Payment terminal guidance system, payment terminal determination method, payment terminal guidance method, and program

Abstract

This invention provides a payment terminal guidance system, a payment terminal determination method, a payment terminal guidance method, and a program that can automatically guide customers to a payment terminal where they can complete the payment process for goods they have purchased. [Solution] A payment terminal guidance system comprising: a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of multiple payment terminals in which the customer performs the payment procedure, by a first customer; a guidance device that outputs guidance information to a second customer waiting to complete a payment procedure using the first payment terminal, guiding the second customer to a first payment terminal that is not currently being used by the first customer; and an information presentation device that presents the guidance information to the second customer, wherein the guidance device comprises: a usage status determination unit that determines the first payment terminal based on the current usage status of each payment terminal by the first customer; and a guidance information generation unit that generates and outputs guidance information to guide the second customer to a first payment terminal that is available for use by the second customer based on the determination result.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a payable terminal guidance system, a payable terminal determination method, a payable terminal guidance method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in retail stores, the use of payment terminals (so-called self-checkout registers) where customers who have purchased goods perform payment (settlement) procedures themselves has been increasing. Such self-checkout registers include, for example, those dedicated to cash payment (cash settlement), those dedicated to non-cash payment such as credit cards (so-called cashless settlement), and those that can perform both cash settlement and cashless settlement. By the way, in large-scale retail stores such as supermarkets, it is not always the case that payment terminals (self-checkout registers) corresponding to the same type of payment method are installed, and it is assumed that self-checkout registers corresponding to different types of payment methods are mixed and installed. Furthermore, the payment methods desired by customers who perform payment (settlement) procedures themselves are also various. For this reason, conventionally, retail store employees have confirmed the payment method desired by customers and guided them to available self-checkout registers. However, the guidance of available self-checkout registers by employees is not necessarily efficient. For this reason, a system that automatically guides available self-checkout registers has been desired.

[0003] On the other hand, conventionally, a self-checkout register equipped with a surveillance camera has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The surveillance camera provided in such a conventional self-checkout register is mainly provided for the purpose of preventing fraud during payment by customers. However, by using the image captured by this surveillance camera to determine whether a customer is currently using the self-checkout register, it can be applied to a system that automatically guides self-checkout registers that are not currently being used by customers, that is, self-checkout registers in an idle state, in place of the guidance of customers to self-checkout registers by employees. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-002229 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] However, a system that uses self-checkout machines equipped with surveillance cameras to automatically guide customers to available machines would require replacing existing self-checkout machines with those equipped with surveillance cameras, which could make it difficult to implement easily, especially considering the costs involved.

[0006] The present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a payment terminal guidance system, a payment terminal determination method, a payment terminal guidance method, and a program that can automatically guide customers to a payment terminal where they can complete the payment procedure for goods they have purchased. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, a payment terminal guidance system according to one aspect of the present invention is a payment terminal in which a customer who has purchased a product performs the payment procedure themselves, and the system comprises: a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each payment terminal by a first customer within a predetermined area where a plurality of payment terminals of different types of corresponding payment methods are installed; a guidance device that outputs guidance information to guide a second customer waiting to complete a payment procedure using the first payment terminal to a first payment terminal that is not currently being used by the first customer; and an information display device installed at the entrance of the area that presents the guidance information to the second customer, wherein the guidance device comprises: a usage status determination unit that determines the first payment terminal based on detection information representing the current usage status of each payment terminal by the first customer detected by the usage status detection device; and a guidance information generation unit that generates and outputs guidance information to guide the second customer to the first payment terminal that is available to the second customer based on the result of the determination.

[0008] Furthermore, in the payment terminal guidance system according to one aspect of the present invention, the detected information is an image captured within the area, and the usage status determination unit determines the first payment terminal by recognizing the first customer depicted in the image.

[0009] Furthermore, in the payment terminal guidance system according to one aspect of the present invention, the detection information is an image captured within the area including a predetermined mark placed at a position where the customer is expected to remain when using the payment terminal, and the usage status determination unit determines the first payment terminal based on whether or not the predetermined mark captured in the image can be recognized.

[0010] Furthermore, the predetermined mark in the payment terminal guidance system according to one aspect of the present invention includes identification information for identifying the payment terminal.

[0011] Furthermore, in the payment terminal guidance system according to one aspect of the present invention, the detection information is a detection result in which a person is detected within a detection range that is assumed to be a location where the customer is expected to stay when using the payment terminal, and the usage status determination unit determines the first payment terminal based on information indicating whether or not a person is included in the detection result.

[0012] Furthermore, in a payment terminal guidance system according to one aspect of the present invention, the guidance information is a display image indicating an available first payment terminal, and the information presentation device displays the display image to present the guidance information to the second customer.

[0013] Furthermore, in the payment terminal guidance system according to one aspect of the present invention, the guidance information generation unit generates the display image that guides the user to the first payment terminal that is available for each type of payment method that the first payment terminal supports.

[0014] Furthermore, in the payment terminal guidance system according to one aspect of the present invention, the guidance information generation unit guides the first payment terminal to the first payment terminal that is available for each type of payment method that the first payment terminal supports, and generates the display image that shows information to encourage the action of the second customer.

[0015] Furthermore, in a payment terminal guidance system according to one aspect of the present invention, the guidance information generation unit guides the user to the first payment terminals that are available for each type of payment method that the first payment terminals support, and generates the display image that indicates the type of payment method that the guided first payment terminals support.

[0016] Furthermore, in a payment terminal guidance system according to one aspect of the present invention, the guidance information generation unit guides the first payment terminal to a first payment terminal that is available for each type of payment method that the first payment terminal supports, and generates a display image that shows the type of payment method that the guided first payment terminal supports and information that prompts the second customer to take action. Furthermore, a payment terminal guidance system according to one aspect of the present invention is a payment terminal guidance system comprising: a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each payment terminal by a first customer within a predetermined area where a plurality of payment terminals of different types of corresponding payment methods are installed; a guidance device that outputs guidance information for guiding a second customer waiting to complete a payment procedure using the first payment terminal to a first payment terminal that is not currently being used by the first customer; and an information display device that outputs the guidance information in a manner that the second customer can understand, wherein the guidance device comprises: a usage status determination unit that determines the first payment terminal based on detection information representing the current usage status of each payment terminal by the first customer detected by the usage status detection device; and a guidance information generation unit that generates and outputs the guidance information for guiding the second customer to the first payment terminal that is available to them based on the result of the determination.

[0017] Furthermore, a payment terminal determination method according to one aspect of the present invention is a payment terminal determination method in a payment terminal guidance system comprising: a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each payment terminal by a first customer within a predetermined area where a plurality of payment terminals of different types corresponding to the payment method are installed, the payment terminals being used by the customer who purchased the goods and performed the payment procedure; a guidance device that outputs guidance information to guide a second customer waiting to complete the payment procedure using the first payment terminal to a first payment terminal that is not currently being used by the first customer; and an information display device installed at the entrance to the area that presents the guidance information to the second customer, wherein the computer of the guidance device determines the first payment terminal based on detection information that represents the current usage status of each payment terminal by the first customer, as detected by the usage status detection device.

[0018] Furthermore, a payment terminal guidance method according to one aspect of the present invention is a payment terminal guidance system in which a customer who has purchased a product performs the payment procedure themselves, and the payment terminal is installed in a predetermined area where a plurality of payment terminals of different types of corresponding payment methods are installed, the system includes: a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each payment terminal by a first customer; a guidance device that outputs guidance information to guide a second customer, who is waiting to complete the payment procedure using the first payment terminal, to a first payment terminal that is not currently being used by the first customer; and an information display device installed at the entrance to the area that presents the guidance information to the second customer, wherein the computer of the guidance device generates the guidance information to guide the second customer to the first payment terminal that is available to the second customer, based on the result of the determination of the first payment terminal, which is determined based on the detection information representing the current usage status of each payment terminal by the first customer detected by the usage status detection device.

