JP2005316930A - Customer management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a customer management system capable of performing unified management of discounts of each commodity regarding the corresponding customer in the store side and providing information on the discounts corresponding to the commodity to be sold in real time to the customer and on the commodity. <P>SOLUTION: A radio IC tag 29 is attached to the commodities placed on a commodity shelf. A customer puts a commodity into a cart equipped with a customer terminal 25. The customer terminal 25 reads out an IC tag ID from the radio IC tag 27 of the respective commodity every time the commodity is put into the cart and the terminal transmits the ID. A customer management server 21 retrieves a discount information DB and the like on the basis of the acquired IC tag ID and a customer ID and transmits discount notification information notifying application of discount if the customer buys other commodity. Customer discount application information indicating discounts in the future is created based on the acquired IC tag ID, the customer ID, the discount information DB, etc. The customer terminal 25 notifies the customer of the possibility of discount. The customer receives a discount on the basis of the customer discount application information from the past purchase at the time of settlement. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a customer management system for managing discount information for a customer, and more particularly, to optimizing timing for providing discount information to a customer.

  The prior art of the customer management system in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The shopping support system 100 shown in FIG. 21 includes wireless antennas 111 and 112, a register 115, a mobile phone 120, and a server 160. When a communication path is established between the server 160 and the customer's mobile phone 120 via the wireless antenna 111 provided at the entrance of the store, the server 160 performs shopping with respect to the mobile phone 120. Provide reference information such as available menus.

  The server 160 receives identification information from the mobile phone 120 when a communication path is established with the mobile phone 120 via the wireless antenna 112 provided at the position of the register 115. The server 160 receives the customer's settlement amount from the register 115 when the settlement of the shopping is completed. Then, the server 160 calculates point results for each piece of identification information from the identification information and the settlement amount, and information that can be used when making a new purchase to the mobile phone 120, for example, discount information of affiliated stores. And the calculated point results are supplied as privilege information.

  By using the reference information provided from the server 160, the customer can easily determine the product to be purchased. Further, the customer can easily schedule future shopping by using the privilege information provided from the server 160.

JP2003-30298

  The conventional shopping support system 100 has the following problems. In the shopping support system 100, the customer can receive reference information such as a menu that can be used when shopping in the store. However, it is necessary for the customer to select which reference information is provided. That is, in order to receive provision of reference information, there is a problem that it takes time for the customer and it is difficult for the customer to use it.

  Further, the customer can receive benefit information such as discount information of affiliated stores and calculated point results after settlement. However, provision of privilege information is at the time of settlement, and it takes time to confirm the score information during shopping as described above. Also, discount information and point results of affiliated stores are aimed at attracting customers at each store.

  Therefore, customers who can centrally manage discounts for each product related to each customer on the store side and can provide customers with discounts corresponding to the products they are going to purchase in real time and information on those products The purpose is to provide a management system.

  Means for solving the problems relating to the present invention and effects of the present invention will be described below.

  The present invention relates to product identification information for uniquely determining each product, discount information indicating an association between discount product identification information indicating a product to which a discount is applied and discount content information indicating the discount content if the product is purchased. Is stored in discount information holding means, the product identification information is acquired, the customer identification information is acquired, the discount information corresponding to the acquired product identification information is acquired, and the acquired customer identification information and the discount information are Associating and generating customer discount application information indicating a discount applied for each customer, storing the generated customer discount application information in the customer discount application information holding means, and providing customer discount application information corresponding to the acquired customer identification information If the product identification information acquired from the customer discount application information holding means and the acquired product identification information in the acquired customer discount application information includes the discount product identification information and the discount Based on the discount content information corresponding to the product identification information, it generates discount notification information indicating that a discount is applied, providing the generated discount announcement information.

  Thereby, the customer discount application information indicating the discount applied for each customer can be easily managed. Therefore, the discount for each product regarding each customer can be centrally managed on the store side. Moreover, if customer identification information and product identification information are acquired, discount notification information can be provided. Accordingly, discount notification information indicating that there is a product that is discounted when the product to be purchased for the customer is actually purchased can be provided to the customer in real time.

  The present invention further provides discount product identification information corresponding to the product identification information and discount corresponding to the discount product identification information if the product identification information acquired in the acquired customer discount application information includes the product identification information. The discount notification information is generated based on the content information.

  Accordingly, discount notification information indicating that a discount is obtained when the product to be purchased is actually purchased can be provided to the customer in real time.

  The present invention further generates customer discount application information upon obtaining settlement confirmation information. As a result, customer discount application information can be generated only for the settled product, and the customer discount application information can be managed efficiently.

  The present invention further generates temporary customer discount application information that is temporary customer discount application information when the product identification information is acquired, and acquires settlement confirmation information for the product identification information to generate the temporary customer discount application information. Based on this, customer discount application information is generated.

  As a result, customer discount application information can be generated only for products that have been settled, and customer discount application information is not generated for products that have been returned to the shelf without being settled. Therefore, the customer discount application information can be managed efficiently.

  The present invention further obtains the discount product identification information and discount content information of the customer corresponding to the settlement information from the customer discount application information holding means when the settlement notice information is obtained, and the obtained discount product identification information and discount content information The discount settlement information indicating that the settlement is to be confirmed is generated based on, and the generated discount settlement information is provided.

  Thereby, the discount which the said customer receives can be considered in a customer's payment. Therefore, the customer discount application information of the customer can be managed and used efficiently.

  The present invention further provides the customer discount application information in order to present the customer discount application information to the customer when at least one of the settlement notice information or the settlement confirmation information is acquired.

  Thereby, the customer can confirm the product etc. which received the discount or the product etc. which can receive a discount in future shopping.

  The present invention further provides the customer discount application information when the customer identification information of the customer corresponding to the customer discount application information is newly acquired.

  Thereby, the customer can confirm the product etc. which can receive discount even if it is not at the time of payment.

  Here, the correspondence between the constituent elements described in the claims and the constituent elements in the embodiment is shown. The customer management system corresponds to the customer management system 1, the customer terminal corresponds to the customer terminal 25, the product identification information providing device corresponds to the wireless IC tag 29, and the customer management device corresponds to the customer management server 21.

  The terminal product identification information acquisition means is the CPU 251 and the wireless IC tag communication circuit 255, the terminal customer identification information acquisition means is the CPU 251 and the card reader unit 254, the terminal product identification information provision means is the CPU 251, the memory 252, and the server communication circuit 256. The customer product identification information providing means corresponds to the CPU 251, the memory 252, and the server communication circuit 256, respectively.

  Discount information holding means is stored in the hard disk 213, product identification information acquiring means is stored in the CPU 211 and communication circuit 218, customer identification information acquiring means is stored in the CPU 211 and communication circuit 218, and customer discount application information generating means is stored in the CPU 211, memory 212, and hard disk 213. The customer discount application information holding means is in the hard disk 213, the customer discount application information storage means is in the CPU 211 and the memory 212, the discount notice information generating means is in the CPU 211, the memory 212 and the hard disk 213, and the discount notice information providing means is the CPU 211 and the communication circuit. 218, payment information acquisition means to CPU 211 and communication circuit 218, discount payment information generation means to CPU 211, memory 212 and hard disk 213, discount payment information provision means to CPU 211 and communication circuit 218, customer discount The use information providing unit CPU 211, a memory 212, a hard disk 213 and the communication circuit 218 corresponds, respectively.

  The customer management device performs the processes of steps S2101 to S2117, steps S2121 to S2127, and steps S2151 to S2181. The customer terminal performs the processes of steps S2501 to S2507, S2511 to S2517, and S2531 to S2545. The merchandise identification information providing apparatus performs the processes of steps S2711 to S2717.

  The product identification information acquisition means performs the processing in step S2101, the customer identification information acquisition means performs the processing in step S2101, and the customer discount application information generation means performs the processing in steps S2103 to S2105, S2121 to S2127, and S2173 to S2183, and applies the customer discount. The information storage means performs the processing of steps S2183 and S2185, the discount notification information generation means performs the processing of steps S2103 to S2115, the discount notification information provision means performs the processing of step S2117, and the settlement information acquisition means performs the processing of step S217149. The payment information generating means executes the processes of steps S2151 to S2161, and the discount payment information providing means executes the processes of steps S2163 and S2165.

