JP2024049936A - Consumption status management device, consumption status management system, and consumption status generating method - Google Patents

Abstract

A relationship between products sold in a vending machine and other products is understood based on product containers stored in a collection device installed adjacent to the vending machine.
[Solution] The device has a receiving unit that receives collection data output from a collection device that is installed at a base for collecting containers and accumulates the containers that are dropped in, a memory unit that stores product information for products sold at a vending machine installed adjacent to the collection device and a correspondence between the vending machine and the product, a determination unit that determines whether a product based on the dropped container is a product related to the vending machine adjacent to the collection device based on the correspondence, and a data processing unit that determines, based on the collection data, the number of containers dropped into the collection device and the number of containers of products related to the vending machine based on the determination result among the containers dropped into the collection device.
[Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a consumption status management device, a consumption status management system, and a consumption status generation method.

Beverage containers such as PET bottles and aluminum cans are collected and reused as resources. There are several ways to collect such containers, including by having local governments collect containers collected at collection points on designated days of the week, or by setting up collection boxes (sometimes called recycling boxes) in train stations or near vending machines, where consumers are asked to drop off their containers and the accumulated containers are then collected.
As a collection box, there is a collection box that is provided with a plurality of different input ports according to materials, so that waste materials can be separated and accumulated according to the materials (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2021-098570 A

However, when a collection box is installed adjacent to a vending machine, it is expected that containers of products purchased at that vending machine will be placed in the collection box, but there are also cases where containers of products purchased via a different purchasing route than the adjacent vending machine are placed in the collection box. Understanding the relationship between the vending machine VM and the containers stored in the collection box installed adjacently can be expected to provide clues for estimating consumers' product purchasing routes and consumption behavior.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a consumption status management device, a consumption status management system, and a consumption status generation method that can grasp the relationship between products sold in a vending machine and other products based on the product containers stored in a collection device installed adjacent to the vending machine.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one aspect of the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives collection data output from a collection device that is installed at a base where containers are collected and accumulates the containers that are inserted, a storage unit that stores product information about products sold in a vending machine installed adjacent to the collection device and a correspondence between the vending machine and the product, a determination unit that determines whether a product based on the inserted container is a product related to the vending machine adjacent to the collection device based on the correspondence, and a data processing unit that determines, based on the collection data, the number of containers inserted into the collection device and the number of containers of products related to the vending machine based on the determination result among the containers inserted into the collection device.

In addition, one aspect of the present invention is a consumption status management system including a collection device that is installed at a base for collecting containers and accumulates the containers that are inserted, and a consumption status management device, the collection device having a transmission unit that transmits data detected from the inserted containers as collection data, and the consumption status management device having a reception unit that receives the collection data transmitted from the transmission unit of the collection device, a storage unit that stores a correspondence between product information of products sold at a vending machine installed adjacent to the collection device and the vending machine, a determination unit that determines whether or not a product based on the inserted container is a product related to the vending machine adjacent to the collection device based on the correspondence, and a data processing unit that determines, based on the collection data, the number of containers inserted into the collection device and the number of containers of products related to the vending machine based on the determination result among the containers inserted into the collection device.

Another aspect of the present invention is a consumption status generating method in which a receiving unit receives collection data output from a collection device that is installed at a base for collecting containers and accumulates the containers that are dropped in, a determining unit references a storage unit that stores a correspondence between product information of products sold at a vending machine installed adjacent to the collection device and the vending machine, and determines whether a product based on the dropped container is a product related to the vending machine adjacent to the collection device based on the correspondence, and a data processing unit determines, based on the collection data, the number of containers dropped in the collection device and the number of containers of products related to the vending machine based on the determination result among the containers dropped in the collection device.

As described above, this invention makes it possible to understand the relationship between products sold in a vending machine and other products based on the product containers stored in a collection device installed adjacent to the vending machine.

1 is a system configuration diagram showing a general configuration of a consumption status management system S. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a vertical cross section at a position passing through an inlet 10 at the top of the recovery device 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic functional block diagram showing the functions of the recovery device 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the functions of the consumption status management device 2. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of product data. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of attribute information. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of collected data. A figure showing an example of handling item data stored in the handling item storage unit 224. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the recovery device 1. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the consumption status management device 2. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of display data displayed on a display screen of the terminal device 3.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing the general configuration of a consumption status management system S. As shown in FIG.
In the consumption status management system S, at least one collection device 1 (collection device 1A and collection device 1B), a consumption status management device 2, and a terminal device 3 are communicatively connected via a network NW. In the consumption status management system S, one collection device 1 is installed adjacent to a vending machine VM (vending machine VM1 and vending machine VM2). Here, the collection device 1A is installed adjacent to the vending machine VM1, and the collection device 1B is installed adjacent to the vending machine VM2.

