JP2019168902A - Register device, notification system, notification method and notification program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a register device or the like capable of identifiably informing a comparison result of an estimated cashier waiting time when waiting at the tail of a cashier waiting line.SOLUTION: A register device includes calculation means for calculating an estimated cashier waiting time when waiting at the tail of a cashier waiting line for its own device, and output means for outputting information that can identify a result of comparing the calculated estimated waiting time for its own device with an estimated waiting time when waiting at the tail of another cashier waiting line to the vicinity of the cashier waiting line for its own device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a register device, a register system, a register method, and a register program for notifying a register waiting time.

  In a register device (hereinafter also referred to as a “cash register”) in a store such as a supermarket, a queue for product registration, payment, etc. may occur. Customers often line up by looking at the length of the queue and expecting a cashier with the lowest waiting time among a plurality of cashiers.

  As a technique for calculating the cashier waiting time, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus that creates cashier waiting time information based on an average checkout processing time per customer and displays the information so that the customer can see it. .

  Patent Document 2 discloses a device that calculates a predicted value of a waiting time of a POS device based on the amount of goods and the number of people who are lined up in the POS device. The apparatus estimates the product quantity from the image data and detects the number of people on the POS apparatus.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-161849 JP 2017-068717 A

  In the techniques disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, for each cash register, a predicted value of the waiting time when queued in the cash register is arranged is calculated and displayed so as to be visible to the customer. Accordingly, the customer can recognize the expected waiting time when the waiting time is arranged in the displayed cash register column. However, when there are a plurality of cash registers, there is a problem that it is difficult for the customer to immediately recognize which queue of the cash registers the waiting time is small. For example, it is necessary to look around the predicted values of the waiting times of all the columns and compare the predicted values, which is troublesome.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides a register device and the like that can identifiablely notify the comparison result of the estimated cashier waiting time when queued at the tail of the queue waiting for cashier. Is the main purpose.

  A register device according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a calculation unit that calculates an estimated registration waiting time when the registration device is arranged at the end of a queue waiting for registration; Output means for outputting information capable of identifying a comparison result with respect to the estimated registration waiting time when the queues are arranged at the end of the column in the vicinity of the queue waiting for the registration of the own device.

  A notification system according to an aspect of the present invention is a notification system including a plurality of register devices and a management device capable of communicating with each of the plurality of register devices, wherein the management device includes the plurality of register devices. Calculating means for calculating an estimated registration waiting time when the registration waiting queues are arranged at the end of each queue, and information capable of identifying the comparison result of the calculated estimated registration waiting time for each register device. Communication means for transmitting to each of the register devices associated with the waiting time, wherein the plurality of register devices output the identifiable information received from the management device in the vicinity of the queue waiting for the register of the own device Means.

  A notification system according to an aspect of the present invention is a notification system including a plurality of register devices, and at least one of the register devices is arranged at the end of each of the plurality of register devices in a queue for waiting for a register. In this case, the calculation means for calculating the estimated registration waiting time and the information for identifying the comparison result of the calculated estimated waiting time for each register device are respectively transmitted to the register device associated with the estimated registration waiting time. Each of the register devices includes output means for outputting the identifiable information to the vicinity of the queue waiting for the register of the own device.

  The notification method according to an aspect of the present invention calculates an estimated registration waiting time when the plurality of register devices are arranged at the tail of each register waiting queue, and calculates the estimated registration waiting time for each of the calculated register devices. To each of the register devices associated with the estimated registration waiting time, and the identifiable information received from the management device is sent to the register waiting queue of each of the register devices. Output to the neighborhood.

  The notification program according to an aspect of the present invention includes a process for calculating an estimated registration waiting time when the device is arranged at the end of a queue for waiting for a register, A computer is caused to execute a process of outputting information capable of identifying a comparison result with respect to the estimated registration waiting time when the queues are arranged at the end of the column to the vicinity of the queue waiting for the registration of the own device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to notify the comparison result of the estimated cashier waiting time in the case where the queue is queued at the tail of the cashier waiting queue in an identifiable manner.

