Information processing device and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing device and program capable of performing purchase support and promotion support of a commodity to be sold in a store.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes: extraction means for extracting a previous visit date from a use history of a customer who visits a store; specifying means for specifying an area for arranging a commodity whose sales form is changed from a previous visit date to a present visit date based on relation information indicating a temporal relation between a plurality of areas for arranging the commodity provided in the store and the sales form of the commodity arranged in the area; and output means for outputting information indicating the arrangement area specified by the specifying means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an information processing device and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Consumers (hereinafter referred to as customers) who frequently visit stores such as supermarkets often visit the same stores and often have some knowledge of where items are located in the store. In addition, customers may have specific areas within the store that they frequently visit, and tend to visit those areas unconsciously or consciously.

[0003] Conventionally, a technology has been proposed that provides product information for new products of the same type to a customer's terminal when a predetermined date and time has elapsed since the previous purchase of a given product, based on product information registered in the customer's purchase history.

[0004] Incidentally, while customers often purchase their favorite products regularly, they also frequently check for and purchase new products that weren't available on their previous visit, or products they haven't seen before, and they look forward to shopping in stores that have updated their product selection.

[0005] However, customers have no choice but to check for updates to the products since their last visit, and they may pass by without finding them, or even skip the area altogether, potentially resulting in lost sales opportunities. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide an information processing device and program that can provide support for purchasing and sales promotion of products sold in stores. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An information processing device according to an embodiment includes an extraction unit, a specification unit, and an output unit. The extraction unit extracts the date of a customer's last visit from the usage history of the customer who visited the store. The specification unit specifies an area for arranging a product whose sales format has changed between the date of the customer's last visit and the date of the current visit, based on relationship information indicating the relationship over time between a plurality of areas for arranging products in the store and the sales formats of the products arranged in the areas. The output unit outputs information indicating the arrangement area specified by the specification unit. In addition, the identification means identifies an area in which to place products whose prices have changed between the date of the previous visit and the date of the current visit, based on the relationship information that shows the relationship over time between each of the areas and the prices of the products placed in that area. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a purchase support system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a customer terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a server device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the product master according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the arrangement change file according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the customer master according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a purchase history file according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a customer terminal and a server device according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a purchase support screen displayed on the customer terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a purchase support screen displayed on the customer terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed by the customer terminal and the server device according to the embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the price fluctuation file according to the first modification. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a purchase support screen displayed on a customer terminal in the first modification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an information processing device and a program according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment described below, an example in which the information processing device and the program are applied to a store such as a supermarket will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a purchase support system according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the purchase support system 1 has a customer terminal 10 and a server device 20. The customer terminal 10 and the server device 20 are communicably connected via a network N. The network N is a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The network N is formed by various network devices (not shown), such as access points installed in a store, for example.

[0011] The customer terminal 10 is a terminal device operated by a customer. For example, the customer terminal 10 may be a portable terminal device such as a smartphone or tablet terminal owned by the customer (hereinafter also referred to as a user-owned terminal). Alternatively, for example, the customer terminal 10 may be a portable terminal device rented from a store, or a terminal device such as a tablet terminal attached to a shopping cart in the store (hereinafter also referred to as a store terminal).

[0012] The customer terminal 10 of the present embodiment is an example of an information processing device. The customer terminal 10 has a function of presenting information related to purchasing support for products sold in a store by working in cooperation with the server device 20.

[0013] However, the functions of the customer terminal 10 are not limited to those described above. For example, the customer terminal 10 may have a function to read an identification code (hereinafter also referred to as a product code) that can identify the type of product from a code symbol such as a barcode attached to the product to be purchased, and a function to register the read product code to its own terminal or other devices (such as a server device 20). In addition, for example, the customer terminal 10 may have a payment function that enables electronic payment for registered products.

[0014] Server device 20 is a store server or the like installed in a store. Server device 20 stores and manages various information related to purchase support system 1, such as information about products sold in the store and information about customers who use the store.

[0015] For example, the server device 20 stores and manages information such as the product name, price, and location within the store, associated with the product code of each product. The server device 20 also records the entry and exit status of each customer, as well as the most recent date each customer entered the store. Furthermore, the server device 20 provides the customer terminal 10 with information related to assisting customers in purchasing products sold in the store.

[0016] However, the functions of the server device 20 are not limited to those described above. For example, the server device 20 may have a function to cooperate with the product registration process performed at the customer terminal 10, and to store and manage the product code read by the customer terminal 10 in association with information that identifies the customer terminal 10 and information that identifies the customer operating the customer terminal 10 (customer code).

[0017] In the configuration of the purchase support system 1 described above, there is no particular restriction on the number of customer terminals 10 connected to the network N. For example, if the customer terminal 10 is a user-owned terminal, the customer terminal 10 will be connected to the network N by accessing the network N when entering a store.

[0018] The method by which the customer terminal 10, which is a user-owned terminal, connects to the network N is not particularly limited, and various methods can be adopted.

[0019] For example, in response to a customer's operation, the customer terminal 10 may display information about the customer terminal 10 related to network connection, a connection code symbol including the customer's customer code, etc., on the display unit 114 described below. The connection code symbol may then be read by a scanner device installed at the entrance of the store or the like, and the customer terminal 10 may be connected to the network N in cooperation with each device that makes up the network N. In this case, an execution restriction may be set so that the display of the connection code symbol can be performed only when the location information of the customer terminal 10, acquired by a location acquisition function such as GPS, is included in the area in which the store is located.

