Route estimation device

Abstract

[Problem] To easily and inexpensively estimate a customer's moving route in a store. [Solution] This route estimation device comprises: a purchased product information acquisition means that acquires product identification information for each product that a user pays for at a checkout location in a store; an in-store location identification means that, on the basis of a product location storage means storing the product identification information and in-store location information, which indicates locations where products identified by the product identification information are placed in the store, in association with each other, identifies the in-store location information corresponding to the product identification information of the products to be checked out; a mark plotting means that plots, at a location on an in-store floor plan and corresponding to the identified in-store location information, a mark representing each product identified by the product identification information corresponding to each piece of the in-store location information; and a route generation means that draws a line connecting the plotted marks on the in-store floor plan in accordance with a predetermined rule, and generates in-store route information indicating a route on which the user is estimated to have moved in the store.

Description

Route Estimation Device

[0001] This relates to a technology for estimating the route a customer takes in a store.

[0002] Improving product placement in a store is a very important theme in business management, as it leads to understanding customer needs, improving customer satisfaction, and also increasing sales. On the other hand, when optimizing product placement in a store, it is important to know and analyze the routes that customers take when shopping.

[0003] Against this background, various technologies have been developed to determine the routes that customers take within a store. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that acquires information on the routes that customers take by analyzing images from cameras installed within a retail store to obtain the locations of individual customers in real time.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-174271

[0005] However, the above-described conventional technologies have the problem that the system configuration is complicated and the capital investment tends to be large, since it is necessary to install devices such as cameras and beacons in the store and to analyze the information acquired by such devices. In view of the above-described problems, the present invention aims to provide a path estimation device that can easily and inexpensively estimate the movement paths of customers in a store.

[0006] One form of the route estimation device disclosed comprises a purchased product information acquisition means for acquiring product identification information of products to be paid for by a user at a checkout location within a store; an in-store location identification means for identifying in-store location information corresponding to the product identification information of the products to be paid for based on a product location storage means for storing the product identification information in association with in-store location information, which is information indicating where the product identified by the product identification information is located within the store; a landmark plotting means for plotting landmarks representing the products identified by the product identification information corresponding to each of the in-store location information at corresponding positions on a floor plan of the store for the identified in-store location information; and a route generation means for drawing lines on the floor plan connecting the plotted landmarks according to a predetermined rule, and generating in-store route information indicating the route the user is estimated to have taken within the store.

[0007] The disclosed route estimation device estimates a customer's movement route within a store simply and inexpensively.

[0008] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a route estimation device according to the present embodiment. Fig. 2 is a functional block diagram of a route estimation device according to the present embodiment. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a product position storage means according to the present embodiment. Fig. 4 is a diagram explaining processing by a landmark plotting means and a route generation means according to the present embodiment. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a route estimation device according to the present embodiment. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by the route estimation device according to the present embodiment.

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A description will now be given of an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. (Operational Principles of a Route Estimation Device According to the Present Embodiment)

[0010] The operating principle of a route estimation device 100 according to this embodiment (hereinafter simply referred to as "the device") will be described using Figures 1 to 4. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the connection relationship between the device 100 and other devices, Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the device 100, and Figures 3 and 4 are diagrams explaining the components of the device 100.

[0011] 1 , the device 100 is connected via a communication network 310 to a point-of-sale (POS) system that settles the payment for a product 240 at a checkout location 230 in a store 210. The communication network 310 may be in the form of either a wired communication network or a wireless communication network. The device 100 acquires, via the POS system, product identification information 250 of the product 240 that a user 300 settles for at the checkout location 230 in the store 210.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the device 100 includes a product location storage unit 110 , a purchased product information acquisition unit 120 , a store location identification unit 130 , a landmark plotting unit 140 , and a route generation unit 150 .

[0013] The product position storage means 110 stores product identification information 250 that identifies the product 240 sold in the store 210, in association with in-store location information 260 that is information indicating the location in the store 210 where the product 240 identified by the product identification information 250 is located. The device 100 may not directly have the product position storage means 110, but may have the product position storage means 110 available via the communication network 310.

[0014] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the product position storage means 110. As shown in FIG. 3, the product position storage means 110 stores, for example, product names (product circle 1, product circle 2, ...), product identification information 250 (xxxx1, xxxx2, ...), and in-store location information 260 (3-5, 6-2, ...) in association with each other. Here, the in-store location information 260: A-B represents the location (position) of the product shelf that is Ath from the right and Bth from the top in the store 210, but the location (position) may also be represented by other identification methods.

