JP2020123306A - Sales system, portable terminal, and store computer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a sales system that allows a clerk to freely set the price of a commodity, and a mechanism that efficiently informs a customer of a discount price of the commodity to be discounted.SOLUTION: A sales system is for selling a commodity to a customer, and the sales system comprises: a portable terminal that photographs an optical code attached to the commodity and transmits an in-store code represented by the optical code to a store computer; and the store computer that, when receiving the in-store code from the portable terminal, transmits the price of the commodity shown by the in-store code to the portable terminal. The portable terminal displays, on a screen, the price transmitted from the store computer, and the customer can learn the price of the commodity from the screen of the portable terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

The present invention relates to a sales system. In particular, the present invention relates to a sales system, a sales device, a mobile terminal used for the sales device, and a store computer that can be applied to unmanned stores.

In recent years, EC (Electric Commerce) using the Internet or the like has been widely used. However, actual product purchases at "stores" can be grasped directly by looking at the products, and the products, etc. can be acquired immediately, so they are still widely rooted in society.

Purchase of merchandise, etc. at conventional stores a. Behaviors and Requests of Customers who are Purchasers (1) When a customer purchases a product or the like in a store of a predetermined store, if the product is the same, select a new expiration date/expiration date from the back of the shelf. They tend to take action.
(2) Also, depending on the store, there are cases where the product is sold at a lower price than usual, with the settings "Otsutome" and "Discontinue". If you don't visit the store, you often can't know the information. This will be referred to below in b.

b. Work at the store a. With regard to (2), in conventional stores, in many cases, a clerk checks the sales deadline and the expiration date for each product and affixes a price reduction sticker to the product.

c. Problem (1) In the conventional store, since the clerk is performing the above work, a labor force is required to confirm the product and attach the price reduction sticker. In order to provide high-quality services, it is necessary for the store clerk to replace the unsold product several times, and as a result, the labor force in the store tends to be insufficient.
(2) Profit is reduced by lowering the selling price, so the timing of price reduction (considering the selling price) depends on the sales forecasting ability of the store clerk.
In other words, by the sales deadline, the clerk determines whether to set "when and how much" for each inventory management unit of the product, considering the disposal cost. Therefore, the actual situation is that the valuation that maximizes the "profit" depends on the experience value of the clerk.

(3) On the other hand, the customer wants to purchase at the optimal price at the time of payment (at the time of payment). In other words, if the price is changed between the time the customer carts in the product at the sales floor and the payment is made at the cash register, the price will change according to the changed price. I want you to settle. However, the current cash register cannot handle such a situation.
(4) Further, on the store side, although the store clerk performs the above-mentioned work of attaching the “price reduction sticker”, it may be difficult to attach it to all the corresponding products. As a result, there was a case where the "price cut seal" was "sticky" and the quality of the sales floor could not be kept constant.
Although expired products must be removed from the sales floor, there is a possibility that leakage may occur during this removal work. As a result, there was a risk of sales of expired products.
(5) There is a possibility of fraud such as the customer replacing the above-mentioned “price reduction sticker” with another product.
(6) It is difficult to obtain information about the above-mentioned "Otsutome products" and "Discontinue products" unless the customer visits the store. This means that there is no way to appeal “Otsutome products” and “Discontinue products” to the outside of the store from a different point of view, and it may be a loss on the store side.
In view of such problems, the inventors of the present application have earnestly conducted research on a mechanism for solving the problems.

Prior Patent Documents Various devices have been proposed so far with respect to such problems in conventional stores.
Patent Document 1 below discloses a method of conducting a time sale using a product barcode. The product bar code is read, and the discount is performed based on the discount information of the time table according to the time of the discount time table. According to this mechanism, the discount can be automatically executed according to the timetable.
Further, in Patent Document 2 below, the discount start time and the discount amount, and the re-discount time and the discount amount are stored in the product tag, and the contents of the product tag read by the store terminal and the current time and Are shown, and the technology of selling products by performing a predetermined discount is shown.
According to this technique, since the discount information (the time for discounting and the discount amount) is put in the product tag in advance, after that, discounting and re-discounting are sequentially performed by comparing with the time. As a result, it is said that the time and discount amount can be freely set.
Further, Patent Document 3 below discloses a sales system in which the discount amount increases as the “best before date” approaches. In addition, it has been a problem that it becomes psychologically difficult to buy by attaching a discount label and it is a psychologically difficult purchase, but since it is not necessary to attach the discount label in the present invention, it is psychologically difficult to buy. It is stated that it will not be.

JP, 2003-77068, A JP 2005-10960 A JP, 2009-176258, A

As described above, conventionally, discounting has been executed by various methods when the expiration date is approaching, but the method of attaching the discount sticker has a problem that the burden on the clerk is increased.
Further, in Patent Documents 1 to 3 above, various ideas for discounting have been proposed, but it is not a technology that can change the timing of discounting and the discount amount and the like flexibly. Further, the methods using the timetables and the product tags described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above have a problem that there is no effective means for notifying the customer that the discount has been executed. In this case, it is assumed that even if the price is reduced, it will not lead to an increase in the willingness of customers to purchase.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems described above, and its purpose is to provide a sales system that can freely set the price of a product sold in a store, and also based on various parameters. It is to provide a sales system that can be flexibly set. Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for efficiently transmitting the (discounted) price of a product to be discounted to a customer.

(1) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a sales system for selling a product to a customer, in which an optical code attached to the product is photographed, and an installation code represented by the optical code is displayed. A mobile terminal for transmitting an accord to a store computer; and a store computer for transmitting the price of a product indicated by the in-store code to the mobile terminal when the in-store code is received from the mobile terminal. The terminal is a sales system capable of displaying the price transmitted from the store computer on a screen and allowing the customer to know the price of the product from the screen of the mobile terminal.

(2) The present invention further comprises a customer database in which payment information of the customer is registered, and the mobile terminal requests the store computer to settle the product according to the customer's payment instruction. When payment is requested, the computer acquires the payment information of the customer from the customer database, and uses the acquired payment information to make payment for the product (1). Is.

(3) Further, the present invention is the sales system according to (1) or (2), wherein the store computer is an inventory database that manages products in a store managed by the store computer, An inventory database in which prices are registered; a storage device that stores a setting for adjusting the price of the product in the inventory database by comparing the sales limit date and time of the product with the current date and time; and the inventory database A control unit that adjusts the price of the product in the storage device based on the setting stored in the storage device, the control unit transmitting the price adjusted based on the setting to the mobile terminal, In the selling system according to (1) or (2), the person who sets the price of the product in the store can store the setting in the storage device.

(4) Further, in the present invention, the store computer is an inventory database that manages products of a store managed by the store computer, and an inventory database in which a price of the product is registered, and a sales target of the store And a profit/gain target data section that holds profit targets, and an AI control unit that obtains the price of the product in the inventory database so that the sales and profit targets held by the sales/profit target data section can be achieved. The sales system according to (1) or (2), further comprising: transmitting the price calculated by the AI control unit to the mobile terminal.

(5) Further, the present invention is the mobile terminal used in the sales system according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the optical code attached to the product is photographed, The mobile terminal is characterized in that an in-store code represented by the optical code is transmitted to a store computer, and the price transmitted from the store computer is displayed on a screen.

(6) Further, the present invention is the store computer used in the sales system according to (3), which is an inventory database that manages products of a store managed by the store computer, and the price of the product is A registered inventory database, a storage device that stores a setting for adjusting the price of the product in the inventory database by comparing the sales limit date and time of the product with the current date and time, and a storage device in the inventory database. A control unit for adjusting the price of the product based on the setting stored in the storage device, the control unit transmitting the price adjusted based on the setting to the mobile terminal. It is a store computer.

(7) Further, the present invention is the store computer used in the sales system according to (4), which is an inventory database that manages products of a store managed by the store computer, and the price of the product is A registered inventory database, a sales/profit target data part that holds the sales target and profit target of the store, and a sales/profit target that the sales/profit target data part holds, so that the sales target and the profit target can be achieved. An AI control unit that determines the price of the product in the inventory database, and transmits the price determined by the AI control unit to the mobile terminal.

According to the present invention, it is possible to freely set the price of a product in a store, and to set a price that can improve sales and profit. Moreover, since the set price can be efficiently communicated to the customer, the product purchase at the store can be made more efficient.

