Distribution management system

Abstract

To provide a configuration that makes it possible to easily construct a system capable of confirming a stock state of a product that one wishes to buy.SOLUTION: An information code 22 in which product identification information used for identifying a type of the product 20 is readably recorded and a wireless tag 23 are added using a label 21 for each product 20 shipped by a producer. The product identification information read from the wireless tag 23 when delivery of the product 20 is received and when the product 20 is sold is transmitted to a server 10 together with store information by a store server 34. In the server 10, a stock quantity of the product 20 at a store is found from product identification information at the time of reception from the store server 34, store information and product identification information at the time of sale, and store information, and the stock quantity is recorded in a database as part of traceability information in association with product identification information and store information. Out of the traceability information recorded in the database, at least the stock quantity of the product 20 per store is exposed at a public site.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a distribution management system that manages traceability information on products. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, not only systems that utilize traceability information to manage industrial products from production to sales, but also systems that utilize traceability information to manage agricultural products and other products produced by producers from production to sales have become widespread.

[0003] As a technology for managing traceability information on such products, for example, a system for providing individual information on agricultural products, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, is known. This system is a system for forming individual information on melons and the like, and for example, while melons are moved by a conveyor in a melon sorting area, quality information for sorting the melons is collected and a label is attached to the melon, and when the melon's ID number written on the label is input, this input ID number is combined with the quality information collected when sorting the melon to form individual information on the melon. This configuration eliminates the need for producers to individually input quality information on agricultural products such as melons, thereby reducing the labor required for creating a database of quality information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4334287 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, there are cases where the product that a purchaser (consumer) wants to purchase is out of stock at the store that the purchaser visits. To prevent such a situation, for example, the store can manage the inventory of each product in real time and make the inventory status publicly available for viewing on a specified website.

[0006] However, there is a problem that the workload is likely to be large because it is necessary to check the inventory of all products and update the confirmed information on the website, etc. In particular, for produce such as agricultural crops, the work required for individual management is likely to be even more complicated, making the above problem more pronounced.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a configuration that can easily build a system that can check the inventory status of a product desired to be purchased. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides A distribution management system (1) for managing traceability information on a product (20) produced by a producer in a distribution process in which the product is sold at a predetermined store, comprising: An information code (22) and a wireless tag (23) are attached to each of the products shipped by the producer, the information code (22) having product identification information readably recorded therein and used to identify the type of the product, A server (10) that manages the traceability information using the product identification information; a store-side transmitting device (34, 33) arranged at each of the stores, which transmits the product identification information read from the wireless tag when the product arrives and when the product is sold to the server together with store information used to identify the store; Equipped with The server, a database (14) in which an inventory quantity of the product at the store is calculated from the product identification information and the store information at the time of arrival and the product identification information and the store information at the time of sale received from the store-side transmitting device, and the inventory quantity is recorded in association with the product identification information and the store information as part of the traceability information; a publishing unit (11) that publishes on a predetermined website at least the inventory quantity of the product for each store among the traceability information recorded in the database; The present invention is characterized by comprising: The symbols in parentheses above indicate the corresponding relationship with the specific means described in the embodiments described later. Effect of the Invention

[0009] In the present invention, an information code and a wireless tag are attached to each product shipped by a producer, each of which readably records product identification information used to identify the type of product. The product identification information read from the wireless tag when the product arrives and when the product is sold is transmitted to a server together with store information by a store-side transmitting device. The server determines the number of products in stock at the store from the product identification information and store information at the time of arrival and the product identification information and store information at the time of sale received from the store-side transmitting device, and records the number of products in stock in a database in association with the product identification information and store information as part of the traceability information. At least the number of products in stock at each store, out of the traceability information recorded in the database, is published on a specified website by a publishing unit.

[0010] This allows a purchaser to check not only whether the product he or she wishes to purchase is on sale at the store he or she plans to visit, but also the amount of the product in stock, by browsing a specific website made public by the disclosure unit. In particular, since traceability information is generated using product identification information that can be read collectively from wireless tags attached to the products to be shipped, a system that allows the purchaser to check the stock status of the product he or she wishes to purchase can be easily constructed.

[0011] The product identification information may include information identifying the producer, which allows the producer to check the sales status of his / her product on a specific website using the product identification information as a key.

[0012] Product identification information for a product shipped from the producer is transmitted to a server by the producer's transmitting device together with shipping date and time information, and in the server, the shipping date and time information received from the producer's transmitting device is associated with the product identification information, recorded in a database, and may be published on a specified website by the publication section.