[0020] Alternatively, for example, a code symbol containing connection information for connecting to network N may be displayed in the store, and the customer terminal 10 may connect to network N by reading the code symbol.

[0021] The above-mentioned connection method may be realized by a function of a dedicated application program installed in the customer terminal 10.

[0022] 1 shows an example in which the customer terminal 10 and the server device 20 are connected to the network N, but the devices connected to the network N are not limited to this. For example, a sales data processing device such as a POS terminal installed in a store may be connected to the network N. Also, a store clerk terminal used by a store clerk, various sensor devices, etc. may be connected to the network N.

[0023] Furthermore, while this embodiment describes an example where the server device 20 is implemented by a single device, it is not limited to this, and may be implemented by multiple devices using technologies such as cloud computing.

[0024] Next, the configuration of the main devices included in the purchase support system 1 will be described.

[0025] Figure 2 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the customer terminal 10. As shown in Figure 2, the customer terminal 10 is equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 112, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 113.

[0026] The CPU 111 is an example of a processor that comprehensively controls all parts of the customer terminal 10. The ROM 112 stores various programs. The RAM 113 is a workspace for displaying programs and various data.

[0027] The CPU 111, ROM 112, and RAM 113 are connected via a bus or the like to form a control unit 100 of the computer configuration. The control unit 100 performs various processes by operating the CPU 111 according to the program stored in the memory unit 118 and loaded into the RAM 113.

[0028] The customer terminal 10 also includes a display unit 114, an operation unit 115, an imaging unit 116, a communication unit 117, a storage unit 118, and the like.

[0029] The display unit 114 is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The display unit 114 displays various information under the control of the CPU 111. For example, the display unit 114 displays various purchase support screens to assist with purchases in the store.

[0030] The operation unit 115 is an input device such as a keyboard or pointing device. The operation unit 115 outputs the operation content received from the customer to the CPU 111. The operation unit 115 may also be a touch panel provided on the display screen of the display unit 114.

[0031] The imaging unit 116 is a digital camera having an imaging element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). In this embodiment, the imaging unit 116 is used to read (image) code symbols such as barcodes and two-dimensional codes, but is not limited to this.

[0032] The communication unit 117 is a wireless communication interface that can be connected to the network N. Under the control of the CPU 111, the communication unit 117 connects to the network N and transmits and receives various data to and from the server device 20 and the like that are connected to the network N.

[0033] The storage unit 118 is an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The storage unit 118 stores various programs (including application programs) that can be executed by the CPU 111 and various setting information. The storage unit 118 also stores various data related to the display of the purchase support screen. The storage unit 118 also stores the customer code of the customer who operates the customer terminal 10.

[0034] The hardware configuration of the customer terminal 10 is not limited to the above example. For example, the customer terminal 10 may be configured to be connectable to a separate imaging device (imaging unit 116) without including the imaging unit 116. The customer terminal 10 may also be equipped with a short-range wireless communication unit compatible with NFC (Near Field Communication) technology.

[0035] 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the server device 20. As illustrated in FIG.

[0036] The CPU 211 is an example of a processor, and performs overall control of each unit of the server device 20. The ROM 212 stores various programs. The RAM 213 is a workspace where programs and various data are developed.

[0037] The CPU 211, ROM 212, and RAM 213 are connected via a bus or the like to form a computer-configured control unit 200. In the control unit 200, the CPU 211 operates in accordance with a program stored in the storage unit 217 and loaded into the RAM 213, thereby executing various processes.

[0038] The server device 20 also includes a display unit 214, an operation unit 215, a communication unit 216, a storage unit 217, and the like.

[0039] The display unit 214 is a display device such as an LCD. The display unit 214 displays various information under the control of the CPU 211. The operation unit 215 is an input device such as a keyboard or pointing device. The operation unit 215 outputs the operation content received from an operator such as a store clerk to the CPU 211. The operation unit 215 may also be a touch panel provided on the display screen of the display unit 214.

[0040] The communication unit 216 is a wired or wireless communication interface connectable to the network N. The communication unit 216 transmits and receives various data to and from the customer terminal 10 and the like connected to the network N under the control of the CPU 211.

[0041] The storage unit 217 is an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD or SSD. The storage unit 217 stores various programs and various setting information that can be executed by the CPU 211. The storage unit 217 also stores a product master 2171, a placement change file 2172, a customer master 2173, a purchase history file 2174, etc.

[0042] The product master 2171 is a master file that stores product information related to products sold in the store. The product master 2171 stores information such as the product name, current price, and location area of ​​each product sold in the store.

[0043] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the product master 2171. As shown in Fig. 4, the product master 2171 stores product information such as the product name, placement area, placement period, and price of the product corresponding to the product code in association with the product code of each product.

[0044] The product name is information indicating the name of the product corresponding to the product code. The placement area is information indicating the area within the store where the product corresponding to the product code is placed. The placement period is information indicating the period during which the product corresponding to the product code will be placed in the placement area. The price is information indicating the current selling price of the product corresponding to the product code. Note that the product master 2171 is assumed to register a combination of placement period and placement area that includes the current date.