It is an explanatory view of in-store JAN code generation used in this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the idea of the sales deadline in this embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram of the data management method in this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the input work in the store of this Embodiment 1. It is explanatory drawing of the input work by the smart phone 20 in this Embodiment 1. It is explanatory drawing of the purchase operation in the store of this Embodiment 1. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a purchasing operation by the smartphone 30 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a purchasing operation by the smartphone 30 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a purchasing operation by the smartphone 30 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a purchasing operation by the smartphone 30 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a purchasing operation by the smartphone 30 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a configuration conceptual diagram of a store computer 100 according to the first embodiment. 6 is a conceptual diagram of the configuration of a store computer 102 according to the second embodiment. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the input operation in the vendor of this Embodiment 3. 7 is a conceptual diagram of a configuration of a store computer 102 according to a third embodiment. FIG.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First. In-store JAN code, its configuration, and management using it In this embodiment, we propose a sales system that manages each product by creating a unique bar code label and attaching this bar code label to the product. doing. Therefore, first, the unique barcode label in this embodiment will be described.
Most of the products in Japan are attached with a bar code called JAN code. In this embodiment, an original barcode (label) is created based on this JAN code, and is attached to the product for management. This unique barcode is called an in-store JAN code.
The in-store JAN code corresponds to a preferred example of the in-store code in the claims. In this embodiment, the code including the JAN code is adopted, but a completely unique code may be used as the in-store code.
Further, in the present embodiment, the in-store JAN code is represented by a bar code, and corresponds to a preferred example of the optical code in the claims. In the present embodiment, an example represented by a bar code will be described, but another code may be used as long as it is an optical code. For example, it may be a two-dimensional code. In the text, the optical code refers to a code that is optically read and recognized, and is a so-called one-dimensional bar code, various two-dimensional code, or the like (for example, QR code (registered trademark)). It may also be called an optical recognition code.

JAN code and in-store JAN code JAN code means "Japanese Article Number Code", which is a standard product label established by the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS). In the case of the standard type, it is displayed as a 13-digit barcode attached to a product or the like.
The standard type 13-digit JAN code consists of a 7-digit or 9-digit company code, a 5-digit or 3-digit product code, and a 1-digit check digit. In this embodiment, the in-store JAN code is generated and used by adding the expiration date and time to the standard type 13-digit JAN code. This is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, an in-store JAN code is a normal JAN code (for example, 13 digits) with the expiration date and time added (see FIG. 1).
In the present embodiment, particularly for a target product for which freshness management is to be performed, the freshness management is set in advance on the product management screen of the product database. The setting is performed by setting the freshness management flag of the product to a predetermined value (for example, "1"). Then, for products requiring such freshness management, an in-store JAN code (bar code) is attached to manage the products.
As shown in FIG. 1, when the CODE128 code set C (even digits) is used, the in-store JAN code is created as, for example, “12345678890123+YYMMDDHHMI0”. In this example, "13 digits of JAN code" + "date and time of expiry date" + "0 trailing padding (0 padding)" is set.
One of the features of the present embodiment is that the in-store JAN code includes the expiration date and time. By using such an in-store JAN code, freshness management can be efficiently performed as described later.

Further, in the present embodiment, as the expiration date and time to be added to the normal JAN code, the expiration date and time printed on the product is directly input as it is. Depending on the product, only the "expiration date" may be printed without including "hour". In such a case, "hour" may be set at 24:00 on the day, The "hour" part may be set to 0 to create the in-store JAN code.
The in-store JAN code (bar code) created in this way is attached to the product. When the customer scans the in-store JAN code of the product with a smartphone or the like, a predetermined smartphone application accesses the in-store JAN code of the scanned product to the server of the store computer of the store to determine the "customer storage period" of the product. get. The store computer can calculate the sales expiration date by matching the customer storage period thus obtained with the expiration date and time recorded in the scanned in-store JAN code. When the sales deadline has expired, the store computer returns an error to the customer's smartphone application. The customer storage period may be determined for each store based on the situation of each store.
In this patent, application software may be abbreviated as “app”. In addition, a smartphone may be abbreviated as “smartphone”. For example, application software for smartphones may be abbreviated as “smartphone application”.

Sales deadline Here, the concept of the sales deadline will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a time chart for explaining the relationship between the passage of time from the production of products requiring freshness management to the limit of decay and the respective reference times, and the direction of the arrow indicated by “time passage”. It is assumed that time elapses.
(1) Expiration date is the period when the product whose container and packaging has not been opened is stored according to the indicated storage method, and the taste and quality characteristics of the product are shown as (1) expiration date in FIG. Indicates a period from the manufacturing date to (8) deadline (or also referred to as “expiration date” or “expiration date”).
(2) The date of manufacture means the date of manufacture of a product for which freshness control needs to be performed. Specifically, for example, the date of manufacturing, processing, packing, shipping, birth, landing, harvesting, harvesting, importing, etc., by a manufacturer or the like is collectively referred to as “manufacturing date”.
(3) The term of arrival at the store means the date when the product is accepted at the store.
The period from (3) the store arrival deadline to (6) sales limit date and time, which will be described later, is the period during which the product (the product for which freshness management is executed) may be sold.
(4) Date and time when the selling method is considered: (6) Date and time when the selling method such as change of selling method, change of selling place, change of selling price, transfer, etc. must be examined in order to sell out by the sales limit date and time. Say
That is, normally, the product is sold at a normal price (for example, a fixed price, a standard price, a normal price of the store, etc.) from the above (3) store arrival time to this (4) sales method consideration date and time.
(5) Selling method change period means (6) Date and time at which the selling method such as changing the selling method, changing the selling place, changing the selling price, transferring, etc. must be considered in order to sell out by the sales limit date and time. Say
(6) The sales limit date and time means the final deadline date and time when the product can be sold in order to have the customer consume (eat) by the (8) deadline date as a retail business.
(7) Customer storage period refers to the period during which a customer (=customer) purchases a product for which freshness management is carried out and then stores it without opening it after taking it home.
(8) Expiration date has the same meaning as expiry date (expiration date and time) and (1) expiration date. The expiration date is used in the case of a product whose (9) decay limit point is short from the expiration date, and the expiration date is used in the case of (9) a product whose decay limit point is somewhat long from the expiration date.
The expiration date and time in FIG. 1 means (8) expiration date. In many cases, the expiration date is printed or marked on the surface of the product by a printer or the like by the manufacturer or the like.
(9) The corruption limit point refers to the limit date and time at which corruption occurs.

Data Management Method This embodiment is characterized in that the product code in the normal JAN code is copied and the expiration date and time is added to generate the in-store JAN data. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a method of managing the normal JAN code and the in-store JAN code in the database. As shown in the figure, for example, an ITEM management (product management) database 10 that normally uses a JAN code can be used as the item-code (product code).

It should be noted that other types of products that use other codes than the normal JAN code may be included. The present embodiment is an embodiment characterized by a processing method for products that are subject to freshness management, and only the case of such products will be described. However, the store may handle a product that is not managed for freshness or a product represented by another code, or the code of such a product may be included in the ITEM management database 10.

Further, it is possible to use the SKU management database 12 including the normal JAN code and the corresponding in-store JAN code as items (see FIG. 3). In FIG. 3, a normal JAN code is used as the item-code, and an in-store JAN code is used as the sku-code. According to the SKU management database 12, it is possible to know the correspondence between the normal JAN code and the in-store JAN code. In addition, since one normal JAN code generally corresponds to n in-store JAN codes, as shown in FIG. 3, SKU management is performed for one data in the ITEM management database 10. The n pieces of data in the database 12 correspond. Note that n is a natural number of 1 or more.
Regarding SKU Note that SKU means Stock Keeping Unit, which is the minimum unit for inventory management. In a normal system, management is often performed in JAN code units, but in the present embodiment, products are managed in shelf life units. In other words, even with the same "fried chicken lunch", the expiration date will differ slightly if the manufacturing time is different. For this reason, the “fried chicken lunch” is managed separately for each expiration date. Even the same "fried chicken lunch" is treated as a different management target, such as SKU with expiration date until 7:00 and SKU with expiration date until 10:00.

Further, it is possible to use the PRICE management database 14 which is the selling price for the product. The PRICE management database 14 is a database having items of a suku-code, a store that sells the product (the product represented by the suku-code), a price application period, and a price. According to the example of FIG. 3, in the sku-code, the in-store JAN code is registered as in the SKU management database 12, and the “A store” is registered as the sales store. Also, 4/1 to 4/10 are registered as the price application period, and ¥100 is registered as the price. According to such a database, it is possible to grasp at which store the product represented by the in-store JAN code is sold and at what price in that period.

