Payment-enabled terminal guidance system, payment-enabled terminal guidance method, and program

Abstract

To provide a settlement possible terminal guide system, a settlement possible terminal determination method, a settlement possible terminal guide method and a program for automatically guiding a settlement terminal for performing the payment procedure of merchandise purchased by a customer himself or herself.SOLUTION: A payment-enabled terminal guidance system is provided with a usage state detection device for detecting the current usage state by a first customer of a plurality of payment terminals for which the customer himself / herself performs a payment procedure, a guidance device for outputting guidance information for guiding a first payment terminal which is not currently used by the first customer to a second customer who is waiting for a payment procedure used by the first payment terminal, and an information presentation device for presenting the guidance information to the second customer, wherein the guidance device is provided with a usage state judgment unit for judging the first payment terminal on the basis of the current usage state by the first customer of each payment terminal, and a guidance information generation unit for generating and outputting guidance information for guiding a first payment terminal which can be used by the second customer on the basis of the result of the judgment.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention is a payment terminal information system , decided The present invention relates to a payment-enabled terminal guidance method and a program. [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 provides a payment terminal guidance system that can automatically guide a customer to a payment terminal where the customer can make a payment procedure for a product that the customer has purchased. , decided The present invention aims to provide a method and program for providing information on payment-enabled terminals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, one embodiment of the present invention provides a payment-acceptable terminal guidance system that includes a payment terminal at which the customer who purchased the product himself performs the payment procedure, a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each of the payment terminals by a first customer within a specified 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, and 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.

[0008] In addition, 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.

[0009] In addition, 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.

[0010] In addition, the predetermined mark in the payment-accepting terminal guidance system according to one aspect of the present invention includes identification information for identifying the payment terminal.

[0011] In addition, in a payment-enabled terminal guidance system according to one embodiment of the present invention, the detection information is a detection range that defines a location where the customer is expected to remain when using the payment terminal, and is a detection result of detecting a person present within the detection range, 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.

[0012] In addition, in a payment-available terminal guidance system according to one embodiment of the present invention, the guidance information is a display image indicating 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.

[0013] In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, the guidance information generation unit in the payment-compatible terminal guidance system generates the display image that guides the first payment terminals that can be used for each type of payment method that the first payment terminal supports.

[0014] In addition, 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.

[0015] In addition, 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 that can be used for each type of payment method that the first payment terminal supports, and generates the display image that indicates the type of payment method that the first payment terminal being guided supports.

[0016] In addition, 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. In addition, a payment-acceptable terminal guidance system according to one embodiment of the present invention is a payment-acceptable terminal guidance system comprising: a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each of a plurality of payment terminals by a first customer within a specified area where a plurality of 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 a payment procedure 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 outputs the guidance information in a manner that can be understood by the second customer, wherein the guidance device comprises: 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.

[0017] In addition, one embodiment of the present invention provides a method for determining a terminal that can be used for payment in a payment terminal guidance system that includes: a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each payment terminal by a first customer within a specified 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 themselves; 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 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.

[0018] In addition, one aspect of the present invention provides a payment-acceptable terminal guidance method in a payment-acceptable terminal guidance system that includes: a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each payment terminal by a first customer within a specified 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 themselves; 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, 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 detection information that represents the current usage status of each payment terminal by the first customer detected by the usage status detection device.

[0019] In addition, one aspect of the present invention is a program for a payment-available terminal guidance system that includes: a usage status detection device that detects the current usage status of each payment terminal by a first customer within a specified 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 themselves; 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 represents 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 usable by the second customer based on the result of the determination. [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. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for guidance information including map information. 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 . Any display image may be used as long as it can guide and identify 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. While the display images shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 illustrate an example in which the entire display image is divided into two vertically, the entire display image may also 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 (i.e., floor map information showing the location of the self-checkout register T and the positional relationship between the line of customers waiting for payment) may also be displayed. Displaying map information allows users to determine which self-checkout registers T are available and also to determine the location of the self-checkout register T. 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] The above-described embodiment may include the following functions. <1. Individually optimized guidance based on customer attributes and circumstances> Instead of outputting guidance information for the above-mentioned "second customer" in general, it is also possible to estimate the customer's attributes (gender, age, etc.) using facial recognition, etc., and then process and output guidance information tailored to the estimated customer attributes, such as elderly people, wheelchair users, children, etc. In this case, a camera is provided to capture images near the information presentation device 300, and images of customers who may be viewing the information presentation device 300 (for example, customers waiting in line for an empty register) are captured. This camera only needs to be able to capture images of customers in line, and for example, a ceiling camera or a camera provided in the information presentation device 300 may be used. In recent years, display devices compatible with digital signage have been introduced, and the use of display devices equipped with cameras and touch panels is increasing. By using such a display device compatible with digital signage as the information presentation device 300, images of customers may be captured by the camera provided in the display device.

