JPH0664695A - Pos terminal system for gas station - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To improve the working conditions and customer service by shortening the amount of movement and time required for store staff during refueling work. [Structure] A main body 31a of a mobile terminal device 31 is attached to the upper arm of a clerk 35 located in a gas station 23, and transaction data can be input to the main body 31a, and data including the input transaction data is wirelessly transmitted. Send and receive.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a POS terminal system applied to a gas station, and particularly to transmitting / receiving data between a portable terminal device worn by a store clerk at a gas station and an in-store device installed in the store. The present invention relates to a POS terminal system adapted to perform.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, at a gas station, a POS system is introduced for the purpose of facilitating sales processing of products and facilitating sales management. This POS
The terminal devices that make up the system are installed in the store. For this reason, a clerk who performs refueling work and customer service at a refueling place outside the store must move back and forth between the refueling place and the store when entering data related to card processing and transaction details. There is also a problem that it takes a long time to reduce customer service.

Therefore, at conventional gas stations, PO
In some cases, the terminal device of the S system is externally installed at the fueling station, and the card processing and transaction processing contents can be input by this external terminal device. By providing the external terminal device at the fueling station in this way, processing other than cash deposit / withdrawal processing can be executed in the external terminal device, so that the travel distance and time of the clerk can be shortened and the work environment improved. We are working to improve customer service.

[0004]

However, in the conventional POS terminal system of a gas station, a single external terminal device is provided for a plurality of refueling devices, so a plurality of vehicles come to the store at one time. In this case, the work of the external terminal device is concentrated on a plurality of vehicles, and there is a problem that the refueling work is prolonged due to the work waiting in the external terminal processing, which deteriorates the customer service. Further, when the refueling position is far from the external terminal device, the traveling distance and time of the store clerk become long, and there is a problem that the working environment and the customer service cannot be improved. Furthermore, since the external terminal device is connected to the device in the store by wire, the installation cost of the external terminal device is high and it cannot be easily moved, making it difficult to change the layout of the store. There was a problem.

An object of the present invention is to wirelessly transmit and receive data between a portable terminal device carried by a store clerk and an in-store device so that the store clerk can perform an operation other than cash processing by operating the in-store device or a stationary external device. It eliminates the need to go to the terminal device, shortens the movement distance and work time of the clerk in the refueling process, and can improve the working conditions and customer service, and install a large number of stationary external terminal devices. It is an object of the present invention to provide a POS terminal system for a gas station that can easily change the layout of a store without the need for the above.

[0006]

A gas station POS terminal system according to the invention described in claim 1 is a data transmission means 9 installed in a store in FIG. 1 for performing data transmission with a host device. Store-side communication means 2 for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data to and from an external terminal device located at a gas station, and sales-data creating means 3 for creating sales data based on transaction data received by the store-side communication means, An in-store device 1 including a device, an external terminal device that is carried in a gas station, and an input unit 5 that receives input of transaction data, and a mobile terminal that wirelessly transmits and receives data between the in-store device. The mobile terminal device 4 is provided with a side communication unit 6, a display unit 7 and a printing unit 8 for displaying and printing the sales data received by the mobile terminal side communication unit 6. That.

The invention according to claim 2 is an external terminal device installed in a gas station, and comprises stationary terminal side communication means 12 for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data to and from the in-store device and the portable terminal device. The stationary terminal device 11 provided is included.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the portable terminal device 4 has a main body having the input means 5, the portable terminal side communication means 6, and a display means 7, and a printer section having the printing means 8. 10 and 10 can be communicated with each other and configured separately.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the in-store device 1 performs back-and-forth communication on the back yard side for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data between the storage unit 14 storing customer management data and the external terminal device. 16 and a backyard computer 15 including