  The product identification information is the IC tag ID, the customer identification information is the customer ID, the discount product identification information is the value in the [discount product name] column of the discount information DB, and the discount content information is in the [discount content] column of the discount information DB. In the value, the value in the [Availability] column of the discount information DB is "X" in the discount information DB, the customer discount application information is in the customer discount application information DB, and the temporary customer discount application information is in the customer discount application information DB. Correspond to each data.

  “Product” is a concept that includes individual products and products as a product group. That is, the “product” includes not only individual products such as oranges and grapefruits but also groups based on specific characteristics such as citrus fruits.

  “Uniquely determining each product” is a concept that includes not only directly determining a product directly but also indirectly determining a product uniquely. In other words, when a wireless IC tag is attached to a product, the IC tag ID of the wireless IC tag directly determines the wireless IC tag directly, but the IC tag ID and individual products are This includes the case where each product can be uniquely determined by the IC tag ID.

  The “program” is a concept including not only a directly executable program but also a source format program, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like. In addition, the function realized by the program may be realized by the program alone or may be realized in cooperation with another program (for example, an operating system).

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below.

1. Overview An overview of a customer management system 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. A wireless IC tag 27 is attached to a product lined up in a supermarket product shelf. The customer puts the product into the shopping cart in which the customer terminal 25 is installed.

(1) The customer inputs his / her customer ID into the customer terminal 25.

(2) The customer terminal 25 reads the IC tag ID from the wireless IC tag 27 attached to the product every time the product is put into the shopping cart.

(3) The customer terminal 25 transmits the acquired IC tag ID and customer ID to the customer management server 21.

(4) The customer management server 21 searches the product information DB and the discount information DB stored in the hard disk 213 based on the acquired IC tag ID and customer ID.

(5) In order to inform the customer that the customer management server 21 can receive a discount when purchasing a similar product of the product (for example, a private brand milk sold by a supermarket for a certain brand of milk). The discount notification information is transmitted to the customer terminal 25.

(6) Based on the acquired IC tag ID, customer ID, product information DB, and discount information DB, the customer management server 21 generates customer discount application information indicating a discount applied to each customer after the next time.

(7) The customer terminal 25 displays the acquired discount content on the display and notifies the customer that the discount can be received.

(8) The customer can receive a discount in the register 29 based on the customer discount application information generated at the time of the previous shopping at the time of the settlement of the current shopping.

  As a result, the discount for each product related to each customer can be centrally managed on the store side, and the discount corresponding to the product to be purchased in real time and information on the product can be provided to the customer. .

2. Functional Block A functional block diagram of the customer management server 21 which is a customer management device of the customer management system 1 according to the present embodiment is shown in FIG. The customer management server 21 includes discount information holding means M1, product identification information acquisition means M3, customer identification information acquisition means M5, customer discount application information generation means M7, customer discount application information holding means M9, customer discount application information storage means M11, It has discount notice information generating means M13, discount notice information providing means M15, settlement information acquiring means M17, discount settlement information generating means M19, and discount settlement information providing means M21.

  The discount information holding means M1 associates product identification information for uniquely determining each product with discount product identification information indicating a product to which a discount is applied and discount content information indicating the discount content if the product is purchased. Holds the discount information shown.

  The product identification information acquisition unit M3 acquires the product identification information.

  Customer identification information acquisition means M5 acquires the customer identification information.

  The customer discount application information generating unit M7 acquires discount information corresponding to the product identification information acquired from the product identification information acquisition unit M3 from the discount information holding unit M1, and the customer acquired from the customer identification information acquisition unit M5 Customer discount application information indicating a discount applied to each customer is generated by associating the identification information with the discount information. Further, the customer discount information generation means M7 generates temporary customer discount application information which is temporary customer discount application information when acquiring the product identification information, and acquires settlement confirmation information for the product identification information, then generates the temporary customer generated. Customer discount application information is generated based on the discount application information.

  Customer discount application information holding means M9 holds customer discount application information.

  The customer discount application information storage unit M11 stores the generated customer discount application information in the customer discount application information holding unit M9.

  The discount notice information generation means M13 acquires customer discount application information corresponding to the customer identification information acquired from the customer identification information acquisition means M5 from the customer discount application information holding means M9, and discount products in the acquired customer discount application information If the product identification information acquired from the product identification information acquisition means M3 is included in the identification information, the discount is applied based on the discount product identification information and the discount content information corresponding to the discount product identification information. Generate discount notification information.

  Discount notification information providing means M15 provides the generated discount notification information.

  The settlement information acquisition unit M17 acquires settlement confirmation information indicating that the customer's settlement has been confirmed. Further, the payment information acquisition means M17 acquires payment notice information indicating that the customer will make a payment from now on.

  Upon obtaining the settlement notice information from the settlement information obtaining unit, the discount settlement information generating unit M19 obtains customer discount product identification information and discount content information corresponding to the settlement information from the customer discount application information holding unit M9. Discount settlement information indicating that settlement is to be confirmed is generated based on the acquired discount product identification information and discount content information.

  Discount settlement information providing means M21 provides the generated discount settlement information.

3. Hardware configuration
3.1. Hardware Configuration of Customer Management System 1 In this embodiment, the customer management system 1 is used in a supermarket. The hardware configuration of the customer management system 1 is shown in FIG. The customer management system 1 includes a customer management server 21, a customer terminal 25, a wireless IC tag 27, and a register 29.

The wireless IC tag 27 is attached to each product. The wireless IC tag 27 has an IC tag ID that uniquely identifies a product.
The customer terminal 25 transmits / receives information to / from the wireless IC tag 27, the customer management server 21, and the register 29. Further, the customer terminal 25 holds customer identification information for uniquely identifying a customer. Furthermore, the customer terminal 25 displays discount information for the customer.

  In the present embodiment, the customer terminal 25 is installed in the shopping cart C1. FIG. 4 shows a state where the customer terminal 25 is installed in the shopping cart C1. Shopping cart C1 has cart part C11 and grasping part C13. The customer terminal 25 is provided near the junction between the cart portion C11 and the grip portion C13. Accordingly, the customer terminal 25 can automatically read the IC tag ID from the wireless IC tag 27 attached to the product for the product put in the shopping cart C1.

  The shopping cart C1 is not composed of a general net-like basket, but is composed of a basket whose periphery is closed by an iron plate or the like. Thereby, the customer terminal 25 can read the IC tag ID only from the product put in the shopping cart C1, without reading the IC tag ID from the wireless IC tag 29 attached to the product lined up on the shelf. it can.

  The register 29 transmits / receives information to / from the customer management server 21 and performs payment to the customer.

3.2. Hardware Configuration of Customer Management Server 21 The customer management server 21 manages discount information for each customer. The hardware configuration of the customer management server 21 will be described with reference to FIG. The management server includes a CPU 211, a memory 212, a hard disk 213, and a communication circuit 218. Further, the customer management server 21 is connected to a keyboard 214, a mouse 215, a display 216 and a CD-ROM drive 217.

  The CPU 211 performs processing based on other applications such as an operating system (OS) and a customer management server program recorded on the hard disk 213. The memory 212 provides a work area for the CPU 211. The hard disk 213 records and holds other applications and various data such as an operating system (OS) and a customer management server program. The data recorded on the hard disk 213 will be described later. The communication circuit 218 includes a communication circuit connected to a network, and transmits / receives data to / from an external communication device.

  The keyboard 214 and mouse 215 accept external commands and provide them to the customer management server 21. The display 216 acquires image information such as a user interface from the customer management server 21 and displays the acquired image information. The CD-ROM drive 217 reads data from the CD-ROM, such as reading the customer management server program from the CD-ROM 210 in which the customer management server program is recorded and other application programs from other CD-ROMs. To the customer management server 21.

3.3. Hardware Configuration of Customer Terminal 25 The customer terminal 25 is a terminal used by each customer. The hardware configuration of the customer terminal 25 will be described with reference to FIG. The customer terminal 25 includes a CPU 251, a memory 252, a display 253, a card reader unit 254, a wireless IC tag communication circuit 255, and a server communication circuit 256.

  The CPU 251 performs processing based on other applications such as a customer terminal program recorded in the memory 252. The memory 252 provides a work area for the CPU 211. The memory 252 stores and holds the customer ID acquired from the card reader unit 254. Further, the memory 252 stores and holds discount content information acquired from the customer management server 21.

