Information processing system, information processing method, and information processing program

Abstract

To guarantee sales by promoting checkout to a user in a store.SOLUTION: An information processing system comprises: reception means for receiving identification information of articles designated as articles scheduled to be purchased by a user in a store; checkout means for performing checkout processing for the articles on the basis of pieces of identification information for the articles received by the reception means; and notification means for notifying the user of a message for promoting checkout if any of the pieces of identification information for the articles received by the reception means has not been properly subjected to a checkout process by the checkout means and if a predetermined condition is satisfied.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing method, and an information processing program. [Background technology]

[0002] In the above technical field, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for reading and receiving product data stored on a shelf tag at a store and processing orders for the product. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-031618 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the technology described in the above document could not prevent customers from simply reading the product data on the shelf tag and then leaving the store without paying for the item. There was a risk that customers would simply check the actual product and price on-site, postpone their purchase, and end up purchasing the product at another company's online supermarket.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for solving the above-mentioned problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the system according to the present invention comprises: A receiving means for receiving identification information of a product designated as a purchase by a user who has visited the store; a payment means for performing a payment process for the product based on the identification information of the product; When there is an unpaid product among the products corresponding to the received identification information, and no new product identification information is received for a certain period of time, a notification means for outputting a message to the user that an incentive will be given to the user to a mobile terminal carried by the user only for a predetermined period of time; It is an information processing system equipped with the above.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the method according to the present invention comprises: A receiving step in which a receiving unit receives identification information of a product designated as a product to be purchased by a user who has visited the store; a checkout step in which a checkout unit performs a checkout process for the product based on the identification information of the product; When there is an unpaid product among the products corresponding to the received identification information, and no new product identification information is received for a certain period of time, a notification step of outputting a message to the effect that an incentive will be given to the user to a mobile terminal carried by the user only for a predetermined period of time by a notification unit; The present invention relates to an information processing method.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the program according to the present invention comprises: A receiving step of receiving identification information of a product designated as a purchase by a user who has visited the store; a checkout step of performing checkout processing for the product based on the identification information of the product; When there is an unpaid product among the products corresponding to the received identification information, and no new product identification information is received for a certain period of time, a notification step of outputting a message to the user that an incentive will be given to the user to a mobile terminal carried by the user only for a predetermined period of time; It is an information processing program that causes a computer to execute the above. Effect of the Invention

[0009] Stores that adopt the technology of the present invention can ensure sales by encouraging visiting users to pay. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4A] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow of an information processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4B] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow of an information processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of an information processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a table used in the information processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of an information processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a usage state of an information processing system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the components described in the following embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0012] [First embodiment] An information processing device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The information processing device 100 includes a product information receiving unit 101, a payment processing unit 102, and a notification unit 103.

[0013] The product information receiving unit 101 receives identification information of a product 120 designated as a product to be purchased by a user 110 who has visited the store.

[0014] The payment processing unit 102 performs payment processing for the product based on the product identification information received by the product information receiving unit 101.

[0015] The notification unit 103 notifies the user 110 of a message encouraging payment when there is a product for which the product information receiving unit 101 has received product information and for which payment processing has not been performed by the payment processing unit 102, and when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

[0016] According to this embodiment, users are more likely to be prompted by the message to make payment, and in stores that have introduced such information processing devices, users are more likely to make payment while visiting the store, thereby ensuring sales.

[0017] [Second embodiment] Next, a purchase support system 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining a usage scene of the purchase support system according to the present embodiment. The purchase support system 200 includes a purchase support server 201 and a smartphone 202.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, a purchase support server 201 provides a purchase support site 210 and receives access from a smartphone 202 .

[0019] Purchase support site 210 includes a login module 211, a shopping cart module 212, a payment request reception module 213, a delivery request reception module 214, an alert determination module 215, an unpaid item notification module 216, and user information 217. These modules are software modules, and are stored in the memory of purchase support server 201 and executed by the CPU to realize their respective functions.

[0020] A user 210 accesses a purchase support server 201 using a smartphone 202 and acquires product identification information from a product 203 to be purchased or from a shelf label 204 of the product.

