Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

Increase the likelihood that users will be able to purchase the medicines they want. [Solution] The information processing device has a reception unit (331) that receives from the user the desired medicine and the desired store, a determination unit (332) that determines whether the desired medicine can be newly secured at the desired store based on the number of the desired medicine in stock at the desired store and the number of the desired medicine secured at the desired store in response to permission for the purchase of the desired medicine by a specified qualified person, and a presentation unit (333) that presents location information to the user when the determination unit (332) determines that the desired medicine can be secured at the desired store.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, a system for selling medicines has been known. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which a user uses a terminal installed in a convenience store to talk to a pharmacist by videophone, and when the pharmacist gives permission for the user to purchase a medicine, the pharmacist issues a ticket indicating that the user has been given permission to purchase the medicine. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-211314 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in conventional technology, a user visits a store such as a convenience store and then searches for the medicine that the user wishes to purchase (hereinafter referred to as the "desired medicine") at the store. Therefore, even if a pharmacist gives the user permission to purchase the desired medicine, if the desired medicine is not in stock at the store the user visits, the user is unable to purchase the desired medicine.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and aims to increase the probability that a user can purchase the medicine they desire. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a reception unit that receives from a user a designation of a desired drug that the user wishes to purchase and that requires purchase permission from a predetermined qualified person, and a designation of a desired store that sells the desired drug and from which the user wishes to purchase the desired drug; a determination unit that determines whether the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store based on the inventory of the desired drug at the desired store and the number of the desired drug that has been secured at the desired store in response to the permission given by the predetermined qualified person to purchase the desired drug; and a presentation unit that, when the determination unit determines that the desired drug can be secured at the desired store, presents to the user information providing a communication forum set up for the predetermined qualified person to decide whether to grant permission for the user to purchase the desired drug.

[0007] When the determination unit determines that the desired drug cannot be secured at the desired store, the presentation unit may present to the user that the desired store does not have the desired drug in stock.

[0008] If the determination unit determines that the desired medicine cannot be secured at the desired store, it may determine whether the desired medicine can be newly secured at the nearby store based on the number of the desired medicine in stock at a nearby store that is located relatively close to the desired store among the one or more stores that sell the desired medicine and the number of the desired medicine secured at the nearby store in response to the specified qualified person granting permission to purchase the desired medicine; and if the determination unit determines that the desired medicine can be secured at the nearby store, the presentation unit may present to the user information indicating that the desired medicine can be secured at the nearby store. The opportunity provision information may be information for the user and the predetermined qualified person to conduct an online interview.

[0009] The reception unit may further receive a desired number, which is the number of the desired medicine that the customer wishes to purchase, and the determination unit may determine that the desired medicine can be secured at the desired store if the available number calculated by subtracting the number of the desired medicine in stock at the desired store by the number of the desired medicine secured at the desired store in response to the specified qualified person's permission to purchase the desired medicine is equal to or greater than the desired number.

[0010] The information processing device may further have a reservation processing unit that, if the determination unit determines that the desired medicine can be secured at the desired store before the predetermined qualified person determines whether or not to allow the user to purchase the desired medicine, executes a temporary reservation process to temporarily reserve the desired medicine to be provided by the desired store to the user until the predetermined qualified person determines whether or not to allow the user to purchase the desired medicine.

[0011] The reservation processing unit may execute a cancellation process to cancel the temporary reservation of the desired medicine by the temporary reservation process when the specified qualified person determines that the user will not be allowed to purchase the desired medicine.

[0012] The reception unit may receive specifications for multiple desired medicines, each of which is a different type; the determination unit may determine, for each desired medicine whose specification has been received by the reception unit, whether the desired medicine can be newly secured at the desired store; and the securing processing unit may execute the provisional securing process corresponding to each desired medicine that the determination unit determines can be secured at the desired store before the specified qualified person determines whether to allow the user to purchase the desired medicine.

[0013] The determination unit may further determine whether or not the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store based on the number of the desired drug temporarily secured at the desired store. The determination unit may further determine whether the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store based on the number of the desired drug that is scheduled to arrive at the desired store by a predetermined securing deadline for securing the desired drug.

[0014] If the determination unit determines that the desired medicine cannot be secured at the desired store, it may determine whether or not the common medicine can be newly secured at the desired store based on the number of common medicines in stock at the desired store that are different from the desired medicine but have the same efficacy as the desired medicine, and the number of common medicines secured at the desired store in response to the specified qualified person giving permission for the purchase of the common medicine; and if the determination unit determines that the common medicine can be secured at the desired store, the presentation unit may present to the user information indicating that the common medicine can be secured at the desired store.

