US20230061868A1 - Control method, communication terminal, non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, and information providing method - Google Patents

Control method, communication terminal, non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, and information providing method Download PDF

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Publication number
US20230061868A1
US20230061868A1 US18/053,810 US202218053810A US2023061868A1 US 20230061868 A1 US20230061868 A1 US 20230061868A1 US 202218053810 A US202218053810 A US 202218053810A US 2023061868 A1 US2023061868 A1 US 2023061868A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
information
user
communication terminal
vending machine
preference
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US18/053,810
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English (en)
Inventor
Hiroshi Yahata
Takahiro Nishi
Tadamasa Toma
Toshiyasu Sugio
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Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
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Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
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Assigned to PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD. reassignment PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: NISHI, TAKAHIRO, SUGIO, TOSHIYASU, TOMA, TADAMASA, YAHATA, HIROSHI
Publication of US20230061868A1 publication Critical patent/US20230061868A1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G06Q30/0241—Advertisements
    • G06Q30/0251—Targeted advertisements
    • G06Q30/0268—Targeted advertisements at point-of-sale [POS]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G06Q30/0241—Advertisements
    • G06Q30/0251—Targeted advertisements
    • G06Q30/0255—Targeted advertisements based on user history
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G06Q30/0241—Advertisements
    • G06Q30/0251—Targeted advertisements
    • G06Q30/0267—Wireless devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
    • G07F7/02—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by keys or other credit registering devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/50—Network services
    • H04L67/52—Network services specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/50—Network services
    • H04L67/55—Push-based network services
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G06Q30/0241—Advertisements
    • G06Q30/0251—Targeted advertisements
    • G06Q30/0261—Targeted advertisements based on user location

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a method executed in a communication terminal, and the like.
  • Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-174320 discloses a technique of displaying food and drink provided by a vending machine on a display of a mobile terminal to enable the food and drink provided by the vending machine to be purchased via the mobile terminal.
  • a product purchase assistance system including an acquiring unit that acquires a list of products sold by a plurality of vending machines within a predetermined range from a mobile terminal, and a display control unit that performs control for displaying product information on the products included in the list on a display of the mobile terminal.
  • Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-203952 discloses a vending machine that changes in real time products to be sold to products that match an external environment (such as the season or time) and a state of a purchaser (such as the gender, age group, or body temperature).
  • One non-limiting and exemplary embodiment provides further improvement in the related art described above.
  • the techniques disclosed here feature a method executed in a communication terminal, the communication terminal including a user ID for identifying a user of the communication terminal, the method including causing a computer of the communication terminal to perform a process including: acquiring, in response to receipt of a beacon signal from a vending machine of drinks, from the vending machine by using short-range wireless communication, i) identification information for identifying the vending machine and ii) type information indicating types of a plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine; transmitting the user ID to a first server that securely manages personal information including preference information on drinks of the user of the communication terminal, wherein the preference information on drinks of the user includes information on goods purchased by the user at a sales site managed by a business operator affiliated with a management operator of the first server; acquiring from the first server, the preference information on drinks of the user corresponding to the user ID when it is confirmed at the first server that the acquisition of the preference information on drinks of the user is permitted by the user; acquiring weather information of a current location of the
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overview of an information infrastructure of a vending machine management system according to embodiments of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a specific configuration of the vending machine management system according to the embodiments of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a beacon signal used in short-range wireless communication performed between a communication terminal and a vending machine;
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table indicating a relationship between a beacon identifier (ID) and identification information for identifying a vending machine;
  • ID beacon identifier
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table indicating a relationship between a beacon ID and identification information of a vending machine
  • FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process of short-range wireless communication using a beacon signal
  • FIGS. 7 A and 7 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an overview of a process performed in the vending machine management system in a first embodiment
  • FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a push notification screen
  • FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a push notification screen
  • FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between a location of the communication terminal and a location of the vending machine
  • FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a push notification screen
  • FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an individual purchase menu
  • FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a scene in which a user of the communication terminal selects a drink to be purchased from the individual purchase menu;
  • FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a scene in which the user of the communication terminal confirms purchase of the drink
  • FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a scene in which the user of the communication terminal acquires the purchased drink
  • FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of information stored in a memory of the communication terminal when a beacon signal is received;
  • FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of purchase history information for each user stored in a memory of a first server
  • FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of preference information included in personal information of the user stored in the memory of the first server;
  • FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of weather information of a current location of the communication terminal
  • FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a history of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal
  • FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a drink determination process
  • FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a work table used in the drink determination process
  • FIGS. 23 A and 23 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an overview of a process performed in a vending machine management system in a second embodiment
  • FIGS. 24 A and 24 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an overview of a process performed in a vending machine management system in a third embodiment
  • FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of a biological information table
  • FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a drink determination process
  • FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of a work table used in the drink determination process illustrated in FIG. 26 ;
  • FIGS. 28 A and 28 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an overview of a process performed in a vending machine management system in a fourth embodiment
  • FIGS. 29 A and 29 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an overview of a process performed in a vending machine management system in a fifth embodiment
  • FIGS. 30 A and 30 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an overview of a process performed in a vending machine management system in a sixth embodiment
  • FIGS. 31 A and 31 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an overview of a process performed in a vending machine management system in a seventh embodiment
  • FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a drink determination process
  • FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating an example of a work table used in the drink determination process illustrated in FIG. 32 ;
  • FIGS. 34 A and 34 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an overview of a process performed in a vending machine management system in an eighth embodiment
  • FIGS. 35 A and 35 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an overview of a process performed in a vending machine management system in a ninth embodiment.
