Information processing apparatus, information processing system, label printer, program, and control method

Abstract

To provide an information processor capable of outputting a warning by extracting a singular point of a food effective period calculated based on time limit information of food from a plurality of food effective periods.SOLUTION: An information processing device (1) is provided with a validity period calculation unit (20) which calculates a food validity period on the basis of the time limit information of a food, a singular point extraction unit (21) which extracts a singular point of the food validity period from among a plurality of food validity periods, and a warning unit (23) which issues a warning on the basis of the warning degree of the singular point.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device that manages a label printer, an information processing system that includes the information processing device, a label printer, a program, and a control method. [Background technology]

[0002] Food products such as food products sold at supermarkets and other retailers are required by regulations such as the Food Sanitation Act to properly label the contents of the product. For this reason, food labels are affixed to product packaging, on which information such as the product name, ingredients, content volume, expiry date (use by date, best before date), storage method, manufacturer, and manufacturing location is printed, allowing consumers to check the product's place of origin, ingredients, expiry date, etc.

[0003] When issuing food labels, depending on the type of product, store employees operate a label printer to input expiration dates and other information when selling the product. As a result, there is a risk that food labels containing incorrect expiration dates may be issued due to incorrect input. Therefore, there is a demand for systems that can prevent the creation of food labels containing incorrect expiration dates, monitor the issuance of food labels, and provide early detection and warnings for labels containing incorrect expiration dates.

[0004] Therefore, a technology has been proposed to reduce the risk by setting a condition range specified by at least one of the upper and lower limit values ​​of the added value from a specified reference date and time of the printer, and prohibiting the input of a deadline that does not fall within the range (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0005] Also, methods are being considered for automatically determining normal ranges using machine learning or statistical methods (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Patent Document 2 proposes a method for finding a normal range by comparing statistics of sales records of products specified in a sales management system, detecting stores with sales records outside the range as anomalous stores, and displaying the reason for the detection. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-26682 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-77052 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in Patent Document 1, the user must manually set the normal expiration date range for each product in advance. This makes the setting process itself cumbersome when there are a large number of products or when products are frequently replaced. As a result, rather than setting the range for each product, users may specify a broad input range (for example, a lower limit of 0 days and an upper limit of 100 days) for all products at once, or may not set a range at all, in order to detect major input errors. Furthermore, there remains a possibility of incorrect setting when manually setting the expiration date range.

[0008] In such cases, no range is set, or even if a range is set, it may not be optimal, resulting in food labels being issued with incorrect expiration dates.

[0009] Patent Document 2 avoids the cumbersome manual setup described above. However, while it shows the reason for determining the range using machine learning or statistical methods, it does not clarify the difference in urgency between anomalous data that falls outside the range. For example, lowering the threshold using statistical methods increases noise due to false positives, which can lead to truly high-risk alerts being buried under false positive alerts and left unattended, or to the alerts being ignored. Raising the threshold reduces false positives, but conversely, there is a risk that truly high-risk alerts will not be detected and may be overlooked.

[0010] The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and aims to provide an information processing device, information processing system, label printer, program, and control method that can extract singular points in food expiration dates calculated based on food expiration date information from among multiple food expiration dates. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an information processing device that includes an expiration date calculation means for calculating a food expiration date based on expiration date information of the food, a singularity extraction means for extracting a singularity of a food expiration date from among multiple food expiration dates, and an alarm means for issuing a warning based on the singularity extracted by the singularity extraction means.

[0012] The present invention also provides an information processing system in which a label printer that issues food labels, a server that stores the issuance history of food labels issued by the label printer, and a processing device are communicatively connected, and the information processing device includes an expiration date calculation means that calculates a food expiration date based on food expiration date information obtained from the food label issuance history stored on the server, a singularity extraction means that extracts a singularity of the food expiration date from among multiple food expiration dates, and an alarm means that issues a warning based on the singularity extracted by the singularity extraction means.

[0013] Furthermore, the present invention provides a label printer that includes an expiration date calculation means for calculating a food expiration date based on expiration date information of the food, a singularity extraction means for extracting a singularity of a food expiration date from among a plurality of food expiration dates, and an alarm means for issuing a warning based on the singularity extracted by the singularity extraction means.

