Sales management system

Abstract

To provide a sales management system capable of enhancing suppression effect on an illegal act of a customer at a store.SOLUTION: A sales management system 10 having a server and a gate through which a customer passes when exiting from a store, and managing sales of articles at the store. A control part 500 for the server comprises checkout determination means which determines whether the customer paid for an article to be purchased. A control part 700 for the gate comprises notification means 705 which generates a deterrence effect sound deterring the customer, who is determined not to complete the payment by the checkout determination means, from exiting from the store without the payment.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a sales management system. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, due to staff shortages in convenience stores and other stores, systems have been put into practical use in which customers themselves can operate cash registers to make payments. Furthermore, some stores that sell frozen dumplings, frozen noodles, and other items are now unmanned, with no staff on-site (automated).

[0003] In such unmanned stores, customers who enter the store pick up products they wish to purchase from shelves or product cases, and then pay for the products at an accounting machine. After completing their payment, the customers leave the store.

[0004] In such unmanned stores, it is easy for fraudulent acts to occur in which a customer takes out an item and leaves the store without paying for it. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a sales management system that can increase the effectiveness of suppressing fraudulent behavior by customers in a store. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The sales management system of the embodiment has a server and a gate through which a customer passes when leaving the store, and is a sales management system that manages the sales of goods at the store, wherein the server is equipped with a payment determination means that determines whether the goods purchased by a customer have already been paid for, and the gate is equipped with an alarm means that alarms a customer who is determined by the payment determination means to have not paid, with a deterrent sound effect to discourage the customer from leaving the store without paying. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the layout of systems in a store. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing the connections of the system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the product management unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a memory map showing the memory configuration of the product table. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the payment machine. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the server. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a memory map showing the memory configuration of the customer management unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a gate. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a gate. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a sequence chart showing the process and information flow between the devices that make up the system. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of the system. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of gate processing. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of the control process of the server. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of control processing of the product management unit. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of control processing of the payment machine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment described below, an example will be described in which the sales management system of the embodiment is applied to a system installed in an unmanned store. In the embodiment, the system includes a gate, a server, a product management unit, and a cashier. In the embodiment, the sales management system includes a gate and a server.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the placement of a system 10 (see FIG. 2) according to this embodiment within a store T. FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing the connections of the system 10 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, store T is a store that sells products such as frozen dumplings and noodles. In the embodiment, store T is a store where no staff (including part-time staff, part-time staff, etc.) or employees are stationed (deployed) (i.e., an unmanned store).

[0010] The store T is provided with a gate 7 at the entrance / exit Ta (exit) within the store T. The gate 7 is a gate through which customers who enter the store T pass. The gate 7 is also a gate through which customers pass when leaving the store T. The store T is also provided with a shopping case 19 (a freezer for storing frozen products) for storing products, and a cashier 3 for making payments for purchased products, within the store Tb. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a server 5 (see FIG. 2) is also provided as a store server for managing products sold at the store T. The store T is also provided with multiple cameras K for capturing images of customers within the store. The cameras K include cameras Ka, Kb, Kc, and Kd (see FIG. 9) (hereinafter, these may be collectively referred to as "camera K"). The camera Ka is installed facing the entrance / exit Ta, and captures images of customers entering the store. One or more cameras Kb are installed within the store Tb, and capture images of customers moving within the store Tb. Camera Kc is installed near the cash register 3 and captures images of customers making payments. Camera Kd is installed near the entrance Ta and captures images of customers leaving the store. Note that the locations where cameras K are installed are just examples, and the installation locations of cameras K are not important as long as each camera K is capable of capturing the above images.

[0011] The gate 7 manages the entry and exit of customers into the store T. The gate 7 notifies the server 5 that a customer has entered the store T through the entrance / exit Ta. The gate 7 also notifies the server 5 that a customer is about to leave the store through the entrance / exit Ta.

[0012] The commercial case 19 is, for example, a freezer, and stores (displays) frozen products on multiple shelves provided inside. A product management unit 1 included in the commercial case 19 manages the products inside the commercial case 19. Each shelf is provided with a detection device that detects when a product has been removed, and the product management unit 1 manages the products removed from the commercial case 19. The detection device is, for example, a scale, an optical sensor, a camera, etc. The scale measures the weight of the product. The optical sensor detects the removal of the product. The camera captures the removal of the product. In the embodiment, the scale will be described below as an example of a detection device.

[0013] A plurality of scales 17 are installed on each shelf of the commercial case 19. One type of product is placed on one scale 17. In other words, a plurality of types of products are not placed on one scale 17. Therefore, a scale 17 is installed for each type of product stored (displayed) in the commercial case 19. When the amount or number of products is large, the same type of product may be placed on multiple scales 17. That is, at least as many scales as the number of types of products stored in the commercial case 19 are installed. Therefore, when a scale detects a change in weight (more precisely, a decrease in weight), the product management unit 1 indicates that the product placed on the scale has been removed. In addition, since the product management unit 1 knows the weight of each product, the product management unit 1 can determine the number of products that have been removed from the scale based on the changed (decreased) weight. Even when the detection device is an optical sensor or a camera, the product management unit 1 is installed for each product and detects how many of each product have been removed.

[0014] The product management unit 1 notifies the server 5 of product identification information (for example, product code) that identifies the taken-out product and the number of the taken-out products.

[0015] The server 5 is installed, for example, in the back yard of the store T. The server 5 continuously captures images of customers who enter the store T using the camera K. The server 5 tracks the movement of the customer using known technology based on the captured image of the customer. That is, the server 5 identifies the customer based on the face image, clothing, etc. of the customer captured by the camera K (especially the camera Ka), and assigns a customer number (see FIG. 7) that identifies the customer. The server 5 then tracks the movement of the customer. By tracking the movement of the customer, the server 5 can grasp the position of the customer in the store T in real time even if the customer moves within the store T, and can therefore identify the customer who has taken out a product from the shopping case 19, the customer who is making a payment, the customer who is about to leave the store through the entrance / exit Ta, and so on. For example, when the server 5 receives a notification of the removal of a product from the product management unit 1, the server 5 identifies the customer who was in front of the shopping case 19 that stores the product, and determines that the customer has taken out the product. Similarly, when the server 5 receives payment inquiry information from the payment machine 3, the server 5 identifies the customer who was at the position of the payment machine 3, and determines that the customer is making a payment. The server 5 transmits removal information of the identified customer (information on the products removed from the sales case 19) to the payment machine 3. Furthermore, when the server 5 detects a customer attempting to leave the store through the entrance / exit Ta, it identifies the customer and determines that the identified customer is the customer attempting to leave the store.

