JP6799905B2 - Store management device and its control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a store management device and a control method thereof.

In electronics stores, supermarkets, department stores, etc., a wide variety of products of the same type are generally sold by various manufacturers. The consumer decides which product to buy from among them. The judgment criteria generally differ from customer to customer, such as price, design, and performance.

Patent Document 1 describes a product comparison information display system that displays the contents of each spec item of a plurality of products in a list and utilizes the superiority of the spec items when displaying the list. An IC tag is attached to the product, and the ID of the IC tag is read by a data processing terminal installed in the store. In the data storage unit of the data processing terminal, the contents of a plurality of spec items and data indicating their superiority are stored together with the ID. When displaying the contents of the spec items of multiple products in a list, the display order of the products is sorted according to the data showing the superiority.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-83771

However, some consumers value price, while others value design over price. The spec items that are important when selecting products are not necessarily the same for all consumers and are not fixed. Arranging products in the order of superiority does not necessarily lead to appropriate suggestions or advice to consumers when selecting products.

In addition, some consumers may visit multiple stores and compare the prices of the same product for each store. If the clerk can understand what kind of product the consumer who visits multiple stores is looking for and from what point of view, the clerk can easily introduce the product and give advice to the consumer. Furthermore, for example, if the existence of a product that has not yet been considered by the consumer is known, the product can be proposed (introduced) to the consumer, and the chances of having the product purchased increase.

An object of the present invention is to make it easier to propose a product to a consumer who is considering a product to be purchased.

The store management device according to the present invention is a first reception that receives other store product information about one or more comparative products sold at other stores compared on the user terminal, which is transmitted from the user terminal. Means, first storage means for storing own store product information about a plurality of products sold in own store, sold at own store based on other store product information received by the first receiving means. At least one of the own store product information about the same product as the above comparison product and the own store product information about the product sold at the own store that is different from the above comparison product and similar to the above comparison product. It includes an extraction means for extracting from the first storage means, and a first transmission means for transmitting the own store product information extracted by the extraction means to a clerk terminal.

The control method of the store management device according to the present invention is the other store product information about one or more comparative products sold at other stores compared on the user terminal, which is transmitted from the user terminal by the receiving means. Is received, and based on the other store product information received by the receiving means by the extraction means, the own store product information about a plurality of products sold at the own store stored in the storage means is used. Own store product information for the same products as the above comparison products sold at the store, and own store product information for products sold at the own store that are different from the above comparison products and similar to the above comparison products. At least one of the above is extracted, and the product information of the own store is transmitted to the clerk terminal by the transmission means.

Product comparisons are made using user terminals. The product information of the comparison product is input to the user terminal.

In the present invention, stores are classified into two types: other stores and own stores. It means that the sales organization (company) is different between the other store and the own store. When comparing products sold at other stores by visiting other stores, other store product information about the comparison product is input to the user terminal.

In one embodiment, the user terminal is an IC (Integrated Circuit) tag in which product identification data and product information including a plurality of specification items included in the product identified by the product identification data and data representing the contents thereof are stored. An IC tag reader that reads product information from is provided. By bringing the user terminal closer to the IC tag, product information of other stores can be input to the user terminal.

If the number of specification items is large, the selection of some of the specification items may be accepted, and other store product information for some of the selected specification items may be input to the user terminal. Of the many specification items, the specification items that the user of the user terminal pays attention to and their contents can be input to the user terminal.

According to the present invention, the own store product information and / or the products sold at the own store are different from the above comparative products and similar to the above comparative products for the same products as the above comparative products sold at the own store. Since the product information of the own store about the product is sent to the clerk terminal, the clerk can grasp the product that the user is comparing and considering, and smoothly informs the user of the product that was not considered at other stores. Can make suggestions (introductions). It is possible to facilitate the promotion of products to users who visit their own stores.

Preferably, the transmission means transmits the product information including both the other store product information and the own store product information to the clerk terminal. Since other store product information about one or more comparison products sold at other stores compared on the user terminal is transmitted to the clerk terminal, the clerk terminal can be used to check which products are compared at other stores. The clerk who owns it can grasp it.

