Product management device, product management method, and program

Abstract

To provide a product management device which can appropriately manage a sales management expiration date regardless of a display state of a product.SOLUTION: The product management device comprises: first acquisition means which, on the basis of a captured image obtained by photographing a product shelf, acquires shelf monitoring information representing a change in display state of products included in the captured image; second acquisition means which acquires sales management information of the products; determination means which determines a criterion for alert generation on the basis of a possibility that a product which is evaluated by the shelf monitoring information and the sales management information and of which the sales management expiration date has expired is included; and output means which generates an alert for the product on the basis of the criterion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a product management device, a product management method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] There are technologies for managing the expiration dates and best-before dates of products sold in stores. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for determining whether a sales management expiration date specified based on product attribute information attached to the surface of a table on which the product is placed has passed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-192126 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, there is a possibility that the display state may be disturbed due to the replenishment of products, etc. However, with the technology described in Patent Document 1, if the identification tag is not facing the surface of the placement table (the surface of the shelf), the sales control expiration date cannot be ascertained.

[0005] An example of an object of the present disclosure is to provide a product management device that can appropriately manage product expiration dates regardless of the display status of the products. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A product management device in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a first acquisition means that acquires shelf monitoring information indicating changes in the display status of products included in a captured image based on a captured image of a product shelf; a second acquisition means that acquires product sales management information; a determination means that determines criteria for generating an alert based on the possibility that the image contains products whose sales management expiration date has expired, as evaluated by the shelf monitoring information and the sales management information; and an output means that generates a product alert based on the criteria.

[0007] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a product management method includes a computer acquiring shelf monitoring information indicating changes in the display status of products included in a photographed image of a product shelf, acquiring sales management information for the products, determining criteria for generating an alert based on the possibility that the image contains products whose sales management expiration date has expired as assessed by the shelf monitoring information and the sales management information, and generating an alert for the products based on the criteria.

[0008] A program in one aspect of the present disclosure acquires shelf monitoring information indicating changes in the display status of products included in a photographed image of a product shelf, acquires sales management information for the products, determines criteria for generating an alert based on the possibility that the image contains products whose sales management expiration date has passed as evaluated by the shelf monitoring information and the sales management information, and causes a computer to execute a process for generating an alert for the products based on the criteria. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a product management device that can appropriately manage product expiration dates regardless of the display status of the products. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a product management device according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration in which the product management device according to the present disclosure is realized by a computer device and its peripheral devices. [Figure 3]FIG. 3 is an example of an alert screen output by the output unit in the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an example of an alert screen output by the output unit in the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an example of an alert screen output by the output unit in the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the product management device according to the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a product management device according to the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the product management device according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, embodiments of a product management device, a product management method, and a non-transitory recording medium for recording a program according to the present disclosure will be described in detail. The disclosed technology is not limited to these embodiments.

[0012] The product management device of this embodiment is a device for supporting management of sales management deadlines for products displayed on shelves in a store. More specifically, the product management device notifies a sales clerk of the timing for checking the sales management deadline. The store is, for example, a retail store such as a supermarket or convenience store. The sales management deadline is the period during which a product can be sold in the store and varies depending on the product.

[0013] Generally, for products that have a long shelf life of several months after being put on display, the period until the expiration date must be divided into sections, and the expiration date must be checked at regular intervals. Furthermore, the need to check the expiration date changes depending on the product's display status. In other words, when products are replenished, there is a possibility that products with upcoming expiration dates and those with outlying expiration dates may be mixed together. Furthermore, because customers tend to avoid purchasing products with upcoming expiration dates, there is a possibility that when a customer picks up a product, the product with an upcoming expiration date may be placed at the back of the shelf. Furthermore, there is a possibility that when a customer picks up a product, they disrupt the display status.

[0014] 1 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a product management device 100 according to the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 1, the product management device 100 includes a first acquisition unit 101, a second acquisition unit 102, a determination unit 103, and an output unit 104.

[0015] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration in which the product management device 100 according to the present disclosure is realized by a computer device 500 including a processor. As shown in FIG. 2, the product management device 100 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 501, memories such as read-only memory (ROM) 502 and random access memory (RAM) 503, a storage device 505 such as a hard disk for storing a program 504, a communication interface 508 for network connection, and an input / output interface 509 for inputting and outputting data. In the present disclosure, the product management device 100 is connected to each component via a bus 510. The product management device 100 shown in FIG. 1 can also be configured using cloud computing or the like.

