shopping cart

Abstract

To provide a shopping card which can be reliably prevented from being carried out of a store.SOLUTION: A shopping cart (cart terminal) is pushed by a customer walking and comprises: a commodity registration processing unit (registration unit) for registering a commodity to be purchased by the customer; a storage unit in which the registered commodity is stored; and a payment processing unit (payment unit) for making payment of the registered commodity. The shopping cart comprises: a beacon reception state detection unit for receiving signals from a plurality of beacon devices (communication devices) installed at predetermined positions inside and outside of the store and detecting reception states of the signals from the plurality of communication devices; and a notification control unit (notification unit) for performing a notification corresponding to a location of the shopping cart based on the reception states of the signals from the plurality of beacon devices detected by the beacon reception state detection unit and the installation positions of the plurality of beacon devices.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention relates to a shopping cart. [Background technology]

[0002] In stores such as supermarkets and shopping centers, a style of shopping using shopping carts that can be moved around the store and can store the products to be purchased is commonly used.Recently, so-called cart POS (Point of Sales) has appeared, which is a shopping cart equipped with a symbol reader that reads code symbols such as barcodes attached to products, allowing customers to register the products they want to purchase and pay for the registered products using electronic money or credit card.

[0003] In such a system using a shopping cart, there is a risk of theft, where items placed in the shopping cart are taken out of the store without being paid for.

[0004] For this reason, there is known a shopping cart equipped with a means for informing a customer that a transaction has not yet been settled by controlling the lighting state of an LED light provided on the shopping cart for notification (Patent Document 1).

[0005] However, because shopping carts are equipped with expensive information devices such as tablet terminals, there is a risk that customers may take the shopping cart outside the store and steal it. Furthermore, the shopping cart disclosed in Patent Document 1 has an LED light that turns off when the payment process is completed, so it is not possible to issue an alert when the shopping cart is taken outside the store after payment has been completed. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a shopping cart that can reliably prevent items from being taken out of a store. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The shopping cart of this embodiment is pushed by a customer and includes a registration unit for registering products to be purchased by the customer, a storage unit for storing the registered products, and a payment unit for making payments for the registered products. The shopping cart also includes a reception status detection unit and an alarm unit. The reception status detection unit receives signals from multiple communication devices installed at predetermined locations inside and outside the store and detects the reception status of each of the signals from the multiple communication devices. The alarm unit issues an alarm according to the location of the shopping cart based on the reception status of the signals from the multiple communication devices detected by the reception status detection unit and the installation locations of the multiple communication devices. At the same time, if the reception status detection unit does not receive a signal from a communication device installed inside the store but receives a signal from a communication device installed outside the store, it issues a notification that the shopping cart may be outside the store. . [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a checkout system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an external view showing an example of a shopping cart according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a hardware block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the cart terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a beacon arrangement map used in the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of the cart terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing performed by the cart terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a notification control process performed by the cart terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is an external view showing an example of an exit gate control device for a parking lot. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a beacon arrangement map used in the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of notification control processing performed by the cart terminal according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] (First embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment shown below, an example will be described in which a shopping cart according to the present invention is applied to a checkout system 1 that has a function for registering and settling products purchased by customers.

[0010] (Overall configuration of the checkout system) Fig. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a checkout system according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the checkout system 1 includes a shopping cart 2 pushed by a customer C, a mobile terminal 3 carried by the customer C, a store server 5, a POS terminal 6, a wireless communication unit 7, a beacon device 8, a router 10, and an electronic receipt management server 11. The store server 5, the POS terminal 6, the wireless communication unit 7, the beacon device 8, and the router 10 are connected to each other via a network 9.

[0011] The shopping cart 2 is equipped with a registration section for registering products to be purchased by the customer C, a storage section for storing the registered products, and a payment section for making payments for the registered products, and is pushed around by the customer. The registration section and the payment section are realized by a cart terminal 24 (see FIG. 2), which will be described later in more detail.

[0012] The mobile terminal 3 is, for example, a smartphone or tablet terminal carried by the customer C. The mobile terminal 3 has a function for communicating with the store server 5 and the electronic receipt management server 11. When a pre-registered customer C enters a store carrying his / her mobile terminal 3, the mobile terminal 3 wirelessly communicates with the store server 5, thereby displaying a login password and a membership code on the display screen of the mobile terminal 3. The customer C can make a purchase using the shopping cart 2 by having the scanner 27 (see FIG. 2) of the shopping cart 2 read the login password and the membership code. The mobile terminal 3 also has an electronic receipt application implemented therein, which enables the customer C to receive and view an electronic receipt indicating the result of the payment process from the electronic receipt management server 11.

