JP5770708B2 - Information processing device - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an information processing apparatus.

  Conventionally, there is a customer service terminal used by a store clerk for customer service in a face-to-face sales store. As such a customer service terminal, for example, there is a terminal for registering information such as a name and a contact address heard from a customer.

  The customer service terminal as described above is used only for the convenience of the store clerk, and is not used for other purposes even when the store clerk does not use it.

The information processing apparatus according to the embodiment includes a main body portion and a stationary holding portion that detachably holds the main body portion. The main body unit is a portable and plate-like terminal device, and includes a display unit that displays an image, a touch panel, a determination unit, a transmission / reception unit, and a switching unit. The touch panel is arranged so as to overlap the display unit, and accepts an operation corresponding to the image displayed on the display unit. The determination unit determines whether the main body is held by the holding unit. The transmission / reception unit transmits / receives electrical signals to / from a server separate from the holding unit. Switching means, wherein the body portion is determined the determining means as not being held in the holding section Then, the stored operation image in the storage unit is displayed on the display unit, the main body portion is held by the holding unit If the determination means determines that the image is received, a signage image for streaming distribution received as a response to the reproduction start instruction transmitted to the server via the transmission / reception unit is displayed on the display unit . The holder keeps the image viewable display unit in a predetermined direction by the main body portion of the hold state.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating how to use the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration and an electrical connection of the customer service terminal, the cradle, and the signage server according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an image switching operation of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating how to use the information processing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment. The information processing apparatus 100 includes a customer service terminal 1 and a cradle 2. The customer service terminal 1 is an example of a main body. The cradle 2 is an example of a holding unit. The cradle 2 is preferably installed in a place where it can be easily touched by customers, for example, on a counter in a store.

The customer service terminal 1 includes a display 12, a touch panel 13, and a housing 16 that holds the display 12 and the touch panel 13.
The customer service terminal 1 displays an operation image for customer service on the display 12 in a state where it is not held by the cradle 2, that is, in a portable state. The operation image for customer service in the portable state of FIG. 1 is an image used by the store clerk for customer service as a customer clerk. The operation image for customer service is, for example, an image used for registering information such as a name and a contact address heard from a customer.

  The customer service terminal 1 displays a signage image on the display 12 while being held in the cradle 2. The signage image is an image for advertisement, and is an image for targeting customers, for example, advertising information for new products, guidance information for nearby stores, and the like. The signage image for advertisement is received from the signage server 3.

  The signage server 3 is a server that manages content to be used as advertisement signage images. When the signage server 3 receives the reproduction start instruction from the customer service terminal 1, the signage server 3 performs streaming distribution of the content, and when receiving the reproduction stop instruction from the customer service terminal 1, the signage server 3 stops the distribution. The signage server 3 may distribute the content to other devices of the customer service terminal 1.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating configurations and electrical connections of the customer service terminal 1, the cradle 2, and the signage server 3 according to the embodiment. The customer service terminal 1 includes a control unit 11, a transmission / reception unit 14, and a power-supplied unit 15 in addition to the above-described units (the display 12, the touch panel 13, and the housing 16 (see FIG. 1)). The cradle 2 includes a power feeding unit 21. The power supply unit 21 is an example of a power supply unit. The signage server 3 includes a control unit 31, a content storage unit 32, and a transmission / reception unit 33.

The control unit 11 includes a CPU (not shown), a RAM, and a storage unit such as a ROM and an HDD, and the CPU reads the program stored in the storage unit into the RAM and executes the program (display 12, display, etc.). The touch panel 13, the transmission / reception unit 14, and the power-supplied unit 15) are collectively controlled. The control unit 11 functions as an example of a determination unit and a switching unit by executing a program.
The housing 16 houses the above-described units (the control unit 11, the display 12, the touch panel 13, the transmission / reception unit 14, and the power-supplied unit 15).

  The display 12 is an example of a display unit, and is a liquid crystal panel, for example, and displays an operation image for customer service, a signage image for advertisement, and the like. The touch panel 13 is an example of an operation accepting unit, and is placed on the display 12 and accepts an operation corresponding to an image (for example, an operation image for customer service or an advertisement signage image) displayed on the display 12. For example, if an operation sign such as a hyperlink to another web page is included in the advertising signage image, the touch panel 13 receives an operation for selecting the operation mark. The transmission / reception unit 14 transmits / receives electrical signals to / from the transmission / reception unit 33 of the signage server 3.

The power supply unit 15 of the customer service terminal 1 and the power supply unit 21 of the cradle 2 are each provided with a terminal (not shown). The terminal of the power-supplied part 15 is provided at the lower edge part of the housing 16. The terminal of the power feeding unit 21 is provided at a position where the lower edge of the housing 16 of the cradle 2 contacts.
The terminals are paired on the power supply unit 15 side and the power supply unit 21 side. In the state where the customer service terminal 1 is held by the cradle 2, power is supplied from the power supply unit 21 to the power supplied unit 15. With the power supply, the customer service terminal 1 may be charged in preparation for a portable operation. The control unit 11 of the customer service terminal 1 determines whether or not the customer service terminal 1 is held by the cradle 2 based on the energized state between the terminals (here, a determination unit is realized).