[0019] Furthermore, a program according to one aspect of the present invention is a payment terminal guidance system for which a customer who has purchased a product performs the payment procedure themselves, and comprises: a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each payment terminal by a first customer within a predetermined area where a plurality of payment terminals of different types of corresponding payment methods are installed; a guidance device that outputs guidance information to guide a second customer waiting to complete a payment procedure using the first payment terminal to a first payment terminal that is not currently being used by the first customer; and an information display device installed at the entrance of the area that presents the guidance information to the second customer, wherein the program causes the computer of the guidance device to determine the first payment terminal based on the detection information representing the current usage status of each payment terminal by the first customer detected by the usage status detection device, and generates and outputs guidance information to guide the second customer to the first payment terminal that is available to them based on the result of the determination. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a payment-enabled terminal guidance system, a payment-enabled terminal determination method, a payment-enabled terminal guidance method, and a program that can automatically guide a payment terminal for performing a payment procedure for a product purchased by a customer himself / herself.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing an example of a usage environment of a payment-enabled terminal guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a guidance device constituting a payment-enabled terminal guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing an example (No. 1) of a display image for guiding a payment terminal in a vacant state in a payment-enabled terminal guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing an example (No. 2) of a display image for guiding a payment terminal in a vacant state in a payment-enabled terminal guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing an example (No. 2) of a display image for guiding a payment terminal in a vacant state in a payment-enabled terminal guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing an example (No. 4) of a display image for guiding a payment terminal in a vacant state in a payment-enabled terminal guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a sequence diagram showing an example of the overall processing flow in a payment-enabled terminal guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] It is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of guidance information including map information.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] The following description will explain the payment terminal guidance system, payment terminal determination method, payment terminal guidance method, and program of the embodiment with reference to the drawings. In the following description, it will be assumed that the payment terminal guidance system of the embodiment is installed in a large retail store such as a supermarket (hereinafter simply referred to as "retail store"). Furthermore, in the following description, it will be assumed that all of the multiple payment terminals (cash registers) installed in the retail store are payment terminals (so-called self-checkout registers) in which customers who have purchased goods perform the payment procedure themselves. Furthermore, in the following description, it will be assumed that there are two types of self-checkout registers that can accept both cash payments and non-cash payments such as credit cards, barcodes, and QR (Quick Response) codes (registered trademarks) (hereinafter referred to as "cash-compatible cashless payment registers"), and that self-checkout registers that only accept cashless payments (hereinafter referred to as "cashless payment-only registers") are available. Furthermore, in the following description, it will be assumed that customers waiting to make a payment are lined up in a row.

[0023] [Operating environment for the payment terminal guidance system] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the usage environment of a payment terminal guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 shows an example in which 12 self-checkout registers T are installed within an area R of a retail store. More specifically, Figure 1 shows an example in which 8 cash-compatible cashless payment registers Tmr (cash-compatible cashless payment registers Tmr-1 to Tmr-8) and 4 cashless payment-only registers Tr (cashless payment-only registers Tr-1 to Tr-4) are installed within area R. Outside area R, an example is shown in which customers C waiting to pay are lined up in a row. More specifically, Figure 1 shows an example in which customers Cm (customers Cm-1 to Cm-4) who wish to pay with cash and customers Cr (customers Cr-1 to Cr-3) who wish to pay with cash are lined up in a row together outside area R. The payment terminal guidance system 1 automatically guides each customer C waiting in line to a currently available self-checkout register T.

[0024] Self-checkout register T, cash-accepting cashless payment register Tmr, and cashless payment-only register Tr are examples of "payment terminals." In Figure 1, customer C using self-checkout register T within area R is an example of a "first customer." In Figure 1, among the self-checkout registers T installed within area R, those not being used by customer C are examples of "first payment terminals." In Figure 1, customers Cm and Cr lined up outside area R waiting to make a payment are examples of "second customers."

[0025] The payment terminal guidance system 1 includes, for example, a usage status detection device 100, a guidance device 200, and an information display device 300.

[0026] The usage status detection device 100 detects the usage status of each self-checkout register T within the area R of a retail store where multiple self-checkout registers T are installed. The usage status detection device 100 outputs information representing the usage status of the detected self-checkout register T (hereinafter referred to as "detection information") to the guidance device 200.

[0027] Figure 1 shows an example where the usage status detection device 100 is a camera installed, for example, on the ceiling of a retail store, and detects the state of a customer C using a self-checkout register T by imaging an area R where the self-checkout registers T are installed. In this case, the camera may, for example, image customers C standing in front of each self-checkout register T, or it may image predetermined marks (markers) attached to the floor or other surface at positions where customers C are expected to stand when using each self-checkout register T. The usage status detection device 100 may be configured to image the entire area R with multiple cameras. The cameras may capture still images at predetermined time intervals (for example, every second) or capture moving images. The markers may have a specific shape, or they may have different shapes for each self-checkout register T. For example, the marker for a cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr may be a "square," and the marker for a cashless payment-only register Tr may be a "triangle." The shape of the marker may differ depending on the type of payment method available at the self-checkout register T, i.e., depending on whether it is a cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr or a cashless payment-only register Tr. The marker may use a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark), and the information represented by this marker may include identification information for identifying the self-checkout register T (i.e., type information that distinguishes between a cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr and a cashless payment-only register Tr, or information about the number of the self-checkout register T that is exclusively set up in the retail store). In this case, instead of a QR code (registered trademark), the marker may use a format that is easier to identify by a camera.For example, ArUco markers, which can be generated using the aruco module—a marker module usable with extension modules of the Open Source Computer Vision Library (OpenCV)—and are commonly used in logistics management systems for managing the distribution of goods, may be used as markers corresponding to each self-register T. The usage status detection device 100, which consists of cameras, outputs the captured images (still images or moving images) as detection information to the guidance device 200.

[0028] The usage status detection device 100 is not limited to the camera configuration shown in Figure 1, but can be configured in any way that can detect the usage status of the self-register T within area R. For example, the usage status detection device 100 may consist of (multiple) motion sensors, each set as a detection range corresponding to a location where a customer C is expected to stay in order to complete a payment (settlement) procedure using the respective self-register T. In this case, the usage status detection device 100 outputs detection result information (including one or more of the following: information for identifying itself, information representing its location within area R, and information representing the corresponding self-register T) to the guidance device 200 as detection information.

[0029] Based on the detection information output by the usage status detection device 100, the guidance device 200 determines which self-registers T installed within area R are not being used by customer C. Based on the determination, the guidance device 200 guides customer C, who is waiting in line for payment, to a self-register T that is currently available for use. The guidance device 200 outputs information for guiding customers to a self-register T that is currently available for use (hereinafter referred to as "guidance information") to the information display device 300. Details regarding the configuration of the guidance device 200 will be described later.

[0030] The information display device 300 displays (guides) the guidance information output by the guidance device 200 to the customers C who are waiting in line to pay. The information display device 300 is installed, for example, at the entrance of area R. The information display device 300 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic electroluminescence (EL) display. In this case, the information display device 300 displays the display image output by the guidance device 200 as guidance information, thereby guiding each customer C waiting in line at the entrance of area R (towards the front of the information display device 300) to the self-checkout register T that is currently available.