[0013] The store server 5 communicates wirelessly with the shopping cart 2 to monitor the current location and usage status of the shopping cart 2.

[0014] For example, when customer C selects to pay in cash, the POS terminal 6, operated by a store clerk, performs payment processing for the registered products contained in the shopping cart 2. The POS terminal 6 also issues a receipt on which the result of the payment processing is printed.

[0015] A plurality of wireless communication units 7 are installed in the store, and wirelessly connect the cart terminal 24 provided in the shopping cart 2 with the store server 5 and the POS terminal 6 via wireless communication lines L. The wireless communication unit 7 also wirelessly connects the mobile terminal 3 carried by the customer C with the store server 5 and the electronic receipt management server 11.

[0016] A plurality of beacon devices 8 are installed at predetermined positions inside and outside the store, and transmit signals including identification information for identifying the beacon devices 8. The cart terminal 24 receives the signals from the beacon devices 8. The cart terminal 24 then recognizes its own current location based on the identification information received from the beacon devices 8. The beacon devices 8 are an example of a communication device in the present disclosure. Note that the wireless communication unit 7 may also serve as the beacon devices 8.

[0017] The router 10 is a device for connecting the network 9 to the Internet or a VPN (Virtual Private Network), not shown.

[0018] The electronic receipt management server 11 is connected to the network 9 via a router 10, and stores and manages electronic receipt information from various companies that operate stores.

[0019] (Overall shopping cart configuration) 2 is an external view showing an example of a shopping cart according to the first embodiment. The shopping cart 2 is a shopping cart that stores products to be purchased while being moved around the store when a customer goes shopping, and is equipped with some or all of the functions of a general POS terminal.

[0020] The shopping cart 2 includes a storage section 21, caster members 22, and a handle 23. The storage section 21 is a basket-shaped member with an open top, and stores the products registered by the customer C. A light-guiding member 29 is installed along the outer periphery of the outer frame at the top of the storage section 21. The light-guiding member 29 is made of transparent acrylic resin, and incident light from an illumination light source 30 (see FIG. 3), such as an LED, incident from the end portion travels while undergoing repeated total reflection. A portion of the totally reflected light leaks out of the light-guiding member 29, causing the light-guiding member 29 to emit light from its surface. The light-guiding member 29 lights up or flashes in response to commands from the cart terminal 24, thereby alerting the customer C and those around the shopping cart 2. This will be described in more detail later. The installation form of the light-guiding member 29 is not limited to the example described above. The shopping cart 2 may also include light-emitting means other than the light-guiding member 29.

[0021] The caster section 22 is provided on the bottom surface of the shopping cart 2 and has a plurality of wheels that can move back and forth and left and right. The handle section 23 is a member that the customer C holds when moving the shopping cart 2.

[0022] The shopping cart 2 also includes a cart terminal 24 , a scanner 27 , a card reader 28 , and a battery 32 .

[0023] The cart terminal 24 has the configuration of a computer and has the functions of a general POS terminal. The cart terminal 24 includes a monitor 25, a touch panel 26, a speaker 31, a scanner 27, and a card reader 28. The monitor 25 is configured, for example, with an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and functions as a display unit that displays information output by the cart terminal 24. The touch panel 26 is installed in a state where it is layered on the display surface of the monitor 25 and functions as an operation unit when the customer C inputs operation information into the cart terminal 24. The speaker 31 sounds in response to instructions from the cart terminal 24 to alert the customer C. Details will be described later. The cart terminal 24 is installed detachably with respect to the shopping cart 2.

[0024] The scanner 27 reads a code symbol, such as a barcode or two-dimensional code, attached to a product to be purchased by the customer C. The code symbol contains a product code that uniquely identifies the product. The scanner 27 incorporates a light-emitting diode (LED) that irradiates the product with illumination light, a light-receiving element, such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), that receives light reflected from the code symbol attached to the product, and a decoder (all not shown) that decodes the light received by the light-receiving element and converts it into a digital signal. One side of the scanner 27 has a reading window through which light from the LED is emitted to read the code symbol. Before storing the product in the storage section 21, the customer C holds the code symbol attached to the product over the reading window to have the scanner 27 read the code symbol. The scanner 27 also has a function to read a login password and a membership code displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal 3.

[0025] Card reader 28 scans the store's membership card held by customer C to read information such as membership information stored on the membership card. The read membership information is used, for example, to award points according to the purchase amount of a product. Card reader 28 also scans the credit card held by customer C to perform credit card payment using the credit card.