[0015] An information processing method according to a second aspect of the present invention is executed by a computer and includes the steps of receiving from a user a designation of a desired drug that the user wishes to purchase and that requires purchase permission from a predetermined qualified person, and a designation of a desired store that sells the desired drug and from which the user wishes to purchase the desired drug; determining whether the desired store can newly secure the desired drug based on the inventory of the desired drug at the desired store and the number of the desired drug that has been secured at the desired store in response to the permission given by the predetermined qualified person to purchase the desired drug; and, if it is determined that the desired drug can be secured at the desired store, presenting to the user information providing a communication forum in which the predetermined qualified person can determine whether to grant permission for the user to purchase the desired drug.

[0016] A program according to a third aspect of the present invention causes a computer to function as: a reception unit that receives from a user a designation of a desired drug that the user wishes to purchase and that requires purchase permission from a predetermined qualified person, and a designation of a desired store that sells the desired drug and from which the user wishes to purchase the desired drug; a determination unit that determines whether the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store based on the inventory of the desired drug at the desired store and the number of the desired drug that has been secured at the desired store in response to the permission given by the predetermined qualified person to purchase the desired drug; and a presentation unit that, when the determination unit determines that the desired drug can be secured at the desired store, presents to the user information providing a communication forum set up for the predetermined qualified person to decide whether to grant permission for the user to purchase the desired drug. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] The present invention has the effect of increasing the probability that a user can purchase a desired medicine. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an information processing system. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a functional configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a database stored in a storage unit. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the information processing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] [Outline of Information Processing System S] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of an information processing system S. The information processing system S is a system for providing an information processing service. The information processing service is a service for providing pharmaceuticals to users at a store. The store is a store that sells pharmaceuticals, such as a convenience store. Pharmaceuticals in this embodiment are products that require purchase permission from a designated qualified person such as a pharmacist or a registered pharmaceutical sales person. The information processing system S has a user terminal 1, a qualified person terminal 2, and an information processing device 3.

[0020] The user terminal 1 is a terminal used by a user, such as a smartphone, tablet terminal, or personal computer. The user terminal 1 may be a terminal owned by the user, or may be a terminal installed in a store that the user can use. For example, a dedicated application program (hereinafter referred to as a "dedicated app") for providing an information processing service is installed in the user terminal 1.

[0021] The qualified person terminal 2 is a terminal used by a predetermined qualified person, and is a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, etc. On the qualified person terminal 2, for example, a dedicated application is installed.

[0022] The information processing device 3 is a device that manages the information processing service, and is, for example, a server. The information processing device 3 manages, for example, the inventory of medicines sold by stores that are members of the information processing service. The processing executed by the information processing system S will be described below.

[0023] First, when a user performs an operation on the user terminal 1 to specify a desired drug, which is the drug that the user wishes to purchase, and an operation to specify a desired store, which is the store where the user wishes to purchase the desired drug, the user terminal 1 transmits the specified information, which is the information specified by the user, to the information processing device 3 ((1) in Figure 1).

[0024] When the information processing device 3 acquires the specified information from the user terminal 1, it checks the stock of the desired drug at the desired store ((2) in FIG. 1). The information processing device 3 transmits venue information to the user terminal 1 based on the stock status of the desired drug at the desired store, etc. ((3) in FIG. 1). The venue information is information for providing a communication venue set up for a predetermined qualified person to decide whether or not to allow the user to purchase the desired drug, and is, for example, information for conducting an online interview (e.g., ID, password, URL, etc.), or the phone number of the qualified person terminal 2, etc.

[0025] When the user acquires the place-provided information from the information processing device 3 at the user terminal 1, the user uses the place-provided information to conduct an online interview with a predetermined qualified person ((4) in Fig. 1). After the predetermined qualified person has conducted the online interview with the user, the qualified person inputs the result of their decision on whether or not to allow the user to purchase the desired medicine at the qualified person terminal 2. The qualified person terminal 2 then transmits the result of the decision input by the predetermined qualified person to the information processing device 3 ((5) in Fig. 1).

