Database update apparatus and program thereof

Abstract

To simplify the operation for updating data of arbitrary one item stored in a database, to the same value collectively.SOLUTION: A database update apparatus includes acquisition means, storage means, and update means. The acquisition means acquires update data for updating data for each item in a database which stores data on a plurality of setting items for each item, related to sale of a commodity. The storage means stores a category of commodities that use common data for an arbitrary one item out of the setting items. In updating data, for each item, in the database based on the update data acquired by the acquisition means, the update means updates data of the arbitrary one item for commodities belonging to the category stored in the storage means, to a common value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a database updating device and a program therefor. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a database that stores data on multiple setting items related to the sale of products for each individual product, known as a product master database (hereinafter referred to as product master). The product master stores data on multiple setting items related to the sale of the product, such as the product name, selling price, and classification, in association with a product identification code that identifies each product individually, known as a product code. The product master is usually stored on the server of a POS (Point Of Sales) system.

[0003] In retail stores that have introduced POS systems, when new products are sold or the selling prices of existing products change, the product master must be updated. Traditionally, product master updates have been performed on a per-item basis. For example, even when updating a single item of data for a set of products belonging to a specific classification to the same value, the previous method required selecting each item one by one and changing the data for that item to a common value. This updating work was done manually. As a result, mass retailers such as supermarkets were forced to perform the tedious task of selecting and updating the relevant products from a large number of products, which placed a heavy workload on employees and was prone to setting errors, leading to a need for improvement. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-076259 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a database updating device that can simplify the task of collectively updating any one item of data to the same value. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In one embodiment, the database update device includes an acquisition means, a storage means, and an update means. The acquisition means acquires update data for updating, on a product-by-product basis, data on a database that stores data on multiple setting items related to product sales on a product-by-product basis. The storage means stores product classification categories that share data for any one of the multiple setting items. When updating the database data on a product-by-product basis based on the update data acquired by the acquisition means, the update means sets the data for the any one item to a common value for products belonging to the classification category stored in the storage means. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of a POS system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing main data items of a product record stored in the product master. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing main data items of a reservation record stored in the reservation master. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the store server. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of the setting table. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing the relationship between the store server, the center server, and the POS terminal. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the main steps of the maintenance process executed by the store server. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the maintenance process executed in the store server. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a database updating device that can simplify the task of collectively updating data in one arbitrary item to the same value will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment illustrates a database updating device that updates a product master used in a POS system. First, an overview of the POS system will be described.

[0009] [Outline of POS system] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a POS system 1. The POS system 1 includes a store server 10 and a POS terminal 20. There may be one POS terminal 20, or two or more POS terminals 20. The POS system 1 connects the store server 10 and the POS terminals 20 via a communication network 30. The communication network 30 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network). The LAN may be a wired LAN or a wireless LAN.

[0010] The POS terminal 20 has a registration function for registering sales data of products purchased by customers and a settlement function for settling commercial transactions with customers who have purchased products. The POS terminal 20 registers sales data of products based on data stored in a product file 21. The product file 21 contains product names, prices, etc., associated with product codes that identify each product. Each product is usually affixed with a barcode representing the product code of that product, and the POS terminal 20 is equipped with a reader for reading barcodes. When the barcode is read by this reader, the POS terminal 20 searches the product file 21 using the product code obtained from the barcode to obtain the price, and generates and registers sales data for the product based on that price.

[0011] Such POS terminals 20 are well known, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. The POS terminal 20 is available in face-to-face models operated by a store clerk and self-service models operated by a customer, but either model may be used in this embodiment.

[0012] The store server 10 is a server computer that collects and tally sales data for each product registered by the POS terminal 20, and implements a service for managing sales, inventory, and the like for the entire store.

[0013] The store server 10 has a product master 60 and a reservation master 70. The product master 60 is a database that stores data on multiple setting items related to the sale of products for each individual product. Data on multiple setting items related to the sale of products is aggregated in the product master 60 as product records 61 (see FIG. 2). The reservation master 70 is a database that stores the dates (reservation dates) for maintaining the data in the product master 60 and data for maintenance (maintenance data). The maintenance dates and data for maintenance are aggregated in the reservation master 70 as reservation records 71 ​​(see FIG. 3).

