JP2016066290A - Commodity display position registration device, communication system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a commodity display position registration device, a communication system and a program which can appropriately register a position of a commodity displayed in a shop.SOLUTION: In a clerk terminal 3, a transmitter number of a transmitter 4 and the like, which a beacon signal received when reading a commodity code from a commodity 5 displayed on a commodity shelf indicates, is transmitted to a transmitter management server 1 storing a transmitter management table 130, a commodity shelf ID associated with the transmitter number and the like in the transmitter management table 130 is acquired from the transmitter management server 1, and the acquired commodity shelf ID and the read commodity code are transmitted to a commodity display management server 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for registering the position of a product displayed in a store.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a system for guiding a display place of a product in a store is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for guiding a product position by a mobile communication terminal by providing transmitters at a plurality of locations in a store and using a mobile communication terminal held by a customer as a receiver. Yes. In addition, techniques related to the present invention are disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3.

Japanese Patent No. 4187963 Japanese Patent No. 4331737 JP 2009-232203 A

  In Patent Literature 1 and the like, it is assumed that a product position database in which a product code is associated with information on the display position of a product is used. However, there is no mention of a method for generating the product position database. On the other hand, since the display position of the product greatly affects the sales of the store, the position of the product to be displayed may be changed every predetermined period such as a season. And when registering the position of the product based on the manual input in the product position database after displaying the product, an erroneous input may occur. In addition, when displaying a product according to a product location database created in advance, an unfamiliar person such as a new store clerk may display the product on the wrong product shelf. If the product position is guided based on a product position database that does not match the actual product display position, the customer may be guided to an incorrect position.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a product display position registration device, a communication system, and a program capable of suitably registering the position of a product to be displayed in a store. Is the main issue.

  In one aspect of the present invention, storage means for associating and holding the position of a product shelf for displaying a product and product shelf identification information, and transmitter identification information of a transmitter that transmits a radio signal indicating unique identification information Reading means for reading a product code of a product displayed on the product shelf, detection means for detecting a radio signal transmitted from the transmitter when the product code is read, and the transmission detected by the detection means Product shelf identification means for obtaining the product shelf identification information of the product shelf adjacent to the reading position of the product code with reference to the container identification information and the storage means, the product code read by the reading means, and the product shelf Storage control means for associating and storing the product shelf identification information acquired by the identification means in the storage means.

  The merchandise display position registration apparatus includes storage means, reading means, detection means, merchandise shelf identification means, and storage control means. The storage means holds the position of the product shelf and the product shelf identification information for displaying the product in association with the transmitter identification information of the transmitter that transmits the radio signal indicating the unique identification information. The reading means reads the product code of the product displayed on the product shelf. The detecting means detects a radio signal transmitted from the transmitter when reading the product code. The product shelf identification unit refers to the transmitter identification information detected by the detection unit and the storage unit, and acquires the product shelf identification information of the product shelf close to the product code reading position. The storage control unit associates the product code read by the reading unit with the product shelf identification information acquired by the product shelf identification unit, and stores it in the storage unit. In this way, the commodity display position registration device uses the identification information of the transmitter indicated by the radio signal received when the commodity code is read from the commodity displayed on the commodity shelf to obtain the identification information of the commodity shelf on which the commodity is displayed. get. Thereby, the merchandise display position registration apparatus can store the identification information of the displayed merchandise and the identification information of the merchandise shelf in which the merchandise is installed in an appropriately associated manner.

  In one aspect of the product display position registration device, when each of the transmitters transmits a radio signal having substantially the same intensity, the product shelf identification unit is configured such that the detection unit is transmitted from a plurality of the transmitters. When a radio signal is detected, the product shelf identification information is acquired based on the transmitter identification information indicated by the strongest radio signal. According to this aspect, the commodity display position registration device is a transmitter installed on the commodity shelf on which the commodity read from the commodity code is displayed even when the radio signal transmitted from a plurality of transmitters is detected. The identification information can be suitably acquired.

  In another aspect of the product display position registration device, the product display position registration device has a direction measuring unit that measures a direction in which the user of the product display position registration device faces when reading the product code, The product shelf identification means detects the radio signal transmitted from the plurality of transmitters, and when there are a plurality of transmitters that transmit the strongest radio signal, the strongest radio signal is detected. The product shelf identification information is acquired based on the transmitter identification information shown and the direction information recognized by the direction measuring means. Generally, when reading a product code, it is assumed that the user is facing the direction of a product shelf on which products for reading the product code are displayed. Therefore, according to this aspect, the merchandise display position registration device allows the merchandise shelf identification information in which the merchandise whose merchandise code is read is displayed based on the direction in which the user is facing even when a plurality of strongest radio signals are detected. Can be suitably obtained.