[0026] Then, when the determination result acquired from the qualified person terminal 2 indicates that the user is permitted to purchase the desired medicine, the information processing device 3 executes a process to secure the desired medicine provided by the desired store to the user ((6) in FIG. 1). For example, as a process to secure the desired medicine provided by the desired store to the user, the information processing device 3 notifies the user of a code image indicating a pickup code (e.g., QR code (registered trademark), barcode, etc.) for the user to receive the desired medicine at the desired store. The pickup code includes, for example, information indicating the desired store, information indicating the desired medicine, information indicating the user, etc.

[0027] Furthermore, the information processing device 3 notifies the desired store of reservation information for reserving inventory of the desired drug for the user, for example, as a process for reserving the desired drug to be provided by the desired store to the user. The reservation information includes, for example, information indicating the desired store, information indicating the desired drug, information indicating the user, etc. If the store to which the reservation information has been notified has a predetermined qualified person, the store performs work to reserve the desired drug indicated by the reservation information. If the store to which the reservation information has been notified does not have a predetermined qualified person, the store does not perform work to reserve the desired drug indicated by the reservation information, because the desired drug is reserved at the desired store by executing the process for reserving the desired drug to be provided by the desired store to the user.

[0028] The user then visits the desired store and purchases the reserved desired medicine. For example, the user first presents the code image on the user terminal 1 to a clerk at the desired store. The clerk reads the code image using a reading device (not shown) and confirms the reserved desired medicine by referring to the information contained in the code image. The user then purchases the desired medicine presented to the clerk.

[0029] In this way, the information processing system S secures the user's desired drug at the user's desired store in response to a predetermined qualified person's permission for the user to purchase the desired drug, thereby increasing the probability that the user will be able to purchase the desired drug. Furthermore, the information processing system S checks the inventory of the desired drug at the desired store in response to the user's operation of the user terminal 1, thereby eliminating the need for the user to check the inventory of the desired drug after visiting the desired store. The configuration of the information processing device 3 will be described below.

[0030] [Functional configuration of information processing device 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the functional configuration of an information processing device 3. The information processing device 3 includes a communication unit 31, a storage unit 32, and a control unit 33. In FIG. 2, arrows indicate main data flows, and there may be data flows not shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, each functional block indicates a configuration in functional units, rather than a configuration in hardware (device) units. Therefore, the functional blocks shown in FIG. 2 may be implemented in a single device, or may be implemented separately in multiple devices. Data may be exchanged between functional blocks via any means, such as a data bus, a network, or a portable storage medium.

[0031] The communication unit 31 is a communication interface for connecting to a network, and includes a communication controller for receiving data from an external device.

[0032] The memory unit 32 is a large-capacity storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) of the computer that realizes the information processing device 3, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that serves as the working area of ​​the information processing device 3, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive) that stores the OS (Operating System), application programs, and various information referenced when the application programs are executed.

[0033] The storage unit 32 stores information about users, information about stores, information about medicines, and map information. The information about users includes, for example, the user's ID. The information about stores includes, for example, the store's ID and the store's address. The information about medicines includes, for example, the medicine's ID, information indicating the efficacy of the medicine, and information indicating the ingredients contained in the medicine. The storage unit 32 also stores an inventory management database that manages the inventory of medicines, and a procurement management database that manages the procurement of medicines.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a database stored in the storage unit 32. The inventory management database shown in FIG. 3(a) stores store IDs and inventory information (drug IDs, inventory quantities, etc.) in association with each other. The inventory quantity is information indicating the number of drugs present in a store. The reservation management database shown in FIG. 3(b) stores user IDs, store IDs, drug IDs, quantities, and reservation statuses in association with each other. The user IDs stored in the reservation management database are the IDs of users who are permitted to purchase drugs. The reservation status is information indicating the status of drug reservation, such as "reserved" or "temporarily reserved."

[0035] Returning to Figure 2, the control unit 33 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) of the information processing device 3, and functions as a reception unit 331, a judgment unit 332, a presentation unit 333, an acquisition unit 334, and an acquisition processing unit 335 by executing programs stored in the memory unit 32.

[0036] The reception unit 331 receives from the user a designation of a desired drug that requires purchase permission from a predetermined qualified person and a designation of a desired store that sells the desired drug and from which the user wishes to purchase the desired drug. The reception unit 331 may further receive a designation of a desired quantity, which is the number of desired drugs.

