system

Abstract

To provide a system which proposes a menu created on the basis of a stock list and special sale food material information to a user at appropriate timing.SOLUTION: A system of the present disclosure includes: management means which manages a stock list indicating a stock of food materials possessed by a user; acquisition means which acquires, from a store, special sale food material information indicating special sale food materials in sale at less expensive prices; creation means which creates a menu to be proposed to the user on the basis of the stock list and the special sale food material information; and proposing means which proposes to the user the purchase of the special sale food materials indicated by the special sale food material information and the menu created by the creation means when entry of the user into the store is detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a system that determines a menu to be proposed to a user based on inventory information about food ingredients and sale information about food ingredients that are on sale and can be purchased at low cost. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-045980 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present disclosure provides a system that proposes menus created based on an inventory list and on-sale food ingredient information to a user at an appropriate time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The system disclosed herein is characterized by comprising a management means for managing an inventory list showing the inventory of ingredients owned by the user, an acquisition means for acquiring from the store sale ingredient information showing ingredients on sale that are sold at a lower price than usual, a creation means for creating a menu to be suggested to the user based on the inventory list and the sale ingredient information, and a suggestion means for suggesting to the user, when it is detected that the user has entered the store, the purchase of the sale ingredients shown in the sale ingredient information and the menu created by the creation means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The system of the present disclosure can suggest menus created based on inventory lists and special sale ingredient information to users at appropriate times. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a server 100. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the server 100. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the server 100. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the server 100. [Figure 6] 10 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the mobile terminal 110. FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the server 100. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] (Findings that formed the basis of this disclosure) At the time the inventors conceived the present disclosure, systems were already known that created menu suggestions for users based on inventory information regarding food ingredient stock and sale information regarding inexpensive food ingredients. The inventors discovered a problem: even if a menu suggestion was created for a user, the user would not be able to utilize the menu unless the user was notified at an appropriate time. For example, even if a menu suggestion was made to a user while the user was doing housework such as cleaning or laundry, the user may not be very aware of the menu at the time, and may even forget that the menu suggestion was made when the user went shopping afterward. To solve this problem, the inventors came up with the subject matter of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides a system that suggests a menu to a user at an appropriate time, determined based on an inventory list and sale food ingredient information.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary detailed description may be omitted. For example, detailed description of already well-known matters or redundant description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. Note that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0010] (Embodiment) 1 is a diagram showing the system of this embodiment. The system of this embodiment is composed of a server 100, a mobile terminal 110 held by a user, and a store 120. The mobile terminal 110 is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet terminal, and has an application 111 installed. The store 120 has a store server 121, a beacon transmission device 122, and a shopping cart 123.

[0011] The functional blocks of the server 100 will be described using Figure 1. The inventory list management unit 101 stores an inventory list showing the inventory of ingredients owned by the user. The inventory list is a list for managing, for example, the names, stock quantities, and expiration dates of ingredients. The expiration date may be the same as the best-before date or use-by date, or may be a date slightly earlier (for example, three days earlier) than the best-before date or use-by date.

[0012] The sale information management unit 102 acquires sale ingredient information indicating sale ingredients at the store 120 from the store server 121 and stores the acquired sale ingredient information. Sale ingredients are ingredients that are sold at a lower price than usual at the store 120. The sale ingredient information stored by the sale information management unit 102 includes, for example, the name of the ingredient, the regular price, and the sale price.

[0013] The menu creation unit 103 creates a menu for a date and time specified by the user or for a period (for example, one week) specified by the user according to a predetermined algorithm. The menu creation unit 103 creates a menu using at least information from the inventory list stored in the inventory list management unit 101. For example, if the inventory list indicates that an ingredient whose expiration date is approaching is eggplant, the menu creation unit 103 creates a menu by increasing the weighting of eggplant as an ingredient to be used. In other words, the menu creation unit 103 creates a menu that uses up as many ingredients as possible that are close to their expiration date. The menu management unit 104 stores the menus created by the menu creation unit 103.

