Information processing system, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To improve the efficiency of work in changing a commodity price in a store.SOLUTION: An information processing system includes a display device installed in a store that sells a commodity, and a server capable of communicating with the display device. The commodity has discount instruction information attached thereto, which is one of multiple different pieces of discount instruction information. The server includes: an instruction information determination unit which determines one or more pieces of discount instruction information attached to the commodity which is discount from a base price of the commodity, out of the multiple different pieces of discount instruction information; and a display control unit which causes the display device to display the one or more pieces of discount instruction information determined by the instruction information determination unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 23

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, for example in the retail industry, in order to give customers a sense of value and increase their motivation to purchase, it has been customary to affix labels for marking down (price reduction) to products. Various printers configured to print such markdown labels have been proposed. For example, a printer has been proposed that includes a judgment means for determining whether to print multiple price data, including the list price and price data lower than the list price, and, if the judgment means determines to print multiple price data, a display means for displaying a message indicating that the price is the regular price near the list price data (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-016414 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When marking down products, store staff at a retail store such as a supermarket visually check the expiration date of each product and issue and attach mark-down labels to products that are close to their expiration date as determined by the store's rules (mark-down work). Mark-downs may be carried out several times a day, so the work required for mark-down work is significant. In addition, mark-down work is often carried out in the evening or at night, placing a heavy burden on store staff. On the other hand, if markdowns are not implemented, the reduced prices will not be communicated to consumers, and products close to their expiration date will remain unsold, ultimately leading to food waste. For this reason, the current situation is that stores cannot eliminate markdowns.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE An object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of operations when changing product prices in a store. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is an information processing system that includes a display device located in a store that handles products, and a server capable of communicating with the display device, wherein the product is accompanied by one of a plurality of different discount instruction information, and the server has an instruction information determination unit that determines one or more discount instruction information from the plurality of different discount instruction information that is accompanied by the product to be discounted relative to a base price of the product, and a display control unit that causes the one or more discount instruction information determined by the instruction information determination unit to be displayed on the display device. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to improve the efficiency of operations when changing product prices in a store. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a system configuration of a price display system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of screen transition of a store application of a user terminal. [Diagram 3] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of screen transition of a store application of a user terminal. [Figure 4] 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of each device in the price quote system of the first embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a user database. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a purchase record database. [Figure 7] 4 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the price display system of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 4 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the price display system of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of a store application on a user terminal in the price presentation system of the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a user database according to the second embodiment; [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the mechanism of a price presentation system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 12] 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a label issued in the price display system of the third embodiment. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of a store application on a user terminal in a modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 14] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating an example of screen transition of a store application of a user terminal in a modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 15] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating an example of screen transition of a store application of a user terminal in a modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of a store application on a user terminal in a modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 17] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating an example of screen transition of a store application of a user terminal in a modified example of an embodiment. [Figure 18] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating an example of screen transition of a store application of a user terminal in a modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 19] 10 is a sequence chart showing the operation of a price presentation system according to a modified example of an embodiment. [Figure 20] 13 shows an example of screen transition of a store application of a user terminal in a modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 21]FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a user database according to a modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration of an allergen database according to a modified example of an embodiment. [Diagram 23] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a system configuration of a price presentation system according to a modified example of an embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of how Markdown codes are displayed in a price presentation system according to a modified example of an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] In this disclosure, "product information" of a product is information that identifies the product. For example, a product name, a product code, a product ID, a product model, etc. are examples of product information. A product ID is identification information that identifies a product. In this disclosure, the "expiration date information" of a product is information about an expiration date that indicates whether the product can be used, enjoyed, or consumed by a user. Examples of expiration dates include a use-by date, a best-before date, a best-by date, a quality assurance date, etc. In this disclosure, the "base price" of a product means the base price of the product before a price change such as a price reduction is made in a store. In the following description, the regular price is an example of the base price.

[0010] In the present disclosure, the method of acquiring product information and expiration date information from a product is not limited, and various methods can be adopted. For example, if code information corresponding to product information and expiry date information is displayed on a product, the product information and expiry date information can be obtained by reading the code information. Also, if text information (human-readable characters) corresponding to product information and expiry date information is displayed on a product, an image including the text information can be captured and the text information can be obtained from the image using image recognition technology. Here, examples of the manner in which code information or text information is displayed on a product include a manner in which the code information or text information is printed on the exterior of the product, and a manner in which a printing medium such as a label on which the code information or text information is printed is attached to the product itself or to the exterior of the product. The code information may be a one-dimensional code (barcode) or a two-dimensional code. In the following, an example will be described in which product information and expiry date information are obtained by reading a barcode displayed on a product.

[0011] (1) First embodiment A price presentation system, which is an example of an information processing system, will be described below. The price presentation system is configured to present the price (offered price) of an item to a user on a user terminal carried by the user of the store. A store application capable of communicating with the application server is implemented on the user terminal. The store application acquires product information, such as the product ID, and expiration date information, such as the expiration date, from the code information displayed on the product, and notifies the application server. The application server determines the price to offer the product to the user based on the information acquired from the store application, and notifies the store application. The store application presents the offered price to the user by displaying the product price notified by the application server on the display unit of the user terminal. In this system, the price offered to the user is determined by the application server, taking into account the expiration date of the product, etc., and is presented to the user. This frees store staff from the task of marking down products, making it possible to improve the efficiency of store operations.

[0012] (1-1) System Configuration The system configuration of a price presentation system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in Fig. 1, the price presentation system 1 of this embodiment includes a user terminal 3 carried by a user CT who shops at a store, an application server 5, and a payment agent server 7, and is configured to be able to present the prices of products in the store to the user CT. In the example of this embodiment, the store is a retail business such as a supermarket that handles products such as food products with expiration dates. A store application for presenting the prices of products in a store to the user CT when shopping in the store is installed in the user terminal 3. The user terminal 3 is capable of communicating with the application server 5 via a network NW. The network NW is, for example, the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), etc.

[0013] The application server 5 is configured to perform a predetermined process in response to an inquiry or request from the store application and return the process result to the store application. The predetermined process is, for example, a process of determining a discounted price (an example of an offered price) to be offered to a user based on product information and expiration date information such as an expiration date acquired from a product by the store application.

[0014] The payment agent server 7 can communicate with the application server 5 via the network NW, and provides a service of acting as an agent for payment of products in a store for the user CT. If the user CT does not pay for products via a store application, the payment agent server 7 is not necessary in the price presentation system 1 of this embodiment.

[0015] (1-2) How to use the store application Next, a method of using the store application of the user terminal 3 will be described with reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are diagrams showing an example of screen transitions of the store application of the user terminal 3. By executing the store application, the user can check the regular price and discounted price of each product in the store and make payment for the product he or she has selected. Screens G1 to G3 in Fig. 2 show how to use the store application when the user checks the price of a product and adds the product to the shopping list (basket).

[0016] When a user starts the store application on the user terminal 3, as shown in screen G1 of FIG. 2, the imaging function of the user terminal 3 is linked and the captured image is displayed in the window w1. In screen G1, the window w1 contains an image of the product P in which the user picks up the product P from a shelf in the store and the code information C1 displayed on the product P is visible. By displaying the code information C1 of the product P in the window w1 (i.e., the user performs a scan operation), the store application reads (scans) the code information C1. When multiple pieces of code information are displayed in the window w1, it is preferable that the imaging function of the user terminal 3 includes a function of displaying a scan area 100 in the window w1 so that the target code information can be reliably read. In that case, only the code information C1 displayed in the scan area 100 among the multiple pieces of code information in the window w1 is read.