[0069] The guidance device 200 may have an estimation unit that acquires an image captured by the camera described above, extracts features from facial images of customers waiting in line included in the captured image, and estimates attributes of the customers based on the extracted features. The estimated attributes may be at least one of gender, age group, language used, etc. The function of estimating attributes based on an image may use AI (Artificial Intelligence). As for the processing contents using the customer attributes, for example, when outputting guidance information as an image, the size of the characters or the display of hiragana characters may be changed from the usual display. For example, for elderly people, the font size may be made larger than normal to make it easier to read, and for children, the font may be displayed in hiragana instead of kanji to increase the chances that they will be able to read it.

[0070] In addition, as for the processing content, for example, when outputting guidance information by sound, the characters contained in the guidance information may be output by voice using a reading function, and the pitch and tone of the voice may be changed depending on the attributes. Furthermore, in the case of elderly people, guidance information may be output that directs them to a manned register where a store clerk registers and handles payment, rather than to the self-service register T. In this way, processing may be performed to select the type of register to which guidance is directed depending on the user's attributes.

[0071] Furthermore, when outputting guidance information according to the customer's situation, a terminal device such as a smartphone carried by the customer may be used. For example, a two-dimensional barcode may be attached to the shopping cart, and the customer's terminal device may read the two-dimensional barcode to access a web page published by the store, where the guidance information may be displayed. Such a two-dimensional barcode includes a URL (uniform resource locator) for accessing a page of the store's web page that displays the guidance information. The terminal device can recognize the URL by interpreting the two-dimensional barcode and access the store's web page based on the URL. This web page is, for example, a web page where the guidance information generated by the guidance device 200 (guidance information generation function 234) is made public. Here, the guidance information generation function 234 outputs the generated guidance information to a web server, thereby making it possible to make the generated guidance information public on the web page. This allows the guidance information to be displayed on the terminal device so that it can be viewed in response to access to the web server from the terminal device.

[0072] Furthermore, even if a customer is waiting in line and cannot directly see information presentation device 300, the customer can check using his / her own terminal device. This allows the customer to check whether there is an available payment terminal, and prevents the customer from remaining in line without knowing whether there is an available payment terminal because he / she cannot see information presentation device 300.

[0073] Some stores may have a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) available within the store, and customers may connect to it from their terminal devices to display guidance information. In this case, when connected to the wireless LAN, the store's web server can be accessed, and this web server may transmit guidance information to the terminal device, which may then display it.

[0074] Furthermore, when a terminal device accesses a store's web page via a two-dimensional barcode URL or the store's wireless LAN, the terminal identification information assigned to the terminal device, which can individually identify the terminal device, or, if the user is registered as a store customer, the user's registered user ID, may be transmitted to the web server, allowing the guidance device 200 to identify the accessing customer. The guidance device 200 may then estimate the customer's desired payment method based on the customer's past payment method history, generate guidance information informing the customer of the self-register T that corresponds to the payment method the customer is likely to use, and display the generated guidance information on the terminal device. This makes it possible to guide the customer to the most suitable available register. Furthermore, guidance information for a "second customer" waiting to pay can be further customized to meet the customer's individual preferences.

