon footprint M attached to the product A included in the image captured by the imaging unit 164, and calculates the carbon dioxide emission amount described in the carbon footprint M as the OCR. Read with (Optical Character Recognition). Next, the product code reading device 101 outputs the read product code and carbon dioxide emission amount to the POS terminal 11. Depending on the product A, when the carbon footprint M is not attached, or because the attachment positions of the barcode BC and the carbon footprint M are separated, one of them may be sequentially read. At least one of the product code and the output of carbon dioxide emissions may be performed.

  The product code described as the barcode BC is a code assigned to each product in order to specify the product A, and is a JAN code that is a 13-digit number as an example. In the present embodiment, the barcode BC is described as an example of the code symbol, but it goes without saying that the code symbol may be a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark). The carbon footprint M shows the amount of carbon dioxide emissions generated from the time of procurement of the raw material for producing the product A along with the production and transportation. For example, carbon footprint M shows carbon dioxide emissions in grams.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the POS terminal 11 and the product code reading device 101. The POS terminal 11 includes a microcomputer 60 as an information processing unit that executes information processing. The microcomputer 60 is configured by connecting a ROM 62 (Read Only Memory) and a RAM 63 (Random Access Memory) to a CPU 61 (Central Processing Unit) that executes various arithmetic processes and controls each unit.

  The drawer 61, the keyboard 22, the display device 23, the touch panel 26, and the customer display device 24 are all connected to the CPU 61 of the POS terminal 11 through various input / output circuits (all not shown). . These are controlled by the CPU 61.

  The keyboard 22 includes a numeric key 22d, a temporary fastening key 22e, and a fastening key 22f on which numbers such as “1”, “2”, “3”,... The keyboard 22 outputs an operation input by the operator to the CPU 61 using the numeric keypad 22d, the temporary fastening key 22e, and the fastening key 22f. The keyboard 22 is an operation means that receives an operation from an operator.

  An HDD 64 (Hard Disk Drive) is connected to the CPU 61 of the POS terminal 11. The HDD 64 stores programs and various files. All or a part of the programs and various files stored in the HDD 64 are copied to the RAM 63 and sequentially executed by the CPU 61 when the POS terminal 11 is activated. An example of a program stored in the HDD 64 is a product sales data processing program PR. An example of files stored in the HDD 64 is a PLU file F1 and a point conversion file F2 that are distributed and stored from the store computer SC.

  The PLU file F1 is a file that stores information related to products such as the name, unit price, and product classification of each product code uniquely assigned to each product. That is, the PLU file F1 stores information such as the name, unit price, and product classification of the product corresponding to the product code as related information related to the product code. The POS terminal 11 can register the sales of the product corresponding to the read product code by referring to the information stored in the PLU file F1 by the product code read by the product code reading device 101.

  The point conversion file F2 is a file for performing point conversion corresponding to the carbon dioxide emission amount of the product, and stores points to be given for each carbon dioxide emission amount. More specifically, in each product category, points to be given for each carbon dioxide emission amount are stored so that the points to be given increase stepwise as the carbon dioxide emission amount decreases. The points here are provided to customers at the time of checkout and can be exchanged for services such as goods and money (including discounts and discounts). The customer exchanges the above-mentioned service by presenting the granted points.

  For example, it is assumed that there are two products belonging to the same product category. When one of the two products has a small amount of carbon dioxide emission, the points to be given are increased for the product having a small amount of carbon dioxide emission. In this way, by adjusting the points to be given for each carbon dioxide emission, a lot of points can be given to customers who have selected a product with a low carbon dioxide emission. In this way, in the checkout system 1, by giving a lot of points to a customer who has selected a product with a low carbon dioxide emission amount, the carbon dioxide emission amount is reduced and the sales are improved by the point addition. Is possible.

  A communication interface 25 for performing data communication with the store computer SC is connected to the CPU 61 of the POS terminal 11 via an input / output circuit (not shown). The store computer SC is installed in a store backyard or the like. The HDD (not shown) of the store computer SC stores a PLU file F1 and a point conversion file F2 distributed to the POS terminal 11.

  Further, the CPU 61 of the POS terminal 11 is connected to a connection interface 65 that enables data transmission / reception with the product code reading apparatus 101. Therefore, the connection interface 65 is connected to the product code reading device 101. The CPU 61 of the POS terminal 11 is connected to a printer 66 that prints on receipts and the like. Under the control of the CPU 61, the POS terminal 11 prints the transaction content (payment amount and assigned points) of one transaction on a receipt.