[0037] For example, first, when a user performs an operation to specify a desired drug, a desired quantity, and a desired store in the dedicated app of the user terminal 1, the user terminal 1 transmits the specification information specified by the user, which includes the user ID, the ID of the specified desired drug, the specified desired quantity, and the ID of the specified desired store, to the information processing device 3. Then, the receiving unit 331 acquires the specification information from the user terminal 1, and thereby receives the specification of the desired drug, the desired quantity, and the desired store from the user.

[0038] The determination unit 332 determines whether the desired drug is in stock at the desired store. Specifically, the determination unit 332 determines whether the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store based on the number of the desired drug in stock at the desired store and the number of the desired drug secured at the desired store in response to permission to purchase the desired drug from a predetermined qualified person.

[0039] For example, the determination unit 332 first calculates the available quantity by subtracting the stock quantity associated with the ID of the desired drug and the ID of the desired store in the inventory management database from the available quantity, which is the sum of the quantities associated with the ID of the desired drug and the ID of the desired store in the reservation management database. Then, if the calculated available quantity is equal to or greater than the desired quantity, the determination unit 332 determines that the desired drug can be newly reserved at the desired store. Note that the determination unit 332 may also determine that the desired drug cannot be newly reserved at the desired store if the desired drug is already reserved for the user.

[0040] The determination unit 332 may further determine whether the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store, taking into account the number of desired drugs scheduled to be stocked at the desired store. Specifically, the determination unit 332 further determines whether the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store, based on the number of desired drugs scheduled to be stocked at the desired store by the deadline for securing the desired drug. The deadline for securing the desired drug is a predetermined deadline by which the desired drug will be secured at the desired store if a predetermined qualified person permits the purchase, and is, for example, when a predetermined period (e.g., three days, one week, etc.) has passed from the current date.

[0041] For example, order information indicating the order contents of medicines at each store is stored in the storage unit 32. The order information includes, for example, the store ID, the medicine ID, the number of medicines to be ordered, and the date on which the ordered medicines will arrive at the store.

[0042] In this case, the determination unit 332 refers to the order information stored in the memory unit 32 and calculates the available quantity by subtracting the total of the inventory quantity of the desired drug and the number of the desired drug scheduled to arrive at the desired store by the deadline for procuring the desired drug by the secured quantity of the desired drug.The determination unit 332 then determines that the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store if the available quantity, including the number of the desired drug scheduled to arrive at the desired store, is equal to or greater than the desired quantity.In this way, the information processing device 3 can improve the accuracy of determining whether the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store.

[0043] Here, when the information processing device 3 determines that the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store, the information processing device 3 may temporarily secure the desired drug at the desired store. Specifically, when the determination unit 332 determines that the desired drug can be secured at the desired store before the acquisition unit 334 acquires the determination result, the reservation processing unit 335 executes a temporary reservation process to temporarily reserve the desired drug to be provided by the desired store to the user until the acquisition unit 334 acquires the determination result.

[0044] For example, as a temporary reservation process, the reservation processing unit 335 associates the user ID, the ID of the desired store, the ID of the desired drug, the desired quantity, and a reservation status indicating that the desired drug is temporarily reserved at the desired store, and stores these in the reservation management database. The reservation processing unit 335 may also store the date on which the desired drug is temporarily reserved at the desired store in the reservation management database. In this way, the information processing device 3 can prevent a situation in which the desired drug cannot be newly reserved at the desired store due to a decrease in the number of drugs that can be reserved between the time it is determined that the desired drug can be newly reserved at the desired store and the time the desired drug is reserved at the desired store in accordance with the judgment of a predetermined qualified person.

[0045] When the reservation processing unit 335 executes the temporary reservation process, the determination unit 332 may determine whether or not the desired medicine can be newly reserved at the desired store, taking into consideration the number of medicines temporarily reserved by the temporary reservation process. Specifically, the determination unit 332 further determines whether or not the desired medicine can be newly reserved at the desired store, based on the number of desired medicines temporarily reserved at the desired store.

[0046] For example, the determination unit 332 first calculates the available quantity by subtracting the stock quantity associated with the ID of the desired drug and the ID of the desired store in the inventory management database from the available quantity, which is the sum of the quantities associated with the ID of the desired drug, the ID of the desired store, and the availability status indicating whether the drug is available or temporarily available in the availability management database. If the calculated available quantity is equal to or greater than the desired quantity, the determination unit 332 determines that the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store. In this way, the information processing device 3 can prevent a situation in which the desired drug cannot be newly secured at the desired store due to a subsequent decrease in the available quantity.

