JP5075960B2 - Product display quantity management system, server and control program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a merchandise display quantity management system, a server, and a control program for managing the quantity of merchandise displayed on a display section such as a merchandise display shelf installed in a store.

  When selling merchandise at a retail store, it is important to display the merchandise at the store so as to inspire customers to purchase products. In order to sell merchandise at a store, a minimum display quantity (also referred to as a minimum display quantity, also referred to as a minimum display quantity or safety stock) is known. The minimum display amount is the number of products whose sales stop or rapidly decrease when a smaller number of products is displayed in the store. As an example, it is empirically known that such a phenomenon is likely to occur at an apparel mass retailer. Therefore, the store clerk is required to appropriately perform a display work for displaying the product at the display place in order to maintain the number of products at least the minimum display amount.

  As an example of a technique for supporting the display work of commodities performed by a store clerk, there is a display support system described in Patent Document 1. This display support system is introduced, for example, in a motorcycle dealer, and three or more wireless communication units provided in the dealer perform wireless communication with a wireless IC tag (RFID tag) attached to each motorcycle. The distance between the wireless IC tag and each wireless communication unit is calculated using the time taken to receive the wireless signal, the position of the wireless IC tag is determined based on the principle of triangulation, and where the motorcycle is displayed It is to grasp whether or not.

  In a retail store, a customer determines a product to purchase by picking up a product from a display place of the product or returning the product. As a result, the number of products displayed at the display location frequently fluctuates. Under such circumstances, the store clerk must also perform the work of displaying the goods between various operations. Here, the technique described in Patent Document 1 is instructed to replenish inventory every time the wireless IC tag attached to the motorcycle is no longer detected by the wireless communication unit, and therefore, does not interrupt various operations performed by the store clerk. No longer get.

  In addition, the technique described in Patent Document 1 is applied to a large store where several tens of motorcycles can be displayed. In a store where merchandise display locations are set finely, There is also a problem that detailed display work cannot be performed.

  An object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of display work of merchandise performed by a store clerk.

The product display quantity management system of the present invention includes an RFID reader that reads information stored in an RFID tag of each product displayed on the display unit, a POS terminal that executes settlement on the product and outputs sales information, A notification terminal that performs a notification operation based on an input notification signal; and a server connected to the RFID reader, the POS terminal, and the notification terminal via a communication network. based on the read information, and means for calculating the number of display inventory per one type of product, and means for calculating the total inventory quantity for each single type of product in the shop on the basis of the information received from the POS terminal, wherein A means for calculating the number of unsettled products at a store by subtracting the number of displayed stocks from the total number of stocks; and the number of displayed stocks and the number of unsettled products Zui it comprises means for outputting the broadcast signal corresponding to the severity of the alert or mild alert, a.

The server of the present invention includes a means for calculating the number of displayed inventory for each type of product based on information read by an RFID reader connected via a communication network, and a POS terminal connected via the communication network. Means for calculating the total inventory quantity for each type of product in the store based on the received information; means for calculating the number of unsettled goods in the store by subtracting the display inventory quantity from the overall inventory quantity; and And a means for outputting the notification signal corresponding to a severe alert or a minor alert to a notification terminal connected via a communication network based on the number of displayed stocks and the number of unsettled goods.

The control program of the present invention includes an RFID reader that reads information stored in an RFID tag of each product displayed on the display unit, a POS terminal that executes settlement on the product and outputs sales information, and an input notification signal A control program for controlling a server connected via a communication network to a notification terminal that performs a notification operation based on the computer, the computer being based on information read by the RFID reader, Means for calculating the display inventory quantity for each product, means for calculating the total inventory quantity for each type of product in a store based on information received from a POS terminal connected via the communication network, and the total inventory A means for subtracting the display inventory quantity from the number to calculate the number of unsettled goods at the store, and the display inventory quantity and On the basis of the outstanding items, and means for outputting the broadcast terminal the connected notification signal via the communication network corresponding to the severity of the alert or mild alert, it is to function.