[0026] The battery 32 supplies (feeds) power to the cart terminal 24, the scanner 27, the card reader 28, and the light source of the light-guiding member 29. The battery 32 is a rechargeable battery (secondary battery) such as a lithium-ion battery or a nickel-metal hydride battery.

[0027] (Cart terminal hardware configuration) The hardware configuration of the cart terminal 24 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a hardware block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the cart terminal according to the first embodiment.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the cart terminal 24 includes a control unit 40, a storage unit 44, an input / output controller 46, a wireless communication interface 47, and a battery 32.

[0029] The control unit 40 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 43. The CPU 41 is the main controller of the cart terminal 24. The ROM 42 stores various fixed data, various tables, etc. The RAM 43 functions as a work memory, expanding control programs and various data when the CPU 41 performs various processes.

[0030] The storage unit 44 stores a control program P, a product master M, a product registration file R, and a beacon arrangement map Ba.

[0031] The control program P is a program executed by the CPU 41. The CPU 41, ROM 42, RAM 43, and storage unit 44 are connected to one another via an internal bus 45, and the control unit 40 causes the CPU 41 to load the control program P stored in the storage unit 44 and various data stored in the ROM 42 into the RAM 43 and operate them. In this way, the control unit 40 executes various control processes related to the cart terminal 24.

[0032] The control program P may be provided in a state stored in the storage unit 44, or may be provided by being recorded in an installable or executable file on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).The control program P may also be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network and downloaded via the network.Furthermore, the control program P may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0033] The product master M is a master file that stores product codes such as JAN codes that are uniquely assigned to products sold in a store, in association with the product names, prices, product classifications, etc. of the products.

[0034] The product registration file R is a file that stores product information registered by the customer C.

[0035] The beacon location map Ba is a file that stores the installation positions of the beacon devices 8 inside and outside the store. The file format does not matter, but the beacon location map Ba is a file that stores identification information that uniquely identifies each beacon device 8 and information that identifies whether the beacon device 8 having each identification information is installed at least inside the store, installed in a restricted area inside the store, or installed outside the store. Details will be described later.

[0036] The input / output controller 46 connects the CPU 41 to peripheral devices, such as the monitor 25, the touch panel 26, the scanner 27, the card reader 28, the speaker 31, and the illumination light source 30, via the internal bus 45. The input / output controller 46 controls the operations of these peripheral devices in response to instructions from the control unit 40.

[0037] The wireless communication interface 47 connects the control unit 40 and the wireless communication unit 7 via the internal bus 45. The wireless communication interface 47 also receives a beacon signal transmitted by the beacon device 8.

[0038] The battery 32 supplies power to the above-mentioned components of the cart terminal 24 .

[0039] Of the hardware components that make up the checkout system 1, explanations of the hardware configurations of the mobile terminal 3, the store server 5, and the POS terminal 6 will be omitted. Like the cart terminal 24, each of these has the configuration of a general computer that operates according to a control program.

[0040] (Beacon placement map configuration) The configuration of the beacon arrangement map Ba will be described using Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the beacon arrangement map used in the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 4, the beacon arrangement map Ba stores a beacon device identification number 15 and an installation location 16.

[0041] The beacon device identification number 15 is information that uniquely identifies the beacon device 8. The beacon device 8 outputs a signal including the beacon device identification number 15.

[0042] The installation location 16 is information indicating the installation location of the beacon device 8. In this embodiment, the beacon placement map Ba stores whether the beacon device 8 is installed in a shopping cart space 161, in a sales area 162 inside the store, in a no-entry area 163 inside the store, or outside the store 164. Note that specific coordinate information may be stored as the installation location 16.

[0043] The shopping cart storage area 161 is an area where used shopping carts 2 are stacked.

[0044] The in-store sales floor 162 is an area within the store where merchandise is sold.

[0045] The in-store no-entry area 163 is an area in the store where entry is restricted to authorized personnel. Therefore, under normal circumstances, the cart terminal 4 does not receive a signal from the beacon device 8 installed in the in-store no-entry area 163.

[0046] Outside the store 164 is an area outside the store.

[0047] The cart terminal 24 acquires the beacon device identification number 15 from the signals received from the beacon devices 8. Then, the cart terminal 24 acquires the installation position of the received beacon device 8 by referring to the beacon arrangement map Ba. Note that the cart terminal 24 may receive signals from multiple beacon devices 8 simultaneously. In that case, the cart terminal 24 determines that its current position is near the multiple beacon devices 8 that it received signals from. Note that the cart terminal 24 may compare the strength of the signals received from the multiple beacon devices 8 and determine that the shopping cart 2 is near the beacon device 8 with the strongest strength.