It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the computer apparatus which each implement | achieves the register apparatus, management apparatus, and notification method in each embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the notification system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the register apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of installation of the register | resistor apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment, an imaging device, and a display apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the management apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the salesclerk information stored in the salesclerk information storage part of the register | resistor apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the register apparatus and management apparatus which concern on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the waiting time calculation part of the register | resistor apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the waiting time calculation part of the register apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the waiting customer information memorize | stored in the waiting information storage part of the register apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example which displayed waiting time on the display apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the display by the display apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the other example of the display by the display apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the register apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment A hardware constituting a register device and a management device according to a first embodiment and another embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a computer device 10 that realizes a register device, a management device, and a notification method in each embodiment. In each embodiment of the present invention, each component of the register device and the management device described below represents a functional unit block. Each component of the register device and the management device can be realized by any combination of a computer device 10 and software as shown in FIG. 1, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the computer device 10 includes a processor 11, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 13, a storage device 14, an input / output interface 15, and a bus 16.

  The storage device 14 stores a program 18. The processor 11 uses the RAM 12 to execute a notification program 18 for the register device and the management device. The program 18 may be stored in the ROM 13. The program 18 may be recorded on the recording medium 20 and read by the drive device 17, or may be transmitted from an external device via a network.

  The input / output interface 15 exchanges data with peripheral devices (keyboard, mouse, display device, etc.) 19. The input / output interface 15 can function as a means for acquiring or outputting data. The bus 16 connects each component.

  There are various modifications of the register device and the management device implementation method. For example, each of the register device and the management device can be realized as a dedicated device. Each of the register device and the management device can be realized by a combination of a plurality of devices.

  A program that causes the configuration of each embodiment to operate so as to realize the functions of this embodiment and other embodiments (more specifically, a program that causes a computer to execute the processing illustrated in FIG. 7 and the like) is recorded on a recording medium. A processing method of reading a program recorded on the recording medium as a code and executing it on a computer is also included in the category of each embodiment. That is, a computer-readable recording medium is also included in the scope of each embodiment. In addition to the recording medium on which the above program is recorded, the program itself is included in each embodiment.

  As the recording medium, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD (Compact Disc) -ROM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM can be used. In addition, the program is not limited to a program recorded on the recording medium, but is operated on an OS (Operating System) in cooperation with other software and an expansion board function to execute the process. Are also included in the category of each embodiment.

  Next, the configuration of the notification system including the register device and the management device according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the notification system 100 according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the notification system 100 includes a plurality of register devices 110 and a management device 120.

  The register device 110 is a device having a cash register (for example, POS (point of sales) register) function for product registration, payment registration, and sales information management used in various stores and business facilities such as supermarkets, home centers, and amusement parks. is there. The register device 110 is associated with the store or business facility as described above, and is mainly installed at the accounting counter. Although FIG. 2 shows that the notification system 100 includes six register devices 110, the notification system 100 is not limited to this.

  The management device 120 is a device capable of communicating with a plurality of register devices 110, and is installed in, for example, the store or business facility as described above, and manages the register device 110 and collects various information. The management device 120 and the register device 110 have a function of performing wireless communication with each other via, for example, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network). Alternatively, the management device 120 and the register device 110 may communicate with each other via a mobile communication network.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the register device 110. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the register device 110 includes an operation reception unit 111, a clerk identification unit 112, a clerk information generation unit 113, a waiting time calculation unit 114, an output information generation unit 115, a communication unit 116, and a clerk information storage unit 117. Prepare.

  An imaging device 130 and a display device 140 are also connected to the register device 110. Note that the imaging device 130 and the display device 140 may be connected to the register device 110, or each may have a communication unit, and may exchange information with each other via the communication unit.

  The operation reception unit 111 receives an operation of a store clerk (person in charge). For example, when the store clerk starts operating the register device 110, an ID (IDentification) card including the store clerk's identification information is read. In addition, when the register device 110 is provided with an image pickup unit for shooting the face of the store clerk, the operation reception unit 111 uses the image pickup unit to capture the face for face authentication in response to an instruction from the store clerk. You may instruct. Note that the imaging device 130 may be used as the imaging means.

  The operation reception unit 111 also receives a cash register processing operation by a store clerk. The registration process includes, for example, a registration process for registering product information such as identification information of a product to be purchased in the register device 110. In the registration process, for example, the store clerk reads the barcode attached to the product with a reader, presses a physical button provided on the cash register, touches a button displayed on the touch panel display of the cash register, etc. Register the information at the cash register.