According to the present invention, the RFID reader reads information stored in the RFID tag of each product displayed on the display unit, and the POS terminal executes settlement on the product and outputs sales information.
The server calculates the display inventory number for each type of product based on the information read by the RFID reader, calculates the total inventory number for each type of product in the store based on the information received from the POS terminal, The number of unsettled products at the store is calculated by subtracting the number of display inventory from the total inventory. And a server outputs the alerting signal corresponding to a severe alert or a mild alert based on the number of display stocks and the number of unsettled goods.
Accordingly, the notification terminal performs a notification operation based on the input notification signal.
Therefore, the store clerk can concentrate on work other than the product display work until the notification terminal performs the notification operation, and can improve the efficiency of the product display work performed by the store clerk. Furthermore, the store clerk makes it easy to determine the timing for performing the product display work by the notification terminal performing different notification operations depending on whether the alert is severe or mild.

It is a mimetic diagram showing the whole merchandise display quantity management system in a 1st embodiment. It is a front view which shows a goods display shelf typically. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a server. It is a schematic diagram which shows a part of structure of the database stored in NAS (storage part). It is a schematic diagram which shows another part of the structure of the database stored in NAS (storage part). It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process performed with a goods display quantity management system. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of an alert process. It is a schematic diagram which shows another part of the structure of the database stored in NAS (storage part) in 2nd embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the store inventory table stored in NAS (storage part). It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a store inventory update process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of an alert process. It is a schematic diagram which shows a part of structure of the database stored in NAS (storage part) in 3rd embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process performed with a goods display quantity management system.

  One embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the entire product display quantity management system 101. The product display quantity management system 101 is installed in a supermarket 102 as a store. The supermarket 102 is divided into a sales floor space 105 where merchandise 103 is displayed and a customer 104 shop, and a backyard 107 where only a store clerk 106 can enter.

  In the sales space 105, eight product display shelves 109 as display units are installed. Each of these merchandise display shelves 109 will be described with reference numerals A to H as shown in FIG. Clothing is displayed on the product display shelves A to D, and food items are displayed on the product display shelves E to G, respectively. A special corner for selling only a specific product 103 is opened in the product display shelf H. An RFID reader 122 is attached to each of these commodity display shelves 109 (see FIG. 2). Further, a shelf code for identifying each product display shelf 109 is assigned to each of these product display shelves 109. As an example, the shelf code of the product display shelf A is “T00000A”, the shelf code of the product display shelf B is “T00000B”,..., And the shelf code of the product display shelf H is “T00000H”. The customer 104 walks through the sales space 105 with the shopping basket 110 prepared in advance by the supermarket 102, puts the product 103 to be purchased into the shopping basket 110, and goes to the cash register area 111 for accounting. The customer 104 may carry out the accounting by holding the product 103 directly in the hand without picking up the shopping basket 110 in the cash register area 111.

  The store clerk 106 performs guidance and product display work for the customer 104 in the sales space 105, performs inventory check work in the backyard 107, and waits for a service counter (not shown) in the sales space 105 to guide the customer. Or doing. In addition, the store clerk 106 performs an accounting transaction of the product 103 with the customer 104 by operating the POS terminal 113 installed in the cash register area 111 of the sales floor space 105. The POS terminal 113 functions as a settlement unit that performs settlement for the product 103 sold in the supermarket 102.

  The POS terminal 113 is connected to a LAN 116 disposed in the supermarket 102. Connected to the LAN 116 are a server 117 as a system control unit installed in the backyard 107 and a NAS 118 as a storage unit. A wireless access point 119 is connected to the LAN 116. As an example, the wireless access point 119 is provided on the ceiling (not shown) of the sales space 105. The wireless access point 119 performs wireless communication with the PDA terminal 112 as a notification terminal carried by the clerk 106 during business. Here, the server 117 and the wireless access point 119 constitute a signal output unit that transmits and outputs a wireless signal.

  RFID tags 121 are attached to all the products 103 displayed on the product display shelf 109. Each RFID tag 121 stores a product code 121 a that identifies the type of the product 103. Further, the RFID tag 121 stores an identification code 121b. As the identification code, in order to identify each RFID tag 121, a unique one is assigned to each RFID tag 121.

  FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing the commodity display shelf 109. The product display shelf 109 includes three shelf plates 123 having a radio wave absorption function, and three product storage spaces 124 are formed. As described above, the RFID reader 122 is attached to each of the commodity display shelves 109. The RFID reader 122 includes an antenna 126 and a control circuit 127. In the control circuit 127, a resist area 127a capable of storing data is secured. Further, the control circuit 127 also stores a shelf code of the commodity display shelf 109 to which the RFID reader 122 is attached. The control circuit 127 is connected to the wireless communication interface 128. The wireless communication interface 128 transmits and outputs a wireless signal to the wireless access point 119 (see FIG. 1).

