Product sales data processing system and product sales data processing method

Abstract

To achieve activation of use of a coupon by a customer.SOLUTION: A commodity sales data processing system in which a customer uses a portable terminal to register a commodity and settlement information based on a result of the registration of the commodity is used for performing settlement processing, includes acquisition means for acquiring commodity information on a commodity to be registered by using the portable terminal, identification means for identifying a coupon relating to the commodity information acquired by the acquisition means and declared for use by a customer, and display control means for presenting information on the coupon identified by the identification means in an operation screen displayed by the portable terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a product sales data processing system and a product sales data processing method. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a technique for setting a coupon selected from coupons displayed on a tablet so that the coupon can be used by a customer (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2017 / 065187 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is preferable to encourage customers to use coupons as much as possible.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to encourage customers to use coupons more actively. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is a product sales data processing system in which a customer uses a mobile terminal to register a product and settlement processing is performed using settlement information based on the results of the product registration, the product sales data processing system comprising: an acquisition means for acquiring product information of a product that has been registered using the mobile terminal; an identification means for identifying a coupon related to the product information acquired by the acquisition means and which has been declared to be used by the customer; and a display control means for presenting information on the coupon identified by the identification means on an operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal.

[0007] A product sales data processing method in a product sales data processing system in which a customer registers a product using a mobile terminal and settlement processing is performed using settlement information based on the results of the product registration, the product sales data processing method executes an acquisition step of acquiring product information for a product that is the subject of registration using the mobile terminal, an identification step of identifying coupons related to the product information acquired by the acquisition step that have been declared for use by the customer, and a display control step of presenting information on the coupon identified by the identification step on an operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a shopping system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of installation of a settlement device in this embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of a settlement device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a settlement device in the present embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a customer terminal device in the present embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a transaction management device in this embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a coupon management server according to the present embodiment. [Figure 8] 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating an example of customer information, store information, and cart information according to the present embodiment. [Figure 9] A sequence diagram showing an example of processing procedures executed by a customer terminal device, a settlement device, and a transaction management device in this embodiment in response to the accounting of one transaction in self-service operation. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of a shopping application in the present embodiment. [Figure 11] 13A to 13C are diagrams showing an example of a registered product presentation screen and a screen displayed on a settlement device in this embodiment. [Figure 12] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of a coupon list screen and a coupon details screen according to the embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a product-related coupon screen in the embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a settlement screen in the present embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a settlement screen in the present embodiment. [Figure 16] 5 is a diagram showing an example of coupon management information in the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of coupon usage history information in the present embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a product master in the present embodiment. [Figure 19] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure executed by the customer terminal device and the transaction management device in this embodiment in relation to the presentation of coupon-related information at the product registration stage. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] <Embodiment> [Example of shopping system configuration] Fig. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a shopping system (an example of a product sales data processing system) according to this embodiment. The shopping system in Fig. 1 corresponds to accounting (customer terminal-compatible accounting) in which, for example, a customer takes out a product to be purchased from a product shelf, registers the taken-out product using a customer terminal device 50, and the same customer also uses a payment device 40 to settle the payment for the registered product. The accounting here refers to a procedure carried out in response to one transaction, including the registration of the product and the settlement of the registered product. The shopping system of this embodiment includes a management device 10, a transaction management device 60, a settlement device 40, a customer terminal device 50, a coupon management server 80, and a credit card settlement server 70.

[0010] The management device 10 and the settlement device 40 are installed in the store and are communicatively connected via a LAN 19 (which may be wired or wireless). The management device 10 is a business terminal used by store staff for store management and the like, and is capable of communicating with the transaction management device 60. Although four settlement devices 40 are illustrated in FIG. 1, the number of settlement devices 40 within one store is not particularly limited.

[0011] The coupon management server 80 provides coupon services to customers who are registered as coupon members (an example of coupon users). A coupon use application corresponding to the coupon service provided by the coupon management server 80 is installed in the customer terminal device 50. By operating the customer terminal device 50 on which the coupon use application runs, a customer can perform a usage declaration operation to register in advance a coupon that the customer would like to use when shopping from among the electronic coupons (hereinafter also simply referred to as coupons) issued by the coupon management server 80. When a customer purchases an item at a store, if the item being registered corresponds to an applicable item for which a coupon declared for use is to be applied, the item is registered so that the coupon's benefits, such as a discount, are reflected.

[0012] That is, in the product sales data processing system of this embodiment, a customer who is a member of a coupon service corresponding to the coupon management server 80 can purchase products at a store by using a coupon provided by the coupon service.

[0013] The customer terminal device 50 is operated by customers (such as shoppers who are members of the store, hereinafter also referred to simply as customers). In addition to typical communication and imaging functions (camera), the customer terminal device 50 has a recognition function that scans barcodes attached to products to read product codes, that is, recognizes barcodes attached to products. Note that the recognition function of the customer terminal device 50 only needs to be able to read product codes, and does not need to be able to recognize which product the read product code belongs to. In other words, the customer terminal device 50 only needs to be able to read a product code from a barcode that exists as an object in an image captured by the imaging function (an image acquired as a through image).

[0014] Such a customer terminal device 50 may be a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like owned by a customer. A shopping application having a function of registering products in accordance with the shopping system of this embodiment is installed in the smartphone, tablet terminal, or the like serving as the customer terminal device 50.

[0015] Furthermore, the customer terminal device 50 may be, for example, a terminal loaned from a store to a customer. An application having a function of registering products in accordance with the shopping system of this embodiment is also installed in the customer terminal device 50 loaned from the store to a customer. The customer terminal device 50 loaned from the store to a customer may be one that is held by the customer or may be one that is attached to a shopping cart and used by the customer.

[0016] The customer terminal device 50 also captures an image (e.g., releases the shutter) of the product (e.g., the peripheral portion with a barcode attached) and generates a captured image (image data). The customer terminal device 50 may capture an image by releasing the shutter in response to an operation by the customer who is the operator, but in this embodiment, it is preferable that the customer terminal device 50 captures an image by releasing the shutter at its own discretion.

[0017] In addition, the customer terminal device 50 may be equipped with an image recognition technology that extracts feature points from an image (through image, captured image) and recognizes an imaged subject (object, etc.). For example, the customer terminal device 50 may use the image recognition technology to identify (estimate) an imaged product.

[0018] The settlement device 40 is a settlement device capable of at least cash payment as a settlement method. The settlement device 40 is configured to be able to communicate with the transaction management device 60. The settlement device 40 may be configured to be able to communicate with the transaction management device 60, for example, via the management device 10.

[0019] The transaction management device 60 manages transactions carried out in accordance with the shopping system of this embodiment.

[0020] The credit card payment server 70 executes payment processing corresponding to the credit card in response to a credit card payment request transmitted from the settlement device 40, the customer terminal device 50, etc.

[0021] [About the payment device] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the installation of the settlement device 40. Fig. 2(A) is a perspective view of the settlement device 40 etc. as seen from the customer side. Fig. 2(B) is a perspective view of the settlement device 40 etc. as seen from the store clerk side. As shown in Fig. 2(A), a counter is placed on the right side of the settlement device 40 as seen from the customer side.

[0022] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of the settlement device 40. Fig. 3(A) is a perspective view of the settlement device 40 as seen from the customer side. Fig. 3(B) is a perspective view of the settlement device 40 as seen from the store clerk side. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the settlement device 40. In Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the same parts are given the same reference numerals.

[0023] An example of the configuration of settlement device 40 shown in Fig. 4 will be described below with reference to Fig. 3. Settlement device 40 includes a CPU 401, a ROM 402, a RAM 403, a hard disk 404, a customer display unit 405, a customer scanner unit 406, a card payment unit 408, a change machine 409, a store clerk display unit 410, a key operation unit 411, a store clerk scanner unit 412, a printing unit 413, an audio output unit 414, and a communication unit 415. These can communicate with each other via a bus.

[0024] The CPU 401 is a central processing unit, and controls the operation of the settlement device 40 by reading and executing programs stored in the ROM 402 . The ROM 402 is a read-only memory, and stores various types of information used by the CPU 401, including programs.

[0025] The RAM 403 is a read / write memory and stores various information, such as information read from the ROM 402 or the hard disk 404, information acquired from the outside, and information generated during processing.

[0026] The hard disk 404 stores various information. For example, the hard disk 404 may store programs executed by the CPU 401 instead of the ROM 402. Also, instead of the RAM 403, the hard disk 404 may store information read from the ROM 402, information acquired from the outside, information generated during processing, and the like.

[0027] The customer-side display unit 405 is a touch display for customers, which displays various information to customers and accepts various inputs from customers. Customer-side scanner unit 406 is a scanner unit for customers, and for example, scans a barcode attached to a product and reads the product code. Customer-side scanner unit 406 may also scan a code (barcode, two-dimensional code, etc.) printed on a bill (registered trademark) and read information required for payment. Customer-side scanner unit 406 may also scan a code (two-dimensional code, etc.) displayed on the display unit of customer terminal device 50 and read information required for payment.

[0028] Although the customer-side scanner unit 406 is used when a customer registers a product, the customer may register the product by other methods. For example, if a preset key (a button for ordering the product) corresponding to the product is displayed on the customer-side display unit 405, the customer may operate (press) the preset key to register the product.

[0029] The card payment unit 408 is a payment mechanism that uses various cards (credit cards, prepaid cards such as transportation cards, etc.). The card payment unit 408 of this embodiment includes a card recognition unit (reading unit), a display unit, and an operation unit, but it is sufficient that the card payment unit 408 includes at least the card recognition unit. The card recognition unit may also recognize various cards (e.g., membership cards, point cards, etc.) that are not directly used for payment (settlement).

[0030] The change machine 409 (cash settlement unit) is a cash settlement mechanism, which has an input port for banknotes and coins, and an output port for banknotes and coins, calculates the amount of money inserted into the input port, calculates the change amount, which is the difference between the input amount and the purchase amount, and outputs the change from the output port. The change machine 409 faces the customer and is operated by the customer. When banknotes or coins are inserted into the input port, they are detected by a sensor (detecting that they have been inserted, detecting the number of coins by denomination, etc.).

[0031] That is, the change machine 409 is used when the price of registered products is settled with cash (money) in the settlement device 40. The change machine 409 has a banknote insertion port for inserting banknotes, a coin insertion port for inserting coins, a banknote discharge port for discharging banknotes, a coin discharge port for discharging coins, a counting unit for counting the inserted or discharged money, a money transport mechanism between the insertion port or discharge port and the storage unit, the above-mentioned sensor, etc. The banknote insertion port and the coin insertion port are also referred to as deposit insertion ports. The banknote discharge port and the coin discharge port are also referred to as change discharge ports. The banknote insertion port and the banknote discharge port may be a common port, and the coin insertion port and the coin discharge port may be a common port.

[0032] The change machine 409 also counts the coins replenished during the closing process and stores them in a storage unit. The change machine 409 also counts the coins to be dispensed during the closing process and discharges them from a change discharge port. The closing process is a process of adjusting the amount of money stored in the change machine 409 (cash on hand / cash on hand) to a reference amount after the store is closed or before the store is opened.

[0033] The store clerk's display unit 410 is a touch display for the store clerk, which displays various information to the store clerk and receives various inputs from the store clerk. The key operation unit 411 is made up of various keys (buttons) and receives various inputs from the store clerk. The store clerk scanner unit 412 is a scanner unit for store clerks, and for example, scans a barcode attached to a product and reads the product code. The store clerk scanner unit 412 also scans a barcode attached to the name tag of the store clerk and reads the store clerk code.