[0014] On the reservation date, the store server 10 performs maintenance such as correction, addition, or deletion on a per-item basis on the data (item record 61) of the product master 60 in accordance with the maintenance data. After completing the maintenance of the product master 60, the store server 10 creates a product file 21 based on the data of the product master 60 and distributes it to the POS terminal 20.

[0015] The store server 10 is connected to an external center server 50 via a communication network 40. The communication network 40 is a wide area network such as the Internet or an intranet. The center server 50 generates maintenance data for a product master 60 and distributes it to the store server 10 via the communication network 40. Incidentally, although FIG. 1 shows the POS system 1 of one store connected to the communication network 40, in reality, the POS systems 1 of multiple stores are connected, and the center server 50 generates maintenance data for the product master 60 for each store and distributes it to the store server 10 of each store.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the main data items of a product record 61 stored in the product master 60. The product record 61 consists of items such as product code, major category, medium category, minor category, product name, price, and discount exclusion flag Fa. The product code is a unique code assigned to each product to identify each product individually. The product code can also be called the single product code. The product name is the common name of the product identified by the product code in the same product record 61, and the price is the selling price per item of the product, or the so-called unit price.

[0017] The major, medium, and minor categories are data on the product classification to which the product identified by the product code of the same product record 61 belongs. Product classifications are divided into major, medium, and minor categories. For example, in the case of food, the major categories include seafood, livestock products, agricultural products, processed foods, confectioneries, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and prepared foods. In the case of alcoholic beverages, the medium categories include sake, shochu, beer, and fruit wine. In the case of shochu, the minor categories include rice shochu, sweet potato shochu, and awamori. For example, the product record 61 of a product classified as rice shochu would have "alcoholic beverages" written as the major category, "shochu" written as the medium category, and "rice shochu" written as the minor category.

[0018] The discount exclusion flag Fa is one-bit data for setting whether a product identified by the product code of the same product record 61 is excluded from the list of products eligible for discounts or discounts. In this embodiment, when the discount exclusion flag Fa has a value of "1," it is enabled, meaning that the product is excluded from the list of products eligible for discounts or discounts. When the discount exclusion flag Fa has a value of "0," it is disabled, meaning that the product is not excluded from the list of products eligible for discounts or discounts. Products with an enabled discount exclusion flag Fa are excluded from the list of products eligible for discounts or discounts. Therefore, for example, even if a subtotal discount or subtotal discount is applied at the POS terminal 20, products with an enabled discount exclusion flag Fa are not eligible for discounts or discounts. In other words, products eligible for discounts or discounts are products with an disabled discount exclusion flag Fa.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the main data items of a reservation record 71 stored in the reservation master 70. The reservation record 71 consists of items such as product code, major category, medium category, minor category, product name, price, reservation date, and attributes. The reservation date is the date on which maintenance will be performed on the product record 61 of the product identified by the product code of the same reservation record 71. The attributes are information indicating whether the maintenance is an addition, deletion, or change to the product record 61. The reservation record 71 is created using maintenance data distributed from the center server 50 and is saved in the reservation master 70.

[0020] [Store server configuration explanation] 4 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the store server 10. The store server 10 includes a processor 11, a main memory 12, an auxiliary storage device 13, a clock 14, a first communication interface 15, a second communication interface 16, and a system transmission path 17. The system transmission path 17 includes an address bus, a data bus, a control signal line, etc. The system transmission path 17 connects the processor 11 to each of the other components directly or via a signal input / output circuit, and transmits data signals exchanged between them.

[0021] The store server 10 is configured as a computer by connecting a processor 11, a main memory 12, an auxiliary storage device 13, a clock 14, a first communication interface 15, and a second communication interface 16 via a system transmission line 17.

