Reading apparatus, transaction processing system, and method carried out by reading apparatus

Abstract

A reading apparatus used in a transaction processing system for reading an item code of an item, includes a camera, a first interface connectable to a first device for performing registration and checkout processing, one or more second interfaces connectable to one or more second devices for performing processing different from the registration and checkout processing, a memory in which one or more addresses of the second devices can be stored, and a controller configured to: upon receipt of an image of a symbol attached to an item, decode the symbol and acquire an item code, control the first interface to transmit the item code to the first device, determine whether one or more addresses of the second devices are stored, and upon determining that one or more addresses are stored, control the second interfaces to transmit the item code to the second devices using the addresses.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reading apparatus used in a transaction processing system for reading an item code of an item in registration and checkout processing, comprising:
 a camera;   a first interface connectable to a first device configured to perform registration and checkout processing on one or more items;   one or more second interfaces connectable to one or more second devices configured to perform particular processing different from the registration and checkout processing;   a memory in which one or more addresses of the second devices can be stored; and   a controller configured to:
 upon receipt of an image of a symbol attached to an item from the camera, decode the symbol and acquire an item code of the item, 
 control the first interface to transmit the item code to the first device, 
 determine whether one or more addresses of the second devices are stored in the memory, and 
 upon determining that one or more addresses of the second devices are stored in the memory, control the second interfaces to transmit the item code to the second devices using the addresses thereof. 
   
     
     
         2 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second interfaces include a communication interface, and   the second devices include a coupon issuing device connectable to the communication interface and configured to issue a coupon based on the item code.   
     
     
         3 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the coupon issuing device is attached to the first device, and   the reading apparatus is disposed on the first device.   
     
     
         4 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second interfaces include a wireless communication interface, and   the second devices include a monitoring device connectable to the wireless communication interface, including a camera, and configured to evaluate images captured thereby to monitor a customer who is holding the item based on the item code.   
     
     
         5 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the monitoring device is disposed above the first device and the reading apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the reading apparatus is disposed below a touch panel through which an instruction to start the registration and checkout processing can be input to the first device. 
     
     
         7 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the reading apparatus is above a receipt issuing port of the first device through which a receipt can be issued after the registration and checkout processing has been completed. 
     
     
         8 . A transaction processing system comprising:
 a transaction processing apparatus configured to perform registration and checkout processing on one or more items; and   a reading apparatus that includes:
 a camera, 
 a first interface connectable to the transaction processing apparatus, 
 one or more second interfaces connectable to one or more devices configured to perform particular processing different from the registration and checkout processing, 
 a memory in which one or more addresses of the devices can be stored, and 
 a controller configured to:
 upon receipt of an image of a symbol attached to an item from the camera, decode the symbol and acquire an item code of the item, 
 control the first interface to transmit the item code to the transaction processing apparatus, 
 determine whether one or more addresses of the devices are stored in the memory, and 
 upon determining that one or more addresses of the devices are stored in the memory, control the second interfaces to transmit the item code to the second devices using the addresses thereof. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The transaction processing system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the second interfaces include a communication interface, and   the devices include a coupon issuing device connectable to the communication interface and configured to issue a coupon based on the item code.   
     
     
         10 . The transaction processing system according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the coupon issuing device is attached to the transaction processing apparatus, and   the reading apparatus is disposed on the transaction processing apparatus.   
     
     
         11 . The transaction processing system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the second interfaces include a wireless communication interface, and   the devices include a monitoring device connectable to the wireless communication interface, including a camera, and configured to evaluate images captured thereby to monitor a customer who is holding the item based on the item code.   
     
     
         12 . The transaction processing system according to  claim 11 , wherein the monitoring device is disposed above the transaction processing apparatus and the reading apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The transaction processing system according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a touch panel disposed above the reading apparatus and through which an instruction to start the registration and checkout processing can be input to the transaction processing apparatus.   
     
     
         14 . The transaction processing system according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the transaction processing apparatus has a receipt issuing port through which a receipt can be issued after the registration and checkout processing has been completed, and   the reading apparatus is disposed above the receipt issuing port.   
     
     
         15 . A method carried out by a reading apparatus used in a transaction processing system for reading an item code of an item in registration and checkout processing, the reading apparatus including:
 a camera,   a first interface connectable to a first device configured to perform registration and checkout processing on one or more items,   one or more second interfaces connectable to one or more second devices configured to perform particular processing different from the registration and checkout processing, and   a memory in which one or more addresses of the second devices can be stored, the method comprising:   capturing an image of a symbol attached to an item with the camera;   decoding the symbol and acquiring an item code of the item;   controlling the first interface to transmit the item code to the first device;   determining whether one or more addresses of the second devices are stored in the memory; and   upon determining that one or more addresses of the second devices are stored in the memory, controlling the second interfaces to transmit the item code to the second devices using the addresses thereof.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the second interfaces include a communication interface, and   the second devices include a coupon issuing device connectable to the communication interface and configured to issue a coupon based on the item code.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the coupon issuing device is attached to the first device, and   the reading apparatus is disposed on the first device.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the second interfaces include a wireless communication interface, and   the second devices include a monitoring device connectable to the wireless communication interface, including a camera, and configured to evaluate images captured thereby to monitor a customer who is holding the item based on the item code.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the monitoring device is disposed above the first device and the reading apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the reading apparatus is disposed below a touch panel through which an instruction to start the registration and checkout processing can be input to the first device.