JP2019179218A - System, machine, method, and program for emitting smell - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a system, a machine, and a method, and a program for emitting smell which can make a desirable sales promotion activity.SOLUTION: A smell emission system according to an embodiment emits smell in a shop, and includes: a determination unit for determining a generation progress for a first smell about a predetermined product or service; and a discharge unit for discharging a second smell relating to the predetermined product or service, the second smell complementing the first smell.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to an odor emission system, an odor emission machine, an odor emission method, and a program.

  Conventionally, techniques for detecting the presence of a user and distributing odors in a space in the direction in which the user is present have been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for guiding a user or increasing a user's willingness to purchase by distributing a scent linked with a reproduction content of video or music reproduced by an audiovisual system in a space. Moreover, in patent document 2, by arranging fine smell components such as a solution containing a fragrance similar to the smell of food and diffusing it in the space, by arranging an odor generating device near the entrance of the food store or around the sales floor, A technique that enables unattended sales promotion activities is disclosed.

JP 2013-169234 A JP 2003-24427 A

  However, in patent document 1 and patent document 2, it was limited to generating an artificial smell. In some cases, artificial scents alone cannot be used to promote suitable sales activities.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a scent discharge system, a scent discharge machine, a scent discharge method, and a program capable of suitable promotion activities.

  The odor emission system of the embodiment is an odor emission system that emits an odor at a store. The odor emission system determines a degree of occurrence of a first odor related to a predetermined product or service, and the generation of the first odor. Depending on the condition, a discharge unit that emits a second odor related to the predetermined product or service and supplementing the first odor is provided.

  When the odor emitting device of the present invention is used, a suitable sales promotion activity using a predetermined odor can be performed by releasing a predetermined odor based on information collected by the collection unit.

It is the schematic which shows the external appearance of the shop 1 which concerns on this embodiment. 1 is a schematic view showing an odor release system 10 according to the present embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the smell discharge machine 100 which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the smell discharge machine 100 concerning this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the smell diffusion process by the smell discharge machine 100 which concerns on this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an odor emission system, an odor emission machine, an odor emission method, and a program according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the odor release machine of the embodiment is assumed to be installed in a store where people pass by near the store, such as a store in a shopping mall, a food sales store facing the sidewalk, and a service providing store such as cleaning. is doing. The following description will be made using an example of installing in a bakery where a kitchen is provided in the store and an example of installing in a cleaning store where laundry facilities are provided in the store.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an appearance of a store 1 according to the present embodiment. In the store 1, an odor releasing machine 100 is attached. The odor releasing machine 100 emits an odor generated from the store 1. Here, the odor is an odor related to a predetermined product or service. Examples of odors include odors of food (including cooking, cooking, beverages, and ingredients), detergents, buildings, furniture, and building components, and odors that lead to goods or services. For example, if the store 1 is a bakery, the smell of bread.

  The scent discharger 100 determines the degree of occurrence of the first scent. The first odor is, for example, an odor generated from a predetermined product or service. For example, the first smell is the smell when the bread is actually baked. Specifically, the first odor is an odor generated when the dough is baked or an odor generated from freshly baked bread. The generation condition is, for example, the odor intensity measured by an odor sensor. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be a moving state (moving time, strength of heating, amount of detergent, etc.) of an external device that causes odor, such as a cooking device or a washing facility. May be associated with the movable state in advance.

  The odor emitting device 100 emits a second odor that is a second odor related to a predetermined product or service and supplements the first odor according to the first odor generation state. The second odor is the same or substantially the same as the first odor. The substantially same smell means that a person recognizes the smell of the same product, for example. For example, in the case of bread, the first smell is the smell when the bread is actually baked, and the second smell is recognized by the general consumer as the smell of bread. For example, the odor release machine 100 increases the emission of the second odor when the first odor is weak. On the other hand, when the first odor is strong, the odor emitting device 100 reduces the emission of the second odor or stops the emission of the second odor.

  As described above, the odor emitting device 100 generates an odor (second odor) to compensate for this odor according to the actual odor (first odor) generation state related to a predetermined product or service. As a result, in the store 1, while attracting customers with the smell (first odor) actually generated in the store, when the smell is weak, attracting customers by generating an odor (second odor) to supplement the smell. can do.

