System, method and program

Abstract

To support a person who receives advice (advisee) more adequately by imparting information and / or the advice, etc.SOLUTION: A system comprises: an acquisition processing part which acquires information associated with an operation state of a store; and a display processing part which displays a screen including capable of outputting advice for supporting the operation of the store based upon at least the information associated with the operation state of the store, wherein the display processing part alters the advice that the character is made to output according the present date and time and an implementation state of a task that an operator of the store should do to operate the store.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and programs for providing information and / or advice, and the like. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, various techniques for providing information and / or advice have been considered. One non-limiting example is a technique in which a headquarters side including a supervisor in a franchise chain provides information and / or advice to support the operation of each store. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7231063 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As described above, various systems and software in which humanoid characters provide information and / or advice, etc. have been considered in the past, but there is a need for more appropriate provision of information and / or advice, and more appropriate support for those receiving advice on store management, etc.

[0005] One of the problems to be solved by the present disclosure is to more appropriately provide information and / or advice, etc., and more appropriately support a person receiving the advice, etc. As a non-limiting example, it is to provide a system, method, and program capable of more appropriately supporting the operation of stores in a franchise chain. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One example of a system of the present disclosure is a system that includes an acquisition processing unit that acquires information regarding the operating status of a store, and a display processing unit that displays a screen including a character that can output advice to assist in the operation of the store based on at least the information regarding the operating status of the store, and that changes the advice that the character outputs depending on the current date and time and the status of completion of tasks that should be performed by the store manager to operate the store.

[0007] Another example method of the present disclosure is a method that includes obtaining, by at least one computer, information regarding the operating status of a store by a manager, and displaying a screen including a character that can output advice to assist in operating the store based on the information regarding the operating status of the store, and changing the advice that the character outputs depending on the current date and time and the status of completion of tasks that the manager should perform to operate the store.

[0008] Furthermore, as yet another example of a program of the present disclosure, it is a program that causes at least one computer to perform the following: obtaining information regarding the operating status of a store by a manager; displaying a screen including a character that can output advice to assist in operating the store based on the information regarding the operating status of the store; and changing the advice that the character outputs depending on the current date and time and the status of execution of tasks that the manager must perform to operate the store. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exemplary schematic diagram showing a configuration of a store management system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exemplary schematic block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a store terminal according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing an example of a top screen displayed on a store terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing an example of a first screen displayed on a store terminal according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing an example of a second screen displayed on the store terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing an example of the second screen displayed on the store terminal according to the embodiment, which is different from FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing an example of a third screen displayed on the store terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing an example of the third screen displayed on the store terminal according to the embodiment, which is different from FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing an example of the third screen displayed on the store terminal according to the embodiment, which is different from those shown in FIGS. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing an example of a fourth screen displayed on the store terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing an example of a fifth screen displayed on the store terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an exemplary schematic block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a computer constituting the store terminal and management terminal system according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The configurations of the embodiments described below and the actions and effects brought about by the configurations are merely examples and are not limited to the following descriptions. The specific multi-layer structure of the GUI (graphical user interface) in each embodiment is also an example and can be modified as appropriate.

[0011] FIG. 1 is an exemplary schematic diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a store management system according to an embodiment.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the store operation system according to the embodiment includes a store terminal 110 communicably connected to a management terminal 120 via a network 150.

[0013] The store terminal 110 is an information processing terminal such as a tablet provided to a store such as a convenience store by a company that manages the store. The store terminal 110 has a display 111 including a touch panel, and receives inputs from the store operator (e.g., the store manager) via the display 111 and outputs information to the store operator to support the operation of the store. The management terminal 120 is an information processing terminal provided in the company that manages the store and is operated by a person in charge (e.g., a supervisor) of the company.

[0014] In this embodiment, the store terminal 110 has the following functions to appropriately support the store manager who operates the store terminal 110.

[0015] FIG. 2 is an exemplary schematic block diagram showing a functional configuration of the store terminal 110 according to the embodiment.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the store terminal 110 includes an acquisition processing unit 201 and a display processing unit 202.