[0021] First, when a user logs in to a purchase support site 210 via a login module 211, a shopping cart module 212 is executed.

[0022] The shopping cart module 212 receives identification information of products designated as intended purchases by the visiting user 210 as he or she wanders around the store, and accumulates the information in a virtual shopping cart prepared in the user information 217. For the same product, input of the number of products can be accepted.

[0023] The settlement request reception module 213 receives a settlement request for the products stored in the virtual shopping cart, and performs settlement processing such as providing information to the card company, etc.

[0024] Furthermore, the delivery request reception module 214 receives a delivery destination and delivery date and time specification, and notifies the store of this together with product information.

[0025] The alert determination module 215 determines whether the user has left the store with unchecked items remaining in the shopping cart, whether the user is about to leave, or whether a predetermined time has passed. Whether the user has left the store or is about to leave is determined based on the location information of the smartphone 202 carried by the user. Specifically, a location detection technology such as GPS (Global Positioning System) is used to determine whether the user has left the store through the entrance or is about to leave. In addition to GPS, the user's location may be detected based on the distance to a radio wave transmitter installed in the store, such as a beacon using a standard such as BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), or Wifi.

[0026] The unpaid item notification module 216 notifies the user of a message urging the user to settle the payment when the user leaves the store with unpaid items remaining in the shopping cart, when the user is about to leave, or when a predetermined time has passed, in the alert determination module 215. At this time, a message is simultaneously notified to the effect that "an incentive will be given to the user if the payment is made."

[0027] Furthermore, the unchecked item notification module 216 notifies the user of a message urging the user to check out if items for which checkout has not been properly processed are stored in the virtual shopping cart and the user does not add any new items to the virtual shopping cart within a specified period of time while in the store.

[0028] When the user completes the payment in the store, the payment request receiving module 213 registers incentive information as user information 217.

[0029] In this way, it is possible to prompt a user who has left an unpaid item in the shopping cart and forgotten to pay before leaving the store, or who has been there for a long time, to pay. The user can receive incentives (coupons, points, etc.) by paying after receiving a notification from the unpaid item notification module 216.

[0030] When the store receives a delivery request after the payment process is completed by the purchase support server 201, the store delivers the products specified by the user 210, in the quantity specified by the user 210, to a location specified by the user 210.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the functional configuration of the purchase support system 200. As shown in FIG.

[0032] The NFC unit 204 provided on the shelf tag corresponds to each of a number of products displayed in a retail store, and is attached near the display location, in many cases on a display shelf for displaying the products, together with the product name and selling price.

[0033] The shelf label management device 301 is installed in an office of a store or the like, is capable of wireless communication with each of the multiple NFC units 204, and manages the NFC units 204. Specifically, the shelf label management device 301 stores a product information table 310 that manages the association between an identification code for identifying the NFC unit 204 and a product code. The product information table 310 is a collection of data records that associate product information with an identification code. The product information is information about a product corresponding to an NFC unit 321 identified by the associated shelf label code. The type of information to be described as product information is arbitrary, but it should include at least information necessary for a shopper to identify the product.

[0034] The smartphone 202 is used by a user visiting a store to purchase products in the store, and is equipped with an NFC unit 321, a camera 322, a GPS unit 323, a touch panel 324, a wireless communication unit 325, a call unit 326, a browser 327, etc.

[0035] The NFC unit 321 communicates with the external NFC unit 204, receives an identification code, and acquires product information. The camera 322 reads, for example, a barcode attached to a product to acquire the product information. Furthermore, the GPS unit 323 detects the position using a GPS satellite.

[0036] The touch panel 324 displays product names, prices, the contents of the shopping cart, etc., and also accepts input of delivery date and time, etc. The touch panel 324 can also display messages prompting payment, etc.

[0037] Wireless communication unit 325 communicates with purchase support server 201 via Internet 380, and transmits and receives various product information. Call unit 326 receives voice data and communicates by voice. Browser 327 generates a display layout based on the content provided by purchase support server 201, and displays it on touch panel 324.

