Route Prediction Device

Abstract

To provide a route estimation device, a route estimation method, and a route estimation program for easily and inexpensively estimating a customer's movement route within a store. [Solution] The route estimation device has a purchased product information acquisition means for acquiring product identification information of products that a user is paying for at a checkout location within a store, an in-store location identification means for identifying in-store location information corresponding to the product identification information of the products that are being paid for based on a product location storage means for storing the product identification information in association with in-store location information, which is information indicating where the product identified by the product identification information is located within the store, a landmark plotting means for plotting landmarks representing the products identified by the product identification information that correspond to each of the in-store location information at corresponding positions on a floor plan of the store for the identified in-store location information, and a route generation means for drawing lines connecting the plotted landmarks on the floor plan according to predetermined rules, and generating in-store route information indicating the route that the user is estimated to have taken within the store.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This relates to a technology for estimating the route taken by a customer within a store. [Background technology]

[0002] Improving product placement within a store is a very important theme in business management, as it leads to understanding customer needs, improving customer satisfaction, and also increasing sales. On the other hand, in order to optimize the placement of products in a store, it is important to know and analyze the routes that customers take in the store when shopping.

[0003] Against this background, various technologies have been developed to know the routes that customers take within a store. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that acquires information on the movement routes of customers by acquiring the positions of individual customers in real time through image analysis using cameras installed within a retail store. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-174271 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the conventional technologies described above have problems such as the need to install devices such as cameras and beacons inside the store and to analyze the information acquired by such devices, which makes the system configuration complex and tends to require large capital investment. In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a path estimation device that can estimate a customer's movement path within a store simply and inexpensively. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One embodiment of the route estimation device disclosed includes a purchased product information acquisition means for acquiring product identification information of a product to be paid for by a user at a checkout location in a store, a product position storage means for storing the product identification information in association with in-store position information, which is information representing a location in the store where a product identified by the product identification information is located, in the store, and an in-store position identification means for identifying in-store position information corresponding to the product identification information of the product to be paid for, based on the product identification information, a mark plotting means for plotting a mark representing a product identified by the product identification information corresponding to each of the in-store position information at a corresponding position on a floor plan of the store for the identified in-store position information, and a route generation means for drawing lines connecting the plotted marks according to a predetermined rule on the floor plan, and generating in-store route information representing a route estimated to have been taken by the user in the store. The route generating means is characterized in that it draws lines connecting the plotted landmarks from the side closer to the store entrance to the side farther from the store entrance on the floor plan. Effect of the Invention

[0007] The disclosed route estimation device estimates customer movement routes within a store simply and inexpensively. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a route estimation device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a functional block diagram of a route estimation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a product position storage means according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] 4A to 4C are diagrams illustrating the processing performed by a landmark plotting means and a route generating means according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a path estimation device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing by the route estimation device according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. (Operation principle of the route estimation device according to the present embodiment)

[0010] The operation principle of a route estimation device (hereinafter simply referred to as "the device") 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the connection relationship between the device 100 and other devices, Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the device 100, and Figures 3 and 4 are diagrams explaining the components of the device 100.

[0011] 1, the device 100 is connected to a POS (Point Of Sales) system that settles the payment for a product 240 at a checkout location 230 in a store 210 via a communication network 310. The communication network 310 may be in the form of either a wired communication network or a wireless communication network. The device 100 acquires product identification information 250 of the product 240 that a user 300 settles for at the checkout location 230 in the store 210 via the POS system.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the device 100 includes a product position storage means 110 , a purchased product information acquisition means 120 , a store position identification means 130 , a landmark plotting means 140 , and a route generation means 150 .

[0013] The product position storage means 110 stores product identification information 250 for identifying products 240 sold in the store 210 in association with in-store position information 260, which is information indicating a location in the store 210 where the product 240 identified by the product identification information 250 is located. The present device 100 may not directly have the product position storage means 110, and may have the product position storage means 110 available via the communication network 310.