  • FIGS. 36 A and 36 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an overview of a process performed in a vending machine management system in a tenth embodiment.
  • a vending machine merely passively sells a product in response to an access from a user. For example, even if a vending machine sells a product desired by a user at a timing when the user passes in front of the vending machine, the product is not sold to the user unless the user accesses the vending machine.
  • the vending machine merely passively sells a product in response to an access from a user. That is, the vending machine is unable to actively access the user.
  • the present disclosure has been made on the basis of such knowledge, and provides a technique for allowing a vending machine to actively access a user in response to a push notification and to recommend, to the user, a product which the user presumably desires at a timing when the user passes in front of the vending machine.
  • a method is a method executed in a communication terminal, the communication terminal including a user ID for identifying a user of the communication terminal, the method including causing a computer of the communication terminal to perform a process including: acquiring, in response to receipt of a beacon signal from a vending machine of drinks, from the vending machine by using short-range wireless communication, i) identification information for identifying the vending machine and ii) type information indicating types of a plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine; transmitting the user ID to a first server that securely manages personal information including preference information on drinks of the user of the communication terminal, wherein the preference information on drinks of the user includes information on goods purchased by the user at a sales site managed by a business operator affiliated with a management operator of the first server; acquiring from the first server, the preference information on drinks of the user corresponding to the user ID when it is confirmed at the first server that the acquisition of the preference information on drinks of the user is permitted by the user; acquiring weather information of a current
  • the “weather information of a current location of the communication terminal” includes weather information corresponding to an installed location of the vending machine indicated by the identification information.
  • the push notification screen that recommends at least one drink that matches the preference of the user is displayed on the display of the communication terminal of the user in response to the user merely passing in front of the vending machine, irrespective of a purchase intention of the user.
  • a purchase menu from the vending machine is not displayed but merely the push notification screen for displaying the purchase menu is displayed.
  • irksomeness caused by the purchase menu from the vending machine being displayed irrespective of the absence of the purchase intention of the user can be reduced.
  • the push notification screen is generated by taking into account the preference information on drinks of the user and the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal. Thus, a drink can be recommended that matches the preference of the user at a timing when the user passes in front of or is near the vending machine.
  • the user When the user purchases the recommended drink, the user displays the purchase menu according to their will. Thus, the user takes the initiative in determining whether to display the purchase menu.
  • a drink can be recommended that matches the preference of the user at a timing when the user passes in front of or is near the vending machine while reducing irksomeness caused by the purchase menu of drinks being displayed on the display of the communication terminal against the intention of the user.
  • the preference information on drinks of the user of the communication terminal is acquired from the first server that stores the personal information of the user.
  • the preference information on drinks of the user of the communication terminal is acquired from the first server that stores the personal information of the user.
  • the push notification screen may be used for displaying, on the display of the communication terminal, a purchase menu that allows the at least one drink to be purchased from among the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine.
  • a user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can use the push notification screen to display, on the display, the purchase menu that allows the user to purchase the at least one drink that matches the preference of the user.
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can quickly purchase the at least one drink that matches the preference of the user.
  • the process may further include generating, in response to the push notification screen displayed on the display of the communication terminal being selected, an individual purchase menu for the user, based on the type information, the preference information, and the weather information, wherein the individual purchase menu displays drinks that match the preference of the user indicated by the preference information in according to an order matching the preference of the user in relation to the weather indicated by the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal, from among the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine indicated by the identification information; and displaying the individual purchase menu on the display of the communication terminal.
  • the “weather at the current location of the communication terminal” includes weather corresponding to the installed location of the vending machine indicated by the identification information.
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can display, on the display, the individual purchase menu that displays drinks that match the preference of the user in according to an order matching the preference in relation to the weather at the current location.
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can browse the drinks that match the preference of the user under the weather at that time in according to the order matching the preference of the user and purchase any of the drinks.
  • the process may further include displaying, on the display on which the push notification screen is displayed, a direction indicating a transmission direction of the beacon signal transmitted from the vending machine.
  • the direction indicating the transmission direction of the beacon signal transmitted from the vending machine is displayed on the display on which the push notification screen is displayed.
  • the user of the communication terminal can easily grasp the direction in which the vending machine that sells the drink recommended in the push notification screen is present.
  • the process may further include displaying, on the display on which the individual purchase menu is displayed, a direction indicating a transmission direction of the beacon signal transmitted from the vending machine.
  • the direction indicating the transmission direction of the beacon signal transmitted from the vending machine is displayed on the display on which the individual purchase menu is displayed.
  • the user of the communication terminal can easily know the direction in which the vending machine storing the drinks displayed in the individual purchase menu is present.
  • the process may further include receiving a beacon signal from the vending machine; and erasing the display of the push notification screen after receipt of the beacon signal is not detected for a predetermined time.
  • the displayed push notification screen is erased.
  • the predetermined time elapses since the user moves to a place where the beacon signal is not receivable and the user presumably does not wish to purchase any drink from the vending machine, it can be avoided that the push notification screen that recommends a drink is kept uselessly displayed on the display.
  • the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal may be acquired from a second server that stores the weather information.
  • the “weather information of the current location of the communication terminal” includes weather information corresponding to the installed location of the vending machine indicated by the identification information.
  • the “second server that stores the weather information” includes the first server that stores, as the personal information of the user, a history of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal owned by the user.
  • the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal is acquired from the second server that stores the weather information.
  • the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal is acquired from the second server that stores the weather information.
