Transaction data processing apparatus connected to an external device for data communication

Abstract

A transaction data processing apparatus includes a scanning unit configured to scan a product code of a product related to a transaction, a printing unit configured to print transaction data on a sheet, a communication unit configured to transmit the transaction data to an external device over a network, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to generate the transaction data based on the scanned product code, determine whether the network is online or offline, and control the communication unit to transmit the transaction data to the external device when the network is online, and the printing unit to print the transaction data on the sheet when the network is offline.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transaction data processing apparatus, comprising:
 a scanning unit configured to scan a product code of a product related to a transaction;   a printing unit configured to print transaction data on a sheet;   a communication unit configured to transmit the transaction data to an external device over a network; and   a control unit configured to   generate the transaction data based on the scanned product code,   determine whether the network is online or offline, and   control the communication unit to transmit the transaction data to the external device when the network is online, and the printing unit to print the transaction data on the sheet when the network is offline.   
     
     
         2 . The transaction data processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit is further configured to include information indicating a state of the network in the transaction data to be generated, corresponding to a determination result, and   the transaction data is printed by the printing unit or transmitted by the communication unit, based on the information.   
     
     
         3 . The transaction data processing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the control unit controls the communication unit to transmit the transaction data to the external device when the information indicates that the network is online, and the printing unit to print the transaction data on the sheet when the information indicates that the network is offline.   
     
     
         4 . The transaction data processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit is further configured to determine a destination of the transaction data, and   the transaction data is printed by the printing unit even if the determined destination is the external device, when the network is determined to be offline.   
     
     
         5 . The transaction data processing apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a reading unit configured to read a customer code of a customer, wherein   the control unit determines the destination of the transaction data based on whether or not the reading unit has read the customer code.   
     
     
         6 . The transaction data processing apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the control unit is further configured to include information indicating the destination of the transaction data in the transaction data to be generated.   
     
     
         7 . The transaction data processing apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 an operation unit configured to receive a user selection of a destination of the transaction data, and   the control unit determines the destination of the transaction data based on the user selection.   
     
     
         8 . The transaction data processing apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the control unit is further configured to include information indicating the destination of the transaction data in the transaction data to be generated.   
     
     
         9 . The transaction data processing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the control unit determines the destination of the transaction data based on a type of the transaction.   
     
     
         10 . The transaction data processing apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the control unit is further configured to include information indicating the destination of the transaction data in the transaction data to be generated.   
     
     
         11 . The transaction data processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit is further configured to control the communication unit to transmit the transaction data to the external device when a state of the network changed from an offline state to an online state after the printing unit has printed the transaction data.   
     
     
         12 . The transaction data processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display unit configured to display information indicating that the network is offline.   
     
     
         13 . The transaction data processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the printing unit is further configured to print, on the sheet, information indicating that the network is offline.   
     
     
         14 . A method for processing transaction data, comprising:
 scanning a product code of a product related to a transaction;   generating transaction data based on the scanned product code;   determining whether a communication network is online or offline;   transmitting the transaction data to the external device over the communication network when the communication network is online; and   printing the transaction data on a sheet when the communication network is offline.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the generated transaction data includes information indicating a state of the communication network, in the transaction data to be generated, and   the transaction data is printed by the printing unit or transmitted by the communication unit, based on the determining.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining a destination of the transaction data based on at least one of whether or not a customer code of a customer has been obtained, a user selection of a destination, and a type of the transaction, wherein   the transaction data is printed on the sheet even if the determined destination is the external device, when the communication network is offline.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the generated transaction data includes information indicating the destination of the transaction data.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 transmitting the transaction data to the external device when the communication network is changed from an offline state to an online state after the transaction data has been printed.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 displaying information indicating that the communication network is offline.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 printing, on the sheet, information indicating that the communication network is offline.