[0017] For example, the code information C1 includes the product ID (an example of product information) and expiration date information (expiration date information; an example of expiration date information) of the corresponding product P. As long as the product ID and expiration date information are included, the code format of the code information C1 is not important, but if it is a barcode (one-dimensional code), for example, CODE128 such as GS1-128 can be adopted. CODE128 can convert all 128 ASCII code characters into a barcode, so it can be configured to include the product ID and expiration date information.

[0018] In order to affix a label including GS1-128 to each product in the store, the labels may be affixed automatically in bulk using an affixing robot or the like at a logistics center, or a weighing label including GS1-128 may be affixed when preparing prepared foods in the store. This allows a label with GS1-128 printed on it, including expiration date information, to be affixed even to products that have a code (e.g., JAN13, etc.) printed on them that does not include expiration date information.

[0019] When the store application reads the code information C1, it sends an inquiry to the application server 5 about the discounted price of the product P to the user, including the product ID and expiration date information included in the code information C1, and obtains and displays information on the regular price and discounted price of the product P from the application server 5. The window w2 of the screen G2 displayed following the screen G1 includes information on the product name ("Yogurt B 500ml") corresponding to the product ID, the regular price ("300 yen"), the discounted price ("250 yen"), and the expiration date ("September 13, 2020"). If the product P from which the code information C1 was read is not a product subject to discount, it may display that the product is not subject to discount, or may display the date on which the product is scheduled to be discounted. The window w2 may include information on the discounted price and the discount rate (or fluctuation rate) from the regular price. By displaying information on the regular price and discount rate in addition to the discounted price, it is easier to appeal to the user about the discount of the product. The store application may not only display the discounted price on the screen, but also notify the user by displaying a video or outputting an audio signal. Information such as the discounted price and discount rate for the discounted product may be displayed using, for example, Augmented Reality (AR). For example, the discounted price and discount rate information may be displayed using AR, superimposed on the image of the product displayed on screen G2. By displaying the discounted price and discount rate information using AR, the discount can be more effectively promoted to the user. If there is a product in the store with a closer expiration date than the product scanned by the user, the store application may display information about the product, such as the discounted price of the product (i.e., a discounted price even lower than the product scanned), the location of the product (e.g., the location on the shelf), and the number of products in stock. The store application may also display the discounted price for the purchase of multiple units (e.g., two units) of a product (such as milk) with a close expiration date, or the discounted price for the purchase of a combination of different products with close expiration dates. This can provide an opportunity for the user to purchase products.

[0020] The discounted price displayed in the window w2 reflects the expiration date included in the code information C1 every time the code information C1 of the product P is read. This relieves the store staff from the task of marking down the prices of each product in the store.

[0021] The user can view the information contained in window w2 and choose whether or not to add product P to their wish-to-buy list (basket). When adding product P to their wish-to-buy list, the user operates button b1 ("Add to basket"; an example of a first operation unit) displayed on screen G2, which causes screen G3 to be displayed and notifying the user that product P has been added to their wish-to-buy list (window w3). In this case, the user places product P, which he or she has picked up, into the actual basket or shopping cart at the store.

[0022] Screens G4 to G6 in FIG. 3 show how the store application is used when the user checks the purchase list and makes payment for the products. After the user checks the discounted price of an item and adds it to their wish list (i.e., after repeatedly displaying screens G1 to G3), if they wish to make payment, they operate button b2 ("View basket") on screen G4 to display screen G5, which contains the wish list BL. The wish list BL contains a list of items added up to that point (such as the name, quantity, and price of each item) and the total price. The price of an item displayed on the wish list BL is the discounted price if the item is a discounted item, and is the regular price if the item is not a discounted item. Although not shown, when the user cancels the purchase of a particular product from the wish to purchase list BL because it is over budget, for example, the user can perform an operation to delete the product from the wish to purchase list BL. In that case, the user returns the product that the user has canceled from the store's basket or shopping cart back to the store's shelves.

[0023] When the wish to purchase list BL is finalized on screen G5, the user operates button b3 (payment button; an example of a second operation unit) and the store application makes a payment request (or payment instruction) to the application server 5, and the payment process is completed over the network as described below. When the payment process is completed, the store application displays screen G6 including code information C2 as a paid code. The paid code indicates that payment for the product has been completed, and includes a payment ID (described below) that identifies the payment. Here, a two-dimensional code is shown as an example of the paid code, but it may also be a barcode, etc.

[0024] The payment completion code is used to notify the store or store staff that payment for the items in the basket has been completed. For example, the store may be configured so that the user can leave by showing the payment completion code to the store staff, or the store may be configured so that the gate opens so that the user can leave by having a specified device in the store read the payment completion code. In this case, the user does not have to wait in line at the cash register, and the store's cashier staff does not have to pay for the product, which is advantageous for both the user and the store. It may be configured so that the store's cashier can read the payment completion code with a scanner or the like and then the customer can pass through the register. Even in this case, the store's cashier does not need to read the code information of each item in the basket, and the customer can pass through the register in a short time, which is advantageous for both the customer and the store.

[0025] (1-3) Configuration of each device in the system Next, the configuration of each device in the price quote system 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a block diagram including the internal configuration of the user terminal 3 and application server 5 in the price quote system 1 of this embodiment.

[0026] (1-3-1) User terminal 3 4, the user terminal 3 includes a control unit 31, a storage 32, an operation input unit 33, a display unit 34, an imaging unit 35, a code reader 36, and a communication unit 37. The user terminal 3 may be a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a smart watch, or another wearable device. The control unit 31 is mainly configured with a microprocessor, and controls the entire user terminal 3. For example, the microprocessor included in the control unit 31 loads and executes a store application program recorded in the storage 32, and displays the execution result on the display unit 34. The storage 32 is a non-volatile memory and may be, for example, a solid state drive (SSD) such as a flash memory. The storage 32 stores store application programs as well as data, files, and the like created by executing the store applications.

[0027] By executing the store application, the control unit 31 realizes the following functions. (1-i) A function for obtaining product information and expiration date information of a product from, for example, code information displayed on the product (1-ii) A function of sending a price inquiry to the application server 5 regarding information on discounted prices of products for users (i.e., requesting information on discounted prices of products) (1-iii) A function as a display control unit that receives (acquires) information on discounted prices of products from the application server 5 and displays the acquired information on discounted prices of products on the display unit 34 The display control unit has a function of displaying not only discounted price information but also various other information on the display unit 34 by executing the store application. The control unit 31 may have a function of outputting the discounted price of the product by voice instead of, or in addition to, displaying the discounted price information of the product on the display unit 34. In this case, the user terminal 3 has a voice processing unit and a speaker.

[0028] The operation input unit 33 is, for example, a touch panel type input device provided on a display panel of the user terminal 3. The operation input unit 33 notifies the store application of an operation input to the display panel. The display unit 34 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL panel, and displays the execution results of the store application. The display unit 34 also displays the digital image signal generated by the imaging unit 35. The imaging unit 35 has, for example, an optical lens and an imaging element (image sensor) that converts incident light from the optical lens into an electrical signal, and sequentially generates digital images and outputs them to the display unit 34.

[0029] The code reader 36 analyzes the code information and the like included in the image signal generated by the imaging unit 35, and extracts (acquires) data (that is, product information such as a product ID and expiration date information) from the code information, for example. The communication unit 37 is a communication interface for communicating with the application server 5 .