[0031] Figure 1 shows an example where the information display device 300 is, for example, a liquid crystal display installed on the ceiling at the entrance of a retail store area R. Figure 1 shows how the information display device 300 informs each customer C that the self-checkout registers T are currently available by displaying images indicating that "Register 4 (cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr-4)", "Register 7 (cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr-7)", and "Register 10 (cashless payment-only register Tr-2)" are available (shown as "empty" in Figure 1). As a result, each customer C waiting in line to pay can refer to the guidance displayed on the information display device 300 and proceed in order to the self-checkout register T that is currently available to pay for their purchased goods.

[0032] The information display device 300 is not limited to a display device such as a liquid crystal display as shown in Figure 1, but can be any configuration that can guide each customer C waiting in line to a self-checkout register T that is currently available for payment. For example, the information display device 300 may be configured to notify the location of the self-checkout register T and whether or not the self-checkout register T is currently available for payment by turning on or off an indicator (so-called lamp) composed of a light-emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode). In this case, the information display device 300 guides each customer C waiting in line in front of the information display device 300 to a self-checkout register T that is currently available for payment by turning on the lamp corresponding to the self-checkout register T that is currently available, as shown in the guidance information output by the guidance device 200.

[0033] [Configuration of the guidance system] Next, the configuration of the guidance device 200 will be described. Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the guidance device 200 that constitutes the payment terminal guidance system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The guidance device 200 includes, for example, a storage unit 210, a usage status acquisition unit 220, and a processing circuit 230.

[0034] The memory unit 210 stores various information used in the guidance device 200 for processing to determine which self-registers T are not being used by customer C. The memory unit 210 stores information (hereinafter referred to as "installation information") associated with information such as the installation location of the self-registers T within area R, the type of each self-register T, and the number of the self-register T that is exclusively set up in the retail store. The memory unit 210 can be implemented using semiconductor memory elements such as ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), or flash memory, or a hard disk drive (HDD), or an optical disc.

[0035] The usage status acquisition unit 220 acquires detection information output by the usage status detection device 100. The usage status acquisition unit 220 outputs the acquired detection information to the processing circuit 230. Alternatively, the usage status acquisition unit 220 may store the acquired detection information in the storage unit 210, notify the processing circuit 230 of this, and the processing circuit 230 may output the detection information acquired by the usage status acquisition unit 220 to the processing circuit 230 by reading the detection information stored in the storage unit 210.

[0036] The processing circuit 230 performs predetermined processing on the detection information acquired and output by the usage status acquisition unit 220 to guide customer C to the currently available self-register T. The processing circuit 230 executes, for example, a usage status determination function 232 and a guidance information generation function 234. The processing circuit 230 realizes each of these functions, such as the usage status determination function 232 and the guidance information generation function 234, by, for example, having a hardware processor execute a program (software) stored in a memory (not shown, which may be a storage unit 210). The memory (not shown) is realized by, for example, semiconductor memory elements such as ROM, RAM, or flash memory.

[0037] A hardware processor refers to circuits such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), LSI (Large Scale Integration), SOC (System on Chip), Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), and programmable logic devices (e.g., Simple Programmable Logic Device (SPLD), Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)). Instead of storing the program in memory (not shown), the hardware processor may be configured to directly embed the program within its circuitry. In this case, the hardware processor implements each function by reading and executing the program embedded within the circuitry. A hardware processor is not limited to being configured as a single circuit; it may also be configured as a single hardware processor by combining multiple independent circuits to implement each function. Multiple components may be integrated into a single hardware processor to implement each function. Multiple components may also be incorporated into a single dedicated LSI to implement each function. Here, the program (software) may be stored in advance in a storage device such as a semiconductor memory element (a non-transient storage device (which may also be a storage unit 210)) such as a ROM, RAM, or flash memory, or it may be stored in a removable storage medium (a non-transient storage medium) such as a DVD or CD-ROM, and installed in the storage device provided in the guide device 200 when the storage medium is mounted on the drive device provided in the guide device 200.The program (software) may be pre-downloaded via a network (not shown) from, for example, a server device or storage device incorporated into a cloud computing system, and installed in the storage device (which may also be a memory unit 210) of the guidance device 200. The program (software) installed in the storage device of the guidance device 200 may be transferred to the processing circuit 230 of the guidance device 200 and executed.

[0038] The usage status determination function 232 determines the usage status of each self-checkout register T installed within area R by the customer C, based on the detection information output by the usage status acquisition unit 220.

[0039] For example, if the usage status detection device 100 is composed of a camera, and the detection information output by the usage status detection device 100 is an image (still image or moving image) captured by the camera, the usage status determination function 232 determines the usage status of the self-register T by customer C by recognizing customer C or markers in the image through a predetermined image recognition process. The image recognition process may use, for example, an AI (Artificial Intelligence) image recognition function. In this case, the usage status determination function 232 may determine the usage status of the self-register T using installation information stored in the memory unit 210. The usage status determination function 232 may also determine the usage status of the self-register T using information associated with the installation information, for example, the installation position of the self-register T within area R and the installation direction of each self-register T, that is, a predetermined front surface (hereinafter referred to as "the front of the self-register T") that customer C accesses when performing the payment (settlement) procedure for purchased goods. More specifically, the usage status determination function 232 determines that the self-register T is currently being used by customer C if a person is captured within a predetermined range in front of the self-register T, and determines that the self-register T is not currently being used by customer C if no person is captured within the predetermined range. In this case, the usage status determination function 232 may also determine that the self-register T is currently being used by customer C if, for example, the same person is captured in multiple still images continuously captured by the usage status detection device 100, or in moving images over a predetermined period of time, that is, if the same customer C remains in front of the self-register T for a predetermined time, rather than simply passing by (crossing) the front of the self-register T. Thus, it is preferable that the determination of whether the self-register T is currently being used by customer C by the usage status determination function 232 is made by considering various states that may occur to the self-register T installed in the area R, in addition to the actions taken by customer C when performing the payment (settlement) procedure for purchased goods.

[0040] On the other hand, the usage status determination function 232 determines that the self-register T is currently being used by customer C if it cannot confirm the marker attached to the floor or other surface in front of the self-register T, and determines that the self-register T is not currently being used by customer C if it can confirm the marker. In this case, the usage status determination function 232 may also determine that the self-register T is currently being used by customer C if it cannot confirm the same marker from multiple still images continuously captured by the usage status detection device 100, or if it cannot confirm the same marker from moving images over a predetermined period of time. In other words, the marker is not hidden for a short time because customer C is passing (crossing) in front of the self-register T, but rather because the same customer C is remaining in front of the self-register T for a predetermined period of time.

[0041] Furthermore, the usage status determination function 232 separately determines the usage status of the cash-accepting cashless payment register Tmr and the usage status of the cashless payment-only register Tr, using information such as the type of each self-register T, which is associated with the installation information. Here, if the detection information output by the usage status detection device 100 is an image (still image or moving image) of a marker captured by a camera, the usage status determination function 232 may separately determine the usage status of the cash-accepting cashless payment register Tmr and the usage status of the cashless payment-only register Tr, based on the shape of the marker or identification information for identifying the self-register T represented by the marker, instead of or in addition to the installation information.

[0042] When the usage status detection device 100 is composed of a camera, the image (still image or moving image) captured by the camera is an example of an "image captured within a region". When the usage status detection device 100 is composed of a camera, the markers shown in the image (still image or moving image) captured by the camera are an example of a "predetermined mark".