[0013] This allows store clerks, etc., who manage the inventory management of each product, to easily check the shipping date and time information of each product, i.e., the freshness and expiration date of each product, by browsing the specified website. This allows store clerks, etc., to smoothly carry out inventory management work according to the expiration date. Also, purchasers can easily check the freshness of the product they wish to purchase by browsing the specified website.

[0014] A sales price management device that manages the selling prices of products at stores may reduce the selling price of products whose remaining time until the expiration date determined from product identification information and shipping date and time information obtained from a server is less than a specified time, in accordance with the remaining time.

[0015] This eliminates the need for store clerks to carry out discount procedures such as picking up the produce, checking the expiration date, and then attaching a discount sticker corresponding to the expiration date to the produce, thereby reducing the workload of store clerks in relation to discount procedures.

[0016] Price reduction information for products that have been selected for reduction by the sales price management device is transmitted to a server by the store-side transmitting device together with the product identification information and store information, and on the server, the price reduction information received from the store-side transmitting device is associated with the product identification information and store information, recorded in a database, and may be published on a specified website by the publication section.

[0017] This allows a purchaser to easily check not only whether or not a product is being discounted at the store where he or she plans to make a purchase, but also the discount information by browsing a specific website.

[0018] An ordering device that processes orders for products at a store may perform ordering processing based on the remaining time until the expiration date that is determined from product specification information and shipping date and time information obtained from the server.

[0019] This allows the ordering process to be automatically performed for products with a short remaining time until the expiration date, which means that the store clerk or the like does not need to carry out ordering tasks such as picking up each product, checking the expiration date of each product, and then deciding the order quantity according to the number of products with a short remaining time until the expiration date and placing an order, thereby reducing the workload of the store clerk or the like in relation to the ordering process.

[0020] In the database, the number of times a product has been viewed on a specified website may be stored in association with the product-specific information, and the number of times the product has been viewed on the specified website may be made public by the publication unit.

[0021] The number of views of a product on a given website increases as the number of buyers who are interested in that product increases. Therefore, by visiting a given website and checking the number of views of their product, producers can easily check the popularity of their product and the difference in popularity with other products, and can also use this information as an indicator for future production policies.

[0022] Tag position information regarding the position of a wireless tag within a store, acquired by the tag position information acquisition device, is transmitted to a server by the store-side transmitting device together with product identification information and store information read from the wireless tag, and in the server, the tag position information received from the store-side transmitting device is associated with the product identification information and store information and recorded in a database, and sales position information indicating the sales position of the product within the store for a specified store and product is generated and published by the publication unit on a specified website using the tag position information recorded in the database.

[0023] This allows a purchaser to easily check the sales location of the product he or she wishes to purchase in the store he or she visits by browsing a specific website.

[0024] The product identification information may include a unique number that allows the product to be distinguished from other products of the same type.

[0025] An anti-shoplifting device that is positioned so as to be able to read wireless tags passing through the entrances and exits of a store acquires product identification information for a product each time the product is sold, and issues a specified notification when unacquired product identification information is read from the wireless tag, and does not issue the specified notification when previously acquired product identification information is read from the wireless tag.

[0026] As a result, if an attempt is made to illegally take out an unsold product, the anti-shoplifting device issues a predetermined notification that there is a possibility of shoplifting, because the product identification information read from the wireless tag attached to the product has not been acquired as having been sold. On the other hand, if a sold product is taken home, the anti-shoplifting device does not issue the above-mentioned predetermined notification that there is no possibility of shoplifting, because the product identification information read from the wireless tag attached to the product has already been acquired as having been sold. In this way, the product identification information from the wireless tag attached to the product can be used to determine whether or not an anti-shoplifting notification is necessary, so a shoplifting prevention system can be built at low cost. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a distribution management system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic example of an electrical configuration of the server in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams for explaining a database in which product-specific information and the like are recorded, with FIG. 3A illustrating an example of the state at the time of arrival, and FIG. 3B illustrating an example of the state at the time of sale. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of display of stock status for each product displayed on a mobile terminal of a purchaser in the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of display of shipping date and time for each product displayed on a mobile terminal of a purchaser in the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of display of discount information for each product, etc., displayed on a mobile terminal of a purchaser in the third embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a distribution management system according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of a sales floor map and the like displayed on a mobile terminal of a purchaser in the sixth embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of generating product identification information that is individually set in the seventh embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a distribution management system according to a seventh embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] [First embodiment] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of a product distribution management system according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The distribution management system 1 according to this embodiment is a system that utilizes traceability information to manage products such as agricultural products produced by producers, from production to sales. The distribution management system 1 is operated by a service provider or the like that provides services related to the traceability of products according to the present invention. The distribution management system 1 is equipped with a server 10 that utilizes product identification information, including information such as a producer ID that identifies the producer (hereinafter also referred to as producer information) and information that identifies the type of product (hereinafter also referred to as type information), to manage the traceability information etc. so that it can be made public on a specified website (hereinafter also referred to as a public site).

