JP5742416B2 - Advertising function expansion program, advertising function expansion method, and host device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a program or the like for extending an advertisement function of an existing POS system, and in particular, an advertisement function extension that can easily realize various functions without changing an existing application. It relates to programs.

In retail sales businesses such as supermarkets, a POS system, which is a sales management system, has become widespread, and in this system, a plurality of terminal devices (registers) connected to a server via a network operate according to applications provided in the device. Execute the process. Also, normally, each terminal device is provided with a printer, and outputs a receipt or a coupon according to an instruction from the application.

Even in such a system, there is a case where the function needs to be expanded in accordance with the technical improvement and the business improvement request after the introduction. As one of the function expansions, with the introduction of a POS terminal device that has both a display for display on the store clerk side and a display for display on the customer side, which has become widespread in recent years, an advertisement display function for customers has been introduced. It is desirable to expand.

However, since such a system is generally used as a business center at all times and is often linked in a complicated manner with other systems, it is usually not easy to modify the application.

In relation to this problem, the following proposals have conventionally been made regarding the functions of the output processing system.

The following Patent Document 1 describes a device that performs a modem function in a personal computer that can remove the microprocessor and memory required for a conventional modem without having to modify an existing application program. Has been.

Further, in Patent Document 2 below, by accessing one communication port without changing the application, it is possible to cause a printer connected to another communication port to execute printing simultaneously. A device is described that enables it.

JP-A-8-69427 JP 2006-338443 A

However, the contents described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above only realize limited functions of the output system such as a modem function and a duplicate printing function, and an extension of the advertisement function by using the above-described two-sided display is realized. Can not.

Further, since the above-mentioned Patent Document 2 is processing in the OS kernel layer, there is a problem that function construction (program development or the like) is generally not easy and functions are limited.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is a program for extending the advertising function of an existing POS system, and an advertisement that can easily realize various function expansions without changing an existing application. Providing advertising function expansion programs, etc.

To achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention, advertising promotional enhancements program, the print data of the printed matter which is output from the application in the application layer, acquired by the OS kernel layer, the application a layer analyzes the acquisition print data of the printed matter was, if it contains a predetermined sales information to the print data of the printed matter to generate Viewing data to be displayed to the customer, exit the display data to perform the following comprising force the computer constituting the POS terminal, is that.

Furthermore, the rule in the above invention, a preferred embodiment thereof, the contents of the display data to determine whether or not generating the display data, said a user of the POS terminal device can be set, which is previously stored in the computer Ru is executed based on the information, characterized in that.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned invention, a preferred aspect is characterized in that the sales information is identification information of a sold product, and the display data is data for displaying advertisement information related to the product.

Further, in the above invention, a preferred embodiment is further, after outputting the display data, when receiving the issued instruction coupons, generates print data of the coupon, Outputs print data of the coupon to, to be executed by the computer, it is characterized.

Further, in the above invention, one embodiment, the printed material is receipt printing data of the coupon, is integrated into the acquisition print data of the printed matter was, is output as a printed matter of the print data, It is characterized by that.

To achieve the above object, another aspect of the present invention, advertising promotional enhancements method, a computer constituting the POS terminal, the print data of the printed matter which is output from the application in the application layer, O acquired in S kernel layer, acquisition by analyzing the print data of the printed matter, if it contains a predetermined sales information to the print data of the printed matter to generate Viewing data to be displayed to the customer, the it is the this output to the customer-side display device connected to display data on the computer.

To achieve the above object, yet another aspect of the present invention, host device, the print data of the printed matter which is output from the application in the application layer, a data acquisition unit that acquires at O S kernel layer, in the application layer, the have been analyzing the print data of the printed matter obtained by the data acquisition unit, if it contains a predetermined sales information to the print data of the printed matter to generate Viewing data to be displayed to the customer , having a function expansion unit which output the said display data, is that.

Further objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments of the invention described below.

It is a schematic block diagram which concerns on the embodiment of the POS terminal device to which this invention is applied. It is the flowchart which illustrated the process sequence of the advertisement process.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, such an embodiment does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals or reference symbols.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram according to an embodiment of a POS terminal device to which the present invention is applied. The POS terminal device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a device to which the present invention is applied. In this device, print data (for example, receipt print data) output from the POS application 11 is acquired by the virtual port 13 of the OS kernel layer 120. To do. Then, the function expansion processing unit 14 of the application layer 110 receives the acquired data, and determines whether or not to display advertisement information to the customer from the sales information (for example, sold product code) included in the print data. . As a result, if it is determined to be displayed, image data for display is generated and output to the customer-side display 2 </ b> A connected to (provided with) the POS terminal device 1. In this POS terminal device 1,
By executing such processing, the advertising function of the POS system can be easily expanded without changing the program of the existing POS application 11.

