Signage terminal, and program

Abstract

To provide a signage terminal and a program capable of providing an added value more than display of commodity information.SOLUTION: A signage terminal includes: display control means; detection means; and output means. The display control means displays image data related to commodity. The detection means detects a portable terminal within a range of a predetermined distance from its own device. When the staying time within the range of the portable terminal detected by the detection means is equal to or more than the setting time, the output means outputs the privilege information indicating the privilege associated with the image data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a signage terminal and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in retail stores such as supermarkets, information about products is displayed on signage terminals for sales promotion activities and the like. And the signage terminal improves the purchasing desire by informing customers of the product value.

[0003] However, since the signage terminal consumes the customer's time, it is required to provide not only the display of product information but also further added value.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a signage terminal and a program that can provide added value beyond the display of product information.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The signage terminal of the embodiment includes Detection means and recording means, display control means and , out power means. The detection means detects a mobile terminal from within a range of a predetermined distance from the own device. The recording means records the stay time within the range of the mobile terminal detected by the detection means. The display control means A display time corresponding to the stay time, displays image data related to a product . Before The output means The when the stay time is equal to or longer than a set time, outputs privilege information indicating a privilege associated with the image data. , and a discount rate corresponding to the display time

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

[0007] Hereinafter, embodiments of the signage terminal and the program will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are merely one embodiment of the signage terminal and the program, and do not limit the configuration, specifications, and the like thereof.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a coupon providing system 1 according to the present embodiment. The coupon providing system 1 is a system that provides benefits such as coupons to customers. The coupon providing system 1 includes a mobile terminal 10, a signage terminal 20, and a management server 30. The signage terminal 20 may be a display device having a printing unit. Also, the signage terminal 20 may be larger than the size of an average adult, such as being installed on a wall surface of a building. The mobile terminal 10 and the signage terminal 20 can communicate with each other by short-range wireless communication. Also, the signage terminal 20 and the management server 30 are communicably connected.

[0009] The mobile terminal 10 is a terminal that customers can carry, such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. Note that the mobile terminal 10 is not limited to the terminals owned by customers, and may also be a terminal such as a cart-type cart POS (Point of Sales) with a tablet terminal mounted on the shopping cart in the store.

[0010] The signage terminal 20 is a terminal that displays information about products. Also, the signage terminal 20 detects the mobile terminal 10 from within a detection range indicating a range up to a predetermined distance from the signage terminal 20. The predetermined distance is, for example, 3 meters from the signage terminal 20 or the like. It is desirable that the predetermined distance is a distance at which customers and the like can recognize the display content of the signage terminal 20. Then, when a set time has elapsed after the signage terminal 20 detects the mobile terminal 10, the signage terminal 20 issues privilege information. Here, the privilege information is information indicating the privileges given to customers. For example, the privilege information is a coupon for a product, event information of the store, a recipe for cooking, information on similar products, and the like.

[0011] Also, by detecting the mobile terminal 10, the signage terminal 20 records the actions of the customer who holds the mobile terminal 10. For example, the signage terminal 20 records the stay time and the stay time when the customer stays around the signage terminal 20. Then, the signage terminal 20 transmits the record of the customer's actions to the management server 30.

[0012] The management server 30 is an information processing device such as a personal computer or a server device. The management server 30 manages the coupon providing system 1. For example, the management server 30 measures the effect of the signage terminal 20 displaying information about products based on the record of the customer's actions received from the signage terminal 20.

[0013] Next, the hardware configurations of the various devices included in the coupon providing system 1 will be described.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the mobile terminal 10. The mobile terminal 10 includes a control unit 101, a storage unit 102, a communication unit 103, a short-range wireless communication unit 104, a display unit 105, an operation unit 106, and an imaging unit 107. These units are interconnected via a system bus 108 such as a data bus and an address bus.

[0015] The control unit 101 is a computer that controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal 10 and realizes various functions of the mobile terminal 10. The control unit 101 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The CPU comprehensively controls the operation of the mobile terminal 10. The ROM is a storage medium that stores various programs and data. The RAM is a storage medium that temporarily stores various programs and various data. Then, the CPU executes the programs stored in the ROM or the storage unit 102, etc., using the RAM as a work area.

