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

Abstract

To recognize behavior of a user about a product.SOLUTION: An information processing system includes user terminals carried by users, communication devices each of which is attached to a product in a store and includes a sensor to detect person's touch to the product and a storage unit to store unique identification information, and an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with the user terminals. The information processing apparatus has a control unit. If a device having sensed a touch, which is a communication device having detected person's touch to a corresponding product, exists in the store, the control unit associates user information of a user terminal being in the vicinity of the device having sensed a touch and identification information of the device having sensed a touch with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, various proposals have been made for collecting marketing data that can be reflected in sales promotions based on POS data and customer information of retail stores. For example, a server is known that includes a member customer database that holds the attributes of individual member customers, a user database that holds information related to members who have applied for service provision, and a POS database that stores POS data for each retail store, and that extracts combinations of simultaneously purchased items that show a strong correlation between the calendar information and the simultaneously purchased items by associating the combinations with the calendar information (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-094592 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Retail store POS data only provides information about products that customers purchased, but not about products that customers did not purchase. For example, if a customer did not purchase a product, POS data cannot tell whether the customer had no interest in the product at all, or whether they showed interest but did not purchase it. However, such information can be useful marketing information for product manufacturers.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to understand user behavior regarding products. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention includes a user terminal carried by a user, a communication device having a sensor attached to a product in a store that detects human contact with the product and a memory unit that stores unique identification information, and an information processing device that can communicate with the user terminal, wherein the information processing device detects a detected device that is a communication device that detected human contact with the product and is present in the store, and the user terminal has been in contact with the detected device for a predetermined period of time or more. detection a control unit that associates user information of the user terminal located near the detected device with identification information of the detected device when the user terminal is located near the detected device; The control unit further determines that the user has purchased a product attached to the detected device when the user terminal and the detected device are located outside the store, associates user information of the user terminal with identification information of the detected device, and provides predetermined information about the product to the user terminal when the purchased product satisfies a predetermined end-of-use condition. It is an information processing system. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, it becomes possible to understand user behavior regarding products. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a system configuration when a user is inside a store in the user behavior understanding system of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exemplary communication device. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a floor plan of an exemplary store. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a system configuration in a user behavior grasping system according to a first embodiment when a user is at home. [Figure 5] 1 is a block diagram of each device included in a user behavior understanding system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 is a block diagram of each device included in a user behavior understanding system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data configuration of a user position data set. [Figure 8]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a product database. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data configuration of a user profile database. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data configuration of a user behavior database. [Figure 11] 4 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the user behavior grasping system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] 4 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the user behavior grasping system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] 4 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the user behavior grasping system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating a system configuration when a user is inside a store in the user behavior grasping system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating a system configuration in a user behavior grasping system according to a second embodiment when a user is at home. [Figure 16] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of each device included in the user behavior understanding system of the second embodiment. [Figure 17] 10 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the user behavior grasping system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 18] 10 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the user behavior grasping system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 19] 10 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the user behavior grasping system according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A user behavior tracking system, which is one embodiment of an information processing system according to the present disclosure, will be described below with reference to the drawings. The user behavior tracking system is configured to be able to track user behavior regarding products, for example, in a retail store such as a supermarket or a general merchandise store, or in the user's own home (domestic). The user behavior tracking system acquires user location information based on radio waves emitted by user terminals carried by users in the store. Products sold in the store are equipped with communication devices equipped with sensors that detect human contact. The user behavior tracking system identifies the communication device that detected human contact (detected device) from among the communication devices attached to products in the store, and associates the user information (user ID, etc.) of the user terminal located near the detected device with the identification information of the detected device. This allows the system to recognize whether or not a customer in the store has picked up a specific product. Since a product picked up by a customer in the store is likely to be of interest to the customer, useful marketing data can be obtained by associating the product with the user's profile. In addition, in one embodiment of the user behavior tracking system, when a user purchases a product that has a detected device attached, it is possible to detect the user's contact with the purchased product, thereby making it possible to understand how the user uses the purchased product within the home.

[0010] (1) First embodiment (1-1) System Configuration of the User Behavior Tracking System of the Present Embodiment First, the system configuration of a user behavior grasping system 1A of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a user behavior tracking system 1A according to the present embodiment. In Fig. 1, the user behavior tracking system 1A according to the present embodiment is implemented to track the behavior of users in a store that sells consumer goods such as cosmetics and seasonings. Each product in the store is equipped with a communication device 7A for detecting human contact. In the following description, a communication device that detects human contact may be referred to as a "detected device."

[0011] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary communication device 7A. The communication device 7A is a thin-film device having a control unit 71 configured with an IC chip, a contact detection unit 72 that functions as a sensor for detecting human contact, and a wireless tag 73A. The control unit 71 and the wireless tag 73A function as passive or active tags. The form of the communication device 7A can be adapted to the shape of a product, for example. In the following description, reading the wireless tag 73A of the communication device 7A is simply synonymous with reading the communication device 7A, as appropriate.

[0012] The control unit 71 has a built-in memory in which a device ID (an example of unique identification information) that identifies the communication device 7 A is written. The control unit 71 has a microcontroller and monitors the detection value by the contact detection unit 72.

[0013] When the communication device 7A functions as a passive tag, the control unit 71 causes a transmission signal including a device ID and information indicating whether human contact has been detected to be included in the reflected wave from the wireless tag 73A in response to the radio wave from the in-store reader device 6. When the communication device 7A functions as an active tag, the control unit 71 causes a transmission signal including a device ID and information indicating whether human contact has been detected to be included in the transmitted radio wave.

[0014] The contact detection unit 72 may be any type of sensor as long as it can detect human contact. For example, a capacitance sensor that detects a change in capacitance between electrodes due to human contact can be used, but this is not limiting; an acceleration sensor, a pressure sensor, or the like can also be used. For example, if the contact detection unit 72 is an acceleration sensor, the acceleration detected when the product is lifted will exceed a predetermined value, making it possible to detect that the user has grasped the product, i.e., human contact. The wireless tag 73A is an RFID tag configured to perform wireless communication in the UHF band (860 to 960 MHz), for example.

[0015] Although there are no restrictions on the position where communication device 7A is attached to the product, it is preferable that it be attached to a position where a user will come into contact with the product when picking it up. For example, in the case of a container-type product containing contents such as cosmetics, communication device 7A is preferably attached to the grip or lid of the container body.