  In each merchandise storage space 124, an antenna 126 that is attached to the back plate 125 of the merchandise display shelf 109 and performs short-distance wireless communication with the RFID tag 121 is disposed. The antenna 126 is provided in the full width direction of the product storage space 124, and can perform near field communication with the RFID tag 121 wherever the RFID tag 121 is positioned in the product storage space 124. On the other hand, the control circuit 127 is positioned below the commodity display shelf 109.

  The control circuit 127 reads the product code 121a and the identification code 121b stored in the RFID tag 121 attached to the product 103 via the antenna 126, and associates these with the shelf code of each product display shelf 109. A process of transmitting and outputting the wireless communication interface 128 as a wireless signal is executed. Note that the control circuit 127 cannot communicate with the plurality of RFID tags 121 located in the commodity storage space 124 completely and simultaneously in time. For this reason, the RFID reader 122 executes data communication only with each RFID tag 121 in order, and acquires the product code 121 a and the identification code 121 b from each RFID tag 121. As a result, the RFID reader 122 may perform short-range wireless communication again with the RFID tag 121 that has already undergone data communication. Therefore, when the control circuit 127 receives the product code 121a and the identification code 121b from the RFID tag 121, the control circuit 127 checks the registration area 127a, and the identification code 121b received this time is the received identification code stored in the identification code 121b. Judge whether there is no. Only when it is determined that it has not been received, the control circuit 127 registers the product code 121a and the identification code 121b received this time in the registration area 127a. The control circuit 127 completes the reading of all the RFID tags 121 in the product storage space 124 set in advance according to the capacity of the product storage space 124 in the process from reception to determination to registration. Repeat for enough time. As a result, in the registration area 127a, the product codes 121a and identification codes 121b of the RFID tags 121 attached to all the products 103 displayed in the product storage space 124 are registered.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the server 117. The server 117 includes an information processing unit 134 that includes a CPU 131, a ROM 132, and a RAM 133. The information processing unit 134 is connected to the hard disk 136, the keyboard 137, the display 138, and the network interface 139 via the bus line 135. The network interface 139 realizes data communication between the server 117 and other devices connected to the LAN 116.

  The hard disk 136 stores a program 140 for causing the CPU 131 to perform various types of information processing. The program 140 also includes a product display quantity management program 141 that allows the CPU 131 to realize the processing shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In addition, the program 140 includes an OS and a driver program. Further, the program 140 includes a program that allows the server 117 to access the NAS 118 and to read and write data to various data files (described later with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5) stored in the NAS 118. Yes. The CPU 131 copies all or part of the program 140 to the RAM 133 when the server 117 is activated, and executes processing according to the description content of the program 140.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a part of the structure of the database stored in the NAS 118 (storage unit). The NAS 118 stores a product master 143, a product display number definition master 144, a product display status table 145, an alert notification condition master 146 (see FIG. 5), and an alert notification status log 147 (see FIG. 5).

  The product master 143 (FIG. 4A) stores a product name and a unit price specified by the product code in association with the product code. The product master 143 is also called a PLU file, and is used for processing performed at the POS terminal 113. The POS terminal 113 is provided with a code scanner (not shown). Then, the control unit (not shown) of the POS terminal 113 reads the RFID tag 121 or the barcode (not shown) attached to the product 103 through the code scanner and inputs the product code 121a. By referring to the master 143, the product name and unit price of the product 103 corresponding to the product code are acquired and used for the settlement process. The product master 143 may be downloaded from the NAS 118 to a memory (not shown) provided in the POS terminal 113 via the LAN 116 in order to increase the speed of the above-described processing at the POS terminal 113.

  The product display number definition master 144 defines, for each product code, the maximum number of products 103 that can be displayed on the product display shelf 109 specified by the shelf code. For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4B, it is indicated that 50 products specified by the product code “1000001” can be displayed on the product display shelf A (shelf code “T00000A”). The definition of the maximum display number stored in the product display number definition master 144 can be changed by the user executing the program 140 stored on the hard disk 136 on the server 117 via the keyboard 137 and the display 138. It has become.

