WO2002065416A2

WO2002065416A2 - Improved electronic cash register

Info

Publication number: WO2002065416A2
Application number: PCT/IT2002/000079
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michele Squitieri
Original assignee: Mwcr S.P.A.
Priority date: 2001-02-12
Filing date: 2002-02-11
Publication date: 2002-08-22
Also published as: ITRM20010069A0; WO2002065416A3; AU2002236203A1; ITRM20010069A1

Abstract

An improved electronic cash register is described, characterised in that it comprises in combination: an internal processing block (10) acting as a cash register, an external processing block (10) acting as a cash register, an external connection block (12) provided with connection and interface devices towards the external world and a bus (24) linked up both with said internal processing block (10) and external connection block (12) for the transmission and the exchange of data and instructions among them, the arrangement being such that said improved electronic cash register executes functions liked up with the external world. Therefore there is provided an extremely versatile and cheap apparatus, because of its modular and standard construction.

Description

Improved electronic cash register

Technical Field

The present invention refers to an improved electronic cash register and particularly concerns a cash register including enhanced capabilities to interact with the surrounding environment by using a wide range of transmission media.

Background art

Although the modern cash registers meet the requirements of the middle users, however they do not allow the requirements of the advanced users to be satisfied, for example in so far as the connections to others systems are concerned.

In fact, very often, in the workplaces of the users of cash registers, it is possible to find a certain number of electronic devices that allow a number of operations to be executed by using their specific communication channels.

The common devices that the operators frequently use are: electronic devices that permit paying by credit cards; connection systems including management of databases for various purposes; devices that allow accessing the Internet.

Clearly, this multiplicity of devices occupied more space and required additional costs.

Therefore, the necessity arose of an improved electronic cash register, which takes advantage of Internet communication and includes inside the necessary devices to execute all those subsidiary operations in order to complete the functions that could be required by a modern user. Finally, this machine goes further the features of a simple cash register.

Disclosure of the invention

The main object of the present invention is to provide an improved cash register for connecting to a wide range of transmission media, having a simple and cheap structure, useful for a mass production.

According to the present invention, an improved electronic cash register is characterised in that it comprises in combination: an internal processing block, acting as a cash register; an external connection block provided with connection and interface devices towards the external world; and a bus linked up both with said internal processing block and said external connection block for the transmission and the exchange of data and instructions among them, the arrangement being such that said improved electronic cash register executes functions liked up with the external world. The main advantage achieved with the present improved cash register is saving a lot of space rather than using a normal cash register with many separated devices as well as an easier working.

Brief description of drawings The present invention will be further clarified hereinbelow and other advantages will be highlighted by the description of a practical embodiment of the improved electronic cash register, according to the present invention, this description being given by way of example on a purely illustrative and non-limiting basis, with reference to accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a block diagram of the improved electronic cash register according to the present invention; and

Figure 2 shows, in a schematic way, some possible environments of an evolved use of the present improved electronic cash register.

Best mode for carrying out the invention

With reference to the accompanying drawings and particularly to figure 1 thereof, you can note that the present improved electronic cash register includes mainly an internal processing block 10 and an external connection block 12.

The internal processing block 10 presides over the usual functions of a usual cash register used like fiscal meter (electronic cash register) ; it receives input data digited by the operator by using a usual keyboard 14 for cash registers; moreover it receives others data, for example product codes, by using a scanner 16 or a bar code reader and a credit card reader 18. In the case of the operations by cash, the block 10 provides for the opening of the cash drawer by using a freeing cash drawer mechanism 20.

The internal processing block 10 also activates a printer 22 to issue a fiscal receipt and stores the data of the transaction into the fiscal memory.

The internal processing block 10 is connected to the external connection block 12 through a standardised bus 24 in order to exchange data and instructions each other. According to the present invention, the external connection block 12 provides for the outside connection for an evolved use of the cash register.

For this reason, the external connection block 12 is provided with a connection 26, in order to gain access the commuted telephone network, and a network connection 28, in order to gain access the local network.

The external connection block 12 includes a microprocessor, normally used into the so called personal computers, connected to its proper control circuits utilised to interface itself with both the memory and the standardised system bus.

To this standardised system bus are connected, besides the already mentioned connections 26 and 28, through proper interface blocks, also a monitor 30 for visual presentation, a couple of stereophonic loudspeakers 32, a hard disk 34, a compact disk reader and a compact disk recorder 36.

The improved electronic cash register can interface itself with the user by using a keyboard 38 and a mouse 40 through both a radio waves connection to the system bus and a matrix 42 of elements sensitive to the touch (i.e. a so called touch screen) , arranged close to the screen of the monitor 30. Additional services are executed by a printer 44, connected to an auxiliary port of system, and by a multifunction printer with scanner 46, connected to a display device 48 for customer vision.

Moreover, the improved electronic cash register is provided with a tuner 50 to receive radio and TV both analogical and digital channels by using a proper radio and TV aerial 52, as well as a decoder of the teletext pages connected to the system bus through a proper interface.

The improved electronic cash register includes a telephone handset 54, arranged along the external cabinet of the cash register. It allows the usual telephone conversations to be made by saving more space rather than using an external and usual telephone device. The improved electronic cash register also includes a keyboard or pin pad 56 to insert bancomat codes and a microprocessor card (i.e. a so called smart card) reader 58.

We would like to underline that the modular construction, made by using both standardised components and standardised modular architectures (both for the components and the system bus) , gives us the possibility of modular constructions, an easy expansion and updating at low prices; finally it permits saving many costs.

