Management device, system, information processing method, and program

Abstract

The present invention enables a store clerk to easily confirm a discount reason for a discounted product. This management device (300) comprises: a generating unit (311) that generates a code associated with an inputted discount reason for a product; an association unit (312) that stores the generated code and the discount reason for the product in association with each other; and a retrieval unit (313) that acquires a read code and retrieves the discount reason of the product associated with the read code.

Description

Management device, system, information processing method, and recording medium

[0001] The present invention relates to a management device, a system, an information processing method, and a recording medium, and more particularly to a management device, a system, an information processing method, and a recording medium for selling products using labels.

[0002] The price of an item may be reduced depending on the condition of the item or for promotional purposes, such as to compete with competitors, to quickly remove clearance items, or because the item is damaged or dirty.

[0003] Patent document 1 describes a system that determines the quality of a product by analyzing an image of the product, and if the quality of the product is poor, notifies the cashier and suggests a price reduction for the product.

[0004] Generally, in retail stores, discount amounts or discount rates are displayed on labels attached to product packaging or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 2). The labels are also called discount stickers. The cash register clerk (operator) applies the discount printed on the label to the product. Alternatively, the product price is rewritten on a POS (point of sales) system.

[0005] Patent Document 2 describes printing a discount code corresponding to the reason for discounting a product on a label together with a barcode. For example, discount code "1" corresponds to the discount reason "Clearance item."

[0006] JP 2016-062548 A JP 2013-228816 A

[0007] There are cases where cashiers want to be able to easily check the reason for a discount on a product. For example, when a customer asks a cashier why a product is discounted, but the reason is unclear to the cashier. Also, there are cases where it is difficult for a cashier to determine whether the discount on the product indicated by the label is legitimate, i.e., whether the product really has a discount reason.

[0008] The related technology described in Patent Document 2 has a drawback in that the cashier must memorize the correspondence between discount codes and discount reasons.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to enable a store clerk to easily check the discount reason for a discounted product.

[0010] A management device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a generating means for generating a code associated with an input reason for discounting a product, a matching means for storing the generated code in association with the reason for discounting the product, and a search means for acquiring a read code and searching for a reason for discounting the product associated with the read code.

[0011] A system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a management device that generates a code associated with an input reason for discounting a product, a label issuing device that acquires the generated code and issues a label with the code printed on it, and a POS terminal that reads the code printed on the label and displays the reason for discounting the product associated with the read code.

[0012] In an information processing method according to one aspect of the present invention, a computer generates a code associated with the reason for discounting an input product, stores the generated code in association with the reason for discounting the product, obtains the read code, and searches for the reason for discounting the product associated with the read code.

[0013] A recording medium according to one aspect of the present invention causes a computer to generate a code associated with an input reason for discounting a product, store the generated code in association with the reason for discounting the product, and obtain the read code and search for the reason for discounting the product associated with the read code.

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, a store clerk can easily check the reason for the discount on a discounted item.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a management device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a system according to a second embodiment. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of operation of the system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a code associated with a reason for discounting a product. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a code associated with a reason for discounting a product and a discount price. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a label on which a code associated with a reason for discounting a product is printed. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a product registration screen displayed on the display of a POS terminal. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a POS terminal according to a third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation of the POS terminal according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a POS terminal according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation of the POS terminal according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of operation of a system according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a POS terminal according to any of the first to fifth embodiments.

[0016] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] First Embodiment A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0018] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a management device 300 according to embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the management device 300 includes a generation unit 311, an association unit 312, and a search unit 313.

[0019] The generating unit 311 generates a code associated with the input discount reason for the product. The generating unit 311 is an example of a generating means.

[0020] The associating unit 312 associates the generated code with the discount reason for the product and stores them. The associating unit 312 is an example of an associating means. Here, the associating unit 312 may store the associated code and discount reason for the product in a database included in the management device 300, or may store them in a database provided outside the management device 300.

[0021] The search unit 313 acquires the read code and searches for the discount reason for the product associated with the read code. The search unit 313 is an example of a search means.

[0022] The following briefly describes the flow of processing executed by each unit of the management device 300, with reference to a sequence diagram (FIG. 3) for the system 1 (FIG. 2) described in the second embodiment.