Although two collection devices 1 are illustrated in Fig. 1, there may be three or more collection devices 1, or there may be only one collection device. The consumption status management device 2 may be a single computer, or a cloud server configured on the cloud. There may be two or more terminal devices 3. The terminal device 3 may be any of a smartphone, a personal computer, a tablet, etc.
The network NW may be the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), etc. At least a part of the network NW may be wireless.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a vertical cross section at a position passing through the input port 10 at the top of the recovery device 1. As shown in FIG.
A plurality of collection devices 1 can be provided at different bases. At least one collection device 1 is installed adjacent to a vending machine VM. For example, when vending machines VM are installed in various locations such as within a station, near a vending machine, in a public facility, a building, an office, along a road, in a park, or in a square, different collection devices 1 are installed adjacent to each of the vending machines VM.

By installing the vending machine VM adjacent to each other in this manner, it is conceivable that a consumer may purchase a product at the vending machine VM, consume the product (drink a beverage) near the vending machine VM, and then place the container into the collection device 1.
For example, when the vending machine VM is installed in a station, the collection device 1 is also installed in the station. In this case, it is considered that a consumer purchases a product using the vending machine VM in the station, drinks the product, which is a beverage, during leisure time before boarding a train, inserts the finished container into the collection device 1, and boards the train. In addition, a consumer may purchase a product in a place other than the station, head to the station while drinking the beverage, insert the finished container into the collection device 1 in the station, and board the train. That is, the collection device 1 may be inserted with a container of a product purchased in an adjacent vending machine VM or with a container of a product purchased in a place other than the adjacent vending machine VM. Here, the other place where a product is purchased may be a vending machine other than the vending machine VM, a convenience store, a supermarket, or the like.
In this way, if it is possible to understand the relationship between the products sold in the vending machine VM and other products based on the product containers stored in the collection device 1 installed adjacent to the vending machine VM, it is expected that this can be used as a clue to estimate consumers' product purchasing routes and consumption behavior.

The collection device 1 receives and accumulates containers that are inserted. The containers accumulated in the collection device 1 are collected by a collection staff member. The containers are, for example, containers in which beverages, etc. can be placed. Containers in which beverages, etc. can be placed include plastic bottles, aluminum cans, steel cans, etc.

An insertion port 10 is provided at the top of the recovery device 1. A container C is inserted into the insertion port 10 by a person, such as a consumer, who uses the recovery device 1. In most cases, the container is inserted after the consumer has finished drinking the beverage.
The shape of the insertion port 10 is approximately circular. The size of the insertion port 10 is set to a size that allows containers to be inserted according to the diameter of commonly available PET bottles, aluminum cans, and steel cans. This makes it possible to insert various containers such as PET bottles, aluminum cans, and steel cans into the recovery device 1.

A door 1a is provided below the input port of the recovery device 1. By opening the door 1a, a storage section 1b provided inside the recovery device 1 is exposed.
The storage section 1b is provided on the inner peripheral side below the input port 10. The storage section 1b stores the containers inserted from the input port 10. At least a part of the storage section 1b may be made of a transparent material. This allows the amount of containers accumulated to be visually confirmed from outside the recovery device 1.
A storage frame 1c is provided between the insertion port 10 and the storage section 1b. The storage frame 1c is an annular member. A bag Ba can be hung on the storage frame 1c. The bag Ba is provided along the inner circumference of the storage section 1b. As a result, the bag Ba is provided inside the storage section 1b, and the container inserted from the insertion port 10 is stored in the bag Ba in the storage section 1b. When collecting the containers, the person in charge of collection opens the door 1a, pulls out the storage frame 1c toward himself with the bag Ba still hung on it, and then lifts the storage frame 1c up to remove the bag Ba from the storage frame 1c, and by pulling out the bag Ba, the containers stored in the bag Ba can be collected.

A guide member 11 is attached to the input port 10. One end of the guide member 11 is attached to the input port 10, and the other end is provided facing diagonally downward from the input port 10 (diagonally downward and to the right when looking at FIG. 2 ). This other end does not abut against any part of the recovery device 1. Here, the guide member 11 may be fixed to the recovery device 1 by an arm member or the like from a part of the inner circumferential surface of the upper part of the recovery device 1 between the end and the other end of the guide member 11.
Such a guide member 11 is provided along the path (transport path) from the input port 10 to the storage unit 1b, and functions as a guide for transporting the container C along the transport path. Here, the guide member 11 has a substantially cylindrical shape.
The guide member 11 guides the cylindrical container C so that its longitudinal direction, which is the direction connecting the top and bottom, is along the transport direction, while transporting the container C from the insertion port 10 to the storage unit 1b. This allows the container C to be regulated so that its longitudinal direction is along the transport direction from when it is inserted into the recovery device 1 until it is stored in the storage unit 1b. That is, the container C can be regulated so that it is inserted with its bottom facing down or its drinking spout (top) facing down and transported. Here, when a consumer inserts a container into a collection box such as the recovery device 1, the consumer tends to hold the container with the drinking spout in his/her hand and release the hand after inserting the bottom of the container into the insertion port, so in most cases the container is transported with its bottom facing down. This makes it easier to read the barcode using the barcode reader 12, which will be described later, and to image the outer circumferential surface of the container using the imaging unit 13.

