Server device

Abstract

To provide a server apparatus, a program, and a discount notification system capable of efficiently managing discount time and informing customers when a store sells at discount.SOLUTION: A server apparatus of the embodiment comprises: a storage unit for storing product identification information that identifies a product and time information that indicates notification time that notifies a user of a discount of the product in association with each other; a clock unit for timing the current time; a selection unit for selecting the product identification information whose time timed by the clock unit is the notification time; and an output unit for outputting discount information in which a product name of the product that is identified by the product identification information selected by the selection unit and information related to the discount are associated with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention comprises: Server device Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in stores selling goods, discounts are offered to reduce waste or inventory. For example, stores selling fresh food products offer discounts on products that are approaching their expiration date or expiry date. Stores selling clothing and other items offer discounts on products through time sales.

[0003] Generally, when a discount sale is made, a discount label showing the discount amount and the amount after the discount is attached to the product. A barcode showing the discount amount and the amount after the discount is printed on the discount label. When it is time to give the discount, the store clerk attaches the discount label to the target product.

[0004] On the other hand, the customer visually checks the discount sticker to confirm that the product is a discounted product, and when purchasing, pays for the product at the POS terminal. The POS terminal performs the discount process by reading the information on the discount label with a scanner.

[0005] In this type of operation, it is troublesome for the store to manage the time of discount sales, for example, when the discount time is different for each product such as fresh food due to the expiration date or expiry date. Also, in the above operation, customers know that a product is discounted by visually checking the discount label, so there is room for improvement in terms of the store informing customers about discount sales. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to enable a store to efficiently manage discount times and notify customers when offering discount sales. Server device The purpose of this project is to provide [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In an embodiment Server device The time information indicates a notification time when a discount on the product is notified to a user. Expiration date information indicating at least one of the expiration date or the expiration date of the product; a memory unit that stores the product identification information in association with the notification time, a clock unit that keeps track of the current time, and the product identification information that is the notification time. Product identification information for products with a matching expiration date or best before date identified in and with a certain number or more in stock A selection unit that selects before The product name and discount of the product identified by the product identification information selected by the selection unit Feelings Discount information associated with the the expiration information associated with the product identification information selected by the selection unit; of The user terminal an output unit for outputting the a generation unit that generates a code symbol indicating the product identification information selected by the selection unit; Equipped with The output unit outputs the code symbol generated by the generation unit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a system including a discount notification system according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a user terminal according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the server device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a product master section of the server device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a control unit of the server device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the POS device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing by the control unit of the server device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a server device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a product master section of a server device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration of the discount management file unit of the server device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a control unit of a server device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a sequence chart showing an example of a process executed among a user terminal, a server device, and a POS terminal according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0010] (First embodiment) 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a system including a discount notification system 1 according to the first embodiment. The discount notification system 1 notifies users of information related to discount sales when a store sells products at a discount during a limited time sale or when a store sells food products at a discount when the best-before date or expiration date is approaching, and includes a user terminal 2 and a server device 3. The user terminal 2 and the server device 3 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a network such as the Internet or a mobile phone network.

[0011] The user terminal 2 is a terminal device used by a user of the discount notification system 1. The user terminal 2 is configured as a portable terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal.

[0012] The server device 3 is installed in a store such as a supermarket, but may be configured as a cloud (cloud computing). The server device 3 is connected to a plurality of POS (Point Of Sales) terminals 4 in the store via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The server device 3 performs sales management, inventory management, order management, etc. in the store based on data output from each POS terminal 4.

[0013] Furthermore, the server device 3 comprehensively controls the operation of the discount notification system 1. The server device 3 stores product information such as product name and price, as well as various information for notifying the user terminal 2 of the discount of each product. Here, the various information includes the start time of the discount sale, the time when the user is notified of the discount sale (hereinafter also referred to as the discount sale notification time), the discount amount or discount rate, etc. In this specification and claims, the term "discount" includes both a fixed amount reduction from the price (e.g., a 100 yen discount) and a fixed rate reduction (e.g., a 10% discount).

