CN112785367A

CN112785367A - Pointing device, pointing method, and computer-readable recording medium

Info

Publication number: CN112785367A
Application number: CN202011232152.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 野元世界; 分部由香里; 铃木裕哉
Original assignee: Unicharm Corp
Current assignee: Unicharm Corp
Priority date: 2019-11-08
Filing date: 2020-11-06
Publication date: 2021-05-11

Abstract

The invention provides an indicating device, an indicating method and a computer readable recording medium, which can distribute a physiological product suitable for a user. The pointing device according to the present application is characterized by comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires menstrual period information relating to the use of a menstrual period product by a user; a selection unit that selects one or more items of a menstrual period proposed to the user based on the menstrual period information; and an instruction unit configured to instruct the user to dispense at least one of the items selected by the selection unit.

Description

Pointing device, pointing method, and computer-readable recording medium

Technical Field

The invention relates to an indicating apparatus, an indicating method and a computer-readable recording medium.

Background

Conventionally, a technique for improving Quality Of Life (QOL) Of a user by providing information on a physiological product has been known. As an example of such a technique, a technique of transmitting a suggestion on the body of the user based on a history of menstruation of the user is known.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: WO01/39584 publication

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, the above-described conventional techniques have room for improvement in the quality of life of users.

For example, in the case where the user is a young woman, the user may not be accustomed to the use of the menstrual period product. In such a case, the user cannot select a menstrual period product that is most suitable for himself/herself, and may feel uncomfortable or leak during use. In addition, there are cases where the user forgets to purchase the physiological products and the user intentionally avoids purchasing the physiological products in the store.

The present application has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to deliver a menstrual period product suitable for a user.

Means for solving the problems

The pointing device according to the present application is characterized by comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires menstrual period information relating to the use of a menstrual period product by a user; a selection unit that selects one or more items of a menstrual period proposed to the user based on the menstrual period information; and an instruction unit configured to instruct the user to dispense at least one of the items selected by the selection unit.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to one embodiment, a menstrual product suitable for a user can be dispensed.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a providing system according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the information providing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of information registered in the user database according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information registered in the underwear database according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of information registered in the physiological product database according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the instruction processing executed by the information providing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the management processing according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the control processing according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the management system according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a management device according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the use history storage unit according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a user information storage unit according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the inventory information storage unit according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a sequence diagram showing a management processing procedure performed by the management system according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a sequence diagram showing a control processing procedure performed by the management system according to the embodiment.

Fig. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration.

Description of the reference numerals

10. 210: an information providing device; 20: a communication unit; 30: a storage unit; 31: a user database; 32: an undergarment database; 33: a database of circadian products; 40: a control unit; 41: an acquisition unit; 42: an estimation unit; 43: a selection unit; 44: an indicating section; 45: a notification unit; t100: a terminal device; 200: a distribution center; 1: a management system; 100: a management device; 120: a storage unit; 121: a device information storage unit; 122: an article information storage unit; 123: a usage history storage unit; 124: a user information storage unit; 125: an inventory information storage unit; 130: a control unit; 131: a receiving section; 132: a management unit; 133: a first estimation unit; 134: a determination section; 135: a device control unit; 136: a second estimation unit; 137: an output control section; 138: a notification unit; 139: a prediction unit; APx: providing a device; 10-x: an organizing device.

Detailed Description

At least the following matters will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

An indicating device having: an acquisition unit that acquires menstrual period information relating to the use of a menstrual period product by a user; a selection unit that selects one or more items of a menstrual period proposed to a user based on menstrual period information; and an instruction unit that gives an instruction to dispense at least one of the items selected by the selection unit to the user.

Such an instruction device distributes a physiological product selected based on physiological term information on the use of the physiological product by the user, for example, so that the user can use the most appropriate physiological product. Further, since the instruction device dispenses the menstrual period products selected based on the menstrual period information, young users who are not used to the menstrual period are prompted to use the correct size of the menstrual period products and dispense the products, and as a result, the quality of life of the users can be improved.

Further, since the instruction device instructs the user to distribute the menstrual period products to the user at predetermined intervals, the user can be prevented from forgetting to purchase the menstrual period products. Further, since the instruction device delivers the menstrual period products selected based on the menstrual period information, the user does not need to purchase the menstrual period products at a store. As a result, the indicator apparatus can improve the quality of life of the user.

Further, since the instructing device instructs the user to distribute the number of items of physiological term products calculated based on the physiological term information, for example, if the physiological term information includes information such as the usage amount of the items of physiological term products of the user, the number of items of physiological term products held by the user, and the number of items of physiological term products used by the user, the stock number of the items of physiological term products held by the user can be managed based on the information. As a result, the burden on the user to manage the stock quantity of the products for a menstrual period or to purchase the products for a menstrual period can be reduced, and the quality of life of the user can be improved.

Further, the instructing device estimates the day on which the menstrual cycle of the user starts, and instructs the user to dispense the menstrual cycle products before a predetermined number of days on that day, so that the user can hold the menstrual cycle products before the menstrual cycle products are needed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the shortage of the product for the physiological period held by the user at the beginning of the physiological period, and to improve the quality of life of the user.

The instruction device notifies the user of one of the items selected based on the menstrual period information, and instructs the user to dispense the item when the user agrees to the dispensing of the item. In addition, in the case where the user does not agree with the distribution of the circadian products, the instructing means selects a circadian product different from the circadian product proposed to the user. As a result, the products of the menstrual period that more closely match the preference of the user can be distributed, and the quality of life of the user can be improved.

Further, the instruction device notifies the user of the plurality of items of the menstrual period selected based on the menstrual period information and instructs the user to distribute the item of the menstrual period selected by the user, so that it is possible to distribute items of the menstrual period that more closely match the preference of the user, and it is possible to improve the quality of life of the user.

Further, the instructing device instructs the user to select and distribute the menstrual period product suitable for the body of the user based on the menstrual period information including the body information indicating the physical characteristics (height, weight, body shape, size of hip circumference, and the like) of the user, so that it is possible to prevent displacement, twisting, and the like of the menstrual period product, and as a result, it is possible to prevent leakage and the like due to the menstrual period product not suitable for the body of the user, and it is possible to improve the quality of life of the user.

Further, the instructing device instructs the user to select and distribute the item of physiological term product suitable for the attribute of the user based on the physiological term information including the attribute information indicating the attribute of the user, and therefore, for example, the instruction device can distribute the item of physiological term product having an appropriate shape and an absorption function to students who are exercising in a large number of groups such as social activities. Further, the instruction device can select a physiological product having a shape, an appearance, and a function according to the age of the user, for example, because the instruction device performs an instruction to select and distribute a physiological product suitable for the user based on attribute information that is information indicating the age of the user. As a result, the quality of life of the user can be improved.

Further, the instructing device instructs the user to select and distribute a physiological product suitable for the action of the user based on the physiological term information including the action information indicating the action of the user, and therefore, for example, the appropriate physiological product can be distributed according to the amount of exercise of the user, the plan of travel, the plan of exercise, and the like. The instructing device can select a menstrual product having a large absorption amount in a time zone in which replacement is difficult (for example, a time zone in which school work is performed, a time zone in which community activities are performed, or a night), and select a menstrual product having a small absorption amount but less discomfort in a time zone in which replacement is easy. As a result, the quality of life of the user can be improved.

Further, the instructing device instructs the user to select and distribute the menstrual products that match the preference of the user based on the menstrual period information including the preference information indicating the preference of the user, and therefore, for example, it is possible to distribute the menstrual products that match the preference of the user with respect to the functions of the menstrual products, such as the preference of the user with respect to the appearance of the user, such as the design, color, and tendency of illustration that the user likes, and the problem that the user pays attention to (the leakage of menstrual blood is to be prevented, a product that can be used easily, a product that is inexpensive, a good wearing feeling, a good tactile feeling, and the like are to be explained), and it is possible to improve the quality of life of the user.

The instruction device also performs an instruction to select and distribute a physiological product corresponding to the usage status of the physiological product of the user based on the physiological product information including the usage information indicating the usage status of the physiological product of the user. The instructing device selects the physiological products based on the usage information including the information indicating the result of usage of the physiological products, for example, and therefore, by performing feedback based on the user's feeling of use every time the physiological products are delivered, the physiological products suitable for the user can be delivered. Further, the instructing device selects the physiological product based on the use information including information on whether or not the physiological product has properly functioned, for example, and therefore, when the physiological product is not suitable for the user, the instruction device can deliver the physiological product estimated to be more suitable for the user. Further, the instructing device selects the physiological products based on the usage information including the evaluation information indicating the evaluation of the physiological products by the user, and therefore can deliver the physiological products estimated to have a higher evaluation by the user from the tendency of the evaluation by the user. Further, the instructing device selects the menstrual period product based on the use information including information on the underwear worn by the user during the menstrual period, and therefore can deliver a menstrual period product that is suitable for the size and shape of the underwear or deliver a menstrual period product that corresponds to the function of the underwear such as sanitary shorts. As a result, the indicator apparatus can improve the quality of life of the user.

Further, the instruction device performs the instruction to select and distribute the circadian term products based on the circadian term information including the number of the circadian term products held by the user or the number of the circadian term products used by the user, so that the appropriate number of the circadian term products can be distributed to the user at the appropriate timing when the circadian term products are required, and the quality of life of the user can be improved.

Further, the instruction device performs the instruction to select and distribute the menstrual period product suitable for the user based on the menstrual period information of the user and the menstrual period information of another person having similar menstrual period information, and therefore, for example, the menstrual period product that is used by another person having physical characteristics similar to the user and that does not cause displacement or distortion of the menstrual period product can be distributed to the user, and the quality of life of the user can be improved.

An example of a mode (hereinafter, referred to as "first embodiment") for implementing the instruction device, the instruction method, and the instruction program will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present embodiment does not limit the instruction device, the instruction method, and the instruction program. In the first embodiment described below, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

[ first embodiment ]

[ example of providing System ]

First, an example of a providing system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a providing system according to the first embodiment. As shown in fig. 1, the providing system includes an information providing apparatus 10 as an example of the instructing apparatus, an information providing apparatus 210 of the distribution center 200, and a terminal apparatus T100 used by the user U. Further, the providing system may have any number of information providing apparatuses 10, terminal apparatuses T100. In addition, the information providing apparatus 10 may execute the processing described later with any number of terminal apparatuses T100. The providing system provides the following ordering service of the physiological products: the user pays a predetermined fixed usage fee at regular intervals (for example, every month), and periodically dispenses the products to the user. The usage charge may be the same for each user, or may be a plurality of charge systems (e.g., general member charge, high-level member charge with a higher usage charge than general member charge).

The information providing apparatus 10 and the information providing apparatus 210 are information processing apparatuses that perform instruction processing, and are implemented by, for example, a server device, a cloud system, or the like. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 communicates with the information providing apparatus 210 and the terminal apparatus T100 via a Network N (see fig. 2, for example) such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), various mobile communication systems including LET-Advanced (a kind of LET), 5G (Generation), etc., which will be standardized in the future, various wireless communication networks such as Wifi (registered trademark) and wireless LAN (Local Area Network), and various wired communication networks. Among them, the processes in the information providing apparatus 10 and the information providing apparatus 210 can be executed by one information processing apparatus.

The terminal T100 is a terminal device used by the user U, is realized by a PC (Personal Computer), a server device, a smart television, a smart phone, a tablet Computer, or other smart devices, and is a mobile terminal device capable of communicating with the information providing apparatus 10 via the network N. The terminal device T100 may have a screen having a function of a touch panel such as a liquid crystal display, and may have a function of accepting various operations performed on the content delivered from the information providing device 10, such as a touch operation, a slide operation, and a scroll operation performed by a user with a finger, a stylus pen, or the like.

[ 1-1. for physiological articles ]

Here, when the user U is a woman, the information providing apparatus 10 executes the following processing as an example of the instruction processing: instructing the delivery of the feminine-oriented physiological product estimated to be suitable for the user. Here, the term "article for women" refers to various articles related to women's menstrual period, and specific examples thereof include a pad for lochia, a sanitary napkin for menstrual blood, a tampon, and the like. For example, the sanitary product may be a urine leakage pad, or may be a type of sanitary product to be worn on various underwear, an underwear type sanitary product, or a sheet type sanitary product. In addition, the physiological articles can be diapers, menstrual cups, and the like. In the following examples, the process of delivering sanitary napkins for absorbing menstrual blood is shown as an example of a sanitary product, but the delivery target may be a consumable product including a sanitary product.

Such a sanitary product varies depending on the development, physical condition, and utilization condition of the wearer. For example, the amount of menstrual blood in women varies depending on the time of menstruation, exercise amount, night time use, day time use, and the like. Therefore, a menstrual product having functions such as an appropriate size and an appropriate absorption amount is desired depending on the condition of the user's menstrual period (whether or not the menstrual blood amount is large or not, whether or not the amount of exercise is large), and the like.

In addition, when the size of the sanitary product is not suitable for the body shape of the user, or when the user has a large amount of exercise, the sanitary product may be twisted or misaligned, or the sanitary product may not be in close contact with the body of the user, and as a result, secretions such as menstrual blood and lochia may leak. Therefore, users desire to use the products for a different period of time depending on their body sizes, exercise amounts, and the like.

However, some users have not selected appropriate products for a desired period of time. For example, in the case where the user is a young person such as a junior middle school student, a senior middle school student, or a college student, the user is not accustomed to the use of the product during the menstrual period without experiencing a menstrual climax or having not yet passed too long since the menstrual period, and as a result, the possibility of leakage of secretions is high. More specifically, when a user is not accustomed to the wearing feeling of the sanitary product, the sanitary product is worn at an incorrect position or a large sanitary product is worn carelessly, and as a result, a gap, a displacement, or a twist occurs between the sanitary product and the body of the user, and as a result, leakage is likely to occur.

In addition, although some young users may use the physiological products directly for mom, such physiological products are often not suitable for the size of the users. In addition, young users tend to have more exercise than mom because of their courseware, social activities, and the like. The time for replacement (the time from wearing a single item of a sanitary product until replacement) varies depending on age and occupation, and for example, if a student is a student, the time for replacement may be increased due to a class time, and the time for which replacement is possible may vary depending on the occupation, the ease with which the rest time is obtained, and the like. Therefore, young people who tend to have a large amount of exercise and a long replacement time are likely to twist or shift the physiological products, and are likely to leak.

In this way, when leakage of secretions occurs, the secretions adhere to beddings such as underwear, clothes, bed sheets, and the like, and thus treatments such as washing, and the like tend to put stress on users. Further, the user tends to be stressed because the user cannot move as usual as a result of uncomfortable feeling and leakage when the product is twisted or misaligned during the menstrual period. In addition, when the overnight-use sanitary product is used in the daytime, the sanitary product is exposed from the underwear of the user and tends to be noticed by the user, which also puts stress on the user.

In order to reduce such stress on the use of a physiological product and improve the quality of life of a user, it is desirable to use the physiological product in an appropriate manner. For example, it is considered that selecting a sanitary product suitable for a user and using the sanitary product in an accurate manner can prevent twisting and displacement, thereby reducing the possibility of leakage, and as a result, the stress on the user can be reduced, and the quality of life of the user can be improved.

In addition, it is considered that the quality of life of the user can be improved by reducing the possibility of leakage by making a user who has little experience in using a physiological product, such as a young user, get accustomed to the feeling of using the correct physiological product. Therefore, it is considered that, in order to improve the quality of life of young users, not only an accurate physiological product and an accurate utilization method are proposed to be effective, but also an incentive to use such a physiological product is given to be effective.

In addition, since the toiletry products are regularly required and are not used every day, they are often forgotten to be purchased. In particular, since a user is not used to a menstrual period yet when the user is young, the user does not have a habit of regularly purchasing products, and often forgets to purchase the products. In addition, when a child uses a menstrual product of a mother, the amount of use of the menstrual product is often not accurately grasped, and the menstrual product may be decreased unknowingly.