[0047] The determination unit 332 may determine whether the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store based only on the number of desired drugs secured at the desired store, out of the number of desired drugs temporarily secured at the desired store and the number of desired drugs secured at the desired store. For example, the determination unit 332 first calculates the number of drugs that can be newly secured by subtracting the inventory quantity associated with the ID of the desired drug and the ID of the desired store in the inventory management database by the secured quantity, which is the sum of the quantities associated with the ID of the desired drug, the ID of the desired store, and the securing status indicating that the drug is secured in the securing management database. Then, if the calculated number of drugs that can be newly secured is equal to or greater than the desired number, the determination unit 332 determines that the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store.

[0048] The presentation unit 333 presents to the user information according to the result of the determination made by the determination unit 332. Specifically, when the determination unit 332 determines that the desired drug can be secured at the desired store, the presentation unit 333 presents to the user place providing information for providing a communication place set up for a predetermined qualified person to determine whether or not to permit the user to purchase the desired drug. The presentation unit 333, for example, starts an online interview between the user and the predetermined qualified person by transmitting the place providing information to the user terminal 1.

[0049] When the determination unit 332 determines that the desired drug can be secured at the desired store, the presentation unit 333 may send a response request for communication with the user to the qualified person terminal 2 before the online consultation starts. The response request includes information indicating the user, information indicating the desired drug, and the desired quantity. The response request may further include the desired quantity of the desired drug, information indicating the desired store, etc.

[0050] If the determination unit 332 determines that the desired drug cannot be secured at the desired store without taking into account the number of desired drugs scheduled to be stocked at the desired store, but determines that the desired drug can be secured at the desired store with taking into account the number of desired drugs scheduled to be stocked at the desired store, the presentation unit 333 may notify the user terminal 1 that the desired drug is scheduled to be stocked or the scheduled date and time when the desired drug will be stocked. Furthermore, the presentation unit 333 may notify the user terminal 1 that the desired drug has arrived at the desired store when the desired drug arrives. In this case, the presentation unit 333 may transmit the location providing information to the user terminal 1 immediately after notifying the user terminal 1 of the above information, or may transmit the location providing information to the user terminal 1 when the user agrees to the notified content.

[0051] When the determination unit 332 determines that the desired drug cannot be secured at the desired store, the presentation unit 333 presents to the user information that the desired store does not have the desired drug in stock, according to the result of the determination by the determination unit 332. When the desired store does not have the desired drug in stock that can be secured for the user, the presentation unit 333 may present to the user alternative information that is information that can substitute for the content specified by the user.

[0052] The presentation unit 333 presents, for example, as alternative information, nearby stores where the desired drug can be newly obtained to the user. The nearby stores are stores that are located relatively close to the desired store among one or more stores that sell the desired drug.

[0053] Specifically, first, when it is determined that the desired medicine cannot be secured at the desired store, the determination unit 332 identifies a nearby store. For example, the determination unit 332 refers to store-related information and map information stored in the storage unit 32, and identifies, as nearby stores, stores that are located within a predetermined threshold distance (e.g., within 500 meters) from the desired store, stores that are located in the same area (e.g., city, ward, town, village, etc.) as the desired store, or stores that are closest to the desired store.

[0054] The determination unit 332 determines whether the desired drug can be newly secured at a nearby store based on the inventory of the desired drug at the identified nearby store and the number of the desired drug secured at the nearby store in response to permission for purchase of the desired drug by a predetermined qualified person. Note that, if the determination unit 332 determines that the desired drug cannot be secured at the first nearby store, it may further widen the range and determine whether the desired drug can be newly secured at a second nearby store identified.

[0055] When the determination unit 332 determines that the desired drug can be secured at a nearby store, the presentation unit 333 presents the user with information indicating that the desired drug can be secured at the nearby store. In this way, the information processing device 3 can save the user the trouble of searching for a store that has the desired drug in stock.

[0056] The presentation unit 333 may present information on common drugs to the user as alternative information. Common drugs are drugs different from the desired drug but similar to the desired drug, such as drugs with the same efficacy as the desired drug or drugs containing the same ingredients as the desired drug.

[0057] Specifically, when the determination unit 332 determines that the desired medicine cannot be secured at the desired store, the determination unit 332 first identifies a common medicine. For example, the determination unit 332 refers to information about medicines stored in the storage unit 32 and identifies a common medicine that corresponds to the desired medicine.