  The product code reading apparatus 101 also includes a microcomputer 160. The microcomputer 160 is configured by connecting a ROM 162 and a RAM 163 to a CPU 161 via a bus. The ROM 162 stores a program executed by the CPU 161. The CPU 161 is connected to an imaging unit 164 and an audio output unit 165 via various input / output circuits (none of which are shown). The operations of the imaging unit 164 and the audio output unit 165 are controlled by the CPU 161. The display / operation unit 104 is connected to the POS terminal 11 via the connection interface 176. The operation of the display / operation unit 104 is controlled by the CPU 61 of the POS terminal 11.

  The imaging unit 164 is a CCD image sensor, a COMS image sensor, or the like, and performs imaging from the reading window 103 under the control of the CPU 161. For example, the imaging unit 164 captures a 30 fps moving image. Frame images sequentially captured by the imaging unit 164 at a predetermined frame rate are stored in the RAM 163. The audio output unit 165 is an audio circuit and a speaker for generating a preset warning sound or the like. The sound output unit 165 performs notification by sound such as a warning sound under the control of the CPU 161.

  Furthermore, a connection interface 175 that connects to the connection interface 65 of the POS terminal 11 and enables data transmission / reception with the POS terminal 11 is connected to the CPU 161. Under the control of the CPU 161, the product code and carbon dioxide emission read from the image captured by the imaging unit 164 of the product code reading apparatus 101 are output via the connection interface 175, and the POS terminal via the connection interface 65. 11 is input.

  Next, functional units of the product code reading apparatus 101 realized by the CPU 161 sequentially executing programs will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the CPU 161. As shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 161 performs functions as a captured image capturing unit 1611, barcode reading unit 1612, carbon footprint reading unit 1613, information output unit 1614, and display unit 1615 by sequentially executing programs. Prepare.

  The captured image capturing unit 1611 outputs an imaging on signal to the imaging unit 164 and causes the imaging unit 164 to start an imaging operation. The captured image capturing unit 1611 sequentially captures frame images captured by the imaging unit 164 and stored in the RAM 163 after the start of the imaging operation. Captured frame images by the captured image capturing unit 1611 are performed in the order stored in the RAM 163.

  The barcode reading unit 1612 detects a code symbol attached to a product included in the frame image captured by the captured image capturing unit 1611 and reads a product code (code information) corresponding to the code symbol. Specifically, a product included in the image is detected by extracting a contour line from an image obtained by binarizing the captured frame image. Next, for the detected product, barcode detection by a pattern matching technique, two-dimensional code detection from a predetermined finder pattern, and the like are performed. Next, the barcode reading unit 1612 reads the code information corresponding to the detected barcode by converting the detected barcode or two-dimensional code into code information (for example, JAN code) according to a predetermined rule.

  The carbon footprint reading unit 1613 detects the carbon footprint M attached to the product included in the frame image captured by the captured image capturing unit 1611, and calculates the carbon dioxide emission described in the carbon footprint M. read. Specifically, the product included in the image is detected in the same manner as the barcode reading unit 1612. Next, for the detected product, the carbon footprint M is detected by using a pattern matching technique or the like based on the shape of the carbon footprint registered in advance in a memory or the like. Next, the carbon dioxide emission described in the detected carbon footprint M is read by OCR processing or the like.

  The information output unit 1614 outputs the code information read by the barcode reading unit 1612 and the carbon dioxide emission read by the carbon footprint reading unit 1613 to the POS terminal 11 through the connection interface 175 as read information. Thus, the POS terminal 11 refers to the PLU file F1 based on the output product code, identifies the product read by the barcode reading unit 1612, and registers the sales of the product. Is possible. In addition, the POS terminal 11 gives points according to the carbon footprint M read by the carbon footprint reading unit 1613 by referring to the point conversion file F2 based on the output carbon dioxide emission amount. It becomes possible.

  The display unit 1615 performs display output to the display device 106 and the customer display device 109. Specifically, the display unit 1615 generates display data for display on the display device 106 and the customer display device 109 and outputs the display data to the CPU 61 via the connection interface 175. The CPU 61 controls the display of the display device 106 and the customer display device 109 based on the display data from the display unit 1615. Thereby, for example, display for the customer is performed on the customer display device 109 of the display / operation unit 104.