  The store clerk identifying unit 112 identifies the store clerk with reference to the store clerk information storage unit 117 based on the ID card information read out by the operation accepting unit 111 and the face image of the store clerk acquired by the imaging means.

  The store clerk information generation unit 113 receives a store clerk's operation from the operation reception unit 111, and generates store clerk information based on the operation (details will be described later).

  The waiting time calculating unit 114 serves as calculating means for calculating an estimated register waiting time when the device is arranged at the end of the queue waiting for the register of the own device. Specifically, the waiting time calculation unit 114 reads out the store clerk information associated with the store clerk identified by the store clerk identification unit 112 from the store clerk information storage unit 117, and stores the store clerk information and waiting information (details will be described later). The estimated registration waiting time (hereinafter also simply referred to as “waiting time”) in the case where the register device 110 is arranged at the end of the waiting queue is calculated.

  The output information generation unit 115 generates output information based on the waiting time calculated by the waiting time calculation unit 114 or rank information acquired from the communication unit 116 (details will be described later). The output information generation unit 115 obtains information that can identify the comparison result of the calculated estimated registration waiting time with respect to the estimated registration waiting time when arranged at the end of the other waiting queue, It serves as output means for outputting in the vicinity of.

  The communication unit 116 transmits the waiting time calculated by the waiting time calculation unit 114 to the management device 120. Further, the communication unit 116 receives from the management device 120 a comparison result with respect to the estimated cashier waiting time when the sent cashier waiting time is arranged at the end of another queue waiting for cashiers.

  The imaging device 130 is provided, for example, on the ceiling around the upper side of the register device 110 in order to take an image of the queue waiting for the cash register, and takes an image of the queue waiting for the cash register from above. The image data of the queue waiting for the cash register obtained by photographing is referred to as queue image data.

  The store clerk information storage unit 117 stores store clerk information including store clerk identification information and track record information related to product registration time by store clerk (details will be described later).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an installation example of the register device 110, the imaging device 130, and the display device 140. As shown in FIG. 4, the register device 110 is installed in an accounting counter. The imaging device 130 is installed on a ceiling around the register device 110. The display device 140 is installed in the vicinity of the register device 110. The display device 140 is not limited to being installed in the vicinity of the register device 110, and may be installed in the vicinity of a register waiting queue of the register device 110. The vicinity may be a position that can be identified as being associated with the register device 110. In addition, the display device 140 may be installed at a higher position so that it can be seen from the customer even during congestion.

  Assume that an imaging device 130 and a display device 140 are installed for each register device 110 installed in a store. Note that the imaging device 130 is not limited to being installed for each register device 110, and may be installed in the number and the position where a plurality of register devices 110 can wait for registration. In addition, as the imaging device 130, a surveillance camera installed in a store may be used.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the management apparatus 120. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the management device 120 includes a communication unit 121, a waiting time comparison unit 122, and a rank information generation unit 123.

  The communication unit 121 communicates with the register device 110. Here, the communication unit 121 acquires each waiting time from the plurality of register devices 110. The waiting time comparison unit 122 compares the waiting times acquired from the plurality of register devices 110 with each other. The rank information generation unit 123 generates rank information based on the comparison result by the waiting time comparison unit 122.

  Here, the clerk information stored in the clerk information storage unit 117 will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of clerk information stored in the clerk information storage unit 117. As shown in FIG. 6, the clerk information includes identification information and performance information. The identification information is information that is stored in advance in association with identification information (store clerk ID) given to the store clerk and the name of the store clerk. The identification information may be stored in association with the store clerk's face image data. In this case, as described above, the store clerk identifying unit 112 captures the face of the store clerk and collates the face image data with the face image data held in the store clerk information storage unit 117, thereby authenticating the store clerk's face. It can be carried out.

  The track record information indicates a track record regarding past product registration processing for each store clerk. Specifically, the performance information includes the date and time when the registration process was performed, the number of products targeted for the registration process, the identification information (product ID) of the registered product, and the time (registration time) required for the registration process. The registration time is, for example, after the previous customer has been liquidated (for example, after the change and receipt has been issued), the last product of the customer has been registered since the first product was registered, It is good also as time until the time of performing the process for making it settle.

  The record information is information that is generated every time a clerk performs a registration process in the register device 110, and is added to the clerk information storage unit 117 in association with the identification information. The performance information may be generated for each customer for whom the store clerk has performed registration processing. In this case, the member ID of the customer may be included in the record information.