In this embodiment, a POS system used in a supermarket or the like is assumed, and the POS terminal device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is not shown, but is POS via a network.
Connected to the server. The POS server is connected to a plurality of POS terminal devices 1 and executes processes such as management and aggregation and management of various data acquired from them.

The POS terminal device 1 is installed at a cash register in a store and is connected to one or more printers 3 (here, printers 3A and 3B). The printer 3 outputs a receipt or a coupon according to the print data output from the POS terminal device 1. Therefore, the POS terminal device 1 is positioned as a host device for the printer 3.

Further, the POS terminal device 1 is connected to the display 2 (customer side display 2A and store clerk side display 2B) shown in FIG. 1, and is provided with an input device such as a keyboard or a barcode reader (not shown).

The POS terminal device 1 generates information to be printed on a receipt or coupon based on the information acquired from the input device described above, and outputs the information to the printer 3. The POS terminal device 1
Although it is configured by a computer and includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an HDD, etc., not shown. A program of the POS application 11 described later and a program for function expansion processing are stored in the HDD or the like, and each processing is executed by the CPU operating in accordance with these programs.

Further, the POS terminal device 1 has a functional configuration as shown in FIG. First, the POS application 11 is an application in an existing POS system that is provided before performing the function expansion based on the present invention. The POS application 11 performs processing for generating and outputting the information to be printed on the receipt or coupon described above. The data generated here is data in a format that can be output to the printer 3A (printer in the existing POS system) as it is. Alternatively, it is data in a format to be passed to the printer 3A driver 12.
The former is generated in the case of simple print data such as printing of text only.

The printer 3A driver 12 is a printer driver provided in the existing POS system for the printer 3A, and the data output from the POS application 11 is obtained by a command depending on the model (device) of the printer 3A. 3A receives and outputs as printable print data.

As shown in FIG. 1, the POS application 11 and the printer 3A driver 12 are located in an application layer 110 on which a program executes each process based on an operating system (OS) of a computer. Both are constituted by a program stored in the HDD or the like for instructing each processing content and the CPU or the like for executing processing according to the program.

Next, the virtual port 13 (data acquisition unit) receives print data output from the POS application 11 or the printer 3A driver 12 at the OS kernel layer 120 where the operating system is located before the communication port 17 receives the print data. It is. Then, the virtual port 13 delivers the acquired print data to the function expansion processing unit 14.

Next, the function expansion processing unit 14 is a part that performs an advertising advertisement to the customer using the print data delivered from the virtual port 13. Specifically, the received print data is analyzed, it is determined whether or not to display for advertisement on the customer-side display 2A, and when it is displayed, data for the screen is generated and the customer is displayed. Processing to output to the side display 2A, processing for generating coupon print data when there is a request for coupon issuance for the display, and processing to output to the printer 3 (in this case, the printer 3B) are executed. Specific processing procedures of these processes will be described later.

Next, the data storage unit 15 is a part that stores various data used by the function expansion processing unit 14, and is configured by the HDD or the like. The data stored here includes the virtual port 13
Rules for determining which printed material the print data transferred from is, information indicating what information is located at which position of the printed material, and rules for displaying advertisements to customers (Hereinafter referred to as a display rule) and image data (hereinafter referred to as an image DB) necessary for generating the display and coupon print data.

The display rule contains the display content and the content of the coupon to be issued for each product identification information (product code, product name, etc.). The image DB stores image data such as product appearance images and store logos in a readable manner.

Next, the rule setting unit 16 is a part for the user (for example, a store clerk) of the POS terminal device 1 to set the display rule and image DB data in the data storage unit 15. The user activates the rule setting unit 16 using the store clerk side display 2B and the input device described above,
By performing a predetermined operation on the interface screen provided by the rule setting unit 16, a desired display rule and image data can be set. The setting process can be performed in a timely manner, and the product to be displayed, the display content, and the content of the coupon to be issued can be freely changed according to the setting content.

The virtual port 13, the function expansion processing unit 14, and the rule setting unit 16 are respectively
The program includes a program stored in the HDD or the like that instructs processing performed by each unit, and the CPU or the like that executes processing according to the program. Moreover, the program which concerns on these parts is corresponded to the advertisement function expansion program of this invention.

Next, the POS terminal device 1 includes communication ports 17A, 17B, 17C, and 17D in the physical layer 130. The printers 3A and 3B, the customer-side display 2A (customer-side display device), and the clerk-side display 2B, respectively. Connected.

As an example, the printer 3 is a monochrome printer in which the printer 3A is provided in the existing POS system, and the printer 3B is a color printer newly provided at the time of function expansion according to the present invention. Here, the printer 3A is used for printing a receipt, and the printer 3B is used for printing a coupon.