[0017] The acquisition processing unit 201 acquires information on the operational status of the store. The acquisition processing unit 201 can acquire not only information on the store where the store terminal 110 is actually installed, but also information on the operational status of other stores that belong to the store in a predetermined area (for example, an area determined for convenience by a company that manages the store). The acquisition processing unit 201 can also acquire information input by a manager who operates the store terminal 110 via a touch panel of the display 111 or the like. Note that the information on the operational status of the store may include various information such as information indicating sales results of products, information indicating sales plans for products, and information indicating know-how on operating the store.

[0018] The display processing unit 202 outputs various screens (and sounds) for appropriately supporting the operation of the store based on various information acquired by the acquisition processing unit 201. More specifically, the display processing unit 202 displays various screens including a character X (described later) capable of outputting advice for supporting the operation of the store based on information regarding the operation status of the store. The display processing unit 202 is configured to be capable of changing the advice output by the character X according to the current date and time, the status of execution of tasks that the store manager should perform for the operation of the store, and the like.

[0019] For example, in response to the start of a predetermined application by an administrator's operation, the display processing unit 202 first displays a top screen such as an image 300 shown in FIG.

[0020] FIG. 3 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing an example of a top screen displayed on the store terminal 110 according to the embodiment.

[0021] An image 300 shown in Fig. 3 is an example of a top screen according to an embodiment. A human-shaped character X is displayed in this image 300. In the embodiment, the character X is configured to be able to simulate a dialogue with a manager who operates the store terminal 110. For example, the character X is configured to be able to output advice for supporting the operation of the store in the form of voice, text, and / or image in response to an operational input by the manager or automatically in response to the establishment of a predetermined condition unrelated to the operational input.

[0022] Furthermore, five buttons 301 to 305 are displayed on the image 300. These buttons 301 are configured as a GUI that accepts operations for transitioning the image 300 as the top screen to various screens that allow the manager to check information useful for the operation of the store in more detail while receiving advice output from the character X.

[0023] For example, when the button 301 "Previous Day's Data" is operated (eg, touched) on the above-mentioned top screen, the top screen transitions to a first screen such as image 400 shown in the following FIG.

[0024] FIG. 4 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing an example of a first screen displayed on the store terminal 110 according to the embodiment.

[0025] 4 is an example of a first screen according to an embodiment. The image 400 includes an area 410 in which information regarding the operating status of the previous day of the store (hereinafter, for simplification, may be referred to as "own store" as necessary) operated by the manager who operates the store terminal 110 is displayed using numerical values.

[0026] Also, the image 400 displays a character X similar to the example shown in Fig. 3 above. The display processing unit 202 may cause the character X on the image 400 to output advice related to a numerical value based on the numerical value displayed in the area 410. In addition, when a numerical value such as sales or the number of customers satisfies a predetermined condition, the display processing unit 202 may have a function of causing the character X on the image 400 to output a voice or image asking the manager about the cause, and recording the answer from the manager.

[0027] Returning to FIG. 3, when the button 302 "Order Points" is operated (for example, touched) on the top screen, the top screen transitions to a second screen such as image 500 shown in the next FIG.

[0028] FIG. 5 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing an example of the second screen displayed on the store terminal 110 according to the embodiment.

[0029] 5 is an example of the second screen according to the embodiment. This image 500 includes an area 510 in which information is displayed to support ordering of products sold at the store, which should be executed by the manager operating the store terminal 110. This area 510 is provided with buttons 511 and 512 for changing the category of information to be displayed.

[0030] The "important measures" button 511 is configured as a GUI that accepts an operation to display in the area 510 information such as target values ​​and actual results within a predetermined period in the past that are set in relation to measures (e.g., campaigns) determined by the company that manages the store. In the example shown in FIG. 5, this button 511 is in a selected state, and information such as past target values ​​and actual results that are set in relation to the measures is displayed in the area 510 as information to support ordering of products to be sold in the store. Note that various information related to such measures may be input by a supervisor to the management terminal 120 and shared by the store terminal 110.

[0031] Here, the image 500 displays a character X similar to the examples shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. The display processing unit 202 can cause the character X to output advice related to ordering a product according to the information displayed in the area 510 (information indicating the past sales status of the product).

[0032] When the button 512 "Daily Changes" is operated (touched) in the above image 500, the image 500 transitions to an image 600 shown in the next FIG.

[0033] FIG. 6 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing an example of the second screen displayed on the store terminal 110 according to the embodiment, which is different from FIG.