[0034] Although the store clerk's scanner unit 412 is used when the store clerk registers a product, the store clerk may register the product by other methods. For example, if a key corresponding to a product (e.g., a key corresponding to a sports newspaper) is arranged on the key operation unit 411, the store clerk may operate (press) that key to register the product. Also, if a preset key corresponding to a product is displayed on the store clerk's display unit 410, the store clerk may operate that preset key to register the product.

[0035] The printing unit 413 prints and issues various media (receipts, bills, etc.). The printing unit 413 can freely rotate to change its orientation (direction of the media issuing port) from the clerk side to the customer side and from the customer side to the clerk side. The orientation of the printing unit 413 may be changed manually, or may be changed automatically (mechanically controlled, etc.) in response to, for example, a transition (switching) of the operation mode described below. The correctness of the orientation of the printing unit 413 may be detected by a sensor or the like.

[0036] The audio output unit 414 outputs audio. For example, the audio output unit 414 outputs audio guidance and the like. The communication unit 415 executes communication with other devices (other settlement devices 40 and the management device 10).

[0037] In addition, the settlement device 40 of this embodiment can be switched between a total of four operating modes: a customer terminal-responsive settlement mode, which is set to perform settlement processing under customer terminal-responsive accounting, and three accounting modes (first to third accounting modes) corresponding to three different patterns of accounting (product registration, settlement). The first payment mode is an operation mode in which the store clerk performs product registration operations and operations corresponding to payment on the payment device 40. The second payment mode is an operation mode in which the store clerk performs product registration operations on the payment device 40, and the customer performs operations corresponding to payment on the same payment device 40. The third payment mode is an operation mode in which the customer performs product registration operations and operations corresponding to payment on the payment device 40. As a result, in a store that has introduced the shopping system of this embodiment, some of the multiple payment devices 40 can be set to customer terminal compatible payment mode to support customer terminal compatible payment, and the other payment devices 40 can be set to, for example, the first or second payment mode so that a store clerk can handle payments in consultation with customers. Note that the other payment devices 40 may also include those set to the third payment mode.

[0038] [Example of customer terminal device configuration] 5 shows an example of the configuration of the customer terminal device 50. The customer terminal device 50 in the figure includes a CPU 501, a storage unit 502, a RAM 503, a display unit 504, an operation unit 505, an imaging unit 506, and a network-compatible communication unit 507. The CPU 501 is a central processing unit, and controls the operation of the customer terminal device 50 by reading and executing programs stored in the storage unit 502 . The storage unit 502 is an auxiliary storage device for the CPU 501, and stores various types of information used by the CPU 501, including programs. The RAM 503 is a main storage device for the CPU 501 . The display unit 504 displays an image according to the display control of the CPU 501. The display unit 504 may be configured as a touch panel that allows operations to be performed on the screen. The operation unit 505 collectively indicates various operators provided on the customer terminal device 50 and various input devices connected to the customer terminal device 50 . The imaging unit 506 captures images under the control of the CPU 401. Furthermore, the imaging unit 506 of this embodiment can also function as a part that reads two-dimensional codes in a code reader that processes the two-dimensional codes. The network-compatible communication unit 507 is a unit that wirelessly communicates via a network. The network-compatible communication unit 507 enables the customer terminal device 50 to communicate with the transaction management device 60.

[0039] [Example of transaction management device configuration] Fig. 6 shows an example of the configuration of transaction management device 60. Transaction management device 60 in the figure comprises a CPU 601, a storage unit 602, a RAM 603, and a network-compatible communication unit 604. CPU 601 is a central processing unit, and controls the operation of transaction management device 60 by reading and executing programs stored in storage unit 602. The storage unit 602 is an auxiliary storage device for the CPU 601, and stores various types of information used by the CPU 501, including programs. The RAM 603 is a main storage device for the CPU 601 . The network compatible communication unit 604 is a part that performs communication via a network.

[0040] The memory unit 602 of the transaction management device 60 stores customer information, store information, product information, and cart information.

[0041] [Example of coupon management server configuration] 7 shows an example of the configuration of the coupon management server 80. The coupon management server 80 in the figure includes a CPU 801, a storage unit 802, a RAM 803, and a communication unit 804. The CPU 801 is a central processing unit, and controls the operation of the coupon management server 80 by reading and executing programs stored in the storage unit 802 . The storage unit 602 is an auxiliary storage device for the CPU 801, and stores various types of information used by the CPU 801, including programs. The RAM 803 is the main storage device of the CPU 801 . The communication unit 804 is a part that communicates with the outside via the network. In the case of the coupon management server 80, the communication unit 804 communicates with the customer terminal device 50 and the transaction management device 60 on the cloud.

[0042] [Information stored in the transaction management device] The customer information stored in the memory unit 602 is information for managing individual customers. The transaction management device 60 generates customer information when a customer is registered (a customer's registration may be considered to have been completed when the customer information of that customer is stored). The transaction management device 60 also updates the customer information as appropriate based on cart information, etc. The transaction management device 60 may update the customer information, for example, by referring to the cart information at a specified time every day.

[0043] 8(A) shows an example of customer information stored in the memory unit 602 of the transaction management device 60. The customer information in this figure includes customer identification information, customer name, customer registration date, cancellation information, customer rank, number of points, etc. The customer identification information is identification information that uniquely identifies a customer. The customer identification information may be application identification information that is uniquely assigned to each installed shopping application when the shopping application of this embodiment is installed. The application identification information may be, for example, a number that is uniquely (for example, sequentially) assigned to each installed shopping application. Alternatively, the application identification information may be terminal identification information that is unique to the customer terminal device 50 in which the shopping application is installed. The terminal identification information may be, for example, a telephone number assigned to a customer who is the user of the customer terminal device 50, or hardware identification information that is uniquely assigned to the hardware of the customer terminal device 50, such as a MAC (Media Access Control) address. The customer name is the customer's name or nickname, etc. The customer registration date is the date and time when the customer was registered. Cancellation information is information regarding the cancellation of registered products after registration. The customer rank is a rank according to the customer's purchasing history. When generating customer information for a new customer, the customer identification information, customer name, and customer registration date are generated, but since this is before the start of actual trading (product registration), other information (cancellation information, etc.) is not generated.

[0044] The transaction management device 60 generates and stores customer identification information, for example, when registering a customer (for example, when the customer terminal device 50 downloads or installs a shopping application to use a shopping service provided by the transaction management device 60 from an external device (for example, a specified server that provides all applications, the transaction management device 60 itself)). In addition, for example, when registering a customer, the transaction management device 60 acquires information entered into the name field of a registration form (input form) using the customer terminal device 50, and stores it as the customer name. In addition, the transaction management device 60 acquires, for example, the current date and time when registering the customer, and stores it as the customer registration date.

[0045] In addition, instead of or in addition to storing the customer information in its own memory unit, the transaction management device 60 may store some or all of the customer information in another device (such as a file server accessible to the transaction management device 60).

[0046] 8(B) shows an example of store information stored in the memory unit 602 of the transaction management device 60. The store information in the figure includes store identification information, store name (branch name), store identification information 1, and store identification information 2. The store identification information is identification information that uniquely identifies a store. The store identification information shown in Fig. 8(B) is composed of a store (trade name) or company code and a branch code. The store name is the name of the store. The store name shown in Fig. 8(B) is composed of the store (trade name) or company and the branch name. The store identification information 1 is information on a two-dimensional code (QR code (registered trademark) or the like) for identifying a store where a transaction takes place (a store where a product is bought and sold). The store identification information 2 is store location information (GPS information) for identifying the store where the transaction is to be carried out. In the example shown in FIG. 8(B), the store identification information and the store specifying information 1 are different, but the store identification information and the store specifying information 1 may be the same.

[0047] The transaction management device 60 may obtain and store store information from an external source (such as a server (not shown) at a headquarters that manages each store). The transaction management device 60 may store some or all of the store information in another device (such as a file server accessible by the transaction management device 60) instead of or in addition to storing the store information in its own memory.

[0048] The product information is, for example, information acquired from the store management device 10, and is information about products sold in the store. The product information for one product includes information such as a product code (product identifier), product name, and price.

[0049] Cart information is information for managing individual transactions. The transaction management device 60 generates the cart information at the start of a transaction. In addition, the transaction management device 60 updates the cart information as the transaction progresses (each time a product is registered) (the storage of a product in the cart information may be interpreted as the registration of that product).

[0050] 8(C) is an example of cart information stored in the memory unit 602 of the transaction management device 60. The cart information in the figure includes cart identification information, transaction start date and time, transaction end date and time, customer identification information, registered product information, reserved product information, cancellation information, etc.

[0051] The cart identification information is identification information that uniquely identifies the cart information. For example, the cart identification information includes store identification information, a date, and a serial number (for example, a serial number for each store and each date). The transaction start date and time is the date and time when the transaction starts. The transaction start date and time may be, for example, the date and time when the cart information is generated. The transaction start date and time may be the date and time when the first item of product is registered (the date and time when the registered product information (registered product 1) in FIG. 8(C) is stored). The date and time when the cart information is generated and the date and time when the first item of product is registered may both be stored separately.

[0052] The transaction end date and time is the end date and time of the transaction. For example, the transaction start date and time may be the settlement date and time. The customer identification information is customer identification information that identifies the customer of the transaction. When the cart information is generated, the cart identification information, transaction start date and time, and customer identification information are generated, but since this is before the start of the actual transaction (product registration), other information (transaction end date and time, etc.) is not generated. The settlement date and time may be the settlement start date and time or the settlement end date and time. Both the settlement start date and time and the settlement end date and time may be stored separately as the transaction end date and time.

[0053] Registered product information (total) is information that is updated each time a product is registered. Registered product information (total) includes the number of products (number of products), estimated subtotal amount (e.g., the subtotal amount before discounts, etc. are reflected), subtotal amount, etc. Registered product information (registered product 1) is the registration information for one product item. Registered product information (registered product 2) is the registration information for two products. In the example shown in Figure 8 (C), registered product information (registered product 3) to registered product information (registered product 5) are omitted from the illustration. Registered product information (N; N is an integer) includes the product code, product name (product name), price, etc.

[0054] The registered product information (N) may include the registration date and time of the Nth item of product. In other words, the transaction management device 60 may store the registration date and time of the registered product as the registered product information. The registration date and time of each product may also be used as a basis for determining whether or not a service such as a time service should be applied and the effect of the application.

[0055] The reserved product information (total) is updated each time a reserved product is registered. A reserved product is a product that was not registered properly due to a certain reason and is registered in a temporarily reserved state. The reserved product information (total) includes the number of reserved products (number of products), the number of reserved products that are NO-FILE, the number of reserved products that cannot be read (check for unauthorized operations), and the like.

[0056] NO-FILE refers to a product whose barcode or product code was successfully scanned (the product code was successfully read) at the store, but whose product code is not stored in the product information (a product whose product information is not registered).

[0057] A read NG refers to a failure to scan the product code at the store (the product code could not be read), or a product whose product code has not been scanned at the store. In other words, a read NG refers to a timeout process when it is possible to determine that a product has been imaged for a certain period of time using image recognition technology but has not been able to be recognized as a barcode, or a product that has been timed out. For example, if the barcode cannot be correctly acquired (recognized) despite the customer performing an operation to have the barcode read due to wrinkles in the package, smudges or dirt on the barcode print, or the barcode being printed on a transparent film, it will be determined that the barcode cannot be read.

[0058] Reserved Product Information (Reserved Product 1) is information on reserved product 1. Reserved Product Information (Reserved Product 2) is information on reserved product 2. Reserved Product Information (Reserved Product 3) is information on reserved product 3.

[0059] The reserved product information (reserved product N; N is an integer) includes the reserved product type (information indicating whether the reserved product is NO-FILE or cannot be read) and image data (image data captured when reading was NG). For example, if the Nth item is a reserved product due to NO-FILE, the reserved product information (reserved product N) includes the reserved product type "1 (NO-FILE)" and image data. Also, if the Nth item is a reserved product due to reading being NG, the reserved product information (reserved product N) includes the reserved product type "2 (cannot be read)" and image data.

