Terminals, information processing devices, systems

Abstract

To facilitate stocking of products.SOLUTION: A terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises reading means capable of reading codes for uniquely identifying products, and registration means for registering a product as a stocking product on the basis of a code read by the reading means, the code being displayed at least on a shelf label of the product placed on a display shelf of the product to uniquely identify the product.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a terminal and an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in a store's sales floor, when there are only a few products on the shelves, when a product is out of stock, or when a customer places an order for more products than there are on the sales floor, the task of retrieving products from the back room where inventory is stored (also known as "stocking") has been known. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-038364 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When stocking products, store employees must determine which products should be stocked, remember the products to be stocked, and use writing implements to make notes of the products to be stocked, but this method places a heavy workload on the store staff.

[0005] The present disclosure makes it easier to stock merchandise. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A terminal that is one embodiment of the present disclosure has a reading means capable of reading a code that uniquely identifies a product, and a registration means that registers the product as a stocked product based on the reading by the reading means of a code that uniquely identifies the product, which is at least displayed on a shelf tag for the product that is attached to a display shelf for the product. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining delivery of goods from a delivery center to a retail store according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a shelf tag attached to a display shelf on which products are displayed according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining each cart placed in each area according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state of a dolly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] 1 is an example of an area board according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 1 illustrates an example of an overall configuration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a product location management server according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] 1 is an example of data stored in a database storage unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] 1 is an example of data stored in a stocking list storage unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] 11 is a sequence diagram of a process for registering to a stocking list according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 12] 11 is a sequence diagram of a process for notifying a stock list according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 13] 13 is a transition diagram of a screen displayed on a terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure (registration of a stocking list). FIG. [Figure 14] 13A to 13C are diagrams showing transitions of screens displayed on a terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure (notification of a stock list). [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a product location management server, a distribution center management server, and a terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] <Terminology explanation> In this specification, a "display shelf" refers to a place where products are displayed on the sales floor of a retail store. Note that a display shelf is not limited to a shelf, and may be any fixture on which products are displayed. A display shelf may be a fixture with multiple shelves. A display shelf has shelf tags attached to it that correspond to the products displayed on the display shelf. The shelf tag attached to the display shelf includes any of the following: a shelf tag is fixedly installed on the display shelf, a shelf tag is detachably installed on the display shelf, and a shelf tag is built into the display shelf. The shelf tag may be attached to the side of the shelf of the display shelf that faces the sales aisle. In this specification, a "shelf label" refers to an information medium on which information (for example, any image such as a code, such as a barcode) is displayed to identify a product placed near the shelf label in correspondence with the shelf label. The shelf label may be a price tag on which information to identify the product is displayed in addition to the product name and price of the product placed near the shelf label. In this specification, a "code" refers to any code (e.g., a barcode) that encodes information that can uniquely identify a product (product information such as product name). For example, the code may be a JAN (Japanese Article Number) code for a product sold individually, which can uniquely identify the product in a store. The code may be a code with a different format from the JAN code, such as an EAN (European Article Number) code, a UPC (Universal Product Code), or a GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) code. Note that "different format" may include "different standards," "different coding systems," and "different rules for encoding into codes." A code may be interpreted as a symbol depending on the context. In this specification, "information for identifying a product" refers to information that can uniquely identify a product (product information such as product name) and is any image such as a code. Information for identifying a product may be displayed on a shelf tag or on the product itself.

[0010] In this specification, a "retail store" refers to a store that sells products to consumers. For example, retail stores include, but are not limited to, supermarkets, drug stores, convenience stores, department stores, home improvement stores, etc. In this specification, a "distribution center" refers to a business entity that receives merchandise from product manufacturers, etc. and ships said merchandise to retail stores (also called a logistics center). In this specification, a "goods" may be any good. In this specification, a "sales floor" is a location within a store where products are sold to consumers. In this specification, a "backroom" is a place in a store where inventory of products sold on the sales floor (stocked products to be supplied to the sales floor) is stored (also called a back yard or warehouse). Even if a backroom is attached to a store that has a sales floor, the store is said to have both a sales floor and a backroom. In this specification, the term "area" refers to the area within the backroom where the carts are placed. In this specification, a "trolley" is a tool for transporting goods that can be loaded and moved (also called a cart or wagon). The trolley moves around the backroom while loaded with goods, and the goods are stored on the trolley at the destination of the trolley. For example, goods are delivered from a distribution center to the backroom of a retail store while loaded on the trolley. In this specification, a "case" is a unit in which a single product is stored in a backroom, and is a container (for example, a cardboard box or the like) in which multiple single products are packed. In other words, for a certain product, one case of that product contains multiple single products. A case is also called a collective package.

[0011] <Summary> Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining delivery of goods from a distribution center to retail stores according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Note that the number of retail stores, the number of distribution centers, the number of areas, the number of carts, the number of terminals, and the number of employees in Fig. 1 are merely examples and are not limited to these.

[0012] Each retail store (in the example of Figure 1, retail store a and retail store b) receives goods from one or more distribution centers. For example, retail store a receives goods from multiple distribution centers (in the example of Figure 1, distribution centers a and b), and retail store b receives goods from one distribution center (in the example of Figure 1, distribution center b).

[0013] A backroom of a retail store has one or more areas (in the example of FIG. 1, retail store A has area A, area B, ...). For example, an area is a predetermined section in the backroom (for example, a section divided by lines drawn on the floor of the backroom). Note that instead of determining a section in advance, an area may be an area where a number of carts, such as 10 carts, that should be placed there are placed.

[0014] In each area, one or more trolleys are placed. In the example of Fig. 1, area A has trolley 1, trolley 2, ..., and area B has trolley 3, trolley 4, ....

[0015] Each cart is loaded with one or more products. For example, one or more identical products are packed in one case (e.g., a cardboard box or the like), and the one or more cases are loaded on the cart.

[0016] Note that a certain product (e.g., product a) may be in multiple areas (e.g., product a is in area A and also in area B). Also, a certain product (e.g., product a) may be on multiple trolleys (e.g., product a is on trolley 1, trolley 2, trolley 3, and trolley 4).

[0017] An employee 31 in the back room of the retail store operates a terminal 30 .

[0018] A store according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a sales floor and a backroom. As described above, the backroom has one or more areas. Products delivered from a distribution center on a truck or the like are delivered from the truck or the like to the backroom through a product entrance, and then, as necessary, an employee 31 supplies the products from the backroom to the sales floor through an entrance connecting the backroom and the sales floor.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining shelf tags attached to a display shelf on which products are displayed according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] In a sales area of ​​a retail store, shelf tags are attached to shelves on which products are displayed. Figure 2 shows an example of a shelf tag. The shelf tag may be an electronic shelf tag or a paper shelf tag.

[0021] The shelf label displays the name and price of the product placed near the shelf label. In addition, the shelf label displays an arbitrary code (e.g., a barcode) that encodes information (e.g., a JAN code that is identification information specific to the product) that can uniquely identify the product (product information such as the product name). In addition to this code, the shelf label may display a code (e.g., CODE128) to identify the shelf label.