  Next, the operation of the product code reading apparatus 101 will be described in detail. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the product code reading apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, when processing is started in response to the start of product registration by the POS terminal 11, the captured image capturing unit 1611 outputs an imaging on signal to the imaging unit 164 and performs imaging by the imaging unit 164. Is started (S1). Next, the captured image capturing unit 1611 captures a frame image (captured image) captured by the image capturing unit 164 and stored in the RAM 163 (S2).

  Next, the barcode reading unit 1612 detects the barcode BC attached to the product A included in the frame image captured by the captured image capturing unit 1611, and reads the product code corresponding to the barcode BC (S3). ). Next, the carbon footprint reading unit 1613 detects the carbon footprint M attached to the product A included in the frame image captured by the captured image capturing unit 1611, and the carbon dioxide described in the carbon footprint M is detected. The discharged amount is read (S4).

  FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of the reading region R in the reading window 103. As shown in FIG. 5, when the product A is reflected in the reading area R in the above-described movement process of the product A, the product code corresponding to the barcode BC attached to the product A is read in S3. . In S4, the carbon dioxide emission (“123 g” in the illustrated example) described in the carbon footprint M attached to the product A is read.

  Next, the information output unit 1614 outputs the product code read by the barcode reading unit 1612 and the carbon dioxide emission read by the carbon footprint reading unit 1613 to the POS terminal 11 through the connection interface 175 as read information ( S5). Thereby, in the POS terminal 11, the sales registration of the product corresponding to the read product code is performed by referring to the PLU file F1. Information such as the name, unit price, and product classification of the product corresponding to the product code obtained by referring to the PLU file F1 at the time of sales registration is returned to the product code reading apparatus 101 via the connection interface 65. In the POS terminal 11, points are given according to the read carbon dioxide emissions by referring to the point conversion file F2. The given points are returned to the product code reading apparatus 101 via the connection interface 65.

  Next, the CPU 161 generates and gives a reply made from the POS terminal 11 via the connection interface 65, that is, according to information such as the name, unit price, and product classification of the product corresponding to the product code and the carbon dioxide emission amount. Obtained points are acquired (S6). Next, the display unit 1615 displays the frame image when the barcode reading unit 1612 reads the product code and the carbon dioxide emission amount, the information acquired from the POS terminal 11, that is, the name of the product corresponding to the read product code, Information such as unit price, product classification, and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions generated according to the read carbon footprint M and given points are displayed from the display device 106 and the customer display device 109 (S7). .

  Specifically, the display unit 1615 reads the frame image when the barcode reading unit 1612 reads the product code from the RAM 163 and displays it in a predetermined area on the display screen of the display device 106 and the customer display device 109. In addition, display data for displaying the information acquired from the POS terminal 11 in another area on the display screen of the display device 106 and the customer display device 109 is generated and output to the CPU 61 via the connection interface 175. . Accordingly, the display device 106 and the customer display device 109 have a frame image when the barcode reading unit 1612 reads the product code or the carbon footprint M, and the name, unit price, and product of the product corresponding to the product code. Information such as classification and the points given and given according to the carbon dioxide emissions described in the carbon footprint M are displayed.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a display example by the display device 106 and the customer display device 109. As shown in FIG. 6, the display screens of the display device 106 and the customer display device 109 are configured to include a display area G1, a display area G2, and a display area G3. In the display area G1, a frame image when the barcode reading unit 1612 reads the product code is displayed. In the display area G2, information such as the name of the product corresponding to the product code, information such as unit price, carbon dioxide emissions described in the carbon footprint M is generated, and already registered by reading the given points and product code The total amount of the unit price of the sold product is displayed. In the display area G3, the history of the product for which the barcode reading unit 1612 has read the product code, that is, the history of the purchased product for which the transaction is registered is displayed. For example, in addition to the product name “XXXX” of the product currently read and displayed in the display area G2 and the number of purchases thereof, the product name “YYYY” of the product read previously and the number of purchases thereof are displayed. Is displayed. The display of the purchase merchandise history in the display area G3 may be performed by the information output unit 1614 by stacking the related information displayed in the display area G2 on the RAM 163 and the like, and reading the stacked information. The CPU 61 of the POS terminal 11 may perform this based on information related to the purchased product being purchased.