[0060] In addition, instead of or in addition to storing the cart information in its own memory, the transaction management device 60 may store some or all of the cart information in another device (such as a file server accessible by the transaction management device 60).

[0061] [Example of basic processing procedure for self-operation] The sequence diagram in Fig. 9 shows an example of a processing procedure executed by the customer terminal device 50, the settlement device 40, and the transaction management device 60 in response to the accounting of one transaction in a self-service operation. Specifically, the processing in Fig. 9 shows an example of the processing of the customer terminal device 50, the settlement device 40, and the transaction management device 60 from when a customer registers a product to be purchased from among products displayed in the store, until the settlement of the registered product is completed.

[0062] Step S1: The customer terminal device 50 acquires information for identifying a store (store identification information). For example, a two-dimensional code for identifying the store may be displayed near the entrance of the store (the two-dimensional code may be output on a display screen, a medium on which the two-dimensional code is printed may be attached, etc.), and a customer who visits the store may scan (read) the two-dimensional code with the customer terminal device 50, thereby allowing the customer terminal device 50 to acquire the store identification information. When a customer who visits the store starts a shopping application, a screen instructing the customer to scan the two-dimensional code may be displayed as a store entry screen, or when a customer who visits the store scans the two-dimensional code with the customer terminal device 50, the shopping application may be started, and a screen informing the customer that the transaction management device 60 is currently connected may be displayed as a store entry screen.

[0063] Also, for example, since a store is identified by its location, a customer who visits the store may obtain location information (GPS information) at the store using the customer terminal device 50 (i.e., the store's location information may be obtained as store identification information). When a customer who visits the store starts up a shopping application, location information may be obtained and a screen may be displayed as a store entry screen informing the customer that the store is currently connected to the transaction management device 60. If multiple stores are detected from the location information and one cannot be identified, a selection screen may be displayed to allow the customer to select. Alternatively, a mode may be switched to forcefully obtain a two-dimensional code.

[0064] 10(A) shows an example of a store entry screen (store entry screen) of the shopping application displayed on the display unit 504 of the customer terminal device 50. The store entry screen in the figure displays the store name. This store name is displayed based on the store identification information acquired in step S1. When a customer wants to start registering a product for shopping, the customer operates a transaction start button BT10 arranged on the store entry screen. In response to the operation of the transaction start instruction button BT10, the customer terminal device 50 transmits a transaction start request including the acquired store specific information and customer identification information to the transaction management device 60. The transaction start request may be transmitted in response to the customer's operation on the customer terminal device 50 as described above, or may be transmitted in response to the acquisition of store specific information without receiving any particular operation. Regarding the customer identification information, the information entered in the name field of the registration form using the customer terminal device 50 during customer registration (when downloading or installing a shopping application on the customer terminal device 50) may be stored in the customer information of the transaction management device 60, but may also be stored in the memory of the customer terminal device 50 in addition to the transaction management device 60. When a store is identified (when the product registration initial screen described below is acquired), the store name, the services being offered (flyer information distributed on that day), and available coupon information may be displayed on a screen (the product registration initial screen or a screen other than the product registration initial screen). The service and coupon information may be acquired from the transaction management device 60 as screen information, for example.

[0065] In addition, the destination information (address of the transaction management device 60) may also be obtained when registering the customer (when downloading or installing the shopping application to the customer terminal device 50) and stored in the memory of the customer terminal device 50. In addition to the store-specific information, the destination information may also be converted into a two-dimensional code, and by scanning the two-dimensional code with the customer terminal device 50, the customer terminal device 50 may obtain the destination information along with the store-specific information.

[0066] Step S2: The transaction management device 60, which has received the customer identification information and store identification information as a transaction start request from the customer terminal device 50, generates cart information for the transaction. Note that in the initial state in which the cart information is generated, the cart identification information, transaction start date and time, and customer identification information are stored, but since this is before the start of the actual transaction (product registration), other information (transaction end date and time, product information (registered product information, reserved product information), etc.) is not stored.

[0067] As described above, the transaction management device 60 stores store information such as that shown in Figure 8 (B), so when it receives store identification information (it also receives customer identification information) as a transaction start request from the customer terminal device 50, if the received store identification information is a two-dimensional code, it acquires the store identification information by referring to store identification information 1, and if the received store identification information is location information (GPS information), it acquires the store identification information by referring to store identification information 2. Note that if the store identification information received from the customer terminal device 50 is store identification information converted into a two-dimensional code, the transaction management device 60 need only acquire it as is.

[0068] In other words, when the transaction management device 60 receives customer identification information and store identification information from the customer terminal device 50 as a transaction start request, it acquires the store identification information from the store identification information received from the customer terminal device 50, and further acquires the current date, issues (assigns) a serial number, combines the store identification information with the current date and serial number, and stores the combined information as cart identification information in the cart information. Also, when the transaction management device 60 receives store identification information and customer identification information from the customer terminal device 50 as a transaction start request, it acquires the current date and time, and stores the current date and time as the transaction start date and time (generation date and time) in the cart information. Also, when the transaction management device 60 receives store identification information and customer identification information from the customer terminal device 50 as a transaction start request, it stores the customer identification information received from the customer terminal device 50 as customer identification information in the cart information.

[0069] Step S3: The transaction management device 60, which has generated the cart information for the transaction, generates product registration initial screen information (screen information of the product registration screen, which is the initial screen), and transmits it to the customer terminal device 50. Specifically, the transaction management device 60, for example, generates product registration initial screen information, and transmits the generated product registration initial screen information to the customer terminal device 50 together with the cart identification information.

[0070] Step S4: The customer terminal device 50, which has received the cart identification information and the product registration initial screen information from the transaction management device 60, stores the cart identification information and displays the registration screen on the display unit. Specifically, the customer terminal device 50 displays, for example, the product registration initial screen as shown in FIG. 10(B).

[0071] Step S5: The customer terminal device 50 scans the barcode attached to the product by the customer's operation, and reads the product code. In the figure, it is assumed that the barcode has been successfully scanned. Steps S5 to S9 are repeatedly executed every time the barcode attached to the product is scanned.

[0072] The customer terminal device 50 that has acquired the barcode transmits to the transaction management device 60 the cart identification information and product registration information including the product code obtained by scanning.

[0073] Step S6: The transaction management device 60 receives the product registration information (cart identification information and product code) from the customer terminal device 50 and identifies the cart information of the transaction from the cart identification information included in the received product registration information.

[0074] Step S7: The transaction management device 60 updates the product data in the identified cart information. Specifically, if the received product registration information contains a product code for the Nth item, the transaction management device 60 stores the product code as the product code of the registered product information (registered product N) in the identified cart information, obtains the product name and price corresponding to the product code from the product information, and stores them as the product and price of the registered product information (registered product N). The transaction management device 60 also updates the registered product information (total) in the identified cart information.

[0075] Step S8: After updating the product data in the cart information, the transaction management device 60 generates product registration update screen information (screen information of the product registration screen, which is an update screen to which the registered product has been added) and transmits it to the customer terminal device 50. Specifically, the transaction management device 60 generates product registration update screen information such that the customer terminal device 50 displays a product registration update screen to which a list item of the currently registered product has been added to the registered product list, as shown in Fig. 10(C), for example, and transmits the generated product registration update screen information to the customer terminal device 50 together with the cart identification information.

[0076] The product registration screen (product registration update screen) shown in FIG. 10(C) is displayed on the customer terminal device 50 after "XX bread" is registered as the third product item. In other words, when "XX yogurt" is stored in the cart information as the first item, the transaction management device 60 generates product registration update screen information such that "XX yogurt" is displayed on the customer terminal device 50 and transmits the generated product registration update screen information to the customer terminal device 50 together with the cart identification information; when "XX chocolate" is stored in the cart as the second item, the transaction management device 60 generates product registration update screen information such that "XX yogurt" and "XX chocolate" are displayed on the customer terminal device 50 and transmits the generated product registration update screen information to the customer terminal device 50 together with the cart identification information; and when "XX bread" is stored in the cart information as the third item, the transaction management device 60 generates product registration update screen information such that "XX yogurt", "XX chocolate", and "XX bread" are displayed on the customer terminal device 50 as shown in FIG. 10(C), and transmits the generated product registration update screen information to the customer terminal device 50 together with the cart identification information.

[0077] In response to the registration of one product, a registered product display screen WD1 may be displayed to display the currently registered product, as shown in Fig. 11(A), for example. In addition, in the registered product display screen WD1 shown in the same figure, in response to the target product being available for eating in, a "Yes" button BT1 and a "No" button BT2 are displayed to confirm with the customer whether or not they would like to eat in. In this case, the price of the target product is calculated so that the consumption tax rate for the target product is different when the "Yes" button BT1 is operated and when the "No" button BT2 is operated.

[0078] Step S9: The customer terminal device 50, which has received the cart identification information and product registration update screen information from the transaction management device 60, adds the product to the registration screen. Specifically, the customer terminal device 50 displays a product registration update screen such as that shown in Fig. 10(C). As described above, the product registration screen (product registration update screen) shown in Fig. 10(C) is displayed on the customer terminal device 50 after "XX bread" is registered as the third product item.

[0079] Step S10: The customer terminal device 50 accepts a payment instruction operation as an operation by the customer, for example, a touch of the "Proceed to Checkout" button shown in FIG.

[0080] Step S11: The customer terminal device 50 that has accepted the settlement transition instruction operation generates a two-dimensional code. That is, the customer terminal device 50 converts information required to execute the settlement process for the items purchased by the customer terminal device 50 (e.g., cart identification information) into a two-dimensional code. The customer terminal device 50 that has generated the two-dimensional code displays the generated two-dimensional code on the display unit. For example, a code display screen with a two-dimensional code arranged as shown in FIG. 10(D) is displayed on the display unit.

[0081] Step S12: The settlement device 40 scans (reads) the two-dimensional code displayed on the display unit of the customer terminal device 50. For example, the settlement device 40 scans the two-dimensional code displayed on the display unit of the customer terminal device 50 that is directed by the customer within the recognition range of the customer-side scanner unit 406.

[0082] Step S13: The settlement device 40, which has read the two-dimensional code displayed on the display unit of the customer terminal device 50, requests the calculation of the subtotal amount from the transaction management device 60. For example, the settlement device 40 transmits a calculation request (subtotal calculation request information) requesting the calculation of the subtotal amount to the transaction management device 60 together with the cart identification information obtained from the two-dimensional code.

[0083] Step S14: The transaction management device 60, which has received the cart identification information and the sub-calculation output request information from the customer terminal device 50, identifies the cart information of the transaction from the cart identification information.

[0084] Step S15: After identifying the cart, the transaction management device 60 calculates the subtotal amount using information such as the price in the registered product information included in the cart information corresponding to the identified cart information.

[0085] Step S16: After calculating the subtotal, the transaction management device 60 updates the cart information (storing the subtotal (calculated subtotal)), and transmits the subtotal information indicating the calculated subtotal to the settlement device 40 together with the cart identification information.

[0086] Step S17: Having received the cart identification information and subtotal information from the transaction management device 60, the settlement device 40 displays a settlement screen reflecting the subtotal amount on the customer display unit 405, as shown in FIG. 11(B), for example.

[0087] Step S18: The settlement device 40, which has displayed the subtotal on the customer display unit 405, executes the payment (settlement). Specifically, the settlement device 40 accepts the selection of the payment type. In the case of cash, it accepts the deposit, calculates the amount of change, and, if there is change, dispenses the change and issues a receipt. In addition, when the settlement is completed, the settlement device 40 sends settlement completion information together with the cart information to the transaction management device 60, and the transaction management device 60 stores the transaction end date and time (settlement date and time) for that cart.

