JP2023036472A - Product replacement proposal system, and storage - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a product replacement proposal system capable of suitably proposing a product to be replaced to a company that sells goods.SOLUTION: The product replacement proposal system includes: one or multiple shelves 13a to 13c provided in a storage room and on which goods 5a to 5c are placed; weight sensors 131a to 131c that detect the removal of each product 5a to 5c; a payment terminal 6 for detecting payment for each product 5a to 5c; and a proposal unit that proposes replacement candidates among these products 5a to 5c based on the change in the number of sales of each product 5a-5c.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a commodity replacement proposal system and a storage.

Systems have been proposed that recommend products based on consumer preference distributions and purchase histories. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses recommending to consumers a product that is targeted for purchase by many consumers, but that is purchased less frequently than a hot-selling product.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-101392

In the invention described in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 4 of Patent Document 1, the recommendation priority for consumption is determined based on the number of purchases and the number of purchases per purchaser. As a result, although the sales are improved, there is a possibility that the degree of satisfaction of the product purchaser is lowered. In addition, it is also necessary to make some kind of proposal not to the product purchaser but to the product sales company. At the same time, when selling products, how to collect product sales information (purchase information) with a small number of man-hours is also an issue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to suitably propose a product to be replaced to a product sales company using a product replacement proposal system and a storage.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the product replacement proposal system of the present invention includes: one or a plurality of shelves provided in a storage room for placing products; a removal detection unit for detecting removal of each product; It is characterized by comprising a payment detection unit that detects payment for a product, and a proposal unit that proposes replacement candidates among the products based on changes in sales numbers of the products.

The storage of the present invention is provided in a storage room, and includes one or more shelves for placing products, a door capable of opening and closing an opening of the storage room, a removal detection unit for detecting removal of each product, It is characterized by comprising a payment detection unit that detects payment for each of the products, and a proposal unit that proposes replacement candidates among the products based on changes in the number of sales of each of the products.
Other means are described in the detailed description.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suitably propose a product to be replaced to a product sales company.

1 is a configuration diagram of a product replacement proposal system according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a storage and a payment terminal; FIG. 4 is a flow chart of product removal detection processing and product return detection processing by a storage. 4 is a flowchart of payment processing by a payment terminal; It is a flow chart of a product replacement proposal. It is a block diagram of the goods replacement proposal system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram of a storage. It is a flow chart of removal detection processing, return detection processing, and settlement processing by a storage. 10 is a flowchart of repurchase rate calculation processing. 10 is a flowchart of product replacement proposal processing by a server; It is a lineblock diagram of a storage concerning a 3rd embodiment. 4 is a flowchart of product removal detection processing and product return detection processing. It is a lineblock diagram of a storage concerning a 4th embodiment. 4 is a flowchart of product removal detection processing and product return detection processing.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Henceforth, the form for implementing this invention is demonstrated in detail with reference to each figure.
<<1st Embodiment>>
The product replacement proposal system according to the first embodiment proposes product replacement based on changes in the number of sales of products placed in a storage.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a product replacement proposal system 7 according to the first embodiment.
The product replacement proposal system 7 includes a server 3 , a storage 1 , and a payment terminal 6 . The server 3, the repository 1, and the settlement terminal 6 are connected via a network 4 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

The server 3 comprehensively controls the product replacement proposal system 7 . The server 3 includes a purchase history database 31 , a proposal section 34 , a display section 35 , a communication section 36 and a processing section 37 .

The purchase history database 31 is a database that stores the sales history of products 5a to 5c shown in FIG. 2 which will be described later. The proposal unit 34 refers to the purchase history database 31 and proposes replacement candidates for the products to be stored and sold in the storage 1 based on changes in the number of sales of each product. The display unit 35 is configured by a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays, for example, a product replacement proposal by the proposal unit 34 . The communication unit 36 is composed of a network interface card or the like, and is used by the server 3 to communicate with the settlement terminal 6, the storage 1, and the like, which will be described later. The processing unit 37 stores the sales information of each product received from the payment terminal 6 in the purchase history database 31 .

The repository 1 stores products sold by a sales company to end users. The settlement terminal 6 is a terminal for settlement of goods purchased by the user. The storage 1 and the settlement terminal 6 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2 which will be described later.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the storage 1 and the settlement terminal 6. As shown in FIG.
The storage 1 includes a door 12, shelves 13a to 13c, weight sensors 131a to 131c, a control unit 10, and a communication unit 16. For example, stored products are refrigerated. It's a refrigerator. The storage 1 includes a storage room (not shown), and the storage room is provided with a door 12 capable of opening and closing the opening of the storage room, and shelves 13a to 13c. A plurality of commodities 5a are placed on the shelf 13a of the storage room by the sales company, and a plurality of commodities 5b are placed on the shelf 13b by the sales company. A plurality of products 5c are placed on the shelf 13c by the sales company. These products 5a to 5c can be freely taken out by the user.