  In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication system having a transmitter management device and a product display position registration device that communicates with the transmitter management device, wherein the product display position registration device displays a product. A reading unit that reads a product code of a product displayed on a product shelf; a detection unit that detects a radio signal transmitted from a transmitter that transmits a radio signal indicating unique identification information when the product code is read; and A transmitter for transmitting the transmitter identification information indicated by the radio signal detected by the detector and the product code read by the reader to the transmitter management device; Storage means for associating and holding a shelf position and product shelf identification information and transmitter identification information of the transmitter, receiving means for receiving the transmitter identification information from the transmission means, and the transmitter Product shelf identification means for acquiring the product shelf identification information of the product shelf adjacent to the reading position of the product code with reference to the other information and the storage means, the product code, and the product shelf identification means acquired by the product shelf identification means Storage control means for associating the product shelf identification information with each other and storing it in the storage means. This communication system includes a transmitter management device having storage means for associating and holding the position of a product shelf and product shelf identification information and the transmitter identification information of the transmitter. Thereby, the merchandise display position registration device transmits the read merchandise code and the transmitter identification information indicated by the detected radio wave signal to the transmitter management device, so that the displayed merchandise identification information and the merchandise are installed. Thus, it is possible to suitably associate the identification information of the merchandise shelves.

  In another aspect of the present invention, a program causes a computer to function as the commodity display position registration device described above. The product display position registration apparatus according to the present invention can be configured by installing this program in a computer and causing it to function.

  According to the commodity display position registration device according to the present invention, the identification information of the displayed commodity and the identification information of the commodity shelf on which the commodity is installed can be suitably associated and stored.

1 shows a configuration of a product display position management system according to an embodiment. It is an example of arrangement | positioning of the transmitter in a shop. It is a block diagram of a transmitter management server. It is a block diagram of a goods display management server. It is a block diagram of a salesclerk terminal. The data structure of a transmitter management table is shown. The data structure of goods display information DB is shown. A state where a product is placed on a product shelf and barcode scanning is executed is shown. It is an example of a screen display of a product display position registration application. It is an outline figure when displaying goods on goods shelf B. It is the conceptual diagram which showed transfer of the information between a shop terminal and a transmitter management server, and between a customer terminal and a merchandise display management server. It is a display example of a customer terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process which registers the display position of the goods which the salesclerk displayed.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Composition of product display position management system]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a product display position management system 100 according to the present embodiment. The merchandise display position management system 100 is a system in which a clerk can preferably register the merchandise display position. The merchandise display position management system 100, the merchandise display management server 2, and the clerk terminal used by the clerk displaying the merchandise 5 are used. 3, a transmitter 4 provided for each product shelf, and a customer terminal 6 used by the customer.

  The transmitter management server 1 is a server that manages information on merchandise shelves in which the transmitters 4 are arranged, and communicates with the store clerk terminal 3 via the network 9. The transmitter management server 1 receives the identification number (also referred to as “transmitter number”) of the transmitter 4 from the clerk terminal 3. Then, the transmitter management server 1 recognizes the product shelf identification number (also referred to as “product shelf ID”) corresponding to the transmitter number received from the store clerk terminal 3 and transmits it to the store clerk terminal 3.

  The merchandise display management server 2 is a server that manages the position where the merchandise 6 is displayed, and communicates with the clerk terminal 3 and the customer terminal 6 via the network 9. When the product display management server 2 receives the product shelf ID and the identification information (also referred to as “product code”) of the product 5 read by the store clerk terminal 3 from the store clerk terminal 3, the product display management server 2 receives the received product shelf ID and product code. Store it in association. In addition, the merchandise display management server 2 displays display information indicating the position of the designated merchandise to the customer terminal 6 based on the merchandise shelf ID information stored for each stored merchandise code in response to a request from the customer terminal 6. Send.

  The salesclerk terminal 3 has a function of detecting (receiving) a beacon signal indicating a transmitter number transmitted by the transmitter 4 and a function of reading a product code from a barcode attached to the product 5. And the salesclerk terminal 3 transmits the transmitter number etc. which the beacon signal received from the transmitter 4 when displaying the goods 5 to the transmitter management server 1, and receives goods shelf ID as the response. Then, the salesclerk terminal 3 transmits the received product shelf ID and the product code read from the barcode of the product 5 to the product display management server 2.