[0030] (1-3-2) Application Server 5 As shown in FIG. 4, the application server 5 includes a control unit 51, a storage 52, and a communication unit 53. The control unit 51 is mainly configured with a microprocessor, and controls the entire application server 5. For example, the microprocessor included in the control unit 51 loads a server program recorded in the storage 52 and executes it. Storage 52 is a large-capacity storage device such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores a user database (user DB) and a purchase history database (purchase history DB) in addition to the server program. The user database and purchase history database are accessed by control unit 51 as appropriate when the server program is executed. The user database and purchase history database will be described later with examples. Although not shown, storage 52 stores data on the regular price of each product sold in the store (i.e., data on the regular price corresponding to each product ID). The regular price data is referred to by control unit 51 when determining a discount price. The communication unit 53 is a communication interface for communicating between the user terminal 3 and the payment agent server 7.

[0031] FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration of a user database. Each record in the user database illustrated in FIG. 5 contains values ​​in the fields of "User ID," "User Name," and "Payment Method." Here, the value in the "User ID" field is identification information assigned to the user. The value in the "User Name" field is obtained based on the user's operational input when the user installs the store application on the user terminal 3, and is recorded in the user database. The value in the "Payment Method" field is obtained based on the user's operational input when the user installs the store application on the user terminal 3, or at any time after installation, and is recorded or updated in the user database. The value of the "payment method" field is data required to settle the payment for the product to the user, such as credit card number information and / or information related to electronic money (prepaid number, etc.). The value of the "payment method" field is provided to the payment agent server 7 when the user corresponding to the user ID makes a payment.

[0032] FIG. 6 shows an example of the configuration of the purchase history database. Each record in the purchase history database illustrated in Fig. 6 contains values ​​for the fields "User ID", "Payment ID", "Payment date and time", and "Purchase details". Here, the value of the "Payment ID" field is data that is uniquely assigned to each individual payment of the corresponding user. The value of the "Payment date and time" field indicates the date and time when the payment specified by the payment ID occurred. The “Purchase Details” field includes the subfields “Product ID”, “Product Name”, “Price”, and “Quantity”. The value of each subfield indicates the detailed data of the purchase details that are the subject of the payment specified by the payment ID. The store's POS (not shown) can read data from the purchase history database to compile sales data for purchases made using the store application and sales data for purchases made without using the store application.

[0033] By executing the server program, the control unit 51 realizes the functions of a price determination unit 511, a price information providing unit 512, and a payment processing unit 513. The price determination unit 511 is a function for determining a discounted price by changing the normal price of a product based on at least one of the product ID and expiration date information acquired by the store application of the user terminal 3. For example, in order to eliminate unsold products, the discounted price is set lower the closer the product is to its expiration date. Some products may be discounted regardless of their expiration date, in which case the discounted price is determined based only on the product ID. The price determination unit 511 preferably calculates the price using a predetermined algorithm. The calculation of the discounted price of the product using the algorithm is performed taking into consideration various information such as the expiration date of the product as well as the climate, location, inventory status, and past sales history. Such an algorithm may also utilize artificial intelligence.

[0034] The decision on the discount price of a product can be made from various perspectives. For example, the price determination unit 511 may determine the discounted price of the product based on at least one of the product ID, the expiration date information, and the information on the user. This allows the discounted price to be flexibly determined according to the attributes of the user. Here, the information about the user is, for example, information such as the user's age, sex, address, etc. The store application acquires the information about the user through, for example, an input operation by the user, and transmits the acquired information about the user to the application server 5. The application server 5 records the received information about the user in, for example, a user database. For example, if the age of the user indicated by the information about the user is within the target age range of the product, a larger discount may be given than for users whose age is not within the target age range of the product. If the gender of the user indicated by the information about the user is male, a larger discount may be given on products for men than for female users.

[0035] The price determination unit 511 may determine the discounted price of the product based on the product ID and the closing time of the store selling the product. This can increase the possibility of selling out the product before the store closes. For example, the discounted price of a specific product may be lowered as the closing time of the store approaches. The specific product is a product that the store wants to sell out on the same day, such as a bento box or a side dish. The price determination unit 511 may determine the discount price based on the product ID, the time when the price inquiry was received from the store application (i.e., the time when the user performed the product scan operation), the store's closing time, and the remaining quantity of the product corresponding to the product ID in the store. This can further increase the possibility of selling out the product before the store closes. For example, the shorter the time between the time when the price inquiry was received and the store's closing time, the lower the discount price, and the larger the remaining quantity of the product, the larger the discount amount. Depending on the product, the relationship between the time when the price inquiry was received and the store's closing time and the discount amount, or the relationship between the remaining quantity of the product and the discount amount, may be changed. For products that are desired to be sold out at all costs, it is preferable to make the discount amount larger.

[0036] The price information providing unit 512 is a function for providing information including the discounted price of the product determined by the price determining unit 511 to the user terminal 3. The price information providing unit 512 provides information including the discounted price of the product, for example, to a store application of the user terminal 3. For example, information included in the screens G2 and G3 in FIG. 2 is provided by the price information providing unit 512.

[0037] The payment processing unit 513 has a function of working with the payment agency server 7 to process payments added to the wish list in response to an instruction to operate the payment button (i.e., a payment request) obtained from the user terminal 3. The payment processing unit 513 reads out data on the user name and payment method from the user database, and provides the data to the payment agency server 7. The payment processing unit 513 also creates a new record in the purchase history database when a payment request is received from the store application.

[0038] (1-4) Operation of price quote system 1 Next, the operation of the price presentation system 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7 and Fig. 8. Fig. 7 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the price presentation system 1 when a user checks the price of a product and adds the product to a wish list. Fig. 8 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the price presentation system 1 when a user pays for a product.

[0039] 7, for example, as shown in screen G1 of Fig. 2, when a user picks up a product from a shelf in a store and displays the product's code information on the user terminal 3, the store application reads (scans) the code information (step S2). This code information includes, for example, the product ID and expiration date information of the product.

[0040] After acquiring the product ID and expiration date information from the product, the store application sends a price inquiry including the product ID and expiration date information to the application server 5 (step S4). If the product corresponding to the product ID included in the received price inquiry is subject to a price reduction (step S6: YES), the application server 5 calculates a reduced price by changing the normal price of the product based on at least one of the product ID and expiration date information included in the price inquiry (step S8). If the product corresponding to the product ID included in the price inquiry is not subject to price reduction, the reduced price is not calculated (step S6: NO). Next, the application server 5 returns price data etc. to the store application in association with the product ID (step S10). The price data for products subject to price reduction includes data on normal prices and reduced prices etc. The price data for products not subject to price reduction includes data on normal prices.

[0041] When the price data is received, the store application displays the regular price, discounted price, expiration date information, and the like of the product on the user terminal 3, for example, as shown on screen G2 in FIG. 2 (step S12). For example, when the button b1 ("Add to Cart") is operated on screen G2 in FIG. 2 (step S14: YES), the store application updates the wish list so as to add the product displayed in step S12 to the wish list (step S16).

[0042] 8, for example, as shown on screen G5 in FIG. 3, when the user operates the payment button (step S20: YES), the store application sends a payment request including the displayed shopping wish list to the application server 5 (step S22). When the application server 5 receives the payment request from the store application, it reads the user name and payment method data from the user database, and sends a payment request including the read user name and payment method data and the payment amount (total amount of the shopping wish list) data to the payment agent server 7 (step S24). The payment agent server 7 performs payment processing based on the data provided by the application server 5 (step S26), and when the payment processing is completed, it sends a payment completion notification to the application server 5 (step S28). When the payment is completed, the application server 5 issues a new payment ID (step S30), and updates the purchase history database by creating a new record in the purchase history database (step S32).

[0043] Next, the application server 5 sends a payment completion notification corresponding to the payment request of step S22 to the store application (step S34). This payment completion notification includes the payment ID issued in step S30. The store application creates a payment completion code, which is a two-dimensional code including the payment ID included in the received payment completion notification (step S36), and displays it on the user terminal 3, for example, as shown on screen G6 in FIG. 3 (step S38).