[0015] The purchase product information acquisition means 120 acquires product identification information 250 of the product 240 for which the user 300 is paying at the checkout location 230 in the store 210. The purchase product information acquisition means 120 may acquire the product identification information 250 of the product 240 for which the user 300 is paying via a POS system.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 3, the purchase product information acquisition means 120 acquires product identification information 250: xxxx1, xxxx2, . . . for product circle 1, product circle 2, .

[0017] The in-store location specifying means 130 refers to the product location storage means 110 to specify the in-store location information 260 corresponding to the product identification information 250 acquired by the purchased product information acquiring means 120 .

[0018] As shown in Figure 3, the in-store location identification means 130, for example, refers to the product location storage means 110 and identifies in-store location information 260: 3-5, 6-2, ... for product identification information 250: xxxx1, xxxx2, ... acquired by the purchase product information acquisition means 120.

[0019] The landmark plotting means 140 plots landmarks 280 representing products 240 identified by product identification information 250 corresponding to each in-store location information 260 identified by the in-store location identification means 130 at corresponding positions on a floor plan 270 within the store 210.

[0020] 4 is a diagram showing an example of a floor plan 270 of the store 210. As shown in FIG. 4, the marker plotting means 140 plots markers 280 representing products 240 (product circle 1, product circle 2, ...) on the floor plan 270 for, for example, in-store position information 260 (3-5, 6-2, ...) identified by the in-store position identifying means 130.

[0021] The route generation means 150 generates in-store route information 290 representing the route that the user 300 is estimated to have taken within the store 210 by drawing on the floor plan 270 lines that connect the landmarks 280 plotted by the landmark plotting means 140 according to a predetermined rule. Here, the route generation means 150 may also draw on the floor plan 270 lines that connect the landmarks 280 from the side closer to the store entrance 220 to the side farther from the store entrance 220.

[0022] 4, the path generating means 150, for example, draws a line on the floor plan 270 from the marking 280 for product circle 1, which is closest to the store entrance 220, to the marking 280 for product circle 2, which is the second-closest, and then draws a line from the marking 280 for product circle 2, which is the second-closest, to the marking 280 for product circle 3, which is the third-closest. Thereafter, the path generating means 150 similarly draws a line from the marking 280 for product circle 3 to the marking 280 for product circle 4, from the marking 280 for product circle 4 to the marking 280 for product circle 5, and from the marking 280 for product circle 5 to the marking 280 for product circle 6.

[0023] By performing such processing, it is possible to estimate the route taken by user 300 when shopping at store 210, thereby obtaining basic information for analyzing and improving the product layout at store 210.

[0024] The route generating means 150 may also be configured to draw a line on the floor plan 270 connecting the landmark 280 that is farthest from the store entrance 220 to the checkout location 230.

[0025] The route generating means 150 may also draw a line on the floor plan 270 connecting the store entrance 220 with the landmark 280 that is closest to the store entrance 220 .

[0026] By performing such processing, it is possible to estimate the route taken by user 300 from store entrance 220 to checkout location 230 when shopping at store 210, thereby obtaining basic information for analyzing and improving product placement in store 210.

[0027] The route generating means 150 may generate each line connecting the store entrance 220, the landmark 280, and the checkout location 230 as a directed line segment going from the store entrance 220 to the checkout location 230. This makes it possible to see at a glance the route of the user 300 within the store 210, including the direction of movement.

[0028] As shown in Figure 4, the route generation means 150 draws, for example, a line on the floor plan 270 from the store entrance 220 to the landmark 280 associated with product circle 1, which is closest to the store entrance 220, and from the landmark 280 associated with product circle 6, which is farthest from the store entrance 220, to the checkout location 230.

[0029] Based on the above-described operating principle, the device 100 easily and inexpensively estimates the movement path of the customer 300 in the store 210 without requiring any sensing devices such as cameras or beacons or analysis of data acquired by such devices. (Hardware Configuration of the Path Estimation Device According to the Present Embodiment)

[0030] An example of the hardware configuration of the device 100 will be described using Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the device 100. As shown in Fig. 5, the device 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 510, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 520, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 530, an auxiliary storage device 540, a communication I / F 550, an input device 560, a display device 570, and a storage medium I / F 580.