Preferably, the first receiving means receives the other store product information transmitted from the user terminal and the image information of the user of the user terminal, and the store management device is the above. A second storage means for storing other store product information and user image information in association with each other, and a second transmission means for transmitting a plurality of user image information stored in the second storage means to the clerk terminal. , And a second receiving means for receiving data specifying any of the plurality of user image information transmitted from the clerk terminal, and the extracting means is provided by the first receiving means. Of the other store product information received, the other store product information stored in the second storage means in association with the user image information specified by the specific data received by the second receiving means. It is used to extract the product information of the own store. A plurality of user images can be displayed on the clerk terminal, and the own store product information about the product compared by the user selected from the images can be transmitted to the clerk terminal.

In another embodiment, the other store product information includes the other store product selling price, and the own store product information includes the own store product selling price. The clerk can know whether or not he / she can compete with other stores in terms of price.

In one embodiment, the other store product information includes ranking data for each of one or more comparative products. The ranking data is input by the user using the user terminal. When a plurality of comparison products are compared, the clerk can know which of the products the user of the user terminal is interested in.

Preferably, the extraction means extracts the own store product information of the high-ranking products among the same products as the comparison products from the storage means. When there are a plurality of comparison products, the store clerk can be shown information about the comparison products that he / she wants to purchase.

In another embodiment, the other store product information includes one or more comparison specification items, and each of the comparison specification items includes either positive evaluation data or negative evaluation data. The positive evaluation data and the negative evaluation data are input by the user using the user terminal. The clerk can grasp which of the multiple specification items of the product the user places importance on.

Preferably, the extraction means extracts a product different from the comparative product and similar to the comparative product from the products having the same or higher specifications for the comparative specification item including the positive evaluation data. .. As a result, the clerk is informed of products having specifications equal to or higher than those of the specification items that the user places importance on. It is possible to recommend to users products that are not compared at other stores and are likely to be purchased.

The store management device according to the second invention receives product information (other store product information, own store product information) about one or more comparative products compared on the user terminal, which is transmitted from the user terminal. A receiving means, a storage means for storing the above-mentioned product information transmitted from a plurality of user terminals, and a counting means for totaling the number of comparisons of each of one or a plurality of comparison products based on the product information stored in the above-mentioned storage means. , And a graph data creation means for creating graph data representing the number of comparisons for each comparison product aggregated by the above aggregation means. It is possible to analyze which product many users are highly interested in.

The overall configuration of the product proposal system is shown. An example of the data stored in the memory of the IC tag is shown. It is a flowchart which shows the processing flow of a user terminal. The comparison specification item check screen is shown. Shows how the comparison table is displayed. The comparison table with the comparison specification items added for multiple individual products is shown. It is a flowchart which shows each process of a user terminal, a store terminal, a store management server and a clerk terminal. Shows the product information database. Shows the screen for the clerk including the proposal table. The user image list screen is shown. It is a graph which shows the number of times of each comparison of the compared individual products.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the product proposal system.

The product proposal system is composed of a user (consumer) terminal 1, a clerk terminal 2, a store management server computer 3 (hereinafter referred to as a store management server 3), and a store terminal 6.

The user terminal 1 is used by a user (consumer) who compares (contrasts) products, and is, for example, a smartphone. The user terminal 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, a storage device, a communication device, an IC (Integrated Circuit) tag reader, a display device, and the like. As will be described later, on the display screen of the display device of the user terminal 1, the product names, specification items, their contents, prices, etc. of a plurality of products that the user is comparing and examining are displayed in a list. The user looks at the list displayed on the display screen of the user terminal 1, compares and examines the specifications of a plurality of products, and decides the product to be purchased.

The clerk terminal 2 is used by a clerk of a store that sells products, and is, for example, a tablet terminal. The clerk terminal 2 also includes a CPU, a memory, a storage device, a communication device, a display device, and the like. As will be described later, on the display screen of the display device of the clerk terminal 2, in addition to the product names, specification items and their contents, prices, etc. of a plurality of products that the user has compared and examined at other stores (other store product information). , The product name, specification item and its contents, price, etc. (own store product information) of the same product or related product sold by the own store to which the clerk belongs are additionally displayed. The clerk can check the products, specifications, etc. that the user is comparing and examining by looking at the display on the display screen of the clerk terminal 2, and also can propose the product to be proposed to the user (handling of the store). You can check the product).