[0029] In FIG. 1, radishes are adopted as the product 20 to be managed, and the distribution process of the radishes is illustrated, in which the radishes are shipped from the producers (e.g., radish farmers), delivered by a designated delivery company, and received and sold at a designated store.

[0030] A label 21 is attached to each product 20 to be shipped by the producer. The label 21 is produced as a seal member having an information code 22 such as a QR code (registered trademark) printed on its surface and a wireless tag 23 such as an RF tag embedded in an inner layer or the like, by a dedicated label printer 31 arranged at a shipping yard or the like. The name of the producer, the type of product 20, and the like may be printed on the surface of the label 21 together with the information code 22.

[0031] Product identification information generated so as to include the above-mentioned producer information, type information, and label issue date is readably recorded in the information code 22 and the wireless tag 23. In this embodiment, the same information (product identification information) is readably recorded in the information code 22 and the wireless tag 23 of the same label 21. A tag ID for distinguishing the wireless tag 23 from other wireless tags 23 is further readably recorded in the wireless tag 23.

[0032] Producer information and type information are registered in advance in the label printer 31, and the label issue date is set according to the timing of a predetermined label issue operation, such as input of the shipment quantity. When the producer issues the label to the label printer 31 at the time of shipment, the production information, type information, and label issue date are readably recorded in the information code 22 and the wireless tag 23 as product identification information, and the labels 21 are issued in the number of shipments.

[0033] The producer prepares for shipment by attaching the issued labels 21 to each of the products 20 to be shipped. For example, when shipping 100 radishes, 100 labels 21 recording the same product identification information are issued, and the producer prepares for shipment by attaching one label 21 to each of the 100 radishes.

[0034] The delivery company collects the products 20 prepared for shipment as described above at the shipping date and time instructed by the server 10, and delivers at least some of the collected products 20 to the store instructed by the server 10 at the designated arrival date and time. During the collection, the delivery company performs an operation of reading the product identification information of the wireless tags 23 attached to each product 20 all at once using the delivery terminal 32. Through this reading operation, the reading result is transmitted from the delivery terminal 32 to the server 10 together with the collection date and time, information identifying the delivery company (hereinafter also referred to as delivery information), etc.

[0035] When receiving the products 20 delivered as described above, a store clerk or the like at the delivery destination store uses a mobile terminal 33 to read all of the product identification information from the wireless tags 23 attached to each product 20 at once. Then, the store clerk or the like inputs the selling price of the product 20 into the mobile terminal 33, whereby the product identification information and the number of products received, etc., related to that product 20 are transmitted to the store server 34 together with the selling price.

[0036] In the store server 34, the product identification information and the number of items received, etc., read by the mobile terminal 33 are transmitted to the server 10 as arrival time information together with the arrival date and time and information used to identify the store (hereinafter also referred to as store information). Note that the product identification information and the number of items received, etc., read by the mobile terminal 33 may be transmitted directly from the mobile terminal 33 to the server 10 without going through the store server 34. The store server 34 and the mobile terminal 33 may correspond to an example of a "store-side transmitting device."

[0037] Furthermore, the store server 34 associates the product identification information read at the time of arrival with the sales price entered or the like, and stores the association in a database. The store server 34 functions as a "sales price management device" that manages the sales price of the product 20 at the store. The sales price may be entered at the time of arrival, or at a predetermined timing after the arrival. The sales price may not be entered by the mobile terminal 33, but may be entered by using another terminal. In this case, the mobile terminal 33 separately transmits the product identification information read at the time of arrival, the number of products in stock, etc., to the store server 34.

[0038] When a purchaser purchases a product 20, a store clerk or the like optically reads the information code 22 on the label 21 attached to the product 20 with the POS terminal 35. The POS terminal 35 performs payment processing by obtaining the selling price and the like from the store server 34 for the product identifying information read from the information code 22. When payment is completed, the store server 34, which has received payment completion information from the POS terminal 35, transmits the product identifying information and the sales quantity of the sold product 20, together with store information and the like, to the server 10 as sales time information.

[0039] The server 10 is configured as, for example, a computer, and is managed by the service provider, etc. As shown in Fig. 2, the server 10 includes a control unit 11 consisting of a CPU or the like, a display unit 12 consisting of a liquid crystal monitor or the like, an operation unit 13 consisting of a mouse, a keyboard, etc., a storage unit 14 consisting of a ROM, a RAM, a HDD, etc., and a communication unit 15. The communication unit 15 is configured as a communication interface capable of communicating with external devices such as the store server 34 via the Internet N, etc.

