JP2006059005A - Information providing system, management method for it, and management program for it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a management method and a management program for an information providing system, which has separate input means and output means for respective commodity display cabinets individually and carries out information transmission via radio communication mutually, for easily performing association between the devices and between the device and a display cabinet. <P>SOLUTION: When receipt information is starting information (S17:YES), transition to an ID information receiving condition is carried out (S21:NO). After ID information, which is required for association, about a tag reader 11, a display terminal 12, and commodity display cabinets 2A and 2B are acquired (S25), the tag reader 11 is associated with the display terminal 12 (S27), and the tag reader 11, the display terminal 12, and the commodity display cabinets 2A and 2B are associated mutually (S29). When specific ID information is read from authentication tags installed to the tag reader 11, the display terminal 12, and the commodity display cabinets 2A and 2B, association between the respective devices and between the respective devices and the commodity display cabinets can be carried out easily and surely. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for providing product information in a store, and more particularly to a method for associating information providing terminals such as input means and output means with a product display area.

  In recent years, the number of cases where an authentication tag is attached to a retail product is increasing. Information regarding production history such as the expiration date, raw materials, producer name, production location, production date, etc. of the product can be grasped for each product, and a judgment factor at the time of product purchase is provided. For example, by providing such information on food products, it is possible to provide a user with a material for determining whether or not the product is a safe product.

  In supermarkets and other retail mass retailers, when reading the above information or ID associated with the above information from the authentication tag attached to the product with a tag reader and displaying the information content on the display terminal, the sales floor or the product display area If a tag reader and a display terminal are provided for each predetermined area in the store, product information can be obtained at each product display position. In addition, if a display terminal is installed for each predetermined area, it is convenient that advertisement information corresponding to the displayed product can be sent to the nearest display terminal.

  When the installation location of tag readers and display terminals is required to be installed using a vacant space for each predetermined area in the store, such as a sales space for each predetermined product or a product display area, due to restrictions on the sales space There is. For example, the tag reader is installed at the consumer's hand so that the authentication tag can be easily read, and the display terminal is installed at a high position from the viewpoint of the visibility of the display content. Is requested.

  In order to respond to the above request, it is conceivable that the tag reader and the display terminal are configured as separate bodies in which information transmission is performed by wireless communication. Each sales floor or each product display area can be installed independently with a degree of freedom, and a suitable installation position can be secured even when the installation space is limited. In this case, in order to transmit information, a tag reader and a display terminal are used so that the user can confirm information according to the input authentication tag and to output information according to a predetermined area such as a product display area. It is necessary to determine the association and the location in the store where each is installed.

  In the product display management method disclosed in Patent Document 1, product display position information is obtained and product display position management is performed, and a means for determining the location of a tag reader and a display terminal is provided. . The installation position of each product is determined by calculating the position coordinates on the floor.

  Specifically, the coordinates (x1, y1), (x2, y2) of both ends of all fixtures on the floor are input, and then the number of displayed products on each fixture is counted. Next, the position coordinates of each product are calculated for each fixture. The display position of the product i (i = 1, 2,... L) is set to the L items displayed on the fixture, with an arbitrarily predetermined point on the entire floor as the origin. The coordinates (xi, yi) are calculated by xi = x1 + (x2−x1) × i / L and yi = y1 + (y2−y1) × i / L. Further, in the fixture, when the displayed product is divided and arranged also in the height direction, a three-dimensional coordinate is calculated as the position coordinate.

Japanese Patent No. 2978514

  However, when the location of the tag reader and the display terminal is determined by the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to acquire the arrangement position coordinates for each product display shelf on which the tag reader and the display terminal are installed. There is. Each time the merchandise display shelf or the like is rearranged in the store, the position coordinates of the individual display shelf or the like must be re-acquired, which requires a complicated procedure prior to determining the location.

