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 to scan a product code of a product in a sales transaction;   a processor configured to:
 generate receipt information corresponding to the sales transaction and add a particular character string to the receipt information when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and 
 determine whether the particular character string is in the generated receipt information; 
   a printing unit configured to print receipt information on a sheet; and   a communication unit configured to transmit the receipt information to an external device over a network, wherein   the processor is further configured to select between outputting the receipt information to one of the printing unit or the communication unit according to whether or not the particular character string is in the receipt information.   
     
     
         2 . The transaction data processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition is whether the network is online. 
     
     
         3 . The transaction data processing apparatus according to claim  1 , wherein the predetermined condition is whether a customer code has been provided by a customer in the sales transaction. 
     
     
         4 . The transaction data processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether a secondary condition is satisfied if the predetermined condition is satisfied. 
     
     
         5 . The transaction data processing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined condition is whether a customer code has been provided by a customer in the sales transaction, and the secondary condition is whether the network is online. 
     
     
         6 . The transaction data processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the external device is one of a store server, a company server, or an electronic receipt server. 
     
     
         7 . The transaction data processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display unit configured to display information indicating that the network is offline.   
     
     
         8 . A method for processing transaction data, comprising:
 scanning a product code of a product related to a sales transaction;   generating receipt information based on the scanned product code and adding a particular character string to the receipt information when a predetermined condition is satisfied;   determining whether the particular character string is in the receipt information;   selecting between outputting the receipt information to one of a printing unit or an external device via a network according to whether or not the particular character string is in the receipt information.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined condition is whether the network is online. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined condition is whether a customer code has been provided by a customer in the sales transaction. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining whether a secondary condition is satisfied if the predetermined condition is satisfied.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined condition is whether a customer code has been provided by a customer in the sales transaction, and the secondary condition is whether the network is online. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the external device is one of a store server, a company server, or an electronic receipt server.