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the in-store device 1 is based on the vehicle number reading means 15 for reading the vehicle number of the vehicle located at the fueling station and the vehicle number read by the vehicle number reading means 15. Data retrieval means for retrieving corresponding customer management data in the storage means and supplying it to the store side communication means.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the invention, data is wirelessly transmitted / received between the in-store device having the store side communication means and the portable terminal device having the portable terminal side communication means. The mobile terminal device accepts the input of the transaction data by the input means, and transmits the input transaction data from the mobile terminal side communication means. The transaction data transmitted from the mobile terminal device is received by the store-side communication means of the in-store device, and the sales data creation means creates sales data based on this transaction data. The created sales data is transmitted by the store side communication means. The mobile terminal device receives the sales data and displays and prints it on the display unit and the printing unit. Therefore, at the time of transaction processing, the clerk can enter transaction data and issue receipts on the mobile terminal device he / she carries, so there is no need to go to the in-store device for work other than cash processing, and the travel distance of the clerk Is shortened.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a stationary terminal device is installed as the external terminal device located at the fueling station in addition to the portable terminal device carried by the clerk. The stationary terminal device wirelessly transmits and receives data to and from the in-store device and the mobile terminal device. Therefore, when data transmission / reception between the in-store device and the mobile terminal device can be performed by relaying the stationary terminal device, and data transmission / reception cannot be performed directly between the in-store device and the mobile terminal device. Even with this, the reception probability of data can be improved.

According to the invention described in claim 3, in the construction of the portable terminal device, the relatively lightweight input means, portable terminal transmitting means and display means are constructed separately from the relatively large and heavy printing means. . Therefore, the main body provided with the portable terminal side communication means and the display means can be mounted on a portion that does not cause inconvenience in the salesclerk processing, such as the upper arm, and can be carried by the input means, which improves the workability of the salesclerk. .

In the invention according to claim 4, the backyard computer included in the in-store device stores customer management data, and the customer management data is a mobile terminal which is an external terminal device by the backyard side communication means. It is transmitted to the terminal device or the stationary terminal device. Therefore, the clerk can easily obtain the customer management data relating to the transaction processing at the fueling station at the fueling station.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, corresponding customer management data is retrieved from the storage means based on the vehicle number of the vehicle read by the vehicle number reading means provided in the in-store device. Is transmitted to the external terminal device via the store side communication means.

Therefore, when a vehicle enters the fueling station, the customer management data corresponding to the vehicle is automatically recognized by the clerk, and the transaction work is facilitated.

[0017]

2 is a schematic plan view showing the construction of a gas station to which a POS terminal system according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. An ECR (electronic cash register) 24, a backyard computer 25, and a vehicle number reading device 26, which constitute a POS terminal device, are provided in the store 22 of the gas station 21. The ECR 24 is connected to a POS host computer (not shown) via a public telephone line. The transaction processing data in the ECR 24 is centralized and summarized by the host computer of the gasoline company. Backyard computer 25 is ECR
Stores customer data managed on the store side independently of the POS including 24. The vehicle number reading device 26 includes a vehicle detection sensor 28 and a vehicle number imaging camera 27. The vehicle detection sensor 28 detects the presence / absence of a vehicle in the refueling station 23, and the vehicle number imaging camera 27 images the vehicle number of the vehicle located in the refueling station 23. The vehicle number reading device 26 is the vehicle detection sensor 2
The output image of the vehicle number imaging camera 27 is read according to the detection data of No. 8, and the vehicle number of the vehicle located at the fueling station 23 is read. The vehicle number reader 26 is connected to the ECR via a cable (not shown).
The vehicle number reader 2 is connected to the ECR 24.
The vehicle number data read by 6 is input. Also, ECR
Reference numeral 24 wirelessly transmits and receives data to and from the backyard computer 25.

A refueling machine 34 is installed in the refueling station 23. The clerk 35 refuels the vehicle with gasoline or the like from the refueling machine 34. A main body 31 a of the mobile terminal device 31 is attached to an upper arm of a clerk 35 who performs refueling work in the refueling station 23. A printer unit 31b of the mobile terminal device 31 is attached to the waist. The main body 31a of the mobile terminal device 31 transmits print data to the printer unit 31b. The printer unit 31b prints the sales data on the receipt according to the transmitted print data. The clerk 35 operates a keyboard and a card scanner provided on the main body 31a of the mobile terminal device 31 to input transaction data.