[0058] The determination unit 332 determines whether a new common drug can be secured at the desired store based on the inventory quantity of the identified common drug and the number of common drugs secured at the desired store in response to permission for purchase of the common drug by a predetermined qualified person. Then, when the determination unit 332 determines that the common drug can be secured at the desired store, the presentation unit 333 presents to the user information indicating that the common drug can be secured at the desired store. In this way, the information processing device 3 can save the user the trouble of searching for other drugs similar to the desired drug from among the desired drugs in stock at the desired store.

[0059] The presentation unit 333 presents the site providing information to the user when the user accepts the presented substitution information. For example, when the user first performs an operation to accept the substitution content indicated by the substitution information on the user terminal 1 on which the substitution information is displayed, the reception unit 331 accepts the nearby store presented by the presentation unit 333 as the desired store or the common drug presented by the presentation unit 333 as the desired drug. Then, the presentation unit 333 transmits the site providing information to the user terminal 1.

[0060] After the presentation unit 333 presents the opportunity provision information to the user, the acquisition unit 334 acquires from the predetermined qualified person a judgment result as to whether or not to permit the user to purchase the desired drug. For example, first, after the predetermined qualified person conducts an online interview with the user, the predetermined qualified person inputs the judgment result into the qualified person terminal 2, and the qualified person terminal 2 transmits result information including the judgment result input by the predetermined qualified person to the information processing device 3. The result information may further include the user ID, the ID of the desired drug, and the ID of the desired store. Then, the acquisition unit 334 acquires the judgment result from the predetermined qualified person by acquiring the result information from the qualified person terminal 2.

[0061] When the acquisition unit 334 acquires a determination result indicating that the user is permitted to purchase the desired medicine, the reservation processing unit 335 executes reservation processing to reserve the desired medicine provided by the desired store to the user. As the reservation processing, for example, the reservation processing unit 335 associates the user ID, the desired store ID, the desired medicine ID, and the desired quantity included in the result information and stores them in the reservation management database.

[0062] Furthermore, as a reservation process, the reservation processing unit 335, for example, notifies the user terminal 1 of a code image indicating a pickup code for the user to receive the desired drug at the desired store, the code image including the ID of the desired store, the ID of the desired drug, the user's ID, etc. Furthermore, as a reservation process, the reservation processing unit 335, for example, notifies the desired store of reservation information for reserving stock of the desired drug for the user, the code image including the ID of the desired store, the ID of the desired drug, the user's ID, etc.

[0063] When the acquisition unit 334 acquires a determination result indicating that the user is permitted to purchase the desired drug after executing the temporary reservation process, the reservation processing unit 335 executes a reservation process corresponding to the desired drug reserved by the temporary reservation process. As the reservation process, for example, the reservation processing unit 335 changes the reservation status associated with the user ID, desired store ID, and desired drug ID included in the result information acquired by the acquisition unit 334 in the reservation management database to information indicating that the desired drug is reserved at the desired store. In this way, the information processing device 3 can provide the user with the desired drug that has been temporarily reserved at the desired store.

[0064] The reservation processing unit 335 may execute a cancellation process to cancel the temporary reservation of the desired drug made by the temporary reservation process when the acquisition unit 334 acquires a determination result indicating that the user is not permitted to purchase the desired drug after executing the temporary reservation process. As the cancellation process, for example, the reservation processing unit 335 deletes, from the reservation management database, a record corresponding to the combination of the user ID, the desired store ID, and the desired drug ID included in the result information acquired by the acquisition unit 334.

[0065] As a cancellation process, the reservation processing unit 335 may change the reservation status associated with the user ID, the desired store ID, and the desired drug ID included in the result information acquired by the acquisition unit 334 in the reservation management database to information indicating that the temporary reservation of the desired drug at the desired store is to be canceled. In this way, the information processing device 3 can treat the temporarily reserved drug as store inventory.

[0066] When the information processing device 3 receives a designation of multiple desired medicines of different types from the user, the information processing device 3 may execute a reservation process according to the judgment result of a predetermined qualified person. Specifically, the information processing device 3 executes the reservation process according to the judgment result of the predetermined qualified person by executing the following four steps.

[0067] In a first step, the receiving unit 331 receives a designation of multiple desired medicines, each of which is different in type. Specifically, the receiving unit 331 receives a designation of multiple desired medicines, a designation of the desired quantity of each desired medicine, and a desired store. The receiving unit 331 may also receive a designation of a desired store for each desired medicine.