[0043] For example, if the usage status detection device 100 is composed of motion sensors, and the detection information output by the usage status detection device 100 is information indicating whether or not a person detected by the motion sensor is within the detection range, the usage status determination function 232 determines the usage status of the self-checkout register T by customer C based on the human detection status of each motion sensor. More specifically, if the motion sensor detects a person within its detection range, the usage status determination function 232 determines that the self-checkout register T is currently being used by customer C, and if the motion sensor does not detect a person, it determines that the self-checkout register T is not currently being used by customer C. In this case, the usage status determination function 232 may also determine that the self-checkout register T is currently being used by customer C if the motion sensor continuously detects a person for a predetermined period of time, that is, if the same customer C remains in front of the self-checkout register T for a predetermined time. In this case as well, the usage status determination function 232 may separately determine the usage status of the cash-accepting cashless payment register Tmr and the usage status of the cashless payment-only register Tr, using information such as the type of self-checkout register T that each motion sensor corresponds to, which is associated with the installation information.

[0044] When the usage status detection device 100 is composed of a human motion sensor, the human detection status expressed in the detection information output by the usage status detection device 100 is an example of a "detection result in which a human being present within the detection range was detected."

[0045] The usage status determination function 232 outputs information representing the determination result (determination result), that is, information representing the usage status of the self-checkout register T by the determined customer C (hereinafter referred to as "usage status information"), to the guidance information generation function 234. The usage status information includes at least information on the cash-accepting cashless payment register Tmr and the cashless payment-only register Tr that the customer C has determined are not currently in use. The usage status determination function 232 outputs to the guidance information generation function 234 information on the number of the self-checkout register T that is exclusively set up in the retail store, which is associated with the installation information, as the usage status information for the cash-accepting cashless payment register Tmr and the cashless payment-only register Tr that the customer C has determined are not currently in use.

[0046] The usage status determination function 232 is an example of a "usage status determination unit." The usage status information is an example of a "determination result."

[0047] The guidance information generation function 234 generates guidance information to inform customer C about self-checkout registers T that are not currently being used by customer C, that is, self-checkout registers T that are currently available for use, based on the usage status information output by the usage status determination function 232. For example, if the information display device 300 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display, the guidance information generation function 234 generates a display image as guidance information to present (guide) the information of available self-checkout registers T to customer C as an image. For example, if the information display device 300 is a display device composed of LEDs (light-emitting diodes), the guidance information generation function 234 generates a control signal as guidance information to control the lighting and extinguishing of the LEDs corresponding to available self-checkout registers T. The guidance information generation function 234 outputs the generated guidance information to the information display device 300. As a result, the information of available self-checkout registers T is presented (guided) to each customer C waiting in line by the information display device 300.

[0048] The guidance information generation function 234 is an example of a "guidance information generation unit".

[0049] Here, we will describe an example of guidance information generated by the guidance information generation function 234. In the following description, the guidance information is assumed to be a display image, and the information presentation device 300 is assumed to be a display device such as a liquid crystal display. The usage status information is assumed to include information on the number of the cash-accepting cashless payment register Tmr that is currently not in use and information on the number of the cashless payment-only register Tr that is currently not in use and is currently not in use. In the following description, it is assumed that each self-register T is installed within the area R shown in Figure 1, and Figure 1 will be referred to as appropriate. Here, the numbers of each self-register T are assumed to be "1" to "8" for the cash-accepting cashless payment registers Tmr-1 to Tmr-8, and "9" to "12" for the cashless payment-only registers Tr-1 to Tr-4. Figures 3 to 6 are diagrams showing an example of a display image that guides users to available payment terminals (self-register T) in the payment terminal guidance system 1 of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] In the display image IM-1 shown in Figure 3, display area A-1 of the display image shows the numbers of available cash-accepting cashless payment registers Tmr ("1", "2", "5", and "6"), and display area A-2 shows the numbers of available cashless payment-only registers Tr ("9", "10", and "12"). This allows each customer C waiting in line to recognize which self-register T they can use to pay for their goods. More specifically, a customer Cm waiting in line to pay with cash can recognize that they can use self-register T numbers "1", "2", "5", and "6" to complete their payment. On the other hand, a customer Cr waiting in line to pay using cashless payment can recognize that, in addition to self-register T numbers "1", "2", "5", and "6", they can also use self-register T numbers "9", "10", and "12".

[0051] In the display image IM-2 shown in Figure 4, display area A-1 shows that there are currently no available cash-compatible cashless payment registers Tmr, and display area A-2 shows the numbers of available cashless payment-only registers Tr ("10" and "12"). This allows customers Cm who wish to pay with cash to understand that they must continue to wait in line until other customers C have finished using the cash-compatible cashless payment registers Tmr. On the other hand, customers Cr who wish to pay cashless can understand that they can make a payment at self-checkout registers T numbered "10" and "12". However, customers Cr cannot understand whether each customer C in the payment line wishes to pay with cash or cashless. For example, in the example shown in Figure 1, customer Cr-1 is third in line, but does not understand that they are first among the customers Cr who wish to pay cashless. Therefore, in display image IM-2, below display area A-1, which displays (instructs) the number of an available cash-accepting cashless payment register Tmr, a message M (in Figure 4, "The order may change depending on the payment method.") has been added to prompt customer Cr who is waiting in line to take action, that is, to leave the line and proceed to the payment procedure. As a result, customer Cr (in Figure 1, customer Cr-1) who is relatively close to the front of the payment line can, on their own judgment, leave the line without continuing to wait in line, and without worrying about causing inconvenience to other customers C (in Figure 1, customers Cm-1 and Cm-2) ahead of them, and proceed to the self-checkout register T with number "10" or "12" to complete the payment procedure.

[0052] In the display image IM-3 shown in Figure 5, display area A-1 shows the numbers of available cash-accepting cashless payment registers Tmr ("1", "2", "5", and "6"), and display area A-2 shows the numbers of available cashless payment-only registers Tr ("9", "10", "11", and "12"). As a result, customers Cm who are waiting in line to pay with cash can recognize that they can proceed with payment at self-registers T numbered "1", "2", "5", and "6", similar to the display image IM-1 shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, customers Cm who are waiting in line to pay with cash can recognize that each self-register T they are heading to also accepts cashless payments. As a result, customers Cm who are waiting in line to pay with cash can proceed with cashless payment even if they are unable to complete the cash payment process smoothly, for example, if they do not have enough cash with them. However, as long as there are no problems that the customer is unaware of, such as their credit card being suspended or the amount of money in their QR code payment method being insufficient, they can proceed with cashless payment. Therefore, they can confidently go to self-checkout registers T numbered "1," "2," "5," and "6" and proceed with the payment process. On the other hand, customers Cr who are waiting in line to pay with cashless payment can recognize that, as shown in the display image IM-1 in Figure 3, they can also proceed with payment at self-checkout registers T numbered "9," "10," "11," and "12," in addition to self-checkout registers T numbered "1," "2," "5," and "6."

[0053] In the display image IM-4 shown in Figure 6, display area A-1 shows the numbers of available cash-accepting cashless payment registers Tmr ("1", "2", "5", and "6"), and display area A-2 shows the numbers of available cashless payment-only registers Tr ("9", "10", "11", and "12"). In the display image IM-4, customers Cm who are waiting in line to pay with cash and customers Cr who are waiting in line to pay with cash are made aware of the available self-checkout registers T, and prompts for each customer C to take action are displayed (in Figure 6, "Please use this cash-accepting register" or "You can also use this cashless payment-only register"). As a result, customers Cm and Cr waiting in line to pay are able to recognize which self-checkout register T they can use to complete their payment, just like in the display image IM-3 shown in Figure 5, and proceed to either self-checkout register T to complete their payment.