  Further, it is necessary to determine the two-dimensional or three-dimensional position coordinates for each tag reader and display terminal together with the position coordinates of the display shelf or the like. It is necessary to handle a large amount of data to determine the location. In addition, the installation position coordinates of each tag reader and display terminal must be calculated from the position coordinates of the display shelf and the like, the number of tags readers and display terminals installed on the display shelf, the order of installation, and the like. Since the amount of data to be processed is large and complicated calculation processing is required for processing, there is a possibility that the load of the processing device for determining the location may become heavy, or an expensive processing device having a high processing capacity is required. It is a problem that may have to be prepared.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve at least one of the problems of the background art, and includes input means and output means according to a product display area or the like as separate separate bodies, and wirelessly connected to each other. Information provision system that can easily obtain information relating to the information providing system that transmits information by communication, associating information between the input means and output means, and the location information of the input means and output means for each product display area, etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide a system management method and a management program.

  To achieve the above object, an information providing system, an information providing system management method, and an information providing system management program according to the first invention include an input means for inputting identification information issued from an identification element, and an input In providing information relating to a product in a store comprising an information management server storing information corresponding to the identified identification information and an output means for outputting information from the information management server, an input means, an information management server, and an output The means are separate from each other, and the information management server performs management by association processing that associates the installation position of the input means or / and the output means with a predetermined product group area.

  In the first aspect of the invention, in the store, the input means and the output means installed separately from each other are associated with the predetermined product group area at the installation location and the installation position is managed.

  Further, an information providing system, an information providing system management method, and an information providing system management program according to the second invention are provided according to an input means for inputting identification information issued from an identification element, and the input identification information. The information management server associates the input unit and the output unit with each other when providing information about the product in the store including the information management server storing the stored information and the output unit for outputting the information from the information management server. Management is performed by association processing

  In the second aspect of the invention, in the store, the input means and the output means that are installed as separate bodies are managed so as to be associated with each other and to output information in response to information input.

  Thereby, when providing information about the goods in the store by wireless communication using the input means and the output means that are appropriately distributed and installed separately in the store as separate units, the installation position of the input means and the output means It is not necessary to calculate the absolute position in the store when ascertaining the installation location of the product or associating the devices required for information input / output response, and it is specified by associating with the product display cabinet or display product be able to.

  Storing the coordinate position indicating the installation position of the input means and the output means, and the calculation processing associated with the coordinate calculation for determining the coordinate position are unnecessary, and the amount of information for grasping and associating the installation position is reduced. In addition, it is possible to reduce the calculation load of the system in managing the information providing system.

  Further, if the installation position of the input means and the installation position of the output means are associated with the product display store or the display product, the installation information is effectively retained even when the product display store is rearranged. If the installation location of the input means and output means is fixed in relation to the product display warehouse and the display goods, it is not necessary to change the installation information of the input means and output means when the layout in the store is changed. Can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in order to collect the installation position information and the association information, it is only necessary to read the identification information of each device by the input means, and information collection and management data can be easily created.

  Here, the association process of the identification information of the input means or / and the identification information of the output means and the identification information indicating the predetermined product group area, or the association process of the identification information of the input means and the identification information of the output means, If it is executed in the information management server, the management of the information providing system can be centrally managed by the information management server.

  The identification information of each device and each area is read by the input means. At this time, if each of the input means, the output means, and the predetermined product group area has an identification element, the input means is stored in the identification element. The identification information can be read by reading the identifier.

  Further, if the input means that has read the identification information sends the activation information prior to sending the identification information to the information management server or together with sending the identification information, the association processing can be activated in the information management server. .

Here, it is possible to obtain the activation information by sending the identification information in a predetermined sending order by the input means into which the identification information has been read, and to send the activation information in response to the reading of the command information for starting the association process. You can also.
Furthermore, if dedicated input means used exclusively for association processing is used as input means, activation information can be sent in response to activation of the dedicated input means.

  According to the present invention, an input means and an output means are provided for an information providing system that includes an input means and an output means according to a product display area or the like as separate and independent units, and transmits information by wireless communication with each other. Information providing system management method and management that can easily obtain the association information between the devices and the location information for each product display area of the input means and output means by associating the devices with each other and the areas A program can be provided.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a management method and a management program for an information providing system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings based on FIGS.

  The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a sales space in a retail mass retailer such as a supermarket. Product stores 2A and 2B of various sizes are arranged in the store. As for the shape of the display cabinet, there are a product display cabinet 2A having a rectangular shape in plan view arranged so as to divide the sales space, a product display cabinet 2B arranged along the store wall surface, etc. However, there are various types, such as those that are stacked in layers and those that are partitioned and displayed in the height direction using shelf boards.