  In addition, the ventilator 190 of the odor emitting device 100 may be attached to the side where the traffic is present (the sidewalk side or the passage side) in the store 1. Further, the aerator 190 may be attached to a lower part (vertically below) than a person's face height (for example, 2 m or less) on a wall surface of a store or the like. Thereby, in the store 1, an odor can easily reach the vicinity of a person's nose. The ventilator 190 may be provided with a cover that limits the strength of the emitted wind. This cover may tilt the wind direction downward. Further, the cover may diffuse the direction in which the odor is emitted in multiple directions. The fragrance device 150 and the ventilator 190 are an example of “emission unit”.

  Further, the ventilator 190 attached to the lower part of the wall surface or the like may be only the ventilator 190 that emits the second odor (also referred to as “ventilator 190-2”), or emits the first odor. Both the aerator 190 (also referred to as “aerator 190-1”) and the aerator 190-2 may be used. From the aerator 190-1, the substance which the hot air, the seasoning, etc. vaporized may be discharge | released. In the store 1, the ventilator 190-1 may be attached upward (a position where the blown wind does not hit a person or the like), and the ventilator 190-2 may be attached below the ventilator 190-1.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the odor emitting system 10 according to the present embodiment.
The odor release system 10 includes various sensor devices (odor sensor 110, camera 122, external device sensor 130, etc.), odor release machine 100, and information collection server 140. These electronic devices are connected via a network such as the Internet or directly between at least one device.

  The odor sensor 110 collects the presence or absence of a predetermined odor or the intensity of a predetermined odor. The human sensor 121 detects animals such as people and pets. For example, the human sensor 121 is an infrared camera and detects a person (passerby or the like) existing in the store 1. The camera 122 captures an image. For example, the camera 122 is installed so as to take an image of the outside of the store 1, and takes an image of a busy road or passage. The external device sensor 130 is a sensor that senses the operating status of the external device. The information collection server 140 is a server that collects external information. The external information is, for example, weather forecast, traffic information (railway operation information), event information, etc., and these information may be information for each region.

  The scent discharger 100 determines whether or not to release the second scent, or whether to release the second scent or the setting of the generation operation based on information sensed by various sensor devices. When the odor emitting device 100 determines to emit the second odor, the odor emitting device 100 emits the second odor. Further, the odor emitting device 100 emits the second odor depending on the setting or setting of the second odor.

  Further, the odor release machine 100 determines whether or not to release the second odor or the setting of the second odor emission condition or the generation operation based on the external information collected by the information collection server 140. Also good. For example, on a clear day, the second odor may be weakened. Conversely, on a rainy day, the odor is difficult to spread, so a strong second odor is emitted compared to a clear day. Also good. In addition, the odor release machine 100 is stronger when the event is held in the same area as the store 1 or when the store 1 is a way to the event venue compared to the case where the event is not held. Smell may be released.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing functions of the odor emitting machine 100 of the present embodiment. 3 includes, for example, a collection unit 160, a determination unit 170, a control unit 180, an aerator 190, and an aroma device 150. Note that the components of the determination unit 170 and the control unit 180 are realized, for example, when a hardware processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executes a program (software). In addition, some or all of these components are hardware (circuitry) such as LSI (Large Scale Integration), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), and GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). Part (including circuit)), or may be realized by cooperation of software and hardware. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or flash memory, or may be stored in a removable storage medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or CD-ROM. The medium may be installed in the storage device by being attached to the drive device.

  The collection unit 160 collects information on a predetermined space. The predetermined space information is, for example, the amount of traffic around the store around the unit time. The collection unit 160, for example, is based on a human sensor 121 that detects traffic and a video of a camera 122 that captures traffic on a passage or sidewalk that faces the store. To collect.

  Further, the collection unit 160 collects the intensity of a predetermined scent (a smell of baking bread or a smell of laundry detergent) drifting around the store per unit time as information on the predetermined space. For example, the odor sensor 110 is installed near the entrance of the store or inside the store (for example, a ventilation opening). For example, the collecting unit 160 collects a predetermined odor intensity from the sensing results of the odor sensors 110. In general, the smell of fresh bread and the smell of laundry detergent are composed of a plurality of aromatic substances. Therefore, when detecting the intensity of a predetermined odor, the odor sensor 110 may detect all of the fragrance materials constituting the predetermined odor, or one or more characteristic fragrance materials among the predetermined odors. May be the detection target. The collection unit 160 outputs the collection result to the determination unit 170.