[0016] Note that the method of identifying a customer by tracking their movement within the store is just one example. If it is possible to determine that the customer who removes an item from the shopping case 19, the customer who pays, and the customer who is about to leave the store are the same customer, then it is not necessary to track the customer's movement.

[0017] The server 5 also executes a product registration process for the product that the customer has taken out of the commercial case 19. The product registration process refers to a process of storing (registering) the product specification information included in the take-out information received from the product management unit 1 in the customer management unit 532 (specifically, the taken-out product unit 5324).

[0018] In addition, when the server 5 receives a transaction inquiry from the payment machine 3, it identifies the customer standing in front of the payment machine 3 based on movement tracking, and transmits product identification information of the product (product for which product registration processing has been performed) taken out by the customer to the payment machine 3.

[0019] In addition, when the server 5 receives transaction information from the payment machine 3 indicating that a transaction has been completed, it executes transaction processing by storing a transaction-completed flag indicating that the product taken out by the customer has been purchased, in association with the customer.

[0020] In addition, when the server 5 receives a payment completion inquiry from the gate 7 as to whether a customer about to leave has already paid, it determines whether the customer has already paid based on whether a payment completion flag has been stored for that customer, and if the customer has already paid, it sends information that the customer has already paid to the gate 7, or if the customer has not yet paid, it sends information that the customer has not yet paid to the gate 7.

[0021] The accounting machine 3 performs accounting (payment processing) for the product (product for which product registration processing has been performed) that the customer has taken out of the shopping case 19. When the customer performs an operation to start accounting, the accounting machine 3 responds to an inquiry from the server 5 about the product that the customer has taken out of the shopping case 19. Then, based on the product identification information sent from the server 5 in response to the inquiry, the accounting machine 3 obtains product information (product name, product price) related to the product from the product master 342 (see FIG. 5) and performs accounting (payment processing) for the product. The payment processing refers to calculating the total amount based on the product information of the product obtained from the product master 342, and performing payment processing based on the payment medium (e.g., credit card, cash, points, gift certificate, smartphone, etc.). The payment processing also includes issuing a receipt on which payment information such as product information of the purchased product and the total amount is printed.

[0022] The payment machine 3 also sends to the server 5 payment information for the product for which payment has been processed (information that the payment has been processed, product information for which payment has been processed, payment information, and the customer number).

[0023] When gate 7 detects a customer attempting to leave the store, it inquires of server 5 as to whether the customer has already paid for the items. If gate 7 receives payment-completed information from server 5 indicating that the customer has already paid, it does nothing. On the other hand, if gate 7 receives non-payment information from server 5 indicating that the customer has not yet paid, it plays a deterrent sound effect to the customer. In other words, gate 7 plays a deterrent sound effect to a customer attempting to leave through entrance / exit Ta without paying for the items they have taken out of the shopping case 19.

[0024] Here, the deterrent sound effect will be described. The deterrent sound effect is a sound effect for deterring a fraudulent act of taking out a product taken by a customer without paying for it, and is, for example, a shutter sound emitted by a camera when capturing an image. The deterrent sound effect is preferably at a volume that can be heard by the customer but not heard by other customers, and is not so loud that it reverberates throughout the store T. By playing a shutter sound that makes a customer who is about to leave without paying for it aware that he or she is being photographed by a camera, the customer can be made aware that he or she is being photographed, and the fraudulent act can be deterred. Note that the shutter sound is an example of a deterrent sound effect, and any sound effect may be used as long as it is a sound effect for deterring a customer from committing a fraudulent act. In addition, in the case of a shutter sound, the customer may actually be photographed, but it does not matter whether or not he or she is photographed. The deterrent sound effect is a sound effect for deterring or suppressing a fraudulent act, with the aim of dissuading a customer from committing a fraudulent act, and is different from a sound effect for preventing a fraudulent act.

[0025] Furthermore, if the customer who has been notified of the deterrent sound effect still attempts to leave the store, the gate 7 notifies the customer of a warning sound. The warning sound is a sound effect for preventing fraudulent conduct by the customer, and is, for example, a sound with a volume and quality that can be heard by surrounding customers, or a sound that reverberates throughout the store T. In this embodiment, a sales management system 90 is constructed by the server 5 and the gate 7.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the product management section 1, the accounting machine 3, the server 5, and the gate 7 are connected to each other via a communication line L such as a LAN (Local Area Network) so that they can send and receive information to each other.

[0027] In such a system 10, a customer enters store T through entrance Ta. Server 5 starts capturing images of customers who enter store T using camera K, and tracks the customer's movement. In store T, the customer removes the products to be purchased from the shopping case 19. Server 5 identifies the customer who removed the products, and product management unit 1 identifies the products and the number of products removed by the customer based on the change in weight on scale 17 (see FIG. 3). Server 5 stores the removed products in association with the customer who removed them (performs product registration processing for the products). When a customer operates the payment machine 3, the payment machine 3 makes a payment inquiry to server 5, and server 5 identifies the customer operating the payment machine 3 and transmits product identification information of the products registered for the customer to payment machine 3. Payment machine 3 displays product information corresponding to the received product identification information. The customer checks the displayed product information and performs the payment operation. When the customer performs the payment operation, payment machine 3 executes payment processing for the products. Then payment machine 3 transmits the payment processed payment information to server 5. The server 5 stores a transaction completed flag for that customer based on the received transaction information.

[0028] When a customer tries to leave the store, the gate 7 inquires of the server 5 whether the customer has already paid, and if the customer has already paid (a paid flag is stored in association with the customer), the gate 7 does nothing. The customer passes through the gate 7 and leaves the store T through the entrance Ta. On the other hand, if the customer has not yet paid (a paid flag is not stored in association with the customer), the gate 7 issues a deterrent sound effect to the customer. If the customer changes his mind and pays at the payment machine 3, a paid flag is stored for the customer at that point, so if the customer leaves the store again, the gate 7 does nothing. In this way, the sales management system 90 prevents customers who are about to commit fraud from committing fraud in advance. Furthermore, if a customer who has been notified of the deterrent sound effect attempts to continue leaving the store, the gate 7 issues a warning sound to the customer.