[0022] The processor 11 corresponds to the central part of the computer. The processor 11 controls each part to realize various functions of the store server 10 in accordance with an operating system or application programs. The processor 11 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor 11 is preferably a multi-core processor that includes multiple processor cores and is capable of executing multiple processes in parallel.

[0023] The main memory 12 corresponds to the main storage portion of the computer. The main memory 12 includes a nonvolatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The main memory 12 stores an operating system or application programs in the nonvolatile memory area. The main memory 12 may store data required for the processor 11 to execute processes for controlling each part in either the nonvolatile or volatile memory area. The main memory 12 uses the volatile memory area as a work area where data is rewritten by the processor 11 as appropriate. The nonvolatile memory area is, for example, ROM (Read Only Memory). The volatile memory area is, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory).

[0024] The auxiliary storage device 13 corresponds to the auxiliary storage portion of the computer. For example, the auxiliary storage device 13 may be an EEPROM (registered trademark) (Electric Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The auxiliary storage device 13 stores data used by the processor 11 when performing various processes, data created by the processes in the processor 11, etc. The auxiliary storage device 13 may also store the application programs described above.

[0025] The clock 14 keeps track of the date and time. The processor 11 processes the date and time kept by the clock 14 as the current date and time.

[0026] The first communication interface 15 connects to the communication network 40. The store server 10 performs data communication with the center server 50 and the like connected to the communication network 40 via the first communication interface 15.

[0027] The second communication interface 16 connects to the communication network 30. The store server 10 performs data communication with the POS terminal 20 and the like connected to the communication network 30 via the second communication interface 16.

[0028] The store server 10 configured as above uses part of the storage area in the auxiliary storage device 13 as an area for the product master 60 and the reservation master 70. The store server 10 also uses part of the storage area in the main memory 12 as an area for the setting table 18.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of setting table 18. Setting table 18 includes a column Ca for classification type and a column Cb for classification category. Column Ca describes data on classification type. The classification type data is data indicating a "major category," "medium category," or "minor category." Column Cb describes data on classification category. When the classification type described in column Ca is a "major category," the classification category data is a classification category belonging to the major category, such as "seafood," "livestock food," "agricultural food," "processed foods," "confectionery," "soft drinks," "alcoholic beverages," and "prepared foods." When the classification type described in column Ca is a "medium category," the classification category data is data indicating a classification category belonging to the medium category, such as "sake," "shochu," "beer," and "fruit wine." When the classification type written in column Ca is "minor classification", data indicating a classification category belonging to the minor classification, for example, "rice shochu", "sweet potato shochu", "awamori", etc., becomes classification data.

[0030] The setting table 18 describes the classification category and classification type of products that share common data for any one of the multiple setting items that make up the product records 61 aggregated in the product master 60. In this embodiment, the any one item is designated as the discount exclusion flag Fa. Specifically, the setting table 18 stores the data value of the discount exclusion flag Fa that excludes products from discounts or discounts, i.e., the classification category and its classification type that are set to "1."

[0031] For example, if all products belonging to the major category "Alcoholic Beverages" are to be excluded from discounts or reductions, the setting table 18 will have the data for "Major Category" entered in column Ca and the data for "Alcoholic Beverages" entered in column Cb. For example, if all products belonging to the major category "Alcoholic Beverages" that belong to the medium category "Shochu" are to be excluded from discounts or reductions, the setting table 18 will have the data for "Medium Category" entered in column Ca and the data for "Shochu" entered in column Cb. For example, if all products belonging to the medium category "Shochu" that belong to the small category "Sweet Potato Shochu" are to be excluded from discounts or reductions, the setting table 18 will have the data for "Small Category" entered in column Ca and the data for "Sweet Potato Shochu" entered in column Cb.

[0032] In addition, if the data of classification categories belonging to major classifications, the data of classification categories belonging to medium classifications, and the data of classification categories belonging to minor classifications do not all overlap, that is, if the classification category is uniquely determined by the data of the classification category, the setting table 18 can omit the classification type column Ca.