  The transmitter 4 is provided for each product shelf installed in the store. Each transmitter 4 transmits a beacon signal indicating the transmitter number of the transmitter 4 with substantially the same radio field intensity. Therefore, the radio wave intensity of the beacon signal received by the clerk terminal 3 from each transmitter 4 becomes stronger as the distance to each transmitter 4 becomes shorter. An arrangement example of the transmitter 4 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The customer terminal 6 is installed with an application (also referred to as “in-store guidance application”) for displaying the position of the designated product on the layout (also referred to as “in-store map”) in the store where the product 5 is displayed. Has been. Then, the customer terminal 6 transmits a request signal including a product code of an arbitrary product designated by the user to the product display management server 2 in a state where the in-store guidance application is activated. Thereby, the customer terminal 6 receives predetermined display information from the merchandise display management server 2 and displays an in-store map indicating the position of the merchandise designated by the user.

  FIG. 2 shows an arrangement example of the transmitter 4 in the store. In the example of FIG. 2, product shelves A to H are arranged in the store, and transmitters 4 </ b> A to 4 </ b> H corresponding to transmitter numbers “001” to “008” are located in the center of each product shelf. Is provided. The transmitters 4A to 4H may be installed in a manner that does not contact the product shelves (for example, on the upper wall of each product shelf).

  2, the product shelf A and the product shelf C, the product shelf B and the product shelf D, the product shelf E and the product shelf G, and the product shelf F and the product shelf H are installed so as to face each other. C, D, G, and H are directed to the north (N) direction, and the product shelves A, B, E, and F are directed to the south (S) direction.

  As will be described later, when the clerk terminal 3 reads the product code from the barcode of the product 5, the store clerk terminal 3 transmits the transmitter number indicated by the beacon signal received with the strongest radio wave intensity to the transmitter management server 1. In addition, when there are a plurality of beacon signals received with the strongest radio field strength, the store clerk terminal 3 uses the geomagnetic sensor measurement information described later in addition to the transmitter number indicated by the beacon signal corresponding to the strongest radio field strength. Send.

[Configuration of transmitter management server]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the transmitter management server 1. The transmitter management server 1 includes a storage unit 13, a communication unit 14 that performs data communication, and a control unit 15. Each of these elements is connected to each other via a bus line 10.

  The storage unit 13 is configured by a memory such as a hard disk or a flash memory. The storage unit 13 stores a program executed by the control unit 15. Further, the storage unit 13 is a transmitter management table 130 that is information in which the transmitter number of the transmitter 4 installed for the product shelf is associated with each product shelf ID indicating the product shelf arranged in the store. Remember. The data structure of the transmitter management table 130 will be described in the section [Data structure].

  The control unit 15 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like (not shown), and performs various controls on each component in the transmitter management server 1.

  For example, when the communication unit 14 receives a transmitter number or the like from the clerk terminal 3, the control unit 15 refers to the transmitter management table 130 to recognize the corresponding product shelf ID. Then, the control unit 15 transmits the recognized product shelf ID to the clerk terminal 3 through the communication unit 14.

[Composition of product display management server]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the merchandise display management server 2. The merchandise display management server 2 includes a storage unit 23, a communication unit 24 that performs data communication, and a control unit 25. Each of these elements is connected to each other via a bus line 20.

  The storage unit 23 is configured by a memory such as a hard disk or a flash memory. The storage unit 23 stores a program executed by the control unit 25. In addition, the storage unit 23 stores, for each product code, a product display information DB 230 that is information in which a product shelf ID corresponding to a product shelf on which the product indicated by the product code is displayed is associated. The data structure of the commodity display information DB 230 will be described in the section [Data structure]. In addition, the storage unit 23 stores information on the position of each product shelf in the store (also referred to as “product shelf position information”), information necessary for displaying the in-store map, and the like.

  The control unit 25 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown), and performs various controls on each component in the product display management server 2. For example, when the communication unit 24 receives a combination of a product shelf ID and a product code from the store clerk terminal 3, the control unit 25 registers the received product shelf ID and product code pair in the product display information DB 230. When the control unit 25 receives a display information request signal designating a product code from the customer terminal 6, the control unit 25 refers to the product display information DB 230 to recognize a product shelf corresponding to the designated product code, Display information for displaying the position of the product shelf on the in-store map is generated. And the control part 25 transmits the produced | generated display information to the customer terminal 6 by the communication part 24. FIG.

[Structure of clerk terminal]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the clerk terminal 3. The salesclerk terminal 3 includes a display unit 31 such as a display, an input unit 32 such as a touch panel, a storage unit 33, a communication unit 34 that performs data communication, a control unit 35, a photographing unit 36, a geomagnetic sensor 37, Is provided. These elements are connected to each other via a bus line 30.