  The display 253 displays discount content information, a user interface, and the like held in the memory 252. The card reader unit 254 reads information such as a customer ID from a magnetic card held by the customer. The wireless IC tag communication circuit 255 communicates with the wireless IC tag 27 and acquires an IC tag ID held by the wireless IC tag. The server communication circuit 256 exchanges data with the customer management server 21.

3.4. Hardware Configuration of Wireless IC Tag 27 The wireless IC tag 27 has an IC tag ID that uniquely determines each product. The wireless IC tag 27 is arranged for each product. A hardware configuration of the wireless IC tag 27 will be described with reference to FIG. The wireless IC tag 27 includes an IC chip 271 and an antenna 273.

  The IC chip 271 has a memory, and holds an IC tag ID corresponding to the product name in the memory. The antenna 273 provides the IC tag ID to the customer terminal 25 and also receives the power for the IC chip 271.

3.5. Hardware Configuration of Register 29 The register 29 performs a settlement process for the customer's purchase. A hardware configuration of the register 29 will be described with reference to FIG. The register 29 includes a CPU 291, a memory 292, a hard disk 293, a keyboard 294, a display 296, a communication circuit 298, and a wireless IC tag communication circuit 299.

  The CPU 291 performs processing based on other applications such as a register program recorded on the hard disk 293. The memory 292 provides a work area for the CPU 291. The hard disk 293 records and holds other applications such as a register program and various data.

  The keyboard 294 receives input from the user. The display 296 displays information such as payment products and prices. The communication circuit 298 performs mutual communication with the customer management server 21. The wireless IC tag communication circuit 299 performs communication with the wireless IC tag 27 attached to each product.

4. Data The hard disk 213 of the customer management server 21 shown in FIG. 5 records and stores a product information database (product information DB), a discount information database (discount information DB), and a customer discount application information database (customer discount application information DB). doing.

4.1. Product information DB
In the product information DB, the IC tag ID of each wireless IC tag 27 and the product name of each product are registered in association with each other. The product information DB is created when the wireless IC tag 27 is set for each product. By referring to the product information DB, the product can be specified from the unique IC tag ID of the wireless IC tag.

  An example of the product information DB is shown in FIG. The product information information DB has an [IC tag ID] column and a [product name] column. In the [IC tag ID] column, an IC tag ID that each wireless IC tag 27 has is described. Since the wireless IC tag 27 is arranged for each product, as a result, the IC tag ID uniquely determines each product. In the [Product Name] column, the product name of each product in which the wireless IC tag 27 is arranged is described.

  For example, assuming that the wireless IC tag 27 with the IC tag ID “0001” is arranged in the product with the product name “A1”, the product information DB includes an “IC tag ID” column as shown in FIG. “0001” is described in “A1” in the corresponding [product name] column.

4.2. Discount Information DB
In the discount information DB, a product name of each product, a product name of a product to which a discount is applied from the next time if the product is purchased, and a discount content for the product are registered in association with each other. An example of the discount information DB is shown in FIG. The discount information DB has a [purchased product name] column, a [discounted product name] column, a [discount content] column, a [display information ID] column, and a [display information] column. In FIG. 10, values that are not particularly necessary in the description are omitted.

  In the [purchased product name] column, the product name of each product is described. In the [discounted product name] column, if a product in the [purchased product name] column is purchased, a product name of a product to which a discount is applied from the next time is described. In the [Discount Details] column, discount details applied to the products in the [Discount Product Name] column are described. In the [Display Information ID] column, a display information ID for uniquely determining the display information described in the [Display Information] column is described. In the [Display Information] column, display information for displaying the discount contents on the customer terminal 25 is described.

  For example, if you want to sell a private brand product (product name “B2”) more actively than a competitor's brand product (product name “B1”) in a supermarket, this time the product name is “B1”. If a product with the product name “B2” is purchased the next time, a 10% discount is offered for the price of the product with the product name “B2”. To do. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, “B2” is displayed in the “discounted product name” column corresponding to the value “B1” in the “purchased product name” column, and “10% OFF” is displayed in the “discount content” column. , Respectively. In the [display information ID] column, “BBB01” is described. In the [Display Information] column, “Product name“ B2 ”is purchased, 10% OFF! Is described. Accordingly, it is possible to develop a campaign that can guide a customer's shopping to a private brand product.

  In the present embodiment, when the discount source product and the discount target product are not specified, for example, when a specific product is to be actively sold, the [Purchased Product Name] column, [Discounted Product Name] ] Column is described with “* (asterisk). For example, if the product with the product name“ A1 ”is to be actively sold, the customer who purchased the product with the product name“ A1 ” Suppose that the campaign is to deduct 30 yen from the purchase price, in this case, as shown in Fig. 10, "*" appears in the [Discounted Product Name] column for the value "A1" in the [Purchased Product Name] column. In the [Discount Details] column, “30 yen discount” is described, so that a campaign capable of actively selling a specific product can be developed.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, “−” is described when there is no data to be described. For example, it is assumed that information regarding a product with the product name “G2” is provided to a customer who purchased a product with the product name “G1”, although there is no particular discount. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, “G2” is displayed in the “discounted product name” column, “−” is displayed in the “discount content” column, and “display information” is “G1” in the “purchased product name” column. ] Column describes the information to be displayed, and the [Display information ID] column describes the display information ID “GGG01” for specifying the information to be displayed described in the [Display information] column.

4.3. Customer discount application information DB
In the customer discount application information DB, discounts to be applied from the next time are registered for each customer, and discount information corresponding to the acquired product name and the acquired customer ID are registered in association with each other. An example of the customer discount application information DB is shown in FIG. In FIG. 11, description of values that are not particularly necessary in the description is omitted.

  The customer discount application information DB includes a [customer ID] column, a [purchased product name] column, a [discounted product name] column, a [discount content] column, a [display information ID] column, a [display information] column, and [usability]. Has a column.

  In the [Customer ID] column, a customer ID uniquely determined by the customer, which is given to each customer by each store, is described. In the [purchased product name] column, the product name of the product purchased by the customer this time and described in the [purchased product name] column of the discount information DB shown in FIG. 11 is described. The [Discount Product Name] column, [Discount Details] column, [Display Information ID] column, and [Display Information] column correspond to the product names described in the [Purchase Product Name] column of the customer discount application information DB. The values (see FIG. 10) of the [Discount Product Name] column, [Discount Details] column, [Display Information ID] column, and [Display Information] column of the discount information DB are described. In the [Usability] column, whether or not the discount information of each customer is available at the time of the current settlement is described.

  For example, the customer with the customer ID “22222” purchased the product with the product name “B1” in the previous shopping, and at the time of the subsequent shopping, the product with the product name “B2” received a 10% OFF discount. Suppose that it is confirmed that it can be received. In this case, as shown in FIG. 11, “22222” is described in the [customer ID] column, and “B1” is described in the “purchased product name” column corresponding to the [customer ID] column. Further, in the [discounted product name] column, [discount content] column, [display information ID] column, and [display information] column, “B1” in the [purchased product name] column of the discount information DB shown in FIG. Each corresponding value is described. Furthermore, since the customer with the customer ID “22222” has settled in the previous purchase, it is determined that the customer can receive a discount for the next purchase. Is described.

  It is assumed that the customer with the customer ID “22222” intends to purchase the product with the product name “M1” in the current shopping, but has not yet settled. In this case, as shown in FIG. 11, “M1” is described in the “purchased product name” column corresponding to “22222” in the [customer ID] column. Further, in the [Discount Product Name] column, [Discount Details] column, [Display Information ID] column, and [Display Information] column, “M1” in the [Purchase Product Name] column of the discount information DB shown in FIG. Each corresponding value is described. Since the customer with the customer ID “22222” has not yet settled in the current shopping, it is not clear whether the customer can receive a discount for the next shopping, so “x” is described in the [Usability] column. Is done.

  As described above, the reason why the value in the [Usability] column is changed depending on whether or not payment has been made is as follows. When the product is put in the cart, the customer terminal 25 automatically reads the IC tag ID of the wireless IC tag 27 attached to the product put in the cart and transmits it to the customer management server 21. When acquiring the IC tag ID, the customer management server 21 generates customer discount application information shown in FIG. On the other hand, it is common for a customer to stop purchasing a product once in a cart and purchase another product. In this case, if the customer's discount is determined based on the previously acquired IC tag ID, a discount for the next time or later is permitted for a product that is not actually purchased. In order to prevent such drawbacks, “X” is described in the [Usability] column to indicate the state before settlement, and [Use] is used to indicate that payment has been made. “Yes” is described in the “Availability” column.