  On the display screens of the display device 106 and the customer display device 109 described above, the operator and the customer are described in the details of the product and the carbon footprint M attached to the product together with the image of the product for which sales are registered. The points given and given according to the amount of carbon dioxide emitted can be easily confirmed.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, in the display area G1, a symbol image G11 indicating the barcode detected when the product code is read is displayed on the frame image when the barcode code is read by the barcode reading unit 1612. Are superimposed and displayed. Specifically, based on the barcode position information (such as coordinates in the frame image) detected by the barcode reading unit 1612 from the frame image, the information output unit 1614 displays display data in which the symbol display G11 is superimposed on the frame image. By generating, the superimposed display described above is performed. Similarly, a symbol display G12 indicating the detected carbon footprint is superimposed on the frame image. Thus, since the symbol display G11 and the symbol display G12 are displayed superimposed on the frame image, the operator or customer can easily confirm the barcode obtained by reading the product code and the carbon footprint obtained by reading the carbon dioxide emission amount.

  Next, the CPU 161 determines the presence / absence of business end from the POS terminal 11 based on a product registration end notification (S8). When the business is continued (S8: NO), the CPU 161 returns the process to S2 and continues the process. When the work is to be ended (S8: YES), the captured image capturing unit 1611 outputs an imaging off signal to the imaging unit 164, ends the imaging by the imaging unit 164 (S9), and ends the process.

  The POS terminal 11 registers the sales of the product according to the product code read by the above-described processing, and gives points according to the read carbon dioxide emission amount. The given points may be used as discounts or discounts according to the points in the settlement of the registered product, or may be recorded on a point card held by the customer through the card reading groove 108 or the like. . In this case, when the customer presents the point card at another settlement, the points recorded on the point card are read out by the card reading groove 108 or the like, and discounts or discounts corresponding to the points are performed. .

  The program executed by the product code reading apparatus 101 of the present embodiment is provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like. A program executed by the product code reading apparatus 101 of the present embodiment is a file in an installable format or an executable format, such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or the like. You may comprise so that it may record and provide on a computer-readable recording medium.

  Furthermore, the program executed by the product code reading apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. Further, the program executed by the product code reading apparatus 101 of the present embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  The program executed by the product code reading apparatus 101 of this embodiment includes the above-described units (the captured image capturing unit 1611, the barcode reading unit 1612, the carbon footprint reading unit 1613, the information output unit 1614, and the display unit 1615). As the actual hardware, the CPU (processor) reads out the program from the ROM and executes it to load the above units onto the main storage device, and the captured image capturing unit 1611, barcode A reading unit 1612, a carbon footprint reading unit 1613, an information output unit 1614, and a display unit 1615 are generated on the main storage device.

1 Checkout system 11 POS terminal 61 CPU
101 Product Code Reading Device 103 Reading Window 104 Display / Operation Unit 106 Display Device 109 Customer Display Device 161 CPU
164 Imaging unit 1611 Captured image capturing unit 1612 Bar code reading unit 1613 Carbon footprint reading unit 1614 Information output unit 1615 Display unit BC Bar code A Product M Carbon footprint F1 PLU file F2 Point conversion file R Reading area G1, G2, G3 display area G11, G12 Symbol display

JP 2008-33640 A

Claims (2)

An image capturing means for capturing an image by the imaging means has captured,
Code reading means for reading the code information corresponding to the included before Symbol image Turkey Doshinbo Le,
And emission reading means for reading the carbon dioxide emissions that are described in Luca over carbon footprint included before Symbol image,
In the first display area of the display, a symbol display corresponding to the code symbol and a symbol display corresponding to the carbon footprint are displayed so as to be superimposed on the image captured by the imaging means, and the second display of the display In the area, the display control means for displaying in text the product information corresponding to the code information and the point according to the carbon dioxide emissions,
A sales registration means for imparting registers the sales of goods, the points corresponding to the previous SL carbon dioxide emissions in accordance with the prior SL code information,
Shop shop system that have a. Image capturing means for capturing an image captured by the image capturing means;
Code reading means for reading the code information corresponding to the included before Symbol image Turkey Doshinbo Le,
And emission reading means for reading the carbon dioxide emissions that are described in Luca over carbon footprint included before Symbol image,
In the first display area of the display, a symbol display corresponding to the code symbol and a symbol display corresponding to the carbon footprint are displayed so as to be superimposed on the image captured by the imaging means, and the second display of the display In the area, the display control means for displaying in text the product information corresponding to the code information and the point according to the carbon dioxide emissions,
Before Symbol code information and output means for outputting the carbon footprint,
Commodity code reader Ru comprising a.

Images