The weight sensor 131a is a sensor that measures the weight of the shelf 13a and the product 5a placed thereon. The weight sensor 131a functions as a removal detection unit that detects removal of the product 5a placed on the shelf 13a. Furthermore, the weight sensor 131b is a sensor that measures the weight of the shelf 13b and the product 5b placed thereon. The weight sensor 131c is a sensor that measures the weight of the shelf 13c and the product 5c placed thereon. Similarly, the weight sensors 131b and 131c also function as removal detection units that detect removal of the products 5b and 5c.

The control unit 10 is connected to the weight sensors 131a to 131c and the communication unit 16 via an internal bus. The communication unit 16 is configured by a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) card or the like, and is used for the storage 1 to communicate with the payment terminal 6, the server 3 in FIG. 1, and the like.

On the other hand, the settlement terminal 6 is a terminal for settlement of goods taken out from the storage 1 by the user. The settlement terminal 6 includes a control section 61 , a communication section 62 and a barcode reader 63 .

The barcode reader 63 is a reader that reads the barcodes attached to the products 5a to 5c, etc., and functions as a payment detection unit that detects payments for the products 5a to 5c.

The control unit 61 is connected to the communication unit 62 and barcode reader 63 via an internal bus. The communication unit 62 is composed of a wireless LAN card or the like, and is used for the settlement terminal 6 to communicate with the storage 1, the server 3 in FIG. 1, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of removal detection processing and return detection processing of the products 5a to 5c by the storage 1, which will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 as appropriate.
The control unit 10 (see FIG. 2) determines whether weight reduction of the shelves 13a to 13c (see FIG. 2) has been detected (step S110). If the weight reduction of the shelves 13a to 13c is detected (Yes), the control unit 10 detects removal of the product corresponding to this shelf (step S111). Then, the control unit 10 notifies the settlement terminal 6 (see FIG. 2) of the removal of the product through the communication unit 16 (see FIG. 2) (step S112), and returns to step S110. On the other hand, in step S110, if the control unit 10 does not detect weight reduction of the shelves 13a to 13c (No), the process proceeds to step S113.

The control unit 10 determines whether or not an increase in weight of the shelves 13a to 13c has been detected (step S113). If an increase in the weight of the shelves 13a to 13c is detected (Yes), the control unit 10 detects return of the product corresponding to this shelf (step S114). Then, the control unit 10 notifies the settlement terminal 6 of the removal of the product through the communication unit 16 (step S115), and returns to step S110. On the other hand, in step S113, if the control unit 10 does not detect an increase in the weight of the shelves 13a to 13c (No), the process returns to step S110.

If the data acquisition cycle from the weight sensors 131a to 131c is short, for example, one second cycle, the control unit 10 can determine that the product has been taken out and returned to the shelf after being taken out. be.
If the data acquisition period from the weight sensors 131a to 131c is long, for example, 10 seconds, it is preferable to monitor the shelves 13a to 13c using a camera. Thereby, the control unit 10 can know that the product has been taken out and that the product has been returned to the shelf after being taken out.

Also, when a person is detected near the storage 1 using a camera, the data acquisition period from the weight sensors 131a to 131c may be shortened. As a result, the amount of communication between the storage 1 and the server 3 can be reduced.

When the processing unit 37 (see FIG. 1) of the server 3 receives the take-out information and return information of each product from the storage 1, it stores the take-out information and return information of each product in the purchase history database 31. FIG. As information indicating the attractiveness of each product, take-out information indicating whether or not each product was picked up and return information indicating that the product was returned without being purchased can be presented to the product sales company.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of payment processing by the payment terminal 6, which will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 as appropriate.
The control unit 61 of the settlement terminal 6 shown in FIG. 2 attempts to receive the product pick-up information from the storage 1 through the communication unit 62 (see FIG. 2) (step S120). Next, the control unit 61 determines whether or not the barcode reader 63 has detected the barcode. If the barcode reader 63 does not detect the barcode (No), the control section 61 returns to the process of step S120.

If the barcode reader 63 detects the barcode (Yes), the control unit 61 determines whether the product corresponding to the barcode is being taken out. If the product corresponding to the barcode is not being taken out (No), the control unit 61 determines that the barcode other than the product has been read, and returns to step S120. If the product corresponding to the barcode is being taken out (Yes), the control unit 61 makes a payment for the product corresponding to the barcode information, transmits the payment information to the server 3, and returns to step S120.
When the processing unit 37 of the server 3 shown in FIG. 1 receives the payment information from the payment terminal 6, it records the product sales history (payment history) in the purchase history database 31.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for proposing product replacement, which will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 as appropriate.
The proposing unit 34 of the server 3 shown in FIG. 1 repeats the processing for all products over steps S130 to S134.