[0016] 2, the contact detection unit 72 includes a first detection unit 72a, a second detection unit 72b, and a third detection unit 72c. The first detection unit 72a, the second detection unit 72b, and the third detection unit 72c are provided in the sensor arrangement unit 70 of the communication device 7A, and each independently detects human contact. Although it is not essential that the contact detection unit 72 has multiple independent detection units, providing multiple independent detection units enables opening detection. For example, in the case of a container-type product, by attaching the sensor arrangement unit 70 to the lid, it is possible to configure it so that it can detect that the lid has been removed from the container body (i.e., opening).

[0017] 2, the first detection unit 72a and the second detection unit 72b of the sensor arrangement unit 70 are arranged in the lid, and the third detection unit 72c of the sensor arrangement unit 70 is arranged in the container body. As a result, when the lid is removed from the container body for the first time, the wiring connecting the third detection unit 72c and the control unit 71 is broken, and the control unit 71 can detect that the product has been opened due to the occurrence of this break. If the wiring connecting the third detection unit 72c and the control unit 71 is broken, the third detection unit 72c will no longer be able to detect human contact, but the first detection unit 72a and the second detection unit 72b will be able to continue to detect human contact because there is no break in the wiring between them and the control unit 71.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3 as an example, an in-store reader device 6 is placed on each product shelf SH in the store. The in-store reader device 6 receives radio waves from the communication device 7A attached to each product placed on the corresponding product shelf SH, and acquires information from the communication device 7A. The in-store reader device 6 has a memory that stores the device ID of the communication device 7A placed on the corresponding product shelf SH. Based on a transmission signal from the communication device 7A placed on the corresponding product shelf SH, the in-store reader device 6 notifies the edge device 4 of the device ID of each communication device 7A and information regarding whether or not each communication device 7A has been touched by a person.

[0019] For example, when a customer picks up an item from the product shelf SH or takes the item to the cash register to purchase it, the in-store reader device 6 cannot receive the transmission signal from the communication device 7A attached to the item, and is unable to notify the edge device 4 of the device ID of the communication device 7A, thereby realizing that the item has disappeared from the product shelf SH.

[0020] The location within the store where the in-store reader device 6 is placed is not limited to the product shelf SH, but may also be a regular cash register (manned cash register) where store staff processes payments within the store, a self-checkout cash register where customers themselves perform the payment processing, or a designated location outside the store. For example, referring to Figure 3, in addition to an in-store reader device 6 being installed on each product shelf SH in the sales floor, an in-store reader device 6 is installed in the cash register zone RZ, and in-store reader devices 6 are installed in entrance / exit zones Z1 and Z2, which are essentially outside the store. By placing an in-store reader device 6 at the cash register or entrance / exit zone, when a customer takes a product to the cash register or purchases the product and takes it out of the store, the in-store reader device 6 can receive a signal transmitted from the communication device 7A attached to the product, thereby determining that the product is at the cash register or entrance / exit. By associating the location of the product with the user's location information, it is possible to understand the user's product-related behavior (for example, whether the user picked up the product and then returned it to the shelf, or whether the user picked up the product and then purchased it, etc.).

[0021] The user terminal 2 carried by the user may be, but is not limited to, a smartphone or tablet terminal, or may be a laptop personal computer. A user application is installed on the user terminal 2. The user application on the user terminal 2 can communicate with the application server 5 via the network NW. The network NW is not limited to, but may be, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), the Internet, or the like. In one embodiment, the user terminal 2 is configured to function as, for example, a BLE tag by executing a user application. At this time, the beacon signal transmitted by the user terminal 2 includes a user ID (an example of user information) that identifies the user on the user application. BLE is an abbreviation for Bluetooth Low Energy, a communication standard of Bluetooth (registered trademark) that supports power saving. When functioning as a BLE tag, the user terminal 2 transmits a BLE beacon (hereinafter referred to as a "beacon signal").

[0022] One or more receivers 3 (locators) are placed in the store to identify the location within the store of the user terminal 2. The receivers 3 are installed, for example, on the ceiling CE of the store, receive beacon signals transmitted from user terminals 2 moving within the store, and measure the angle of incidence of the radio waves of the beacon signals.

[0023] The edge device 4 is an example of an information processing device and a position identification device installed in a store, and the edge device 4 can communicate with each in-store reader device 6 and each in-store receiver 3 via a wired or wireless in-store LAN. The edge device 4 can also communicate with an application server 5 via a network NW. The edge device 4 may be, for example, a general-purpose computer device. The edge device 4 identifies the position (planar position) of the user terminal 2 within the store using the AOA (Angle of Arrival) method based on the angle of incidence measured by the receiver 3. Note that the receiver 3 may be installed behind the ceiling CE, unlike the case in FIG.

[0024] Although it is possible to estimate the position of the user terminal 2 using just one receiver 3, it is preferable to install more receivers 3 in order to improve positioning accuracy, depending on the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the beacon signal transmitted from the user terminal 2, the store area, and the radio wave environment of the store. Note that the method for locating the position of the user terminal 2 is not limited to the AOA method, and other methods such as the TOA (Time of Arrival) method may also be used.

[0025] The edge device 4 transmits a contact notification and a purchase notification to the application server 5 based on the device ID of each communication device 7A and information on whether or not there has been human contact, received from each in-store reader device 6, and the location information of each user in the store. The contact notification notifies the user that they have come into contact with the communication device 7A, and includes the user ID and device ID. The purchase notification notifies the user that they have purchased a product to which the communication device 7A is attached, and includes the user ID and device ID.

[0026] The application server 5 executes processing in response to a request from a user application of the user terminal 2, and provides a predetermined service to the user terminal 2. For example, when the application server 5 receives a contact notification from the edge device 4, it provides detailed information about a product to which the communication device 7A with the device ID included in the contact notification is attached, to the user application with the user ID included in the contact notification. As will be described later, the application server 5 stores a product database in which product codes that identify products are associated with the device IDs of the communication devices 7A attached to the products. The application server 5 may provide an electronic coupon to the user application depending on the user's usage of the product.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating the system configuration of the user behavior understanding system 1A in a situation after a user purchases a product at a store and takes the product home. As in FIG. 1, even when the user is at home, the user terminal 2 can communicate with the application server 5 via the network NW. In this embodiment, a home reader device 8 is provided in the home of the user U. The home reader device 8 can communicate with the application server 5 via the network NW. Such a home reader device 8 is provided to keep track of the usage status of the user U for the purchased products, and may be loaned to the user by the store.