[0033] The setting table 18 having such a configuration is created by the center server 50, distributed to the store server 10 via the communication network 40, and stored in the main memory 12 of the store server 10. The store server 10 may store the setting table 18 in the auxiliary storage device 13. The setting table 18 may also be created outside the center server 50 and stored in the main memory 12 or auxiliary storage device 13 of the store server 10.

[0034] [Store Server Functionality Description] In the store server 10, the processor 11 includes an acquisition unit 111, a storage unit 112, and an update unit 113.

[0035] The acquisition means 111 is a means for acquiring update data for updating data on a product unit basis in a database that stores data on multiple setting items related to product sales for each product unit. The database is the product master 60. The update data is maintenance data. The maintenance data in the product master 60 is stored in the reservation master 70 as a reservation record 71. When the reservation date for the reservation record 71 arrives, the acquisition means 111 acquires the maintenance data for that reservation record 71.

[0036] The storage means 112 is a means for storing classification categories of products that share common data for any one of a plurality of setting items. The storage means 112 is a means for storing classification categories received from the outside, and for clearing the stored classification categories when the update by the update means 113 is completed. That is, the storage means 112 cooperates with the setting table 18 to store classification categories for which the discount exclusion flag Fa is set to a data value that excludes discounts or discounts, i.e., "1". Then, when the update by the update means 113 is completed, the storage means 112 clears the setting table 18.

[0037] The update means 113 is a means for setting a common value for any one item of data for products belonging to the classification categories stored in the storage means 112 when updating the data in the product master 60 on a product-by-product basis based on the update data acquired by the acquisition means 111, i.e., the maintenance data. In other words, if the setting table 18 is stored in the storage means 112, the update means 113 sets all of the discount exclusion flags Fa of products belonging to the classification categories in the setting table 18, among the product records 61 aggregated in the product master 60, to "1." In other words, the update means 113 sets all of the discount exclusion flags Fa of products not belonging to the classification categories in the setting table 18, among the product records 61 aggregated in the product master 60, to "0."

[0038] The store server 10, in which the processor 11 has the acquisition means 111, the storage means 112, and the update means 113, is an example of a database update device.

[0039] Incidentally, the acquisition means 111, the storage means 112, and the update means 113 are realized by information processing executed by the processor 11 in accordance with a predetermined program. Hereinafter, this program will be referred to as an update program. The update program is a type of application program stored in the main memory 12 or the auxiliary storage device 13. There are no particular limitations on the method for installing the update program in the main memory 12 or the auxiliary storage device 13. The update program can be recorded on a removable recording medium, or can be distributed via communication over a network and installed in the main memory 12 or the auxiliary storage device 13. The form of the recording medium is not important as long as it can store the program and is readable by the device, such as a CD-ROM or a memory card.

[0040] [Store server operation explanation] 6 is a sequence diagram showing the relationship between the store server 10, the center server 50, and the POS terminal 20. As described above, the center server 50 creates the setting table 18. For example, if a store decides to exclude alcoholic beverages from discounts or price cuts, the center server 50 creates the setting table 18 in which data for the classification type "major category" is entered in column Ca and data for the classification category "alcoholic beverages" is entered in column Cb. The data for the setting table 18 created by the center server 50 is distributed to the store server 10 via the communication network 40. The store server 10 that receives the data for the setting table 18 stores the data in, for example, the main memory 12.

[0041] The center server 50 also creates maintenance data for the product master 60. For example, if it is decided that the price of product A will be increased from 100 yen to 110 yen from April 1, 2024, the center server 50 creates maintenance data that includes the product code of product A and the increased price of 110 yen, with the reservation date set to April 1, 2024 and the attribute set to "changed." The maintenance data created by the center server 50 is distributed to the store server 10 via the communication network 40. Upon receiving the maintenance data, the store server 10 creates a reservation record 71 based on that data and saves it in the reservation master 70.