[0031] The CPU 510 is a device that executes a program stored in the ROM 520, performs arithmetic processing on data loaded into the RAM 530 in accordance with program instructions, and controls the entire device 100. The ROM 520 stores the programs and data to be executed by the CPU 510. When the CPU 510 executes a program stored in the ROM 520, the programs and data to be executed are loaded into the RAM 530, and the RAM 530 temporarily holds the arithmetic data during the calculation.

[0032] The auxiliary storage device 540 is a device that stores the basic software, such as an operating system (OS), the application programs according to the present embodiment, and other related data. The auxiliary storage device 540 is, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a flash memory.

[0033] The communication I / F 550 is an interface for connecting to a communication network 310 such as a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, and for transmitting and receiving data to and from other devices (such as a POS system) that provide communication functions.

[0034] The input device 560 is a device such as a keyboard for inputting data into the device 100. The display device (output device) 570 is a device formed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and functions as a user interface when the user uses the functions of the device 100 or when making various settings. The storage medium I / F 580 is an interface for sending and receiving data to and from a storage medium 590 such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or USB memory.

[0035] Each of the means included in the device 100 may be realized by the CPU 510 executing a program corresponding to each of the means stored in the ROM 520 or the auxiliary storage device 540. Furthermore, each of the means included in the device 100 may be realized by hardware that performs the processing associated with the respective means. Furthermore, the device 100 may be configured to execute the program by loading the program according to the present invention from an external server device via the communication I / F 550 or by loading the program according to the present invention from the storage medium 590 via the storage medium I / F 580. (Processing Example by the Route Estimation Device According to the Present Embodiment) The flow of a processing example by the device 100 will be described using FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a processing example by the device 100.

[0036] In S10, the purchase information acquisition means 120 acquires the product identification information 250 of the product 240 for which the user 300 is paying at the checkout location 230 in the store 210. The purchase information acquisition means 120 may acquire the product identification information 250 of the product 240 for which the user 300 is paying via a POS system.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, the purchase product information acquisition means 120 acquires product identification information 250: xxxx1, xxxx2, . . . for product circle 1, product circle 2, .

[0038] In S20, the in-store location specifying means 130 refers to the product location storage means 110 to specify the in-store location information 260 corresponding to the product identification information 250 acquired in S10.

[0039] As shown in Figure 3, the in-store location identification means 130, for example, refers to the product location storage means 110 and identifies in-store location information 260: 3-5, 6-2, ... for product identification information 250: xxxx1, xxxx2, ... acquired by the purchase product information acquisition means 120.

[0040] In S30, the marker plotting means 140 plots a marker 280 representing the product 240 identified by the product identification information 250 corresponding to each in-store location information 260 identified in S20 at a corresponding position on the floor plan 270 within the store 210.

[0041] 4 is a diagram showing an example of a floor plan 270 of the store 210. As shown in FIG. 4, the marker plotting means 140 plots markers 280 representing products 240 (product circle 1, product circle 2, ...) on the floor plan 270 for, for example, in-store position information 260 (3-5, 6-2, ...) identified by the in-store position identifying means 130.

[0042] In S40, the route generation means 150 draws on the floor plan 270 lines connecting the landmarks 280 plotted in S30 according to a predetermined rule, thereby generating in-store route information 290 representing the route that the user 300 is estimated to have taken within the store 210. Here, the route generation means 150 may draw on the floor plan 270 lines connecting the landmarks 280 from the side closer to the store entrance 220 to the side farther from the store entrance 220.

[0043] 4, the path generating means 150, for example, draws a line on the floor plan 270 from the marking 280 for product circle 1, which is closest to the store entrance 220, to the marking 280 for product circle 2, which is the second-closest, and then draws a line from the marking 280 for product circle 2, which is the second-closest, to the marking 280 for product circle 3, which is the third-closest. Thereafter, the path generating means 150 similarly draws a line from the marking 280 for product circle 3 to the marking 280 for product circle 4, from the marking 280 for product circle 4 to the marking 280 for product circle 5, and from the marking 280 for product circle 5 to the marking 280 for product circle 6.

[0044] By performing such processing, it is possible to estimate the route taken by user 300 when shopping at store 210, thereby obtaining basic information for analyzing and improving the product layout at store 210.