[0028] The home reader device 8 receives radio waves from the communication device 7A attached to a product that the user U uses at home, and notifies the application server 5 via the network NW every time it acquires information from the communication device 7A. Because the user comes into contact with the product every time he or she uses it, it is possible to know the number of times and frequency of use of the product by the user based on the information from the communication device 7A.

[0029] (1-2) Configuration of each device in the user behavior understanding system 1A Next, the configuration of each device of the user behavior understanding system 1A will be described with reference to FIGS. Both Figures 5 and 6 are block diagrams of each device included in the user behavior understanding system 1A of this embodiment, but Figure 5 is the part of the user behavior understanding system 1A that corresponds to Figure 1, and Figure 6 is the part of the user behavior understanding system 1A that corresponds to Figure 4.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 5, the user terminal 2 includes, for example, a control unit 21, an operation input unit 22, a display unit 23, a first communication unit 24, a second communication unit 25, and a GPS receiver 26.

[0031] The control unit 21 is mainly configured with a microprocessor and controls the entire user terminal 2. For example, the control unit 21 executes a user application. The user application, for example, communicates with the application server 5 to obtain information about products and display the information on the display unit 23. The user application controls the first communication unit 24 so that the user terminal 2 functions as a BLE tag. When the user application communicates with the application server 5, it is associated with a user ID corresponding to the user terminal 2.

[0032] The operation input unit 22 is an input interface that accepts operation inputs from a user in order to execute various programs, and may be a touch panel input unit provided on the display panel of the display unit 23. The display unit 23 includes a display panel such as an LCD and a drive circuit for the display panel, and displays the results of the program executed by the control unit 21.

[0033] The first communication unit 24, for example, performs wireless communication with other devices over a narrower communication range than the second communication unit 25, and transmits the above-mentioned beacon signal. The beacon signal includes a user ID corresponding to the user application. The second communication unit 25 is a communication interface for communicating with the application server 5 via, for example, a mobile communication network and / or a network NW (not shown).

[0034] The GPS receiver 26 is configured to receive a GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) signal and determine the position of the user terminal 2.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 5, the receiver 3 is mainly configured with a microprocessor, and includes a radio wave receiving unit 31, an incident angle measuring unit 32, and a communication unit 33. The radio wave receiving unit 31 includes an antenna that receives a beacon signal (radio wave) transmitted from the user terminal 2. The incident angle measuring unit 32 measures the incident angle of the radio wave received by the radio wave receiving unit 31 from the user terminal 2 . The communication unit 33 is an interface for communicating with the user terminal 2 and the edge device 4. For example, the communication unit 33 demodulates a signal received from the user terminal 2. The communication unit 33 also transmits information about the angle of incidence measured by the incident angle measurement unit 32 to the edge device 4 in association with the device ID included in the beacon signal. Note that communication between the receiver 3 and the edge device 4 may be wired or wireless.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 5, the edge device 4 includes a control unit 41, a storage 42, and a communication unit 43. The control unit 41 is mainly configured with a microprocessor, and controls the entire edge device 4 . The storage 42 includes a large-scale storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), and stores a store map and a user position data set (user position DS). The communication unit 43 includes a communication interface for communicating with the receiver 3 and the in-store reader device 6 via, for example, an in-store LAN, and a communication interface for communicating with the application server 5 via the network NW.

[0037] For example, the control unit 41 functions as a position determination unit by causing the microprocessor to execute a predetermined program. That is, the position determination unit determines the position of the user terminal 2 based on information about the angle of incidence of the beacon signal received from the receiver 3. More specifically, when the AOA method is used, as described above, the position of the user terminal 2 within the store area (the position in XY coordinates on the store floor) is determined (located) over time based on the known position of the receiver 3 within the store (the position in three-dimensional coordinates based on a predetermined position in the store) and information about the angle of incidence (the direction of arrival of the radio waves from the user terminal 2) successively acquired from the receiver 3. The positioning interval of the user terminal 2 may be set arbitrarily, but is set to a time required to accurately determine the position of the user terminal 2 (for example, several hundred milliseconds or less).

[0038] The control unit 41 has, for example, a real-time clock as a timekeeping means. The control unit 41 sequentially records, for each user ID, location data indicating the location of the user terminal 2 relative to the time when positioning was performed (positioning time) in a user location data set in the storage 42. An example of the data configuration of the user location data set is shown in FIG.

[0039] In the control unit 41, the microprocessor executes a predetermined program to perform a process of associating the user ID with the device ID of the communication device 7A attached to the product in the store. The process of associating a user ID with a device ID includes (I) a contact-based association process and (II) a purchase-based association process.

[0040] (I) Contact matching The contact matching process is a process that matches the user ID of a user terminal 2 located near the detected device 7A with the device ID of the detected device 7A when a detected device 7A that has detected a person touching a product is present in a store. For example, the control unit 41 determines whether a detected device, which is a communication device 7A that detected a human touching a commodity, is present in the store based on information from each in-store reader device 6 in the store. If a detected device is present in the store, the control unit 41 refers to the user location dataset and determines whether a user terminal 2 with any user ID is located near the detected device.

[0041] The store map stored in the storage 52 describes the location information of each in-store reader device 6 in the store. The location of a detected device can be considered to be the same as the location of the in-store reader device 6 placed on the product shelf SH where the detected device is managed. Therefore, the control unit 41 can compare the location of the detected device with the location of the user terminal 2 corresponding to the user ID at the same time, and determine whether the user terminal 2 of any user ID is located near the detected device. Here, the degree to which the user terminal 2 must be close to the detected device to be determined as being "near the detected device" can be determined by comparing the distance between the user terminal 2 and the detected device with a predetermined value that is set to prevent erroneous detection, taking into account, for example, the distance between adjacent product shelves in a store. In this case, if the distance is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the user terminal 2 is determined to be near the detected device. If multiple user terminals 2 are near the detected device, the user terminal 2 with the closest distance can be identified. The user terminal 2 may be identified based on the stay time of the user terminal 2 located near the detected device. For example, it is possible to identify a user terminal 2 that is located (stays) near a product shelf for a predetermined time or more, and not to identify a consumer terminal 2 that simply passes by the product shelf. In addition, the user terminal 2 may be identified based on the relationship between the detection time and the length of stay, such as whether the person has been near the product shelf for a predetermined period of time or more since the time when the communication device 7A detected the person's contact with the product.