The barcode reader 12 reads the barcode from the container C passing through the path from the insertion port 10 to the storage section 1b. A barcode assigned to the product is generally attached to the outer circumferential surface of the container C. In many cases, the barcode is printed on a label and attached to the outer circumferential surface of the container C, or is printed on the outer circumferential surface of the container C.
One barcode reader 12 may be provided, or multiple barcode readers 12 may be provided along the circumferential direction of the path from the insertion port 10 to the storage section 1b. When multiple barcode readers 12 are provided, the barcode reader 12 can read the barcode of the container when the container is inserted from the insertion port 10, regardless of the orientation of the barcode of the container in the circumferential direction of the transport path. When multiple barcode readers 12 are provided, they can be provided at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the transport path to prevent bias in the reading range. For example, four or eight barcode readers 12 are provided. This can prevent the barcode from being missed, depending on the characteristics of the reading range of the barcode readers.
Also, in this embodiment, the barcode reader 12 is described as capturing an image of the container C passing through the path from the insertion port 10 to the storage section 1b (capturing an image of the inner circumference side of the guide member 11), but the barcode reader 12 may read the barcode by capturing an image of the outside of the collection device 1. For example, before inserting a container C to be inserted, a consumer holds the container C over the imaging range of the barcode reader 12. The barcode reader 12 reads the barcode from the container C that is held over. In this case, the consumer inserts the container C through the insertion port 10 after the barcode has been read. In such a configuration, the number of barcode readers 12 may be one.

The imaging unit 13 captures an image of the outer surface of the container C from the insertion port 10 until the container C is accommodated in the accommodation unit 1b.
The imaging unit 13 is provided, for example, at a stage downstream of the guide member 11 on the transport path, and captures an image of the container after it has been read by the barcode reader 12 and before it is stored in the storage unit 1b (as it falls).
The imaging unit 13 captures an image of the container C, making it possible to grasp the state of the container based on the external appearance of the container.
This imaging unit 13 is provided at a stage subsequent to the barcode reader 12 (in the direction away from the input port 10 ) along the conveying path, but may also be provided at a stage prior to the barcode reader 12 .
Further, only one imaging unit 13 may be installed, or multiple imaging units 13 may be installed. When multiple imaging units 13 are installed, one imaging unit may be installed at each of a position where the transported container can be imaged from above and a position where the image can be imaged from below, or three or more imaging units may be installed along the circumferential direction of the transported container.

The control unit 14 is provided at a position on the inner circumference side of the collection device 1. The control unit 14 is connected to the barcode reader 12 and the imaging unit 13 so as to be able to communicate with them wirelessly or via wires.

Fig. 3 is a schematic functional block diagram showing the functions of the recovery device 1. Fig. 3 shows the functions of the recovery device 1 that exchange electrical signals.
In this figure, a barcode reader 12, an image pickup unit 13, and a control unit 14 are connected via a bus 15, enabling transmission and reception of signals.
Based on the reading result, the barcode reader 12 outputs barcode data corresponding to the barcode read from the container to the control unit 14 .

The imaging unit 13 outputs image data representing the imaging results to the control unit 14. The imaging unit 13 may capture images according to a predetermined frame rate and output the image data to the control unit 14 each time image data is obtained, or may extract image data in which the container is captured from the captured image data and output the image data to the control unit 14.

The control unit 14 has a communication unit 141, a memory unit 142, a control unit 143, and an output unit 144.

The communication unit 141 communicates with the barcode reader 12 and the imaging unit 13 .
Furthermore, the communication unit 141 communicates with devices external to the collection device 1. These external devices include various devices connected via the network NW, such as the consumption status management device 2 and the terminal device 3.
The communication unit 141 may be communicatively connected to an external device (e.g., the consumption status management device 2) wirelessly or wired, or may be communicatively connected by a combination of wired and wireless. The communication unit 141 may use any of the communication standards such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), 4G, 5G, wi-fi (registered trademark), etc. when communicating with an external device.

The storage unit 142 stores various data. The storage unit 142 stores the collection data for a certain period of time. The storage unit 142 also stores an identification ID assigned to the collection device 1. The identification ID is identification information for individually identifying multiple collection devices 1.

The control unit 143 controls each part of the control unit 14.