[0014] When the discount sale notification time set for each product arrives, the server device 3 outputs discount information that associates the product name of the product with information regarding the discount. The discount information output by the server device 3 can be viewed on the user terminal 2 of a user registered as a store member. The discount information may be transmitted from the server device 3 to the user terminal 2, or may be published on a web page. When the discount information is published on a web page, the server device 3 transmits a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the web page to the user terminal 2. The discount information output by the server device 3 includes a discount amount or a discount rate. The discount information may also include a discount sale start time.

[0015] A plurality of POS terminals 4 are provided in the store. When an operator (store clerk) operates the POS terminal 4, the POS terminal 4 executes sales registration processing and settlement processing for the products sold. The sales registration processing refers to processing such as reading a product code from a code symbol such as a barcode attached to a product purchased by a customer, and storing product information such as the product name and price of the product related to the product code in a storage unit together with the product code. The settlement processing refers to processing such as displaying the total amount based on the product information stored in the sales registration processing, calculating and displaying the change based on the deposit received from the customer, instructing the change dispenser to dispense the change, and issuing a receipt on which product information and settlement information (total amount, deposit amount, change amount, etc.) are printed. The settlement processing includes processing executed by the POS terminal 4 when a customer makes a cashless payment such as a credit card payment.

[0016] Next, a hardware configuration of the user terminal 2 will be described. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the user terminal 2. The user terminal 2 includes a control unit 20, a memory unit 21, a display unit 22, an operation unit 23, and a communication I / F (Interface) 24. The control unit 20, the memory unit 21, the display unit 22, the operation unit 23, and the communication I / F 24 are connected to each other via a bus 25 or the like.

[0017] The control unit 20 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 201, a read only memory (ROM) 202, and a random access memory (RAM) 203. The CPU 201, the ROM 202, and the RAM 203 are connected to each other via a bus 25.

[0018] The CPU 201 controls the entire user terminal 2. The ROM 202 stores various programs, such as a program used to drive the CPU 201, and various data. The RAM 203 is used as a work area for the CPU 201, and loads various programs and data stored in the ROM 202 and the memory unit 21. The control unit 20 executes various control processes of the user terminal 2 by the CPU 201 operating in accordance with the control programs stored in the ROM 202 and the memory unit 21 and loaded in the RAM 203. The control unit 20 also has a function as a receiving unit that receives discount information, which will be described later, from the server device 3, and a function as a display control unit that displays the discount information received by the receiving unit on the display unit 22.

[0019] The memory unit 21 is configured with a storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a flash memory, and maintains the stored contents even when the power is cut off. The memory unit 21 includes a control program unit 211 and a discount information unit 212.

[0020] The control program unit 211 is an area for storing programs that can be executed by the CPU 201 and various setting information. For example, the control program unit 211 stores application programs for store membership services, including application programs prepared for the discount notification system 1. The discount information unit 212 is an area for storing discount information received from the server device 3. The discount information unit 212 stores, for example, the product names and discount amounts of discounted products.

[0021] The display unit 22 is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and displays various information under the control of the CPU 201. The operation unit 23 has various operation keys and outputs operation contents according to user operations to the CPU 201. The operation unit 23 may be a touch panel provided on the surface of the display unit 22. The communication I / F 24 is an interface for communicating with an external device such as the server device 3 via a network.

[0022] Next, a hardware configuration of the server device 3 will be described. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the server device 3. The server device 3 includes a control unit 30, a memory unit 31, a display unit 32, an operation unit 33, and a communication I / F (Interface) 34. The control unit 30, the memory unit 31, the display unit 32, the operation unit 33, and the communication I / F 34 are connected to each other via a bus 35 or the like. The server device 3 may be composed of multiple devices.

[0023] The control unit 30 includes a CPU 301, a ROM 302, and a RAM 303. The CPU 301, the ROM 302, and the RAM 303 are connected to each other via a bus .

[0024] The CPU 301 controls the entire server device 3. The ROM 302 stores various programs, such as a program used to drive the CPU 301, and various data. The RAM 303 is used as a work area for the CPU 301, and loads various programs and data stored in the ROM 302 and the memory unit 31. The control unit 30 executes various control processes of the server device 3 by the CPU 301 operating in accordance with the control programs stored in the ROM 302 and the memory unit 31 and loaded in the RAM 303.