[ 1-2. summary of pointing processing ]

Therefore, the information providing apparatus 10 executes the following instruction processing. First, the information providing apparatus 10 acquires the menstrual period information related to the use of the menstrual period product by the user. Then, the information providing apparatus 10 selects a circadian product to be offered to the user based on the circadian period information. The information providing apparatus 10 performs an instruction to select a physiological product suitable for a user based on physiological term information including physical information indicating physical characteristics of the user, attribute information indicating attributes of the user, action information indicating an action of the user, preference information indicating a preference of the user, usage information indicating a usage state of the physiological product of the user, the number of physiological products held by the user, the number of physiological products used by the user, and the like, and to distribute the selected physiological product to the user. For example, the information providing device 10 acquires preference information indicating a preference of the user with respect to the physiological products and body information indicating a body shape of the user, selects a physiological product that matches the preference of the user from among physiological products that match the body shape of the user, and delivers the selected physiological product to the user. In addition, the information providing device 10 may also select the toiletry based on a fee system. Specifically, the information providing apparatus 10 can select the products suitable for the user based on the body information or the like, and can distribute the selected products of higher quality and higher price among the products paid for more (higher member fee) to the members. The information providing apparatus 10 may determine whether or not the usage fee is paid, and may determine not to deliver the product if the usage fee is not paid. In addition, additional value may be added to members who pay more fees, for example, the types of products for a menstrual period that can be selected are increasing (sanitary napkins are increasing in number, and not only sanitary napkins but also tampons and menstrual cups can be selected), selection and distribution of products for use (sanitary napkins and tampons) during a menstrual period can be instructed, selection and distribution of pads for nursing used during a non-menstrual period can be instructed, and products that can be used in cooperation with products for a menstrual period (for example, clothes such as shorts and pants, foods such as chinese medicines and snacks) can be selected and distributed according to products for a menstrual period.

Here, the preference of the user regarding the sanitary product is not only a preference regarding the wearing feeling, the touch, whether or not the sanitary product is provided with a flap, whether or not the sanitary product is functional for night use, and the like, but also an attribute regarding the appearance, such as a pattern, a color, and the like attached to the sanitary product. Further, the preference related to the toiletry product is a concept including the following preferences of the user: preferences regarding various functions of the sanitary product corresponding to problems to be emphasized by the user (prevention of leakage of menstrual blood, preferably a product that can be easily used, preferably inexpensive, good wearing feeling, material and texture of the product, preferably a sanitary product having a specific shape such as embossing, preferably no sound when the sanitary product is unsealed, preferably easy handling after use of the sanitary product, good portability, etc.); and user preferences such as user's plans, desired activities (travel, outdoor, exercise, etc.), and the like, corresponding to the functions of the physiological products. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 receives preference information indicating a preference related to a physiological product and body information indicating a body shape of a user from the user. In such a case, the information providing apparatus 10 delivers the menstrual period products that satisfy the preference of the user in terms of function and appearance, among the menstrual period products that fit the body shape of the user.

For example, when the preference information indicates that the user desires to go out for a long time, that is, when the preference information indicates an action corresponding to the function of the item, the information providing apparatus 10 selects an item suitable for the action desired by the user, that is, an item suitable for going out for a long time (for example, a good wearing feeling even if the degree of replacement is small) from among items suitable for the body shape of the user, or selects an item suitable for packing. As a result of such processing, the information providing apparatus 10 can give an incentive to young users to use a physiological product that matches the users, and as a result, can improve the quality of life of the users. The various preferences regarding the physiological products may be, for example, preferences of a table of preference information input by the user, or preferences estimated based on a purchase history, action history, or the like of the user.

Such user preference may be a permanent preference or a temporary preference. For example, the preference regarding the appearance of the physiological term item may be a permanent preference or a preference that lasts for a certain period of time, and the preference regarding the subject regarded by the user, the plan of the user, the desired activity, and the function corresponding thereto may be specified for each plan or action. The preference information used by the information providing apparatus 10 is information indicating these various preferences.

In particular, for a user who has little experience in using a physiological product, such as a young user, it may be difficult to grasp the difference between various physiological products, and it may not be possible to determine from what viewpoint to select a physiological product. Therefore, the information providing device 10 can propose a menstrual period article suitable for the user by selecting characteristics required for the menstrual period article (for example, a menstrual period article suitable for long-term outing, which has characteristics such as low replacement frequency and good wearing feeling) according to the user plan, desired activities, attributes relating to appearance, and the like, which are preferences of the user, and as a result, the quality of life of the user can be improved. Further, the preference of the user, such as the appearance and function of the physiological product and various actions related to the physiological product, tends to be expressed by the user himself/herself with the use of the physiological product. By selecting a menstrual product based on such a preference, the information providing apparatus 10 can distribute not only a menstrual product that the user wants to continue using but also a menstrual product corresponding to an action or the like that the user wants to perform, and thus can improve the quality of life of the user.

The action information including the amount of exercise of the user is, for example, information indicating how much the user performs daily activities. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 receives, as the action information, the average amount of walking, the average amount of traveling, and the like for one day from the user. The information providing apparatus 10 can receive sports performed by a user such as tennis or soccer, the length of time for which each sport is performed, or the content of a social activity to which the user belongs. In this case, the information providing apparatus 10 selects a function-related item corresponding to the amount of exercise indicated by the action information from among items that fit the body shape of the user. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 may calculate a exercise amount score indicating the exercise amount of the user based on the type, length, and the like of the exercise performed by the user, and select a menstrual product having a function corresponding to the exercise amount score from among menstrual products suitable for the body shape of the user. For example, when the exercise amount score exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the information providing device 10 may select a menstrual product whose function to cope with twisting or misalignment, such as a sticker-attached menstrual product or a flap-attached menstrual product, is strengthened. As a result of such processing, the information providing apparatus 10 can prevent displacement and distortion due to the physical activity of the user, reduce the possibility of leakage, and as a result, can improve the quality of life of the user.

The information providing apparatus 10 may select a menstrual period product that corresponds to the amount of exercise of the user and to the preference of the user from among the menstrual period products that correspond to the body shape of the user. As a result of such processing, the information providing apparatus 10 can prevent leakage and promote the use of a sanitary product that is less likely to leak, and therefore can further improve the quality of life of the user.

The usage information indicating the usage status of the user's physiological products includes information indicating the usage results of the physiological products, information on whether or not the physiological products have properly functioned, evaluation information indicating the evaluation of the physiological products by the user, and the like. Specifically, the information is information on whether or not leakage has occurred, whether or not misalignment or distortion has occurred, how the user feels, design, whether or not the feeling of touch is satisfactory, and the like. These pieces of information are acquired through check boxes for selecting "yes" (yes) or "no" (no) provided by the application installed in the terminal device T100. Further, information such as the frequency of displacement and leakage (once every time, once every several months, several times a year), the degree (how much the underwear, bed sheet, and the like are soiled), the degree to which the problem is to be ameliorated, the time period during which displacement and leakage occur, whether or not there is inflammation, skin trouble, inflammation, the degree, duration, frequency, and symptoms (redness, itching, pain) can be acquired. The information providing apparatus 10 can deliver the menstrual period products selected based on the usage information and repeat feedback based on the usage feeling of the user, thereby delivering more appropriate menstrual period products to the user and improving the quality of life of the user. In addition, when the problem of misalignment, leakage, or the like is not improved even if feedback is performed, for example, by increasing the input information, the information providing apparatus 10 can easily identify an appropriate menstrual product. Further, in the case where the problem of displacement, leakage, or the like is not improved even if feedback is performed a plurality of times (for example, three times or more), manual support by a person skilled in the physiology articles may be performed. In the manual support, for example, the user is directly asked for specific symptoms such as misalignment and leakage, whereby more appropriate proposals for the products for a menstrual period and support for accurate use of the products for a menstrual period can be made.

Further, since the information providing device 10 gives an instruction to regularly (every predetermined period) distribute the menstrual blood products to the user, the user can be prevented from forgetting to purchase the menstrual blood products. The user can know the timing of the menstrual period by dispensing the menstrual period product. In addition, by performing the distribution, it is intentionally avoided that a user who purchases a physiological product at a store does not need to purchase the physiological product at the store, and therefore, the quality of life of the user can be improved.

The instruction to be periodically (every predetermined period) distributed by the information providing apparatus 10 may be, for example, a date fixed per month, or may be a predetermined number of days before a next physiological period predicted so as to match a predicted period of the next physiological period (the information providing apparatus 10 may predict from past physiological period information, or the information providing apparatus 10 may acquire the predicted period from another service or another information processing apparatus). That is, the distribution interval may not be fixed, and the distribution may be performed at regular intervals.

[ 1-3 ] examples of indication processing ]

Next, an example of the instruction processing will be described with reference to fig. 1. For example, the terminal device T100 provides a physiological period management service for managing information on the physiological period of the user and delivering a physiological period product at an appropriate timing (step S1). For example, the terminal device T100 is installed with an application program for providing a physiological period management service in advance, and manages and provides information on a physiological period of a user. For example, in the example shown in fig. 1, the terminal device T100 provides the user with information such as a calendar indicating the presence or absence of a physiological period, a predicted next physiological period, a scheduled date and number of delivery of physiological products, and a history indicating physical discomfort occurring during a physiological period, such as abdominal pain. The terminal device T100 may provide such a physiological period management service in cooperation with the information providing device 10 or a predetermined external server, which is not shown. The physiological period management service is a service that can provide a user with arbitrary content, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Here, the terminal device T100 acquires product information of the menstrual product used by the user (step S2). Then, the user U uses the item D1 (step S3). The terminal device T100 may acquire the product information of the menstrual product before the user U utilizes the menstrual product D1, or may acquire the product information of the menstrual product after the user U utilizes the menstrual product D1.

For example, the terminal device T100 includes various cameras, and photographs the appearance of the menstrual product D1 according to the operation of the user U. Here, the appearance of the disposable article D1 may be, for example, the appearance of a package in which a plurality of disposable articles are packaged, or the appearance of each of the disposable articles packaged in such a package. The terminal device T100 may capture the appearance of the item D1 by the function of an application program for providing the menstrual period management service, or may capture the appearance of the item D1 by the function of another application program.

Here, a two-dimensional code QR1 indicating product information, which is information for specifying the item D1, such as the product name and lot number of the item D1, is added to the item D1. As a result, the terminal device T100 can identify the menstrual product D1 used by the user U by imaging the menstrual product D1. Further, the product information may not be acquired from the two-dimensional code, and the product information may be determined by, for example, image analysis of an image of the packaged and individually packaged item D1 in which the item D1 is captured.

Next, the terminal device T100 receives the input of the physiological period information from the user U (step S4). For example, the terminal device T100 receives various information from the user U through a predetermined application program or the like.

Here, the physiological period information includes physical information indicating the physical characteristics of the user U, attribute information indicating the attributes of the user U, action information indicating the actions of the user U, preference information indicating the preferences of the user U, usage information indicating the usage status of the physiological period products of the user U, the number of physiological period products held by the user U, the number of physiological period products used by the user U, and the like. When the user U operates the terminal device T100 to input the menstrual period information, the image information captured by a camera or the like may be analyzed to acquire the menstrual period information, as in the case of inputting the product information of the menstrual period product D1.

Then, the information providing apparatus 10 acquires the physiological period information, which is various information such as the body information, the attribute information, the action information, the preference information, and the use information, together with the product information via the terminal apparatus T100 (step S5).

Next, the information providing apparatus 10 selects a circadian product based on the circadian period information (step S6). For example, the information providing apparatus 10 selects a menstrual product having an appearance and a function according to the preference of the user U and a menstrual product having a function according to the amount of exercise of the user U from among the menstrual products selected based on the weight and height indicated by the menstrual period information, the hip circumference, the size of underwear, and the function. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 may select a menstrual product having an absorption amount corresponding to the exercise amount score of the user U, or a menstrual product having a function of preventing displacement or twisting. Further, the information providing apparatus 10 may select one or a plurality of items. When a plurality of items are selected, the information providing apparatus 10 can select items having different functions. The information providing apparatus 10 can select, for example, a daily product, a night product, a product recommended to be used during exercise, and a product recommended to be used during a period other than exercise. The information providing apparatus 10 may select the circadian rhythm item based on the circadian rhythm information of the user U and the circadian rhythm information of another person having similar circadian rhythm information. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 may select another person having a body shape similar to the user U to utilize and evaluate a high-level menstrual product. As a result, when a young user does not select an appropriate physiological product, a physiological product more suitable for the user U can be selected. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 may select a menstrual product used by another person similar to the menstrual period information of the user U, and the information providing apparatus 10 may provide the user U with information on a menstrual product used by another person similar to the menstrual period information of the user U via the terminal device T100, and determine the menstrual product distributed by the information providing apparatus 10 according to the selection of the user U.

Here, the information providing apparatus 10 notifies the user U of the selected menstrual product (step S7). If there is one selected menstrual period product, the user U selects whether or not to approve the distribution of the menstrual period product. When the user U does not agree with the distribution of the menstrual period product, the user U is notified of a menstrual period product different from the menstrual period product, and the notification is repeated until the user U agrees. When a plurality of selected products are used, the user U selects which product is to be delivered. In the case where a desired one of the plurality of items is not present, it is desirable to propose another item. The user U may also desire to distribute a plurality of items having different functions (daily and night use, items used during exercise, items used during non-exercise, pads, and the like). The user U can specify the number of dispensed products and the date of dispensing. The information providing apparatus 10 may estimate the day on which the physiological cycle of the user U starts based on the physiological cycle information, and may notify the user U before a predetermined number of days on the day.

Then, the information providing apparatus 10 instructs the information providing apparatus 210 of the distribution center 200 to distribute the menstrual period products approved or selected by the user U to the user (step S8). For example, the information providing apparatus 10 transmits information for specifying the circadian product D2, such as the product name, lot number, and the like of the selected circadian product D2, to the information providing apparatus 210. The information providing apparatus 10 may estimate the day on which the physiological cycle of the user U starts based on the physiological cycle information, and may give an instruction to dispense the physiological products to the user a predetermined number of days before the day. In addition, the information providing apparatus 10 may estimate the number of the menstrual period products used by the user U during the menstrual period based on the menstrual period information, and give an instruction to deliver the estimated number of the menstrual period products to the user. The sanitary product D1 and the sanitary product D2 may be the same or different products. In addition, in the case where the circadian product D2 is the same as the circadian product D1, the information providing apparatus 10 can deliver a sufficient number of circadian products D2 estimated to be used by the user, and in the case where the circadian product D2 is different from the circadian product D1, deliver a small number of circadian products D2 before specifying the circadian products to be used. The information providing apparatus 10 can transmit information such as a method of using the menstrual product D2 distributed in accordance with the distribution instruction and a reason for selecting the menstrual product D2 to the user U via the terminal device T100. The information providing apparatus 10 may instruct the distribution of the menstrual period product selected in step S6 without performing the notification in step S7.

Then, the information providing apparatus 210 specifies the item of physiological term D2 using the two-dimensional code QR2 or the like indicating the item information, which is information for specifying the item D2, based on the information from the information providing apparatus 10, and distributes the item D2 to the user U (step S9). The distribution center 200 is, for example, a distribution center that performs distribution and stock management of the products for a menstrual period, but may be a store that sells the products for a menstrual period or a production factory for the products for a menstrual period.

Then, the user U uses the menstrual product D2 and transmits information such as whether or not leakage has occurred, whether or not misalignment or twisting has occurred, how the user feels, design, whether or not the feeling of touch is satisfactory, and the like to the information providing apparatus 10 via the terminal device T100, whereby the information providing apparatus 10 can distribute a menstrual product more suitable for the user U. Further, the user can return the dispensed but unused sanitary products to the distribution center 200 for the reason of trouble or the like and recycle them.