[0029] Next, the hardware configuration of the product management unit 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the product management unit 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the product management unit 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, which is an example of a processor, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a memory unit 14, and the like. The CPU 11 is the main controller of the product management unit 1. The ROM 12 stores various programs. The RAM 13 expands programs and various data. The memory unit 14 stores various programs. The CPU 11, the ROM 12, the RAM 13, and the memory unit 14 are connected to each other via a bus 15. The CPU 11, the ROM 12, and the RAM 13 constitute a control unit 100. That is, the control unit 100 executes a control process of the product management unit 1, which will be described later, by the CPU 11 operating according to a control program stored in the ROM 12 or the memory unit 14 and expanded in the RAM 13.

[0030] The RAM 13 has a product table 131. The product table 131 stores (manages) product identification information and the number of products placed on each scale 17 for each scale 17. The product table 131 will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0031] The memory unit 14 is composed of a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or flash memory that retains stored information even when the power is turned off, and has a control program unit 141 that stores a control program for operating the product management unit 1.

[0032] Furthermore, the control unit 100 is connected to a plurality of scales 17 via the bus 15 and the controller 16. The scales 17 measure the total weight of the placed products.

[0033] The control unit 100 is also connected to a communication unit 18 via a bus 15. The communication unit 18 is connected to the payment machine 3, the server 5, and the gate 7 via a communication line L so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0034] Next, the product table 131 will be described. FIG. 4 is a memory map showing the memory configuration of the product table 131. The product table 131 has a scale code section 1311, a product code section 1312, a product name section 1313, a unit weight section 1314, a total weight section 1315, and a number section 1316. The scale code section 1311 stores scale codes for identifying the scales 17 installed in the commercial case 19, the number of which is equal to the number of scales 17 installed. In the embodiment, scale codes 171 to 17N are assigned to the N scales 17. The product code section 1312 stores product identification information (product code) for identifying the products placed on the scales 17 identified in the scale code section 1311 in association with the scale code stored in the scale code section 1311. The product name section 1313 stores the product names of the products placed on the scales 17 identified in the scale code section 1311 in association with the scale code stored in the scale code section 1311. The single weight section 1314 stores the weight of one product placed on each scale 17 specified in the scale code section 1311 in association with the scale code stored in the scale code section 1311. The total weight section 1315 stores the total weight of the products placed on each scale 17 specified in the scale code section 1311 (the weight measured by the scale 17) in association with the scale code stored in the scale code section 1311. The quantity section 1316 stores the number of products placed on each scale 17 specified in the scale code section 1311 in association with the scale code stored in the scale code section 1311. The number of products is calculated by total weight / weight of one product.

[0035] In this way, by referring to product table 131, the product identification information, product name, and quantity of the products placed on each scale 17 can be ascertained for each scale 17.

[0036] Next, the hardware configuration of the payment machine 3 will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the payment machine 3. As shown in FIG. 5, the payment machine 3 is equipped with a CPU 31, which is an example of a processor, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, a memory unit 34, etc. The CPU 31 is the main controller of the payment machine 3. The ROM 32 stores various programs. The RAM 33 expands programs and various data. The memory unit 34 stores various programs. The CPU 31, the ROM 32, the RAM 33, and the memory unit 34 are connected to each other via a bus 35. The CPU 31, the ROM 32, and the RAM 33 constitute a control unit 300. That is, the control unit 300 executes the control processing of the payment machine 3, which will be described later, by the CPU 31 operating in accordance with the control programs stored in the ROM 32 and the memory unit 34 and expanded in the RAM 33.

[0037] The RAM 33 has a product information section 331 and a sales information section 332. The product information section 331 stores product information of products that a customer has taken out of a shopping case 19, obtained from a product master 342 based on product identification information received from the server 5. The sales information section 332 stores product information and payment information (hereinafter collectively referred to as "transaction information") of products for which payment has been processed.

[0038] The memory unit 34 is composed of a non-volatile memory such as a HDD or flash memory that retains stored information even when the power is turned off, and has a control program unit 341 and a product master 342. The control program unit 341 stores a control program for driving the payment machine 3. The product master 342 stores product information for each product in association with product identification information. The control unit 300 searches the product master 342 based on the product identification information received from the server 5, and obtains the corresponding product information.

[0039] The control unit 300 is also connected to an operation unit 37, a display unit 38, a printing unit 39, and an information reading unit 40 via a bus 35 and a controller 36. The operation unit 37 is, for example, a keyboard or a touch panel, and is operated by a customer who is the operator of the payment machine 3. The operation unit 37 includes a payment key 371 and a settlement key 372. The payment key 371 is operated by a customer when starting a payment process on the payment machine 3 for a product that the customer has taken out. The settlement key 372 is operated by a customer when performing a payment process on the payment machine 3 for a product that the customer has taken out. The display unit 38 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays information to a customer who operates the payment machine 3. The printing unit 39 issues a receipt on which product information and payment information related to the product that has been paid for are printed. The information reading unit 40 reads information required for payment processing by holding or scanning a medium other than cash or a terminal (such as a credit card, smartphone, or point card) used for payment. When paying by cash, the cash is inserted into an automatic change machine (not shown) to make the payment. If there is change, it is dispensed from the automatic change machine.

[0040] The control unit 300 is also connected to a communication unit 41 via a bus 35. The communication unit 41 is connected to the product management unit 1, the server 5, and the gate 7 via a communication line L so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0041] Next, the hardware configuration of the server 5 will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the server 5. As shown in FIG. 6, the server 5 includes a CPU 51, which is an example of a processor, a ROM 52, a RAM 53, a memory unit 54, and the like. The CPU 51 is the main controller of the server 5. The ROM 52 stores various programs. The RAM 53 expands programs and various data. The memory unit 54 stores various programs. The CPU 51, the ROM 52, the RAM 53, and the memory unit 54 are connected to each other via a bus 55. The CPU 51, the ROM 52, and the RAM 53 constitute a control unit 500. That is, the control unit 500 executes a control process of the server 5, which will be described later, by the CPU 51 operating according to a control program stored in the ROM 52 or the memory unit 54 and expanded in the RAM 53.

[0042] The RAM 53 has a sales information section 531 and a customer management section 532. The sales information section 531 cumulatively stores transaction information (sales information for the entire store T) received from the payment device 3. The customer management section 532 stores various information related to each customer identified by the server 5. The customer management section 532 will be described later with reference to FIG. 7.

