Payment terminal guidance system and payment terminal guidance method

Abstract

To provide a settlement terminal guide system capable of guiding a settlement terminal for performing the payment procedure of merchandise.SOLUTION: The settlement terminal guidance system includes a usage state acquisition unit that acquires detection information obtained by detecting a usage state of the settlement terminal, a usage state determination unit that determines whether or not the settlement terminal is being used based on the detection information acquired by the usage state acquisition unit, and a guidance information generation unit that generates guidance information for guiding an available settlement terminal based on a result of the determination, and outputs the guidance information to a display device capable of displaying information to a customer waiting for use of the settlement terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a payment terminal guidance system and a payment terminal guidance method. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, payment terminals (so-called self-registers) that allow customers to pay for products themselves have become increasingly common in retail stores. There are various types of self-registers, including those exclusively for cash payments (cash payments), those exclusively for non-cash payments such as credit cards (cashless payments), and those that can accept both cash and cashless payments. However, in large retail stores such as supermarkets, payment terminals (self-registers) that support different payment methods are not necessarily installed; it is expected that self-registers that support different payment methods will be mixed. Furthermore, customers who pay for products themselves have a variety of preferred payment methods. For this reason, traditionally, retail store employees would confirm the customer's preferred payment method and guide the customer to available self-registers. However, this guidance by employees is not necessarily efficient. For this reason, a system that automatically guides customers to available self-registers has been desired.

[0003] Meanwhile, self-service registers equipped with surveillance cameras have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The surveillance cameras installed in such conventional self-service registers are primarily intended to prevent fraudulent transactions by customers when making payments, but by using images captured by these surveillance cameras to determine whether a customer is currently using the self-service register, it is thought that they could be applied to a system that automatically guides customers to self-service registers that are not currently being used by customers, in other words, that are available, instead of having employees guide customers to self-service registers. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-002229 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, a system that uses self-checkout registers equipped with surveillance cameras to automatically guide customers to available self-checkout registers would require the replacement of currently installed self-checkout registers with self-checkout registers equipped with surveillance cameras, and it may not be easy to implement, including in terms of cost.

[0006] The present invention has been made in light of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a payment terminal guidance system and a payment terminal guidance method that can guide users to a payment terminal where they can carry out payment procedures for products. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention is a payment terminal guidance system that displays guidance information in a store where multiple payment terminals are installed, and includes: a usage status acquisition unit that acquires detection information that detects the usage status of the payment terminal; a usage status determination unit that determines whether the payment terminal is being used based on the detection information acquired by the usage status acquisition unit; and a guidance information generation unit that generates guidance information that provides guidance to available payment terminals based on the determination result, and outputs the information to a display device that can display the information to customers waiting to use the payment terminal.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is a payment terminal guidance system in which, in the above-mentioned payment terminal guidance system, the usage status acquisition unit sets a detection range as a location where a customer is expected to remain when using the payment terminal, acquires a detection result detecting a person present in the detection range, and the usage status determination unit determines whether the payment terminal is being used based on information indicating whether a person is present or not included in the detection result.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is the payment terminal guidance system described above, wherein the guidance information generation unit outputs a display image indicating the available payment terminals.

[0010] Another aspect of the present invention is a payment terminal guidance system in which, in the above-mentioned payment terminal guidance system, the guidance information generation unit generates a display image that guides the available payment terminals for each type of payment method supported by the payment terminal.

[0011] Another aspect of the present invention is a payment terminal guidance system in which, in the above-mentioned payment terminal guidance system, the guidance information generation unit generates a display image including information encouraging customers waiting to use the payment terminal to take action to use the available payment terminal.

[0012] Another aspect of the present invention is a payment terminal guidance system in which, in the above-mentioned payment terminal guidance system, the guidance information generation unit generates a display image including content providing guidance on the available payment terminals for each type of payment method supported by the payment terminal, and content showing information encouraging the action.

[0013] Another aspect of the present invention is a payment terminal guidance system in which, in the above-mentioned payment terminal guidance system, the guidance information generation unit generates the display image showing, for each type of payment method supported by the payment terminal, information guiding the available payment terminals, as well as the types of payment methods supported by the payment terminal to be guided, and information encouraging customers waiting to use the payment terminal to take action to use the available payment terminal.

[0014] Another aspect of the present invention is a payment terminal guidance system as described above, in which a line of customers waiting to use the payment terminal can include customers who make payments using a first payment method and customers who make payments using a second payment method different from the first payment method, and the guidance information generation unit outputs the guidance information to a display device placed in a position where it can be presented to the customers in the line.

[0015] Another aspect of the present invention is a payment terminal guidance system in which, in the above-mentioned payment terminal guidance system, the guidance information generation unit displays guidance information on the screen of the display device that guides payment terminals that can make payments using a first payment method and payment terminals that can make payments using a second payment method that is different from the first payment method.

[0016] Another aspect of the present invention is a payment terminal guidance system that, in the above-mentioned payment terminal guidance system, has a usage status detection device that detects the usage status of the payment terminal, the usage status acquisition unit acquires the detection information from the usage status detection device, and the usage status detection device is a camera that captures images of customers remaining in front of the payment device.

[0017] Another aspect of the present invention is a payment terminal guidance system that, in the above-mentioned payment terminal guidance system, has a usage status detection device that detects the usage status of the payment terminal, the usage status acquisition unit acquires the detection information from the usage status detection device, and the usage status detection device is a sensor that has a detection range set according to a location where a customer using the payment device is expected to remain.

[0018] Another aspect of the present invention is the payment terminal guidance system described above, wherein the payment terminal is a self-register where the customer himself or herself performs payment procedures.