[0045] Here, we will explain the areas within a store. The store is divided into multiple areas based on predetermined criteria, and the address of the area where the relevant product is located, information indicating the name of the area, etc., is registered as the location area. There is no particular restriction on the criteria for dividing the areas, and any criteria can be set. For example, the areas within a store may be divided by product shelves. Furthermore, for example, the areas within a store may be divided according to the classification, characteristics, sales method, etc. of the products to be arranged, such as a sweets section, a vegetable section, a bargain section, etc.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows that product name AAA will be placed in area A from 2022 / 06 / 01 to 2022 / 09 / 30, product name BBB will be placed in area A from 2022 / 08 / 16 to 2022 / 10 / 30, and product name CCC will be placed in area A from 2022 / 08 / 22 to 2022 / 12 / 31. FIG. 4 also shows that product name DDD will be placed in area B from 2022 / 06 / 01 to 2022 / 09 / 30.

[0047] The information registered in the product master 2171 is an example of relationship information that indicates the relationship over time between multiple areas in a store for placing products and the sales format of the products placed in those areas.

[0048] The placement change file 2172 is a file that stores the change history of products placed in placement areas. The placement change file 2172 stores, in association with a product code, information such as the placement area and placement period in which the product corresponding to the product code was previously placed.

[0049] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the placement change file 2172. As shown in Fig. 5, the placement change file 2172 stores, in association with a product code, a pair of a placement area and a placement period in which a product corresponding to the product code was previously placed.

[0050] Figure 5 shows that the product with product code "0000000000101" was placed in area C from 2022 / 01 / 01 to 2022 / 05 / 31. It also shows that the product with product code "0000000000103" was placed in area D from 2022 / 03 / 01 to 2022 / 08 / 21. It also shows that the product with product code "0000000000201" was placed in area A from 2022 / 02 / 01 to 2022 / 05 / 31.

[0051] Furthermore, the product with product code "0000000000102" that exists in the product master 2171 of Fig. 4 is not registered in the placement change file 2172 of Fig. 5. In other words, this means that the product with product name BBB registered in the product master 2171 is a new product that has been newly placed.

[0052] The information stored in the placement change file 2172 is an example of relationship information that shows the relationship over time between multiple areas in the store for placing products and the sales format of the products placed in those areas.

[0053] In this embodiment, the placement change file 2172 stores combinations of past placement periods and placement areas, but it may also store combinations of placement periods and placement areas including the current date. In this case, for example, the items for placement period and placement area may be deleted from the product master 2171, and the placement change file 2172 may be configured to centrally manage combinations of placement periods and placement areas from the past to the present.

[0054] The customer master 2173 is a master file that stores customer information about customers. The customer master 2173 associates each customer with an identifiable customer code, and stores information such as the customer's name, last visit date, favorite area, and store entry status corresponding to the customer code.

[0055] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the customer master 2173. As shown in Fig. 6, the customer master 2173 stores customer information such as the name of the customer corresponding to the customer code, the date of their last visit, their favorite area, and their store entry status, in association with the customer code.

[0056] The name is information indicating the name of the customer corresponding to the customer code. The last visit date is information indicating the date on which the customer corresponding to the customer code most recently visited the store.

[0057] The favorite area is information indicating an area in a store that is frequently used by a customer corresponding to the customer code. The favorite area may be an area requested by the customer themselves, or may be automatically derived from the customer's purchase history. In this embodiment, a form in which the favorite area is automatically derived by the analysis unit 203 (see FIG. 8), which will be described later, will be described.

[0058] The store entry status is information indicating whether the customer corresponding to the customer code is in the store or has left the store. The store entry status is registered (updated) by the store entry / exit recording unit 201 (see FIG. 8), which will be described later.

[0059] As mentioned above, the customer information stored in the customer master 2173 includes the date of the customer's last visit to the store and their entry and exit status. In other words, the customer information is also an example of a customer's usage history when they visit the store.

[0060] The purchase history file 2174 is a file that stores the purchase history of products purchased by a customer at a store. The purchase history file 2174 is associated with a customer code and stores the purchase date, product code, etc., of the products purchased by the customer corresponding to that customer code.

[0061] Figure 7 shows an example of the data structure of the purchase history file 2174. As shown in Figure 7, the purchase history file 2174 stores the purchase date and product code of the products purchased by the customer corresponding to the customer code as the purchase history, in association with the customer code.

[0062] The purchase date is information indicating the date the customer corresponding to the customer code made a purchase at the store. The product code is information indicating the product code of the product purchased by the customer corresponding to the customer code on the purchase date.

[0063] The registration of purchase history information in the purchase history file 2174 may be performed by the server device 20 or by another device other than the server device 20. In the former case, for example, the control unit 200 of the server device 20 collects transaction information for completed transactions from each POS terminal (not shown). The server device 20 then associates the customer code and product code included in the transaction information with the date the transaction took place (purchase date) and registers it in the purchase history file 2174.

[0064] Next, the functional configuration of the customer terminal 10 and the server device 20 will be described. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the customer terminal 10. As shown in Fig. 8, the customer terminal 10 has, as its functional configuration, an entry / exit notification unit 101, an information acquisition unit 102, an updated product identification unit 103, and a display control unit 104. Specifically, the control unit 100 (CPU 111) of the customer terminal 10 realizes the above-mentioned functional configuration by executing a program stored in the ROM 112 or the memory unit 118.

[0065] In this embodiment, the functional configuration of the customer terminal 10 is a software configuration realized by cooperation between the processor of the customer terminal 10 and a program, but this is not limited to this, and it may also be a hardware configuration in which part or all of the functional configuration is realized by a dedicated circuit or the like.