[0048] (Functional configuration of cart terminal) Next, the functional configuration of the cart terminal 24 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the cart terminal according to the first embodiment.

[0049] The control unit 40 of the cart terminal 24 deploys the control program P in the RAM 43 and runs it, thereby realizing as functional units a shopping start / end acceptance unit 51, a product registration processing unit 52, a payment processing unit 53, a beacon reception status detection unit 54, a notification control unit 55, a display control unit 56, an operation control unit 57, a wireless communication control unit 58, and a beacon signal receiving unit 59 shown in FIG. 5.

[0050] The shopping start / end accepting unit 51 accepts instructions to start shopping and instructions to end shopping from customer C. For example, the shopping start / end accepting unit 51 determines that customer C has logged in to the cart terminal 24 and started shopping when the scanner 27 of the cart terminal 24 reads a login barcode or membership code displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal 3. The shopping start / end accepting unit 51 also determines that customer C has logged out of the cart terminal 24 and ended shopping when it detects an end operation by customer C on the cart terminal 24.

[0051] The product registration processing unit 52 registers the products purchased by the customer C. The product registration processing unit 52 is an example of a registration unit in the present disclosure.

[0052] The payment processing unit 53 performs payment for registered products. The payment processing unit 53 is an example of the payment unit in the present disclosure.

[0053] The beacon reception status detection unit 54 receives signals from a plurality of beacon devices 8 installed at predetermined positions inside and outside the store via the beacon signal receiving unit 59, and detects the reception status of each of the signals from the plurality of beacon devices 8. The beacon reception status detection unit 54 is an example of the reception status detection unit in the present disclosure.

[0054] The notification control unit 55 issues a notification according to the location of the shopping cart 2 based on the reception state of signals from the plurality of beacon devices 8 detected by the beacon reception state detection unit 54 and the installation positions of the plurality of beacon devices 8. The notification control unit 55 is an example of the notification unit in the present disclosure.

[0055] More specifically, the notification control unit 55 issues a notification indicating that the shopping cart 2 may be outside the store, on the condition that the beacon reception status detection unit 54 does not receive a signal from a beacon device 8 installed inside the store, but receives a signal from a beacon device 8 installed outside the store.

[0056] In addition, the notification control unit 55 issues a notification indicating that the shopping cart 2 may not be present in the store, provided that the beacon reception status detection unit 54 does not receive a signal from a beacon device 8 installed in the store for a predetermined period of time.

[0057] In addition, the notification control unit 55 issues a notification indicating that the shopping cart 2 may be in a restricted area, provided that the beacon reception status detection unit 54 receives a signal from a beacon device 8 installed in a restricted area within the store.

[0058] The display control unit 56 displays the information instructed by the control unit 40 on the monitor 25 of the cart terminal 24 .

[0059] The operation control unit 57 detects an operation performed on the touch panel 26 of the cart terminal 24 and transmits the details of the detected operation to the control unit 40. The control unit 40 then causes the cart terminal 24 to perform an operation corresponding to the operation performed on the touch panel 26.

[0060] The wireless communication control unit 58 controls the transmission and reception of information between the cart terminal 24 and the mobile terminal 3, the store server 5, and the POS terminal 6 via wireless communication.

[0061] The beacon signal receiving unit 59 receives the signal transmitted from the beacon device 8.

[0062] (Processing flow performed by the cart terminal) Next, the flow of processing performed by the cart terminal 24 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing performed by the cart terminal according to the first embodiment. Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of notification control processing performed by the cart terminal according to the first embodiment.

[0063] The cart terminal 24 performs product registration processing and payment processing, as well as a notification control processing that estimates the current location of the shopping cart 2 to which the cart terminal 24 is attached and makes a notification according to the estimated current location.

[0064] The cart terminal 24 may repeatedly execute the notification control process while executing the product registration process and the payment process, or may execute the product registration process and the payment process and the notification control process in parallel.

[0065] The following describes the flow of processing, assuming that the cart terminal 24 repeatedly executes notification control processing while executing product registration processing and payment processing.

[0066] The notification control unit 55 performs notification control processing (step S11). The specific content of the notification control processing will be described later (see FIG. 7).

[0067] The shopping start / end accepting unit 51 determines whether the customer C has logged in to the cart terminal 24 (step S12). If it is determined that the customer C has logged in (step S12: Yes), the process proceeds to step S13. On the other hand, if it is not determined that the customer C has logged in (step S12: No), the process returns to step S11.

[0068] If it is determined in step S12 that the user has logged in, the notification control unit 55 performs a notification control process (see FIG. 7) (step S13).