[0043] The memory unit 54 is configured with a non-volatile memory such as a HDD or a flash memory in which stored information is retained even when the power is turned off, and has a control program unit 541. The control program unit 541 stores a control program for driving the server 5.

[0044] Furthermore, control unit 500 is connected to display unit 57, operation unit 58, and multiple cameras K (in this embodiment, cameras Ka, Kb, Kc, and Kd) via bus 55 and controller 56. Display unit 57 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays information to a person operating server 5. Operation unit 58 is, for example, a keyboard, and is operated by the operator of server 5. Camera K constantly captures images inside store T.

[0045] Furthermore, the control unit 500 is connected to a communication unit 59 via a bus 55. The communication unit 59 is connected to the product management unit 1, the payment machine 3, and the gate 7 via a communication line L so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0046] Next, the customer management section 532 will be described. FIG. 7 is a memory map showing the memory configuration of the customer management section 532. The customer management section 532 has a customer number section 5321, a clothing section 5322, a face information section 5323, a taken-out product section 5324, a checkout status section 5325, and a transaction information section 5326. The customer number section 5321 stores a customer number that is assigned to each customer who enters the store and identifies the customer. Customers who enter the store are first photographed by the camera Ka. The control section 500 assigns a customer number that identifies the customer to each customer photographed mainly by the camera Ka and stores the customer number section 5321. The clothing section 5322 stores the clothing characteristics of the customer stored in the customer number section 5321 (color and shape of the clothes, presence or absence of a hat or glasses, etc.). The control section 500 stores the clothing characteristics photographed by the camera K for the customer with the customer number stored in the customer number section 5321. The face information section 5323 stores the facial features of the customer stored in the customer number section 5321. For example, the face information section 5323 stores feature amounts indicating the facial features of the customer stored in the customer number section 5321. The facial feature amounts are obtained by performing known general object recognition based on a face image captured by the camera K, and the feature amounts indicating the facial features (features such as eyes, nose, chin, and facial contour) are stored.

[0047] Generic object recognition technology is described, for example, in "Yanai Keiji, 'Current Status and Future of Generic Object Recognition,' Transactions of the Information Processing Society of Japan, Vol. 48, No. SIG16 [searched August 10, 2010], Internet <URL: http: / / mm.cs.uec.ac.jp / IPSJ-TCVIM-Yanai.pdf>".

[0048] The control unit 500 tracks the movement of the customer moving within the store T based on the image of the person captured by the camera K, based on the clothing information stored in the clothing unit 5322 and the information indicating facial features stored in the face information unit 5323, and based on subsequent images captured by the camera K. This technique is a well-known technique called movement line tracking. That is, the control unit 500 continuously tracks and grasps where in the store T each customer whose customer number is stored in the customer number unit 5321 is currently located.

[0049] The taken-out product section 5324 stores product identification information that identifies the product that the customer, stored in the customer number section 5321, took out of the commercial case 19. When the control unit 500 receives from the product management unit 1 information that the weight measured by the scale 17 has changed (the weight has become lighter), the control unit 500 identifies the position of the scale 17 where the weight change occurred based on the information, identifies the customer based on the customer number stored in the customer number section 5321 related to the customer at that position, and calculates and stores, in the taken-out product section 5324 of the customer, product identification information that identifies the product associated with the scale 17 where the weight change occurred and the number of products that the customer took out of the commercial case 19 based on the changed weight, by referring to the product table 131. The process in which the control unit 500 stores the product identification information and the number in the taken-out product section 5324 is called a product registration process.

[0050] The transaction status section 5325 stores a transaction completed flag when a customer whose customer number is stored in the customer number section 5321 has made a transaction (performed the payment process) at the payment machine 3 for an item that they took out of the transaction case 19 (item registration process has been performed). In other words, when a transaction completed flag is stored in the transaction status section 5325, it indicates that a transaction has been made for the item that the customer took out. When a transaction completed flag is not stored in the transaction status section 5325, it indicates that the customer has not made a transaction for the item that they took out. The transaction information section 5326 stores transaction information for transactions made by a customer whose customer number is stored in the customer number section 5321.

[0051] In this way, the customer management unit 532 stores all customers who enter the store, distinguishing them by customer number, stores characteristics to identify each customer, and stores, for each customer, information on the products they took out of the sales case 19, information on whether the product was paid for, etc.

[0052] Next, the hardware configuration of the gate 7 will be described. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the gate 7. As shown in FIG. 8, the gate 7 includes a CPU 71, which is an example of a processor, a ROM 72, a RAM 73, a memory unit 74, and the like. The CPU 71 is the main controller of the gate 7. The ROM 72 stores various programs. The RAM 73 expands programs and various data. The memory unit 74 stores various programs. The CPU 71, the ROM 72, the RAM 73, and the memory unit 74 are connected to each other via a bus 75. The CPU 71, the ROM 72, and the RAM 73 constitute a control unit 700. That is, the control unit 700 executes the control process of the gate 7, which will be described later, by the CPU 71 operating according to the control program stored in the ROM 72 or the memory unit 74 and expanded in the RAM 73.

[0053] The memory unit 74 is composed of a non-volatile memory such as a HDD or a flash memory that retains stored information even when the power is turned off, and has a control program unit 741. The control program unit 741 stores a control program for driving the gate 7.

[0054] The control unit 700 is also connected to the display unit 77, the first sensor 78, the second sensor 79, the first audio unit 81, and the second audio unit 82 via the bus 75 and the controller 76. The display unit 77 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays information to customers passing through the gate 7. The first sensor 78 has, for example, a transmissive optical sensor and a light receiving unit. The first sensor 78 is installed at a position on the gate 7 that is slightly away from the entrance Ta of the store T and a little inside the store T. The first sensor 78 detects customers who enter the gate 7 to leave the store T. The second sensor 79 has, for example, a transmissive optical sensor and a light receiving unit. The second sensor 79 is installed at a position on the gate 7 close to the entrance Ta of the store T (at a position closer to the entrance Ta than the first sensor 78). The second sensor 79 detects customers who pass through the first sensor 78 and are about to leave the store T.