[0022] 3 is a diagram for explaining each cart placed in each area according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. One or more carts are placed in each area. In FIG. 3, two carts are shown placed in each of three areas. Note that the shape and type of the carts are merely examples, and may be any shape and type.

[0023] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a state of a dolly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 4, for example, one or a plurality of cases (e.g., boxes such as cardboard boxes) in which one or a plurality of products are packed are loaded on the dolly.

[0024] An information medium (paper medium, electronic medium such as IC tag, etc.) including the trolley ID is attached to each trolley. For example, the information medium including the trolley ID is a medium (for example, a plate, a sticker, a badge, etc.) that displays a character string of the trolley ID and a code such as a barcode that encodes the trolley ID. The position where this information medium is attached to the trolley is not limited to a specific position. It is assumed that the trolley is delivered with the information medium including the trolley ID attached. Also, in a distribution center, products loaded on multiple trolleys may be transferred to one trolley, and in this case, the single trolley may be delivered with information media including the trolley IDs of the multiple trolleys attached. In other words, the information medium including one or more trolley IDs is attached to the delivered trolley.

[0025] An area board is mounted on each carriage (eg, on the top of the carriage). The area boards are described in detail below with reference to FIG.

[0026] [Area Board] 5 is an example of an area board according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As described above, one area board is attached to one cart. When the cart loaded with products is delivered to the back room, a store employee attaches the area board to the cart.

[0027] The area board is an information medium (e.g., a plate, a sticker, a badge, etc.) that displays an area ID ("A" in the example of FIG. 5) that is information for identifying an area and a board ID ("2" in the example of FIG. 5) that is information for identifying an area board so that they can be read by humans, and also displays a code such as a barcode that encodes information that can uniquely identify the area board in the backroom (e.g., information indicating both the area ID and the board ID, or information indicating a board ID that is pre-linked to the area ID and does not overlap between areas). The area ID and the board ID of the area board attached to each cart are information used by a person searching for a desired product to find the cart carrying the desired product from the backroom, and are information linked to the cart. Hereinafter, this information is called the identification information of the area board. The area ID and the board ID will be described later.

[0028] From the perspective of employee 31 searching for area boards, it is preferable that the board ID can be uniquely identified within the backroom (i.e., the board ID does not overlap between areas), but as long as the area board can be uniquely identified within the backroom from both the area ID and the board ID, overlap between areas is acceptable.

[0029] In order to allow the employee 31 to easily identify the areas, the area board may be colored in a color corresponding to the area (in the example of FIG. 5, the frame of the area board may be colored).

[0030] <Overall configuration example> Fig. 6 is an example of an overall configuration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Product location management system 1 includes product location management server 10 and terminal 30. Product location management system 1 may further include one or more distribution center servers (in the example of Fig. 6, distribution center management server 20A and distribution center management server 20B. Hereinafter, the one or more distribution center management servers will be collectively referred to as distribution center management server 20). Each will be described below.

[0031] <<Product location management server>> Product location management server 10 is an information processing device (data processing device) that manages products in a store. Specifically, product location management server 10 can register products to be put out in a product putting list (described later) in response to instructions from terminal 30, and notify terminal 30 of the product name, storage location, and number of products to be put out included in the list. Product location management server 10 is made up of one or more computers. Product location management server 10 can send and receive data to terminal 30 and distribution center management server 20. Product location management server 10 may manage multiple retail stores, or product location management server 10 may manage one retail store (i.e., product location management server 10 is installed for each retail store).

[0032] <<Distribution center management server>> The distribution center management server 20 transmits linking information (data stored in the database storage unit 103 in FIG. 8 (details of which will be described later)) between information for identifying the product (e.g., the JAN code of a product sold individually) and product information of the product (e.g., the product name) to the product location management server 10.

[0033] [Information to identify the product] Here, the "information for identifying a product" will be described. The "information for identifying a product" is information that can uniquely identify a product (product information such as a product name) and is any image such as a code. The "information for identifying a product" may be displayed on a shelf label attached to a display shelf of the product in the sales area, or may be displayed on the product itself. The "information for identifying a product" is preferably the same information that is displayed on both the shelf label of the product and the product itself, and this makes it possible to obtain the information from the product itself and from the shelf label when the product is not on a display shelf. The information at least displayed on the shelf label includes not only the information displayed on the shelf label, but also the same information that is displayed on something other than the shelf label (for example, the product itself).

[0034] [code] A "code" is an example of "information for identifying a product", for example a JAN code, which is identification information unique to a product. Information encoded by a code is called "code information". This specification will mainly explain the use of a JAN code, but is not limited to this, and a JAN code may be interpreted as a code in a format different from a JAN code depending on the context. The code at least displayed on a shelf tag not only refers to a code displayed on the shelf tag, but also includes the concept of the same code displayed on an object other than the shelf tag (for example, the product itself).

[0035] <<Device>> The terminal 30 is an information processing device (data processing device) carried and operated by a store employee 31 (user). For example, the terminal 30 may be any terminal equipped with a display, such as a hand terminal, a tablet, a smartphone, or a smart watch, and is preferably one suitable for carrying. The terminal 30 is equipped with a reading device (also called reading means) having a function of reading images of codes such as barcodes, such as a barcode reader (barcode scanner). For example, the reading means irradiates light (for example, red light) onto a barcode when a trigger button equipped on the terminal 30 is pressed, reads information represented by the barcode by receiving the reflected light, and stops irradiating the light when the trigger button is no longer pressed. In response to the reading means reading the information, the terminal 30 may emit a predetermined confirmation sound or display a predetermined confirmation screen on the display. The terminal 30 may add (link) additional information to the read information according to the length of time the trigger button was pressed when the information was read by the reading means. Furthermore, before or after the information is read by the reading means, the terminal 30 may be operated to add (link) additional information to the information.

[0036] In the case where the reading means is capable of reading a plurality of types of codes with different formats (e.g., JAN code and CODE128), when the employee 31 attempts to read a particular type of code (e.g., JAN code) that encodes information for identifying a product with the terminal 30, the reading means may be configured so that the reading means does not read other types of codes (e.g., a code for identifying the shelf label itself (e.g., CODE128)) except for the particular type of code, in order to prevent this from happening. This configuration may be such that the reading means determines whether the pattern of the received reflected light matches the pattern of a particular type of code, and reads information on that code only for codes with a matching pattern. This configuration may also be such that the reading means determines which of the patterns of a plurality of types of codes the received reflected light matches, and reads information on codes that match the pattern of a particular type of code, but does not read information on codes that match the pattern of other types of codes that are different from the particular type of code. This setting may also be such that the reading means determines which of a plurality of types of code patterns the pattern of the received reflected light matches, and for codes that match the pattern of a specific type of code, reads the code information, and for codes that match the pattern of other types of codes different from the specific type of code, reads the code information but discards it. While this setting is valid, when a specific type of code is read by the reading means, the terminal 30 may not emit the specific confirmation sound or display the specific confirmation screen on the display, but may not emit the specific confirmation sound or display the specific confirmation screen on the display for other types of codes. The terminal 30 may be configured so that this setting is valid when the "function for creating a stock list (stock list management)" described below is specified.

