JP2004070410A - Shopping cart, shopping system and shopping method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shopping cart, a shopping system and a shopping method capable of assisting a purchaser in purchasing merchandise. <P>SOLUTION: The shopping cart 10 is connectable to a shop server (merchandise manager) 20 via a wireless LAN base station in each shop. When a purchaser puts an article of merchandise in the shopping cart 10 in the shop 15, the shopping cart 10 reads merchandise information (1) and sends this merchandise information to the shop server 20 via the wireless LAN base station (2). Upon obtaining the merchandise information (2), the shop server 20 sends information on the price of the article of merchandise to the shopping cart (3). The shopping cart 10 accumulates information on the prices of merchandise sent from the shop server 20 and makes settlement. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a shopping cart, a shopping system, and a shopping method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when purchasing a product at a store such as a supermarket or a department store, a purchaser puts the product in a shopping cart or basket, brings it to a cash register, requests a store clerk to perform a payment process for the product, and purchases the product. Further, when the target product cannot be found, the purchaser walks in the store or asks a clerk to find the product to be purchased.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the purchaser must always bring the merchandise to the cash register when purchasing the merchandise, which is troublesome. In addition, when the cash register is crowded, it takes time. In addition, if the product to be purchased is not found and the clerk is not bored, the purchaser eventually searches around the store, and spends time and effort. On the other hand, on the merchant side, when selling goods, it is necessary to have a clerk wait at the cash register, which increases labor costs.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a shopping cart, a shopping system, and a shopping method capable of supporting purchase of a product by a purchaser.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is a product information acquisition means for acquiring information on a contained product, a product information transmission means for transmitting the acquired product information to a predetermined store management device, and the store management device having the product information. Amount storage means for receiving and storing the amount of goods presented based on the electronic money information, an electronic money information obtaining means for obtaining electronic money information of a purchaser of the goods, and the amount storage means based on the obtained electronic money information. And a settlement means for performing settlement of the commodity amount accumulated in the step (a).
[0005]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, position detecting means for detecting own position information in the store, and in-store of a product requested by the purchaser in accordance with the position information. And information providing means for providing guidance information to the position at the location.
The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a warning unit that warns when the shopping cart goes out of the store based on the settlement result by the settlement unit. It is characterized by the following.
[0006]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shopping system using the shopping cart according to the first aspect, wherein amount information storage means for storing information on the amount of the item as amount information, and the item received from the shopping cart. In accordance with the information, there is provided a money amount transmitting means for extracting money amount information from the money amount information storing means and transmitting the money amount information to the shopping cart.
The invention according to claim 5, wherein the first step of acquiring information on the stored merchandise, the second step of transmitting the acquired merchandise information to a predetermined store management device, and the store management device having the merchandise information A third step of receiving and accumulating the amount of the commodity presented based on the electronic money information of the purchaser of the commodity; a third step of acquiring the electronic money information of the purchaser of the commodity; And a fifth step of performing settlement of the commodity price accumulated in the step.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a shopping cart, a shopping system, and a shopping method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a shopping system including a shopping cart according to the present embodiment.
The shopping cart 10 can be connected to a store server (product management device) 20 via a wireless LAN base station in the store. The store 15 is an area within one store, and each store 15 has a wireless LAN base station.
[0008]
Here, the exchange of data between the shopping cart 10 and the store server 20 will be briefly described. First, when a purchaser puts a product in the shopping cart 10 in the store 15, the shopping cart 10 reads the product information (FIG. (1)), the product information is transmitted to the store server 20 via the wireless LAN base station ((2)). When the store server 20 acquires the product information from the shopping cart 10 (2), the store server 20 transmits the price information of the product to the shopping cart 10 (3).
On the other hand, the shopping cart 10 stores the price information of the product transmitted from the store server 20 and performs settlement. In other words, the present invention is characterized in that the shopping cart 10 can settle the product.
[0009]
The store server 20 includes a communication unit (not shown), a control unit, a storage unit, a data storage unit, and a display unit. The storage unit of the store server 20 stores an amount distribution program that extracts an amount related to the item from the data storage unit in accordance with the item information transmitted from the shopping cart and distributes the amount to the shopping cart as the amount information. .
The control unit of the store server 20 operates according to the money amount distribution program, and implements money amount distribution means. The data storage unit of the store server 20 functions as an amount information storage unit, and stores information on the amount of the item as amount information.
[0010]
Next, the configuration of the shopping cart 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The shopping cart 10 includes an antenna 11, a communication unit 12, a control unit 13, a storage unit 14, a portable terminal insertion unit 16, a product information acquisition unit 17, a position detection unit 18, and a display unit 19.
The control unit 13 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls each unit (not shown), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory).
[0011]
The display unit 19 is a display means such as a liquid crystal display, and displays in-store information, displays guidance information to a position of a product desired by the purchaser in the store, displays payment information, and the like. By functioning as a touch panel, a request from a purchaser can be obtained.
The mobile terminal insertion unit (electronic money information obtaining means) 16 obtains electronic money information stored in the inserted electronic money medium (here, as an example, a mobile terminal).