[0019] Another aspect of the present invention is a payment terminal guidance method executed by a computer that is a payment terminal guidance device that displays guidance information in a store where multiple payment terminals are installed, the payment terminal guidance method including: acquiring detection information that detects the usage status of the payment terminal; determining whether the payment terminal is being used based on the detection information; generating guidance information that guides customers to available payment terminals based on the determination result; and outputting the information to a display device that can display the information to customers waiting to use the payment terminal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a payment-enabled terminal guidance system, a payment-enabled terminal determination method, a payment-enabled terminal guidance method, and a program that can automatically guide customers to the payment terminal where they can make payment procedures for the products they have purchased. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a usage environment of a payment-accepting terminal guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a guidance device that constitutes a payment-accepting terminal guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example (part 1) of a display image that guides available payment terminals in the payment available terminal guidance system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example (part 2) of a display image that guides available payment terminals in the payment available terminal guidance system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example (part 2) of a display image that guides available payment terminals in the payment available terminal guidance system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example (part 4) of a display image that guides available payment terminals in the payment available terminal guidance system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7]1 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the overall processing flow in a payment-accepting terminal guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The following describes embodiments of a payment-acceptable terminal guidance system, a payment-acceptable terminal determination method, a payment-acceptable terminal guidance method, and a program with reference to the drawings. In the following description, it is assumed that the payment-acceptable terminal guidance system of the embodiment is installed in a large retail store such as a supermarket (hereinafter simply referred to as a "retail store"). Furthermore, in the following description, it is assumed that all of the multiple payment terminals (registers) installed in the retail store are payment terminals (so-called self-registers) where customers who purchase products process their own payments (settlements). Furthermore, in the following description, it is assumed that there are two types of available payment methods: a self-register that accepts both cash (cash payment) and non-cash payments (cashless payment) using, for example, credit cards, barcodes, or two-dimensional codes such as QR (Quick Response) codes (registered trademark) (hereinafter referred to as a "cashless payment register"); and a self-register that accepts only cashless payment (hereinafter referred to as a "cashless payment register"), where cashless payment is the only available payment method. In the following description, it is assumed that customers who are about to make a payment are lined up and waiting to make a payment.

[0023] [Usage environment for the payment terminal information system] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a usage environment of a payment-accepting terminal guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which 12 self-service registers T are installed within an area R of a retail store. More specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which eight cash-compatible cashless payment registers Tmr (cash-compatible cashless payment registers Tmr-1 to Tmr-8) and four cashless payment-only registers Tr (cashless payment-only registers Tr-1 to Tr-4) are installed within the area R. Also, FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which customers C are lined up outside the area R, waiting to make a payment. More specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which customers C who wish to pay in cash (customers Cm-1 to Cm-4) and customers C who wish to pay cashless (customers Cr-1 to Cr-3) are lined up outside the area R. The payment available terminal guidance system 1 automatically guides each customer C who is waiting in line to a currently available self-checkout register T.

[0024] The self-register T, the cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr, and the cashless payment-only register Tr are examples of a "payment terminal." In Figure 1, customer C using self-register T within area R is an example of a "first customer." In Figure 1, among the self-registers T installed within area R, the self-register T that is not being used by customer C is an example of a "first payment terminal." In Figure 1, customers C waiting to make a payment, lined up outside area R, i.e., customers Cm and Cr, are examples of a "second customer."

[0025] The payment-acceptable terminal guidance system 1 includes, for example, a usage status detection device 100, a guidance device 200, and an information presentation device 300.

[0026] The usage status detection device 100 detects the usage status of each self-checkout register T within an area R of a retail store where multiple self-checkout registers T are installed. The usage status detection device 100 outputs information indicating the usage status of the detected self-checkout register T (hereinafter referred to as "detection information") to the guidance device 200.

[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which the usage status detection device 100 is a camera installed on the ceiling of a retail store, capturing an image of an area R where the self-checkout register T is installed, thereby detecting whether a customer C is using the self-checkout register T. In this case, the camera may capture an image of the customer C standing in front of each self-checkout register T, or may capture an image of a predetermined mark (marker) affixed to the floor or other location where the customer C is expected to stay when using each self-checkout register T. The usage status detection device 100 may be configured to capture an image of the entire area R using multiple cameras. The camera may capture still images at predetermined time intervals (e.g., one-second intervals) or may capture moving images. The marker may have a specific shape, or may have a different shape for each self-checkout register T. For example, the marker corresponding to the cash-accepting cashless payment register Tmr may be a "square," while the marker corresponding to the cashless payment-only register Tr may be a "triangle." The shapes may differ depending on the type of payment method available at the self-register T, i.e., the type of cash-accepting cashless payment register Tmr or the cashless payment-only register Tr. The marker may use a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark), and the information represented by the marker may include identification information for identifying the self-register T (i.e., type information distinguishing between the cash-accepting cashless payment register Tmr and the cashless payment-only register Tr, or the number of the self-register T assigned exclusively by the retail store). In this case, instead of a QR code (registered trademark), a marker of a type that is easier to identify with a camera may be used.For example, an ArUco marker that can be generated by the aruco module, which is a marker module that can be used with an extension module of the Open Source Computer Vision Library (OpenCV), and which has been commonly used in logistics management systems that manage the logistics of goods, may be used as the marker corresponding to each self-checkout register T. The usage status detection device 100, which is configured with a camera, outputs the captured image (still image or video image) to the guidance device 200 as detection information.

[0028] The usage status detection device 100 is not limited to the camera configuration shown in FIG. 1 , and may have any configuration that can detect the usage status of self-checkout registers T within area R. For example, the usage status detection device 100 may be configured with (multiple) human presence sensors, each with a detection range set to correspond to a location where a customer C is expected to remain to complete a payment (settlement) procedure using each self-checkout register T. In this case, the usage status detection device 100 outputs detection result information (including one or more of information for identifying itself, information representing the location within area R detected by the human presence detection device 100, and information representing the corresponding self-checkout register T) as detection information to the guiding device 200.

[0029] Based on the detection information output by the usage status detection device 100, the guidance device 200 determines which self-checkout registers T installed within the area R are not being used by the customer C. Based on the determination result, the guidance device 200 guides the customer C, who is waiting in line for payment, to a self-checkout register T that is currently available for use. The guidance device 200 outputs information (hereinafter referred to as "guidance information") for guiding the customer C to the self-checkout register T that is currently available for use to the information presentation device 300. Details regarding the configuration of the guidance device 200 will be described later.