[0088] After scanning a product, the customer terminal device 50 transmits the product code to the transaction management device 60 (S5). However, the customer terminal device 50 may be configured not to transmit product codes for products (e.g., products scanned after moving to another store) other than those scanned in the store (the store when the customer visited the store and displayed the product registration initial screen). For example, the customer terminal device 50 acquires and stores location information (GPS information) when the customer visits the store (or when the product registration initial screen is displayed). The customer terminal device 50 also acquires location information when scanning each product, and compares the location information acquired when the customer visits the store (or when the product registration initial screen is displayed). If the two match (or approximately match), the customer terminal device 50 may permit the transmission of the product code of the product to the transaction management device 60, and if they do not match (or approximately match), the customer terminal device 50 may prohibit the transmission of the product code of the product to the transaction management device 60. This makes it possible to prevent inappropriate product registration (for example, registering a product to a cart created in another store, etc.).

[0089] When the settlement device 40 prohibits the transmission of the product code as described above, it may display an error message (e.g., "Registration is not possible because it is not in the XX store") on the customer side display unit 405 after scanning the product. Furthermore, the settlement device 40 may display the above message on the store clerk side display unit 410 instead of or in addition to the message on the customer side display unit 405.

[0090] The settlement device 40 reads the two-dimensional code displayed on the display of the customer terminal device 50 and then requests the transaction management device 60 to calculate the subtotal amount (S13), but may not request calculation of the subtotal amount for products other than the product scanned in the store (for example, products scanned in other stores). For example, the settlement device 40 refers to the store identification information of the store (it may store and refer to the store identification information of the store in its own settlement device 40, or may refer to the store identification information stored in another accessible device), and when it reads the two-dimensional code displayed on the display of the customer terminal device 50, it compares the cart identification information obtained from the two-dimensional code with the store identification information of the store. The settlement device 40 may permit the request to calculate the subtotal amount if the store identification information included in the cart identification information includes the store identification information of the store, and may prohibit the request to calculate the subtotal amount if the store identification information does not include the store identification information of the store. This makes it possible to prevent inappropriate payments (for example, payment for products registered at other stores, etc.).

[0091] When the settlement device 40 prohibits the request for the subtotal amount as described above, after reading the two-dimensional code, the settlement device 40 may display an error message (e.g., "Settlement cannot be completed because the transaction includes products not from the XXX store") on the customer-side display unit 405. The settlement device 40 may also display the above message on the store clerk-side display unit 410 instead of or in addition to the message on the customer-side display unit 405.

[0092] In the example of the processing procedure in Fig. 9, the transaction management device 60 calculates the subtotal amount. However, for example, the settlement device 40 may acquire cart information from the transaction management device 60 and calculate the subtotal amount based on the acquired cart information. Alternatively, the transaction management device 60 may transmit cart information to the management device 10 and request calculation of the subtotal amount, the management device 10 may calculate the subtotal amount using the received cart information, and the calculated subtotal amount may be transmitted to the settlement device 40 via the transaction management device 60.

[0093] During the settlement process, the transaction management device 60 may check the cancellation status of the customer's products based on the customer information and cart information of the customer, and determine whether or not to issue a warning against fraud. If it is determined that a warning should be issued, the transaction management device 60 may, for example, cause the settlement device 40 to issue a warning notification.

[0094] Furthermore, during checkout processing, the transaction management device 60 may determine whether or not the product information included in the cart information includes any reserved products, and if so, may request the checkout device 40 to provide instructions to correct the reserved products. Upon receiving a request to provide instructions to correct the reserved products, the checkout device 40 displays a message to notify the user that there are reserved products, as shown in Fig. 11(C). Upon confirming the message, the store clerk may perform an operation to release (correct) the reserved products, such as entering a price corresponding to the reserved products or canceling the reserved products.

[0095] [Coupon-related information displayed according to store entry screen operations] 10(A), a coupon list button BT11 is arranged. The coupon list button BT11 is a button that is operated when a customer instructs to display a coupon list screen. A customer who enters a store starts a shopping application on customer terminal device 50. In response to the start of the shopping application, customer terminal device 50 displays a store entry screen. If a customer wants to check coupons that can be used at the store before operating transaction start button BT10 on the store entry screen to start a transaction, the customer operates coupon list button BT11 to display a coupon list screen.

[0096] FIG. 12(A) shows an example of a coupon list screen displayed on the customer terminal device 50. The coupon list screen in the figure presents a list of coupons. The coupon list screen presents a list of coupons that can be used at the store the customer has entered, among the coupons provided by the coupon management server 80. Note that, for example, the coupon list screen may be configured to present a list of coupons corresponding to products that fall into the specified category in response to an operation of specifying a product category. Also, in response to an operation of inputting a search string, a list of coupons corresponding to products that fall into the search string may be presented.

[0097] In the coupon list screen in the same figure, the list item corresponding to coupon 1 shows the product name of the applicable product and the discount amount that will be deducted from the list price when the coupon is applied (which may be the discounted price (discounted price)). Also, in the list item, a slide switch SW10 is arranged. When the slide switch SW10 is slid to the left, it is off, and when it is slid to the right, it is on. When the slide switch SW10 is off, it indicates that the corresponding coupon has not been declared for use by the customer, and when the slide switch SW10 is on, it indicates that the corresponding coupon has been declared for use by the customer.

[0098] Furthermore, a customer can declare coupon use or cancel the declaration of coupon use by operating slide switch SW10. As described above, a customer can declare coupon use or cancel the declaration of coupon use (coupon use setting operation) at any location, for example, before entering a store, using a coupon use application. Furthermore, in this embodiment, even when a customer enters a store and the store entry screen of the shopping application is displayed, the customer can perform the coupon use setting operation by operating slide switch SW10.

[0099] In this way, before entering the store and starting shopping, customers can check what coupons are available at the store by looking at the coupon list screen. Customers can also check which coupons they have declared for use among the coupons available at the store. Customers can also declare for use coupons that have not been declared for use, or cancel the declaration of use of coupons that have been declared for use, by operating slide switch SW10 on the coupon list screen.

[0100] Furthermore, a details screen link area AR10 is provided in each list item on the coupon list screen. The details screen link area AR10 is an area in which a link to a coupon details screen that shows details about the corresponding coupon in the list item is set. When a customer wants to check details about a certain coupon among the coupons shown for each list item on the coupon list screen, the customer touches the details screen link area AR10 in the list item of the corresponding coupon. In response to the operation of touching the details screen link area AR10, a coupon details screen for the corresponding coupon is displayed.

[0101] 12B shows an example of a coupon details screen, which displays the product name, product image, discount amount, etc. of the product to which the corresponding coupon applies. In addition, the coupon details screen in the figure includes an information area AR20. The information area AR20 is an area where information about the corresponding coupon to be provided to the customer is presented. The information presented in the information area AR20 may be, for example, an expiration date, a discount amount (discount price) according to the number of items purchased, etc.

[0102] Also, in the coupon details screen in the figure, a slide switch SW20 is arranged. The slide switch SW20 is operated to set coupon use in the same manner as the slide switch SW10 in FIG. 12(A). In other words, even when the coupon details screen is displayed, the customer can check whether or not the corresponding coupon has been declared for use by checking whether the slide switch SW20 is on or off. Also, even when the coupon details screen is displayed, the customer can declare the use of other corresponding coupons or cancel the declaration of use by operating the slide switch SW20.

[0103] Furthermore, a sales floor map button BT21 is arranged on the coupon details screen in the figure. The sales floor map button BT21 is a button that is operated by a customer when he or she wishes to display a sales floor map. When the sales floor map button BT21 is operated, the customer terminal device 50 causes the display unit 504 to display a sales floor map.

[0104] The sales floor map is displayed so as to indicate the location on the in-store map where the product to which the corresponding coupon is applicable is displayed. The sales floor map may be, for example, a map showing the layout of display shelves and the like in the store from a planar direction, with marks in a predetermined manner corresponding to the location where the product is displayed. In addition, the sales floor map may show, for example, the customer's current location together with a mark showing the location of the product. The customer's current location can be identified, for example, by installing a beacon at a predetermined position in the store, and the transaction management device 60 or the management device 10 based on information showing which beacon the customer terminal device 50 has communicated with. Alternatively, instead of the sales floor map, the number of the shelf where the product to which the corresponding coupon is applicable is displayed, the name of the sales floor, etc. may be displayed more simply. By looking at the sales floor map displayed in this way, customers can see in advance where in the store the products to which the coupon applies are displayed.

[0105] The coupon details screen is cleared in response to a predetermined operation. When the coupon details screen is cleared, the screen may be configured to return to the coupon list screen of FIG. In addition, when a predetermined operation is performed while the coupon list screen is displayed, the coupon list screen is cleared. When the coupon list screen is cleared, for example, the screen may be returned to the store entry screen shown in FIG. 10(A). Although not shown in the figures, the operation of clearing the coupon details screen and returning to the coupon list screen may be, for example, an operation on a predetermined button arranged on the coupon details screen. Also, although not shown in the figures, the operation of clearing the coupon list screen and returning to the store screen may be, for example, an operation on a predetermined button arranged on the coupon list screen.

[0106] In the following description, the coupon list screen, the coupon detail screen, etc. may be collectively referred to as a coupon-related screen. The coupon-related screen is a screen that presents information related to a coupon (coupon-related information).

[0107] The coupon-related screen may be displayed not only on the store entry screen (FIG. 10(A)) but also in response to an operation on a product registration screen as exemplified in FIG. 10(B), FIG. 10(C), etc. In this case, although not shown, as an example, a coupon list button BT11 may be arranged at a predetermined position on the product registration screen in the manner shown in FIG. 10(B) and FIG. 10(C).

[0108] [Coupon-related information provided during product registration] In this embodiment, the customer terminal device 50 can present coupon-related information as described below at the stage of executing processing for product registration in response to a customer's operation (product registration stage). In the product registration stage, with the product registration screen displayed on the customer terminal device 50, the customer has the customer terminal device 50 capture an image of the barcode attached to the product to be registered, so that the code is read, and the product is registered in response to the customer terminal device 50 acquiring the product code. Hereinafter, the act of the customer having the customer terminal device 50 read the barcode of the product in order to register the product is referred to as a product registration operation.

[0109] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when a customer performs a product registration operation, if there is a coupon (product-related coupon) that has a predetermined relationship with the product to be registered by the product registration operation, a product-related coupon screen presenting the product-related coupon is displayed on the customer terminal device 50. The product-related coupon screen is one coupon-related screen, along with a coupon list screen and a coupon details screen.

[0110] In this embodiment, a product-related coupon corresponding to one registration target product (registration target product) is a coupon provided by a store that satisfies any one of the following related conditions 1 to 3.

[0111] Related condition 1: A coupon that applies to the registered product and has been declared for use.

[0112] Related condition 2: In the case where the coupon to which the registered product is applied has not been declared for use, the coupon is declared for use and applies to a product that is determined to be a "similar product" to the registered product. A "similar product" is a product that is associated with the target product because, for example, its product classification (type) is similar. In addition, under related condition 2, it may not matter whether or not a coupon that applies to the registered product has been declared for use.

[0113] An example of a coupon that satisfies related condition 2 is as follows. For example, if the product to be registered is orange juice from manufacturer A, orange juice from manufacturer B has been determined as a similar product to the orange juice from manufacturer A. Furthermore, a coupon that applies to orange juice from manufacturer B has been declared for use by a customer. In such a case, the coupon that applies to orange juice from manufacturer B becomes a coupon that satisfies related condition 2. Alternatively, products that are of the same product type as the product to be registered but have different sizes or contents may be determined as similar products.

