JP2001183046A - Store management system, information-providing method, and computer-readable storage medium recorded with program for computer to execute the method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide information readily and effectively on apparatuses, such as product information and manuals to a maintenance man of apparatuses in the store. SOLUTION: When a maintenance man pushes an inspection switch not shown by a system controller, inspection data is sent from the system controller to NA(network adapter) 201. The NA 201, on receiving the data, sends an electronic mail including the information data to a main service office 13, which fetches information on an apparatus from an apparatus data base 13a to send the information to a pertaining PC 218 in the store, which, on receiving the information, sends it to a personal digital assistant 222 by a data transmitter 219.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention A store management system for managing various devices such as a showcase, an air conditioner, and lighting provided in a store, a method of providing information, and a computer-readable recording recording a program for causing a computer to execute the method. In particular, the present invention relates to a store management system, an information providing method, and a recording medium capable of quickly and efficiently providing information related to devices such as product materials and manuals to maintenance personnel who maintain devices in stores.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a store such as a supermarket or a convenience store is provided with a plurality of showcases and refrigerators, and each showcase is separately controlled by providing a temperature controller and the like. Therefore, extremely complicated setting change work is required.

For this reason, a technique for centrally managing a showcase or the like provided in a store is known. For example,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-193981 discloses that data relating to operating conditions such as temperature setting of a showcase and defrosting time are transmitted to a terminal-side control device, and data relating to an operating state transmitted from the terminal control device is received. There is disclosed a centralized management device such as a showcase configured to provide a higher-level control device for displaying each group.

[0004] By using such a conventional technique, it is possible to centrally manage a showcase or the like, grasp data of an operating state for each group distinguished by operating conditions, and perform management and maintenance quickly and easily.

[0005]

However, even if the prior art is used, if a complicated trouble occurs in the equipment, the maintenance staff must go to the place of the equipment for inspection and maintenance. No. At this time, the maintenance staff must carry a large amount of product materials and manuals for various devices in preparation for any failure, so the burden of carrying the materials is extremely large, and it takes time to find the desired material. It was to be necessary.

[0006] For this reason, it is conceivable to convert all product materials and various manuals into electronic data and store the electronic data in a portable information terminal. However, since the information concerning the device includes image data, etc. However, all electronic data of various devices cannot be stored in the portable information terminal. In particular, when a huge number of devices are installed in each store, such as a supermarket that has been converted into a chain store, the amount of electronic data becomes enormous according to the number of devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to quickly and efficiently provide information relating to equipment such as product materials and manuals to maintenance staff who maintain equipment in a store. An object of the present invention is to provide a store management system, an information providing method, and a recording medium that can be used.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above-mentioned problems,
In order to achieve the object of the present invention, a store management system according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a showcase arranged in a store,
In a store management system that manages various devices such as an air conditioner and lighting, a management unit that collectively manages information on the various devices outside the store, and information on a requested device included in the information managed by the management unit. Information providing means for providing to a predetermined portable information terminal,
It is characterized by having.

According to the present invention, information on various devices is collectively managed outside the store, and information on the requested device included in the managed information is provided to a predetermined portable information terminal. As a result, information on the equipment such as product materials and manuals can be promptly and efficiently provided to maintenance personnel who maintain the equipment in the store.

The store management system according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the management means manages information such as product materials and manuals for various devices provided in a plurality of stores for each device. And

According to the present invention, information such as product materials and manuals relating to various devices provided in a plurality of stores is managed for each device. Therefore, information such as product materials and manuals is stored for each store. Need not be held, thereby reducing the amount of data.

Further, in the store management system according to a third aspect of the present invention, when the information providing means receives an information request from any of a plurality of system controllers for controlling the various devices, the information providing means sends the information to the system controller. Corresponding information is extracted from the management means and provided to the portable information terminal.

According to the present invention, when an information request is received from any of a plurality of system controllers for controlling various devices, information corresponding to the system controller is taken out and provided to the portable information terminal. As a result, it is possible to quickly and efficiently acquire information on the device to be inspected without requesting data from the portable information terminal.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing method for a store management system for managing various devices such as a showcase, an air conditioner, and a lighting provided in a store. A management step of collectively managing information outside the store, and an information providing step of providing information on a requested device included in the information managed by the management step to a predetermined portable information terminal,
It is characterized by including.