  The member ID is information for identifying a store member. The customer may make a membership request to the store by presenting predetermined information such as name, address, date of birth, and sex. Thereby, a member ID is issued to the customer who requested the member. If the customer is a member, the store clerk may read the member ID from the member card before registering the product.

  The member may also register his / her face image by operating a portable terminal or a dedicated terminal installed in the store. Member information associated with the member ID, the predetermined information, and the face image may be held in the register device 110 or the management device 120.

  A process for generating result information based on the cashier processing operation of the store clerk will be described.

  When the operation reception unit 111 reads out the clerk's ID card at the start of the registration process, the clerk identification unit 112 reads out the clerk ID of the clerk information stored in the clerk information storage unit 117 and the read ID card. The store clerk is identified by checking the above. The clerk identification unit 112 may identify the clerk based on the clerk face image data acquired by the imaging unit.

  When the clerk starts the registration process of a product to be purchased by a customer, the clerk information generation unit 113 acquires the product score, the product ID, and the time taken for the registration process of all the products, and associates it with the clerk ID. Thus, it is registered in the clerk information storage unit 117 as performance information. The store clerk information generation unit 113 generates track record information as described above for each customer and registers it in the store clerk information storage unit 117.

  Next, the operation of the notification system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing operations of the register device 110 and the management device 120 included in the notification system 100 according to the present embodiment. The operations of the register device 110 and the management device 120 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, as described above, it is assumed that the sales clerk information storage unit 117 stores performance information related to past registration processing for each sales clerk.

  When the register device 110 receives the operation start by the store clerk such as reading of the store clerk ID card in the operation receiving unit 111 (Yes in S201), the store clerk identifying unit 112 stores the store clerk information stored in the store clerk information storage unit 117. The clerk is identified by collating the clerk ID with the read ID card (S202).

  The waiting time calculation unit 114, based on the record information included in the clerk information of the clerk identified in S202 and the queuing image data acquired from the imaging device 130, the tail of the queue waiting for the cash register of the register device 110. The estimated cashier waiting time is calculated when they are arranged in a row (S203).

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the waiting time calculation unit 114. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the waiting time calculation unit 114 includes an acquisition unit 141, a product quantity estimation unit 142, a number of people detection unit 143, a waiting customer information registration unit 144, a calculation unit 145, and a waiting information storage unit 146.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the waiting time calculation unit 114. With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the operation of the waiting time calculation unit 114 will be described.

  The acquisition unit 141 acquires the queue image data from the imaging device 130, and acquires the record information associated with the identified store clerk from the store clerk information storage unit 117 (S301). The product quantity estimation unit 142 detects the shopping basket held by the customers in the queue waiting for the checkout based on the acquired queue image data and estimates the quantity of the product put in the shopping basket (S302). .

  For example, the product quantity estimation unit 142 may determine, from the queue image data, the number of shopping carts held by customers in the queue waiting for checkout, and the top end of each shopping cart and the maximum number of products placed in the shopping cart. Extract the position with the top surface. Then, the product quantity estimation unit 142 detects the positional relationship and distance between the uppermost end and the uppermost surface based on the position, and based on these, the height of the product in the car is determined in advance. Of these stages, it may be determined which stage corresponds. The product quantity estimation unit 142 holds in advance the number of products corresponding to each stage, and estimates the number of products corresponding to the determined stage as the number of products in the shopping basket. Note that even when the customer in the queue does not hold a car, for example, a predetermined number of products may be held in association with each other.

  The number-of-people detection unit 143 detects the number of customers in the queue based on the acquired queue image data (S303). Specifically, the number-of-people detection unit 143 forms a queue for waiting for a person in a specific area, for example, by a matching process using a feature amount stored in advance to extract people by image recognition. Detects that it is a person. Then, the number of detected people is calculated.

  For example, the method disclosed in Patent Literature 2 may be used for the product amount estimation and the number of people detection by the product amount estimation unit 142 and the number of people detection unit 143.

  As described above, the waiting customer information registration unit 144 stores waiting customer information including the product quantity estimated by the product quantity estimation unit 142 and the number of waiting customers detected by the number detection unit 143. Register in the unit 146 (S304). FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of waiting customer information stored in the waiting customer information storage unit 146. As shown in FIG. 10, the waiting customer information includes the number of people, the amount of products, and the total number of products. The product quantity includes the number of cars detected and the estimated number of goods.