[0034] An image 600 shown in Fig. 6 is another example of the second screen according to the embodiment. This image 600 also includes an area 610 in which information is displayed to support ordering of products sold in the store, which should be executed by the manager operating the store terminal 110, is displayed, as in the example shown in Fig. 5. This area 610 is provided with buttons 611 and 612 for changing the category of information to be displayed.

[0035] Button 611 labeled "Important Measures" is the same as button 511 shown in Fig. 5. When this button 611 is operated (touched), image 600 transitions to image 500 shown in Fig. 5 above.

[0036] Here, the "Daily Changes" button 612 is configured as a GUI that accepts an operation to display in area 610 information based on the sales status of products in the store at a similar (or the same) past time as the present in terms of, for example, changes in weather and temperature, past disposal and out-of-stock situations, etc. In the example shown in Fig. 6, this button 612 is in a selected state, and information indicating the sales status of products in the store at a past time is displayed in area 610 as information to support ordering of products to be sold in the store.

[0037] Note that the image 600 also displays a character X similar to the examples shown in Figs. 3 to 5 above. The display processing unit 202 can cause the character X to output advice related to ordering products according to the information displayed in the area 610 (information indicating past sales status of products). Note that in the embodiment, advice related to ordering products can be advice for each product or advice for each product category.

[0038] Returning to FIG. 3, when the button 303 called "To-do List" is operated (for example, touched) on the top screen, the top screen transitions to a third screen such as image 700 shown in the following FIG.

[0039] FIG. 7 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing an example of the third screen displayed on the store terminal 110 according to the embodiment.

[0040] An image 700 shown in FIG. 7 is an example of a third screen according to an embodiment. This image 700 includes an area 710 in which information about incomplete tasks among the tasks that the manager operating the store terminal 110 should perform for the operation of the store is displayed. This area 710 is provided with buttons 711-713 for changing the category of information to be displayed. Note that the supervisor may decide what is to be the "task to be performed." However, depending on the progress of the advisee, etc., evaluation may be partially automated by using, for example, the period of time not yet performed, the time remaining until the deadline, etc. as a judgment criterion, so that part of the evaluation may be automatically determined.

[0041] The "Order recommendation" button 711 is configured as a GUI that accepts an operation to display in the area 710 information indicating information on incomplete tasks among tasks related to orders previously recommended by the store terminal 110, together with an interface that accepts an input from the manager regarding whether or not the tasks have already been performed. In the example shown in FIG. 7, this button 711 is in a selected state, and information indicating tasks related to orders previously recommended by the store terminal 110 is displayed in the area 710 together with an interface that accepts an input from the manager regarding whether or not the tasks have already been performed. The manager's input regarding whether or not the tasks have been performed can be shared on the management terminal 120 side via the network 150.

[0042] Here, the image 700 displays a character X similar to the examples shown in Fig. 3 to Fig. 6. The display processing unit 202 may cause the character X to output advice, such as encouraging the completion of an uncompleted (or unperformed) task, based on the information displayed in the area 710.

[0043] When the button 712 "Pre-order" is operated (touched) in the above image 700, the image 700 transitions to the image 800 shown in the following Fig. 8. Also, when the button 713 "Operation" is operated (touched) in the above image 700, the image 700 transitions to the image 900 shown in Fig. 9 which will be explained after the image 800 shown in Fig. 8.

[0044] FIG. 8 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing an example of the third screen displayed on the store terminal 110 according to the embodiment, which is different from the example shown in FIG.

[0045] An image 800 shown in Fig. 8 is another example of the third screen according to the embodiment. Like the example shown in Fig. 7 above, this image 800 also includes an area 810 in which information on uncompleted tasks among the tasks that the manager operating the store terminal 110 should carry out for the management of the store is displayed. This area 810 is provided with buttons 811 to 813 for changing the category of information to be displayed.

[0046] The "Order Recommended" button 811 is the same as the button 711 shown in Fig. 7. When this button 711 is operated (touched), the image 800 transitions to the image 700 shown in Fig. 7 above.

[0047] Also, the "Order in advance" button 612 is configured as a GUI that accepts an operation for displaying in area 810 information indicating information on incomplete tasks among tasks related to products that need to be ordered in advance, together with an interface that accepts an input by the administrator regarding whether or not the task has already been performed. Note that, similar to the example shown in FIG. 7, the administrator's input regarding whether or not a task has been performed can be shared on the management terminal 120 side via network 150. In the example shown in FIG. 8, button 812 is in a selected state, and information on incomplete tasks among tasks related to products that should have been ordered in advance is displayed in area 810.