The product information acquisition unit (product information acquisition means) 17 is configured by, for example, a barcode reader, an IC chip reader, and the like, and acquires information on products put in a shopping cart.
[0012]
The storage unit 14 includes a program storage unit (not shown) and a data storage unit.
The program storage unit stores a product information acquisition program, a payment program, a position detection program, an information provision program, a warning program, and the like.
The product information acquisition program is a program that transmits the product information acquired by the product information acquisition unit 17 to the store server 20, acquires the product price of the product, and stores it in the data storage unit as the accumulated price.
The payment program is a program for performing payment of the amount of money (purchased product) stored in the data storage unit based on the acquired electronic money information.
The warning program is a program that determines whether or not payment has been completed when a shopping cart is going to go out of the store, and sounds an alarm when there is a shopping cart that is going to leave the store without payment.
[0013]
The control unit 13 operates according to a product information acquisition program, a payment program, a warning program, a position detection program, and an information provision program described below, and implements a payment unit, an information provision unit, a warning unit, and the like.
The data storage unit (amount storage unit) stores the amount of the storage by the product information acquisition program.
The communication unit (product information transmitting means) 12 transmits and receives product information, price information, electronic money information, position information, guidance information, and the like to and from the store server 20 via the antenna 11.
[0014]
By the way, in the shopping cart 10 of the present invention, it is also possible to detect the position of the shopping cart in the store and inquire the store server 20 to guide the store to the product requested by the purchaser. This function is executed by the position detecting unit 18, the position detecting program in the program storage unit, and the information providing program. That is, the position detecting section (position detecting means) 18 has a geomagnetic sensor and a floor information reading section for reading floor information of the store. The orientation of the shopping cart is measured by a geomagnetic sensor, and the orientation of the shopping cart is specified. In addition, the position detection unit 18 reads from the floor, for example, the color of the floor (floor information) that is color-coded for each passage in the store as shown in FIG. 3, thereby specifying which passage in the store the purchaser is. be able to.
The position detection program is a program for detecting position information of a shopping cart based on information read from the floor by the position detection unit 18.
The information providing program is a program that obtains, from the store server 20, guidance information to a position in a store of a product requested by a purchaser in accordance with the position information detected by the position detection program, and provides the purchaser with the information. It is.
On the other hand, in the data storage unit of the store server 20, other in-store information based on floor information as shown in FIG. 3 is stored as to what kind of product is in the store. The in-store information is transmitted to the shopping cart as guidance information based on the position information and the request information from the shopping cart.
[0015]
Then, the position information including the floor information specified by the position detection unit 18 and the information on the direction of the shopping cart specified by the geomagnetic sensor is transmitted to the store server 20 via the communication unit 12. Further, at this time, when the purchaser requests, for example, a guide to a product desired to be purchased from the display unit 19, the requested product information is also transmitted to the store server 20.
The store server 20 can specify the current position of the shopping cart based on the direction (the traveling direction) of the shopping cart and the floor information. In addition, the store server 20 shopping information for guiding the requested product to the location in the store (for example, which shelf in the store contains the product) based on the specified information and the requested product information. Send to cart.
[0016]
Next, an operation of purchasing a product by the shopping cart 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flow of FIG.
When the purchaser borrows the shopping cart 10 at the entrance of the store and puts the product into the shopping cart 10, the product information acquisition unit (here, as an example, a barcode reader) 17 scans the barcode of the product. Thus, the product information is acquired (step S41). The control unit 13 transmits the acquired product information to the store server 20 via the communication unit 12 (Step S43).
Upon acquiring the product information from the shopping cart 10 (step S401), the store server 20 extracts the price information corresponding to the product from the data storage unit and transmits the information to the shopping cart 10 (step S403).
When acquiring the price information (step S45), the control unit 13 of the shopping cart 10 stores the price information in the data storage unit as a storage price (step S47).
[0017]
Here, when the purchaser requests to know the position of the product desired to be purchased in the store (“Yes” in step S49), the control unit 13 performs position detection by the position detection unit 18 (step S51), The detected position information and the request information are transmitted to the store server 20 (step S53).
When the store server 20 acquires the position information and the request information (step S405), the store server 20 extracts guidance information on the corresponding product from the in-store information in the data storage unit based on the position information and the request information, and transmits the guidance information to the shopping cart 10. (Step S407).
[0018]
Upon acquiring the guidance information, the control unit 13 of the shopping cart 10 presents the guidance information on the display unit 19 (Step S55). The purchaser can reach the target product by referring to the guidance information presented on the display unit 19.
The position detecting unit 18 of the shopping cart 10 updates the position information of the purchaser by reading the floor information as needed, and transmits the updated information to the store server 20. Thereby, the store server 20 can transmit the latest guidance information based on the position information updated as needed. For example, as guidance information, first, the store server 20 provides path information for guiding the shopping cart 10 to the path of a target product, and then, based on the positional information from the geomagnetic sensor of the shopping cart, identifies the purchaser. Select azimuth information for directing the product to the shelf direction. Then, upon recognizing from the position information that the purchaser has arrived at the corresponding shelf, the store server 20 transmits to the shopping cart 10 a schematic diagram of the shelf and information on the display place where the corresponding product is located.