In this repeated process, the proposal unit 34 compares the number of sales (number of payments) in the latest period with the number of sales (number of payments) in the previous period while referring to the purchase history database 31 (step S131). The proposal unit 34 determines whether or not the number of sales in the latest period has decreased (step S132). For example, if the result of dividing the number of sales in the latest period by the number of sales before that period is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the proposal unit 34 determines that the number of sales in the latest period has decreased.

If the number of sales in the latest period has decreased (Yes), the proposal unit 34 makes this product a target for replacement proposal (step S133), and proceeds to step S134. If the number of sales in the latest period has not decreased (No), the proposal unit 34 proceeds to step S134.
In step S134, the proposal unit 34 determines whether or not the process has been repeated for all products. When a series of these repeated processes ends, the process of FIG. 5 ends.

According to the product replacement proposal system 7 of the present embodiment, the replacement of products whose number of sales in the latest period is lower than that in the previous period is proposed. As a result, the sales company can improve sales by replacing with products that are expected to sell more.

The merchandise replacement proposal system 7 calculates changes in merchandise sales volume based on weight sensors 131a to 131c capable of determining merchandise sales volume and time information. As a result, the product replacement proposal system 7 can preferably propose products to be replaced.

<<Second embodiment>>
The product replacement proposal system according to the second embodiment authenticates users to identify product purchasers, and recommends product replacement based on changes in the number of users who have repurchased the products placed in the storage. This is what we propose.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a product replacement proposal system 7A according to the second embodiment.
The merchandise replacement proposal system 7A includes a server 3A, a storage shed 1A, and mobile terminals 2a, 2b, and so on. The server 3A, the storage 1A, and the portable terminals 2a, 2b, . Note that the mobile terminals 2a, 2b, . . . may not necessarily be connected to the network 4. FIG.

The server 3A comprehensively controls the product replacement proposal system 7A. Server 3</b>A includes purchase history database 31 , user health information database 32 , favorite information database 33 , proposal section 34 , display section 35 , communication section 36 and processing section 37 .

The purchase history database 31 is a database that stores the purchase history (settlement history) of the products 5a to 5c and the like for each purchaser. The user health information database 32 is a database that stores the health information of users who purchase products. For example, health checkup information and vital data collected from wearable terminals owned by users are stored. The user health information database 32 is configured to be able to acquire the user's health information by searching with the user's identification information. The favorites information database 33 is a database that stores the number of favorites registered for each product. Here, the number of registered favorites is, for example, the number of registered favorites of each product by a logged-in user of a portal site operated by a sales company, but is not limited to this.

The proposal unit 34 refers to the purchase history database 31, the user's health information database 32, and the favorites information database 33, and proposes replacement of products to be stored and sold in the storage 1A. The display unit 35 is configured by a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays, for example, a product replacement proposal by the proposal unit 34 . The communication unit 36 is composed of a network interface card or the like, and is used for the server 3A to communicate with the storage 1A or the like. The processing unit 37 stores the sales information of each product received from the storage 1A in the purchase history database 31. FIG.

The repository 1A stores products sold by a sales company to end users. The mobile terminals 2a, 2b, . . . are authentication information sources for personal authentication of their owners (purchasers). A settlement application (not shown) is installed in the mobile terminals 2a, 2b, .

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of the storage shed 1A.
The storage shed 1A includes an NFC (Near Field Communication) reader 11, a door 12, an electronic lock 121 and an open/close sensor 122, shelves 13a to 13c and weight sensors 131a to 131c. The repository 1A further includes a control section 10, a barcode reader 14, a speaker 15, and a communication section 16. As shown in FIG. The storage 1A has a storage room (not shown), and the storage room is provided with a door 12 whose opening can be freely opened and closed, and shelves 13a to 13c. A plurality of products 5a are placed on a shelf 13a provided in the storage room by a sales company, and a plurality of products 5b are placed on a shelf 13b by a sales company. A plurality of products 5c are placed on the shelf 13c by the sales company. These products 5a to 5c can be freely taken out by the user.

The NFC reader 11 is an authentication unit that electronically reads authentication information from an NFC card, mobile terminals 2a, 2b, . . . having an NFC function. The NFC card and the mobile terminals 2a, 2b, . . . having the NFC function are authentication information sources possessed by the user. This authentication information is linked to a network service account provided to the user by a sales company or the like.
The electronic lock 121 is a lock for locking the door 12, and can electronically switch between unlocking and locking. When authenticating the user with the NFC reader 11 , the control unit 10 unlocks the electronic lock 121 . The open/close sensor 122 is a sensor that detects the open/close state of the door 12 .

The weight sensor 131a is a sensor that measures the weight of the shelf 13a and the product 5a placed thereon. The weight sensor 131a functions as a take-out detection unit that detects take-out of the product 5a placed on the shelf 13a based on a change in the weight of the shelf 13a. Furthermore, the weight sensor 131b is a sensor that measures the weight of the shelf 13b and the product 5b placed thereon. The weight sensor 131c is a sensor that measures the weight of the shelf 13c and the product 5c placed thereon. Similarly, the weight sensors 131b and 131c also function as removal detection units that detect removal of the products 5b and 5c.