[0048] In addition, the image 800 displays a character X similar to the examples shown in Fig. 3 to Fig. 7. The display processing unit 202 can cause the character X to output advice, such as encouraging the completion of an uncompleted (or unperformed) task, based on the information displayed in the area 810.

[0049] Here, when the button 813 labeled "Operation" is operated (touched) in the above image 800, the image 800 transitions to the image 900 shown in the next FIG.

[0050] FIG. 9 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing an example of the third screen displayed on the store terminal 110 according to the embodiment, which is different from those shown in FIGS.

[0051] An image 900 shown in Fig. 9 is another example of the third screen according to the embodiment. Like the examples shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 above, this image 900 also includes an area 910 in which information on uncompleted tasks among the tasks that the manager operating the store terminal 110 should carry out for the management of the store is displayed. This area 910 is provided with buttons 911 to 913 for changing the category of information to be displayed.

[0052] Button 911 labeled "order recommended" is similar to button 711 shown in FIG. 7 above and button 811 shown in FIG. 8 above. When this button 911 is operated (touched), image 900 transitions to image 700 shown in FIG. 7 above. Button 912 labeled "pre-order" is similar to button 712 shown in FIG. 7 above and button 812 shown in FIG. 8 above. When this button 912 is operated (touched), image 900 transitions to image 800 shown in FIG. 8 above. Note that what constitutes "order recommended" may be decided by the supervisor, but it may also be partially automated by automating evaluation using the progress of the advisee as a judgment criteria.

[0053] Here, the "Operation" button 912 is configured as a GUI that accepts operations for displaying information indicating information on incomplete tasks among tasks related to a measure decided by the company that manages the store in the area 910 together with an interface that accepts an input by the manager regarding whether or not the task has already been performed. Note that the manager's input regarding whether or not a task has been performed can be shared on the management terminal 120 side via the network 150, as in the examples shown in Figures 7 and 8. In the example shown in Figure 9, the button 912 is in a selected state, and information on incomplete tasks among tasks related to the measure is displayed in the area 910.

[0054] In addition, the image 900 displays a character X similar to the examples shown in Fig. 3 to Fig. 8. The display processing unit 202 can cause the character X to output advice, such as encouraging the completion of an uncompleted (or unperformed) task, based on the information displayed in the area 910.

[0055] Returning to FIG. 3, when the button 303 called "Weekly Point" is operated (for example, touched) on the top screen, the top screen transitions to a fourth screen such as image 1000 shown in the following FIG.

[0056] FIG. 10 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing an example of the fourth screen displayed on the store terminal 110 according to the embodiment.

[0057] An image 1000 shown in FIG. 10 is an example of a fourth screen according to an embodiment. The image 1000 includes an area 1010 in which a plurality of categories related to a list of tasks to be performed within a specific period (for example, the next week) are displayed, and an area 1020 in which information on tasks belonging to a category selected in the area 1010 is displayed in a list. The tasks to be performed within a specific period may be determined, for example, every certain period (for example, one week) by a company that manages the store, and may be updated every certain period by operating the management terminal 120. The manager of the store can check the tasks to be performed within a specific period (for example, the next week) by category in advance (for example, the previous week) by checking the image 1000. Note that the supervisor may decide what is to be the "task to be performed," but it may also be partially automated by automating evaluation, etc., based on the progress of the advisee, for example, the period not yet performed, the remaining time until the deadline, etc., as a judgment material.

[0058] Area 1010 includes a number of buttons 1001-1009 for selecting a category of tasks to be displayed in area 1020. Area 1010 also includes, in addition to these buttons 1001-1009, an interface 1070 that displays the current time (date and week).

[0059] In the example shown in Fig. 10, button 1001 corresponds to a category called "important measures", button 1002 corresponds to a category called "new product information", button 1003 corresponds to a category called "discounted products", button 1004 corresponds to a category called "pre-order", button 1005 corresponds to a category called "product exchange", button 1006 corresponds to a category called "coupon", button 1007 corresponds to a category called "returns", button 1008 corresponds to a category called "operations", and button 1009 corresponds to a category called "messages", but these categorizations are merely examples. In an embodiment, categorizations different from the example shown in Fig. 9 may be implemented, for example, by a company that has jurisdiction over the store.