  In the customer discount application information DB, as in the discount information DB, “* (asterisk)” can be described in the [customer ID] column. For example, it is assumed that a campaign of deducting 50 yen from the purchase price for all customers is developed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 11, “*” is displayed in each of the “customer ID” column, the “purchased product name” column, and the “discounted product name” column, and “50 yen discount” is displayed in the “discount content” column. , Respectively. Thereby, it is possible to develop a campaign for guiding customers to the store.

5. Operations of the customer management server 21, the portable terminal 27, and the wireless IC tag 27
5.1. Operation of Customer Terminal 25 and Wireless IC Tag 27 The customer puts a product with the wireless IC tag 29 from the product shelf into the shopping cart C1. The customer terminal 25 installed in the shopping cart C1 acquires the IC tag ID from the wireless IC tag 29 attached to the product. FIG. 12 shows the customer ID acquisition process, the IC tag ID acquisition process, the acquired customer ID and IC tag ID transmission process in the customer terminal 25, and the IC tag ID transmission process of the wireless IC tag 27. , 13 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 12, a customer ID acquisition process in the customer terminal 25 will be described. The CPU 251 of the customer terminal 25 determines whether or not a customer ID already exists in the memory 252 (S2501). If the CPU 251 determines that the customer ID does not exist in the memory 252, the CPU 251 displays a message for prompting the customer ID to be input on the display 253 (S 2503). When the CPU 251 determines that the customer ID has been acquired (S2505), the CPU 251 holds the acquired customer ID in the memory 252 (S2507). If the CPU 251 determines in step S2501 that the customer ID already exists in the memory 252, the CPU 251 ends the customer ID acquisition process.

  In the present embodiment, the CPU 251 of the customer terminal 25 acquires a customer ID via the card reader unit 254 in the customer terminal 25. Each customer has a magnetic card or the like in which a customer ID that uniquely determines the customer is recorded. By passing the magnetic card or the like through the card reader unit 254, the customer ID is easily provided to the customer terminal 25. can do.

  The CPU 251 determines whether or not payment confirmation information (described later) has been acquired (S2508). If the CPU 251 determines that the settlement confirmation information has been acquired, it deletes the customer ID stored in the memory 252 (S2509).

  In FIG. 13, the acquisition process of the IC tag ID in the customer terminal 25, the transmission process of the acquired customer ID and the IC tag ID, and the transmission process of the IC tag ID in the wireless IC tag 27 will be described. The CPU 251 of the customer terminal 25 continues to transmit question signals at regular intervals and intensities (S2511).

  When the user of the customer terminal 25 puts the product with the wireless IC tag 27 in the shopping cart C1 and the wireless IC tag 27 falls within the transmission range of the inquiry signal, the wireless IC tag 27 has the following IC tag ID. Perform transmission processing. When the IC chip 271 of the wireless IC tag 27 determines that the interrogation signal has been acquired via the antenna 273 (S2711), it acquires the IC tag ID from the memory of the IC chip 271 (S2713). The IC chip 271 also acquires power for driving itself in accordance with the acquisition of the question signal. The IC chip 271 generates a response signal based on the acquired IC tag ID (S2715). The IC chip 271 transmits the generated response signal to the customer terminal 25 via the antenna 273 (S2717).

  When the CPU 251 of the customer terminal 25 determines that a response signal has been acquired from the wireless IC tag 27 (S2512), it extracts an IC tag ID from the acquired response signal (S2513). The CPU 251 determines whether or not the same IC tag ID as the extracted IC tag ID exists in the memory 252 (S1714). If the CPU 251 determines that the same IC tag ID as the extracted IC tag ID does not exist in the memory 252, the CPU 251 holds the extracted IC tag ID in the memory 252 (S2515). Then, the CPU 251 acquires the customer ID held in the memory 252 (S2516). The CPU 251 associates the acquired customer ID and IC tag ID, and transmits them to the customer management server 21 (S2517).

  If the CPU 251 determines in step S2514 that the same IC tag ID as the extracted IC tag ID exists in the memory 252, the CPU 251 determines that the IC tag ID has already been transmitted to the customer management server 21, and the IC tag The ID transmission process ends.

5.2. Operation of customer management server 21 (1)
An outline of the discount operation of the customer management server 21 will be described with reference to FIG. When the customer puts a product into the shopping cart C1, the customer management server 21 acquires the customer ID and the IC tag ID of the wireless IC tag 29 attached to the product from the customer terminal 25 (S2101). There may be cases where a discount is received for a product other than the product put in the shopping cart C1 by the customer. In such a case, the customer management server 21 generates discount notification information indicating that there is another product for which a discount can be received, and performs discount notification information generation / provision processing to be provided to the customer (S1).

  Further, when the store settles the product that the customer has put in the shopping cart C1, the store provides the customer with a discount that can be used at the next shopping. The customer management server 21 generates provisional customer discount application information so that the discount can be confirmed when the settlement is made (S3).

  Then, the customer goes to the register 29 to finally make a settlement. The store clerk of the register 29 takes out the product from the shopping cart C1 and holds the wireless IC tag 29 of each product over the wireless IC tag communication circuit 299. Thereby, the register 29 acquires the IC tag ID. Then, the register 29 transmits to the customer management server 21 settlement notice information indicating that the customer including the acquired IC tag ID and customer ID will make a settlement.

  When the customer management server 21 obtains the settlement notice information (S2151), the customer management server 21 determines whether there is a product for which the customer is going to make a discount and if there is a product that can receive the discount. Then, discount settlement information that prompts the user to perform settlement processing according to the discount content is generated (S5).

  Furthermore, when the customer management server 21 acquires settlement confirmation information indicating that the settlement has been made according to the discount settlement information from the register 29 (S2171), customer discount application information that indicates a discount that can be received in the next and subsequent purchases for the customer. Is generated (S7).

  In the following, first, discount notification information generation / provision processing (S1) and provisional customer discount application information generation processing (S3) of the customer management server 21 will be described in detail. The discount settlement information generation process (S5) and the customer discount application information generation process (S7) will be described later.

5.2.1 Discount Notification Information Generation / Provision Processing The processing in which the customer management server 21 generates and provides discount notification information for the customer terminal 25 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the CPU 211 of the customer management server 21 determines that the customer ID and the IC tag ID have been acquired from the customer terminal 25 via the communication circuit 218 (S2101), the product information DB (see FIG. 9) is based on the acquired IC tag ID. [IC tag ID] column is searched (S2103). Then, the CPU 211 acquires the value of the [product name] column corresponding to the acquired IC tag ID (S2105).

  The CPU 211 searches the [customer ID] column of the customer discount application information DB (see FIG. 11) based on the customer ID acquired in step S2101 (S2107). Further, the CPU 211 searches the [purchased product name] column corresponding to the acquired customer ID based on the product name acquired in step S2105 (S2109). Further, the CPU 211 determines whether or not the value in the [Usability] column corresponding to the customer ID acquired in step S2101 and the product name acquired in step S2105 is “◯” (S2111). When the CPU 211 determines that the value in the [Usability] column is “◯”, the [Display Information ID] column corresponding to the customer ID acquired in Step S2101 and the product name acquired in Step S2105, and [Display Information] The column value is acquired (S2113).

  The CPU 211 generates discount notification information based on the acquired values of the [display information ID] column and the [display information] column (S2115). When generating discount notification information, the CPU 211 performs processing for adding information for determining a layout for displaying the value of the acquired [display information] column on the customer terminal 25. Furthermore, when the CPU 211 acquires values of a plurality of [Display Information ID] columns and [Display Information] columns in the processing of Steps S2107 to S2113, the CPU 211 sets each of the [Display Information ID] columns and [Display Information] columns. A process of adding a symbol indicating a value separator is performed. The CPU 211 transmits the generated discount notification information to the customer terminal 25 via the communication circuit 218 (S2117).