[0014] The shopping list management unit 105 stores a shopping list created by the user. The shopping list is a list of ingredients that the user is considering purchasing at the store 120, and the user looks at this shopping list while shopping at the store 120. The user can add ingredients that the user wants to buy from the inventory list stored in the inventory list management unit 101 to the shopping list via an operation screen provided by the application 111 on the mobile terminal 110, or add ingredients needed for a menu stored in the menu management unit 104 to the shopping list. The method of adding ingredients to the shopping list is not limited to this; for example, the user can manually add ingredients that the user wants to buy to the shopping list.

[0015] The store entry detection unit 106 detects that a user has entered the store 120. A method for detecting that a user has entered the store 120 will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

[0016] The shopping route creation unit 107 creates an optimal shopping route for the user when shopping at the store 120, based on the shopping list stored in the shopping list management unit 105. How the shopping route is created will be explained in detail later with reference to FIG.

[0017] The application cooperation unit 108 controls communication between the server 100 and an application 111 installed in the mobile terminal 110. The store cooperation unit 109 controls communication between the server 100 and a store server 121 of the store 120.

[0018] Next, the hardware configuration of the server 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The processor 201 is, for example, a CPU or MPU. The processor 201 reads and executes a control program stored in the memory 202, thereby realizing the functional blocks of the server 100 described in FIG. 1 and the processes shown in the flowcharts described below. The memory 202 is, for example, a ROM, and stores the control program for the server 100. The storage device 203 is a non-volatile storage medium, for example, a hard disk drive, that stores various data. Information stored in the functional blocks described in FIG. 1 is stored in the storage device 203. The communication device 204 is an interface that enables the server 100 to communicate with external devices (such as the mobile terminal 110 and the store server 400). The communication device 204 performs wireless communication based on wireless LAN standards such as IEEE802.11a / b / g / n / ac, and wired LAN communication based on Ethernet (registered trademark).

[0019] Next, the menu creation process will be described using the flowchart in Fig. 3. First, in step 301, the menu creation unit 103 determines whether or not to create a menu. When a user instructs the application 111 to create a menu on an operation screen provided by the application 111, the application 111 sends a menu creation instruction to the application cooperation unit 108. When the application cooperation unit 108 receives this menu creation instruction, the menu creation unit 103 determines that a menu will be created, and the process proceeds to step 302. On the other hand, if the application cooperation unit 108 has not received a menu creation instruction from the application 111, it waits until it receives a menu creation instruction.

[0020] Next, in step 302, the menu creation unit 103 creates a menu for the date and time or the period designated by the user. At this time, the menu creation unit 103 creates a menu that uses up as many ingredients as possible that are close to their expiration date, based on the inventory list stored in the inventory list management unit 101.

[0021] Next, in step 303, the menu management unit 104 stores the menu created in step 302.

[0022] Next, in step 304, menu creation unit 103 proposes the menu created in step 302 to the user. Specifically, application cooperation unit 108 sends the menu created by menu creation unit 103 to application 111, and application 111 displays this menu, thereby proposing the menu to the user. Note that if the user does not like the proposed menu, menu creation unit 103 may create a new menu, or the user may select their own favorite dishes.

[0023] The following describes the effects obtained by the process shown in the flowchart of Fig. 3. From the user's perspective, the server 100 proposes menus using ingredients that are close to their expiration date, which helps reduce food waste at home.

[0024] Next, the processing executed when a user enters the store 120 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of Figures 4 and 5 and Figure 6. First, in step 401, the store entry detection unit 106 determines whether or not the user has entered the store 120.

[0025] A method for detecting that a user has entered the store 120 will now be described in detail. In this embodiment, a beacon transmitter 122 is installed at the entrance of the store 120 or at a specific position inside the store, and the beacon transmitter 122 transmits a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) beacon to the surrounding area. This BLE beacon contains a store ID that identifies the store 120. When the application 111 detects that the mobile terminal 110 has received this BLE beacon, the application 111 transmits an entry notification to the application cooperation unit 108 indicating that the user has entered the store 120. When the application cooperation unit 108 receives this entry notification, the entry detection unit 106 determines that the user has entered the store 120, and the process proceeds to step 402. On the other hand, if the application cooperation unit 108 has not received the entry notification from the application 111, it waits until it receives the entry notification.