[0075] <2. Various information presentation methods and detailed expressions> Furthermore, the above-described information presentation device 300 may be a projector, and may project guidance information onto an area visible to customers in line (such as a floor, wall, or screen). Furthermore, when the information presentation device 300 is a projector, the guidance information may be projected onto an object located in a position visible from the line using projection mapping technology. The area onto which such a projector projects guidance information may be determined by capturing an image of the number of people in line or the queueing status of the queue formed according to the number of customers in line using a camera, and analyzing the image. For example, when the number of people waiting in line is small and the line is a single line, guidance information may be displayed at a position along the line. Also, when the number of people waiting in line increases and the line meanders, there is a possibility that some customers cannot see the information presentation device 300, which is a display installed at the entrance to the line. When such a waiting line is detected, the guidance device 200 may project guidance information using the information presentation device 300, which is a projector, at a position near the customer at the back of the line.

[0076] Furthermore, the information presentation device 300 may not only display guidance information but also accept input operations from a customer on the displayed display screen and display content according to the input operations. If the information presentation device 300 is a display, the display screen may be equipped with a touch panel, and the information presentation device 300 may accept operation inputs on the touch panel. If the information presentation device 300 is a projector, the information presentation device 300 may accept operation content for a projected image by detecting the operation content based on a camera image capturing the projection screen of the projector.

[0077] The operation input may be, for example, an operation input from the customer to change the display size, such as pinching in or out, and the display size of the guidance screen may be enlarged or reduced depending on the operation content. This makes it possible to enlarge and check the displayed content of the guidance information so that it is easier to see, and by reducing the display size of the guidance information, it is possible to display it so that the entire area where multiple payment terminals are installed fits within the screen, making it possible to check the usage status.

[0078] In addition, when outputting guidance information, the information presentation device 300 may also display map information within the area where the self-register T is installed (so-called floor map information showing the positional relationship between the location of the self-register T and the line of people waiting to pay). FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of guidance information including map information displayed by the information presentation device 300. This map information shows the entrances and exits for the area where the self-register T is located, as well as the location within the area where the self-register T is located. Furthermore, the word "In Use" is displayed at the location where the self-register T is located, allowing the customer to know that the self-register T is occupied by another customer and therefore not available. Furthermore, the word "In Use" is not displayed at a self-register T, allowing the customer to know that the self-register T is available. Furthermore, the text "Cashless payment customers can use any available register" is displayed, allowing customers who wish to pay cashlessly to know that they can choose and use any available register. Also, a message may be displayed that includes a graphic that identifies the self-checkout register T as cash-accepting, such as "For cash-accepting customers, please use XX." This allows the user to use the graphic as a clue to find out where in the area a self-checkout register T that accepts cash is located. This allows users to intuitively grasp where available self-service registers T are located when map information is displayed.

[0079] Furthermore, the guidance information presented by the information presentation device 300 may be displayed in multiple languages. For example, feature amounts may be extracted from facial images of customers waiting in line, customer attributes may be estimated based on the feature amounts, and guidance information may be displayed in a language corresponding to the attributes. Furthermore, a selection button for selecting a language may be displayed on the display screen of the information presentation device 300, and guidance information may be displayed in the selected language based on an operational input from the user.

[0080] Furthermore, if the guidance information generation function 234 obtains an attribute corresponding to an elderly person based on the attribute estimated by the estimation unit of the guidance device 200, the guidance information generation function 234 may use a lower tone of voice to make the message easier for elderly people to hear. In this case, the information presentation device 300 may use a voice function that reads out a message such as "Number XX is available at the cash register that accepts both cash and cashless payments" based on the text data included in the guidance information, using a tone of voice appropriate to the attribute. This makes it easier for elderly people to hear. Furthermore, if the attribute is elderly, the speech speed can be slowed down to use a slower tone of voice, making the message easier to hear.

[0081] Furthermore, if the attribute is child, the voice of the guidance information can be more easily noticed by reading the guidance information with a louder intonation than usual.

[0082] In this way, information presentation device 300 may output guidance information in a manner that is understandable to customers waiting to complete payment, and may do so by at least one of the following methods: outputting guidance information to a display installed near the waiting line where customers are waiting to make payment, outputting guidance information by projecting it near the waiting line where customers are waiting to make payment using a projector, outputting guidance information by transmitting guidance information in response to access from a terminal device used by the customer, outputting guidance information by voice, etc. Customers may understand the guidance information by at least one of visually recognizing the displayed guidance information and listening to the guidance information output as voice.