[0025] The memory unit 31 is configured with a storage medium such as a HDD or a flash memory, and maintains the stored contents even when the power is cut off. The memory unit 31 includes a control program unit 311, a product master unit 312, and an inventory management file unit 313.

[0026] The control program unit 311 is an area for storing programs and various setting information that can be executed by the CPU 201. For example, the control program unit 311 stores a control program for managing store sales information, product inventory information, and the like, and a control program for operating the discount notification system 1.

[0027] The product master section 312 is an area for storing the product master. The product master is a master file that stores product codes and product information (product name, price, etc.) for products handled in the store in association with each other. In this embodiment, information regarding discounts and the like is also stored in association with each other. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the product master section 312. The product master stores information indicating the product name, price, best before date, expiration date, notification time, discount time, discount amount / discount rate, and display location in association with the product code. The product master section 312 is an example of a storage section. The product master section 312 may be stored in an external storage device, in which case the server device 3 is configured to include the external storage device.

[0028] The product code is a code that identifies the product and is an example of product identification information. The price is information that indicates the unit price of the product. The best-before date is stored when the product is a food product and is information that indicates the best-before date of the product. The best-before date is stored when the product is a food product and is information that indicates the best-before date of the product. The information that indicates the best-before date or best-before date is an example of expiration date information.

[0029] The notification time is information indicating the time at which a discount sale is notified to the user. The notification time is set arbitrarily by the store, and can be, for example, three hours before the start of the discount sale. The information indicating the notification time is an example of time information. The discount time is information indicating the start of the discount sale. The discount time is set arbitrarily by the store, and can be, for example, two hours before the expiration date for food products. In addition, when the store holds a limited-time sale, the start time of the limited-time sale is stored as the discount time.

[0030] The discount amount / discount rate is information indicating the amount discounted or the discount rate to be applied in a discount sale. The information indicating the discount amount / discount rate is an example of information regarding a discount. The discount information may also include the time of discount, etc. The display location is information indicating the location where the product is displayed. The display location may be indicated by image information such as a store map, or may be indicated by a symbol indicating the display position. The information indicating the display location is an example of location information.

[0031] The product master section 312 storing the above information is updated daily, for example, by input from a salesperson before the store opens. Therefore, information required for discount sales (notification time, discount time, discount amount / discount rate, etc.) is also set before the store opens. In addition, the information required for discount sales is not stored for all products, but only for products that the store targets for discount sales.

[0032] The inventory management file section 313 is an area for storing a management file that associates product codes with stock quantities. The inventory management file section 313 manages the stock quantity for each product, and is updated successively based on sales data from the POS terminal 4.

[0033] Returning to Fig. 3, the display unit 32 is a display device such as an LCD, and displays various information under the control of the CPU 301. The operation unit 33 has various operation keys, and outputs operation contents to the CPU 301 according to operations by store personnel such as store clerks. The operation unit 33 may be a touch panel provided on the surface of the display unit 32. The communication I / F 34 is an interface for communicating with external devices such as the POS terminal 4 and the user terminal 2 via a network.

[0034] Next, a functional configuration of the server device 3 will be described. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the server device 3. The control unit 30 of the server device 3 functions as a clock unit 3001, a selection unit 3002, an extraction unit 3003, and an output unit 3004 by the CPU 301 operating in accordance with a control program stored in the ROM 302 or the memory unit 31. Note that each of the above functional configurations may be realized by a hardware configuration such as a dedicated circuit mounted on the server device 3.

[0035] The clock unit 3001 keeps track of the current time.

[0036] The selection unit 3002 selects product identification information for which the time measured by the clock unit 3001 has become the notification time. Specifically, when the time measured by the clock unit 3001 becomes the notification time stored in the product master unit 312, the selection unit 3002 selects the product code corresponding to the notification time. In other words, the selection unit 3002 selects from the product master unit 312 the product for which it is time to notify of a discount sale. In the following explanation, the selection of a product code may be referred to as selecting a product.