[0114] On the product-related coupon screen, information related to coupons that meet related condition 2 (coupon-related information) is presented, so that the customer can understand that, for the same orange juice, maker A has not declared the use of coupons (including cases where there are no applicable coupons), but maker B has declared the use of coupons.The customer can then use the coupon to shop by, for example, canceling the registration of the orange juice from maker A that was registered by performing a product registration operation, and registering the orange juice from maker B.

[0115] Related condition 3: Coupons that are declared for use and that apply to products that are defined as "related products" that are related to the registered product. "Related products" are products that are not similar products, but are related to the registered product by having a certain relationship with the registered product. In the case of related condition 3, it does not matter whether a coupon that applies to the registered product has been declared for use.

[0116] As a specific example of a coupon that meets related condition 3, for example, if the product to be registered is a curry roux, potatoes, which are commonly used as one of the ingredients in curry, are specified as one of the related products of the curry roux, and a coupon that applies to potatoes is provided. In such a case, the coupon that applies to potatoes is a coupon that meets related condition 3. By presenting information related to coupons that meet related condition 3 (coupon-related information) on the product-related coupon screen, the customer can understand that the coupon applies to potatoes, as a product related to curry roux, which is the product to be registered. Furthermore, if the customer has forgotten to purchase potatoes along with curry roux, this can be reminded. Then, when purchasing potatoes, if the customer has not declared that he or she will use the applicable coupon, he or she can declare that he or she will use it and then register the potatoes as a product.

[0117] 13A shows an example of a product-related coupon screen. The product-related coupon screen in the figure shows an example of a layered image superimposed on a product registration screen. In the layered image as the product-related coupon screen, a related coupon presentation area AR30 and a close button BT34 are arranged.

[0118] A related coupon presentation area AR30 on the product-related coupon screen in the figure corresponds to the case where there is a product-related coupon that satisfies the related condition 1.

[0119] In the related coupon presentation area AR30 in the figure, it is shown that the product to be registered is a canned beer, and the price of the canned beer is also shown. Furthermore, in the related coupon presentation area AR30, a Use Declaration Notification button BT31 is arranged in response to the fact that a coupon for canned beer has been declared for use. The Use Declaration Notification button BT31 is coupon-related information for a coupon that satisfies related condition 1. The Use Declaration Notification button BT31 functions as an area that notifies the customer that the canned beer, which is the product to be registered, has been declared for use. The customer can confirm that they have already declared for use the coupon that applies to the currently registered canned beer.

[0120] The use declaration notification button BT31 also functions as a button for instructing the display of a coupon details screen showing details of the coupon declared to be used in association with the canned beer which is the registration target product. When a customer wants to check the details of a coupon corresponding to a can of beer, the customer operates the Use Declaration Notification Button BT31. When the Use Declaration Notification Button BT31 is operated by the customer, the customer terminal device 50 transitions to display a coupon details screen showing details of the coupon declared to be used corresponding to the can of beer. The coupon details screen thus displayed also contains coupon-related information about the product-related coupon that satisfies the related condition 1.

[0121] The coupon details screen displayed in this case may be the same as that shown in Fig. 12(B). In addition, in this case, when the coupon details screen is displayed, the slide switch SW20 is in the on state, which indicates that the coupon is declared for use. If a customer wishes to cancel the use of a coupon for a can of beer, he or she can simply turn off the slide switch SW20 located on the coupon details screen. In other words, a customer can set up a coupon use declaration while performing product registration operations at a store, without using a coupon use application.

[0122] When a predetermined operation is performed, the coupon details screen is cleared, and the display returns to the product-related coupon screen of FIG. 13(A).

[0123] In addition, a coupon list button BT33 is arranged in the related coupon presentation area AR30 of the product-related coupon screen in Fig. 13(A). In response to a customer operating the coupon list button BT33, the customer terminal device 50 transitions to displaying a coupon list screen. The coupon list screen displayed in this case may be the same as that in Fig. 12(A). When a predetermined operation is performed, the coupon list screen is cleared, and the display returns to the product-related coupon screen of FIG. 13(A).

[0124] When the close button BT34 is operated while the product-related coupon screen is displayed, the product-related coupon screen is cleared and the product registration screen is displayed.

[0125] Fig. 13(B) shows another example of the product-related coupon screen, in which the same parts as those in Fig. 13(A) are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted where appropriate. A related coupon presentation area AR30 on the product-related coupon screen in the figure corresponds to the case where there is a product-related coupon that satisfies the related condition 2.

[0126] In the related coupon presentation area AR30 in the figure, it is shown that the product to be registered is orange juice from manufacturer A (company A), and the price of company A's orange juice is also shown. In this case, since no use of the coupon that applies to company A's orange juice has been declared, the use declaration notification button BT31 is not provided. In this case, the customer can confirm that no use of the coupon that applies to company A's orange juice that has been registered this time has been declared.

[0127] 13(B), a message is displayed to inform the customer that there are similar products for which a coupon has been declared for use, such as "There are similar products for which a coupon has been declared for use." In addition, one product-related coupon button BT32 is arranged together with the message. In the product-related coupon button BT32 in the figure, it is shown that the similar product is orange juice from manufacturer B (company B). Also, in the product-related coupon button BT32, the mark MK3 indicates that a coupon for the orange juice from company B has been declared for use, and that the coupon will be applied to reduce the price by 100 yen, resulting in a price reduction of 200 yen.

[0128] In addition, the figure shows an example where one product-related coupon button BT32 is arranged. That is, the example shows a case where there is one similar product corresponding to the product to be registered. There may be multiple similar products corresponding to one product. When there are multiple similar products corresponding to the product to be registered, multiple product-related coupon buttons BT32 corresponding to each of the multiple similar products are arranged.

[0129] When the product-related coupon button BT32 is operated, the customer terminal device 50 transitions to display a coupon details screen for a coupon that applies to orange juice from company B. The coupon details screen displayed in this case may be the same as that shown in Fig. 12(B). In this case, when the coupon details screen is displayed, the slide switch SW20 is in the on state, which indicates that the coupon has been declared for use. For example, if a customer wishes to cancel the use declaration for a coupon that applies to orange juice from company B, the customer turns off the slide switch SW20 located on the coupon details screen. This sets the coupon that applies to product D as not being used. In this case, the coupon details screen is cleared in response to a predetermined operation, and the display returns to the product-related coupon screen of FIG. 13(B).

[0130] Fig. 13(C) shows another example of a product-related coupon screen, in which the same parts as those in Fig. 13(A) and Fig. 13(B) are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted where appropriate. A related coupon presentation area AR30 on the product-related coupon screen in the figure corresponds to the case where there is a product-related coupon that satisfies related condition 3.

[0131] In the product-related coupon screen of FIG. 13(C), for example, "Other coupon applicable products" is displayed, and a product-related coupon button BT32 is arranged. In the product-related coupon button BT32, the product related to the registered product, curry roux, is potatoes, and a coupon for the potatoes has been declared for use, indicating that a discount of 50 yen will be achieved by applying the coupon.

[0132] When a coupon for the product to be registered has been declared for use, a use declaration notification button BT31 similar to that shown in FIG. 13(A) is displayed.

[0133] In the case of the product-related coupon screen of the same figure, when a plurality of related products correspond to one registration target product, a plurality of product-related coupon buttons BT32 corresponding to each of the plurality of related products are arranged. Also, in the case of the product-related coupon screen in the same figure, when the product-related coupon button BT32 is operated, the customer terminal device 50 transitions to display a coupon details screen for a coupon that applies to potatoes.

[0134] In addition, even if related condition 1 and related condition 2 are met, instead of the product-related coupon screens in FIG. 13(A) and FIG. 13(B), the product-related coupon screens in the manner shown in the figures may be displayed.

[0135] [Present coupon-related information at checkout] In the shopping system of this embodiment, even at the stage when a customer uses payment device 40 to make payment (payment stage), coupon-related information can be presented at payment device 40 as described below.

[0136] When the customer has completed the product registration operation for all products to be purchased, the customer performs a payment transition instruction operation to display a two-dimensional code on customer terminal device 50. The customer then has payment device 40 read the displayed two-dimensional code. In response to reading the two-dimensional code, payment device 40 displays a payment screen based on the customer's cart information on customer side display unit 405. In this embodiment, coupon-related information is presented on the payment screen displayed in this manner.

[0137] 14 shows an example of the checkout screen in this embodiment. The checkout screen in this figure includes a total area AR41 and a registered product list area AR42. The total area AR41 is an area that presents information regarding the total of registered products, such as the number of registered products and the total price corresponding to the registered products. In addition, a total discount amount area AR411 is arranged in the total area AR41. The total discount amount area AR411 shows the total amount (total discount amount) of discounts due to the application of coupons to registered products among the registered products. In addition, by placing a mark MK1 in the total discount amount area AR411, the customer can know that the total discount amount area AR411 is an area showing coupon-related information.

[0138] The registered product list area AR42 is an area that presents a list of products registered in the corresponding transaction. In the registered product list area AR42, a corresponding list item is arranged for each product. In each list item, the product name and price of the corresponding product are shown. In addition, in the list item corresponding to the product registered with the coupon applied, a mark MK2 is placed to indicate that the coupon was applied and the price in the list item with the mark MK2 is the discounted price. In addition, the list items of products registered with a coupon applied may be distinguished from the list items of products registered without a coupon applied in a predetermined manner, for example by setting different background colors. In addition, the format of the list items of products registered with coupons applied may be modified so that it is possible to distinguish between list items of products applied with coupons that had already been declared for use before entering the current store and list items of products applied with coupons that have been declared for use through a coupon use setting operation after entering the current store.

[0139] In such a settlement screen, for example, in response to an operation of touching mark MK1 located in total discount amount area AR411, a screen showing a breakdown of the discount amount for each registered item when a coupon is applied may be displayed.

[0140] In addition, on such a checkout screen, when an operation is performed to touch and select a list item of a product that has been registered to which a coupon has been applied in the registered product list area AR42 (which may be an operation to touch mark MK2 in the list item area), a coupon details screen for the corresponding coupon may be displayed.

[0141] Fig. 15 shows another example of the settlement screen in this embodiment. In this figure, the same parts as in Fig. 14 are given the same reference numerals and the explanation is omitted. The settlement screen in Fig. 14 corresponds to the size when the display surface of customer side display unit 405 is vertically long, whereas the settlement screen in Fig. 15 corresponds to the size when the display surface of customer side display unit 405 is horizontally long.

[0142] [Example of configuration for presenting coupon-related information at the product registration stage] An example of a configuration for presenting coupon-related information at the product registration stage in the shopping system of this embodiment will be described below.

[0143] The coupon management server 80 is operated by a coupon providing company that has a contract with a store that has a shopping system. The coupon management server 80 is a server that manages coupons provided by the coupon providing company. The coupon management server 80 stores coupon management information for managing issued coupons. Fig. 16 shows an example of the coupon management information. Coupons are issued by, for example, product manufacturers or the like. The issuer registers the coupons to be issued in the coupon management server 80.

[0144] The coupon management information in FIG. 2 stores coupon identification information, coupon information, and coupon providing store information for each issued coupon. The coupon identification information is identification information that uniquely identifies the corresponding coupon. The coupon information includes various details of the corresponding coupon, such as the coupon name, the product code of the target product (e.g., JAN code, etc.), the benefits of applying the coupon, the coupon image, the expiration date, the number of times the coupon can be used, and the area where the coupon is available. The providing store information is information that stores store identification information indicating a store (coupon providing store) that has registered to provide a corresponding coupon to a customer. A coupon management staff member at a store can, for example, operate a specified terminal at the store to log in to a coupon provision registration website provided by the coupon management server and register (provided coupon registration) a coupon (provided coupon) to be provided to customers of the store from among the coupons provided by the coupon providing company. The providing store information stores store identification information of the store that has registered the provided coupon in this manner.