[0069] The product registration processing unit 52 registers the product to be purchased by the customer C (step S14).

[0070] The product registration processing unit 52 determines whether customer C has completed product registration (step S15). If it is determined that product registration has been completed (step S15: Yes), the process proceeds to step S16. On the other hand, if it is determined that product registration has not been completed (step S15: No), the process returns to step S13. Note that the product registration processing unit 52 may determine whether product registration has been completed, for example, by whether customer C has operated a closing key on the cart terminal 24, which indicates that product registration has been completed.

[0071] When it is determined in step S15 that the registration of the product is completed, the payment processing unit 53 performs payment for the registered product (step S16). Although not shown in Fig. 6, after the payment is executed, the customer C can view the electronic receipt indicating the result of the payment process that the mobile terminal 3 has received from the electronic receipt management server 11, and check the details of the payment.

[0072] Subsequently, the notification control unit 55 performs a notification control process (see FIG. 7) (step S17).

[0073] The shopping start / end accepting unit 51 determines whether the customer C has logged out from the cart terminal 24 (step S18). If it is determined that the customer C has logged out (step S18: Yes), the process proceeds to step S19. On the other hand, if it is not determined that the customer C has logged out (step S18: No), the process returns to step S17.

[0074] If it is determined in step S18 that the user has logged out, the notification control unit 55 performs notification control processing (see FIG. 7) (step S19).

[0075] Next, the notification control unit 55 determines whether the shopping cart 2 has remained in the shopping cart place 161 for a predetermined time or longer (step S20). If it is determined that the shopping cart 2 has remained in the shopping cart place 161 for a predetermined time or longer (step S20: Yes), the cart terminal 24 ends the processing of Fig. 6. On the other hand, if it is not determined that the shopping cart 2 has remained in the shopping cart place 161 for a predetermined time or longer (step S20: No), the process returns to step S19.

[0076] The notification control unit 55 determines whether the shopping cart 2 has remained in the shopping cart place 161 for a predetermined time or longer based on whether the shopping cart 2 has continued to receive signals from the beacon device 8 installed in the shopping cart place 161 for a predetermined time or longer. More specifically, for example, the notification control unit 55 determines that the shopping cart 2 has remained in the shopping cart place 161 for a predetermined time or longer based on the fact that the shopping cart 2 has continued to receive signals from the beacon device 8 installed in the shopping cart place 161 for a predetermined time or longer based on the fact that the value of a fixed position determination counter (see step S28 in FIG. 7) that is incremented when a signal is received from the beacon device 8 installed in the shopping cart place 161 has reached a predetermined value.

[0077] Next, the flow of the notification control process performed by the cart terminal 24 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0078] The notification control unit 55 judges whether the beacon reception state detection unit 54 has received a signal from the beacon device 8 (step S21). If it is judged that the signal from the beacon device 8 has been received (step S21: Yes), the process proceeds to step S22. On the other hand, if it is not judged that the signal from the beacon device 8 has been received (step S21: No), the process proceeds to step S23.

[0079] In step S21, when it is determined that a signal from the beacon device 8 has been received, the notification control unit 55 determines whether the beacon reception state detection unit 54 has received a signal from the beacon device 8 outside the store 164 (step S22). If it is determined that a signal from the beacon device 8 outside the store 164 has been received (step S22: Yes), the process proceeds to step S24. On the other hand, if it is not determined that a signal from the beacon device 8 outside the store 164 has been received (step S22: No), the process proceeds to step S25.

[0080] If it is determined in step S22 that a signal has been received from the beacon device 8 outside the store 164, the notification control unit 55 issues a notification indicating that the shopping cart 2 may have been taken out of the store (step S24). Specifically, the notification control unit 55 at least one of lighting or flashing the light-guiding member 29 using light emitted from the illumination light source 30 and outputting sound or audio from the speaker 31 in a manner corresponding to the possibility that the shopping cart 2 may have been taken out of the store. Then, the process returns to the flowchart of FIG. 6.

[0081] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S22 that a signal has not been received from the beacon device 8 outside the store 164, the notification control unit 55 determines whether the beacon reception status detection unit 54 has received a signal from the beacon device 8 in the in-store entry restricted area 163 (step S25). If it is determined that a signal has been received from the beacon device 8 in the in-store entry restricted area 163 (step S25: Yes), the process proceeds to step S26. On the other hand, if it is not determined that a signal has been received from the beacon device 8 in the in-store entry restricted area 163 (step S25: No), the process proceeds to step S27.