  The storage unit 33 is configured by a memory such as a hard disk or a flash memory. The storage unit 33 stores a program for operating an application for registering the display position of the product 5 (also referred to as “product display position registration application”).

  The communication unit 34 transmits information indicating a transmitter number and the like to the transmitter management server 1 based on the control of the control unit 35. The communication unit 34 receives a beacon signal from the transmitter 4 when the clerk terminal 3 exists at a position where the beacon signal of the transmitter 4 can be reached.

  The photographing unit 36 generates a photographed image and supplies it to the control unit 35. The image photographed by the photographing unit 36 is used to read a product code from a barcode attached to the product 5 as described later.

  The geomagnetic sensor 37 measures a direction corresponding to the photographing direction of the photographing unit 36. The geomagnetic sensor 37 supplies information indicating the measured direction (also referred to as “direction information”) to the control unit 35. As will be described later, the direction information measured by the geomagnetic sensor 37 is appropriately used for the transmitter management server 1 to recognize the product shelf ID indicating the product shelf on which the product 5 is displayed. The geomagnetic sensor 37 is an example of the “direction measuring unit” in the present invention.

  The control unit 35 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown), and performs various controls on each component in the clerk terminal 3. The control unit 35 performs processing for registering the product code of the displayed product 5 and the product shelf ID indicating the product shelf on which the product 5 is displayed in the product display information DB 230 in a state where the product display position registration application is activated. Execute. For example, the control unit 35 detects the barcode based on the image captured by the imaging unit 36, and recognizes the product code by analyzing the detected barcode. The control unit 35 functions as a “reading unit”, “detecting unit”, “product shelf recognizing unit”, “storage control unit”, and a computer that executes the program according to the present invention in the commodity display position registration device according to the present invention. To do.

[data structure]
Next, the data structure of the transmitter management table 130 stored in the transmitter management server 1 and the product display information DB 230 stored in the product display management server 2 will be described.

  FIG. 6 is an example of the data structure of the transmitter management table 130 based on the arrangement example of the transmitter 4 of FIG. The transmitter management table 130 shown in FIG. 6 includes a “product shelf ID” column, a “transmitter number” column, a “transmitter measured with the same strength” column, and a “corresponding direction” column. And a “product shelf position” field.

  The column of “transmitter number” indicates the transmitter number of the transmitter 4 installed in the product shelf indicated by the corresponding product shelf ID. The field of “transmitter measured with the same strength” is the same radio field intensity as the transmitter 4 indicated by the “transmitter number” column when the clerk terminal 3 reads the product code from the barcode of the product 5. The beacon signal of the transmitter 4 that can reach the clerk terminal 3 is shown. Further, the “applicable direction” column indicates a direction output by the geomagnetic sensor 37 when reading the product code of the product 5 displayed on the product shelf indicated by the corresponding product shelf ID. In the present embodiment, since the geomagnetic sensor 37 measures the direction of the photographing direction of the photographing unit 36, the direction indicated by the “applicable direction” column is the front of the clerk who performs the operation of reading the barcode of the product 5. It almost matches the direction of. The column of “product shelf position” indicates the position in the store of the product shelf indicated by the corresponding product shelf ID. In the example of FIG. 6, as an example, the position of each product shelf is represented by two-dimensional coordinates.

  For example, in the case of the first record in FIG. 6, the “product shelf ID” field has the product shelf ID “00A” of the product shelf A, and the “transmitter number” field has the transmitter installed in the product shelf A. The transmitter number “001” of 4A is registered. Also, in the “transmitters measured to have the same strength” column, the transmitter number “003” of the transmitter 4C installed in the product shelf C facing the product shelf A is registered, and the “corresponding direction” column. Registered in the product shelf A is the north direction (N) which is the front direction of the store clerk when the product 5 is displayed and the product ID is read. In the column of “product shelf position”, the position (X1, Y1) of the product shelf A in the store is registered.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the data structure of the product display information DB 230. The product display information DB 230 illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a “number” field indicating a serial number assigned in the order of registration, a “product code” field, and a “product shelf ID” field. In the product display information DB 230 in FIG. 7, a set of a total of N product codes and product shelf IDs is registered.

  When the product display management server 2 receives a set of product codes and product shelf IDs including product codes not registered in the product display information DB 230 of FIG. , Added to the product display information DB 230. On the other hand, when the merchandise display management server 2 receives a set of a merchandise code and a merchandise shelf ID including the merchandise code registered in the merchandise display information DB 230 of FIG. 7, the record of the merchandise display information DB 230 including the merchandise code is recorded. Update with the received product shelf ID.