[0016] The CPU 501 runs an operating system to control the entire product management device 100 according to the present disclosure. The CPU 501 also reads programs and data into memory from a recording medium 506 attached to, for example, a drive device 507. The CPU 501 also functions as the first acquisition unit 101, the second acquisition unit 102, the determination unit 103, and the output unit 104 according to the present disclosure, or as part of these, and executes processing or commands in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, which will be described later, based on the program.

[0017] The recording medium 506 is, for example, an optical disk, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, an external hard disk, or a semiconductor memory. The semiconductor memory or the like that is part of the recording medium is a non-volatile storage device that stores the program. The program may also be downloaded from an external computer (not shown) that is connected to a communication network.

[0018] As described above, the product management device 100 shown in Fig. 1 is realized by the computer hardware shown in Fig. 2. However, the means for realizing each unit of the product management device 100 in Fig. 1 is not limited to the configuration described above. Furthermore, the product management device 100 may be realized by a single physically coupled device, or may be realized by a system consisting of two or more physically separate devices connected by wire or wirelessly.

[0019] The first acquisition unit 101 is a means for acquiring shelf monitoring information indicating changes in the display status of products included in a captured image of a product shelf, based on a captured image of the product shelf. The first acquisition unit 101 recognizes product ID information of each product captured in the captured image of the product shelf and identifies the product. The first acquisition unit 101 analyzes the captured image and detects changes in the display status of the identified product. The first acquisition unit 101 acquires shelf monitoring information indicating at least one of the following changes in the display status of the product: product replenishment, product re-face, product pick-up, and product return. Re-face-re-face of a product refers to turning the labeled side of the product to the front. The first acquisition unit 101 acquires shelf monitoring information for products, for example, by SKU (Stock Keeping Unit). The first acquisition unit 101 outputs the acquired shelf monitoring information to the determination unit 103. Note that when the same product is displayed on multiple product shelves in different locations, the first acquisition unit 101 acquires shelf monitoring information obtained from the captured images of each product shelf.

[0020] The first acquisition unit 101 may identify whether the change in the display status of the product was made by a customer or a store clerk. For example, the first acquisition unit 101 acquires information on whether the person who touched the product is a customer or a store clerk based on the clothing of the person who touched the product, using a known method.

[0021] Furthermore, when a customer changes the display status of products, the first acquisition unit 101 may detect behavior that disrupts the display status of products and count the number of such behaviors. Specifically, the first acquisition unit 101 detects behavior that disrupts the display status, such as taking a product from the back of a product shelf, returning a product that has been picked up to the product shelf, or placing a product that has been displayed in another location.

[0022] Furthermore, when a change in the display state of products is made by a store clerk, the first acquisition unit 101 may detect an action of rearranging the display state of products and count the number of times this occurs. For example, the first acquisition unit 101 may detect arranging products or rearranging the faces of products as an action of rearranging the display state.

[0023] The second acquisition unit 102 is a means for acquiring sales management information of products. The second acquisition unit 102 acquires sales management information of each product captured in a photographed image of a product shelf from a POS system such as a store computer installed in the store. The second acquisition unit 102 acquires, as the sales management information, for example, the number of products in stock, the number of similar products in stock, the sales quantity, the sales management deadline, and the expiration date. The second acquisition unit 102 outputs the acquired sales management information to the determination unit 103.

[0024] Furthermore, the second acquisition unit 102 may acquire discount information for products as sales management information. The discount information includes the reason for the discount. The second acquisition unit 102 acquires the reason, such as whether the discount is before disposal or due to a coupon or campaign. If products are discounted before disposal, there is a risk that the products include products whose sales management expiration date has expired. On the other hand, if products are discounted due to a coupon or campaign, there is no desire to sell them out quickly, so there is a low risk that the products include products whose sales management expiration date has expired.

[0025] Furthermore, the second acquisition unit 102 may acquire, as sales management information, information on caution products whose sales management deadlines require more confirmation. Caution products include, for example, products with less than a predetermined number of days until their sales management deadlines, products with a predetermined quantity or more in stock that the store wants to sell out, and products whose sales management deadlines have passed in the past. The second acquisition unit 102 may accept input of products that the store wants to manage as caution products from an application program that manages sales management deadlines, or may acquire information on caution products that meet preset conditions from a database that stores sales management information.

[0026] The determination unit 103 is a means for determining criteria for issuing an alert based on the possibility that expired products are included, as evaluated from the shelf monitoring information and sales management information. The determination unit 103 evaluates the possibility that expired products are included, for example, on a SKU-by-SKU basis, based on the shelf monitoring information and sales management information.