Further, a stationary terminal device 33 is installed at the fueling station 23, and transaction data can be input also by operating the stationary terminal device 33. The stationary terminal device 33 and the mobile terminal device 31 described above wirelessly transmit and receive data to and from the ECR 24 installed in the store 22. The transaction data input in the mobile terminal device 31 or the stationary terminal device 33 is transmitted to the ECR 24, and the sales data created in the ECR 24 is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 31.

FIG. 3 is an external view of a portable terminal device which constitutes the POS terminal system. The main body 31a of the mobile terminal device 31 is attached to the upper arm of the clerk by a belt 44, as shown in FIG. The belt 44 is also used as an antenna of the wireless data transmission / reception unit. Body 31
A keyboard 41, a card scanner 42, and a display 43 are provided in a. The clerk has a keyboard 41
Input the lubricator number, the type of lubrication, the lubrication method, the presence or absence of non-oil products, etc. The non-oil products are products such as engine oil and wash liquid, and services such as car wash. Also, the card presented by the customer is scanned by the card scanner 42,
Read card data from this card. The display 43 displays guidance for instructing transaction data to be input by the clerk 35, customer management data transmitted from the ECR 24, and the like.

The printer section 31b is attached to the waist of the clerk 35 via a clip 47, as shown in FIG. The printer unit 31b is provided with an antenna 45 and receives print data transmitted from the main body 31a.
An unillustrated roll paper for receipt and a print head are built in the printer unit 31b, and the antenna 45
The print head is driven according to the print data received by
Sales data is printed on receipt roll paper. The roll paper on which the sales data is printed is sent out as a receipt from the discharge port 46.

As described above, in the portable terminal device 31, the main body 31a provided with the relatively small and lightweight keyboard 41, the card scanner 42 and the display 43 and the relatively large and heavy printer section 31b are separated. With the configuration, the main body 31 a can be attached to the upper arm of the clerk 35 via the belt 44. in this way,
By mounting the device for inputting transaction data on the upper arm of the store clerk 35, the store clerk 35 does not need to hold the terminal device in one of the hands, which may interfere with work for customers such as refueling work. Absent.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit of the portable terminal device.

The control unit of the main body 31a of the portable terminal device 31 is R
It is composed of a CPU 51 having an OM 52 and a RAM 53. A display driver 58, a reading head 59, a key controller 60, and a transmission / reception control unit 61 are connected to the CPU 51 via interface circuits 54 to 57. The CPU 51 outputs display data to the display driver 58. The display driver 58 displays the display 4 according to this display data.
Drive 3 The reading head 59 is provided inside the card scanner 42, and inputs the card data read from the scanned card to the CPU 51. The key controller 60 inputs the operation data of the keyboard 41 to the CPU 51. Further, the transmission / reception control unit 61 uses the above-mentioned ECR2.
4, backyard computer 25, stationary terminal device 33
Data is transmitted to and received from the printer unit 31b.

The control unit of the printer unit 31b of the portable terminal device 31 has a ROM 72 and an RA as shown in FIG. 4 (B).
It is composed of a CPU 71 having an M73. C
A head driver 76 and a receiving circuit 77 are connected to the PU 71 via interface circuits 74 and 75. The receiving circuit 77 is the transmitting / receiving circuit 61 of the main body 31a described above.
The print data transmitted from the CPU 71 is received, and is received by the CPU 71.
To enter. The CPU 71 supplies print data to the head driver 76. The head driver 76 drives the print head 78 according to the print data. The print data transmitted from the main body 31a is created by the CPU 51 of the main body 31a based on the sales data created in the ECR 24. Therefore, by driving the print head 78, the sales content related to the transaction processing is printed on the roll paper built in the printer unit 31b.