[0054] The guidance information generated by the guidance information generation function 234 is not limited to the display images shown in Figures 3 to 6, but can be any display image that can guide and allow each customer C waiting in line to recognize the self-register T that they can use. In other words, the design of the display image generated by the guidance information generation function 234 may differ for each retail store where the payment terminal guidance system 1 is installed. The display images shown in Figures 3 to 6 show an example where the entire display image is divided into two vertically, but for example, the entire display image may be divided into two horizontally, and each divided display area may be of a different size, or map information of the area where the self-register T is installed (i.e., floor map information showing the positional relationship between the placement of the self-register T and the lines waiting to pay) may be shown. When map information is displayed, it is possible to understand which self-register T is available, as well as the location of that self-register T. Furthermore, while the display images shown in Figures 3 to 6 show an example where each display area A contains text (including the text of message M) to guide the customer to the self-register T and the number of the self-register T, instead of, or in addition to, the text (including the text of message M) to guide the customer to the self-register T and the number of the self-register T, symbols or graphic symbols (so-called pictograms) representing each payment method or the characteristics of the self-register T may be displayed. More specifically, for example, a pictogram representing cash may be displayed along with the text for cash payment and the number of the cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr. This allows customer C to visually recognize that cash payment is possible at the cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr. This allows customers Cm to easily identify which self-checkout register T to use when making a payment, for example, in a retail store where the numbers of self-checkout registers T are not exclusively assigned, and the same number exists for both a cash-accepting cashless payment register Tmr and a cashless payment-only register Tr.In other words, this system can avoid situations where, for example, the same number exists for both a cash-accepting cashless payment register Tmr and a cashless payment-only register Tr, a customer Cm might mistakenly go to the wrong self-checkout register T to complete the payment process, or become confused when approaching the self-checkout register T. For example, the word "cashless payment" and the numbers of either the cash-accepting cashless payment register Tmr or the cashless payment-only register Tr, or both, may be displayed along with pictograms representing credit card or QR code payment methods. In this case, if there are multiple credit card payment methods and QR code payment methods (i.e., credit card companies and QR code payment companies) that are supported in cashless payments, and it is anticipated that displaying all pictograms at once would make it difficult for the customer C to recognize them, the display of each pictogram may be switched sequentially at predetermined time intervals. This allows customers C to visually recognize the cashless payment methods supported by the cash-accepting cashless payment register Tmr and the cashless payment-only register Tr. This enables each customer Cr to complete the payment procedure smoothly. In other words, it prevents situations where, for example, a customer Cr attempts to complete a payment using a cashless payment method not supported by the self-register T, resulting in longer usage times for the self-register T or requiring employee assistance. Furthermore, while the display images shown in Figures 4 and 6 illustrate an example of prompting customers Cr waiting in line to take action with text (e.g., message M), methods other than text are also available to prompt customers Cr to take action. For example, a display image that flashes the number of the currently available self-register T could be used to draw attention to an available self-register T and prompt customer C to take action.Instead of, or in addition to, a display image that flashes the number of the self-register T, sound may be used to draw the attention of customers C to available self-register T and prompt them to take action, for example, by announcing the number of a currently available self-register T or by sounding a buzzer.

[0055] The display images shown in Figures 3 to 6 are examples of "display images".

[0056] [Overall processing flow in the payment terminal guidance system] Next, an example of the overall processing flow in the payment terminal guidance system 1 will be described. Figure 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the overall processing flow in the payment terminal guidance system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, it is assumed that each self-register T is installed within the area R shown in Figure 1, and that the installation information of the self-register T within area R is stored in the storage unit 210. In the sequence diagram shown in Figure 7, each time the usage status detection device 100 detects the usage status of each self-register T at predetermined time intervals and outputs detection information, that is, based on one piece of detection information, the customer C is guided to the self-register T that is currently available.

[0057] The usage status detection device 100 detects the usage status of each self-register T installed within area R (step S100). The usage status detection device 100 outputs detection information representing the detected usage status of the self-register T to the guidance device 200 (step S110).

[0058] The usage status acquisition unit 220 of the guidance device 200 acquires the detection information output by the usage status detection device 100 (step S200). The usage status acquisition unit 220 outputs the acquired detection information to the processing circuit 230.

[0059] The usage status determination function 232 in the processing circuit 230 of the guidance device 200 determines the usage status of each self-register T installed in area R by customer C based on the detection information output by the usage status acquisition unit 220 (step S210). The usage status determination function 232 outputs usage status information representing the determined usage status of the self-register T by customer C to the guidance information generation function 234.

[0060] The guidance information generation function 234 within the processing circuit 230 of the guidance device 200 generates guidance information to guide customer C to an available self-register T that is currently available for use, based on the usage status information output by the usage status determination function 232 (step S220). The guidance information generation function 234 outputs the generated guidance information to the information display device 300 (step S230).

[0061] The information display device 300 displays (informs) the guidance information output by the guidance device 200 (more specifically, the guidance information generation function 234) to each customer C waiting in line for payment (step S300).

[0062] In this processing flow, the Payment Terminal Guidance System 1 uses a usage status detection device 100 to detect the usage status of each self-register T installed within a predetermined area R, and a guidance device 200 determines which self-register T is currently not being used by customer C and is therefore available, based on the detection information representing the usage status of each self-register T detected by the usage status detection device 100. The Payment Terminal Guidance System 1 then uses a guidance device 200 to generate guidance information to inform other customers C waiting in line to which self-register T is currently available for use, that is, which self-register T is currently available for use, and presents (guides) this information via an information presentation device 300. In the Payment Terminal Guidance System 1, the usage status detection device 100, the guidance device 200, and the information presentation device 300 each repeatedly perform their respective processes, sequentially presenting (guiding) each customer C waiting in line to use the self-register T that is currently available for use.

[0063] The sequence diagram in Figure 7 illustrates the processing flow when customer C is presented (guided) to a currently available self-register T based on a single detection piece of information detected by the usage status detection device 100. However, when presenting (guiding) a currently available self-register T in the payment terminal guidance system 1, as described above, it is preferable to determine whether or not the self-register T is being used by considering actions other than the payment (settlement) procedure that may occur with the self-register T. For this reason, the guidance device 200 (more specifically, the usage status determination function 232 provided in the processing circuit 230) determines, for example, that customer C is currently using the self-register T if the same customer C remains in front of the self-register T for a predetermined time (e.g., 1 second) or longer, based on multiple detection pieces of information continuously detected and output by the usage status detection device 100. In this case, the processing sequence in the payment terminal guidance system 1 can be achieved by the usage status determination function 232 repeating the process of determining the usage status based on the detection information (processing in step S210) for the number of times it is determined that the same customer C has remained in front of the self-register T for a predetermined amount of time. However, the usage status determination function 232 repeats the process in step S210 for each self-register T within area R. This is because the start time of use is not the same for all self-registers T, so the time from when it is first determined that customer C is using the self-register T to when it can be determined that the customer has remained there for a predetermined amount of time differs for each self-register T. As a result, the usage status determination function 232 can output the usage status information, which is determined for each self-register T, to the guidance information generation function 234 at a predetermined time interval period in which the usage status detection device 100 outputs detection information. The guidance information generation function 234 then generates guidance information based on the usage status information output by the usage status determination function 232, and updates the presentation (guidance) of currently available self-checkout registers T to customer C.The generation of guidance information by the guidance information generation function 234, that is, the updating of the presentation (guidance) to customer C of currently available self-registers T in the payment terminal guidance system 1, may be a predetermined time interval (for example, 2-3 second intervals) different from the time interval at which the usage status information is output from the usage status determination function 232, as long as the usage status of each self-register T expressed in the usage status information output by the usage status determination function 232 is reflected and the time interval at which customer C can be guided to the currently available self-registers T. In this case, the operation and processing of the usage status determination function 232 and the guidance information generation function 234 should be equivalent to the operation and processing of the usage status determination function 232 and the guidance information generation function 234 described above, and can be easily considered based on the description of the embodiment described above. Therefore, a detailed explanation of the operation and processing of the usage status determination function 232 and the guidance information generation function 234 in cases where the usage status determination function 232 determines, based on multiple detection pieces of information, that the same customer C has remained in front of the self-checkout register T for a predetermined amount of time, and where the time interval for updating the guidance information differs from the time interval at which the usage status information is output from the usage status determination function 232 is omitted.