[0040] A database for managing traceability information and the like is constructed in the memory unit 14 using information received from the delivery terminal 32, the store server 34, etc. When arrival time information is received from the store server 34, the control unit 11 performs a registration process for newly registering the product identification information and the like in the database, and every time sales time information is received from the store server 34, it performs an update process for updating the stock amount and the like in the database according to the sales amount.

[0041] In the database, the inventory quantity of the product 20 in the store is obtained from the arrival time information and sale time information received from the store server 34. The inventory quantity of the product 20 obtained in this manner is associated with the product identification information and the store information as part of the traceability information and is recorded in the database so as to be open to the public on the above-mentioned public website.

[0042] The control unit 11 performs a process (hereinafter also referred to as a publishing process) for publishing information to be published as traceability information, such as the stock quantity, among the information recorded in the database of the storage unit 14 so that the information can be viewed on the above-mentioned publication site. Note that the control unit 11, which performs the publishing process for publishing the stock quantity of the product 20 on the publication site (a specified website), can correspond to an example of a "publication unit."

[0043] For example, when 20 radishes from Farm A, 15 green onions from Farm B, 30 lotus roots from Farm C, and 25 eggplants from Farm D are received at Store E identified by store information "5432," information such as that shown in FIG. 3(A) is recorded in the database. After that, when sales information for 10 radishes from Farm A is received from the store server 34 of Store E, the database is updated as shown in FIG. 3(B). Similarly, when sales information for 13 green onions from Farm B, sales information for 22 lotus roots from Farm C, and sales information for 13 eggplants from Farm D are received from the store server 34 of Store E, the database is updated as shown in FIG. 3(B).

[0044] In FIG. 3, the producer information identifying Farmer A is "123", the type information identifying Daikon radish is "021", and the label issue date is "06", so that the product identification information is "12302106". In addition, the producer information identifying Farmer B is "124", the type information identifying Green onion is "022", and the label issue date is "06", so that the product identification information is "12402206". In addition, the producer information identifying Farmer C is "125", the type information identifying Lotus root is "023", and the label issue date is "06", so that the product identification information is "12502306". In addition, the producer information identifying Farmer D is "126", the type information identifying Eggplant is "024", and the label issue date is "06", so that the product identification information is "12602406". In addition, in FIG. 3, for convenience, the illustration of the delivery information and the collection date and time is omitted.

[0045] Before visiting store E and when the stock situation is as shown in Fig. 3(B), the purchaser can browse the above-mentioned public site on mobile terminal 36 and select the stock situation at store E, and the stock situation as shown in Fig. 4 will be displayed on the display screen 36a of the mobile terminal 36. When the purchaser sees this display screen 36a, he or she can check the stock quantity of the product 20 he or she wishes to purchase, and can visit store E with peace of mind without worrying about the product being out of stock. Since the product identification information includes producer information, the producer's name may be displayed together with the product type name when the stock situation is displayed.

[0046] As described above, in the distribution management system 1 according to the present embodiment, the information code 22 and the wireless tag 23, each of which readably records product identification information used to identify the type of the product 20, are attached to each product 20 shipped by the producer using the label 21. The product identification information read from the wireless tag 23 when the product 20 arrives and when the product 20 is sold is transmitted to the server 10 by the store server 34 together with the store information. The server 10 obtains the number of products 20 in stock at the store from the product identification information and store information at the time of arrival and the product identification information and store information at the time of sale received from the store server 34, and records the number of products 20 in stock in the database in association with the product identification information and store information as part of the traceability information. At least the number of products 20 in stock at each store out of the traceability information recorded in the database is made public on a public website.

[0047] This allows a purchaser to check not only whether the product 20 he / she wishes to purchase is on sale at the store he / she plans to visit, but also the amount of the product in stock, by browsing the public site made public as described above. In particular, since traceability information is generated using product identification information that can be read collectively from the wireless tags 23 attached to the products 20 to be shipped, a system that allows the purchaser to check the stock status of the product 20 he / she wishes to purchase can be easily constructed.

[0048] In particular, in this embodiment, the product identification information includes producer information that identifies the producer. This allows the producer to check the sales status of his / her product 20 on the public site using the product identification information as a key. For example, in the example of FIG. 3(B), the producer of Farm A can view the public site and search using his / her producer name (product identification information that includes producer information "123") as a key, thereby checking that five radishes, which are his / her product 20, have been sold.