[0066] On the other hand, the server device 20 has, as functional components, an entry / exit recording unit 201, an information providing unit 202, and an analyzing unit 203. Specifically, the control unit 200 (CPU 211) of the server device 20 executes a program stored in the ROM 212 or the storage unit 217 to realize the above-mentioned functional components.

[0067] In this embodiment, the functional configuration of the server device 20 is a software configuration realized by cooperation between the processor of the server device 20 and a program, but this is not limited to this, and the functional configuration may also be a hardware configuration in which part or all of the functional configuration is realized by a dedicated circuit or the like.

[0068] The store entry / exit notification unit 101 of the customer terminal 10 notifies the server device 20 of store entry and exit. There is no particular restriction on the method of store entry / exit notification, and various methods can be adopted depending on the specifications of the customer terminal 10 and the store.

[0069] For example, if the customer terminal 10 is a user-owned terminal, the store entry / exit notification unit 101 performs store entry notification by transmitting to the server device 20, at the time when the customer terminal 10 connects to the network N, information instructing the customer to enter the store along with the customer code of the customer associated with the customer terminal 10. Also, for example, when the operation unit 115 or the control unit 100 instructs disconnection from the network N, the store entry / exit notification unit 101 of the user-owned terminal performs store exit notification by transmitting to the server device 20 information instructing the customer to leave the store along with the customer code. Note that the store entry / exit notification unit 101 may control connection and disconnection to and from the network N in cooperation with the communication unit 117.

[0070] Furthermore, for example, if the customer terminal 10 is a store terminal, when a login operation of inputting a customer code via the operation unit 115 or the like is performed, the store entry / exit notification unit 101 performs a store entry notification by transmitting the customer code and information instructing the customer to enter the store to the server device 20. Furthermore, when a logout operation is performed via the operation unit 115 or the like, the store entry / exit notification unit 101 of the store terminal performs a store exit notification by transmitting the customer code and information instructing the customer to leave the store to the server device 20.

[0071] Also, for example, if the customer terminal 10 has a product payment function, the store entry / exit notification unit 101 may notify the customer of the store exit by sending information instructing the customer to leave the store along with the customer code to the server device 20 when the product payment process is completed.

[0072] The store entry / exit recording unit 201 of the server device 20 records the store entry / exit status of the customer in the customer master 2173 based on information transmitted from the customer terminal 10 or a device in the store.

[0073] For example, when the store entry / exit recording unit 201 receives a store entry notification from the customer terminal 10, it detects that a customer corresponding to the customer code instructed to receive the store entry notification has entered the store. When the store entry / exit recording unit 201 detects that a customer has entered the store, it updates the store entry status included in the customer information of the customer to "entering the store."

[0074] For example, when the entry / exit record unit 201 receives an exit notification from the customer terminal 10, it detects that the customer corresponding to the customer code indicated in the exit notification has left the store. When the entry / exit record unit 201 detects that a customer has left the store, it updates the entry status in the customer information of that customer to "Currently out of the store". The entry / exit record unit 201 also registers (overwrites) the date of the detection of the exit in the last visit date in the customer information. In other words, from the time a customer enters the store until they leave, the date of their last entry is stored in the last visit date in the customer master 2173.

[0075] In this embodiment, the customer terminal 10 transmits the entry and exit notifications, but they may be transmitted from a device other than the customer terminal 10. For example, the entry / exit record unit 201 may receive the entry notification from a scanner device that reads the connection code symbol. The entry / exit record unit 201 may also receive the exit notification from the store's POS terminal. Furthermore, the entry / exit record unit 201 may be configured to determine that the customer corresponding to the customer code has left the store when the customer terminal 10 that transmitted the customer code disappears from the network N, and update the status to "Currently Exiting".

[0076] The information provision unit 202 of the server device 20 provides various types of information to the customer terminal 10 connected to the network N. For example, the information provision unit 202 provides the customer terminal 10 with information registered in the product master 2171, the location change file 2172, the customer master 2173, and the purchase history file 2174.

[0077] The information provided by the information provision unit 202 is not limited to the examples above. For example, the information provision unit 202 may provide information related to the display of the purchase support screen. For example, the information provision unit 202 may provide map information representing a map of the store, or information such as a GUI (Graphical User Interface). Furthermore, the information provision unit 202 may be configured to provide information to customer terminals 10 corresponding to customer codes whose store entry status is "currently in the store".

[0078] The information acquisition unit 102 of the customer terminal 10 acquires various information from the server device 20. For example, based on the customer code operating the customer terminal 10, the information acquisition unit 102 acquires customer information corresponding to the customer code from the product master 2171.

[0079] The updated product identification unit 103 of the customer terminal 10 is an example of an extraction unit and an identification unit. The updated product identification unit 103 extracts the last visit date from the customer information acquired by the information acquisition unit 102. Furthermore, based on the extracted last visit date, the updated product identification unit 103 identifies products whose sales format has been changed between the previous visit date and the current visit date (hereinafter also referred to as updated products) from the product master 2171 etc.

[0080] As an example, the updated product identification unit 103 identifies as updated products products whose placement area has been changed between the last visit date and the current visit date. Specifically, the updated product identification unit 103 compares the last visit date with the placement period of each product registered in the product master 2171, and identifies the product codes of products whose placement area has been updated since the last visit date. More specifically, the updated product identification unit 103 identifies the product codes of updated products whose placement period falls on or after the last visit date. Here, an updated product refers to a product whose placement area has been changed since the last visit date, or a new product that has been newly placed since the last visit date.