As a result of such processing, the information providing apparatus 10 can deliver the user U with the menstrual period product selected according to the body shape and the amount of exercise of the user U and the preference of the user U, and therefore, leakage from the menstrual period product can be prevented, and as a result, the quality of life of the user U can be improved. Further, the information providing apparatus 10 can distribute the menstrual period products, so that the user U does not forget to purchase the menstrual period products, and as a result, the quality of life of the user U can be improved.

[ 2 ] an example of a functional structure ]

Next, an example of a functional configuration for realizing the above instruction processing will be described. In the following description, an outline of the functional configuration of the information providing apparatus 10 will be described, and an example of processing performed by the functional configuration of the information providing apparatus 10 will be described later.

[ 2-1 ] overview of the functional structure of the information providing apparatus 10 ]

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the information providing apparatus according to the first embodiment. As shown in fig. 2, the information providing apparatus 10 includes a communication unit 20, a storage unit 30, and a control unit 40.

The communication unit 20 is connected to the network N by wire or by a system, and transmits and receives information to and from the terminal T100. For example, the communication unit 20 is implemented by a circuit for communication or the like.

The storage unit 30 is implemented by, for example, a semiconductor Memory element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a Flash Memory, a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk, or a storage medium, and registers various data for executing output processing. For example, in the example shown in fig. 2, a user database 31, an underwear database 32, and a menstrual period article database 33 (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "databases 31 to 33" in some cases) are registered in the storage unit 30. The selection program is stored in the storage unit 30.

Next, an example of information registered in each of the databases 31 to 33 will be described with reference to fig. 3 to 5.

Information on each user is registered in the user database 31. For example, fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of information registered in the user database according to the first embodiment. As shown in fig. 3, the user database 31 registers information including items such as a user id (identifier), management information, a use history, body information, attribute information, action information, preference information, and use information. In addition to the information shown in fig. 3, various information related to the user may be registered in the user database 31.

Here, the "user ID" is an identifier for identifying a user. The "management information" is various information related to the physiological period management service, and is, for example, various information registered in a history of physiological periods, a predicted next physiological period, a calendar, and the like. The "usage history" is information indicating the history of the products of the menstrual period indicated by the product information received from the user, that is, information indicating the history of the products of the menstrual period used by the user in the past indicated by the corresponding user ID. The "body information" is information indicating the physical characteristics of the user, and is information such as height and weight, for example. The attribute information is information indicating an attribute of the user, and is information such as age, occupation, and whether the user is a student. The "action information" is information indicating the action of the user, and is information indicating the amount of exercise, travel, plan for business trip, and the like of the user. The "preference information" is information related to the preference of the user. The "usage information" is information of the item of physiological term product itself being used by the user, information indicating the result of use and evaluation of the item of physiological term product, and information indicating the presence or absence of displacement, distortion, leakage, and the like.

For example, in the example shown in fig. 3, information such as the user ID "UID # 1", the management information "management information # 1", the usage history "product # 1", the body information "body information # 1", the attribute information "attribute information # 1", the action information "action information # 1", the preference information "preference information # 1", and the usage information "usage information # 1" is registered. Such information indicates that various information related to the menstrual period management service of the user (hereinafter referred to as "user # 1") indicated by the user ID "UID # 1" is management information "management information # 1". In addition, such information means: the product #1 represents a physiological product used by the user #1, the height and weight represented by the "body information # 1", and the age and occupation represented by the "attribute information # 1". In addition, in such information, the user #1 performs the action indicated by the "action information # 1" and has various tastes indicated by the "taste information # 1" (for example, appearance of a menstrual product, a problem to be emphasized, and the like). Such information indicates that the user #1 is the usage status of the physiological products indicated by the "usage information # 1".

In the example shown in fig. 3, conceptual values such as "management information # 1", "product # 1", "body information # 1", "attribute information # 1", "action information # 1", "favorite information # 1", and "use information # 1" are described. However, various data used in the menstrual period management service, numerical values for specifying a menstrual period product, character strings, numerical values indicating height, weight, hip circumference, and age, numerical values indicating a daily schedule, character strings, numerical values indicating preference, character strings, and the like are actually registered in the user database 31.

Information about underwear is registered in the underwear database 32. For example, fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information registered in the underwear database according to the embodiment. As shown in fig. 4, information such as an undergarment ID, mark size, waist circumference, hip, crotch, manufacturer, and the like is registered in the undergarment database 32. In addition to the information shown in fig. 4, arbitrary information about underwear, such as functions, materials, patterns, colors, and the like of underwear, may be registered in the underwear database 32.

The "underwear ID" is an identifier for identifying underwear. The "mark size" is a size attached to underwear, and is information indicating the corresponding hip circumference, for example. The "waist circumference" is the actual size of the waist portion of the undergarment, the "buttocks" is the actual size of the buttocks portion of the undergarment, and the "crotch" is the actual size of the crotch portion of the undergarment. In addition, "manufacturer" is information indicating the manufacturer of underwear.

For example, in the example shown in fig. 4, information such as an undergarment ID "undergarment # 1", a mark size "120", a waist circumference "119", a hip portion "120", a crotch portion "10", and a manufacturer "manufacturer # 1" is registered. Such information indicates that the mark size of the undergarment indicated by the undergarment ID "undergarment # 1" is "120", the waist size of the actual wearer is "119" cm, the hip size of the actual wearer is "120" cm, the crotch size of the actual wearer is "10" cm, and the manufacturer is the manufacturer indicated by "manufacturer # 1".

In the example shown in fig. 4, conceptual values such as "underwear # 1" and "manufacturer # 1" are described. However, character strings, numerical values, character strings indicating manufacturers, numerical values, and the like that identify underwear are actually registered in the underwear database 32.

Information relating to the item is registered in the item database 33. For example, fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of information registered in the physiological product database according to the first embodiment. As shown in fig. 5, information such as a product ID, a product name, a size, an absorption amount, and a function is registered in the menstrual product database 33. In addition to the information shown in fig. 5, information indicating the appearance such as the price, the stock of each store, the pattern, and the color may be registered in the menstrual product database 33.

The "product ID" is an identifier for identifying the physiological product. The "product name" is information indicating the product name of the product. In addition, "size" can be information indicating the size of each part of the physiological product. The "absorption amount" is information indicating the amount of exudate that the physiological product can absorb. The "function" is information indicating various functions related to the sanitary product, such as whether the product is used at night, whether the product is used daily, whether the product has no wing, and whether the product has a sticker function. Although not shown, other information may be managed, such as "replacement time" indicating a time interval at which replacement is recommended in normal use, and "product type" indicating what type of a menstrual product (for example, a sanitary napkin, a panty-type menstrual product, a tampon, a menstrual cup, or the like) is.

For example, in the example shown in fig. 5, information such as the product ID "product # 1", the product name "product name # 1", the size "size # 1", the absorption amount "absorption amount # 1", and the function "function # 1" is registered in association with each other in the menstrual period product database 33. Such information indicates that the product name of the physiological term article indicated by the product ID "product # 1" is "product name # 1", has a size indicated by "size # 1", has an absorption amount indicated by "absorption amount # 1", and has various functions indicated by "function # 1".

In the example shown in fig. 5, conceptual values such as "product name # 1", "size # 1", "absorption amount # 1", and "function # 1" are described. However, actually, a character string indicating a product name, a numerical value indicating a size, a numerical value indicating an absorption amount, numerical values indicating various functions, a character string, and the like are registered in the menstrual period article database 33.

The description is continued with reference to fig. 2. The control Unit 40 is, for example, an arithmetic Processing device for executing various processes, and is realized by, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), or the like, which executes various programs (corresponding to an example of an output program) stored in a predetermined storage device (for example, the storage Unit 30) using a RAM as a work area. The control unit 40 may be implemented by an Integrated Circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

In the example shown in fig. 2, the control unit 40 includes an acquisition unit 41, an estimation unit 42, a selection unit 43, an instruction unit 44, and a notification unit 45, and the control unit 40 executes an instruction process described below.

[ 2-2. for indication treatment ]

Next, an example of the flow of the instruction processing will be described with reference to fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the instruction processing executed by the information providing apparatus according to the first embodiment. For example, the acquisition unit 41 determines whether or not the predetermined processing timing is reached (step S101), and waits until the predetermined processing timing is reached when the predetermined processing timing is not reached (step S101: NO). Then, when the predetermined processing timing is reached (step S101: "YES"), the acquisition unit 41 acquires the physiological period information from the terminal device T100 (step S102).

For example, the acquisition unit 41 acquires body information indicating the physical characteristics of the user, such as height and weight, as the physiological period information. The acquiring unit 41 may acquire attribute information indicating the age of the user or the like as the physiological period information. The acquisition unit 41 may acquire, as the menstrual period information, preference information indicating a preference of the user with respect to the menstrual period product, or action information indicating the amount of exercise of the user. For example, the acquisition unit 41 acquires, as the preference information, at least one of a preference of the user regarding the appearance of the item during the lifetime, a preference of the user regarding the function of the item during the lifetime (that is, a problem that the user has set as a problem), and a preference of the user regarding an action (for example, a trip or the like) corresponding to the function of the item during the lifetime. The acquisition unit 41 may acquire usage information indicating a result of usage or the like. The acquisition unit 41 may further acquire product information indicating a menstrual product used by the user. The acquisition unit 41 registers the acquired various information in the databases 31 to 33.

Here, the acquisition unit 41 may acquire time information indicating the time when the user wears the physiological product, in addition to the above-described information.

The estimation unit 42 performs various kinds of estimation based on the physiological period information acquired by the acquisition unit 41. The estimation unit 42 estimates, for example, the day on which the user's physiological cycle starts, the physiological cycle period, the number of physiological products used by the user, and the like based on the physiological cycle information.

Next, the selection unit 43 selects a menstrual period product proposed to the user based on the menstrual period information (step S103). For example, the selection unit 43 refers to the menstrual product database 33, and selects a menstrual product of a recommended size based on the hip circumference of the user and the size of the recommended underwear. The selection unit 43 may select a menstrual product that satisfies the preference of the user, or may select a menstrual product having an absorption amount, a misalignment prevention function, or the like, based on the amount of exercise indicated by the user's action information. That is, the selection unit 43 selects the circadian products proposed to the user based on the physical information, the attribute information, the action information, the preference information, or the use information.

More specifically, the selection unit 43 may estimate the size of the recommended products based on the hip circumference of the user indicated by the body information, and may select the product to be proposed from among the products having the estimated size. The selection unit 43 may estimate a menstrual period product that conforms to the size and shape of the undergarment, and may select the estimated menstrual period product. When the attribute information indicates a student, the selection unit 43 estimates that the amount of exercise is large, and therefore can select a menstrual product having a large absorption amount or a menstrual product having a function of preventing twisting or displacement.

The selection unit 43 may select a menstrual product having a large absorption amount or a menstrual product having a function of preventing twisting or displacement when the amount of exercise indicated by the motion information exceeds a predetermined threshold. That is, the selection unit 43 estimates the function of the recommended menstrual product based on the action information, and selects a menstrual product having the estimated function. When the action information indicates an action (for example, travel, an activity that the user wants to perform, or the like) corresponding to the function of the circadian products, the selection unit 43 may select a circadian product having a function estimated to be appropriate when performing the action. That is, the selection unit 43 may select the product based on not only the amount of exercise actually performed, such as the amount of exercise, but also the exercise or action that the user thinks to perform.

In addition, when the preference information indicates a preference regarding the appearance of the item for physiological use, the selection unit 43 may select the item for physiological use having a color, pattern, material, or function corresponding to the preference indicated by the preference information. For example, when the taste information indicates a taste of the user regarding the function of the item (that is, a problem that the user has set as a problem), the selection unit 43 may select an item having a function corresponding to the taste (that is, an item having a function to solve the problem of the user).

The selection unit 43 may select a menstrual product corresponding to the function of the underwear worn by the user indicated by the usage information. For example, the selection unit 43 specifies the function of the underwear estimated by the estimation unit 42 to be suitable for the underwear of the user. The selection unit 43 may select a sanitary product having a size that does not interfere with the function of the underwear, or may exclude a sanitary product having a function that does not match the function of the underwear from the selection target. For example, when the garment is waterproofed to cope with leakage, the selection unit 43 may select a sanitary product having a fixing function such as a flap instead of a sanitary product having a sticking function such as a sticker.

For example, when the usage information indicates that the item is not functioning properly, the selection unit 43 may select an item proposed to the user from items other than the item that the user has recently used, which are indicated by the item information, based on the body information, the preference information, or the action information.

The selection unit 43 may select a product proposed to the user based on the time information of the user using the product. For example, the selection unit 43 may select a daily-use item when the user indicates that the user uses a daily-use item in the daytime, and may select a night-use item when the user indicates that the user uses a daily-use item in the night. In addition, when the user is to use the sanitary products at night, the selection unit 43 may select the sanitary products for night use from among the sanitary products corresponding to the body shape of the user, regardless of the size of underwear or the like suitable for the user.

The selection unit 43 may select one or a plurality of items based on the menstrual period information.

The notification unit 45 then notifies the user of the selected menstrual product (step S104). Specifically, when the selection unit 43 selects one of the items, the notification unit 45 notifies the user of the selected one of the items, and the user selects whether or not to approve the distribution of the item. When the selection unit 43 selects a plurality of items, the notification unit 45 notifies the user of the selected plurality of items, and the user selects an item desired to be distributed from among the items. The notification unit 45 may notify a combination of a plurality of types of sanitary products such as daily sanitary products and night sanitary products, and the user may select a sanitary product to be delivered from the combination.

The instructing unit 44 instructs the user to distribute the selected menstrual product to the user (step S105). The instruction unit 44 instructs the information providing device 210 of the distribution center 200 to distribute the selected menstrual product to the user. The indication includes not only the product name and lot number of the item to be delivered, but also information on the schedule, quantity, etc. of the delivery.

[ 3. variants on treatment ]

Next, a modification of the above-described processing will be described. The output processing described below may be implemented individually or in any combination.

[ 3-1. delivery destination for a physiological product ]

In the above description, the information providing apparatus 10 distributes a menstrual product suitable for a user to the user who uses the menstrual product. However, the first embodiment is not limited thereto.

For example, when the user is young, the user may purchase a physiological article by her mother. Therefore, the information providing apparatus 10 can distribute the menstrual period product to the mother of the user who uses the menstrual period product. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 may distribute a circadian product selected based on the physical information of the user U to the mother of the user U. When such a delivery of the physiological products is set as the mother of the user U, the mother estimated to be more accustomed to the physiological period than the user U can provide an appropriate advice to the user U, and thus, for example, improvement of communication between parents in a traitor or the like can be expected.

In the case where the user U1 is in a child-relationship with the user U2, the information providing apparatus 10 can appropriately change the timing of distribution in accordance with the amount of use and products of the user U1 and the combination of the amount of use and products of the user U2. For example, when the user U1 uses the same product as the user U2, the user U1 is predicted to start from day 20 of the month during the physiological period, and the user U2 is predicted to start from day 22 of the month during the physiological period, the information provision apparatus 10 may decide to deliver the daily product in an amount that the user U2 is assumed to use before the user U1 starts the physiological period.

[ 3-2. selection of a physiological article ]

In the above description, the information providing apparatus 10 selects a physiological product based on various kinds of physical information. Here, the information providing apparatus 10 may select a product suitable for the user in any combination, in addition to the various combinations described above. For example, a suitable item of a sanitary product can be provided which is less likely to be displaced, twisted or leaked, or a highly convenient, easy-to-use, inexpensive item can be provided as a suitable item of a sanitary product. The sanitary product may be not only a so-called sanitary napkin with flaps but also a product receiving menstrual blood such as a pad, a tampon, a pants-type sanitary napkin, and a menstrual cup, and the shape, material, and method of use thereof are not particularly limited. The characteristics of the sanitary products vary depending on the shape and material thereof, and for example, although a pants-type sanitary napkin is easy to put on, the large size of the pants-type sanitary napkin makes the sanitary napkin heavy when carried, and the sanitary napkin, a panty liner, and the like can be stored compactly. Since it is difficult to select a proper menstrual product for the user's own desire, plan, lifestyle and environment while grasping such characteristics, it is very beneficial for the user to provide information on the proper menstrual product by the information providing device 10.