Further, the store clerk side display 2B is a display device that is provided in the existing POS system and that faces the store clerk in order to display information to the store clerk, and the customer side display 2A is newly installed at the time of function expansion. It is a display device facing the customer side in order to display information. Further, the customer-side display 2A has a function as a so-called touch panel that can perform an input operation when a customer touches the display screen. In addition, you may use the apparatus by which the POS terminal device 1, the customer side display 2A, and the salesclerk side display 2B were comprised integrally.
In this case, the main unit of the POS terminal device 1 and the store clerk side display 2B are also newly installed at the time of function expansion.

As described above, the POS terminal device 1 and its peripheral devices are configured by adding parts necessary for function expansion to the devices provided in the existing POS system, and the added parts are shown in FIG. Indicated by bold lines.

The present POS terminal device 1 having the above-described configuration is characterized by a function of advertising to customers using print data. Hereinafter, specific processing contents of the function will be described.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the processing procedure of the advertisement processing.

First, as described above, print data is output directly from the POS application 11 or via the printer 3A driver 12. Here, the print data is print data of a receipt that is assumed to be output from the printer 3A. Accordingly, the communication port 17A is designated as the output destination communication port, and is expressed by a command depending on the printer 3A. Has been.

Next, the output print data is sent to the designated communication port (here, the communication port 17).
Received by virtual port 13 before it reaches A) (step S1). Such processing is
First, data for the communication port 17A is realized by changing the (priority) setting of the registry so that the virtual port 13 receives the data, and the setting change is executed when the OS is started. Thereafter, the received print data is transferred from the virtual port 13 to the function expansion processing unit 14 of the application layer 110 (step S1).

Next, the function expansion processing unit 14 analyzes the transferred print data (step S2). Specifically, the print data command is interpreted in accordance with the above-described rules for determining the printed material stored in the data storage unit 15 by interpreting the print data command. If the printed material is a receipt, the product identification information such as the product name and product code of the product sold (purchased by the customer) is stored in the data storage unit 15 according to the position information described above. Get the print data of where the is printed. Here, if the printed matter is not a receipt, the analysis process is terminated.

After acquiring the print data, the function expansion processing unit 14 determines whether or not to display an advertisement on the customer-side display 2A in accordance with the output of the receipt. Specifically, the acquired product identification information data is compared with the above-described display rule product identification information stored in the data storage unit 15, and if there is a match with the display rule, the advertisement display is performed. Judge. On the other hand, if there is no match, it is determined that the display is not performed.

When the analysis of the print data is completed as described above, the function expansion processing unit 14 outputs the transferred print data to the communication port 17A (step S2). The output print data is sent to the printer 3A via the communication port 17A, and a receipt is printed by the print data.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the advertisement display is not performed after the data analysis (No in step S3), the advertisement process for the print data is terminated.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the advertisement display is to be performed (Yes in step S3), the function expansion processing unit 14 generates and outputs image data to be displayed (step S4).
. Specifically, the display content stored in the display rule is referred to the product identification information that matches the display rule, and an image to be displayed is generated as data for the customer display 2A. In that case, the image data etc. of the goods stored in the image DB mentioned above are used as needed.
Note that the content to be displayed can be advertisement information related to the product of the product identification information.

In addition, when the display rule indicates that coupons can be issued for products to be displayed, a display prompting the customer to instruct whether or not to issue coupons at a predetermined location on the advertisement screen to be displayed The image data is generated so as to be added. In addition, when the display covers multiple pages (screens), such as when displaying advertisements for multiple products, a display that prompts the customer to change the display page (screen) is added to the specified part of the display screen As described above, image data is generated.

The display data generated in this way is sent from the function expansion processing unit 14 to the communication port 17C.
Is output toward.

The output display data is transferred to the customer display 2A via the communication port 17C and displayed there. That is, an advertisement display for the customer is performed. When there is no display for issuing the coupon ticket and when the customer gives an instruction not to issue the coupon (No in step S5), the advertisement processing for the print data is performed. Exit. The customer's instruction is made by touching a predetermined portion of the display for issuing the coupon on the advertisement display screen, and the instruction is displayed on the customer display 2A.
Is notified to the function expansion processing unit 14 and the processing is terminated.

On the other hand, if the customer gives an instruction to issue a coupon for the above display (Yes in step S5), the instruction is notified from the customer display 2A to the function expansion processing unit 14, and the function expansion processing is performed. The unit 14 performs processing for generating and outputting the print data of the coupon ticket instructed to be issued (step S6). The issuing instruction by the customer is made by touching a predetermined portion of the display for issuing the coupon on the advertisement display screen.
Moreover, you may display the content (50% off at the time of next purchase, etc.) of the coupon ticket issued for the display for the said coupon ticket issue.