[0037] [Linking] Here, linking will be explained. "Linking" includes both concepts of direct linking and indirect linking. "Directly linking and registering A and B" means "making it possible to directly reference A from B and / or B from A. For example, registering A and B in items a and b of one record in a database." Also, "linking A and B" means "combining A and B into one piece of data (for example, combining A and B with B as metadata of A)" (Note that a method of linking additional information to the read information includes, for example, but is not limited to, a method of combining the read information and additional information into one piece of data so that the additional information becomes metadata of the read information). "Registering A and B indirectly linked together" means "making it possible to indirectly reference A from B and / or B from A by referencing other items. For example, registering A and C in items a and c, respectively, of a record in a database, and registering C and B in items c and b, respectively, of a record in a different database."

[0038] <Function block> 7 is a functional block diagram of a terminal 30 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The terminal 30 can include a reading unit 301, a number of items put out acquisition unit 302, a registration unit 303, a setting unit 304, a notification unit 305, a release unit 306, and a list registration request unit 307. The terminal 30 has one or more memories and one or more processors as described below, and can function as the reading unit 301, the number of items put out acquisition unit 302, the registration unit 303, the setting unit 304, the notification unit 305, the release unit 306, and the list registration request unit 307 by the processor executing a program.

[0039] A reading unit (also called reading means) 301 reads a code that uniquely identifies a product.

[0040] The number of items to be put out acquisition unit (also referred to as a receiving means) 302 receives the number of items to be put out for the items whose code information has been read.

[0041] A registration unit (also referred to as a registration means) 303 registers an item as a stocked item based on the reading by the reading unit 301 of a code that uniquely identifies the item.

[0042] The registration unit 303 may associate the product with predetermined information based on the reading by the reading unit 301. Note that the predetermined information is information for identifying the associated product as a stocked product.

[0043] The registration unit 303 may transmit, for a product to be registered as a put-out product, the JAN code of the product read by the reading unit 301 together with information indicating that the JAN code of the product is the JAN code of the put-out product. This information is an example of predetermined information for identifying the product as a put-out product.

[0044] The registration unit 303 may register the product as a product to be put out in a case in which a plurality of individual products are packed, based on the reading of the JAN code of the product for single item sale by the reading unit 301.

[0045] The registration unit 303 may register a case in which a plurality of individual products are packed as products to be put out, in the number received by the product-to-be-putted number acquisition unit 302 .

[0046] In the registration, the registration unit 303 may associate at least one attribute of the multiple attributes with the product registered as a stock product. The multiple attributes that may be associated with the product may include a state in which the product is out of stock on the display shelf of the product and a state in which the product is only slightly in stock on the display shelf of the product. The multiple attributes that may be associated with the product may include a stock priority of the product.

[0047] The setting unit 304 enables and disables a function of registering as a stocked item a product whose JAN code has been read by the reading unit 301. Based on the enabling of the function, the setting unit 304 may set the setting regarding reading of codes by the reading unit 301 so that other types of codes other than JAN codes are not read (it is assumed that the reading unit 301 is capable of reading codes in a number of types of formats including JAN codes).

[0048] The notification unit 305 notifies the user of the terminal 30 of the storage location in the backroom of each item registered by the registration unit 303 as a stocked item.

[0049] The release unit 306 releases the registration of the product as a put-out product based on the putting-out of the product in response to the notification by the notification unit 305 (for example, based on pressing the "Put-out" button in S207 of Fig. 14). That is, the product registered as a put-out product by the registration unit 303 is put out from the back room, and the registration of the product as a put-out product is released based on the putting-out of the product.

[0050] List registration request unit 307 requests product location management server 10 to register the product in the stocking list (register the product as a stocking product). For example, list registration request unit 307 may notify product location management server 10 of the code information read by reading unit 301 and the number of products to be put out acquired by stocking number acquisition unit 302, and request that the information be registered in the stocking list.

[0051] 8 is a functional block diagram of product location management server 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Product location management server 10 may include code acquisition unit 101, product identification unit 102, database storage unit 103, product stocking list registration unit 104, product stocking list storage unit 105, and product stocking list notification unit 106. Product location management server 10 has one or more memories and one or more processors, as described below, and can function as code acquisition unit 101, product identification unit 102, product stocking list registration unit 104, and product stocking list notification unit 106 by the processor executing a program.

[0052] The code acquisition unit 101 acquires information for identifying a product (e.g., code information displayed on a shelf tag, code information of a product sold individually) read by the reading means of the terminal 30, and the number of the product to be put out.

[0053] The product identification unit 102 identifies a product based on the information for identifying the product acquired by the code acquisition unit 101. Specifically, the product identification unit 102 refers to the database storage unit 103 and identifies product information linked to the code information of the product acquired by the code acquisition unit 101.

[0054] The database storage unit 103 stores a database that links product code information (e.g., the number indicated by the JAN code of a product sold individually), product information, product storage location information (e.g., area ID and board ID), and the number of products stored in that storage location (e.g., the number of cases the products are packed in).

[0055] In addition, the linking information between the product code information and the product information of the product stored in the database storage unit 103 may be sent from the distribution center management server 20, or may be created by an administrator of the product location management server 10, etc.

[0056] The stocking list registration unit 104 registers the products specified by the product specification unit 102 in the stocking list, and stores the stocking list in which the products to be stocked are registered in the stocking list storage unit 105.

[0057] The stocking list storage unit 105 stores a stocking list in which products to be put out are registered (i.e., a list in which the employee 31 registers products to be put out by reading the product code information with the reading means of the terminal 30). The stocking list may include product information of the products to be put out, storage location information (e.g., area ID and board ID) of the cart or the like in the backroom where the products are stored, and the number of the products to be put out (e.g., number of cases).

[0058] The stocking list notification unit 106 notifies the terminal 30 of the stocking list. Specifically, the stocking list notification unit 106 notifies the terminal 30 of the product names of the products included in the stocking list, the storage locations of the products, and the number of the products to be stocked.

[0059] FIG. 9 is an example of data stored in the database storage unit 103 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0060] The database storage unit 103 stores a database in which product code information, product information, storage location information of the product, and the number of stored products are linked together.

[0061] Note that one piece of product information may be associated with one or more pieces of code information (for example, JAN codes given to products with the same product name at different times).

[0062] [Storage location information] Here, the storage location information will be described. The storage location may be any location where the product is stored. For example, the storage location is a cart placed in an area in the backroom, and the storage location information is identification information of an area board.

[0063] The "area ID" is an identifier of the area where the cart is placed. The area where the cart is placed is the destination of the cart when the cart moves loaded with goods and stores the goods at the destination. Note that in this disclosure, "area" may be appropriately interpreted as information that identifies the area (e.g., area ID) depending on the context.

[0064] The "board ID" is an identifier of the area board attached to the cart. Note that in this disclosure, the "cart" may be appropriately interpreted as information (e.g., a board ID) that identifies the area board attached to the cart depending on the context.

