Datacode reading apparatus

A POS system comprising:

• a datacode reading apparatus which reads at least a datacode attached to an item of merchandise and decodes the datacode;
• and
• a POS server which reads data of at least a price of the item of merchandise corresponding to the datacode decoded by the datacode reading apparatus,
• the datacode reading apparatus comprising:
• an image sensing device which senses a datacode attached to an item of merchandise and outputs moving image data;
• a display;
• an image display unit which displays the moving image data output from the image sensing device on the display as a real-time moving image;
• a decoding unit which decodes the datacode based on the moving image data output from the image sensing device;
• a stopping unit which stops outputting the moving image data from the image sensing device together with decoding of the datacode by the decoding unit;
• a still image creating unit which extracts image data from the moving image data output from the image sensing device and creates a still image including the datacode, when the stopping unit stops outputting the moving image data;
• and
• a still image keeping unit which keeps the display continuously displaying the still image created by the still image creating unit for a predetermined time and inhibits continuous reading of the datacode of the same code for the predetermined time,
• wherein the datacode reading apparatus receives the data of at least the price of the item of merchandise from the POS server, totalizes the data of prices, and displays checkout data on the display, and
• the POS server includes a merchandise database which stores the data of at least the price of the item of merchandise in advance, inquires of the merchandise database about the decoded data decoded by the decoder, and reads, from the merchandise database, the data of at least the price of the item of merchandise corresponding to the decoded data.

A datacode reading method comprising:

• causing an image sensing device to sense a datacode attached to an item of merchandise and output moving image data;
• displaying the moving image data output from the image sensing device on a display as a real-time moving image;
• causing a decoding unit to decode the datacode based on the moving image data output from the image sensing device;
• stopping outputting the moving image data from the image sensing device together with decoding of the datacode by the decoding unit;
• extracting image data from the moving image data output from the image sensing device and creating a still image including the datacode, when outputting of the moving image data is stopped;
• and
• keeping the display continuously displaying the still image for a predetermined time and inhibiting continuous reading of the datacode of the same code for the predetermined time.