  • the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal may include at least one of a temperature, a humidity, a heat index, a solar radiation, or a weather type.
  • the push notification screen is generated by taking into account the preference information on drinks of the user of the communication terminal and at least one of the temperature, the humidity, the heat index, the solar radiation, or the weather type at the current location of the communication terminal.
  • a drink can be recommended that matches the preference of the user in relation to at least one of the temperature, the humidity, the heat index, the solar radiation, or the weather type at the timing when the user passes in front of the vending machine.
  • the acquiring of the identification information and the type information from the vending machine may include acquiring of stock information indicating quantities of stock of the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine, and the generating of the push notification screen may include generating the push notification screen also using the stock information.
  • the present disclosure can also be implemented as a program that causes a computer to execute each characteristic configuration included in the method according to the first aspect described above, or as a communication terminal that operates based on this program.
  • a computer program can be distributed via a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium such as a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or via a communication network such as the Internet.
  • CD-ROM compact disc read-only memory
  • a method is a control method executed in a communication terminal, the method including causing a computer of the communication terminal to perform a process including: acquiring, in response to receipt of a first beacon signal from a first vending machine of drinks, from the first vending machine by using short-range wireless communication, i) first identification information for identifying the first vending machine and ii) first type information indicating types of a first group of drinks stored in the first vending machine; acquiring, in response to receipt of a second beacon signal from a second vending machine of drinks, from the second vending machine by using short-range wireless communication, i) second identification information for identifying the second vending machine and ii) second type information indicating types of a second group of drinks stored in the second vending machine; transmitting a user ID for identifying a user of the communication terminal to a first server that securely manages personal information including preference information on drinks of the user of the communication terminal, wherein the preference information on drinks of the user includes information on goods purchased by the user
  • the “weather information of a current location of the communication terminal” includes weather information corresponding to an installed location of the vending machine indicated by the identification information.
  • the push notification screen that recommends at least one drink that matches the preference of the user is displayed on the display of the communication terminal of the user in response to the user merely passing in front of the first vending machine and the second vending machine that respectively sell the first group of drinks and the second group of drinks and are installed adjacently to or in proximity to each other, irrespective of a purchase intention of the user.
  • a first purchase menu from the first vending machine of the first group of drinks and a second purchase menu from the second vending machine of the second group of drinks are not displayed but merely the push notification screen for recommending purchase is displayed.
  • irksomeness caused by the first purchase menu and the second purchase menu being displayed irrespective of the absence of the purchase intention of the user can be reduced.
  • the push notification screen is generated by taking into account the preference information on drinks of the user and the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal or the installed location of the vending machine.
  • a drink can be recommended that matches the preference of the user at a timing when the user passes in front of or is near the first vending machine and the second vending machine from among both the first group of drinks stored in the first vending machine and the second group of drinks stored in the second vending machine.
  • the user When the user purchases the recommended drink, the user displays the first purchase menu and the second purchase menu according to their will. Thus, the user takes the initiative in determining whether to display these purchase menus.
  • a drink can be recommended that matches the preference of the user at a timing when the user passes in front of or is near the first vending machine and the second vending machine that respectively sell the first group of drinks and the second group of drinks and are installed in proximity to each other, while reducing irksomeness caused by the purchase menu of drinks being displayed on the display of the communication terminal against the intention of the user.
  • the push notification screen may be used for displaying, on the display of the communication terminal, a purchase menu that allows the at least one drink to be purchased from among the first group of drinks stored in the first vending machine and the second group of drinks stored in the second vending machine.
  • a user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can use the push notification screen to display, on the display, the purchase menu that allows the user to purchase the at least one drink that matches the preference of the user from among the first group of drinks stored in the first vending machine and the second group of drinks stored in the second vending machine.
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can quickly purchase the at least one drink that matches the preference of the user without any effort to display the individual purchase menu from the vending machine.
  • the process may further include generating, when the push notification screen displayed on the display of the communication terminal is selected, an individual purchase menu for the user, based on the first type information, the second type information, the preference information, and the weather information, wherein the individual purchase menu being a menu displays drinks that match the preference of the user indicated by the preference information in according to an order matching the preference of the user in relation to the weather indicated by the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal, from among the first group of drinks stored in the first vending machine indicated by the first identification information and the second group of drinks stored in the second vending machine indicated by the second identification information; and displaying the individual purchase menu on the display of the communication terminal.
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can display, on the display, the individual purchase menu that displays drinks that match the preference of the user in according to an order matching the preference in relation to the weather at the current location.
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can purchase a drink that matches the preference of the user under the weather at that time while being sensible of the order of the degree of matching the preference of the user.
  • the process may further include displaying, on the display on which the push notification screen is displayed, at least one of a first direction indicating a transmission direction of the first beacon signal transmitted from the first vending machine or a second direction indicating a transmission direction of the second beacon signal transmitted from the second vending machine.
  • At least one of the first direction indicating the transmission direction of the first beacon signal transmitted from the first vending machine or the second direction indicating the transmission direction of the second beacon signal transmitted from the second vending machine is displayed on the display on which the push notification screen is displayed.
  • the user of the communication terminal can easily know the direction in which at least one of the first vending machine or the second vending machine recommended in the push notification screen is present.
  • the user can also easily grasp the direction of the vending machine storing the drink recommended in the push notification screen.
  • a direction indicating a transmission direction of a beacon signal transmitted from the vending machine storing the one drink may be displayed together with the one drink.
  • the user can easily know the direction of the vending machine storing the drink recommended in the push notification screen.