Further, the INVENTORY management database 16 which is a database of product inventory can be used. The INVENTORYE management database 16 is a database that includes items such as a sku-code, a store that sells the product (the item represented by the suku-code), a sales period, and the number of stocks. According to the example of FIG. 3, in the sku-code, the in-store JAN code is registered as in the SKU management database 12, and the “A store” is registered as the sales store. In addition, 4/1 to 4/10 are registered as the sales period, and 99 is registered as the inventory quantity. According to such a database, it is possible to grasp the sales period of the product represented by the in-store JAN code and the current inventory quantity.

Second Embodiment 1: Store Input Type This embodiment is characterized by setting the price of a product that requires freshness management using the in-store JAN code as described above. There are various specific system configurations for that purpose. Hereinafter, sales systems having various configurations will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, description will be made on the premise that products that require freshness management are included, but products that do not require freshness management may be mixed.
The sales system of Embodiment 1 is roughly divided into three parts.
Part 1: Input at the store (input of in-store JAN code)
PART 2: PURCHASE OF GOODS IN A CUSTOMER'S STORE PART 3: SETTING THE GOOD PRICE BY THE STORE COMPUTER AND PRESENTING THE GOOD PRICE TO THE CUSTOMER Note that the "sales system" in the claims is for realizing each of these Describes the hardware part.
First, in the first embodiment, an example in which a person performs a work of registering product information in a store will be described.
The configuration and operation of the selling system of the first embodiment are shown in FIGS.

(1) Input work in store FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the input work by the clerk in (the sales floor of) the store to which the sales system is applied. When arranging the product in the sales floor, the clerk registers the product in an inventory database (described later) or the like.
In step S4-1, the clerk reads the normal JAN code of the product using a handy terminal or the like (step S4-1). The handy terminal is a portable information terminal called by a name such as a handy terminal and is a terminal used in the field of physical distribution. It has a function of reading information such as a barcode, has a function of accumulating the read data in the terminal, and a function of transmitting the read data to an external PC or server. Further, not only a barcode but also a function of reading information such as a two-dimensional code and characters/symbols/numbers may be provided.

In step S4-2, the clerk inputs the quantity of the product and the expiration date and time on the handy terminal. The expiry date and time has the same meaning as (8) expiry date and expiry date in FIG. 2, and is often printed/engraved on a product package or the like. Here, the normal JAN code (bar code displayed on the original product) entered by the clerk, the expiration date and time, and the numerical value of the product are sent from the handy terminal to the store computer. The store computer will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In step S4-3, the handy terminal issues the in-store JAN code described with reference to FIG. The handy terminal adds the expiration date and time input by the store clerk to the read normal JAN code to generate an in-store JAN code. This operation principle is as described in FIG. The handy terminal sends the generated in-store JAN code to the barcode printer.
In the present embodiment, the handy terminal does not transmit the issued in-store JAN code to the store computer, but is configured to transmit the issued in-store JAN code to the store computer in the same manner as the normal JAN code transmitted in step S4-2. You may.
In step S4-4, the barcode printer prints the in-store JAN code transmitted from the handy terminal on the label. As a result, the label attached to the product is printed.

In step S4-5, the clerk affixes the label printed by the barcode printer to the product and places it in the sales floor. The sticking of the bar code label is preferably carried out on the normal JAN code printed in advance on the package of the product so that the normal JAN code is hidden. This is because if the label is attached in this way, the in-store JAN code can be read without fail when the barcode is to be read thereafter.
However, it may be attached to another place without always overlapping with the normal JAN code. When the normal JAN code is originally provided in a place that is difficult to read, the in-store JAN code may be attached to a place that is easier to read.

Usage of Smartphone In the above description with reference to FIG. 4, an example in which a store clerk uses a handy terminal has been described, but an information terminal other than a so-called handy terminal used in the physical distribution field may be used as long as the same processing/operation can be performed. For example, although smartphones have become widespread in the world in recent years, such smartphones may be used. It is possible to install and use an application (Application software) that causes the smartphone to perform the same operation as that in FIG. That is, instead of the handy terminal, a smartphone dedicated application (smartphone in which the smartphone is installed) may be used.
This is shown in FIG. A general smartphone 20 is equipped with a camera and can read a normal JAN code of a product. In the present embodiment, hereinafter, the description will be continued assuming that the smartphone is equipped with such a camera and can read an optical code such as a barcode. Then, as described above, it is assumed that an application for performing product registration (hereinafter, referred to as a product registration application) is installed on the smartphone 20. Then, the store clerk can activate the product registration application of the smartphone 20 and input the expiration date and time of the product and the number of products (see FIG. 5). As shown in the figure, on the screen of the product registration application, a column 20 for inputting the sales deadline and a column 20b for inputting the sales deadline are displayed.

After reading the normal JAN code of the product, the clerk visually reads the sales deadline and the like printed on the product. Then, the salesclerk inputs the visually read sales deadline in the field 20 for entering the sales deadline and the field 20 for entering the sales deadline. This is shown in FIG. First, the clerk touches the calendar icon 22 located on the right side of the input field 20a for the sales deadline. Then, the calendar box 24 pops up, and the calendar in which the date can be input is displayed. If, for example, June 20 is touched and selected from the calendar box 24 and the OK button 24a is touched, June 20 is entered in the field 20a for entering the sales deadline. Further, when the field 20b for inputting the sales deadline time is touched, the time list 26 for inputting the time is displayed. By rotating this time list, the clerk can select a desired time. FIG. 5 shows that 9:00 is selected from the time list. When the clerk selects the desired time and then touches the OK button 26a, "9:00" is entered in the entry field 20b for the sales deadline.

In this way, the input sales deadline date and sales deadline time correspond to a suitable example of the consumption deadline date and time that has been described so far. Although the sales deadline date and the sales deadline time are used as the expiration date and time in the first embodiment, the "hour" may be fixed to 0 or may be omitted. That is, the "consumption date and time" may be only "days". Furthermore, "minutes" and "seconds" may be included as the "expiration date and time".
Further, the clerk inputs the number of products in the product number input field 20c. In this way, the clerk can input the normal JAN code of the product, the expiration date and time, and the quantity (number) into the smartphone 20 using the product registration application. After that, when the store clerk touches the OK button 20d, the product registration application transmits the input normal JAN code, the number (quantity) of products, and the expiration date and time to the store computer. This operation corresponds to step S4-2.

Next, the product registration application of the smartphone 20 generates (issues) an in-store JAN code. This process corresponds to step S4-3 in FIG. In the first embodiment, the in-store JAN code is not transmitted to the store computer at this stage. However, the product registration application may be configured to transmit the in-store JAN code to the store computer at this stage.
Next, the product registration application, after generating the in-store JAN code, sends the in-store JAN code to the barcode printer. At the time of transmission, as the number of sheets to be printed, the quantity (number of pieces) of the entered product is also transmitted. As a result, the barcode printer receives this in-store JAN code and prints the barcode label representing the in-store JAN code by the designated number of sheets. The store clerk attaches the printed bar code label to the product and arranges (displays) it in the sales floor (corresponding to step S4-5). As a general rule, the position where the bar code label is attached to the product is preferably the place where the original normal JAN code was displayed, but it is easier to read (easy to scan), easier to attach, etc. You may attach it to the place.

The barcode printer may be connected to the smartphone 20, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi (registered trademark). Further, other types of wireless connection may be used, or wired connection (for example, USB (registered trademark) connection) may be used.

(2) Customer's Purchasing Operation in Store Next, an operation in which the customer visits the store and purchases a product at the sales floor will be described. This product will also be described on the premise of a product for which freshness management is performed as before.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation from the time when the customer finds the desired product at the sales floor of the store to the purchase.
A feature of this embodiment is that a customer purchases a product while checking the price of the product or the like using the smartphone 30 on which a predetermined shopping application is activated (see FIG. 6). The smartphone 30 is connected to a Wi-Fi network or the like that can be used in the store, and can be connected to a store computer via the Wi-Fi network. The connection method may be another method. You may connect to the internet via a public wireless network or a mobile phone network, and may connect to a store computer via the internet.
In the present embodiment, the “shopping app” is application software (smartphone app) for a smartphone used by a customer to purchase a product, and is activated on the smartphone 30 to select a product to be purchased by the customer. It is software that can execute the payment of the purchase price and other processing.
The smartphone 30 corresponds to a preferred example of the mobile terminal in the claims. However, instead of the smartphone 30, a tablet terminal, a notebook computer, a small communication device, a wristwatch-type communication device, or the like may be used. As long as the same operation as the smartphone 30 described in the present embodiment can be performed, these various devices also correspond to suitable examples of the mobile terminal in the claims.