[0030] The information presentation device 300 presents (guides) the guidance information output by the guidance device 200 to customers C waiting in line to make a payment. The information presentation device 300 is installed, for example, at the entrance to area R. The information presentation device 300 is, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic electroluminescence (EL) display. In this case, the information presentation device 300 displays the display image output by the guidance device 200 as guidance information, thereby guiding each customer C waiting in line at the entrance to area R (toward the front of the information presentation device 300) to the self-checkout register T that is currently available.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows an example in which the information presentation device 300 is, for example, a liquid crystal display installed on the ceiling of the entrance to area R of a retail store. FIG. 1 also shows how the information presentation device 300 displays a display image indicating that "register 4 (cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr-4)," "register 7 (cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr-7)," and "register 10 (cashless payment-only register Tr-2)" are each available ("empty" in FIG. 1), thereby informing each customer C that these self-service registers T are currently available. As a result, each customer C waiting in line for payment can refer to the guidance provided by the display image displayed on the information presentation device 300 and proceed to the currently available self-service register T in order to complete the payment (settlement) procedure for their purchased items.

[0032] The information presentation device 300 is not limited to a display device such as a liquid crystal display as shown in FIG. 1 , and may have any configuration as long as it can guide each customer C waiting in line to a currently available self-checkout register T. For example, the information presentation device 300 may be configured to notify the location of the self-checkout register T and whether the self-checkout register T is currently available by turning on or off a display (so-called lamp) made up of a light-emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode). In this case, the information presentation device 300 guides each customer C waiting in line in front of the information presentation device 300 to a currently available self-checkout register T, for example, by turning on a lamp corresponding to the currently available self-checkout register T indicated in the guidance information output by the guidance device 200.

[0033] [Configuration of the guidance device] Next, we will explain the configuration of the guiding device 200. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the guiding device 200 that constitutes the payment-accepting terminal guiding system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The guiding device 200 includes, for example, a storage unit 210, a usage status acquisition unit 220, and a processing circuit 230.

[0034] The storage unit 210 stores various information used in the process of determining which self-checkout registers T are not being used by the customer C in the guidance device 200. The storage unit 210 stores information (hereinafter referred to as "installation information") that associates information such as the installation locations of the self-checkout registers T within the area R, the type of each self-checkout register T, and the numbers of the self-checkout registers T exclusively set up in the retail store. The storage unit 210 is realized by, for example, semiconductor memory elements such as ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and flash memory, a hard disk drive (HDD), an optical disk, etc.

[0035] The usage status acquisition unit 220 acquires the detection information output by the usage status detection device 100. The usage status acquisition unit 220 outputs the acquired detection information to the processing circuit 230. The usage status acquisition unit 220 may be configured to store the acquired detection information in the storage unit 210, notify the processing circuit 230 of this fact, and have the processing circuit 230 read out the detection information stored in the storage unit 210, thereby outputting the detection information acquired by the usage status acquisition unit 220 to the processing circuit 230.

[0036] The processing circuitry 230 performs predetermined processing based on the detection information acquired and output by the usage status acquisition unit 220 to guide the customer C to currently available self-service registers T. The processing circuitry 230 executes processing such as a usage status determination function 232 and a guidance information generation function 234. The processing circuitry 230 realizes the respective functions of the usage status determination function 232 and the guidance information generation function 234, for example, by a hardware processor executing a program (software) stored in a memory (not shown) (which may be the storage unit 210). The memory (not shown) is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a ROM, RAM, or flash memory.

[0037] The term "hardware processor" refers to a circuit such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a large-scale integration (LSI), a system on chip (SOC), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a programmable logic device (e.g., a simple programmable logic device (SPLD) or a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA)). Instead of storing a program in a memory (not shown), the program may be directly embedded in the hardware processor. In this case, the hardware processor realizes each function by reading and executing the program embedded in the circuit. The hardware processor is not limited to a single circuit, but may be configured as a single hardware processor by combining multiple independent circuits to realize each function. Multiple components may be integrated into a single hardware processor to realize each function. Multiple components may be integrated into a single dedicated LSI to realize each function. Here, the program (software) may be stored in advance in a storage device such as a semiconductor memory element such as ROM, RAM, or flash memory (a non-transient storage device (which may be memory unit 210)), or may be stored in a removable storage medium (non-transient storage medium) such as a DVD or CD-ROM, and installed in a storage device provided in the guidance device 200 by inserting the storage medium into a drive device provided in the guidance device 200.The program (software) may be downloaded in advance from, for example, a server device incorporated in a cloud computing system or another computer device including a storage device via a network (not shown), and installed in a storage device (which may be storage unit 210) included in guiding device 200. The program (software) installed in the storage device included in guiding device 200 may be transferred to processing circuitry 230 included in guiding device 200 and executed therein.

[0038] The usage status determination function 232 determines the usage status of each self-checkout register T installed in the area R by the customer C based on the detection information output by the usage status acquisition unit 220.

[0039] For example, if the usage status detection device 100 is configured with a camera and the detection information output by the usage status detection device 100 is an image (still image or video) captured by the camera, the usage status determination function 232 determines the usage status of the self-register T by the customer C by recognizing the customer C or markers in the image through a predetermined image recognition process. The image recognition process may be, for example, an image recognition function using AI (Artificial Intelligence). In this case, the usage status determination function 232 may determine the usage status of the self-register T using installation information stored in the storage unit 210. The usage status determination function 232 may determine the usage status of the self-register T using information associated with the installation information, such as the installation location of the self-register T within the area R and the installation direction of each self-register T, i.e., the predetermined front side of the self-register T that the customer C accesses when making a payment for the purchased goods (hereinafter referred to as the "front of the self-register T"). More specifically, if a person is photographed within a predetermined range in front of the self-register T, the usage status determination function 232 determines that the self-register T is currently being used by customer C. If no person is photographed within the predetermined range, the usage status determination function 232 determines that the self-register T is not currently being used by customer C. In this case, the usage status determination function 232 may determine that the self-register T is currently being used by customer C, for example, if the same person is photographed in multiple still images continuously captured by the usage status detection device 100, or if the same person is photographed in video images captured over a predetermined period of time, i.e., if the same customer C does not pass (cross) in front of the self-register T but remains in front of the self-register T for a predetermined period of time. In this way, the usage status determination function 232 preferably determines which self-register T is currently being used by customer C by taking into account various conditions that may occur to the self-register T installed in the area R, in addition to the customer C's actions when making the payment (settlement) procedure for the purchased goods.