[0049] As a variation of this embodiment, the product identification information is not limited to being generated so as to include producer information, type information, and label issue date as described above, but may be generated so as not to include the label issue date, or so as not to include both producer information and label issue date.

[0050] [Second embodiment] Next, a distribution management system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the shipping date and time information of the product shipped from the producer is recorded in a database in a manner that allows disclosure. Therefore, the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

[0051] In this embodiment, the label printer 31 is configured to be able to communicate data with the server 10 via the Internet N or the like. When issuing the number of labels 21 required for shipment, the label printer 31 performs a transmission process for transmitting the product identification information recorded in the information code 22 and the wireless tag 23 to the server 10 together with shipping date and time information. The label printer 31, which transmits the product identification information together with shipping date and time information to the server 10, can be an example of a "producer-side transmitting device."

[0052] In the server 10, the shipping date and time information received from the label printer 31 is associated with the product identification information and newly registered in the database of the storage unit 14 so that it can be made public on the public site. In this case, arrival time information received from the store server 34 thereafter is additionally registered so that it is associated with the corresponding product identification information. Then, the control unit 11 performs a publishing process for publishing information recorded in the database that should be made public as traceability information, such as shipping date and time information and inventory quantity, so that it can be viewed on the public site.

[0053] In this way, the shipping date and time information and the stock quantity, etc. are made publicly available for viewing on the public site, so that store clerks, etc. who manage the inventory management, etc. of each product 20 can easily check the shipping date and time information of each product 20, that is, the freshness and expiration date, etc. of each product 20, by viewing the public site on a tablet terminal, etc. in the store. This allows store clerks, etc. to smoothly carry out inventory management work, etc. according to the expiration date.

[0054] Also, for example, when a purchaser browses the above-mentioned public site on a mobile terminal 36 and selects store E, various information such as that shown in Fig. 5 is displayed on a display screen 36a of the mobile terminal 36. The purchaser who views this display screen 36a can easily check not only the stock quantity of the product 20 that he or she wishes to purchase, but also the freshness of the product 20, etc.

[0055] In addition, the product identification information and shipping date and time information may not necessarily be transmitted to the server 10 by the label printer 31, but may also be transmitted to the server 10 by another producer-side transmitting device, such as a tablet terminal, which has acquired the product identification information and shipping date and time information from the label printer 31.

[0056] Also, on the assumption that the label issue date is not included in the product identification information, in the shipping operation by the producer, the labels 21 issued in advance by the label printer 31 or the like may be affixed individually to each product 20. In such a shipping operation, the product identification information is read all at once from the wireless tags 23 attached to each product 20 by the producer using a tag reading terminal or the like, and then transmitted to the server 10 by another producer-side transmitting device together with shipping date and time information.

[0057] [Third embodiment] Next, a distribution management system according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The third embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that the selling price of the product is reduced according to the remaining time until the expiration date obtained from the shipping date and time information. Therefore, the same components as those in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

[0058] The store server 34 according to this embodiment functions as a sales price management device that manages the sales price of the product 20 in the store, and performs a discount process to discount the sales price of the product 20 in accordance with the remaining period until the expiration date determined from the product identification information and shipping date and time information obtained from the server 10 when the remaining period until the expiration date is less than a predetermined period. The store server 34 may receive and acquire the shipping date and time information of the product 20 from the server 10 by making a predetermined request, or may automatically receive and acquire the shipping date and time information of the product 20 from the server 10 without making a request.

[0059] For example, when the remaining time until the expiration date of a radish being sold falls below a predetermined time (e.g., 24 hours), a discount process is performed by the store server 34 to reduce the selling price of the radish to a price that is 20% off. During this discount process, a discount sticker to be affixed to the product 20 that is the subject of the discount is issued, and an instruction is given to a store clerk or the like to affix the discount sticker to the product 20 that is the subject of the discount. Note that the discount process may be set so that the discount becomes gradually greater as the remaining time becomes shorter.

[0060] This eliminates the need for the store clerk or the like to carry out discount work such as picking up the product 20, checking the expiration date, and then attaching a discount sticker corresponding to the expiration date to the product 20, thereby reducing the workload of the store clerk or the like in relation to discount work, etc.

[0061] Furthermore, in this embodiment, discount information for the product 20 that is subject to discount as described above is transmitted by the store server 34 to the server 10 together with the product specifying information and store information. In the server 10, the discount information received from the store server 34 is associated with the product specifying information and the store information, recorded in a publicly accessible manner in the database of the storage unit 14, and made public on the above-mentioned public website in response to a disclosure process performed by the control unit 11.