According to the present invention, information on various devices is managed collectively outside the store, and information on the requested device included in the managed information is provided to a predetermined portable information terminal. As a result, information on the equipment such as product materials and manuals can be promptly and efficiently provided to maintenance personnel who maintain the equipment in the store.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the information providing method, wherein the management step includes providing information such as product materials and manuals for various devices provided in a plurality of stores outside the store. And is managed for each device.

According to the present invention, information such as product materials and manuals relating to various devices disposed in a plurality of stores is managed for each device. Therefore, information such as product materials and manuals is stored for each store. Need not be held, thereby reducing the amount of data.

Further, in the information providing method according to the invention of claim 6, when the information providing step receives an information request from any one of a plurality of system controllers respectively controlling the various devices, the information providing method includes: Corresponding information is extracted from the management device and provided to the portable information terminal.

According to the present invention, when an information request is received from any of a plurality of system controllers that respectively control various devices, information corresponding to the system controller is extracted and provided to the portable information terminal. As a result, it is possible to quickly and efficiently acquire information on the device to be inspected without requesting data from the portable information terminal.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium in which a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects is recorded, thereby making the program machine-readable. Item 4-
6 can be realized by a computer.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a store management system, a device control method, and a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Will be described in detail. The present invention is not limited by the embodiment.

First, a system configuration of a store management system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a store management system according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a store A shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration inside. Here, for convenience of explanation, a detailed configuration of only the store A is shown,
Stores B and C have the same configuration as store A. The solid line in the figure indicates the connection relationship of signal lines or data lines between devices, and the dotted line indicates the connection relationship of piping.

The store management system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a showcase 203 and an air conditioner 2 in each of the stores A to C.
08 and devices such as lighting are provided with separate controllers, respectively, and the store headquarters 1 is provided via the NA (network adapter) 201, the router 11a, and the public network 10.
2 and the service headquarters 13 to control and manage various devices based on data exchange between them.

The NA 201 shown in the figure has a homepage function for setting a connected device using a browser, and automatically operates as an administrator when a trouble occurs in the connected device. And a network adapter having an automatic mail transmission function of notifying designated persons by e-mail. Therefore, this NA
By using 201, information of various devices in the stores A to C can be displayed on a homepage, and information can be provided to the store headquarters 12 and the like.

Here, in the store management system, information such as product materials and various manuals concerning various devices in the store is stored in the device database 13a of the service headquarters 13.
When maintenance personnel perform equipment inspections,
The portable information terminal 222 carried by the maintenance person is configured to transmit information on the corresponding device.

For example, when the maintenance staff performs inspection and maintenance of the lighting system, when the maintenance staff presses an inspection switch (not shown) of the lighting system controller 212, inspection data indicating that the inspection of the lighting system is to be performed is obtained. It is transmitted from the controller 212 to the NA 201. The NA 201 that has received the inspection data transmits an e-mail including the inspection data to the service headquarters 13.

On the other hand, the service headquarters 13 having received the e-mail retrieves the information on the lighting system from the equipment database 13a and stores the information in the in-store PC 2 of the corresponding store.
18, the in-store PC 218 that has received this information.
Transmits the information to the portable information terminal 222 using the data transmitter 219. For this reason, the maintenance person who wants to inspect the lighting system needs to use the portable information terminal 2.
With reference to the information on the lighting system displayed on 22, the lighting system can be checked and maintained.

The product materials and various manuals can be easily searched from the portable information terminal 222 based on keywords, menus, etc., as in a homepage. When a warning is issued, the addresses of various parts corresponding to various manuals (for example, determined from an alarm code) are added together with the content mail, and can be read as needed.

Next, the configuration of the store management system shown in FIG. 1 and the store A shown in FIG. 2 will be described. In FIG. 1, a store A, a store B, and a store C are stores in which a showcase, an air conditioner, a vending machine, a security system, and the like are provided. Note that, here, these stores A to C are stores that are locally distributed and arranged, such as a supermarket that is turned into a chain store.

The store headquarters 12 is a terminal device of a headquarters mechanism that supervises the stores A to C. The store headquarters 12 instructs each store on the type and price of the product to be provided, and also stores each store A
~ C sales status and the like. The store headquarters 12 and the like can also check the state of the product in the showcase 204 of each store on the homepage provided by the NA 201.