As will be described later, the store management server 3 determines (selects, extracts) the above-mentioned proposed product, and executes a process of transmitting information about the proposed product to the clerk terminal 2. The store management server 3 also includes a CPU, a memory, a storage device, a communication device, and the like. According to the programs and data stored in the storage device, the store management server 3 executes the above-mentioned determination process of the proposed product and the like.

The store terminal 6 is installed at the entrance of the store, and is used to input product names, specification items, contents, prices, etc. (comparison table data described later) of a plurality of products that the user is comparing and examining. Used for. The store terminal 6 is provided with a short-range communication device 8, and when the user brings the user terminal 1 close to the short-range communication device 8 of the store terminal 6, the comparison table data is read from the user terminal 1. It is transmitted to the store terminal 6. In addition, the store terminal 6 also includes an image pickup device 7 that captures a facial photograph of a user using the store terminal 6.

IC (Integrated Circuit) tags (RF (Radio Frequency) tags) are fixed to the products sold in stores. FIG. 1 shows how the IC tags 5a, 5b, ..., 5n are fixed to each of the plurality of flat-screen TVs 4a, 4b, ..., 4n, respectively.

FIG. 2 shows an example of data stored in the memory of the IC tag.

Data representing the same type of product identification information, individual product identification information, and individual product specification information is stored in the memory of the IC tag.

"Similar product identification information" is information that comprehensively identifies (identifies) a plurality of individual products, and for example, the same type product name "LCD TV" can be used. Of course, the same type of product may be identified by other identification data (similar product identification data) such as a number and a code.

The "individual product identification information" is information that identifies (identifies) each of the individual products. For example, the individual product name "TV1" can be used, whereby a plurality of flat-screen TVs 4a, 4b, ..., 4n can be used. Of these, for example, a flat-screen television 4a is specified. Of course, individual products may be identified by a product number or the like given by the manufacturer of the flat-screen TV.

"Individual product specification information" represents a plurality of specification items provided by individual products and their contents. For flat-screen TVs, the specification items include "screen size", "resolution", "number of output terminals", "number of tuners", "presence / absence of recording function", "presence / absence of network function", "power consumption", "Price" etc. are included. Details will be described later, but one or more of the multiple specification items provided by the individual products are used as items (comparison specification items) to be compared when the user selects a specific individual product from the same type of products. Be done.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the user terminal 1.

First, the product comparison application (program) stored in the storage device of the user terminal 1 is started (step 11). The operation of the user terminal 1 described below is a process according to this product comparison application.

The user brings the user terminal 1 closer to the individual product that is being considered for purchase among the individual products displayed in the store. As described above, the IC tags 5a to 5n are fixed to the individual products. Further, as described above, the user terminal 1 is provided with an IC tag reader. The data (see FIG. 2) stored in the IC tags 5a to 5n fixed to the individual products is read by the user terminal 1 and stored in the memory or storage device included in the user terminal 1 (step 12). ..

The information read from the IC tags 5a to 5n includes similar product identification information, individual product identification information, and individual product specification information. The user terminal 1 creates and displays a comparison specification item check screen using the information read from the IC tag (step 13).

FIG. 4 shows an example of the comparison specification item check screen W1. The comparison specification item check screen W1 includes the same type of product identification information (LCD TV), specification items (its name) (screen size, resolution, etc.) included in the individual product specification information, and a set of check boxes. When comparing and examining a plurality of individual products, which specification item is emphasized is selected (checked) using this comparison specification item check screen W1 (step 14). The comparison specification item check screen W1 is used to select a part of the plurality of specification items read from the IC tag.

When the comparison specification item is selected using the comparison specification item check screen W1 with reference to FIG. 5, the same type of product name (LCD TV), the ranking column, the individual product name, the store name, the comparison specification item name and its contents, The screen W2 including the comparison table W2a including the price and the like is displayed on the display screen of the user terminal 1.

The store name (“Kawada Electric” in FIG. 5) included in the comparison table W2a is the name of the store where the user is comparing products. The store name may be entered by the user, or the current location is specified by using the GPS function or the like provided in the user terminal 1, and the store name (for example, the electric store name) is identified by the specified current location (for example, latitude and longitude). ) May be entered automatically. Of course, the store name may be stored in the IC tag.