[Outline of processing]
Next, an overview of processing in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

(1) Reading Product Code FIG. 8A shows a state immediately after the store clerk places the product 5 on a product shelf (not shown). FIG. 8B shows a state where the product code is read from the barcode attached to the product 5 after the product 5 is placed on the product shelf. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the store clerk puts an arbitrary product 5 on a predetermined product shelf, and then operates the store clerk terminal 3 so that the product from the barcode attached to the product 5 is displayed. Have the code read. At this time, the clerk terminal 3 is present at a position where the beacon signal transmitted by the transmitter 4 installed on the product shelf displaying the product 5 can be received.

  Here, a display example of the clerk terminal 3 related to the commodity code reading operation will be described.

  FIG. 9A shows a display example of the salesclerk terminal 3 immediately after the product display position registration application is activated. In the example of FIG. 9A, when the merchandise display position registration application is activated, the clerk terminal 3 displays a screen provided with a button 50 that displays “read merchandise code”. When the clerk terminal 3 detects that the button 50 has been selected by a tap operation or the like, the clerk terminal 3 activates the photographing unit 36 and reads the product code indicated by the barcode displayed on the image photographed by the photographing unit 36. To start.

  FIG. 9B shows a display example of the clerk terminal 3 immediately after the clerk terminal 3 reads the merchandise code from the bar code of the merchandise 5. After detecting the pressing of the button 50 on the screen of FIG. 9A, the clerk terminal 3 displays the image photographed by the photographing unit 36 on the screen of the clerk terminal 3, and also detects the barcode from the image and detects the product. Process to read the code. When the salesclerk terminal 3 detects the barcode from the image captured by the imaging unit 36 and reads the product code, the salesclerk terminal 3 displays the read product code. In the example of FIG. 9B, the clerk terminal 3 displays the image 51 photographed by the photographing unit 36, and further detects the bar code from the image 51 and recognizes the product code. Pop-up display. The salesclerk terminal 3 displays the read product code on the window 60 and also displays selection buttons 61 and 62 for selecting whether to register the read product code.

(2) Determination of information to be transmitted to the transmitter management server The clerk terminal 3 performs a process of determining a transmitter number to be transmitted to the transmitter management server 1 after reading the product code based on the barcode scanning operation. In this case, when the clerk terminal 3 receives the beacon signal from one transmitter 4 when the product code is read from the barcode of the product 5, the clerk terminal 3 indicates the transmitter number indicated by the beacon signal. Transmit to the management server 1. When the clerk terminal 3 receives beacon signals from a plurality of transmitters 4, the store clerk terminal 3 sends the transmitter number of the transmitter 4 indicated by the beacon signal corresponding to the strongest radio wave intensity to the transmitter management server 1. Send.

  Further, when there are a plurality of beacon signals corresponding to the strongest radio wave intensity, the salesclerk terminal 3 transmits the direction information measured by the geomagnetic sensor 37 together with the transmitter number indicated by the beacon signal corresponding to the strongest radio wave intensity. To do. This will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 10 shows a state when the product 5 is displayed on the product shelf B. In the example of FIG. 10, when the store clerk reads the product code of the product 5 displayed on the product shelf B, the source of the beacon signal that reaches the store clerk terminal 3 is the transmitters 4A, 4B, and 4D. In this case, the salesclerk terminal 3 has a radio wave intensity of the beacon signal indicating the transmitter number of the transmitter 4B that is comparable to the radio wave intensity of the beacon signal indicating the transmitter number of the transmitter 4D and the transmitter 4A. Recognize that the radio wave intensity of the beacon signal indicating the transmitter number is stronger. Therefore, in this case, the clerk terminal 3 transmits the transmitter numbers of the transmitters 4B and 4D and the direction information (that is, information indicating north) measured by the geomagnetic sensor 37 to the transmitter management server 1.

(3) Recognition of Product Shelf ID Next, processing executed by the transmitter management server 1 based on the transmitter number received from the clerk terminal 3 will be described.

  FIG. 11A shows an outline of data communication between the store terminal 3 and the transmitter management server 1. As shown in FIG. 11A, when the transmitter management server 1 receives a transmitter number or the like from the clerk terminal 3, the transmitter management table 1 recognizes the corresponding product shelf ID by referring to the transmitter management table 130, The salesclerk terminal 3 is notified.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 10, the transmitter management server 1 receives from the clerk terminal 3 the transmitter numbers “002” and “004” of the transmitters 4B and 4D and the direction information indicating the north direction. Then, the transmitter management server 1 refers to the transmitter management table 130, and the “corresponding direction” is N (north direction), and the “transmitter number” and “transmitter measured with the same strength” A record having a pair of “002” and “004” in the column is searched. As a result, the transmitter management server 1 determines that the product shelf ID “00B” recorded in the second record indicates the product shelf on which the product 5 is displayed, and stores the information on the product shelf ID “00B” as a clerk. Transmit to terminal 3.