The output unit 144 transmits various data used in the control unit 14 as collected data to an external device via the communication unit 141. For this purpose, the output unit 144 transmits the collected data together with an identification ID. This makes it possible to identify which collection device 1 transmitted the collected data.
The output unit 144 outputs the reading result of the barcode read from the container C by the barcode reader 12 and the identification ID as container data to the outside via the communication unit 141.
Furthermore, the output unit 144 outputs the captured image data and the identification ID as container data to the outside via the communication unit 141 .
Here, a case will be described in which the collection device 1 is provided with the barcode reader 12 and the imaging unit 13, but either one of the barcode reader 12 or the imaging unit 13 may be provided in the collection device 1. In this case, the output unit 144 uses data obtained from either the barcode reader 12 or the imaging unit 13, whichever is provided in the collection device 1, as collection data.
The output unit 144 may add time information to the collected data and output the data. The time information may be the time when the barcode data is obtained from the barcode reader 12 or the time when the image data is obtained from the imaging unit 13.
The output unit 144 may transmit the container data obtained from one container to an external device each time, or may store the obtained container data in the memory unit 142 and periodically read out the stored data from the memory unit 142, compile it, and transmit it.

In addition, in the control unit 14, the communication unit 141, the control unit 143, and the output unit 144 may be configured, for example, as a processing device such as a CPU (central processing unit) or a dedicated electronic circuit.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing the functions of the consumption status management device 2. As shown in FIG.
The consumption status management device 2 has a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a processing unit 23 that are communicatively connected via a bus 24.
The communication unit 21 communicates with the collection device 1 and the terminal device 3 via the network NW.
For example, the communication unit 21 receives collection data transmitted from the collection device.

The memory unit 22 stores various data. For example, the memory unit 22 has a product data memory unit 221, an attribute memory unit 222, a collection data memory unit 223, and a handling item memory unit 224.

The product data storage unit 221 stores product data including barcode data and product information.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of product data.
The product data is data in which barcode data and product information are associated with each other.
Barcode data is identification information that is individually assigned to each different product. When this identification information is attached to a product, it is expressed as a one-dimensional barcode, printed on a film, and attached to the container as a label, or is attached by being printed directly on the container.
The product information is information about a product, for example, information about a beverage product in a container. More specifically, the product information includes a JAN (Japanese Article Number) code (equivalent to barcode data), the name of the beverage (product name, etc.), the manufacturer, the category, the content amount, etc. The category indicates the classification of the beverage, and examples of the category include coffee beverages, soft drinks, carbonated drinks, sports drinks, fruit drinks, green tea drinks, barley tea drinks, and energy drinks.
The product data storage unit 221 stores product information on generally distributed products, and therefore stores product information on both products sold in the vending machine VM and products not sold in the vending machine VM.

The attribute storage unit 222 stores attribute information that indicates the relationship between the collection device and the attribute.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of attribute information.
The attribute information is data in which a collection device identification ID assigned to a collection device is associated with an attribute.
The attributes indicate the situation in which the collection device is installed, such as the installation location, the vending machine ID, the facility, and the environment.
The installation location is information that allows the location where the collection device is installed to be understood, and is, for example, an address, but may also be latitude and longitude.
The vending machine ID is identification information that individually identifies the vending machine VM. Here, the identification IDs of the collection device 1 and the vending machine VM that are adjacent to each other are stored in association with each other. In other words, by associating the collection device identification ID with the vending machine ID, it is possible to know which collection device 1 and which vending machine VM are installed adjacent to each other.
The facility indicates the facility where the collection device is installed. Examples of the facility include a station, a building, a square, a park, a parking lot, etc., where the collection device is installed. If the location where the collection device is installed does not particularly correspond to a facility, it may be "outdoors."
The environment represents the surroundings in which the collection device is installed, such as near a ticket gate, in front of a taxi stand, next to a vending machine, at an entrance, along a river, along a road, along a mountain, in front of a theme park, in front of a convenience store, near a bus stop, etc.

The collected data storage unit 223 stores the collected data.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of collected data.
This collection data includes date and time, JAN code, product name, manufacturer name, category, collection device identification ID, and the like.
The date and time represent the time when the collection data was generated in the collection device 1. The JAN code represents the barcode data read by the barcode reader 12. The product name is the name of the product placed in the container, and is obtained from the product data based on the barcode data. The manufacturer name represents the name of the product manufacturer (or distributor), and is obtained from the product data based on the barcode data.
The collection device ID indicates the ID of the collection device that is the sender of the collection data.
The collection data is added as history data in response to reception from the collection device and stored. In Fig. 7, collection data for one container is illustrated, but different collection data is generated in response to insertion of a container into the collection device 1 and stored in the collection data storage unit 223.

