Information processing apparatus and program thereof

Abstract

To share information input to an information terminal in inspection work of a commodity shelf by an electronic shelf label system.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus includes communication means, acquisition means, addition means, and transmission means. The communication means is provided on a commodity shelf and communicates with a controller for controlling an electronic shelf label capable of displaying commodity information relating to a commodity placed on the commodity shelf. The acquisition means acquires commodity information to be displayed on the electronic shelf label. The addition means adds, to the commodity information acquired by the acquisition means, place information indicating a place where the commodity specified by the commodity information is placed. The transmission means transmits the commodity information to which the place information is added to the controller by the communication means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an information processing device and a program therefor. [Background technology]

[0002] Some supermarkets, convenience stores, and other retailers have introduced electronic shelf label systems in addition to POS (Point Of Sales) systems. By using the electronic shelf label system in conjunction with the POS system, it becomes possible to share product information managed by the POS system, such as the item name and price, with the electronic shelf label system. By sharing product information, for example, the displayed price of an electronic shelf label can be updated immediately in response to a change in the selling price of a product.

[0003] In this type of retail store, the store shelves are inspected periodically. This involves employees walking around the sales floor checking the shelves and inputting information about which products are located where into an information terminal. The information entered into the information terminal is sent to a host system via the POS system server. Based on the information entered into the information terminal, the host system creates and outputs data that is important for considering, for example, changes to the shelf layout or the placement of products.

[0004] Incidentally, information input into information terminals during shelf inspections includes product location information. The location information indicates which sales floor, which shelf, which level, and which section the product is located in, and corresponds to the location information of the electronic shelf label attached to that section. Therefore, if the item name of a product for which location information has been input is displayed on an electronic shelf label with location information equivalent to that location information, it can be said that the display on the electronic shelf label is correct. Therefore, it would be extremely efficient if the display on the electronic shelf label could be checked in conjunction with shelf inspections. To achieve this, it is necessary to build a mechanism for sharing the information input into information terminals within the electronic shelf label system. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-186659 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention is to provide an information processing device that makes it possible to share information input into an information terminal during product shelf inspection work with an electronic shelf label system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In one embodiment, the information processing device includes a communication means, an acquisition means, an addition means, and a transmission means. The communication means is provided on a product shelf and communicates with a controller that controls an electronic shelf label capable of displaying product information related to products placed on the product shelf. The acquisition means acquires product information to be displayed on the electronic shelf label. The addition means adds location information indicating a location where a product identified by the product information is placed to the product information acquired by the acquisition means. The transmission means transmits the product information with the added location information to the controller via the communication means. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a POS system and an electronic shelf label system installed in a store. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the main data structure of a product record stored in the product master of the POS system. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the main data structure of a shelf label record stored in the shelf label master of the electronic shelf label system. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the store server in the POS system. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the shelf information storage unit of the store server. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a first information processing executed by a processor of the store server in accordance with a business program. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the second information processing executed by the processor of the store server in accordance with the business program. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an information processing device that enables information input to an information terminal during a product shelf inspection job to be shared with an electronic shelf label system will be described with reference to the drawings. The information processing device of this embodiment is applied to a store that uses both a POS system and an electronic shelf label system. First, the system configuration of the store will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0010] 1 is a block diagram showing the main system configuration of a store. The store is equipped with a POS system 10 and an electronic shelf label system 20. The POS system 10 includes a plurality of POS terminals 11 and a store server 12 that centrally controls each of the POS terminals 11. The POS system 10 is configured by connecting each of the POS terminals 11 and the store server 12 via a communication network 13. The POS system 10 is a system in which the store server 12 collects and tally sales data of each product registered as a sales at each of the POS terminals 11 via the communication network 13, and performs sales management at the time of sales.

[0011] The store server 12 has a product master 14. The product master 14 is a collection of product records 141 (see FIG. 2) created for each product sold in the store.

[0012] 2 is a schematic diagram showing the main data structure of the product record 141. The product record 141 includes items such as product code, sales area category, printing item name, display item name, regular price, sale price, price flag, and tax category.