[0042] When a detected device, which is a communication device that detected a human touch on a product, is present in the store, and the in-store reader device 6 becomes unable to read the detected device at substantially the same time, and the user terminal 2 located near the detected device moves away from the in-store reader device 6, the contact-based association process may be performed. In this case, it can be assumed that the product has been lifted into the air, i.e., grasped. This improves the accuracy of the contact-based association process. That is, even if a user simply touches a product or approaches the product, the communication device 7A of the product may detect human contact. In this case, there is a possibility that the user may be mistakenly determined to be interested in the product even when they are not actually interested in the product. Therefore, by determining whether the user reliably removed the product from the shelf (i.e., grasped the product) and then left the shelf together with the product, it is possible to more reliably determine whether the user is interested in the product.

[0043] As a result of the association process based on the contact, the control unit 41 transmits to the application server 5 a contact notification including the associated user ID and device ID.

[0044] (II) Purchasing Matching The purchase matching process is a process in which, when the user terminal 2 and the detected device are located outside the store, it is determined that the product attached to the detected device was purchased by the user who owns the user terminal 2, and the user ID of the user terminal 2 is matched with the device ID of the detected device. For example, if a user terminal 2 is located in the entrance / exit zones Z1 and Z2 (see FIG. 3) at the same time that a detected device is read by an in-store reader device 6 located in the entrance / exit zones Z1 and Z2, and the user ID of the user terminal 2 can be identified, it is determined that the user corresponding to the user ID has purchased the product to which the detected device is attached. In this case, the user ID is associated with the device ID of the detected device.

[0045] When purchasing a product, the user must pick up the product and pay at the register. Therefore, the accuracy of matching can be improved by adding the requirement that at least one of the following conditions (i) or (ii) be met as a judgment condition. (i) The same user ID and the same device ID have already been associated by contact. (ii) A user terminal 2 with the same user ID is located in the cash register zone RZ at the same time that the same detected device is read by the in-store reader device 6 located in the cash register zone RZ (see FIG. 3).

[0046] As a result of the association process due to the purchase, the control unit 41 transmits to the application server 5 a purchase notification including the associated user ID and device ID.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 5, the application server 5 includes, for example, a control unit 51, a storage 52, and a communication unit 53.

[0048] The control unit 51 is mainly configured with a microprocessor, and controls the entire application server 5 . The storage 52 includes a large-scale storage device such as an HDD, and stores a product database (product DB), a user profile database (user profile DB), and a user behavior database (user behavior DB), examples of which are shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, respectively. The communication unit 53 is a communication interface for communicating with the edge device 4 and the user terminal 2.

[0049] In the product database illustrated in FIG. 8, the device ID of the communication device 7A attached to a product, the product code of the product, and detailed product information (detailed product information) of the product are associated with each other.

[0050] The user profile database contains data such as the profile and attributes of each user who uses the store, and is prepared to reference the profile data of users who are interested in a particular product or who have purchased a particular product. By referencing the user profile, useful marketing information can be obtained. The user profile database illustrated in Figure 9 has values ​​for each field, such as "user ID," "name," "gender," "age," "address," and "occupation, etc." for each record, but each field can be added, changed, deleted, etc. as appropriate.

[0051] The user behavior database is a database that shows a list of contacted products and purchased products for each user. A contacted product refers to a product that a user has come into contact with. A contacted product is a product to which a communication device 7A with a device ID included in a contact notification is attached for a user with a user ID included in the contact notification received from the edge device 4. Since the product database associates device IDs with product codes, it is possible to identify the product code of a contacted product for a user ID. A purchased product means a product purchased by a user. A purchased product is a product to which a communication device 7A with a device ID included in a purchase notification is attached for a user with a user ID included in the purchase notification received from the edge device 4. Since the product database associates device IDs with product codes, it is possible to identify the product code of a purchased product for a user ID.

[0052] The user behavior database illustrated in Fig. 10 includes, for each user ID, the product code of the contacted product corresponding to the device ID and values ​​in the fields of contact date and time, purchase date and time, use date and time, and number of uses. The contact date and time and purchase date and time are, for example, the dates and times when the contact notification and purchase notification were received, but are not limited to this. If the edge device 4 transmits the contact notification and purchase notification together with the contact date and time and purchase date and time data, respectively, the date and time data included in the contact notification and purchase notification may be reflected in the user behavior database. In the user behavior database, a field for "frequency of use" may be provided in place of or in addition to the field for "number of times used."

[0053] In the control unit 51, the microprocessor executes a predetermined program to update the user behavior database based on contact notifications and purchase notifications received from the edge device 4, and usage notifications (described later) received from the home reader device 8.

[0054] 6, the home reader device 8 receives a transmission signal from the communication device 7A at the user's home, the transmission signal including a device ID and information indicating whether human contact has been detected. If the transmission signal includes information indicating whether human contact has been detected, the home reader device 8 transmits a usage notification including the user ID and device ID to the application server 5. Each home reader device 8 installed in the user's home is associated with the user ID of the user, and the usage notification transmitted from the home reader device 8 includes the user ID associated with the home reader device 8 that transmitted the notification.

[0055] When the control unit 51 of the application server 5 receives a usage notification from the user's home reader device 8, it updates the value of the "usage count" field corresponding to the user ID and device ID in the user behavior database. If the user behavior database has a "usage frequency" field, the control unit 51 updates the value of the "usage frequency" field based on the received usage notification.

[0056] In the control unit 51, the microprocessor executes the server program, and notifies the user application of the user terminal 2 of the execution result. For example, when a contact notification is received from the edge device 4, the product database (FIG. 8) is referenced and detailed product information of the product code corresponding to the device ID included in the contact notification is sent to the user application of the user ID included in the contact notification. This makes it possible to provide the user with timely information about products of interest that the user picked up in the store.