[0055] The first audio unit 81 is, for example, a speaker that issues audio notifications. The first audio unit 81 is installed near the first sensor 78. The first audio unit 81 issues a deterrent sound effect (for example, a shutter sound) to customers detected by the first sensor 78 who have not yet completed their transaction. The first audio unit 81 does not issue any notification to customers detected by the first sensor 78 who have completed their transaction (and customers who have entered the store but have not yet removed an item (did not purchase an item)).

[0056] The second audio unit 82 is a speaker that issues audio alerts. The second audio unit 82 is installed near the second sensor 79. The second audio unit 82 issues an alarm sound to customers detected by the second sensor 79 who have not yet completed their transaction. The second audio unit 82 does not issue any alerts to customers detected by the second sensor 79 who have completed their transaction (and customers who have entered the store but have not yet removed an item (did not purchase an item)).

[0057] Furthermore, the control unit 700 is connected to a communication unit 83 via a bus 75. The communication unit 83 is connected to the product management unit 1, the accounting machine 3, and the server 5 via a communication line L so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0058] Next, the configuration of the gate 7 will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of the gate 7. As shown in FIG. 9, the gate 7 has a pair of guide plates 84. The guide plate 84 is provided at the entrance Ta in the store T. The guide plate 84 has a shape extending from the entrance Ta to the inside of the store T (to a position slightly away from the entrance Ta). The guide plate 84 guides customers leaving the store to the entrance Ta. A second sensor 79 and a second audio unit 82 are provided at a position close to the entrance Ta of the guide plate 84. A first sensor 78 and a first audio unit 81 are provided at a position slightly away from the entrance Ta of the guide plate 84 on the inside of the store T. A customer passing through the gate 7 to leave the store is first detected by the first sensor 78, and then detected by the second sensor 79. A customer who has entered the store is first detected by the second sensor 79, and then by the first sensor 78, in that order, so that the customer's entry into the store is detected.

[0059] The gate 7 also has a display unit 77 above the entrance Ta. The display unit 77 displays (notifies) various information to customers in the store, and also displays information to customers leaving the store. For example, if the second sensor 79 detects a customer who has not yet paid, a warning may be displayed to the customer.

[0060] From here, the transmission and reception of information between each device of the system 10 (gate 7, server 5, product management unit 1, and cash register 3) and the processing of each device will be explained in chronological order. FIG. 10 is a sequence chart showing in chronological order the main processing of each device constituting the system 10 and the flow of transmission and reception of information between each device. As shown in FIG. 10, the gate 7 detects a customer entering the store T (T1). The gate 7 then notifies the server 5 that the customer has entered (T2). Having received the notification that the customer has entered, the server 5 begins capturing images of the customer using the camera K (tracking their movement) (T3).

[0061] A customer who enters the store removes the product he or she wishes to purchase from the shopping case 19. The product management unit 1 detects the removal of the product by a change in weight on the scale 17 (T4). The product management unit 1 then refers to the product table 131 to identify the product placed on the scale 17 where the weight change has occurred, and transmits to the server 5 product identification information identifying the removed product and removal information including the number of the products (T5). The server 5, which has received the removal information, identifies the customer who removed the product based on movement line tracing, and executes product registration processing for the product (T6). The product management unit 1 and server 5 repeat T4 to T6 each time a product is removed.

[0062] The customer operates the accounting key 371 to carry out a transaction for the taken out items at the accounting machine 3. The accounting machine 3 accepts the operation of the accounting key 371 (T7). The accounting machine 3 then makes a transaction inquiry for that customer to the server 5 (T8). The server 5 that has received the transaction inquiry identifies the customer who will be making the transaction at the transaction machine 3 based on the movement line tracking, and acquires product identification information relating to the product that the customer has taken out by referring to the customer management unit 532 (T9). The server 5 then transmits the acquired product identification information to the transaction machine 3 (T10).

[0063] Upon receiving the product identification information, the payment machine 3 retrieves product information corresponding to this product identification information from the product master 342 and displays it on the display 38. After checking the displayed product information, the customer presses the payment key 372. The payment machine 3 accepts the operation of the payment key 372 (T11). The payment machine 3 then carries out the payment process for the product related to the displayed product information (T12). The payment machine 3 then sends the processed transaction information to the server 5 (T13). Having received the transaction information, the server 5 carries out transaction processing based on this transaction information (T14). Transaction processing involves storing the transaction information in the customer's transaction information section 5326 based on the transaction information, and storing a transaction completed flag in the customer's transaction status section 5325. That is, in processing T14, the server 5 stores a transaction completed flag for the customer who has made a transaction.

[0064] A customer leaving store T passes through gate 7. Gate 7 (first sensor 78) then detects the passing customer (a customer about to leave) (T15). Gate 7 then queries server 5 as to whether the customer has already paid (T16). Server 5, which receives the query, identifies the customer about to leave based on movement line tracking and determines whether a paid flag is stored in the payment status unit 5325 for the customer (whether the customer has already paid) (T17). If the customer has already paid, server 5 sends information that the customer has paid to gate 7, and if the customer has not yet paid, sends information that the customer has not yet paid to gate 7 (T18). Gate 7, which has received the payment information, does nothing to the customer passing through gate 7 (T19). Gate 7, which has also received the non-payment information, plays a deterrent sound effect to the customer (T19). Furthermore, gate 7 issues a warning sound if the customer who has been issued the deterrent sound effect attempts to continue passing through without making a payment (T19).

[0065] From here, the functional configuration of the product management unit 1, the accounting machine 3, the server 5, and the gate 7 related to the system 10 will be explained. Fig. 11 is a functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of the system 10. In addition, among the functional block diagram related to the system 10, the server 5 and the gate 7 function as a functional block diagram related to the sales management system 90.

[0066] The control unit 700 of gate 7 functions as an entry determination means 701, an entry notification means 702, a first exit determination means 703, an inquiry means 704, an alarm means 705, a second exit determination means 706, and a warning means 707 by following the control program stored in ROM 72 or the control program section 741 of the memory unit 74.

[0067] The store entry determination means 701 determines whether a customer has entered the store T. Specifically, the store entry determination means 701 uses the second sensor 79 and the first sensor 78 to determine whether a customer has entered the store T. The store entry determination means 701 determines that the customer has entered the store T when the second sensor 79 detects a customer and then the first sensor 78 detects the customer.

[0068] The store entry notification means 702 notifies the server 5 that a customer has entered the store T.

