Self-checkout apparatus and self-checkout method
In accordance with one embodiment, a self-checkout apparatus comprises a reading module configured to read information of a wireless tag from a commodity attached with the wireless tag and housed in a storage room, and a data processing module configured to carry out sales registration and checkout processing of the commodity of which the wireless tag information is read by the reading module; wherein the reading module includes, inside the storage room, an antenna section for reading the information of the wireless tag from the commodity housed in the storage room, and a moving section for changing communication range of the antenna section with the wireless tag.
1. A self-checkout apparatus comprising:
a casing including
a storage room for housing a commodity attached with a wireless tag, and
a placing table for placing the commodity with the wireless tag inside the storage room,
a reading module configured to read information of the wireless tag from the commodity attached with the wireless tag and housed in the storage room, and
a data processing module configured to carry out sales registration and checkout processing of the commodity of which the wireless tag information is read by the reading module; wherein
the reading module includes,
a moving antenna section for reading the information of the wireless tag from the commodity housed in the storage room, wherein the moving antenna section is arranged at a gap between the placing table and a bottom of the storage room, and
a moving section for changing a communication range with the wireless tag by moving the moving antenna section in a direction parallel to a placing surface of the placing table intermittently, wherein the moving section moves the moving antenna section a pre-determined distance and stops the moving antenna section for a defined time.
2. The self-checkout apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the reading module includes a fixed antenna section of which the communication range with the wireless tag is fixed; and
the moving section moves the moving antenna section intermittently when the fixed antenna section communicates with the wireless tag.
3. The self-checkout apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the moving section moves the moving antenna section in one direction to change the communication range with the wireless tag.
4. The self-checkout apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the moving section moves the moving antenna section in two directions to change the communication range with the wireless tag.
5. A self-checkout method including:
reading information of a wireless tag from a commodity attached with the wireless tag and housed in a storage room while intermittently moving a moving antenna section in a direction parallel to a placing surface of a placing table to change communication range between the moving antenna section and the wireless tag, wherein
the moving antenna section is arranged at a gap between the placing table and a bottom of the storage room,
the placing table is a table for placing the commodity with the wireless tag inside the storage room, and
the intermittently moving the moving antenna section comprises moving the moving antenna section a pre-determined distance and stopping the moving antenna section for a defined time; and
carrying out sales registration and checkout processing of the commodity of which the wireless tag information is read.
6. The self-checkout method of claim 5 , further comprising:
after the defined time, moving the moving antenna section another pre-determined distance; and
stopping the moving antenna section at the another pre-determined distance for another defined time.
7. The self-checkout method of claim 5 , wherein the moving the moving antenna section is at a high speed.
8. The self-checkout method of claim 5 , wherein the defined time is selected for completion of a communication with the wireless tag.
9. The self-checkout apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the moving section, after the defined time, moves the moving antenna section another pre-determined distance and, after the moving antenna section is moved the pre-determined distance, the moving section stops the moving antenna section for another defined time.
10. The self-checkout apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the moving section moves the moving antenna section at a high speed.
11. The self-checkout apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the defined time is selected for completion of a communication with the wireless tag.