[0057] In one embodiment, the above-described association process based on purchase may be performed in the application server 5. For example, if the user terminal 2 and the detected device are located at a location that has been previously associated with a user ID, it may be determined that the product attached to the detected device was purchased by the user who owns the user terminal 2, and the user ID of the user terminal 2 may be associated with the device ID of the detected device. The "location pre-associated with a user ID" is, for example, the user's address included in the user profile database. In this case, the user application of the user terminal 2 transmits location information obtained by the GPS receiver 26 to the application server 5, for example, every time the application is started. Based on the location information of the user terminal 2 obtained from the user application, the application server 5 determines whether the user terminal 2 is located at the address of the corresponding user ID. Furthermore, when the application server 5 receives a usage notification from the home reader device 8, it can determine that the communication device 7A with the device ID included in the usage notification is located at the address corresponding to the user ID included in the usage notification.

[0058] (1-3) Operation of the user behavior tracking system according to this embodiment Next, the operation of the user behavior grasping system 1A of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Fig. 11 is a sequence chart showing the operation of user behavior tracking system 1A when a user picks up a product in a store and when the user purchases the product. Fig. 12 is a sequence chart different from Fig. 11 when application server 5 determines that the user has purchased a product. Fig. 13 is a sequence chart of user behavior tracking system 1A when monitoring the usage of a product after the user purchases it.

[0059] (A) In-store behavior (Fig. 11, Fig. 12) Within the store, an in-store reader device 6 corresponding to a product shelf sequentially notifies an edge device 4 of the device ID of each communication device 7A and information regarding whether or not a person has contacted each communication device 7A based on a transmission signal from the communication device 7A attached to each product placed on the product shelf.

[0060] When the edge device 4 identifies the device ID of the communication device 7A (detected device) that detected human contact (step S2), it refers to the user location data set to identify the user ID of the user who was closest to the location of the product shelf where the detected device is located at the same time (same timing) that the detected device detected human contact (step S4). For example, if there are multiple users near the detected device at that time, the edge device 4 identifies the user ID of the user who is closest to the detected device among the multiple users. The edge device 4 associates the device ID of the detected device with the identified user ID.

[0061] The edge device 4 transmits a contact notification including the associated user ID and device ID to the application server 5 (step S6). Upon receiving the contact notification, the application server 5 refers to the product database to identify the product code corresponding to the device ID included in the contact notification, and updates the user behavior database based on the user ID included in the contact notification and the identified product code (step S7). Specifically, the application server 5 writes values ​​in the fields of the device ID, the product code of the contacted product, and the contact date and time in a new record in the user behavior database.

[0062] Next, the application server 5 reads out the detailed product information corresponding to the product code of the contacted product from the product database and sends it to the user application of the corresponding user ID (step S8). The user application displays the detailed product information on the user terminal 2 (step S9). This allows the user to check the detailed product information of the product that they have picked up and are interested in in a timely manner.

[0063] Whether or not the user has purchased the product they picked up can be determined based on whether or not both the user and the product are located outside the store. That is, if the detected device identified in step S2 can be read by the in-store reader device 6 located in the entrance / exit zones Z1 and Z2 (see FIG. 3), which are essentially outside the store (step S10: YES), it is determined that the product to which the detected device is attached is outside the store. Also, if the user terminal 2 corresponding to the user ID identified in step S4 is located in the entrance / exit zones Z1 and Z2 at the same time that the detected device is read by the in-store reader device 6 in the entrance / exit zones Z1 and Z2, it is determined that the user corresponding to the user ID is also outside the store (step S12: YES). If it is determined that the user has purchased the product, the edge device 4 sends a purchase notification to the application server 5, including the user ID and the device ID of the detected device in association with each other (step S14).

[0064] Upon receiving the purchase notification, the application server 5 updates the user behavior database based on the user ID and device ID included in the purchase notification (step S16). Specifically, the application server 5 writes the product code of the purchased product and the purchase date and time into the user behavior database.

[0065] Fig. 12 shows another method for determining whether a user has purchased a product that the user picked up. In the determination method of Fig. 12, it is determined that the user has purchased the product when the user leaves the store and returns home with the product. As shown in Fig. 4, a home reader device 8 associated with the user ID is placed in the user's home. When the user returns home with the product purchased at the store, the user application of the user terminal 2 transmits the location information of the user terminal 2, which the user terminal 2 acquires from the GPS receiver 26, to the application server 5 (step S20). In addition, the home reader device 8 transmits the device ID read from the communication device 7A attached to the purchased product to the application server 5 (step S22).

[0066] If the location information of the user terminal 2 matches the address information recorded in the user profile database, the application server 5 determines that the user of the user terminal 2 is at home. It can also determine that the product with the product code corresponding to the device ID received from the user's home reader device 8 is at home. Therefore, if both the user and the product are at home (step S24: YES), it determines that the user has purchased the product, and updates the user behavior database (step S26). Specifically, the application server 5 writes the product code of the purchased product and the purchase date and time fields into the user behavior database.

[0067] (B) User's behavior at home (Figure 13) As described above, the communication device 7A attached to the product preferably has an opening detection function. By providing this function, the accurate start date of use can be determined even when the purchase date and the start date of use are far apart, such as when a user buys products in bulk. In the communication device 7A shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 71 determines that the product has been opened when it is no longer able to receive a signal from the third detection unit 72c located on the lid of the product. When the opening of the product is detected, the signal transmitted from the communication device 7A to the household reader device 8 includes information indicating that the opening has been detected.

[0068] When the home reader device 8 recognizes that the product has been opened based on a transmission signal from the communication device 7A attached to the product in the user's home (step S30: YES), it sends an opening notification (also called a "start of use notification") to the application server 5 (step S32). The opening notification includes the user ID and device ID. Upon receiving the opening notification, the application server 5 updates the user behavior database based on the user ID and device ID included in the opening notification (step S34). Specifically, it writes the value of the "usage date and time" field of the purchased product in the user behavior database.