  • the process may further include, when one drink is selected using the individual purchase menu displayed on the display, displaying on the display on which the individual purchase menu is displayed, a direction indicating one vending machine storing the one drink among the first vending machine and the second vending machine, based on a transmission direction of the first beacon signal or the second beacon signal transmitted from the one vending machine.
  • the direction indication indicating the one vending machine storing the one drink among the first vending machine and the second vending machine is displayed on the display on which the individual purchase menu is displayed.
  • the user of the communication terminal can easily grasp the direction in which the vending machine storing the one drink selected using the individual purchase menu is present.
  • the acquiring of the first identification information and the first type information from the first vending machine may include acquiring of first stock information indicating quantities of stock of the first group of drinks stored in the first vending machine
  • the acquiring of the second identification information and the second type information from the second vending machine may include acquiring of second stock information indicating quantities of stock of the second group of drinks stored in the second vending machine
  • the generating of the push notification screen may include generating of the push notification screen also using the first stock information and the second stock information.
  • the present disclosure can also be implemented as a program that causes a computer to execute each characteristic configuration included in the control method according to the second aspect described above, or as a communication terminal that operates based on this program.
  • a computer program can be distributed via a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or via a communication network such as the Internet.
  • a method is a method for a vending machine management system that manages stock information for a vending machine of drinks, the information providing method including: acquiring, from a communication terminal via a network, i) a user ID for identifying a user of the communication terminal, ii) identification information for identifying the vending machine, and iii) type information indicating types of a plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine, wherein ii) the identification information and iii) the type information are acquired in the communication terminal from the vending machine by using short-range wireless communication in response to receipt of a beacon signal from the vending machine; transmitting the user ID to a first server that securely manages personal information including preference information on drinks of the user of the communication terminal, wherein the preference information on drinks of the user includes information on goods purchased by the user at a sales site managed by a business operator affiliated with a management operator of the first server; acquiring from the first server, the preference information on drinks of the user corresponding to the user ID
  • the “weather information of a current location of the communication terminal” includes weather information corresponding to an installed location of the vending machine indicated by the identification information.
  • the push notification screen that recommends at least one drink that matches the preference of the user is displayed on the display of the communication terminal of the user in response to the user merely passing in front of or being near the vending machine of drinks, irrespective of a purchase intention of the user.
  • a purchase menu from the vending machine of drinks is not displayed but merely the push notification screen for displaying the purchase menu is displayed.
  • irksomeness caused by the purchase menu from the vending machine being displayed irrespective of the absence of the purchase intention of the user can be reduced.
  • the push notification screen is generated by taking into account the preference information on drinks of the user and the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal (or the installed location of the vending machine). Thus, a drink can be recommended that matches the preference of the user at a timing when the user passes in front of or is near the vending machine.
  • the user When the user purchases the recommended drink, the user displays the purchase menu according to their will. Thus, the user takes the initiative in determining whether to display the purchase menu.
  • a drink can be recommended that matches the preference of the user at a timing when the user passes in front of or is near the vending machine while reducing irksomeness caused by the purchase menu of drinks being displayed on the display of the communication terminal against the intention of the user.
  • the preference information on drinks of the user of the communication terminal is acquired from the first server that stores the personal information of the user.
  • the preference information on drinks of the user of the communication terminal is acquired from the first server that stores the personal information of the user.
  • the push notification screen may be used for displaying, on the display of the communication terminal, a purchase menu that allows the at least one drink to be purchased from among the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine.
  • a user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can use the push notification screen to display, on the display, the purchase menu that allows the user to purchase the at least one drink that matches the preference of the user.
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can quickly purchase the at least one drink that matches the preference of the user.
  • the method described above may further include acquiring, from the communication terminal, information indicating that the push notification screen displayed on the display is selected; generating information of an individual purchase menu for the user, based on the type information, the preference information, and the weather information, wherein the individual purchase menu for the user displays drinks that match the preference of the user indicated by the preference information in according to an order matching the preference of the user in relation to the weather indicated by the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal, from among the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine indicated by the identification information; and outputting the information of the individual purchase menu to the communication terminal to display the individual purchase menu on the display of the communication terminal.
  • the “weather at the current location of the communication terminal” includes weather corresponding to the installed location of the vending machine indicated by the identification information.
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can display, on the display, the individual purchase menu that displays drinks that match the preference of the user in according to an order matching the preference in relation to the weather at the current location.
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can purchase a drink that matches the preference of the user under the weather at that time while being sensible of the order of the degree of matching the preference of the user.
  • the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal may be acquired from a second server that stores the weather information.
  • the “weather information of the current location of the communication terminal” includes weather information of the installed location of the vending machine indicated by the identification information.
  • the “second server that stores the weather information” includes the first server that stores, as the personal information of the user, a history of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal owned by the user.
  • the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal is acquired from the second server that stores the weather information.
  • the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal is acquired from the second server that stores the weather information.
  • the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal may include at least one of a temperature, a humidity, a heat index, a solar radiation, or a weather type.
  • the push notification screen is generated by taking into account the preference information on drinks of the user of the communication terminal and at least one of the temperature, the humidity, the heat index, the solar radiation, or the weather type at the current location of the communication terminal.
  • a drink can be recommended that matches the preference of the user in relation to at least one of the temperature, the humidity, the heat index, the solar radiation, or the weather type at the timing when the user passes in front of or is near the vending machine.
  • the acquiring of the user ID, the identification information, and the type information from the communication terminal may include acquiring of stock information indicating quantities of stock of the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine, and the generating of the push notification screen may include generating of the push notification screen also using the stock information.