  The merchandise display status table 145 stores the number of display stocks by merchandise code of the merchandise 103 currently displayed on the merchandise display shelf 109 specified by the shelf code. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4C, it is indicated that 39 products identified by the product code “1000001” are displayed on the product display shelf A (shelf code “T00000A”). The merchandise display status table 145 is rewritten and updated by the process of step S202 of the process shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing another part of the structure of the database stored in the NAS 118 (storage unit). The product display quantity management system 101 according to the present embodiment causes the PDA terminal 112 and the like to perform a notification operation when the number of products 103 displayed on the product display shelf 109 decreases. FIG. 5 shows data related to this notification operation among the data stored in the NAS 118.

  The alert notification condition master 146 defines an alert condition P for causing the PDA terminal 112 or the like to perform a notification operation. The alert notification condition master 146 performs a notification operation on the key field 146a storing the product code 146aa and the shelf code 146ab and the PDA terminal 112. An alert value field 146b that defines the number of stocks of the product 103 to be displayed, and an alert code field 146c that defines the type of notification operation to be performed by the PDA terminal 112.

  The alert value field 146b has a warning value field 146bb for storing a numerical value and a unit setting field 146ba for setting a unit of the numerical value stored in the warning value field 146bb. When the unit setting field 146ba is “1: quantity”, the CPU 131 of the server 117 recognizes the unit of the numerical value stored in the warning value field 146bb as “pieces”, and is stored in the warning value field 146bb. The number of products for the numerical value is defined as the alert value. Further, when the unit setting field 146ba is “2: ratio”, the CPU 131 of the server 117 recognizes the unit of the numerical value stored in the warning value field 146bb as “%”, and sets the ratio indicated by this numerical value. Referring to the product display number definition master 144, the number of products corresponding to the value obtained by multiplying the maximum display number of the product 103 on the product display shelf 109 grasped by the key field 146a (product code 146aa and shelf code 146ab) is alerted. Define as a value.

The CPU 131 of the server 117 determines the type of notification signal to be output in the processing in step 203b of the alert processing (FIG. 7) based on the numerical value stored in the alert code field 146c as follows.
Alert code: Alert type: Message to be displayed on the PDA terminal 112 1: No store display: No products are displayed at the store 2: Low store display: The number of product displays at the store is low A smaller numerical value is set for a higher urgency level. The contents of the alert condition P in the alert notification condition master 146 can be changed by the user executing the program 140 stored in the hard disk 136 on the server 117 using the keyboard 137 and the display 138. What is important here is that in the alert notification condition master 146, even if the combination of the product code 146aa and the shelf code 146ab defined in the key field 146a is duplicated, it can be set if the warning value field 146bb is different. The alert condition P is set such that the smaller the numerical value stored in 146bb is, the smaller the alert code stored in the alert code field 146c is.

  The alert notification status log 147 is a log file that records when a notification operation about the shortage of the product 103 is performed for each product code in the product display shelf 109 specified by the shelf code. The CPU 131 of the server 117 writes the log 147c associated with both the product code 147a and the shelf code 147b in accordance with the processing in step 203b of the alert processing (FIG. 7).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed in the product display quantity management system 101. In the product display quantity management system 101 configured as described above, the control circuit 127 of the RFID reader 122 installed in each product display shelf 109 periodically emits radio waves and is positioned in the product display shelf 109. The short-distance wireless communication with 121 is performed, and the product code 121a and the identification code 121b are acquired for all the products 103 displayed on the product display shelf 109 (step S101). When the control circuit 127 of the RFID reader 122 determines that the product 103 is taken in and out of the product display shelf 109 and the identification code 121b stored in the resist area 127a is changed as a result (Y in step S102). , By controlling the wireless communication interface 128, among the data stored in the registration area 127a, the product code 121a of the product 103 whose quantity has been changed and the number of identification codes 121b associated with the product code 121a ( The information on the number of products 103) is transmitted and output as a wireless signal to the server 117 in association with the information on the shelf code 146ab.