[0038] The purchase support server 201 includes a purchase support site 210 and a communications control unit 311 , and exchanges data with the shelf label management device 301 and the smartphone 202 via the Internet 380 .

[0039] Fig. 4A is a flowchart explaining the flow of processing in the purchase support server 201. First, in step S401, the shopping cart module 212 determines whether or not product information has been read, and if so, proceeds to step S403 and registers the product information in the shopping cart. The products registered in the shopping cart are displayed, for example, as shown on screen 501 in Fig. 5, and can be confirmed using the browser 327. Products for which payment has been completed are deleted from the shopping cart.

[0040] In step S405, the alert determination module 215 determines whether the user has left the store or is about to leave, using the location information of the smartphone 202 owned by the user. If it is determined that the user has left or is about to leave, the process proceeds to step S409, where the alert determination module 215 determines whether there are any unpaid items remaining in the shopping cart. If there are no unpaid items remaining, this means that all items have been paid for, and the process ends.

[0041] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S401 that the product information has not been read, the process proceeds to step S407, where the alert determination module 215 determines whether or not the time elapsed since the last time the product information was read exceeds a certain time. If the time has exceeded the certain time, the process proceeds to step S409, where the alert determination module 215 checks whether or not there are any unchecked items in the shopping cart.

[0042] If it is determined in step S409 that there is an unpaid item, the process proceeds to step S411, where the unpaid item notification module 216 notifies the user of a message encouraging payment and presents a coupon as incentive information to the user via the smartphone 202. For example, a message such as "If you complete your payment within the next ○ minutes, we will give you a coupon for a △% discount on your next purchase" is displayed. The presented incentive information is provisionally registered in the user information 217.

[0043] Next, in step S413, it is determined whether a certain amount of time has passed since the message was sent. If the certain amount of time has passed since the message was sent, the process proceeds to step S415, where the provisionally registered coupon as incentive information is deleted from the user information 217.

[0044] If a certain period of time has not elapsed since the message was sent, the process proceeds to step S417, where it is determined whether or not the user has made a payment and delivery request via the smartphone 202.

[0045] When the payment request reception module 213 and the delivery request reception module 214 determine that a request has been received, the process proceeds to step S419, where payment and delivery processing is performed. Specifically, for example, a display such as screen 502 in FIG. 5 is displayed on the touch panel 324 of the smartphone 202, and the smartphone 202 waits for the order to be confirmed, and performs payment processing when the order is confirmed. When the payment processing is completed, the process proceeds to step S421, the shopping cart module empties the shopping cart, and the payment request reception module 213 registers the coupon information in the user information 217. Here, the payment request and the delivery request are accepted at the same time, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the setting of the delivery date and time may be postponed. This can eliminate the postponement of payment due to the unknown delivery date and time. If a deadline is set for the determination of the delivery date and time, unnecessary postponement can be prevented. Receiving the product is not necessarily limited to delivery, and the product may be picked up at a specific store after specifying a time (for example, purchasing the product during the day and picking it up at a store or locker on the way home in the evening).

[0046] In this flow, a request for settlement within a certain period of time after an unsettled account is notified has been described, but a request for settlement from the user can be accepted at any time, separate from the process of step S417 in FIG. 4A.

[0047] 4B is a flowchart showing the process flow when a payment request is made. When a payment request is received from the user in step S431 (selection of "Proceed to checkout" button 511 on screen 501 in FIG. 5), the process proceeds to payment screen 502, and usable coupons 521 and 522 are presented to the user, and in step S433, it is determined whether or not to use the coupon.

[0048] If a coupon is to be used, the process proceeds to step S435, where a discount is applied in response to the selection of button 523 to confirm the order, and the process proceeds to step S437 for payment. If there is no coupon to use, or if no coupon is to be used, the process proceeds from step S433 to step S437 for payment without a discount.

[0049] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a table 600 that serves as a criterion for the alert determination module 215 to make an alert determination.

[0050] The user with user ID "AAA" has no unpaid items, all items have been paid for, and is also inside the store, so no alert is necessary.

[0051] The user with user ID "BBB" has unpaid items, but since he is inside the store, no alert is necessary.