[0081] Then, the updated product specifying unit 103 reads the product code and product name of the specified updated product and the updated placement area registered in the product master 2171 from the product master 2171, and generates them as updated product information.

[0082] The updated product information may include other information, such as the price of the updated product. For example, the updated product identification unit 103 may include the placement area before the update in the updated product information. In this case, the updated product identification unit 103 reads from the placement change file 2172 the placement area before the update in which the product was placed as of the last visit date, based on the product code of the updated product identified from the product master 2171. Specifically, the updated product identification unit 103 references the placement change file 2172 and reads, from the placement periods stored in association with the product code of the updated product, the placement area corresponding to the placement period that includes the last visit date, as the placement area before the update. Then, the updated product identification unit 103 generates updated product information that includes the placement areas before and after the update.

[0083] The updated product specifying unit 103 may specify updated products in only some areas of the store. For example, the updated product specifying unit 103 may read out a favorite area from the customer information and determine whether or not there are updated products in the area set as the favorite area.

[0084] In this case, for example, the updated product identifying unit 103 may identify updated products from the product master 2171 using the procedure described above, and then extract updated products whose placement areas match the favorites area. Furthermore, the updated product identifying unit 103 may process products that are placed in the favorites area among the products registered in the product master 2171, and identify updated products from among these target products.

[0085] This allows the updated product identification unit 103 to identify products that have been moved to the favorites area or newly placed in the area since the last visit date (the date of the previous visit) as updated products.

[0086] In this case, the updated product identification unit 103 may also identify products that have been moved from the favorites area to other areas as updated products. Specifically, the updated product identification unit 103 references the placement change file 2172 and extracts products that were placed in the favorites area as of the last visit date. The updated product identification unit 103 also references the placement change file 2172 and identifies products that were placed in the favorites area as of the last visit date as updated products. Next, the updated product identification unit 103 reads out the product code of the identified updated product and reads out the placement area of ​​the updated product as the placement area before the update. The updated product identification unit 103 also references the product master 2171 and reads out the placement area of ​​the product code corresponding to the updated product as the placement area after the update. The updated product identification unit 103 then generates updated product information that includes the placement areas before and after the update, along with the product code of the updated product.

[0087] As a result, the renewal product identification unit 103 can identify, as a renewal product, a product that was placed in the favorite area on the last visit date, which is the previous visit date, but has been moved to another area on the current visit date.

[0088] The display control unit 104 of the customer terminal 10 is an example of an output means. The display control unit 104 displays various screens on the display unit 114. For example, the display control unit 104 displays a purchase support screen for supporting product purchases in a store on the basis of updated product information.

[0089] As an example, the display control unit 104 uses map information showing the layout of the store to display a purchase support screen that identifiably shows the placement area where the updated products are placed on the display unit 114. The map information may be stored in advance in the storage unit 118 or may be provided from the server device 20.

[0090] Here, a purchase support screen displayed by the display control unit 104 will be described with reference to Fig. 9 and Fig. 10. Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 are diagrams showing an example of a purchase support screen displayed by the display control unit 104 of the customer terminal 10.

[0091] As shown in Figure 9, the display control unit 104 displays a map image showing the layout of the store in the first area Ga based on the map information. Here, the map image schematically represents, for example, the positional relationship of each area within the store.

[0092] Furthermore, the display control unit 104 displays the updated placement area in which the updated product is placed and the product name in the second area Gb based on the updated product information. Fig. 9 shows an example in which the updated products are a product with product name AAA and product with product name BBB placed in area A, and a product with product name DDD placed in area B, and the contents of these products are displayed in the second area Gb. Furthermore, on the map image in the first area Ga, the areas corresponding to areas A and B in which the updated products are placed are displayed highlighted so as to be distinguishable from areas corresponding to other areas.

[0093] By viewing the purchase support screen displayed on the display unit 114, customers using the customer terminal 10 can easily check the areas where products whose sales format has been updated since their last visit to the store, i.e., products whose placement has been changed, are located. This allows customers to efficiently check products that have been rearranged or new products in the placement areas where updated products are located. Also, for example, if updated products are identified by narrowing down to the customer's favorite areas, the customer can easily check by viewing the purchase support screen whether there have been any product rearrangements or new products placed in areas that the customer frequently visits.

[0094] Furthermore, if the customer terminal 10 can determine its location and orientation within the store using its GPS function or the like, the display control unit 104 may display the location and orientation of the customer terminal on the map image.

[0095] Figure 10 shows another example of a purchase support screen. Figure 10 shows an example of a purchase support screen displayed based on updated product information, including the placement area before and after the update. Here, the purchase support screen in Figure 10 has a first region Ga and a second region Gb, similar to Figure 10, but the information displayed in the second region Gb is different.

[0096] Specifically, Figure 10 shows a case where product CCC, which was located in Area D during the customer's previous visit, is located in Area A during the customer's current visit, and its contents are displayed in the second area Gb.

[0097] This allows customers operating the customer terminal 10 to easily check the placement area of ​​updated products before and after the update by viewing the purchase support screen in Figure 10.

[0098] 10, the updated placement area (area A) is highlighted on the map image, as in FIG. 9, but the display method is not limited to this. For example, the placement areas before and after the update may be connected by an arrow or the like, and the product name of the updated product corresponding to the arrow may be displayed in association with the arrow, thereby making the transition of the placement area identifiable.