The service headquarters 13 is a terminal device of a headquarters mechanism for centrally managing the service contents to be provided to the customers by the stores A to C. The security headquarters 14 is a terminal device of the stores A to C.
It is a terminal device of the headquarters mechanism that supervises the security mechanism related to entry and exit management and fire and crime prevention in.

The service headquarters 13 stores each store A
C has a device database 13a that stores information such as product usage and various manuals for the various devices disposed in each device. Furthermore, this service headquarters 13
When the e-mail including the inspection data is received from the NA 201 of each of the stores A to C, information related to the corresponding device is searched from the device database 13a, and the e-mail including the searched information is stored in the in-store PC 218 of each store. Send to

As described above, in this store management system,
Rather than simply managing the merchandise, services and security of each store vertically for each store, a common headquarters mechanism for each of the stores A to C called the store headquarters 12, the service headquarters 13, and the security headquarters 14 is provided. To C are managed for each function.

Further, the store owners 15 can store each of the stores A to C
Terminal device owned by the owner of
Reference numeral 6 denotes a terminal device owned by the owner of the equipment rented from each of the stores A to C from a maker or the like. The equipment maintenance company 17 includes a maintenance company that maintains and manages the devices arranged in each of the stores A to C. It is a terminal device owned. The stores A to C, the store headquarters 12, the service headquarters 13, the security headquarters 14, the store owner 15, the equipment owner 16, and the equipment maintenance company 17 are connected to the public network 10 via routers 11a to 11i, respectively. I have.

The public line network 10 is a network such as an ISDN or an ATM, and each terminal device is a TCP / IP
By using the protocol, file transfer (F) between the stores A to C and the store headquarters 12 or the like is performed on the Internet.
TP) and e-mail (E-mail).
Specifically, the store headquarters 12, the service headquarters 13, the security headquarters 14, the store owner 15, the equipment owner 16
The user of the terminal of the equipment maintenance company 17 accesses the homepage established by the NA 201 of each of the stores A to C using a browser, and checks the status of various devices such as a showcase on the homepage.

Next, the configuration in each of the stores A to C shown in FIG. 1 will be described. In FIG. 2, NA 201 is a network adapter having a homepage function and an automatic mail transmission function as described above. That is, by using the NA 201, information on various devices in the store A can be transmitted as a home page to the store headquarters 12 or the like, or an e-mail including device inspection data can be transmitted to the service headquarters 13.

The NA 201 can be formed as an option board having an interface for accommodating a serial communication line, and can be mounted on an in-store PC 218 described later. In place of the NA 201, a personal computer having a homepage function and an e-mail transmission function may be provided, or the NA 201 may be directly connected to various devices in the store A.
Can also be attached.

The store control controller 202 is a controller for controlling the entire store, and is specifically formed by a personal computer or the like. The showcase system controller 203 is a control unit that controls each showcase controller in the refrigerator 205 and the showcase 204 that controls the temperature of products in the refrigerator using the refrigerator 206.

The air conditioner system controller 207
The heat storage system controller 211 is a control unit that controls an air conditioner controller of each air conditioner 208 that maintains the inside of the store A at a predetermined temperature using the refrigerator 209.
The controller is a controller that controls the heat storage tank 210 that stores ice based on the load states of 06 and 209.

The lighting system controller 212 is a controller that controls various lighting devices and the like disposed on the ceiling in the store and the like, and also controls the fluorescent light of the showcase 204. Specifically, the showcase 20
When dimming the fluorescent lamp of No. 4, JP-A-6-32
The dimming control corresponding to the illumination control system disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5874 is performed.

The vending machine 213 is a vending machine which is disposed in the store A and which is managed by the owner and sells beverages and foods. Note that the vending machine 213 has a controller that controls the operation as a vending machine, and this controller enables connection to a network, and stores information such as sales status and device status on the network. And a function that enables adjustment of lighting, adjustment of cooling output, and the like based on a command from the network.

The security system 214 includes the door 21
5 is a system that maintains the security of the entire store A based on the data from the sensors, the fire alarm 216, and the security device 217 provided in the store 5. The security system 214 has a controller that controls the operation of the system, and has a function of transmitting the state of the security device and the like on a network.