[0062] For example, when a purchaser browses the above-mentioned public site on a mobile terminal 36 and selects store E, various information such as that shown in Fig. 6 is displayed on a display screen 36a of the mobile terminal 36. In this way, by browsing the above-mentioned public site, a purchaser can easily check not only whether or not there is a product 20 that is being discounted (on sale) at the store where the purchase is planned to be made, but also the discount information (sale information), even if the purchaser is outside the store.

[0063] In addition, in the above reduction process, a substantial reduction process may be performed by performing a process of giving points or issuing a coupon that can be used at the store or the like.

[0064] In addition, by reading the information code 22 attached to the product 20 for which one wishes to check whether or not there has been a reduction using a mobile terminal 36 with a dedicated app installed, information such as whether or not there has been a reduction in the price of the product 20 may be displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal 36 using the above-mentioned public site.

[0065] [Fourth embodiment] Next, a distribution management system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The fourth embodiment differs from the third embodiment mainly in that the store server 34 performs automatic ordering processing using information acquired from the server 10. Therefore, the same components as those in the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

[0066] The store server 34 according to this embodiment functions as an ordering device that processes orders for the product 20 at the store, and automatically processes the order according to the remaining time until the expiration date that is determined from the product identification information and shipping date and time information acquired from the server 10. The remaining time that is the basis for the automatic ordering process is set in advance according to the type of the product 20.

[0067] For example, when the remaining time until the expiration date of a radish being sold falls below a predetermined time (for example, 30 hours), the store server 34 automatically performs an order process for ordering the radish.

[0068] This allows automatic ordering of products 20 with a short remaining time until their expiration date. This eliminates the need for store clerks to pick up each product 20, check the expiration date of each product, and then decide and place an order for the number of products 20 with a short remaining time until their expiration date, thereby reducing the workload of store clerks in ordering.

[0069] [Fifth embodiment] Next, a distribution management system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The fifth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the number of views of the product viewed on the public site is made public. Therefore, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

[0070] In this embodiment, in addition to the above-mentioned product specifying information, the information code 22 records a URL or the like for accessing a product introduction site where information on the product 20 to which the information code 22 is attached can be viewed. A purchaser can view information on the product 20 on the product introduction site that becomes accessible by reading the information code attached to the product 20 in which the purchaser is interested. Therefore, the number of views of the product 20 on the above-mentioned public site increases as the number of purchasers who are interested in the product 20 increases. The POS terminal 35 performs payment processing using only the product specifying information out of the product specifying information and the URL read from the information code 22.

[0071] Therefore, in the server 10 according to the present embodiment, the number of times the product 20 has been viewed on the above-mentioned publication site is stored in association with the product identification information in the database of the storage unit 14. Then, the control unit 11 performs a publication process so that the number of times the product 20 has been viewed on the above-mentioned publication site is published.

[0072] As a result, when a producer uses a tablet device or the like to view the public site, he or she can search using his or her producer name (product-specific information that includes producer information) as a key, and the number of times that his or her product 20 has been viewed will be displayed on the display screen of the tablet device along with other information related to that product 20.

[0073] Therefore, by visiting the public site and checking the number of views of his / her product 20, producers can not only easily check the popularity of that product 20 and the difference in popularity with other products 20, but can also use this as an indicator for future production policies.

[0074] [Sixth embodiment] Next, a distribution management system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The sixth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the sales location of the product in the store is made publicly available for viewing on a public website. Therefore, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

[0075] Even if a customer who visits a store can check the stock quantity of the product 20 he or she wishes to purchase on the public website in advance, he or she may not know where in the store the product 20 is being sold. The above-mentioned problem is particularly prominent in free location stores or unmanned stores where the sales location is likely to change.

[0076] 7, in this embodiment, a tag position information acquisition device 40 capable of acquiring the position of the wireless tag 23 from which the product identification information has been read is installed in each store. The tag position information acquisition device 40 periodically (e.g., every 10 seconds) performs processing to obtain the distance and direction from the receiving antenna 41 to each wireless tag 23, using the radio wave intensity (RSSI value) of the radio waves received from the wireless tag 23 via multiple antennas 41 installed on the ceiling or the like in the store.

[0077] Information about the position of each wireless tag 23 within the store (hereinafter also referred to as tag position information) is obtained based on the distance and direction to the wireless tag 23 based on each antenna 41 thus obtained. In this embodiment, the tag position information is obtained as relative position coordinate information with a predetermined position within the store as the origin, and can be used as information indicating the sales position within the store of the product 20 to which the wireless tag 23 is attached (hereinafter also referred to as sales position information).