  A tag reader 11 (blacked portion shown in FIG. 1) as input means and a display terminal 12 (shaded portion shown in FIG. 1) as output means are installed at predetermined positions in the sales space. The store user causes the tag reader 11 to read the product ID, which is identification information stored in an authentication tag as an identification element attached to the displayed product, in each of the product display warehouses 2A and 2B, and the display terminal 12 Arranged so that information can be confirmed. The tag reader 11 is configured so that it can be shared by the product display cabinets 2A and 2B, or shared by a plurality of product display cabinets 2A and 2B, and the product information as the information on the products of the individual products can be confirmed in any of the product display cabinets 2A and 2B. And a display terminal 12 are installed. In this case, the advertisement information corresponding to the displayed product can be confirmed from the nearest display terminal 12 in any of the product display cabinets 2A and 2B.

  FIG. 2 illustrates an installation position of the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12 in the product display box 2A partitioned by shelf boards, and includes an information storage system and an information management system including an information management server 13 as a control means. A configuration is schematically shown. The information management server 13 serves as a control means for associating a function as information storage means for holding product information corresponding to individual product ID information, various libraries, and the like with the tag reader 11, the display terminal 12, a product display box, and the like. It has the function of.

  The installation positions of the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12 need to be installed by effectively using the empty space centering on the merchandise display 2 </ b> A due to the limitation of the sales floor space while considering the convenience of the user. In FIG. 2, the tag reader 11 is installed at the user's hand position. It is necessary that the user picks up the displayed product and holds the authentication tag attached to the product over the tag reader 11 as necessary to easily read the product ID. In this case, it is convenient for the tag reader 11 to be installed on the shelf board of the product display 2A. The display terminal 12 is installed at a high position. When product information related to a product whose product ID is read from the authentication tag is displayed, it is necessary that the display screen has a good visibility. In this embodiment, it is installed above the product display 2A.

  In this case, it is preferable that the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12 are configured separately, and information transmission is performed with the information management server 13 via wireless communication. The fact that the communication wiring is not connected to the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12 not only contributes to the beauty of the product display in the product display cabinets 2A and 2B, but also improves the flexibility of the installation positions of the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12. This is because the rearrangement of the commodity display cabinets 2A and 2B can be facilitated.

  In FIG. 2, information is transmitted between the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12 and the wireless communication station 14 by wireless communication. From the wireless communication station 14 to the information management server 13, information transmission is performed using normal information transmission wiring 15. For example, if the wireless communication station 14 is installed on the ceiling of the sales space and the information transmission wiring 15 is wired on the ceiling or behind the ceiling, the equipment from the wireless communication station 14 to the information management server 13 can be installed in the product display 2A in the sales space. There is no restriction on the arrangement of 2B. Further, since information is transmitted between the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12 and the wireless communication station 14 by wireless communication, the installation positions of the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12 with respect to the wireless communication station 14 are flexible, and the commodity display box 2A. 2B can be freely changed.

  In FIG. 2, the case where the wireless communication station 14 is provided and the information management server 13 is connected by the information transmission wiring 15 has been described as an example, but the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12 and the information management server 13 are connected. Needless to say, it is possible to directly transmit information by radio.

  In the processing flows shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 9, for the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12 that are configured separately, the association information between devices that construct the flow of information transmission from information request to information provision is acquired. The tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12 are associated with the product display cabinets 2A and 2B and individual products (not shown), and the location information of the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12 is acquired, and information for maintaining these information is maintained. The flow of the procedure concerning the management method and management program of the provided system is shown.