  The calculation unit 145 calculates the estimated waiting time based on the waiting customer information and the sales clerk's record information (S305).

  First, the calculation unit 145 calculates the clerk's skill information based on the clerk's record information. For example, the calculation unit 145 may calculate the statistical value of the registration time with respect to the product score from all the record information associated with the store clerk. For example, an average value of registration times per product may be calculated. Further, the calculation unit 145 may calculate a statistical value of registration time for the number of people. For example, you may calculate the average value of the registration time per customer.

  Further, the calculation unit 145 may calculate a statistical value of registration time in the registration process for the most recent predetermined number of times. Further, when the member ID is included in the record information, the calculation unit 145 may calculate a statistical value of registration time for each member ID.

  The calculation unit 145 calculates the waiting time from the skill information calculated as described above and the waiting customer information. For example, a time obtained by multiplying the total number of products included in the waiting customer information by an average value of registration times of one product may be calculated as the waiting time. The calculation unit 145 may calculate a waiting time by multiplying the number of people included in the waiting customer information by the average value of registration times per person.

  The calculation unit 145 may calculate the waiting time in consideration of payment time by the customer. For example, as the above-described member information, payment time information indicating the past payment performance of the member may be held. The payment time information may include the date and time when payment was made in the past, the payment time required for payment at that time, and the settlement method at that time. In this case, the calculation unit 145 calculates an average value of each payment time included in the member information, and calculates a time obtained by multiplying the number of people detected by the number of people detection unit 143 by the average value as a payment average time. Then, the calculation unit 145 may add the average payment time to the waiting time calculated as described above.

  By the above procedure, the waiting time calculation unit 114 calculates the waiting time.

  Subsequently, the waiting time calculation unit 114 notifies the output information generation unit 115 of the calculated waiting time. The output information generation unit 115 outputs the acquired waiting time to the display device 140 (S204).

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the waiting time is displayed on the display device 140. In this way, the cashier waiting time is displayed on the display device 140.

  The waiting time calculation unit 114 also transmits the calculated waiting time to the management apparatus 120 via the communication unit 116 (S205). Here, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a plurality of register devices 110 are communicating with the management device 120, and the management device 120 receives the calculated waiting time from all the register devices 110 that are communicating. To do. At this time, the management device 120 also receives the identification information of the transmission source register device 110.

  When the management device 120 receives the waiting time via the communication unit 121 (Yes in S211), the waiting time comparison unit 122 compares the waiting times received from the plurality of register devices 110 with each other (S212). And the waiting time comparison part 122 ranks from the one with a shorter waiting time.

  Subsequently, the rank information generation unit 123 generates rank information based on the ranking (S213). The rank information may be the rank itself. Alternatively, the rank information may be information on a group classified based on the rank.

  That is, the rank information generation unit 123 classifies the register devices 110 into a plurality of groups based on the rank. For example, you may classify | categorize equally into three groups from the one with higher order (short waiting time). Or you may classify | categorize into three groups, a group with 20% from the one with high order, a group with 20% from the one with low order, and another group. The classification is not limited to three groups.

  The rank information generation unit 123 generates identifiable rank information for each group. For example, when the group is divided into three groups as described above, the rank information generation unit 123 sets “1” as the rank information of the group with the highest rank, “2” as the rank information of the group with the next highest rank, The ranking information of the lowest group may be generated as “3”.

  As described above, the communication unit 121 returns the rank information generated for each register device 110 to the register device 110 that is the transmission source of the waiting time (S214).

  When each of the register devices 110 receives the rank information from the management device 120 via the communication unit 116 (Yes in S206), the output information generation unit 115 generates display information corresponding to the rank information (S207). The display information is information that allows the customer to identify the relative waiting time, that is, the relative length of the registration waiting time of the own device with respect to the registration waiting time of the other device, by visual inspection.

  The output information generation unit 115 holds the rank information and display information in association with each other in advance. For example, the rank information “1” and the display information “early”, the rank information “2” and the display information “normal”, the rank information “3” and the display information “late” may be held in association with each other.