  The CPU 131 of the server 117 activates the commodity display quantity management program 141 during the activation of the device, stores the alert condition P stored in the alert notification condition master 146 in the RAM 133, and the shelf transmitted from the RFID reader 122. It waits for reception of each information of the code 146ab, the product code 121a, and the number of products 103 (step S201). Then, if the CPU 131 of the server 117 determines reception (Y in step S201), the data of the display inventory quantity of the product 103 on the product display shelf 109 in which the quantity change has occurred is reflected based on the received information. Accordingly, the product display status table 145 is updated (step S202), and the process proceeds to the alert process shown in FIG. 7 (step S203).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of alert processing. When the CPU 131 of the server 117 starts the alert process (step S203 in FIG. 6), among the alert conditions P stored in the RAM 133, the shelf code and the product of the product display shelf 109 in which the quantity change transmitted from the RFID reader 122 has occurred. The alert condition P corresponding to the commodity code 103 is referred to, and it is determined whether or not the number of the commodity 103 after the quantity change is equal to or smaller than the alert value determined by the alert condition P (step S203a). Only when it is determined that the number of products 103 after the quantity change is equal to or less than the alert value (Y in step S203a), the CPU 131 of the server 117 notifies that the numerical value stored in the alert code field 146c of the alert condition P is stored. Control is performed so that the wireless access point 119 transmits and outputs a notification signal for causing the PDA terminal 112 to perform the operation (step S203b). That is, the process of step S203b constitutes a signal output process. The notification signal includes the shelf code of the product display shelf 109 and the product code of the product 103 in which the quantity change has occurred. In addition, the notification signal includes the alert code, the alert type, and the message to be displayed on the PDA terminal 112 as described above with reference to FIG. The CPU 131 of the server 117 ends the process of step S203b, ends the alert process, and then returns the process to step S201 (see FIG. 6).

  What is important in the process of step S203b is that when there are a plurality of alert conditions P that satisfy the determination in the process of step S203a, the alert condition P having a small alert code is adopted. For example, when no product 103 with the product code “1000001” is displayed on the product display shelf 109 with the shelf code “T00000A”, both the alert condition Pa and the alert condition Pb (both see FIG. 5) are displayed in step S203a. The CPU 131 proceeds with the process to step S203b, and adopts the alert condition Pa having a smaller alert code among these two alert conditions in step S203b. In this example, the wireless access point 119 outputs a notification signal corresponding to the alert code “1”.

  In the supermarket 102 in which the product display quantity management system 101 of the present embodiment configured as described above is introduced, the efficiency of the display work of the product 103 performed by the store clerk is realized as follows.

  First, the store clerk operates the keyboard 137 and the display 138 provided in the server 117 to edit the contents of the product display number definition master 144 and the alert notification condition master 146 stored in the NAS 118.

  In the supermarket 102, the control circuit 127 of the RFID reader 122 attached to the product display shelf 109 during business hours passes from the RFID tag 121 of the product 103 displayed on the product display shelf 109 via the antenna 126. The product code 121a and the identification code 121b are read, and these data are stored in the registration area 127a. The product code 121 a and the identification code 121 b stored in the resist area 127 a change as the product 103 is taken in and out. Therefore, the control circuit 127 of the RFID reader 122 grasps the product code 121a corresponding to the identification code 121b added to the registration area 127a or the product code 121a corresponding to the identification code 121b deleted from the registration area 127a. The product code 121a and the number of identification codes 121b corresponding to the product code 121a stored in the registration area 127a are transmitted and output to the server 117. In the server 117 that has received these data, processing for updating the product display status table 145 stored in the NAS 118 is performed. Thereafter, when the number of products 103 displayed on the product display shelf 109 is equal to or less than the alert value, a notification signal is output from the wireless access point 119 by alert processing (FIG. 7) performed by the server 117.

  In the product display quantity management system 101 according to the present embodiment, the alert code, together with the set value in the alert value field 146b, has an important meaning in the product display quantity management system 101. That is, in the alert notification condition master 146, as the alert condition P, two sets determined by the combination of the product code 146aa and the shelf code 146ab are prepared. In one of these sets, “0” is stored in the warning value field 146bb, and “1” is stored in the alert code field 146c. In the other set, a numerical value of 0 or more is stored in the warning value field 146bb, and “2” is stored in the alert code field 146c. As described above, in step S203b of the alert process (FIG. 7), the alert condition P having a smaller value among the values stored in the alert code field 146c is preferentially adopted. Therefore, as an example, when it is determined that the number of products 103 of the product code “1000001” is 0 in the product display shelf A (shelf code “T000001”), the CPU 131 of the server 117 adopts the alert condition Pa to generate an alert code. Control is performed to cause the PDA terminal 112 to perform a notification operation corresponding to “1”. As another example, if it is determined that there are 18 products 103 with the product code “1000001” in the product display shelf A, the CPU 131 of the server 117 adopts the alert condition Pb and handles the alert code “2”. Control is performed to cause the PDA terminal 112 to perform the notification operation. Here, by setting the value stored in the alert value field 146b so that the alert value for performing the notification operation corresponding to the alert code “2” is the minimum display amount (Minimum Display Quantity), the product display shelf is set. The notification operation corresponding to the alert code “2” is performed at the PDA terminal 112 only when the quantity of the commodity 103 displayed in 109 decreases to the stage where sales are affected. For this reason, the store clerk 106 only needs to display the product 103 for the first time at this stage. Until then, the store clerk 106 can concentrate on work other than the display operation of the product 103. That is, according to the product display quantity management system 101 of the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the display work of the product 103 performed by the store clerk 106.