[0065] Other examples of storage location information will be described below.

[0066] For example, the storage location information may be a cart ID (an identifier for a cart that is assigned to each cart placed in a backroom (for example, a cart delivered from a distribution center to a retail store)).

[0067] For example, the storage location information is not limited to a cart in a backroom, but may be information that can uniquely identify a shelf or the like on which the product is stored.

[0068] For example, the storage location information may include the name of the store, allowing employees at each store to search for inventory of the product not only at their own store but also at other stores.

[0069] FIG. 10 is an example of data stored in the stocking list storage unit 105 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0070] The stocking list storage unit 105 stores a stocking list in which products to be stocked are registered.

[0071] For example, a stocking list is created for each product category (i.e., a stocking list for products in category 1, a stocking list for products in category 2, etc.). For example, a stocking list is created for each employee 31. For example, a stocking list is created for each terminal 30. A category may be for each type of product, such as beverages, confectionery, seasonings, etc., or for each section based on the layout of the sales floor.

[0072] <Method> The process of registering in the stock list will be described with reference to FIG. 11, and the process of notifying the stock list will be described with reference to FIG.

[0073] In the following embodiment described with reference to Figs. 11 and 12, one terminal 30 and product location management server 10 communicate with each other to send and receive information (data) to perform processing, but each of multiple terminals 30 and product location management server 10 may communicate with each other to send and receive information to perform processing. In this case, while one terminal 30 is performing the processing sequence of Figs. 11 and 12, another terminal 30 may perform the processing sequence of Figs. 11 and 12, and the same database managed and stored by product location management server 10 is referenced in these processing sequences, and employees operating each terminal 30 can work simultaneously. In addition, in these processing sequences, the operation results of each terminal 30 are reflected in the database in real time, and each processing sequence can immediately refer to the reflected results. In other words, during the processing sequence of a first terminal 30, the database can be updated by the processing sequence of another second terminal 30, and the updated database can be referenced by the processing sequence of the first terminal 30.

[0074] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram of a process for registering an item on a stocking list according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0075] First, the process of registering the number of products to be put out as products to be put out at terminal 30 will be described. This registration process may be performed, for example, by linking three pieces of information ("stock list (identifier of the stock list in which the products to be put out are registered; for example, the identifier of the stock list for each category selected in S103 of FIG. 13)", "product (for example, JAN code as product identifier)", and "number to be put out"). The "stock list" is an example of predetermined information for identifying the linked products as stock items. An example of a linking method will be described below. Note that the case of a stock list for each category will be described, but it may also be a stock list for each employee by linking to employee identification information.

[0076] For example, the terminal 30 may link three pieces of information that can be mutually referenced by link data by generating and storing link data that allows the three pieces of information to be linked to each other. The terminal 30 may also link these three pieces of information by transmitting this link data to the product location management server 10.

[0077] For example, the terminal 30 may link three pieces of information having the same metadata by attaching metadata common to the three pieces of information to be linked. The terminal 30 may also link these three pieces of information having the same metadata by transmitting the three pieces of information having the common metadata to the product location management server 10.

[0078] For example, terminal 30 may link three pieces of information transmitted within the same period from the start to the end of transmission by generating and storing data indicating the start and end of transmission of the three pieces of information to be linked (i.e., data indicating the start of transmission of the information to be transmitted first among the three pieces of information, and data indicating the end of transmission of the information to be transmitted last among the three pieces of information). Terminal 30 may also link these three pieces of information by transmitting the three pieces of information and data indicating the start and end of transmission of these three pieces of information to product location management server 10.

[0079] For example, the terminal 30 may link the three pieces of information included in one data by combining the three pieces of information to be linked into one data. The terminal 30 may also link the three pieces of information by combining the three pieces of information into one data and transmitting the combined data to the product location management server 10.

[0080] For example, the terminal 30 may link the three pieces of information by determining to transmit the three pieces of information to be linked in a predetermined order. The terminal 30 may also link the three pieces of information by transmitting the three pieces of information to the product location management server 10 in a predetermined order.

[0081] In step 11 (S11), the terminal 30 activates a function for registering a product whose JAN code has been read by the reading means as a stocked product. Based on the activation of the function, the terminal 30 sets the settings related to reading of codes by the reading means so as not to read any other types of codes other than JAN codes (it is assumed that the reading means is capable of reading multiple types of codes including JAN codes).

[0082] For example, when employee 31 selects "Stock List Management" on the screen of S101 in Fig. 13 displayed on terminal 30 and the screen of S102 is displayed, terminal 30 enables a setting that does not read any other types of codes that are not JAN codes. Note that when terminal 30 completes saving the stock list and returns to the screen of S101 in Fig. 13, it disables the setting. This processing of S11 may be optional.

[0083] In step 12 (S12), while the function of managing the stock list is being used, terminal 30 reads the code information of a product by the reading means, thereby linking the product to the stock list. That is, when the function of identifying and registering a product whose code information has been read by the reading means as a product to be stocked (stocked product) is active, terminal 30 identifies the product as a stocked product by reading the code information of the product. Then, terminal 30 transmits the code information of the product identified as a stocked product (for example, the code information of the product displayed on a shelf tag attached to the display shelf on which the product is displayed) to product location management server 10 as the code information of the stocked product. At this time, terminal 30 transmits the code information to product location management server 10 together with information that enables at least product location management server 10 to identify that the transmitted code information is code information of a stocked product. For example, terminal 30 transmits data (registration request) including product code information to product location management server 10, the data having metadata that informs product location management server 10 that the code information being transmitted is code information for a stocked product.

[0084] For example, employee 31 reads the code information of the product to be put out by the reading means of terminal 30 in accordance with the instructions on the screen of S104 of Fig. 13 displayed on terminal 30. Then, terminal 30 transmits the read code information of the product to product location management server 10.

[0085] The terminal 30 may read the code information from a code displayed on a shelf label, or may read the code information from a code displayed on the product itself.

[0086] In step 13 (S13), product location management server 10 identifies a product based on the product code information acquired in S12. Specifically, product location management server 10 refers to database storage unit 103 to identify product information linked to the product code information acquired in S12. Product location management server 10 transmits the identified product information to terminal 30. Note that the processing of this step may be executed by terminal 30 instead of product location management server 10.

[0087] In step 14 (S14), the terminal 30 displays the product information acquired from the product location management server 10 or the product information specified by itself as products to be put out on the screen of the terminal 30 as shown in the screen of S105 in Fig. 13. At this time, the terminal 30 displays the number of products to be put out for each product to be put out.

[0088] In step 15 (S15), while the function of managing the stocking list is being used, the terminal 30 links the number of products to be put out, whose code information was acquired in S12, to the stocking list. That is, when the function of registering (identifying) a product whose code information was read by the reading means as a product to be put out (a stocking product) is active, the terminal 30 identifies the product as a stocking product by reading the product's code information. Then, the terminal 30 transmits the number of products to be put out (i.e., the products whose code information was read in S12) to the product position management server 10.