  In the above case, the output information generation unit 115 is “early” when the received rank information is “1”, “normal” when the rank information is “2”, and “3” when the rank information is “3”. Respectively generates display information “slow”. The output information generation unit 115 outputs the generated display information to the display device 140. The display device 140 displays the acquired display information.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of display by the display device 140. FIG. 12A shows an example of the display device 140 of the register device 110 belonging to the group having the received rank information “1”, that is, the waiting time being the shortest. FIG. 12B shows an example of the display device 140 of the register device 110 belonging to the group whose rank information is “2”, that is, the next shortest waiting time. FIG. 12C shows an example of the display device 140 of the register device 110 belonging to the group with the ranking information “3”, that is, the longest waiting time. Thus, the relative length (long / short) of the waiting time may be displayed so that it can be identified by the character information.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating another example of display by the display device 140. As shown in FIGS. 13A to 13C, the relative waiting time may be displayed so that it can be identified by the color information. For example, the display device 140 of the register device 110 belonging to the group having the shortest waiting time is blue, the display device 140 of the register device 110 belonging to the group having the next shortest waiting time is yellow, and the register device belonging to the group having the longest waiting time. 110 display devices 140 may each be displayed in red.

  In addition, numerical information such as “1”, “2”, “3”, etc. may be displayed in the order of shorter waiting time, or “small”, “medium”, “large”, etc. may be displayed. Alternatively, the display color may be displayed in shades of light or dark. Or you may display the graphical information which can identify the relative length of waiting time. For example, a longer line or rectangle may be displayed for a group with a longer waiting time. The display on the display device 140 is not limited to the above example as long as the relative length of the waiting time can be identified for the customer.

  Further, the calculated registration waiting time of the register device 110 may be displayed together with information that allows the relative length of the waiting time to be identified.

  As described above, the information that can identify the relative length of the waiting time is displayed for each register device 110, so that the customer can determine which cash register has a short waiting time by arranging a plurality of cash registers. Can understand efficiently without turning.

  Note that the management device 120 is not limited to classifying the register devices 110 based on the length of the waiting time, and may display the order of the register devices 110 in ascending order of the waiting time.

  Further, the register device 110 may calculate the waiting time and switch the display to the display device 140 at predetermined intervals, or may perform these operations in real time.

  Further, the register device 110 is not limited to displaying the information regarding the waiting time on the display device 140, and may display the information on the floor of the store by irradiating light from the upper part.

  In addition, a mail address may be stored in advance as the member information described above, and the register device 110 may transmit display information based on the waiting time or the order of the waiting time to the member's mail address. In addition, in a terminal in which a dedicated application that realizes the function of displaying the waiting time as described above is installed, a mechanism for displaying the waiting time for each register device 110 and display information based on the order may be provided.

  In the above description, the register device 110 includes the clerk identification unit 112, the clerk information generation unit 113, the waiting time calculation unit 114, the output information generation unit 115, and the clerk information storage unit 117. However, the present invention is not limited to this. . That is, the management apparatus 120 may include at least one of these components. For example, the management device 120 may acquire the queue image data and include the store clerk information storage unit 117 to calculate the waiting time for each register device 110 based on the record information of the store clerk for each register device 110. Then, as described above, the management device 120 may compare the waiting time for each register device 110.

  Alternatively, any one of the plurality of register devices 110 may perform the function of the management device 120. The register device 110 that functions as the management device 120 may include the components illustrated in FIG. 5 in addition to the components illustrated in FIG. 3.

  In the above description, the waiting time is calculated based on the performance information for each clerk. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a predetermined time may be used as a registration time for each customer.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the plurality of register devices 110 calculate the estimated registration waiting time of each device, and the management device 120 calculates the estimated registration waiting time received from the plurality of register devices 110. Compare and send back the comparison result. Based on the comparison result, the register device 110 obtains information that can identify the relative length of each estimated register waiting time with respect to the estimated register wait time of the other register devices 110, and stores the information in the register device 110 waiting for register. Is output in the vicinity of.

  By adopting the above configuration, according to the first embodiment, the relative lengths of the estimated registration waiting times when the plurality of register devices 110 are arranged at the tail end of the respective waiting queues. Can be notified in an identifiable manner. As a result, customers can efficiently know in which queue the waiting time is low without looking around the estimated cashier waiting time of multiple cashiers or comparing the time. it can.