[0014] The present invention also provides a program executed by a control unit of an information processing device equipped with a control unit, which causes the control unit to execute a shelf life calculation process for calculating a food shelf life based on expiration date information of the food, a singularity extraction process for extracting a singularity of the food shelf life from among multiple food shelf lives, and an alarm process for issuing a warning based on the singularity extracted by the singularity extraction means.

[0015] Furthermore, the present invention is a control method for an information processing device that executes an expiration date calculation step of calculating a food expiration date based on expiration date information of the food, a singularity extraction step of extracting a singularity of the food expiration date from among multiple food expiration dates, and an alarm step of issuing a warning based on the singularity extracted by the singularity extraction means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] In this invention, the food expiration date is calculated based on the expiration date information of the food, and the specific points of the food expiration date are extracted from multiple food expiration dates, so that the specific points of the food expiration date can be extracted without manually setting the normal expiration date range for the food. In addition, the specific point extraction means issues a warning based on the specific points extracted, so that the degree of specificity of the specific points can be recognized. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a food label. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of issuance history information. [Figure 4] 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5A] 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the information processing device and the information processing system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5B] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed example of the operation of the information processing device and the information processing system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5C] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed example of the operation of the information processing device and the information processing system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6A] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an analysis range setting screen. [Figure 6B] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a management information display screen. [Figure 7A] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of management information. [Figure 7B]FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of management information. [Figure 7C] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of management information. [Figure 7D] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of management information. [Figure 8A] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of management information. [Figure 8B] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of management information. [Figure 8C] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of management information. [Figure 8D] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of management information. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing yet another example of management information. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of an information processing device, an information processing system, a label printer, a program, and a control method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] <Configuration Example of Information Processing System According to This Embodiment> 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an information processing system according to the present embodiment. The information processing system 100 includes a label printer 11, a server 110, and an information processing device 1.

[0020] The label printer 11 prints and issues a food label 12 based on label data relating to the food that has been created by the label printer itself or label data that has been created by the information processing device 1.

[0021] 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a food label. The food label 12 is printed with a product name 12a, names of ingredients 12b, a production date 12c, a use-by date or best-before date 12d, and a manufacturer or seller name 12e. The use-by date and best-before date are referred to as expiration date information.

[0022] The label printer 11 is connected to a server 110 via a wired or wireless network 101. When the label printer 11 issues a food label 12, it sends issuance history information to the server 110.

[0023] The server 110 stores the issuance history information sent from each label printer 11.

[0024] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of issuance history information. The issuance history information 120 stores, as product information 120a, the product name 121a printed on the food label 12 and the number of issued food labels 121b. The issuance history information 120 also stores, as date information 120b, a date frame name 121c indicating whether the expiration date information is a use-by date or a best-before date, a publication date and time 121d of the food label 12, and a date and time 121e printed as the expiration date information. The issuance history information 120 also stores, as printer information 120c, the name 121f of the store where the label printer 11 is installed and a printer name 121g indicating the location where the label printer 11 is installed. Note that the information stored as the issuance history information 120 shown in FIG. 3 is an example. Note that the date information of the present invention may be the date only, the time only, or the date and time.

[0025] <Configuration example of information processing device according to this embodiment> 4 is a functional block diagram showing an example of an information processing device according to this embodiment. The information processing device 1 includes a control unit 2, a storage unit 3, an output unit 4, an input unit 5, and a communication unit 6.

[0026] The control unit 2 is configured with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), etc. The storage unit 3 is configured with a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), etc.

[0027] The output unit 4 is configured with a display or the like. The output unit 4 is, for example, a liquid crystal display. Instead of a liquid crystal display, the output unit 4 may be an organic light emitting diode (EL) display, a plasma display, or the like. The output unit 4 may also include a speaker. Furthermore, the output unit 4 may also include a printer.

[0028] The input unit 5 is not particularly limited as long as it is capable of inputting information to the information processing device 1. For example, it may be configured with a keyboard, a mouse, etc. The input unit 5 may also include a pen-type input terminal. The input unit 5 may also include a microphone.