[0026] Next, in step 402, the sale information management unit 102 acquires sale ingredient information from the store server 121, and based on this sale ingredient information, the sale information management unit 102 suggests to the user that they purchase the sale ingredient. The application linkage unit 108 sends the sale ingredient information to the application 111, and the application 111 displays a screen that encourages the user to purchase the sale ingredient, thereby suggesting that the user purchase the sale ingredient. Purchase suggestion screen 600 in Figure 6(A) is the screen that application 111 displays at this time.

[0027] Next, in step 403, the sale information management unit 102 determines whether or not to add the sale ingredients to the shopping list. When the user touches button 601 on the purchase suggestion screen 600, the application 111 sends a notification corresponding to button 601 to the application cooperation unit 108. When the application cooperation unit 108 receives this notification, the sale information management unit 102 determines that the sale ingredients should be added to the shopping list, and the process proceeds to step 404. On the other hand, when the user touches button 602 on the purchase suggestion screen 600, the application 111 sends a notification corresponding to button 602 to the application cooperation unit 108. When the application cooperation unit 108 receives this notification, the sale information management unit 102 determines that the sale ingredients should not be added to the shopping list, and the process proceeds to step 405.

[0028] Next, a description will be given of step 404. In step 404, the shopping list management unit 105 adds the on-sale food item to the shopping list.

[0029] Next, step 405 will be described. In step 405, the menu creation unit 103 determines whether or not to create a menu using a special sale ingredient. Query screen 610 in FIG. 6(B) is a screen displayed by the application 111 in step 405. When the user touches button 611 on the query screen 610, the application 111 sends a notification corresponding to button 611 to the application cooperation unit 108. When the application cooperation unit 108 receives this notification, the menu creation unit 103 determines that a menu using a special sale ingredient will be created, and the process proceeds to step 406. On the other hand, when the user touches button 612 on the query screen 610, the application 111 sends a notification corresponding to button 612 to the application cooperation unit 108. When the application cooperation unit 108 receives this notification, the menu creation unit 103 determines that a menu using a special sale ingredient will not be created, and the process proceeds to step 501 in FIG. 5.

[0030] Next, step 406 will be described. In step 406, the menu creation unit 103 creates a menu based on the inventory list stored in the inventory list management unit 101 and the special sale ingredients. For example, suppose the inventory list indicates that the ingredients with an approaching expiration date are potatoes and carrots, and the special sale ingredient is thinly sliced ​​beef. In this case, the menu creation unit 103 creates a menu of dishes (meat and potato stew, curry, etc.) that use potatoes, carrots, and thinly sliced ​​beef.

[0031] Next, in step 407, the menu management unit 104 stores the menu created in step 406.

[0032] Next, in step 408, the menu creation unit 103 proposes the menu created in step 406 to the user. Specifically, the application cooperation unit 108 sends the menu created by the menu creation unit 103 to the application 111, and the application 111 displays this menu, thereby proposing the menu to the user. At this time, the screen displayed by the application 111 is the menu proposal screen 620 in FIG. 6(C). Note that if the user does not like the proposed menu, the menu creation unit 103 may create a new menu by pressing button 622, or the user may select their own favorite dishes. Ingredients required for the menu created in step 406 may also be added to a shopping list.

[0033] Next, step 501 in FIG. 5 will be described. The processing of step 501 is executed when it is determined in step 405 that a menu using sale ingredients will not be created, or when the user touches button 621 on menu suggestion screen 620. In step 501, shopping path creation unit 107 creates an optimal shopping path for the user based on the shopping list managed by shopping list management unit 105. Store collaboration unit 109 acquires information such as the location of ingredients in store 120, the location of cash registers, and the location of entrances and exits from store server 121, and shopping path creation unit 107 creates an optimal shopping path for the user based on this acquired information and the shopping list. The optimal shopping path for the user is, for example, a path that allows the user to move to the cash register in the shortest time possible while adding all of the ingredients on the shopping list to a shopping cart.