  3 to 5 is a case where a dedicated tag reader (not shown) is used to acquire identification (hereinafter abbreviated as ID) information of the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12 and ID information of the product display boxes 2A and 2B. It is. Here, the dedicated tag reader is a tag reader that is used when reading ID information of a device (tag reader or display terminal) or a display when performing an association process, and is dedicated to determining and associating the installation position of the device or the like. It is a tag reader to perform. If it is a portable reader that can be driven by a battery or the like, ID information can be read from authentication tags provided in each of the tag reader 11, the display terminal 12, and the merchandise display boxes 2A and 2B in the store. The ID information can be acquired by using the tag reader 11 which is an ordinary tag reader, and the installation position can be confirmed and associated, which will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a processing flow in the dedicated tag reader. In step (denoted as S in the following description) 1, when the dedicated tag reader is activated (S1), activation information is transmitted to the information management server 13 (S3). Thereby, the information management server 13 shifts to the association processing of the tag reader 11, the display terminal 12, the merchandise display warehouses 2 </ b> A, 2 </ b> B, and the like. In the dedicated tag reader, it is detected whether or not the ID information is recognized by a detector (not shown) (S5). Specifically, recognition is performed by holding the detector of the dedicated tag reader over an authentication tag provided in the tag reader 11, the display terminal 12, and the product display 2A, 2B. The authentication tag stores predetermined ID information for each device (tag reader or display terminal) or display.

  The ID information is assigned so as to identify the type for each of the tag reader 11, the display terminal 12, and the merchandise display boxes 2 </ b> A and 2 </ b> B and to be identified between individuals. Moreover, it is also possible to recognize a storehouse by using a product ID that is ID information of an individual product instead of the ID information of the storehouse. In this case, it is necessary that the association between the individual product and the display is acquired and managed by the management method and management program according to the present invention, or the association is made by a separate method. Here, as another method, for example, a method of registering an association table created by a system administrator or the like in the information management server can be considered. The authentication tag can be provided in the form of an RFID card, a barcode card, or the like for each device (tag reader or display terminal) or display.

  When the ID information is recognized (S5: YES), the ID information is read by the dedicated tag reader (S7) and transmitted to the information management server 13 (S9). Thereafter, the process flow returns to S5 and waits for the ID information to be recognized again. Thereafter, by repeating this processing, information is input to the dedicated tag reader. In the information management server 13, which will be described later, an error flag indicating that the association has failed due to erroneous input of ID information may be transmitted. This error flag is received by the dedicated tag reader (S11), and a warning lamp (not shown) indicating that there is an error in the input ID information is turned on (S13). Also in this case, the processing flow returns to S5, and the ID information waits for recognition again.

  As is clear from the flowchart of FIG. 3, the dedicated tag reader recognizes, reads, and transmits ID information, receives an error flag, lights an error warning lamp, and the like, and has a minimum configuration. .

  FIG. 4 is a processing flow for processing in the information management server 13. The processing flow of FIG. 4 includes the association between the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12 among the various processes in the information management server 13, the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12, the product display boxes 2A and 2B, and individual products (not shown). This shows the process of associating.

  When the information is received (S15: YES), it is determined whether or not the received information is activation information from the dedicated tag reader (S17). If the received information is not activation information (S17: NO), the routine proceeds to normal information provision processing (S37). If the received information is activation information (S17: YES), the information management server 13 recognizes that the association process has been started (S19), and shifts to a state waiting for receiving ID information (S21: NO).

  When the received ID information requests confirmation of the setting state in the predetermined device (S23: YES), the process proceeds to the setting state confirmation process described later in FIG. 5 (S31). Here, the confirmation of the setting state is, for example, extracting association information about a device or a display warehouse identified by specified ID information, and information about other associated devices or display warehouses. Obtainable.

  If the received ID information is not information for requesting confirmation of the setting state (S23: NO), the ID information of the tag reader 11 required for association, the ID information of the display terminal 12, the merchandise display 2A 2B ID information or the like is awaited (S25). Here, all of these ID information is not always required. If the ID information of the tag reader 11 and the ID information of the display terminal 12 are acquired, they can be correlated to determine the input / output relationship of information. If the ID information of the tag reader 11 or the ID information of the display terminal 12 and the ID information of the merchandise display boxes 2A and 2B are acquired, the location of the tag reader 11 or the display terminal 12 is determined. If the ID information of the tag reader 11, the ID information of the display terminal 12, and the ID information of the merchandise display 2A and 2B are all acquired at the same time, the input / output relationship of information and the location of each device can be determined simultaneously.