[0029] The communication unit 6 is connected to a server 110 via a wired or wireless network 102. The information processing device 1 and the server 110 may be integrated.

[0030] The control unit 2 includes a valid period calculation unit 20, a singular point extraction unit 21, a singular point analysis unit 22, and a notification unit .

[0031] The expiration date calculation unit 20 is an example of an expiration date calculation means, and calculates the expiration date of a food product based on its expiration date information. The expiration date of a food product is calculated by subtracting the issue date and time of the food label 12 from the expiration date information, which is the best-before date or use-by date, printed on the food label 12.

[0032] The validity period calculation unit 20 acquires expiration date information (date and time of writing) 121e from the issuance history information 120 of the food label 12 stored in the server 110. The validity period calculation unit 20 also acquires the issuance date and time 121d of the food label 12 from the issuance history information 120 of the food label 12 stored in the server 110.

[0033] When the label printer 11 issues a food label 12, the expiration date calculation unit 20 calculates the food expiration date by subtracting the issue date of the food label 12 from the expiration date information printed on the food label 12. The control unit 2 stores the food expiration date calculated by the expiration date calculation unit 20 in the server 110, and accumulates the food expiration date in association with the issuance history of each food label 12. In this case, the server 110 constitutes expiration date accumulation means. The control unit 2 may also store the food expiration date calculated by the expiration date calculation unit 20 in the memory unit 3. In this case, the memory unit 3 of the information processing device 1 constitutes expiration date accumulation means.

[0034] It is also possible to calculate the food expiration date when the food label 12 is issued, before the food label 12 is printed. In this case, when the expiration date information to be printed on the food label 12 is input and set in the label printer 11, the expiration date calculation unit 20 acquires the expiration date information from the label printer 11. The expiration date calculation unit 20 also acquires the input date of the expiration date information to be printed on the food label 12, assuming it to be the issue date of the food label 12. The expiration date calculation unit 20 then calculates the food expiration date by subtracting the input date of the expiration date information to be printed on the food label 12 from the expiration date information to be printed on the food label 12.

[0035] The specific point extraction unit 21 is an example of a specific point extraction means, and extracts specific points of food expiration dates from multiple food expiration dates. The specific point extraction unit 21 extracts specific points of food expiration dates from the degree of deviation of the food expiration dates from the average value.

[0036] The unique point extraction unit 21 extracts unique points of food expiration dates from the food expiration dates stored in the server 10. The unique point extraction unit 21 may also extract unique points of food expiration dates from food expiration dates stored in the server 10 that correspond to already issued food labels 12 and food expiration dates calculated based on expiration date information input and set for printing on food labels 12 to be issued in the future.

[0037] The singularity analysis unit 22 is an example of a singularity analysis means, and analyzes the warning level according to the degree of singularity of the singularity. The singularity analysis unit 22 calculates the standard deviation of the food expiration date, etc., and analyzes the warning level. The singularity analysis unit 22 may also analyze the warning level by taking into account the number of food labels 12 issued.

[0038] The notification unit 23 is an example of a notification means, and issues a warning based on the specific point in the food expiration date. The notification unit 23 outputs, by display on the output unit 4, management information in which a warning level has been added to the issuance history from which the specific point in the food expiration date has been extracted. The notification unit 23 outputs, by display on the output unit 4, the management information by adding a message indicating the warning level of the specific point in the food expiration date, color-coding the issuance history according to the warning level, sorting the issuance history, etc.

[0039] <Example of program configuration according to this embodiment> The program causes the control unit 2 to execute a food expiration date calculation step of calculating a food expiration date based on expiration date information for the food. The program also causes the control unit 2 to execute a singularity extraction step of extracting a singularity in a food expiration date from multiple food expiration dates. The program also causes the control unit 2 to execute a singularity analysis step of analyzing the level of warning according to the degree of singularity of the singularity. The program also causes the control unit 2 to execute a notification step of issuing a warning based on the singularity in the food expiration date.

[0040] As a result, the control unit 2 executes the program to realize the functions of the valid period calculation unit 20, the singular point extraction unit 21, the singular point analysis unit 22, and the notification unit 23 described above.