[0052] The user with user ID "CCC" has unpaid items, but since he is inside the store, no alert is necessary.

[0053] An alert is required because the users with user IDs "DDD" and "EEE" have unpaid items and are not in the store (they have left the store or are in the process of leaving).

[0054] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state of notification of payment prompting to the user 210 while he / she is leaving the store or after he / she has left the store. The alert determination module 215 notifies the smartphone 202, which has received a signal from the beacon transmitter 701 while there is an item left in the shopping cart, of a payment prompting message 721. Here, as an example, a message is displayed saying, "There is an item in your shopping cart that you have not yet paid for. If you pay now, we will give you a coupon." As a method of notifying the user of the smartphone 202 of the message, in addition to a method of displaying the message on a browser, a method using technology such as e-mail or SNS (Social Network Service) can be considered. Alternatively, the message may be notified by voice using the communication unit 326 of the smartphone 202.

[0055] As described above, according to this embodiment, the possibility that the user will pay while visiting the store is increased, and sales can be secured. Note that, in this embodiment, an example of acquiring product information using the NFC unit 321 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and barcode reading technology, product image recognition technology, etc. may also be used.

[0056] In addition, whether or not a coupon is issued, or the type of coupon to be issued, may be different depending on whether the payment is made after a notification by the unpaid item notification module 216 or before the notification.

[0057] [Third embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of an information processing system according to this embodiment. An information processing system 800 according to this embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that a service is provided using a smartphone 802 on which a purchase assistance application 821 is installed. Other configurations and operations are similar to those of the second embodiment, so the same configurations and operations are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0058] 8, the purchase assistance application 821 includes a shopping cart module 812, a payment request module 813, a delivery request module 814, an alert determination module 815, and an unpaid item notification module 816. These modules correspond to the shopping cart module 212, payment request reception module 213, delivery request reception module 214, alert determination module 215, and unpaid item notification module 216 shown in FIG. 2, respectively, and perform the same functions.

[0059] That is, the shopping cart module 812 receives identification information of products designated as purchases by the user 210 who has visited the store and stores them in the virtual shopping cart. For the same product, the module can also accept input of the number of products.

[0060] The settlement request module 813 accepts a settlement request for products stored in the virtual shopping cart, and makes a request for settlement to the settlement processing unit 821 .

[0061] The delivery request module 814 accepts the delivery destination and delivery date and time specification, and transmits them to the delivery processing unit 822 together with product information.

[0062] The alert determination module 815 determines whether the user has left the store or is about to leave the store while unchecked items remain in the shopping cart, or whether a predetermined time has passed. The alert determination module 815 determines whether the user has left the store or is about to leave the store, for example, using location information detected by the GPS unit 323.

[0063] The unpaid item notification module 816 notifies the user of a message urging the user to settle the payment when the user leaves the store with unpaid items remaining in the shopping cart, when the user is about to leave, or when a predetermined time has passed, in the alert determination module 815. The unpaid item notification module 816 also notifies the user of a message stating that "if settlement is made, an incentive will be given to the user."

[0064] Furthermore, the unchecked item notification module 816 notifies the user of a message urging the user to check out if items for which checkout has not been properly processed are stored in the virtual shopping cart and the user does not add any new items to the virtual shopping cart within a specified period of time while in the store.

[0065] In addition to the communications control unit 311, the purchase support server 801 also includes a settlement processing unit 821, a delivery processing unit 822, and a coupon issuing unit 823. The settlement processing unit 821 performs settlement processing for items included in the shopping cart based on a request from the settlement request module of the purchase support application 821. The delivery processing unit 822 makes arrangements for delivery of items for which settlement has been completed to a specified delivery destination based on a request from the delivery request module 814. The coupon issuing unit 823 issues a specified coupon in response to settlement after notification by the unpaid item notification module 816.

[0066] As described above, according to this embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the possibility that the user will pay while visiting the store increases, and sales can be secured.