[0037] The extraction unit 3003 extracts products whose stock quantity is equal to or exceeds a predetermined number from among the products indicated by the product codes selected by the selection unit 3002. Specifically, the extraction unit 3003 refers to the inventory management file unit 313 for the product codes selected by the selection unit 3002, and extracts products whose stock quantity is equal to or exceeds a predetermined number set by the store in advance for the products indicated by the product codes. The set predetermined number can be set arbitrarily, and is set to a number that is determined to be an inventory quantity suitable for the store to sell at a discount.

[0038] The output unit 3004 outputs discount information in which the product name of the product identified by the product identification information selected by the selection unit 3002 is associated with information on discount. For example, the output unit 3004 refers to the product master unit 312 and outputs discount information in which the product name and information indicating the discount amount / discount rate are associated with the product extracted by the extraction unit 3003 from among the products corresponding to the product code selected by the selection unit 3002. It is preferable that the discount information also includes information indicating the discount time. In addition, it is preferable that the output unit 3004 also outputs deadline information indicating the expiration date or expiry date of the product and location information indicating the display location of the product. The output unit 3004 outputs the discount information, deadline information, and location information to the user terminal 2 or a Web server separately provided by the store. In this embodiment, it is described that the information is output to the user terminal 2.

[0039] Next, the hardware configuration of the POS terminal 4 will be described. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the POS terminal 4. The POS terminal 4 includes a control unit 40, a memory unit 41, a keyboard 42, an operator display unit 43, a customer display unit 44, a printer 45, a card reader 46, a scanner 47, a money receiving machine 48, and a communication I / F 49. The control unit 40, the memory unit 41, the keyboard 42, the operator display unit 43, the customer display unit 44, the printer 45, the card reader 46, the scanner 47, the money receiving machine 48, and the communication I / F 49 are connected to each other via a bus 50 or the like.

[0040] The control unit 40 includes a CPU 401, a ROM 402, and a RAM 403. The CPU 401, the ROM 402, and the RAM 403 are connected to each other via a bus 50.

[0041] The CPU 401 controls the entire POS terminal 4. The ROM 402 stores various programs, such as a program used to drive the CPU 401, and various data. The RAM 403 is used as a work area for the CPU 401, and loads various programs and data stored in the ROM 402 and the memory unit 41. The control unit 40 executes various control processes of the POS terminal 4 by the CPU 401 operating in accordance with the control programs stored in the ROM 402 and the memory unit 41 and loaded in the RAM 403.

[0042] The memory unit 41 is configured with a storage medium such as a HDD or a flash memory, and maintains the stored contents even when the power is cut off. The memory unit 41 includes a control program unit 411 and a product master unit 412.

[0043] The control program section 411 is an area for storing various setting information and programs that can be executed by the CPU 401. For example, the control program section 411 stores a control program for executing a sales registration process and a settlement process.

[0044] The product master section 412 is an area for storing the product master. The product master is downloaded from the server device 3. The data configuration of the product master section 412 is the same as the data configuration of the product master section 312 of the server device 3.

[0045] The keyboard 42 is equipped with various keys, such as a selection key for selecting a payment method such as credit card payment, a transaction start key for declaring the start of a transaction, quantity input keys for inputting a product code and amount, etc., a subtotal key (accounting process start key) for declaring the calculation of the total sales amount, a closing key for declaring that the payment is to be settled by closing one transaction, and a clear key for clearing input.

[0046] The operator display unit 43 is configured with an LCD or the like, and displays to the operator operating the POS terminal 4 accounting information related to accounting processing, such as product information, transaction amount, and change amount.

[0047] The customer display unit 44 has the same configuration as the operator display unit 43. That is, the customer display unit 44 is composed of an LCD or the like, and displays product information, accounting information, and the like to a customer who purchases a product.

[0048] The printer 45 is, for example, a thermal printer. The printer 45 prints various information related to the transaction on a roll of receipt paper stored in the POS terminal 4, and issues the receipt.

[0049] The card reader 46 magnetically reads member information identifying the member from a member card, point card, or other medium presented by the customer. The card reader 46 also magnetically reads credit information required for payment from a credit card. The card reader 46 may be an IC card reader that reads information from a card with an embedded IC chip.

[0050] The scanner 47 optically or by imaging recognizes a code symbol such as a barcode attached to a product purchased by a customer. The scanner 47 then decodes the recognized code symbol and reads the product code indicated by the code symbol. The code symbol recognized by the scanner 47 may be decoded by the control unit 40 of the POS terminal 4.