5.2.2 Temporary Customer Discount Application Information Generation Processing Next, temporary customer discount application information generation processing performed when the CPU 211 of the customer management server 21 acquires the IC tag ID and the customer ID will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the CPU 211 of the customer management server 21 determines that the customer ID and the IC tag ID have been acquired from the customer terminal 25 via the communication circuit 218, as in the case of the discount notification information providing process for the customer terminal 25 described above (S2101). Based on the acquired IC tag ID, the [IC tag ID] column of the product information DB (see FIG. 9) is searched (S2103). Then, the CPU 211 acquires the value of the [product name] column corresponding to the acquired IC tag ID (S2105).

  The CPU 211 searches the [purchased product name] column in the discount information DB (see FIG. 10) based on the product name acquired in step S2105 (S2121). The CPU 211 acquires values of a [discounted product name] column, a [discount content] column, a [display ID] column, and a [display information] column corresponding to the acquired product name (S2123). The CPU 211 acquires the customer ID acquired in step S2101, the product name acquired in step S2105, the [discounted product name] column, the [discount content] column, the [display ID] column, and the [display information] column acquired in step S2123. In the [customer ID] column, [purchased product name] column, [discounted product name] column, [discount details] column, [display ID] column, and [display information] column in the customer discount application information DB, Each is described (S2125). Then, the CPU 211 describes “X” in the corresponding [Usability] column (S2127).

5.3. Operation of mobile terminal 27 -Discount display-
Processing for displaying the discount notification information transmitted in step S2117 (see FIG. 15) on the customer terminal 25 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the CPU 251 of the customer terminal 25 determines that the discount notification information has been acquired (S2531), the CPU 251 determines whether the same discount notification information as the acquired discount notification information already exists in the memory 252 (S2533). If the CPU 251 determines that the same discount notification information exists in the memory 252, it determines that the discount notification information has already been displayed to the customer and ends the process. When the CPU 251 determines that the same discount notification information does not exist in the memory 252, the CPU 251 holds the discount notification information in the memory 252 (S2535).
Next, the CPU 251 determines whether another discount notification information is currently displayed on the display 253 (S2537). If the CPU 251 determines that another discount notification information is displayed on the display 253, the CPU 251 displays warning information on the display 253 that there is discount notification information different from the currently displayed discount notification information. (S2539), it waits for the input of judgment whether to switch the display of discount notification information (S2541). If the CPU 251 determines that it has acquired a determination to switch the display of discount notification information from the customer, it acquires discount notification information to be displayed next from the memory 252 (S2543). Then, the CPU 251 displays the discount notification information acquired in step S2543 on the display 253 (S2545). If the CPU 251 determines in step S2537 that no other discount notification information is displayed on the display 253, the CPU 251 displays the discount notification information acquired in step S2531 on the display 253.

  If CPU 251 determines in step S2533 that the same discount notification information exists in memory 252, CPU 251 determines that the discount notification information has already been displayed to the customer and ends the process.

5.4. Operations of Customer Management Server 21 and Register 29 -Payment Processing-
As illustrated in FIG. 14, when the customer management server 21 acquires the settlement advance notice information from the register 29, the customer management server 21 executes discount settlement information generation processing (S5). When the settlement confirmation information is acquired from the register 29, the customer discount application information generation process (S7) is executed. The operations of the customer management server 21 and the operations of the related registers 29 in the discount settlement process (S5) and the customer discount application information generation process (S7) of the customer management server 21 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

5.4.1 Discount settlement information generation processing The discount settlement processing of the customer management server 21 and the operation of the related register 29 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The CPU 291 of the register 29 acquires a customer ID from the customer terminal 25 via the communication circuit 298 (S2951). The CPU 291 of the register 29 continues to transmit inquiry signals at a constant interval and intensity via the wireless IC tag communication circuit 299 (S2953).

  If the store clerk picks up the product and brings it close to the wireless IC tag communication circuit of the register 29, the product will be attached to the product if it is within the reach of the inquiry signal transmitted from the wireless IC tag communication circuit 299. The antenna 273 of the wireless IC tag 27 thus received receives the inquiry signal, and the IC chip 271 of the wireless IC tag 27 transmits a response signal to the wireless IC tag communication circuit 299 of the register 29.

  When determining that the response signal is acquired from the wireless IC tag 27 via the wireless IC tag communication circuit 299 (S2955), the CPU 291 of the register 29 extracts the IC tag ID from the acquired response signal (S2957). Based on the acquired customer ID and IC tag ID, the CPU 291 transmits to the customer management server 21 settlement notice information informing that the customer is about to settle for the product in the shopping cart C1 (S2559).

  When the CPU 211 of the customer management server 21 determines that the settlement notice information has been acquired via the communication circuit 218 (S2151), the customer ID and the IC tag ID are extracted from the obtained settlement notice information (S2152). The CPU 211 searches the [IC tag ID] column of the product information DB based on the extracted IC tag ID (S2153). Then, the CPU 211 acquires the value of the corresponding [product name] column (S2155).

  The CPU 211 determines whether or not the customer ID acquired in step S2151 and the product name acquired in step S2155 exist in the “customer ID” column and the [discounted product name] column of the customer discount application information DB (see FIG. 11). Judgment is made (S2157). When the CPU 211 determines that the acquired customer ID and product name are present in the [customer ID] column and the [discounted product name] column, the CPU 211 determines whether or not the corresponding [usability] column value is “◯”. Judgment is made (S2159). If the value in the [Usability] column is “◯”, the CPU 211 acquires the corresponding value in the [Discount Details] column (S2161). The CPU 211 transmits, to the register 29, discount settlement information indicating that the settlement is to be confirmed based on the acquired value of the [discount content] column and the IC tag ID acquired in step S2153 (S2163). Note that the CPU 211 determines that the customer ID and product name acquired in step S2157 do not exist in the [customer ID] column and the [discounted product name] column, and the value in the [usability] column is “◯” in step S2159. If not, discount settlement information indicating that settlement is confirmed without discounting is transmitted to the register 29 (S2165).

5.4.2 Customer Discount Application Information Generation Processing The customer discount application information generation processing of the customer management server 21 and the operation of the related register 29 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the CPU 291 of the register 29 determines that the product discount application information has been acquired from the customer management server 21 (S2971), it performs a discount process for the product corresponding to the IC tag ID (S2973). If the CPU 291 determines that a payment execution signal indicating that the customer's payment is to be executed is obtained from the store clerk who uses the register 29 (S2975), the CPU 291 performs a payment process for the customer (S2777). At the same time, the CPU 251 generates the customer ID of the customer, the IC tag ID related to the product for which payment was made, and payment confirmation information indicating that the customer payment has been confirmed (S2979). The CPU 291 transmits the generated settlement confirmation information to the customer management server 21 (S2981).

  When the CPU 211 of the customer management server 21 determines that the settlement confirmation information has been acquired (S2171), the customer ID and the IC tag ID are extracted from the settlement information (S2173). The CPU 211 searches the [IC tag ID] column of the product information DB based on the extracted IC tag ID (S2175). Then, the CPU 211 acquires the value of the [product name] column corresponding to the acquired IC tag ID (S2177).

  The CPU 211 searches the [customer ID] column and the [discounted product name] column of the customer discount application information DB based on the acquired customer ID and the acquired value of the [product name] column (S2179). Then, the CPU 211 determines whether or not the value in the [Usability] column corresponding to the acquired customer ID and product name in the [Customer ID] column and [Discount Product Name] column of the customer discount application information DB is “◯”. Is determined (S2180). If the CPU 211 determines that the value in the [Usability] column is “◯”, the [customer ID] column corresponding to the acquired customer ID and product name from the customer discount application information DB, [purchased product name] The values of the column, [discounted product name] column, [discount contents] column, [display information ID] column, [display information] column and [usability] column are deleted (S2181). If the CPU 211 determines that the value in the [Usability] column is not “◯” (that is, “x”), the CPU 211 deletes the value corresponding to the acquired customer ID and product name from the customer discount application information DB. Do not process.

  Further, the CPU 211 searches the [customer ID] column and the [purchased product name] column of the customer discount application information DB based on the acquired customer ID and the acquired value of the [product name] column (S2183). Then, the CPU 211 changes the value of the [Usability] column corresponding to the acquired customer ID and product name from “×” to “◯” in the customer discount application information DB (S2185).