[0082] If it is determined in step S25 that a signal has been received from the beacon device 8 in the store no-entry area 163, the notification control unit 55 issues a notification indicating that the shopping cart 2 may have been brought into the store no-entry area 163 (step S26). Then, the process returns to the flowchart of FIG.

[0083] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S25 that a signal has not been received from the beacon device 8 in the in-store entry restricted area 163, the notification control unit 55 determines whether the beacon reception status detection unit 54 has received a signal from the beacon device 8 in the shopping cart place 161 (step S27). If it is determined that a signal has been received from the beacon device 8 in the shopping cart place 161 (step S27: Yes), the process proceeds to step S28. On the other hand, if it is not determined that a signal has been received from the beacon device 8 in the shopping cart place 161 (step S27: No), the process returns to the flowchart of FIG.

[0084] If it is determined in step S27 that a signal has been received from a beacon device 8 in the shopping cart place 161, the notification control unit 55 increments the fixed position determination counter (step S28). The value of the fixed position determination counter is used to determine whether the shopping cart 2 is parked in the shopping cart place 161 in step S20 of Fig. 6. That is, if the value of the fixed position determination counter exceeds a predetermined value in step S20 of Fig. 6, the notification control unit 55 determines that the shopping cart 2 is parked in the shopping cart place 161. The value of the fixed position determination counter is reset when the cart terminal 24 receives a signal from a beacon device 8 other than the shopping cart place 161.

[0085] Returning to step S21, if it is determined that the beacon reception state detection unit 54 has not received a signal from the beacon device 8 in step S21, the notification control unit 55 determines whether the non-reception state has continued for a predetermined time or more (step S23). If it is determined that the non-reception state has continued for a predetermined time or more (step S23: Yes), proceed to step S29. On the other hand, if it is not determined that the non-reception state has continued for a predetermined time or more (step S23: No), return to step S21.

[0086] If it is determined in step S23 that the non-reception state has continued for a predetermined time or more, the notification control unit 55 issues a notification indicating that the shopping cart 2 is missing (step S29). After that, the process returns to the flowchart of FIG.

[0087] 7, the notification control unit 55 issues a notification and transmits the received beacon device identification number 15 to the store server 5. The supervisor of the store server 5 directs a store staff member to the installation location of the beacon device 8 corresponding to the received beacon device identification number 15, and handles the customer C who is using the corresponding shopping cart 2.

[0088] The notification control unit 55 also issues a notification according to which beacon device 8 in the store the cart terminal 24 has received a signal from. The notification format may be set arbitrarily, but for example, the notification control unit 55 changes the combination of changing the color of the illumination light source 30 and turning on / flashing the illumination light source 30. The notification control unit 55 also changes the sound or voice output from the speaker 31.

[0089] When the notification control unit 55 outputs sound or voice from the speaker 31, the sound or voice is output at a volume equal to or greater than a predetermined volume, regardless of the volume setting of the speaker 31 of the cart terminal 24. The volume may also be changed depending on the content of the notification (steps S24, S26, and S29 in FIG. 7). For example, if there is a possibility that the shopping cart 2 has been taken out of the store, the notification may be made at a louder volume than other notifications.

[0090] Furthermore, even after logging out of the cart terminal 24, the notification control unit 55 continues the notification control process until a predetermined time has elapsed since the shopping cart 2 was returned to the shopping cart place 161.

[0091] As described above, the shopping cart 2 (cart terminal 24) of the first embodiment is pushed by a customer C and includes a product registration processing unit 52 (registration unit) that registers products to be purchased by the customer C, a storage unit 21 that stores the registered products, and a payment processing unit 53 (payment unit) that processes payments for the registered products. The shopping cart 2 (cart terminal 24) also includes a beacon reception status detection unit 54 (reception status detection unit) that receives signals from multiple beacon devices 8 (communication devices) installed at predetermined locations inside and outside the store and detects the reception status of each of the signals from the multiple communication devices, and a notification control unit 55 (notification unit) that issues a notification according to the location of the shopping cart 2 based on the reception status of signals from the multiple beacon devices 8 detected by the beacon reception status detection unit 54 and the installation locations of the multiple beacon devices 8. This makes it possible to reliably prevent the shopping cart 2 from being taken out of the store. Furthermore, even if the cart terminal 24 is removed from the shopping cart 2, the cart terminal 24 can make an alert according to its own location, thereby reliably preventing the cart terminal 24 from being taken out of the store.

[0092] Furthermore, in the shopping cart 2 (cart terminal 24) of the first embodiment, the notification control unit 55 (notification unit) issues a notification that the shopping cart 2 may be outside the store, on the condition that the beacon reception status detection unit 54 (reception status detection unit) does not receive a signal from a beacon device 8 (communication device) installed inside the store, but receives a signal from a beacon device 8 installed outside the store. Therefore, by issuing a notification to customer C who has taken the shopping cart 2 outside the store, it is possible to call his or her attention.