  Next, another embodiment (second embodiment) of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this case, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. The merchandise display quantity management system 101 according to the present embodiment uses the total inventory quantity in the supermarket 102 for the alert processing (FIG. 11), and takes into account the quantity of unsettled merchandise in the supermarket 102, and adds two types to the PDA terminal 112. The point which performs alerting | reporting operation | movement differs from 1st embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing another part of the structure of the database stored in the NAS 118 (storage unit) in the second embodiment. In the alert notification condition master 146 of the present embodiment, the alert code field 146c includes a severe alert code field 146ca that stores an alert code when a severe alert signal is output, and an alert code when a mild alert signal is output. Are stored in a mild alert code field 146cb. Then, the CPU 131 of the server 117 tries to output by the processing in step S408 of the alert processing (FIG. 11) according to the numerical values stored in the alert code field 146c (severe alert code field 146ca, minor alert code field 146cb). The type of notification signal to be determined is determined as follows.
Alert code: Alert type: Message to be displayed on the PDA terminal 112 1: No store display (sold): No product is displayed at the store (sold)
2: No store display (not sold): No products are displayed at the store (not sold)
3: Low store display (sales completed): The number of store displays is low (sales completed)
4: Number of storefronts displayed (not sold): Number of items displayed at stores has decreased (not sold)
Then, in the alert notification status log 147 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8B, recording is performed so that the above alert types can be identified.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the storefront inventory table 148 stored in the NAS 118 (storage unit). The store inventory table 148 stores the total inventory 148b of the products 103 displayed in the supermarket 102 in the entire store for each product code 148a, and is rewritten and updated by the store inventory update process (FIG. 10) shown below. Is done.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the store inventory update process. The CPU 131 of the server 117 waits for reception of sales information transmitted from the POS terminal 113 (step S301). This sales information includes various information such as the product code and the quantity of the product 103 traded in the accounting transaction, in addition to the amount information that is transactioned in each POS terminal 113. When it is determined that sales information is received (Y in step S301), the CPU 131 of the server 117 executes a process (not shown) for reflecting the sales information in a sales record database (not shown) stored in the NAS 118. In addition, the store inventory table 148 is accessed, and processing for updating the total inventory quantity 148b is executed for the product indicated by the sales information that the store inventory has been reduced due to the accounting process (step S302). That is, the server 117 also serves as an overall inventory quantity update unit.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of alert processing. In the present embodiment, as an alert process (step S203 in FIG. 6), the CPU 131 of the server 117 first accesses the product display status table 145, and from the RFID reader 122 that has determined reception in step S201 (see FIG. 6). For the product 103 for which the quantity has been changed based on the data, the total number of display stocks of the product 103 in all the product display shelves 109 installed in the supermarket 102 is calculated (step S401).

  Subsequently, the CPU 131 of the server 117 accesses the store inventory table 148 and grasps the total number of items in the supermarket 102 of the product 103 that has been changed in quantity (step S402).

  Subsequently, the CPU 131 of the server 117 calculates the number of unsettled products by subtracting the total number of display stocks calculated in step S401 from the total stocks acquired in step S402 (step S403). That is, the number of unsettled products indicates the quantity of products 103 that have been picked up by the customer 104 from the product display shelf 109 in the supermarket 102 but have not been settled in the POS terminal 113.

  As a subsequent process, the CPU 131 of the server 117 determines whether or not the number of products 103 after the quantity change is equal to or less than the alert value (step S404). The CPU 131 advances the process to step S405 only when determining that the number of products 103 after the quantity change is equal to or less than the alert value (Y in step S404), otherwise ends the alert process and performs the process in step S201. Return to (see FIG. 6).