[0044] As described above, according to the price presentation system 1 of this embodiment, a user in a store can recognize the discounted price of a product by using the user terminal 3. That is, the store application of the user terminal 3 acquires the product ID and expiration date information, etc. from the product code information and transmits them to the application server 5. The application server 5 determines the discounted price based on the received product ID, expiration date information, etc., and returns the discounted price information to the store application. The store application displays the discounted price information received from the application server 5. Therefore, the price presentation system 1 of this embodiment can provide the following effects.

[0045] (i) Because store staff no longer need to perform the task of marking down products by attaching labels with discounted prices to them as the expiration date approaches, stores can achieve significant reductions in labor and personnel costs. In other words, it becomes possible to improve the efficiency of store operations. In addition, if code information (e.g., GS1-128) containing expiration date information is not attached to the product, code information containing expiration date information can be attached by bulk labeling at a logistics center or by weighing labeling in the store. (ii) Since the application server 5 can optimally determine the discount price of the product, it is possible to effectively prevent unsold products and waste of products. (iii) Since markdown operations at stores can be eliminated and the number of cashiers can be reduced by going cashless, the reduction in labor costs at stores can be passed on to customers who use the store application in the form of discounts on products. (iv) Using the store application, customers can scan products themselves and even pay for them, significantly reducing the number of times customers have to wait at the register. In addition, because there are fewer opportunities for customers to pass through the register, it is possible to significantly reduce the number of opportunities for people to come into contact with each other in the store. (v) Since the time customers spend waiting at the cash register at a store can be significantly reduced, it is expected that customer satisfaction with the store will improve and customers will visit the store more frequently. (vi) In the present embodiment, a method of reading code information has been exemplified as a method of acquiring product ID and expiration date information from a product. However, this method is less expensive than a method of acquiring the product ID and expiration date information using wireless communication such as RFID or a method of acquiring the product ID and expiration date information using image recognition technology. (vii) It is possible to give a larger discount on products to users who use the store application than to users who do not use the store application. This flexibility in setting discounts cannot be realized by conventional discount display methods that use, for example, electronic shelf labels.

[0046] (2) Second embodiment Next, a price presentation system according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. Note that the following description of each embodiment will focus on the differences from the first embodiment. The price presentation system of this embodiment differs from the price presentation system 1 of the first embodiment in that the discounted price presented to the user may differ depending on the user status (an example of a category). The user status can be set from various perspectives. For example, the user status can be determined based on the user's product purchase history, the user's attributes (age, sex, whether or not the user requires care, etc.), the user's history of soliciting other users, etc. In this embodiment, the control unit 51 of the application server 5 functions as an association unit that associates a user with one of a plurality of user statuses. The price determination unit 511 (see FIG. 4) determines a discount price for the product based on the user status associated by the association unit.

[0047] For example, assume that user status is classified into platinum, gold, and silver (assuming that the status is the best customer in that order). In this case, Fig. 9 shows examples of discounted prices presented to a user when the user status is gold (screen G7) and when the user status is platinum (screen G8). Screens G7 and G8 each correspond to screen G2 in Fig. 2. In the example of Figure 9, the discounted price for Platinum members ("180 yen") included in window w2b of screen G8 is lower than the discounted price for Gold members ("200 yen") included in window w2a of screen G7, indicating that Platinum members are given preferential treatment.

[0048] An example of the user database of this embodiment is shown in FIG. The user database in Fig. 10 differs from the user database in the first embodiment (see Fig. 5) in that a value in a "user status" field is added to each record. The value in the "user status" field is data indicating, for example, platinum, gold, silver, etc. For example, when determining the user status based on the user's product purchase history, the control unit 51 of the application server 5 refers to the purchase history database (see FIG. 6). The total amount of each user's purchase history is calculated based on the purchase history database, and the calculated total amount is compared with a threshold value corresponding to each user status, thereby determining the user status for each user. In the price presentation system of this embodiment, the application server 5 determines the discounted price according to the user status. For example, when the discounted price calculated by the price determination unit 511 in the application server 5 of the first embodiment is the price for a silver member, the discounted prices for gold members and platinum members can be reduced by a predetermined amount or a predetermined ratio from the discounted price for a silver member.

[0049] According to the price presentation system of this embodiment, it is possible to flexibly set discounted prices offered to users according to their user status. In particular, when the user status is determined and updated according to the user's product purchase history, it is possible to encourage users to purchase products at the store. In addition, it is possible to attract good customers by giving preferential treatment to users with higher user status.

[0050] (3) Third embodiment Next, a price presentation system according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The price presentation system of the first and second embodiments is configured so that the user can recognize the discounted price by reading the code information of the product by himself / herself. However, if there is a mechanism that allows the user to recognize in advance which products in the store are subject to discounts, it is convenient for the user because the user does not need to blindly read the code information, but only needs to read the code information of the products subject to discounts. From this perspective, in this embodiment, the store staff issues a label (label with markdown code) on which a markdown code indicating whether or not the product is subject to discount is printed and affixes the label to the product. The user can recognize that the product is subject to discounts based on the markdown code on the label affixed to the product, and then read the product's code information printed on the label.

[0051] The price presentation system of this embodiment includes a printer that prints different markdown codes on labels to be affixed to at least two products having different expiration dates. In the price presentation system of this embodiment, the application server 5 transmits an instruction signal to the printer to print multiple labels with markdown codes, as shown in Fig. 11. The printer prints and issues multiple labels with markdown codes based on the instruction signal.

[0052] FIG. 11 shows an example of setting the markdown code to be printed on the label ("Label issuing example") and an example of setting the markdown code for products subject to price reduction in the store ("Price reduction implementation example"), and these examples are described below. A plurality of markdown codes are provided according to the period (for example, the number of days) until the expiration date of the product. For example, FIG. 11 shows an example in which 10 types of markdown codes A to J are assigned to products whose expiration date falls between today and nine days from now on May 19, 2020 (i.e., an example in which 10 labels with markdown codes are printed and issued). In other words, on May 19, 2020, labels are issued in bulk for products whose expiration date falls between today and nine days from now and are affixed to the products. Note that in this example, once a label has been affixed to products whose expiration date is nine days from now, there is no need to issue another label such as a markdown label. In this case, an example of a label PL issued for a product P whose expiration date is May 20, 2020 is shown in Figure 12. Figure 12 shows an example of a measurement label PL affixed to a product P, with the mark-down code: "B" printed in the mark-down code display section 103 of the label PL.

[0053] 11, the markdown code of a product subject to price reduction changes, for example, as the actual date passes, and is notified to the user at the storefront, in the store, or through a store application. The markdown code of a product subject to price reduction on that day may be written by store staff by hand on a board at the storefront or in the store, or may be displayed on an electronic shelf tag. The markdown code for the product subject to the price reduction on that day may be displayed when the store application is started. In that case, the store application receives the markdown code for that day from the application server 5 when started and displays it. In the example of FIG. 11, on May 19, 2020, the products in the store that are subject to price reduction are products with labels printed with "A" or "B" as the markdown code. On the following day, May 20, 2020, the products in the store that are subject to price reduction are products with labels printed with "B" or "C" as the markdown code. The same is true from May 21, 2020 to May 28, 2020. That is, in the example of price reduction operation shown in FIG. 11, products whose expiration date is due on the same day or the following day are set as products subject to price reduction.