[0089] For example, if the same code information is read multiple times, the number of times the same code information is read can be used as the number of products to be stocked (e.g., the number of cases) (in other words, if the same code, etc. is read N times, the number of products to be stocked (e.g., the number of cases can be used as N).In addition, the number entered by employee 31 on the screen of terminal 30 by operating terminal 30 can also be used as the number of products to be stocked.

[0090] As described above, in order to register the number of products to be put out as products to be put out, the terminal 30 links three pieces of information, the "stocking list," the "products," and the "number of products to be put out." The terminal 30 may transmit code information to the server 10, the server 10 may identify product information from the received code information and transmit it to the terminal 30, and the stocking list, the product information received by the terminal 30, and the number of products to be put out may be linked and transmitted to the server 10, or the terminal 30 may link the stocking list, the JAN code, and the number of products to be put out and transmit them to the server 10. Both "the terminal 30 transmitting the stocking list, the product information, and the number of products to be put out to the server 10" and "the terminal 30 transmitting the stocking list, the JAN code, and the number of products to be put out to the server 10" are conceptually referred to as linking the stocking list, the products, and the number of products to be put out.

[0091] In step 16 (S16), product location management server 10 identifies a storage location of the product identified in S13. Specifically, product location management server 10 refers to database storage unit 103 to identify storage location information linked to the product information of the product identified in S13.

[0092] In step 17 (S17), the product location management server 10 registers the product information identified in S13, the product storage location information identified in S16, and the number of products obtained in S15 in a product putting list, and stores the product putting list in which the products to be put out are registered in the product putting list memory unit 105.

[0093] FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram of a process for notifying a stock list according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0094] In step 21 (S21), terminal 30 requests product location management server 10 for a product placement list.

[0095] In step 22 (S22), in response to the request of S21, product location management server 10 notifies terminal 30 of the areas in which the products included in the product putting list are stored. Specifically, product location management server 10 extracts information (e.g., area IDs) that identifies one or more areas included in the product putting list, and notifies terminal 30 of the information (e.g., area IDs) that identifies the extracted one or more areas (e.g., S204 in FIG. 14).

[0096] In step 23 (S23), terminal 30 notifies product location management server 10 that employee 31 has arrived at one of the areas notified in S22 (for example, an area selected from the list of areas in S204 of FIG. 14).

[0097] In step 24 (S24), in response to the notification in S23, product location management server 10 notifies terminal 30 of the carts storing the products to be put out in the area notified in S23. Specifically, product location management server 10 extracts information (e.g., board IDs) that identifies one or more carts in the area, which is included in the product putting out list, and notifies terminal 30 of the information (e.g., board IDs) that identifies the extracted one or more carts (e.g., S205 in FIG. 14).

[0098] In step 25 (S25), the terminal 30 notifies the product location management server 10 that the employee 31 has arrived at one of the carts notified in S24 (for example, the cart selected from the list of carts in S205 of FIG. 14).

[0099] In step 26 (S26), in response to the notification in S25, product location management server 10 notifies terminal 30 of the products and the number of products to be put out that are loaded on the cart notified in S25. Specifically, product location management server 10 extracts information on one or more products in the cart that are included in the product putting out list, and notifies terminal 30 of the extracted information on one or more products (S206 in FIG. 14).

[0100] In step 27 (S27), terminal 30 notifies product location management server 10 of whether employee 31 has removed the product in S26. Specifically, terminal 30 notifies product location management server 10 of the result of removing the product (the product and the number of products removed) that employee 31 has entered into terminal 30 (e.g., entered into the screen of S207 in FIG. 14). Specifically, terminal 30 cancels the registration of the product as a removed product based on the removal of the product (e.g., based on pressing the "Put Out" button in S207 in FIG. 14). If the product was not removed (i.e., employee 31 could not find the product, or found it but was unable to remove it (e.g., pressing the "Not Found" button in S207 in FIG. 14)), terminal 30 notifies product location management server 10 of that effect in S27.

[0101] In step 28 (S28), if a product was removed in S27, product location management server 10 updates the stock list (i.e., the inventory quantity of the product (the number of inventory products in stock list storage unit 105 and database storage unit 103) is reduced according to the removed product and the number of products notified from terminal 30 in S27). After updating the stock list, product location management server 10 returns to S22 or S24 and notifies terminal 30 of the area or cart in which the next product to be removed is stored.

[0102] In addition, in response to a notification from terminal 30 that the product was not removed in S27 (i.e., employee 31 could not find the product, or found it but was unable to remove it (for example, the "Not Found" button in S207 of FIG. 14 is pressed)), if the product is stored in another cart, product location management server 10 notifies terminal 30 of this fact, as shown in the [Notification of Another Cart] screen in FIG. 14. If the "Load" button is pressed in [Notification of Another Cart] in FIG. 14, the product placement list is updated (the number of stocked products is reduced) and the process returns to S22 or S24, and if the [Later] button is pressed, the product placement list is not updated (the number of stocked products is not reduced) and the process returns to S22 or S24.

[0103] <Screen> A screen displayed on the terminal 30 when registering an item in the stock list will be described with reference to FIG. 13, and a screen displayed on the terminal 30 when notifying an item in the stock list will be described with reference to FIG.

[0104] The information specified on the display of terminal 30 is notified (transmitted) from terminal 30 to product location management server 10, and processed by product location management server 10. When product location management server 10 notifies (transmits) screen information as a result of the processing to terminal 30, terminal 30 displays a screen based on the screen information.

[0105] FIG. 13 is a transition diagram of a screen displayed on the terminal 30 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure (registration of a stocking list).

[0106] Step 101 (S101) is a menu screen for an inventory management application.

[0107] For example, when employee 31 operates terminal 30 to start an inventory management application, terminal 30 displays a menu screen as shown in S101. Employee 31 can select a function for creating an inventory list (stock list management) on the menu screen. When "stock list management" is selected on the screen of S101, the screen proceeds to S102.

[0108] Step 102 (S102) and step 103 (S103) are screens for selecting the product category for which a stocking list is to be created. When an instruction to display a list of product categories is input on the screen of S102, a list of product categories as shown in S103 is displayed. On the screen of S103, employee 31 selects the product category for which a stocking list is to be created. Once the product category is selected on the screen of S103, the screen proceeds to S104.

[0109] Step 104 (S104) is a screen for reading information for identifying the product. Employee 31 reads information for identifying the product (for example, a code displayed on a shelf label) with the reading means of terminal 30. After reading, the screen of step 105 is displayed.

[0110] In addition, in S104, the same code may be read multiple times.

[0111] Step 105 (S105) is a screen showing the results of the reading in S104. Specifically, the product name of each product (i.e., the product name linked to the code read in S104) and the number of each product to be put out (e.g., the number of cases) are displayed. If the same code is read multiple times in S104, the number of times the same code is read is regarded as the number of products to be put out.

[0112] It should be noted that, instead of determining the number of times the same code is read as the number of products to be put out as described above, the number of products to be put out may be determined by the number entered by employee 31 on the [Select number of boxes required] screen in FIG. 13.

[0113] After the codes of all the products have been read, when the "Save product stock list" button in S105 is pressed, the product stock list is saved.