[0069] When the communication device 7B attached to the product detects human contact (step S36: YES), the home reader device 8 transmits a usage notification to the application server 5 each time (step S38). That is, when a user touches the product while using it, the communication device 7A attached to the product detects human contact, and the signal transmitted from the communication device 7A to the home reader device 8 includes a device ID and information indicating that human contact has been detected. The home reader device 8 then transmits a usage notification including the user ID and device ID to the application server 5. Upon receiving the usage notification, the application server 5 updates the user behavior database (step S40). Specifically, the application server 5 writes a value into the "usage date and time" field for the purchased product in the user behavior database. Since the "usage date and time" field is updated each time the user uses the product, the application server 5 can obtain information on the number of times and / or frequency of use of the product by the user.

[0070] The processes of steps S36 to S40 are repeated unless a predetermined use end condition is met (step S42: NO). Here, the use end condition may be any condition that allows for the assumption that the use of the product has ended. For example, in the case of a container-type product containing contents such as cosmetics, the number of uses required to empty the container is statistically known depending on the amount of contents, so it can be determined that the use end condition has been met when the product has been used a predetermined number of times. Alternatively, it may be determined that the use end condition has been met when a predetermined number of days have passed since the most recent use notification was received and no new use notification has been received. This is because in this case, it is assumed that the user has discarded the product and the household reader device 8 is no longer able to receive notifications.

[0071] If the predetermined usage termination condition is met (step S42: YES), the application server 5 transmits, for example, an electronic coupon to the user application of the user terminal 2 (step S44). The electronic coupon (an example of predetermined information related to a product) is, for example, information for receiving a discount when purchasing a new product to replace a used product. By providing the electronic coupon to the user application, it is expected that the user will continue to purchase and use a specific product. The user application displays the received electronic coupon on the user terminal 2 (step S46). Note that what is provided in step S44 is not limited to an electronic coupon, and may be, for example, information about the release of a new product.

[0072] As described above, the user behavior tracking system 1A of this embodiment is configured such that a communication device 7A that detects human contact is attached to each product in a store, making it possible to recognize whether a specific user in the store has picked up the product. This makes it possible to determine what products end consumers (users) are interested in (are interested in) at a specific store. Furthermore, whether a user has purchased the product they picked up is determined based on an in-store reader device and the location information of each user, etc. This makes it possible to determine whether a store user ultimately purchased a product they picked up out of interest in, or whether they returned it to the shelf and did not purchase it. Therefore, the user behavior tracking system 1A can obtain useful marketing information based on the behavior of users in a store. Furthermore, according to the user behavior tracking system 1A of this embodiment, an in-home reader device installed in the user's home detects, from the product's communication device 7A in the home, when the user starts using the product and whether or not the user has touched the product, and notifies the application server 5 accordingly. This makes it possible to track the date and time when the user started using the product at home (timing when the product started to be used) and the number of times or frequency of use of the product (usage status). In other words, it is possible to track the actual usage of the product by a specific user, and obtain useful marketing information. Conventionally, when selling consumer goods, consumer goods manufacturers have faced the challenge of not having a way to understand what stores end consumers purchase their products from and how they use the purchased products. However, this challenge is solved by the user behavior understanding system 1A.

[0073] (2) Second embodiment Next, a user behavior understanding system 1B according to a second embodiment will be described. In describing this embodiment, parts common to the user behavior understanding system 1A of the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals and redundant description will be omitted.

[0074] (2-1) System Configuration of User Behavior Understanding System of Second Embodiment First, the system configuration of the user behavior understanding system 1B of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 14 to Fig. 16. Fig. 14 is a diagram schematically showing the system configuration of the user behavior understanding system 1A of this embodiment, and similar to Fig. 1, a scene is displayed in which a user U is present in a store where product shelves SH are arranged.

[0075] In the user behavior tracking system 1B, the communication device 7B attached to each product in the store is different from the communication device 7A in that it has a wireless communication function instead of a wireless tag. The wireless communication protocol is not limited, but is, for example, BLE. The configuration of the communication device 7B may be the same as that illustrated in FIG. 2, but the wireless tag 73A is not required, and instead a communication unit 73B for performing BLE communication is provided.

[0076] In this embodiment, the user terminal 2 is configured to directly perform wireless communication using BLE with the communication device 7B. That is, the user terminal 2 performs pairing using BLE with the communication device 7B located near the user terminal 2, and starts wireless communication. The wireless communication range using BLE is limited, and when the user terminal 2 is located within a range where wireless communication with the communication device 7B is possible, it can be determined that the user terminal 2 is located near the communication device 7B.

[0077] FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically illustrating the system configuration of the user behavior grasping system 1B in a situation after a user purchases a product at a store and takes the product home. As in FIG. 4, even when the user is at home, the user terminal 2 can communicate with the application server 5 via the network NW. In this embodiment, even at the user U's home, the communication device 7B attached to the product performs wireless communication with the user terminal 2, so that the home reader device 8 (see FIG. 4) is not required. In this embodiment, the application server 5 is an example of an information processing device.

[0078] FIG. 16 is a block diagram of each device included in a user behavior understanding system 1B of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, in this embodiment, wireless communication is performed between the second communication unit 25 of the user terminal 2 and the communication unit 73B of the communication device 7B, for example, by BLE.

[0079] 16, when communication device 7B detects human contact, it transmits the device ID and information indicating human contact to user terminal 2, and the user application of user terminal 2 transmits a contact notification to application server 5. Communication device 7B may be configured to start communication when the detection of human contact is used as a trigger. In addition, based on the location information obtained by the GPS receiver 26, the user application of the user terminal 2 sends a purchase notification to the application server 5 when the user terminal 2 is located outside the store and the communication device 7B is in a paired state (i.e., communication is established). When the user terminal 2 is located at home, if the user application of the user terminal 2 receives information indicating human contact from the communication device 7B, it sends a usage notification to the application server 5. As in the first embodiment, the contact notification, purchase notification, opening notification (notification of start of use), and usage notification each include a user ID and a device ID.

[0080] (2-2) Operation of the user behavior tracking system according to this embodiment Next, the operation of the user behavior grasping system 1B of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Fig. 17 is a sequence chart showing the operation of user behavior tracking system 1B when a user picks up a product in a store and when the user purchases the product. Fig. 18 is a sequence chart different from Fig. 17 when application server 5 determines that the user has purchased a product. Fig. 19 is a sequence chart of user behavior tracking system 1B when monitoring the usage of a product after the user purchases it.