[0023] First, the generation unit 311 acquires the discount reason input to the input terminal 400 (FIG. 3).

[0024] Next, the generating unit 311 generates a code associated with the input discount reason.

[0025] Specifically, the generating unit 311 generates a code associated with the discount reason for the product by encoding an address where the discount reason for the product (e.g., an image showing the condition of the product) is stored.

[0026] Next, the association unit 312 associates the code with the discount reason and stores the association in a database (not shown).

[0027] The association unit 312 transmits the generated code to the label issuing device 200 (FIG. 3).

[0028] The search unit 313 then acquires the code read by the POS terminal 10 (10A) (FIG. 3).

[0029] The search unit 313 searches a database (not shown) for a discount reason associated with the acquired code. The database (not shown) to be searched may be included in the management device 300 or may be provided externally to the management device 300.

[0030] The search unit 313 identifies the discount reason associated with the code, and then transmits the identified discount reason to the POS terminal 10 (10A).

[0031] This completes the operation of the management device 300 according to the first embodiment.

[0032] (Effects of the Present Embodiment) According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the management device 300 includes a generation unit 311 that generates a code associated with an input product discount reason, an association unit 312 that associates the generated code with the product discount reason and stores it, and a search unit 313 that acquires a read code and searches for the product discount reason associated with the read code. Since the code and the product discount reason are associated in this way, a store clerk can easily check the discount reason for a discounted product by looking at the label with the code printed on it. Furthermore, even if a label attached to a product has been fraudulently replaced with a label for another product, the fraud can be detected by the store clerk checking the product discount reason.

[0033] Second Embodiment A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0034] (System 1) Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of system 1 according to embodiment 2. As shown in Figure 2, system 1 includes a POS terminal 10 (10A), a label issuing device 200, and a management device 300. In Figure 2, the reference numeral "10 (10A)" represents either the "POS terminal 10" according to embodiment 3 or the "POS terminal 10A" according to embodiment 4. Furthermore, the term "server (management device 300)" means that the server includes the management device 300; in other words, the server fulfills the role of the management device 300.

[0035] The POS terminal 10 (10A) is a terminal connected to a POS system of a retail store and has a payment function. The POS terminal 10 (10A) is a so-called cash register.

[0036] The label issuing device 200 issues labels to be attached to product packaging, etc. Various information about the product (hereinafter referred to as product information), such as the product name, product price, product production area, or product ingredients, is printed on the label.

[0037] In the second embodiment, the label issuing device 200 issues a label (FIG. 6) on which a code is printed. The code is associated with the reason for discounting the product and is generated by the management device 300, which will be described later. Here, "associated" means that the reason for discounting and the code are linked (tied) to each other in a database (not shown).

[0038] The reason for the discount may be related to the condition of the product (e.g., the product is nearing its expiration date) or related to a sales promotion (e.g., the product is a clearance item). A clearance item is a product that is being reduced in price because it is unlikely to sell. The label may also include product information, such as the discount price, along with a code associated with the reason for the discount.

[0039] The management device 300 generates a code associated with the input reason for discounting the product.

[0040] In one example, the management device 300 sets an identifier of the reason for discounting the product (for example, text indicating the reason for discounting the product) as a code associated with the reason for discounting the product (FIG. 5).

[0041] In another example, the management device 300 generates a code associated with the reason for discounting a product by encoding an address (e.g., a URL) where the reason for discounting a product (e.g., an image showing the condition of the product) is stored. In this example, the reason for discounting is stored in a storage area specified by the address, rather than the code itself. Therefore, large amounts of data, such as photographed images of the product, can also be associated with the code as the reason for discounting.

[0042] In yet another example, the management device 300 stores the reason for discounting the product (for example, an image showing the condition of the product) and the code in association with each other in a product database (not shown).

[0043] The code may be associated with the reason for discounting the product and product information (Embodiment 4). In addition to the reason for discounting the product, the code may also be associated with a condition under which the POS terminal 10 (10A) issues a warning regarding the code (Embodiment 4).