(4) Processing after Product Shelf ID Recognition FIG. 11B is a schematic diagram of processing in which the clerk terminal 3 transmits the product code and the product shelf ID to the product display management server 2. After receiving the information on the product shelf ID from the transmitter management server 1, the clerk terminal 3 transmits information indicating the product shelf ID and the product code read from the barcode of the product 5 to the product display management server 2. .

  FIG. 11C shows an outline of data transmission between the customer terminal 6 and the merchandise display management server 2. The customer terminal 6 causes a customer who is a user to designate an arbitrary product, and transmits a display information request signal including the product code of the designated product to the product display management server 2. In this case, the merchandise display management server 2 refers to the merchandise display information DB 230 to recognize the merchandise shelf on which the merchandise specified by the request signal is displayed, and further refers to the merchandise shelf position information to Recognize the position of the shelf. Then, the merchandise display management server 2 generates display information indicating the position of the recognized merchandise shelf on the in-store map, and transmits it to the customer terminal 6.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of a screen displayed by the customer terminal 6 based on the display information received from the merchandise display management server 2. In the screen example of FIG. 12, the customer terminal 6 displays a pull-down menu 65 for selecting a product, an in-store map 66 showing the layout in the store, and the position of the product shelf on which the product specified by the pull-down menu 65 is displayed. A product position mark 67 is displayed. As described above, the customer terminal 6 causes the pull-down menu 65 to select the product indicated by the arbitrary product code registered in the product display information DB 230 based on the display information received from the product display management server 2, and the selected product is The position of the displayed merchandise shelf is indicated by a merchandise position mark 67.

[Processing flow]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for registering the display position of the product 5 displayed by the store clerk.

  First, the clerk terminal 3 activates a product display position registration application based on user input or the like (step S101). Then, the clerk terminal 3 determines whether or not there is an input for instructing barcode scanning (step S102). For example, in the case of FIG. 9, the clerk terminal 3 determines whether or not the button 50 is pressed. Then, if there is an input for instructing scanning of the barcode (step S102; Yes), the clerk terminal 3 advances the process to step S103. On the other hand, if there is no input for instructing barcode scanning (step S102; No), the clerk terminal 3 continues to perform the determination in step S102.

  Next, in step S103, the clerk terminal 3 reads the product code from the barcode of the product 5, and temporarily stores the product code (step S103). Furthermore, the clerk terminal 3 detects a beacon signal transmitted from the transmitter 4 (step S104). At this time, the salesclerk terminal 3 determines whether or not there are a plurality of beacon signals having the strongest radio wave intensity (step S105). Thereby, the clerk terminal 3 determines whether or not there are a plurality of transmitters 4 that are at substantially the same distance from the current position. Then, when there are a plurality of beacon signals having the strongest radio wave intensity (step S105; Yes), the clerk terminal 3 acquires the direction information measured by the geomagnetic sensor 37 (step S106). That is, in this case, the store clerk terminal 3 determines that information on the store clerk's direction is necessary to recognize the product shelf on which the product 5 is placed.

  And the salesclerk terminal 3 transmits the transmitter number etc. which the received beacon signal shows to the transmitter management server 1 (step S107). In this case, if the clerk terminal 3 determines that there is one beacon signal having the strongest radio wave intensity in step S105, the clerk terminal 3 transmits the transmitter number indicated by the beacon signal to the transmitter management server 1. On the other hand, if the clerk terminal 3 determines in step S105 that there are a plurality of beacon signals having the strongest radio wave intensity, the transmitter number indicated by the plurality of beacon signals corresponding to the strongest radio wave intensity and the geomagnetic sensor The direction information measured by 37 is transmitted to the transmitter management server 1.

  Next, the transmitter management server 1 receives the transmitter number and the like (step S201), refers to the transmitter management table 130, and recognizes the product shelf ID (step S202). Specifically, when the information received from the clerk terminal 3 is only one transmitter number, the transmitter management server 1 receives the information based on the “transmitter number” column of the transmitter management table 130. The product shelf ID corresponding to the transmitter number is recognized. On the other hand, when the information received from the store clerk terminal 3 includes two transmitter numbers and direction information, the transmitter management server 1 stores the “corresponding direction”, “transmitter number” and “transmitter number” in the transmitter management table 130. The product shelf ID is recognized with reference to each column of “transmitters measured to have the same strength”. Then, the transmitter management server 1 transmits the recognized product shelf number to the clerk terminal 3 (step S203).