[0016] The storage unit 102 is a storage device such as a flash memory. The storage unit 102 stores a control program 109. The control program 109 is an operating system and a program for enabling the functions of the mobile terminal 10. The control program 109 includes a program for enabling the characteristic functions according to the present embodiment.

[0017] The communication unit 103 is an interface for communicating with other devices via a network. For example, the communication unit 103 is an interface for communicating with the management server 30.

[0018] The short-range wireless communication unit 104 is an interface for performing short-range wireless communication. For example, the short-range wireless communication unit 104 performs short-range wireless communication according to a communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). Note that the short-range wireless communication unit 104 is not limited to Bluetooth (registered trademark), and may perform short-range wireless communication by Wi-Fi, may perform short-range wireless communication by NFC (Near Field Communication), or may perform short-range wireless communication according to other communication standards.

[0019] The display unit 105 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display. The operation unit 106 is an input device such as a touch pad that accepts various operations by detecting a touched location on the screen of the display unit 105. Note that the operation unit 106 may be a hardware button or the like.

[0020] The imaging unit 107 is a camera including an imaging element such as a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) or a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). The imaging unit 107 reads a product code for identifying a product by reading a code symbol such as a barcode attached to the product.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the signage terminal 20. The signage terminal 20 includes a control unit 201, a storage unit 202, a communication unit 203, a short-range wireless communication unit 204, a display unit 205, an operation unit 206, a printing unit 207, and a secondary battery 208. These units are interconnected via a system bus 209 such as a data bus and an address bus.

[0022] The control unit 201 is a computer that controls the overall operation of the signage terminal 20 and realizes various functions of the signage terminal 20. The control unit 201 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU comprehensively controls the operation of the signage terminal 20. The ROM is a storage medium that stores various programs and data. The RAM is a storage medium that temporarily stores various programs and various data. Then, the CPU executes the programs stored in the ROM or the storage unit 202, etc., using the RAM as a work area (working area).

[0023] The storage unit 202 is a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The storage unit 202 stores a control program 210, an image data master 211, and an action record table 212. The image data master 211 and the action record table 212 may be stored not only in the signage terminal 20 but also in other devices. Also, the image data master 211 and the action record table 212 may be stored not only in one device but also distributed and stored in a plurality of devices.

[0024] The control program 210 is an operating system and a program for enabling the functions of the signage terminal 20 to be exerted. For example, the operating system is a real-time OS such as Linux (registered trademark). Also, the control program 210 includes a program for enabling the characteristic functions according to this embodiment to be exerted.

[0025] The image data master 211 is an aggregate of information including the image data to be displayed by the signage terminal 20. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the image data master 211. In the image data master 211, image data, privilege information, and product codes are associated with each other. The image data is the information to be displayed by the signage terminal 20. For example, the image data is a video, one or more still images, or the like. For example, the image data is information about a product specified by an associated product code. The privilege information is a coupon or the like for the product associated with the image data. Also, the privilege information is not limited to coupons, but includes other products of the manufacturer of the product specified by the product code, similar products, recipes, event information, and the like. The product code is identification information for specifying a product.

[0026] For example, the image data may be video data introducing popular clothing items, photo data introducing special sale food ingredients such as fresh food, or the like. Also, the privilege information may be mark data expressing discount information indicating a discount rate such as 30% off in characters, symbol data expressing the discount information in a barcode, a two-dimensional code, or the like, or the like.

[0027] Here, the difference in the data format of the privilege information is related to the output method of the privilege information described later. For example, from the viewpoint of hygiene management, it is inappropriate to directly attach a coupon to fresh food such as vegetables. The privilege information corresponding to the image data of fresh food is preferably mark data rather than a coupon. Then, the signage terminal 20 prints a mark based on the mark data on a label sheet. At the time of accounting, by visually recognizing the printed mark, a store clerk who operates the accounting process can easily recognize the discount rate.