[0034] Next, in step 502, the shopping route creation unit 107 notifies the user of the shopping route created in step 501. More specifically, the application cooperation unit 108 sends the shopping route created in step 501 to the application 111. The application 111 then displays a shopping route screen 630 of FIG. 6(D), thereby notifying the user of the shopping route created in step 501. Although detailed explanations are omitted for the shopping route screen 630, the shopping route created by the shopping route creation unit 107 is displayed in a display area 631.

[0035] The effects obtained by the processing shown in the flowcharts of Figures 4 and 5 will be explained. From the user's perspective, since the user can learn about sale ingredients that can be purchased at a lower price than usual when entering the store, the possibility of forgetting to buy the sale ingredients can be reduced. Furthermore, since menus using sale ingredients are suggested when entering the store, the user does not have to spend time thinking about menus using the sale ingredients. Furthermore, since an optimal shopping route is suggested based on the shopping list, the user can shop efficiently. Furthermore, from the store 120's perspective, since the store 120 can encourage users (customers) who visit the store 120 to purchase sale ingredients, an increase in sales of sale ingredients can be expected. Furthermore, since the purchase of sale ingredients is encouraged when entering the store, the existence of sale ingredients can be made known to users (customers) even when sale ingredients are suddenly set, such as during a limited-time sale.

[0036] Next, a description will be given of a modified example of the processing shown in the flowcharts of Figures 4 and 5. In the above description, it has been explained that the screens illustrated in Figure 6 are displayed by application 111 of mobile terminal 110, but they may also be displayed on the display of shopping cart 123 used by the user.

[0037] Here, we will explain how to associate a user with a shopping cart 123. For example, by equipping the shopping cart 123 with a Bluetooth function and pairing the mobile terminal 110 with the shopping cart 123 via Bluetooth, the shopping cart 123 to be used by the user can be identified. By equipping the shopping cart 123 with a wireless LAN function and a display, the screens described in FIG. 6 can be displayed on the display of the shopping cart 123.

[0038] Next, the process of registering ingredients purchased by the user at the store 120 in the inventory list will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0039] In step 701, the inventory list management unit 101 determines whether or not purchase information indicating ingredients purchased by the user at the store 120 has been acquired from the store 120. When the store collaboration unit 109 receives the purchase information from the store server 121, the inventory list management unit 101 determines that the purchase information has been acquired from the store 120, and the process proceeds to step 702. On the other hand, if the store collaboration unit 109 has not received the purchase information from the store server 121, the store collaboration unit 109 waits until the purchase information is received from the store server 121.

[0040] Next, in step 702, the inventory list management unit 101 updates the inventory list based on the purchase information obtained from the store 120. The inventory list management unit 101 registers the ingredients indicated in the purchase information in the inventory list. From the user's perspective, since purchased ingredients are automatically registered in the inventory list, it is more convenient than manually registering ingredients in the inventory list.

[0041] Alternatively, the ingredients indicated in the purchase information may be sent to application 111, which may then display a list of the purchased ingredients, from which the user may select ingredients to register in the inventory list. Since purchased ingredients may be used immediately, having the user select ingredients to register in the inventory list from among the purchased ingredients can prevent unnecessary ingredients from being registered in the inventory list.

[0042] Hereinafter, other embodiments realized by the system of this embodiment will be described.

[0043] (Another embodiment 1) Information about ingredients purchased by the user at the store 120 may be stored in the store server 121, and a URL for obtaining this information from the store server 121 may be written on the receipt as a QR code (registered trademark) or barcode. The user can register the information about ingredients purchased by the user at the store 120 in an inventory list by using the camera function of the mobile terminal 110 to read the QR code (registered trademark) or barcode on the receipt.