  • Digitized data on individuals is accumulated in a cloud via a communication network, managed as big data in an information bank, and used for various purposes for individuals.
  • the advanced information society is a society in which economic advancement and solution of social problems are expectedly brought by an information infrastructure (cyber-physical system) that highly integrates a real space (physical space) and a virtual space (cyberspace) together.
  • personal information such as preference information and biological information is centrally managed by a server of a personal-information managing business entity called an information bank after being anonymized so that the individuals are not to be specified by a third party.
  • the personal information is updated at any time under the management of the information bank without intervention of manual input performed by a user of a terminal.
  • big data including the accumulated personal information is analyzed, so that the individual can be informed of an option that is presumably optimal for the individual in the situation at that time.
  • a vending machine management system is a system configured by taking into account Society 5.0, and is a system that manages stock information for vending machines of drinks and recommends, to a user, a drink that matches a preference of the user by using personal information managed by an information bank.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overview of an information infrastructure of a vending machine management system according to embodiments of the present disclosure. An overview of the information infrastructure for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure will be described first with reference to FIG. 1 .
  • This vending machine management system includes roughly three groups of devices.
  • a first group of devices is a group of devices that serves as physical sales sites where a plurality of business entities sell products (goods), and includes vending machines 700 that sell products of individual business entities.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates the vending machine 700 that sells products A-1, A-2, and A-3 of a business entity X and the vending machine 700 that sells products B-1 and B-2 of the business entity X.
  • a second group of devices is a group of devices carried by users, and includes a communication terminal 100 such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal and a biological sensor 600 such as a smartwatch.
  • the communication terminal 100 can be connected to a wide-area communication network such as the Internet via a base station 400 by a long-range wireless communication network such as a cellular network called 4G or 5G, for example.
  • the communication terminal 100 is capable of communicating with the vending machines 700 by short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).
  • the communication terminal 100 includes an application provided by each business entity and a sensor application installed thereon.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which a business entity X application (also referred to as “business entity X app”) provided by the business entity X and a sensor application (also referred to as “sensor app”) are installed on the communication terminal 100 .
  • the business entity X application is an application for recommending a drink suitable for a user from among a plurality of drinks sold by the vending machines 700 managed by the business entity X, by using personal information of the user.
  • the sensor application will be described later.
  • the biological sensor 600 periodically and continuously measures biological information of a user carrying the biological sensor 600 .
  • the biological information measured by the biological sensor 600 may include information on a systolic blood pressure, a diastolic blood pressure, a heart rate, a body water percentage, and a body temperature. These pieces of information may be directly measured or indirectly derived. These pieces of information may be measured not only by one sensor but also by a plurality of sensors such as a blood pressure sensor, a heart rate sensor, a bioelectrical impedance sensor, and a body temperature sensor. In this case, as for overlapping biological information, the measured biological information may be weighted in accordance with precisions of the sensors to acquire the biological information, or the biological information measured by one sensor selected by the user may be acquired. Alternatively, biological information measured by the most recently released sensor may be acquired as a representative value, based on the product number information of each sensor.
  • the biological information measured by the biological sensor 600 is sent from the biological sensor 600 to the communication terminal 100 by short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).
  • the biological information may be stored and/or managed by the sensor application installed on the communication terminal 100 .
  • the biological sensor 600 may be included in the communication terminal 100 .
  • the sensor application uploads the collected biological information and measurement date and time information indicating a measurement date and time of the biological information to a first server 200 in accordance with user account information.
  • the user account information includes a user ID, a password, and the like. Consequently, the biological information is stored in the first server 200 in time series in association with the user ID and the measurement date and time information.
  • the sensor application may store the biological information in a memory 102 ( FIG. 2 ) of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the sensor application may authorize the business entity X application or an operating system (OS) of the communication terminal 100 to access the biological information stored in the memory 102 ( FIG. 2 ).
  • the biological information is uploaded to the first server 200 via the business entity X application or the OS.
  • a third group of devices is a group of servers that store and/or manage information used by a plurality of users via a wide-area communication network such as the Internet, and includes the first server 200 , a business entity management server 300 , and a second server 500 .
  • the first server 200 is a personal information server that distributes personal information of a user to a plurality of locations, encrypts the distributed personal information, and stores the distributed encrypted personal information.
  • the first server 200 manages personal information of a user by fragmenting, encrypting, and storing the personal information in a plurality of storage devices over a wide-area communication network. Thus, high security is ensured and leakage of the personal information is prevented.
  • the first server 200 has a function of returning, in response to an inquiry from a third party, necessary information in accordance with permission of the user.
  • the first server 200 also has a function of securely sharing the personal information permitted by the user with the business entity permitted by the user. That is, the first server 200 has a function of an information bank.
  • the term “personal information” used herein broadly includes public or private information related to individuals.
  • the personal information includes at least one of a name, a date of birth, an address, an annual income, owned movable property/real estate information, physical information such as height/weight, genetic information, allergy information, medical information such as medical history/diagnosis chart, activity amount information such as number of steps/calorie consumption, meal history information, biological information such as heart rate/body temperature, product purchase history information through a vending machine/store/electronic-commerce (EC) site, movement history information indicating a history of location information of a current location of a communication terminal owned by a user, weather information of the location information, word information searched by a web search engine/artificial intelligence (AI) speaker, or text/video/audio information sent/received by mail/social networking service (SNS).