Further, the rank column included in the comparison table W2a includes a rank input field W2b. In the rank input field W2b, a number indicating the rank is input by the user at an arbitrary timing using a drop-down list (step 19).

A drop-down list is also provided for each comparison specification item. The drop-down list of comparison specification items is the evaluation input field W2c, in which either "+" or "-" is input. When the user's evaluation is high, "+" (plus evaluation) is input, and when the user's evaluation is low, "-" (minus evaluation) is input by the user at any time. (Step 19).

Next, the user brings the user terminal 1 closer to another individual product. Similar to the above, the same type of product identification information, individual product identification information, and individual product specification information are read from the IC tag fixed to the individual product to which the user terminal 1 is approached, and the user terminal 1 reads out the same type product identification information, the individual product identification information, and the individual product specification information. Read (step 15).

Here, the same-type product identification information read from the IC tag is used to determine whether or not the products are comparable products of the same type (step 16). For example, if the same type product identification information read first (in step 12) is "LCD TV" and then the same type product identification information read (in step 15) is also "LCD TV", then the same type product identification Since the information is the same, we will proceed to the next process (YES in step 16). However, if the same-type product identification information read first (in step 12) is "LCD TV" and the same-type product identification information read in step 15 is, for example, "refrigerator", the same-type product identification information does not match. In this case, the user terminal 1 executes a predetermined process (NO in step 16, step 17). For example, a message instructing the user to bring the user terminal 1 closer to the same type of product can be displayed on the display screen of the user terminal 1. Of course, you may create another comparison table for the refrigerator.

When the same type of product identification information matches, the user terminal displays a comparison screen that includes a comparison table with data including ranking column, individual product name, store name, comparison specification item name and its contents, price, etc. for new individual products. It is displayed on the display screen of 1 (step 18).

FIG. 6 shows a comparison table W2a in which product information for a plurality of individual products is added.

In the comparison table W2a shown in FIG. 6, the user compares the four TV1, TV2, TV3 and TV4 with Kawada Electric (the user terminal 1 is brought closer to the IC tag), and further, the Seeds Denki also uses TV1, TV2, TV3 and It shows the state when four of TV4 are compared. The user can look at the comparison table W2a and consider the products to be purchased and the stores where they are sold.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of each of the user terminal 1, the store terminal 6, the store management server 3, and the clerk terminal 2.

As described above, in the product proposal system, the product names, specification items and their contents, prices, etc. of a plurality of products that the user is comparing and examining are displayed on the display screen of the display device of the clerk terminal 2 (other store product information). Is displayed, and in addition to this, the product name, specification item and its contents, price, etc. of the competing product sold by the own store, which is a store different from the store (other store) where the product comparison was performed by the user, etc. (Own store product information) is displayed. The clerk can check the products, specifications, etc. that the user is comparing and examining by looking at the display on the display screen of the clerk terminal 2, and can propose (promote) the product to the user. You can check.

First, the data representing the above-mentioned comparison table is transmitted from the user terminal 1 to the store terminal 6 (step 21). For example, when the user terminal 1 is held over the short-range communication device 8 of the store terminal 6, the comparison table data (FIG. 6) stored in the storage device of the user terminal 1 is read from the user terminal 1. It is transmitted to the store terminal 6.

The store terminal 6 that has received the comparison table data activates the image pickup device 7 and takes an image of the user holding the user terminal 1 (steps 22 and 23). The comparison table data read from the user terminal 1 and the user image data obtained by the image pickup apparatus 7 are associated with each other.

The comparison table data and the user image data are transmitted from the store terminal 6 to the store management server 3 (step 24). When the store management server 3 receives the comparison table data and the user image data, it extracts (selects, determines) the products to be proposed to the user among the products sold at its own store, and for the clerk including the extracted products. Proceed to the data creation process (steps 25, 26, 27). The created clerk data is transmitted from the store management server 3 to the clerk terminal 2 and received by the clerk terminal 2, and the clerk screen is displayed on the display screen of the clerk terminal 2 (steps 28, 29, 30).