[0044] (Another embodiment 2) In some cases, ingredients from store 120 are purchased on an EC site, but ingredients purchased on an EC site do not arrive immediately to the user and take time to be delivered. Therefore, it is preferable that the purchase information regarding the purchase on the EC site is not immediately registered in the inventory list, but is managed in a suspended state and registered in the inventory list when the user instructs that delivery has been completed.

[0045] (Other embodiment 3) The prices for purchasing all ingredients on the shopping list may be inquired of multiple stores, including store 120, and the results may be presented to the user. Alternatively, the user may be able to purchase online from a desired store from among multiple stores. If an ingredient on the shopping list is out of stock at a store, it is desirable to notify the user that an alternative ingredient has been selected (for example, if beef is out of stock, pork is selected as an alternative ingredient) and then suggest the price for purchasing the alternative ingredient to the user.

[0046] (Other embodiment 4) When a user is shopping while looking at a shopping list, the user may read the barcode or QR code (registered trademark) of an ingredient placed in the shopping cart with mobile terminal 110, and the ingredient may be treated as having been purchased on the shopping list.

[0047] (Other embodiment 5) By acquiring and analyzing information on the inventory lists of multiple users, the store 120 can more accurately estimate the demand for ingredients. This allows the store 120 to more efficiently acquire ingredients. Furthermore, if there are ingredients that the user consumes regularly, the store 120 can suggest to the user that the ingredients be delivered on a regular basis. Furthermore, if the user's preferences can be estimated from the information on the inventory lists, the store 120 can suggest to the user the purchase of other ingredients that match the user's preferences.

[0048] (Other embodiment 6) The user may notify the store 120 that they are willing to actively purchase food ingredients that are close to their expiration date or best-before date. In this case, the store 120 can reduce food waste by suggesting to the user that food ingredients that are close to their expiration date or best-before date can be purchased at a lower price than usual. Also, from the user's perspective, this increases the opportunities to purchase food ingredients at a lower price than usual.

[0049] (Other embodiment 7) The store 120 may obtain the storage status of the refrigerator in the user's home. For example, the user may take a photograph of the inside of the refrigerator using the mobile terminal 110 and register the photographed image to the store server 121, thereby enabling the store 120 to obtain the storage status of the refrigerator. Alternatively, the refrigerator may transmit an image taken by a camera installed inside the refrigerator to the store server 121. If there is free space in the refrigerator, the store 120 can suggest to the user to purchase ingredients that can be stored in the free space. [Industrial Applicability]

[0050] The present disclosure can be applied to a system that suggests menus to users. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 100 servers 101 Inventory List Management Department 102 Special Sale Information Management Department 103 Menu Planning Department 104 Menu Management Department 105 Shopping List Management Department 106 Entry detection unit 107 Shopping Route Creation Department 108 Application Integration Department 109 Store Collaboration Department 110 Mobile Devices 111 Applications 120 stores 121 Store Server 122 Beacon transmitter 123 Shopping Cart 201 processor 202 memory 203 Storage device 204 Communication equipment

Claims

1. a management means for managing an inventory list showing the inventory of ingredients owned by the user; an acquisition means for acquiring, from a store, sale food information indicating sale food items that are sold at a lower price than usual; a creation means for creating a menu to be proposed to the user based on the inventory list and the special sale food information; a store entry detection means for receiving information indicating a store and detecting that the user has entered the store; a suggestion means for suggesting to the user, when the store entry detection means detects that the user has entered the store, the purchase of the special sale ingredients indicated by the special sale ingredient information and the menu created by the creation means; a second management means for managing a shopping list indicating ingredients that the user plans to purchase; and a second creating means for creating a shopping route based on at least the shopping list, the route being the shortest route that passes through locations where ingredients included in the shopping list are located and that can reach a cash register; The system is characterized in that the suggestion means suggests the shopping route to the user.

2. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the suggestion by said suggesting means is executed by displaying a screen on a mobile terminal held by said user.

3. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the suggestion means makes a suggestion by displaying a screen of a shopping cart used by the user.

4. a second acquisition means for acquiring information about ingredients purchased by the user at the store from the store; The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an update means for updating the inventory list based on the information on ingredients acquired by the second acquisition means.

Images