[0060] Here, when the multiple categories displayed in area 1010 include multiple unconfirmed categories that have not been confirmed by the administrator, display processing unit 202 may highlight the multiple unconfirmed categories on image 900. For example, in the example shown in Fig. 9, predetermined marks 1050 for notifying the administrator that the categories are unconfirmed are superimposed on buttons 1003-1009 corresponding to the unconfirmed categories among buttons 1001-1009, thereby highlighting the unconfirmed categories.

[0061] Also, the image 1000 displays a character X similar to the examples shown in Fig. 3 to Fig. 9. The display processing unit 202 can cause the character X to output a reminder to check each of the multiple unconfirmed categories highlighted by the marks 1050 in a predetermined order of priority determined in advance by, for example, a company that manages the store.

[0062] Returning to FIG. 3, when the button 305 "Previous Week Review" is operated (for example, touched) on the top screen, the top screen transitions to a fifth screen such as an image 1100 shown in the following FIG.

[0063] FIG. 11 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing an example of a fifth screen displayed on the store terminal according to the embodiment.

[0064] 11 is an example of the fifth screen according to the embodiment. This image 1100 includes an area 1110 in which information regarding the operational status of the store for a certain period in the past (e.g., the previous week) is displayed as numerical values ​​or a graph. The display processing unit 202 can change the advice to be output to the character X according to the numerical values ​​or the graph displayed in this image 1100.

[0065] In the embodiment, in order to output advice that is more suitable for the manager, the output mode of the advice may change according to the manager's characteristics. That is, in the embodiment, the acquisition processing unit 201 can acquire the manager's characteristics by acquiring the manager's answer to a predetermined question that is presented to the manager in advance via the display 111, for example, and the display processing unit 202 can change the output mode of the advice by a character or the like according to the manager's characteristics. Examples of the manager's characteristics include personality, age, sex, and work status (task implementation status). Examples of the output mode of the advice that changes according to the characteristics include, for example, the wording of the advice, such as whether the voice or text constituting the advice is output in gentle words or harsh words, whether the voice constituting the advice is output at a volume louder than normal, whether the text constituting the advice is output in a size larger than normal, whether the amount of advice is increased or decreased, and various other possible examples.

[0066] In the above description, an example is given in which the information displayed on the various screens shown in Fig. 4 to Fig. 11 is basically based on information on the operating status of the store itself, but in the embodiment, information on the operating status of stores other than the store itself may also be reflected in the information displayed on the various screens shown in Fig. 4 to Fig. 11. More specifically, in the embodiment, the acquisition processing unit 201 may further acquire information on the operating status of other stores that belong to the same area as the store itself. Then, the display processing unit 202 may cause the character X to output advice based on a statistical amount (for example, an average value) calculated based on information on the operating status of the other stores.

[0067] As described above, the store terminal 110 according to the embodiment includes an acquisition processing unit 201 and a display processing unit 202. The acquisition processing unit 201 acquires information on the operational status of the store (own store) where the store terminal 110 is used. Then, the display processing unit 202 displays a screen including a character X capable of outputting advice for supporting the operation of the own store based on at least the information on the operational status of the own store.

[0068] Here, in the embodiment, the display processing unit 202 may change the advice to be outputted by the character X according to the current date and time and the implementation status of the task that the manager of the store should perform for the operation of the store. According to such a configuration, by appropriately changing advice based on information on the operation status of the store and giving it to the manager using the character X, the manager can be given more appropriate information, and the operation of the store can be more appropriately supported. This support includes, in addition to managing the progress of the work of each store and / or the store manager and proposing measures according to the current specific situation according to the specific invention specific matters, using data obtained by operating this system, etc., for comparison of the performance of each store or each person, performance evaluation, and expansion to other stores, and further, by using the obtained data as learning material to learn using a neural network, etc., it is possible, but not essential, to grasp correlations even if they are not explainable, to partially automate evaluations, and to automatically change the contents of information and / or advice, etc.

[0069] In the embodiment, the character X may or may not be human. A "character" may also be expressed as an "avatar." Existing technology may be used for the movement, display, output, etc. of a human or non-human character.