[0044] The management device 300 generates a code associated with the reason for the discount on the product and transmits the generated code to the label issuing device 200. The label issuing device 200 uses the code received from the management device 300 to issue a label (FIG. 6) on which the code is printed, as described above.

[0045] The management device 300 also records (registers) the code associated with the reason for discounting the product in a database (not shown).

[0046] The store clerk attaches the label issued by the label issuing device 200 to the product packaging, etc. The store clerk also operates the reader provided in the POS terminal 10 (10A) to cause the POS terminal 10 (10A) to read the product label.

[0047] The POS terminal 10 (10A) transmits the code read from the label to the management device 300.

[0048] After the POS terminal 10 (10A) receives the code read from the label, the management device 300 searches the database (not shown) for the discount reason associated with the code. After identifying the discount reason associated with the label, the management device 300 transmits the discount reason to the POS terminal 10 (10A).

[0049] The POS terminal 10 (10A) displays the discount reason received from the management device 300 on a display provided in the POS terminal 10 (10A) or on the screen of another display device. In particular, the POS terminal 10 (10A) may display the discount reason received from the management device 300 on a product registration screen that is visible to the store clerk (FIG. 7).

[0050] 3 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of operations of the system 1 according to the present embodiment 2. Although some operations of the system 1 involve operations by store clerks, the system 1 does not include store clerks.

[0051] The store clerk carries an input terminal 400 for inputting the reason for discounting the product. The input terminal 400 may be the same as the label issuing device 200. In that case, in the following description, the "input terminal 400" will be read as the "label issuing device 200."

[0052] 3, first, a store clerk inputs the product's identification information and the reason for discounting the product into the input terminal 400. The input terminal 400 transmits the input discount reason to the management device 300.

[0053] The generation unit 311 of the management device 300 acquires the discount reason input to the input terminal 400 (S41).

[0054] Next, the generation unit 311 of the management device 300 generates a code associated with the input discount reason (S42).

[0055] Specifically, in step S42, the generation unit 311 of the management device 300 sets an identifier of the discount reason for the product (e.g., text indicating the discount reason for the product) as a code associated with the discount reason for the product. Alternatively, the generation unit 311 of the management device 300 generates a code associated with the discount reason for the product by encoding an address where the discount reason for the product (e.g., an image indicating the condition of the product) is stored.

[0056] The association unit 312 of the management device 300 associates the code with the discount reason and stores the association in a database (not shown) (S43).

[0057] Thereafter, the generating unit 311 of the management device 300 transmits the generated code to the label issuing device 200 .

[0058] The label issuing device 200 acquires the code generated by the management device 300 (S21).

[0059] Next, the label issuing device 200 issues a label on which the code is printed (S22). In addition to the code, product information such as the product name and discount price may also be printed on the label (FIG. 6).

[0060] A store clerk affixes the label issued by the label issuing device 200 to the product. The labeled product is then displayed and picked up by a customer. The customer then carries the labeled product to the POS terminal 10 (10A) to pay for it.

[0061] The store clerk who operates the POS terminal 10 (10A) uses a reader provided in the POS terminal 10 (10A) to have the POS terminal 10 (10A) read the code attached to the product brought in by the customer (S31). The POS terminal 10 (10A) then transmits the code read from the product label to the management device 300.

[0062] The POS terminal 10 (10A) may be a so-called self-scan register where the customer registers the product themselves. In this case, in step S31, the customer, not the store clerk, has the POS terminal 10 (10A) read the code attached to the product.

[0063] The search unit 313 of the management device 300 acquires the code read by the POS terminal 10 (10A) (S44).

[0064] Thereafter, the search unit 313 of the management device 300 searches a database (not shown) for the discount reason associated with the acquired code (S45).

[0065] The search unit 313 of the management device 300 identifies the discount reason associated with the code, and then transmits the identified discount reason to the POS terminal 10 (10A).

[0066] The POS terminal 10 (10A) acquires the discount reason associated with the code from the management device 300 (S32).

[0067] The POS terminal 10 (10A) displays the discount reason acquired from the management device 300 on a display or the like provided in the POS terminal 10 (10A) (S33).

[0068] In this example, the POS terminal 10 (10A) displays the discount reason acquired from the management device 300 on the product registration screen. The store clerk visually checks the discount reason displayed on the display of the POS terminal 10 (10A) and confirms the condition of the product to which the label is affixed.