[0099] 9, the updated location area where the updated product is located and the product name are displayed in the second area Gb. However, the product names of the updated products may not be displayed in the second area Gb. For example, some customers may be satisfied with knowing the area where some change has occurred, and some customers may enjoy seeing and confirming the changes. Therefore, the display may be configured to display information indicating the area where products whose sales format has been updated since the last time the customer visited the store are located, i.e., products whose location has been changed.

[0100] In this case, the customer can easily grasp the changes since their last visit, i.e., areas where products have been rearranged or new products have been placed, and can have the experience of actually seeing and confirming what changes have occurred in those areas. Also, if updated products are specified by narrowing down the search to the customer's favorite areas, the customer can easily find out by looking at the purchase support screen whether there have been any changes, such as product rearrangements or the placement of new products, in areas that the customer frequently visits, and can have the experience of actually seeing and confirming what changes have occurred in their favorite areas.

[0101] 8, the analysis unit 203 of the server device 20 is an example of a derivation means. The analysis unit 203 analyzes the behavior of a customer who visits a store, and thereby derives an area that the customer frequently visits as a favorite area.

[0102] Specifically, the analysis unit 203 extracts the purchase date and product code for each customer code registered in the purchase history file 2174. Next, the analysis unit 203 identifies the placement area in which the product corresponding to the product code extracted from the purchase history file 2174 was placed as of the purchase date, based on the placement area and placement period of each product registered in the product master 2171 and the placement change file 2172. The analysis unit 203 analyzes the appearance frequency, proportion, etc. of the identified placement area, and derives, for each customer code, an area frequently used by the customer corresponding to the customer code as a favorite area. The analysis unit 203 then registers the favorite area derived for each customer code in the customer master 2173.

[0103] Note that the method of deriving the favorite area is not limited to this, and any known method may be used. Furthermore, the timing of deriving the favorite area is not particularly limited. For example, the analysis unit 203 may derive the favorite area at a predetermined timing, such as once a month.

[0104] Next, an example of the operation of the purchase support system 1 of this embodiment will be described. Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing executed by the customer terminal 10 and the server device 20.

[0105] First, the store entry / exit notification unit 101 of the customer terminal 10 cooperates with various devices installed in the store to send a store entry notification including the customer code of the customer operating the terminal to the server device 20 (step S11).

[0106] When the store entry / exit recording unit 201 of the server device 20 receives the store entry notification from the customer terminal 10, it detects that a customer corresponding to the customer code indicated in the store entry notification has entered the store (step S21). Next, the store entry / exit recording unit 201 searches the customer master 2173 for the customer information of the customer code whose entry was detected, and updates the store entry status included in the customer information to "entering the store" (step S22).

[0107] Next, the information providing unit 202 of the server device 20 reads the customer information updated to "in store" in step S22 from the customer master 2173, and provides it to the customer terminal 10 associated with the customer code of the customer information (step S23).

[0108] Meanwhile, the information acquisition unit 102 of the customer terminal 10 acquires customer information provided from the server device 20 (step S12). The updated product identification unit 103 of the customer terminal 10 references the product master 2171 and searches for products placed in the customer's favorite area (step S13). Next, the updated product identification unit 103 identifies updated products whose placement areas have been updated since the customer's last visit and their placement areas based on the customer's last visit date and the placement period and placement area of ​​the searched product (step S14).

[0109] Next, the display control unit 104 of the customer terminal 10 displays a purchase support screen (see Figures 9 and 10) showing the location area of ​​the updated product on the display unit 114 based on the updated product information that is the processing result of step S14 (step S15).

[0110] A customer operating the customer terminal 10 can start shopping by moving around the store while viewing the purchase support screen. For example, a customer using the customer terminal 10 can move toward an area where updated products are displayed on a map image and pick up the desired products in that area. Then, the customer can register and pay for the picked-up products using the customer terminal 10 or a POS terminal.

[0111] Next, the store entry / exit notification unit 101 determines whether or not an instruction to leave the store has been given (step S16), and waits until an instruction to leave the store has been given (step S16; No). For example, the store entry / exit notification unit 101 determines that an instruction to leave the store has been given when an instruction to close an application or an instruction to disconnect from the network N has been given (step S16; Yes). Then, the store entry / exit notification unit 101 transmits a store exit notification including the customer code to the server device 20 (step S17).

[0112] Meanwhile, when the store entry / exit recording unit 201 of the server device 20 receives the store exit notification from the customer terminal 10, it detects that the customer corresponding to the customer code indicated in the store exit notification has left the store (step S24). Next, the store entry / exit recording unit 201 searches the customer master 2173 for customer information of the customer code whose exit was detected, and updates the store entry status included in the customer information to "exiting" (step S25). Then, the store entry / exit recording unit 201 records today's date as the last visit date in the customer information (step S26), and ends the process.

[0113] As described above, the customer terminal 10 of this embodiment extracts the last visit date from the customer information of customers who have visited the store, and identifies an area to place a product whose sales format has changed between the last visit date and the current visit date, based on relationship information that indicates the chronological relationship between the area and the sales format of the product placed in that area, which is registered in the product master 2171, etc. Then, the customer terminal 10 outputs information indicating the identified placement area via the purchase support screen.