[0051] The money storage machine 48 has an internal drawer for storing coins and bills, and stores money received from customers, valuable securities such as gift certificates, and change to be handed over to customers. The money storage machine 48 is opened to expose the drawer for storing money in response to an instruction from the control unit 40 of the POS terminal 4. The communication I / F 49 is an interface for communicating with external devices such as the server device 3 via a network.

[0052] Next, a process for outputting discount information executed by the control unit 30 of the server device 3 (hereinafter, also referred to as discount information output process) will be described. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the discount information output process. The discount information output process is executed in the background of the sales management process, inventory management process, etc. executed by the server device 3.

[0053] The clock unit 3001 keeps track of the current time (S1). The selection unit 3002 judges whether or not there is a product for which the time kept by the clock unit 3001 has reached the notification time (S2). That is, the selection unit 3002 compares the current time with the notification time corresponding to each product stored in the product master unit 312, and judges whether or not there is a match. If there is no product for which the notification time has reached (N in S2), the control unit 30 returns to the process of S1.

[0054] If there is a product whose notification time has arrived (Y in S2), the selection unit 3002 selects all products whose notification time has arrived from the products stored in the product master unit 312 (S3). For example, in the case of food products, there may be multiple products with the same expiration date, but the notification time is set a certain amount of time before the expiration date, so the selection unit 3002 often selects multiple products.

[0055] Next, the extraction unit 3003 judges whether the stock quantity of all the products selected by the selection unit 3002 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (S4). If it is not equal to or greater than the predetermined value (N in S4), that is, if the stock quantity of all the discounted products is less than the predetermined number, the control unit 30 returns to the process of S1.

[0056] If there are more than a predetermined number of products (Y in S4), the extraction unit 3003 extracts products with a stock quantity of more than a predetermined number from the products selected by the selection unit 3002 as discounted products (S5). Note that the processing of S4 and S5 by the extraction unit 3003 may be omitted. For example, if there is a predetermined number or more of stock on a daily basis at the start time of the discount sale set by the store, the processing of S4 and S5 may be omitted.

[0057] The output unit 3004 generates output information (S6) including discount information that associates the product name with discount information (discount amount / discount rate and discount time) for the discounted products extracted by the extraction unit 3003, expiration date information indicating the best-before date or expiration date, and location information indicating the display location of the product, and outputs this output information to the user terminal 2. Note that the output unit 3004 may be configured to output only the discount information. After the output unit 3004 outputs the output information, the control unit 30 returns to the processing of S1.

[0058] By the discount information output process, information regarding discount sales conducted by the store is transmitted to the user terminal 2 of the store member.

[0059] As described above, the server device 3 of this embodiment includes a memory unit 31 that stores a product code that identifies a product and time information indicating the notification time at which a user is notified of a discount on the product, in association with each other; a clock unit 3001 that keeps track of the current time; a selection unit 3002 that selects a product code for which the time kept by the clock unit 3001 is the notification time; and an output unit 3004 that outputs discount information that matches the product name of the product identified by the product code selected by the selection unit 3002 with information regarding the discount.

[0060] As a result, a store using the server device 3 of this embodiment can notify a user of discount information such as the product name and discount amount of a product to be sold at a discount when the notification time for the user arrives. Therefore, when selling at a discount, the store can efficiently manage the discount time and notify customers.

[0061] Moreover, according to this embodiment, the POS terminal 4 stores the same product master as the product master of the server device 3, which stores information necessary for discount sales. That is, the POS terminal 4 has information for performing payment processing for discounted products, such as the discount amount of the discounted product and the discount start time. Therefore, the POS terminal 4 can perform payment processing at the discounted amount even if the discounted product does not have a discount label attached. Therefore, the store does not need to attach discount labels to discounted products, and can perform discount sales without increasing the workload.

[0062] In addition, in the server device 3 of this embodiment, the memory unit 31 stores the product code and the expiration date information indicating at least one of the product's best-before date and the expiration date in association with each other. Then, the output unit 3004 outputs the expiration date information associated with the product code selected by the selection unit 3002.