[0013] A product code is a unique code assigned to each product item to identify it. The product code is, for example, a JAN code. The product code may also be an in-store marking code. Each product is affixed with a barcode indicating the product code.

[0014] The sales floor category is the identification information of the sales floor where the product is sold. A sales floor is an area divided into categories of products. Products belonging to the category of each sales floor are placed on the shelves of each sales floor. Each sales floor has its own unique sales floor category.

[0015] The printed item name is data of the item name printed on receipt paper by the receipt printer of the POS terminal 11. The displayed item name is data of the item name displayed on the display device of the POS terminal 11. The regular price is the selling price per item under normal circumstances. The sale price is the selling price per item under special sales. The price flag is 1-bit data that identifies whether the regular price or the sale price is valid. Incidentally, in this embodiment, the price flag is set to "0" when the regular price is valid, and the price flag is set to "1" when the sale price is valid. The tax category is information that identifies whether the price is tax-exclusive, tax-included, or tax-exempt.

[0016] Return to the explanation of Figure 1 The POS system 10 includes a communication server 15. The communication server 15 is a computer that provides data communication services with a host server connected via a wide area communication network 31 such as the Internet or an intranet. The host server is, for example, a server of a headquarters system configured in a headquarters that manages the operation of a store.

[0017] An access point 16 is connected to the communication network 13 of the POS system 10. The access point 16 is a device for wireless communication with a portable information terminal 32 such as a tablet terminal or a smartphone. The number of access points 16 is not particularly limited. Taking into consideration the size of the store, the layout of the sales floor, etc., two or more access points 16 may be installed in the store and connected to the communication network 13.

[0018] The electronic shelf label system 20 includes a plurality of electronic shelf labels 21 and a shelf label server 22 that centrally controls each of the electronic shelf labels 21. The electronic shelf label system 20 is configured by connecting each of the electronic shelf labels 21 and the shelf label server 22 via a communication network 23. Each electronic shelf label 21 is attached to a product shelf in correspondence with a product placed on the product shelf. The electronic shelf label system 20 is a system in which display data is distributed from the shelf label server 22 to each electronic shelf label 21 via the communication network 23, and the product's item name, price, etc. are displayed on each electronic shelf label 21.

[0019] The shelf label server 22 has a shelf label master 24. The shelf label master 24 is a collection of shelf label records 241 (see FIG. 3) created for each electronic shelf label 21.

[0020] 3 is a schematic diagram showing the main data structure of the shelf label record 241. The shelf label record 241 includes a shelf label ID, shelf information, and product information. The shelf label ID is unique identification information assigned to each electronic shelf label 21 in order to individually identify each electronic shelf label 21. Each electronic shelf label 21 stores the shelf label ID assigned to it in its built-in memory.

[0021] The shelf information includes the sales floor category, shelf number, number of shelves, and number of sections. The sales floor category, shelf number, number of shelves, and number of sections are information related to the location of the product shelf on which the electronic shelf label 21 identified by the shelf label ID of the same record is attached. In other words, the shelf information included in the shelf label record 241 is an example of location information indicating in which sales floor, on which product shelf, on which shelf, and in which section the electronic shelf label 21 is attached.

[0022] Sales floors are identified by sales floor divisions. Sales floor divisions are identification information for sales floors where product shelves are installed. Each sales floor is assigned its own unique sales floor division. Product shelves are identified by shelf numbers. Shelf numbers are a series of numbers assigned to each product shelf installed in a sales floor identified by a sales floor division. For example, if there are three product shelves installed in one sales floor, the shelf numbers "1," "2," and "3" are assigned to each product shelf. Rows are identified by row numbers. The row number is a value that increases by "1" for each higher row, such as the second row, the third row, and so on. Sections are identified by the number of sections. A shelf is divided into two or more sections. The row number is a value that increases by "1" for each higher row, such as the leftmost section of a shelf identified by the row number, the first section, and so on, so on,

[0023] Therefore, for example, if the sales floor category is "A," the shelf number is "1," the number of shelves is "2," and the number of sections is "3," the electronic shelf tag 21 identified by the shelf tag ID is attached to the second shelf from the bottom and the third section from the left on the first product shelf in sales floor A.