[0014] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the product position storage means 110. As shown in Fig. 3, the product position storage means 110 stores, for example, product names: product circle 1, product circle 2, ..., product identification information 250: xxxx1, xxxx2, ..., and in-store position information 260: 3-5, 6-2, ... in association with each other. Here, the in-store position information 260: AB represents the location (position) of the product shelf that is Ath from the right and Bth from the top in the store 210, but the location (position) may be represented by other identification methods.

[0015] The purchased product information acquiring means 120 acquires product identification information 250 of the product 240 for which the user 300 is paying at the checkout location 230 in the store 210. The purchased product information acquiring means 120 may acquire the product identification information 250 of the product 240 for which the user 300 is paying via a POS system.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 3, the purchased product information acquiring means 120 acquires product identification information 250: xxxx1, xxxx2, . . . for product circle 1, product circle 2, .

[0017] The in-store position specifying means 130 refers to the product position storage means 110 to specify the in-store position information 260 corresponding to the product identification information 250 acquired by the purchased product information acquiring means 120 .

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, the in-store location identification means 130, for example, for the product identification information 250: xxxx1, xxxx2, ... acquired by the purchased product information acquisition means 120, refers to the product location storage means 110 to identify in-store location information 260: 3-5, 6-2, ...

[0019] The landmark plotting means 140 plots a landmark 280 representing a product 240 identified by the product identification information 250 corresponding to each in-store location information 260 identified by the in-store location identification means 130 at a corresponding position on a floor plan 270 of the store 210.

[0020] 4 is a diagram showing an example of a floor plan 270 of the store 210. As shown in FIG. 4, the landmark plotting means 140 plots landmarks 280 representing products 240: product circle 1, product circle 2, ... on the floor plan 270 for in-store position information 260: 3-5, 6-2, ... specified by the in-store position specifying means 130, for example.

[0021] The route generation means 150 generates in-store route information 290 representing the route that the user 300 is estimated to have taken within the store 210 by drawing lines on the floor plan 270 connecting the landmarks 280 plotted by the landmark plotting means 140 according to predetermined rules. Here, the route generating means 150 may be configured to draw lines on the floor plan 270 connecting the landmarks 280 from the side closer to the store entrance 220 to the side farther from the store entrance 220 .

[0022] 4, the route generating means 150, for example, draws a line on the floor plan 270 from the mark 280 for product circle 1, which is closest to the store entrance 220, to the mark 280 for product circle 2, which is the second closest, and then draws a line from the mark 280 for product circle 2, which is the second closest, to the mark 280 for product circle 3, which is the third closest. Thereafter, the route generating means 150 similarly draws a line from the mark 280 for product circle 3 to the mark 280 for product circle 4, from the mark 280 for product circle 4 to the mark 280 for product circle 5, and from the mark 280 for product circle 5 to the mark 280 for product circle 6.

[0023] By performing such processing, it is possible to estimate the route taken by the user 300 when shopping at the store 210, thereby obtaining basic information for analyzing and improving the product layout at the store 210.

[0024] The route generating means 150 may be configured to draw a line on the floor plan 270 connecting the landmark 280 that is farthest from the store entrance 220 to the checkout location 230.

[0025] The route generating means 150 may also be configured to draw a line on the floor plan 270 connecting the store entrance 220 and one of the landmarks 280 that is closest to the store entrance 220 .

[0026] By using such processing, it is possible to estimate the route taken by user 300 from store entrance 220 to checkout location 230 when shopping at store 210, thereby obtaining basic information for analyzing and improving product layout in store 210.

[0027] The route generating means 150 may generate each line connecting the store entrance 220, the landmark 280, and the checkout location 230 as a directed line segment going from the store entrance 220 to the checkout location 230. This makes it possible to see at a glance the movement route of the user 300 within the store 210, including the movement direction.

[0028] As shown in Figure 4, the route generation means 150, for example, draws lines on the floor plan 270 from the store entrance 220 to the landmark 280 relating to product circle 1, which is closest to the store entrance 220, and from the landmark 280 relating to product circle 6, which is farthest from the store entrance 220, to the checkout location 230.