[0028] There is no problem in directly attaching a coupon to a clothing item. Therefore, the privilege information associated with the image data of the clothing item becomes symbol data. The signage terminal 20 prints a code symbol such as a barcode based on the symbol data on a label. By attaching the coupon with the printed code symbol to the clothing item, at the time of checkout, the store clerk can have the code symbol of the coupon read by a reading device. Thus, the store clerk can easily input the discount information. In this way, the signage terminal 20 can print privilege information corresponding to the product by varying the data format (mark data, symbol data, etc.) of the privilege information corresponding to the image data. Also, the signage terminal 20 can print a coupon corresponding to the product.

[0029] The action record table 212 is an information table that records the actions of customers having a mobile terminal 10 that has entered the detection range indicating the range up to a predetermined distance from the signage terminal 20. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the action record table 212. The action record table 212 has a mobile terminal code, a stay time, a stay time, and an issuance flag associated therewith. The mobile terminal code is identification information for specifying the mobile terminal 10. That is, the mobile terminal code is information indicating the mobile terminal 10 that has entered the detection range. The stay time is information indicating the elapsed time that the mobile terminal 10 specified by the associated mobile terminal code has stayed within the detection range. The stay time is information indicating the time when the customer having the mobile terminal 10 specified by the associated mobile terminal code has entered the detection range. The issuance flag is information indicating whether privilege information has been issued due to the customer having the mobile terminal 10 specified by the associated mobile terminal code having stayed within the detection range for a set time or more.

[0030] The communication unit 203 is an interface for communicating with other devices via a network. For example, the communication unit 203 is a network card that connects to the network by wire or wirelessly.

[0031] The short-range wireless communication unit 204 is an interface for performing short-range wireless communication. For example, the short-range wireless communication unit 204 performs short-range wireless communication according to a communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). Note that the short-range wireless communication unit 204 is not limited to Bluetooth (registered trademark), and may perform short-range wireless communication by Wi-Fi, may perform short-range wireless communication by NFC, or may perform short-range wireless communication by other communication standards.

[0032] The display unit 205 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display. The following advantage is an input device such as a touch pad that accepts various operations by detecting a touched location on the screen of the display unit 205. Note that the operation unit 206 may be a hardware button or the like.

[0033] The printing unit 207 is a printer that prints various information on a printing medium. For example, the printing unit 207 prints a coupon based on the privilege information. Also, the printing unit 207 has, for example, a thermal recording type print head for printing on label paper. Further, the printing unit 207 has a cutting mechanism for cutting roll paper between label papers as necessary. Also, the printing unit 207 has a high-speed printing mode for printing with priority given to the conveyance speed and a high-quality mode for printing with the conveyance speed slower than the high-speed printing mode.

[0034] The secondary battery 208 is a rechargeable battery such as a lithium-ion battery. The secondary battery 208 is charged with the power used by the signage terminal 20.

[0035] Next, the characteristic functions of each device included in the coupon providing system 1 will be described. Here, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the characteristic functional configuration of each device included in the coupon providing system 1.

[0036] The control unit 201 of the signage terminal 20 expands the control program 210 stored in the storage unit 202 to the RAM and operates according to the control program 210 to generate each functional unit in the RAM. Specifically, the control unit 201 of the signage terminal 20 includes, as functional units, a communication control unit 2001, a detection control unit 2002, an action recording unit 2003, a display control unit 2004, a privilege issuance unit 2005, and an action notification unit 2006.

[0037] The communication control unit 2001 controls the communication unit 203 to execute communication with the management server 30. For example, the communication control unit 2001 transmits the action recording table 212 to the management server 30. The communication control unit 2001 is an example of a transmission means.

[0038] The detection control unit 2002 detects the mobile terminal 10 from within the detection range indicating the range up to a predetermined distance from the signage terminal 20 which is the own device. The detection control unit 2002 is an example of a detection means. For example, the detection control unit 2002 detects the mobile terminal 10 by short-range wireless communication. That is, the detection control unit 2002 controls the short-range wireless communication unit 204 to execute short-range wireless communication with the mobile terminal 10 within the detection range, thereby detecting the mobile terminal 10. Specifically, the detection control unit 2002 detects the mobile terminal 10 by receiving a mobile terminal code for specifying the mobile terminal 10 by short-range wireless communication.