[0114] Step 106 (S106) is a screen showing the product stock list that has been saved in S105.

[0115] FIG. 14 is a transition diagram of a screen displayed on a terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure (notification of a stock list).

[0116] Step 201 (S201) is a menu screen for an inventory management application.

[0117] For example, when employee 31 operates terminal 30 to start an inventory management application, terminal 30 displays a menu screen as shown in S201. On the menu screen, employee 31 can specify a function (stock list) for searching the backroom for products to be put out. When "stock list" is specified on the screen of S201, the screen proceeds to S202.

[0118] Step 202 (S202) and step 203 (S203) are screens for selecting the category of merchandise to be put out. When an instruction to display a list of merchandise categories is input on the screen of S202, a list of merchandise categories as shown in S203 is displayed. Employee 31 selects the category of merchandise to be put out on the screen of S203. Once the merchandise category is selected on the screen of S203, the screen proceeds to S204.

[0119] The number displayed with each category name (the number in parentheses) is the number of products to be put out in that category.

[0120] Step 204 (S204) is a screen that displays a list of areas (e.g., a list of area IDs) in which the products included in the stock list for the category selected in S203 are stored. On the screen of S204, employee 31 selects the area where employee 31 has arrived. Once an area is selected on the screen of S204, the screen proceeds to S205. In this way, employee 31 is notified of the products to be stocked for each area, allowing him or her to stock products efficiently.

[0121] The number displayed with each area (the number in parentheses) is the number of products to be put out in each area. For example, the areas are displayed in order of the number of products to be put out, and the employee 31 takes out the products from the top (from the area with the largest number of products).

[0122] Step 205 (S205) is a screen that displays a list of carts (e.g., a list of board IDs) that store the products to be put out in the area selected in S204. On the screen of S205, the employee 31 selects the cart that the employee 31 has arrived on. Once a cart has been selected on the screen of S205, the screen proceeds to S206. In this way, the employee 31 is notified of the products to be put out for each cart, allowing the employee 31 to put out the products efficiently.

[0123] The number displayed with each cart (the number in parentheses) is the number of products to be put out of each cart. For example, the carts are displayed in order of the number of products to be put out, and the employee 31 takes out the products from the top (from the cart with the most products).

[0124] Step 206 (S206) is a screen that displays a list of products (for example, a list of product names) that are loaded on the cart selected in S205 and that should be put out.

[0125] Step 207 (S207) is a screen for the employee 31 to input the result of removing the product. If the product was not removed (i.e., the employee 31 pressed the "Not Found" button because he / she could not find the product, or found it but was unable to remove it), and if the product is stored in another cart, a notice to that effect ([Notification of another cart] in FIG. 14) is sent to the terminal 30.

[0126] <Effects> Thus, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, a retail store employee can register products to be put out on a stocking list by simply reading, with a terminal, at least the code displayed on the shelf tag attached to the display shelf on which the product is displayed in the sales floor. Furthermore, since the terminal is notified of the storage location of the cart or the like in the back room where each product included in the stocking list is stored, the employee can easily put out the products by simply following the notification.

[0127] <Hardware configuration> A part or all of each device (product location management server 10, distribution center management server 20, terminal 30) in the above-mentioned embodiment may be configured with hardware, or may be configured with information processing of software (program) executed by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), etc. In the case of being configured with information processing of software, software that realizes at least a part of the functions of each device in the above-mentioned embodiment may be stored in a non-transient storage medium (non-transient computer-readable medium) such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, and the information processing of the software may be executed by reading it into a computer. The software may also be downloaded via a communication network. Furthermore, the information processing by the software may be executed by hardware by implementing all or a part of the processing of the software in a circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0128] The storage medium that stores the software may be a removable medium such as an optical disk, or a fixed storage medium such as a hard disk, memory, etc. The storage medium may be provided inside the computer (main storage device, auxiliary storage device, etc.) or outside the computer.

[0129] 15 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of each device (product location management server 10, delivery center management server 20, terminal 30) in the above-mentioned embodiment. Each device may be realized as a computer 1000 including, for example, a processor 1001, a main storage device 1002 (memory), an auxiliary storage device 1003 (memory), a network interface 1004, and a device interface 1005, which are connected via a bus 1006.

[0130] Although the computer 1000 in FIG. 15 includes one of each component, it may include a plurality of the same components. Although one computer 1000 is shown in FIG. 15, the software may be installed in a plurality of computers, and each of the plurality of computers may execute the same or different parts of the software. In this case, it may be a form of distributed computing in which each computer communicates via a network interface 1004 or the like to execute the processing. In other words, each device in the above-mentioned embodiment (product location management server 10, distribution center management server 20, terminal 30) may be configured as a system in which one or more computers execute commands stored in one or more storage devices to realize the function. Also, it may be configured such that information transmitted from the terminal is processed by one or more computers provided on the cloud, and the processing results are transmitted to the terminal.

[0131] Various calculations of each device (product location management server 10, distribution center management server 20, terminal 30) in the above-mentioned embodiment may be executed in parallel using one or more processors, or using multiple computers via a network. Also, various calculations may be distributed to multiple computing cores in a processor and executed in parallel. Also, some or all of the processes, means, etc. disclosed herein may be realized by at least one of a processor and a storage device provided on a cloud capable of communicating with computer 1000 via a network. In this way, each device in the above-mentioned embodiment may be in the form of parallel computing using one or more computers.

[0132] The processor 1001 may be an electronic circuit (processing circuit, processing circuitry, CPU, GPU, FPGA, ASIC, etc.) that performs at least one of computer control and calculation. The processor 1001 may be a general-purpose processor, a dedicated processing circuit designed to perform a specific calculation, or a semiconductor device including both a general-purpose processor and a dedicated processing circuit. The processor 1001 may include an optical circuit, or may include a calculation function based on quantum computing.

[0133] The processor 1001 may perform arithmetic processing based on data or software input from each device or the like in the internal configuration of the computer 1000, and may output arithmetic results or control signals to each device or the like. The processor 1001 may control each component constituting the computer 1000 by executing the OS (Operating System) of the computer 1000, applications, or the like.

[0134] Each device (product location management server 10, distribution center management server 20, terminal 30) in the above-described embodiment may be realized by one or more processors 1001. Here, processor 1001 may refer to one or more electronic circuits arranged on one chip, or to one or more electronic circuits arranged on two or more chips or two or more devices. When multiple electronic circuits are used, the electronic circuits may communicate with each other via wires or wirelessly.

[0135] The main memory 1002 may store instructions executed by the processor 1001 and various data, and information stored in the main memory 1002 may be read by the processor 1001. The auxiliary memory 1003 is a memory device other than the main memory 1002. These memory devices refer to any electronic components capable of storing electronic information, and may be semiconductor memories. The semiconductor memories may be either volatile or non-volatile memories. The memory devices for saving various data in each device (product location management server 10, distribution center management server 20, terminal 30) in the above-mentioned embodiment may be realized by the main memory 1002 or the auxiliary memory 1003, or may be realized by an internal memory built into the processor 1001. For example, the memory unit in the above-mentioned embodiment may be realized by the main memory 1002 or the auxiliary memory 1003.