[0041] In the control unit 2, part or all of the validity period calculation unit 20, the singularity extraction unit 21, the singularity analysis unit 22, and the notification unit 23 may be realized by CPU processing using a program. Also, part or all of the above functions of the control unit 2 may be realized by processing using a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) instead of or in addition to a CPU. Furthermore, part or all of the above functions may be realized by processing using a dedicated hardware circuit instead of or in addition to software processing using a program.

[0042] The program is stored in the storage unit 3. In addition, in a configuration in which an external storage medium can be connected to the information processing device 1, the program may be stored in the external storage medium and provided. Furthermore, the program may be stored in a server 110 connected to the information processing device 1 via a wired or wireless network, or another server for providing programs, and provided to the information processing device 1 via the network. In addition, the food expiration date calculation step, the singularity extraction step, the singularity analysis step, and the notification step may be added by updating the program.

[0043] <Example of operation of the information processing device and the information processing system according to the present embodiment> Figure 5A is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the information processing device and information processing system of this embodiment, and Figures 5B and 5C are flowcharts showing a detailed example of the operation of the information processing device and information processing system of this embodiment.Next, we will explain the control method of the information processing device 1 and the information processing system 100.

[0044] Under the control of the control unit 2, the information processing device 1 displays an operation screen on the output unit 4 for setting the range for analyzing the food label, and executes an analysis range setting process in which the range for analyzing the food label is set by operating the input unit 5 in step SA1 of Figure 5A, step SB1 of Figure 5B, and step SC1 of Figure 5C.

[0045] 6A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an analysis range setting screen. The analysis range setting screen 131 displays a date specification box 131a indicating the start date and end date of the analysis range (display range). In the date specification box 131a, a date can be specified by operating the input unit 5.

[0046] In step SA2 of FIG. 5A, the control unit 2 executes a food expiration date calculation step in which the expiration date calculation unit 20 calculates the food expiration date based on the expiration date information of the food.

[0047] The validity period calculation unit 20 obtains expiration date information (date and time of writing) 121e from the issuance history information 120 of the food label 12 stored in the server 110, within the range set by operating the input unit 5. The validity period calculation unit 20 also obtains the issuance date and time 121d of the food label 12 from the issuance history information 120 of the food label 12 stored in the server 110.

[0048] Specifically, in step SB2 of FIG. 5B and step SC2 of FIG. 5C, the issuance history of food labels 12 stored in server 110 is obtained. Then, in step SB3 of FIG. 5B and step SC3 of FIG. 5C, issuance histories considered to be in the same group are aggregated. For example, issuance histories for the same product are aggregated. Then, expiration date information and issuance date and time are obtained from the issuance histories considered to be in the same group.

[0049] The expiration date calculation unit 20 calculates the food expiration date for each food label 12's issuance history by subtracting the issue date of the food label 12 from the expiration date information printed on the food label 12. The control unit 2 stores the food expiration dates calculated by the expiration date calculation unit 20 in the server 110 and accumulates the food expiration dates in association with the issuance history of each food label 12.

[0050] 5A, the control unit 2 executes a singularity extraction step in which the singularity extraction unit 21 extracts singularities of food expiration dates from among multiple food expiration dates. The singularity extraction unit 21 extracts singularities of food expiration dates from among the food expiration dates stored in the server 10, within the range set by operating the input unit 5.

[0051] 5A, the control unit 2 executes a singularity analysis step of analyzing the warning level according to the degree of singularity of the singularity by the singularity analysis unit 22. The singularity analysis unit 22 analyzes the warning level of the extracted singularity.

[0052] Specifically, for example, in step SB4 of Fig. 5B, the maximum and minimum values ​​of the food expiration date are calculated. Also, in step SB5 of Fig. 5B, the minimum value of the food expiration date is subtracted from the maximum value. Then, in step SB6, the processes of SB4 and SB5 are repeated for all the issuance histories that are considered to be in the same group.

[0053] Also, for example, in step SC4 of Fig. 5C, the average value and standard deviation of the food expiration date are calculated. Also, in step SC5 of Fig. 5C, the average value is subtracted from the food expiration date to calculate the absolute value. Then, the processes of SC4 and SC5 are repeated for all the publication histories that are considered to be in the same group in steps SC6 and SC7.