[0040] On the other hand, if the usage status determination function 232 cannot confirm a marker affixed to the floor or other surface in front of the self-register T, it determines that the self-register T is currently being used by customer C, and if the marker can be confirmed, it determines that the self-register T is not currently being used by customer C. In this case, the usage status determination function 232 may determine that the self-register T is currently being used by customer C if the same marker cannot be confirmed from multiple still images captured consecutively by the usage status detection device 100, or if the same marker cannot be confirmed from video images captured over a predetermined period of time, that is, if the marker is not hidden for a short period of time because customer C is passing (crossing) in front of the self-register T, but is hidden because the same customer C remains in front of the self-register T for a predetermined period of time.

[0041] Furthermore, the usage status determination function 232 separately determines the usage status of the cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr and the usage status of the cashless payment-only register Tr using, for example, information about the type of each self-checkout register T associated with the installation information. Here, if the detection information output by the usage status detection device 100 is an image (still image or video) of a marker captured by a camera, the usage status determination function 232 may separately determine the usage status of the cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr and the usage status of the cashless payment-only register Tr based on the shape of the marker or identification information for identifying the self-checkout register T represented by the marker, instead of or in addition to the installation information.

[0042] When the usage status detection device 100 is configured with a camera, an image (still image or video) captured by the camera is an example of an “image captured within the area.” When the usage status detection device 100 is configured with a camera, a marker shown in an image (still image or video) captured by the camera is an example of a “predetermined mark.”

[0043] For example, if the usage status detection device 100 is composed of motion sensors and the detection information output by the usage status detection device 100 indicates whether a human being is present within the detection range detected by the motion sensors, the usage status determination function 232 determines the usage status of the self-register T by customer C based on the human detection status of each motion sensor. More specifically, if the motion sensors detect a human being present within their detection range, the usage status determination function 232 determines that the self-register T is currently being used by customer C, and if the motion sensors do not detect a human being, the usage status determination function 232 may determine that the self-register T is currently being used by customer C if the motion sensors detect a human being continuously for a predetermined period of time, that is, if the same customer C remains in front of the self-register T for a predetermined time. In this case, the usage status determination function 232 may also determine the usage status of the cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr and the usage status of the cashless payment-only register Tr separately using information associated with the installation information, for example, information on the type of self-service register T that each human presence sensor corresponds to.

[0044] When the usage status detection device 100 is configured as a human presence sensor, the human detection status represented in the detection information output by the usage status detection device 100 is an example of a "detection result of detecting a human being present in the detection range."

[0045] The usage status determination function 232 outputs information indicating the results of the determination (determination result), that is, information indicating the usage status of the self-checkout register T by the determined customer C (hereinafter referred to as "usage status information"), to the guidance information generation function 234. The usage status information includes at least information on the cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr and the cashless payment-only register Tr that have been determined not to be currently used by the customer C. The usage status determination function 232 outputs information on the number of the self-checkout register T that is associated with the installation information and that is set exclusively for use in the retail store, for example, to the guidance information generation function 234, as usage status information for each of the cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr and the cashless payment-only register Tr that have been determined not to be currently used by the customer C.

[0046] The usage state determination function 232 is an example of a “usage state determination unit.” The usage state information is an example of a “determination result.”

[0047] Based on the usage status information output by the usage status determination function 232, the guidance information generation function 234 generates guidance information to guide the customer C to self-checkout registers T that are not currently being used by the customer C, i.e., to empty self-checkout registers T that are currently available for use. For example, if the information presentation device 300 is a display device such as an LCD display, the guidance information generation function 234 generates a display image as the guidance information to present (guide) the customer C with information about empty self-checkout registers T. For example, if the information presentation device 300 is a display device configured with LEDs (light-emitting diodes) or the like, the guidance information generation function 234 generates, as the guidance information, a control signal for controlling the turning on and off of LEDs corresponding to empty self-checkout registers T. The guidance information generation function 234 outputs the generated guidance information to the information presentation device 300. As a result, information about empty self-checkout registers T is presented (guide) by the information presentation device 300 to each customer C waiting in line to make a payment.

[0048] The guidance information generating function 234 is an example of a "guidance information generating unit."

[0049] An example of guidance information generated by the guidance information generation function 234 will now be described. In the following description, the guidance information is a display image, and the information presentation device 300 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display. The usage status information includes information on the number of an available cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr that has been determined to be unused and the number of an available cashless payment register Tr that has been determined to be unused. In the following description, it is assumed that each self-checkout register T is installed within the area R shown in FIG. 1, and explanations will be given with reference to FIG. 1 as appropriate. Here, the numbers of each self-checkout register T are assumed to be "1" to "8" for cash-compatible cashless payment registers Tmr-1 to Tmr-8 and "9" to "12" for cashless payment registers Tr-1 to Tr-4. FIGS. 3 to 6 are diagrams showing examples of display images guiding available payment terminals (self-checkout registers T) in the payment-enabled terminal guidance system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] In the display image IM-1 shown in FIG. 3, the display area A-1 of the display image shows the numbers of available cash-compatible cashless payment registers Tmr ("1," "2," "5," and "6"), and the display area A-2 shows the numbers of available cashless payment registers Tr ("9," "10," and "12"). This allows each customer C waiting in line to know which self-checkout register T they can use to pay for their purchases. More specifically, customer Cm, who is waiting in line to pay with cash, can know that he can pay at the self-checkout registers T numbered "1," "2," "5," and "6." Meanwhile, customer Cr, who is waiting in line to pay with cashless payment, can know that he can pay at the self-checkout registers T numbered "9," "10," and "12" in addition to the self-checkout registers T numbered "1," "2," "5," and "6."