  The determination unit 170 determines whether or not to release a predetermined odor using the fragrance device 150 based on the collection result output from the collection unit 160. Further, the determination unit 170 determines the intensity of the odor to be released using the fragrance device 150.

  For example, when the collection unit 160 collects a large amount of traffic in a predetermined space, if the traffic is less than a certain number, the determination unit 170 reduces the intensity of the odor to be emitted, and if it is greater than a certain number , It may be decided to increase the strength of the odor to be released. However, in general, when the fragrance component smells air of an appropriate concentration, even if it is smelled that many consumers feel a good odor, it may be uncomfortable if the fragrance component is too dense. Therefore, the strength of the scent to be released is determined based on, for example, the strength of the scent drifting in the store, and it is desirable that the strength of the scent is adjusted so as not to be excessively dense. The determination unit 170 outputs the determination result to the control unit 180.

  For example, the determination unit 170 may determine the intensity of the odor to be released based on time information. For example, the determination unit 170 determines to release a predetermined odor using the fragrance device 150 if it is within the business hours of the store, but if the fragrance device 150 is out of business hours or just before the closing time, It is determined that a predetermined odor is not released.

  Further, when the fragrance device 150 to be described later can emit a plurality of types of odors, the determination unit 170 may determine the odor to be released from a plurality of odors based on the collection result of the collection unit 160. Good.

  The control unit 180 controls the aerator 190 and the fragrance device 150 based on the determination result of the determination unit 170. The aerator 190 is a ventilator that is installed, for example, at a location facing a store passage or a sidewalk, and discharges the air in the store to the outside of the store. The aerator 190 may also serve as a store ventilator. The aerator 190 includes one or more ventilation fans. The aerator 190 is an example of a “release device”.

  The fragrance device 150 is a device that generates an odor (second odor). The fragrance device 150 is, for example, a substance for reproducing a predetermined odor stored inside the device (for example, a solution or a solid substance in which a fragrance for reproducing a predetermined odor is dissolved) is brought into contact with the air and has an odor component. Is volatilized to generate an aroma containing a predetermined odor component. The aroma generated by the fragrance device 150 is diffused into a predetermined space by the aerator 190.

  The fragrance device 150 may reproduce the generation of odor. For example, in the case of a bakery, the fragrance device 150 may be a heating device. That is, the store clerk places dough and bread in a heating device in advance. The aroma device 150 may generate smell by actually baking wheat or bread by heating the bread dough or bread with a heating device. In the case of a yakitori restaurant, a yakiniku restaurant, a sushi restaurant, etc., the fragrance device 150 may be constituted by, for example, a supply device that drops or sprays a liquid and a heating device. The fragrance device 150 heats a heating device and heats the liquid to generate an odor by dropping or spraying a liquid such as sauce.

  The control unit 180 may always operate the aerator 190 to diffuse a predetermined odor while the fragrance device 150 generates a fragrance, or may diffuse a predetermined scent (for example, diffuse for a few seconds and stop for a few seconds). The predetermined odor may be diffused by operating according to (repeat).

  Note that the collection unit 160 operates the operating status of an external device (for example, a cooking device such as an oven in the case of a bakery, a laundry facility or a press device in the case of a cleaning store) that is a source of the odor (first odor). May be collected. For example, when the collection unit 160 can communicate with an external device, the collection unit 160 may receive the operating status of the external device every time or may receive the operating status at a timing when the operating status changes. For example, the collection unit 160 acquires information indicating an operation state from an operation sensor attached to an external device. An operation sensor is a sensor that senses the operation status (start or end) of an external device. For example, the operation sensor may sense an operation sound at the start / end of the external device, a temperature of the external device, and a display on a display unit included in the external device. In addition, the collection unit 160 may estimate the operating state according to the time if the external device operates periodically.

For example, when the external device is in operation, the collection unit 160 does not have to collect the intensity of the predetermined odor because it is assumed that the predetermined odor has already occurred. The case where the external device is in operation means, for example, a state where the oven is ignited and cooking in the case of a bakery, and a state where the laundry is being washed by a washing device or a press in the case of a cleaning store This is a state where ironing is performed by the device.
When the external device is in operation, the determination unit 170 may determine not to emit a predetermined odor using the fragrance device 150.