[0064] As described above, in the embodiment for carrying out the present invention, the usage status detection device 100, which constitutes the payment terminal guidance system 1, detects the usage status of each self-register T installed within a predetermined area R in a retail store. Then, in the embodiment for carrying out the present invention, the guidance device 200, which constitutes the payment terminal guidance system 1, determines which self-register T is currently not being used by customer C and is therefore available, based on the detection information representing the usage status of each self-register T detected by the usage status detection device 100. Then, in the embodiment for carrying out the present invention, the guidance device 200, which constitutes the payment terminal guidance system 1, generates guidance information to guide other customers C waiting in line to use the self-register T that it has determined is currently not being used by customer C as an available self-register T, and presents (guides) this information to customer C via the information presentation device 300, which constitutes the payment terminal guidance system 1. As a result, the payment terminal guidance system 1 in the embodiment for carrying out the present invention can automatically guide customers C waiting in line to use an available self-register T. In other words, in a retail store that has introduced the payment terminal guidance system 1 in the form of the present invention, customers C can recognize an available self-checkout register T, go to that self-checkout register T, and complete the payment (settlement) process themselves, without employees having to confirm the payment method desired by the customer C and guide them to an available self-checkout register T. As a result, retail stores that have introduced the payment terminal guidance system 1 in the form of the present invention can improve the efficiency of the payment (settlement) process for the goods they sell.

[0065] Furthermore, in the payment terminal guidance system 1 of the present invention, by simply installing a usage status detection device 100 that detects the usage status of each self-register T installed within the retail store area R, it is possible to automatically guide customers C to an available self-register T. For this reason, the payment terminal guidance system 1 of the present invention is easier to introduce to retail stores and reduces the cost of introduction compared to, for example, conventional payment terminal guidance systems that use self-registers equipped with surveillance cameras.

[0066] In embodiments of the present invention, for example, configurations and functions for storing installation information in the memory unit 210 of the guidance device 200, that is, configurations and functions for controlling, managing, and maintaining the guidance device 200 in the payment terminal guidance system 1, are not specifically described. However, configurations and functions for controlling, managing, and maintaining the guidance device 200 can be easily imagined by, for example, equipping the guidance device 200 with a communication unit (not shown), and performing the control via an in-store or inter-store network (not shown) from, for example, a computer device separately installed in a retail store or a server device incorporated into a cloud computing system. Here, the in-store or inter-store network (not shown) may be a wired network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or WAN (Wide Area Network), or it may be a wireless network such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) (so-called WiFi®). Furthermore, methods and processes for controlling, managing, and maintaining the guidance device 200 from a computer device or server device can also be easily imagined. Therefore, a detailed explanation of the configuration, functions, methods, and processes for controlling, managing, and maintaining the guidance device 200 in the payment terminal guidance system 1 will be omitted.

[0067] In the embodiments for carrying out the present invention, the case in which the self-register T installed in the area R of a retail store is a cash-accepting cashless payment register Tmr and a cashless payment-only register Tr has been described. However, other types of self-register T installed in the area R of a retail store can also be considered, for example, a self-register dedicated to cash payments, where the only payment method available is cash. In this case, the operation and processing of the guidance device 200 and each component of the guidance device 200 (in particular, the usage status determination function 232 and the guidance information generation function 234) can be easily considered based on the description of the embodiments above, as the operation and processing of the usage status determination function 232 and the guidance information generation function 234 described above can be made to correspond to a self-register dedicated to cash payments. Therefore, a detailed explanation of the operation and processing of the usage status determination function 232 and the guidance information generation function 234 when a self-register dedicated to cash payments is installed in area R will be omitted.

[0068] The embodiments described above may include the following functions. <1. Personalized guidance tailored to the customer's attributes and circumstances> Instead of outputting general guidance information for the aforementioned "second customer," it may be possible to estimate customer attributes (gender, age, etc.) using facial recognition, and then process and output guidance information tailored to the estimated customer attributes, such as for the elderly, wheelchair users, or children. In this case, a camera is provided to capture images of the vicinity of the information display device 300, and customers who may see the information display device 300 (for example, customers waiting in line for an available register) are captured. This camera only needs to be able to capture images of customers in the waiting line, and for example, a camera on the ceiling or a camera provided on the information display device 300 may be used. In recent years, display devices compatible with digital signage have been introduced, and the use of display devices equipped with cameras and touch panels is progressing. By using such a display device compatible with digital signage as the information display device 300, customers may be captured by a camera provided on the display device.

[0069] The guidance device 200 may have an estimation unit that acquires captured images taken by the camera described above, extracts feature quantities from the facial images of customers waiting in the queue included in the captured images, and estimates the attributes of the customers based on the extracted feature quantities. The estimated attributes may be at least one of the following: gender, age group, language used, etc. The function of estimating attributes based on images may use AI (Artificial Intelligence). Examples of processing that uses customer attributes include, for example, when outputting guidance information as an image, the font size and hiragana display may be changed from the usual display. For example, for elderly people, the font size can be made larger than usual to make it easier to read. Also, for children, displaying text in hiragana instead of kanji can increase the likelihood that they will be able to read it.

[0070] Furthermore, as for the processing details, for example, if guidance information is to be output by sound, the text included in the guidance information may be output as voice using a text-to-speech function, and the pitch and tone of the voice may be changed according to the attributes. Furthermore, in the case of elderly people, guidance information may be output that directs them to a manned register where a store employee registers the items and processes the payment, rather than to a self-checkout register. In this way, the system may be modified to select the type of register to direct them to, depending on their attributes.

[0071] Furthermore, when providing guidance information based on the customer's situation, the customer may utilize their smartphone or other terminal device. For example, a QR code could be attached to the shopping basket, and the customer could scan the QR code with their terminal device to access a webpage published by the store, where the guidance information would be displayed. Such two-dimensional barcodes contain a URL (uniform resource locator) that directs the user to a page on the store's website that displays information. The terminal device interprets the two-dimensional barcode to recognize the URL and access the store's website based on it. This website is, for example, the website where information generated by the information device 200 (information generation function 234) is published. Here, the information generation function 234 outputs the generated information to the web server, making it available on the website. As a result, the information can be displayed on the terminal device in a viewable format when the web server is accessed from the terminal device.

[0072] Furthermore, even if a customer in the waiting line is in a position where they cannot directly see the information display device 300, they can still check it using their own terminal device. This allows them to check whether there is an available payment terminal, eliminating the problem of customers remaining in the waiting line without realizing that there is an available payment terminal because they cannot see the information display device 300.

[0073] In some stores, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) may be available for use within the store. Customers may be allowed to connect to this network from their terminal devices, and information may be displayed. In this case, when connected to the wireless LAN, the store's web server may be accessible, and this web server may send information to the terminal device for display.