The power monitor 220 is a mechanism for monitoring the total amount of power consumed by the showcase 204, the air conditioner 208, the lighting, the vending machine 213, and the like provided in the store A. This power monitor 220 performs cooperative control with the showcase system controller 203, the air conditioner system controller 207, the lighting system controller 211, and the like.

The dew-proof heater controller 221 is a controller for controlling a dew-proof heater for preventing dew from occurring on the air curtain blow-out portion and the handrail portion of the showcase 204. In other words, since there is a contact surface between the cold air and the in-store temperature at the outlet of the air curtain or the like, a temperature difference occurs, so that dew sticking always occurs,
Under the control of the dew-proof heater controller 221, such dew is prevented.

The in-store PC 218 is a personal computer provided in the store A, and manages the types and prices of the products sold in the store A, counts sales, and the like. The in-store PC 218 can also display a homepage provided by the NA 201 on a display. Further, the in-store PC 218 has a data transmitter 219 that transmits information related to the device to the portable information terminal 222 when an electronic mail including information related to the device is received from the service headquarters 13. It is also possible to communicate with a store owner, a device owner, or the like using a voice message or mail via a PHS adapter (not shown) attached to the in-store PC 218.

The portable information terminal 222 is a portable terminal device such as a notebook personal computer which is used by maintenance staff when performing maintenance of the equipment, and stores information received from the data transmitter 219 on a hard disk or the like. It is displayed on a display unit such as a TFT screen as needed.

In this store management system, the store control controller 202, showcase system controller 203, air conditioner system controller 207, heat storage system controller 211, lighting system controller 212, vending machine 213, security system 214, power monitor 220, The anti-dew heater controller 221 is connected to the NA 201 in a multi-drop manner,
It notifies and instructs information on the status of each device. At this time, as a protocol between the store control controller 202 and the security system 214 connected in a multi-drop manner, for example, a dedicated protocol such as a non-procedure is used. Use

When the maintenance staff presses a check switch (not shown) provided in each system controller to perform maintenance of each device, the corresponding system controller transmits the check data to the NA 201, The NA 201 that has received the e-mail transmits the e-mail including the inspection data to the service headquarters 13.

Next, the portable information terminal 22 shown in FIG.
A display procedure for displaying device information on the device 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a display procedure for displaying device information on the portable information terminal 222 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, when a maintenance worker presses an inspection switch of a system controller of a device to be inspected (step S301), the system controller sets the NA20.
1 is transmitted to the inspection data (step S30).
2).

Then, NA2 receiving this inspection data
01 transmits an e-mail including the inspection data to the service headquarters 13 (step S303).
a to search for information on the corresponding device (step S30).
4). Then, the service headquarters 13 transmits the searched information to the in-store PC 218 of the corresponding store (step S3).
05), the in-store PC 218 receiving this information uses the data transmitter 219 to transmit the information to the portable information terminal 222.
(Step S306). After that, the portable information terminal 222 that has received this information displays information on the corresponding device on the display unit (step S307), and ends the process.

By performing the above series of processes, for example, when a maintenance person wants to inspect the lighting system, product data of the lighting system and various manuals can be displayed on the portable information terminal 222. .

As described above, in this embodiment,
When the maintenance staff presses an inspection switch (not shown) of the system controller, the inspection data is transmitted from the system controller to the NA 201, and the NA 201 having received the inspection data transmits an e-mail including the inspection data to the service headquarters 13, The service headquarter 13 extracts the information on the device from the device database 13a and transmits the information to the in-store PC 218 of the corresponding store, and the in-store PC 218 receiving this information transmits the information to the data transmitter 2
19 is used to transmit the information to the portable information terminal 222. Therefore, a maintenance person who wants to inspect the device can check the information while referring to the information on the device displayed on the portable information terminal 222. And maintenance.

Further, in the present embodiment, various devices such as the showcase system controller 203 and the air conditioner system controller 207 are connected in a multi-drop system. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Various network topologies such as types can also be used.

Further, various devices such as the showcase system controller 203 and the air conditioner system controller 207 can be connected by wireless communication. In this case, for example, IrDA (Infrared Data Associ
ation) A standard infrared port or the like is provided in various devices such as the showcase system controller 203 and the air conditioner system controller 207, and communication between the controllers using infrared communication is performed. When such wireless communication is used, there is a great advantage that it is possible to carry out, move, and add various devices in the store very easily.