[0054] Control unit 2 executes a notification step of issuing a warning based on the specific point of the food expiration date by notification unit 23 at step SA5 in FIG. 5A, steps SB7 and SB8 in FIG. 5B, and steps SC8 and SC9 in FIG. 5C.

[0055] The notification unit 23 outputs, by display on the output unit 4, management information in which the warning level is added to the issuance history from which the specific point of the food expiration date has been extracted.

[0056] The singularity extraction unit 21 calculates, for example, the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the food expiration date, the average value of the food expiration date, the standard deviation σ of the food expiration date, the variance, the deviation of the food expiration date from the average value (how many σ it is away from), etc., and extracts, from the food expiration dates calculated by the expiration date calculation unit 20, food expiration dates whose deviation from the average value is equal to or greater than a threshold value, as singularities.

[0057] The singularity analysis unit 22 analyzes the warning levels as, for example, warning level A, which indicates the degree of doubt about the food expiration date, warning level B, which indicates the extent of damage if the food expiration date is doubtful, i.e., if the expiration date information of the food is incorrect, and warning level C, which indicates the degree of urgency.

[0058] The singularity analysis unit 22 sets the value of the warning level A based on, for example, the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the food expiration date, the average value of the food expiration date, the standard deviation σ of the food expiration date, the variance, and the deviation (how many σ is it away from) from the average value of the food expiration date.

[0059] Furthermore, the singular point analysis unit 22 acquires, for example, the number of issued food labels 12, and sets the value of the warning level B.

[0060] Furthermore, the singularity analysis unit 22 calculates, for example, the multiplication or addition value of the warning level A and the warning level B as the warning level C. The warning level C is, for example, a warning level score obtained by converting the warning level into a score. The singularity analysis unit 22 sets the warning level C as, for example, a warning level score obtained by converting the warning level into a score. Furthermore, the singularity analysis unit 22 determines the judgment result indicating the level of the warning level based on the warning level C or the warning level A.

[0061] The notification unit 23 outputs the management information to the output unit 4 by displaying it, by color-coding the warning level determination result, the warning level score, the issuance history according to the warning level, and rearranging the issuance history.

[0062] 6B is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a management information display screen 132. The management information display screen 132 displays the start date and end date of the analysis range (display range), the warning level of the singularity, the number of items displayed, management information 130, etc.

[0063] 7A to 7D are explanatory diagrams showing examples of management information. In management information 130 (130A to 130D) shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D, warning level A1 is the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the food expiration date. Warning level A2 is the absolute value of the value obtained by subtracting the average value from the food expiration date, divided by the standard deviation. Warning level B is the number of food labels issued.

[0064] Management information 130A is an example in which warning level A1 is used as warning level C (warning level score) to determine the judgment result indicating the level of warning level, and the issuance history is rearranged in descending order of warning level A1. Warning level B (number of issued sheets) is not taken into account. Furthermore, issuance history with the highest judgment result of warning level A1 or "high" may be colored red, and the judgment results of issuance histories with the second highest warning level A1 or lower may be collectively colored "medium," with issuance histories with a judgment result of "medium" colored yellow.

[0065] Management information 130B is an example in which warning level A2 is used as warning level C (warning level score) to determine the judgment result indicating the level of warning level, and the issuance history is rearranged in descending order of warning level A2. Warning level B (number of issued sheets) is not taken into account. Furthermore, issuance history with the highest judgment result of warning level A2 or "high" may be colored red, and the judgment results of issuance histories with the second highest warning level A2 or lower may be collectively colored "medium," with issuance history with a judgment result of "medium" colored yellow.

[0066] Management information 130C is an example in which the warning level C (warning level score) is used to determine the judgment result indicating the level of warning, whereby the issuance history is sorted in descending order of warning level C. In this case, an issuance history with a large number of issued food labels may have a high warning level C even if the food expiration date is normal. Therefore, the judgment result may be determined taking warning level A1 into consideration, and an issuance history with a high warning level C but in which the food expiration date is determined to be normal may be determined to be normal. On the other hand, an issuance history with a low warning level C but in which the food expiration date is determined to be abnormal may be determined to be abnormal, and may be color-coded, for example.