  • a name e.g., a name, a date of birth, an address, an annual income, owned movable property/real estate information
  • physical information such as height/weight
  • the business entity management server 300 is a server in which each business entity stores and/or manages data unique to the business entity.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a state in which the business entity X and two other entities each own or rent the business entity management server 300 and store and/or manage information on products of the business entity.
  • the business entity X is a business entity that sells drinks.
  • the second server 500 is a server that has a function of managing (storing) public information and returning necessary public information in response to an inquiry from a third party.
  • the public information includes weather information and traffic information.
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a specific configuration of the vending machine management system according to the embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • the vending machine management system illustrated in FIG. 2 includes the vending machines 700 managed by respective business entities, the communication terminal 100 , the first server 200 , the business entity management servers 300 managed by respective business entities, the second server 500 , and the biological sensor 600 which are described in FIG. 1 .
  • the communication terminal 100 , the first server 200 , the business entity management servers 300 , and the second server 500 are connected to one another via a network NT to be able to communicate with one another.
  • the network NT is a wide-area communication network including the Internet and a long-range wireless communication network such as a cellular network.
  • the base station 400 illustrated in FIG. 1 is not illustrated for convenience of explanation.
  • the vending machines 700 are the vending machines 700 of drinks managed by the business entity X
  • the business entity management servers 300 are the business entity management servers 300 managed by the business entity X.
  • Each of the vending machines 700 includes a memory 702 , a product detection unit 708 , a proximity communication unit 707 , and a computation unit 704 that controls the memory 702 , the product detection unit 708 , and the proximity communication unit 707 .
  • the memory 702 is a nonvolatile storage device such as a flash memory.
  • the memory 702 stores information on the vending machine 700 .
  • the information on the vending machine 700 is input by a worker using an input device such as a touch panel (not illustrated) when the worker stores each drink in the vending machine 700 , and is stored in the memory 702 by the computation unit 704 .
  • the information on the vending machine 700 includes identification information (second identification information) for identifying the vending machine 700 and product information on a plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine 700 .
  • the identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 includes a business entity identifier (ID) and a vending machine ID.
  • the business entity ID is an identifier of a business entity that manages the vending machine 700 .
  • the vending machine ID is an identifier of the vending machine 700 .
  • the product information includes type information indicating types of the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine 700 , and stock information indicating quantities of stock of the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine 700 .
  • the stock information includes price information indicating prices of the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine 700 , quantity information indicating quantities of the plurality of drinks, and temperature information indicating temperatures of the plurality of drinks.
  • Drinks can be classified by type, for example, coffee, black tea, green tea, carbonated drinks, sports drinks, and the like. Some drinks, however, belong to a plurality of types. This makes it difficult to classify drinks unconditionally by type. Thus, in the present embodiments, drinks are classified by product name. That is, in the present embodiments, the type information indicating the types of the drinks is information indicating the product names of the drinks.
  • the product detection unit 708 includes, for example, a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) and a temperature sensor.
  • the product detection unit 708 reads the product information from the memory 702 .
  • the product detection unit 708 also measures a temperature of each stored drink with the temperature sensor.
  • the product detection unit 708 updates the temperature information included in the product information of each drink which is stored in the memory 702 , with the information indicating the measured temperature of the drink.
  • the product detection unit 708 measures the temperature of each drink to control the temperature of each drink around a target temperature, which is 5° C. for cold-storage drinks and 55° C. for hot-storage drinks. If the temperature of the drink that has just stored does not reach the target temperature, the sale of this drink is not recommended. Thus, if the measured temperature of the drink is within a predetermined temperature range around the target temperature, the product detection unit 708 detects the drink as a product available for sale; otherwise, the product detection unit 708 detects the drink as a product not available for sale since the drink is in a preparation stage before the sale.
  • a target temperature which is 5° C. for cold-storage drinks and 55° C. for hot-storage drinks.
  • the proximity communication unit 707 includes, for example, a communication circuit that performs short-range wireless communication in accordance with the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standard, which is part of the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard.
  • the proximity communication unit 707 may further include a communication circuit that performs short-range wireless communication in accordance with the Near Field Communication (NFC) standard.
  • the computation unit 704 includes, for example, a processor such as a CPU.
  • the proximity communication unit 707 periodically transmits a beacon signal in the case of performing short-range wireless communication according to the BLE standard. In response to receipt of a signal indicating a connection request from the communication terminal 100 that is located in a short range and has received the beacon signal, the proximity communication unit 707 notifies the computation unit 704 of the receipt of the signal indicating the connection request. In response to receipt of the notification, the computation unit 704 reads the identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 from the memory 702 and further controls the product detection unit 708 to read the product information on drinks detected as products available for sale and drinks detected as products not available for sale from the memory 702 . The computation unit 704 controls the proximity communication unit 707 to return the read identification information of the vending machine 700 and product information to the communication terminal 100 that has sent the signal indicating the connection request.
  • the proximity communication unit 707 In response to receipt of information indicating drink purchase details from a proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 , the proximity communication unit 707 outputs the received information indicating the drink purchase details to the computation unit 704 .
  • the information indicating the drink purchase details includes, for example, a product name which is the type of the purchased drink, a quantity of purchase of the drink, and a total amount required to purchase the drink.
  • the computation unit 704 controls a transport mechanism (not illustrated) to transport the purchased drink indicated by the acquired information to a pick-up port as many times as the quantity of purchase indicated by the information.
  • the communication terminal 100 includes the proximity communication unit 107 , a communication unit 101 , the memory 102 , a camera 103 , a computation unit 104 , a display 105 , and an operation unit 106 .