[0039] Note that the detection control unit 2002 is not limited to short-range wireless communication and may detect the mobile terminal 10 by other methods. For example, the detection control unit 2002 may detect that the mobile terminal 10 is within the detection range by acquiring position information indicating the position of the mobile terminal 10 by GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like, or may detect that the mobile terminal 10 is within the detection range by determining whether the mobile terminal 10 is included in an image captured by a camera (imaging device) installed at a predetermined position, or may detect that the mobile terminal 10 is within the detection range by other methods.

[0040] Here, the detection control unit 2002 detects a customer at a predetermined distance from the device by detecting that the mobile terminal 10 is within the detection range. Then, the detection control unit 2002 detects the mobile terminal 10 of the customer in order to determine the degree of interest of the customer in the image data displayed on the display unit 205 of the signage terminal 20. Therefore, the detection control unit 2002 may detect a customer using something other than the mobile terminal 10. For example, the detection control unit 2002 may detect a customer within a range of a predetermined distance from the signage terminal 20 based on imaging data obtained from a camera installed at a predetermined position or a camera provided in the signage terminal 20.

[0041] The action recording unit 2003 records the action history of a customer who holds the mobile terminal 10. The action recording unit 2003 is an example of a recording means. That is, the action recording unit 2003 records the action history of the customer in the action recording table 212.

[0042] More specifically, when the detection control unit 2002 receives the mobile terminal code, the action recording unit 2003 starts measuring the stay time of the customer staying within the detection range indicating the range from the signage terminal 20 to a predetermined distance. Here, the detection control unit 2002 receives the mobile terminal code periodically. While the detection control unit 2002 is receiving the mobile terminal code, the action recording unit 2003 determines that the customer having the mobile terminal code is staying. On the other hand, when the detection control unit 2002 stops receiving the mobile terminal code, the action recording unit 2003 determines that the customer has exited outside the range of a predetermined distance from the signage terminal 20 and ends the measurement of the stay time.

[0043] Then, the action recording unit 2003 stores the mobile terminal code received by the detection control unit 2002 and the stay time in the action recording table 212. Also, the action recording unit 2003 stores, in the action recording table 212, any one of the time when the detection control unit 2002 receives the mobile terminal code, the time when the detection control unit 2002 stops receiving the mobile terminal code, or the time during which the detection control unit 2002 is receiving the mobile terminal code as the stay time. Further, when the privilege issuance unit 2005 issues privilege information, the action recording unit 2003 changes the issuance flag to the state in which the privilege information has been issued.

[0044] The display control unit 2004 controls the display unit 205 to display image data related to products. The display control unit 2004 is an example of display control means. More specifically, the display control unit 2004 causes the display unit 205 to display information such as the image data included in the image data master 211. Further, the display control unit 2004 changes the image data to be displayed according to the customer's action history included in the action record table 212. That is, when the action records of a plurality of customers accumulated in the action record table 212 satisfy a preset change condition, the display control unit 2004 selects image data from the image data master 211. Then, the display control unit 2004 causes the selected image data to be displayed. Here, the change condition is a threshold value when the actions of a plurality of customers are quantified. For example, the change condition is a threshold value of the average stay time or a threshold value of the number of detections of the mobile terminal 10 per unit time, etc.

[0045] When the average value of the stay times of a plurality of customers is less than the threshold value set as the change condition, the customers may have low interest in the image data displayed on the display unit 205 of the signage terminal 20. Therefore, the display control unit 2004 changes the image data to be displayed on the display unit 205. Then, when the average stay time becomes equal to or greater than the threshold value indicated by the change condition, the display control unit 2004 repeatedly executes the change of the image data. That is, the display control unit 2004 repeatedly executes the change of the image data until image data of high interest to the customers is displayed. Thereby, the display control unit 2004 can improve the purchase intention by displaying image data of high interest to the customers.