[0069] The first store exit judgment means 703 judges whether there is a customer who is about to leave the store T. Specifically, the first store exit judgment means 703 judges whether the first sensor 78 has detected a customer who is about to leave the store. More specifically, the first store exit judgment means 703 judges whether the first sensor 78 has detected a customer who is about to leave the store before the second sensor 79.

[0070] When the first store exit determination means 703 determines that there is a customer who is about to leave the store, the inquiry means 704 inquires of the server 5 as to whether the customer has completed the transaction.

[0071] The notification means 705 notifies non-payment customers with a deterrent sound effect to stop them from leaving the store T without paying. Specifically, the notification means 705 notifies non-payment customers detected by the first sensor 78 with a deterrent sound effect. More specifically, the notification means 705 notifies non-payment customers that receive non-payment information in response to an inquiry by the inquiry means 704 with a deterrent sound effect. The deterrent sound effect is, for example, the sound of a camera shutter.

[0072] The second store exit determination means 706 determines whether the second sensor 79 has detected a customer.

[0073] The warning means 707 issues a warning sound when the second sensor 79 detects a customer who has not yet made a payment.

[0074] In addition, the control unit 500 of the server 5 functions as a tracking means 501, a product registration means 502, a product information transmission means 503, a transaction completed flag storage means 504, a transaction judgment means 505, and a transaction status notification means 506 by following the control program stored in the ROM 52 or the control program section 541 of the memory unit 54.

[0075] The tracking means 501 tracks the movement of a customer who enters the store T. Specifically, the tracking means 501 captures an image of a customer who enters the store T with a camera K, identifies the customer based on the customer's clothing, facial features, etc., and tracks the movement of the customer within the store T.

[0076] The product registration means 502 executes a product registration process for the product that the customer has taken out of the commercial case 19. Specifically, the product registration means 502 stores the product identification information acquired from the scale 17, which is related to the product that the customer has taken out of the commercial case 19, in the taken-out product section 5324 of the identified customer.

[0077] In response to a transaction inquiry received from the payment machine 3, the product information transmission means 503 transmits to the payment machine 3 product identification information of products that have been registered and relate to a customer identified based on the movement line tracking.

[0078] The transaction completed flag storage means 504 stores a transaction completed flag indicating that a transaction has been completed (i.e., executes transaction processing) for a customer who has completed a transaction for an item taken out of the transaction case 19. Specifically, based on the transaction information received from the payment machine 3, the transaction completed flag storage means 504 stores a transaction completed flag indicating that a transaction has been completed in the transaction status section 5325 relating to the customer who has completed a transaction for an item taken out of the transaction case 19.

[0079] The transaction determination means 505 determines whether the item a customer is about to purchase has already been paid for. Specifically, when there is an inquiry from the inquiry means 704 from the gate 7, the transaction determination means 505 determines whether the item a customer about to leave the store has already been paid for.

[0080] The transaction status notification means 506 transmits transaction completed information to the gate 7 if the customer has completed the transaction, and transmits incomplete transaction information to the gate 7 if the customer has not yet completed the transaction.

[0081] The control unit 100 of the product management unit 1 also functions as a removal determination unit 101, a product specification unit 102, and a removal notification unit 103 by following a control program stored in the ROM 12 or a control program unit 141 of the memory unit 14.

[0082] The removal determination means 101 determines whether a commodity has been removed from the commercial case 19. Specifically, the removal determination means 101 determines whether a commodity has been removed from the commercial case 19 based on a weight change in the total weight measured by the scale 17.

[0083] The product identification means 102 identifies the product removed by the removal determination means 101. Specifically, the product identification means 102 refers to the product table 131 to identify the product placed on the scale 17 where a weight change has occurred.

[0084] The removal notification means 103 transmits to the server 5 the product specification information of the product specified by the product specification means 102 and removal information including the number of products removed.

[0085] The control unit 300 of the payment machine 3 also functions as a payment reception unit 301, a payment inquiry unit 302, and a payment unit 303 by following the control programs stored in the ROM 32 or the control program unit 341 of the memory unit .

[0086] The transaction reception means 301 receives operation of the transaction key 371 by the customer.

[0087] The transaction inquiry means 302 inquires about information of the customer making the transaction (product specific information relating to the product that the customer has taken out of the transaction case 19) based on the transaction operation accepted by the transaction acceptance means 301.

[0088] The accounting means 303 executes the payment process for the products taken out by the customer.

[0089] From here, the control of gate 7 will be described. Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of gate 7. As shown in Fig. 12, the store entry determination means 701 of gate 7 determines whether a customer has entered store T based on the output from the first sensor 78 and the second sensor 79 (S11). If it is determined that a customer has entered the store (Yes in S11), the store entry notification means 702 notifies the server 5 that the customer has entered the store (S12). Then, the control unit 700 returns to S11.

[0090] Furthermore, if it is determined that the customer has not entered the store (No in S11), the first store exit determination means 703 determines whether the first sensor 78 has detected a customer (S21). If the first sensor 78 has not detected a customer (No in S21), the control unit 700 returns to S11, and if it is determined that the first sensor 78 has detected a customer (Yes in S21), the inquiry means 704 inquires of the server 5 whether the product taken out by the customer has been paid for (S22).

[0091] The control unit 700 determines whether it has received payment completion information in response to the inquiry (S23). If it determines that payment completion information has been received from the server 5 (Yes in S23), it then determines whether the second sensor 79 has detected the customer (S24). The control unit 700 waits until detection occurs (No in S24), and if it determines that the second sensor 79 has detected the customer (Yes in S24), it determines that the customer has left the store and sends a customer leaving notification to the server 5 (S29). In this case, the server 5 may delete the information related to that customer that was stored in the customer management unit 532.

[0092] Furthermore, if it is determined that the receipt has not been transaction-completed information (No in S23), the control unit 700 determines whether transaction-completed information has been received from the server 5 (S25). If it is determined that transaction-completed information has not been received (No in S25), the control unit 700 returns to S23, and if it is determined that transaction-completed information has been received (Yes in S25), the notification means 705 issues a deterrent sound effect from the first audio unit 81 (S26). The notification means 705 issues the deterrent sound effect at a volume that can be heard only by the customer. It is expected that a customer who notices the deterrent sound effect will not leave the store T but will go to the payment machine 3 and make a payment at the payment machine 3. If a customer completes a payment without leaving the store, and the customer is detected again by the first sensor 78, transaction-completed information will be received in response to the inquiry in S22, and the determination in S23 will be Yes. In this case, the deterrent sound effect will not be issued and the customer can leave the store through the entrance / exit Ta.