[0083] <3. Providing information and added value related to waiting times> The guidance information generating function 234 may output additional information about waiting times at the registers in addition to the available register information. The additional information may be, for example, advertisements about the store or incentives available at the store. When the information presentation device 300 displays advertisements related to the store as additional information, customers waiting in line can use the time they spend waiting to view advertisements such as information about new products, the planned date of the next sale, etc. This reduces the feeling that the waiting time is long for customers waiting in line.

[0084] Furthermore, when an incentive is output as additional information, for example, when guidance information is displayed on a terminal device carried by a customer, a button that allows the customer to obtain a discount coupon, a prize voucher, or the like may be displayed as an incentive, and the incentive may be provided in response to the customer tapping the button. Also, different incentives may be provided depending on the amount of time that has elapsed since accessing the webpage that displays the guidance information. For example, a 100 yen discount coupon may be provided to a customer who has waited one minute since the guidance information was first displayed on the terminal device, and a 300 yen discount coupon may be provided to a customer who has waited three minutes.

[0085] Furthermore, the payment terminal information system 1 may be linked to other systems (e.g., a security system, a customer management system, etc.) installed in the store. For example, the security system may identify customers using a function such as facial recognition, extract information about the identified customers from the customer management system, and award incentives tailored to the customers. In this case, the customer management system may store POS (Point of Sales) data output from the self-checkout register T, and award incentives based on each user's past purchase amounts. Incentives may be awarded by, for example, registering the incentives managed by a user app installed on the terminal device used by the customer using a function of the store's user app. This allows for more customized incentives to be awarded.

[0086] <4. Detailed criteria for how to use the detected information> The usage status detection device 100 is configured to detect whether a customer is present in an area where a customer is expected to remain when using the self-register T, but it may also be configured to determine whether the self-register T is being used based on whether a process that occurs in conjunction with the use of the self-register T is being performed, such as a product registration operation by a customer using the self-register T (an operation in which the barcode attached to the product is read by the scanner of the self-register T), a payment operation, etc. When making such a determination, the usage status detection device 100 may detect the usage status by detecting the customer's movements, such as product registration operations or payment operations, from images captured by a camera mounted on the ceiling or a camera installed individually in the self-register T.

[0087] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, if the usage status detection device 100 is a camera, it may be a camera installed on the ceiling at the entrance to area R of the retail store, or if there is a camera installed individually at each self-register, it may be that camera. Furthermore, if the usage status detection device 100 is a human presence sensor, it may be a human presence sensor installed individually at each self-register, or it may be a sensor that detects whether or not a customer is present at each self-register, targeting an area that includes the area where each customer stays at multiple self-registers.

[0088] Self-service registers equipped with surveillance cameras (e.g., Patent Document 1) can monitor customers for fraud, but they do not guide customers waiting to use a payment terminal to an available payment terminal. Furthermore, in self-checkout registers equipped with surveillance cameras, it is necessary to capture images that include the areas where various operations for registering and paying for products are performed (such as the area scanned to register products to be purchased and the path from the shopping basket to the scannable area), but in this embodiment, an image capturing these various operation areas may be used, or even if the various operation areas are not captured, the usage status can be detected as long as an image is captured of the area where a person is expected to stay when using the self-checkout register T. This means that there are fewer restrictions on the imaging range of the camera that can be used as usage status detection device 100, making it possible to easily introduce a system that provides guidance information. In addition, when a camera individually installed in each self-checkout register T is used, identification information that can individually identify the camera and identification information that can identify the self-checkout register T in which the camera is installed may be associated and stored in the storage unit 210, and the usage status determination function 232 may determine the usage status based on the association between the camera image and the self-checkout register T by referencing data indicating this association. This makes it easy to identify which self-checkout register T an image captured by the camera corresponds to. Furthermore, if a camera is already installed in the self-checkout register T, or if a camera is installed for another purpose, that camera may be used as the usage status detection device 100. In this case, an existing camera can be reused.

[0089] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the payment terminal is described as being a self-checkout register, but the payment terminal may also be one in which a store clerk registers products using a product registration device, and the payment data resulting from this registration is sent from the product registration device to the payment terminal, where the customer makes payment. The payment terminal may also be a manned cash register where a store clerk performs operations related to product registration and payment. In this case, the area within the store where the payment terminals are installed may be equipped with at least one of the following types of payment terminals: a self-checkout register that accepts cash and cashless payments, a self-checkout register that accepts cashless payments, a payment terminal that makes payments based on the results of product registration by a store employee, and a manned register.

