JP2006091942A - Commodity information providing method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device capable of providing latest commodity information on a commodity desired by a customer coming to a store, surely and reliably to the customer coming to the store. <P>SOLUTION: A mobile robot 52 moving in response to calling from the customer 50 coming to the store is arranged in a drugstore 10. The commodity information stored collectively in an information center is received through the Internet or a wireless LAN 52p and stored in a storage means 52j in the robot. The robot recognized a commodity desired by the customer coming to the store by a camera 52k or the like, reads out the commodity information on the recognized commodity, and displays it on a monitor 52n by a voice and/or an image. The newest commodity information on the commodity desired by the customer coming to the store can be provided surely and reliably by this constitution. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a product information providing method and apparatus, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for explaining a product to a customer at a pharmacy or the like.

Conventionally, oral explanations by pharmacists have been mainly given, but explanations by display devices such as DVDs and VTRs have been given at some pharmacies. For this purpose, display devices for customers to select medicines at the store have been devised (Patent Documents 1 and 2), and the customer can obtain information on the target drug from the use of the drug, the type of drug, and the symptoms. Obtainable.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-187846 JP 2000-172769 A

  The pharmacy is obliged to have a pharmacist resident, but because of the shortage of pharmacists and the reason for saving labor costs, large pharmacies (mass retailers) have only one pharmacist, so the pharmacist explains the medicine to customers. It is in a situation where there is not enough time for it. In addition, since there are a large number of products, it is difficult to explain all the products, and it is not possible to satisfactorily respond to the provision of information required by consumers, such as product features, with the explanation to the extent described in the outer box. The package insert, which is a detailed description of the medicine, is stored in a sealed box, and the package insert cannot be read unless the product is opened.

  As described above, it has not been realized to accurately provide information on medicines desired by customers at purchase sites and to increase customer satisfaction. Pharmaceutical manufacturers, on the other hand, offer product explanations to pharmacists, distribution of pamphlets, and various advertising media such as TV and product explanations and promotions using the Internet for the purpose of providing information and promotion of their products. Information provision at the pharmacy at the site is scarce. For both pharmacies and pharmaceutical manufacturers, the provision of product information to consumers at purchase sites has become an important issue in terms of fulfilling social responsibilities and improving sales as a means of promotion.

  In some cases, display devices such as DVDs and VTRs are installed in pharmacies to explain products, but since the contents are explanations of specific companies and specific products, as a means of providing information to customers It is extremely insufficient. Prior art DVDs and VTRs cannot be used as media for storing information on many products.

  Further, in the known documents such as Patent Documents 1 and 2 above, the customer displays information on the target medicine based on the use of the medicine, the kind of medicine, and the symptom from the information stored in the DVD or VTR. It is obtained by displaying on a device, and it does not take the product on the display shelf directly to obtain information on the product. Most customers visit the store in front of the merchandise display shelf to determine which product is preferred for them by searching for information on each product on the display shelf. Therefore, in the fixed display device, the customer needs to bring the product to the place where the display device is installed, and the product information cannot be obtained in front of the product shelf, that is, the place where purchase is decided.

  In addition, since the display device distributes information using a magnetic medium such as a DVD or a CD, there is an inconvenience that requires a lot of trouble to update the product information content. In particular, the technology becomes more difficult as the number of installed display devices increases, and the information cannot be widely provided to consumers. In addition, it is important for pharmaceutical manufacturers to disclose information on new products at each store, and conventional display devices are inferior in terms of certainty and efficiency because CDs and storage media take time to distribute. Furthermore, the total analysis of information requested by the store visitor cannot be performed by the display device of the prior art, and the total satisfaction cannot be improved by reflecting the total analysis result on the provision of new information.

  This invention is made in view of such a problem, and makes it a subject to provide the method and apparatus which can provide the latest product information regarding the goods which a visitor asks for a visitor reliably and reliably. .