[0136] When each device (product location management server 10, distribution center management server 20, terminal 30) in the above-mentioned embodiment is composed of at least one storage device (memory) and at least one processor connected (coupled) to this at least one storage device, at least one processor may be connected to one storage device. Also, at least one storage device may be connected to one processor. Also, a configuration may be included in which at least one processor out of the multiple processors is connected to at least one storage device out of the multiple storage devices. Also, this configuration may be realized by storage devices and processors included in multiple computers. Furthermore, a configuration may be included in which a storage device is integrated with a processor (for example, a cache memory including an L1 cache and an L2 cache).

[0137] The network interface 1004 is an interface for connecting to the communication network 1007 wirelessly or by wire. The network interface 1004 may be an appropriate interface such as one conforming to an existing communication standard. The network interface 1004 may exchange information with an external device 1008A connected via the communication network 1007. The communication network 1007 may be any one of a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a personal area network (PAN), etc., or a combination thereof, as long as information is exchanged between the computer 1000 and the external device 1008A. An example of a WAN is the Internet, an example of a LAN is IEEE802.11 or Ethernet (registered trademark), and an example of a PAN is Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Near Field Communication (NFC).

[0138] The device interface 1005 is an interface such as a USB that directly connects to an external device 1008B.

[0139] The external device 1008A is a device connected to the computer 1000 via a network. The external device 1008B is a device connected directly to the computer 1000.

[0140] The external device 1008A or the external device 1008B may be, for example, an input device. The input device is, for example, a device such as a camera, a microphone, a motion capture device, various sensors, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, or the like, and provides acquired information to the computer 1000. Alternatively, the input device may be a device equipped with an input unit, a memory, and a processor, such as a personal computer, a tablet terminal, or a smartphone.

[0141] Moreover, the external device 1008A or the external device 1008B may be, for example, an output device. The output device may be, for example, a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) panel, or a speaker that outputs sound or the like. Alternatively, the output device may be a device including an output unit, a memory, and a processor, such as a personal computer, a tablet terminal, or a smartphone.

[0142] Furthermore, the external device 1008A or the external device 1008B may be a storage device (memory). For example, the external device 1008A may be a network storage or the like, and the external device 1008B may be a storage device such as a HDD.

[0143] Furthermore, the external device 1008A or the external device 1008B may be a device having some of the functions of the components of each device (product location management server 10, delivery center management server 20, terminal 30) in the above-mentioned embodiment. In other words, the computer 1000 may transmit some or all of the processing results to the external device 1008A or the external device 1008B, or may receive some or all of the processing results from the external device 1008A or the external device 1008B.

[0144] In this specification (including the claims), when the expression "at least one of a, b, and c" or "at least one of a, b, or c" (including similar expressions) is used, it includes any of a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc. It may also include multiple instances of any element, such as aa, abb, aabbcc, etc. Furthermore, it also includes the addition of elements other than the enumerated elements (a, b, and c), such as having d, as in abcd.

[0145] In this specification (including claims), when expressions such as "using data as input / based on / according to / in response to data" (including similar expressions) are used, unless otherwise specified, this includes the use of data itself or data that has been processed in some way (e.g., data with noise added, normalized, feature values ​​extracted from data, intermediate representations of data, etc.). In addition, when it is stated that a result is obtained "using data as input / based on / according to / in response to data" (including similar expressions), unless otherwise specified, this includes the use of the result based only on the data, or the use of the result influenced by other data, factors, conditions, and / or states other than the data. In addition, when it is stated that "data is output" (including similar expressions), unless otherwise specified, this includes the use of data itself as output, or data that has been processed in some way (e.g., data with noise added, normalized, feature values ​​extracted from data, intermediate representations of various data, etc.) as output.

[0146] In this specification (including the claims), the terms "connected" and "coupled" are intended as open-ended terms including any of direct connection / coupling, indirect connection / coupling, electrically connection / coupling, communicatively connection / coupling, functionally connection / coupling, physically connection / coupling, etc. The terms should be interpreted appropriately depending on the context in which the terms are used, but any connection / coupling form that is not intentionally or naturally excluded should be interpreted as being included in the terms without any restriction.

[0147] In this specification (including the claims), when the expression "A configured to B" is used, it may include that the physical structure of element A has a configuration capable of performing operation B, and that the permanent or temporary setting / configuration of element A is configured / set to actually perform operation B. For example, when element A is a general-purpose processor, it is sufficient that the processor has a hardware configuration capable of performing operation B, and is configured to actually perform operation B by setting a permanent or temporary program (instruction). Also, when element A is a dedicated processor, dedicated arithmetic circuit, etc., it is sufficient that the circuit structure, etc. of the processor is implemented to actually perform operation B, regardless of whether control instructions and data are actually attached.

[0148] In this specification (including the claims), when terms implying containing or possessing (e.g., "comprising / including," "having," etc.) are used, they are intended to be open-ended terms that include cases in which the term contains or possesses things other than the object indicated by the object of the term. When the object of such terms implying containing or possessing does not specify a quantity or suggests a singular number (such as an expression using the article "a" or "an"), the expression should be construed as not being limited to a specific number.

[0149] In this specification (including the claims), even if expressions such as "one or more" and "at least one" are used in some places and expressions that do not specify a quantity or suggest a singular number (expressions using the articles "a" or "an") are used in other places, the latter expressions are not intended to mean "one." In general, expressions that do not specify a quantity or suggest a singular number (expressions using the articles "a" or "an") should be interpreted as not necessarily being limited to a specific number.

[0150] In this specification, when a particular advantage / result is described as being obtained from a particular configuration of an embodiment, it should be understood that the same effect can also be obtained from one or more other embodiments having the same configuration, unless there is a reason to the contrary. However, it should be understood that the presence or absence of the effect generally depends on various factors, conditions, and / or states, and that the effect is not necessarily obtained by the configuration. The effect is merely obtained by the configuration described in the embodiment when various factors, conditions, and / or states are satisfied, and the effect is not necessarily obtained in the invention according to the claim that specifies the configuration or a similar configuration.

[0151] In this specification (including claims), when a plurality of pieces of hardware perform a predetermined process, each piece of hardware may cooperate to perform the predetermined process, or a portion of the hardware may perform all of the predetermined process. Also, a portion of the hardware may perform a portion of the predetermined process, and another piece of hardware may perform the remainder of the predetermined process. In this specification (including claims), when an expression such as "one or more pieces of hardware perform a first process, and the one or more pieces of hardware perform a second process" (including similar expressions) is used, the hardware performing the first process and the hardware performing the second process may be the same or different. In other words, it is sufficient that the hardware performing the first process and the hardware performing the second process are included in the one or more pieces of hardware. The hardware may include an electronic circuit, a device including an electronic circuit, and the like.

[0152] In this specification (including the claims), when multiple storage devices (memories) store data, each of the multiple storage devices may store only a portion of the data, or may store the entire data. Also, a configuration in which only some of the multiple storage devices store data may be included.