  When necessary ID information is acquired (S25: YES), association between the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12 (S27) or / and association between the tag reader 11 or / and the display terminal 12 and the commodity display boxes 2A and 2B. (S29) is performed as necessary, and the association information is stored in the association information library (D1). If unqualified information is acquired (S25: NO), it is determined that an error has occurred in the received information, and an error flag is transmitted to the dedicated tag reader (S35).

  As a result, the ID tag unique to each is read by the dedicated tag reader from the authentication tags provided in the tag reader 11, the display terminal 12, and the merchandise display 2A, 2B, and the association between each device, and each device Can be easily and reliably associated with the product display. The display terminal 12 can be associated with the tag reader 11 when inputting and outputting information, and the location of each device can be grasped. Therefore, it is possible for the user of the information providing system to reliably receive the requested information. In addition, there is an advantage that a highly effective advertisement can be distributed more accurately because a product advertisement suited to the situation can be provided from the sales floor at the site according to the displayed product or sales at that time.

  Here, the setting state confirmation process (S31) will be described. FIG. 5 shows a processing flow. When the process proceeds to the setting state confirmation process, the information reception wait state is entered (S39: NO). When the information is received (S39: YES), the ID information to be confirmed is acquired, and it is determined whether the ID information of the display terminal is acquired (S41). Here, the ID information of the display terminal is acquired in order to select the display terminal for confirming the setting state.

  When the ID information to be confirmed and the ID information of the display terminal are acquired (S41: YES), the setting information is collected (S43). The information is performed by, for example, being extracted from the association information library (D1). When the setting information is extracted, the setting information is transmitted to the display terminal from which the ID information has been acquired (S45).

  As a result, the associating worker can grasp the status of the device or display associated with each device or display during the association work, and can perform the association appropriately.

  The processing flow of FIGS. 6 to 8 is a case where the tag reader 11 used in the system is used for obtaining the ID information of each device and the ID information of the merchandise display. The ID information can be acquired by appropriately using the tag reader 11 installed in each of the product display cabinets 2A and 2B.

  FIG. 6 is a processing flow in the tag reader 11. Compared to the processing flow by the dedicated tag reader (FIG. 3), activation of the dedicated tag reader (S1) and transmission of activation information (S3) are unnecessary. The activation information is performed by reading a predetermined combination of ID information and command information for instructing activation, as will be described in detail in FIGS. Other processes are the same as those of the dedicated tag reader (FIG. 3), and a description thereof is omitted here.

  7 and 8 show processing in the information management server 13. Unlike the case of using the dedicated tag reader shown in FIG. 4, the confirmation method of the activation information of the association processing by the information management server 13 is different for each. In the following description, a different point from the association process in the information management server shown in FIG. 4 will be described.

  The process shown in FIG. 7 is a case where the activation information of the association process is recognized by a predetermined combination of ID information. When the received information is the ID information of the predetermined display terminal 12 in addition to the ID information of the predetermined tag reader 11 used for information input (S47: YES), it is recognized that it is an association process (S47: YES). S19). That is, when the ID information received first is the ID information of the display terminal 12, it is recognized as the association process.

  When the association process is recognized (S19), the ID information of the tag reader 11 has already been acquired in addition to the ID information of the display terminal 12. This is because the tag reader 11 acquires the ID information of the display terminal 12. At this point, the two can be associated (S49). Furthermore, after waiting for the acquisition of the ID information for the merchandise display warehouses 2A and 2B (S51 ;: YES), the tag reader 11 or / and the display terminal 12 are associated with the merchandise display warehouses 2A and 2B (S29). In this case, since the association process includes the display terminal 12, the association information can be transmitted to the display terminal 12 (S53). In the transmission of the association information, information already associated based on the association information library (D1) can be displayed together with information associated with the current flow.

  The process shown in FIG. 8 is a case where the activation information of the association process is recognized from the command ID information that instructs the start of the association process. When the received information is command ID information for instructing the start of the association process in addition to the ID information of the predetermined tag reader 11 used for information input (S55: YES), it is recognized as the association process. (S19).

  Then, after waiting for acquisition of the ID information of the display terminal 12 and / or the ID information about the merchandise display boxes 2A, 2B (S57 ;: YES), the association process is performed (S27, S29). If the display terminal 12 is set during the association process, the association information can be transmitted to the display terminal 12 (S59). In the transmission of the association information, information already associated based on the association information library (D1) can be displayed together with information associated with the current flow.