[0145] The transaction management device 60 also stores store coupon management information, which is information that associates a provided coupon that has been registered with a product code of a product to which the provided coupon can be applied among products sold at the store. When there are multiple stores under transaction management device 60, transaction management device 60 stores store coupon management information for each store.

[0146] A customer can perform coupon usage setting operations by operating the customer terminal device 50 in which the coupon usage application is installed. In other words, a customer can select a coupon that he or she wishes to use from among the coupons issued by the coupon management server 80, and register the selected coupon. A coupon registered in this manner becomes a coupon declared for use by the customer. In addition, a customer can also perform an operation to cancel the declaration of use of a coupon that has been declared for use, by operating the coupon usage application. In addition, a customer may operate a web browser running on a personal computer, for example, to log in to a coupon management website and perform coupon usage setting operations. Furthermore, as described above, a customer can perform coupon usage setting operations for coupons offered by the store they have entered by performing operations on the coupon list screen (Figure 12(A)) or coupon details screen (Figure 12(B)) displayed on the customer terminal device 50 on which the shopping application has been launched.

[0147] The coupon management server 80 manages the history of coupons declared for use by customers as described above. For this purpose, the coupon management server 80 stores coupon usage history information indicating the usage history of coupons declared for use by each customer.

[0148] 17 shows an example of coupon usage history information. The coupon usage history information in the figure is information in which coupon usage history by coupon member is associated with each coupon member identification information indicating a coupon member (customer). The coupon member-specific usage history is information indicating the usage history of each coupon declared for use by the corresponding coupon member. The coupon member-specific usage history is information in which the coupon member-specific usage history is associated with coupon identification information indicating the coupon declared for use by the corresponding coupon member. The coupon usage history shows the usage status of the corresponding coupon. In the example shown in the figure, the coupon with coupon identification information "cp0001" is shown to be "unused." Additionally, the coupons with coupon identification information "cp0002" and "cp0003" are shown to be "used." Additionally, the coupon with coupon identification information "cp0004" is shown to have "remaining usable amount: 2." Some coupons have a maximum number of times they can be used, which may be more than 2. Coupons with coupon identification information "cp0004" have a maximum number of times they can be used, which may be more than 3. If such a coupon is used less than the maximum number of times it can be used, the remaining number of times it can be used is shown in the coupon usage history. In addition, a coupon may have an upper limit on the number of purchases that can be made instead of the number of times that it can be used. In this case, the coupon usage history may show the remaining number of purchases instead of the remaining number of purchases that can be made.

[0149] The memory unit 602 (or RAM 603) of the transaction management device 60 also stores a product master table. The product master table is information for managing products that are the subject of sale by a store, and is a table that stores product management information corresponding to each product that is the subject of sale by a store. FIG. 18 shows an example of a product master table. One record (one row) in the product master table in the figure is product management information corresponding to one product. The figure shows an example in which product management information corresponding to one product stores information items such as product code, classification, product name, manufacturer name / place of origin, quantity / contents / size, unit price, similar products, and related products. The information items of similar products can be divided into major, medium and minor categories. For example, for alcoholic beverages, the major category can be "alcoholic beverages," the medium categories can be "distilled alcohol," "brewed alcohol," and "mixed alcohol," and the minor categories can be "wine," "beer," "brandy," "liqueurs," and so on. By using such a product master table, it is possible to determine, for example, similar products or related products corresponding to one registration target product, for example, products with different sizes, contents, or manufacturers as similar products. Furthermore, by subdividing the classification information items as described above, it is possible to determine, as similar products or related products, products that belong to the same major classification as the registration target product but have different medium or small classifications. Furthermore, for example, when setting a product that is an ingredient used in a dish that uses the registration target product as one of the ingredients as an associated product of a certain registration target product, it is also possible to set a product from the same place of origin, for example, in line with the idea of ​​local production and consumption.

[0150] The flowchart in FIG. 19 shows an example of a processing procedure executed by the customer terminal device 50 and the transaction management device 60 in relation to the presentation of coupon-related information at the product registration stage.

[0151] First, an example of a processing procedure executed by the customer terminal device 50 will be described. Step S101: The customer terminal device 50 determines whether or not a product registration operation has been performed while the product registration screen is displayed on the display unit 504. In other words, the customer terminal device 50 determines whether or not a two-dimensional code has been detected (scanned) from the captured image captured by the imaging unit 506.

[0152] Step S102: In response to the product registration operation, the customer terminal device 50 acquires the product code of the product to be registered from the read two-dimensional code.

[0153] Step S103: The customer terminal device 50 transmits the product registration information including the product code acquired in step S102 to the transaction management device 60.

[0154] Step S104: In response to the transmission of the product registration information in step S103, the transaction management device 60 transmits update screen information. The customer terminal device 50 updates the product registration screen based on the received update screen information. In the updated product registration screen, the list items of the products to be registered by the current product registration operation are added to the list of registered products.

[0155] Step S105: The customer terminal device 50 judges whether the received update screen information includes product-related coupon screen information. The product-related coupon screen information is information on a coupon that applies to a similar product or a related product associated with the product to be registered.

[0156] Step S106: If it is determined in step S105 that the product-related coupon screen information is included in the updated screen information, the customer terminal device 50 uses the product-related coupon screen information included in the updated screen information to display a product-related coupon screen of the type illustrated in Figures 13(A), 13(B), 13(C), etc., on the product registration screen.

[0157] Step S107: While the product-related coupon screen is being displayed, the customer terminal device 50 determines whether or not an operation for instructing to display the coupon-related screen (coupon-related screen display instruction operation) has been performed. The operation to instruct the display of the coupon-related screen, in correspondence with the product-related coupon screens illustrated in Figures 13(A), 13(B), and 13(C), is either an operation on the Use Declaration Notification Button BT31, an operation on the Product-Related Coupon Button BT32, or an operation on the Coupon List Button BT33.

[0158] Step S108: If it is determined in step S107 that a coupon-related screen display instruction operation has been performed, the customer terminal device 50 transmits a coupon-related screen request to the transaction management device 60. When an operation is performed on the usage declaration notification button BT31 as a coupon-related screen display instruction operation, the customer terminal device 50 sends a coupon-related screen request to request a coupon details screen of the coupon declared for usage corresponding to the product to be registered. Furthermore, when the product-related coupon button BT32 is operated as a coupon-related screen display instruction operation, the customer terminal device 50 transmits a coupon-related screen request for requesting a coupon details screen of the corresponding product-related coupon. Furthermore, when the coupon list button BT33 is operated as a coupon-related screen display instruction operation, the customer terminal device 50 transmits a coupon-related screen request for requesting a coupon list screen.

[0159] Step S109: In response to the coupon-related screen request sent in step S108, the transaction management device 60 sends a coupon-related screen, and the customer terminal device 50 displays the received coupon-related screen. As a result, when the customer operates the coupon use declaration notification button BT31 as a coupon related screen display instruction operation, a coupon detail screen of the coupon declared to be used corresponding to the registration target product is displayed. Furthermore, when the customer operates the product-related coupon button BT32 as a coupon-related screen display instruction operation, a coupon details screen of the corresponding product-related coupon is displayed. Furthermore, when the customer operates the coupon list button BT33 as a coupon-related screen display instruction operation, a coupon list screen is displayed.

[0160] Step S110: In response to a predetermined operation by the customer, the customer terminal device 50 erases the coupon-related screen displayed in step S109, and returns to the display of the product-related coupon screen before the coupon-related screen was displayed.

[0161] Step S111: If it is determined in step S107 that the coupon-related screen display instruction operation has not been performed, or after the processing of step S110, the customer terminal device 50 determines whether an operation to instruct the deletion of the product-related coupon screen (product-related coupon screen deletion instruction operation) has been performed. The product-related coupon screen deletion instruction operation is an operation on the close button BT34 on the product-related coupon screen. If it is determined that the product-related coupon screen deletion instruction operation has not been performed, the process returns to step S107.

[0162] Step S112: If it is determined in step S111 that the product-related coupon screen deletion instruction operation has been performed, the customer terminal device 50 deletes the product-related coupon screen, and returns to a state in which the product registration screen is displayed.

[0163] Step S113: If it is determined in step S101 that the product registration operation has not been performed, or if it is determined in step S105 that the product-related coupon screen information is not included in the update screen information, or after the process of step S112, the customer terminal device 50 determines whether or not a payment instruction operation has been performed while the product registration screen is displayed. If a payment instruction operation has not been performed, the process of step S101 is returned to. When the payment transfer instruction operation is performed, the process in FIG. 10 is terminated. At this time, the customer terminal device 50 causes the display unit 504 to display the code display screen (FIG. 10(D)) from the product registration screen.

[0164] Next, an example of a processing procedure executed by the transaction management device 60 will be described. Step S201: The transaction management device 60 determines whether or not the product registration information transmitted from the customer terminal device 50 in step S103 has been received.

[0165] Step S202: When the product registration information is received, the transaction management device 60 performs a process of confirming whether or not the customer (user) of the customer terminal device 50 that transmitted the received product registration information has declared the use of a coupon that can be used at the store for the product (registered product) indicated by the received product registration information. This step S202 is a confirmation of the presence or absence of a coupon that satisfies the related condition 1. For this purpose, the transaction management device 60 transmits to the coupon management server 80 a usage declaration inquiry including the coupon member identification information included in the registered product registration information and the product code of the product to be registered. The usage declaration inquiry includes coupon member identification information, the product code of the product to be registered, and store identification information. The coupon member identification information, the product code of the product to be registered, and store identification information may be included in the product registration information received in step S201.

[0166] The coupon management server 80 acquires the product code and store identification information included in the received use declaration inquiry. The coupon management server 80 searches the coupon management information for coupon identification information that associates coupon information including the acquired product code with providing store information including the acquired store identification information. If the coupon identification information is not searched for, it means that the product to be registered this time has not been declared for use by the customer because there is no usable coupon for the product in the first place. In this case, the coupon management server 80 transmits a response to the transaction management device 60 indicating that use has not been declared. When coupon identification information is searched for from the coupon management information, the coupon management server 80 acquires coupon member identification information from the received usage declaration inquiry. The coupon management server 80 acquires consumer-specific usage history associated with the acquired coupon member identification information from the coupon usage history information. By referring to the acquired consumer-specific usage history, the coupon management server 80 determines whether or not the coupon indicated by the searched coupon identification information has been declared for usage (whether or not the coupon-specific usage history is "unused").

[0167] If the coupon has been declared for use, coupon management server 80 transmits a response indicating that the coupon has been declared for use to transaction management device 60. In this case, coupon management server 80 transmits the response including the corresponding coupon information. Also, if the coupon has not been declared for use, coupon management server 80 transmits a response indicating that the coupon has not been declared for use to transaction management device 60.

[0168] In response to sending a usage declaration inquiry, the transaction management device 60 can confirm, based on the contents of the response sent from the coupon management server 80 as described above, whether or not the customer has declared the use of a coupon that can be used at the store for the registered product.

[0169] Step S203: The transaction management device 60 also checks for similar product coupons as product-related coupons for the product to be registered this time. The similar product coupons are coupons that meet the related condition 2.

[0170] To check for similar product coupons, the transaction management device 60 obtains, from the product master, the product codes of similar products associated with the product code included in the received product registration information. The transaction management device 60 transmits a similar product coupon inquiry to the coupon management server 80. The similar product coupon inquiry is a command for inquiring whether or not there is a similar product coupon corresponding to the similar product obtained from the product master.