The handling item storage unit 224 stores handling item data indicating the correspondence between product information of products sold in a vending machine installed adjacent to the collection device and the vending machine.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the handling item data stored in the handling item storage unit 224. As shown in FIG.
The handling item data is data in which a vending machine ID is associated with barcode data. Here, at least one barcode data is associated with one vending machine ID, so that it is possible to know which item is being sold in the vending machine VM indicated by that vending machine ID. When a large number of items are sold in one vending machine VM, a large number of barcode data are associated with one vending machine ID. This handling item data may be entered from the terminal device 3 based on which item is being sold in the vending machine, and then written and registered as the handling item storage unit 224.

The processing unit 23 includes a product information acquisition unit 231 , a collected data writing unit 232 , a determination unit 233 , a data processing unit 234 , and a display data generation unit 235 .
The product information acquisition unit 231 acquires product information corresponding to the barcode data from the product data storage unit 221 based on the result of reading by the barcode reader 12 included in the collection data.

The collected data writing unit 232 writes the collected data received from the collection device 1 to the collected data storage unit 223. When writing the collected data, the collected data writing unit 232 acquires product information corresponding to the collected data to be written by the product information acquisition unit 231, and writes the acquired product information together with the collected data to the collected data storage unit 223.

The determination unit 233 determines whether or not the product based on the container inserted into the collection device 1 is a product related to a vending machine adjacent to the collection device 1 by referring to the correspondence (handling item data) stored in the handling item storage unit 224. Products related to a vending machine are products sold in the vending machine or products of a beverage manufacturer that provides the vending machine. By the determination unit 233 making this determination, it is possible to know whether the product in the container inserted into the collection device 1 is a product sold in the adjacent vending machine VM or a product sold at another location. If the product in the container inserted into the collection device 1 is a product sold in the adjacent vending machine VM, it can be estimated that the product sold in the vending machine VM was consumed near the vending machine VM and then inserted into the collection device 1 adjacent to the vending machine VM where the product was purchased.
There may also be cases where the same product sold in the vending machine VM is purchased and consumed in another store, and then the container is inserted into the recovery device 1. In this case, since the product is the same as the product sold in the vending machine, it may be determined as the product sold in the vending machine.
In addition, the vending machine may be provided by a beverage manufacturer. In this case, the determination unit 233 can also determine whether the product in the inserted container is a product of the beverage manufacturer that provides the vending machine.

The data processing unit 234 performs various analyses on the merchandise based on the collected data.
As one of the analysis methods, the data processing unit 234 determines, based on the collection data, the number of containers inserted into the collection device 1 and, among the containers inserted into the collection device, the number of containers of products related to the vending machine based on the determination result of the determination unit 233. This makes it possible to grasp, among the total number of containers inserted into the collection device 1, the number of products sold in the vending machine VM adjacent to the collection device 1 and the number of products not sold in the vending machine VM.

As one of the analysis methods, the data processing unit 234 calculates the internal consumption rate, which is the ratio between the number of containers inserted into the collection device 1 and the number of containers of products related to the vending machine. This makes it possible to grasp the ratio of products sold in the vending machine VM adjacent to the collection device 1 out of the total number of containers inserted into the collection device 1.

As one of the analysis methods, the data processing unit 324 determines the ratio between the number of containers inserted into the collection device 1 and the number of containers of products not related to the vending machine VM. This makes it possible to grasp the ratio of products that are not related to products not sold on the vending machine VM out of the total number of containers inserted into the collection device 1.

The data processing unit 234 determines this from the number of containers that were inserted during the target period. This allows various analyses to be performed for any period that is set as the target period.

The display data generation unit 235 generates display data that displays the location where the recovery device is installed on a map and also displays the results obtained by the data processing unit 234.

The processing unit 23 may be configured as a processing device such as a CPU (central processing unit) or a dedicated electronic circuit.

The above-mentioned storage unit 142 and storage unit 22 are configured by a storage medium, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a flash memory, an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a random access read/write memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), or any combination of these storage media.
The storage unit 142 and the storage unit 22 may be implemented using, for example, a non-volatile memory.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the recovery device 1.
Here, a case will be described in which the tallying period is specified in advance by the terminal device 3.
When a container is inserted through the insertion port 10 of the recovery device 1, the imaging unit 13 images the outer circumferential surface of the inserted container, generates image data according to the imaging result, and outputs it to the control unit 14. When the control unit 14 obtains the image data from the imaging unit 13, the control unit 143 detects that the container has been inserted into the recovery device 1, and obtains the detected time as time information of the container (insertion time) (step S101). The control unit 143 has an internal clock function, and obtains the current time obtained from the clock function as the insertion time.

The control unit 143 obtains the identification ID assigned to the collection device 1 by reading it from the storage unit 142 (step S102). By reading this identification ID, it is possible to determine in which position or area the collection device 1 is installed.