[0093] Furthermore, in the shopping cart 2 (cart terminal 24) of the first embodiment, the notification control unit 55 (notification unit) issues a notification indicating that the shopping cart 2 may not be present in the store, provided that the beacon reception status detection unit 54 (reception status detection unit) does not receive a signal from a beacon device 8 (communication device) installed in the store for a predetermined period of time. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the shopping cart 2 from being taken out of the store.

[0094] Furthermore, in the shopping cart 2 (cart terminal 24) of the first embodiment, the notification control unit 55 (notification unit) issues a notification indicating that the shopping cart 2 may be in a restricted area of the store, provided that the beacon reception status detection unit 54 (reception status detection unit) receives a signal from a beacon device 8 (communication device) installed in the restricted area of the store. This can reliably prevent the shopping cart 2 from being brought into the restricted area of the store, thereby enhancing the crime prevention effect.

[0095] (Second embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment described below, the shopping cart 2 (cart terminal 24) described in the first embodiment further prohibits the opening operation of an exit gate of a store's parking lot when it receives a signal from a beacon device installed at the exit gate. In the following description, the same hardware components and functional components as those in the first embodiment will be described using the same reference numerals.

[0096] When the shopping cart 2 (cart terminal 24) of this embodiment receives a signal from a beacon device 8 installed at the exit gate of the store's parking lot, it prohibits the opening operation of the exit gate of the parking lot and notifies a store clerk. This prevents the cart terminal 24 from being taken out of the store, even if customer C attempts to load the cart terminal 24 into his or her car and take it out despite being notified that the cart terminal 24 should be taken out of the store. To this end, the notification control unit 55 of this embodiment further has a function of not allowing the control device that controls the opening and closing of the exit gate to open the gate, on the condition that the beacon reception status detection unit 54 (reception status detection unit) receives a signal from a beacon device 8 (communication device) installed at the exit of the store's parking lot.

[0097] (Parking lot exit gate configuration) The configuration of a parking lot exit gate control device 60 used in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is an external view showing an example of a parking lot exit gate control device.

[0098] The exit gate control device 60 includes a fare adjustment machine 61, a gate opening / closing control device 62, a bar 63, and a camera 64. In addition, a beacon device 8 is installed near the exit gate control device 60.

[0099] The settlement machine 61 settles the parking fee when a car that has used the store's parking lot leaves. The settlement machine 61 accepts the parking ticket inserted by customer C, and calculates the parking fee based on the entry time registered on the parking ticket and the current time (exit time). The settlement machine 61 then requests customer C to pay the calculated parking fee. Furthermore, the settlement machine 61 accepts payment from customer C, and dispenses change if necessary. Generally, a service is offered in which the parking fee is free if the elapsed time from the entry time to the current time (exit time) is within a predetermined time (for example, two hours).

[0100] The gate opening / closing control device 62 opens the bar 63 on the condition that payment is completed by the payment machine 61 and the registration number read from the license plate of the vehicle photographed by the camera 64 matches the registration number registered on the parking ticket when the vehicle entered the parking lot. This allows customer C's vehicle to exit. The gate opening / closing control device 62 is an example of a control device in the present disclosure.

[0101] The bar 63 is driven by a gate opening / closing control device 62 to perform an opening operation in the direction of arrow A and a closing operation in the direction of arrow B. The bar 63 is an example of a gate in the present disclosure.

[0102] The camera 64 captures an image of the license plate of the vehicle.

[0103] The beacon device 8 is installed at the exit gate of the parking lot and transmits a signal containing its own identification information.

[0104] (Beacon placement map configuration) The configuration of the beacon arrangement map Bb used in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the beacon arrangement map used in the second embodiment.

[0105] 9, the beacon arrangement map Ba has a configuration in which an exit gate 165 is added to the installation locations 16 stored in the beacon arrangement map Ba. The exit gate 165 is a location where the gate opening / closing control device 62 is installed. The beacon device 8 installed at the exit gate 165 outputs a signal including a beacon device identification number 15 indicating that it is installed at the exit gate.

[0106] (Processing flow performed by the cart terminal) The flow of processing performed by the cart terminal 24 of this embodiment is the same as the flowcharts shown in Figures 6 and 7, except for the content of the notification control processing. The flow of notification control processing performed by the cart terminal 24 of this embodiment will be explained below with reference to Figure 10. Figure 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of notification control processing performed by the cart terminal according to the second embodiment.