[0067] Management information 130D is an example in which the warning level C (warning level score) is used to determine the judgment result indicating the level of warning, and the issuance history is sorted in descending order of warning level C. In this case, too, an issuance history with a large number of issued food labels may have a high warning level C even if the food expiration date is normal. Therefore, the judgment result may be determined taking warning level A2 into consideration, and an issuance history with a high warning level C but in which the food expiration date is determined to be normal may be determined to be normal. On the other hand, an issuance history with a low warning level C but in which the food expiration date is determined to be abnormal may be determined to be abnormal, and may be color-coded, for example.

[0068] By referring to the management information 130A to 130D, it is possible to easily identify the name of the product to which the food label with the expiration date information possibly entered incorrectly is affixed, the name of the store that issued the food label, and the name of the label printer.

[0069] 8A to 8D are explanatory diagrams showing other examples of management information. Management information 140A is an example in which only issuance histories with a high warning level are extracted. Management information 140B is an example in which only the maximum and minimum values ​​of food expiration dates are extracted. This is because if expiration date information is entered incorrectly, the result of this incorrect input is likely to be reflected in the maximum or minimum value of the food expiration date. In this way, the number of items displayed can be narrowed down, and the user can focus on items with a high display priority.

[0070] Management information 140C displays all issuance histories of the relevant product sorted in descending order of warning level. Management information 140D displays all issuance histories of the relevant product sorted in ascending order of warning level. In management information 140D, issuance histories with a high warning level are distinguished by color coding or the like.

[0071] 8 is an explanatory diagram showing yet another example of management information. Management information 150 is a graph showing the transition of food expiration dates. When the graph is used, the information may be distinguished by color or other means according to the level of warning.

[0072] The calculation index for determining the warning level may be specified by the user from a selection of options. Also, warnings that have different deadline information and are likely to be false positives may be excluded from the judgment. Furthermore, warnings that have been resolved in the past may be made invisible, and the warning level may be lowered or excluded from display according to a predetermined rule.

[0073] <Modifications of the information processing device, information processing system, and label printer according to the present embodiment> When creating label data, the label printer 11 transmits the expiration date information that has been input and set to be printed on the food label 12 to be issued to the server 110. The information processing device 1 acquires the expiration date information transmitted to the server 110 from the label printer 11.

[0074] In the information processing device 1, the control unit 2 uses the singularity extraction unit 21 to extract singularities in food expiration dates from food expiration dates stored in the server 110 corresponding to issued food labels 12 and food expiration dates calculated based on expiration date information input and set for printing on food labels 12 to be issued in the future. In addition, the control unit 2 uses the singularity analysis unit 22 to analyze the warning level of the singularity.

[0075] When it is determined that the food expiration date calculated from the input and set expiration date information to be printed on the food label 12 to be issued is a singular point and has a warning level that requires notification and warning, this is notified to the label printer 11 via the server 110.

[0076] When the label printer 11 is notified that the food expiration date calculated from the entered expiration date information to be printed on the food label 12 to be issued is an anomaly and that this is of a level requiring notification or warning, the label printer 11 notifies the user that the entered information may not be normal. Also, issuance of the food label 12 may be restricted.

[0077] The label printer 11 also includes the expiration date calculation unit 20 described above, which calculates the food expiration date based on the expiration date information that has been input and set to be printed on the food label 12 to be issued. To be able to calculate the food expiration date before the actual label is issued, the input date of the expiration date information that has been input and set to be printed on the food label 12 to be issued is assumed to be the issue date and time of the food label 12.

[0078] Furthermore, the label printer 11 learns the results of singular point extraction by the singular point extraction unit 21 and the results of singular point analysis by the singular point analysis unit 22 of the information processing device 1. Alternatively, the label printer 11 acquires the learning results of the results of singular point extraction by the singular point extraction unit 21 of the information processing device 1 and the results of singular point analysis by the singular point analysis unit 22.