[0067] [Fourth embodiment] Next, an information processing system 900 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 9 and 10. This embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that the user places the products he or she wants to buy in a real shopping basket and carries them around. Other system configurations and operations are similar to those of the second embodiment, so the same configurations and operations are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0068] A user 910 who comes to the store receives identification information of the product he or she wishes to purchase on a smartphone 911 , sends it to a shopping cart module 212 of the purchase support server 201 , and then places the product in a real shopping cart 912 .

[0069] Next, as shown in Fig. 10, the user 910 places the shopping cart 912 in a predetermined location together with user identification information such as a membership card. After that, the user 910 uses a smartphone 911 to carry out a payment procedure, and a store clerk 1001 arranges for delivery of the items for which payment has been completed.

[0070] In this way, by delivering the exact products that the user 910 has collected and placed in the real shopping basket 912, the user 910 can check the size and freshness of the fresh foods, the expiration dates of various foods, and the like before making a purchase.

[0071] Users can be relieved of the anxiety about delivered goods, the burden of waiting in line at the cash register, and the burden of carrying heavy luggage home.

[0072] The store side calls the user 910 to settle the purchase at a predetermined timing so that the shopping basket is not left on the shelf without payment. The mechanism is the same as that of the second and third embodiments, and the store side may send a message when it detects that the user 910 has left the store or is about to leave without payment.

[0073] In this embodiment, the user 910 collects product identification information using the smartphone 911, but a store clerk may also collect the identification information of the products in the shopping basket 912 received from the user 910 and store it in a virtual shopping basket prepared in the user information 217.

[0074] [Other embodiments] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention. In addition, systems or devices that combine the separate features included in each embodiment in any way are also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0075] The present invention may be applied to a system consisting of multiple devices, or to a single device. Furthermore, the present invention is also applicable to a case where an information processing program for realizing the functions of the embodiments is supplied directly or remotely to a system or device. Therefore, the scope of the present invention also includes a program installed on a computer to realize the functions of the present invention by a computer, a medium storing the program, and a WWW (World Wide Web) server for downloading the program. In particular, the scope of the present invention includes at least a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the processing steps included in the above-mentioned embodiments.

Claims

1. A receiving means for receiving identification information of a product designated as a purchase by a user who has visited the store; a payment means for performing a payment process for the product based on the identification information of the product; When there is an unpaid product among the products corresponding to the received identification information, and no new product identification information is received for a certain period of time, a notification means for outputting a message to the user that an incentive will be given to the user to a mobile terminal carried by the user only for a predetermined period of time; An information processing system comprising:

2. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the notification means makes the message non-display when the predetermined time has elapsed since the message was output.

3. 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the message output by the notification means is a message that an incentive will be given if the unpaid items are paid for within a time limit.

4. 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the notification means outputs to the mobile terminal a message informing the user that a discount coupon or points will be given to the user upon settlement of the bill.

5. 5. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the settlement means causes incentive information to be registered in association with the user when settlement processing is performed after the message is output by the notification means.

6. 5. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the settlement means changes whether or not to issue a coupon or changes the type of coupon to be issued depending on whether the settlement is made after the notification by the notification means and the settlement is made before the notification.

7. 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the settlement means provisionally registers incentive information as user information when notifying the message, and deletes the incentive information from the user information after the predetermined time has elapsed.

8. A receiving step in which a receiving unit receives identification information of a product designated as a product to be purchased by a user who has visited the store; a checkout step in which a checkout unit performs a checkout process for the product based on the identification information of the product; When there is an unpaid product among the products corresponding to the received identification information, and no new product identification information is received for a certain period of time, a notification step in which a notification unit outputs a message to the effect that an incentive will be given to the user to a mobile terminal carried by the user only for a predetermined period of time; An information processing method comprising:

9. A receiving step of receiving identification information of a product designated as a purchase by a user who has visited the store; a checkout step of performing checkout processing for the product based on the identification information of the product; When there is an unpaid product among the products corresponding to the received identification information, and no new product identification information is received for a certain period of time, a notification step of outputting a message to the user on a mobile terminal carried by the user for a predetermined period of time, the message indicating that an incentive will be given to the user; An information processing program that causes a computer to execute the above.

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