The sales data received by the main body 31a may be directly transmitted to the printer unit 31b, and the printer unit 31 may generate print data based on the sales data. The sales data transmitted from the ECR 24 may be transmitted to the printer. The print data may be created based on the data received by the unit 31b.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit of the ECR 24, which is an in-store device that constitutes the POS terminal system. The control unit of the ECR 24 is the ROM 82, R
It is composed of a CPU 81 having an AM 83.
The CPU 81 is provided with a key controller 92 and a display driver 9 via interface circuits 84 to 91.
3, a read head 94, a solenoid driver 95, a printer driver 96, a transmission control unit 97, a transmission / reception circuit 98, and a vehicle number reading device 26 are connected. CPU81 is R
These input / output devices are centrally controlled according to a program written in advance in the OM 82, and data input / output during this period is temporarily stored in a predetermined memory area of the RAM 83. The key controller 92 inputs the operation data of the keyboard 100 to the CPU 81. The display driver 93 is C
The display 101 is driven according to the display data output from the PU 81. The reading head 94 inputs the card data read from the card to the CPU 81. The solenoid driver 95 drives the solenoid 102 according to the drive data output from the CPU 81, and opens the cash drawer. The printer driver 96 is the CPU 81
The printer 103 is driven according to the print data output from the printer to create a receipt for the store. The transmission control unit 97 controls data transmission / reception with a host computer. The transmission / reception circuit 98 transmits / receives data to / from the mobile terminal device 31, the stationary terminal device 33, and the backyard computer 25. The vehicle number reader 26 is an imaging camera 27.
Image processing of the output image of the
Output to U81.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit of the backyard computer included in the in-store device of the POS terminal system. ROM 112 and RAM
The interface circuit 1 is included in the CPU 111 provided with 113.
14 to 117, the key controller 118, the display driver 119, and the hard disk driver 120.
And the transmission / reception circuit 121 is connected. CPU111
Centrally controls these input / output devices according to a program written in advance in the ROM 112. Data input / output during this time is temporarily stored in a predetermined memory area of the RAM 113. The key controller 118 is the keyboard 122
The operation data of is input to the CPU 111. The display driver 119 drives the display 123 according to the display data output from the CPU 111. The hard disk drive 120 stores customer management data in the hard disk, and the CPU 111 reads the data corresponding to the customer who came to the store from the hard disk drive 120. The transmission / reception circuit 121 is the ECR 24, the mobile terminal device 3
1 and the stationary terminal device 33 to transmit and receive data.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit of a stationary terminal device installed in a gas station of a gas station to which the POS terminal system is applied. ROM 132
The CPU 131 including the RAM 133 and the display driver 138, the key controller 139, and the reading head 140 via the interface circuits 134 to 137.
And the transmission / reception circuit 141 is connected. CPU13
1 integrally controls the input / output device according to a program written in the ROM 132 in advance, and the data input / output during this period is temporarily stored in a predetermined memory area of the RAM 133. The display driver 138 drives the display 142 according to the display data output from the CPU 131. The key controller 139 inputs the operation data of the keyboard 143 to the CPU 131. Read head 140
Inputs the card data read from the card to the CPU 131. The transmission / reception circuit 141 transmits / receives data to / from the ECR 24, the mobile terminal device 31, and the backyard computer 25.

8 to 10 are flowcharts showing the processing procedures of the ECR, portable terminal device and backyard computer which constitute the POS terminal system. When a vehicle enters the gas station 23 of the gas station 21,
The vehicle detection sensor 28 detects this, and the vehicle number imaging camera 2
The vehicle number reading device 26 reads the vehicle number of the vehicle based on the image output of 7. When this vehicle number data is input to the ECR 24, the CPU 81 constituting the control unit of the ECR 24 transmits this vehicle number data to the backyard computer 25 (n1, n2).