The present invention (Claim 1)
A method of providing product information in response to a request from a customer who visits a store that sells products,
Receive product information aggregated and stored in the information center via communication means,
Store the received product information in the store's information provision means,
Recognize the products customers want,
Product information relating to the recognized product is read from the information providing means, and the product information is provided to the customer.

The present invention (Claim 6)
A device that provides product information in response to a request from a customer who visits a store that sells products,
Receiving means for receiving product information stored in an information center;
Storage means for storing received product information;
A means of recognizing the product that the customer wants,
Display means for reading out product information relating to the recognized product from the storage means and displaying the product information in a voice and / or image to a visitor;
It is characterized by having.

  According to the present invention, product information that is aggregated and stored in the information center is received via the communication means, so that the product requested by the customer is recognized and product information related to the product is provided. It is possible to provide the latest product information related to the products requested by customers reliably and reliably.

  The present invention is realized in the form of a self-propelled robot system that moves to a customer's designated position in response to a customer's request and provides product information desired by the customer through images, sounds, or both. This self-propelled robot functions as an information providing means for providing product information and is installed in a pharmacy store. The self-propelled robot receives drug information including information on its own products desired by each pharmaceutical manufacturer and information requested by the pharmacy from the information center server via the Internet and wireless LAN, and sends it to consumers at the purchase site. Provide product information. In particular, each robot installed in a pharmacy has an individual IP address, and it is possible to distribute information from an information center to a specific robot, as well as to distribute information to all robots at the same time. This can be realized by an internet browser for a computer or a mobile phone. Furthermore, the product information that the customer desires is aggregated in the information center via the Internet, and is reflected in the provision of information that increases customer satisfaction.

  In the following examples, pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, or nutritional supplements will be described as products, and pharmacies will be described as examples. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to provision of product information related to various products (electric products, food, seasonings, furniture, machinery, tools, etc.) sold at specialty stores.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an overall system for providing product information to customers who visit a store. Pharmacy 10-14,. . . . . Are each provided with a self-propelled robot, and each robot can transmit information or receive information through the Internet 20 as described later. In addition, on the Internet 20, drug makers 30 to 33,. . . . . Are connected, and similarly, information is transmitted and received via the Internet 20. An information center 40 is connected to the Internet 20, and the information center 40 is provided with a data server 41 that provides product information and the like.

  FIG. 2 illustrates the system configuration of the pharmacy 10, and the other pharmacies 11 to 14 have the same configuration. Therefore, the pharmacy 10 will be described as a representative.

  The pharmacy 10 is provided with a self-propelled robot 52 and a calling unit 51 that calls the self-propelled robot. Although only one calling unit 51 is illustrated in FIG. 2, such calling units are arranged at various locations on the product shelf, and not only one self-propelled robot 52 but also a plurality of units are provided. Has been placed. A visitor (customer) 50 of the pharmacy 10 can move the self-propelled robot 52 to the calling position by operating the calling unit 51 installed on the product shelf.

  The calling unit 51 includes a CPU 51a, a calling button 51b, an infrared transmission device 51c, a receiving device 51d, a voice speaker 51e, and the like. When the customer 50 picks up the product shelf calling unit 51 and operates the calling button 51b. Then, an infrared call signal indicating the position of the calling unit 51 (the position of the customer 50) is generated by the infrared transmitter 51c, and the call signal is received by the infrared sensor 52c of the self-propelled robot 52 so that the customer's position is determined. Identified. This position is specified by, for example, embedding a signal indicating the position (X, Y coordinates) in the calling signal, or embedding the identification number assigned to the calling unit, and the CPU 52a of the self-running robot 52 can identify the position. This can be done by recognizing the number and obtaining the installation position from a correspondence table between the identification number registered in advance and the installation position of the calling unit. The calling of the self-propelled robot is not performed by a call signal from the call button 51b, but the sound generated by the customer is received by the receiving device 52b of the self-propelled robot 52 and the CPU 52a analyzes the sound. You may make it recognize that there was a call.