[0074] Furthermore, if a terminal device accesses the store's webpage via a 2D barcode URL or the store's wireless LAN, the terminal device may send terminal identification information assigned to the terminal device, which allows for individual identification of the terminal device, or, if the user is registered as a customer of the store, the registered user ID, to the web server, allowing the guidance device 200 to identify the accessing customer. The guidance device 200 may then estimate which payment method the accessing customer prefers based on their past payment history, generate guidance information regarding the self-checkout register T corresponding to the payment method that the customer is most likely to use, and display this information on the terminal device. This makes it possible to guide customers to the most suitable available register. It also makes it possible to further customize the guidance information provided to a "second customer" waiting to pay, tailoring it to the individual customer's preferences.

[0075] <2. Diverse Information Presentation Methods and Detailed Expression> Furthermore, the information display device 300 described above may be a projector, and guidance information may be projected onto an area visible to customers in the waiting line (floor, wall, screen, etc.). Also, if the information display device 300 is a projector, guidance information may be projected onto an object located in a position visible from the waiting line using projection mapping technology. The area on which such a projector projects guidance information may be determined by capturing images of the waiting line's arrangement, which is formed according to the number of people in the waiting line and the number of customers in the waiting line, using a camera and performing image analysis to determine the projection area. For example, if there are few people in the waiting line and the line is a single file, the guidance information may be displayed along the line. Also, if there are many people in the waiting line and the line is winding, there is a possibility that some customers may not be able to see the information display device 300, which is a display installed at the entrance of the waiting line. If such a waiting line arrangement is detected, the guidance device 200 may project the guidance information using the information display device 300, which is a projector, to a location near the customers at the back of the waiting line.

[0076] Furthermore, the information display device 300 may not only display guidance information but also accept input operations from customers on the displayed screen and display content corresponding to the input operations. If the information display device 300 is a display, the display screen may be equipped with a touch panel and accept operation input on that touch panel. Also, if the information display device 300 is a projector, the operation content on the projected image may be detected based on a camera image capturing the projected screen of the projector, and the operation content may be accepted.

[0077] The system may accept user input such as pinch-in or pinch-out gestures to change the display size, and then enlarge or reduce the display size of the guidance screen according to the user's input. This allows the guidance information to be enlarged for easier viewing, and by reducing the display size of the guidance information, the entire area where multiple payment terminals are installed can be displayed on the screen, making it possible to check the usage status.

[0078] Furthermore, when the information display device 300 outputs guidance information, it may display map information of the area where the self-register T is installed (i.e., floor map information showing the positional relationship between the self-register T and the queue waiting to pay). Figure 8 shows an example of a display screen for guidance information, including map information, displayed by the information display device 300. This map information shows the entrance and exit for the area where the self-checkout registers T are located, as well as the location of the self-checkout registers T within that area. Furthermore, the display of the word "In Use" at the location where a self-checkout register T is located indicates that it is being used by another customer and is therefore unavailable. Conversely, the display of the word "In Use" indicates that self-checkout registers T are available. Additionally, the text "For cashless payments, all available registers are available" is displayed, indicating that customers who wish to pay cashless can choose and use any of the available registers. Additionally, a message may be displayed that includes a graphic that identifies the self-checkout register T as accepting cash, such as "Please use XX if paying by cash." This allows users to use the graphic as a clue to determine where in the area the self-checkout register T that accepts cash is located. This allows users to intuitively understand the location of available self-checkout registers when displaying map information.

[0079] Furthermore, the information displayed by the information display device 300 may be displayed in multiple languages. For example, feature quantities may be extracted from facial images of customers waiting in line, customer attributes may be estimated based on these feature quantities, and information may be displayed in a language corresponding to those attributes. Alternatively, the display screen of the information display device 300 may display selection buttons for language selection, and information may be displayed in the selected language based on user input.

[0080] Furthermore, the guidance information generation function 234 may use a lower tone of voice to make it easier for elderly people to hear if it obtains attributes corresponding to an elderly person based on the attributes estimated by the estimation unit of the guidance device 200. In this case, the information display device 300 may use a voice tone appropriate to the attribute to read aloud a message such as "Register number XX, which supports both cash and cashless payments, is currently available" based on the text data included in the guidance information. This makes it easier to hear for elderly people. In addition, if the attribute is elderly, the speaking speed can be slowed down to create a slower tone, which further improves ease of hearing.

[0081] Furthermore, if the user is a child, increasing the intonation when reading out the information can make it easier for them to notice the audio.

[0082] Thus, the information display device 300 only needs to be able to output guidance information in a way that customers waiting for payment procedures can understand. This can be done by at least one of the following methods: outputting guidance information to a display installed near the waiting line for payment; outputting guidance information by projecting it near the waiting line for payment using a projector; outputting guidance information by transmitting it in response to access from a terminal device used by the customer; or outputting guidance information by voice, etc. Customers understanding the information may be done by at least one of the following: visually seeing the displayed guidance information or hearing the guidance information output by sound.

[0083] <3. Providing information and added value related to waiting times> The guidance information generation function 234 may output additional information regarding checkout waiting times in addition to the availability of checkout registers. The additional information may include, for example, advertisements related to the store or incentives available at the store. If advertisements related to the store are displayed by the information display device 300 as additional information, customers waiting in line can use their waiting time to view advertisements such as announcements of new products or the scheduled dates of the next special sale. This can reduce the perception of long waiting times for customers waiting in line.

[0084] Furthermore, when providing incentives as additional information, for example, when guidance information is displayed on a terminal device carried by a customer, buttons that allow the customer to obtain discount coupons, prize exchange vouchers, etc., may be displayed as incentives, and the incentive may be given in response to the customer's tap. In addition, different incentives may be given depending on the time elapsed since accessing the web page displaying the guidance information. For example, a customer who has waited 1 minute since the guidance information was first displayed on the terminal device may be given a 100 yen discount coupon, and a customer who has waited 3 minutes may be given a 300 yen discount coupon.

[0085] Furthermore, the payment terminal guidance system 1 may be linked with other systems installed in the store (e.g., security systems, customer management systems, etc.). For example, the security system may use functions such as facial recognition to identify customers, extract information about the identified customers from the customer management system, and provide incentives tailored to those customers. In this case, the customer management system can store POS (Point of Sales) data output from the self-checkout T and provide incentives based on each user's past purchase amount. Incentives may be provided, for example, by registering them in the incentives managed by the user app, using the functions of the store's user app installed on the terminal device used by the customer. This makes it possible to provide more customized incentives.

[0086] <4. Detailed criteria for determining how to use detection information> The usage status detection device 100 is configured to detect whether or not a customer is present in the area where it is expected that a customer will stay when using the self-register T. However, it may also be configured to determine whether or not the self-register T is being used based on whether or not processes that occur in conjunction with the use of the self-register T are being performed, such as the customer's product registration operation (the operation of having the barcode attached to the product read by the scanner of the self-register T) and payment operations. When making such a determination, the usage status detection device 100 may detect the usage status by detecting whether the customer is performing operations such as registering products or making payments from images captured by a camera installed on the ceiling or a camera individually installed on the self-checkout T.

[0087] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, if the usage status detection device 100 is a camera, a camera installed on the ceiling at the entrance of the retail store area R may be used, or if there are cameras individually provided at each self-checkout, those individually provided cameras may be used. Also, if the usage status detection device 100 is a motion sensor, it may be a motion sensor individually provided at each self-checkout, or it may be a sensor that detects whether or not there is a customer at each self-checkout, targeting an area that includes the area where customers stay at each of the multiple self-checkouts.