  However, even when the external device is in operation, the collecting unit 160 collects the intensity of the predetermined odor when the predetermined odor does not occur or when the predetermined odor drifting in the space is sparse. Based on the results, the fragrance device 150 may be used to supplement a specific odor intensity.

  The fragrance device 150 may be an external device itself that is a source of odor. In that case, the fragrance device 150 controls the external device based on the control command output from the control unit 180. The control of the external device is, for example, to change the oven from the fire extinguishing state to the ignition state in a bakery. Further, the control unit 180 may notify the installer of the discharger 100 by an alarm or the like so as to change the oven from the fire extinguishing state to the ignition state.

  In addition, the fragrance device 150 may be a device that simulates an external device that is a source of odor. The device imitating an external device is, for example, an oven that bakes bread (a prototype or a food sample) that is not intended to be used as a product if it is a bakery. In addition, the device imitating an external device may be, for example, a device that stirs only water containing detergent that does not contain clothing if it is a cleaning store.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the odor emitting device 100. The odor emitting machine 100 includes, for example, two aerators 190-1 and 190-2. The ventilator 190-1 discharges the air in the store to the outside of the store and serves as a ventilation fan. The aerator 190-2 is connected to the fragrance device 150 and diffuses the fragrance discharged from the fragrance device 150 to the outside of the store.

  In the odor release machine 100 shown in FIG. 4, for example, when the determination unit 170 determines that the external device is in operation and the fragrance device 150 does not need to emit odor, the aerator 190-1 is operated. The aerator 190-2 is not operated. In addition, for example, when the determination unit 170 determines that the fragrance device 150 releases the odor because the external device is not operating, the odor release machine 100 operates the aerator 190-2. At this time, the aerator 190-1 may be operated or may not be operated.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of odor diffusion processing by the odor emitting device 100. The flowchart shown in FIG. 5 may be repeatedly executed at a predetermined timing.

  First, the collection unit 160 collects information on a predetermined space (step S100). Next, the determination unit 170 determines whether or not to release a predetermined odor (step S102). If the determination unit 170 determines to release, the determination unit 170 determines the intensity of the odor to be released (step S104). If the determination unit 170 does not determine to release, the determination unit 170 returns the process to step S100.

  After the process of step S102, the control unit 180 controls the ventilator 190 and the fragrance device 150 based on the determination result of the determination unit 170 to diffuse a predetermined odor (step S106). Thereby, the process of this flowchart is complete | finished.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example of installing in a store having a kitchen or a laundry facility that is a source of a predetermined odor in the store has been described, but cooking / manufacturing equipment, laundry facilities, and the like are also provided. The odor releasing machine 100 may be installed in a retail store or an agency that is not.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the odor emitting device 100 detects that there is a lot of traffic and predicts a time when the traffic increases, or a predetermined time (always a time when traffic increases). ), A second odor may be emitted. Moreover, the odor emitting machine 100 may start the operation of generating the second odor based on the time when the second odor should be generated. For example, when heating the dough or bread as the second odor, the odor release machine 100 stores in advance a set time (for example, 10 minutes) at which the odor often occurs after the start of heating. The odor emitting machine 100 may start heating for generating the second odor by advancing the set time from the time when the second odor should be generated (for example, the time when traffic increases). .

  The odor generation may be the odor intensity output by the odor sensor or the amount of a specific odor component (chemical substance, etc.), or a value associated with the intensity or amount. There may be. For example, the scent discharger 100 generates the second scent so that the odor generation due to the first scent and the second scent becomes a predetermined target value. For example, the odor releasing machine 100 associates the generation state of the first odor with the setting of the second odor generation state or the second odor generation operation that can be set to a target value corresponding to the generation state. It may be stored in advance. For example, the odor emitting device 100 generates a second odor based on the setting of the second odor generation operation corresponding to the detected first odor according to the detected first odor generation. The setting of the generation operation is, for example, the operation of the ventilator 190 (operation for controlling the wind speed, wind direction, period of intermittent ventilation, etc.), the operation of the fragrance device 150 (adjustment of the contact state between the substance and air (opening / closing of the container, etc.) , Operation for controlling air blowing, heating, droplets or spraying, etc.). For example, when the dough or bread is heated to generate the second odor, the setting of the generation operation may be a setting of the heating time, the strength of heating, the liquid volume to be dropped or sprayed, and the like.

