Checkout apparatus, program recording medium, and checkout processing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024193571-A1
Application number	US-202418430078-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 1, 2024
Priority date	Sep 10, 2021
Publication date	Jun 13, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

The checkout apparatus includes a first processing unit, a second processing unit, and a switching unit. The first processing unit handles, based on data regarding a first product being purchased input with a registration apparatus, payment for the first product being purchased. The second processing unit handles, based on data regarding a second product being purchased input with a terminal or device other than the registration apparatus, payment for the second product being purchased. The switching unit switches between, according to an operation input via an operating element, enabling the first processing unit to handle the payment and enabling the second processing unit to handle the payment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A single checkout apparatus in a system including a registration apparatus with which data regarding one or more products being purchased is input and a plurality of checkout apparatuses configured to handle payment for the one or more products being purchased, wherein
the single checkout apparatus includes: a first processing unit configured to handle, based on data regarding a first product being purchased transmitted from the registration apparatus, payment for the first product being purchased, the registration apparatus being configured to transmit data to one of the plurality of checkout apparatuses; a second processing unit configured to handle, based on data regarding a second product being purchased input with a terminal or a device other than the registration apparatus, payment for the second product being purchased; a switching unit configured to switch between, according to an operation input via an operating element, enabling the first processing unit to handle the payment and enabling the second processing unit to handle the payment; and a forwarding unit configured to forward, if the second processing unit is enabled to handle the payment, the data regarding the first product being purchased received from the registration apparatus to another checkout apparatus.

2 . The checkout apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the system includes a plurality of checkout apparatuses, and the registration apparatus is configured to transmit the input data regarding the first product being purchased to one of the plurality of checkout apparatuses, the checkout apparatus further comprising: a response unit configured, if the second processing unit is enabled to handle the payment, to make a response indicating that transmission of the data regarding the first product being purchased from the registration apparatus is not to be accepted.

3 . The checkout apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the data regarding the second product being purchased, for which the payment is handled by the second processing unit, is data regarding a product being purchased input with a terminal operated by a customer in a selling space.

4 . The checkout apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the data regarding the second product being purchased, for which the payment is handled by the second processing unit, is data regarding a product being purchased input with a terminal operated by a customer in a selling space.

5 . The checkout apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the data regarding the second product being purchased, for which the payment is handled by the second processing unit, is data regarding a product being purchased input from an input device included in the checkout apparatus.

6 . The checkout apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the data regarding the second product being purchased, for which the payment is handled by the second processing unit, is data regarding a product being purchased input from an input device included in the checkout apparatus.

7 . A program recording medium recording thereon a program for causing a computer of a single checkout apparatus in a system including a registration apparatus with which data regarding one or more products being purchased is input and a plurality of checkout apparatuses configured to handle payment for the one or more products being purchased to function as:
a first processing unit configured to handle, based on data regarding a first product being purchased transmitted from the registration apparatus, payment for the first product being purchased, the registration apparatus being configured to transmit data to one of the plurality of checkout apparatuses; a second processing unit configured to handle, based on data regarding a second product being purchased input with a terminal or a device other than the registration apparatus, payment for the second product being purchased; a switching unit configured to switch between, according to an operation input via an operating element, enabling the first processing unit to handle the payment and enabling the second processing unit to handle the payment; and a forwarding unit configured to forward, if the second processing unit is enabled to handle the payment, the data regarding the first product being purchased received from the registration apparatus to another checkout apparatus.

8 . A checkout processing method performed by a single checkout apparatus in a system including a registration apparatus with which data regarding one or more products being purchased is input and a plurality of checkout apparatuses configured to handle payment for the one or more products being purchased, the method comprising:
switching between enabling, based on data regarding a first product being purchased transmitted from the registration apparatus, payment for the first product being purchased and enabling, based on data regarding a second product being purchased input with a terminal or a device other than the registration apparatus, payment for the second product being purchased, according to an operation input via an operating element, the registration apparatus being configured to transmit data to one of the plurality of checkout apparatuses; and forwarding, if the payment for the second product being purchased is enabled, the data regarding the first product being purchased received from the registration apparatus to another checkout apparatus.

Assignees

• Toshiba Tec Kk

Inventors

• Hayashi Yuji
• Aoyama Eisuke

Classifications

• G07G5/00

  Receipt-giving machines · CPC title

• G06Q20/204

  comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit · CPC title

• G06Q20/208

  Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing · CPC title

• G07G1/0045

  with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader · CPC title

• G07G1/0009

  Details of the software in the checkout register, electronic cash register [ECR] or point of sale terminal [POS] · CPC title