[0068] In a second step, the determination unit 332 determines whether or not the desired medicine can be newly secured at the desired store for each desired medicine whose designation has been accepted by the acceptance unit 331.

[0069] As a third step, before the acquisition unit 334 acquires the judgment result, the reservation processing unit 335 executes a temporary reservation process for each desired medicine that the determination unit 332 determines can be reserved at the desired store.

[0070] As a fourth step, after an online interview regarding multiple desired medicines is conducted between the user and a specified qualified person in response to the presentation unit 333 presenting the venue information to the user, when the acquisition unit 334 acquires a judgment result indicating that the user is permitted to purchase one of the multiple desired medicines, the reservation processing unit 335 executes a reservation process in accordance with the judgment result of the specified qualified person.

[0071] Specifically, the reservation processing unit 335 performs reservation processing for a desired drug that a predetermined qualified person has authorized for purchase among the multiple desired drugs. Also, the reservation processing unit 335 performs cancellation processing for a desired drug that a predetermined qualified person has not authorized for purchase among the multiple desired drugs. In this way, the information processing device 3 can increase the probability that the user will be able to purchase one of the multiple desired drugs even if the user is authorized for purchase.

[0072] [Processing of information processing device 3] Next, a description will be given of the flow of processing executed by the information processing device 3. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the information processing device 3. This processing starts when the receiving unit 331 receives, from the user, a designation of a desired medicine and a desired store (S1).

[0073] The determination unit 332 determines whether the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store based on the inventory of the desired drug at the desired store and the number of desired drugs secured at the desired store in response to a predetermined qualified person granting permission for another user to purchase the desired drug (S2). If the determination unit 332 determines that the desired drug cannot be newly secured at the desired store (NO in S2), the notification unit 333 notifies the user that the desired store does not have the desired drug in stock (S3).

[0074] On the other hand, if the determination unit 332 determines that the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store (YES in S2), the presentation unit 333 presents the location provision information to the user (S4). After the presentation unit 333 presents the location provision information to the user, the acquisition unit 334 acquires a determination result from a predetermined qualified person as to whether or not to permit the user to purchase the desired drug (S5).

[0075] The reservation processing unit 335 determines whether the determination result acquired by the acquisition unit 334 indicates that the user is permitted to purchase the desired medicine (S6). If the reservation processing unit 335 determines that the determination result acquired by the acquisition unit 334 does not indicate that the user is permitted to purchase the desired medicine (NO in S6), it terminates the processing. On the other hand, if the reservation processing unit 335 determines that the determination result acquired by the acquisition unit 334 indicates that the user is permitted to purchase the desired medicine (YES in S6), it executes reservation processing to reserve the desired medicine provided by the desired store to the user (S7).

[0076] [Effects of this embodiment] As described above, when the information processing device 3 receives a designation of a desired drug and a desired store from a user, it first determines whether the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store, and if it determines that the desired drug can be secured at the desired store, it presents the location provision information to the user. After presenting the location provision information to the user, if the determination result obtained from a predetermined qualified person indicates that the user is permitted to purchase the desired drug, the information processing device 3 executes a securing process to secure the desired drug provided by the desired store for the user. In this way, the information processing device 3 can increase the probability that the user can purchase the desired drug. Furthermore, the information processing device 3 can save the user the trouble of checking the inventory of the desired drug after visiting the desired store.

[0077] Furthermore, this invention will make it possible to contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and promote innovation and resilience."

[0078] The present invention has been described above using embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by functionally or physically distributing or integrating any unit. Furthermore, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combination also have the effects of the original embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 1. User terminal 2. Qualified Person Terminal 3. Information processing equipment 31 Communications Department 32 Storage section 33 Control Unit 331 Reception Department 332 Judgment section 333 Presentation section 334 Acquisition Department 335 Securement Processing Unit S Information Processing System

Claims

1. a reception unit that receives from a user a designation of a desired drug that the user wishes to purchase and that requires purchase permission from a predetermined qualified person, and a designation of a desired store that sells the desired drug and from which the user wishes to purchase the desired drug; a determination unit that determines whether the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store based on the inventory of the desired drug at the desired store and the number of the desired drug secured at the desired store in response to the authorization of the predetermined qualified person to purchase the desired drug; a presentation unit that presents to the user, when the determination unit determines that the desired drug can be secured at the desired store, opportunity provision information for providing a communication opportunity set up for the predetermined qualified person to determine whether or not to permit the user to purchase the desired drug; An information processing device having the above.