The control unit 10 is connected to the weight sensors 131a to 131c, the barcode reader 14 and the communication unit 16 via an internal bus. The barcode reader 14 functions as payment detection means for reading the barcode of the product and detecting payment for the product. The speaker 15 outputs a predetermined sound or the like, and functions as a notification unit for notifying the user of audio information. The communication unit 16 is composed of a wireless LAN card or the like, and is used for the storage 1A to communicate with the server 3A or the like.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of removal detection processing, return detection processing, and settlement processing by the storage 1A.
Initially, the electronic lock 121 of the storage 1A is locked. When the user holds the portable terminal 2a or the like over the NFC reader 11, the control unit 10 tries to read the authentication information with the NFC reader 11 (step S10). Then, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the user has been authenticated (step S11). It should be noted that those who can take out the products stored in the storage 1A are limited to pre-registered users.

At step S11, if the user could not be authenticated (No), the control unit 10 returns to step S10. can be opened and closed. Here, the user opens the door 12 so that the products placed on the shelves 13a to 13c can be taken out.

The control unit 10 determines whether weight reduction of the shelves 13a to 13c has been detected (step S13). If the control unit 10 detects weight reduction of the shelves 13a to 13c (Yes), the control unit 10 detects removal of the product corresponding to this shelf (step S14), and returns to step S13. On the other hand, if the control unit 10 does not detect weight reduction of the shelves 13a to 13c in step S13 (No), the process proceeds to step S15.

At step S15, the control unit 10 determines whether or not an increase in the weight of the shelves 13a to 13c has been detected. If an increase in the weight of the shelves 13a to 13c is detected (Yes), the control unit 10 detects return of the product corresponding to this shelf (step S16), and returns to step S13. Thereby, the control unit 10 can detect that the user has opened the storage 1A and picked up the product, and has returned the product to the shelf. The control unit 10 transmits this information to the server 3A to record it in the purchase information database. This allows the sales company to know what the attractiveness of this product was.
If the weight increase of the shelves 13a to 13c is not detected in step S15 (No), the control unit 10 proceeds to step S17.

At step S17, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the barcode reader 14 has detected a barcode. If the barcode reader 14 detects the barcode (Yes), the control unit 10 detects payment corresponding to this barcode (step S18), and returns to step S13. In step S17, if the barcode reader 14 does not detect the barcode (Yes), the control unit 10 proceeds to step S19.

At step S19, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the door 12 is open. Here, the controller 10 detects the open/close state of the door 12 with the open/close sensor 122 . If the door 12 is open (Yes), the controller 10 returns to step S13. If the door 12 is closed (No), the controller 10 proceeds to step S20.

At step S20, the control unit 10 determines whether or not there is an unsettled product. An unsettled product is a product that has not been settled even though it has been detected that the product has been taken out. If there are unsettled products (Yes), the control unit 10 notifies the unsettled items through the speaker 15 (step S21), and also informs the portable terminals 2a and 2b of the user that unsettled items have not yet been settled. The presence is notified (step S22), and the process of FIG. 8 ends. As a result, it becomes possible for the user to pay for the product using the payment application installed in the mobile terminals 2a and 2b, thereby preventing the user from forgetting to pay for the product.
At step S20, if there is no unsettled product (No), the control unit 10 terminates the processing of FIG. After that, the control unit 10 preferably locks the electronic lock 121 when a condition such as elapse of a predetermined time is established. As a result, only pre-registered users can purchase the products 5a to 5c in the storage 1A.
The processing unit 37 of the server 3A records the product sales history (payment history) in the purchase history database 31 when payment information is received from the storage 1A or the mobile terminals 2a and 2b.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a repurchase rate calculation process.
The proposing section 34 of the server 3A repeats the processing for all products over steps S90 to S100.
Furthermore, the proposing unit 34 repeats the process for all periods from steps S91 to S99.
Furthermore, the proposal unit 34 repeats the processing for all users from steps S92 to S95.

In step S<b>93 , the proposal unit 34 determines whether or not the user purchased this product during the current period and the previous period. If this user purchased this product during the period and the period before that (Yes), the proposal unit 34 authorizes the repurchase of this product by this user during the period. If this user has not purchased this item during the period and the period before that (No), the proposal unit 34 proceeds to step S95.

In step S95, if the proposal unit 34 repeats the process for all users, the process proceeds to step S96, and if there is an unprocessed user, the process returns to step S92.
In step S<b>96 , the proposal unit 34 calculates the ratio of repurchased users to all users, and sets it as the repurchase rate of all users in the period.