[0024] Product information includes product code, item name, price, additional information, etc. Product code, item name, price, additional information, etc. are information about a product that is displayed on an electronic shelf label 21 that is identified by the shelf label ID of the same record. Typically, information about a product placed in a section to which an electronic shelf label 21 is attached is displayed on the electronic shelf label 21. As an example, the product code, item name, price, and additional information are displayed on the electronic shelf label 21. The product code may be displayed in the form of a barcode or two-dimensional code. Additional information includes, for example, "sale items," "recommended items," "advertised items," "number of awarded points," etc.

[0025] Returning to the explanation of Fig. 1, the store server 12 and the shelf label server 22 are connected by an inter-server network 33. This connection allows two-way data communication between the store server 12 and the shelf label server 22.

[0026] The information terminal 32 is carried by an employee who inspects the shelves. The employee periodically walks around the sales floor, checking the shelves, and inputs information about which products are located where into the information terminal 32. Specifically, for each product located on the shelves they have checked, the employee inputs into the information terminal 32 the product code of the product and shelf information, including the sales floor category, shelf number, number of shelves, and number of sections. The sales floor category is the sales floor category of the sales floor where the product is located. The shelf number is the shelf number of the shelf where the product is located. The number of shelves is the number of shelves where the product is located. The number of sections is the number of sections in the section where the product is located. In other words, the shelf information input into the information terminal 32 is location information that indicates where the product is located. Hereinafter, the paired data of the product code and shelf information input into the information terminal 32 will be referred to as shelf inspection data.

[0027] The shelf inspection data entered into the information terminal 32 is wirelessly transmitted and relayed to the store server 12 via the access point 16. The store server 12 transmits the shelf inspection data to a higher-level server via the communication server 15. The shelf inspection data transmitted to the higher-level server is important data when, for example, considering changes to the product shelf layout or changes to the product placement locations.

[0028] In this embodiment, the store server 12 has a support function for sharing shelf inspection data with the electronic shelf label system 20, a so-called sharing support function. In other words, the store server 12 is one aspect of an information processing device. Next, the store server 12 with the sharing support function will be described in detail.

[0029] 4 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the store server 12. The store server 12 includes a processor 41, a main memory 42, an auxiliary storage device 43, a clock 44, a first communication interface 45, a second communication interface 46, and a system transmission path 47. The system transmission path 47 includes an address bus, a data bus, a control signal line, and the like. The system transmission path 47 connects the processor 41 with each of the other components and transmits data signals exchanged between them.

[0030] The store server 12 is configured as a computer by connecting a processor 41, a main memory 42, an auxiliary storage device 43, a clock 44, a first communication interface 45, and a second communication interface 46 via a system transmission line 47.

[0031] The processor 41 corresponds to the central part of the computer. The processor 41 controls each part to realize various functions of the store server 12 in accordance with an operating system or application programs. The processor 41 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor 41 is a multi-core processor that includes multiple processor cores and can execute multiple processes in parallel.

[0032] The main memory 42 corresponds to the main storage portion of the computer. The main memory 42 includes a nonvolatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The main memory 42 stores an operating system or application programs in the nonvolatile memory area. The main memory 42 may store data required for the processor 41 to execute processes for controlling each part in either the nonvolatile or volatile memory area. The main memory 42 uses the volatile memory area as a work area where data is rewritten by the processor 41 as appropriate. The nonvolatile memory area is, for example, ROM (Read Only Memory). The volatile memory area is, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory).

[0033] The auxiliary storage device 43 corresponds to the auxiliary storage portion of the computer. For example, an EEPROM (registered trademark) (Electric Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or an SSD (Solid State Drive) can be the auxiliary storage device 43. The auxiliary storage device 43 stores data used by the processor 41 when performing various processes, data created by the processes in the processor 41, etc. The auxiliary storage device 43 may also store the application programs described above.