That is, when the customer finds the product he/she wants to purchase at the sales floor, he/she uses the smartphone 30 running a predetermined shopping application to purchase the product to which the deadline JAN code (in-store JAN code) has been pasted. The target is selected (step S6-1), the information is transmitted to the store computer, and the accounting (step S6-2) is executed. Products can be purchased through such processing.
Before executing the final purchase, the customer uses the camera of the smartphone 30 to photograph the deadline JAN code (in-store JAN code) attached to the product that is a candidate for purchase, using this shopping application. Then, the data described therein is read (step S5-3). A general smartphone is often equipped with a camera capable of reading an optical code such as a barcode and software for controlling the camera, and in Embodiments 1 to 3 as well, a smartphone provided with such a camera. Will be explained on the premise.
The data read by the smartphone 30 (data as described in FIG. 1) is transmitted by the smartphone 30 to the store computer (step S6-3 in FIG. 6). Then, the store computer obtains the selling point price of the merchandise item based on the transmitted information and sends it back to the smartphone 30 (step S6-4 in FIG. 6). When the customer sees the price at the time of sale and decides to purchase, the fact is transmitted to the store computer as it is. As a result, the accounting process (step S6-2) is executed, and the purchase of the product is completed.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the customer can know the price of the product at that time using the smartphone 30 on which the predetermined shopping application is activated, and can perform the accounting process (settlement) as it is. You can execute and complete your purchase. Therefore, the sales system according to the present embodiment does not require a "cash register" for performing accounting. The customer who has completed the purchase can leave the store as it is, and can perform the purchase operation extremely smoothly.
Further, the selling system in the present embodiment is characterized in that flexible price setting can be performed. Therefore, the store computer according to the present embodiment notifies the customer in the store when the price of the product changes (for example, when the discount is started). This corresponds to step S6-5 in FIG. In this way, the store computer according to the present embodiment notifies the customer's smartphone 30 of a price change such as the start of the discount, so that the customer can confirm the price change such as the start of the discount. You can know the changes in real time.

State of screen of smartphone In the present embodiment, the customer uses the smartphone 30 to receive a notification such as a discount start from the store side (that is, the store computer), and uses the smartphone 30 to perform the payment. Therefore, a quick purchasing operation can be executed. Further, since the cash register (register) is not required, it does not take time to pay the price of the product, and information such as discounts can be quickly known, which is very convenient for the customer. Also, since the store manager can also abolish the cash register, there is an advantage that the sales floor can be efficiently operated.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the state of the screen of the smartphone 30 in which the shopping application at the time of initial registration is installed. Here, it is assumed that the customer is registered as a member who uses the sales system according to this embodiment. Registration means being registered in the customer database of the sales system, and products can be purchased at (a plurality of) stores using this sales system.

Customer Database In the present embodiment, the customer database is a database including at least a customer name, a customer ID, a password, and information necessary for payment. The password may be replaced with other information required for login. For example, biometric information (for example, fingerprint or face recognition) may be used instead of the password. Alternatively, these biometric information may be used together with the password.
As a general rule, the name of the customer is preferably a family register name, but any other name may be used as long as it can identify the customer, or a so-called business name or pen name may be used. The customer may be a natural person, a corporation, or any other group. In the case of a corporation, it may be configured so that a corporate credit card can be used. Further, the general affairs department of ABC Co., Ltd. may be configured to purchase the product at the expense of the department.
In addition, the information necessary for payment is, for example, a credit card number and information necessary for credit card payment, and in the present embodiment, the credit card payment will be mainly described below. Other information may be used as the information necessary for payment. For example, a prepaid card, virtual currency, and information about them may be used.
The customer database may also include information on the customer's point card and the points. The customer's purchase history of the product may be registered. Although it is possible to register the customer's purchase history with the store computer of each store, it is more preferable to register the customer's product purchase history in the customer database because it may be limited to the product purchase at that store. ..

FIG. 7 shows an example of the state of the screen when the shopping application is first activated. In screen1 of FIG. 7, the first startup screen is shown. Here, since the customer is already registered as a member, it is possible to log in by inputting a predetermined ID or password. The first startup screen after logging in is screen1 in FIG.
The ID and password for actual login may be registered in the smartphone 30 and automatically logged in. The shopping application communicates with the customer database of the sales system and permits login based on the ID, password, and the like. That is, the customer database of this sales system may be configured as a so-called cloud arranged on the Internet.

On the screen of screen1, the customer touches the point card registration button 30a or the credit card registration button 30b to register the point card or the credit card.
When the point card registration button 30a is touched from screen1 of FIG. 7, the screen shifts to screen2 of FIG. 7 and shifts to the point card registration screen. The customer shoots (a barcode of) the point card with the camera of the smartphone 30, and touches the button 32a for scanning the barcode. Then, the shopping application detects the number of the point card from the captured image of the point card and displays it in the point card number column 32b. After confirming the number in the point card number column 32b, the customer touches the button 32c for registering the input contents to register. The points generated by the purchase of the product are given to the point card thus registered.
When the customer touches the credit card registration button 30b on screen1 and screen2, the screen shifts to screen3 for credit card registration. On screen3, register the credit card used to purchase the product. Purchase products using the credit card registered here.

In screen 3 of FIG. 7, the customer inputs the credit card number used for payment in the credit card number column 34a, the expiration date in the expiration date column 34b, and the name of the card holder in the card holder column 34c. To do. Further, the customer inputs the security code into the security code field 34d. Finally, the customer touches the button 34e for registering the input content to register the input content in the customer database.
Here, the registered point card number, the given points, the credit card number, and other information may be recorded in the customer database described above. However, credit card information and the like may be stored in another payment database or the like. Although a credit card is used as an example of the payment method here, another payment method may be used. Virtual currencies, electronic money, prepaid cards, etc. can be registered (in the customer database) and used.

In the present embodiment, the ID and password are used for login, but any information may be used as long as the information is required for login. For example, a nickname, a member number, an email address, or the like may be used instead of the ID, and a fingerprint or other biometric information may be used instead of the password. Also, two-step authentication, for example, authentication using the telephone number or email address of the smartphone 30 may be used, or so-called two-factor authentication may be used for login. When using such information (nickname, member number, mail address, fingerprint or other biometric information, telephone number), these information may be registered in the customer database. The authentication used here may employ various conventionally known authentication methods.

At the time of product purchase Next, the state of the screen of the smartphone 30 when actually purchasing a product at a store will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the customer carries the smart phone 30 in which the shopping application is activated and enters a store in which the sales system according to the present embodiment has been introduced. The activated state is a state in which a predetermined ID, password, etc. are input and login is performed, as in the case of the description of FIG. 7.

The screen 4 in FIG. 8 is in the activated state, and it is necessary to input the information of the store which is about to enter the store. In a store to which the sales system according to the present embodiment is applied, a QR code (registered trademark) representing the store is installed in front of the store. The customer can inform the shopping application of the smartphone 30 of the store to enter the store by photographing the QR code using the camera of the smartphone 30 that activates the shopping application.
In screen 5 of FIG. 8, the shopping app recognizes from the read QR code data that the store to enter is “Marunouchi store” and displays a display 38a to that effect on the screen. After that, the screen of the smartphone 30 becomes a display as shown in screen6 of FIG. 8, and becomes a screen waiting for the reading of the product barcode.

When the customer finds a product he/she wants to purchase, the customer captures the barcode of the product with the camera of the smartphone 30 and reads it. This is shown on screen6 in FIG. The product can be recognized by reading the bar code attached to the product, that is, the in-store JAN code on the bar code reading surface 40a. The read in-store JAN code is transmitted to the store computer as described in step S6-3. Based on the in-store JAN code, the store computer transmits the current price of the product, that is, the price at the point of sale to the smartphone 30 (step S6-4). Thereby, the price column 40b on the screen of the smartphone 30 displays the price of the product at the time of sale. If you repeat these operations in sequence, the total price of the products will be displayed in sequence (screen6). In screen6 of Fig. 8, the display shows that the cart is empty ("The cart is currently empty"), but if the number of purchased products increases, the display shows the number of products in the current cart. Will change to. The cart is a storage area temporarily provided as a purchase item list in the smartphone 30. The products stored in this cart (purchased product list) become the finally purchased products when the total amount of money is settled (accounted).