6. Specific examples
6.1. Premise Here, consider the case where customer X (customer ID “1111”) purchases a product. It is assumed that this purchase by customer X is performed under the following conditions.

(1) The product information DB and the discount information DB are shown in FIGS.

(2) The discount application information DB before the customer X of this time purchases is shown in FIG. 11A.

(3) The customer X inputs the customer ID “11111” to the customer terminal 25 before putting the first product into the shopping cart C1.

(4) First, the customer X puts the product with the product name “A3” (IC tag ID “0003” of the attached wireless IC tag 29) into the shopping cart C1.

(5) Next, the customer X puts the product with the product name “B1” (IC tag ID “0004” of the attached wireless IC tag 29) into the shopping cart C1.

(6) Thereafter, settlement is performed.

6.2. Putting the product with the product name “A3” into the shopping cart C1 The CPU 251 of the customer terminal 25 installed in the shopping cart C1 acquires the IC tag ID “0003” from the wireless IC tag 29 attached to the product. Then, the CPU 251 holds the IC tag ID “0003” in the memory 252. The CPU 251 associates the acquired customer ID “11111” and the IC tag ID “0003” and transmits them to the customer management server 21.

  When the CPU 211 of the customer management server 21 determines that the customer ID “11111” and the IC tag ID “0003” have been acquired from the customer terminal 25, the [IC] of the product information DB (see FIG. 9) is based on the acquired IC tag ID. Search the [Tag ID] column. Then, the CPU 211 acquires the value “A3” of the [product name] column corresponding to the acquired IC tag ID “0003”.

  The CPU 211 searches the [customer ID] column of the customer discount application information DB (see FIG. 11) based on the acquired customer ID “11111”. Then, the CPU 251 searches based on the acquired product name “A3” in the [discounted product name] column corresponding to the acquired customer ID “11111”. Further, the CPU 211 determines whether or not the value in the [Usability] column corresponding to the customer ID “11111” and the product name “A3” is “◯”. In the customer discount application information DB shown in FIG. 11, since the corresponding “usability” column value is “◯”, the CPU 211 has the corresponding “display information ID” column value “AAA03” and “display information” column. 5% OFF when purchasing the value of “Product Name“ A2 ”! Is obtained.

  When the CPU 211 purchases the acquired value “AAA03” in the [Display Information ID] column and the value “Product Name“ A2 ”in the [Display Information] column, it is 5% OFF! ”Is generated and transmitted to the customer terminal 25.

  The CPU 211 of the customer management server 21 generates provisional customer discount application information in parallel with the provision processing of discount notification information for the customer terminal 25 described above.

  Based on the acquired product name “A3”, the CPU 211 searches the “purchased product name” column in the discount information DB (see FIG. 10). Currently, since there is no data corresponding to the product name “A3” in the discount information DB, the CPU 211 does not describe anything in the customer discount application information DB.

When the CPU 251 of the customer terminal 25 purchases the value “AAA03” in the [Display Information ID] column and the value “Product Name“ A2 ”in the [Display Information] column, 5% OFF! When it is determined that the discount notification information based on “” has been acquired, it is determined whether or not the same discount notification information as the acquired discount notification information already exists in the memory 252. Since the same discount notification information does not exist in the memory 252 of the customer terminal 25, the CPU 251 holds the discount notification information in the memory 252.
Next, since another discount notification information is not currently displayed on the display 253, the CPU 251 displays the acquired discount notification information on the display 253. A state in which the acquired discount notification information is displayed on the display 253 is shown in FIG. It is assumed that the customer X looks at the discount notification information displayed and changes the purchased product from the product with the product name “A3” to the product with the product name “A2”.

6.3. Putting Product with Product Name “B1” into Shopping Cart C1 The CPU 251 of the customer terminal 25 installed in the shopping cart C1 acquires the IC tag ID “0004” from the wireless IC tag 29 attached to the product. Then, the CPU 251 holds the IC tag ID “0004” in the memory 252. The CPU 251 associates the acquired customer ID “11111” and the IC tag ID “0004” and transmits them to the customer management server 21.

  When the CPU 211 of the customer management server 21 determines that the customer ID “11111” and the IC tag ID “0004” have been acquired from the customer terminal 25, the [IC] in the product information DB (see FIG. 9) is based on the acquired IC tag ID. Search the [Tag ID] column. Then, the CPU 211 acquires the value “B1” in the [product name] column corresponding to the acquired IC tag ID “0004”.

  The CPU 211 searches the [customer ID] column of the customer discount application information DB (see FIG. 11) based on the customer ID “11111”, and searches the corresponding [purchased product name] column based on the product name “B1”. . Currently, there is no data corresponding to the product name “B1” with respect to the customer ID “11111” in the customer discount application information DB, and thus the CPU 211 ends the generation process of discount notification information.

  The CPU 211 of the customer management server 21 searches the [purchased product name] column of the discount information DB (see FIG. 10) based on the acquired product name “B1”. The CPU 211 has a value “B2” in the [discounted product name] column corresponding to the product name “B1”, a value “10% OFF” in the [discount content] column, a value “BBB01” in the [display ID] column, and [display] Information] column value “Product Name“ B2 ”is purchased, 10% OFF! Is obtained. As shown in FIG. 11B, the CPU 211 has a customer ID “11111”, a product name “B1”, a value “B2” in the [Discount Product Name] column, a value “10% OFF” in the [Discount Details] column, [Display ID] ] Value “BBB01” in the column and “Product name“ B2 ”in the“ Display information ”column are purchased 10% OFF! In the customer discount application information DB in the [customer ID] column, [purchased product name] column, [discounted product name] column, [discount details] column, [display ID] column, and [display information] column, respectively. Describe. Then, the CPU 211 describes “×” in the corresponding [Usability] column.

  In this case, since the CPU 251 of the customer terminal 25 does not acquire discount notification information, the discount notification information is not displayed.

6.4. Settlement Processing Consider a case where the customer X makes a payment in the register 29 for the product name “A2” and the product name “B1”.

  When the CPU 291 of the register 29 acquires the IC tag ID “0002” of the wireless IC tag 27 attached to the product with the product name “A2” from the wireless IC tag 27, the customer ID “11111” acquired from the customer terminal 25 and the IC Based on the tag ID “0002”, settlement notice information is sent to the customer management server 21 informing that the customer is about to settle for the product in the shopping cart C1.

  When acquiring the settlement notice information, the CPU 211 of the customer management server 21 extracts the customer ID “11111” and the IC tag ID “0002” from the obtained settlement notice information. The CPU 211 searches the [IC tag ID] column of the product information DB based on the extracted IC tag ID “0002”, and acquires the value “A2” of the corresponding [product name] column.

  The CPU 211 determines whether the customer ID “11111” and the product name “A2” are present in the “customer ID” column and the [discounted product name] column of the customer discount application information DB (see FIG. 11) (S2157). ). If the CPU 211 determines that the acquired customer ID “11111” and product name “A2” are present in the [customer ID] column and the [discounted product name] column, the value in the corresponding [usability] column is “◯”. Determine whether or not. Since the value in the [Usability] column is “◯”, the CPU 211 acquires the value “5% OFF” in the corresponding [Discount Details] column. The CPU 211 transmits to the register 29 discount settlement information indicating that the settlement of the customer X is to be confirmed based on the acquired value “5% OFF” and the IC tag ID “0002” in the [Discount Details] column.

  When the CPU 291 of the register 29 acquires the IC tag ID “0004” of the wireless IC tag 27 attached to the product with the product name “B1” from the wireless IC tag 27, the customer ID “11111” acquired from the customer terminal 25 is obtained. Also, based on the IC tag ID “0004”, the settlement notice information notifying that the customer X is about to settle for the product put in the shopping cart C1 is transmitted to the customer management server 21.

  When acquiring the settlement notice information, the CPU 211 of the customer management server 21 extracts the customer ID “11111” and the IC tag ID “0004” from the obtained settlement notice information. The CPU 211 searches the [IC tag ID] column of the product information DB based on the extracted IC tag ID “0004”, and acquires the value “B1” of the corresponding [product name] column.