[0051] In the display image IM-2 shown in Figure 4, the display area A-1 indicates that there are currently no available cash-compatible cashless payment registers Tmr, and the display area A-2 shows the numbers of available cashless payment registers Tr ("10" and "12"). This allows a customer Cm waiting in line hoping to make a cash payment to know that they must continue waiting in line until other customers C have finished using the cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr. Meanwhile, a customer Cr waiting in line hoping to make a cashless payment can know that they can make a payment at the self-service registers T numbered "10" and "12." However, customer Cr cannot tell whether each customer C in line is hoping to make a cashless payment. For example, in the example shown in Figure 1, customer Cr-1 is third from the front of the line, but cannot recognize that he is the first among the customers Cr hoping to make a cashless payment. For this reason, in display image IM-2, below display area A-1, which displays (informs) the number of an available cashless payment register Tmr, a message M (in Figure 4, "The order in which you wait may change depending on your payment method.") is added to urge customers Cr waiting in line to take action, i.e., to leave the line and proceed to make a payment (settlement). This allows customer Cr (customer Cr-1 in Figure 1), who is relatively close to the front of the line, to decide for themselves not to continue waiting in line, and to leave the line and proceed to make a payment (settlement) without worrying that leaving the line to go and make a payment (settlement) will cause inconvenience to other customers C (customers Cm-1 and Cm-2 in Figure 1), who are ahead of them, and to go to self-register T numbered "10" or "12" to make a payment (settlement).

[0052] In display image IM-3 shown in FIG. 5, the display area A-1 shows the numbers of available cash-compatible cashless payment registers Tmr ("1," "2," "5," and "6"), and the display area A-2 shows the numbers of available cashless payment-only registers Tr ("9," "10," "11," and "12"). As a result, a customer Cm waiting in line hoping to make a cash payment can recognize that they can make a payment (settlement) at the self-registers T numbered "1," "2," "5," and "6," just like in display image IM-1 shown in FIG. 3. Furthermore, a customer Cm waiting in line hoping to make a cash payment can recognize that each self-register T where they are heading to make a payment (settlement) also accepts cashless payments. As a result, even if a customer Cm who is waiting in line hoping to make a cash payment is unable to complete the cash payment (settlement) procedure smoothly, for example, because he or she does not have enough cash with him or her, as long as there is no problem that he or she is unaware of, such as a suspended credit card, a low amount deposited in the 2D code payment method he or she is using, or an insufficient balance, he or she can proceed to the self-register T numbered "1," "2," "5," or "6" to complete the payment (settlement) procedure with peace of mind. Meanwhile, a customer Cr who is waiting in line hoping to make a cashless payment can recognize that he or she can complete the payment (settlement) procedure at the self-register T numbered "9," "10," "11," or "12" in addition to the self-register T numbered "1," "2," "5," and "6," as in the display image IM-1 shown in FIG. 3.

[0053] In display image IM-4 shown in Figure 6, display area A-1 displays the numbers of available cash-accepting cashless payment registers Tmr ("1," "2," "5," and "6"), and display area A-2 displays the numbers of available cashless payment registers Tr ("9," "10," "11," and "12"). Display image IM-4 also allows customer Cm, who is waiting in line to pay in cash, and customer Cr, who is waiting in line to pay cashlessly, to recognize available self-service registers T, and displays messages encouraging each customer C to take action (in Figure 6, "Please use this cash register" and "You can also use this cashless payment register"). As with display image IM-3 shown in Figure 5, customer Cm and customer Cr, who are waiting in line to pay, recognize the self-service registers T at which they can make their payment and proceed to one of the self-service registers T to make their payment.

[0054] The guidance information generated by the guidance information generation function 234 using a display image is not limited to the display images shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, but may be any display image that can guide and recognize available self-checkout registers T to each customer C waiting in line for payment. In other words, the design of the display image generated by the guidance information generation function 234 may be different for each retail store in which the payment terminal guidance system 1 is installed. The display images shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 show an example in which the entire display image is divided into two vertically. However, for example, the entire display image may be divided into two horizontally, and each divided display area may be of a different size. Map information within the area in which the self-checkout register T is installed (so-called floor map information showing the positional relationship between the location of the self-checkout register T and the line of customers waiting for payment) may also be displayed. Furthermore, the display images shown in Figures 3 to 6 show an example in which each display area A displays text (including the text of message M) providing guidance about self-register T and the number of self-register T. However, instead of or in addition to the text (including the text of message M) providing guidance about self-register T or the number of self-register T, symbols or graphic symbols (so-called pictograms) representing each payment method or the characteristics of self-register T may be displayed. More specifically, for example, a pictogram representing cash may be displayed along with the text "cash payment" or the number of the cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr. This allows customer C to visually recognize that cash payments can be made at the cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr. This allows a customer Cm to easily identify which self-register T to go to to complete the payment (settlement) procedure, for example, in a case where the numbers of self-registers T are not set exclusively at a retail store and the same number exists at both a cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr and a cashless payment-only register Tr.That is, for example, if the same number exists on both a cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr and a cashless payment-only register Tr, it is possible to prevent a customer Cm from going to the wrong self-checkout register T to make a payment (settlement), or to avoid confusion when the customer Cm goes to the self-checkout register T to make a payment (settlement). For example, pictograms representing payment methods such as credit card or two-dimensional code may be displayed along with the phrase "cashless payment" or the number of the cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr or the number of the cashless payment-only register Tr, or both. In this case, if there are multiple credit card payment methods and two-dimensional code payment methods (i.e., multiple credit card companies and two-dimensional code payment companies) that are supported for cashless payment, and it is expected that displaying all the pictograms at once would make it difficult for the customer C to recognize them, the display of each pictogram may be switched sequentially at a predetermined time interval. This allows customer C to visually recognize the cashless payment methods supported by the cash-compatible cashless payment register Tmr and the cashless payment-only register Tr. This allows each customer Cr to complete the payment (settlement) procedure smoothly. For example, it can prevent a situation where customer Cr attempts to complete a payment (settlement) procedure using a cashless payment method not supported by self-register T, which could result in the self-register T being used for a longer period of time or requiring employee assistance. Furthermore, while the display images shown in Figures 4 and 6 show an example of a case where customer Cr waiting in line is prompted to take action using text (e.g., message M), methods other than text may also be used to prompt customer Cr to take action. For example, a display image may be used that flashes the number of a currently available self-register T to draw attention to an available self-register T and prompt customer C to take action.Instead of or in addition to a display image that flashes the number of the self-register T, for example, the number of a currently available self-register T may be announced or a buzzer may be sounded to draw the customer C's attention to an empty self-register T and encourage them to take action.