The information providing apparatus 10 may select a proper menstrual period product for the user based on the information on the menstrual period management service provided by the user. For example, when the presence or absence of a leak is registered in the menstrual period management service, the information providing device 10 can estimate whether or not the menstrual period product used by the user U is an appropriate menstrual period product based on such information.

The information providing apparatus 10 may estimate the physiological period of the user by the physiological period management service, and select a functional physiological product corresponding to the estimated physiological period. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 acquires the last physiological period from the physiological period management service, and estimates the next physiological period from the acquired physiological period. Alternatively, the information providing apparatus 10 determines when the current physiological period starts according to the physiological period management service. In addition, the information providing apparatus 10 estimates the average physiological period of the user U.

Here, the amount of menstrual blood increases from the initial stage to the middle stage of the physiological period, and the amount of menstrual blood decreases from the middle stage to the end stage. Therefore, the information providing apparatus 10 can dispense a thin type of menstrual product having a good feeling of use with a small amount of absorption, for example, before the menstrual period, at the initial stage or the final stage of the menstrual period, and can dispense a menstrual product having a larger amount of absorption near the middle stage of the menstrual period.

The information providing apparatus 10 can be used not only for proposing sanitary products for menstrual blood such as sanitary napkins but also for proposing a protection pad for lochia, for example. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 may estimate a period during which the user secretes the lochia based on various information obtained by the physiological term management service, and select a pad having a size corresponding to the body type of the user or the like as a proposal target when the estimated period is close.

[ 3-3. relating to inventory management functions ]

The information providing apparatus 10 may estimate the stock quantity of the items owned by the user and may deliver the items in the quantity corresponding to the estimated stock quantity. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 specifies the content and the number of the items of the circadian term purchased by the user from the item information, and estimates the stock number of the items of the circadian term owned by the user based on the date and time at which the item information was registered and information obtained from the circadian term management service. The information providing apparatus 10 may deliver the products of the menstrual period of a size corresponding to the body shape of the user at a timing when the estimated stock amount is lower than the predetermined threshold. The information providing apparatus 10 may manage the stock number of the user based on information on the number of the products purchased by the user, the date and time of purchase, the period of the physiological period, and the like, and may distribute the products. As described above, when a plurality of users use the same product, such as when the user U1 and the user U2 are used in a child-relationship, the threshold value of the stock amount, the delivery date, and the like may be determined in consideration of the predicted physiological period date, the amount of use, and the like of each user.

The first embodiment has been described so far. Next, an example of a mode (hereinafter, referred to as "second embodiment") for implementing the management apparatus, the management system, the management method, and the management program will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is not intended to limit the management apparatus, the management system, the management method, and the management program. In the second embodiment described below, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

[ 4 ] overview of information processing according to the second embodiment ]

First, an outline of information processing according to the second embodiment will be described based on the premise according to the second embodiment. For example, one of the following techniques is known: selecting one feminine hygiene product from at least two different feminine hygiene products based on information relating to the consumer's body size, menstrual cycle, preferences of the applicable product, bleeding volume, light incontinence, panty size or thickness of the applicable product and length of the product, and proposing the selected feminine hygiene product to the user. However, in such prior art, it cannot be said that social development of women is sufficiently supported. In addition, for example, women often need a sanitary product (absorbent article for women) such as a sanitary napkin in a working environment such as a workplace. Therefore, in order to cope with such a situation, women must prepare absorbent articles individually at ordinary times or purchase absorbent articles one by one each at each time of need. Under such circumstances, it cannot be said that social development of women in organizations such as enterprises is sufficiently supported.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, attention is paid to a provision device for discharging an absorbent article in a company toilet, for example, by cooperating with an organization such as a corporation, and on the other hand, an environment that can be easily obtained when an absorbent article is needed is created by supporting the organization by properly managing each user belonging to the organization.

Accordingly, the providing apparatus according to the second embodiment receives organization information indicating an organization in which a contract to provide a disposable wearing article to a subordinate user is preliminarily agreed, and user information indicating a user belonging to the organization. The supply device manages the received organization information and user information in association with article information indicating the disposable wearing article corresponding to the contract of the organization indicated by the organization information.

In addition, the providing apparatus according to the second embodiment identifies the article information managed in correspondence with the user indicated by the user information when the user information is received from the providing apparatus having a function of discharging the stored disposable wearing article. The supply device controls the supply device so that the disposable wearing article indicated by the specified article information is discharged.

Further, according to the above, the information processing according to the second embodiment includes: a management process of managing organization information, user information, and article information in association with each other; and a control process of, when the user information is received from the supply device, specifying the article information managed in association with the user indicated by the user information, and causing the supply device to discharge the absorbent article indicated by the article information. In the following second embodiment, the management device 100 is exemplified as an example of a management device that performs information processing according to the second embodiment. The management device 100 according to the second embodiment is realized by a server device, a cloud system, or the like.

In the second embodiment described below, the disposable wearing article is an absorbent article for women (for example, a sanitary napkin, a tampon, a panty liner, a light incontinence pad, and the like), but the disposable wearing article is not necessarily limited to an absorbent article for women, and may be a disposable article such as a disposable product like a mask, or a disposable menstrual cup. In addition, although there are currently various types of absorbent articles for women, the second embodiment is directed to a daily absorbent article among absorbent articles for women, in particular, in consideration of the labor hours of women.

In the second embodiment below, the organization is a general enterprise, but the organization is not necessarily limited to a general enterprise, and may be, for example, an educational institution (kindergarten, school, university, etc.), a medical institution, a store, or the like. In the second embodiment below, a general company may be simply referred to as a "company".

[ 5. about management System ]

An example of information processing according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 7 and 8, but before that, a management system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the management system 1 according to the second embodiment. As shown in fig. 9, the management system 1 according to the second embodiment includes a providing apparatus APx, an organization apparatus 10-x, and a management apparatus 100. The providing device APx, the organizing device 10-x, and the management device 100 are connected via the network N so as to be able to communicate by wire or wirelessly.

The supply device APx is a device having a function of discharging the stored absorbent articles, and is a so-called vending machine dedicated to absorbent articles. A merchant (referred to as "merchant T") who manages the management apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment (or a company related to the merchant T) provides the providing apparatus APx to a company contracted with the merchant T. The supply device APx is installed in, for example, a feminine makeup room (a feminine hygiene room). The providing apparatus APx has a function of reading user information (for example, user ID) indicating a user (staff), and when receiving an input of the user information, transmits the received user information to the management apparatus 100 together with the identification information of the own apparatus.

The supply device APx is provided with a "recommended article button" for discharging the most suitable absorbent article suitable for the user himself/herself and a "selection button" for discharging the absorbent article selected by the user among the absorbent articles displayed. For example, there is one "recommended goods button" per providing device APx, and one "selection button" for each absorbent article displayed, for example. The most suitable absorbent article for the user himself/herself is a product estimated by the management device 100 in advance through an estimation process (e.g., step S14 of fig. 7) described later.

In the second embodiment below, when it is necessary to separately describe the supply device APx, an arbitrary numerical value is input to "x" to be distinguished. For example, fig. 8 shows AP11 as an example of the providing apparatus APx. On the other hand, in the case where it is not necessary to distinguish the providing apparatus APx, it is directly described or simply described as the providing apparatus.

The organization apparatus 10-x is an information processing terminal used in a company. The organizing device 10-x is, for example, a smart phone, a tablet terminal, a notebook PC (Personal Computer), a desktop PC, a mobile phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or the like. The organization apparatus 10-x transmits organization information indicating an organization to which the apparatus belongs and user information indicating a user belonging to the organization to the management apparatus 100 according to an operation of the worker.

In the second embodiment described below, when the providing apparatus APx needs to be described separately for each organization, an arbitrary numerical value is input to "x" to distinguish it. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, organization device 10-x used in company CP1 is described as organization device 10-1, and organization device 10-x used in company CP2 is described as organization device 10-2. On the other hand, without distinguishing the tissue device 10-x, it is directly described or simply described as a tissue device.

[ 6 ] about the storage section ]

Next, the storage unit shown in fig. 7 will be described. Here, the device information storage unit 121 and the article information storage unit 122 in the storage unit included in the management device 100 will be described.

[ 6-1. about the device information storage section ]

The device information storage unit 121 stores information on a providing device APx provided to an organization based on a contract between the organization and a merchant T. In the example of fig. 7, the device information storage unit 121 has items such as "company ID", "device ID", and "installation position".

The "company ID" indicates identification information for identifying a company (an example of an organization) that has contracted with the merchant T. The "company ID" is an example of organization information. In addition, the contract is a contract in which the merchant T provides the company identified by the "company ID" with absorbent articles according to, for example, a use charge per month from the company. The contract content of the contract includes the number of the supply devices APx installed in the company, the installation location of the supply devices APx in the company, and the types (performance types, product series, and the like) of the absorbent articles supplied via the supply devices APx. Thus, sometimes contract content differs for each company.

The "device ID" indicates identification information identifying the providing device APx set at the company identified by the "company ID". The "setting position" indicates a setting position where the providing device APx is set in the company identified by the "company ID". The providing device APx is usually installed in each of the women's makeup rooms, and hence the "installation position" is defined by a set of floor information (e.g., the number of floors) and makeup room information (e.g., the room number), for example.

[ 6-2. about article information storage section ]

The article information storage unit 122 is a storage unit for managing article information indicating an absorbent article corresponding to a contract of an organization indicated by the organization information in association with the organization information and the user information. In this case, as shown in fig. 7, the article information storage unit 122 has items such as "company ID", "user ID", and "article information".

The "company ID" is identification information for identifying a company (an example of an organization) contracted with the merchant T, and is an example of organization information. The "user ID" indicates user information indicating a user belonging to a company identified by the "company ID". According to such a case, the expression of the user can be replaced with a worker or a staff member. In the second embodiment, the "user ID" is a staff ID issued by a company identified by the "company ID". Further, assuming that the user has a magnetic card (employee ID) in which a user ID as personal information is embedded, the providing device APx has the following functions: when the employee ID is inserted (input), the user ID is read from the employee ID, and the user ID is input.

The "article information" indicates an agreed absorbent article (absorbent article corresponding to the contract) provided by the merchant T to the company identified by the "company ID" via the providing device APx in the contract. The "article information" may be any information that can uniquely identify the absorbent article, such as a product name and a product ID of the absorbent article. The "article information" may indicate an optimal absorbent article suitable for each user among the absorbent articles corresponding to the contract. As described above, the management device 100 estimates the most suitable absorbent article for the user in advance through the estimation process (e.g., step S14 of fig. 7).

[ 7 ] an example of information processing ]

An example of information processing according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 7 and 8. Fig. 7 is a diagram focusing on a management process in the information processing according to the second embodiment, in which organization information, user information, and article information are managed in association with each other. In fig. 8, description will be made focusing on a control process in the information processing according to the second embodiment, in which when user information is received from the providing device APx, article information managed in association with a user indicated by the user information is specified, and the providing device APx is caused to discharge an absorbent article indicated by the article information.

[ 7-1 ] example of management processing ]

First, an example of the management processing according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the management processing according to the second embodiment. In the example of fig. 7, companies CP1 and CP2 are shown as examples of organizations. In the example of fig. 7, an example is shown in which the organization device 10-1 is used by the user U1x of the representative company CP 1. In the example of fig. 7, an example is shown in which the organization device 10-2 is used by the user U2x of the representative company CP 2. In addition, in the example of fig. 7, a contract T1 is made between the company CP1 and the merchant T as an example of a contract to the effect that the merchant T provides the absorbent article to the company CP1 via the providing device APx. In addition, in the example of fig. 7, a contract T2 is made between the company CP2 and the merchant T as an example of a contract to the effect that the merchant T provides the absorbent article to the company CP2 via the providing device APx.

An example of the management processing according to the second embodiment will be described below by taking the company CP1 as an example, but other companies such as the company CP2 also perform the same management processing.

For example, the contract T1 specifies what type of the providing device Apx is provided in the company CP1 and how many devices are provided, and what position in the company CP1 the providing device Apx is provided, and what type of absorbent article (performance type, product series, etc.) is provided via the providing device Apx.

Here, based on the example of the device information storage unit 121 shown in fig. 7, the company ID (an example of organization information) "CP 1" corresponds to the device ID "AP 11" and the installation location "FL 1-S". This example shows an example in which the contract T1 determines that the providing device AP11 is installed at the installation location "FL 1-S" (for example, a south side woman' S toilet on one floor) of the company CP 1. Further, the company ID (an example of organization information) "CP 1" is associated with the device ID "AP 12" and the installation location "FL 1-N" based on the example of the device information storage unit 121 shown in fig. 7. This example shows an example in which the contract T1 determines that the providing device AP12 is installed at the installation location "FL 1-N" (for example, the northern women's dressing room on one floor) of the company CP 1. In addition, based on the example of the device information storage section 121 shown in fig. 7, the company ID (an example of organization information) "CP 1" corresponds to the device ID "AP 13" and the installation location "FL 2-S". This example shows an example in which the contract T1 determines that the providing device AP13 is installed at the installation location "FL 2-S" (for example, the south side woman' S toilet on the second floor) of the company CP 1.

In this state, the user U1x, which is a representative of the company CP1, uses the organization apparatus 10-1 to transmit the company ID "CP 1" for identifying the company CP1 to the management apparatus 100 in association with the user IDs "U11, U12 …" for identifying the users (staff) belonging to the company CP1 (step S11). In other words, the organization apparatus 10-1 transmits the company ID "CP 1" and the user IDs "U11, U12 …" for identifying the users (staff) belonging to the company CP1 to the management apparatus 100 in association with each other in accordance with the operation of the user U1 x. Further, each user may transmit a user ID to the management apparatus 100 in a state of being associated with the company ID.

When receiving the company ID and the user ID from the company CP1, the management device 100 manages the company ID received from the company CP1 in association with the user ID in the article information storage unit 122 (step S12). For example, in the management device 100, as in the article information storage unit 122 shown in fig. 7, the user ID of each user is registered in association with the company ID "CP 1", and the company ID received from the company CP1 is managed in association with the user ID.

Further, the user U1x uses the organization device 10-1 to transmit the company ID "CP 1" for identifying the company CP1 and the body information (for example, the health diagnosis result) of each user belonging to the company CP1 to the management device 100 in association with each other (step S13). In other words, the organization apparatus 10-1 transmits the company ID "CP 1" and the body information of each user belonging to the company CP1 to the management apparatus 100 in association with each other in accordance with the operation of the user U1 x. Further, each physical information is associated with a user ID so that which physical information is which user can be identified. In addition, the timing at which the body information is transmitted is not limited. For example, the body information may be transmitted together with the company ID and the user ID in step S11. Further, each user may transmit the body information to the management apparatus 100 in a state in which the body information is associated with the company ID.

Then, upon receiving the body information from the company CP1, the management device 100 performs an estimation process for each user to estimate an absorbent article corresponding to the body information of the user (step S14). Since the company CP1 determines the absorbent articles that can be provided in the contract T1, the management device 100 estimates, for each user, the absorbent articles corresponding to the physical information of the user among the absorbent articles corresponding to the contract contents indicated by the contract T1.