[0069] If the discount reason is related to the condition of the product, the salesperson may check the product to see if there is a discount reason for the product, or if the discount reason is related to a sales promotion, the salesperson may explain to the customer that there is no problem with the quality of the product.

[0070] This completes the operation of the system 1 according to the second embodiment.

[0071] (Modification) It is also possible to realize the system 1 without the management device 300 or a server including the management device 300. This configuration will be described in a fifth embodiment below.

[0072] (Example of Code Associated with Reason for Discount of Product) Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of a code associated with reason for discount of product. In the example shown in Figure 4, the reason for discount of product is associated with the code written in the same line as the discount reason.

[0073] In Figure 4, code 001 is associated with the discount reason "ripe" (product), code 002 is associated with the discount reason "near expiration date", and code 003 is associated with the discount reason "small".

[0074] 5 is a diagram showing another example of a code associated with a reason for discounting a product. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the code is associated with the discount price of the product in addition to the reason for discounting the product.

[0075] For example, code 001 is associated with the discount reason "ripe" (product) and the discount price "100" (yen). Also, code 002 is associated with the discount reason "expiration date is approaching" and the discount price "110" (yen).

[0076] The reasons for discounting the products illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 are all related to the condition of the products, but as mentioned above, the reasons for discounting the products may also be related to sales promotions of the products.

[0077] (Example of a label with a code printed on it) Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a label with a code printed on it. In the example shown in Fig. 6, a two-dimensional code (an example of a code) is printed in the upper right corner of the label. The discount price of the product is printed in the upper left corner of the label.

[0078] Additionally, the product name (cabbage, place of origin) and the name of the retail store ("Supermarket") are printed on the bottom of the label as product information. The discount price mentioned above is also an example of product information. The label shown in Figure 6 is printed by the label issuing device 200 (Figure 2).

[0079] (Example of Product Registration Screen) Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of a product registration screen displayed on the display of the POS terminal 10 (10A). In the example shown in Figure 7, only one product (cabbage) appears on the product registration screen. The reason for the discount on that product (cabbage) is displayed at the bottom of the product registration screen. The reason for the discount is that the product (cabbage) has a "2 cm scratch."

[0080] In Fig. 7, the product name and price (discount price) are product information associated with the discount reason. Buttons such as "Checkout" and "Cancel" are also displayed on the product registration screen shown in Fig. 7.

[0081] The salesperson, having checked the discount reason for the product displayed on the product registration screen, can easily check whether the actual product (i.e., the cabbage with the label attached) brought by the customer has the discount reason (i.e., a 2 cm scratch) shown on the product registration screen. If necessary, the salesperson can also explain the condition of the product to the customer and ask whether they still intend to purchase the product.

[0082] (Effects of this embodiment) According to the configuration of this embodiment, the management device 300 generates a code associated with the input reason for discounting the product. The label issuing device 200 acquires the generated code and issues a label with the code printed on it. The POS terminal 10 (10A) reads the code printed on the label and displays the reason for discounting the product associated with the read code.

[0083] A store clerk or customer simply uses the reader of the POS terminal 10 to scan the code printed on the label attached to the product, and the discount reason and product information associated with the code are displayed on the display of the POS terminal 10. This allows the store clerk to easily check the discount reason for the discounted product. Furthermore, even if the label attached to the product has been fraudulently replaced with a label for another product, the store clerk can detect this fraud by checking the discount reason for the product.

[0084] [Third Embodiment] A third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. In this third embodiment, the POS terminal 10, one of the components of the system 1 (Figure 2) described in the second embodiment, will be described in detail.

[0085] In the third embodiment, the POS terminal 10 acquires the discount reason associated with the code from the server (including the management device 300). In the third embodiment, the symbols and terms described in the second embodiment will be referred to and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0086] (Configuration of POS terminal 10) The configuration of the POS terminal 10 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the POS terminal 10. As shown in Fig. 8, the POS terminal 10 includes a reading unit 11, an acquisition unit 12, and a display unit 13.