[0081] (A) In-store behavior (Figures 17 and 18) When a communication device 7B attached to any product placed on a shelf in the store detects human contact, the user application on the user terminal 2 in the store receives from the communication device 7B the device ID and information indicating that human contact with the product has been detected (step S50: YES). The user terminal 2 pairs with the communication device 7B received in step S50 and establishes communication (step S52). The user application of the user terminal 2 sends a contact notification including the user ID and the device ID received in step S50 to the application server 5 (step S54). Note that if there are multiple users at the product shelf and each user has picked up a different product, the user application may be configured to obtain multiple product codes corresponding to the device IDs of the multiple communication devices 7B from the application server 5 and allow the user to select the product code of the product they picked up from the multiple product codes. This allows the user ID and device ID to be associated in each user application of the multiple users. When there are multiple users at a product shelf, the application server 5 may associate the user ID with the device ID based on the number of times or frequency that the user terminal 2 receives the device ID and information indicating that a person has touched a product from the communication device 7B, or the status of communication establishment between the user terminal 2 and the communication device 7B.

[0082] When the application server 5 receives the contact notification, it refers to the product database to identify the product code corresponding to the device ID included in the contact notification, and updates the user behavior database based on the user ID included in the contact notification and the identified product code (step S56). Specifically, it writes values ​​in the fields of the device ID, the product code of the contacted product, and the contact date and time in a new record in the user behavior database.

[0083] Next, the application server 5 reads out the detailed product information corresponding to the product code of the contacted product from the product database and sends it to the user application of the corresponding user ID (step S57). The user application displays the detailed product information on the user terminal 2 (step S58). This allows the user to check the detailed product information of the product that they have picked up and are interested in in a timely manner.

[0084] The determination of whether the user has purchased the product they picked up can be made based on whether the user and the product are both located outside the store. That is, if the user application determines that the user terminal 2 is located outside the store based on the location information acquired by the GPS receiver 26 (step S59: YES) and the communication device 7B is in a paired state (that is, communication is established), it sends a purchase notification to the application server 5 (step S62).

[0085] Upon receiving the purchase notification, the application server 5 updates the user behavior database based on the user ID and device ID included in the purchase notification (step S64). Specifically, the application server 5 writes the product code of the purchased product and the purchase date and time fields into the user behavior database.

[0086] Figure 18 shows another method for determining whether a user has purchased a product they picked up. In the method shown in Figure 18, it is determined that the user has purchased the product when they leave the store and return home with the product. When the user returns home with the product purchased at the store, the user application of the user terminal 2 transmits the location information of the user terminal 2, which the user terminal 2 acquires from the GPS receiver 26, to the application server 5 (step S72). The user application also transmits the device ID received from the communication device 7B attached to the purchased product to the application server 5 (step S74).

[0087] If the location information of the user terminal 2 matches the address information recorded in the user profile database, the application server 5 determines that the user of the user terminal 2 is at home. It can also determine that the product with the product code corresponding to the device ID received from the user's user application is at home. Therefore, if both the user and the product are at home (step S76: YES), it determines that the user has purchased the product, and updates the user behavior database (step S78). Specifically, it writes the product code of the purchased product and the purchase date and time fields into the user behavior database.

[0088] (B) User's behavior at home (Figure 19) As described above, the communication device 7B attached to the product preferably has an opening detection function, similar to the communication device 7A. When the opening of the product is detected, the signal transmitted from the communication device 7B to the user terminal 2 includes information indicating that the opening has been detected.

[0089] When the user application of the user terminal 2 recognizes that the product has been opened based on a transmission signal from the communication device 7B attached to the product in the user's home (step S82: YES), it sends an opening notification (notification of start of use) to the application server 5 (step S84). The opening notification includes the user ID and device ID. Upon receiving the opening notification, the application server 5 updates the user behavior database based on the user ID and device ID included in the opening notification (step S86). Specifically, in the user behavior database, it writes the value of the "use date and time" field of the purchased product as the start time of use.

[0090] Whenever the communication device 7B attached to the product detects human contact (step S88: YES), the user application receives from the communication device 7B the device ID and information indicating that human contact has been detected. The user application then sends a usage notification to the application server 5 (step S90). The usage notification includes the user ID and the device ID. Upon receiving the usage notification, the application server 5 updates the user behavior database (step S92). Specifically, the value of the "usage date and time" field for the purchased product is written into the user behavior database. Since the "usage date and time" field is updated each time the user uses the product, the application server 5 can obtain information on the number of times and / or frequency of use of the product by the user.

[0091] The processes of steps S88 to S92 are repeated unless a predetermined use termination condition is met (step S94: NO). If the predetermined use termination condition is met (step S92: YES), the application server 5 transmits, for example, an electronic coupon to the user application of the user terminal 2 (step S96). The user application displays the received electronic coupon on the user terminal 2 (step S98).

[0092] As described above, the user behavior tracking system 1B of this embodiment also provides the same effects as the user behavior tracking system 1A. That is, it is possible to understand what products end consumers (users) are interested in (are interested in) at a particular store, and to understand whether store customers ultimately purchased the products they were interested in and picked up, or whether they returned the products to the shelves and did not purchase them. Therefore, it is possible to obtain useful marketing information based on the behavior of users in a store. In addition, it is possible to know when a user starts using a product at home, as well as the number of times or frequency of use. In other words, it is possible to know the actual usage of a product by a specific user, and to obtain useful marketing information.

[0093] Although the information processing system, information processing device, information processing method, and program according to the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments can be improved, modified, and combined with each other without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0094] In the first embodiment, the in-store reader device 6 and the home reader device 8 are configured to read the wireless tag 73A of the communication device 7A, but this is not limitative. The communication device 7A and the in-store reader device 6, and the communication device 7A and the home reader device 8 may be configured to perform wireless communication using, for example, BLE.

[0095] In the above-described embodiment and variations, at least some of the functions of the application server 5 may be realized by software on the user terminal 2, or at least some of the functions of the user terminal 2 may be realized by software on the application server 5. Furthermore, the functions of the user terminal 2 and the functions of the application server 5 may be distributed between the user terminal 2 and the application server 5 as necessary. The functions executed by the application server 5 may be distributed and executed by multiple devices.