[0070] However, the character is not limited to a humanoid character, and may be a non-human character such as an animated character, a live-action character (photorealistic), or an animal, or there may be no character at all. In addition, the character and background, etc., and the information and / or advice to be given may be changed depending on external factors such as the current date and time, day of the week, month, weather, geographic area, business performance such as sales status, status such as progress, personality of the advisee, age, sex, career, work shift, and period of use of the system, and furthermore, by learning the obtained data using a neural network or the like as a learning material, even if it is not explainable, correlations may be grasped and automatically changed to provide more appropriate information and / or advice. According to the inventor's knowledge in the industry, among the above elements, important indicators worth reflecting in order to provide more appropriate information and / or advice are, for example, various data related to the store, including the current date and time (especially the time), day of the week, weather, status such as progress, personality of the advisee, and information on the operating status of the store. It is possible, but not essential, to increase the influence of these important indicators reflected in the information and / or advice by using a weighting coefficient. For example, it is possible, but not essential, to increase the weighting coefficient of the date and time factor (especially the time of day), the day of the week factor, the weather factor, the progress and other situation factors, and the personality factor of the advisee. It is also possible, but not essential, to increase the weighting coefficient of more than one of these factors. It is also possible, but not essential, to automatically change the weighting coefficient of one or more of these factors by learning using a neural network or the like to grasp correlations, even if they are not explainable. The personality of the advisee may be automatically determined using an index such as the Big Five (a classification method of personality characteristics).

[0071] In addition, depending on the progress of the advisee's task, for example, if the task has not been performed for a certain period of time or if the remaining time until the deadline is less than a certain amount of time, it is possible to send an alert and to use these as part of the evaluation, although this is not required.

[0072] In addition, the technology of the embodiment may be intended to use a neural network or the like to learn various pieces of information that may be taken into consideration for outputting advice (such as the current date, time, day of the week, month, progress, and other external factors such as the personality and work shift of the person being advised, the period of time the system has been used, and the status of completion of tasks that the operator must perform to operate the store), thereby grasping correlations, even if they are not explainable, and automatically changing these to provide the person being advised with more appropriate information and / or advice.

[0073] In addition, if necessary, the system can be connected to the external Internet to add or reflect information such as Internet searches, answers from AI generation such as Chat GPT, records on closed electronic bulletin boards within a company (e.g., past Q&As), and information contained in various documents such as paper or data manuals to the information and / or advice provided to the advisee.

[0074] The character X according to the embodiment is capable of not only outputting advice unilaterally, but also of interactive communication with the store manager. More specifically, when the character X receives a voice input from the store manager, it is capable of outputting an appropriate voice, text, and / or image according to the content of the input. For example, the character X is also capable of outputting an answer in response to a question input by voice or the like from the store manager. Such an answer is generated in advance according to a plurality of expected questions, for example, based on information on the operation status of the store. Examples of questions include general questions about the store, such as financial management, labor management, and sales management, as well as questions about information about the store itself, such as sales, the number of people passing through the cash register, employee shifts, inventory, ordering points, expiration dates, best-selling items, weak items, number of faces, and display positions, questions about information about other stores and the surrounding situation, such as best-selling items at other stores and schedules of nearby events, and questions about information about the headquarters (the company that manages the operation of the store), such as sales promotion information, new product information, and prices. When character X receives an input of a question, character X may exhibit a behavior indicating that fact (for example, a nodding motion on the screen or an output of a voice response).

[0075] Furthermore, the technology of the embodiment can also be used to collect usage status of the store terminal 110 and the results of various communications between the store manager and character X, and use the collected data to generate future feedback to the store manager (e.g., advice regarding store management).

[0076] Finally, the hardware configuration of the store terminal 110 and the management terminal 120 constituting the store operation system (see FIG. 1) according to the embodiment described above will be described. The store terminal 110 and the management terminal 120 according to the embodiment are realized by a computer 1200 having a hardware configuration as shown in FIG. 12, for example.

[0077] FIG. 12 is an exemplary schematic block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a computer 1200 constituting the store terminal 110 and the manager terminal 120 according to the embodiment.

[0078] 12, the computer 1200 includes a processor 1210, a memory 1220, a storage 1230, an input / output interface (I / F) 1340, and a communication interface (I / F) 1250. These pieces of hardware are connected to a bus 1360.

[0079] The processor 1210 is configured as, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and controls the overall operation of each part of the computer 1200 .

