According to one embodiment, a merchandise sales transaction processing system includes a registration processing device to register items being purchased in a transaction, generate settlement information for the transaction based on the registered items, and store the generated settlement information in a storage device. A plurality of settlement devices are associated with the registration processing device. Each settlement device is configured to check for settlement information in the storage device, acquire the settlement information if the settlement information is stored in the storage device and at least one of the settlement devices is available for executing settlement processing based on the settlement information. The settlement device itself executes the settlement processing if it is available or, if it is unavailable, transmits the settlement information to another one of the settlement devices.

According to one embodiment, a merchandise sales transaction processing system includes a registration processing device to register items being purchased in a transaction, generate settlement information for the transaction based on the registered items, and store the generated settlement information in a storage device. A plurality of settlement devices are associated with the registration processing device. Each settlement device is configured to check for settlement information in the storage device, acquire the settlement information if the settlement information is stored in the storage device and at least one of the settlement devices is available for executing settlement processing based on the settlement information. The settlement device itself executes the settlement processing if it is available or, if it is unavailable, transmits the settlement information to another one of the settlement devices.

An information processing apparatus includes: a body having a top configured to allow a touch panel to be disposed thereon; and an input auxiliary device. The input auxiliary device includes: a frame including a first holding piece and a second holding piece configured to hold one side and another side of the body, respectively, to mount the frame on the top; and a key unit attachable to a backside of the frame. The one side includes: a card slot; and a second underside extending along the top toward the another side between the top and the card slot. The first holding piece is configured to be locked to the second underside.

Method for monitoring the presence of a point-of-sale display in a shop, at the sight of consumers, the method comprising: acquiring signals from mobile devices by at least one signal sensor, sending one output from the signal sensor to an analyzing device, wherein the analyzing device: calculates an audience rate of the point-of-sale display on the basis of the output, and determines, on the basis of the audience rate, if the point-of-sale display is in the shop at the sight of consumers or not.

Method for monitoring the presence of a point-of-sale display in a shop, at the sight of consumers, the method comprising: acquiring signals from mobile devices by at least one signal sensor, sending one output from the signal sensor to an analyzing device, wherein the analyzing device: calculates an audience rate of the point-of-sale display on the basis of the output, and determines, on the basis of the audience rate, if the point-of-sale display is in the shop at the sight of consumers or not.

According to one or more embodiments, a settlement apparatus includes a processor. The processor detects a state of the settlement apparatus related to execution of settlement processing at the settlement apparatus using a plurality of settlement methods. The processor determines, based on the detected state of the settlement apparatus, whether there is a first settlement method among the plurality of settlement methods which cannot be executed at the settlement processing apparatus. The processor then notifies a customer of settlement method information indicating the first settlement method cannot be executed at the settlement processing or that another settlement method, other than the first settlement method, can be executed at the settlement apparatus instead of the first settlement method.

A Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal in a retail environment is communicatively connected to one or more POS peripheral devices. Each POS peripheral device is associated with a configuration file that defines configuration settings for the POS peripheral device and environmental context information for the POS terminal and the POS controller. The configuration files are prioritized according to various criteria, and used to re-configure POS applications executing on the POS to operate optimally with the particular POS peripheral device. Additionally, the prioritized configuration files control the POS applications to update the configuration information.

A Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal in a retail environment is communicatively connected to one or more POS peripheral devices. Each POS peripheral device is associated with a configuration file that defines configuration settings for the POS peripheral device and environmental context information for the POS terminal and the POS controller. The configuration files are prioritized according to various criteria, and used to re-configure POS applications executing on the POS to operate optimally with the particular POS peripheral device. Additionally, the prioritized configuration files control the POS applications to update the configuration information.

Various embodiments are described herein that relate to network-connected data cables (i.e., “smart” data cables) that are connected to a merchant's point of sale system and a receipt printer. When a transaction is initiated at the point of sale system, transaction data is created by the point of sale system and passed to the smart data cable for transmission downstream to the receipt printer. The smart data cable can parse the transaction data, copy certain elements from the transaction data, and transmit the copied elements to a cloud-based platform that processes the transaction. For example, the cloud-based platform may compare the copied elements to information supplied by the customer through a messaging application executing on the customer's user device. The information may be provided by the customer to a chat bot that is supported by the cloud-based platform.

Provided are a product purchase support system (100), a product purchase support device (10), and a POS terminal device (20) that improve the efficiency of checkout processing for product sales and enhance the convenience of customers when purchasing a product. The product purchase support system (100) according to the present invention includes the product purchase support device (10) including a depth camera (12) and a first display device (13), and a POS terminal device (20) that performs checkout processing for a product. When the product purchase support device (10) detects a product selection motion of selecting a product by a customer, it identifies a product selected by the customer and generates product information related to this product, and displays the product information on the first display device (13). Further, the product purchase support device (10) outputs the product information to the POS terminal device (20).