[0055] The display image IM shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 is an example of a "display image."

[0056] [Overall processing flow in the payment terminal information system] Next, an example of the overall processing flow in the payment-acceptable terminal guidance system 1 will be described. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the overall processing flow in the payment-acceptable terminal guidance system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, it is assumed that each self-checkout register T is installed within the area R shown in FIG. 1, and that installation information for the self-checkout registers T within the area R is stored in the storage unit 210. In the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that each time the usage status detection device 100 detects the usage status of each self-checkout register T at predetermined time intervals and outputs detection information, that is, each time based on one piece of detection information, the self-checkout register T that is currently available to customer C is guided.

[0057] The usage status detection device 100 detects the usage status of each self-checkout register T installed in the area R (step S100). The usage status detection device 100 outputs detection information indicating the usage status of the detected self-checkout register T to the guidance device 200 (step S110).

[0058] The usage status acquisition unit 220 included in the guiding device 200 acquires the detection information output by the usage status detection device 100 (step S200). The usage status acquisition unit 220 outputs the acquired detection information to the processing circuit 230.

[0059] The usage status determination function 232 in the processing circuit 230 provided in the guidance device 200 determines the usage status by the customer C of each self-checkout register T installed in the area R based on the detection information output by the usage status acquisition unit 220 (step S210). The usage status determination function 232 outputs usage status information indicating the determined usage status of the self-checkout register T by the customer C to the guidance information generation function 234.

[0060] The guidance information generation function 234 in the processing circuit 230 provided in the guidance device 200 generates guidance information for guiding the customer C to an empty self-checkout register T that is currently available for use, based on the usage status information output by the usage status determination function 232 (step S220). The guidance information generation function 234 outputs the generated guidance information to the information presentation device 300 (step S230).

[0061] The information presentation device 300 presents (guides) the guidance information output by the guidance device 200 (more specifically, the guidance information generation function 234) to each of the customers C waiting in line for payment (Step S300).

[0062] Through this processing flow, in the payment-acceptable terminal guidance system 1, the usage status detection device 100 detects the usage status of each self-checkout register T installed within a predetermined area R, and the guidance device 200 determines which self-checkout registers T are currently unused by customers C and are available, based on the detection information indicating the usage status of each self-checkout register T detected by the usage status detection device 100. Then, in the payment-acceptable terminal guidance system 1, the guidance device 200 generates guidance information for guiding the self-checkout register T determined not to be currently used by customers C, i.e., other customers C waiting in line for payment, to self-checkout registers T that are currently available, and presents (introduces) the information using the information presentation device 300. In the payment-acceptable terminal guidance system 1, the usage status detection device 100, the guidance device 200, and the information presentation device 300 each repeat their respective processes, and sequentially present (introduce) available self-checkout registers T to each customer C waiting in line for payment.

[0063] The sequence diagram in FIG. 7 illustrates the process flow when customer C presents (introduces) a currently available self-checkout register T based on a single piece of detection information detected by the usage status detection device 100. However, when presenting (introducing) a currently available self-checkout register T in the payment terminal guidance system 1, as described above, it is preferable to determine whether the self-checkout register T is being used by taking into consideration actions other than the payment (settlement) procedure that may occur at the self-checkout register T. For this reason, the guidance device 200 (more specifically, the usage status determination function 232 provided in the processing circuit 230) determines that customer C is currently using the self-checkout register T when the same customer C has remained in front of the self-checkout register T for a predetermined time (e.g., one second) or more, based on multiple pieces of detection information consecutively detected and output by the usage status detection device 100. In this case, the processing sequence in the payment terminal guidance system 1 can be realized by having the usage status determination function 232 repeat the process of determining the usage status based on the detection information (the process of step S210) the number of times it is determined that the same customer C has remained in front of the self-checkout register T for more than the predetermined time. However, the usage status determination function 232 repeats the process of step S210 for each self-checkout register T in the area R. This is because the timing at which usage begins is not the same for all self-checkout registers T, and therefore the time from when it is first determined that the self-checkout register T is being used by customer C to when it is determined that the customer has remained there for more than the predetermined time varies for each self-checkout register T. As a result, the usage status determination function 232 can output usage status information, which determines the usage status of each self-checkout register T, to the guidance information generation function 234 at the predetermined time interval at which the usage status detection device 100 outputs the detection information. Then, the guide information generation function 234 generates guide information based on the usage status information output by the usage status determination function 232, and updates the presentation (guidance) of currently available self-checkout registers T to the customer C.The generation of guidance information by the guidance information generation function 234, i.e., the update of the presentation (guidance) of currently available self-checkout registers T to the customer C in the payment terminal guidance system 1, may be at a predetermined time interval (e.g., every 2 to 3 seconds) different from the time interval at which the usage status information is output from the usage status determination function 232, as long as the time interval reflects the usage status of each self-checkout register T represented in the usage status information output by the usage status determination function 232 and allows the customer C to be guided to the currently available self-checkout register T. In this case, the operation and processing of the usage status determination function 232 and the guidance information generation function 234 need only be equivalent to the operation and processing of the above-described usage status determination function 232 and the guidance information generation function 234, and can be easily imagined based on the explanation of the above-described embodiment. Therefore, detailed explanations of the operation and processing of the usage status determination function 232 and the guidance information generation function 234 will be omitted when the usage status determination function 232 determines, based on multiple pieces of detection information, that the same customer C has remained in front of the self-register T for more than a predetermined time, and when the time interval for updating the guidance information is different from the time interval at which the usage status information is output from the usage status determination function 232.