[0080] Memory 1220 includes, for example, Read Only Memory (ROM) and Random Access Memory (RAM), and provides volatile or non-volatile storage of various data such as computer programs executed by processor 1210, and provides a working area for processor 1210 to execute computer programs.

[0081] The storage 1230 includes, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and stores various types of data in a non-volatile manner.

[0082] The input / output interface 1240 controls the input of data to the computer 1200 from input devices (not shown) such as a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, etc., and the output of data from the computer 1200 to output devices (not shown) such as a display and speakers, etc.

[0083] Communications interface 1250 enables computer 1200 to communicate with other devices.

[0084] The functional configuration (see FIG. 1) of the store terminal 110 and the management terminal 120 according to the embodiment is realized as a group of functional modules formed by cooperation between hardware and software, for example, as a result of the processor 1210 executing an information processing program pre-stored in the memory 1220 or the storage 1230. However, in the embodiment, some or all of the group of functional modules shown in FIG. 1 may be realized only by hardware such as a dedicated circuit.

[0085] It should be noted that the above-mentioned information processing program does not necessarily have to be stored in advance in the memory 1220 or the storage 1230. For example, the above-mentioned information processing program may be provided as a computer program product recorded in an installable or executable format on a computer-readable medium, such as various magnetic disks such as a flexible disk (FD) or various optical disks such as a digital versatile disk (DVD).

[0086] The above-mentioned information processing program may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. In other words, the above-mentioned information processing program may be provided in a state where it is stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and is available for download via the network.

[0087] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their 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. In addition, the contents of the present disclosure can be used not only in practice, but also as a game, a simulator, or educational material. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 201 Acquisition processing unit 202 Display processing unit 400 images (1st screen) 500, 600 images (2nd screen) 700, 800, 900 images (3rd screen) 1000 images (4th screen) 1100 images (5th screen) X character

Claims

1. an acquisition processing unit that acquires information regarding the operation status of the store; a display processing unit that displays a screen including a character capable of outputting advice to support the operation of the store based on at least information regarding the operation status of the store, and that changes the advice that is output by the character depending on the current date and time and the status of execution of tasks that should be performed by the manager of the store for the operation of the store; A system comprising:

2. The acquisition processing unit further acquires information regarding the operational status of other stores that belong to the same area as the store, the display processing unit causes the character to output the advice further based on a statistical amount calculated based on information about the operation status of the other store. The system of claim 1 .

3. the acquisition processing unit acquires a characteristic of the manager by acquiring a response from the manager to a predetermined question; The display processing unit changes an output manner of the advice by the character in accordance with a characteristic of the operator.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The screen includes a first screen on which information regarding the operation status of the store on the previous day is displayed using numerical values; the display processing unit causes the character to output the advice related to the numerical value based on the numerical value displayed on the first screen.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. the screen includes a second screen on which information for supporting ordering of products sold at the store is displayed; the display processing unit causes the character to output the advice related to ordering the product in accordance with information about a past operational status of the store, the information indicating a past sales status of the product; 3. A system according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The screen includes a third screen on which information regarding an uncompleted task among the tasks is displayed.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The screen includes a fourth screen in which a list of the tasks to be performed within a specific period is displayed by a plurality of categories.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2.

8. When the plurality of categories includes a plurality of unconfirmed categories that have not been confirmed by the administrator, the display processing unit highlights the plurality of unconfirmed categories on the fourth screen and causes the character to output a reminder to prompt confirmation of each of the plurality of unconfirmed categories in a predetermined order of priority. The system of claim 7.

9. The screen includes a fifth screen in which information regarding the operation status of the store for the previous week is displayed in numerical or graphical form, the display processing unit changes the advice to be output to the character in accordance with the numerical value or the graph displayed on the fifth screen.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2.

10. by at least one computer, Obtaining information regarding the operation status of the store by the operator; displaying a screen including a character capable of outputting advice for supporting the operation of the store based on information regarding the operation status of the store, and varying the advice output by the character according to a current date and time and an implementation status of a task that should be performed by a manager for the operation of the store; A method comprising:

11. Obtaining information regarding the operation status of the store by the operator; displaying a screen including a character capable of outputting advice for supporting the operation of the store based on information regarding the operation status of the store, and varying the advice output by the character according to a current date and time and an implementation status of a task that should be performed by a manager for the operation of the store; A program for causing at least one computer to execute the above.

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