[0029] Based on the above-described operating principle, the device 100 estimates the movement route of the customer 300 in the store 210 simply and inexpensively without requiring sensing devices such as cameras and beacons or analysis of data acquired by such devices. (Hardware configuration of the route estimation device according to the present embodiment)

[0030] An example of the hardware configuration of the present device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the present device 100. As shown in Fig. 5, the present device 100 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 510, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 520, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 530, an auxiliary storage device 540, a communication I / F 550, an input device 560, a display device 570, and a storage medium I / F 580.

[0031] CPU 510 is a device that executes a program stored in ROM 520, performs arithmetic processing on data expanded (loaded) into RAM 530 in accordance with instructions from the program, and controls the entire device 100. ROM 520 stores programs and data to be executed by CPU 510. When CPU 510 executes a program stored in ROM 520, the program and data to be executed are expanded (loaded) into RAM 530, and RAM 530 temporarily holds the arithmetic data during calculation.

[0032] The auxiliary storage device 540 is a device that stores the OS (Operating System) which is basic software, the application program according to the present embodiment, and the like together with related data. The auxiliary storage device 540 is, for example, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory.

[0033] The communication I / F 550 is an interface for connecting to a communication network 310 such as a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, and for transmitting and receiving data to and from other devices (such as a POS system) that provide a communication function.

[0034] The input device 560 is a device such as a keyboard for inputting data to the present device 100. The display device (output device) 570 is a device constituted by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and functions as a user interface when the user utilizes the functions of the present device 100 or when performing various settings. The storage medium I / F 580 is an interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from a storage medium 590 such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or USB memory.

[0035] Each of the means of the present device 100 may be realized by CPU 510 executing a program corresponding to each of the means stored in ROM 520 or auxiliary storage device 540. Each of the means of the present device 100 may be realized by hardware that performs processing related to each of the means. Alternatively, the present device 100 may be caused to read the program according to the present invention from an external server device via communication I / F 550, or to read the program according to the present invention from storage medium 590 via storage medium I / F 580, and cause the present device 100 to execute the program. (Processing example by the route estimation device according to the present embodiment) The flow of an example of processing by the present device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of an example of processing by the present device 100.

[0036] In S10, the purchase product information acquisition means 120 acquires product identification information 250 of the product 240 for which the user 300 is paying at the checkout location 230 in the store 210. The purchase product information acquisition means 120 may acquire the product identification information 250 of the product 240 for which the user 300 is paying via a POS system.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, the purchased product information acquiring means 120 acquires product identification information 250: xxxx1, xxxx2, . . . for product circle 1, product circle 2, .

[0038] In S20, the in-store position specifying means 130 refers to the product position storage means 110 to specify the in-store position information 260 corresponding to the product identification information 250 acquired in S10.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, the in-store location identification means 130, for example, for the product identification information 250: xxxx1, xxxx2, ... acquired by the purchased product information acquisition means 120, refers to the product location storage means 110 to identify in-store location information 260: 3-5, 6-2, ...

[0040] In S30, the landmark plotting means 140 plots a landmark 280 representing a product 240 identified by the product identification information 250 corresponding to each in-store location information 260 identified in S20 at a corresponding position on a floor plan 270 of the store 210.

[0041] 4 is a diagram showing an example of a floor plan 270 of the store 210. As shown in FIG. 4, the landmark plotting means 140 plots landmarks 280 representing products 240: product circle 1, product circle 2, ... on the floor plan 270 for in-store position information 260: 3-5, 6-2, ... specified by the in-store position specifying means 130, for example.

[0042] At S40, the route generation means 150 generates in-store route information 290 representing the route that the user 300 is estimated to have taken within the store 210 by drawing lines on the floor plan 270 connecting the landmarks 280 plotted at S30 according to a predetermined rule. Here, the route generating means 150 may be configured to draw lines on the floor plan 270 connecting the landmarks 280 from the side closer to the store entrance 220 to the side farther from the store entrance 220 .