[0063] This allows the store to inform the user of at least one of the best-before date or expiration date of the discounted product. Therefore, the store can inform the user in advance that the discounted product is approaching its best-before date or expiration date, which is expected to have the effect of preventing any trouble from occurring. Note that when the POS terminal 4 recognizes based on the product master that the discounted product is approaching its best-before date or expiration date, it may display an "Agree" button on the customer display unit 44 of the POS terminal 4 to accept the user's input.

[0064] Furthermore, in the server device 3 of this embodiment, the memory unit 31 stores the product code and location information indicating the display location of the product in the store in association with each other. Then, the output unit 3004 outputs the location information associated with the product code selected by the selection unit 3002.

[0065] This allows the store to inform the user of the display location of the discounted product in the store, thereby improving the service provided to the user regarding discount sales.

[0066] Second embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. Note that, in the following, explanations of the same points as in the first embodiment will be omitted. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that information for discount sales is not stored in the product master downloaded from the server device 3 to the POS terminal 4, and the server device 3 has a separate discount management file.

[0067] 8 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the server device 3. The memory unit 31 of the server device 3 includes a discount management file unit 314 in addition to a control program unit 311, a product master unit 312, and an inventory management file unit 313. The control program unit 311 and the inventory management file unit 313 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0068] The product master section 312 is an area for storing the product master. The product master is a master file that stores product codes and product information required for payment for products handled in the store in association with each other. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the product master section 312. The product master stores information indicating the product name, price, best-before date, and expiration date in association with the product code. The information stored in the product master is as described in the first embodiment. The product master section 312 that stores the above information is updated every day before the store opens, for example, and downloaded to the POS terminal 4.

[0069] The discount management file section 314 is an area for storing discount management files. The discount management file is a file for managing information required for discount sales. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the discount management file section 314. The discount management file stores information indicating the notification time, discount time, discount amount / discount rate, and display location in association with the product code. Each piece of information stored in the discount management file is as described in the first embodiment.

[0070] The discount management file can be rewritten as needed even during store business hours. For example, if a store recognizes that there is a large amount of stock of a product remaining during business hours and needs to sell it at a discount, the discount management file is rewritten for the product to be discounted.

[0071] Next, a functional configuration of the server device 3 will be described. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the server device 3. The control unit 30 of the server device 3 functions as a clock unit 3001, a selection unit 3002, an extraction unit 3003, and an output unit 3004, as well as a generation unit 3005, by the CPU 301 operating in accordance with a control program stored in the ROM 302 or the memory unit 31. Note that each of the above functional configurations may be realized by a hardware configuration such as a dedicated circuit mounted on the server device 3.

[0072] The clock unit 3001, the selection unit 3002, the extraction unit 3003, and the output unit 3004 are as described in the first embodiment. The generation unit 3005 generates a code symbol indicating the product code selected by the selection unit 3002. For example, the generation unit 3005 generates a two-dimensional code indicating the product codes of multiple products extracted by the extraction unit 3003 from among the products corresponding to the product codes selected by the selection unit 3002.

[0073] The output unit 3004 outputs the code symbol generated by the generation unit 3005. For example, the output unit 3004 transmits the two-dimensional code generated by the generation unit 3005 together with discount information to the user terminal 2. The two-dimensional code is an example of a code symbol.

[0074] When a user purchases a discounted item at a store, the user displays a two-dimensional code on the user terminal 2. The POS terminal 4 reads item information from a barcode attached to a discounted item that does not have a discount label, and reads the item codes of the multiple discounted items from the two-dimensional code. The POS terminal 4 then determines whether the item code read from the barcode is included in the multiple item codes read from the two-dimensional code, and if so, displays a message indicating that the item purchased by the customer is a discounted item. An operator operating the POS terminal 4 can confirm from the display that the item purchased by the customer is a discounted item. The operator then looks at the discount information displayed on the user terminal 2 and inputs the discount.

[0075] Next, the overall process of the discount sale will be described. Fig. 12 is a sequence chart showing an example of the process executed by the user terminal 2, the server device 3, and the POS terminal 4.

[0076] (Discount setting) The discount setting is executed by the server device 3. The server device 3 receives a discount setting input (S11). The discount setting input is made by inputting various information to be stored in the discount management file by operating the operation unit 33. The server device 3 updates the discount management file based on the received discount setting input (S12). This sets the discount for the product.