When a container is inserted through the insertion port 10 of the recovery device 1, the barcode reader 12 reads the barcode attached to the outer peripheral surface of the inserted container and outputs the barcode data to the control unit 14. By reading the barcode, information about the inserted container can be obtained.
In the control unit 14, the control unit 143 acquires input item information from the barcode reader 12 and the imaging unit 13 (step S103). The input item information may be either image data obtained from the imaging unit 13 or barcode data obtained from the barcode reader 12, or both. When the control unit 14 acquires image data as input item information, the control unit 14 may recognize a barcode from the image data and generate barcode data to use as input item information. The control unit 14 may also use the image data itself as input item information. In this case, the processing unit 23 of the consumption status management device 2 may recognize the barcode based on the image data to obtain product information.

The output unit 144 transmits the input information, time information, and identification ID as collection data to the consumption status management device 2 via the communication unit 141 (step S104).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the consumption status management device 2.
The processing unit 23 receives and acquires the collection data in response to the collection data being transmitted from the collection device 1 (step S201). The acquired collection data includes input item information, time information, and an identification ID. When the collection data is acquired, the collection data writing unit 232 writes the acquired collection data in the collection data storage unit 223.

The collected data writing unit 232 acquires product information corresponding to the collected data by the product information acquiring unit 231 (step S202), and writes the acquired product information as collected data. Items written as collected data here include product name, category, manufacturer name, etc.
The determination unit 233 acquires the vending machine ID corresponding to the collection device identification ID by referring to the attribute information in the attribute storage unit 222. Then, the determination unit 233 identifies the products handled in the vending machine VM installed adjacent to the collection device 1 by referring to the handling item storage unit 224 based on the vending machine ID (step S203).
Then, the judgment unit 233 extracts the barcode data contained in the input item information of the collection data obtained this time, and judges whether the barcode data corresponds to a product sold in the vending machine VM installed adjacent to the collection device 1 (step S204).

If the barcode data is a product handled in the vending machine VM installed adjacent to the collection device 1 (step S204-YES), the data processing unit 234 adds 1 to the count value of the containers of the product related to the vending machine VM (step S205) and adds 1 to the count value of the total number of containers inserted into the collection device 1 (step S206). On the other hand, if the barcode data is not a product handled in the vending machine VM installed adjacent to the collection device 1 (step S204-NO), the data processing unit 234 adds 1 to the count value of the total number of containers inserted into the collection device 1 (step S206).
Then, the data processing unit 234 calculates the internal consumption rate (step S207), and writes the calculated internal consumption rate into the storage unit 22 (step S208).

When there is a request from the terminal device 3 to view the analysis results, the display data generation unit 235 generates display data based on the analysis results calculated by the data processing unit 234 and transmits the display data to the terminal device 3 via the Web (step S209). Here, the display data generation unit 235 generates display data that displays the location where the recovery device 1 is installed on a map and also displays the analysis results (e.g., internal consumption rate) calculated by the data processing unit 234.
As a result, the analysis results of the data processing unit 234 are displayed on the display screen of the terminal device 3.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of display data displayed on the display screen of the terminal device 3. As shown in FIG.
A map 101 of the range including the location where the collection device 1 is installed is displayed at the top of the display data. On this map 101, a figure representing the collection device 1 is displayed at the location where the collection device 1 is installed, and a circle 102 centered on the figure is displayed. The radius of this circle is set to a size according to the count value of the total number of containers inserted into the collection device 1. For example, the larger the count value of the total number of containers inserted into the collection device 1, the larger the radius is set, and the smaller the count value, the smaller the radius is set.
In this map 101, figures representing the two collection devices 1 indicate the locations of collection points, and the size of the circle 102 set for the collection device 1 on the right side is larger than the size of the circle 110 set for the collection device 1 on the left side. This shows that the collection device 1 corresponding to the circle 102 collects more containers.
When an operation input such as a click is made on the circle 102 from the terminal device 3, an analysis result 103 is displayed. The analysis result includes an internal consumption rate and an external input rate. The external input rate is the ratio of the number of containers input into the collection device 1 to the number of containers of products not related to the vending machine VM.
This allows the user to intuitively understand, using the size of the circle as a clue, that more containers are collected at the collection point in circle 102 than at the collection point in circle 110. By clicking on a circle, the user can understand the analysis results for the collection point in that circle.