[0087] When the reader of the POS terminal 10 scans the label, the reading unit 11 reads the code contained in the label and transmits the read code to the server.

[0088] As described in the second embodiment, the server, or the management device 300 included therein, searches a database (not shown) for the discount reason associated with the code. The server then transmits the discount reason associated with the code to the POS terminal 10. In addition to the discount reason associated with the code, the server also transmits product information associated with the code (e.g., product name, discount price) to the POS terminal 10.

[0089] The reading unit 11 notifies the acquiring unit 12 that the code has been transmitted to the server, in order to cause the acquiring unit 12 to acquire the discount reason associated with the code from the server.

[0090] Upon receiving the notification from the reading unit 11, the acquiring unit 12 acquires the discount reason associated with the code from the server, and also acquires the product information associated with the code from the server.

[0091] The acquisition unit 12 outputs the discount reason and product information acquired from the server to the display unit 13.

[0092] The display unit 13 receives the discount reason and product information from the acquisition unit 12. The display unit 13 displays a product registration screen (FIG. 7) including the discount reason and product information on the display of the POS terminal 10.

[0093] (Operation of POS Terminal 10) The operation of the POS terminal 10 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the POS terminal 10.

[0094] As shown in FIG. 7, the reading unit 11 reads the code printed on the label (FIG. 6) (S201).

[0095] Thereafter, the reading unit 11 transmits the read code to the server (S202).

[0096] The acquisition unit 12 acquires the discount reason and product information associated with the code from the server (S203). The acquisition unit 12 outputs the acquired discount reason and product information to the display unit 13.

[0097] The display unit 13 displays the discount reason associated with the code (S204).

[0098] This completes the operation of the POS terminal 10 according to the third embodiment.

[0099] (Modification) The POS terminal 10 can also obtain the code associated with the discount reason without a server (including the management device 300).

[0100] In this modification, the label issuing device 200 (FIG. 2) generates a code by encoding (converting) the input discount reason for the product, or by encoding (converting) the input discount reason for the product and product information.

[0101] The acquisition unit 12 of the POS terminal 10 decodes (reconverts) the code read by the reading unit 11 from the product label, and acquires the discount reason associated with the code.

[0102] The encoding / decoding mechanism described here can be realized using general technology related to two-dimensional barcodes for converting a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or text into a two-dimensional barcode.

[0103] In this modified example, the amount of information that can be stored in the code is limited, so the discount reason and product information are limited to expressions such as text, symbols, and numbers. Meanwhile, the POS terminal 10 can obtain the code without a server. Therefore, this modified example has the advantage that it can be implemented even if the system 1 ( FIG. 2 ) does not include the management device 300.

[0104] (Advantages of this embodiment) According to the configuration of this embodiment, the reading unit 11 reads the code printed on the label and transmits the code printed on the label to the server. The acquisition unit 12 acquires the discount reason and product information associated with the code from the server. The display unit 13 displays the discount reason and product information associated with the code.

[0105] A store clerk or customer simply uses the reader of the POS terminal 10 to scan the code printed on the label attached to the product, and the discount reason and product information associated with the code are displayed on the display of the POS terminal 10. This allows the store clerk to easily check the discount reason for the discounted product. Furthermore, even if the label attached to the product has been fraudulently replaced with a label for another product, the store clerk can detect this fraud by checking the discount reason for the product.

[0106] [Fourth Embodiment] A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. In this fourth embodiment, the POS terminal 10A, one of the components of the system 1 (Figure 2) described in the second embodiment, will be described in detail. In this fourth embodiment, the POS terminal 10A issues a warning when a predetermined condition is met regarding the code.

[0107] In the fourth embodiment, the symbols and terms described in the second embodiment or the second embodiment will be referred to, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0108] (Configuration of POS terminal 10A) The configuration of a POS terminal 10A according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the POS terminal 10A. As shown in Fig. 10, the POS terminal 10A includes a reading unit 11, an acquisition unit 12, and a display unit 13. In addition, the POS terminal 10A further includes a notification unit 24.

[0109] After the reading unit 11 reads the code, the notification unit 24 determines whether the condition for the POS terminal 10A to issue a warning is met for that code. The condition for the POS terminal 10A to issue a warning is set in advance by the store manager or the like.