[0054] For example, a user who visits a store on May 25, 2020 is notified that the markdown code for that day is "G" or "H" at the storefront, in the store, or through a store application. The user can then see that the products in the store with a label with "G" or "H" printed as the markdown code are the products subject to price reduction that day. Therefore, the user only needs to perform an operation (scanning operation) to read only the code information of the products in the store that are subject to price reduction, improving user convenience. In addition, setting a markdown code can provide an opportunity for the user to proactively perform a scan operation on the products in the store. In other words, the user can recognize the discounted price of the product according to the expiration date, etc., by reading the code information of the product subject to price reduction that has a label with a markdown code printed on it, using the user terminal 3, as in the first and second embodiments. On the other hand, once a label has been affixed to an item, store staff are no longer required to affix a markdown label to the item, which makes it possible to improve the efficiency of store operations, as in the first and second embodiments.

[0055] In addition, although there are ten types of Markdown codes in Fig. 11, the number is not limited to ten and can be determined appropriately depending on the operation of the store. In Fig. 11, different markdown codes are assigned to different expiration dates, but this is not limited to the above. The same markdown code may be assigned to different expiration dates. For example, in the example of Fig. 11, the markdown code assigned to May 19th to May 21st may be "A", the markdown code assigned to May 22nd to May 24th may be "B", and so on. The markdown code is an example of the discount instruction information. The discount instruction information is not limited to letters such as "A" to "J" and may be a symbol, code, mark, symbol, design, or the like.

[0056] The markdown code may be switched not only on a daily basis but also on an hourly basis. For example, for products that are manufactured multiple times a day, such as prepared foods and bento lunches, the markdown code may be switched multiple times in a day. For example, when products are manufactured three times a day at 8:00, 12:00, and 16:00, the markdown codes printed on the labels affixed to the products may be "A", "B", and "C", and the expiration date of the product manufactured at 8:00 is 16:00 on the same day, and the expiration date of the product manufactured at 12:00 is 20:00 on the same day. In that case, for example, the markdown code of the product to be discounted may be "A" between 12:00 and 16:00, and the markdown code of the product to be discounted may be "B" between 16:00 and 20:00. By switching the markdown code on an hourly basis in this way, store employees do not need to frequently attach markdown labels to products with short expiration dates, and the efficiency of work can be significantly improved.

[0057] (4) Modifications of the embodiment Next, a price presentation system according to a modified example of the embodiment will be described.

[0058] (4-1) First Modification The first modified example will be described below. In the first and second embodiments, the application server 5 determines the discount price of the product. However, the price determination unit 511 of the application server 5 may determine the start time of the discount price. Information indicating the start time of the determined discount price is transmitted from the application server 5 to the store application and displayed on the display unit 34 of the user terminal 3. In other words, the control unit 31 of the user terminal 3 may function as a display control unit that causes the display unit 34 to display information indicating the start time of the discount price of the product.

[0059] In this modified example, the price determination unit 511 of the application server 5 determines the start time of the discount on the product based on the closing time of the store selling the product and the remaining quantity of the product. For example, the start time of the discount on the product may be a predetermined time before the store's closing time. In this case, it is preferable to make the predetermined time longer the greater the remaining quantity (unsold quantity) of the product. In other words, if there is a large remaining quantity of the product, the start time can be made earlier to increase the possibility that the product can be sold out by the closing time.

[0060] Also, in the second embodiment, the start time of the discount on a certain product may be earlier for users with a higher user status than for users with a lower user status. For example, the start time of the discount may be changed as follows: Platinum members: today at 3 p.m., Gold members: today at 4 p.m., Silver members: today at 5 p.m. The timing at which the store application notifies the user of the start time of the discount is, for example, the time when screen G7 or screen G8 in FIG. 9 is displayed, but is not limited to this. For example, when the store notifies users (members) of discounted products, etc., the user may be notified in advance of the discount price and the start time of the discount for each customer status. It is also possible to display the start time of the discounted price for each user status, regardless of the user status of the user. This allows users with relatively higher user status to feel a sense of superiority that they will be offered a discounted price earlier than others, which motivates them to return to the store. On the other hand, it has the advantage for the store that it can attract users with higher user status. The time period for which the discounted price is offered may be varied depending on the user status. For example, Platinum members: 3 hours, Gold members: 2 hours, Silver members: 1 hour, etc. In this way, users with higher user status can be given preferential treatment over users with lower user status.

[0061] (4-2) Second Modification Next, a second modified example will be described with reference to FIGS. In this modified example, when a discounted price of a product is presented to a user, related information of the product is also displayed. Screen G9 shown in FIG. 13 is a screen on which the store application displays the discounted price to the user on the user terminal 3, similar to screen G2 in FIG. 2. In addition to the product name, regular price, discounted price, and expiration date, link information 104 showing the place of origin and producer information of the product is displayed as related information of the product in the window w9 of screen G9. In this example, the user can operate link information 104 to display a web page including the product's place of origin and producer information. Therefore, the user can check the safety of the product before adding it to his / her shopping list.

[0062] A screen G10 illustrated in FIG. 14 is a screen where a store application displays a discounted price to a user, similar to the screen G2 in FIG. 2. In addition to the product name, normal price, discounted price, and expiration date, a window w10 of the screen G10 displays a menu list ML of dishes using the product as related information of the product. The menu list ML may be provided with a scroll bar 101 to display many menus. Since the menu list ML is displayed, the user can consider how to use the target product. Therefore, the user can obtain useful information in a timely manner to decide whether or not to include the product displayed in the window w10 in the shopping list (basket), which leads to improved customer satisfaction and increased willingness to visit the store again.

[0063] When an operation is performed to select one dish from among a plurality of dishes in the menu list ML of the window w10 ("Stir-fried pork with green peppers" in the example of FIG. 14), a screen G11 is displayed on the user terminal 3. A list of ingredients required to prepare the selected dish is displayed in window w11 of screen G11. At this time, if the required ingredients include items that are subject to a price reduction, information indicating that the items are subject to a price reduction (the character string "Price Reduction" in the example of screen G11 in FIG. 14) may be displayed. This allows the store to induce the user to purchase additional items. It is also advantageous for the user to know which dishes in the menu list ML can be prepared with inexpensive ingredients. When displaying screen G11, the store application may inquire of the application server 5 as to whether or not each ingredient is a product subject to a price reduction.

[0064] (4-3) Third Modification Next, a third modified example will be described with reference to FIG. In this modification, the store application has a function of managing the user's home inventory. In this modification, for example, the storage 32 of the user terminal 3 stores a home inventory database of products. Each time a payment for a product in the purchase wish list is completed, the store application adds data of each product included in the purchase wish list to the home inventory database. When a product is consumed or discarded by the user, the store application deletes the selected product from the home inventory database based on, for example, an operation by the user. In this modified example, the user's home inventory database may be stored on the application server 5 side, for example.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 15, an example of how to use the store application when managing home inventory is shown. In this modification, as shown on screen G12 in FIG. 15, a button b4 ("Home Stock") is added to the store application. When button b4 is operated, a screen G13 including a home inventory list HL is displayed. The home inventory list HL is a list of products reflecting the home inventory database. If the products included in the home inventory list HL cannot be displayed on one screen, all products can be viewed using scroll bar 102. When a user consumes or discards a product at home, the user can delete the corresponding product from the home inventory list HL (i.e., delete it from the home inventory database) by operating button b5 ("Delete") or the like.

[0066] According to this modification, the number and quantity of products with expiration dates at the user's home can be visualized, which can contribute to reducing food waste at home, for example. In addition, the data obtained by the user scanning the products at the store is reflected in the home inventory database, so there is virtually no need to work on creating a home inventory database.

[0067] If a household accounting management application is installed on the user terminal 3, the store application may be linked to the household accounting management application. In this case, the store application provides data of each product included in the wish to buy list to the household accounting management application each time payment for the product in the wish to buy list is completed. Since the data of each product included in the wish to buy list includes data on the price at the time of purchase, the household accounting management application can manage household finances based on the data of each product provided by the store application. This also saves the user the trouble of inputting data on purchased products and their prices into the household accounting management application.