Further, the proposal unit 34 calculates the ratio of repurchased users to unhealthy users, and sets it as the repurchase rate of unhealthy users in the period (step S97). Here, an unhealthy user means a user who has some health problem, and can be extracted by searching the user health information database 32 shown in FIG.
Furthermore, the proposal unit 34 calculates the ratio of users who have made repurchases to heavy users, and sets it as the repurchase ratio of heavy users in the period (step S98). A heavy user may be a user who has purchased more than a predetermined amount of the product in the past, or a user who has repurchased the product for a predetermined period of time, and is not limited thereto.
In step S99, if the proposal unit 34 repeats the process for all periods, the process proceeds to step S100, and if there is an unprocessed period, the process returns to step S91.
In step S100, if the proposal unit 34 repeats the process for all products, it ends the process of FIG. 9, and if there is an unprocessed product, the process returns to step S90.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of a product replacement proposal process by the server 3A.
The proposing section 34 of the server 3A repeats the processing for all products over steps S40 to S46.

The proposal unit 34 determines whether or not the repurchase rate of the product by unhealthy users exceeds the threshold value X (step S41). If the repurchase rate of the product by unhealthy users exceeds the threshold value X (Yes), the proposal unit 34 proceeds to step S46. This makes it possible to reflect the opinions of a small number of unhealthy users. If the repurchase rate of the product by unhealthy users is equal to or less than the threshold value X (No), the process proceeds to step S42.

In step S<b>42 , the proposal unit 34 determines whether or not the repurchase rate of the product by all heavy users exceeds the threshold Y. If the repurchase rate of the product by all heavy users exceeds the threshold value Y (Yes), the proposal unit 34 proceeds to step S46. This makes it possible to reflect the opinions of a small number of heavy users. A heavy user may be a user who has purchased more than a predetermined amount of the product in the past, or a user who has repurchased the product for a predetermined period of time, and is not limited thereto.
A heavy user who repurchases the product for a predetermined period of time, such as the latter, is a user who truly needs the product. If it is determined in step S42 that there is a user who truly needs the product, the product can be excluded from the replacement target. In other words, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the opinion of a user who purchases a large number of products is prioritized and the product is replaced even though there is a user who truly needs the product.
In step S42, if the repurchase rate of the product by all heavy users is equal to or less than the threshold value Y (No), the proposal unit 34 proceeds to step S43.

In step S<b>43 , the proposal unit 34 determines whether or not the repurchase rate of the product by all users is equal to or less than the threshold Z. If the repurchase rate of the product by all users is equal to or less than the threshold value Z (Yes), the proposal unit 34 proceeds to step S45 and proposes replacement of the product. If the repurchase rate of the product by all users exceeds the threshold value Z (No), the proposal unit 34 proceeds to step S44.

Based on the determination in step S43, the proposal unit 34 can propose replacement of products to the sales company at a suitable timing. The replacement criterion is the change in the repurchase rate of the product. It can be determined that this product should be replaced by detecting a decrease in the repurchase rate of the product for all users.

In step S<b>44 , the proposal unit 34 refers to the favorite information database 33 and determines whether or not the number of favorite registrations of the product by the user is equal to or less than a predetermined value. If the number of items registered as favorites by the user is equal to or less than the predetermined value (Yes), the proposal unit 34 proceeds to step S45. Thereby, the proposal part 34 can propose replacement of this product.
In step S44, if the number of items registered as favorites by the user exceeds the predetermined value (No), the proposal unit 34 proceeds to step S46.

In step S46, the proposal unit 34 ends the process of FIG. 10 after repeating the process for all products, and returns to step S40 if there are unprocessed products.

<<Third embodiment>>
The product replacement proposal system of the third embodiment is configured in the same manner as the system shown in FIG. It detects and settles.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of the storage 1B and the mobile terminal 2 according to the third embodiment.
The storage 1B includes an NFC reader 11, a door 12, an electronic lock 121 and an open/close sensor 122, a control unit 10, a speaker 15, and a communication unit 16, as in the storage 1A of the second embodiment. Consists of Unlike the storage shed 1A of the second embodiment, the storage shed 1B includes cameras 171a to 171c on the shelves 13a to 13c, respectively.

The camera 171a photographs the shelf 13a and the product 5a placed thereon, and detects the take-out operation by the user. The camera 171a functions as a removal detection unit that detects removal of the product 5a placed on the shelf 13a. Further, the camera 171b photographs the shelf 13b and the product 5b placed thereon, and detects the take-out operation by the user. The camera 171c photographs the shelf 13c and the product 5c placed thereon, and detects the take-out operation by the user. The cameras 171b and 171c also function as take-out detectors for detecting take-out of the products 5b and 5c.
The cameras 171a to 171c may be arranged at positions where the entrance of the storage 1B can be imaged and each shelf can be overlooked, instead of each shelf like the cameras 171a to 171c. The camera may be arranged, for example, on the ceiling of an installation space located above the storage 1B, or on the top surface outside the storage 1B. As a result, it is possible to prevent the lens of the camera from fogging due to the cold air in the storage 1B.