In the above coupon ticket print data generation, specifically, in the display rules described above, the coupon content stored for the product for which the customer has instructed to issue the coupon is referred to, and the coupon ticket print data according to the content is referred to. Is generated using the logo of the image DB as necessary. When the coupon is issued in color, it is printed by the printer 3B, so it is generated as print data expressed by a command for the printer 3B, and the print data is transmitted to the communication port 1
Output to 7B. On the other hand, when the coupon is issued in monochrome, it is printed by the printer 3A, so it is generated as print data expressed by a command for the printer 3A, and the print data is output to the communication port 17A.

Thereafter, the output print data is sent to the printer 3 via the communication port 17, and the printer 3 prints a coupon based on the print data.

Then, the printed coupon is output, and the advertisement processing for the print data (receipt) is finished.

In the above description, the coupon issuance process was performed, but without performing the process,
Only the advertisement display may be performed as the advertisement function. In this case, the advertising process is terminated by the process up to step S4 in FIG.

In the above description, the receipt and the coupon are printed as separate printed matter. However, when issuing the coupon, the coupon may be printed on the receipt sheet. For example, you may make it print a coupon on the lower part of the printing surface of a receipt, or the back surface of a receipt. When printing on the back side, the printer 3 that prints the receipt with the coupon is a printer capable of duplex printing.

When such processing is performed, the data output (virtual port 13) in step S2 in FIG.
If the coupon is not issued without outputting the print data transferred from the communication port 17A to the communication port 17A at this point in time (No in S3 and No in S5). The data output is executed as described above. On the other hand, when issuing coupons,
In step S6, the coupon print data is integrated with the receipt print data transferred from the virtual port 13, and then data output is executed. In the data output after the integration, output is performed to the communication port 17 to which the printer 3 suitable for the print color of the receipt with coupon is connected.

As described above, when a new device such as a customer-side display or a color printer is introduced into an existing POS terminal device by using the advertisement function expansion program according to this embodiment, the existing POS application program It is possible to add an advertisement function such as an advertisement display to a customer or issue of a coupon to an existing POS system by an easy method without any change. That is, the function can be added by adding a portion indicated by a thick line in FIG.

In addition, since the main function expansion process is configured to be performed in the application layer of the computer, it is possible to easily develop a program that executes various processes.

In addition, since the user can change the above-described display rules as appropriate, free advertising can be performed in a timely manner.

Moreover, when issuing a coupon, as mentioned above, it can contribute to the efficient use of a sheet | seat by integrating on the back surface of a receipt.

The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but covers the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

1 POS terminal device, 2A customer side display, 2B store clerk side display,
3 Printer, 11 POS application, 12 Printer 3A driver, 13 Virtual port, 14 Function expansion processing unit, 15 Data storage unit, 16 Rule setting unit, 17 Communication port, 110 Application layer, 120 OS kernel layer, 130 Physical layer

Claims (7)

The print data of the printed matter output from the application layer application is acquired by the OS kernel layer,
The application layer analyzes the acquired print data of the printed matter,
When predetermined sales information is included in the print data of the printed matter, display data to be displayed to the customer on the display device is generated,
An advertisement function expansion program for causing the computer constituting the POS terminal device to output the display data and executing a process for extending the advertisement function.   The determination as to whether or not to generate the display data and the contents of the display data can be set by a user of the POS terminal device, and are executed based on rule information stored in the computer in advance. Advertising enhancement program.   The advertising function expansion program according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sales information is identification information of a sold product, and the display data is data for displaying advertising information about the product. After receiving the instruction to issue a coupon after outputting the display data, generate print data of the coupon.
The advertising function expansion program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which causes the computer to output the print data of the coupon ticket. The printed matter is a receipt,
The advertising function expansion program according to claim 4, wherein the print data of the coupon ticket is integrated with the acquired print data of the printed matter and is output as print data of one printed matter. The OS kernel layer acquires the print data of the printed matter output from the application layer application by the computer constituting the POS terminal device.
Analyzing the print data of the acquired printed matter,
When predetermined sales information is included in the print data of the printed matter, display data to be displayed to the customer on the display device is generated,
A method for expanding an advertising function, wherein the display data is output to the display device connected to the computer. A data acquisition unit that acquires, in the OS kernel layer, print data of a printed matter output from an application in the application layer;
In the application layer, the print data of the printed matter acquired by the data acquisition unit is analyzed, and when the print data of the printed matter includes predetermined sales information, display data to be displayed to the customer on the display device is displayed. And a function expansion processing unit that generates and outputs the display data.

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