[0078] Each time the tag position information of each wireless tag 23 is acquired by the tag position information acquisition device 40, it is associated with store information together with product identification information read from the wireless tag 23 and transmitted to the server 10 via the store server 34. Note that the tag position information, etc. may be transmitted directly from the tag position information acquisition device 40 to the server 10 without passing through the store server 34.

[0079] In the server 10, the tag position information received from the store server 34 or the like is associated with the product identification information and store information and recorded in the database of the storage unit 14. Note that the database stores information related to the sales floor map of each store in advance.

[0080] Then, in response to the disclosure process by the control unit 11, sales location information indicating the sales location of the product 20 within the specified store for the specified store and product 20 is generated using the tag location information recorded in the database and is disclosed on the above-mentioned disclosure site.

[0081] Specifically, in the above-mentioned disclosure process, a sales floor map of the specified store is made public, and an icon M indicating the sales location is displayed as sales location information at a location on the sales floor map identified from the tag position information of the specified product 20.

[0082] As a result, for example, a purchaser who visits store E can browse the public site on their mobile terminal 36 and specify store E and radish, and a sales floor map of store E with icon M indicating the sales location of radish will be displayed on the display screen 36a of the mobile terminal 36, as illustrated in Figure 8.

[0083] In this way, by browsing the public site that displays the sales floor map and the like as described above, the purchaser can easily check the sales location of the product 20 that he or she wishes to purchase in the store that he or she visits.

[0084] [Seventh embodiment] Next, a distribution management system according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The seventh embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the product identification information includes a unique number that can be distinguished from products of the same type. Therefore, the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

[0085] In this embodiment, the product identification information is generated so as to include, in addition to producer information, type information, and label issue date, a serial number (a unique number) so that products of the same type can be distinguished from one another.

[0086] For example, if Farmer A (producer information "123") ships 100 radishes (variety information "021") on the label issue date "06," 100 labels 21 will be issued, each with different product-specific information recorded on them, as can be seen from Figure 9.

[0087] In this way, since the product identification information is generated so that each individual product can be distinguished, the read product identification information can be used to manage the traceability information of each product 20 for each individual product. For example, a radish identified from the product identification information "123021060001" and a radish identified from the product identification information "123021060002" can be managed by distinguishing the sales time, etc.

[0088] Furthermore, for example, the product identification information generated in a distinguishable manner as described above can be used for a predetermined judgment purpose, for example, for judging whether or not an anti-shoplifting alert is required. Specifically, the anti-shoplifting device 50, which is arranged so as to be able to read the wireless tag 23 passing through the entrance / exit of the store, can issue a predetermined anti-shoplifting alert when it reads product identification information from the wireless tag 23 that has not been marked as sold.

[0089] In this case, each time a product 20 is sold, the POS terminal 35 performs processing for transmitting the product identification information and the like of the product 20 to the anti-shoplifting device 50. Therefore, the anti-shoplifting device 50 can determine that the product identification information acquired from the POS terminal 35 is information to be recorded in the wireless tag 23 of the sold product 20.

[0090] The shoplifting prevention device 50 configured in this manner issues the above-mentioned specified notification when unacquired product identification information is read from the wireless tag 23, and does not issue the above-mentioned specified notification when previously acquired product identification information is read from the wireless tag 23.

[0091] As a result, if an attempt is made to illegally take out an unsold product 20, the anti-shoplifting device 50 issues the above-mentioned specified notification that there is a possibility of shoplifting, because the product identification information read from the wireless tag 23 attached to the product 20 has not been acquired as having been sold. On the other hand, if a sold product 20 is taken home, the anti-shoplifting device 50 does not issue the above-mentioned specified notification that there is no possibility of shoplifting, because the product identification information read from the wireless tag 23 attached to the product 20 has already been acquired as having been sold. In this way, the product identification information from the wireless tag 23 attached to the product 20 can be used to determine whether or not an anti-shoplifting notification is necessary, so that an anti-shoplifting system can be built at low cost.

[0092] In addition, the shoplifting prevention device 50 is not limited to obtaining the product identification information from the POS terminal 35, etc. each time the product 20 is sold, but may also perform a process of inquiring the POS terminal 35, store server 34, or server 10 each time as to whether the product identification information read from the wireless tag 23 has been sold or not.

[0093] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be embodied as follows, for example. (1) The product 20 according to the present invention is not limited to vegetables such as radish, green onion, lotus root, eggplant, etc., and may be other types of products such as fruits, meat, and seafood shipped directly from producers. Furthermore, products other than agricultural products, such as apparel products, may be used as the product 20 according to the present invention. When apparel products are used as the product 20, the information code 22 and the wireless tag 23 may be attached to the product 20 by the producer, or may be attached to the product 20 during distribution or in a store. Furthermore, depending on the type of product 20, the information code 22 and the wireless tag 23 may be attached to the product 20 during distribution or in a store.