  The CPU 211 determines whether or not the customer ID “11111” and the product name “B1” are present in the “customer ID” column and the [discounted product name] column of the customer discount application information DB (see FIG. 11) (S2157). ). When the CPU 211 determines that the acquired customer ID “11111” and the product name “B1” are present in the [customer ID] column and the [discounted product name] column, the value of the corresponding [usability] column is “◯”. Determine whether or not. Since the value in the “Usability” column is “x”, the CPU 211 registers discount settlement information indicating that the settlement of the customer X with respect to the product with the IC tag ID “0004” is confirmed without discounting the customer X. Send to.

  When the CPU 291 of the register 29 determines that the product discount application information has been acquired from the customer management server 21, the CPU 291 performs a discount process for the product corresponding to the IC tag IDs “0002” and “0004”. The CPU 291 discounts the product corresponding to the IC tag ID “0002” and does not discount the product corresponding to the IC tag ID “0004”. When the CPU 291 determines that a payment execution signal has been acquired by pressing the payment button of a store clerk who uses the register 29, the CPU 291 performs a payment process for the customer.

  At the same time, the CPU 251 generates the customer ID “11111”, the IC tag IDs “0002” and “0004” relating to the product for which payment has been made, and payment confirmation information indicating that the customer payment has been confirmed, and the customer management server 21 Send to.

  When the CPU 211 of the customer management server 21 determines that the settlement confirmation information has been acquired, the customer ID “11111” and the IC tag IDs “0002” and “0004” are extracted from the settlement information. The CPU 211 searches the [IC tag ID] column of the product information DB based on the IC tag IDs “0002” and “0004”. Then, the CPU 211 acquires the values “A2” and “B1” in the [product name] column corresponding to the acquired IC tag ID.

  The CPU 211 searches the [customer ID] column and the [discounted product name] column in the customer discount application information DB based on the customer ID “11111” and the values “A2” and “B1” in the [product name] column. In the customer discount application information DB shown in FIG. 11B, the value “A2” exists in the [discount product name] column corresponding to the value “11111” in the [customer ID] column, but the value “B1” does not exist. Therefore, the CPU 211 acquires the value of the [usability] column corresponding to the acquired customer ID “11111” and the product name “A2” in the [customer ID] column and the [discounted product name] column of the customer discount application information DB. To do. Since the value of the acquired [Usability] column is “◯”, the CPU 211 reads from the customer discount application information DB the [Customer ID] column corresponding to the acquired customer ID “11111” and the product name “A2”, [ The values of the purchased product name column, the discount product name column, the discount content column, the display information ID column, the display information column, and the availability column are deleted.

Further, the CPU 211 searches the [customer ID] column and the [purchased product name] column of the customer discount application information DB based on the customer ID “11111” and the values “A2” and “B1” of the [product name] column. . In the customer discount application information DB shown in FIG. 11B, the “purchased product name” column corresponding to the “customer ID” column value “11111” has the value “B1”, but does not have the value “A2”. In the customer discount application information DB, the CPU 211 changes the value of the [usability] column corresponding to the customer ID “11111” and the product name “B1” from “x” to “◯”.

[Other Examples]
In the first embodiment, the wireless IC tag 29 has a unique IC tag ID. However, the wireless IC tag 29 is not limited to this as long as it can uniquely determine a product. For example, by using a so-called write type as a wireless IC tag, the product ID, product name, etc. are directly stored in the wireless IC tag, and the written product ID, product name, etc. are used as product identification information. May be.

  In the first embodiment described above, the relationship between the discount source and the discount object is set to the product-to-product so that when a certain product is purchased, the discount can be received for other similar products. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the relationship between the discount source and the discount target may be a product-to-group so that when a certain product belonging to a dairy product is purchased, a discount can be received for a specific product belonging to the dairy product. Similarly, the relationship between the discount source and the discount target may be a product-to-group relationship so that when a certain product belonging to the dairy product is purchased, the entire dairy product can be discounted. Moreover, it is good also as a group versus group.

  In Example 1 described above, the relationship between the discount source and the discount target is a product similar to the discount source product so that when a product is purchased, a discount can be received for other similar products. It may be a product related to the discount source product. For example, if you purchase a stew roux, you may be able to get discounts on the materials needed to make the stew, such as goods related to the stew roux, such as carrots and potatoes.

  Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, the customer management server 21 provides the customer terminal with the discount contents of the products that can be discounted for the products that are currently in the shopping cart C1 as discount notification information (step). S2109 to 2115), when a product currently being put in the shopping cart C1 can be discounted, the discount content of the product may be provided to the customer terminal as discount notification information. In this case, the CPU 211 of the customer management server 21 may search the [discounted product name] column of the customer discount application information DB based on the product name acquired in step S2105 in step S2109.

  Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, when the customer management server 21 acquires settlement confirmation information from the register 29, customer discount application information confirmed for the customer may be transmitted to the customer terminal 25 or the like. Thereby, the customer can confirm information on products etc. to which the discount is applied in the next shopping.

  Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, when the customer management server 21 acquires settlement notice information from the register 29, customer discount application information to be applied for the customer may be transmitted to the customer terminal 25 or the like. As a result, the customer can confirm information such as products to which discounts are applied in the current shopping.

  Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, the customer may be able to confirm the customer discount application information determined for the customer from the customer terminal 25 or the like. Thereby, the customer can confirm information on products and the like to which discounts are applied at any time.

  Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, the register 29 issues the settlement advance notice information and the settlement confirmation information. However, the present invention is not limited to this as long as the settlement advance information and the settlement confirmation information can be transmitted. For example, the customer terminal 25 may transmit settlement confirmation information or the like. In this case, a payment button or the like may be arranged on the customer terminal 25 so that the payment can be made by pressing the payment button when the customer wants to make a payment.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the discount notice information is provided to the customer. However, the discount notice information is not provided, but only the customer discount application information is generated and stored. Good. Thereby, only centralized management of discounts for customers can be performed.

  Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, the customer terminal 25 is exemplified as one that communicates with the wireless IC tag 29, but the present invention is not limited to this as long as it can communicate with the wireless IC tag 29. For example, it may be one that a customer uses by hand, such as a handy barcode reader.

  Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, the customer terminal 25 is installed in the shopping cart C1, but the present invention is not limited to this as long as it can communicate with the wireless IC tag 29.

  Further, in the above-described first embodiment, the shopping cart C1 is configured by a basket that is closed with an iron plate or the like. However, the wireless IC tag 29 attached to the product on which the customer terminal 25 is arranged on the shelf The configuration is not limited to the exemplified configuration as long as the IC tag ID can be read only from the product put in the shopping cart C1 without reading the IC tag ID.

  Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, the product name is exemplified as the item constituting the product information DB, but other information, for example, information such as the expiration date, the raw material name, and the manufacturer may be added as the item. Moreover, you may make it add such information as discount notification information provided to a customer. Thereby, the information which contributes to shopping more for a customer can be provided.

Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, a supermarket is exemplified as a place where the customer management system is used.

It is the figure which showed the outline | summary of the customer management system in this invention. 3 is a functional block diagram of a customer management server 21 in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is the figure which showed the hardware constitutions of the customer management system. It is the figure which showed an example of the shopping cart C1 which installed the customer terminal 25. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a customer management server 21. FIG. It is the figure which showed the hardware constitutions of the customer terminal 25. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a wireless IC tag 29. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a register 29. FIG. It is the figure which showed an example of merchandise information DB. It is the figure which showed an example of discount information DB. It is the figure which showed an example of customer discount application information DB. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of a customer terminal 25. 5 is a flowchart showing operations of a customer terminal 25 and a wireless IC tag 29. 5 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation of a customer management server 21. 4 is a flowchart showing details of operation of a customer management server 21. 4 is a flowchart showing details of operation of a customer management server 21. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of a customer terminal 25. 5 is a flowchart showing operations of a customer management server 21 and a register 29. 5 is a flowchart showing operations of a customer management server 21 and a register 29. It is a figure which shows the state by which discount notification information was displayed on the display. It is a figure for demonstrating a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Customer management system 21 ... Customer management server 25 ... Customer terminal 27 ... Wireless IC tag 29 ... Register

Claims (17)