  When the calling position is specified, the CPU 52a of the self-running robot drives the running mechanism 52r and the self-running robot 52 starts to run. At that time, a route is selected so that the route to the calling unit 51 that has issued the calling signal is the shortest, and the self-running robot 52 recognizes its own position with a position detection device such as an encoder provided in the running mechanism 52r. However, it moves to the position of the customer 50. At this time, the self-propelled robot 52 is guided along the guide path while detecting a guide indicator placed in the store by the guide indicator sensor 52d, for example, an indicator wired to a radio wave, infrared ray, or floor, etc. If a foreign object is detected by the object sensor 52e, the object sensor 52e moves to the position of the customer 50 while avoiding it. Further, the self-running robot 52 has a warning display device 52g for displaying sound and light of caution during running so as to alert the surroundings while moving and not to damage the customer or obstacle due to contact or collision. Equipped with a strong collision buffer material on the outside.

  The above guidance or running of the self-running robot is performed under the control of the CPU 52a in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 52i or the hard disk 52j. In this case, the RAM 52h is used for storing data or for a work area. .

  As described above, the self-running robot 52 can confirm the position of the customer 50 in response to the call of the customer 50, go to that position, and stop at the customer 50 side.

  The self-propelled robot 52 has a transmitting device 52f that transmits various signals associated with movement, and the receiving device 51d of the calling unit 51 receives this signal and, for example, the self-propelled robot 51e uses the voice speaker 51e. Various information such as the arrival time of the robot can be transmitted to the customer 50.

  By the way, the self-propelled robot 52 has a CCD camera 52k that photographs a product on the eye part of the self-propelled robot, or a reading device (barcode reader) 52m that reads a barcode or an IC tag attached to the product. When the customer indicates the product or its barcode or IC tag to the eyes of the self-propelled robot, the CPU 52a can recognize the product by processing the image photographed by the CCD camera 52k, and read the bar. Individual products can be recognized based on information on codes and IC tags. Therefore, the CCD camera 52k, the reading device 52m, and the CPU 52a serve as recognition means for recognizing the product. Since the recognition means recognizes the product, the store visitor selects items such as the product name for specifying the product. A product for which product information is desired can be recognized without input.

  In addition, the hard disk (storage means) 52j stores, for each product, explanation items that the customer desires, such as product name, dosage, component amount, attention to medication, product characteristics, efficacy effects on diseases or symptoms, and similar products. (Hereinafter, this information is referred to as product information) is stored in a database, and product information relating to the recognized product is displayed by sound and / or image on a liquid crystal monitor (display means) 52n with a speaker. It can be displayed.

  The self-running robot 52 has a wireless LAN adapter (receiving means) 52p, and can be connected to the Internet 20 via the router 54 via ADSL or an optical cable, and can access the data server 41 of the information center 40. The product information of a new product is acquired from there and added to the database of the hard disk 52j, or the product information related to an existing product already registered in the hard disk is acquired and changed. Information can be updated.

  The self-propelled robot 52 is provided with an input device 52q composed of keys, buttons, etc., and the customer can input the product name via the input device 52q. You can recognize the products that customers want. Furthermore, a product name and a question about the product can be input via the input device 52q, and the input result can be displayed on the monitor 52n, and information such as a product name, a question item, a store, a region, and a date. Are collected by the server 41 of the information center 40 via the wireless LAN 52p and the Internet 20. The collected information is analyzed in the information center, and the result (product name, frequency of questions, total data by store, region, year and month, etc.) is distributed via the Internet 20 to pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors.