  The processing flow shown in FIG. 9 is a processing flow in the display terminal 12. In response to receiving information prompting a display instruction (S61), it has a function of displaying the received information (S63). As is apparent from the flowchart, the display terminal 12 has a minimum necessary configuration for only displaying the received information.

  FIG. 10 is an example of association information stored in the association information library (D1). The ID information indicating the sales floor position is associated with the ID information individually assigned to the tag reader 11, the display terminal 12, and the product display boxes 2A and 2B. Here, the sales floor position can be distinguished as a wide-area sales floor position, for example, a vegetable sales floor, a meat sales floor, a fresh fish sales floor, or the like. In addition, as limited sales space (narrow space), carrot sales space, Chinese cabbage space, etc. in beef sales space, beef sales space, pork sales space, chicken sales space, etc. In the fresh fish section, it can be divided into a tuna section space, a tako section space, and the like. The sales floor position can be set by preparing a plurality of authentication tags provided in the merchandise display and preparing two types of information as the ID information stored. In FIG. 10, a wide-area sales floor position is identified by a 1-digit ID number, and a low-order 1-digit number is added to the wide-area sales floor position ID number to identify a limited sales floor space (a narrow-area sales floor position). ing. In addition, ID information indicating a wide-area sales floor location is stored in the authentication tags provided in the product display cabinets 2A and 2B, and the sales floor space limited by the authentication tag attached to the display goods is determined. Is also possible.

  The association processing is performed by associating each ID information with the ID information of another associated apparatus or display. In this case, there is no need to limit the number of associated devices or display boxes. Multiple devices and displays can be associated as needed. For example, when one display terminal is shared by a plurality of tag readers, one tag reader can be associated with a plurality of display terminals.

  As described in detail above, according to the management method and management program of the information providing system according to the present embodiment, the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12 that are separately installed at appropriate positions in the store as separate units, When providing information related to products through wireless communication, the product display 2A is used to grasp the installation position of the tag reader 11 and the installation position of the display terminal 12 and to associate the devices required for information input / output responses. 2B or the like.

  Storage of the installation coordinates of the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12 and calculation processing associated with coordinate calculation are not required, the amount of information for grasping and associating the installation position can be reduced, and the system operation for managing the information providing system The load can be reduced.

  Further, since the installation positions of the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12 are associated with the product display warehouses 2A, 2B, etc., it is not necessary to change the installation information of the tag reader 11 and the display terminal 12 due to the layout change in the store. Labor can be reduced.

  Further, the installation position confirmation and association are performed by associating ID information stored in the authentication tag provided for each of the tag reader 11, the display terminal 12, and the product display boxes 2A and 2B. At this time, collection of ID information is performed by being read by the tag reader 11 or a dedicated tag reader (not shown), and therefore can be managed by a simple method.

  If the tag reader 11 in which the ID information is read is used, the activation information can be transmitted and the association process can be activated in the information management server prior to the transmission of the ID information or together with the transmission of the ID information. Further, the activation information can be obtained by using a predetermined sending order of ID information, or the activation information can be obtained by reading command ID information for activating the association process. If a dedicated tag reader is used, activation information can be sent in response to the activation of the dedicated tag reader, and the association process can be activated in the information management server.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, a product information providing system in a retail store has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to any information providing system in which the input means and the output means are installed separately and perform mutual information transmission by wireless communication. For example, in a library, when an overview of holding books or introduction of newly arrived books is introduced, exhibitions are opened at museums, museums, etc., and information on future events is organized separately. The present invention can also be effectively used when an input unit and an output unit are provided. Further, regarding the association processing in the information management server, the processing flow is shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, respectively, but these show an example of the processing and are not unique processing flows. 4 is applied to the processing flow of FIGS. 7 and 8, and the transmission processing of the association information to the display terminal shown in the processing flow of FIGS. Needless to say, it is possible to combine the processing contents as appropriate, such as application to the above processing flow.