A characteristic of this embodiment is that the current price of the product can be known in real time. As a result, it is possible to notify the customer in real time of the price that has become cheaper due to the expiration date, so that the customer can know in real time that it has become cheaper. As a result, it is expected that the customer's willingness to purchase can be improved and the sales of products can be further increased.
For example, when the normal price of the product is indicated by the price tag of the product, the customer can know the difference from the normal price in real time and can recognize that it is a bargain. As a result, there is a merit that it is possible for the customer to increase the chances of making a profitable shopping. On the other hand, for the store side, it is possible to sell the product more efficiently by increasing the customer's willingness to purchase the product whose expiry date is approaching. It is thought that the amount can be increased more.

Settlement (accounting)
After reading all the in-store JAN codes of the products to be purchased, the customer touches the payment button 40c (screen6).
Then, the total price of the products in the cart is transmitted from the store computer, and the payment screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed.
A payment screen is shown on screen 7 in FIG. On this payment screen, the customer confirms the total amount displayed in the total amount column 42a and then touches the payment button 42b.
Touching the payment button 42a corresponds to a preferred example of the payment instruction in the claims. Alternatively, when canceling the payment, the cancel button 42c is touched to cancel the payment.

When the customer touches the payment button 42b on screen 7 of FIG. 9, the store computer executes payment. For example, the payment information of the customer is acquired from the customer database, and payment is performed using the information. After the payment is completed, the fact is notified to the smartphone 30. The screen of the smartphone 30 that has received the notification of completion is transferred to the payment completion screen of screen 8 in FIG. 9. This screen 8 is a screen for displaying the total amount of payment, and when the customer touches the end button 44b, shopping at the store is completed.
After shopping is completed, the customer takes the purchased product out of the store. When carrying out the purchase again, the process starts again by reading the QR code of one of the stores (screen4 in FIG. 8).
What is characteristic of the present embodiment is that the customer completes the confirmation of the price of the product and the payment thereof by using only the smartphone 30 in this manner. Therefore, a so-called cash register (register) is basically unnecessary, so that more efficient purchasing is realized.

Other Functions of Shopping App The shopping app may be provided with various other functions. One of the features of the present embodiment is to use the in-store JAN code, but there are cases where the in-store JAN code cannot be read due to dirt, blurring, or the like. In such a case, if the customer touches the number manual input button 40d on the screen 6 in FIG. 8, the screen moves to a screen (screen 9 in FIG. 9) where the in-store JAN code can be manually input. On this screen, the customer can manually enter the in-store JAN code to add the product to the cart. In screen 9 of FIG. 9, the customer directly inputs the numerical value of the in-store JAN code in the bar code number column 46a and touches the enter button 46b. As a result, the product enters the cart and returns to screen 8 in FIG. 8 to continue scanning other products.

Various Menus of Shopping App Further, as shown in screen 4 of FIG. 8, various menus are displayed at the bottom of the screen on the initial screen when starting shopping.
In the example of screen4 of FIG. 8, three types of menus of home 36b, product 36c, and my page 36d are shown.

-Home When the customer touches the home 36b, the screen shifts to the setting screen of the shopping application. On the setting screen, various settings for the shopping application can be made. It is possible to perform various settings such as whether to receive information on bargain sale from outside, whether to receive notification of price fluctuation, whether to provide the position of the self (smartphone 30) to the store computer side, and the like. ..

·Product
When the customer touches the product 36c, a list of products in the store (for example, "Marunouchi store") which the customer is currently entering can be seen. The appearance of such a screen is shown in screen 10 of FIG. The product list is preferably obtained from the store computer of the store. As will be described later, the store computer of the store has an inventory database, and can provide a list of products arranged in the store to the smartphone 30 of the customer who is a member of the sales system. By browsing such a product list, the customer can know whether the desired product is in stock at the store, if the product is in stock, what is the current price, etc. However, it is possible to prevent the situation where the desired product cannot be purchased.

Further, when the store name “Marunouchi store” is touched from screen10 in FIG. 10, the screen shifts to a screen for selecting another store. An example of such a screen is shown in screen 11 of FIG. As an example, screen 11 shows a list of "Marunouchi store" and other stores. By touching the desired store name, the customer can browse the product list of that store in the same manner as the "Marunouchi store".

-My page When the customer touches the my page 36d, the screen shifts to a screen where the registered content of the customer can be viewed. The screen of this registration content is shown in screen 12 of FIG. In the example shown on screen12, the customer's purchase history, credit card information, loyalty card information, and shopping application version information can be browsed.
When the customer touches the “purchase history”, the receipt related to the purchase so far, as shown in screen 13 of FIG. 11, can be viewed.
Such purchase history may be stored in, for example, the customer database of the sales system. In screen 13, one receipt is shown, but the receipt may be scrolled by swiping the screen with a customer's finger or the like to continuously browse other receipts.

When the customer touches the "credit card information", the screen shifts to a screen for changing the credit card information as shown in screen 14 of FIG. Such credit card information is registered in the customer database for each customer, for example, and the shopping application can access the customer database and display it on the screen of the smartphone 20. When it is desired to change the displayed credit card information, the change card information button 48a is touched to change the card information. The screen for making changes is almost the same as screen 3 in FIG.
The credit card information may be stored in a predetermined storage device inside the customer's smartphone 30 instead of the customer database. When purchasing a product, credit card information stored in a predetermined storage device inside the customer's smartphone 30 may be used for payment.

(3) Store computer 100 and customer database 200
A conceptual configuration diagram of the store computer 100 according to the first embodiment is shown in FIG. FIG. 12 also shows the customer database 200 according to the first embodiment.
However, the store computer 100 functionally exists for each store. That is, the Marunouchi store is equipped with the store computer 100 of the Marunouchi store, and the Shinagawa store is equipped with the store computer 100 of the Shinagawa store.
These store computers can be configured on the cloud. Further, a large computer may virtually function as a plurality of store computers. For example, one computer may virtually realize the store computer of the Marunouchi store and the store computer of the Shinagawa store. The store computer is not limited to the cloud, and may be placed on-premises in each store.
On the other hand, one customer database 200 exists in the sales system of this embodiment. Therefore, if the customer is registered in the customer database, the customer can purchase the product in the same manner at any store to which the present sales system is applied. The customer database 200 is preferably configured on the cloud, but in the case of a very small-scale sales system, it may be arranged on-premises.
The store computer 100 includes a CPU 62 and a program executed by the CPU 62, and the program defines various operations of the store computer 100. The program is stored in a predetermined storage device accessible from the CPU 62.

Further, the store computer 100 includes various data (master data) and various databases, and controls display and sale of products. The master data includes a product master 52 and the like to be described later, and the database includes an inventory database 56 and the like to be described later. Both the master data and the database may be configured by a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk, a semiconductor storage device, or an optical storage device. These master data and databases will be described later in detail.
Further, the store computer 100 is provided with an input means from a store clerk or an administrator, and is configured to be able to set a price or the like from the outside. The input means may be a keyboard or a mouse, and it is also possible to control price setting, price change with time, etc. from an external control terminal connected by a predetermined communication means. The external control terminal can use various devices. Various information terminals having means for communicating with the store computer 100 via the Internet or the like can be used. For example, it is also preferable to control from a laptop computer, a smartphone, or the like.
Note that, as described above, the CPU 62 that executes a predetermined program corresponds to a suitable example of the control unit in the claims. Further, although the CPU is used here, it may be various types of processors or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). It may also be an AI processor.

The store computer 100 is provided for each store, and includes a product master (see FIG. 12) that stores information on products displayed in the store. The store computer 100 also includes a sales deadline management master 54 that stores the sales deadline of the product. The sales deadline managed by the sales deadline management master is (6) sales limit date and time described in FIG. This sales limit date and time is a sales limit date and time that is set for each retail store and store. After this sales limit date and time, the product is destroyed. Therefore, it is desirable to sell out by the sales limit date and time.