FIG. 8 shows the product information database 3A stored in the storage device included in the store management server 3.

With reference to FIG. 8, the product information database 3A contains product information including product names, store names, a plurality of specification items and their contents, prices, etc., for each of a large number of products sold at the own store. Own store product information) is stored. On the clerk screen, there is a proposal table W3 in which the own store product information about the proposed product selected by the store management server 3 is added to the comparison table (FIG. 6) represented by the comparison table data created by the user. Is displayed. FIG. 9 shows a proposal table W3 to which the own store product information (highlighted in bold) for TV1, TV2 and TV5 is added.

The proposed product selected by the store management server 3 added to the proposal table W3 can be, for example, a product with a high rank included in the comparison table W2a. In the comparison table W2a shown in FIG. 6, four individual products TV1, TV2, TV3 and TV4 are compared and examined at two stores (Kawada Electric and Seeds Denki). Of the four comparative products TV1, TV2, TV3 and TV4 included in the comparison table W2a, the comparative products with the highest ranking given by the user, for example, the same products as the two comparative products of TV1 and TV2, are self-contained. Own store product information at the store (here, "VIC camera") is added. Needless to say, since the products are the same, the product names and specifications of the added own store product information are the same as the product names and specifications included in the product information of other stores (Kawada Electric, Seeds Denki). As for the price, the selling price at the own store (VIC camera) will be shown. As the own store product information added to the proposal table W3, the own store product information (FIG. 8) stored in advance in the product information database 3A provided in the store management server 3 is used.

Not only the same products as the comparison products included in the comparison table W2a, but also the products not included in the comparison table W2a can be extracted as the proposed products, and the own store product information about the proposed products can be added. The own store product information about TV5, which is not included in the comparison table W2a shown in FIG. 6, is added to the proposal table W3 shown in FIG. For example, it is an individual product that is not included in the comparison table W2a, and has specifications equivalent to or higher than those of the specifications that the user positively evaluates (that is, higher grade specifications). A product can be extracted (selected) by the store management server 3 as a proposed product, and own store product information about the extracted product can be added. If a large number of proposed products are extracted by the above logic, products that are similar to the individual products included in the comparison table W2a (for example, the contents of multiple comparison specification items are the same) may be extracted. Alternatively, products with specifications that are too high in grade may be excluded from the proposed products.

Further, the user image W4 acquired by the image pickup device 7 of the store terminal 6 is displayed on the store clerk screen. As a result, even if there are multiple users in the LCD TV section, for example, the screen for the clerk can compare which individual product is being compared by focusing on what viewpoint (specification) at which store. The clerk can grasp by looking at it. Since the product information about TV5, which has not been examined by the user, is also displayed in the proposal table W3, the product can be introduced to the user, and the chance of having the product purchased increases.

In the above-described processing, when the user terminal 1 is held over the storefront terminal 6, the proposal table W3 (FIG. 9) is displayed on the display screen of the clerk terminal 2. Of course, the instruction by the clerk using the clerk terminal 2 may be received, and the proposal table W3 may be created on the store management server 3 when the instruction is given.

For example, the comparison table data and the user image data acquired by the store terminal 6 are stored in the storage device of the store management server 3 for a predetermined time (for example, 1 hour). Then, when the store clerk terminal 2 makes an inquiry to the store management server 3, the user images of the users who visited the store within a predetermined time stored in the storage device of the store management server 3 are displayed in a list. Create a user image list screen and send it to the clerk terminal 2. FIG. 10 shows an example of the user image list screen W5. When any user image is selected from the user image list screen W5 displayed on the clerk terminal 2, the comparison table data corresponding to the selected user image is used (as described above). The comparison table data and the user image data are related to each other), and the store management server 3 may create data representing the proposal table W3.

In the above-described embodiment, the comparison table data read from the user terminal 1 is used to create the proposal table W3 displayed on the display screen of the clerk terminal 2, but the comparison table data of a plurality of users is stored in the storage device. It is also possible to analyze how many users are interested in which product by memorizing and accumulating it in.