[0043] 4, the route generating means 150, for example, draws a line on the floor plan 270 from the mark 280 for product circle 1, which is closest to the store entrance 220, to the mark 280 for product circle 2, which is the second closest, and then draws a line from the mark 280 for product circle 2, which is the second closest, to the mark 280 for product circle 3, which is the third closest. Thereafter, the route generating means 150 similarly draws a line from the mark 280 for product circle 3 to the mark 280 for product circle 4, from the mark 280 for product circle 4 to the mark 280 for product circle 5, and from the mark 280 for product circle 5 to the mark 280 for product circle 6.

[0044] By performing such processing, it is possible to estimate the route taken by the user 300 when shopping at the store 210, thereby obtaining basic information for analyzing and improving the product layout at the store 210.

[0045] In addition, in S40, the route generating means 150 may draw a line on the floor plan 270 connecting the farthest of the landmarks 280 from the store entrance 220 to the checkout location 230.

[0046] Furthermore, in S40, the route generating means 150 may draw a line on the floor plan 270 connecting the store entrance 220 and one of the landmarks 280 that is closest to the store entrance 220.

[0047] By using such processing, it is possible to estimate the route taken by user 300 from store entrance 220 to checkout location 230 when shopping at store 210, thereby obtaining basic information for analyzing and improving product layout in store 210.

[0048] The route generating means 150 may generate each line connecting the store entrance 220, the landmark 280, and the checkout location 230 as a directed line segment going from the store entrance 220 to the checkout location 230. This makes it possible to see at a glance the movement route of the user 300 within the store 210, including the movement direction.

[0049] As shown in Figure 4, the route generation means 150, for example, draws lines on the floor plan 270 from the store entrance 220 to the landmark 280 relating to product circle 1, which is closest to the store entrance 220, and from the landmark 280 relating to product circle 6, which is farthest from the store entrance 220, to the checkout location 230.

[0050] Based on the above-described operating principle, the device 100 estimates the movement route of the customer 300 in the store 210 simply and inexpensively without requiring sensing devices such as cameras and beacons or analysis of data acquired by such devices.

[0051] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 100 Route Estimation Device 110 Product position storage means 120 Purchase product information acquisition means 130 In-store location identification means 140 Landmark plotting methods 150 Route Generation Method 210 stores 220 Store entrance 230 Checkout location 240 items 250 Product Identification Information 260 In-store location information 270 Floor Plan 280 Landmark 290 Store Route Information 300 users 310 Communication Network 510 CPU 520 ROM 530 RAM 540 Auxiliary storage 550 Communication Interface 560 Input Device 570 Output Device 580 Storage Media Interface 590 Storage medium

Claims

1. A purchase product information acquisition means for acquiring product identification information of a product for which a user makes a payment at a checkout location in the store; an in-store location specifying means for specifying the in-store location information corresponding to the commodity identification information of the commodity to be settled, based on a commodity location storage means for storing the commodity identification information in association with in-store location information, which is information representing a location in the store where the commodity identified by the commodity identification information is located; a mark plotting means for plotting a mark representing a commodity identified by the commodity identification information corresponding to each of the specified in-store location information at a corresponding position on the floor plan of the store; a route generating means for drawing lines on the floor plan that connect the plotted landmarks according to a predetermined rule, and generating in-store route information that represents a route that is estimated to have been taken by the user within the store, The route estimation device is characterized in that the route generation means draws lines connecting the plotted landmarks from the side closer to the store entrance to the side farther from the store entrance on the floor plan.

2. A step in which a purchase information acquisition means acquires product identification information of a product for which a user is to make a payment at a checkout location in the store; a step of identifying the in-store location information corresponding to the commodity identification information of the commodity to be settled based on a commodity location storage means that stores the commodity identification information in association with in-store location information, the in-store location information being information representing a location in the store where the commodity identified by the commodity identification information is located; A step in which a landmark plotting means plots a landmark representing a commodity identified by the commodity identification information corresponding to each of the specified in-store location information at a corresponding position on the floor plan of the store; a route generating means for drawing lines on the floor plan that connect the plotted landmarks according to a predetermined rule, and generating in-store route information representing a route that is estimated to have been taken by the user within the store; The route estimating method is characterized in that the route generating means draws lines connecting the plotted landmarks from the side closer to the store entrance to the side farther from the store entrance on the floor plan.

3. A route estimation program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 2.

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