Here, when the internal consumption rate is high, it is considered that there are few cases where products are brought in from outside and then inserted, because products are purchased at the vending machine VM, consumed on the spot, and the containers are inserted into the recovery device 1. In this case, it can be estimated that there are a certain number of consumers who spend enough time near the vending machine VM to drink a beverage.
When the external input rate is high, it can be assumed that the location is one with a high flow of people because it is believed that products are purchased and consumed outside and then input into the collection device 1. Also, when the external input rate is high, it is possible that the vending machine VM adjacent to the collection device 1 into which the containers are input does not carry products desired by consumers. Therefore, the administrator of the vending machine VM (e.g., the beverage manufacturer that provided the vending machine) can use the collected products as a clue to estimate products that consumers prefer and consider products to be handled by the vending machine VM.
Here, beverage manufacturers may conduct surveys on beverage consumption for consumers to confirm the consumption status of beverages. The survey may include the respondent's main factors in the answers. Therefore, if objective data can be obtained, data can be collected from a different perspective than the survey.
Here, by using POS (Point of Sales) data in the store, sales data can be obtained. By referring to the sales data, the timing of purchase and the amount of purchase can be ascertained. However, it is not possible to ascertain whether the products handled by the vending machine VM tend to be consumed on the spot, or whether containers brought in from outside are likely to be collected, etc. Furthermore, it is not possible to ascertain consumption trends, such as whether or not a beverage is consumed in the vicinity of the place where it was sold (the vending machine VM) after it is purchased. In the above-mentioned embodiment, by analyzing the containers collected by the collection device 1, data that cannot be obtained from POS data can be obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, the data processing unit 234 calculates the internal consumption rate and the external input rate. As another analysis, the determination unit 233 may determine whether the product is handled by the beverage manufacturer that provides the vending machine, and based on the determination result, the data processing unit 234 may obtain the ratio between the total number of containers input into the collection device 1 and the number of containers of products not related to the vending machine VM (products other than those of the manufacturer that provides the vending machine VM), or the ratio between the total number of containers input into the collection device 1 and the number of containers of products related to the vending machine VM (products of the manufacturer that provides the vending machine VM). This allows the manufacturer that provides the vending machine VM to understand the relationship between its own products and those of other companies' products (e.g., whether they are easily collected or not).

In the above embodiment, the data processing unit 234 determines the internal consumption rate as the analysis result in step S207 and writes it to the storage unit 22. However, the number of containers inserted into the collection device 1 and the number of containers of products related to the vending machine based on the determination result of the determination unit 233 among the containers inserted into the collection device may be written to the storage unit 22 as the analysis result. Furthermore, the data processing unit 234 may determine the ratio between the number of containers inserted into the collection device 1 and the number of containers of products not related to the vending machine VM in step S207 and write it to the storage unit 22.
This allows the display screen of the terminal device 3 to display the number of containers deposited into the collection device 1 and the number of containers of products related to the vending machine, and the ratio of the number of containers deposited into the collection device 1 to the number of containers of products not related to the vending machine VM, etc.
The data processing unit 234 may also receive an input specifying a period to be analyzed from the terminal device 3, and obtain analysis results based on the collection data for containers that were placed during the period to be analyzed. This allows various analyses to be performed for any period specified by the user of the terminal device 3.

In the above embodiment, the data processing unit 234 may obtain the analysis results for each beverage category. For example, the internal consumption rate may be calculated based on the number of products belonging to the category to be analyzed out of the total number of containers inserted into the collection device 1, and the number of products belonging to the category to be analyzed out of the number of product containers related to the vending machine VM.

Although the data processing unit 234 is configured to obtain the analysis results for each collection device 1, the analysis may be performed on collection data obtained from multiple collection devices 1. For example, when determining which of the multiple collection devices 1 to use collection data from, an attribute corresponding to the location where the collection device is installed may be specified, and the collection data of the collection device 1 belonging to this attribute may be used.

For example, the data processing unit 234 can obtain analysis results that compile the collection data obtained from each collection device 1 installed in a certain area by determining analysis results based on collection data obtained from a collection device whose attribute belongs to "XX Prefecture, XX City, △△ Ward, XX Town, △ Chome."
The smallest unit of an attribute is each collection device. In addition, an attribute may be an area based on a location, such as "XX prefecture, XX city, △△ ward, XX town, △ chome" or "XX station." When using an attribute based on a location, the degree of collection can be analyzed using the location, region, or other area as a condition.
In addition, the attribute may be set to use both the location and the environment, such as "in front of a convenience store" while specifying a specific store. In this case, the degree of collection based on the combination of the location and the surrounding environment can be analyzed.
In addition, the attributes can be specified as only the surrounding environment, such as "in front of a convenience store," without specifying a specific store. In this case, analysis results can be obtained based on the surrounding environment where the collection device is installed, rather than on location or regional conditions.
Furthermore, when determining the analysis result, the data processing unit 234 may determine the analysis result based on a combination of a category and an attribute.

In the above embodiment, the terminal device 3 has been described as having a function for viewing the analysis results, but the handling item data stored in the handling item storage unit 224 may be updated. This allows the handling item data to be updated in response to changes in the products handled by the vending machine VM, etc.

In the above-described embodiment, the output unit 144 transmits the barcode reading result to the consumption status management device 2, but the functions of the product data storage unit 221 and product information acquisition unit 231 of the consumption status management device 2 may be provided in the collection device 1, and the collection device 1 may determine product information (e.g., JAN code, product name, category, etc.) based on the barcode data and transmit the product information to the consumption status management device 2.