2. When the determination unit determines that the desired drug cannot be secured at the desired store, the presentation unit presents to the user that the desired store does not have the desired drug in stock. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. When it is determined that the desired drug cannot be secured at the desired store, the determination unit determines whether the desired drug can be newly secured at the nearby store based on the number of the desired drug in stock at a nearby store that is located relatively close to the desired store among the one or more stores that sell the desired drug, and the number of the desired drug secured at the nearby store in response to permission to purchase the desired drug by the predetermined qualified person; the presentation unit presents to the user, when the determination unit determines that the desired medicine can be secured at the nearby store, information indicating that the desired medicine can be secured at the nearby store. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. The venue information is information for the user and the predetermined qualified person to conduct an online interview. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. The reception unit further receives a desired number, which is the number of the desired medicines that the customer wishes to purchase, The determination unit determines that the desired drug can be secured at the desired store when the available number calculated by subtracting the number of the desired drug in stock at the desired store by the number of the desired drug secured at the desired store in response to the authorization of the purchase of the desired drug by the predetermined qualified person is equal to or greater than the desired number. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. The information processing device further includes a reservation processing unit that, when the determination unit determines that the desired drug can be secured at the desired store before the predetermined qualified person determines whether or not to permit the user to purchase the desired drug, executes a temporary reservation process to temporarily reserve the desired drug to be provided by the desired store to the user until the predetermined qualified person determines whether or not to permit the user to purchase the desired drug. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

7. The reservation processing unit executes a cancellation process for canceling the temporary reservation of the desired medicine by the temporary reservation process when the predetermined qualified person determines that the user is not permitted to purchase the desired medicine. The information processing device according to claim 6 .

8. The reception unit receives designations of a plurality of desired medicines each of which is different in type, The determination unit determines whether or not the desired medicine can be newly secured at the desired store for each desired medicine whose designation has been accepted by the acceptance unit, The reservation processing unit executes the temporary reservation process for each of the desired medicines that the determination unit determines can be reserved at the desired store before the predetermined qualified person determines whether or not to permit the user to purchase the desired medicine. The information processing device according to claim 7 .

9. The determination unit further determines whether the desired medicine can be newly secured at the desired store based on the number of the desired medicines temporarily secured at the desired store. The information processing device according to claim 6 .

10. The determination unit further determines whether the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store based on the number of the desired drug that is scheduled to arrive at the desired store by a securing deadline that is predetermined as a deadline for securing the desired drug. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

11. When it is determined that the desired drug cannot be secured at the desired store, the determination unit determines whether or not the common drug can be newly secured at the desired store based on the number of common drugs in stock at the desired store that are different from the desired drug and have the same efficacy as the desired drug, and the number of common drugs secured at the desired store in response to the predetermined qualified person's permission to purchase the common drug; the presentation unit presents to the user, when the determination unit determines that the common medicine can be secured at the desired store, information indicating that the common medicine can be secured at the desired store. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

12. The computer executes A step of receiving from a user a designation of a desired drug that the user wishes to purchase and that requires purchase permission from a predetermined qualified person, and a designation of a desired store that sells the desired drug and from which the user wishes to purchase the desired drug; a step of determining whether the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store based on the inventory of the desired drug at the desired store and the number of the desired drug secured at the desired store in response to the authorization of the predetermined qualified person to purchase the desired drug; When it is determined that the desired drug can be secured at the desired store, presenting the user with information on providing a communication forum for the predetermined qualified person to determine whether or not to permit the user to purchase the desired drug; An information processing method comprising:

13. Computer, a reception unit that receives from the user a designation of a desired drug that the user wishes to purchase and that requires purchase permission from a predetermined qualified person, and a designation of a desired store that sells the desired drug and from which the user wishes to purchase the desired drug; a determination unit that determines whether the desired drug can be newly secured at the desired store based on the inventory of the desired drug at the desired store and the number of the desired drug secured at the desired store in response to the authorization for purchase of the desired drug by the predetermined qualified person; and a presentation unit that presents to the user, when the determination unit determines that the desired drug can be secured at the desired store, opportunity provision information for providing a communication opportunity set up so that the predetermined qualified person can determine whether or not to permit the user to purchase the desired drug; A program to function as a

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