[0046] Alternatively, the display control unit 2004 may change the display time of the image data according to the customer's behavior history in the behavior record table 212. Here, since the display time of the image data is long, the customer may not view the image data. Therefore, the display control unit 2004 may change the display time of the same image data. Further, when the display time is changed, the display control unit 2004 may change the privilege information associated with the image data in the image data master 211. For example, when the display time becomes short, the display control unit 2004 may lower the discount rate of the privilege information. Thereby, the display control unit 2004 can cause the privilege issuing unit 2005 to issue privilege information suitable for the display time of the image data. Alternatively, the display control unit 2004 may change the volume of the same image data.

[0047] Alternatively, the display control unit 2004 may control the operation unit 206 to receive an operation for selecting a product to be displayed on the display unit 205. In this case, the display control unit 2004 causes the image data associated with the product code of the selected product to be displayed in the image data master 211. Further, the display control unit 2004 receives an operation for selecting the layout location of the product based on the product display information indicating the product layout in the retail store. In this case, the display control unit 2004 causes the image data associated with the product code of the product displayed at the location specified by the received operation to be displayed in the image data master 211.

[0048] When the stay time within the detection range of the mobile terminal 10 detected by the detection control unit 2002 is equal to or longer than the set time, the privilege issuing unit 2005 outputs privilege information indicating the privilege associated with the image data. The privilege issuing unit 2005 is an example of an output means. Here, the set time is a time arbitrarily set by the administrator of the signage terminal 20. For example, when the image data is a video, the set time is the playback time of the video.

[0049] The special offer issuing unit 2005 controls, for example, the printing unit 207 to print special offer information on label paper. More specifically, the special offer issuing unit 2005 may print a coupon indicating the discount amount of the product price, the discount rate, etc. on the label paper. As a result, the customer can attach the coupon printed on the label paper to the product. Therefore, the special offer issuing unit 2005 can also execute a discount on the product price in the accounting process operated by the store clerk.

[0050] Note that the special offer issuing unit 2005 may issue special offer information by other methods, not limited to coupon printing. For example, the special offer issuing unit 2005 may transmit special offer information to the mobile terminal 10 by short-range wireless communication, or issue special offer information by other methods.

[0051] Here, when limiting the application of the coupon indicated by the special offer information to the customer who has viewed the image data, the special offer issuing unit 2005 outputs special offer information including the mobile terminal code for identifying the mobile terminal 10 detected by the detection control unit 2002. For example, the special offer issuing unit 2005 outputs special offer information including the mobile terminal code in the form of a code symbol such as a two-dimensional code. The accounting device that executes the accounting process collates the mobile terminal code included in the special offer information obtained by reading the code symbol with the mobile terminal code obtained by reading the code symbol indicating the mobile terminal code of the mobile terminal 10 displayed on the display unit 105 etc. of the mobile terminal 10. Then, when both mobile terminal codes match, the accounting device applies the special offer information. On the other hand, when both mobile terminal codes do not match, the accounting device does not apply the special offer information. Thereby, the special offer issuing unit 2005 issues special offer information limited to the customer who has viewed the image data. The customer can input the mobile terminal code and the special offer information together by having the code symbol output by the special offer issuing unit 2005 read.

[0052] In addition, when the privilege issuing unit 2005 detects that the detection control unit 2002 has detected a plurality of mobile terminals 10, if each mobile terminal 10 has stayed for a set time or longer, the privilege issuing unit 2005 issues the respective privilege information. In such a case, it is necessary to be able to identify to which customer the privilege information belongs. Therefore, the privilege issuing unit 2005 issues privilege information indicating information for identifying a customer, such as the mobile terminal code of the target.

[0053] When the privilege issuing unit 2005 prints privilege information such as coupons for a plurality of customers, after printing the privilege information on label paper, the privilege issuing unit 2005 cuts it with a cutting mechanism to issue coupons for the number of people. Thereby, coupons for a plurality of customers can be printed promptly. That is, the privilege issuing unit 2005 can complete the issuance of coupons for the number of people earlier than issuing the next coupon after a customer receives a coupon.

[0054] When the action notification condition is satisfied, the action notification unit 2006 causes the communication control unit 2001 to transmit the action record table 212 to the management server 30. Here, the notification condition is a set time, a set fixed time, or the like. That is, the action notification unit 2006 causes the communication control unit 2001 to transmit the action record table 212 to the management server 30 at each set time or fixed time. Thereby, the management server 30 can derive how many customers among the customers who entered the detection range the privilege information was issued to. In addition, the management server 30 can derive the issuance amount of the privilege information for each time zone.