  • the proximity communication unit 107 includes, for example, a communication circuit that performs short-range wireless communication in accordance with the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standard, which is part of the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard.
  • the proximity communication unit 107 may further include a communication circuit that performs short-range wireless communication in accordance with the Near Field Communication (NFC) standard.
  • BLE Bluetooth Low Energy
  • NFC Near Field Communication
  • the proximity communication unit 107 in response to receipt of a beacon signal transmitted from the vending machine 700 , the proximity communication unit 107 returns a signal indicating a connection request to the vending machine 700 .
  • the proximity communication unit 107 receives the identification information of the vending machine 700 and the product information, which are returned from the proximity communication unit 707 of the vending machine 700 in response to the signal indicating the connection request.
  • the proximity communication unit 107 outputs the received identification information and product information to the computation unit 104 .
  • the proximity communication unit 107 receives various types of biological information measured by the biological sensor 600 from the biological sensor 600 .
  • the proximity communication unit 107 outputs the received biological information to the computation unit 104 .
  • the communication unit 101 includes a communication circuit that connects the communication terminal 100 to the network NT. In response to receipt of information sent from the first server 200 and the second server 500 , the communication unit 101 outputs the received information to the computation unit 104 .
  • the communication unit 101 sends the identification information of the vending machine 700 and the product information to the business entity management server 300 in association with each other under the control of the computation unit 104 .
  • the communication unit 101 also sends purchase information (described later) to the first server 200 under the control of the computation unit 104 .
  • the memory 102 includes a nonvolatile storage device such as a flash memory.
  • the memory 102 stores identification information (first identification information) for identifying the communication terminal 100 .
  • the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 includes a terminal identifier (ID) and a user identifier (ID).
  • the terminal ID is an identifier of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the user ID is an identifier of a user of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 is stored in the memory 102 when the communication terminal 100 is purchased.
  • the camera 103 is an imaging device including a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor or the like.
  • CMOS complementary metal-oxide semiconductor
  • the computation unit 104 includes a processor such as a CPU.
  • the computation unit 104 executes the OS of the communication terminal 100 , the business entity X application, the sensor application, a quick response (QR) code (registered trademark) reader, a browser, and so on.
  • QR quick response
  • the computation unit 104 executes the business entity X application to perform processing below.
  • the computation unit 104 controls the proximity communication unit 107 to perform processing of acquiring identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 and product information including type information and stock information from the vending machine 700 by using short-range wireless communication, in response to receipt of a beacon signal transmitted from the vending machine 700 of drinks provided by the business entity X.
  • the computation unit 104 performs processing of acquiring preference information on drinks of the user of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 104 performs processing of acquiring weather information of a current location of the communication terminal 100 via the network NT.
  • the computation unit 104 performs processing of acquiring current biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 104 further performs processing of determining, based on the pieces of information acquired in the processing, at least one drink that matches a preference of the user of the communication terminal 100 from among a plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine 700 which is a transmission source of the beacon signal received by the proximity communication unit 107 , and generating a push notification screen that recommends the determined at least one drink.
  • the computation unit 104 also performs processing of generating an individual purchase menu based on order according to a degree of matching the preference of the user of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 104 executes the sensor application to acquire, via the proximity communication unit 107 , various types of biological information continuously measured by the biological sensor 600 . If the communication terminal 100 includes the biological sensor 600 , the computation unit 104 executes the sensor application to acquire various types of biological information continuously measured by the biological sensor 600 . The computation unit 104 uploads the biological information acquired from the biological sensor 600 and date and time information indicating the acquisition date and time of the biological information together with the user account information to the first server 200 via the communication unit 101 .
  • the computation unit 104 may execute the sensor application to store the biological information and the date and time information in the memory 102 .
  • the sensor application may authorize the business entity X application or the OS of the communication terminal 100 to access the biological information stored in the memory 102 .
  • the business entity X application or the OS may upload the biological information to the first server 200 .
  • the display 105 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or an organic electroluminescence (EL) panel, and displays various images.
  • the display 105 displays the push notification screen described above, an individual purchase menu (described below) for the user of the communication terminal 100 , and so on.
  • the operation unit 106 includes, for example, an input device such as a touch panel.
  • the operation unit 106 receives an operation of selecting and purchasing a drink desired by the user of the communication terminal 100 from the individual purchase menu for the user.
  • the first server 200 includes a communication unit 201 , a computation unit 202 , and a memory 203 .
  • the communication unit 201 includes a communication circuit that connects the first server 200 to the network NT.
  • the communication unit 201 returns personal information of each user under the control of the computation unit 202 .
  • the computation unit 202 includes a processor such as a CPU.
  • the communication unit 201 receives a signal requesting acquisition of personal information on a user with permission.
  • the user with permission is a user who has given, directly or indirectly via a trusted third party, permission to read their personal information stored in the first server 200 and requested by the communication terminal 100 or the business entity management server 300 .
  • the computation unit 202 in response to a request from the communication terminal 100 or the business entity management server 300 , the computation unit 202 reads the personal information of the user with permission stored in the memory 203 and causes the communication unit 201 to return the personal information.
  • the personal information to be read may be the entire personal information that is managed, or may be only information related to a requested particular item in the personal information managed (only part of the personal information).
  • the memory 203 includes a plurality of nonvolatile storage devices such as hard disk drives.
  • the memory 203 stores personal information of one or more users.
  • the personal information is stored in the plurality of storage devices after being distributed and encrypted.
  • the personal information stored in the memory 203 includes purchase history information, preference information, and biological information.