  The pharmacy 10 is also provided with a computer 53 and is connected to one or a plurality of self-propelled robots 52 via a LAN. Each self-propelled robot is given a fixed IP address or an automatically assigned IP address, and each self-propelled robot can acquire product information from the information center 40 in accordance with the TCP / IP protocol. The product information can be acquired from each of them and distributed individually or simultaneously to each of the LAN-connected self-propelled robots 52, and the product information can be written to the hard disk 52j.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of collection and distribution of product information in the system shown in FIGS. Each product information is collected from each pharmaceutical manufacturer 30 to 33 and a sales source to the server 41 of the information center 40 via the Internet 20, and the product information is databased for each manufacturer and for each product. Are stored together. In addition to pharmaceutical manufacturers, product information can be collected from related organizations such as the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association. Further, the content collected in the information center 40 is distributed via the Internet 20 to the self-running robot 52 connected to the wireless LAN 52p in the pharmacies 10-14.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of collection and distribution of customer visitor information. Information (product names, questions, etc.) input by the customer in the pharmacy 10-14 to the input device 52q of the self-propelled robot 52 is collected on the server 41 of the information center 40 via the Internet 20, and this collected information Is analyzed in the information center 40, and the analysis results such as the product name, the frequency of the question items, the store, the region, the year-by-month total data, and the like are distributed to the pharmaceutical manufacturers 30 to 33 and the sales agency via the Internet 20.

  FIG. 5 shows a flow of product explanation by the self-propelled robot system installed in the pharmacy.

  When the customer 50 wants to explain the medicines in the product shelf as shown in block 60 and presses the call button 51b of the calling unit 51 in the product shelf, the self-propelled robot 52 is shown in block 61. As you can see, self-propelled and stopped near customers. As shown in block 62, when the customer touches the product (hand) that the user holds in the eyes (camera) of the self-propelled robot, the self-propelled robot 52 recognizes the product with the CCD camera 52 k, the reading device 52 m ( Block 63), using the recognized product as a key, access the product information stored in the hard disk 52j and read the product information. The monitor 52n displays explanation items desired by the consumer, for example, dosage and attention to use, product features, similar products, etc. When the customer selects an item (block 64), the image and sound are used to display the item. The description of the product is started (blocks 65 and 66). The self-propelled robot 52 confirms the end of the customer's question selection or the response from the customer if there is no response (blocks 67 and 68), and then responds to the customer's call or is a fixed position that is a charging place. To self-run (block 69).

  Here, the product information of over-the-counter drugs (usage doses, ingredients, indications, precautions, etc.) can be found in the package inserts of the products, the Japanese Medicine Dictionary compiled by the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, and the websites of each pharmaceutical manufacturer. It is published in Therefore, the basic information can be collected and stored in the server 41 of the information center 40. Moreover, according to the request of each pharmaceutical manufacturer or pharmacy, customization information, for example, information such as product features and various data not described in the package insert can be accumulated. Installation and distribution of these customized information is available for a fee. Furthermore, since new products can be distributed simultaneously and marketed according to the release date, it is extremely effective as a sales promotion means for new products, and information installation and distribution of new products can be made for a fee.

  Basic information can also be distributed according to the demands of pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacies. For example, distribution of information limited to regions or pharmacies is possible by limiting the addresses of each self-propelled robot. The pharmacy does not sell all medicines. However, as described above, since only the products in each pharmacy are recognized by the self-propelled robot and information is distributed, it is possible to distribute information corresponding to the diversity of each pharmacy having different product configurations.

  Further, the product description requested by the customer is one of important information for product development and sales promotion. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, consumer information such as product names and questions obtained from this system is aggregated in the information center 40 using a self-propelled robot 52, and these data are classified by pharmacy. And by region, product group, etc., and are provided free of charge to pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacies.

  In this way, in the present invention, the pharmacy side can provide more friendly service to customers, that is, provide information to consumers important for self-medication, improve customer satisfaction, By covering product descriptions, labor costs can be saved, and product explanations can be made at the site where consumers make purchases. Can attract customers, such as consumers with children, and can increase sales.