[0171] The coupon management server 80 determines whether there is a coupon that can be used in the store and that has been declared for use by the customer, corresponding to the similar product indicated by the product code included in the received similar product coupon inquiry. For this purpose, the coupon management server 80 acquires the product code and store identification information included in the received similar product coupon inquiry. The coupon management server 80 searches the coupon management information for coupon identification information that associates the coupon information including the acquired product code with the provided store information including the acquired store identification information. If no coupon identification information is found, it means that the customer has not declared that the similar product will be used, since there is no usable coupon for the similar product. In this case, coupon management server 80 transmits a response to transaction management device 60 indicating that there are no similar product coupons. When the coupon identification information is searched from the coupon management information, the coupon management server 80 acquires the coupon member identification information from the received similar product coupon inquiry. The coupon management server 80 acquires the consumer-specific usage history associated with the acquired coupon member identification information from the coupon usage history information. The coupon management server 80 determines whether the coupon indicated by the searched coupon identification information has been declared for usage by referring to the acquired consumer-specific usage history.

[0172] If the coupon is declared for use, the coupon management server 80 sends a response to the transaction management device 60 indicating that there is a similar product coupon. In this case, the coupon management server 80 sends the response including the coupon information of the similar product coupon. In addition, if the coupon is not declared for use, the coupon management server 80 sends a response to the transaction management device 60 indicating that there is no similar product coupon.

[0173] In response to the transmission of the similar product coupon inquiry, the transaction management device 60 can check whether or not there is a similar product coupon based on the contents of the response transmitted from the coupon management server 80 as described above. Furthermore, if there is a similar product coupon, the transaction management device 60 can obtain coupon information about the similar product coupon.

[0174] Step S204: The transaction management device 60 also checks for associated product coupons as product-related coupons for the product to be registered this time. The associated product coupons are coupons that satisfy the related condition 3.

[0175] To check the associated product coupon, the transaction management device 60 obtains, from the product master, the product code of the associated product that is associated with the product code included in the received product registration information. The transaction management device 60 transmits an associated product coupon inquiry to the coupon management server 80. The associated product coupon inquiry is a command for inquiring whether or not there is an associated product coupon corresponding to the associated product obtained from the product master.

[0176] The coupon management server 80 determines whether or not there is a coupon available at the store for the associated product indicated by the product code included in the received associated product coupon inquiry. The associated product may or may not be available to the customer. For this purpose, the coupon management server 80 acquires the product code and store identification information included in the received associated product coupon inquiry. The coupon management server 80 searches the coupon management information for coupon identification information that associates the coupon information including the acquired product code with the provided store information including the acquired store identification information. If the coupon identification information is not found, it means that there is no associated product-related coupon. In this case, coupon management server 80 transmits a response to transaction management device 60 indicating that there is no associated product coupon. When the coupon identification information is found from the coupon management information, the coupon management server 80 transmits a response indicating the presence of an associated product coupon to the transaction management device 60. In this case, the coupon management server 80 transmits the response including the coupon information of the associated product coupon.

[0177] In response to the transmission of the associated product coupon inquiry, the transaction management device 60 can check whether or not there is an associated product coupon based on the contents of the response transmitted from the coupon management server 80 as described above. Furthermore, if there is an associated product coupon, the transaction management device 60 can obtain coupon information about the associated product coupon.

[0178] Step S205: The transaction management device 60 updates the cart information by adding the product to be registered, which is indicated by the product registration information received in step S201, to the corresponding cart information.

[0179] Step S206: The transaction management device 60 generates updated screen information in step S205, and transmits the generated updated screen information to the customer terminal device 50.

[0180] In step S206, transaction management device 60 generates, as updated screen information, information corresponding to a product registration screen that reflects the results of updating the cart information in step S205.

[0181] Then, in step S206, if the transaction management device 60 confirms in step S202 that a coupon has been declared for use for the registration target product, it generates product-related coupon screen information on which a use declaration notification button BT31 is arranged. Furthermore, in step S206, if the transaction management device 60 confirms in step S203 that there is a similar product coupon, it generates product-related coupon screen information on which a product-related coupon button BT32 corresponding to the similar product coupon is arranged. Furthermore, in step S206, if the transaction management device 60 confirms in step S204 that there is an associated product coupon, it generates product-related coupon screen information on which a product-related coupon button BT32 corresponding to the associated product coupon is arranged. When the transaction management device 60 generates the product-related coupon screen information in step S206, the transaction management device 60 includes the generated product-related coupon screen information in the updated screen information.

[0182] Step S207: If it is determined in step S201 that the product registration information has not been received, or after the processing of step S206, the transaction management device 60 determines whether or not a coupon-related screen request has been received. If a coupon-related screen request has not been received, the process returns to step S201.

[0183] Step S208: When it is determined in step S207 that a coupon-related screen request has been received, the transaction management device 60 generates the coupon-related screen requested by the received coupon-related screen request and transmits the generated coupon-related screen to the customer terminal device 50.

[0184] If the coupon-related screen request received in step S207 is a request for a coupon details screen of a coupon declared for use corresponding to the registration target product, the customer terminal device 50 generates a coupon details screen as a coupon-related screen as follows in step S208. That is, the customer terminal device 50 generates the coupon details screen by using the coupon information corresponding to the registration target product acquired from the coupon management server 80 in step S202.

[0185] Furthermore, if the coupon-related screen request received in step S207 is a request for a coupon details screen of a product-related coupon, the customer terminal device 50 generates a coupon details screen as a coupon-related screen in step S208 as follows. In this case, the received coupon-related screen request includes coupon identification information of the coupon corresponding to the product-related coupon button BT32 operated on the customer terminal device 50. The customer terminal device 50 generates a coupon details screen by using the coupon information indicated by the coupon identification information included in the received coupon-related screen request from the coupon information of the product-related coupon acquired from the coupon management server 80 in step S203 or step S204.

[0186] Furthermore, if the coupon-related screen request received in step S207 is a request for a coupon list screen, the customer terminal device 50 generates a coupon list screen as a coupon-related screen in step S208 as follows. In this case, the customer terminal device 50 transmits a coupon list request to the coupon management server 80. The coupon list request includes store identification information indicating the store where the current transaction is being conducted. In response to receiving the coupon list request, coupon management server 80 uses the coupon management information to generate a coupon list that is offered at the store identified by the store identification information included in the received coupon list request. Coupon management server 80 transmits the generated coupon list to transaction management device 60. Coupon management server 80 generates a coupon list screen using the received coupon list. After the process of step S208, the process returns to step S201.

[0187] <Modification> Modifications of the present embodiment will be described below. The modifications described below may be combined with the above embodiment and other modifications as appropriate.

[0188] [First Modification] In the above embodiment, if there are multiple product-related coupons (similar product coupons, associated product coupons) that meet related condition 2 or related condition 3, a product-related coupon button BT32 is arranged for each of the multiple product-related coupons in the related coupon presentation area AR30 displayed on the customer terminal device 50. Furthermore, in this modified example, when there are multiple product-related coupons, a priority order may be set among the multiple product-related coupons, and the coupons may be displayed in the related coupon presentation area AR30 so as to reflect the set priority order.

[0189] As an example, the priority order of multiple product-related coupons may be set in descending order of the benefit to the customer. Specifically, the priority order of multiple product-related coupons may be set in descending order of the discount amount, the number of points given to the customer based on the discounted price, the coupon expiration date, etc. In addition, when there are multiple product-related coupons corresponding to multiple products of the same product type but with different capacities or sizes, the priority order may be set in descending order of the capacity or size. As another example, the priority order of multiple product-related coupons may be set in descending order of profitability for the store. Specifically, the priority order of multiple product-related coupons may be set in descending order of profitability or in descending order of stock quantity (or in descending order of stock quantity). Such priority order setting may be performed by the transaction management device 60 using the product master and coupon information when checking product-related coupons in steps S203 and S204 of FIG.

[0190] As a display mode in the related coupon presentation area AR30 reflecting the priority order set for the multiple product-related coupons, for example, the product-related coupon buttons BT32 corresponding to each of the multiple product-related coupons may be arranged based on the priority order. Specifically, for example, the product-related coupon buttons BT32 may be arranged from top to bottom in the related coupon presentation area AR30 in order of priority order. Also, in the related coupon presentation area AR30, for example, the product-related coupon buttons BT32 corresponding to a predetermined number of product-related coupons with higher priority orders may be arranged, and the remaining product-related coupon buttons BT32 with lower priority orders may be hidden. In addition, the remaining product-related coupon buttons BT32 with lower priority orders may be displayed in response to, for example, an operation being performed on a predetermined button.

[0191] [Second modified example] The transaction management device 60 may be configured to check the product-related coupon corresponding to the registration target product based on the related condition that the coupon is available for the private brand product when there is a private brand product corresponding to the registration target product. When the transaction management device 60 checks the product-related coupon according to the related condition, a product-related coupon button BT32 corresponding to the coupon for the private brand product corresponding to the registration target product is arranged in the related coupon presentation area AR30. Generally, private brand products are priced lower than similar non-private brand products. Therefore, by presenting a coupon for a private brand product to a customer as a product-related coupon as in this modified example, the customer can reduce the amount of payment by canceling the registration of the product to be registered and registering the private brand product instead.

[0192] [Third Modification] In this embodiment, the coupon is provided by, for example, the manufacturer of the target product. In other words, the manufacturer registers coupons for its products in the coupon management server 80. The registered coupons can be used on a coupon use application installed in the customer terminal device 50. Furthermore, in this modified example, a manufacturer may set up a coupon that is targeted at a specific product that the manufacturer registers in order to compete with another specific manufacturer, so that when a similar product (or related product) from the other specific manufacturer is designated as a registered target product, the coupon is presented as a product-related coupon. As a specific example, if Company A registers a coupon that applies to its own cola drinks, and Company B's cola drinks are registered as similar products from a specific other manufacturer, the coupon can be set to be presented as a product-related coupon.

[0193] The registration contents of such a coupon can be defined as a related condition (hereinafter referred to as related condition 4) as a coupon that applies to a product set as a similar product (or related product) to a registered target product of a specific other manufacturer. In this case, under related condition 4, it may not matter whether a coupon that applies to a registered target product of a specific other manufacturer is declared to be used. It may also not matter whether a coupon that applies to a product set as a similar product (or related product) is declared to be used.

[0194] When a coupon for Company A is registered in this manner, when a customer has the customer terminal device 50 read the product code for Company B's cola drink and designates it as the product to be registered, information about the coupon for Company A's cola drink (product-related coupon button BT32) is presented on the product-related coupon screen.

[0195] [Fourth Modification] When a customer is carrying customer terminal device 50 and moving around the sales floor in the store to register a product, and the customer approaches a location where a product to which a coupon that the customer has declared that he or she will use is displayed, coupon-related information about the coupon may be presented on customer terminal device 50. In this case, in addition to presenting the coupon-related information, the customer may be notified that a product to which the coupon is applied is displayed nearby. To present such coupon-related information, for example, beacons installed at predetermined positions in the store may be used. In other words, the customer terminal device 50 is located within the communication range of the beacon and communicates with the beacon, thereby identifying the location of the customer terminal device 50 within the store. The transaction management device 60 stores information on the display position of each product in, for example, the product master. The transaction management device 60 identifies the position of the customer terminal device 50 in the store by communicating with the beacon, and searches for coupons that the corresponding customer has declared to be used among the coupons for products displayed at the identified position. When a coupon is searched for, the transaction management device 60 transmits coupon-related information of the searched coupon to the corresponding customer terminal device 50. This notifies the customer at the customer terminal device 50 that a product to which the coupon declared to be used is applicable is displayed nearby.