For example, the management device 100 estimates the size of the absorbent article having the estimated size as the absorbent article corresponding to the body information of the user by estimating the size that fits best to the body size indicated by the body information among the sizes of the absorbent articles. Further, since people with trouble such as leakage or frequent urination tend to increase with age, the management device 100 estimates the absorption force corresponding to the age indicated by the body information among the absorption capacities of the absorbent articles, and thereby estimates that the absorbent article having the estimated absorption force is an absorbent article corresponding to the body information of the user. For example, the management device 100 can estimate, for a user estimated to have skin troubles based on physical information (for example, allergic constitution), an absorbent article of a skin-friendly type (for example, 100% cotton type) as an absorbent article corresponding to the physical information of the user. The absorbent article according to the body information of the user is not limited to the above example.

Next, the management device 100 manages the article information storage unit 122 by associating the article information indicating the absorbent article estimated by the user indicated by the user ID with the group of the company ID and the user ID (step S15).

For example, in step S14, the management device 100 estimates that the absorbent article corresponding to the body information of the user U1 (the absorbent article most suitable for the user U11) of the user U1 belonging to the company CP1 is the absorbent article OB 1-1. In this example, the management device 100 manages organization information, user information, and article information by registering article information "OB 1-1" indicating an absorbent article OB1-1 in association with a group of company ID "CP 1" and user ID "U11" as in the article information storage unit 122 shown in fig. 7. In step S14, the management device 100 estimates that the absorbent article corresponding to the body information of the user U12 (the absorbent article most suitable for the user U12) of the user U12 belonging to the company CP1 is the absorbent article OB 1-3. In this example, the management device 100 manages organization information, user information, and article information by registering article information "OB 1-3" indicating an absorbent article OB1-3 in association with a group of company ID "CP 1" and user ID "U12" as in the article information storage unit 122 shown in fig. 7.

The management device 100 may manage the article information (for example, default article information) of all absorbent articles corresponding to the contract content indicated by the contract, in association with the company ID and the user ID, respectively, and the article information indicating the absorbent article estimated to be most suitable for each user.

[ 7-2 ] an example of control processing ]

Next, an example of the control processing according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the control processing according to the second embodiment. In fig. 8, although an example of the control processing according to the second embodiment is described by taking a company CP1 as an example, other companies such as a company CP2 also perform control processing of the same content. Fig. 8 shows a situation where a user U11 obtains an absorbent article by using a supply device AP11 provided in a feminine makeup room FL 1-S.

The user U11 can receive the absorbent article from the providing apparatus AP11, for example, when the user has authenticated the identity of the user U11 who is a clerk of the company CP1 by inserting the employee certificate of the user into a detection unit (e.g., a reader) of the providing apparatus AP 11. Therefore, the user U11 first inserts his employee ID into the detection unit of the providing apparatus AP11, and inputs the user ID into the providing apparatus AP11 (step S21). The providing device AP11 receives the input of the user ID by reading the user ID from the employee ID via the detection unit (step S22). In the example of fig. 8, the providing apparatus AP11 is assumed to receive an input of the user ID "U11".

When receiving the user ID input, the providing apparatus AP11 transmits the apparatus ID of its own apparatus, i.e., the apparatus ID "AP 11", to the management apparatus 100 in association with the received user ID "U11" (step S23).

Upon receiving the access from the providing apparatus AP11, the management apparatus 100 performs an authentication process for authenticating that the user U11 is the user U11 who is a clerk of the company CP1 (step S24). For example, the management device 100 can perform an authentication process using a company ID as a key with reference to the device information storage unit 121 and the article information storage unit 122.

In the example of fig. 8, the management device 100 receives the set of the device ID "AP 11" and the user ID "U11", and first refers to the device information storage unit 121 to determine which company device the providing device AP11 identified by the device ID "AP 11" is installed in. In the example of the device information storage section 121 shown in fig. 7, the device ID "AP 11" corresponds to the company ID "CP 1". Therefore, the management device 100 determines the providing device AP11 identified by the device ID "AP 11" as a device provided to the company CP 1.

Further, the management device 100 refers to the article information storage unit 122 to specify to which company the user U11 identified by the user ID "U11" belongs. In the example of the article information storage unit 122 shown in fig. 7, the user ID "U11" corresponds to the company ID "CP 1". Therefore, the management device 100 identifies the user U11 identified by the user ID "U11" as a user belonging to the company CP 1.

Based on this example, the device ID "AP 11" is associated with the user ID "U11" with the company ID "CP 1" as a key. When the association is established in this manner, the management apparatus 100 authenticates the user U11 as the user U11 who is a clerk of the company CP 1.

Here, when the device ID "AP 11" cannot be associated with the user ID "U11" using the company ID "CP 1" as a key and the user identity of the user U11 cannot be authenticated (authentication failure (NG)), the management device 100 performs control such that the providing device AP11 outputs an error (step S25-1). On the other hand, in the present example (authentication success (OK)) in which the device ID "AP 11" is associated with the user ID "U11" using the company ID "CP 1" as a key to authenticate the user of the user U11, the management device 100 controls the providing device AP11 to activate the respective buttons (step S25-2). Specifically, the management device 100 controls the providing device AP11 such that the "recommended merchandise button" and the "selection button" provided in the providing device AP11 are activated. Such control is performed by, for example, the device control unit 135 (fig. 9).

The user U11 specifies a desired absorbent article using the activated button when the self-identity is authenticated and the button is activated (step S26). For example, the user U11 designates to discharge the absorbent article estimated to be the most suitable for himself/herself by pressing the "recommended article button". In this case, the providing device AP11 transmits the device ID "AP 11" and the user ID "U11" to the management device 100 (step S27).

Upon receiving the access from providing device AP11, management device 100 refers to article information storage unit 122 to specify article information managed in association with the user indicated by user ID "U11" (step S28). For example, the management device 100 specifies, in the article information storage unit 122, article information indicating an absorbent article estimated for the user U11, from among the article information managed in association with the user U11 indicated by the user ID "U11". In the example of the article information storage unit 122 shown in fig. 7, the absorbent article OB1-1 is estimated to be an absorbent article corresponding to the body information of the user U11. Thus, management device 100 specifies article information "OB 1-1" among the article information managed in correspondence with user U11 indicated by user ID "U11".

In addition, the management apparatus 100 lists the delivery history IDs in the use history storage unit 123 (fig. 5) described later, and registers the use histories in association with the listed history IDs (step S29). For example, when the management device 100 obtains the absorbent article OB1-1, the usage history indicating that the user U11 has used the providing device AP11 is registered in association with the history ID. For example, the management device 100 registers the use history indicating the device ID "AP 11", the date and time of acquisition (use date and time) of the absorbent article OB1-1, the article information "OB 1-1" indicating the acquired absorbent article OB1-1, and the number of acquired absorbent articles OB 1-1.

Further, the management device 100 acquires the absorbent article OB1-1 via the providing device AP11 at this time with the user U11 and updates the "stock count" in the stock information storage unit 125 (fig. 7) described later (step S30). For example, the management device 100 updates the "stock quantity" corresponding to the business item "OB 1-1" among the "stock quantities" corresponding to the device ID "AP 11". For example, when the user U11 specifies that one absorbent article OB1-1 is to be discharged, the management device 100 updates the value indicated by the "stock quantity" corresponding to the business article "OB 1-1" to a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the value.

Then, the management device 100 controls the providing device AP11 to discharge the absorbent article indicated by the article information determined in step S28 (step S31). Specifically, the management device 100 controls the supply device AP11 to discharge the absorbent article OB1-1 indicated by the article information "OB 1-1".

The providing device AP11 discharges (provides) the absorbent article indicated by the article information determined in step S28, according to the control of the management device 100 (step S32). Specifically, the supply device AP11 discharges the absorbent article OB1-1 indicated by the article information "OB 1-1".

Thus, the user U11 obtains the absorbent article OB1-1 which is an absorbent article estimated to be the most suitable for himself.

When the user obtains the absorbent article estimated by the management apparatus 100, the user can evaluate whether or not the obtained absorbent article is suitable for himself/herself with respect to the management apparatus 100. For example, the user can evaluate the absorbent article estimated to be most suitable for himself/herself on a predetermined application (hereinafter referred to as "application AP") corresponding to the management apparatus 100 or a predetermined web page related to the management apparatus 100. Further, the management device 100 changes the currently estimated absorbent article to a more suitable absorbent article according to the evaluation result based on the evaluation result, and registers article information indicating the changed absorbent article in the article information storage unit 122.

In the example of fig. 8, the user U11 transmits evaluation information in which the absorbent article OB1-1 was evaluated to the management apparatus 100 along with the acquisition of the absorbent article OB1-1 (step S33). For example, when the evaluation information indicates the evaluation content such as "inflammation is likely to be induced", the management apparatus 100 changes from the absorbent article OB1-1 to the absorbent article OB1-2 which is another product having a better tactile sensation. For example, management device 100 changes the article information corresponding to user ID "U11" from "OB 1-1" to "OB 1-2" in article information storage 122.

As described so far with reference to fig. 7, the management device 100 according to the second embodiment receives organization information indicating an organization in which a contract to provide an absorbent article to a subordinate user is contracted in advance and user information indicating a user belonging to the organization. The management device 100 manages the article information indicating the absorbent articles corresponding to the contract of the organization indicated by the organization information in association with the received organization information and user information. Thus, the management device 100 can support creation of an environment in which a user belonging to an organization can easily obtain an absorbent article without being aware of a peripheral sight, for example. That is, the management device 100 can create an environment in the organization in which the absorbent article can be provided in a more appropriate manner. As a result, the management apparatus 100 can sufficiently realize a welfare treatment that can support the social development of women in an organization.

As described with reference to fig. 8, the management device 100 according to the second embodiment identifies the article information managed in association with the user indicated by the user information when receiving the user information from the providing device having the function of discharging the stored disposable wearing article. Then, the management device 100 controls the supply device to discharge the absorbent article indicated by the specified article information. Thus, the management device 100 can provide an absorbent article more suitable for the user among the absorbent articles corresponding to the contract.

Fig. 8 shows the following example: when the identity of the user is authenticated, the management device 100 activates the button to allow the user to specify a desired absorbent article. However, the management system 1 may be configured as follows: when a desired absorbent article is specified at the timing of insertion of the employee certificate, the providing device APx transmits article information corresponding to the specification together with the user ID to the management device 100, and when the authentication of the management device 100 is obtained, the absorbent article indicated by the article information corresponding to the specification is discharged. In this example, the management apparatus 100 may not perform control related to activation of the button.

The input method of inputting the user ID to the providing device APx is not limited to the insertion of the employee ID. For example, by assigning a dedicated card including the user ID registered in the article information storage unit 122 as identification information to the user indicated by the user ID, the user can insert the dedicated card into the supply device APx, or manually input the user ID described in the dedicated card to the supply device APx.

[ 8. variants on information processing ]

The management device 100 according to the second embodiment may be implemented in various different ways other than the second embodiment. Here, another embodiment of the management apparatus 100 will be described below.

[ 8-1. for authentication processing ]

In the second embodiment, the example in which the management apparatus 100 performs the authentication process using the company ID (organization information) as a key in response to the user reading the user ID from the employee certificate is described. However, the management apparatus 100 may perform the authentication process with the user using his/her own information processing terminal (for example, a smartphone) as a trigger. In such a case, it is assumed that each "user ID" is also associated with the "terminal ID" of the information processing terminal owned by the user indicated by the "user ID" in the article information storage unit 122. For example, when the user U11 inserts its own information processing terminal into a dedicated reader associated with the company CP1, the reader transmits a terminal ID to the management apparatus 100, and the management apparatus 100 performs authentication by matching the terminal ID received from the reader with the terminal ID stored in the article information storage unit 122. When the authentication is obtained by the matching, the management apparatus 100 generates a QR code (registered trademark) and transmits the generated QR code to the information processing terminal of the user U11. In this state, the user U11 causes the providing device AP11 to read the QR code and specify a desired absorbent article. The flow of the subsequent processing is the same as that after step S26 of fig. 8, and therefore is omitted.

In addition, although the example in which the management device 100 performs the authentication process is described in the second embodiment, the authentication process may be performed by the providing device Apx. In this case, the providing apparatus APx includes, for example, a copy of the information stored in the apparatus information storage unit 121 and a copy of the information stored in the article information storage unit 122.

[ 8-2. regarding user selection ]

In the second embodiment, the management device 100 estimates an absorbent article corresponding to the body information of the user for the user and manages the absorbent article in association with the company ID and the user ID. In addition, the following examples are also shown: by performing such management in advance, the management device 100 specifies, with respect to a user who wants to obtain an absorbent article, an absorbent article estimated for the user among absorbent articles managed in association with the user, thereby providing the specified absorbent article. However, when the user selects any one of the absorbent articles displayed in the providing apparatus APx, the management apparatus 100 may specify, in the article information storage unit 122, the selected article information among the article information managed in association with the user. The management device 100 may control the supply device APx to discharge the absorbent article indicated by the specified article information. This point will be described with reference to the example of fig. 8.

In this example, when the user U11 authenticates himself/herself and activates the button, the activated button is used to designate a desired absorbent article (step S26), but the user U11 does not designate the article by pressing the "recommended article button", but designates the article by pressing the "selection button" corresponding to the absorbent article that he/she is satisfied with among the "selection buttons" corresponding to the absorbent articles displayed in the providing apparatus AP 11. Here, the user U11 presses a selection button corresponding to the absorbent article OB 1-2.

Then, the providing device AP11 transmits the device ID "AP 11", the user ID "U11", and the article information "OB 1-2" to the management device 100. When receiving the access from the providing apparatus AP11, the management apparatus 100 specifies the article information "OB 1-2" indicating the selected absorbent article OB1-2 among the article information managed in association with the user U11 indicated by the user ID "U11" in the article information storage unit 122. Then, the management device 100 controls the supply device AP11 to discharge the absorbent article OB1-2 indicated by the article information "OB 1-2".

Thus, the user can obtain the most suitable absorbent article even if the user does not know the absorbent article suitable for him/her, and can obtain a preferable absorbent article as desired. In this case, the management device 100 according to the second embodiment can improve the convenience in obtaining the absorbent article.

[ 8-3 ] about recommendation (1) ]

Further, the management device 100 may present the article information indicating the absorbent articles estimated for each user to the user as recommended articles obtained using the providing device APx. In the example of fig. 7, the management device 100 estimates the absorbent article OB1-1 as an absorbent article corresponding to the body information of the user U11 based on the body information of the user U11. Thus, the management device 100 presents the absorbent article OB1-1 to the user U11 as a recommended article obtained using the providing device AP11 provided at the company CP 1. For example, in a case where the information processing terminal of the user U1 has the application AP installed, the management apparatus 100 presents information indicating the absorbent article OB1-1 together with a title such as "recommended merchandise for you" or the like via the application AP. Further, the management device 100 may push and notify information indicating the absorbent article OB 1-1.

Thus, the management device 100 according to the second embodiment can help the user to specify a desired absorbent article without confusion when the user wants to obtain an absorbent article using the providing device APx, and thus can improve the convenience in obtaining an absorbent article.

[ 8-4 ] about recommendation (2) ]

As described above, the management device 100 proposes not only the absorbent articles corresponding to the physical information of the user but also, for example, presents the absorbent articles corresponding to the work schedule, the economic situation, and the preference of the user to the user as recommended articles obtained using the providing device APx. Using the example of fig. 7, the management device 100 estimates absorbent articles according to the schedule, preference, and the like of the user U11, and presents the estimated absorbent articles to the user U11 as recommended products obtained using the providing device AP 11.

For example, the management device 100 estimates the ease of replacement of the absorbent article based on the schedule of action of the user U11. For example, the management device 100 estimates the ease of replacement of the absorbent article based on the time zone of action (whether daytime or nighttime), the action content, or the amount of action. The management device 100 may also acquire exercise information indicating the exercise amount of the user U11, body shape information indicating the body shape of the user U11, and preference information indicating the preference of the user U11.