The control unit 10 is connected to the cameras 171a to 171c and the communication unit 16 via an internal bus.
The mobile terminal 2 includes a control section 21 , a communication section 22 and a camera 23 . The mobile terminal 2 functions as payment detection means for reading the barcode of the product with the camera 23 (imaging device) and detecting payment for the product. The communication unit 22 is composed of a wireless LAN card or the like, and is used for the mobile terminal 2 to communicate with the storage shed 1B, the server 3A, and the like.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of product removal detection processing, product return detection processing, and payment processing.
Initially, the electronic lock 121 of the storage 1B is locked. When the user holds the mobile terminal 2 or the like over the NFC reader 11, the control unit 10 attempts to read the authentication information with the NFC reader 11 (step S50). Then, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the user has been authenticated (step S51). It should be noted that those who can take out the products stored in the storage 1B are limited to pre-registered users.

In step S51, if the user could not be authenticated (No), the controller 10 returns to step S50, and if the user could be authenticated (Yes), unlocks the electronic lock 121 (step S52), 12 can be opened and closed. Here, the user opens the door 12 so that the products placed on the shelves 13a to 13c can be taken out.

Based on the images of the shelves 13a to 13c captured by the cameras 171a to 171c, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the operation of taking out the products placed on the shelves 13a to 13c has been detected (step S53). If the control unit 10 detects the operation of taking out the products placed on the shelves 13a to 13c (Yes), the control unit 10 detects the taking out of the products corresponding to this shelf (step S54), and step S53. back to On the other hand, in step S53, if the control unit 10 does not detect the operation of taking out the products placed on the shelves 13a to 13c (No), the process proceeds to step S55.

In step S55, the control unit 10 determines whether or not an operation of returning the product to the shelves 13a to 13c is detected based on the images of the shelves 13a to 13c captured by the cameras 171a to 171c. If the return operation of the product to the shelves 13a to 13c is detected (Yes), the control unit 10 detects the return of the product corresponding to this shelf (step S56), and returns to step S53. If the operation of returning the product to the shelves 13a to 13c is not detected (No), the control section 10 proceeds to step S57.

In step S<b>57 , the control unit 10 determines whether or not the mobile terminal 2 has detected the barcode with the camera 23 . If the mobile terminal 2 detects the barcode (Yes), the control unit 10 detects the settlement corresponding to this barcode (step S58), and returns to step S53. In step S57, if the mobile terminal 2 does not detect the barcode (Yes), the control unit 10 proceeds to step S59.

At step S59, the control unit 10 determines whether the door 12 is open and a person is detected. Here, the control unit 10 detects the open/close state of the door 12 with the open/close sensor 122, and detects a person with the cameras 171a to 171c.
In step S59, if the door 12 is open and a person is detected (Yes), the controller 10 returns to step S53. If the door 12 is closed or no person is detected (No), the controller 10 proceeds to step S60.

At step S60, the control unit 10 determines whether or not there is an unsettled product. An unsettled product is a product that has not been settled even though it has been detected that the product has been taken out. If there are unsettled commodities (Yes), the control unit 10 notifies the unsettled items through the speaker 15 (step S61), and terminates the processing of FIG. If there are no unsettled products (No), the control unit 10 terminates the processing of FIG. 12 . After that, the control unit 10 preferably locks the electronic lock 121 when a condition such as elapse of a predetermined time is satisfied. As a result, only pre-registered users can purchase the products 5a to 5c in the storage 1B.
When the processing unit 37 of the server 3A receives the payment information from the storage 1B, it records the product sales history (payment history) in the purchase history database 31 .

<<Fourth embodiment>>
The product replacement proposal system of the fourth embodiment is configured in the same manner as the system shown in FIG. Settlement is made by detecting the attached IC tag.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a storage shed 1C according to the fourth embodiment.
The storage 1C includes an NFC reader 11, a door 12, an electronic lock 121 and an open/close sensor 122, a control unit 10, a speaker 15, and a communication unit 16, as in the storage 1A of the second embodiment. Consists of Unlike the storage 1A of the second embodiment, the storage 1C includes IC tag readers 181a to 181c on the shelves 13a to 13c, respectively, and further includes an IC tag reader 18 for payment.

The IC tag reader 181a is a first IC tag reader that detects IC tag information of the product 5a placed on the shelf 13a. The control unit 10 detects the removal operation by the user when the existing IC tag information disappears and is no longer detected. The IC tag reader 181a functions as a removal detector for detecting removal of the product 5a placed on the shelf 13a. Similarly, the IC tag reader 181b is a first IC tag reader that detects the IC tag information of the product 5b placed on the shelf 13b. The IC tag reader 181c is a first IC tag reader that detects IC tag information of the product 5c placed on the shelf 13c.