[0034] The clock 44 keeps track of the date and time. The processor 41 processes the date and time kept by the clock 44 as the current date and time.

[0035] The first communication interface 45 is an interface for performing data communication with the shelf label server 22 connected via the inter-server network 33. The shelf label server 22 is a controller that is provided on a product shelf and controls the electronic shelf labels 21 that can display product information related to the products placed on the product shelf. Here, the first communication interface 45 functions as a communication means for communicating with the controller, that is, the shelf label server 22.

[0036] The second communication interface 46 is an interface for performing data communication with each device connected to the communication network 13. That is, the second communication interface 46 performs data communication with each POS terminal 11. The second communication interface 46 also performs data communication with the information terminal 32 via the access point 16. Furthermore, the second communication interface 46 performs data communication with the upper server via the communication server 15. Here, the second communication interface 46 functions as a second communication means for communicating with the upper server.

[0037] In order to realize the sharing support function, the store server 12 configured as described above uses part of the storage area in the auxiliary storage device 43 as an area for the shelf information storage unit 51, and part of the volatile memory area in the main memory 42 as an area for the first buffer 52 and the second buffer 53. The first buffer 52 is an area for temporarily storing multiple pieces of shelf inspection data until they are transmitted to a higher-level server. The second buffer 53 is an area for temporarily storing multiple pieces of product information until they are transmitted to the electronic shelf label system 20.

[0038] 5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the shelf information storage unit 51. As shown in the figure, the shelf information storage unit 51 is an area for storing a plurality of shelf information files 511. The shelf information file 511 is a data file that describes product codes and shelf information such as sales floor classifications, shelf numbers, number of shelves, and number of sections. The store server 12 creates the shelf information file 511 based on the shelf inspection data received from the information terminal 32 and stores it in the shelf information storage unit 51. Here, the shelf information storage unit 51 functions as storage means.

[0039] Furthermore, the store server 12 causes the processor 41 to function as an acquisition unit 61, an addition unit 62, a transmission unit 63, and a second transmission unit 64 in order to realize the sharing assistance function. The acquisition means 61 has a function of acquiring product information to be displayed on the electronic shelf label 21. The product information to be displayed on the electronic shelf label 21 is, for example, the item name and price. Such product information is stored in the product master 14. The acquisition means 61 acquires the product information to be displayed on the electronic shelf label 21 from the product master 14.

[0040] The adding means 62 has a function of adding location information indicating where the product identified by the product information is placed to the product information acquired by the acquiring means 61. The location information is information indicating which sales floor, which product shelf, which level, and which section the product is in, and corresponds to the shelf information input to the information terminal 32. The shelf information is included in the shelf information file 511 stored in the shelf information storage unit 51. The adding means 62 detects shelf information indicating where the product identified by the product information is placed from the shelf information included in the shelf information file 511, and adds the shelf information, that is, the location information, to the product information acquired by the acquiring means 61.

[0041] The transmitting means 63 has a function of transmitting product information with location information added to the shelf label server 22. The transmitting means 63 transmits the product information with location information added to the shelf label server 22 via the inter-server network 33 connected to the first communication interface 45. Note that the transmitting means 63 may also transmit product information without location information added to the shelf label server 22.

[0042] The second transmission means 64 has a function of transmitting location information input via the information terminal 32 to a higher-level server. The location information input via the information terminal 32 is shelf information included in the shelf inspection data. The second transmission means 64 transmits the shelf inspection data received via the access point 16 to the higher-level server via the communication server 15.

[0043] The functions of the acquisition means 61, the addition means 62, the transmission means 63, and the second transmission means 64 are all realized by information processing executed by the processor 41 in accordance with a business program. The business program is a type of application program stored in the main memory 42 or the auxiliary storage device 43. There are no particular limitations on the method for installing the business program in the main memory 42 or the auxiliary storage device 43. The business program can be recorded on a removable recording medium, or can be distributed via communication over a network and installed in the main memory 42 or the auxiliary storage device 43. The form of the recording medium is not important as long as it can store a program and is readable by a device, such as a CD-ROM or memory card.