[0055] The control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 10 expands the control program 109 stored in the storage unit 102 in the RAM and operates according to the control program 109 to generate each functional unit in the RAM. Specifically, the control unit 101 of the mobile terminal 10 includes a notification control unit 1001 as a functional unit.

[0056] When entering the detection range, the notification control unit 1001 notifies the mobile terminal code indicating its own device. More specifically, when the short-range wireless communication unit 104 establishes short-range wireless communication with the signage terminal 20, the notification control unit 1001 notifies the mobile terminal code.

[0057] Next, the operation of the coupon providing system 1 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the display process executed by the signage terminal 20 according to this embodiment.

[0058] The display control unit 2004 causes the display unit 205 to display the image data selected from the plurality of image data included in the image data master 211 (step S1).

[0059] The detection control unit 2002 determines whether or not the mobile terminal 10 has entered the detection range (step S2).

[0060] When the mobile terminal 10 is detected (step S2; Yes), the action recording unit 2003 measures the staying time that the mobile terminal 10 has stayed within the detection range (step S3). Then, when the mobile terminal 10 is no longer detected from within the range of a predetermined distance from the signage terminal 20, the measurement of the staying time ends.

[0061] The privilege issuing unit 2005 determines whether or not the staying time has elapsed the set time (step S4). When the staying time has not elapsed the set time (step S4; No), the privilege issuing unit 2005 proceeds to step S1.

[0062] When the staying time has elapsed the set time (step S4; Yes), the privilege issuing unit 2005 issues privilege information (step S5). Then, the signage terminal 20 proceeds to step S1.

[0063] In step S2, when the mobile terminal 10 has not been detected (step S2; No), the display control unit 2004 determines whether a change condition for changing the image data to be displayed on the display unit 205 is satisfied (step S6). When the change condition is not satisfied (step S6; No), the signage terminal 20 proceeds to step S1.

[0064] When the change condition is satisfied (step S6; Yes), the display control unit 2004 changes the image data to be displayed on the display unit 205 based on the action record table 212 (step S7). That is, the display control unit 2004 selects the image data to be displayed on the display unit 205 from the image data master 211 based on the action record table 212. Then, the signage terminal 20 proceeds to step S1.

[0065] As described above, the signage terminal 20 ends the display process.

[0066] As described above, the signage terminal 20 according to the present embodiment displays the image data selected from the image data master 211 on the display unit 205. The signage terminal 20 detects the mobile terminal 10 from within the detection range. Then, when the mobile terminal 10 stays within the detection range for a set time or longer, the signage terminal 20 determines that the customer who holds the mobile terminal 10 has viewed the image data, and issues privilege information such as a coupon. That is, the signage terminal 20 issues a coupon to the customer who has viewed the image data displayed by the own device. Therefore, the signage terminal 20 can provide added value beyond the display of product information.

[0067] Note that the signage terminal 20 may include a printing control unit that changes the printing mode when printing a coupon by the printing unit 207. The printing control unit changes the printing mode according to the data format of the privilege information. More specifically, the printing control unit switches between a high-speed printing mode that gives priority to the conveyance speed for printing and a high-quality mode that prints with the conveyance speed slower than the high-speed printing mode.

[0068] For example, when the printing control unit prints mark data, it prints in high-speed printing mode. Also, when the printing control unit prints symbol data, it prints in high-quality mode. Thereby, the printing control unit performs printing according to the privilege information. Since the high-quality mode takes time for printing, the printing control unit can reduce power consumption by using it in combination with the high-speed printing mode. Specifically, the image data master 211 has printing mode information indicating the printing mode corresponding to the privilege information. The printing mode information is "1" in the case of the high-speed printing mode and "0" in the case of the high-quality mode. The printing control unit operates the printing unit 207 in different printing modes (high-speed printing mode or high-quality mode) based on the printing mode information stored corresponding to the privilege information.