[0079] Based on the learning results, the label printer 11 determines whether the food expiration date calculated based on the expiration date information entered and set for printing on the food label 12 to be issued is an anomaly, and whether this anomaly is of a warning level that requires notification or a warning. If the entered expiration date information may be abnormal, the label printer 11 notifies the user and also restricts the issuance of the food label 12.

[0080] The label printer 11 may also include the above-described validity period calculation unit 20, singularity extraction unit 21, singularity analysis unit 22, and notification unit 23, and may implement the functions of the information processing device 1 in the label printer 11. Furthermore, the label printer 11 may implement the functions of the information processing device 1 and the server 110 by itself, using the issuance history stored in the label printer 11 itself.

[0081] In addition, in this embodiment, the food expiration date was calculated by subtracting the issue date and time of the food label 12 from the expiration date information, which is the best-before date or use-by date, written on the food label 12, but the issue date and time may also be the date and time of production of the food, the date and time of change in storage method, or the date and time of processing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 100...information processing system, 1...information processing device, 11...label printer, 110...server (validity period accumulation means), 2...controller, 20...validity period calculation unit (validity period calculation means), 21...singularity extraction unit (singularity extraction means), 22...singularity analysis unit (singularity analysis means), 23...notification unit (notification means)

Claims

1. an expiration date calculation means for calculating the expiration date of food based on expiration date information of the food; A singular point extraction means for extracting a singular point of food expiration dates from among a plurality of food expiration dates; a notification means for issuing a warning based on the singular points extracted by the singular point extraction means; An information processing device comprising:

2. The food expiration date is the date printed on the food label minus the date of issue of the food label. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The singular point extracting means extracts singular points based on the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the food expiration dates. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. The specific point extraction means extracts specific points based on the degree of deviation from the average value of the expiration dates of a plurality of foods. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. The specific point extraction means extracts specific points based on a plurality of food expiration dates and the number of issued labels. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. a singularity analysis means for analyzing the singularity extracted by the singularity extraction means, The notification means issues a warning based on the analysis by the singularity analysis means. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

7. The singularity analysis means analyzes the level of warning based on the degree of singularity of the singularity. The information processing device according to claim 6 .

8. The notification means outputs management information in which the warning level is added to the issuance history of the food label. The information processing device according to claim 7 .

9. The notification means outputs management information in which the issuance history of food labels is sorted based on the warning level. The information processing device according to claim 7 .

10. a label printer that issues food labels; a server that stores the issuance history of food labels printed by the label printer; An information processing system communicably connected to an information processing device, The information processing device includes: an expiration date calculation means for calculating the expiration date of a food product based on expiration date information of the food product obtained from the issuance history of the food label stored in the server; A singular point extraction means for extracting a singular point of food expiration dates from among a plurality of food expiration dates; a notification means for issuing a warning based on the singular points extracted by the singular point extraction means; Information processing system.

11. The server includes a shelf life accumulation means for accumulating the food shelf life calculated by the shelf life calculation means. The information processing system according to claim 10.

12. the information processing device includes a singularity analysis means for analyzing the singularity extracted by the singularity extraction means, The notification means issues a warning based on the analysis result by the singularity analysis means. The information processing system according to claim 10.

13. The label printer The issuance of food labels is controlled based on the specific points of the food expiration date extracted by the specific point extraction means. The information processing system according to claim 10.

14. an expiration date calculation means for calculating the expiration date of food based on expiration date information of the food; A singular point extraction means for extracting a singular point of food expiration dates from among a plurality of food expiration dates; a notification means for issuing a warning based on the singular points extracted by the singular point extraction means; A label printer equipped with

15. A program executed by a control unit of an information processing device including a control unit, a shelf life calculation step of calculating a shelf life of the food product based on the expiration date information of the food product; a singularity extraction step of extracting singularities of food expiration dates from among a plurality of food expiration dates; and a notification step of issuing a warning based on the singular points extracted in the singular point extraction step. program.

16. a shelf life calculation step of calculating a shelf life of the food product based on the expiration date information of the food product; a singularity extraction step of extracting singularities of food expiration dates from among a plurality of food expiration dates; and executing a notification step of issuing a warning based on the singular points extracted in the singular point extraction step. A method for controlling an information processing device.

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