[0042] Generally, such processing related to the setting table 18 and maintenance data is carried out before the store opens. When the store opens, the store server 10 executes maintenance processing. Then, when the maintenance processing is completed, the store server 10 creates a product file 21 and distributes it to the POS terminal 20. The POS terminal 20 stores the product file 21 and uses it to process product sales data.

[0043] 7 is a flowchart showing the main steps of the maintenance process executed by the store server 10. This process is executed by the processor 11 of the store server 10 in accordance with the update program described above.

[0044] When it is time for the store to open, processor 11, having completed the prescribed opening process, starts the maintenance process according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of Figure 7. First, processor 11 obtains today's date as measured by clock 14 in ACT1. Next, processor 11 searches reservation master 70 in ACT2. Then, processor 11 determines whether or not there is a reservation record 71 with today's date as the reservation date in ACT3. If there is no reservation record 71 with today's date as the reservation date, processor 11 ends the maintenance process.

[0045] If there is a reservation record 71 with today's date as the reservation date, the processor 11 proceeds to ACT4. In ACT4, the processor 11 updates the product record 61 in the product master 60 based on the reservation record 71. For example, if the attribute is a change reservation record 71, the processor 11 updates the data such as price of the product record 61 including the product code of the reservation record 71 to the data of the reservation record 71. For example, if the attribute is an addition reservation record 71, the processor 11 adds a product record 61 including the product code, major category, medium category, minor category, product name, price, etc. of the reservation record 71 to the product master 60. For example, if the attribute is deletion, the processor 11 deletes the product record including the product code of the reservation record 71 from the product master 60.

[0046] Once the process of updating the data in the product master 60 on a product-by-product basis has been completed, the processor 11 proceeds to ACT 5. In ACT 5, the processor 11 checks whether the setting table 18 is stored in the main memory 12. If the setting table 18 is not stored, the processor 11 ends the maintenance process.

[0047] If the setting table 18 is stored, the processor 11 proceeds to ACT 6. In ACT 6, the processor 11 obtains the classification type data and the classification division data from the setting table 18. Then, in ACT 7, the processor 11 searches the product records in the product master 60 one by one.

[0048] In ACT8, the processor 11 checks whether the classification type data and classification category data of the product record 61 match the classification type data and classification category data obtained from the setting table 18. If the classification type data and classification category data do not match, the processor 11 proceeds to ACT9. In ACT9, the processor 11 sets the discount exclusion flag Fa of the product record 61 to "0." On the other hand, if the classification type data and classification category data match, the processor 11 proceeds to ACT10. In ACT10, the processor 11 sets the discount exclusion flag Fa of the product record 61 to "1."

[0049] Upon completing the processing of ACT9 or ACT10, the processor 11 proceeds to ACT11. In ACT11, the processor 11 checks whether the search of the product master 60 is complete. If the search is not complete, the processor 11 returns to ACT8. The processor 11 selects an unprocessed product record 61 for which the discount exclusion flag Fa has not been set to "0" or "1," and executes the processing of ACT8 through ACT10 in the same manner as described above. Thus, the discount exclusion flags Fa of the product records 61 whose classification type and classification category match those stored in the setting table 18 are all set to "1," and the discount exclusion flags Fa of the product records 61 whose classification type and classification category do not match are all set to "0."

[0050] When the search of the product master 60 is completed, the processor 11 proceeds to ACT 12. In ACT 12, the processor 11 clears the setting table 18. With this, the processor 11 ends the maintenance process.

[0051] As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, when it is desired to uniformly set to "1" any one item of the product records 61 of products belonging to a specific classification category among the product records 61 aggregated in the product master 60, i.e., the value of the discount exclusion flag Fa, this can be achieved simply by storing the setting table 18 in which the corresponding classification category is set in the store server 10. Therefore, since there is no need to update the value of the discount exclusion flag Fa one by one, the workload of employees can be reduced. Furthermore, since there is no risk of setting errors, it is efficient.

[0052] Furthermore, the process of setting the value of the discount exclusion flag Fa to "1" or "0" is performed in conjunction with the maintenance of the product master 60. Therefore, the data of the setting table 18 together with the maintenance data can be transmitted from the center server 50 or the like to the store server 10 before the store opens, so the store employees do not need to be aware of the value of the discount exclusion flag Fa.