With reference to figure 2 , the correct working of the improved electronic cash register according to the present invention is hereby described.

The use of the present machine is really easy; once you switch on it by pressing the proper button, the machine will present you an image containing big buttons. Each button is associated with a function and includes a caption that explains its correct working. Once you press the button or control key, either you could gain access others images that include big buttons, or you could complete an action. Switch off the machine by pressing the proper control key: "switch off".

For the reason that the machine is provided with the internal processing block 10 and its associated components, clearly it owns the same features and functionality of a usual cash register so it can perform the same operations of a fiscal meter.

Thanks to the external connection block 12 and, in particular, to the connections 26 and 28, an improved electronic cash register 80 according to the present invention can interface itself towards the external world. In particular, it can link up with both local and extended networks, as shown in figure 2, where the Internet is schematised with the number 82; the improved electronic cash register 80 links up by using a connection schematised with the number 84.

The improved electronic cash register could also link up with a remote alarm system including of sensors that compose a network and could control a flat or/and a whorehouse 86. Accessing the network could be feasible by using both local network (i.e. in a whorehouse) and the Internet (i.e. in a flat or/and another sales point); the alarm could be link up with a warning by an SMS message. The network access allows the orders and the warehouse management to be made in real time or even in automatic mode by using proper software. This sort of interface permits connecting to the service agency networks like road tax payment offices or electric bill payment offices 88, or to cinemas and stadiums in order to manage the bookings and the advance sale of tickets. On track with the Italian D.L. of 13.07.2000 concerning the regulations about the Spectacle Authority (disco, cinema, stadium etc.) means have been provided for the transmission of data to the SIAE 90 through the network; these data are protected by cryptography and a digital sign. The microprocessor chip-card, placed into the reader 58, can create a digital sign and activate the working of the counter, but its main task is to execute common and actual standard algorithms by using the asymmetric keys in order to realise the cryptography. Regards the cryptographic keys, they are used in this way: the public key of the SIAE allows the text to be cryptographied; the text can be put in bright only by owning the private key of the SIAE that clearly must keep it carefully. It makes impossible to falsify the data, in fact they are immediately recorded in cryptographied mode, if you want to send them, or in bright, if you want to consult them. However, in the event that the data were intercepted during the transmission, they could not be read. The digital sign has a duplex purpose: it avoids sending the false data through others machines (in fact it is made by using functions of hash including a seed contained into a EPROM mechanically sealed) ; and it combines the data with the fiscal person. When the SIAE receives the data and after the verification of its formal correctness, the SIAE will send an e-mail that will has the same meaning of a receiving notification.

The interface with the external world allows also taking advantage of television and radios connections both terrestrial and satellite (analogical and digital) using the tuner 50. This allows the reception of thematic channels for the training. It is also possible to take advantage of an exit video-composed to which one could connect television camera or video-recorder for the recording and the transmission of spot or video of training.

The possibility to have direct connections with financials institution, Ministries, and Associations, moreover is supported from uses of Internet. The machine is fundamentally a counter; for this reason the sale functionalities are always active except you are inside a sale of services like a ticket reservation.

It is worth remembering the second very important feature of the present improved electronic cash register: the modularity of the system. In fact, from the point of view of the hardware, it is possible to interchange or/and add the components, for example the printers are connected directly in serial mode, and the monitor can be of different sizes; while from the point of view of the software is possible using every software developed for standard operating systems. The easy working of the machine has been one of the project specifications. A really intuitive software has been developed, it can be managed using a touch screen including big buttons which explain theirs functions. Computer science acquaintances for the use of the machine are not demanded in any way.

Although only one preferred embodiment of the improved electronic cash register has been specifically illustrated and described therein, it is to be understood that different variations and modifications may be made in the construction thereof by the skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Improved electronic cash register, characterised in that it comprises in combination: an internal processing block (10) , acting as a cash register; an external connection block (12) provided with connection and interface devices towards the external world; and a bus (24) linked up both with said internal processing block (10) and said external connection block (12) for the transmission and the exchange of data and instructions among them, the arrangement being such that said improved electronic cash register executes functions liked up with the external world.

2. Improved electronic cash register according to claim

1, characterised in that said external connection block (12) includes a microprocessor with its associated components and interface means of connection to the public commuted telephone network (26) , through which it connects to Internet.

3. Improved electronic cash register according to claim

2 , characterised in that it further comprises a telephone handset (54) for vocal communication through the commuted telephone network (26) .

4. Improved electronic cash register according to claim

1, characterised in that said external connection block (12) includes a microprocessor with its associated components and interface means of connection to a local network (28) , through which it connects to Internet.

5. Improved electronic cash register according to claim

2, 3 or 4, characterised in that said microprocessor whit its associated components and relevant system bus are standard components as used into so-called personal computers.

6. Improved electronic cash register according to any one of the previous claim, characterised in that it further comprises a tuner connected to an aerial in order to receive the TV channels.

7. Improved electronic cash register according to claim 6, characterised in that it further comprises a decoder for the teletext pages.

8. Improved electronic cash register according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it further comprises a tuner connected to an aerial in order to receive radio channels.

9. Improved electronic cash register according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it further comprises a microprocessor or chip card reader (58) .

10. Improved electronic cash register according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it further comprises a keyboard (56) in order to insert the bancomat codes.

11. Improved electronic cash register according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it further comprises a multifunction printer with scanner (46) .

12. Improved electronic cash register according to the claim 11, characterised in that it further comprises a display device (48) for the clients.