[0027] For example, when the determination unit 103 evaluates that there is a possibility that the items include products whose sales management expiration date has passed, the determination unit 103 determines to issue an alert at a lower standard (conditions under which an alert is more likely to be issued) than the standard for issuing a preset alert. For example, the determination unit 103 determines to issue an alert at an earlier stage than the timing for issuing an alert that is preset. The determination unit 103 may appropriately determine the timing for issuing an alert based on a score value, which will be described later, or the values ​​of specific shelf monitoring information and sales management information.

[0028] On the other hand, when the determining unit 103 evaluates that there is a low possibility that the items contain products whose sales management expiration date has passed, the determining unit 103 may determine to issue an alert based on a higher standard (conditions under which an alert is less likely to be issued) than the standard for issuing a preset alert. The determining unit 103 may, for example, determine to issue an alert at a later stage than the timing for issuing a preset alert. Similarly, the determining unit 103 may appropriately determine the timing for issuing an alert based on the score value and the values ​​of specific shelf monitoring information and sales management information.

[0029] A method for determining the criteria for issuing an alert by the determining unit 103 will be described below, but the criteria for issuing an alert may be determined by other methods.

[0030] The determination unit 103 may evaluate the possibility that expired products are included when the conditions of specific shelf monitoring information and sales management information satisfy predetermined conditions. Alternatively, the determination unit 103 may calculate a score value of the possibility that expired products are included using multiple shelf monitoring information and sales management information. That is, the determination unit 103 adds a score value when the conditions of the shelf monitoring information and sales management information satisfy conditions that indicate a possibility that expired products are included. On the other hand, the determination unit 103 subtracts a score value when the conditions of the shelf monitoring information and sales management information indicate a low possibility that expired products are included. The determination unit 103 then evaluates that there is a possibility that expired products are included if the calculated score value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and evaluates that there is a low possibility that expired products are included if the calculated score value is less than the predetermined value.

[0031] Specifically, for example, the determination unit 103 adds a score value when the number of times that the determination unit 103 detects behavior that disrupts the product display is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. This is because the more times the determination unit 103 detects behavior that disrupts the product display, the more likely it is that expired products are included. Furthermore, the determination unit 103 adds a score value when the sales quantity of the product or similar products during a predetermined period is less than a predetermined quantity, for example, using the sales quantity of the product or similar products. This is because the less product movement there is, the more likely it is that expired products are included. Furthermore, the determination unit 103 adds a score value when the number of days remaining until the product's sales management expiration date is less than a predetermined number of days. Furthermore, the determination unit 103 adds a score value when, for example, the number of times a product is replenished during a certain period is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. This is because the more frequently a product is replenished, the more likely it is that older products are placed at the back.

[0032] On the other hand, the determination unit 103 subtracts the score value when the number of times the behavior of rearranging the product display is detected is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. This is because it is considered that the more times the behavior of rearranging the product display is detected, the lower the possibility that expired products are included. For example, the determination unit 103 subtracts the score value when the sales quantity of the product or similar products during a predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined quantity, using the sales quantity of the product or similar products. This is because it is considered that the more the product moves, the lower the possibility that expired products are included. Furthermore, the determination unit 103 subtracts the score value when the number of days remaining until the product's sales management expiration date is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. Furthermore, the determination unit 103 subtracts the score value when, for example, the number of times the product is replenished during a certain period is less than a predetermined number. Furthermore, the determination unit 103 subtracts the score value when the number of times the product's face is rearranged is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. This is because it is considered that the more times the product's face is rearranged, the more likely it is that the display is rearranged by a store clerk, and the lower the possibility that expired products are included.

[0033] The above-described example of adding and subtracting the score value is merely an example, and the score value may be added or subtracted under other conditions. Furthermore, the score value may be calculated under multiple conditions, or may be calculated under a single condition.

[0034] The output unit 104 is a means for generating a product alert based on a criterion. The output unit 104 generates an alert to any output device in the store to check the product's sales control deadline or to prompt a specific task. The output unit 104 may generate an alert to a terminal carried by a person in charge of replenishing products. The output unit 104 may generate different alerts depending on the number of days until the sales control deadline. The output unit 104 may change the strength of the alert or the type of task instructed to the store clerk depending on the number of days until the sales control deadline. For example, the output unit 104 outputs an instruction to adjust the face if there are more than a predetermined number of days until the sales control deadline, outputs an instruction to discount the product if there are fewer than the predetermined number of days until the sales control deadline, and outputs an instruction to remove the product if the sales control deadline has passed.