In this state, the management device 100 uses the absorption amount, the thickness, the length, the color, the pattern, and the fragrance as the conditions of recommended articles, and estimates the absorbent articles that satisfy the conditions based on the ease of replacement of the absorbent article corresponding to the user U11, the exercise amount information, the body shape information, and the taste information. That is, the management device 100 estimates what absorbent article is suitable for the user U11 based on the ease of replacement of the absorbent article corresponding to the user U11, the exercise amount information, the body shape information, and the preference information. Then, the management device 100 presents the estimated absorbent article as a recommended article to the user U11.

[ 9. Structure of management device ]

Next, a management device 100 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the management device 100 according to the second embodiment. As shown in fig. 10, the management device 100 includes a communication unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a control unit 130.

(communication section 110)

The communication unit 110 is realized by, for example, an NIC (Network Interface Card) or the like. The communication unit 110 is connected to the network N by wire or wireless, and transmits and receives information to and from the organization apparatus 10-x and the providing apparatus APx, for example.

(with respect to the storage section 120)

The storage unit 120 is implemented by, for example, a semiconductor Memory element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a flash Memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk. The storage unit 120 includes an apparatus information storage unit 121, an article information storage unit 122, a use history storage unit 123, a user information storage unit 124, and an inventory information storage unit 125.

(storage part 123 for usage history)

The usage history storage unit 123 stores the usage history of the absorbent article obtained by the use providing device APx. Here, an example of the use history storage unit 123 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 11. In the example of fig. 11, the use history storage unit 123 has items such as "company ID", "user ID", "history ID", and "use history".

The "company ID" is identification information for identifying a company (an example of an organization) contracted with the merchant T, and is an example of organization information. The "user ID" indicates user information of a user belonging to a company identified by the "company ID".

The "history ID" is identification information for identifying a usage history of the absorbent article, which is a usage history for each user, by using the primary disposal apparatus Apx. The "usage history" represents a series of information such as which supply apparatus Apx has acquired which absorbent article at what time and several absorbent articles as a history.

Further, the "usage history" indicates the "acquired status" of the absorbent article for the user using the providing apparatus APx.

That is, the example of fig. 11 shows the following example: the user U11 belonging to the company CP1 obtained an absorbent article with the content indicated by the use history "RDA 111" as the use history identified by the history ID "RID 111". In this regard, when the example of fig. 8 is used, the utilization history "RDA 111" identified by the history ID "RID 111" represents, for example, the device ID "AP 11", the date and time (utilization date and time) of acquisition of the absorbent article OB1-1, the article information "OB 1-1" representing the acquired absorbent article OB1-1, and the number "1" of acquired absorbent articles OB 1-1.

(user information storage 124)

The user information storage unit 124 stores various kinds of information estimated based on the "acquisition status" (usage history) of the absorbent article acquired by the user using the providing device APx. Here, an example of the user information storage unit 124 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 12. In the example of fig. 12, the user information storage unit 124 has items such as "company ID", "user ID", "menstrual period information", and "frequency information".

The "company ID" is identification information for identifying a company (an example of an organization) contracted with the merchant T, and is an example of organization information. The "user ID" indicates user information indicating a user belonging to a company identified by the "company ID".

The "physiological period information" is information estimated based on the "acquisition status" (use history) of the absorbent article acquired by the user using the providing device APx, and indicates physiological period information estimated about the physiological period of the user. The "physiological period information" is information indicating, for example, a physiological period cycle (physiological period calendar), a condition during the physiological period (for example, whether the physiological period is long or short), a menstrual condition (for example, whether or not menstruation is excessive), and the like. Needless to say, the physiological period information is not limited thereto. The "physiological period information" is estimated by the second estimation unit 136, which will be described later.

The "frequency information" is information estimated based on the "acquisition status" (use history) of the absorbent article acquired by the user using the providing device APx, and is information indicating the use frequency of the absorbent article by the user. The "frequency information" is, for example, information indicating the frequency (number) of times the absorbent article is used every predetermined period (for example, one week or one month), that is, the usage frequency or the tendency of the usage frequency. The "frequency information" is estimated by the second estimating unit 136 described later.

That is, the following example is shown in the example of fig. 12: the user U11 belonging to the company CP1 is conceptually estimated as the circadian-phase information "MIF 111" and is also estimated as the frequency information "FIF 111".

(storage information storage 125)

The stock information storage unit 125 stores information indicating the stock status of the absorbent articles in the supply device APx. Here, an example of the inventory information storage unit 125 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 13. In the example of fig. 13, the inventory information storage unit 125 has items such as "company ID", "device ID", "operation item", "inventory amount", and "replenishment timing".

The "company ID" is identification information for identifying a company (an example of an organization) contracted with the merchant T, and is an example of organization information. The "device ID" indicates identification information for identifying the providing device APx set at the company identified by the "company ID".

The "management article" is information indicating an absorbent article managed by the providing apparatus APx identified by the "apparatus ID", that is, an absorbent article held in the providing apparatus APx identified by the "apparatus ID". The following example is shown in the example of fig. 13: in providing apparatus AP11 provided in company CP1, absorbent article OB1-1, absorbent article OB1-2, absorbent article OB1-3, and absorbent article OB1-4 are stored, and thereby providing apparatus AP11 is in a state in which these absorbent articles can be provided.

The "stock quantity" indicates the current stock quantity of the "business item" in the providing apparatus APx identified by the "apparatus ID". The "replenishment timing" is a timing predicted based on the variation of the "stock quantity" of the supply device APx identified by the "device ID", and indicates a timing at which the supply device APx is caused to replenish the absorbent article. The "replenishment timing" is predicted by the prediction unit 139 described later. The timing at which the supply device APx is caused to replenish the absorbent article can be said to be the timing at which the absorbent article in the supply device APx is used up.

That is, the example of fig. 13 shows the following example: since it is predicted that absorbent article OB1-1 provided in providing apparatus AP11 of company CP1 runs out on date "DAY 1", supplement date "DAY 1" is conceptually predicted for providing apparatus AP11 as the timing of supplementing absorbent article OB 1-1.

(control section 40)

Returning to fig. 10, control Unit 130 is realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), or the like, executing various programs stored in a storage device inside management device 100 using a RAM as a work area. The control unit 130 is realized by an Integrated Circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

As shown in fig. 10, the control unit 130 includes a receiving unit 131, a management unit 132, a first estimating unit 133, a specifying unit 134, a device control unit 135, a second estimating unit 136, an output control unit 137, a notification unit 138, and a prediction unit 139, and realizes or executes the functions and functions of information processing described below. The internal configuration of the control unit 130 is not limited to the configuration shown in fig. 10, and may be another configuration for performing information processing described later. The connection relationship of the processing units included in the control unit 130 is not limited to the connection relationship shown in fig. 10, and may be another connection relationship.

(concerning the receiving part 131)

The receiving unit 131 receives organization information indicating an organization in which a contract to provide a user who belongs to the organization with a disposable wearing article is preliminarily agreed, and user information indicating a user who belongs to the organization. For example, the receiving unit 131 receives user information indicating a user from an organization before receiving the user information from the providing apparatus APx in accordance with the use of the providing apparatus APx by the user. Thus, the management device 100 can perform an authentication process for authenticating the identity of the user when the user uses the providing device APx.

The receiving unit 131 may also receive body information of the user. The receiving unit 131 may receive an access from the providing apparatus APx. As described with reference to fig. 8, when receiving an input of user information from a user, the providing apparatus APx transmits the received user information and an apparatus ID for identifying the apparatus itself to the management apparatus 100. In this case, the receiving unit 131 receives the device ID and the user information transmitted from the providing device APx. When the user selects a desired absorbent article, the receiving unit 131 also receives article information indicating the selected absorbent article. The receiving portion 131 can also receive the number of disposable wearing articles (required number) required by the user.

(concerning the management section 132)

The management unit 132 manages the item information indicating the disposable wearing article corresponding to the contract of the organization indicated by the organization information in association with the organization information and the user information received by the receiving unit 131. When the first estimation unit 133 estimates the disposable wearing article corresponding to the body information of the user for each user indicated by the user information, the management unit 132 manages the article information indicating the disposable wearing article estimated by the first estimation unit 133 for the user indicated by the user information in association with the user information. In this regard, as described with reference to fig. 7, the management unit 132 manages organization information, user information, and article information by registering article information indicating the disposable wearing article (article information indicating the disposable wearing article estimated by the first estimation unit 133) in the article information storage unit 122 in association with a group of organization information and user information.

The management unit 132 manages the estimated physiological period information regarding the physiological period of the user estimated based on the acquisition status of the disposable wearing article acquired by the user using the providing device, in association with the user information indicating the user. For example, the management unit 132 manages the user information and the physiological period information by registering the estimated physiological period information in the user information storage unit 124 in association with the group of the tissue information and the user information.

The management unit 132 manages frequency information indicating the frequency of use of the disposable wearing article by the user, which is estimated based on the state of acquisition of the disposable wearing article by the user using the providing apparatus, in association with user information indicating the user. For example, the management unit 132 manages the user information and the frequency information by registering the estimated frequency information in the user information storage unit 124 in association with the group of the organization information and the user information.

The management unit 132 manages the stock number of the disposable wearing articles calculated based on the acquisition status of the disposable wearing articles acquired by the user using the supply device, for each supply device. For example, the management unit 132 associates "stock quantity" with "device ID" and "management item" in the stock information storage unit 125, thereby managing the stock quantity of disposable wearing items. For example, when the item information indicating the disposable wearing article to be discharged from the supply device is specified by the specifying unit 134, the management unit 132 updates the "stock quantity" corresponding to the "device ID" for identifying the supply device and the "management item" indicating the disposable wearing article to be discharged, based on the required number of users.

The management unit 132 manages, for each supply device, date information indicating a timing at which the supply device is to be replenished with the disposable wearing article, which is predicted based on a change in the stock quantity of the supply device. For example, the management unit 132 manages the timing of replenishing the disposable wearing article by associating "replenishment timing" with "device ID" and "management article" in the inventory information storage unit 125. For example, when the prediction unit 139 predicts the timing for replenishing the disposable wearing article with the supply device (the timing for running out of the disposable wearing article in the supply device), the management unit 132 registers the prediction result of the prediction unit 139 with respect to the "replenishment timing" corresponding to the "device ID" for identifying the supply device and the "business article" as the prediction target.

In addition, the management section 132 may also manage position information indicating the installation position of the installation providing apparatus. For example, the management unit 132 manages, for each providing apparatus provided in an organization, position information of the providing apparatus in association with organization information indicating the organization. As described with reference to fig. 7, for example, the management unit 132 manages the device position in association with the organization information and the device ID in the device information storage unit 121.

Further, the management section 132 manages article information indicating an absorbent article corresponding to contract contents in a contract as a disposable wearing article. The management unit 132 manages article information indicating an absorbent article for women, which is a disposable wearing article. The management unit 132 manages article information indicating a daily absorbent article among absorbent articles for women.

(regarding the first estimating section 133)

The first estimating unit 133 estimates, for each user indicated by user information indicating a user belonging to an organization in which a contract for providing a disposable wearing article is agreed in advance, a disposable wearing article corresponding to the body information of the user.

For example, the first estimating unit 133 estimates, for each user, a disposable wearing article corresponding to the body information of the user among disposable wearing articles corresponding to the contract content indicated by the contract. For example, the first estimating unit 133 estimates the size of the disposable wearing article having the estimated size as the disposable wearing article corresponding to the body information of the user by estimating the size that fits best to the body size indicated by the body information among the sizes of the disposable wearing article. The first estimating unit 133 estimates the absorption force corresponding to the age indicated by the body information in the absorption capacity of the disposable wearing article, and thereby estimates the disposable wearing article having the estimated absorption force as the disposable wearing article corresponding to the body information of the user. For example, the first estimating unit 133 estimates, for a user estimated to have skin troubles based on the physical information (for example, allergic constitution), a disposable wearing article of a skin-friendly type (for example, 100% cotton type) as a disposable wearing article corresponding to the physical information of the user.

The first estimating unit 133 may present the item information indicating the disposable wearing article estimated for each user to the user as a recommended product obtained using the providing device. Accordingly, the first estimating unit 133 may be a processing unit corresponding to the presenting unit.

(determination section 134)

When receiving the user information from the providing device, the specifying unit 134 specifies the article information managed in association with the user indicated by the user information. For example, when receiving user information from the providing device, the specifying unit 134 specifies article information indicating a disposable wearing article corresponding to the body information of the user among the article information managed in association with the user indicated by the user information.

For example, when receiving the user information from the providing apparatus, the specifying unit 134 specifies the article information indicating the disposable wearing article estimated by the first estimating unit 133 for the user among the article information managed in association with the user indicated by the user information. In the example of fig. 8, when the user information is received from the providing apparatus in response to the user pressing the "recommended article button", the specifying unit 134 specifies the article information indicating the disposable wearing article estimated by the first estimating unit 133 for the user among the article information managed in association with the user indicated by the user information.

When receiving the user information from the providing device, the specifying unit 134 specifies the article information indicating the disposable wearing article selected by the user using the providing device, among the article information managed in association with the user indicated by the user information. In the example of fig. 8, when the user presses the "selection button" and the user information and the article information corresponding to the "selection button" are received from the providing apparatus, the specifying unit 134 specifies the article information corresponding to the "selection button" among the article information managed in association with the user indicated by the user information.

(device control section 135)

The device control section 135 controls the supply device so that the disposable wearing article indicated by the article information specified by the specifying section 134 is discharged. As described with reference to fig. 8, the device control unit 135 may control activation of the button of the providing device based on the result of the authentication of the user with respect to the user. For example, when the identity of the user is not authenticated, the device control unit 135 controls the providing device to output an error. On the other hand, when the identity is authenticated, the device control unit 135 controls the providing device to activate each button. In this case, the device control unit 135 may perform an authentication process for authenticating the identity of the user, and the management device 100 may further include an authentication unit for performing the authentication process.

Further, when the number of disposable wearing articles (required number) obtained by the user using the providing device exceeds a predetermined number, the device control unit 135 controls the providing device so as not to discharge the disposable wearing articles indicated by the article information determined by the determination unit 134, and controls the providing device so as to output a warning. This point will be described with reference to the example of fig. 8. The predetermined number is an upper limit number of the users that can be obtained by the providing device at one time. In the example of fig. 8, it is assumed that the acquisition upper limit number "5" is set in advance in the management apparatus 100.

Here, it is assumed that the user U11 selects the absorbent article OB1-2 and designates the required number "7" in the providing apparatus AP11 in a state where self authentication is completed. In this case, the receiving unit 131 of the management device 100 receives the device ID "AP 11", the user ID "U11", the article information "OB 1-1", and the number information "7". Further, the specifying unit 134 specifies the article information "OB 1-2" indicating the selected absorbent article OB1-2 among the article information managed in association with the user U11 indicated by the user ID "U11" in the article information storage unit 122.

In this state, the device control unit 135 determines whether or not the required number of this time exceeds the acquisition upper limit number "5". In the present example in which the required number "7" is designated, the device control unit 135 determines that the acquisition upper limit number "5" is exceeded. When determining that the acquisition upper limit number "5" is exceeded, the device control unit 135 controls the supply device AP11 not to discharge absorbent articles and to output a warning. According to this control, the providing device AP11 displays or outputs "the number desired to be obtained is excessive in sound, for example. Please reduce the number ", or" the number desired to be obtained is too large. Recommend you to go to a special institution to accept the inspection "and the like. Thus, the management device 100 according to the second embodiment can make the user notice the abnormality in the number to be obtained at a time, and thus can provide an opportunity to revise the physical condition management.

When determining that the required number of articles this time does not exceed the acquisition upper limit number "5", the apparatus control unit 135 performs control so that the supply apparatus AP11 discharges the absorbent articles OB1-2 as a normal process.