[0090] 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]

[0091] 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 where customers themselves process payments, a camera that takes an image of a predetermined area where multiple payment terminals that support different types of payment methods are installed and detects the current usage status of each of the payment terminals by a first customer; a guidance device that outputs guidance information for guiding a second customer who is waiting to complete a payment procedure 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; an information presentation device installed at an entrance of the area and presenting the guidance information to the second customer; A payment terminal information system comprising: The guide device is a usage status determination unit that determines the first payment terminal based on detection information that indicates a current usage status of each payment terminal by the first customer, the detection information being detected by the camera; a guidance information generating unit that generates and outputs the guidance information for guiding the second customer to the first payment terminal that can be used by the second customer based on the result of the determination; Equipped with the detection information is an image captured within the area in which identification information for identifying the payment terminal is placed in a position where the customer is expected to stay when using the payment terminal, The usage status determination unit determines the first payment terminal based on whether the identification information captured in the image can be recognized. Payment terminal information system.

2. The guiding device is The guidance information is presented in a manner visible to second customers who are lined up in a mixed state near the area, with the second customers having different types of objects that they wish to use. The payment-accepting terminal guidance system according to claim 1.

3. The detection information is a detection result obtained by detecting a person present within a detection range, the detection range being a position where the customer is expected to stay when using the payment terminal, and the usage status determination unit determines the first payment terminal based on information indicating whether a human is present or not, which is included in the detection result. The payment-accepting terminal guidance system according to claim 1.

4. the guidance information is a display image showing the first payment terminal that is available, the information presentation device displays the display image to present the guidance information to the second customer. The payment-accepting terminal guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the guidance information generation unit generates the display image that guides the first payment terminal available for each type of payment method supported by the first payment terminal. The payment-accepting terminal guidance system according to claim 4.

6. the guidance information generation unit generates the display image showing information that guides the first payment terminal available for each type of payment method supported by the first payment terminal and encourages the second customer to take action. The payment-accepting terminal guidance system according to claim 4.

7. the guidance information generation unit 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 types of payment methods supported by the first payment terminal being guided; The payment-accepting terminal guidance system according to claim 4.

8. the guidance information generation unit 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. The payment-accepting terminal guidance system according to claim 4.

9. A payment terminal where the customer himself / herself processes the payment, comprising: a camera that takes an image of a predetermined area where multiple payment terminals with different types of corresponding payment methods are installed, and detects the current usage status of each of the payment terminals by the first customer; a guidance device that outputs guidance information for guiding a second customer who is waiting to complete a payment procedure 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; an information presentation device installed at an entrance of the area and presenting the guidance information to the second customer; A payment available terminal guidance method in a payment available terminal guidance system comprising: The computer of the guidance device generating the guidance information for guiding the second customer to the first payment terminal available for use based on the result of the determination of the first payment terminal determined based on the detection information detected by the camera that indicates the current usage status of each of the payment terminals by the first customer; the detection information is an image captured within the area in which identification information for identifying the payment terminal is placed in a position where the customer is expected to stay when using the payment terminal, The determination based on the detection information includes determining the first payment terminal based on whether the identification information captured in the image can be recognized. A method for providing information on payment-enabled terminals, including:

10. A payment terminal where the customer himself / herself processes the payment, comprising: a camera that takes an image of a predetermined area where multiple payment terminals corresponding to different types of payment methods are installed, and detects the current usage status of each of the payment terminals by the first customer; a guidance device that outputs guidance information for guiding a second customer who is waiting to complete a payment procedure 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; an information presentation device installed at an entrance of the area and presenting the guidance information to the second customer; A program in a payment terminal information system comprising: The computer of the guidance device determining the first payment terminal based on detection information detected by the camera and representing a current usage status of each payment terminal by the first customer; Based on the result of the determination, generate and output the guidance information for guiding the second customer to the first payment terminal available to the second customer; the detection information is an image captured within the area in which identification information for identifying the payment terminal is placed in a position where the customer is expected to stay when using the payment terminal, The determination of the first payment terminal is performed by determining whether the identification information captured in the image can be recognized. A program that includes:

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