[0035] The output unit 104 may display information about the product that is the subject of the alert together with the type of alert or the management deadline, or may display the location where the product that is the subject of the alert is displayed. The output unit 104 may display the display position of the product that is the subject of the alert on a store map or a shelf as the location where the product that is the subject of the alert is displayed.

[0036] FIG. 3 is an example of a screen on which the output unit 104 generates an alert for a specific product. In the example of FIG. 3, the output unit 104 displays the product name and image of the product that is the target of the alert, the alert type, the expiration date, and the sales control deadline. The example of FIG. 3 also displays information about the product's past disposal and the recommended discount date. The example of FIG. 3 also includes an icon A for displaying other products that are the target of the alert. The example of FIG. 3 also includes an icon B for changing the information displayed about the product. When "Display store map" or "Display shelves" is selected, the output unit 104 displays the location where the product is displayed. When "List display" is selected, the output unit 104 displays a list of products that are the target of the alert. The example of FIG. 3 also includes an icon C for registering tasks completed by a store clerk. When one of the icons indicating the name of a task is selected, the output unit 104 may delete the alert for that product. In the example of FIG. 3, the alert for the product is deleted when the "Perform face adjustment" icon is selected. When one of the icons indicating the name of a task is selected, it is considered that the possibility of including expired products is reduced due to the work of the store clerk. Therefore, the determining unit 103 may subtract a score value indicating the possibility that expired products are included, depending on the work name of the selected icon C. This allows for more accurate evaluation of the possibility that expired products are included. However, the alert output by the output unit 104 is not limited to the example shown in FIG.

[0037] 4 and 5 are other examples of screens on which the output unit 104 has issued an alert. In the example of FIG. 4, the location of the product shelf for which the alert has been issued is displayed on a store map showing the layout of the product shelves. In the example of FIG. 5, the display location on the display shelf of the product that is the subject of the alert is displayed. In addition, in the examples of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the output unit 104 displays "Urgent," "Confirm," and "Price reduction recommended" as the types of alert.

[0038] 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation of the product management device 100 according to the present disclosure. The processing according to this flowchart may be executed based on program control by the processor described above. The processing according to this flowchart is executed at any timing, for example, before a store clerk performs a replenishment operation.

[0039] 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the product management device 100 according to the present disclosure. The first acquisition unit 101 acquires shelf monitoring information indicating changes in the display status of products included in a captured image based on a captured image of a product shelf (step S101). Next, the second acquisition unit 102 acquires sales management information for the products (step S102). Next, the determination unit 103 determines criteria for issuing an alert based on the possibility that the shelf monitoring information and the sales management information indicate that the product contains products whose sales management expiration date has expired (step S103). Finally, the output unit 104 issues an alert for the products based on the criteria (step S104). This completes the product management process for the product management device 100.

[0040] As described above, in the product management device 100 of the present disclosure, the determination unit 103 determines the criteria for issuing an alert based on the possibility that the product contains products whose sales management expiration date has passed, as evaluated using the shelf monitoring information and sales management information. The output unit 104 then issues an alert for the product based on the criteria. This allows for appropriate management of product expiration dates regardless of the product's display status.

[0041] [Modification of the first embodiment] Next, a modified example of the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Below, the description of the present embodiment will be omitted to the extent that it does not become unclear.

[0042] Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a product management device 110 in a modification of the first embodiment. Referring to Fig. 7, the product management device 110 includes a first acquisition unit 111, a second acquisition unit 112, a determination unit 113, an output unit 114, and a monitoring unit 115. In this modification, it is assumed that the first acquisition unit 111 detects a customer's behavior that disrupts the display of products.

[0043] The monitoring unit 115 is a means for monitoring the behavior of a customer who has engaged in behavior that disrupts the display of merchandise. For example, based on facial image data of the customer captured by a camera installed in the store, the monitoring unit 115 uses known technology to track the customer as he moves around the store and monitors his behavior until he leaves the store.

[0044] The first acquisition unit 111 detects behavior by a monitored customer that disrupts the display of products. When the first acquisition unit 111 detects behavior by a monitored customer that disrupts the display of products, the determination unit 113 may set the criteria for generating an alert for products that have been disrupted by the monitored customer to be more likely than a predetermined criterion. That is, the determination unit 113 determines the criteria for generating an alert based on the possibility that the products include products whose sales management expiration date has expired, as evaluated based on the shelf monitoring information, sales management information, and the behavior of the monitored customer.