[0196] [Fifth Modification] In the above embodiment, a customer can know that there is a coupon for a product related to the product to be registered by checking the product-related coupon information presented in the related coupon presentation area AR30 of the product-related coupon screen (related coupon presentation area AR30, coupon details screen, coupon list screen). If the customer wishes to purchase another related product instead of the product to be registered using the coupon, the customer can cancel the registration of the product to be registered and register the other related product. In addition, even if the customer checks the product-related coupon information presented in the related coupon presentation area AR30, they may still decide to purchase the product to be registered and not use the presented product-related coupon to purchase the related product.

[0197] As described above, the results of an analysis of coupon usage (coupon usage analysis) obtained based on information regarding coupon-related operations performed on a shopping application by a customer after entering a store are useful information for, for example, stores, manufacturers, coupon providing companies, etc. Therefore, in this modified example, for example, the transaction management device 60 performs the coupon usage analysis. As an example, the transaction management device 60 is configured to perform coupon usage analysis as follows: For each transaction, the transaction management device 60 is configured to store a history of coupon-related operations on the customer terminal device 50 after the store entry screen on the shopping application is displayed. Coupon-related operations here include operations on the shopping application to display coupon-related screens (coupon details screen, coupon list screen), operations related to declaring use of product-related coupons (including operations to cancel declarations of use), and operations related to canceling registered products in conjunction with declarations of use of product-related coupons. The transaction management device 60 obtains statistics on the customer's operations related to coupons based on the history of coupon-related operations. Specifically, the transaction management device 60 may obtain the following statistics for each coupon, for example. That is, the transaction management device 60 may obtain the number of times the coupon details screen was displayed, the number of times an operation related to a use declaration (an operation to declare use or an operation to cancel a use declaration) was performed by an operation on the coupon details screen, and the number of times a coupon details screen that was once displayed was closed without an operation related to a use declaration being performed. Furthermore, the transaction management device 60 may obtain the number of times a use declaration or a use declaration was canceled by an operation on the coupon list screen, for each coupon.

[0198] Then, the transaction management device 60 performs coupon usage analysis based on the above statistical results. The coupon usage analysis can determine, for example, coupons that customers are likely to be interested in and use, coupons that customers are likely not to use despite becoming interested in them by displaying a coupon detail screen, coupons that customers are likely not to use because they have little interest in them, and coupons that customers are likely to use out of interest while shopping without knowing about the existence of the coupon beforehand.

[0199] Such coupon usage analysis may be performed by a server having an analysis function other than the transaction management device 60.

[0200] [Sixth Modification] In addition, the coupon in this embodiment is not limited to a benefit that provides a discount on the applicable product, but may be, for example, a benefit that increases the number of items purchased per unit price, a benefit that awards points, or a benefit that gives a gift to the customer.

[0201] [Seventh Variation] A store manager may apply a reduction service such as a discount or a discount to a specific product as appropriate, for example, on a business day basis or during a specific time period on a business day. Such a reduction service is different from a coupon in that it is provided by a product manufacturer, whereas a coupon is provided by a store manager. However, for a customer, it is the same as a coupon in that the price is reduced when purchasing the applicable product. Therefore, in this modification, when a similar product or related product to a product that a customer has registered by reading the product code with the customer terminal device 50 is eligible for the reduction service, information on the similar product or related product to which the reduction service is applied may be presented on the customer terminal device 50. In this case, the information may be presented by displaying, for example, a form similar to the coupon details screen. As an example, a customer registers a cola drink of company A by having the product code read by the customer terminal device 50. In this case, the customer terminal device 50 may present (display) information to the customer that a cola drink of company B, which is registered as a similar product to the cola drink of company A, is currently eligible for a discount service. Information such as whether or not a discount service is applied to each product and the details of the discount service (discount service information) may be stored in the product master. When the transaction management device 60 receives the product code of the product to be registered from the customer terminal device 50, it searches for products that are currently eligible for the discount service among similar products or related products of the product with the received product code. When a product is searched for, the transaction management device 60 generates discount service related information indicating the details of the discount service for the searched product and transmits it to the customer terminal device 50. The customer terminal device 50 uses the received discount service related information to present information about the products eligible for the discount service.

[0202] [Seventh Variation] In addition, in order to realize the functions of presenting coupon-related information, discount services, and analyzing coupon usage in the present embodiment and the modified examples described above, the processing performed by each device included in the shopping application may be modified as appropriate. For example, the transaction management device 60 may store coupon management information corresponding to coupons provided for at least the stores under its management, and coupon usage history information of store members corresponding to at least the stores under its management. In this case, the transaction management device 60 can execute the processes such as steps S202, S203, S204 that were executed by the coupon management server 80 in cooperation with the transaction management device 60 in the explanation of FIG. 19.

[0203] <Overview of the embodiment> [Technical field] The present invention relates to a product sales data processing system and a product sales data processing method. [Background technology] There is known a technique for setting a coupon selected from coupons displayed on a tablet so that the coupon can be used by a customer (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art document] [Patent documents] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2017 / 065187 [Summary of the invention] [Problem to be solved by the invention] It is preferable to encourage customers to use coupons as much as possible. The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to encourage customers to use coupons more actively.

[0204] [Means for solving the problem] (1) As described above, one aspect of this embodiment is a product sales data processing system (e.g., a shopping system) in which a customer uses a customer terminal device (50) to register a product and payment processing is performed using payment information based on the results of the product registration, the product sales data processing system comprising: an acquisition means for acquiring product information (e.g., a product code) of a product that has been registered using the customer terminal device; an identification means (e.g., steps S202, S203, S204) for identifying a coupon that is related to the product information registered by the acquisition means and that the customer has declared that he or she will use; and a display control means (e.g., step S208) for presenting information on the coupon identified by the identification means on an operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal. According to the above configuration, when a customer enters a store and registers a product, if there are coupons that apply to the product that is registered by the product registration operation (registered product) and are associated with the registered product and that the customer has declared that they will use, information about the coupons is presented on the customer terminal device 50. This increases the opportunities for customers to use coupons, and encourages customers to use coupons more actively.

[0205] (2) One aspect of this embodiment is the product sales data processing system described in (1), wherein the identification means applies to products associated with the product corresponding to the product information acquired by the acquisition means, and identifies coupons that have been declared for use by the customer. According to the above configuration, information regarding coupons that are applicable to products similar to the product to be registered, or coupons that are applicable to products related to the product to be registered, and that have been declared to be used by the customer, can be presented on the customer terminal device 50.

[0206] (3) One aspect of this embodiment is a product sales data processing system as described in (1) or (2), wherein the acquisition means acquires the product information based on an image obtained by the customer terminal device capturing the product information, and the display control means presents coupon information on the operation screen in response to the customer terminal device capturing the image of the product information. According to the above configuration, when a customer captures an image of the product code attached to a product in order to register the product using the customer terminal device 50, coupon information can be appropriately presented on the screen of the customer terminal device 50 at the time the product code is acquired.

[0207] (4) One aspect of this embodiment is a product sales data processing system described in any one of (1) to (3), wherein the display control means displays, in response to a specified operation on the operation screen, information (e.g., a coupon details screen) regarding a coupon selected in response to the specified operation. According to the above configuration, the customer can check detailed information about the coupon presented on the customer terminal device 50.

[0208] (5) One aspect of this embodiment is a product sales data processing system described in any one of (1) to (4), wherein the display control means displays a list of coupons (e.g., a coupon list screen) in response to a specified operation on the operation screen. According to the above configuration, when a customer enters a store and operates a shopping application on the customer terminal device 50, the customer can check detailed information about available coupons.

[0209] (6) One aspect of this embodiment is a product sales data processing system according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the display control means displays information (e.g., a sales floor map) indicating the location of a product associated with the identified coupon in response to a specified operation on an operation screen on which information about the coupon identified by the identification means is presented. According to the above configuration, a customer can use the customer terminal device 50 to know where in the store the product to which the coupon is applied is located.

[0210] (7) One aspect of this embodiment is a product sales data processing method in a product sales data processing system in which a customer registers a product using a customer terminal device and payment processing is performed using payment information based on the results of the product registration, the product sales data processing method executing an acquisition step of acquiring product information for the product that is the subject of registration using the customer terminal device, an identification step of identifying a coupon related to the product information acquired by the acquisition step, and a display step in which the customer terminal device displays an operation screen presenting information on the coupon that has been declared to be used by the customer, the coupon being applicable to similar products similar to the product corresponding to the product information acquired by the acquisition step.

[0211] In addition, a program for realizing the functions of the management device 10, settlement device 40, customer terminal device 50, transaction management device 60, coupon management server 80, etc. described above in each of the above embodiments may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed to perform processing as the management device 10, settlement device 40, customer terminal device 50, transaction management device 60, coupon management server 80, etc. described above. Here, "reading a program recorded on a recording medium into a computer system and executing it" includes installing the program into a computer system. The "computer system" here includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. In addition, the "computer system" may include multiple computer devices connected via a network including a communication line such as the Internet, a WAN, a LAN, or a dedicated line. In addition, the "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, an optical magnetic disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, etc., and a storage device such as a hard disk built into a computer system. In this way, the recording medium storing the program may be a non-transient recording medium such as a CD-ROM. The recording medium also includes a recording medium provided inside or outside the distribution server and accessible to distribute the program. The code of the program stored in the distribution server's recording medium may be different from the code of the program in a format executable by the terminal device. In other words, the format in which the program is stored in the distribution server does not matter as long as it can be downloaded from the distribution server and installed in a format executable by the terminal device. The program may be divided into multiple parts, downloaded at different times, and then combined in the terminal device, or each of the divided programs may be distributed by a different distribution server. Furthermore, the "computer-readable recording medium" includes a memory that holds the program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when the program is transmitted via a network. The program may be for realizing part of the above-mentioned functions.Furthermore, the above-mentioned functions may be realized in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system, that is, a so-called differential file (differential program). [Explanation of symbols]

[0212] 10 Management device, 40 Settlement device, 50 Customer terminal device, 60 Transaction management device, 70 Credit card settlement server, 80 Coupon management server

Claims

1. A product registration means for registering a product to be purchased; A means for identifying a store where the product registration means performs product registration; a coupon list display means for displaying a list of coupons that can be used in accordance with the products of the store specified by the specifying means; a coupon use declaration means for declaring the use of a coupon presented in the coupon list displayed by the coupon list display means; A customer terminal device comprising:

2. The present invention further comprises a coupon usage canceling means for canceling the usage of the coupon declared by the coupon usage declaration means. The customer terminal device according to claim 1.

3. A reception means for receiving an operation to display detailed information about products to which the coupons presented in the coupon list are applicable on the coupon list screen; and a detailed information display unit that displays detailed information about a product to which the coupon specified by the operation is applied in response to the operation being accepted by the accepting unit.

3. A customer terminal device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The display device further includes a sales floor guidance means for guiding the location in the store of the product corresponding to the displayed detailed information. The customer terminal device according to claim 3.

5. A product sales data processing system having a customer terminal device and a payment device, The customer terminal device is A product registration means for registering a product to be purchased; A means for identifying a store where the product registration means performs product registration; a coupon list display means for displaying a list of coupons that can be used in accordance with the products of the store specified by the specifying means; a coupon use declaration means for declaring the use of a coupon presented in the coupon list displayed by the coupon list display means, The settlement device includes: a registered product list display means for displaying a list of products registered by the product registration means; a payment means for executing a payment process for the product registered by the product registration means, The registered product list display means displays, in the list of registered products, that a discount corresponding to the product to which the coupon is applied is being applied. Product sales data processing system.

6. A computer as a customer terminal device, A product registration means for registering products to be purchased; A means for identifying a store where the product registration means performs product registration; a coupon list display means for displaying a list of coupons available for use in association with the products of the store identified by the identification means; a coupon use declaration means for declaring the use of a coupon presented in the coupon list displayed by the coupon list display means; A program to function as a

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