FIG. 11 is a list of which individual products were focused (compared) within a predetermined period (for example, one week) using the comparison table data read from the user terminals 1 of a plurality of users. The bar graph W6 shown in the above is shown. The bar graph is a total of the number of comparisons for each individual product (the number of times the user terminal 1 is brought closer to the IC tag fixed to the individual product). The longer the bar graph, the more users compare and examine it. Indicates that the product is a product. The comparison table data can be used to grasp the products that are attracting attention by users, although they have not yet been sold in reality. The comparison table data used to create the bar graph may include not only products of other stores but also products of own store, and the bar graph may be aggregated data of only own store.

1 User terminal 2 Clerk terminal 3 Store management server / computer (store management device)
3A Product information database 6 Over-the-counter terminal

Claims (5)

A first receiving means for receiving other store product information about one or more comparative products sold at other stores compared on the user terminal, which is transmitted from the user terminal.
A first storage means for storing own store product information about a plurality of products sold in the own store,
Extraction means for extracting own store product information about the same product as the comparative product sold at the own store from the first storage means based on the other store product information received by the first receiving means. , And a first transmission means for transmitting the own store product information extracted by the above extraction means to the clerk terminal.
The other store product information includes ranking data and one or more comparison specification items for each of one or more comparison products, and each of the above comparison specification items includes either positive evaluation data or negative evaluation data. Cage,
The extraction means extracts the own store product information of the high-ranking products among the same products as the comparison products from the first storage means, and the products different from the comparison products and similar to the comparison products. the self-shop product information state, and are not extracted from the product with an equivalent or more specifications for comparative specification item containing the positive evaluation data,
Other store product information about one or more comparison products sold at other stores compared on each of the plurality of user terminals, and sold at own store compared on each of the plurality of user terminals. A second storage means for accumulating own store product information about one or more comparative products.
An aggregation means that aggregates the number of comparisons within a predetermined period for each comparison product using at least one of the other store product information and the own store product information stored in the second storage means, and an aggregation means.
Comparison count display data creation means for creating data for displaying the number of comparisons for a predetermined period for each comparison product aggregated by the above aggregation means,
Is further equipped,
Store management device. The first transmission means is to transmit the product information including both the other store product information and the own store product information to the clerk terminal.
The store management device according to claim 1. The first receiving means receives the other store product information transmitted from the user terminal and the image information of the user of the user terminal.
A third storage means for storing the above-mentioned other store product information and user image information in association with each other.
Any of the second transmission means for transmitting the plurality of user image information stored in the third storage means to the clerk terminal and the plurality of user image information transmitted from the clerk terminal. Further provided with a second receiving means for receiving the data to identify the image.
The extraction means is associated with the user image information specified by the specific data received by the second receiving means among the other store product information received by the first receiving means, and is associated with the third third . The product information of other stores stored in the storage means is used to extract the product information of the own store.
The store management device according to claim 1. The above-mentioned other store product information includes the other store selling price, and the above own store product information includes the own store selling price.
The store management device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The receiving means receives the other store product information including the other store selling price for one or more comparative products sold at the other stores compared on the user terminal, which is transmitted from the user terminal.
Based on the other store product information received by the extraction means, the above comparison sold at the own store from the own store product information about multiple products sold at the own store stored in the storage means. Extract the own store product information including the own store selling price for the same product as the product,
It is a control method of a store management device that transmits own store product information to a clerk terminal by a transmission means.
The other store product information includes ranking data and one or more comparison specification items for each of one or more comparison products, and each of the above comparison specification items includes either positive evaluation data or negative evaluation data. Cage,
The extraction means extracts the own store product information of the high-ranked products among the same products as the comparison products from the storage means, and own stores for products different from the comparison products and similar to the comparison products. product information state, and are not to be extracted from the product with an equivalent or more specifications for comparative specification item containing the positive evaluation data,
Other store product information about one or more comparison products sold at other stores compared on each of the plurality of user terminals, and sold at the own store compared on the plurality of user terminals. Stores own store product information for one or more comparison products in the storage device,
The number of comparisons within a predetermined period is totaled for each comparison product using at least one of the other store product information and the own store product information stored in the storage device by the counting means.
By the comparison count display data creation means, data for displaying the comparison count for a predetermined period for each of the above aggregated comparison products is created.
How to control the store management device.

Images