[0045] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the product management device 110 according to the present disclosure. The first acquisition unit 111 acquires shelf monitoring information indicating changes in the display status of products included in a captured image based on a captured image of a product shelf (step S201). If the first acquisition unit 111 detects a change in the display status of products by a customer (step S202; YES) and detects a customer's behavior that disrupts the display status of products (step S203; YES), the monitoring unit 115 monitors the behavior of the monitored customer who disrupted the display status of products (step S204). Next, the second acquisition unit 112 acquires sales management information for the products (step S205). Next, the determination unit 113 determines criteria for generating an alert based on the likelihood that the product contains products whose sales management expiration date has expired, as evaluated based on the shelf monitoring information, sales management information, and the behavior of the monitored customer (step S206). Finally, the output unit 114 generates an alert for the products based on the criteria (step S207).

[0046] On the other hand, if a change in the product display situation has been made by a store clerk in S202 (S202; NO), or if no customer behavior that disrupts the product display situation has been detected in S203 (S203; NO), the flow proceeds to S208. That is, the second acquisition unit 112 acquires product sales management information (step S208). Next, the determination unit 113 determines criteria for generating an alert based on the possibility that the product contains products whose sales management expiration date has expired, as evaluated based on the shelf monitoring information and the sales management information (step S209). Finally, the output unit 114 generates an alert for the product based on the criteria (step S207).

[0047] As described above, in the product management device 110 of the present disclosure, when the first acquisition unit 111 detects a change in the product display situation by a customer and the customer's behavior that disrupts the product display situation, the monitoring unit 115 monitors the behavior of the monitored customer who disrupted the product display situation. The determination unit 113 then determines the criteria for issuing an alert based on the possibility that the monitored customer's behavior includes products whose sales management expiration date has passed, as evaluated based on the shelf monitoring information, sales management information, and the monitored customer's behavior. This makes it possible to determine the criteria for issuing an alert by taking into account, for example, the behavior of customers who disrupt the product display situation. Therefore, even if a specific customer disrupts the product display situation, the product expiration date can be appropriately managed.

[0048] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to various embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments. The configuration and details of each of the present disclosures may include embodiments to which various modifications that would be apparent to those skilled in the art are applied within the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure may also include embodiments in which the details described herein are appropriately combined or substituted as necessary. For example, details described using a particular embodiment may also be applied to other embodiments to the extent that no contradiction occurs. For example, although multiple operations are described in sequence in the form of a flowchart, the order of the descriptions does not limit the order in which the multiple operations are performed. Therefore, when implementing each embodiment, the order of the multiple operations may be changed as long as it does not interfere with the content.

[0049] Some or all of the above-described embodiments can be described as, but are not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

[0050] (Appendix 1) a first acquisition means for acquiring shelf monitoring information indicating changes in the display status of products included in a photographed image of a product shelf, based on the photographed image; a second acquiring means for acquiring sales management information of the product; A determination means for determining criteria for generating an alert based on the possibility that the shelf monitoring information and the sales management information contain products whose sales management expiration date has passed; and an output means for generating an alert for the product based on the criteria.

[0051] (Appendix 2) The product management device described in Appendix 1, wherein the first acquisition means further identifies whether the change in the product display status was made by a customer or a store clerk, and if the change was made by a customer, detects behavior that disrupts the product display status.

[0052] (Appendix 3) The product management device described in Appendix 2, wherein the behavior that disrupts the display situation is either a product being taken from the back of the shelf, a product being picked up and returned to the shelf, or placing another product.

[0053] (Appendix 4) The product management device described in Appendix 1, wherein the first acquisition means further identifies whether the change in product display status was made by a customer or a store clerk, and if the change was made by a store clerk, detects action to correct the product display status.

[0054] (Appendix 5) The product management device according to claim 4, wherein the action of correcting the display situation is either arranging the products or adjusting the faces of the products.

[0055] (Appendix 6) The product management device described in any one of Appendices 1 to 5, wherein the decision means sets the standard for generating the alert lower than a preset standard when the number of times that behavior that disrupts the product display status is detected is a predetermined number or more, and sets the standard for generating the alert higher than the preset standard when the number of times that behavior that corrects the product display status is detected is a predetermined number or more.

[0056] (Appendix 7) The first acquisition means further acquires information on caution products whose sales control deadlines need to be confirmed, The product management device according to claim 1, wherein the determining means sets a criterion for issuing an alert for the sales management deadline of the caution-requiring product lower than a preset criterion.