[0044] The business programs include a first-mode program that supports shelf inspection work and a second-mode program that supports maintenance work of the product master 14. The maintenance work of the product master 14 involves adding, deleting, modifying, etc., product records 141 stored in the product master 14. For example, one of the multiple POS terminals 11 is designated as a dedicated maintenance machine. Hereinafter, the POS terminal dedicated to maintenance is referred to as the dedicated POS terminal 111. An employee in charge of maintenance inputs data into the dedicated POS terminal 111 to add product records 141 of newly released products to the product master 14. An employee also inputs data into the dedicated POS terminal 111 to delete product records 141 of discontinued products from the product master 14. An employee also inputs data into the dedicated POS terminal 111 to modify product records 141 of products whose regular or sale prices have changed, for example. By inputting such data, maintenance data for the product master 14 is transmitted from the dedicated POS terminal 111 to the store server 12, and the product master 14 is maintained.

[0045] 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the main information processing procedures executed by the processor 41 in accordance with the business program. Specifically, FIG. 6 shows the procedures when the first mode is selected, and FIG. 7 shows the procedures when the second mode is selected. Note that the content and procedures of the information processing explained using the flowcharts are merely examples. The content and procedures can be modified as appropriate as long as similar operational effects can be achieved.

[0046] An employee who inspects product shelves operates the information terminal 32 to issue a command to start the inspection. Upon receiving this command, the processor 41 of the store server 12 selects the first mode. The processor 41 then starts information processing according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6.

[0047] Processor 41 waits to receive shelf inspection data as ACT1. When an employee inputs the product code of a product placed on a shelf and shelf information such as the sales floor category, shelf number, number of shelves, and number of sections into information terminal 32, shelf inspection data, which is paired data of the product code and shelf information, is wirelessly transmitted from information terminal 32. The wirelessly transmitted shelf inspection data is received by access point 16 and transmitted to store server 12 via communication network 13.

[0048] Having received the shelf inspection data, processor 41 proceeds to ACT2. In ACT2, processor 41 writes the shelf inspection data to first buffer 52. Next, in ACT3, processor 41 acquires the product code from the shelf inspection data. In ACT4, processor 41 also acquires shelf information from the shelf inspection data. Then, in ACT5, processor 41 creates shelf information file 511 using the product code and shelf information. In ACT6, processor 41 stores shelf information file 511 in shelf information storage unit 51.

[0049] After completing the processes in ACT2 to ACT6, the processor 41 proceeds to ACT7. In ACT7, the processor 41 checks whether or not an instruction to end the inspection work has been issued.

[0050] The employee repeats the inspection work of inputting the product code of each product placed on the shelf and the shelf information indicating where the product is placed into the information terminal 32. Then, when the inspection work is completed, the employee operates the information terminal 32 to issue a command to end the work.

[0051] In ACT7, if the processor 41 has not been instructed to end the inspection work, it returns to ACT1. Then, when the next shelf inspection data is received, the processor 41 executes the processes of ACT2 to ACT6 again. In this way, the processor 41 repeatedly executes the processes of ACT2 to ACT6 every time it receives shelf inspection data from the information terminal 32. As a result, all shelf inspection data is stored in the first buffer 52. In addition, a shelf information file 511 created for each shelf inspection data is stored in the shelf information storage unit 51.

[0052] In ACT7, when processor 41 detects that a command to end the inspection work has been issued, the process proceeds to ACT8. In ACT8, processor 41 controls second communication interface 46 to send the data in first buffer 52 to the upper server. Through this control, all shelf inspection data stored in first buffer 52 is sent to the upper server via communication server 15. Based on the received shelf inspection data, the upper server creates data that will be important factors in considering, for example, changes to the product shelf layout or changes to the product placement locations.

[0053] With this, processor 41 completes the information processing when first mode is selected in the procedure shown in the flowchart of Fig. 6. Note that first buffer 52 is cleared when the processing of ACT8 is completed. Alternatively, first buffer 52 may be cleared when a command to start work is received from information terminal 32.