[0053] Furthermore, the data in the setting table 18 is cleared when maintenance of the product master 60 is completed, so the process of setting the value of the discount exclusion flag Fa to "1" or "0" using the same data in the setting table 18 is not performed each time maintenance is performed on the product master 60. Therefore, no unnecessary processing is performed, and the time required for maintenance processing is not unnecessarily lengthened.

[0054] [Other embodiments] In the above embodiment, one of the multiple setting items constituting the product record 61, which has common data for products belonging to a predetermined classification, is designated as the discount exclusion flag Fa, but the one item is not limited to the discount exclusion flag Fa. For example, if one bit of data, a so-called discount flag Fb, for setting whether or not a product is subject to a discount or discount exists among the multiple setting items, the discount flag Fb may be designated as an optional item.

[0055] 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure for maintenance processing when any one item is set to the discount flag Fb. In FIG. 8, the same steps as those in the maintenance processing of FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals (ACT).

[0056] 7 and 8, the difference lies in the processing that occurs after it is confirmed in ACT8 whether the classification type data and classification category data of the product record 61 match the classification type data and classification category data obtained from the setting table 18. That is, in the maintenance processing of FIG. 8, if the classification type data and classification category data do not match, the processor 11 sets the discount flag Fb of the product record 61 to "1" in ACT21. On the other hand, if the classification type data and classification category data match, the processor 11 sets the discount flag Fb of the product record 61 to "0" in ACT22.

[0057] It goes without saying that the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be achieved in such other embodiments, even if any one item has a flag other than the discount exclusion flag Fa or the discount flag Fb.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the acquisition means 111 has been described as a means for acquiring the maintenance data of the reservation record 71 when the reservation date of the reservation record 71 arrives. The store server 10 may also perform immediate maintenance on the product master 60 in accordance with the maintenance data received from the center server 50. In this case, the acquisition means 111 becomes a means for acquiring the maintenance data received by communication from an external source.

[0059] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope of the invention and the scope of the inventions and their equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1...POS system, 10...store server, 11...processor, 12...main memory, 13...auxiliary storage device, 14...clock, 15...first communication interface, 16...second communication interface, 17...system transmission path, 18...setting table, 20...POS terminal, 21...product file, 30, 40...communication network, 50...center server, 60...product master, 70...reservation master, 111...acquisition means, 112...storage means, 113...update means.

Claims

1. an acquisition means for acquiring update data for updating data in a database that stores data on a plurality of setting items related to the sale of merchandise for each individual item; a storage means for storing product classification categories that share common data for any one of the plurality of setting items; an update means for setting the data of the arbitrary one item to a common value for products belonging to the classification category stored in the storage means when updating the data of the database on a single item basis based on the update data acquired by the acquisition means; A database updating device comprising:

2. 2. The database updating device according to claim 1, wherein said storage means stores the classification category received from an external source, and clears the stored classification category when the updating by said updating means is completed.

3. The optional item is a data item that specifies whether or not a discount or discount is prohibited, 3. The database updating device according to claim 1, wherein said updating means sets a data value that prohibits discounts or reductions for products belonging to the classification category stored in said storage means.

4. The optional item is a data item that specifies whether or not a discount or discount is prohibited, 3. The database updating device according to claim 1, wherein said updating means sets a data value that does not prohibit discounts or price cuts for products belonging to the classification category stored in said storage means.

5. a program for a database updating device that updates a database that stores data on a plurality of setting items related to the sale of merchandise for each individual item; an acquisition means for acquiring update data for updating the data in the database on a product-by-product basis; a storage means for storing product classification categories that share common data for any one of the plurality of setting items; and an update means for setting the data of the arbitrary one item to a common value for products belonging to the classification category stored in the storage means when updating the data of the database on a single item basis based on the update data acquired by the acquisition means; A program to function as a

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