[0110] For example, the condition for the POS terminal 10A to issue a warning is that the number of times the reading unit 11 has read a code exceeds the upper limit for that code. In another example, the condition for the POS terminal 10A to issue a warning is that the time when the reading unit 11 reads a code is outside the validity period for that code.

[0111] After the reading unit 11 reads the code, if the conditions for the POS terminal 10A to issue a warning are met for that code, the notification unit 24 displays a warning message such as "This code cannot be used" on the display of the POS terminal 10A. At the same time, the notification unit 24 may output an error sound from the speaker of the POS terminal 10A. However, the means by which the notification unit 24 issues a warning is not limited.

[0112] In this way, a store attendant can be notified that the code is about to be misused (e.g., to obtain an unauthorized discount on an item).

[0113] (Operation of POS Terminal 10A) The operation of the POS terminal 10A according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the POS terminal 10A.

[0114] As shown in FIG. 11, the reading unit 11 reads the code printed on the label (FIG. 6) (S301).

[0115] After the reading unit 11 reads the code, the notification unit 24 determines whether the code satisfies the conditions for the POS terminal 10A to issue a warning (S302).

[0116] If the conditions for the POS terminal 10A to issue a warning regarding the code are met (Yes in S302), the notification unit 24 notifies the store clerk that the code cannot be used by any means (S303).

[0117] On the other hand, if the code does not satisfy the conditions for the POS terminal 10A to issue a warning (No in S302), the flow skips step S303 and proceeds to step S304.

[0118] Thereafter, the reading unit 11 transmits the read code to the server (S304).

[0119] The acquisition unit 12 acquires the discount reason and product information associated with the code from the server (S305). The acquisition unit 12 outputs the acquired discount reason and product information to the display unit 13.

[0120] The display unit 13 displays the discount reason associated with the code (S306).

[0121] This completes the operation of the POS terminal 10A according to the fourth embodiment.

[0122] (Modification) In one modification, the POS terminal 10A acquires an encoded (converted) code from the discount reason without using a server (including the management device 300).

[0123] In this modification, the acquisition unit 12 of the POS terminal 10A acquires the discount reason and product information associated with the code by decoding (reconverting) the code read from the product label by the reading unit 11. Note that the encoding / decoding mechanism described here can be realized using general technology related to two-dimensional barcodes, as mentioned above.

[0124] In this modified example, the amount of information that can be stored in the code is limited, so the discount reason and product information are limited to text, symbols, and numbers. Meanwhile, the POS terminal 10A can obtain the code without a server. Therefore, this modified example has the advantage that it can be implemented even if the system 1 ( FIG. 2 ) does not include the management device 300.

[0125] (Advantages of this embodiment) According to the configuration of this embodiment, the reading unit 11 reads the code printed on the label and transmits the code printed on the label to the server. The acquisition unit 12 acquires the discount reason and product information associated with the code from the server. The display unit 13 displays the discount reason and product information associated with the code.

[0126] A store clerk simply uses the reader of the POS terminal 10A to scan the code printed on the label attached to the product, and the discount reason and product information associated with the code are displayed on the display of the POS terminal 10A. This allows the store clerk to easily check the discount reason for the discounted product. Furthermore, even if the label attached to the product has been fraudulently replaced with a label for another product, the store clerk can detect this fraud by checking the discount reason for the product.

[0127] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the notification unit 24 determines whether the code satisfies the conditions for the POS terminal 10A to issue a warning. If the conditions for the POS terminal 10A to issue a warning are met, the notification unit 24 issues a warning to the store clerk. This allows the store clerk to realize that the code cannot be used, thereby preventing the code from being used incorrectly.

[0128] [Embodiment 5] Embodiment 5 will be described with reference to Figure 12. In the second embodiment, the system 1 is configured to include a server (including the management device 300). However, as described in the modifications of the third and fourth embodiments, the POS terminal 10, 10A can obtain a code associated with a discount reason even without a server.

[0129] In the fifth embodiment, a configuration in which the system 1 does not include a server (including the management device 300) will be described.

[0130] 12 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of operations of the system 1 according to the present embodiment 5. Although some operations of the system 1 involve operations by store clerks, the system 1 does not include store clerks.