  Thereafter, the clerk terminal 3 receives the product shelf number from the transmitter management server 1 (step S108), and transmits the received product shelf number and the product code temporarily stored in step S103 to the product display management server 2. (Step S109). In this case, the merchandise display management server 2 receives the merchandise shelf number and the merchandise code transmitted from the clerk terminal 3 (step S301) and registers them in the merchandise display information DB 230 (step S302).

[Effects of product display position management system]
According to the product display position management system 100 of the embodiment, the clerk terminal 3 uses the transmitter number of the transmitter 4 indicated by the beacon signal received when the product code is read from the product 5 displayed on the product shelf, It transmits to the transmitter management server 1 which stores the transmitter management table 130. Then, the clerk terminal 3 acquires the product shelf ID associated with the above-mentioned transmitter number or the like in the transmitter management table 130 from the transmitter management server 1, and displays the received product shelf ID and the read product code as a product display. It transmits to the management server 2. Thereby, the clerk terminal 3 can store the product code of the displayed product 5 and the product shelf ID of the product shelf on which the product 5 is installed in an appropriately associated manner.

[Modification]
Next, a modification of the embodiment will be described. The following modifications may be applied in any combination to the above-described embodiment.

(Modification 1)
According to the flowchart of FIG. 13, the clerk terminal 3 transmits the product code and the product shelf ID to be registered in the product display information DB 230 to the product display management server 2 in step S109. Instead, the clerk terminal 3 may transmit the product code to be transmitted in step S109 to the transmitter management server 1 together with the transmitter number and the like in step S107 of FIG. In this case, the transmitter management server 1 notifies the product display management server 2 of the product shelf ID recognized based on the received transmitter number and the received product code, and the product display management server 2 receives the received product product. The shelf ID and the product code are registered in the product display information DB 230.

(Modification 2)
In step S107 of FIG. 13, the clerk terminal 3 transmits the direction information measured by the geomagnetic sensor 37 to the transmitter management server 1 only when it is determined that there are a plurality of strongest radio wave intensities. Instead, the clerk terminal 3 transmits the direction information together with the transmitter number indicated by one or more beacon signals having the strongest radio wave intensity, regardless of whether or not there are a plurality of strong radio wave intensity. You may transmit to the server 1.

(Modification 3)
The configuration of the commodity display position management system 100 in FIG. 1 is an example, and the configuration to which the present invention is applicable is not limited to this. Here, another configuration example of the commodity display position management system 100 will be described.

  In the first example, the transmitter management server 1 and the product display management server 2 may be one server device. In this case, the server device described above includes the transmitter management table 130 and the product display information DB 230, and the salesclerk terminal 3 transmits the product code to be transmitted in step S109 together with the transmitter number and the like in step S107 of FIG. Are simultaneously transmitted to the server device. The server device recognizes the product shelf ID based on the transmitter number and the like, and stores the recognized product shelf ID in association with the received product code in the product display information DB 230.

  In the second example, the clerk terminal 3 includes a transmitter management table 130 and a product display information DB 230, and may have the functions of the transmitter management server 1 and the product display management server 2. In this case, the product display position management system 100 includes a salesclerk terminal 3, a transmitter 4, and a customer terminal 6. Then, the salesclerk terminal 3 recognizes the product shelf ID with reference to the transmitter management table 130 based on the transmitter number and the like to be transmitted in step S107 of FIG. Then, the clerk terminal 3 registers the recognized product shelf ID in the product display information DB 230 in association with the product code temporarily stored in step S103.

  In the second example, when the product display position management system 100 includes a plurality of store clerk terminals 3, any one store clerk terminal 3 (also referred to as “parent terminal”) is connected to the transmitter management table 130 and the product display information. It is only necessary to have the DB 230 and have the functions of the transmitter management server 1 and the product display management server 2. In this case, the clerk terminal 3 other than the parent terminal transmits the product code to be transmitted in step S109 to the parent terminal together with the transmitter number and the like to be transmitted in step S107. And when a parent terminal receives a transmitter number etc. and a goods code from other salesclerk terminals 3, while recognizing goods shelf ID based on a transmitter number etc., recognized goods shelf ID and received goods code, Are stored in the product display information DB 230 in association with each other.

  In the third example, the product display position management system 100 may include an clerk terminal 3 having the function of the transmitter management server 1 and the product display management server 2. In this case, the clerk terminal 3 recognizes the product shelf ID with reference to the transmitter management table 130 based on the transmitter number and the like to be transmitted in step S107 of FIG. 13, and then recognizes the recognized product shelf ID and the temporarily stored product. The code is transmitted to the merchandise display management server 2.