(regarding the second estimating section 136)

The second estimating unit 136 estimates the menstrual period information related to the menstrual period of the user based on the acquisition state in which the user has acquired the disposable wearing article using the providing device. For example, the second estimating unit 136 estimates the physiological period information of the user based on the usage history (the usage history stored in the usage history storage unit 123) of the disposable wearing article obtained by the providing apparatus as the obtaining condition of the disposable wearing article obtained by the user using the providing apparatus.

For example, the second estimating unit 136 determines the date and time of acquisition (date and time of use) when the user acquired the disposable wearing article as the menstrual period start date based on the acquisition status, and estimates the menstrual period (menstrual period calendar) of the user as menstrual period information. For example, the second estimating unit 136 may estimate a condition of the physiological period (for example, whether the physiological period is longer or shorter than a reference) and a menstrual condition (for example, whether the menstrual period is excessive compared to the reference) as the physiological period information based on the estimated physiological period. Thus, the management device 100 according to the second embodiment can realize effective physical condition management for the user.

The second estimating unit 136 estimates frequency information indicating the use frequency of the absorbent article by the user based on the acquisition status of the disposable wearing article by the user using the providing device. For example, the second estimating unit 136 estimates frequency information of the user based on the usage history (usage history stored in the usage history storage unit 123) of the disposable wearing article obtained by the usage providing apparatus as the acquisition situation of the disposable wearing article obtained by the usage providing apparatus of the user.

For example, the second estimating unit 136 estimates, as the frequency information, the number of times (number of times) the absorbent article is used for a predetermined period (for example, one week or one month), the usage frequency, or the tendency of the usage frequency, based on the acquired state. The second estimating unit 136 may estimate the condition during the physiological period or the menstrual condition based on the frequency information. Thus, the management device 100 according to the second embodiment can realize effective physical condition management for the user.

For example, the second estimating unit 136 may perform control so that the user can view information estimated for the user. For example, the second estimating section 136 presents the estimated information to the user by means of the application AP.

(about output control part 137)

When the information estimated based on the acquired situation (the information estimated by the second estimating unit 136) satisfies the predetermined condition information, the output control unit 137 performs control so as to output a warning regarding the physical condition management to the user who has acquired the disposable wearing article in the acquired situation.

For example, the output controller 137 determines whether or not the physiological period estimated by the second estimator 136 for the user U11 is stable. When it is determined that the physiological period cycle is unstable (an example of the case where the predetermined condition information is satisfied), the output control unit 137 determines that there is a possibility that the physiological period is not adjusted by the user U11, and controls the user U11 to output a warning regarding the physical condition management. For example, the output control unit 137 controls the information processing terminal of the user U11 so that the information processing terminal outputs a warning regarding the physical condition management in accordance with the control of the application AP.

As the warning related to the physical condition management, for example, a reception proposal for a medical institution or a lifestyle modification proposal may be considered, but any warning may be used that enables a user to recognize the physical condition management. In addition, the management device 100 according to the second embodiment can thereby effectively provide an opportunity to revise the physical condition management. In addition, the management device 100 according to the second embodiment can make individual advice to the user by outputting a warning related to the physical condition management, and thus can maintain the user in a enthusiasm, for example.

(concerning the notification section 138)

When it is determined that there is no inventory of disposable wearing articles that the user wants to obtain currently based on the number of inventories of disposable wearing articles, the notification unit 138 calculates the inventory of disposable wearing articles based on the state of obtaining the disposable wearing articles by the user using the providing apparatus, for the location of the providing apparatus provided at a position closer to the user among the providing apparatuses that notify the user who wants to obtain the inventory of disposable wearing articles that the user wants to obtain the inventory of disposable wearing articles. This point will be described with reference to the example of fig. 8.

In fig. 8, a user U11 wants to obtain an absorbent article using a providing device AP11 provided in a woman' S makeup room FL 1-S. Here, the user U11 presses the "recommended article button" in a state where the self authentication is completed, thereby designating that the absorbent article estimated to be most suitable for the user is to be discharged. Further, let the user U11 specify the required number "3". In this case, the providing device AP11 transmits the device ID "AP 11", the user ID "U11", and the number information "3" to the management device 100.

In this case, the receiving unit 131 of the management device 100 receives the device ID "AP 11", the user ID "U11", and the number information "3". Further, the specifying unit 134 specifies the article information "OB 1-1" indicating the absorbent article OB1-1 estimated as an absorbent article corresponding to the body information of the user U11 among the article information managed in association with the user U11 indicated by the user ID "U11" in the article information storage unit 122.

Here, the notification unit 138 refers to the stock information storage unit 125, compares the "stock quantity" corresponding to the group of the device ID "AP 11" and the operation article "OB 1-1" with the required number "3" of the present time, and determines whether or not there is stock of an amount corresponding to the discharge of "3" absorbent articles OB1-1 in the providing device AP11 at present.

For example, when the notification unit 138 determines that there is stock corresponding to the amount of discharged "3" absorbent articles OB1-1, the apparatus control unit 135 controls the supply apparatus AP11 to discharge the absorbent articles OB 1-1.

On the other hand, when determining that there is no stock corresponding to the discharged amount of "3" absorbent articles OB1-1, the notification unit 138 refers to the stock information storage unit 125 to identify the providing apparatus Apx, which is the providing apparatus Apx provided in the company CP1, that has a stock corresponding to the discharged amount of "3" absorbent articles OB 1-1. Further, the notification unit 138 specifies the providing device APx provided at a position closer to the current position of the user U11 from the specified providing devices APx, based on the "installation position" of each of the specified providing devices APx, with reference to the device information storage unit 121. The notification unit 138 notifies the user U11 of the location (installation position) of the finally specified delivery device APx.

For example, the notification unit 138 may notify the location by transmitting location information indicating the location to the information processing terminal of the user U11, or may notify the location via the providing apparatus AP 11. For example, the notification unit 138 may control the providing apparatus AP11 to output location information.

As a result, the management device 100 according to the second embodiment can control the user to obtain the disposable wearing article from another providing device in the vicinity even when there is no stock of the disposable wearing article desired by the user in the providing device that the user currently wants to use, and therefore, the convenience in obtaining the disposable wearing article can be improved.

(prediction unit 139)

The prediction unit 139 predicts, for each providing device, the timing of replenishing the disposable wearing article with the providing device based on a change in the stock quantity of the providing device. For example, the predicting unit 139 predicts, for each of the providing apparatuses, the timing at which the disposable wearing article in the providing apparatus runs out of stock based on the change in the stock number of the providing apparatus. The predicting unit 139 predicts the timing of replenishing the disposable wearing article based on the timing of the end of stock of the disposable wearing article. For example, the predicting part 139 predicts the timing at which the stock of the disposable wearing article is used up as the timing at which the disposable wearing article is replenished.

The stock quantity referred to here is a "stock quantity" for each "business item" corresponding to the device ID in the stock information storage unit 125. Therefore, the prediction unit 139 predicts the timing of replenishing the disposable wearing article based on the change in the stock quantity of the disposable wearing article for each disposable wearing article managed by each providing apparatus.

For example, the prediction unit 139 predicts the timing of end of stock of the disposable wearing article (the timing of replenishing the disposable wearing article) based on the tendency of the change in the stock quantity up to this point. As an example, the predicting unit 139 learns how long the period of time in which the disposable wearing article runs out for each disposable wearing article operated by each providing apparatus, and predicts the timing of running out of stock of the disposable wearing article based on the learning result.

The prediction unit 139 may predict the timing of end of stock of the disposable wearing article (the timing of replenishing the disposable wearing article) based on a variation predicted from the state of acquisition (usage history) of each user as a variation in the stock quantity. As an example, the prediction unit 139 learns the acquisition tendency of each user, such as the tendency of which absorbent article the user U11 has acquired from which supply device APx, the tendency of which absorbent article the user U12 has acquired from which supply device APx, and the like. The prediction unit 139 also learns how long the absorbent article OB1-1 of the supply device AP11 is running out in a cycle of one week, for example, how long the absorbent article OB1-1 runs out, based on the learning result, and thereby predicts the timing of the end of stock of the disposable wearing article based on the learning result.

The predicting unit 139 can generate a model that outputs the timing of the end of stock of the disposable wearing article when the "device ID" and the "article information" are input, by the learning described above.

The prediction unit 139 may control an environment in which replenishment is possible before the stock is used up by disclosing the predicted timing to a replenishment responsible party (for example, a branch company responsible for replenishing the supply device with the item). Thus, the management device 100 according to the second embodiment can prevent a situation in which the disposable wearing article cannot be obtained due to the end of stock in advance, and therefore can improve the convenience in obtaining the disposable wearing article.

[ 10. treatment Process ]

Next, a process performed by the management system 1 according to the second embodiment will be described. Fig. 14 illustrates a management process performed between the organization apparatus 10-x and the management apparatus 100 among the processes performed by the management system 1 according to the second embodiment. Fig. 15 illustrates a control process performed between the providing device APx and the management device 100 in the process performed by the management system 1 according to the second embodiment.

[ 10-1. treatment ]

First, a management processing procedure performed by the management system 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 14. Fig. 14 is a sequence diagram showing a management processing procedure performed by the management system 1 according to the second embodiment.

First, the organization apparatus 10-x transmits organization information (for example, company ID) indicating an organization (for example, company) to which the apparatus belongs and user information (for example, user ID) indicating a user belonging to the organization, for example, according to an operation of a representative person of the organization (step S1401).

Upon receiving the organization information and the user information via the receiving unit 131, the management unit 132 of the management device 100 manages the article information indicating the absorbent article corresponding to the contract of the organization indicated by the organization information in association with the organization information and the user information (step S1402).

The organization apparatus 10-x transmits body information of each user belonging to the organization corresponding to the own apparatus, for example, according to an operation of a representative person of the organization (step S1403).

When the body information is received by the receiving unit 131, the first estimating unit 133 of the management device 100 estimates the absorbent articles corresponding to the body information of each user among the absorbent articles corresponding to the contract (step S1404). For example, the first estimating unit 133 estimates the degree of difficulty in changing the absorbent article based on the schedule of action of the user. For example, the first estimating unit 133 estimates the degree of difficulty in changing the absorbent article based on the time zone of action (whether it is daytime or nighttime), the action content, or the amount of action. The management device 100 acquires exercise information indicating the amount of exercise of the user and body type information indicating the body type of the user, which are body information of the user. The first estimating unit 133 may acquire preference information indicating the preference of the user U.

The first estimating unit 133 estimates an absorbent article satisfying the conditions, based on the ease of replacement of the absorbent article corresponding to the user, the exercise amount information, the body information, and the preference information, using the absorption amount, the thickness, the length, the color, the pattern, and the fragrance as the conditions. That is, the management device 100 estimates what absorbent article is suitable for the user based on the ease of replacement of the absorbent article corresponding to the user, the body information, and the preference information, the absorption amount, thickness, length, color, pattern, and fragrance. Such estimation processing may be performed at the timing when the body information is received (step S13 in the example of fig. 7), or may be performed at a timing other than the timing (for example, at the timing when the user authentication processing is completed in the management device 100).

The management unit 132 manages the article information in association with the organization information and the user information indicating the absorbent article estimated with respect to the user indicated by the user information (step S1405).

[ 10-2. treatment ]

Next, a control processing procedure performed by the management system 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 15. Fig. 15 is a sequence diagram showing a control processing procedure performed by the management system 1 according to the second embodiment.

First, the provider APx determines whether or not an input of various information is received from a user (step S1501). For example, the supply device APx determines whether or not the input of the desired absorbent article and the required number of absorbent articles is received together with the input of the user information (for example, the user ID). As described with reference to fig. 8, the user can input for designating an absorbent article estimated on the management apparatus 100 side as a desired absorbent article, or can input for selecting any one of the absorbent articles displayed on the supply apparatus APx as a desired absorbent article.

Then, the supply device APx waits until the input of information is received, while the input of information is not received (step S1501; "n"). On the other hand, when receiving the input of the information (step S1501; "yes"), the providing device APx transmits device information (device ID) for identifying the device itself, user information, and article information indicating the absorbent article corresponding to the designation to the management device 100 (step S1502).

When the device information, the user information, and the article information are received by the receiving unit 131, the device control unit 135 (or the authentication unit) of the management device 100 performs authentication processing for authenticating that the user indicated by the user information is an organization (an organization corresponding to the provider APx of the sender who has transmitted in step S1502), and thereby determines whether or not the user is authenticated (step S1503).

When the authentication is not obtained (step S1503; n), the device control unit 135 controls the providing device APx to output an authentication error (step S1504 a). On the other hand, when the authentication is obtained (step S1503; y), the specifying unit 134 specifies the item information managed in association with the user indicated by the user information received by the receiving unit 131 (step S1504 b). For example, when the user inputs an input for specifying an absorbent article estimated on the management device 100 side, the specification unit 134 specifies the article information indicating the absorbent article estimated as an absorbent article corresponding to the body information of the user among the article information managed in association with the user indicated by the user information. On the other hand, for example, when the user inputs an input for selecting any one of the absorbent articles displayed in the providing apparatus APx, the specifying unit 134 specifies the article information indicating the selected absorbent article among the article information managed in association with the user indicated by the user information.

Then, the device controller 135 controls the supply device APx to discharge the absorbent article indicated by the article information specified by the specifying unit 134 (step S1505). Then, the supply device APx discharges (supplies) the absorbent article instructed by the control information from the device control unit 135 (step S1506).

[ 11. other embodiments ]

In addition to the second embodiment described above, the management apparatus 100 may manage the physical condition of the user by managing the number of absorbent articles provided for each user, the date and time of provision, and the like. For example, the management device 100 may estimate a physiological period cycle based on the date and time when the user received the supply of the physiological products, the user's physical information, and the like, and thereby predict the next physiological period start date. In addition, the management apparatus 100 can provide the user with advice information for managing the physical condition and adjusting the mood based on information on the user such as the physical information. For example, the management apparatus 100 may transmit advice information to an electronic mailbox used by a user, or may notify the advice information through a separate application program (for example, an application AP). In addition, the management apparatus 100 may control so that a printed matter on which advice information is printed is mailed. With such a configuration, the management device 100 can improve enthusiasm of users belonging to the organization, for example, improve action enthusiasm of individual users.

The type of the physiological products stored in the supply device APx may be fixed or may be changed for a predetermined period. For example, the management device 100 may update the provided product according to the new product being sold. In the case where a contracted absorbent article is changed by selling a new product, the management device 100 changes the "article information" registered in the article information storage unit 122 in accordance with the change. The management device 100 also changes the "management item" registered in the inventory information storage unit 125. The management device 100 may manage frequently-used users (for example, users who receive the supply of the physiological products a predetermined number of times or more within a predetermined period such as one month) for each of the supply devices APx, and stock the absorbent articles managed in association with the frequently-used users. In this way, the management device 100 can maintain an environment in which the user can use the most suitable absorbent article (new absorbent articles are tried, stock is not easily used up, and the like).

The management device 100 may change the timing of replenishment of the stock in accordance with a change in the amount of absorbent articles supplied from the supply device APx. For example, when the date of the start of the physiological period of the user using the providing apparatus APx coincides with the end of the month, the user is likely to be out of stock at the end of the month. Therefore, the management apparatus 100 can manage the timing of replenishment so as to increase the number of replenishment at the end of a month, so as to avoid causing stock shortage. In addition, when the management device 100 predicts the physiological period start date of the user (or obtains the prediction result of the physiological period start date from another service or an information processing device) as described above, the management of the stock (the management of the replenishment timing of the stock, or the like) may be performed based on the physiological period start date of each user.