[0131] The store clerk carries an input terminal 400 for inputting the reason for discounting the product. The input terminal 400 may be the same as the label issuing device 200. In that case, in the following description, the "input terminal 400" will be read as the "label issuing device 200."

[0132] 12, first, a store clerk inputs the product's identification information and the reason for the discount into the input terminal 400. The input terminal 400 transmits the input discount reason to the label issuing device 200. Note that if the input terminal 400 is integrated with the label issuing device 200, this process is not executed.

[0133] The label issuing device 200 acquires the discount reason input to the input terminal 400 (S421).

[0134] Next, the label issuing device 200 converts the input discount reason into a code by encoding the discount reason (S422).

[0135] Specifically, in step S422, the label issuing device 200 converts the reason for discounting the product into a code by encoding the reason for discounting the product (for example, text representing the reason for discounting the product).

[0136] The label issuing device 200 then issues a label on which the code is printed. In addition to the code, the label may also include the product name, discount price, etc. (FIG. 6).

[0137] A store clerk affixes the label issued by the label issuing device 200 to the product. The labeled product is then displayed and picked up by a customer. The customer then carries the labeled product to the POS terminal 10 (10A) to pay for it.

[0138] The store clerk who operates the POS terminal 10 (10A) uses a reader provided in the POS terminal 10 (10A) to have the POS terminal 10 (10A) read the code attached to the product brought by the customer (S431).

[0139] Next, the POS terminal 10 (10A) decodes the code read from the product label and reconverts the code into a discount reason for the product (S432).

[0140] Thereafter, the POS terminal 10 (10A) displays the discount reason reconverted from the code on a display or the like provided in the POS terminal 10 (10A) (S433).

[0141] The store clerk operating the POS terminal 10 (10A) checks the discount reason displayed on the display of the POS terminal 10 (10A) and then checks the actual product to which the label is attached. If the discount reason is related to a sales promotion, the store clerk may explain to the customer that there is no problem with the quality of the product.

[0142] This completes the operation of the system 1 according to the fifth embodiment.

[0143] (Advantages of this embodiment) According to the configuration of this embodiment, the label issuing device 200 converts discount information into a code and issues a label with the code printed on it. The POS terminal 10 (10A) reads the code printed on the label and reconverts the code into a discount reason. The POS terminal 10 (10A) displays the discount reason for the product associated with the read code.

[0144] A store clerk or customer simply uses the reader of the POS terminal 10 to scan the code printed on the label attached to the product, and the discount reason and product information associated with the code are displayed on the display of the POS terminal 10. This allows the store clerk to easily check the discount reason for the discounted product. Furthermore, even if the label attached to the product has been fraudulently replaced with a label for another product, the store clerk can detect this fraud by checking the discount reason for the product.

[0145] (Hardware Configuration) Each component of the POS terminal 10, 10A described in the first to fifth embodiments represents a functional block. Some or all of these components are realized by an information processing device 900 such as that shown in Figure 13. Figure 13 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing device 900.

[0146] As shown in FIG. 13, the information processing device 900 includes, for example, the following configuration.

[0147] The components of the POS terminal 10, 10A described in the first to fifth embodiments are realized by the CPU 901 reading and executing a program 904 that realizes the function of the terminal. The program 904 that realizes the function of each component is stored in the storage device 905 or ROM 902, for example, and is loaded into the RAM 903 and executed by the CPU 901 as needed. The program 904 may be supplied to the CPU 901 via the communication network 909 or may be stored in advance on the recording medium 906 , and the drive device 907 may read out the program and supply it to the CPU 901 .

[0148] According to the above configuration, the POS terminal 10, 10A described in the first to fifth embodiments is realized as hardware, and therefore the same effects as those described in any of the first to fifth embodiments can be achieved.

[0149] (Supplementary Note) One embodiment of the present invention is also described as in the following supplementary note, but is not limited to the following.

[0150] (Supplementary Note 1) A management device comprising: a generating means for generating a code associated with an input reason for discounting a product; an associating means for storing the generated code in association with the reason for discounting the product; and a searching means for acquiring a read code and searching for a reason for discounting the product associated with the read code.