Inventory Database Further , the store computer 100 is provided with an inventory database 56, and grasps the number of inventory by deadline in real time. In the inventory database 56, as described with reference to FIG. 4, the normal JAN code obtained by the input operation of the product to be displayed, the product quantity, and the expiration date are registered. That is, it is registered as inventory. Further, (7) customer storage period in FIG. 2 may be registered. By subtracting (7) Customer storage period from the expiration date ((8) Expiration date in Fig. 2), (6) Sales limit date and time in Fig. 2 is obtained, and it is possible to know how long the product can be sold. ..
Therefore, in FIG. 12, the normal JAN code, the quantity of the product, and the expiry date of the product are shown by arrows pointing directly toward the inventory database 56, and the registered operation is represented. More precisely, the CPU 62 receives the normal JAN code, the quantity of the product, and the expiration date via a predetermined communication network (Wi-Fi, etc.) interface, and the CPU 62 stores these data in the inventory database 56. The process of registering with is executed. Here, the CPU 62 also refers to the sales deadline management master 54 to manage each product by sales deadline. As a result, the CPU 62 can manage the products by the sales deadline, and can register the inventory quantity by the sales deadline in the inventory database 56.

As described above, since the products registered in the inventory database 56 are managed according to the sales deadlines, it is possible to set different prices for the same type of products if the sales deadlines are different.
The setting of the different prices may be stored in a predetermined storage device, for example. For example, "setting" such as 10% discount one hour before the sales deadline is stored in a predetermined storage device, and there is a discount from the sales deadline (sales limit date/time) and the current time (current date/time). Whether or not it may be judged each time. This determination may be executed by the CPU 62 (64) (66) of the store computer 100 (102) (104). Such price adjustment may also be executed by the CPU 62 that executes a predetermined program.
In the case of a product subject to freshness management, for example, “setting” may be performed such that the discount amount increases as the current date and time approaches the sales limit date and time. Based on this setting, the CPUs 62 (64) and (66) compare the current date and time with the sales limit date and time, perform a predetermined discount from the price in the inventory database 56, and obtain the current time price (adjustment). can do.
For example, if the difference between the current date and time and the sales limit date and time is found and it is less than X hours (for example, 5 hours), "setting" such as Y% (for example, 10%) discount is made for each hour. (Price can be adjusted (requested)). In this case, the X time and Y% described here can be “set” as parameters.

The person who sets the price of the product in the store managed by the inventory database 56 can store the “setting” in the predetermined storage device. This is the processing operation of step S12-1. Thus, according to the first embodiment, the price of the product can be freely set based on the relationship between the sales limit date and time and the current governor. Therefore, it is possible to freely set and adjust the price without the need to put a discount sticker on a product whose sale date and time are approaching. The person who sets the price corresponds to a salesclerk, a manager, a manager in charge of the store, a store manager, or the like, but may be set by another manager.
Although not shown, an interface with a communication network, for example, a Wi-Fi interface or an interface with the Internet is assumed to be accessible from the CPU 62. The CPU 62 receives the normal JAN code, the quantity of the product, and the expiration date from the handy terminal (see FIG. 4) or the smartphone (see FIG. 5) via these interfaces.

Further, the store computer 100 includes a past sales record database 58 and a purchase visit record database for each ID 60.
The past sales record database 58 is a database for registering past sales records at the store, and particularly stores the sales records by time zone. The ID-based purchase visit record database is a database that stores the visit record for each customer. That is, the ID means a customer ID.
The customer database 200 (see FIG. 12) is a database connected to the Internet or the like, and the customer has the customer ID registered therein. Information necessary for login such as a password is registered as necessary. Further, information necessary for payment, for example, information necessary for credit card payment is also registered. This customer database 200 can also be accessed from the customer's smartphone 30 and is used for payment. The customer database 200 is accessed by each store computer 100 and provides information necessary for payment (accounting).

Operation Related to Purchasing Operation When the customer executes the purchasing operation, when the customer sends the in-store JAN code of the product scanned by the smartphone 30 to the store computer 100 (indicated by a C arrow in FIG. 6), The CPU 62 receives this (indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 12) and executes the next operation.
That is, the CPU 62 checks the price of each product at the time of sale and the sales deadline. At this time, as described with reference to FIG. 1, the expiration date and time obtained from the in-store JAN code is compared with the customer storage period obtained from the inventory database 56 to calculate the expiration date and time. When the sales deadline date has already passed, a message indicating that the deadline has expired is transmitted to the smartphone 30. On the other hand, if the sale deadline date and time has not yet passed, the point-in-time price is transmitted to the smartphone 30 of the customer (step S12-3 and D arrow in FIG. 12). By such an operation, the customer can know the price of the product displayed in the store at the time of sale. That is, as described in step S6-4 (and D arrow) in FIG. 6, the price of the scanned product at the time of sale can be known.
When the expired message is transmitted, the smartphone 30 displays a message such as “expired” on the screen to notify the customer of the error.

It should be noted that the CPU 62 calculates the price at the time of sale from the registered contents of the inventory database 56 by referring to the hourly discount rate setting or the like set for the product, and transmits the price to the smartphone 30 of the customer. ing.
A feature of the first embodiment is that a store clerk or a manager can perform “setting of a discount rate for each hour” and “setting of a price” for each product (see FIG. 12). Step S12-1). A store clerk or a manager can make such a setting using a predetermined input means such as a keyboard or a mouse. Upon receiving these settings, the CPU 62 stores the settings in, for example, a predetermined internal storage device. As a result, the CPU 56 can obtain the price for each point of sale by adding the above setting to the price in the inventory database 56.

Although the “setting” by the store clerk or the administrator is stored in the predetermined storage device here, it may be stored in the inventory database 56. As the “setting” to be stored, it is possible to set a rule that the price changes with time such as “10% discount every hour from 3 hours before the sales deadline”. Further, as the “setting” to be stored, the store clerk or the administrator can directly set the price regardless of time. So to speak, it is possible for a store clerk to lower the price as needed while observing the sales.
In any case, the store clerk or the administrator can refer to the past sales record database 58 and the ID-based purchase visit record database. These rules and direct prices can be set. The past sales record database 58 and the ID-based purchase visit record database 60 are, in short, past data. Therefore, it is possible to set the price of the product and the discount rate for each time of the price based on the past data.
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to set the price and set the discount rate for each time of the price very easily, as compared with the case where the sticker or the like is attached to the product for discounting. Further, according to the sales system of the present embodiment, the customer is configured to scan the product with the smartphone 30 to know the price at the time of sale in real time, so that the discount of the product or the like can be confirmed. You can easily know in real time. Even if the discount sticker is not attached to each product, the customer can know the discount, so that a high advertising effect for the customer can be obtained.

Discount start notification Further, the store computer 100 according to the first embodiment notifies the customer that the discount will be started at the time when the discount is started (step S12-4 in FIG. 12, arrow E). Therefore, the customer can know in real time that the discount will be started, and it is possible to reduce the risk of failing to purchase an inexpensive product (step S6-5 in FIG. 6, arrow E). It should be noted that the notification is not limited to the start of the discount but may be a new price or a notice of the discount price. The customer can receive various communications from the store and can make shopping with more convenience.
Note that the customer can also reject the above notification (notification represented by an E arrow) by setting the smartphone 30 or setting the shopping application.

Accounting All the products (in-store JAN code) to be purchased are scanned by the smartphone 30 and put in the cart, and then the accounting is executed. This is an operation when the settlement button 40c is touched on the screen 6 of FIG. As described above, the smartphone 30 calculates the total price of the products that have been inquired to the store computer 100 and displays the payment confirmation screen of FIG. 9. In this case, when the customer touches the payment button 42b on the screen 7, the accounting process with the CPU of the store computer 100 is started. Accounting is performed using, for example, credit card payment. The CPU 62 of the store computer 100 can acquire information on credit card payment from the customer database 200, for example, and perform payment based on the information. The credit card payment information may be stored inside the smartphone 30 of the customer. In that case, credit card payment information may be transmitted from the smartphone 30 to the store computer 100 (steps S6-1 and S6-2), and the CPU 62 may make payment using the credit card information. The payment (step S6-2) is not limited to credit card payment, and various payment methods may be adopted.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the clerk or the manager approaches the sales limit date and time ((6) in FIG. 2) based on the past sales record database 58 and the ID-based purchase visit record database 60. The price can be set so that the discount amount increases. Further, such sales history is also stored in the past sales record database 58 or the like. Therefore, based on these past data, it is possible to predict how much the next order quantity (number) will be to sell out. A conventionally known forecasting technique may be used as the forecasting technique. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, the store clerk and the manager can more efficiently perform the next order quantity examination (step S12-2).