[0107] The flowchart of Fig. 10 differs from the flowchart of Fig. 7 only in the behavior when a signal from a beacon device 8 outside the store is received, that is, in step S32, the behavior when it is determined that a signal from a beacon device 8 outside the store 164 is received (step S22: Yes). Therefore, here, only the points that differ from the behavior of the flowchart of Fig. 7 will be described.

[0108] 10 (corresponding to step S22 in FIG. 7), the notification control unit 55 determines whether the beacon reception state detection unit 54 has received a signal from the beacon device 8 outside the store 164. If it is determined that a signal has been received from the beacon device 8 outside the store 164 (step S32: Yes), the process proceeds to step S34.

[0109] In step S32, if it is determined that a signal has been received from the beacon device 8 outside the store 164, the notification control unit 55 determines whether the beacon reception status detection unit 54 has received a signal from the beacon device 8 at the exit gate 165 (step S34). If it is determined that a signal has been received from the beacon device 8 at the exit gate 165 (step S34: Yes), the process proceeds to step S35. On the other hand, if it is not determined that a signal has been received from the beacon device 8 at the exit gate 165 (step S34: No), the process proceeds to step S36.

[0110] If it is determined in step S34 that a signal has been received from the beacon device 8 of the exit gate 165, the notification control unit 55 causes the exit gate control device 60 (gate opening / closing control device 62) to prohibit opening of the bar 63 (step S35). Then, the process proceeds to step S36.

[0111] In step S34, if it is determined that a signal from the beacon device 8 of the exit gate 165 has not been received, or following step S35, the notification control unit 55 issues a notification indicating that the shopping cart 2 may have been taken out of the store (step S36). Then, the process returns to the flowchart of FIG. 6.

[0112] As described above, in the shopping cart 2 (cart terminal 24) of the second embodiment, the notification control unit 55 (notification unit) prevents the gate opening / closing control device 62 (control device), which controls the opening and closing of the bar 63 (gate) at the exit of the store's parking lot, from opening the bar 63, on the condition that the beacon reception status detection unit 54 (reception status detection unit) receives a signal from the beacon device 8 (communication device) installed at the exit of the store's parking lot. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the shopping cart 2 from being taken out of the store.

[0113] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This novel embodiment can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the inventions and their equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0114] 1...Checkout system, 2...Shopping cart, 3...Mobile terminal, 4...Cart terminal, 5...Store server, 6...POS terminal, 7...Wireless communication unit, 8...Beacon device (communication device), 9...Network, 10...Router, 11...Electronic receipt management server, 15...Beacon device identification number, 16...Installation location, 21...Storage section, 51...Shopping start / end reception section, 52...Product registration processing section (registration section), 53...Payment processing section (payment section), 54...Beacon reception section Reception status detection unit (reception status detection unit), 55...notification control unit (notification unit), 56...display control unit, 57...operation control unit, 58...wireless communication control unit, 59...beacon signal receiving unit, 60...exit gate control device, 61...payment machine, 62...gate opening / closing control device (control device), 63...bar (gate), 161...shopping cart storage area, 162...in-store sales floor, 163...restricted entry area in-store, 164...outside the store, Ba, Bb...beacon placement map, C...customer, L...wireless communication line [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0115] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-67947

Claims

1. A shopping cart that is pushed around by a customer and includes a registration unit for registering products to be purchased by the customer, a storage unit for storing the registered products, and a payment unit for making payment for the registered products, a reception status detection unit that receives signals from a plurality of communication devices installed at predetermined positions inside and outside the store and detects the reception status of each of the signals from the plurality of communication devices; a notification unit that issues a notification according to the location of the shopping cart based on the reception states of signals from the plurality of communication devices detected by the reception state detection unit and the installation locations of the plurality of communication devices; A shopping cart comprising: The notification unit and when the reception status detection unit does not receive a signal from the communication device installed inside the store but receives a signal from the communication device installed outside the store, it issues a notification that the shopping cart may be outside the store. shopping cart.

2. The notification unit and when the reception status detection unit does not receive a signal from the communication device installed in the store for a predetermined period of time, it issues a notification indicating that the shopping cart may not be present in the store. The shopping cart of claim 1 .

3. The notification unit and when the reception status detection unit receives a signal from the communication device installed in a restricted area of the store, it issues a notification indicating that the shopping cart may be in the restricted area of the store.

3. The shopping cart according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The notification unit and when the reception status detection unit receives a signal from the communication device installed at an exit of a parking lot of the store, the reception status detection unit does not cause a control device that controls opening and closing of a gate at the exit to open the gate. The shopping cart according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images