[0088] While self-checkout systems equipped with surveillance cameras (e.g., Patent Document 1) can monitor customer fraud, they do not guide customers waiting to use a payment terminal to an available terminal. Furthermore, in a self-checkout system equipped with a surveillance camera, it is necessary to capture images that include the areas where various operations for registering and paying for products are performed (such as the area for scanning to register the products to be purchased, and the path from the shopping basket to the scannable area). In this embodiment, however, images that capture such various operation areas may be used, or even if the various operation areas are not captured, the usage status can be detected if the area where the user is expected to stay when using the self-checkout T is captured. As a result, there are fewer constraints on the imaging range of the camera that can be used as the usage status detection device 100, making it easier to introduce a system that provides guidance information. Furthermore, when using cameras individually installed in the self-register T, identification information that can individually identify the camera and identification information that can identify the self-register T on which the camera is installed may be stored in the storage unit 210 in association with each other. The usage status determination function 232 may then refer to this data indicating the correspondence between the camera image and the self-register T to determine the usage status. This makes it easy to identify which self-register T corresponds to the image captured by the camera. In addition, if a camera is already installed in the self-register T, or if a camera is installed for another purpose, that camera may be used as the usage status detection device 100. In this case, an existing camera can be reused.

[0089] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment described the payment terminal as a self-checkout register, the payment terminal may also be one in which the customer registers products using a product registration device where a store employee registers the products, the product registration device transmits the payment target data, which is the result of that registration, to the payment terminal, and the customer makes the payment at the payment terminal. Alternatively, the payment terminal may be a manned cash register where a store employee performs the product registration and payment operations. In this case, the area within the store where payment terminals are installed may have at least one of the following types of payment terminals: a self-checkout register that supports both cash and cashless payments, a self-checkout register that supports cashless payments, a payment terminal that processes payments based on the results of product registration by a store employee, and a manned checkout register.

[0090] While embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0091] 1. Payment terminal guidance system 100...Usage status detection device 200... Guidance device 210...Storage section 220...Usage Status Acquisition Unit 230... Processing circuit 232...Usage Status Determination Function 234...Guidance information generation function 300...Information presentation device T... Self-checkout register Tmr... Cash-compatible cashless payment register Tr...Cashless payment-only cash register

Claims

1. A payment terminal in which the customer who purchased the product performs the payment procedure, and a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each payment terminal by a first customer within a predetermined area where multiple payment terminals with different types of corresponding payment methods are installed, A guidance device that outputs guidance information to guide a second customer, who is waiting to complete a payment procedure using the first payment terminal, to a first payment terminal that is not currently being used by the first customer, among a plurality of payment terminals; An information display device installed at the entrance to the area presents the guidance information to the second customer, A payment terminal guidance system equipped with, The aforementioned guide device, A usage status determination unit determines the first payment terminal based on detection information that represents the current usage status of each payment terminal by the first customer, as detected by the usage status detection device. A guidance information generation unit generates and outputs guidance information for guiding the second customer to the first payment terminal available to them, based on the result of the determination. Equipped with, Payment terminal guidance system.

2. The detection information is an image captured within the region. The usage status determination unit determines the first payment terminal by recognizing the first customer captured in the image. The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 1.

3. The detection information is an image captured within the area, including a predetermined mark placed at a position where the customer is expected to remain when using the payment terminal. The usage status determination unit determines the first payment terminal based on whether or not the predetermined mark shown in the image can be recognized. The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned designated mark includes identification information for identifying the payment terminal, The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 3.

5. The aforementioned detection information is a detection result in which a person is detected within the detection range, which is defined as the location where the customer is expected to remain when using the payment terminal. The usage status determination unit determines the first payment terminal based on the information indicating whether or not a person is present in the detection result. The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 1.

6. The aforementioned guidance information is a display image showing the available first payment terminal. The information display device displays the display image and presents the guidance information to the second customer. A payment terminal guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The guidance information generation unit generates the display image that guides the user to the first payment terminal that is available for each type of payment method supported by the first payment terminal. The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 6.

8. The guidance information generation unit guides the first payment terminal to the available first payment terminal for each type of payment method supported by the first payment terminal, and generates the display image showing information that prompts the second customer to take action. The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 6.

9. The guidance information generation unit guides users to the first payment terminals that are available for each type of payment method supported by the first payment terminal, and generates the display image that indicates the type of payment method supported by the first payment terminal being guided. The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 6.

10. The guidance information generation unit guides the first payment terminals available for each type of payment method supported by the first payment terminal, and generates the display image showing the type of payment method supported by the guided first payment terminal and information that prompts the second customer to take action. The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 6.

11. A usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each payment terminal by a first customer within a predetermined area where multiple payment terminals of different types of corresponding payment methods are installed, and a guidance device that outputs guidance information to guide a second customer waiting to complete a payment procedure using the first payment terminal to the first payment terminal that is not currently being used by the first customer. An information display device that outputs the aforementioned guidance information in a way that the second customer can understand, A payment terminal guidance system equipped with, The aforementioned guide device, A usage status determination unit determines the first payment terminal based on detection information that represents the current usage status of each payment terminal by the first customer, as detected by the usage status detection device. A guidance information generation unit generates and outputs guidance information for guiding the second customer to the first payment terminal available to them, based on the result of the determination. Equipped with, Payment terminal guidance system.

12. A payment terminal in which the customer who purchased the product performs the payment procedure, and a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each payment terminal by a first customer within a predetermined area where multiple payment terminals with different types of corresponding payment methods are installed, A guidance device that outputs guidance information to guide a second customer, who is waiting to complete a payment procedure using the first payment terminal, to a first payment terminal that is not currently being used by the first customer, among a plurality of payment terminals; An information display device installed at the entrance to the area presents the guidance information to the second customer, A method for determining a payment terminal in a payment terminal guidance system comprising: The computer of the aforementioned guidance device Based on the detection information that the usage status detection device has detected, which represents the current usage status of each payment terminal by the first customer, the first payment terminal is determined. Method for determining which payment terminals are compatible.

13. A payment terminal in which the customer who purchased the product performs the payment procedure, and a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each payment terminal by a first customer within a predetermined area where multiple payment terminals with different types of corresponding payment methods are installed, A guidance device that outputs guidance information to guide a second customer, who is waiting to complete a payment procedure using the first payment terminal, to a first payment terminal that is not currently being used by the first customer, among a plurality of payment terminals; An information display device installed at the entrance to the area presents the guidance information to the second customer, A payment terminal guidance method in a payment terminal guidance system, The computer of the aforementioned guidance device Based on the detection information representing the current usage status of each payment terminal by the first customer, detected by the usage status detection device, the guidance information is generated to guide the second customer to the first payment terminal that is available to them. Instructions for finding payment terminals.

14. A payment terminal in which the customer who purchased the product performs the payment procedure, and a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each payment terminal by a first customer within a predetermined area where multiple payment terminals with different types of corresponding payment methods are installed, A guidance device that outputs guidance information to guide a second customer, who is waiting to complete a payment procedure using the first payment terminal, to a first payment terminal that is not currently being used by the first customer, among a plurality of payment terminals; An information display device installed at the entrance to the area presents the guidance information to the second customer, A program in a payment terminal guidance system equipped with, The computer of the aforementioned guidance device, Based on the detection information that the usage status detection device has detected, which represents the current usage status of each payment terminal by the first customer, the first payment terminal is determined. Based on the result of the determination, the system generates and outputs the guidance information for guiding the second customer to the first payment terminal that is available to them. program.

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