  The odor emitting machine 100 may change the target value or the like (target value, second odor emission condition, or generation operation setting) based on predetermined space information or external information. For example, the odor release machine 100 may set a higher target value or the like when there is a lot of traffic than when the traffic is low, and may emit a stronger odor. Further, the odor emitting machine 100 may emit a weaker odor by lowering the target value or the like on a clear day. On the contrary, since the smell is difficult to spread on a rainy day or the like, the smell discharger 100 may set a higher target value or the like compared with a sunny day to release a stronger smell. In addition, the odor release machine 100 has a higher target value or the like when an event is held in the same area as the store 1 or when the store 1 is a way to the event venue than when the event is not held. It may be set to emit a stronger odor.

  In addition, the odor emitting device 100 may acquire attribute information of a person who has already passed, a person who is currently passing, or a person who will pass from the video captured by the camera. The attribute information is, for example, sex, age, and the like. The odor emitting machine 100 may set or change a target value or the like based on the attribute information. For example, when the attribute information satisfies a predetermined condition, the odor emitting device 100 may set a high target value or the like to emit a stronger odor. Here, the predetermined condition is, for example, a condition that matches the purchase layer of the store 1 or a person who has a high contribution to purchase. For example, in the case of a bakery, the odor release machine 100 may set a high target value or the like when the attribute information is a woman in their 20s to 40s, or a child whose attribute information is about 4 to 15 years old. In some cases, a high target value may be set. Further, the odor emitting device 100 may not set a target value or the like, and may determine to emit the second odor when the attribute information satisfies a predetermined condition.

  As described above, according to the odor emitting device 100 of the embodiment, the determination unit 170 has the predetermined odor based on the traffic information of the predetermined space collected by the collection unit 160 and the information on the predetermined odor intensity. The odor is determined by diffusing the predetermined odor by controlling the ventilator 190 and the fragrance device 150. Can conduct sales promotion activities.

  According to at least one embodiment described above, information on a predetermined space is collected by the collection unit, and based on the collected information, the determination unit determines the intensity of the odor to be released using the fragrance device, and the ventilation By using a container to release the product, it is possible to conduct sales promotion activities with a suitable smell.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof. However, the release system of the present invention can be preferably used for foods such as bakery or services related to foods from the viewpoint of suitable sales promotion activities due to smell.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Store, 10 ... Odor discharge | release system, 100 ... Odor discharge machine, 110 ... Odor sensor, 121 ... Human sensor, 122 ... Camera, 130 ... External device sensor, 140 ... Information collection server, 150 ... Fragrance device, 160 ... Collection unit, 170 ... determination unit, 180 ... control unit, 190 ... ventilator

Claims (9)

In a store, an odor release system that emits an odor,
A determination unit for determining the occurrence of the first odor related to a predetermined product or service;
A discharge unit that emits a second odor related to the predetermined product or service according to a state of occurrence of the first odor and supplementing the first odor;
An odor release system comprising: The odor release system according to claim 1, wherein the emission unit emits the second odor when it is determined that the first odor is not generated. A collection unit for collecting information on a predetermined space;
A determination unit for determining the intensity at which the odor is emitted based on the information collected by the collection unit;
Based on the intensity determined by the determination unit, the emission unit that adjusts and releases the intensity of the second odor, and
The odor release system of claim 1 or 2, comprising: The collecting unit detects and collects information on traffic in a predetermined space;
The odor release system according to claim 3. The collecting unit detects and collects information on the intensity of the predetermined odor drifting in a predetermined space;
The odor release system according to claim 3. A collection unit that collects information indicating the usage status of cooking equipment;
A determination unit for determining the intensity at which the odor is emitted based on the information collected by the collection unit;
Based on the intensity determined by the determination unit, the emission unit that adjusts and releases the intensity of the second odor, and
The odor release system of claim 1 or 2, comprising: In a store, an odor release machine that emits odors,
Whether or not to release a second odor related to the first odor, which is a second odor related to the first odor according to the occurrence of the first odor related to the predetermined product or service. An odor release machine having a determination unit for determining. Computer
For the first odor related to a given product or service, determine the degree of occurrence,
A scent releasing method that emits a second scent that is a second scent related to the predetermined product or service and supplements the first scent according to the occurrence of the first scent. On the computer,
For the first odor related to a given product or service, let us determine how it occurs,
A program that releases a second odor that is a second odor related to the predetermined product or service and supplements the first odor according to the occurrence of the first odor.

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