[0093] On the other hand, in S26, when the customer who has been notified of the deterrent sound effect attempts to leave the store, the second sensor 79 detects the customer. The second store exit determination means 706 determines whether the second sensor 79 has detected the customer (S27). It waits until the customer is detected (No in S27), and if it is determined that the second sensor 79 has detected the customer (Yes in S27), the warning means 707 issues a warning sound from the second audio unit 82 (S28). Then, the control unit 700 determines that the customer has left the store, and transmits a store exit notification to the server 5 (S29). In this case, the server 5 may delete the information stored in the customer management unit 532 related to the customer, but may leave information such as the customer number, the customer's clothing or features, and the product taken out as a customer who has committed fraud.

[0094] Next, the control of the server 5 will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of the control process of the server 5. As shown in FIG. 13, the control unit 500 of the server 5 judges whether or not it has received a store entry notice from the gate 7 (S31). When it is judged that the store entry notice has been received (Yes in S31), the tracking means 501 captures an image of the customer who has entered the store using the camera Ka and other cameras K, and starts tracking the movement line (S32). That is, a customer number for identifying the customer captured by the camera Ka or the like is issued and stored in the customer number section 5321, the clothing of the customer is stored in the clothing section 5322, and facial features based on the captured facial image are stored in the facial information section 5323. In this way, the clothing and facial features of the customer captured by each of the multiple cameras K are compared with the stored clothing and features to identify the customer, and the tracking means 501 tracks the movement line of the customer who is wearing the same clothing and has the same facial features by comparing the clothing and facial features captured by the multiple cameras K with the position of the customer captured by the camera K. In this way, the server 5 (control unit 500) grasps in real time where the customer who issued the number is located in the store T. Then, the control unit 500 returns to S31.

[0095] Furthermore, if it is determined that the reception is not a store entry notification from gate 7 (No in S31), control unit 500 determines whether removal information has been received from product management unit 1 (S33). If it is determined that removal information has been received (Yes in S33), control unit 500 identifies the customer who was at the location of the removed product by tracking the flow line as the customer who removed the product (S34). Then, product registration means 502 executes a process of storing product identification information of the product included in the removal information and the number of the product in the removed product unit 5324 associated with the customer number of the identified customer, that is, a product registration process (S35). Then control unit 500 returns to S31.

[0096] Furthermore, if it is determined that the reception has not been removal information (No in S33), the control unit 500 determines whether a payment inquiry has been received from the payment machine 3 (S41). If it is determined that a payment inquiry has been received (Yes in S41), the control unit 500 uses movement line tracking to identify the customer at the location of the payment machine 3 as the customer making a payment (S42). The product information transmission means 503 then transmits to the payment machine 3 the product identification information and quantity information stored in the removed product section 5324 that are associated with the customer number of the identified customer, together with the customer number of that customer stored in the customer number section 5321 (S43). The control unit 500 then returns to S31.

[0097] Furthermore, if it is determined that the transaction inquiry was not received from the payment machine 3 (No in S41), the control unit 500 determines whether transaction information has been received from the payment machine 3 (S44). If it is determined that transaction information has been received (Yes in S44), the transaction information of the purchased items is stored in the transaction information section 5326 corresponding to the customer number contained in the transaction information (S45). The transaction completed flag storage means 504 then executes transaction processing to store the transaction completed flag "1" in the transaction presence / absence section 5325 corresponding to that customer number (S46). The control unit 500 then returns to S31.

[0098] Furthermore, if it is determined that the transaction information has not been received from the payment machine 3 (No in S44), the control unit 500 determines whether a transaction completion inquiry has been received from the gate 7 (S51). If it is determined that a transaction completion inquiry has been received (Yes in S51), the control unit 500 identifies the customer detected by the first sensor 78 by tracking the customer's movement (S52). The control unit 500 then searches the transaction presence / absence unit 5325 associated with the customer number of the identified customer (S53), and the transaction determination means 505 determines whether a transaction completion flag has been stored in the transaction presence / absence unit 5325 (S54). If it is determined that a transaction completion flag has been stored (Yes in S54), the transaction status notification means 506 sends transaction completion information to the gate 7 (S55). If it is determined that a transaction completion flag has not been stored (No in S54), the transaction status notification means 506 sends untransaction information to the gate 7 (S56). The control unit 500 then returns to S31.

[0099] Furthermore, if it is determined that the receipt has not been a transaction completion inquiry from gate 7 (No in S51), the control unit 500 determines whether a store exit notice has been received from gate 7 (S57). If it is determined that the receipt has not been a store exit notice (No in S57), the control unit 500 returns to S31, and if it is determined that a store exit notice has been received (Yes in S57), the control unit 500 identifies the customer by tracing the flow line (S58). The control unit 500 then ends tracing the flow line of the identified customer. The control unit 500 then ends the process and returns to S31.

[0100] Next, the control of the product management unit 1 will be described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of the control process of the product management unit 1. As shown in FIG. 14, the removal determination means 101 determines whether a product has been removed from the commercial case 19 (i.e., whether the weight of the scale 17 has changed) (S61). The means waits until a product is removed (No in S61), and if it is determined that a product has been removed (Yes in S61), the product identification means 102 refers to the product table 131 and identifies the removed product from the product code section 1312 of the scale 17 whose weight has changed (S62). The control unit 100 also calculates the number of removed products from the changed weight and the weight of one product stored in the unit weight section 1314 (S63). The control unit 100 then stores the changed total weight in the total weight section 1315, and stores the total number obtained by subtracting the number of removed products in the number section 1316, thus updating the data (S64). Then, the removal notification means 103 transmits removal information including the product identification information and the number of the removed products to the server 5 (S65). Then, the control unit 100 returns to S61.