  Subsequent to Y in step S404, the CPU 131 of the server 117 refers to the alert condition P corresponding to the shelf code of the product display shelf 109 and the product code of the product 103 in the alert condition P stored in the RAM 133. Then, it is determined whether or not the sum of the number of products 103 after the quantity change and the number of unsettled products calculated in step S403 is equal to or less than an alert value defined by the alert condition P (step S405). If the CPU 131 determines that the sum of the number of products 103 after the quantity change and the number of unsettled products is equal to or less than the alert value (Y in step S405), the CPU 131 displays the severe alert code field 146ca defined in the alert condition P. The stored alert code is adopted (step S406), control for transmitting and outputting the notification signal to the wireless access point 119 is performed (step S408), the alert process is terminated, and the process returns to step S201 (see FIG. 6). On the other hand, when it is determined that the sum of the number of products 103 after the quantity change and the number of unsettled products is larger than the alert value (N in step S405), the CPU 131 determines the mild alert code defined in the alert condition P. The alert code stored in the field 146cb is adopted (step S407), control for transmitting and outputting the notification signal to the wireless access point 119 is performed (step S408), the alert processing is terminated, and the processing is advanced to step S201 (see FIG. 6). Return.

  Also in the commodity display quantity management system 101 according to the present embodiment, when the quantity of the commodity 103 displayed on the commodity display shelf 109 is reduced to a stage that affects sales, as in the first embodiment described above. For the first time, the PDA terminal 112 performs a notification operation, and the store clerk only needs to display the product 103 at that stage, thereby improving the efficiency of the product display operation performed by the store clerk.

  Furthermore, according to the product display quantity management system 101 of the present embodiment, when the quantity of the product 103 displayed on the product display shelf 109 is equal to or less than the alert value, a value obtained by adding the number of unsettled products to the quantity is an alert. If it exceeds the value, a different notification signal is transmitted to the wireless access point 119. That is, in such a case, there is a possibility that the customer 104 returns the product 103 to the product display shelf 109, and the urgency that the clerk 106 replenishes the product display shelf 109 with the product is poor. And it becomes easy for a salesclerk to determine the timing which performs the supplement work of goods because PDA terminal 112 performs different information operation according to urgency.

  Next, another embodiment (third embodiment) of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this case, the same parts as those in the first embodiment and the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. The merchandise display quantity management system 101 according to the present embodiment uses the merchandise display shelf 109 to store the total inventory quantity 148b stored in the storefront inventory table 148 updated in accordance with the settlement processing performed at the POS terminal 113 as a settlement unit. This is different from the first embodiment and the second embodiment in that it is regarded as the display inventory number.

  FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a part of the structure of the database stored in the NAS 118 (storage unit) in the third embodiment. In the supermarket 102 of the present embodiment, one type of product 103 is not installed on the plurality of product display shelves 109, and if one product code is determined, a product display shelf on which the product specified by the product code is displayed. It is assumed that the product is displayed so that 109 is determined. The NAS 118 stores a location master 149 that stores the shelf code 149b of the product display shelf 109 specified by the product code 149a in association with the product code 149a.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by the product display quantity management system 101. In the product display quantity management system 101 according to the present embodiment, the CPU 131 of the server 117 activates the product display quantity management program 141 while the device is running and waits for reception of sales information transmitted from the POS terminal 113. (Step S501). As described in the description of the second embodiment, the sales information includes the product code of the product 103 transacted in the accounting transaction and the amount code transacted in the accounting transaction, as well as the amount information transacted in each POS terminal 113. Various information such as quantity is included.

  When it is determined that sales information has been received (Y in step S501), the CPU 131 of the server 117 executes a process (not shown) for reflecting the sales information in a sales record database (not shown) stored in the NAS 118. In addition, a process for updating the product display status table 145 is executed to reflect the data of the display stock quantity of the product 103 whose quantity has changed based on the received sales information (step S502). That is, the server 117 plays a role as a display inventory quantity update unit.

  As a subsequent process, the CPU 131 of the server 117 shifts the process to an alert process (step S503). In step S502, the CPU 131 refers to the location master 149 and acquires the shelf code 149b corresponding to the product code included in the sales information.