[0096] Similarly, at least a part of the functions of the application server 5 may be realized by software of the edge device 4, or at least a part of the functions of the edge device 4 may be realized by software of the application server 5. In this case, at least a part of the databases (e.g., product databases) stored in the application server 5 are also stored in the edge device 4. Furthermore, the functions of the edge device 4 and the functions of the application server 5 may be distributed and realized between the user terminal 2 and the application server 5 as necessary.

[0097] The communication device is not limited to those mentioned in the above-described embodiments. In one embodiment, the communication device may be a tag that harvests energy from radio waves in the surrounding environment (e.g., radio waves from surrounding wireless communication) and stores the generated power internally to operate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] 1A, 1B...User behavior tracking system 2...User terminal 21...Control unit 22...Operation input section 23...Display section 24...1st Communications Department 25...Second Communications Department 26...GPS receiver 3...Receiver 31...Radio wave receiving unit 32...Incidence angle calculation section 33…Communications Department 4. Edge device 41...Control unit 42…Storage 43…Communications Department 5...Application Server 51...Control unit 52…Storage 53…Communications Department 6...In-store reader device 7A, 7B...Communication devices 70...Sensor placement section 71...Control unit 72...Contact detection unit 73A...Radio tag 73B…Communication Department 74...Memory 8...Home reader device NW...Network SH…Product shelf U…User CE...ceiling

Claims

1. A user terminal owned by a user; a communication device that is attached to a product in a store and has a sensor that detects contact of a person with the product and a memory unit that stores unique identification information; an information processing device capable of communicating with the user terminal, The information processing device includes: a control unit that, when a detected device, which is a communication device that has detected contact of a person with a commodity, is present in the store and the user terminal is located near the detected device for a predetermined period of time or longer, associates user information of the user terminal located near the detected device with identification information of the detected device; The control unit further includes: If the user terminal and the detected device are located outside the store, it is determined that the user has purchased the product attached to the detected device, and user information of the user terminal is associated with identification information of the detected device; If the purchased product satisfies a predetermined end-of-use condition, predetermined information regarding the product is provided to the user terminal. Information processing system.

2. the control unit transmits, to the user terminal, information about a product attached to the detected device when the user terminal is located near the detected device; 2. An information processing system according to claim 1.

3. The control unit If the user terminal and the detected device are located at a location that has been previously associated with the user, it is determined that the user has purchased the product attached to the detected device, and user information of the user terminal is associated with identification information of the detected device.

3. An information processing system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The control unit acquires information regarding the number or frequency of detection of human contact with the purchased product when the user terminal and the detected device are located at the location.

4. An information processing system according to claim 3.

5. The product is a container-type product containing a content, The sensor detects the opening of the product; the control unit acquires information regarding the number or frequency of times that contact with the purchased product by a person has been detected after the sensor detects that the purchased product has been opened; 5. An information processing system according to claim 4.

6. the communication device has a wireless tag; The information processing system includes: a reader device that is placed in the store, that is capable of communicating with the information processing device, and that reads a wireless tag of the communication device; a location identification device capable of communicating with the information processing device and identifying the location of the user terminal; The control unit When the distance between the position of the user terminal identified by the position identification device and the position of a reader device that reads the wireless tag of the detected device is equal to or less than a predetermined value, it is determined that the user terminal is located near the detected device.

6. An information processing system according to claim 1.

7. The control unit When a detected device, which is a communication device that has detected a human touching a commodity, is present in the store, and when, at substantially the same time, the reader device becomes unable to read the detected device and the user terminal that was located near the detected device moves away from the position of the reader device, the user information of the user terminal is associated with the identification information of the detected device.

7. An information processing system according to claim 6.

8. the communication device has a communication unit that performs wireless communication with the user terminal, The information processing device is capable of communicating with the user terminal, The control unit If the user terminal is capable of wireless communication with the detected device, it is determined that the user terminal is located in the vicinity of the detected device.

6. An information processing system according to claim 1.

9. The sensor is at least one of a capacitance sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a pressure sensor.

9. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. An information processing device capable of communicating with a user terminal carried by a user of a store, a communication device having a sensor for detecting human contact with the product and a memory unit for storing unique identification information is attached to the product in the store; The information processing device includes: a control unit that, when a detected device, which is a communication device that has detected contact of a person with a commodity, is present in the store and the user terminal is located near the detected device for a predetermined period of time or longer, associates user information of the user terminal located near the detected device with identification information of the detected device; The control unit further includes: If the user terminal and the detected device are located outside the store, it is determined that the user has purchased the product attached to the detected device, and user information of the user terminal is associated with identification information of the detected device; If the purchased product satisfies a predetermined end-of-use condition, predetermined information regarding the product is provided to the user terminal. Information processing device.

11. When a communication device is attached to a product in a store, the communication device having a sensor that detects contact of a person with the product and a memory unit that stores unique identification information, An information processing device capable of communicating with a user terminal held by a user, determining whether a detected device, which is a communication device that detected contact of a person with a commodity, is present in the store; determining whether the user terminal is located in the vicinity of the detected device; When the detected device is present in the store and the user terminal is located near the detected device for a predetermined period of time or more, user information of the user terminal located near the detected device is associated with identification information of the detected device; If the user terminal and the detected device are located outside the store, it is determined that the user has purchased the product attached to the detected device, and user information of the user terminal is associated with identification information of the detected device; If the purchased product satisfies a predetermined end-of-use condition, predetermined information regarding the product is provided to the user terminal. Information processing methods.

12. A program for causing a computer to execute a predetermined method when a communication device is attached to a product in a store, the communication device having a sensor attached to the product and detecting human contact with the product, and a memory unit storing unique identification information, the program comprising: The method comprises: determining whether a detected device, which is a communication device that detected contact of a person with a commodity, is present in the store; determining whether a user terminal carried by a user is located near the detected device; When the detected device is present in the store and the user terminal is located near the detected device for a predetermined period of time or more, user information of the user terminal located near the detected device is associated with identification information of the detected device; If the user terminal and the detected device are located outside the store, it is determined that the user has purchased the product attached to the detected device, and user information of the user terminal is associated with identification information of the detected device; If the purchased product satisfies a predetermined end-of-use condition, providing predetermined information about the product to the user terminal. program.

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