Product identification information providing device arranged for each product, product identification information providing device having product identification information for uniquely determining each product, customer terminal used by each customer, and discount information for each customer In a customer management system having a customer management device to manage,
The customer terminal is
Terminal product identification information acquisition means for acquiring product identification information from the product identification information providing device,
Terminal customer identification information acquisition means for acquiring customer identification information for uniquely determining a customer;
Terminal product identification information providing means for providing the acquired product identification information,
A terminal customer identification information providing means for providing the acquired customer identification information;
Have
The customer management device is:
Discount information holding means for holding product identification information of a product and discount information indicating an association between discount product identification information indicating a product to which a discount is applied and discount content information indicating discount content if the product is purchased;
Product identification information acquisition means for acquiring product identification information from the customer terminal;
Customer identification information acquisition means for acquiring customer identification information from the customer terminal;
From the discount information holding means, obtain discount information corresponding to the product identification information obtained from the product identification information obtaining means, associate the customer identification information obtained from the customer identification information obtaining means and the discount information, and Customer discount application information generating means for generating customer discount application information indicating a discount applied every time;
Customer discount application information storage means for storing the generated customer discount application information in the customer discount application information holding means;
Customer discount application information corresponding to the customer identification information acquired from the customer identification information acquisition means is acquired from the customer discount application information holding means, and the discount product identification information in the acquired customer discount application information is transferred from the product identification information acquisition means. If the acquired product identification information is included, discount notification information generating means for generating discount notification information indicating that the discount is applied based on the discount product identification information and the discount content information corresponding to the discount product identification information ,
Discount notification information providing means for providing the generated discount notification information to the mobile terminal;
Having customer management system. Discount that holds product identification information that uniquely determines each product and discount information that indicates the association between discount product identification information that indicates the product to which the discount is applied and discount content information that indicates the discount content if the product is purchased Information holding means,
Commodity identification information acquisition means for acquiring the commodity identification information;
Customer identification information acquisition means for acquiring the customer identification information;
From the discount information holding means, obtain discount information corresponding to the product identification information obtained from the product identification information obtaining means, associate the customer identification information obtained from the customer identification information obtaining means and the discount information, and Customer discount application information generating means for generating customer discount application information indicating a discount applied every time;
Customer discount application information storage means for storing the generated customer discount application information in the customer discount application information holding means;
Customer discount application information corresponding to the customer identification information acquired from the customer identification information acquisition means is acquired from the customer discount application information holding means, and the discount product identification information in the acquired customer discount application information is transferred from the product identification information acquisition means. If the acquired product identification information is included, discount notification information generation means for generating discount notification information indicating that the discount is applied based on the discount product identification information and the discount content information corresponding to the discount product identification information ,
Discount notice information providing means for providing the generated discount notice information,
Having customer management device. In either the customer management system according to claim 1 or the customer management device according to claim 2,
The discount notification information generating means further includes:
If the product identification information acquired from the product identification information acquisition means is included in the product identification information in the acquired customer discount application information, it corresponds to the discount product identification information corresponding to the product identification information and the discount product identification information. Generating the discount notification information based on discount content information;
It is characterized by. In either the customer management system or the customer management device according to claims 1 to 3,
The customer management device further includes:
Payment information acquisition means for acquiring payment confirmation information indicating that payment of the customer has been confirmed;
Have
The customer discount application information generating means includes:
When obtaining payment confirmation information from the payment information acquisition means, generating customer discount application information,
It is characterized by. In either the customer management system or the customer management device according to claim 4,
The customer discount information generating means further includes:
When the product identification information is acquired, temporary customer discount application information that is temporary customer discount application information is generated. When settlement confirmation information for the product identification information is acquired, customer discount application information is generated based on the generated temporary customer discount application information. Generating,
It is characterized by. In either the customer management system or the customer management device according to claim 4 or claim 5,
The payment information acquisition means further includes:
Get payment notice information indicating that the customer is about to pay,
The customer management device further includes:
When the settlement notice information is obtained from the settlement information obtaining unit, the customer discount product identification information and the discount content information corresponding to the settlement information are obtained from the customer discount application information holding unit, and the obtained discount product identification information and the discount content are obtained. Discount settlement information generating means for generating discount settlement information indicating that settlement is to be confirmed based on the information;
Discount settlement information providing means for providing the generated discount settlement information,
Have In either the customer management system or the customer management device according to claims 4-6,
The customer management device further includes:
Customer discount application information providing means for providing customer discount application information to present customer discount application information to a customer when at least one of settlement notice information or settlement confirmation information is acquired from the payment information acquisition means;
Have In either the customer management system or the customer management device according to claim 1-7,
The customer management device further includes:
A customer discount application information providing means for providing the customer discount application information in order to present the customer discount application information to the customer;
Have
The customer discount application information providing means includes:
Providing the customer discount application information when the customer identification information acquisition means newly acquires customer identification information of a customer corresponding to the customer discount application information;
It is characterized by. In either the customer management system or the customer management device according to claims 1-8,
The product identification information providing device is a wireless IC tag, or the product identification information is provided by a wireless IC tag;
It is characterized by. In a customer management program that manages discount information for each customer,
The customer management program includes:
Discount information is stored for product identification information that uniquely determines each product and discount information that indicates the association between discount product identification information that indicates the product to which the discount is applied and discount content information that indicates the discount content if the product is purchased Against the computer held in the means
Obtaining the product identification information;
Obtaining the customer identification information;
Obtain discount information corresponding to the acquired product identification information from the discount information holding means, and associate the acquired customer identification information with the discount information to generate customer discount application information indicating a discount applied for each customer Step to make,
Storing the generated customer discount application information in the customer discount application information holding means;
If customer discount application information corresponding to the acquired customer identification information is acquired from the customer discount application information holding means, and the acquired product identification information is included in the discount product identification information in the acquired customer discount application information, the discount Generating discount notification information indicating that the discount is applied based on the product identification information and the discount content information corresponding to the discount product identification information;
Providing the generated discount notice information;
A customer management program that runs. In the customer management program according to claim 10,
The customer management program includes:
Against the computer,
If the acquired product identification information is included in the product identification information in the acquired customer discount application information, based on the discount product identification information corresponding to the product identification information and the discount content information corresponding to the discount product identification information, Generating discount notification information;
A customer management program that runs. In either of the customer management programs according to claim 10 or claim 11,
The customer management program includes:
Against the computer,
Obtaining payment confirmation information indicating that the customer's payment has been confirmed;
Acquiring the settlement confirmation information, generating customer discount application information;
A customer management program that runs. In the customer management program according to claim 12,
The customer management program includes:
Against the computer,
When the product identification information is acquired, temporary customer discount application information that is temporary customer discount application information is generated. When settlement confirmation information for the product identification information is acquired, customer discount application information is generated based on the generated temporary customer discount application information. The step of generating
A customer management program that runs. In either of the customer management programs according to claim 12 or claim 13,
The customer management program includes:
Against the computer,
Obtaining a settlement notice information indicating that the customer is about to settle,
The customer management device further includes:
When the settlement notice information is acquired, the customer discount product identification information and the discount content information corresponding to the settlement information are acquired from the customer discount application information holding means, and the settlement based on the acquired discount product identification information and the discount content information is acquired. Generating discount settlement information indicating that confirmation is to be made;
Providing the generated discount payment information;
A customer management program that runs. In any of the customer management programs which concern on Claims 12-14,
The customer management program includes:
Against the computer,
Obtaining at least one of settlement notice information or settlement confirmation information and providing the customer discount application information to present the customer discount application information to the customer;
A customer management program that runs. In any of the customer management programs according to claims 10 to 15,
The customer management program includes:
Against the computer,
When newly acquiring customer identification information of a customer corresponding to the customer discount application information, providing the customer discount application information;
A customer management program that runs. Discount information is stored for product identification information that uniquely determines each product and discount information that indicates the association between discount product identification information that indicates the product to which the discount is applied and discount content information that indicates the discount content if the product is purchased In a customer management method for managing customers in a computer held in the means,
Obtaining the product identification information;
Obtaining the customer identification information;
Obtain discount information corresponding to the acquired product identification information from the discount information holding means, and associate the acquired customer identification information with the discount information to generate customer discount application information indicating a discount applied for each customer And
Store the generated customer discount application information in the customer discount application information holding means,
If customer discount application information corresponding to the acquired customer identification information is acquired from the customer discount application information holding means, and the acquired product identification information is included in the discount product identification information in the acquired customer discount application information, the discount Based on the product identification information and the discount content information corresponding to the discount product identification information, generate discount notification information that the discount is applied,
Providing the generated discount notice information,
Customer management method characterized by.

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