  In addition, pharmaceutical manufacturers can fulfill the social responsibility of providing consumers with information that is important for self-medication to consumers, and as one of the advertising media for products, Information can be provided, and more effective promotion can be achieved. In addition, by providing information by video and audio, more effective promotion such as pamphlets and pops can be performed, and various information necessary for individual consumers such as product features and merits can be provided. In addition to providing information that makes use of the uniqueness of each manufacturer, it is more cost-effective (equipment / maintenance costs, content, etc.) than conventional fixed-position video and DVD systems. Various effects can be obtained, such as being able to release information all over the country at once.

  In addition, the robot system provider company can sell and maintain the robot system, and can install and manage the product description contents in the robot system. In addition, it is possible to provide information that enhances customer satisfaction by summing up product information desired by customers via the Internet. Furthermore, it is possible to store information in individual robots, but by distributing the information from the center where the information is stored to each robot via the Internet, wireless LAN, PHS, etc., it becomes possible to control the center and save labor. In particular, the information can be distributed simultaneously to the robots, and the on-time information can be provided.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a business model that is effective for a pharmacy, a drug manufacturer, and a robot system provider company.

It is the block diagram which showed the structure which a pharmacy, a manufacturer, and an information center send / receive information via the internet. It is the block diagram which showed the detailed structure of the calling unit and the self-running robot. It is explanatory drawing which showed the flow of collection and delivery of merchandise information. It is explanatory drawing which showed the flow of collection and delivery of customer information. It is the flowchart which showed the flow which provides merchandise information according to a visitor's request | requirement.

Explanation of symbols

10, 11, 12, 13, 14 Pharmacy 20 Internet 30, 31, 32, 33 Manufacturer 40 Information Center 50 Visitors
51 Calling unit 52 Self-propelled robot

Claims (14)

A method of providing product information in response to a request from a customer who visits a store that sells products,
Receive product information aggregated and stored in the information center via communication means,
Store the received product information in the store's information provision means,
Recognize the products customers want,
A product information providing method comprising: reading product information relating to a recognized product from the information providing means and providing the product information to a store visitor.   The product information providing method according to claim 1, wherein the product information is collected in an information center via the Internet and received via the Internet.   3. The information providing means is a self-propelled robot that moves to the location of the customer in response to a request from the customer, and recognizes a product requested by the customer at the location of the customer. Product information providing method described in 1.   The recognition of the product is performed by photographing the product and processing the image, or by reading a code or a tag attached to the product. Product information provision method.   The product information providing method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the product is a drug, a quasi-drug, or a dietary supplement. A device that provides product information in response to a request from a customer who visits a store that sells products,
Receiving means for receiving product information stored in an information center;
Storage means for storing received product information;
A means of recognizing the product that the customer wants,
Display means for reading out product information relating to the recognized product from the storage means and displaying the product information in a voice and / or image to a visitor;
A product information providing apparatus characterized by comprising:   The product information providing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the receiving unit has a wireless LAN function for receiving product information from an information center via the Internet.   The receiving means, storage means, recognizing means and display means are configured as a self-propelled robot, and the self-propelled robot moves to the location of the customer in response to the customer's request, and the product requested by the customer there The product information providing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the product information providing apparatus is recognized.   9. The product according to claim 6, wherein the recognizing unit recognizes the product by photographing the product and processing the image, or by reading a code or tag attached to the product. The product information providing device described in 1.   The product information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the product is a drug, a quasi-drug, or a dietary supplement.   The self-propelled robot recognizes a voice generated from a customer or receives a call signal from the customer and self-runs at the customer's location. Item information providing apparatus according to item.   Furthermore, the input apparatus for a customer to select and input the question regarding goods is provided, and the said merchandise information is demonstrated according to the question selected with this input apparatus, The one of Claim 6 to 11 characterized by the above-mentioned. Item information providing apparatus according to Item 1.   13. The product information providing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a question item input by the input device is transmitted to an information center, and an answer to the question is received from the information center and answered to a store visitor.   14. The self-running robot has a fixed IP address or an automatically assigned IP address, and exchanges information between information centers according to a TCP / IP protocol. The product information providing apparatus described.