When the CPU 111 constituting the control unit of the backyard computer 25 receives the vehicle number data transmitted from the ECR 24 (n41), the hard disk drive 120 is searched for customer management data based on the vehicle number data (n43). ). The CPU 111 transmits the customer management data or the fact that there is no customer management data to the mobile terminal device 31 according to the presence or absence of the corresponding customer management data in the hard disk driver 120 (n45,
n46).

CP constituting the control unit of the mobile terminal device 31
When the U51 receives the customer management data transmitted from the backyard computer 25 or the data indicating that there is no customer management data (n21, n22), the content of the received data is displayed on the display 43 (n23, n2).
4). After that, the CPU 51 waits for input of card data from the reading head 59 or selection input of cash payment by operating the keyboard 41 (n25, n26). When the customer presents the card, the store clerk scans the card with the card scanner 42 provided in the main body 31a of the mobile terminal device 31, and the reading pad 59 provided in the card scanner 42 is scanned.
Reads card data from the card and inputs it to the CPU 51. When the card data is input from the reading head 59, the CPU 51 sends it to the ECR 24 (n
27). On the other hand, when the customer desires payment in cash, the clerk 35 operates the corresponding key on the keyboard 41. When the key operation data indicating that the cash payment is selected is input to the CPU 51 from the key controller 60, the CPU 51 transmits data indicating that the cash payment is selected to the ECR 24 (n2).
9).

When the CPU 81 of the ECR 24 receives the card data transmitted from the portable terminal device 31 via the transmission / reception circuit 97 (n3), it transmits it to the backyard computer 25 (n5).

CPU 1 of the backyard computer 25
When the card data 11 is received through the transmission / reception circuit 121 (n42), it authenticates whether or not there is card data corresponding to the unusable card file stored in the hard disk driver 120 (n47). CPU11
1 transmits the authentication result of the card data to the mobile terminal device 31 via the transmission / reception circuit 121 (n48).

The CPU 51 of the portable terminal device 31 waits until the authentication result of the card data transmitted from the backyard computer 25 is proper or the cash payment process is selected (n28). Next, if customer management data is received, refueling processing according to the content is executed, and if customer management data is not received, input of oil type and refueling method such as full tank refueling or fixed quantity refueling. Is accepted (n31).

Transaction data is created from the customer management data or the entered oil type and refueling system and the number of the refueling machine 34 (n33), and the created transaction data is ECR.
24 (n34).

When the CPU 81 of the ECR 24 receives the transaction data (n6), the fuel dispenser 34 designated by the number is received.
Reads the amount of refueling at (n7), creates sales data based on the transaction data and the amount of refueling (n8), and CPU
81 transmits the created sales data to the mobile terminal device 31 (n9). After that, when the cash payment process is selected, the deposit process is executed based on the created sales data and the amount of deposit received by the clerk 35 on the keyboard 98 (n10, n11), and the printer 101 is used. A receipt is issued (n12). Subsequently, the sales data is transmitted to the POS host device via the transmission control unit 96 (n13). When payment is selected by the card, the processes of n11 and n12 are not performed.

The CPU 51 of the portable terminal device 31 uses the ECR
When the sales data transmitted from 24 is received, it is displayed on the display 43 (n35, n36).
Further, at the time of transaction processing using a card, this sales data is transmitted to the CPU 71 of the printer unit 31b, and a receipt is printed by the printer unit 31b.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the store clerk 35 can input and confirm the data necessary for the refueling work through the portable terminal device 31 attached to his or her upper arm. In particular, since the card reading process can also be executed in the mobile terminal device 31 during the transaction process using the card, the refueling work can be performed without moving from the refueling position.

Although the backyard computer 25 for storing customer management data is provided in this embodiment, the ECR
24 is provided with a storage area for this customer management data,
Customer management data may be transmitted from 24 to the mobile terminal device 31.

Further, the clerk 35 inputs the vehicle number of the customer's vehicle entering the refueling station 23 by key input on the portable terminal device 31, and the vehicle number data is transferred from the portable terminal device 31 to the ECR 24.
The vehicle number reading device 26 may be omitted by transmitting the information.