[0045] In addition, in S40, the route generation means 150 may draw a line on the floor plan 270 connecting the farthest of the landmarks 280 from the store entrance 220 to the checkout location 230.

[0046] Furthermore, in S40, the route generating means 150 may draw a line on the floor plan 270 connecting the store entrance 220 with the landmark 280 that is closest to the store entrance 220.

[0047] By performing such processing, it is possible to estimate the route taken by user 300 from store entrance 220 to checkout location 230 when shopping at store 210, thereby obtaining basic information for analyzing and improving product placement in store 210.

[0048] The route generating means 150 may generate each line connecting the store entrance 220, the landmark 280, and the checkout location 230 as a directed line segment going from the store entrance 220 to the checkout location 230. This makes it possible to see at a glance the route of the user 300 within the store 210, including the direction of movement.

[0049] As shown in Figure 4, the route generation means 150 draws, for example, a line on the floor plan 270 from the store entrance 220 to the landmark 280 associated with product circle 1, which is closest to the store entrance 220, and from the landmark 280 associated with product circle 6, which is farthest from the store entrance 220, to the checkout location 230.

[0050] Based on the above operating principle, the device 100 estimates the movement route of the customer 300 in the store 210 simply and inexpensively without requiring sensing devices such as cameras or beacons or analysis of data acquired by such devices.

[0051] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention as set forth in the claims.

[0052] 100 Route estimation device 110 Product location storage means 120 Purchased product information acquisition means 130 In-store location identification means 140 Landmark plotting means 150 Route generation means 210 Store 220 Store entrance 230 Checkout location 240 Product 250 Product identification information 260 In-store location information 270 Floor plan 280 Landmark 290 In-store route information 300 User 310 Communication network 510 CPU 520 ROM 530 RAM 540 Auxiliary storage device 550 Communication interface 560 Input device 570 Output device 580 Storage medium interface 590 Storage medium

Claims

1. A route estimation device comprising: a purchased product information acquisition means for acquiring product identification information of products to be paid for by a user at a checkout location within a store; an in-store location identification means for identifying in-store location information corresponding to the product identification information of the products to be paid for, based on a product location storage means for storing the product identification information in association with in-store location information, which is information indicating where the product identified by the product identification information is located within the store; a landmark plotting means for plotting landmarks representing products identified by the product identification information corresponding to each of the in-store location information at corresponding positions on a floor plan of the store for the identified in-store location information; and a route generation means for drawing lines on the floor plan connecting the plotted landmarks according to a predetermined rule, and generating in-store route information indicating the route the user is estimated to have taken within the store.

2. The route estimation device according to claim 1, wherein said route generation means draws lines on said floor plan connecting said plotted landmarks from the side closer to the store entrance to the side farther from the store entrance.

3. The route estimation device according to claim 2, wherein the route generation means draws a line on the floor plan connecting the plotted landmark that is farthest from the store entrance to the checkout location.

4. The route estimation device according to claim 3, wherein the route generation means draws on the floor plan a line connecting the store entrance to the plotted landmark that is closest to the store entrance.

5. A route estimation method comprising: a step in which a purchase product information acquisition means acquires product identification information of a product for which a user is to pay at a checkout location within a store; a step in which an in-store location identification means identifies the in-store location information corresponding to the product identification information of the product for which payment is to be made, based on a product location storage means that associates and stores the product identification information with in-store location information, which is information indicating where the product identified by the product identification information is located within the store; a step in which a landmark plotting means plots landmarks representing products identified by the product identification information corresponding to each of the in-store location information at corresponding positions on the store floor plan for the identified in-store location information; and a step in which a route generation means draws lines on the floor plan connecting the plotted landmarks according to a predetermined rule, and generates in-store route information indicating the route the user is estimated to have taken within the store.

6. A route estimation method according to claim 5, characterized in that said route generation means draws lines on said floor plan connecting said plotted landmarks from the side closer to the store entrance to the side farther from the store entrance.

7. A route estimation method according to claim 6, characterized in that the route generation means draws a line on the floor plan connecting the plotted landmark that is farthest from the store entrance to the checkout location.

8. The route estimation method according to claim 7, wherein the route generation means draws on the floor plan a line connecting the store entrance and the plotted landmark that is closest to the store entrance.

9. A route estimation program for causing a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 5 to 8.

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