The control unit 10 is connected to the IC tag readers 181a to 181c, the payment IC tag reader 18, and the communication unit 16 via an internal bus.
The payment IC tag reader 18 is a payment detection unit that reads the IC tag information attached to the product. With the payment IC tag reader 18 , the control unit 10 detects payment for each product to the user authenticated by the NFC reader 11 .

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of product removal detection processing, return detection processing, and payment processing.
Initially, the electronic lock 121 of the storage shed 1C is locked. When the user holds the mobile terminal 2 or the like over the NFC reader 11, the control unit 10 attempts to read the authentication information with the NFC reader 11 (step S70). Then, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the user has been authenticated (step S71). A person who can take out the products stored in the storage 1C is limited to pre-registered users.

In step S71, if the user could not be authenticated (No), the control unit 10 returns to step S70, and if the user was authenticated (Yes), unlocks the electronic lock 121 (step S72), 12 can be opened and closed. Here, the user opens the door 12 so that the products placed on the shelves 13a to 13c can be taken out.

Based on the results of detection of the shelves 13a to 13c by the IC tag readers 181a to 181c, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the tag information existing on the shelves 13a to 13c has disappeared (step S73). When the user takes out the product from the shelf, the IC tag readers 181a-181c no longer detect the tag information that was on the shelf 13a-13c. The control unit 10 determines that the tag information has disappeared.
If the disappearance of the tag information of the shelves 13a to 13c is detected in step S73 (Yes), the control unit 10 detects removal of the product corresponding to the tag information (step S74), and returns to step S73. On the other hand, if the control unit 10 does not detect disappearance of tag information from the shelves 13a to 13c in step S73 (No), the process proceeds to step S75.

At step S75, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the missing tag information from the shelves 13a to 13c has been detected again based on the results of detection of the shelves 13a to 13c by the IC tag readers 181a to 181c. When the user returns the product to the shelf, the IC tag readers 181a to 181c detect the tag information of the IC tag attached to the product. The control unit 10 re-detects the missing tag information from the shelves 13a to 13c.
If the missing tag information from the shelves 13a to 13c is detected again (Yes), the control unit 10 detects return of the product corresponding to this tag information (step S76), and returns to step S73. If the missing tag information from the shelves 13a to 13c is not detected again (No), the control unit 10 proceeds to step S77.

In step S77, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the settlement IC tag reader 18 has detected the tag information. If the settlement IC tag reader 18 detects the tag information (Yes), the control section 10 detects the settlement corresponding to this tag information (step S78), and returns to step S73. In step S77, if the payment IC tag reader 18 does not detect the tag information (Yes), the control unit 10 proceeds to step S79.

At step S79, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the door 12 is open. Here, the controller 10 detects the open/close state of the door 12 with the open/close sensor 122 . If the door 12 is open (Yes), the controller 10 returns to step S13. If the door 12 is closed (No), the controller 10 proceeds to step S80.

At step S80, the control unit 10 determines whether or not there is an unsettled product. An unsettled product is a product that has not been settled even though it has been detected that the product has been taken out. If there are unsettled products (Yes), the control unit 10 notifies the unsettled items via the speaker 15 (step S81), and ends the processing of FIG. If there are no unsettled products (No), the control unit 10 terminates the processing of FIG. 14 . After that, the control unit 10 preferably locks the electronic lock 121 when a condition such as elapse of a predetermined time is satisfied. As a result, only pre-registered users can purchase the products 5a to 5c in the storage 1C.
The processing unit 37 of the server 3A records the product sales history (payment history) in the purchase history database 31 upon receiving the payment information from the storage 1C.

The product replacement proposal system 7A of the present invention proposes to the selling company products that are no longer purchased or products with a low repurchase rate as replacement targets, so that user-desired products are displayed in the storage cabinet 1. will increase the chances of As a result, the user's product purchase rate and the number of products can be improved, and the number of products whose best-before date expires without being sold can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce food loss and reduce the environmental load.

(Modification)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the described configurations. A part of the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Moreover, it is also possible to add, delete, or replace a part of the configuration of each embodiment with another configuration.

Some or all of the above configurations, functions, processing units, processing means, etc. may be realized by hardware such as integrated circuits. Each of the above configurations, functions, etc. may be realized by software by a processor interpreting and executing a program for realizing each function. Information such as programs, tables, and files that implement each function can be stored in recording devices such as memory, hard disks, SSDs (Solid State Drives), or recording media such as flash memory cards and DVDs (Digital Versatile Disks). can.

In each embodiment, control lines and information lines indicate those considered necessary for explanation, and not all control lines and information lines are necessarily indicated on the product. In fact, it may be considered that almost all configurations are interconnected.
Modifications of the present invention include, for example, the following (a) to (f).