Furthermore, in transmitting / receiving data between the portable terminal device 31 and the ECR 24, the stationary terminal device 33 is used.
Is located between the store clerk 35 and the ECR 24, the stationary terminal device 33 located in the middle may be able to receive the data even if the data transmitted from one side cannot be received by the other side. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 11, the same data is transmitted from the stationary terminal device 33 which has received this data to the destination of the data (n
51 to n55), the necessary data can be reliably received by the destination device. This is the case where the ECR 24 is located between the backyard computer 25 and the mobile terminal device 31 which exchange data with each other.
The same can be carried out at 24.

[0043]

According to the invention as set forth in claim 1, data is transmitted and received between a portable terminal device carried by a store clerk and an in-store device, so that the amount and time of movement of the store clerk during refueling work can be reduced. There is an advantage that it can be shortened and the working conditions of the store clerk and the customer service can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by providing the stationary terminal device capable of transmitting and receiving between the in-store device and the portable terminal device, transmission and reception of data between the in-store device and the portable terminal device. At some times, the data transmitted from one side can be received by the stationary terminal device and can be transmitted from the stationary terminal device to the other destination device.
Thereby, there is an advantage that the reception probability of data can be improved and the wireless transmission / reception of data can be reliably performed between the in-store device and the mobile terminal device.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the portable terminal device is provided with the relatively large and heavy printing means as a separate body, so that the main body provided with the other means can be used as an upper arm portion of the clerk. There is an advantage that the clerk does not need to hold the portable terminal device and the workability of the clerk can be improved.

According to the invention described in claim 4, the backyard computer is provided which can store the customer management data and wirelessly transmit / receive the data to / from the external terminal device such as the portable terminal device. As a result, there is an advantage that the salesclerk can easily recognize the data such as the refueling method at the refueling station.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the customer management data corresponding to the vehicle number read by the vehicle number reading means can be transmitted to the portable terminal device. Therefore, the customer data of the clerk at the gas station can be recognized. Has the advantage that it can be done more quickly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a gas station to which the POS terminal system according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is an external view of a mobile terminal device that constitutes the POS terminal system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of the mobile terminal device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control unit of an ECR that constitutes the POS terminal system.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control unit of a backyard computer included in the POS terminal system.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control unit of a stationary terminal device included in the POS terminal system.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a control unit of the ECR.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a control unit of the mobile terminal device.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a part of a processing procedure of the backyard computer.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a part of a processing procedure of a control unit of the stationary terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21-Gas station 22-Store 23-Filling station 24-ECR (in-store device) 25-Backyard computer 26-Vehicle number reader 31-Mobile terminal device 33-Stationary terminal device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. Data transmission means installed in a store for transmitting data to and from a host device, and store communication means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data to and from an external terminal device located at a fueling station. An in-store device equipped with sales data creating means for creating sales data based on transaction data received by the store-side communication means, and an external terminal device carried at a gas station, for inputting transaction data Input means for accepting, a mobile terminal side communication means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data to and from the in-store device, and a display means and a printing means for displaying and printing the sales data received by the mobile terminal side communication means. PO of a gas station, characterized by comprising:
S terminal system. 2. An external terminal device installed in a gas station, including a stationary terminal device having a stationary terminal side communication means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data to and from the in-store device and the portable terminal device. PO of gas station according to item 1
S terminal system. 3. The portable terminal device comprises a main body having the input means, portable terminal side communication means, and display means, and a printer section having the printing means, which are communicable with each other. The POS terminal system for a gas station according to claim 1 or 2. 4. A backyard computer, wherein the in-store device comprises storage means for storing customer management data, and backyard side communication means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data to and from the external terminal device. A POS terminal system for a gas station according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The in-store device reads out a vehicle number of a vehicle located at a fueling station, and corresponding customer management data in the storage means based on the vehicle number read by the vehicle number reading means. The POS terminal system for a gas station according to claim 4, further comprising: a data search unit that searches and supplies the data to the store-side communication unit.