Third. Second Embodiment: Store Input+AI Type The second embodiment is an example in which a store clerk performs a product input operation in a store, similar to the first embodiment described above. However, the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the store computer 102 is equipped with AI (Artificial Intelligence). Due to such a difference in configuration, the store computer 102 calculates a product sales/profit target of the store, calculates a reasonable preferable price of the product based on the target value and external data, and It is about selling at a price.
Such an AI can be executed by the CPU 64 of the store computer 102 as a program of various conventionally known methods. Techniques such as various learning programs, anticipation programs, and programs for maximizing and maximizing profit are known and can be used as a program library. Therefore, it is easy for those skilled in the art to construct the AI program described in this embodiment.
For example, it is also a preferable example to learn past sales performance data and calculate (predict) product sales and profit targets of the store based on the learning. Further, based on the past sales performance data, it is possible to predict at what timing and to what extent the discount will be the maximum profit. If the above-mentioned “setting” such as a discount is performed based on such a prediction, the optimum price can be output.
That is, in the first embodiment, a person performs a process of changing the price up to the sales limit date and time (gradually discounting) based on the past sales data. On the other hand, the store computer 102 of the second embodiment is largely different from the first embodiment in that the price of the product is determined by AI.

Expressions of optimal, maximum, etc. Now, when "the profit is maximum" in the text, "when the profit is larger" is included. When actually implementing this embodiment, it is difficult to maximize the profit. For example, the optimum price may not be an integer, and it may be difficult to set the optimum price. Further, even if it is “optimal” to change the price every minute, actually changing the price every minute may not be realistic. Therefore, the "optimum price" may not always be achieved, and the "maximum profit" may not be obtained, as long as the setting that can be actually realized is performed. Therefore, in reality, the case where the price is close to the optimum price and the profit is close to the maximum value is included in the example of the aspect of the present embodiment and also included in the technical scope. ..
As described above, in the text, the term "optimum price" includes a case where the price can be set closer to the optimum price, and is included in the technical scope of the present invention. Further, as described above, "maximizing the profit" includes a case where the profit can be made larger, and is included in the technical scope of the present invention. This applies to all of the text.

The sales system of the second embodiment is also roughly divided into three parts like the first embodiment.
Part 1: Input at the store (input of in-store JAN code)
Part 2: Purchase of goods at customer's store Part 3: Setting of commodity price by AI of store computer and presentation of commodity price to customer.
The “sales system” in the claims describes the hardware part for realizing each of these parts.
However, the first part and the second part of the second embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted, and the operation of the store computer 102 of the second embodiment will be mainly described.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration and operation of the store computer 102 of the sales system according to the second exemplary embodiment.

(1) Store computer 102
A conceptual configuration diagram of the store computer 102 according to the second embodiment is shown in FIG. Although the customer database 200 according to the second embodiment is also shown in FIG. 13, the description is omitted because it is the same as the customer database 200 of the first embodiment.
Like the store computer 100, the store computer 102 also includes a CPU 64 and a program executed by the CPU 64, and the program defines various operations of the store computer 102. The program is stored in a predetermined storage device accessible from the CPU 64.
The store computer 102 also includes various data (master data) and various databases, and is similar to the store computer 100 in that it controls the display and sale of products.

A characteristic configuration of the store computer 102 according to the second embodiment is that, unlike the store computer 100, the master computer includes sales/profit target data 70 and external data (weather, competitors) 72.
Here, the sales/profit target data 70 is a storage device that holds the sales target and profit target of the store.
Further, the CPU 64 of the store computer 102 according to the second embodiment is largely different from the first embodiment in that it executes a program related to AI. This program is stored in a predetermined storage device, and by executing this program, the CPU 64 is suitable for achieving the sales target and profit target of the store held by the sales/profit target data 70 described above. It is characterized by making a prediction. This prediction is performed based on the past sales record database 58, which is a past sales history, and the ID-based purchase visit record database 60. The sales/profit target data 70 corresponds to a suitable example of the sales/profit target data section in the claims.

Although various types of AI can be used, one example of a preferred example of AI is a method in which the contents of the past sales record database 58 and the ID-based purchase visit record database 60 are machine-learned to predict the future. However, various conventionally known AIs can be used.
Further, in the second embodiment, the CPU 64 may make a prediction by appropriately referring to external data. Examples of the external data 72 include weather information and information on competitors.
Since the weather data can be obtained from the weather site on the Internet, the CPU 64 may acquire the weather data suitable for the position of the store and store it in the external data 72. Further, the data of the competitive store may be appropriately input by the clerk each time the competitive store opens.
The CPU 64 executes a predetermined AI program to perform the above machine learning, and various forecasts and prices to be set described below can be set. Therefore, the CPU 64 that executes this AI program corresponds to a suitable example of the AI control unit in the claims.

The sales/profit target may be freely set by the clerk or the manager, but may be calculated from the scale of the store, the past sales history, and the like.
A feature of the present embodiment is that the CPU 64 executes the following prediction by executing a predetermined AI program (step S13-1).
・Forecast of number of customers and sales forecast ・Profit forecast ・Optimal price (output) (price that maximizes sales and profit)
Since various AI algorithms for making these predictions are known, they are realized by using an existing program.

The CPU 64 outputs these predicted values to the display, and can also print out (using a predetermined printer) in response to a request from a store clerk.
Further, a characteristic of the present embodiment is that the price that maximizes the sales and profit amounts calculated above is set for the product of the store and further notified to the customer (step S13-2).
As a result, it is possible to inform the customer of the price that maximizes the sales and profit amount, and it is possible to realize more efficient sales.
Actually, the CPU 64 that executes this AI program seeks a price that is likely to increase the sales/profit amount, and sets (adjusts) the price, and the sales/profit target data 70. It is also preferable to set and seek a price that is highly likely to achieve sales close to or a larger profit. This is because the “optimum” price may fluctuate greatly in a very short time, and it is often difficult in practice to set such a price at all times. For example, setting a price every second may not be realistic. Therefore, it is also a preferable example to obtain a price closer to the price estimated to be able to realize higher profit and set (adjust) the price. For example, if the optimum price changes from "100.5 yen", "100.4 yen", and "100.3 yen", actually set all to "100 yen" and make adjustments. Such processing may be used.
In this way, the CPU 64 that executes the AI program obtains a price so that a larger amount of sales and profit can be achieved, and sets (adjusts) the price of the product to that price. The CPU 64 can also present the calculated price to the smartphone 30 or the like via a predetermined interface.

It should be noted that the price is set for the product in a storage device in which the CPU 64 can access setting information such as "to discount yen" separately from the inventory database 56 as in S12-1 described in FIG. You can keep it separately. Further, the price of the product in the inventory database 56 may be rewritten to a desired price (a price that maximizes the sales/profit amount (or a price that maximizes the sales/profit amount)). In this way, the CPU 64 can present the newly set price to the customer as a price by point of sale in S12-3 (see FIG. 13). Further, the CPU 64 may notify the customer of the price set for the product each time the price is changed (step S13-2).

Price Setting In the second embodiment, an AI program is used to set the price of the product to the optimum price, but the price is not necessarily “optimal”, and the price for increasing the sales/profit amount. You can also say In practice, changing the price frequently may not be desirable in sales, and thus it may be difficult to make the price mathematically consistent.

Fourth. Embodiment 3: No store input (Vendor cooperation)
Similar to the above-described second embodiment, the third embodiment has a common point in that the store computer 104 is equipped with AI (Artificial Intelligence) so that sales and profits can be maximized. However, the third embodiment is different from the above-described first and second embodiments in that the input work is not performed in the store and the same work is performed by the vendor.
Further, a characteristic point of the third embodiment is that the store computer 104 executes ordering of the next product.
The store computer 102 of the second embodiment, as described above,
-Forecasting the number of customers visiting the store and forecasting sales-Profit forecasting-The optimum price output is obtained by the CPU 64 executing the AI program. In the third embodiment, the next product is to be ordered. The ordering of the next product means that the ordering data of the next product is created and sent to the vendor.

The sales system of the third embodiment is also roughly divided into three parts like the first and second embodiments.
Part 1: Input to vendor (input of in-store JAN code)
Part 2: Purchase of goods at customer's store Part 3: Setting of commodity price by AI of store computer, presentation of commodity price to customer, and creation of order data.
The "sales system" in the claims describes the hardware part for realizing each of these parts.
However, since the second part of the third embodiment is the same as the first and second embodiments, the description thereof will be omitted. I will explain mainly.
14 to 15 are explanatory views of the configuration and operation of the store computer 104 of the sales system of the third exemplary embodiment.