[0114] As a result, customers operating the customer terminal 10 can easily identify the placement area where products whose sales format has changed between their last visit and their current visit are located, via the purchase support screen displayed by the customer terminal 10. This allows customers to easily find new products that were not available during their last visit, or products they have never seen before, in the purchase area indicated on the purchase support screen. Therefore, the customer terminal 10 can provide purchase support for products whose sales format has changed, as well as provide sales promotion support for those products.

[0115] The embodiments described above can also be modified and implemented as appropriate by changing some of the configurations or functions of each of the devices described above. Therefore, several modifications of the embodiments described above will be described below as other embodiments. In the following, we will mainly describe the differences from the embodiments described above, and will omit detailed explanations of points that are common with what has already been described. Furthermore, the modifications described below may be implemented individually or in combination as appropriate.

[0116] (Variation 1) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which a renewed product whose sales format has changed between the customer's last visit and the customer's current visit is identified as a renewed product whose placement area has changed. In this modified example, as another example of a renewed product, a form will be described in which a product whose price has changed is identified as a renewed product.

[0117] The modified server device 20 stores the price fluctuation file 2175 shown in Figure 12 in the storage unit 217, along with the various files described above. Figure 12 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the price fluctuation file 2175. The price fluctuation file 2175 stores a set of past prices and the period during which those prices were applied for a product corresponding to a product code, associated with the product code.

[0118] Figure 12 shows that the product with product code "0000000000101" was sold for 100 yen from 2022 / 01 / 01 to 2022 / 05 / 31. It also shows that the product with product code "0000000000102" was sold for 120 yen from 2022 / 08 / 16 to 2022 / 08 / 31. It also shows that the product with product code "0000000000103" was sold for 150 yen from 2022 / 01 / 01 to 2022 / 08 / 21. It also shows that the product with product code "0000000000201" was sold for 250 yen between 2022 / 01 / 01 and 2022 / 04 / 30, and for 230 yen between 2022 / 05 / 01 and 2022 / 05 / 31.

[0119] The information registered in the placement change file 2172 is an example of relationship information that indicates the relationship over time between multiple areas in a store for placing products and the sales format of the products placed in those areas.

[0120] Furthermore, the updated product identification unit 103 of the customer terminal 10 according to this modification extracts the last visit date from the customer information acquired by the information acquisition unit 102. Then, based on the extracted last visit date, the updated product identification unit 103 identifies updated products whose prices have changed between the previous visit date and the current visit date from the product master 2171, the price fluctuation file 2175, etc.

[0121] Specifically, the update product identification unit 103 compares the last visit date included in the customer information with the applicable period of each product registered in the price fluctuation file 2175, and identifies the price for the applicable period that includes the last visit date for each product. Next, the update product identification unit 103 compares the price identified from the price fluctuation file 2175 with the price registered in the product master 2171 for each product, and identifies products with different prices as update products.

[0122] Then, the update product specifying unit 103 reads the product code and product name of the specified update product, the prices before and after the update, and the placement area registered in the product master 2171, and generates them as update product information.

[0123] The updated product identification unit 103 may identify updated products in only some areas of the store. For example, the updated product identification unit 103 may read out a favorite area from the customer information and identify updated products in the area set as the favorite area.

[0124] In this case, for example, the updated product identification unit 103 may extract the updated products located in the favorites area after identifying the updated products from the price fluctuation file 2175 and the product master 2171 in the above-described procedure. Furthermore, the updated product identification unit 103 may target the products located in the favorites area among the products registered in the product master 2171 as processing targets, and identify the updated products from among these processing target products.

[0125] This allows the updated product identification unit 103 to identify, from among the products arranged in the favorite area, products whose prices have been changed since the last visit date, which is the previous visit date (also called the visit date), as updated products.

[0126] In this case, the updated product specifying unit 103 may specify an updated product whose price has been changed from among the products that have been moved from the favorites area to another area.

[0127] Specifically, the update product identification unit 103 references the placement change file 2172 and searches for products that were placed in the favorite area as of the last visit date. Next, the update product identification unit 103 compares the last visit date and the applicable period for products registered in the price change file 2175 that correspond to the product codes of the searched products, and identifies the price for each product during the applicable period that includes the last visit date. Next, the update product identification unit 103 compares the prices of products registered in the product master 2171 that correspond to the product codes of the searched products with the prices of products identified from the price change file 2175, and identifies products with different prices as update products.

[0128] Then, the updated product specifying unit 103 reads out the product code and product name of the specified updated product, the price before and after the update, and the layout area before and after the update, and generates them as updated product information.

[0129] As a result, the updated product specifying unit 103 can specify updated products whose prices have been changed among products that were placed in the favorite area on the last visit date, which is the previous visit date, and have been moved to another area on the current visit date.

[0130] In addition, the display control unit 104 of the customer terminal 10 in this variation displays on the display unit 114 a purchase support screen showing the location area where products whose prices have changed since the customer's last visit are located, based on the updated product information described above.

[0131] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a purchase support screen displayed by the display control unit 104 of the customer terminal 10 according to this modification.

[0132] As shown in Fig. 13, the display control unit 104 displays a map image in the first area Ga, and also displays information based on the updated product information in the second area Gb. Fig. 13 shows that the price of a product with product name AAA placed in area A has been reduced from 120 yen at the time of the previous visit to 100 yen at the time of this visit. Also, it shows that the price of a product with product name DDD placed in area B has been reduced from 230 yen at the time of the previous visit to 200 yen at the time of this visit. Furthermore, in the map image in the first area Ga, areas A and B where updated products are placed are highlighted so as to be distinguishable from the other areas.