  In the present embodiment, the alert process (see FIG. 7) in the first embodiment is employed as the alert process (step S503). In the product display quantity management system 101 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the product display status table 145 is immediately updated in conjunction with the settlement processing at the POS terminal 113 (see FIG. 13). In addition, since it is assumed that the product 103 is displayed only on one product display shelf 109 (see FIG. 12), the number of products 103 displayed on the product display shelf 109 and the total in the supermarket 102 This is because it is not necessary to calculate and compare each of the inventory numbers.

  Also in the merchandise display quantity management system 101 according to the present embodiment, the quantity of the merchandise 103 displayed on the merchandise display shelf 109 affects the sales as in the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above. The notification operation is performed at the PDA terminal 112 for the first time when it is reduced to the exit stage, and the store clerk only has to display the product 103 at that stage, and the efficiency of the product display operation performed by the store clerk can be improved. Furthermore, according to the product display quantity management system 101 of the present embodiment, since it is not necessary to attach the RFID reader 122 to the product display shelf 109, it is easy to introduce it into the supermarket 102.

  In the embodiment described so far, the case where the PDA terminal 112 is used as the notification terminal has been described. As another embodiment, the POS terminal 113 is used as a notification terminal, and an alert is displayed on a display (not shown) of the POS terminal 113 as a notification operation. You may make it recognize the decrease of the goods 103 of.

101 Merchandise display quantity management system 102 Supermarket (store)
109 Product display shelf (display section)
112 PDA terminal (notification terminal)
113 POS terminal (settlement department)
117 server (system control unit, overall information update unit, display inventory quantity update unit)
119 Wireless access point (signal output unit)
121 RFID tag 121b Identification code 122 RFID reader 141 Product display quantity management program

JP 2006-202147 A

Claims (5)

An RFID reader that reads information stored in an RFID tag of each product displayed in the display unit;
A POS terminal that executes payment for products and outputs sales information;
A notification terminal that performs a notification operation based on the input notification signal;
A server connected to the RFID reader, the POS terminal and the notification terminal via a communication network,
The server calculates a display inventory quantity for each type of product based on information read by the RFID reader;
Means for calculating the total number of stocks for each type of product in the store based on the information received from the POS terminal ;
Means for calculating the number of unsettled products at a store by subtracting the number of displayed inventory from the total inventory number;
Means for outputting the notification signal corresponding to a severe alert or a minor alert based on the number of displayed inventory and the number of unsettled goods;
A product display quantity management system. The means for outputting the notification signal is based on whether or not a total of the display inventory quantity and the number of unsettled goods is equal to or less than a predetermined alert value when the display inventory quantity satisfies a predetermined alert condition. , Outputting the notification signal corresponding to a severe alert or a mild alert ,
The product display quantity management system according to claim 1. The means for outputting the notification signal outputs the notification signal corresponding to a severe alert when the sum of the number of display stocks and the number of unsettled products is equal to or less than a predetermined alert value,
When the sum of the number of displayed stock and the number of unsettled products exceeds a predetermined alert value, the notification signal corresponding to a mild alert is output .
The merchandise display quantity management system according to claim 2. Means for calculating a display inventory quantity for each type of product based on information read by an RFID reader connected via a communication network;
  Means for calculating the total inventory quantity for each kind of product in the store based on information received from a POS terminal connected via a communication network;
  Means for calculating the number of unsettled products at a store by subtracting the number of displayed inventory from the total inventory number;
  Based on the number of displayed inventory and the number of unsettled goods, means for outputting the notification signal corresponding to a severe alert or a minor alert to a notification terminal connected via a communication network;
  A server with An RFID reader that reads information stored in the RFID tag of each product displayed in the display unit, performs settlement related to the product, performs a notification operation based on a POS terminal that outputs sales information and an input notification signal A control program for controlling a server connected to a notification terminal via a communication network by a computer,
  The computer,
  Based on the information read by the RFID reader, means for calculating the number of display inventory for each type of product;
  Means for calculating the total inventory quantity for each kind of product in the store based on information received from a POS terminal connected via a communication network;
  Means for calculating the number of unsettled products at a store by subtracting the number of displayed inventory from the total inventory number;
  Based on the number of displayed inventory and the number of unsettled goods, means for outputting the notification signal corresponding to a severe alert or a minor alert to a notification terminal connected via a communication network;
  Control program to function.

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