[0151] (Supplementary Note 2) The management device according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the generating means generates the code associated with the discount reason for the product by encoding an address where the discount reason for the product is stored.

[0152] (Supplementary Note 3) The management device according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, wherein the generating means sets an identifier of the discount reason of the product as the code associated with the discount reason of the product.

[0153] (Supplementary Note 4) A system comprising: a management device that generates a code associated with an input reason for discounting a product; a label issuing device that acquires the generated code and issues a label with the code printed on it; and a POS terminal that reads the code printed on the label and displays the reason for discounting the product associated with the read code.

[0154] (Supplementary Note 5) The system according to Supplementary Note 4, wherein the reason for the discount on the product is related to the condition of the product.

[0155] (Supplementary Note 6) The system according to Supplementary Note 4 or 5, wherein the POS terminal displays text indicating the reason for the discount on the product.

[0156] (Supplementary Note 7) The system according to Supplementary Note 4 or 5, wherein the POS terminal displays an image showing the condition of the product as the reason for the discount on the product.

[0157] (Supplementary Note 8) The system according to any one of Supplementary Notes 4 to 7, wherein the code is associated with the discount price of the product in addition to the reason for the discount of the product.

[0158] (Appendix 9) The system described in any one of Appendices 4 to 8 is characterized in that the code is associated with not only the reason for the discount on the product, but also the conditions under which the POS terminal will issue a warning regarding the code.

[0159] (Supplementary Note 10) The system according to Supplementary Note 9, wherein the POS terminal issues a warning when the number of times the code has been read exceeds an upper limit for the code.

[0160] (Supplementary Note 11) The system according to Supplementary Note 9, wherein the POS terminal issues a warning if the time at which the code is read is outside the validity period for the code.

[0161] (Supplementary Note 12) An information processing method in which a computer generates a code associated with an input reason for discounting a product, associates the generated code with the reason for discounting the product, and stores the code, obtains a read code, and searches for the reason for discounting the product associated with the read code.

[0162] (Supplementary Note 13) The information processing method according to Supplementary Note 12, wherein the reason for the discount on the product is related to a sales promotion of the product.

[0163] (Appendix 14) A non-transitory recording medium for causing a computer to perform the following operations: generating a code associated with an input reason for discounting a product; storing the generated code in association with the reason for discounting the product; and obtaining a read code and searching for a reason for discounting the product associated with the read code.

[0164] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

[0165] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 System 10 POS terminal 10A POS terminal 11 Reading unit 12 Acquisition unit 13 Display unit 200 Label issuing device 24 Notification unit 300 Management device 311 Generation unit 312 Correlation unit 313 Search unit

Claims

1. a generating means for generating a code associated with the input discount reason for the product; Correlation means for correlating the generated code with the discount reason for the product and storing the code; and a search means for acquiring the read code and searching for the discount reason for the product associated with the read code. Management device.

2. The generating means generates the code associated with the discount reason for the product by encoding an address where the discount reason for the product is stored. The management device according to claim 1 .

3. The generating means generates the code associated with the discount reason of the product as the identifier of the discount reason of the product.

3. The management device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a management device that generates a code associated with the input discount reason for the product; a label issuing device that acquires the generated code and issues a label on which the code is printed; a POS terminal that reads the code printed on the label and displays the discount reason for the product associated with the read code; A system with.

5. The reason for the discount on the product is related to the condition of the product.

5. The system of claim 4.

6. The POS terminal displays a text indicating the reason for the discount on the product.

6. The system according to claim 4 or 5.

7. The POS terminal displays an image showing the condition of the product as the reason for the discount on the product.

6. The system according to claim 4 or 5.

8. The computer Generate a code associated with the discount reason for the entered product, The generated code is stored in association with the reason for discounting the product; Obtaining the read code and searching for the discount reason for the product associated with the read code Information processing methods.

9. The reason for the discount on the product is related to the sales promotion of the product.

9. The information processing method according to claim 8.

10. generating a code associated with the discount reason for the input product; storing the generated code in association with the discount reason for the product; Obtaining the read code and retrieving the discount reason for the product associated with the read code; A program that causes a computer to execute the following.