It is a schematic plan view of the sales space of the retail mass sales store in the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the system configuration including the installation condition in the goods display warehouse of a tag reader and a display terminal, and an information management server. It is a flowchart which shows the process in a dedicated tag reader. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the information management server which receives the information transmission from a dedicated tag reader. It is a flowchart which shows the confirmation process of the setting state performed with the information management server shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process in a tag reader. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the information management server made into starting information by transmission of predetermined ID information using the tag reader of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the information management server made into starting information by transmission of command information using the tag reader of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process in a display terminal. It is an example of the correlation information stored in the correlation information library.

Explanation of symbols

2A, 2B Product display box 11 Tag reader 12 as input means Display terminal 13 as output means Information management server 14 as information storage means and control means Wireless communication station 15 Information transmission wiring

Claims (21)

An input means for inputting identification information emitted from the identification element;
An information management server storing information corresponding to the input identification information;
In the management method of the information providing system that provides information about the product in the store, including output means for outputting information from the information management server,
The input means, the information management server, and the output means are separate from each other.
The information management server performs management by an association process that associates an installation position of the input unit or / and the output unit with a predetermined product group area.   2. The information provision according to claim 1, wherein the association processing is performed by associating identification information of the input unit or / and identification information of the output unit with identification information indicating the predetermined product group area. How to manage the system.   3. The information providing system management method according to claim 2, wherein the identification information is stored in an identification element provided in each of the input unit, the output unit, and the predetermined product group area.   The association process is performed by causing the input unit to read identification information of the predetermined product group area, or identification information of the output unit and identification information of the predetermined product group area. Or the management method of the information provision system of Claim 3. A dedicated input means for reading the identification information exclusively;
4. The information providing system management method according to claim 2, wherein the association process is performed by causing the dedicated input unit to read the identification information.   The information provision system management method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined commodity group area is a commodity display warehouse.   The information provision system management method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined product group area is a display product. An input means for inputting identification information emitted from the identification element;
An information management server storing information corresponding to the input identification information;
In the management method of the information providing system that provides information about the product in the store, including output means for outputting information from the information management server,
The information management server performs management by an association process that associates the input unit and the output unit with each other.   9. The information providing system management method according to claim 8, wherein the association process is performed by associating identification information of the input unit with identification information of the output unit.   The information providing system management method according to claim 9, wherein the identification information is stored in an identification element provided in each of the input unit and the output unit.   11. The information providing system management method according to claim 9, wherein the association process is performed by causing the input unit to read identification information of the output unit. A dedicated input means for reading the identification information exclusively;
11. The information providing system management method according to claim 9, wherein the association process is performed by causing the dedicated input unit to read the identification information.   13. The input device and the information management server and / or the output device and the information management server are connected via wireless communication. The management method of the information provision system of at least any one.   14. The information management server distributes advertisement information corresponding to the identification information of the predetermined product group area read by the input unit to the output unit. The management method of the information provision system of Claim 1.   13. The information providing system management method according to claim 5, wherein the dedicated input unit sends activation information for activating the association process in response to activation of the dedicated input unit.   When performing the association process, the input means transmits the identification information before sending the identification information to the information management server, or sends the identification information and starts information for starting the association process. The management method of the information provision system of any one of Claim 1 thru | or 15.   17. The information providing system management method according to claim 16, wherein the activation information is recognized in accordance with a predetermined transmission order of the identification information.   17. The information providing system management method according to claim 16, wherein the activation information is transmitted in response to command information for activating the association processing being read by the input means. An input means for inputting identification information emitted from the identification element;
An information management server storing information corresponding to the input identification information;
In the management program of the information providing system that provides information on the product in the store, including output means for outputting information from the information management server,
The input means, the information management server, and the output means are separate from each other.
A management program for an information providing system, characterized in that the information management server performs management by association processing that associates an installation position of the input unit or / and the output unit with a predetermined product group area. An input means for inputting identification information emitted from the identification element;
An information management server storing information corresponding to the input identification information;
In the management program of the information providing system that provides information on the product in the store, including output means for outputting information from the information management server,
The information management system performs management by an association process that associates the input unit and the output unit with each other. An input means for inputting identification information emitted from the identification element;
An information management server storing information corresponding to the input identification information;
Output means for outputting information from the information management server,
The information management server performs an association process for associating an installation position of the input unit or / and the output unit with a predetermined product group area, or an association process for associating the input unit with the output unit. Information provision system.

Images