[0068] (4-4) Fourth Modification Next, a fourth modified example will be described. The price presentation system 1 of the first embodiment is a mechanism by which a user scans an item in a store, places the item in a basket or shopping cart, and completes payment for the item in a cashless manner. However, this mechanism also allows a user to place the item in, for example, their own bag without scanning the item and leave the store. An additional mechanism for preventing such shoplifting will be described as a fourth modified example.

[0069] In this modification, one or more surveillance cameras are installed in a store. Each surveillance camera sequentially captures images of fixed points in the store and transmits them to a computer device connected to each surveillance camera. The computer device is configured to perform image analysis using artificial intelligence and detect suspicious behavior of users.

[0070] The computer device can detect suspicious behavior of users from the images, but cannot identify the users who have engaged in suspicious behavior. Therefore, a wireless tag that periodically transmits a beacon signal is attached to each shopping cart in the store, and a receiver that receives the beacon signal is installed, for example, on the ceiling of the store. The communication protocol between the wireless tag and the receiver is not limited, but for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (BLE) can be used. The receiver calculates the arrival angle of the beacon signal and notifies the computer device of the arrival angle data. The computer device identifies the position (coordinates) of each shopping cart in the store in real time based on the received arrival angle data.

[0071] The computer device can identify the user who engaged in suspicious behavior by comparing the detection results of the user's suspicious behavior (time, fixed point coordinates) with the location information of each shopping cart according to the time within the store. When a user who engaged in suspicious behavior is identified, the computer device outputs an alert notification (visual output or audio output) so that the store staff can recognize it. When an alert notification is output, it is preferable to conduct a random check when customers leave the store in order to indirectly deter shoplifting. In a random check, for example, a store staff member visually checks the bag of one customer randomly selected out of 10 customers. By conducting a random check, it is expected that a customer who has shoplifted will voluntarily return unpaid items to the shelves before leaving the store.

[0072] (4-5) Fifth Modification Next, a fifth modified example will be described. In each of the above-described embodiments, the method of acquiring the product ID and expiration date information from the product is described as reading the code information of the product, but the present invention is not limited to this. Another method for acquiring the product ID and expiration date information from a product is to receive the product ID and expiration date information from a wireless tag attached to the product, shelf label, or exterior of the product, or from a wireless tag placed near the product. In this case, the communication method (e.g., communication protocol, frequency used, etc.) when receiving the information does not matter. Examples of communication methods include RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) such as NFC (Near field communication), Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc. For example, assume that an NFC tag recording the product ID and expiration date information of the product is attached to a product or shelf label, and an NFC reader is installed in the user terminal 3. In this case, when a user brings his / her user terminal 3 close to a product, the NFC reader of the user terminal 3 receives the product ID and expiration date information of the product from the product's NFC tag. The store application of the user terminal 3 transmits a price inquiry including the received product ID and expiration date information of the product to the application server 5. The application server 5 that receives the price inquiry determines a discounted price for the product, as in the above-mentioned embodiment, and returns information indicating the discounted price to the store application. For example, if an RFID tag, BLE tag, or the like is attached to a product or shelf tag, the store application of the user terminal 3 may obtain identification information for identifying the product from the product, make a price inquiry including expiration date information of the product to the application server 5, and display information indicating the discounted price. This eliminates the need to store expiration date information of products corresponding to RFID tags, BLE tags, or the like, and also enables the application server 5 to centrally manage expiration date information for each product.

[0073] The product ID of the product can also be identified from an image of the product's exterior. For example, if the user terminal 3 has an imaging unit, the store application transmits the image of the product acquired by the imaging unit to the application server 5. The application server 5 identifies the product ID of the product from the acquired image of the product. When identifying the product ID, artificial intelligence using a trained model can be used. In this case, the image of the product is an example of product information. At this time, the application server 5 can be configured to access a database in which product IDs and product expiration date information are associated with each other, and to acquire expiration date information corresponding to the identified product ID. A product ID and expiration date information of a product may be obtained by combining multiple pieces of information that can be obtained from the product. For example, the product ID and expiration date information of a product can be obtained by combining at least two or more pieces of information among code information, text information, information obtained from a wireless tag, and an image of the product's exterior, which are obtained from the product or shelf label.

[0074] (4-6) Sixth Modification Next, a sixth modified example will be described. The sixth modified example is an example in which after checking the price of a product using a store application, a user code issued by the store application and associated with the offered price of the product on the purchase wish list is used to make a payment at a regular register or a self-checkout in the store, while a seventh modified example, which will be described later, is an example in which only a price check is performed using the store application. In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which a user performs a scanning operation on an item using the user terminal 3 to make a payment (i.e., a self-payment), but this is not the only option. A user can also perform a scanning operation on an item using the user terminal 3 to check the price of the item, and then make a payment for the item using a regular register (manned register) or a self-payment register (unmanned register) in the store. A normal register refers to a register terminal where a store staff member reads the code information of the products a user wishes to purchase using a code reader, and the total amount of the products is settled in cash, credit card, etc. based on the operation of the store staff. A self-checkout refers to a register terminal where the user reads the code information of the products a user wishes to purchase using a code reader, or has it read by a batch reading device, and the total amount of the products is settled in cash, credit card, etc. based on the operation of the user, and basically refers to a register terminal where payment can be completed without the store staff member performing any operation.

[0075] Examples of store application screens on a user terminal in this modified example are shown in FIGS. Fig. 16 is an example of a screen displayed after starting a store application in this modified example. Screen G0 in Fig. 16 includes a button b11 for performing self-payment and a price checker button b12 for checking the price of a product. When a user operates button b11, the screen transitions to screen G1 in Fig. 2, and self-payment can be performed as described in the first and second embodiments. On the other hand, when the user operates the button b12 on the screen G0 in Fig. 16, the user can check the price of the product and obtain a user code required to purchase the product at that price at a regular register or a self-checkout. The user code may be a code associated with the user ID (see Fig. 6), or may be a code associated with a membership number assigned to the user on a store's point card, membership card, etc.

[0076] When the user operates the button b12 on screen G0, as shown in screens G21 and G22 of Fig. 17, the code information C1 is read (scanned) from the image of the product displayed in window w1, as in screens G1 and G2 of Fig. 2, allowing the user to display the discounted price and expiration date information for each user of the product as described above. In addition to the buttons b1 and b2 of screen G2 (see Fig. 2), screen G22 includes a button b13 for issuing a user code. When the button b13 is operated on the screen G22, the user code C3 is displayed as shown on a screen G23. The user code C3 is read by a code reader installed at a regular register or a self-checkout register. At a regular register, the user presents the user code C3 to a store clerk, who then uses a code reader to read only the user code C3, and the payment for the product is made at the discounted price displayed on screen G22. At this time, the register terminal queries the application server 5 based on the user code C3 read by the code reader, and obtains information on the discounted price offered to the user. The same is true for a self-checkout register, where the user, instead of the store clerk, reads only the user code C3 using a code reader connected to the self-checkout register.

[0077] When button b2 is operated on screen G22, for example, screen G5a in Fig. 18 is displayed. Screen G5a includes the same display content as screen G5 in Fig. 3, but differs in that it includes button b14 ("issue code") instead of button b3. When button b14 is operated, user code C3 is displayed as in screen G23 in Fig. 17. This user code is required when paying for items in a basket at a regular register or self-checkout.