In this embodiment, the public network 10
The stores A to C are connected to the store headquarters 12 and the like via the Internet, but the present invention is not limited to this, and they may be connected via a satellite communication or a wireless communication system.

[0056]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, information on various devices is collectively managed outside the store, and information on the requested device included in the managed information is managed. A store management system configured to provide information to a predetermined portable information terminal, so that information on the device, such as product materials and manuals, can be quickly and efficiently provided to maintenance staff and the like who maintain the device in the store. Is obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, information such as product materials and manuals relating to various devices provided in a plurality of stores is managed for each device. This eliminates the need to hold information such as materials and manuals, and provides a store management system that can reduce the amount of data.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when an information request is received from any one of a plurality of system controllers for controlling various devices, information corresponding to the system controller is taken out and portable information is received. Since the information is provided to the terminal, it is possible to obtain a store management system capable of quickly and efficiently obtaining information on the device to be inspected without requesting data from the portable information terminal. .

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, information relating to various devices is collectively managed outside the store, and the information relating to the requested device included in the managed information is stored in a predetermined portable information terminal. To provide information related to the device, such as product materials and manuals, to a maintenance person or the like who maintains the device in the store, quickly and efficiently. Play.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, information such as product materials and manuals relating to various devices provided at a plurality of stores is managed for each device. This eliminates the need to hold information such as materials and manuals, and provides an information providing method capable of reducing the amount of data.

According to the present invention, when an information request is received from any of a plurality of system controllers for controlling various devices, the information corresponding to the system controller is taken out and the portable information is received. Since the information is provided to the terminal, it is possible to obtain an information providing method capable of quickly and efficiently obtaining information on the device to be inspected without requesting data from the portable information terminal. .

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium in which a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects is machine-readable. Item 4-
6 can be realized by a computer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a store management system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration inside a store A shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a display procedure for displaying device information on the portable information terminal shown in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 A, B, C stores 11a to 11i router 12 store headquarters 13 service headquarters 13a equipment database 14 security headquarters 15 store owner 16 equipment owner 17 equipment maintenance company 201 NA (network adapter) 202 store control controller 203 showcase system controller 204 showcase 205 Refrigerator 206 Refrigerator (for showcase) 207 Air conditioner system controller 208 Air conditioner 209 Refrigerator (for air conditioner) 210 Thermal storage tank 211 Thermal storage system controller 212 Lighting system controller 213 Vending machine 214 Security system 215 Door 216 Fire alarm 217 Security device 218 In-store PC 219 Data transmitter 220 Power monitor 221 Dew-proof heater controller 22 portable information terminal

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kishiro Kusano 1-1-1 Tanabe-Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa F-term in Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. 3L045 AA02 BA01 CA02 LA16 NA19 PA02 PA03

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A store management system that manages various devices such as a showcase, an air conditioner, and lighting disposed in a store, comprising: a management unit that collectively manages information on the various devices outside the store; A store management system, comprising: information providing means for providing information on a requested device included in managed information to a predetermined portable information terminal. 2. The store management system according to claim 1, wherein the management unit manages information such as product materials and manuals for various devices provided in a plurality of stores for each device. 3. The information providing means, when receiving an information request from any one of a plurality of system controllers respectively controlling the various devices, extracts information corresponding to the system controller from the management means, and retrieves the information from the portable device. The store management system according to claim 1, wherein the store management system is provided to a type information terminal. 4. A method for providing information of a store management system for managing various devices such as a showcase, an air conditioner, and lighting provided in a store, comprising: a management step of collectively managing information on the various devices outside the store; An information providing step of providing, to a predetermined portable information terminal, information relating to a requested device included in the information managed by the managing step. 5. The management step, wherein information such as product materials and manuals concerning various devices provided in a plurality of stores is managed for each device by a management device provided outside the stores. Item 4. The information providing method according to Item 4. 6. The information providing step, when receiving an information request from any one of a plurality of system controllers that respectively control the various devices, retrieves information corresponding to the system controller from the management device, and retrieves the information from the portable device. The information providing method according to claim 4, wherein the information is provided to a type information terminal. 7. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 4 is recorded.