[0153] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned individual embodiments. Various additions, modifications, replacements, partial deletions, etc. are possible within the scope of the conceptual idea and intent of the present invention derived from the contents defined in the claims and their equivalents. For example, in the above-mentioned embodiments, when numerical values ​​or formulas are used for explanation, these are shown for illustrative purposes and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, the order of each operation shown in the embodiment is also illustrative and does not limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A reading means capable of reading a code that uniquely identifies a product, A registration means for registering a product as a stocked item based on reading by the reading means of a code that uniquely identifies the product, which is displayed on the shelf tag of the product attached to the product display shelf, A terminal having [a certain feature].

2. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the registration means registers the product of the code as a product to be retrieved from a backroom where products are stored in case units containing multiple individual products, based on the reading of the code.

3. The terminal according to claim 2, wherein the registration means registers the product of the read code as a product to be stocked in case units from the back room.

4. The terminal according to claim 3, wherein the registration means registers the product as a product to be stocked in units of the case, based on the reading of the code for individual sale of the product by the reading means.

5. The system has a means for receiving the number of items to be stocked for the product corresponding to the code read, The terminal according to claim 3, wherein the registration means registers the product of the read code as a product to be put out for the number of cases received by the receiving means.

6. When the code of the same product is read multiple times, the receiving means receives the number of times the same code has been read as the number of products to be put out. The terminal according to claim 5.

7. In the registration, the registration means associates the product with predetermined information based on the reading, The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined information is information for identifying the linked product as a product to be put on display.

8. The terminal according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined information is a product listing list.

9. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the registration means transmits the code of the product read by the reading means, along with information indicating that the product is a product to be stocked, for the product to be registered as a stocked product.

10. The reading means has a setting means for enabling and disabling the function of registering products whose codes have been read by the reading means as products to be put on display. The aforementioned reading means is capable of reading multiple types of codes with different formats, Based on the activation of the function, the setting means configures the settings for reading codes by the reading means to not read codes other than specific types. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the registration means registers the product as a stock item based on the reading of the code of a specific type that uniquely identifies the product by the reading means.

11. The shelf label of the product displays at least a code in a specific format that uniquely identifies the product, and a code in a different format from the specific format that identifies the shelf label, The terminal according to claim 10, wherein the setting means, while the function for registering the product to be put on display is enabled, is configured to set the settings for reading the code by the reading means so that, for codes that match the pattern of other types of formats, the information of the code is not read, or read but discarded.

12. The display means has a display means that displays a list including a plurality of products that have been registered as products to be put on sale by the registration means, The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays the list updated based on the status of product delivery received for each of the plurality of products.

13. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the registration of the aforementioned product as a stock item is canceled based on the stocking of the said product.

14. For each product registered as a stock item by the registration means, a notification means notifies the user of the terminal of the storage location of the product in the back room, A means for canceling the registration of a product as a product to be put on stock, based on the product being put on stock in response to the aforementioned notification, The terminal according to claim 1, having the following features.

15. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the code of the product read by the reading means is displayed on both the shelf label of the product in the sales area and on the product itself.

16. The terminal according to Claim 1, wherein the registration means associates with the product to be registered as a stocked product at least one of the following attributes: a state in which there is no stock of the product on the product's display shelf, a state in which there is only a small amount of stock of the product on the product's display shelf, and the priority of stocking the product.

17. The terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the product registered as a stock item is notified as a stock item on a terminal different from the terminal.

18. The terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the shelf tag is a price tag displaying the product name of the product corresponding to the shelf tag, the price of the product, and a code that uniquely identifies the product.

19. The terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the code read by the reading means, which uniquely identifies the product, is a JAN code for the individual sale of the product.

20. An information processing device that registers a product identified based on information that identifies the product, which is at least displayed on the shelf label of the product attached to the product display shelf and read by a reading means, into a list of products to be stocked.

21. For each of the multiple products registered in the list, the status of product delivery is received for each product. The information processing device according to claim 20, which updates the list based on the status of the product distribution for each of the plurality of products.

22. Capable of communicating with multiple terminals, The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the list is notified to a terminal different from the terminal having the reading means that read the information.

23. Capable of communicating with multiple terminals, The information processing device according to claim 20, which notifies a terminal different from the terminal having the reading means that read the information of the storage location of the products included in the list.

24. The reading means obtains information for identifying the product that it has read, The information processing device according to claim 20, which identifies a product based on information for identifying the aforementioned product.

25. The information processing device according to any one of claims 20 to 24, wherein the information for identifying the said product is code information displayed on the shelf label attached to the display shelf of the said product.

26. Obtain the number of the aforementioned products to be stocked, The information processing device according to claim 20, which registers the number of the acquired products to be put out in the list.

27. The information processing device according to claim 20, which notifies the terminal of the aforementioned list.

28. The information processing device according to claim 26, which notifies a terminal of the product names included in the aforementioned list.

29. The information processing device according to claim 26, which notifies a terminal of the storage location of the products included in the aforementioned list.

30. The product is stored on a cart that can be moved within the back room, The system further includes means for linking code information for identifying a product with identification information for identifying an information medium attached to the trolley, and storing this information in a database as storage location information for the product in the back room. The information processing device according to claim 29, wherein the storage location of the product notified to the terminal is the identification information of an information medium attached to the trolley, which is linked in the database for the product registered in the list.

31. The information processing device according to claim 26, which notifies a terminal of the number of items to be stocked that are included in the aforementioned list.

32. The information processing device according to claim 26 or 31, wherein the number of products to be stocked is the number of cases.

33. The information processing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the reading means does not read any code other than a predetermined code displayed on the shelf label.

34. The information processing device according to claim 20, wherein the aforementioned list is created for each product category or for each employee.

35. The device further has a notification means for notifying a terminal of the storage location of the items included in the list, which is an area in the back room or a trolley in which the items are stored. The notification means displays the areas or carts on the terminal in descending order of the number of items to be stocked in each area or cart. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20.

36. Means for notifying the terminal of the cart which is the storage location of the products included in the list, In response to receiving notification from the terminal that the product was not retrieved from the designated cart, if the product is stored on another cart, means for notifying the terminal of the other cart, The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising the above.

37. The information processing device according to claim 36, wherein the information processing device updates the list when the goods are dispensed from the other cart based on the notification, and maintains the list when the goods are not dispensed from the other cart based on the notification.

38. A terminal having a reading means capable of reading a code that uniquely identifies a product, An information processing device that identifies the product based on a code displayed on the shelf label of the product attached to the display shelf, which is read by the reading means, In a system having, A means for registering the product uniquely identified by the code in a list of products to be put on display, in response to the reading of the code by the reading means, Means for displaying the aforementioned list, A system that has

39. A means for receiving the status of product delivery for each of the multiple products registered in the list, A means for updating the list based on the status of the product distribution for each of the aforementioned multiple products, Means for displaying the updated list, The system according to claim 38, having the following features.

40. The system has a terminal different from the terminal, The means for displaying the list displays the list on the terminal and on the other terminals. The system according to claim 38 or 39.

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