The control unit 31 of the signage server 3 includes a CPU (not shown), a RAM, and storage means such as a ROM and an HDD, and the CPU reads the program stored in the storage means into the RAM and executes the content storage. The unit 32 and the transmission / reception unit 33 are collectively controlled.
The content storage unit 32 stores content to be distributed to the customer service terminal 1 and other devices. The transmission / reception unit 33 controls content distribution and distribution stop according to various instruction signals received from the transmission / reception unit 14 of the customer service terminal 1.

In such a configuration, the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment switches between a service operation image and a signage image for advertisement depending on whether or not the customer service terminal 1 is held in the cradle 2. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an image switching operation.
First, when the control unit 11 of the customer service terminal 1 displays an operation image for customer service on the display 12 (step S1), when power is supplied to the power-supplied unit 15, the casing 16 is moved to the cradle 2. It is determined that the state is held (determination means) (Yes in step S2). And the control part 11 transmits a reproduction | regeneration start instruction | indication with respect to the signage server 3 via the transmission / reception part 14 (step S3), receives a content from the signage server 3, and reproduces | regenerates a content (step S4). When reproducing the content, the control unit 11 switches the image to be displayed on the display 12 from the operation image for customer service to the signage image for advertisement (here, a switching unit is realized).

The control unit 11 periodically checks whether or not the housing 16 is held in the cradle 2 during content reproduction (step S5). While the casing 16 is held by the cradle 2 (No in step S5), the reception of the content and the reproduction of the content are continued. If the housing 16 is not held by the cradle 2 (Yes in step S5), the control unit 11 transmits a reproduction stop instruction to the signage server 3 (step S6), returns the process to step S1, and returns to the display 12. An operation image for customer service is displayed (switching means).
In addition, when it determines with the control part 11 being in the state where the housing | casing 16 is not hold | maintained at the cradle 2 in step S2 (No of step S2), a process is returned to step S1 and the display of the operation image for customer service is performed. Continue.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the customer service terminal 1 is not used by the store clerk, the signage image for advertisement can be displayed on the customer service terminal 1 by holding it in the cradle 2. Thereby, the opportunity of throwing information to a customer can be increased. Moreover, the idle time of the customer service terminal 1 can be utilized effectively.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the customer service terminal 1 is held by the cradle 2 based on the energization state between the terminal of the power supply unit 21 and the terminal of the power supplied unit 15. However, in implementation, it may be determined whether or not the customer service terminal 1 is held in the cradle 2 by another method. Moreover, although the cradle 2 of this embodiment is provided with the function to supply electric power to the service terminal 1, in implementation, the cradle 2 does not need to be provided with an electric power feeding function.

  As another determination method for determining whether or not the customer service terminal 1 is held in the cradle 2, for example, a detection unit is provided in the cradle 2, while a detection unit is provided in the customer service terminal 1 and the detection unit is covered. By detecting the detection unit, it may be determined that the customer service terminal 1 is held in the cradle 2.

  In the present embodiment, the display of the advertising signage image in a state where the customer service terminal 1 is held by the cradle 2 has been described. However, in the implementation, the customer service terminal 1 is not held by the cradle 2 and the customer service is displayed. An advertisement signage image may also be displayed when a predetermined operation is performed on the terminal 1 or when the customer service terminal 1 is not operated for a predetermined time.

  In the present embodiment, an operation image for customer service, which is an example of an operation image, is described, and an advertisement signage image, which is an example of a signage image, is described. However, in the implementation, the operation image is not limited to customer service. It may be used for other purposes, and the signage image may be used for other purposes as well as for advertising.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Information processing apparatus 1 ... Customer service terminal 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Display, 13 ... Touch panel, 14 ... Transmission / reception part,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 ... Power supplied part, 16 ... Housing | casing 2 ... Cradle 21 ... Power feeding part 3 ... Signage server 31 ... Control part, 32 ... Content storage part, 33 ... Transmission / reception part

JP 2003-108854 A

Claims (5)

An information processing apparatus having a main body part and a stationary holding part that detachably holds the main body part,
The main body is a plate-like terminal device that is portable and operable,
A display for displaying an image;
A touch panel arranged on the display unit and receiving an operation corresponding to the image displayed on the display unit;
Determination means for determining whether or not the main body portion is held by the holding portion;
A transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving electrical signals to / from a server separate from the holding unit;
The determination means determines that the main body portion is not held in the holding section Then, the operation image stored in the storage unit is displayed on the display unit, the said body portion is held by the holding portion Switching means for displaying a signage image of streaming distribution received as a response to the playback start instruction transmitted to the server via the transmission / reception unit when the determination unit determines ,
The holding unit, an information processing apparatus characterized by keeping the image viewable in the display unit by the main body portion of the hold state in a predetermined orientation. The main body portion and the holding portion each have a pair of terminals that are provided to each other,
2. The information processing according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the main body portion is held by the holding portion based on an energization state between the terminals forming a pair of the main body portion and the holding portion. apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the holding unit includes a power feeding unit that supplies power to the main body through the terminal. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation receiving unit receives an operation corresponding to the signage image when the display unit displays the signage image. The switching means is in a state where the main body portion is not held by the holding portion and a predetermined operation is performed on the operation receiving portion, or when the operation receiving portion is not operated for a predetermined time. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signage image is displayed on a display unit.

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