[0094] (2) The information code 22 and the wireless tag 23 are not limited to being attached to the product 20 using the label 21, and may be attached to the product 20 individually, for example, without using the label 21. In addition, the information code 22 and the wireless tag 23 are not limited to being attached directly to the product 20, and may be attached to a package that individually packages the product 20.

[0095] (3) The store according to the present invention is not limited to being a staffed store, and may be an unmanned store.

[0096] (4) When the producer transmits product specification information and the like to the server 10 using the label printer 31 or the like, the producer may also transmit shipping request information to the server 10. In this case, the server 10 can instruct the delivery company or the like on the collection date and time, the planned collection quantity, and the like, in accordance with the shipping request information received from the producer.

[0097] 1. Distribution Management System 10 Server 11 Control Section (Public Section) 14 Memory section (database) 20. Products 21 Label 22 Information Code 23 Radio tag 31 Label printer (producer's transmitting device) 33 Mobile terminal (store side transmission device) 34 Store server (store side transmission device, sales price management device, ordering device) 35 POS terminals 36 Mobile Devices 40 Tag location information acquisition device 50 Shoplifting prevention device

Claims

1. A distribution management system that manages traceability information on a product produced by a producer in a distribution process in which the product is sold at a predetermined store, comprising: An information code and a wireless tag are attached to each of the products shipped by the producer, the information code and the wireless tag each having product identification information readably recorded thereon for identifying the type of the product; A server that manages the traceability information by using the product identification information; a store-side transmitting device arranged in each of the stores, which transmits the product identification information read from the wireless tag when the product arrives and when the product is sold to the server together with store information used to identify the store; Equipped with The server, a database in which the number of products in stock at the store is calculated from the product identification information and the store information at the time of arrival and the product identification information and the store information at the time of sale received from the store-side transmitting device, and the number of products in stock is recorded in association with the product identification information and the store information as part of the traceability information; a publishing unit that publishes on a predetermined website at least the inventory quantity of the product for each store among the traceability information recorded in the database; A distribution management system comprising:

2. 2. The distribution management system according to claim 1, wherein the product identification information includes information identifying a producer.

3. a producer-side transmitting device that transmits the product identification information of the product shipped from the producer together with shipping date and time information to the server; The distribution management system described in claim 1, characterized in that in the server, the shipping date and time information received from the producer side transmitting device is associated with the product identification information, recorded in the database, and published on the specified website by the publication unit.

4. a sales price management device for managing the sales prices of the products in the store; The distribution management system described in claim 3, characterized in that the sales price management device reduces the sales price of the product whose remaining time until the expiration date determined from the product identification information and the shipping date and time information obtained from the server is less than a predetermined time, in accordance with the remaining time.

5. the store-side transmitting device transmits to the server price reduction information of the product that has been selected as a reduction target by the selling price management device together with the product identification information and the store information; A distribution management system as described in claim 4, characterized in that in the server, the discount information received from the store-side transmitting device is associated with the product identification information and the store information, recorded in the database, and published on the specified website by the publication unit.

6. an ordering device for processing an order for the product at the store; The distribution management system according to claim 3, characterized in that the ordering device performs the ordering process based on the remaining time until the expiration date determined from the product specification information and the shipping date and time information obtained from the server.

7. In the database, the number of times the product has been viewed on the predetermined website is stored in association with the product identification information; 2. The distribution management system according to claim 1, wherein the number of times the product has been viewed is made public on the predetermined website by the publishing unit.

8. a tag position information acquisition device that acquires tag position information relating to the position of the wireless tag within the store; the store-side transmitting device transmits the tag location information acquired by the tag location information acquiring device to the server together with the product identification information and the store information read from the wireless tag; The distribution management system described in claim 1, characterized in that in the server, the tag position information received from the store-side transmitting device is associated with the product identification information and the store information and recorded in the database, and sales position information indicating the sales position of the product within the store for a specified store and product is generated and published on the specified website by the publication unit using the tag position information recorded in the database.

9. 2. The distribution management system according to claim 1, wherein the product identification information includes a unique number that enables a product of the same type to be distinguished from other products.

10. The distribution management system according to claim 9, further comprising an anti-shoplifting device arranged to be able to read the wireless tag passing through an entrance / exit of the store, acquiring the product identification information of the product each time the product is sold, making a specified notification when unacquired product identification information is read from the wireless tag, and not making the specified notification when previously acquired product identification information is read from the wireless tag.

Images