(1) Work at the vendor An explanatory view of work at the vendor is shown in FIG.
In the third embodiment, the vendor receives the order data of the product from the store computer 104 and manufactures the product. After the manufacturing is completed, the receipt data 50 is generated. This arrival data represents data including the normal JAN code of the received goods, the quantity of the goods, and the expiration date of the goods. That is, this arrival data is registered in the store computer 104, specifically, the inventory database 56, and becomes inventory, as in the first and second embodiments described above. The subsequent processing of the incoming data is almost the same as that in FIG.

First, in step S14-1, an in-store JAN code is created. This may be performed on the vendor's personal computer or the like. This process is similar to step S4-3 in FIG.
In step S14-2, the barcode label is printed by the barcode printer. This process is also the same as the process in step S4-4 of FIG.
Step S14-3 is also the same as step S4-5 in FIG. 4, in which the barcode label is attached to the product.
In this embodiment, since the in-store JAN code label is attached to the product in advance on the vendor side in this manner and then delivered to the store, the attaching work and the inputting work in the store are unnecessary.

(2) Operation of Store Computer 104 A conceptual block diagram of the store computer 104 according to the third embodiment is shown in FIG.
Like the store computer 102, the store computer 104 also includes a CPU 64 and a program executed by the CPU 64, and the program defines various operations of the store computer 104. The program is stored in a predetermined storage device accessible from the CPU 64.
The store computer 104 also includes various types of data (master data) and various types of p databases, and is similar to the store computer 102 in that it controls the display and sale of products.

The store computer 104 according to the third embodiment is different from the store computer 102 according to the third embodiment in that in step S15-1 of FIG. 15, the CPU 64 generates order data and sends it to the vendor.
Further, the CPU 64 also executes the AI program to examine the next order quantity in step S12-2 in FIG. That is, in step S13-1 of the figure, the number of visitors and the sales forecast are made. Therefore, based on the forecast, the next order quantity may be determined so as to match the forecast. This processing may also be realized by the CPU 64 executing a predetermined program.
Order data is created in step S15-1 based on the number of ordered products determined in this way. This processing may also be realized by the CPU 64 executing a predetermined program, and the CPU 64 transmits the order data created through a predetermined interface to the vendor. The operation after the order data is received by the vendor is as already described in FIG.
Except for the points described above, the configuration and operation of the second embodiment are similar.

Fifth. Modification (1) The in-store JAN code, which is one of the features of the present embodiment, is printed and labeled as a barcode, but may be another code. It may be a so-called two-dimensional code. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the store is represented by the QR code is shown, but the store may be represented by a normal one-dimensional bar code or another optical code.
(2) Further, in the above-described embodiment, the customer uses the smartphone to perform shopping, but any device may be used as long as it is a mobile information terminal having a similar function. For example, a tablet computer, a wearable computer, or the like can be used. Although various types of wearable computers are known, for example, since a wristwatch type computer is widely used, such a wearable computer may be used. As such a wristwatch type computer, for example, APPLE WATCH (registered trademark) is known.
Such a tablet computer or wearable computer also corresponds to a preferred example of the portable information terminal in the scope of the claims. Further, a small computer, a notebook computer, or the like also corresponds to a suitable example of the portable information terminal in the claims.
(3) In the present embodiment, the place described as the date and time represents the date and/or the time, but may be configured so that only the date is set. In addition, the time means not only the so-called hour (hour) but also the minute and the second. However, it is configured so that only the hour (hour) or only the hour (hour) and the minute can be set. It may be there.
(4) In this sales system, the customer database 200 is functionally one, but may be distributed in hardware and configured as a distributed database. It may be functionally configured as a single database.
Further, in this sales system, a plurality of stores may exist, and the store computers 100 (102) (104) are also provided for each store. However, a single large server may provide the functionality of multiple store computers.
Both the customer database 200 and the store computers 100 (102) and (104) may be configured on a so-called cloud, but may be configured on-premises. For example, the store computers 100 (102) (104) may be installed in each store.
(5) Further, as described above, the optimum price includes a price estimated to be able to increase profits and sales, and a price close thereto. Further, as described above, the same applies to the price for maximizing the sales/profit amount, and includes the price estimated to be able to increase the sales/profit amount, and a price close thereto.
(6) Further, the first, second, and third embodiments described above are merely examples of means for realizing the present invention, and should be appropriately modified or changed depending on the configuration of the device to which the present invention is applied and various conditions. However, the present invention is not limited to the aspects of the first, second, and third embodiments.

10 ITEM management database 12 SKU management database 14 PRICE management database 20 Smartphone 20a Expiration date entry field 20b Expiration date and time entry field 20c Number of products entry field 20d OK button 22 Calendar icon 24 Calendar box 24a OK button 26 Time list 26a OK Button 30 Smartphone 30a Point card registration button 30b Credit card registration button 32a Bar code scanning button 32b Point card number column 32c Button to register with input contents 34a Credit card number column 34b Expiration date column 34c Card holder column 34d Security code column 34e Button to register with input contents 36a Button to scan QR code 36b Home button 36c Product button 36d My page button 38a Display 40a Bar code reading surface 40b Price column 40c Settlement button 40d Number manual input button 42a Total amount column 42b Payment button 42c Cancel button 44b Finish button 46a Bar code number column 46b Enter button 48a Card information change button 50 Incoming data 52 Product master 54 Sales deadline management master 56 Inventory database 58 Past sales record database 60 Purchase visit record database by ID 62, 64, 66 CPU
70 Sales and profit targets 72 External data (weather, competitors, etc.)
100, 102, 104 Sales system 200 Customer database

Claims (7)

A sales system for selling products to customers,
A mobile terminal that shoots an optical code attached to the product and transmits an in-store code represented by the optical code to a store computer,
A store computer that, when receiving the in-store code from the mobile terminal, transmits the price of the product indicated by the in-store code to the mobile terminal,
Equipped with
The mobile terminal displays the price transmitted from the store computer on a screen,
The sales system in which the customer can know the price of the product from the screen of the mobile terminal. A customer database in which the customer's payment information is registered,
Equipped with
In response to the customer's payment instruction, the mobile terminal requests the store computer to settle the product,
2. The store computer according to claim 1, wherein, when payment is requested, the store computer acquires the payment information of the customer from the customer database, and uses the acquired payment information to settle the product. Sales system. The sales system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the store computer is
An inventory database that manages products in a store managed by the store computer, and an inventory database in which prices of the products are registered,
A storage device that stores a setting for adjusting the price of the product in the inventory database by comparing the sales limit date and time and the current date and time of the product,
A controller that adjusts the price of the product in the inventory database based on the setting stored in the storage device;
Equipped with
The control unit transmits the price adjusted based on the setting to the mobile terminal,
The selling system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a person who sets the price of the product in the store can store the setting in the storage device. The store computer is
An inventory database that manages products in a store managed by the store computer, and an inventory database in which prices of the products are registered,
A sales/profit target data section that holds the sales target and profit target of the store,
An AI control unit that obtains the price of the product in the inventory database so that the sales and profit targets held by the sales/profit target data unit can be achieved;
Equipped with
The selling system according to claim 1, wherein the price calculated by the AI control unit is transmitted to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal used in the sales system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The optical code attached to the product is photographed, the in-store code represented by the optical code is transmitted to the store computer,
The mobile terminal, wherein the price transmitted from the store computer is displayed on a screen. The store computer used in the sales system according to claim 3,
An inventory database that manages products in a store managed by the store computer, and an inventory database in which prices of the products are registered,
A storage device that stores a setting for adjusting the price of the product in the inventory database by comparing the sales limit date and time and the current date and time of the product,
A control unit that adjusts the price of the product in the inventory database based on the setting stored in the storage device;
Equipped with
The store computer, wherein the control unit transmits the price adjusted based on the setting to the mobile terminal. The store computer used in the sales system according to claim 4,
An inventory database that manages products in a store managed by the store computer, and an inventory database in which prices of the products are registered,
A sales/profit target data section that holds the sales target and profit target of the store,
An AI control unit that obtains the price of the product in the inventory database so that the sales and profit targets held by the sales/profit target data unit can be achieved;
Equipped with
A store computer, which transmits the price calculated by the AI control unit to the mobile terminal.