[0019]
When the purchaser finishes putting all the necessary products into the shopping cart 10, the purchaser can execute the settlement by pressing a settlement button (not shown) of the showpin cart 10.
When the purchaser selects the settlement of the accumulated amount (“Yes” in step S57), the control unit 13 performs a display such as “Please insert the mobile terminal into the mobile terminal insertion unit 16” on the display unit 19, for example. , Start the settlement. When the purchaser inserts the mobile terminal into the mobile terminal insertion unit 16, the control unit 13 acquires the electronic money information of the purchaser from the mobile terminal according to the payment program, and performs the payment by subtracting the accumulated amount (step S59). ).
[0020]
The paid electronic money is transmitted from the shopping cart 10 to the store server 20. The store server 10 transmits the purchased merchandise information corresponding to the receipt to the shopping cart 10 based on the transmitted electronic money information. The shopping cart that has received the purchased product information downloads the receipt information to the mobile terminal of the mobile terminal insertion unit 16.
It should be noted that the electronic money can be made anonymous by having an independent data structure for each unit and by providing an authenticator for guaranteeing the validity of the data of each unit.
[0021]
As described above, one embodiment of the shopping cart, the shopping system, and the shopping method of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and various modifications can be made.
For example, although the guide information has been described as being presented on the display unit 19, the shopping cart may be provided with a voice input / output unit such as a microphone to obtain a request by voice or provide the guide information. Good.
Further, in the present embodiment, a portable terminal has been described as an example of an electronic money medium, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any medium that can include electronic money information, such as a cash card or a clock, may be used.
[0022]
In addition, a warning program may be used to determine whether the settlement of a shopping cart going out of the store has been completed, and if the settlement has not been completed, an alarm may be sounded.
The purchaser may transfer the purchased product information downloaded to the portable terminal to a computer at home later.
Further, the information provided from the store server 20 to the shopping cart 10 is not limited to the guidance information indicating the position of the product, and may be, for example, information on a bargain product, advertisement, event, and the like.
[0023]
As described above, according to the shopping cart, the shopping system, and the shopping method of the present embodiment, the settlement is performed using the anonymous electronic money, so that the shop cannot identify the purchaser, and the privacy is protected. be able to. Further, according to the shopping cart, the shopping system, and the shopping method of the present embodiment, the purchaser can make a payment by using the electronic money medium possessed, so that the trouble of making the payment alongside the cash register is eliminated. This makes it possible to improve the convenience of purchasing the product.
[0024]
Further, according to the shopping cart, the shopping system, and the shopping method of the present embodiment, guidance to the product desired to be purchased is performed in accordance with the location information and the request of the purchaser. This saves the purchaser the trouble of searching for a product, thereby improving the willingness to purchase the product.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the shopping cart, the shopping system, and the shopping method of the present invention, the merchandise amount presented by the store based on the merchandise information is accumulated, and the accumulated merchandise amount is acquired based on the acquired purchaser's electronic money information. Payment, it is possible to support the purchaser's smooth product purchase [Brief explanation of the drawing]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a shopping system including a shopping cart according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a shopping cart.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of floor information in a store.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of purchasing a product by a shopping cart.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Shopping cart 11 Antenna 12 Communication part 13 Control part 14 Storage part 16 Mobile terminal insertion part 17 Product information acquisition part 18 Position detection part 19 Display part 20 Store server

Claims (5)

A merchandise information acquisition unit for acquiring information on the contained merchandise, a merchandise information transmitting unit for transmitting the acquired merchandise information to a predetermined store management device, and a merchandise amount presented by the store management device based on the merchandise information. An amount storage means for receiving and storing;
Electronic money information acquisition means for acquiring electronic money information of a purchaser of a product;
A shopping cart, comprising: a settlement unit that performs settlement of the commodity amount accumulated by the amount accumulation unit based on the acquired electronic money information. Position detecting means for detecting own position information in the store,
2. The shopping cart according to claim 1, further comprising information providing means for providing guidance information for a position of the product requested by the purchaser to the position in the store in accordance with the position information. The shopping cart according to claim 1, further comprising a warning unit that warns when the shopping cart goes out of the store based on a settlement result by the settlement unit. A shopping system using the shopping cart according to claim 1,
Amount information storage means for storing information on the amount of the goods as the amount information, and the amount information extracted from the amount information storage means according to the goods information received from the shopping cart, and the amount transmission for transmitting to the shopping cart And a shopping system. A first step of obtaining information about the contained goods;
A second step of transmitting the obtained product information to a predetermined store management device;
A third step of receiving and storing the commodity price presented by the store management device based on the commodity information;
A fourth step of obtaining electronic money information of a purchaser of the product;
And a fifth step of performing settlement of the amount of the commodity accumulated in the third step based on the acquired electronic money information.

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