[0054] Here, the processor 41 realizes the function of the second transmission means 64 by the processing of ACT8.

[0055] An employee in charge of maintenance of the product master 14 issues a command to start the maintenance work by operating the dedicated POS terminal 11. Upon receiving this command, the processor 41 of the store server 12 selects the second mode. Then, the processor 41 starts information processing according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.

[0056] The processor 41 waits to receive maintenance data as ACT11. The maintenance data is, for example, data of a product record 141 to be added to the product master 14. The maintenance data may also be, for example, data of a product record 141 to be deleted from the product master 14. The maintenance data may also be, for example, data of a product record 141 whose regular price or sale price has been changed.

[0057] When the processor 41 receives maintenance data from the POS terminal 11, the processor 41 proceeds to ACT12. In ACT12, the processor 41 updates the product master 14 based on the maintenance data. For example, if the maintenance data is data for a product record 141 to be added to the product master 14, the processor 41 adds the product record 141 to the product master 14. For example, if the maintenance data is data for a product record 141 to be deleted from the product master 14, the processor 41 deletes the product record 141 from the product master 14. For example, if the maintenance data is data for a product record 141 whose regular price or sale price has been changed, the processor 41 changes the regular price or sale price of the product record 141 stored in the product master 14.

[0058] After updating the product master 14, the processor 41 proceeds to ACT 13. The processor 41 acquires product information such as the product code, item name, and price from the product record 141 of the product master 14 that has been updated with the maintenance data. The processor 41 then searches the shelf information storage unit 51 using the product code of the acquired product information in ACT 14. In ACT 15, the processor 41 checks whether the shelf information file 511 containing that product code is stored in the shelf information storage unit 51.

[0059] If the shelf information file 511 including the product code of the acquired product information is not stored in the shelf information storage unit 51, the processor 41 proceeds to ACT 16. The processor 41 writes the product information into the second buffer 53 in ACT 16.

[0060] If a shelf information file 511 including the product code of the acquired product information is stored in the shelf information storage unit 51, the processor 41 proceeds to ACT 17. In ACT 17, the processor 41 acquires the shelf information from the shelf information file 511. In ACT 18, the processor 41 adds the shelf information to the product information. In ACT 19, the processor 41 writes the product information with the shelf information added to the second buffer 53.

[0061] After completing the processing of ACT 16 or ACT 19, the processor 41 proceeds to ACT 20. In ACT 20, the processor 41 checks whether or not an end of the maintenance work has been commanded.

[0062] The employee repeatedly inputs data required for maintenance of the product master 14 into the dedicated POS terminal 111. When the maintenance work is completed, the employee operates the dedicated POS terminal 111 to issue a command to end the work.

[0063] In ACT20, if the end of the maintenance work has not been commanded, the processor 41 returns to ACT11. Then, when the next maintenance data is received, the processor 41 executes the processes of ACT12 to ACT19 again. In this way, the processor 41 repeatedly executes the processes of ACT12 to ACT19 every time maintenance data is received from the dedicated POS terminal 111. As a result, the product information included in the maintenance data is stored in the second buffer 53. Furthermore, if shelf information associated with the product code included in that product information is stored in the shelf information storage unit 51, that shelf information is added to the product information and stored in the second buffer 53.

[0064] In ACT20, when the processor 41 detects that a command to end the maintenance work has been issued, the processor 41 proceeds to ACT21. In ACT21, the processor 41 controls the first communication interface 45 to transmit the data in the second buffer 53 to the shelf label server 22. Through this control, all of the product information stored in the second buffer 53 is transmitted to the shelf label server 22 via the inter-server network 33. Therefore, if shelf information associated with the product code included in the product information is stored in the shelf information storage unit 51, the product information with the shelf information added is transmitted to the shelf label server 22. If shelf information associated with the product code included in the product information is not stored in the shelf information storage unit 51, the product information without the shelf information added is transmitted to the shelf label server 22.

[0065] With this, the processor 41 ends the information processing procedure shown in the flowchart of Fig. 7. When the processing of ACT21 is completed, the second buffer 53 is cleared. Alternatively, the second buffer 53 may be cleared when a command to start the operation is received from the dedicated POS terminal 111.