[0101] Next, the control of the payment machine 3 will be described. FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing the flow of the control process of the payment machine 3. As shown in FIG. 15, the payment reception means 301 judges whether the payment key 371 has been operated (S71). If it is judged that it has been operated (Yes in S71), the payment inquiry means 302 makes a payment inquiry to the server 5 (S72). Next, the control unit 300 judges whether the product identification information, the number of pieces, and the customer number for the payment inquiry have been received from the server 5 (S73). It waits until it is received (No in S73), and if it is judged that the product identification information, the number of pieces, and the customer number for the payment inquiry have been received (Yes in S73), the control unit 300 stores the product information (product name, product price, etc.) for the extracted product obtained from the product master 342 based on the received product identification information in the product information section 331, and displays the product information and the number of pieces on the display unit 38 (S74). Then, the control unit 300 returns to S71. The customer checks the product information displayed on the display unit 38 and operates the settlement key 372 .

[0102] If it is determined that the payment key 371 was not operated (No in S71), the control unit 300 determines whether the payment key 372 was operated (S75). If it is determined that the payment key 372 was not operated (No in S75), the process returns to S71. If it is determined that the payment key 372 was operated (Yes in S75), the accounting unit 303 executes the payment process for the product whose product information is stored in the product information section 331 (S76). The control unit 300 then cumulatively stores the payment information for the product for which payment has been processed in the sales information section 332, and transmits the transaction information together with the customer number of the customer to the server 5. The control unit 500 of the server 5 stores the received transaction information in the transaction information section 5326 corresponding to the customer (S77). The control unit 500 also cumulatively stores the received transaction information in the sales information section 531. The control unit 300 then ends the process and returns to S71.

[0103] In this way, in the embodiment of system 10, the server 5 tracks the movement of customers who enter unmanned store T where no store clerks or the like are present, the server 5 identifies the customer who removed an item from the shopping case 19 and manages the items removed by the customer based on the removal information from the product management unit 1, identifies the customer who has paid at the payment machine 3 based on a payment inquiry from the payment machine 3, and the payment machine 3 performs the payment for the customer, the server 5 manages customers who have paid and customers who have not paid based on the payment information from the payment machine 3, the server 5 determines whether a customer attempting to leave through gate 7 has already paid based on the payment inquiry from gate 7, and gate 7 plays a deterrent sound effect to customers who have not paid based on the unpaid information received from the server 5.

[0104] According to such a system 10, it is possible to enhance the effect of suppressing fraudulent acts by customers in an unmanned store T.

[0105] As described above, the sales management system 90 of the embodiment has a server 5 and a gate 7 through which a customer passes when leaving store T, and is a sales management system that manages the sales of goods at store T, where the server 5 is equipped with a payment determination means 505 that determines whether the goods a customer is purchasing have already been paid for, and the gate 7 is equipped with an alarm means 705 that alarms a customer who is determined by the payment determination means 505 to have not paid with a deterrent sound effect to discourage them from leaving store T without paying.

[0106] According to such a sales management system 90, since a deterrent sound effect is notified to customers who have not yet made a payment, it is possible to enhance the effect of deterring fraudulent acts by customers in an unmanned store T.

[0107] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

[0108] For example, in the embodiment, the store T is an unmanned store with no store clerks, etc. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the store T may be a staffed store with store clerks, etc., present (deployed).

[0109] In the embodiment, the customer is identified based on the feature amount indicating the clothes worn by the customer and the facial features. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the customer may be identified using other known methods.

[0110] In the embodiment, the position of the customer in the store T is grasped in real time using a flow line tracking technology to identify the customer. However, this is not limited to the above. For example, when identifying a customer who has taken out a product from the shopping case 19, the clothing and face image of the customer at that position may be compared with the clothing information stored in the clothing section 5322 and the feature amount of the face image stored in the face information section 5323 based on the image captured by the camera Kb at the time of taking out the product, to identify the most similar customer. Similarly, the customer may be imaged by the camera Kc at the time of making a payment at the payment machine 3, and the clothing and face feature amounts may be similarly compared to identify the most similar customer. Similarly, the customer may be imaged by the camera Kd at the time the first sensor 78 detects the customer as he or she is about to leave the store, and the clothing and face feature amounts may be similarly compared to identify the most similar customer.

[0111] In the embodiment, the frozen dumplings and ramen are described as the products sold in the store T. However, the products are not limited to these, and the products sold in the store T may be any products. [Explanation of symbols]

[0112] 1 Product Management Department 3. Cashier 5 Server 7 Gate 10. System 17 Scales 19 Commercial Case 78 First Sensor 79 Second Sensor 81 First Audio Section 82 Second Voice 90 Sales Management System 100 Control section 101 Retrieval judgment means 102 Product identification means 103 Removal notification means 300 Control section 301 Payment acceptance method 302 Accounting inquiry method 303 Accounting Instruments 331 Product Information Department 332 Sales Information Department 500 Control section 501 Tracking Methods 502 Product Registration Method 503 Product information transmission means 504 Accounting completion flag storage means 505 Accounting Judgment Methods 506 Accounting status notification means 532 Customer Management Department 700 Control section 701 Store entrance judgment method 702 Store entrance notification means 703 First method for deciding whether to leave the store 704 Inquiry methods 705 Notification means 706 Second method for deciding whether to leave the store 707 Warning means K Camera [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0113] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-187911 A

Claims

1. A sales management system that manages sales of products in a store, the sales management system comprising: a server; and a gate through which a customer passes when leaving the store, the sales management system comprising: The server, accounting determination means for determining whether the product to be purchased by the customer has already been accounted for; Equipped with The gate is an alerting means for alerting a customer who has been determined by the transaction determining means to have not made a transaction with a deterrent sound effect to discourage the customer from leaving the store without making a transaction; A sales management system equipped with

2. The server, A tracking means for tracking the movement of customers who enter the store. The sales management system according to claim 1 .

3. The gate is A first sensor is provided near an exit of the store; The notification means notifies the non-payment customer detected by the first sensor of the deterrent sound effect. The sales management system according to claim 1 .

4. The gate is an inquiry means for inquiring whether the customer has completed a transaction when the first sensor detects the customer; The accounting judgment means includes: When an inquiry is made by the inquiry means, it is determined whether the customer has already made a payment. The sales management system according to claim 3.

5. the transaction determination means determines that the customer has completed a transaction when it receives transaction information from the transaction machine indicating that the customer has completed a transaction for the product to be purchased; The sales management system according to claim 4.

6. The deterrent sound effect is a camera shutter sound. The sales management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The gate is A second sensor is provided at a position closer to the outlet than the first sensor, and a warning means for issuing a warning sound to warn the non-payment customer detected by the second sensor. The sales management system according to any one of claims 3 to 5.

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