[0078] This series of steps will be further described with reference to the sequence chart of FIG. When the button b14 (code issuance button) is operated on the screen G5a of FIG. 18 (step S50: YES), the store application of the user terminal 3 transmits a code issuance request to the application server 5 (step S52). The code issuance request includes the displayed purchase wish list. When the application server 5 receives the code issuance request from the store application, it issues a user code (step S54) and records the issued user code in association with the offered price of each product in the purchase wish list (offering price of the product list) included in the code issuance request of step S52 (step S56). Next, the application server 5 returns the user code issued in step S54 to the store application (step S58). The store application converts the user code into a two-dimensional code (step S60), and displays the user code C3 on the display unit 34 of the user terminal 3, as shown on screen G23 in FIG. 18 (step S62).

[0079] When a user carries an item to be purchased to, for example, a regular cash register and presents the user code displayed on the user terminal 3 to a store staff member, the store staff member reads the user code using a code reader connected to the cash register. The cash register then sends the read user code to the application server 5 to make an inquiry (step S64). The application server 5 reads out the offered prices from the product list recorded in association with the user code received in step S56 and returns the price to the cash register (step S66). The cash register performs payment processing based on the offered prices from the received product list (step S68). This allows the user to efficiently make payment based on the product prices that they confirmed on the store application before making payment. The same applies to self-checkouts, except that the customer, instead of the store staff, reads the customer's code with a code reader connected to the self-checkout.

[0080] It is preferable that the user code contains not only the membership number assigned to the user, but also information such as the date and time of visit to the store, so that the user code contains different information depending on the timing at which the user uses (requests) the user code. Since the price of the same product may fluctuate daily, by making the user code obtained by the user different depending on the request timing, the application server 5 can appropriately manage the user code and the product price for the user. Regular cash registers and self-checkout registers are examples of store terminals.

[0081] When a user purchases multiple items at a regular or self-checkout register, the user can read the user code issued for one item to query the application server 5 for all of the multiple items and make payment based on the discounted price.

[0082] (4-7) Seventh Modification Next, a seventh modified example will be described. In the sixth variation, a correspondence between the user and the offered price in the product list is described beforehand before making a payment at a normal register or self-checkout, but this is not the only option. In the seventh variation, the price checker only checks the offered prices of the products and product list offered to the user, and at the normal register or self-checkout, the product to be actually purchased is read, and a code that identifies the user, such as a user code or membership code displayed on the user terminal 3, is read, and payment is made at the offered price of the product according to the user. For example, a customer at a store can use the price checker function shown in Figures 16 and 17 to recognize the price of a product offered to him / her, and can decide whether or not to purchase the product. In this case, different product prices may be presented depending on the user status, as shown in Figure 9. When the user decides to purchase a product by the price checker, the user places the product in, for example, a basket or shopping cart at the store, goes to a regular or self-service register, and actually pays for the product by reading the product barcode or the like of the product to be purchased. At this time, for example, the user operates the button b13 on the screen G22 to display a user code that identifies the user in the store application, and either has a store staff member read this user code with a code reader (in the case of a regular register) or reads the user code with a code reader by the user (in the case of a self-service register). The regular or self-service register then queries the application server 5 for the price of the product whose product barcode or the like of the product to be purchased has been read, based on the user status of the read user code that identifies the user, and the application server 5 determines the price to be offered to the user and returns the information of the price to the regular or self-service register. The regular or self-service register performs payment processing based on the information of the price received from the application server 5. In this manner, in this modified example, the user can simply check the price of the product by scanning the product with the user terminal 3, and can then actually pay for the product by having the barcode of the product read at a regular or self-checkout register in the store.

[0083] (4-8) Eighth Modification Next, an eighth modified example will be described. In the eighth modified example, a user registers information regarding substances that cause the user's allergies (hereinafter referred to as "allergens") in advance in the application server 5. Then, when the store application reads the code information of a product, if the product contains an allergen that the user has registered, the application is configured to display on the user terminal 3 that the product contains an allergen. This allows the user to safely purchase the product knowing that the product does not contain the user's allergen.

[0084] 20 shows an example of screen transitions in the store application of the user terminal 3 in this modified example. Screens G30 and G31 in Fig. 20 correspond to screens G1 and G2 in Fig. 2, respectively. Window w12 of screen G31 includes, for example, the product name corresponding to the product ID, the regular price, discounted price, and expiration date, as well as information on the presence or absence of allergens. Here, an example is shown in which the user has registered "almonds" as his / her allergen. This shows that the allergens contained in the product to be read (in this example, "granola") include the allergen ("almonds") previously registered by the user. A button b15 that allows the user to check details of allergens contained in the target product may be provided in the window w12 of the screen G31. Operating the button b15 displays the screen G32. The screen G32 clearly displays the allergens (e.g., "almonds" and "peanuts") contained in the target product among the items that are subject to allergen labeling (e.g., items specified by the Food Labeling Act), and also highlights the allergens ("almonds") that the user has previously registered.

[0085] An example of the configuration of the user database of this modified example is shown in Fig. 21. The user database of Fig. 21 differs from the user database of the first embodiment (see Fig. 5) in that a value in the "Registered allergens" field has been added to each record. The value in the "Registered allergens" field is entered in response to a request by the corresponding user, and indicates allergens specific to the user. The storage 52 (an example of a storage unit) of the application server 5 stores an allergen database, as shown in Fig. 22. As shown in Fig. 22, the allergen database includes information on allergens (contained allergens) contained in each product handled in the store. The contained allergens correspond to the display contents of the screen G32 in Fig. 20.

[0086] As explained with reference to Fig. 7, when the store application of the user terminal 3 reads the code information of the product, it transmits a price inquiry including the received product ID and expiration date information of the product to the application server 5. In this modification, when the control unit 51 of the application server 5 receives the price inquiry, it refers to the user database (Fig. 21) and reads out information on registered allergens corresponding to the user ID of the store application. Next, the control unit 51 refers to the allergen database (Fig. 22) to determine whether the read-out registered allergen is included in the contained allergens corresponding to the product ID included in the price inquiry. The communication unit 53 of the application server 5 returns information on the determination result as to whether or not the registered allergen is included in the contained allergens of the target product, together with the price data, to the store application of the user terminal 3. In other words, the communication unit 53 functions as a notification unit that notifies the user terminal 3 of allergy information indicating that an allergen is included when a registered allergen is included in the contained allergens corresponding to the product ID. The store application of the user terminal 3 performs a display as exemplified in screen G31 of Fig. 20 based on the price data and the determination result.

[0087] It is preferable to establish a system that prevents a user from purchasing a product that contains a registered allergen of that user. For example, in the case of a product that contains a registered allergen of the user, the store application may perform control so as to disable an operation on the button b1 ("Add to Cart") on the screen G31. Alternatively, for example, when the user code described in the sixth modified example is read by a code reader at a regular register or a self-checkout, the register terminal may make an inquiry to the application server 5 including the ID of the product to be paid for, and receive the determination result as to whether or not the registered allergens are included in the contained allergens corresponding to the product ID from the application server 5. If a registered allergen is included, the register terminal may output an alert (a warning sound or a warning display) to the user, or may not allow payment for the product containing the registered allergen. In this way, a system can be established that prevents a user from purchasing products that contain the user's registered allergens. Therefore, the user does not need to visually check the ingredient label of a product to see if it contains the user's allergen. This also prevents the user from forgetting to visually check the ingredient label of a product and mistakenly purchasing a product that contains the user's allergen. Furthermore, if the product is a prepared dish, information on allergens contained in another product produced immediately before the product may also be registered in the database. In this case, when a user reads the code information of a product using a store application on the user terminal 3, if the other product produced immediately before the product being read contains the user's registered allergen, the store application will display a message indicating that the product being read may also contain trace amounts of the registered allergen. This makes it possible to provide consumers with a system for purchasing products with greater peace of mind and security.