The supply device APx has a function of discharging a sanitary product, but is not limited to this, and may be a device that allows a user to acquire an absorbent article by indicating which absorbent article should be acquired from a place where each absorbent article is stored. For example, the supply device APx may include an output device such as a display device or an audio output device, and the management device 100 outputs information (for example, a mark indicating a product name or a place where an absorbent article is stored, a numeral, a character string, or the like) relating to the specified absorbent article, so that the user can acquire the absorbent article by confirming the output content. In order to realize such processing, the function of the providing device APx may be mounted on a terminal owned by the user, or may be mounted on a terminal owned by another person (a health care professional, a clerk, or the like) who provides information to the user.

[ 12. other ]

In addition, all or a part of the above-described processes, which are automatically performed, may be manually performed. All or a part of the processes described as the processes performed manually may be automatically performed by a known method. In addition, with respect to the above-described documents, the processing procedures shown in the drawings, specific names, information including various data, parameters, and the like, unless otherwise specified, can be arbitrarily changed. For example, the various information shown in the figures is not limited to the information shown in the figures.

The components of each illustrated device are functionally conceptual, and are not necessarily physically configured as illustrated in the drawings. That is, the specific form of the dispersion/combination of the devices is not limited to the form shown in the drawings. Further, all or a part of the components may be functionally or physically distributed and combined in arbitrary units according to various loads, usage conditions, and the like. The above-described processes can be performed in appropriate combinations within a range not inconsistent with each other.

[ 13. hardware construction ]

The information providing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment or the management apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment is realized by a computer 1000 having a configuration shown in fig. 16, for example. Fig. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration. The computer 1000 is connected to an output device 1010 and an input device 1020, and an arithmetic device 1030, a buffer 1040 as a primary storage device, a memory 1050 as a secondary storage device, an output IF (Interface) 1060, an input IF 1070, and a network IF 1080 are connected via a bus 1090.

The arithmetic unit 1030 operates based on programs stored in the cache 1040 and the memory 1050, programs read from the input unit 1020, and the like, and executes various processes. The buffer 1040 is a buffer for temporarily storing data used for various operations performed by the arithmetic device 1030, such as a RAM. The Memory 1050 is a storage device for registering data used for various operations performed by the operation device 1030 and various databases, and is implemented by a ROM (Read Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash Memory, or the like.

The output IF1060 is an Interface for transmitting information to be output to an output device 1010 such as a monitor or a printer for outputting various information, and may be realized by a standard connector such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus), a DVI (Digital Visual Interface), or an HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface). On the other hand, the input IF 1070 is an interface for receiving information from various input devices 1020 such as a mouse, a keyboard, and a scanner, and is implemented by, for example, USB.

For example, the input device 1020 can be implemented as a device for reading information from an Optical recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or a PD (Phase change rewritable Disc), a Magneto-Optical recording medium such as an MO (Magneto-Optical Disc), a tape medium, a magnetic recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. The input device 1020 may be implemented by an external storage medium such as a USB memory.

The network IF 1080 has the following functions: data is received from another device via the network N and transmitted to the arithmetic device 1030, and data generated by the arithmetic device 1030 is transmitted to another device via the network N.

Here, the arithmetic device 1030 controls the output device 1010 and the input device 1020 via the output IF1060 and the input IF 1070. For example, the computing device 1030 loads a program from the input device 1020 and the memory 1050 onto the cache 1040, and executes the loaded program. For example, when the computer 1000 functions as the information providing apparatus 10, the arithmetic device 1030 of the computer 1000 executes a program loaded on the cache 1040, thereby realizing the function of the control unit 40. For example, when the computer 1000 functions as the management apparatus 100, the arithmetic device 1030 of the computer 1000 executes the program loaded on the flash memory 1040, thereby realizing the function of the control unit 130.

As the providing method of the first embodiment, the terminal device T100 is provided with a dedicated application program, and the program provided in the information providing device 10 and the application program provided in the terminal device T100 cooperate with each other, whereby the first embodiment can be provided to the user. For example, the application program of the terminal device T100 causes the terminal device T100 to execute processing for acquiring product information of a menstrual product used by a user, display processing of an input screen for inputting body information, reception processing for receiving an input, transmission processing for transmitting the product information and the body information to the information providing device 10, and the like. On the other hand, the program of the information providing apparatus 10 causes the information providing apparatus 10 to execute a process of acquiring product information from the terminal apparatus T100, a process of acquiring body information, and an instruction process of selecting a menstrual product suitable for the user based on the body information.

The terminal T100 may be equipped with a general-purpose browser and may be connected to the information providing apparatus 10 via the general-purpose browser of the terminal T100, thereby providing the user with the first embodiment. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 may acquire the body information and the product information via the web content by transmitting the web content for accepting input of the body information and the web content for acquiring the product information to the terminal apparatus T100, thereby realizing the above-described processing.

The notification unit 45 of the information providing apparatus 10 may notify the user by, for example, transmitting screen information displayed on the terminal apparatus T100 to the terminal apparatus T100 and displaying the screen information by a display function of the terminal apparatus T100. The notification unit 45 may transmit information on the physiological products to the terminal device T100, and the terminal device T100 may generate and display screen information.

Further, the terminal device T100 may transmit information input by the input function of the terminal device T100 to the information providing device 10, and the information providing device 10 may obtain the input from the user.

Further, all the functions of the information providing apparatus 10 may be mounted on the terminal apparatus T100. That is, the information providing apparatus 10 may be configured to include a display unit for displaying information to the user and an input receiving unit for receiving an input from the user.

[ 14. Effect ]

As described above, the information providing apparatus 10 transmits the menstrual period products suitable for the user based on the menstrual period information related to the use of the menstrual period products by the user. For example, the information providing apparatus 10 transmits the circadian products having sizes in accordance with the user based on the physical characteristics of the user. The information providing apparatus 10 distributes the products of the menstrual period that can give the user an incentive to use the products, based on the user's preference. The information providing apparatus 10 distributes the menstrual products having the function of preventing twisting, displacement, and leakage in accordance with the amount of exercise of the user.

As a result of such processing, the information providing apparatus 10 proposes the user to use a physiological product that is suitable for the body size and exercise amount of the user, and therefore the possibility of leakage of secretions can be reduced, and the quality of life of the user can be improved. In addition, since the information providing apparatus 10 enables a young user who is not used to the physiological products to use the motivation of the physiological products suitable for the user, the possibility of leakage of the secretions can be reduced, and the quality of life of the user can be improved. Further, since the information providing device 10 dispenses the menstrual period products, the user can be prevented from forgetting to purchase the menstrual period products, and the quality of life of the user can be improved.

The embodiments of the present application are described above in detail based on the drawings. However, these are illustrative, and the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in other ways by implementing various modifications and improvements based on the modes described in the disclosure of the invention and the knowledge of those skilled in the art. The "section (module, unit)" can be interpreted as "unit", "circuit", and the like.

[ accompanying notes ]

In addition to the description of the above embodiments, the following remarks are disclosed.

(attached note 1)

A management device, comprising:

a receiving unit that receives organization information indicating an organization in which a contract is made in advance to give a subordinate user the meaning of a disposable wearing article, and user information indicating a user belonging to the organization; and

and a management unit that manages article information indicating a disposable wearing article corresponding to a contract of an organization indicated by the organization information in association with the organization information and the user information received by the receiving unit.

(attached note 2)

The management device according to (supplementary note 1) is characterized by comprising:

a specifying unit that specifies article information managed in association with a user indicated by user information when the user information is received from a providing device having a function of discharging a stored disposable wearing article; and

and a control unit that controls the supply device to discharge the disposable wearing article indicated by the article information specified by the specification unit.

(attached note 3)

The management device according to (supplementary note 2), wherein,

the receiving unit receives user information indicating the user from the organization in advance before receiving the user information from the providing apparatus according to the use of the providing apparatus by the user.

(attached note 4)

The management device according to (supplementary note 2) or (3), wherein,

the receiving unit further receives the body information of the user,

the identification unit identifies, when user information is received from the providing device, article information indicating a disposable wearing article corresponding to the body information of the user among article information managed in association with the user indicated by the user information.

(attached note 5)

The management device according to (supplementary note 4), wherein,

further comprising an estimation unit that estimates, for each user indicated by the user information, a disposable wearing article corresponding to the body information of the user,

the management unit manages article information indicating the disposable wearing article estimated by the estimation unit for the user indicated by the user information in association with the user information.

(attached note 6)

The management device according to (supplementary note 5), wherein,

the present invention is also provided with a presentation unit that presents, to the user, article information indicating the disposable wearing article estimated for each user by the estimation unit, as a recommended article obtained using the provision device.

(attached note 7)

The management device according to (supplementary note 5) or (6),

the identification unit identifies, when the user information is received from the providing device, article information indicating the disposable wearing article estimated by the estimation unit for the user, among the article information managed in association with the user indicated by the user information.

(attached note 8)

The management device according to any one of (supplementary notes 2) to (7), wherein,

the identification unit identifies, when the user information is received from the providing device, article information indicating the disposable wearing article selected by the user using the providing device, among article information managed in association with the user indicated by the user information.

(attached note 9)

The management device according to any one of (supplementary notes 1) to (8), wherein,

the management unit manages article information indicating an absorbent article corresponding to contract content of the contract as the disposable wearing article.

(attached note 10)

The management device according to any one of (supplementary notes 1) to (9), wherein,

the management unit manages article information indicating an absorbent article for women as the disposable wearing article.

(attached note 11)

The management device according to (supplementary note 10), wherein,

the management unit manages article information indicating a daily absorbent article among the absorbent articles for women.

(attached note 12)

The management device according to any one of (supplementary notes 1) to (11), wherein,

the management unit manages physiological period information estimated regarding a physiological period of the user in association with the user information indicating the user, the physiological period information being estimated based on an acquisition status in which the user acquires the disposable wearing article using a supply device having a function of discharging a stored disposable wearing article.

(attached note 13)

The management device according to any one of (supplementary notes 1) to (12), wherein,

the management unit manages, in association with the user information indicating the user, frequency information indicating a frequency of use of the disposable wearing article by the user, the frequency information being estimated based on an acquisition status of the disposable wearing article acquired by the user using a providing device having a function of discharging a stored disposable wearing article.

(attached note 14)

The management device according to (supplementary note 12) or (13),

the disposable wearing article further includes an output control unit that, when the information estimated based on the acquisition situation satisfies predetermined condition information, controls a user who has acquired the disposable wearing article in the acquisition situation to output a notification related to physical condition management.

(attached note 15)

The management device according to any one of (supplementary notes 12) to (14), wherein,

the management unit manages, for each of the providing devices, an inventory number of the disposable wearing articles calculated based on a status of acquisition of the disposable wearing articles by the user using the providing device.

(subsidiary 16)

The management device according to (supplementary note 15), wherein,

the information notifying unit is configured to notify the user of a location of a providing device provided at a position closer to a position of the user among providing devices in which the inventory of the disposable wearing article that the user wants to obtain is present, when it is determined based on the inventory number that the inventory of the disposable wearing article that the user wants to obtain is not present.

(attached note 17)

The management device according to (supplementary note 15) or (16),

the management unit manages, for each of the supply devices, date information indicating a timing at which the supply device is to be replenished with a disposable wearing article, which is predicted based on a change in the stock quantity of the supply device.

(attached note 18)

The management device according to any one of (supplementary notes 1) to (17), wherein,

the management unit also manages position information indicating an installation position where a supply device having a function of discharging the contained disposable wearing article is installed.

(attached note 19)

The management device according to (supplementary note 18), wherein,

the management unit manages, for each of the providing apparatuses installed in the organization, the position information of the providing apparatus in association with organization information indicating the organization.

(attached note 20)

The management device according to (supplementary note 2), wherein,

the control unit controls the supply device so that the disposable wearing article indicated by the article information specified by the specification unit is not discharged and controls the supply device to output the notification when the user wants to obtain the disposable wearing article in which the number of the disposable wearing articles exceeds a predetermined number using the supply device having a function of discharging the stored disposable wearing articles.

(attached note 21)

A management system comprising a management device and a supply device having a function of discharging a contained disposable wearing article in accordance with control from the management device, characterized in that,

the management device includes:

a receiving unit that receives organization information indicating an organization in which a contract is made in advance to give a subordinate user the meaning of a disposable wearing article, and user information indicating user information of a user belonging to the organization; and

(attached note 22)

A management method performed by a management apparatus, the management method characterized by comprising:

a receiving step of receiving organization information indicating an organization in which a contract is made in advance to give a subordinate user the meaning of a disposable wearing article, and user information indicating a user belonging to the organization; and

and a management step of managing article information indicating a disposable wearing article corresponding to a contract of an organization indicated by the organization information in association with the organization information and the user information received in the reception step.

(attached note 23)

A management program for causing a computer to execute a process of:

and a management step of managing article information indicating a disposable wearing article corresponding to a contract of the organization indicated by the organization information in association with the organization information and the user information received in the reception step.

Claims

1. An indicating device, comprising:

an acquisition unit that acquires menstrual period information relating to the use of a menstrual period product by a user;

a selection unit that selects one or more items of a menstrual period proposed to the user based on the menstrual period information; and

and an instruction unit configured to instruct the user to dispense at least one of the items selected by the selection unit.

2. The indication device of claim 1,

the instruction unit instructs the user to distribute at least one of the items selected by the selection unit to the user at predetermined intervals.

3. The indication device according to claim 1 or 2,

the instruction unit instructs the user to dispense the number of the menstrual period products calculated based on the menstrual period information.

4. The indication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

having an estimation unit that estimates the day on which the physiological phase of the user starts,

the instruction unit instructs the user to dispense at least one of the items selected by the selection unit to the user on a predetermined number of days before the day estimated by the estimation unit.

5. The indication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the selection unit selects one of the products proposed to the user,

the instructing device has a notifying section that notifies the user of the item of physiological expiration date selected by the selecting section,

the instruction unit instructs the user to dispense the selected menstrual period product when the user agrees with the dispensing of the menstrual period product.

6. The indication device of claim 5,

when the user does not agree with the delivery of the menstrual period products selected by the selection unit, the selection unit selects a menstrual period product different from the menstrual period product proposed to the user.

7. The indication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the selection unit selects a plurality of items of a menstrual period proposed to the user,

the instructing unit instructs the user to distribute the selected one of the plurality of items during the menstrual period selected by the user to the user.

8. The indication device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

the physiological period information includes physical information representing a physical characteristic of the user.

9. The indication device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

the physiological period information includes attribute information indicating an attribute of the user.

10. The indication device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,

the physiological period information includes action information indicating an action of the user.

11. The indication device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,

the physiological period information includes preference information indicating a preference of the user.

12. The indication device according to any one of claims 1 to 11,

the physiological term information includes use information indicating a use status of a physiological product of the user.

13. The indication device of claim 12,

the utilization information includes information indicating a result of utilization of the physiological product.

14. The indication device of claim 12,

the utilization information includes information regarding whether the item is functioning properly.

15. The indication device of claim 12,

the usage information includes evaluation information indicating an evaluation of the user on the physiological product.

16. The indication device according to any one of claims 1 to 15,

the menstrual period information includes the number of menstrual period products held by the user or the number of menstrual period products used by the user.

17. The indication device according to any one of claims 1 to 16,

the selection unit selects one or more items of physiological term proposed to the user based on the physiological term information and physiological term information of another person whose at least one piece of information included in the physiological term information is similar to the physiological term information.

18. An indication method performed by an indication apparatus, the indication method comprising:

an acquisition step of acquiring menstrual period information relating to the use of a menstrual period product by a user;

a selection step of selecting one or more items of a menstrual period proposed to the user based on the menstrual period information; and

and an instruction step of giving an instruction to the user to dispense at least one of the items selected in the selection step.

19. A computer-readable recording medium storing an instruction program for causing a computer to execute:

an acquisition process of acquiring physiological period information related to utilization of a physiological period product by a user;

a selection process of selecting one or more items of a circadian phase proposed to the user based on the circadian phase information; and

and an instruction process of issuing an instruction to the user to dispense at least one of the items selected in the selection process.