[0077] (Discount information notification) The server device 3 selects discounted products (S13). The discounted products are selected through the same steps as in the first embodiment. Specifically, the selection unit 3002 refers to the discount management file and selects all products for which the time measured by the clock unit 3001 has reached the notification time. Next, the extraction unit 3003 extracts products with a stock quantity equal to or greater than a predetermined value from the products selected by the selection unit 3002, thereby selecting the discounted products. As described above, the processing of the extraction unit 3003 can be omitted.

[0078] Next, the server device 3 generates output information (S14). Specifically, the output unit 3004 generates output information for discounted products, including discount information in which the product name is associated with discount information (discount amount / discount rate and discount time), expiration information indicating the best-before date or expiry date, and location information indicating the display location of the product.

[0079] Next, the server device 3 generates a two-dimensional code (S15) and transmits the output information and the two-dimensional code to the user terminal 2 (S16). Specifically, the generation unit 3005 generates a two-dimensional code including product codes of multiple discounted products, and the output unit 3004 transmits the output information and the two-dimensional code to the user terminal 2. This notifies the user of information regarding the discounted sale. Note that if there is only one discounted product, or if there is little information to be included in the code symbol, a barcode may be used as the code symbol.

[0080] (Accounting) When a user who has been notified of the discount sale information purchases a discounted product, the POS terminal 4 first reads the product code from the barcode attached to the discounted product (S17). Next, the POS terminal 4 reads the two-dimensional code displayed on the user terminal 2 by the scanner 47 (S18).

[0081] The POS terminal 4 checks whether the product code read from the barcode is included in the multiple product codes read from the two-dimensional code (S19), and if so, displays (displays confirmation result) that the product purchased by the customer is a discounted product (S20). After checking the confirmation result display, the operator looks at the discount information displayed on the user terminal 2 and inputs the discount (S21). In this way, the discount sale is carried out.

[0082] As described above, the server device 3 of this embodiment further includes a generation unit 3005 that generates a code symbol indicating the product code selected by the selection unit 3002, and the output unit 3004 outputs the code symbol generated by the generation unit 3005.

[0083] This allows the POS terminal 4 to read the product code included in the code symbol from the user terminal 2 and compare it with the product code of the product the user is purchasing to check whether the product the user is purchasing is eligible for discount. Therefore, even if the POS terminal 4 does not store information required for discount processing, the discount processing can be performed.

[0084] The programs executed by each device of the above-described embodiments are provided in a state where they are pre-installed in a ROM, a storage unit, etc. The programs executed by each device of the above-described embodiments may be provided by being recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a digital versatile disk (DVD) in the form of an installable or executable file.

[0085] Furthermore, the programs executed by each device of the above-described embodiments may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Also, the programs executed by each device of the above-described embodiments may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0086] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These new embodiments and their modifications can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 1. Discount Notification System 2. User terminal 3. Server equipment 4. POS terminals 3001 Clock section 3002 Selection Department 3003 Extraction part 3004 Output section 3005 Generation part [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0088] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-66992 A

Claims

1. A server device of a discount notification system including a server device and a user terminal capable of communicating with the server device, A storage unit that stores product identification information that identifies a product, time information indicating a notification time for notifying a user of a discount on the product, and expiration date information indicating at least one of a best-before date or a use-by date of the product in association with each other; A clock unit that measures the current time; a selection unit that selects product identification information of products having a stock quantity of a predetermined number or more from among the products having a best-before date or expiration date that matches the product identification information identified by the product identification information whose time measured by the clock unit becomes the notification time; an output unit that outputs discount information that associates a product name of a product identified by the product identification information selected by the selection unit with information related to a discount and the deadline information associated with the product identification information selected by the selection unit to the user terminal; a generation unit that generates a code symbol indicating the product identification information selected by the selection unit; Equipped with The output unit outputs the code symbol generated by the generation unit.

2. The storage unit stores the product identification information in association with location information indicating a display location of the product in a store, The output unit outputs the location information associated with the product identification information selected by the selection unit. The server device according to claim 1 .

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