Second Embodiment FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a register device 200 according to a second embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the register device 200 includes a calculation unit 210 and an output unit 220.

  The calculation unit 210 calculates the estimated cashier waiting time when the device is arranged at the end of the queue waiting for cashier of the own device. The output unit 220 obtains information that can identify a comparison result of the estimated estimated waiting time for the estimated waiting time when the estimated waiting time is arranged at the end of another waiting queue, in the vicinity of the waiting queue for the own device. Output to.

  By adopting the above-described configuration, according to the second embodiment, it is possible to notify the comparison result of the estimated cashier waiting time in a case where they are arranged at the end of the queue waiting for cashier in an identifiable manner. It is done.

  The present invention has been described above with reference to the above-described embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. That is, the present invention can apply various modes that can be understood by those skilled in the art, such as various combinations and selections of the various disclosed elements, within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Computer apparatus 11 Processor 14 Memory | storage device 15 Input / output interface 16 Bus 17 Drive apparatus 18 Program 19 Peripheral device 20 Recording medium 100 Notification system 110 Register apparatus 111 Operation reception part 112 Clerk identification part 113 Clerk information generation part 114 Time calculation part 115 Output Information generator 116 Communication unit 117 Clerk information storage unit 120 Management device 121 Communication unit 122 Time comparison unit 123 Order information generation unit 130 Imaging device 140 Display device 141 Acquisition unit 142 Product quantity estimation unit 143 Number detection unit 144 Waiting customer information registration unit 145 Calculation unit 146 Waiting customer information storage unit 200 Register device 210 Calculation unit 220 Output unit

Claims (10)

A calculating means for calculating an estimated cashier waiting time in a case where it is arranged at the tail of the queue waiting for cashier of its own device;
An output for outputting information that can identify the comparison result of the calculated estimated waiting time for the estimated waiting time when the estimated waiting time is arranged at the end of another waiting queue to the vicinity of the waiting queue for the own device A register device comprising: and means. The output means outputs information capable of identifying a relative length of the calculated estimated registration waiting time with respect to the estimated registration waiting time when arranged at the end of another waiting queue. Register device. The register device according to claim 1, wherein the output unit outputs information that can identify the group classified based on the calculated length of the estimated registration waiting time. The register device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the output means outputs at least one of character information, color information, numerical information, and graphic information that can identify the comparison result. The calculation means is based on the record information related to the registration time associated with the person in charge of product registration and the amount of product estimated to be held by each of the customers in the queue waiting for the cash register of the own device. The register device according to claim 1, wherein the estimated cashier waiting time is calculated. The track record information includes the number of products previously registered by the person in charge and the time required for the registration,
The register device according to claim 5. A notification system comprising a plurality of register devices and a management device capable of communicating with each of the plurality of register devices,
The management device
Calculating means for calculating an estimated cashier waiting time when arranged at the tail of each cashier waiting queue of the plurality of register devices;
Communication means for transmitting information that can identify the comparison result of the estimated registration waiting time for each calculated register device to each of the register devices associated with the estimated register waiting time,
The plurality of register devices include:
A notification system comprising output means for outputting the identifiable information received from the management device to the vicinity of the queue waiting for the cash register of the device itself. A notification system comprising a plurality of register devices,
At least one of the register devices is
Calculating means for calculating an estimated cashier waiting time when arranged at the tail of each cashier waiting queue of the plurality of register devices;
Communication means for transmitting information that can identify the comparison result of the estimated registration waiting time for each calculated register device to each of the register devices associated with the estimated register waiting time,
Each of the register devices
A notification system comprising: output means for outputting the identifiable information in the vicinity of a queue waiting for a cash register of the device itself. Calculate the estimated cashier waiting time when lined up at the end of each queue waiting for cashiers of multiple register devices,
Information that can be used to identify the comparison result of the estimated registration waiting time for each calculated register device is transmitted to the register device associated with the estimated registration waiting time, respectively.
A notification method for outputting the received identifiable information to a vicinity of a register waiting queue of each of the register devices. A process of calculating an estimated cashier waiting time when lined up at the end of the queue waiting for cashier of the own device;
Processing for outputting information capable of identifying a comparison result with respect to the estimated registration waiting time when the calculated estimated registration waiting time is arranged at the end of another waiting queue in the vicinity of the queue waiting for the register of the own device When,
Notification program that causes a computer to execute

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