[0064] As described above, in this embodiment of the present invention, the usage status detection device 100 of the payment-acceptable terminal guidance system 1 detects the usage status of each self-checkout register T installed within a predetermined area R in a retail store. In this embodiment of the present invention, the guidance device 200 of the payment-acceptable terminal guidance system 1 determines an available self-checkout register T that is not currently being used by a customer C based on the detection information indicating the usage status of each self-checkout register T detected by the usage status detection device 100. In this embodiment of the present invention, the guidance device 200 of the payment-acceptable terminal guidance system 1 generates guidance information for guiding the self-checkout register T determined not to be currently being used by the customer C as an available self-checkout register T to other customers C waiting in line for payment, and presents (guidances) this information to the customers C via the information presentation device 300 of the payment-acceptable terminal guidance system 1. In this way, the payment-acceptable terminal guidance system 1 of this embodiment of the present invention can automatically guide available self-checkout registers T to customers C waiting in line for payment. In other words, in a retail store that has introduced the payment terminal guidance system 1 of an embodiment of the present invention, customer C can recognize an available self-checkout register T, go to that self-checkout register T, and complete the payment (settlement) procedure for the product himself / herself, without the need for an employee to confirm the payment method desired by customer C and guide him / her to an available self-checkout register T. This allows retail stores that have introduced the payment terminal guidance system 1 of an embodiment of the present invention to improve the efficiency of the payment (settlement) procedure for the products they sell.

[0065] Moreover, in the payment available terminal guidance system 1 of an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to automatically guide the customer C to available self-checkout registers T simply by installing a usage status detection device 100 that detects the usage status of each self-checkout register T installed in the retail store area R. For this reason, the payment available terminal guidance system 1 of an embodiment of the present invention is easier to introduce into a retail store and the cost required for introduction can be reduced compared to, for example, previously proposed payment available terminal guidance systems that use self-checkout registers equipped with surveillance cameras.

[0066] In the embodiment of the present invention, for example, the configuration and function of storing installation information in the storage unit 210 of the guiding device 200, i.e., the configuration and function of controlling, managing, and maintaining the guiding device 200 in the payment terminal guiding system 1, are not particularly described. However, the configuration and function of controlling, managing, and maintaining the guiding device 200 can be easily imagined, for example, by providing a communication unit (not shown) in the guiding device 200 and performing communication via an in-store or inter-store network (not shown) from, for example, a computer device separately installed in a retail store or a server device incorporated in a cloud computing system. Here, the in-store or inter-store network (not shown) may be, for example, a wired network such as a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or may be a method using wireless communication such as a wireless local area network (LAN) (so-called WiFi (registered trademark)). Furthermore, methods and processes for controlling, managing, and maintaining the guiding device 200 from a computer device or a server device can be easily imagined. Therefore, detailed explanations regarding the configuration, functions, methods, and processes for controlling, managing, and maintaining the guidance device 200 in the payment available terminal guidance system 1 will be omitted.

[0067] In the embodiment of the present invention, the self-checkout register T installed within the retail store area R is described as a cashless payment register Tmr and a cashless payment-only register Tr. However, other self-checkout registers T may also be installed within the retail store area R, such as self-checkout registers that only accept cash (cash payments). In this case, the operation and processing of the guidance device 200 and its respective components (particularly the usage status determination function 232 and guidance information generation function 234) can be easily understood based on the description of the above-described embodiment by simply adapting the operation and processing of the usage status determination function 232 and guidance information generation function 234 to those of a cashless payment-only self-checkout register. Therefore, a detailed description of the operation and processing of the usage status determination function 232 and guidance information generation function 234 when a cashless payment-only self-checkout register is installed within the area R is omitted.

[0068] <Additional Notes> (1) A payment-acceptable terminal guidance system according to one aspect of the present invention is a payment terminal where a customer who has purchased a product himself performs the payment procedure, and the payment-acceptable terminal guidance system includes: a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each of the payment terminals by a first customer within a predetermined area where multiple payment terminals that support different types of payment methods are installed; a guidance device that outputs guidance information to guide a second customer who is waiting to complete the payment procedure using the first payment terminal to a first payment terminal among the multiple payment terminals that is not currently being used by the first customer; and an information presentation device that is installed at the entrance to the area and presents the guidance information to the second customer. The guidance device includes: a usage status determination unit that determines the first payment terminal based on detection information that represents the current usage status of each of the payment terminals by the first customer, detected by the usage status detection device; and a guidance information generation unit that generates and outputs the guidance information to guide the second customer to the first payment terminal that can be used by the second customer based on the result of the determination.

[0069] (2) Furthermore, in a payment-enabled terminal guidance system according to one embodiment of the present invention, the detection information is an image captured within the area, and the usage status determination unit determines the first payment terminal by recognizing the first customer depicted in the image.

[0070] (3) Furthermore, in a payment-enabled terminal guidance system according to one embodiment of the present invention, the detection information is an image of the area, including a predetermined mark placed at a position where the customer is expected to remain when using the payment terminal, and the usage status determination unit determines the first payment terminal based on whether or not the predetermined mark shown in the image can be recognized.

[0071] (4) Furthermore, in the payment-accepting terminal guidance system according to one aspect of the present invention, the predetermined mark includes identification information for identifying the payment terminal.

[0072] (5) Furthermore, in a payment-enabled terminal guidance system according to one embodiment of the present invention, the detection information is a detection result obtained by detecting a person present within a detection range, where the detection range is a location where the customer is expected to remain when using the payment terminal, and the usage status determination unit determines the first payment terminal based on information indicating whether or not a person is present in the detection result.

[0073] (6) Furthermore, in a payment-available terminal guidance system according to one embodiment of the present invention, the guidance information is a display image showing the first payment terminal that is available, and the information presentation device displays the display image to present the guidance information to the second customer.

[0074] (7) Furthermore, in a payment-available terminal guidance system according to one embodiment of the present invention, the guidance information generation unit generates the display image that guides users to the first payment terminals that can be used for each type of payment method that the first payment terminal supports.

[0075] (8) Furthermore, the guidance information generation unit in the payment-available terminal guidance system according to one embodiment of the present invention guides the first payment terminals available for each type of payment method supported by the first payment terminal, and generates the display image showing information encouraging the second customer to take action.

[0076] (9) Furthermore, the guidance information generation unit in the payment-available terminal guidance system according to one embodiment of the present invention guides the first payment terminals available for each type of payment method supported by the first payment terminal, and generates the display image indicating the type of payment method supported by the first payment terminal being guided.

[0077] (10) Furthermore, the guidance information generation unit in the payment-available terminal guidance system according to one embodiment of the present invention guides the first payment terminals available for each type of payment method supported by the first payment terminal, and generates the display image showing the types of payment methods supported by the first payment terminal being guided and information encouraging the second customer to take action.