(a) In the present invention, the control unit of a single storage may suggest replacement of products instead of a combination of storage and a server. In this case, the control unit of the storage functions as a proposal unit that proposes product replacement.
(b) A camera is installed in the storage, and the POP (point of purchase) of the storage where the product is stored is used before opening the storage, using the information of the eye level obtained from the image taken by the camera. You may also acquire the viewing time. By processing this time information, it is possible to provide POP effectiveness information to companies that provide products.
(c) A microwave oven may be linked to this system. As a result, it becomes possible to collect the usage status of products that require heating with a microwave oven and provide the information to the sales company.
(d) The authentication is not limited to holding the mobile terminal over the NFC reader, and authentication may be performed by holding a card such as an employee ID card over the NFC reader.
(e) A weight sensor may be provided to measure the weight of the product placed outside the storage. By combining this with the information from the weight sensor in the storage, it becomes possible to manage even the inventory that did not fit in the storage, which can be used for disposal loss and planned ordering.
(f) It may be a combination of a weight sensor that measures the weight of the shelf in the storage and a camera that captures the state of the products on the shelf. This makes it possible to more accurately determine whether the product has been taken out or put back in by combining changes in weight information and an image of the condition of the product.

1, 1A, 1B, 1C Storage 10 Control unit 11 NFC reader (authentication unit)
12 door 121 electronic lock 122 open/close sensor 13a to 13c shelf 131a to 131c weight sensor (removal detector)
14 Barcode reader (payment detector)
15 speaker 16 communication unit 171a to 171c camera (removal detection unit)
181a to 181c IC tag reader (first IC tag reader, removal detector)
18 Payment IC tag reader (Second IC tag reader, payment detection unit)
2 Mobile terminal (settlement detector)
2a, 2b Mobile terminal 21 Control unit 22 Communication unit 23 Camera 3 Server 31 Purchase history database 32 User health information database 33 Favorite information database 34 Proposal unit 35 Display unit 36 Communication unit 37 Processing unit 4 Networks 5a to 5c Product 6 Payment terminal ( payment detection part)
61 control unit 62 communication unit 63 barcode reader 7, 7A product replacement proposal system

Claims (15)

one or more shelves provided in the storage room for placing products;
a removal detection unit for detecting removal of each product;
a payment detection unit that detects payment for each product;
a proposal unit that proposes replacement candidates among the products based on changes in the sales numbers of the products;
A product replacement proposal system comprising: further comprising an authentication unit that authenticates a user;
The commodity replacement proposal system according to claim 1, characterized by: The proposal unit proposes a product whose repurchase rate for all users is equal to or lower than a threshold as a replacement candidate.
3. A product replacement proposal system according to claim 2, characterized by: The proposal unit excludes, from replacement candidates, products for which a repurchase rate of users whose past purchases are greater than a predetermined value exceeds a threshold;
The commodity replacement proposal system according to claim 3, characterized by: The proposal unit excludes, from replacement candidates, an item for which the repurchase rate of users who have repurchased the item for a predetermined period of time exceeds a threshold.
The commodity replacement proposal system according to claim 3, characterized by: The proposal unit proposes, as a replacement candidate, a product for which the number of registered favorites is equal to or less than a predetermined value.
3. A product replacement proposal system according to claim 2, characterized by: The authentication unit includes a reading device that reads authentication information, and performs authentication by reading authentication information from an authentication information source owned by the user.
3. A product replacement proposal system according to claim 2, characterized by: the user's identification information is associated with a network service account in which the user's health information is recorded;
The proposal unit does not propose, as a replacement candidate, a product for which a repurchase rate of a user having a predetermined problem in the health information exceeds a threshold.
The product replacement proposal system according to claim 7, characterized by: An electronic lock is attached, further comprising a door that can open and close the opening of the storage room,
unlocking the electronic lock when the authentication unit authenticates the user;
3. A product replacement proposal system according to claim 2, characterized by: The removal detection unit includes a weight sensor that detects the weight of the shelf on which the product is placed, and detects the removal of each product by the user authenticated by the authentication unit based on a change in the weight of the shelf.
3. A product replacement proposal system according to claim 2, characterized by: The removal detection unit includes an imaging device, and the imaging device detects removal of each product by the user authenticated by the authentication unit.
The product replacement proposal system according to claim 10, characterized by: The removal detection unit includes a first IC tag reader, and detects removal of each product by a user authenticated by the authentication unit by reading IC tag information attached to the product.
3. A product replacement proposal system according to claim 2, characterized by: The payment detection unit includes an imaging device, and detects the payment of each product to the user authenticated by the authentication unit by reading the barcode attached to the product with the imaging device.
3. A product replacement proposal system according to claim 2, characterized by: After the removal detection unit detects removal of any product, the payment detection unit notifies that the payment is unpaid if the door is closed before the imaging device reads the bar code. do,
14. The product replacement proposal system according to claim 13, characterized by: one or more shelves provided in the storage room for placing products;
a door capable of opening and closing the opening of the storage room;
a removal detection unit for detecting removal of each product;
a payment detection unit that detects payment for each product;
a proposal unit that proposes replacement candidates among the products based on changes in the sales numbers of the products;
A storage, comprising:

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