[0069] Also, the printing control unit may change the printing mode according to the image data to be displayed on the display unit 205. For example, when displaying image data regarding the special sale of the day on the display unit 205, it is desirable for the signage terminal 20 to quickly issue coupons that can be used for the special sale of the day to customers. On the other hand, when displaying image data introducing related stores, the signage terminal 20 does not need to rush to issue coupons that can be used in the related stores. Specifically, the image data master 211 has printing mode information corresponding to the image data which is the information to be displayed on the display unit 205. In this way, the signage terminal 20 controls the operation of the printing unit 207 according to the image data to be displayed.

[0070] Also, when the signage terminal 20 prints a code symbol in high-speed printing mode, it prints the number indicating the code symbol. Thereby, when the code symbol cannot be read correctly by the store clerk, the store clerk can input the coupon information by inputting the number indicating the code symbol.

[0071] In summary, the signage terminal 20 includes a display control means for causing the display unit 205 to display image data related to a product, a detection means for detecting a customer at a predetermined distance from the own device, a printing unit 207 for printing privilege information associated with the image data when the stay time of the customer detected by the detection means is equal to or longer than a set time, and a printing control unit for operating the printing unit 207 for printing the privilege information in different printing modes. Thereby, the signage terminal 20 can operate the printing unit 207 efficiently. The printing control unit operates the printing unit 207 in different printing modes based on the printing mode information stored corresponding to the privilege information. Therefore, the printing control unit can reduce the power consumption related to the printing of the privilege information.

[0072] Further, the printing control unit operates the printing unit 207 in different printing modes based on the printing mode information stored corresponding to the image data. Therefore, the printing control unit can perform appropriate printing according to the image data displayed on the display unit 205. Further, the privilege information printed by the printing unit 207 is a coupon. Thereby, the printing control unit can print in different printing modes according to the coupon.

[0073] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes 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 invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

[0074] The program executed by each device in the above embodiments and modified examples may be provided by being pre-incorporated into a storage medium (ROM or storage unit) provided in each device, but is not limited thereto. For example, it may be configured to be recorded and provided on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) in an installable or executable file format. Furthermore, the storage medium is not limited to a medium independent of a computer or an embedded system, and also includes a storage medium that has downloaded and stored or temporarily stored a program transmitted via a LAN, the Internet, or the like.

[0075] Also, the program executed by each device in the above embodiments and modified examples may be configured to be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network, or may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

Explanation of Signs

[0076] 1 Coupon providing system 10 Mobile terminal 20 Signage terminal 30 Management server 211 Image data master 212 Action record table 1001 Notification control unit 2001 Communication control unit 2002 Detection control unit 2003 Action recording unit 2004 Display control unit 2005 Privilege issuance unit 2006 Action notification unit

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0077]

Patent Document 1

Claims

1. Detection means for detecting a mobile terminal within a range of a predetermined distance from the device, Recording means for recording the stay time within the range of the mobile terminal detected by the detection means, Display control means for displaying a display time and image data related to a product according to the stay time, Output means for outputting privilege information indicating a privilege with a discount rate associated with the image data and corresponding to the display time when the stay time is equal to or longer than a set time, A signage terminal comprising the above.

2. The detection means detects the mobile terminal by short-range wireless communication, The output means outputs the privilege information when the detection means has detected the mobile terminal and the mobile terminal has stayed for a set time or longer, The signage terminal according to claim 1.

3. Further comprising transmission means for transmitting the stay time, The signage terminal according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The display control means displays the newly selected image data when the average of the stay time is less than a threshold value, The signage terminal according to claim 3.

5. The output means outputs the privilege information including identification information for identifying the mobile terminal detected by the detection means, The signage terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The output means outputs the privilege information including the identification information in the form of a code symbol, The signage terminal according to claim 5.

7. The output means prints the privilege information on label paper, The signage terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A computer, Detection means for detecting a mobile terminal within a range of a predetermined distance from the device, Recording means for recording the staying time within the range of the mobile terminal detected by the detection means, Display control means for displaying a display time and image data related to a product according to the staying time, Output means for outputting privilege information indicating a privilege with a discount rate associated with the image data and corresponding to the display time when the staying time is equal to or longer than a set time, A program for causing the functions to be performed.

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