Although the above-mentioned collection device has been described as being integrated with the storage unit, etc., it may be a single device including the barcode reader 12, the imaging unit 13, and the control unit 14, and this device may be attached later to the collection box into which the containers are placed. This makes it possible to grasp the collection status of the containers while utilizing the existing collection box.

In the above-described embodiment, when a viewing request is made from the terminal device 3, the operator of the terminal device 3 may specify what type of aggregation is to be performed, and the data processing unit 234 may process the data according to the specified conditions (an instruction to select either displaying the internal consumption rate or the external input rate, or both), and output the analysis results to the terminal device 3. This allows the operator of the terminal device 3 to specify any analysis conditions each time, and to view the information that the operator wants to know by changing the analysis conditions as appropriate.

The collection device 1 or the consumption status management device 2 in the above-mentioned embodiment may be realized by a computer. In that case, a program for realizing this function may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded in the recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed to realize the function. The term "computer system" here includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. The term "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, and storage devices such as hard disks built into a computer system. The term "computer-readable recording medium" may also include a medium that dynamically holds a program for a short period of time, such as a communication line when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, and a medium that holds a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory inside a computer system that is a server or client in such a case. The above-mentioned program may be a program for realizing part of the above-mentioned function, or may be a program that can realize the above-mentioned function in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system, or may be a program that is realized using a programmable logic device such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

The above describes an embodiment of the present invention in detail with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

1... Recovery device, 1a... Door, 1A... Recovery device, 1b... Storage section, 1B... Recovery device,
Description of the Related Art 1c...storage frame, 2...consumption status management device, 3...terminal device, 10...insertion slot, 11...guide member, 12...barcode reader, 13...imaging section, 14...control unit, 15...bus, 20...storage section, 21...communication section, 22...storage section, 23...processing section, 24...bus, 141...communication section, 142...storage section, 143...control section, 144...output section, 221...product data storage section, 222...attribute storage section, 223...recovery data storage section, 224...handling item storage section, 231...product information acquisition section, 232...recovery data writing section, 233...determination section, 234...data processing section, 234...display data generation section, VM...vending machine

Claims (8)

a receiving unit that receives collection data output from a collection device that is installed at a container collection site and accumulates the containers that are dropped in;
A storage unit that stores product information of products sold in a vending machine installed adjacent to the collection device and a correspondence between the vending machine and the product information;
a determination unit that determines whether or not the product in the inserted container is a product related to the vending machine adjacent to the collection device based on the correspondence relationship;
A data processing unit that determines the number of containers inserted into the collection device based on the collection data and the number of containers of the product related to the vending machine based on the determination result among the containers inserted into the collection device;
A consumption status management device having the above configuration. The consumption status management device according to claim 1 , wherein the data processing unit calculates a ratio between the number of containers inserted into the collection device and the number of containers of products related to the vending machine. The consumption status management device according to claim 1 , wherein the product related to the vending machine is a product sold at the vending machine or a product of a beverage manufacturer that provides the vending machine. The consumption status management device according to claim 1 , wherein the data processing unit calculates a ratio between the number of containers inserted into the collection device and the number of containers of products not related to the vending machine. The consumption status management device according to claim 1 , wherein the data processing unit obtains the consumption status from the number of containers inserted during a target period. 6. The consumption status management device according to claim 5, further comprising a display data generating unit that generates display data for displaying the location where the collection device is installed on a map and for displaying the results obtained by the data processing unit. A consumption status management system including a collection device that is installed at a container collection base and accumulates the containers that are dropped in, and a consumption status management device,
The recovery device includes:
A transmitting unit that transmits data detected from the container as collection data,
The consumption status management device includes:
a receiving unit for receiving collection data transmitted from a transmitting unit of the collection device;
A storage unit that stores product information of products sold in a vending machine installed adjacent to the collection device and a correspondence between the vending machine and the product information;
a determination unit that determines whether or not the product in the inserted container is a product related to the vending machine adjacent to the collection device based on the correspondence relationship;
A data processing unit that determines the number of containers inserted into the collection device based on the collection data and the number of containers of the product related to the vending machine based on the determination result among the containers inserted into the collection device;
A consumption status management system having the above. The receiving unit receives collection data output from a collection device that is installed at a container collection site and accumulates the containers that are dropped in,
A determination unit refers to a storage unit that stores a correspondence between product information of products sold in a vending machine installed adjacent to the collection device and the vending machine, and determines whether or not the product based on the inserted container is a product related to the vending machine installed adjacent to the collection device based on the correspondence;
A consumption status generating method, in which a data processing unit calculates, based on the collection data, the number of containers inserted into the collection device and the number of containers of a product related to the vending machine based on the determination result among the containers inserted into the collection device.

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