[0078] (11) Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention provides a payment-acceptable terminal determination method in a payment-acceptable terminal guidance system, which includes: a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each payment terminal by a first customer within a predetermined area where a plurality of payment terminals that support different types of payment methods are installed, where the payment is processed by the customer who purchased the product; a guidance device that outputs guidance information to guide a second customer who is waiting to complete the payment process using the first payment terminal to a first payment terminal that is not currently being used by the first customer among the plurality of payment terminals; and an information presentation device that is installed at the entrance to the area and presents the guidance information to the second customer, in which a computer of the guidance device determines the first payment terminal based on detection information that represents the current usage status of each payment terminal by the first customer, detected by the usage status detection device.

[0079] (12) Also, one aspect of the present invention provides a payment-acceptable terminal guidance method in a payment-acceptable terminal guidance system, the payment terminal being a payment terminal at which a customer who has purchased a product processes the payment themselves, the payment terminal being installed in a predetermined area where a plurality of payment terminals that support different types of payment methods are installed; a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each of the payment terminals by a first customer; a guidance device that outputs guidance information to guide a second customer who is waiting to complete the payment process using the first payment terminal to a first payment terminal among the plurality of payment terminals that is not currently being used by the first customer; and an information presentation device that is installed at the entrance to the area and presents the guidance information to the second customer, in which a computer of the guidance device generates the guidance information to guide the second customer to the first payment terminal that can be used by the second customer based on the result of the determination of the first payment terminal based on the detection information that indicates the current usage status of each of the payment terminals by the first customer detected by the usage status detection device.

[0080] (13) Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention provides a program for a payment-available terminal guidance system, which includes: a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each payment terminal by a first customer within a predetermined area where multiple payment terminals that support different types of payment methods are installed, where the payment is processed by the customer who purchased the product; a guidance device that outputs guidance information to guide a second customer who is waiting to complete the payment process using the first payment terminal to a first payment terminal among the multiple payment terminals that is not currently being used by the first customer; and an information presentation device that is installed at the entrance to the area and presents the guidance information to the second customer. The program causes a computer of the guidance device to determine the first payment terminal based on detection information that indicates the current usage status of each payment terminal by the first customer, detected by the usage status detection device, and to generate and output the guidance information to guide the second customer to the first payment terminal that is available to the second customer based on the result of the determination.

[0081] The above describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications are also included within the scope that does not deviate from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1. Payment terminal information system 100...Usage status detection device 200 Guide device 210...Storage section 220 Usage status acquisition unit 230 Processing circuit 232 Usage status determination function 234 Guidance information generation function 300...Information presentation device T···Self-Register Tmr... Cashless payment register Tr···Cashless payment register

Claims

1. A payment terminal guidance system that displays guidance information in a store where multiple payment terminals are installed, A usage status acquisition unit acquires detection information in which a plurality of payment terminals with different types of payment methods are installed, and identification information for identifying the payment terminal is an image captured by a camera that captures an image of an area provided corresponding to the payment terminal; a usage status determination unit that determines whether the payment terminal is being used based on identification information included in the detection information acquired by the usage status acquisition unit, and outputs usage status information that indicates the type of payment terminal that is determined not to be being used; a guidance information generating unit that generates guidance information informing customers of available payment terminals and their types based on the usage status information, and outputs the information to a display device that can display the information to customers waiting to use the payment terminal; A payment terminal guidance system having the above.

2. The usage status acquisition unit A detection range is set to a location where a customer is expected to stay when using the payment terminal, and a detection result is obtained that detects a person present within the detection range; The usage state determination unit and determining whether the payment terminal is being used based on information indicating whether a person is present or not included in the detection result. The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 1 .

3. The guidance information generation unit outputting a display image showing the available payment terminals; The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 2.

4. The guidance information generation unit A display image is generated to guide the available payment terminals for each type of payment method supported by the payment terminal. The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 3.

5. The guidance information generation unit Generate a display image including information that prompts a customer waiting to use the payment terminal to take action to use the available payment terminal. The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 4.

6. The guidance information generation unit A display image is generated that includes information guiding the available payment terminals for each type of payment method supported by the payment terminal and information that encourages the user to take the action. The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 5.

7. The guidance information generation unit For each type of payment method supported by the payment terminal, information guiding the available payment terminals, as well as the types of payment methods supported by the payment terminals to be guided; Information that prompts customers waiting to use the payment terminal to take action to use the available payment terminal; generating the display image showing The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 4.

8. In one line of customers waiting to use the payment terminal, there can be customers who make payments using a first payment method and customers who make payments using a second payment method different from the first payment method, The guidance information generation unit The guidance information is output to a display device that is arranged in a position where it can be presented to the customers waiting in line. The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 1 .

9. The guidance information generation unit Displaying guidance information on the screen of the display device that guides users to a payment terminal that can make payments using a first payment method and a payment terminal that can make payments using a second payment method that is different from the first payment method. The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 1 .

10. a usage status detection device for detecting the usage status of the payment terminal; the usage status acquisition unit acquires the detection information from the usage status detection device; The usage status detection device is a camera that captures an image of a customer standing in front of the payment terminal. The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 1 .

11. a usage status detection device for detecting the usage status of the payment terminal; the usage status acquisition unit acquires the detection information from the usage status detection device; The usage status detection device is a sensor whose detection range is set according to the location where a customer using the payment terminal is expected to stay. The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 1 .

12. The payment terminal is a self-checkout register where the customer can make a payment themselves. The payment terminal guidance system according to claim 1 .

13. A payment terminal guidance method executed by a computer that is a payment terminal guidance device that displays guidance information in a store where multiple payment terminals are installed, A plurality of payment terminals having different types of payment methods are installed, and detection information is acquired, which is an image captured by a camera capturing an image of an area provided corresponding to each payment terminal, and identification information for identifying each payment terminal is acquired; determining whether the payment terminal is being used based on the identification information included in the acquired detection information, and outputting usage status information indicating the type of payment terminal determined to be unused; Based on the usage status information, guidance information is generated that provides information about available payment terminals and their types, and the information is output to a display device that can display the information to customers waiting to use the payment terminal. A payment terminal guidance method including the above.

Images