(Modification 4)
The transmitter management table 130 does not need to have the column of “transmitters measured with the same strength” shown in FIG.

  In this case, when the transmitter management server 1 receives two transmitter numbers and direction information indicated by beacon signals having the same radio field intensity, the “transmitter number” and “corresponding” in the transmitter management table 130 are received. The product shelf ID to be transmitted to the clerk terminal 3 is determined with reference to only the “direction” column. For example, in the example of FIG. 10, the transmitter management server 1 associates either the transmitter number “002” of the transmitter 4B received from the salesclerk terminal 3 with the transmitter number “004” of the transmitter 4D. The product shelf ID (“00B” in FIG. 6) associated with the direction (N) indicated by the received direction information is extracted from the current product shelf IDs (“00B” and “00D” in FIG. 6).

(Modification 5)
In the embodiment, the transmitter 4 transmits radio waves having substantially the same intensity, but examples to which the present invention is applicable are not limited to this. Instead, each transmitter 4 may transmit a beacon signal with a different radio field intensity.

  For example, the commodity display position management system 100 includes a transmitter 4 that transmits a weak beacon signal (also referred to as a “weak beacon signal”) that reaches only a position close to an installed commodity shelf, and is stronger than the weak radio wave. You may have the transmitter 4 etc. which transmit a beacon signal (it is also called a "normal beacon signal"). In this case, when receiving the weak beacon signal, the commodity display position management system 100 determines the commodity shelf ID based on the transmitter number indicated by the weak beacon signal regardless of whether the normal beacon signal is received. To do. In this case, for example, the transmitter management server 1 stores information on the radio wave intensity of each transmitter 4 (also referred to as “radio wave intensity information”), and the clerk terminal 3 transmits beacon signals emitted by the plurality of transmitters 4. When received, the transmitter number indicated by the received beacon signal is transmitted to the transmitter management server 1. The transmitter management server 1 determines the product shelf ID to be transmitted to the clerk terminal 3 by referring to the radio wave intensity information and giving priority to the transmitter number corresponding to the transmitter 4 that emits the weak beacon signal.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Transmitter management server 2 ... Merchandise display management server 3 ... Clerk terminal 4 ... Transmitter 5 ... Product 6 ... Customer terminal 9 ... Network

Claims (5)

Storage means for associating and holding the position of the product shelf displaying the product and the product shelf identification information, and transmitter identification information of a transmitter that transmits a radio signal indicating unique identification information;
Reading means for reading a product code of a product displayed on the product shelf;
Detecting means for detecting a radio signal transmitted from the transmitter when reading the product code;
Product shelf identification means for acquiring the product shelf identification information of the product shelf adjacent to the reading position of the product code with reference to the transmitter identification information detected by the detection means and the storage means;
A storage control unit that associates the product code read by the reading unit with the product shelf identification information acquired by the product shelf identification unit, and stores the product code in the storage unit;
A product display position registration device characterized by comprising: In the case where each of the transmitters transmits radio signals having substantially the same intensity,
The product shelf identification means acquires the product shelf identification information based on the transmitter identification information indicated by the strongest radio signal when the detection means detects radio signals transmitted from a plurality of the transmitters. The merchandise display position registration device according to claim 1. Direction measuring means for measuring the direction in which the user of the commodity display position registration device is facing when reading the commodity code;
The product shelf identification means detects the radio signal transmitted from the plurality of transmitters, and when there are a plurality of transmitters that transmit the strongest radio signal, the strongest radio signal is detected. The merchandise display position registration apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the merchandise shelf identification information is acquired based on the transmitter identification information to be displayed and information on a direction measured by the direction measuring unit. A communication system having a transmitter management device and a commodity display position registration device that communicates with the transmitter management device,
The commodity display position registration device includes:
Reading means for reading the product code of the product displayed on the product shelf displaying the product;
Detecting means for detecting a radio signal transmitted from a transmitter that transmits a radio signal indicating unique identification information when reading the product code;
Transmitter identification information indicated by the radio signal detected by the detection means, and a transmission means for transmitting the product code read by the reading means to the transmitter management device,
The transmitter management device is
Storage means for associating and holding the position of the product shelf and the product shelf identification information, and the transmitter identification information of the transmitter;
Receiving means for receiving the transmitter identification information from the transmitting means;
Product shelf identification means for obtaining the product shelf identification information of the product shelf close to the reading position of the product code with reference to the transmitter identification information and the storage means;
Storage control means for associating the product code with the product shelf identification information acquired by the product shelf identification means, and storing it in the storage means;
A communication system comprising:   A program causing a computer to function as the commodity display position registration device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.