[0066] Here, the processor 41 realizes the function of an acquisition means 61 by the processing of ACT13. The processor 41 realizes the function of an addition means 62 by the processing of ACT18. The processor 41 realizes the function of a transmission means 63 by the processing of ACT21.

[0067] As described above in detail, the store server 12 realizes the functions of acquiring product information to be displayed on the electronic shelf labels 21 using the acquisition means 61, adding location information indicating where the product identified by the product information is placed to the product information using the addition means 62, and transmitting the product information with the added location information to the shelf label server 22 using the transmission means 63. This function makes it possible to share shelf information from shelf inspection data received from the information terminal 32 during a product shelf inspection, i.e., product location information, with the electronic shelf label system that has location information of the electronic shelf labels 21 that corresponds to the location information. As a result, the electronic shelf label system 20 can check, for example, whether product information displayed on an electronic shelf label 21 that has location information corresponding to the shared location information (shelf information) is information on a product identified by a product code paired with the location information (shelf information). In other words, the display of the electronic shelf label can be checked in conjunction with the product shelf inspection, which is very efficient.

[0068] Although one embodiment has been described above, the embodiment is not limited to this. In the above embodiment, the store server 12 has been described as one aspect of the information processing device, but the aspect of the information processing device is not limited to the store server 12. For example, the communication server 15 may be one aspect of the information processing device. Furthermore, a dedicated server may be incorporated into the POS system 10, and the server may be one aspect of the information processing device.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the store server 12 receives the location information input via the information terminal 32 via the communication means and stores it in the shelf information storage unit 51. In this regard, the location information input via the information terminal 32 may be recorded on a removable recording medium, read by a medium reading means included in the store server 12, and stored in the shelf information storage unit 51.

[0070] The work of inspecting product shelves is not limited to the work of inputting information about where products are located on the shelves into an information terminal. For example, it may be the work of taking an inventory, in which the number of products remaining on the shelves is input.

[0071] 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]

[0072] 10...POS system, 11...POS terminal, 12...store server, 13...communication network, 14...product master, 15...communication server, 16...access point, 20...electronic shelf label system, 21...electronic shelf label, 22...shelf label server, 23...communication network, 24...shelf label master, 31...wide area communication network, 32...information terminal, 33...inter-server network, 41...processor, 42...main memory, 43...auxiliary storage device, 44...clock, 45...first communication interface, 46...second communication interface, 47...system transmission path, 51...shelf information storage unit, 52...first buffer, 53...second buffer, 61...acquisition means, 62...addition means, 63...transmission means, 64...second transmission means.

Claims

1. a communication means for communicating with a controller that is provided on the product shelf and controls an electronic shelf label that can display product information related to the products placed on the product shelf; an acquisition means for acquiring the product information to be displayed on the electronic shelf label; an adding means for adding location information indicating a location where the product identified by the product information is placed to the product information acquired by the acquiring means; a transmitting means for transmitting the product information to which the location information has been added via the communication means to the controller; An information processing device comprising:

2. a storage means for storing the location information input via a terminal; Further comprising:

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adding means detects, from the location information stored in the storage means, location information indicating a location where the product specified by the product information is placed, and adds the location information.

3. the adding means does not add the location information to the product information if location information indicating a location where the product specified by the product information is placed is not stored in the storage means; The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the transmitting means transmits the product information without the location information to the controller.

4. a second communication means for communicating with a host server; a second transmitting means for transmitting the location information input via the terminal to the upper server by the second communication means; 4. The information processing device according to claim 2, further comprising:

5. an information processing device computer that is provided on a product shelf and has communication means for communicating with a controller that controls electronic shelf labels that can display product information related to products placed on the product shelf; acquisition means for acquiring the product information to be displayed on the electronic shelf labels; an adding means for adding location information indicating a location where the product identified by the product information is placed to the product information acquired by the acquiring means; and a transmitting means for transmitting the product information to which the location information has been added via the communication means to the controller; A program to function as a

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