[0088] (4-9) 9th Variation Next, a ninth modified example will be described. In the third embodiment, a label with a mark-down code printed on it is affixed to a product, and the mark-down code of the product to be discounted is notified to the user. The use of the mark-down code is not limited to the case where the user has a user terminal 3 with a store application installed. In this modified example, a system is described in which the mark-down code of the product to be discounted is displayed on a display device in the store (for example, digital signage or electronic shelf label).

[0089] FIG. 23 shows an outline of the system configuration of a price presentation system 2 of this modified example. 23, the price presentation system 2 of this modification includes an application server 5 and a digital signage 8 installed in a store as an example of a display device. The application server 5 and the digital signage 8 can communicate with each other via a network NW.

[0090] As described in the third embodiment, at least some of the products in the store have labels with markdown codes attached. In this modification, the application server 5 determines a markdown code that is the target of a price reduction, and displays the determined markdown code on the digital signage 8 in the store. That is, in this modification, the control unit 51 of the application server 5 functions as an instruction information determination unit and a display control unit described below. For example, the control unit 51 is configured to execute a server program to cause a computer to realize the following functions. (i) an instruction information determination unit that determines one or more markdown codes to be applied to a product to be discounted from a base price of the product (i.e., a product to be discounted) from among a plurality of different markdown codes; (ii) a display control unit that causes the digital signage 8 to display one or more Markdown codes determined by the instruction information determination unit;

[0091] The control unit 51 of the application server 5 determines the markdown code of the product to be reduced in price, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 11, but is not limited thereto. The control unit 51 may determine the markdown code of the product to be reduced in price according to the daily inventory status of the product. For example, unlike the example illustrated in FIG. 11, the markdown code of the product to be reduced in price may be appropriately switched to either the markdown code of the product whose expiration date is the same day and the next day, or the markdown code of the product whose expiration date is the same day, the next day, and the day after, depending on the inventory status of the product. Also, the markdown code of the product to be reduced in price may be determined by a store staff member or the like, rather than by the application server 5. By displaying the markdown code on the digital signage 8, a user can identify the discounted products even if he / she does not have a user terminal with the store application installed, and can purchase the discounted products at a regular register or a self-checkout register.

[0092] When the control unit 51 of the application server 5 causes the digital signage 8 to display two or more different markdown codes, the control unit 51 may display information on different discount levels (e.g., discount rate information) in association with each of the two or more different markdown codes. Such a display example is shown in FIG. 24. The display example shown in FIG. 24 corresponds to the setting of the label with the markdown code exemplified in FIG. 11, and is displayed on the digital signage 8 in the store on May 19, 2020, for example. In FIG. 24, the markdown code is displayed as a "sale target code" for users. As an example, the discount rate is varied for each sale target code (i.e., markdown code). In other words, it is displayed that a product whose expiration date arrives on the day (markdown code: A) will be 20% off, a product whose expiration date arrives the next day (markdown code: B) will be 10% off, and a product whose expiration date arrives the day after that (markdown code: C) will be 5% off. A user who checks such information on the digital signage 8 in the store can immediately recognize whether or not the product is subject to a discount, and if so, what the discount rate is, based on the markdown code of the label with the markdown code affixed to the product in the store.

[0093] FIG. 24 shows an example in which the markdown code is displayed on the digital signage 8 for products that are subject to price reduction without being limited to a specific product in the store, for example, without distinguishing between types of products, but this is not the only possible example. When displaying the markdown code on the electronic shelf label corresponding to the product, an individual code can be displayed for each product. For example, assume that the markdown codes on the label attached to product PX are "X1", "X2", ..., and the markdown codes on the label attached to product PY are "Y1", "Y2", .... In this case, the "sale target codes" of "X1", "X2", ... are displayed on the electronic shelf label corresponding to product PX, and the "sale target codes" of "Y1", "Y2", ... are displayed on the electronic shelf label corresponding to product PY. Since the digital signage 8 can be a display device with a relatively large screen, when a markdown code is displayed on the digital signage 8, the markdown code can be recognized by many customers in the store by hanging the digital signage 8 on a wall of the store. Therefore, it is suitable for displaying a markdown code common to all products in the store, rather than a specific product. In contrast, the electronic shelf label is a small display device placed on the product shelf, and is therefore suitable for displaying a markdown code for an individual product. As described above, a markdown code corresponding to each product can be displayed on each electronic shelf label corresponding to the product.

[0094] As described in the third embodiment, the markdown codes of products subject to price reduction may be displayed, for example, when a store application is started. In this case, when the application server 5 determines one or more markdown codes attached to products subject to price reduction, the store application (an example of a display control unit) of the user terminal 3 receives the one or more markdown codes from the application server 5 and displays them on the display unit 34. Therefore, a user who has a user terminal 3 with the store application installed can identify products subject to price reduction without checking the display content of the digital signage 8 or the like in the store described above.

[0095] Although the embodiments of the information processing system, the information processing method, and the program of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. In addition, the above embodiments can be improved or modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the individual technical features described in each of the above embodiments and each modified example can be appropriately combined with part or all of other embodiments and modified examples as long as there is no technical contradiction. In the above-described embodiment and modified examples, at least a part of the functions of the application server 5 may be realized by software of the user terminal 3, or at least a part of the functions of the user terminal 3 may be realized by software of the application server 5. Furthermore, each of the functions of the user terminal 3 and the functions of the application server 5 may be realized by distributing them between the user terminal 3 and the application server 5 as necessary. The functions executed by the application server 5 may be distributed and executed by a plurality of devices. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 1, 2...Price display system 3. User terminal 31...Control unit 32…Storage 33...Operation input section 34…Display section 35…Imaging unit 36...Code reader 37…Communications Department 5. Application Server 51...Control unit 511…Price determination department 512…Price Information Department 513: Payment processing unit 52…Storage 53…Communications Department 7. Payment processing server 8. Digital signage 100…Scan area 101,102...Scroll bar 103…Markdown code display section 104...Link information CT…User BL…Purchase List ML...Menu list HL…Home inventory list NW…Network P…Product PL…Label

Claims

1. An information processing system including a display device disposed in a store that handles products and a server that can communicate with the display device, The product is provided with any one of a plurality of different discount instruction information, The server includes an instruction information determination unit that determines one or more discount instruction information items to be attached to a product to be discounted with respect to a base price of the product from among the plurality of different discount instruction information items; a display control unit that causes the display device to display the one or more discount instruction information items determined by the instruction information determination unit, Information processing system.

2. When the display control unit causes the display device to display two or more different discount instruction information, the display control unit causes the display device to display one of a plurality of pieces of information having different discount degrees in association with each of the two or more different discount instruction information.

2. An information processing system according to claim 1.

3. A user terminal is included which is owned by a user and is capable of communicating with the server; The user terminal has a display control unit that causes the one or more discount instruction information provided by the server to be displayed on a display unit.

3. An information processing system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. An information processing method performed by a server capable of communicating with a display device disposed in a store that handles products, The product is provided with any one of a plurality of different discount instruction information, The information processing method includes: determining one or more discount instruction information items attached to the products to be discounted with respect to the base price of the products from among the plurality of different discount instruction information items; and displaying the one or more discount instruction information items determined on the display device. Information processing methods.

5. A program that causes a computer to execute a predetermined procedure in a server that can communicate with a display device disposed in a store that handles a product, The product is provided with any one of a plurality of different discount instruction information, The predetermined procedure includes: determining one or more discount instruction information items attached to the products to be discounted with respect to the base price of the products from among the plurality of different discount instruction information items; and displaying the one or more pieces of discount instruction information determined on the display device. program.

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