[0057] (Appendix 8) The store further comprises a monitoring means for monitoring the behavior of customers who have behaved in a manner that disrupts the display of the merchandise, The product management device described in Appendix 2, wherein the determination means determines criteria for generating an alert based on the possibility that the product contains products whose sales management expiration date has passed, as evaluated by the shelf monitoring information, the sales management information, and the behavior of the monitored customer.

[0058] (Appendix 9) The computer Based on a photographed image of a product shelf, shelf monitoring information indicating a change in the display status of the products included in the photographed image is acquired; Acquire sales management information for the product; determining criteria for generating an alert based on the likelihood that the shelf monitoring information and the sales management information contain products whose sales management expiration date has passed; and generating an alert for the product based on the criteria.

[0059] (Appendix 10) Based on a photographed image of a product shelf, shelf monitoring information indicating a change in the display status of the products included in the photographed image is acquired; Acquire sales management information for the product; determining criteria for generating an alert based on the likelihood that the shelf monitoring information and the sales management information contain products whose sales management expiration date has passed; A program that causes a computer to execute a process of generating an alert for the product based on the criteria.

[0060] Some or all of the configurations described in Supplements 2 to 8 that are dependent on Supplement 1 above may also be dependent on Supplement 9 and Supplement 10 in the same dependent relationship as Supplements 2 to 8. Not limited to Supplements 1, 9, and 10, some or all of the configurations described as Supplements may also be dependent on various hardware, software, various recording devices for recording software, or systems, within the scope of each of the above-mentioned embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 100, 110 Product management device 101, 111 First Acquisition Section 102, 112 Second Acquisition Section 103, 113 Decision Section 104, 114 Output section 115 Monitoring Department 500 Computer equipment 501 CPU 502 ROM 503 RAM 504 Program 505 Storage device 506 Recording Media 507 Drive Device 508 Communication Interface 509 Input / Output Interface 510 Bus

Claims

1. a first acquisition means for acquiring shelf monitoring information indicating changes in the display status of products included in a photographed image of a product shelf, based on the photographed image; a second acquiring means for acquiring sales management information of the product; A determination means for determining criteria for generating an alert based on the possibility that the shelf monitoring information and the sales management information contain products whose sales management expiration date has passed; and an output means for generating an alert for the product based on the criteria.

2. The product management device of claim 1, wherein the first acquisition means further identifies whether the change in product display status was made by a customer or a store clerk, and if the change was made by a customer, detects behavior that disrupts the product display status.

3. 3. The product management device of claim 2, wherein the behavior that disrupts the display situation is either taking a product from the back of the product shelf, returning a product that has been picked up to the product shelf, or placing another product.

4. The product management device according to claim 1, wherein the first acquisition means further identifies whether the change in product display status was made by a customer or a store clerk, and if the change was made by a store clerk, detects an action to correct the product display status.

5. The product management device according to claim 4 , wherein the action of correcting the display state is either arranging the products in order or correcting the faces of the products.

6. A product management device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the decision means sets the standard for generating the alert lower than a predetermined standard when the number of times that behavior that disrupts the product display status is detected is a predetermined number or more, and sets the standard for generating the alert higher than the predetermined standard when the number of times that behavior that corrects the product display status is detected is a predetermined number or more.

7. The first acquisition means further acquires information on caution products whose sales control deadlines need to be confirmed, The product management device according to claim 1 , wherein the determining unit sets a criterion for issuing an alert regarding the sales management deadline of the caution-requiring product lower than a preset criterion.

8. The store further comprises a monitoring means for monitoring the behavior of customers who have behaved in a manner that disrupts the display of the merchandise, The product management device according to claim 2, wherein the determination means determines criteria for generating an alert based on the possibility that the shelf monitoring information, the sales management information, and the behavior of the monitored customers contain products whose sales management expiration date has expired.

9. The computer Based on a photographed image of a product shelf, shelf monitoring information indicating a change in the display status of the products included in the photographed image is acquired; Acquire sales management information for the product; determining criteria for generating an alert based on the likelihood that the shelf monitoring information and the sales management information contain products whose sales management expiration date has passed; and generating an alert for the product based on the criteria.

10. Based on a photographed image of a product shelf, shelf monitoring information indicating a change in the display status of the products included in the photographed image is acquired; Acquire sales management information for the product; determining criteria for generating an alert based on the likelihood that the shelf monitoring information and the sales management information contain products whose sales management expiration date has passed; A program that causes a computer to execute a process of generating an alert for the product based on the criteria.

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