[0133] A customer using the customer terminal 10 can easily check the location of products whose prices have changed since their last visit by looking at the purchase support screen displayed on the display unit 114. This allows the customer to efficiently check and pick up products that have been reduced in price, for example, in the location area shown on the purchase support screen.

[0134] For example, if updated products are identified by narrowing down the search to a customer's favorite area, the customer can easily check whether there have been any price changes in the favorite area that they frequently use by looking at the purchase support screen. This allows the customer to efficiently check and pick up products that have been reduced in price, for example, in the favorite area.

[0135] (Variation 2) In the above embodiment, the store entry / exit recording unit 201 of the server device 20 registers the last store visit date and time when the store exit is detected. However, the method for registering the last store visit date and time is not limited to this.

[0136] For example, the control unit 200 or the store entry / exit recording unit 201 may extract the latest purchase date for each customer code from the purchase history file 2174, and register the extracted purchase date as the last store visit date and time in the customer master 2173. In this case, the purchase history file 2174 corresponds to an example of the usage history of a customer who visits a store.

[0137] There is no particular restriction on the timing at which purchase dates are extracted from the purchase history file 2174. For example, the date may be extracted once a day when the store closes. Alternatively, the date of purchase may be extracted for the customer (customer code) that is the subject of the update each time the purchase history file 2174 is updated.

[0138] (Variation 3) In the embodiment described above, the customer terminal 10 identifies the updated product, but the invention is not limited to this, and for example, the server device 20 may identify the updated product. In this case, the server device 20 functions as an example of an information processing device.

[0139] When realizing this modified example, the server device 20 can achieve the same effect as the above embodiment by including the above-mentioned updated product identification unit 103 as a functional unit. Specifically, the updated product identification unit 103 of the server device 20 identifies an updated product related to a customer whose store entry status has changed to "entering" based on the customer code of the customer, and generates updated product information. Then, the information providing unit 202 of the server device 20 provides the updated product information generated by the updated product identification unit 103 to the customer terminal 10 associated with the customer code of the customer currently in the store. This allows the display control unit 104 to display the above-mentioned purchase support screen on the customer terminal 10.

[0140] (Modification 4) In the above embodiment, a customer's favorite area is derived from the customer's purchase history. However, the method of deriving the favorite area is not limited to this. For example, if the purchase assistance system 1 has a configuration capable of tracking the behavior of a customer (customer terminal 10) moving around the store, the analysis unit 203 may derive areas that the customer frequently uses based on the amount of time the customer terminal 10 stays in each area.

[0141] Furthermore, there are no specific restrictions on the configuration that enables tracking of customer behavior. For example, known technologies such as surveillance camera systems can be used. Alternatively, for example, beacon terminals installed in each area may be used to obtain the time spent in each area from the communication time between the beacon terminals and the customer terminal 10.

[0142] This allows, for example, an area where high-priced items are located to be set as a favorite area if customers frequently stop by even though items are not frequently purchased there.

[0143] (Variation 5) In the above-described embodiment, an example was explained in which information based on updated product information is displayed and output to the display unit 114, but the output method is not limited to this. For example, the display control unit 104 of the customer terminal 10 or an output control unit (not shown) may print out the updated product information or information based on said updated product information using a printer, or transmit it to an external device via the communication unit 117 or the like.

[0144] The programs executed in each of the above-described embodiments are provided pre-installed in ROM, storage, etc. Alternatively, the programs executed in each of the above-described embodiments may be provided as installable or executable files recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, or DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).

[0145] Furthermore, the programs executed by each of the above-described embodiments may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Alternatively, the programs executed by each of the above-described embodiments may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0146] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments and their modifications can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, changes, and combinations can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the inventions and their equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0147] 1. Purchasing support system 10 Customer terminal 101 Entry / Exit Notification Section 102 Information acquisition department 103 Updated product identification department 104 Display control unit 20 Server device 201 Entry and Exit Records Department 202 Information Provision Department 203 Preference Analysis Department [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0148] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-172138

Claims

1. A method for extracting the date of the previous visit from the usage history of customers who have visited the store, a specifying means for specifying an area to place a product whose sales format has been changed between the previous visit date and the current visit date, based on relationship information indicating a chronological relationship between a plurality of areas for placing products provided in the store and the sales format of the products placed in the areas; An output means that outputs information indicating the area identified by the aforementioned identification means, Equipped with The identification means is an information processing device that identifies an area in which products whose prices have changed between the last visit date and the current visit date will be placed, based on the relationship information that shows the relationship over time between each of the areas and the prices of the products placed in that area.

2. the specifying means specifies, from among the products arranged in some of the plurality of areas, products whose sales format has been changed between the last visit date and the current visit date; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The output means outputs to a display unit a screen showing the area identified by the identification means in a identifiable manner on a map showing the layout of the store. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. The computer of the information processing device, A method for extracting the date of the previous visit from the usage history of customers who have visited the store, a specifying means for specifying an area to place a product whose sales format has been changed between the previous visit date and the current visit date, based on relationship information indicating a chronological relationship between a plurality of areas for placing products provided in the store and the sales format of the products placed in the areas; An output means that outputs information indicating the placement area identified by the aforementioned identification means, and make it work The identification means is a program that identifies an area in which to place products whose prices have changed between the last visit date and the current visit date, based on the relationship information that shows the relationship over time between each of the areas and the prices of the products placed in that area.

Images