  • the purchase history information is information indicating a purchase history of products such as drinks purchased by each user.
  • the preference information is information indicating a preference of each user.
  • the preference information is generated by the computation unit 202 , based on the purchase history information stored in the memory 203 .
  • the biological information is information indicating a physical condition of each user.
  • the biological information includes information on at least one of a systolic blood pressure, a diastolic blood pressure, a heart rate, a body water percentage, or a body temperature.
  • Each of the business entity management servers 300 includes a memory 303 , a communication unit 301 , and a computation unit 302 .
  • the memory 303 includes a nonvolatile storage device such as a hard disk drive.
  • the memory 303 stores, in association with identification information for identifying each of the plurality of vending machines 700 managed by the business entity X, product information on a plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine 700 and location information indicating an installed location of the vending machine 700 .
  • the product information includes type information indicating types of the plurality of drinks stored in each vending machine 700 , and stock information indicating quantities of stock of the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine 700 .
  • the stock information includes price information indicating prices of the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine 700 , quantity information indicating quantities of the plurality of drinks, and temperature information indicating temperatures of the plurality of drinks.
  • the communication unit 301 includes a communication circuit that connects the business entity management server 300 to the network NT.
  • the communication unit 301 receives the identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 and the product information that are sent from the communication terminal 100 , and outputs the received identification information of the vending machine 700 and product information to the computation unit 302 .
  • the computation unit 302 includes a processor such as a CPU. Based on the identification information of the vending machine 700 and the product information that are sent from the communication terminal 100 and acquired via the communication unit 301 , the computation unit 302 updates the product information of the vending machine 700 corresponding to the identification information and stored in the memory 303 .
  • the second server 500 includes a memory 503 , a communication unit 501 , and a computation unit 502 .
  • the memory 503 includes a plurality of nonvolatile storage devices such as hard disk drives.
  • a managing business entity of the second server 500 stores weather information of each region and date and time information indicating acquisition date and time of the weather information of the region, in association with each other.
  • the weather information includes at least one of a temperature, a humidity, a heat index, a solar radiation, or a weather type.
  • the communication unit 501 includes a communication circuit that connects the second server 500 to the network NT.
  • the communication unit 501 receives a signal requesting acquisition of weather information of a certain region, from the communication terminal 100 or the business entity management server 300 .
  • the communication unit 501 outputs the received signal requesting acquisition of the weather information to the computation unit 502 .
  • the communication unit 501 returns the weather information corresponding to the request under the control of the computation unit 502 .
  • the computation unit 502 includes a processor such as a CPU. In response to acquisition of a signal requesting acquisition of weather information of a certain region via the communication unit 501 , the computation unit 502 reads weather information associated with date and time information indicating the date and time that is the closest to the reception time of the signal, for example, from among pieces of weather information of the requested region stored in the memory 503 , and causes the communication unit 501 to return the read weather information.
  • a processor such as a CPU.
  • the computation unit 502 In response to acquisition of a signal requesting acquisition of weather information of a certain region via the communication unit 501 , the computation unit 502 reads weather information associated with date and time information indicating the date and time that is the closest to the reception time of the signal, for example, from among pieces of weather information of the requested region stored in the memory 503 , and causes the communication unit 501 to return the read weather information.
  • the configuration is not limited to this.
  • the computation unit 502 may read one or more pieces of weather information associated with date and time information indicating a past predetermined period from the reception time of the signal, for example, from among the pieces of weather information of the requested region stored in the memory 503 , and cause the communication unit 501 to return the read one or more pieces of weather information.
  • FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a beacon signal used in short-range wireless communication performed between the communication terminal 100 and the vending machine 700 .
  • short-range wireless communication using a beacon signal is performed between the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 and the proximity communication unit 707 of the vending machine 700 in accordance with the BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) standard, which is part of the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard.
  • BLE Bluetooth Low Energy
  • the beacon signal is periodically transmitted from the proximity communication unit 707 of the vending machine 700 .
  • the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 may represent the distance from the proximity communication unit 707 as roughly four types, which are immediate, near, far, and unknown, depending on a radio field intensity of the signal.
  • the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 grasps that the distance from the proximity communication unit 707 is “immediate” based on the radio field intensity of the beacon signal received when the distance from the proximity communication unit 707 is within several centimeters. Likewise, the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 grasps that the distance from the proximity communication unit 707 is near/far based on the radio field intensity of the beacon signal received when the distance from the proximity communication unit 707 is within about 1 m/about 10 m, respectively.
  • the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 may fail to receive (detect) the beacon signal transmitted from the proximity communication unit 707 . In this case, the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 grasps that the distance from the proximity communication unit 707 is unknown since the distance is too far for the beacon signal to reach the proximity communication unit 107 .
  • the method by which the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 grasps the distance from the proximity communication unit 707 that has transmitted the beacon signal is not limited to this.
  • the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 may grasp the distance from the proximity communication unit 707 that has transmitted the beacon signal, based on a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) which is a measurement value of the radio field intensity of the beacon signal received from the proximity communication unit 707 , or may grasp the distance using another method.
  • RSSI received signal strength indicator
  • the beacon signal transmitted from the proximity communication unit 707 includes a beacon ID which is an identifier of the beacon signal.
  • the beacon ID includes a Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) which is 128 bits long, and major and minor values each of which is a 16-bit unsigned integer.
  • UUID Universally Unique Identifier
  • the UUID is an identifier for uniquely identifying an object on software.
  • a 128-bit numerical value indicating the business entity ID and a 32-bit numerical value indicating the vending machine ID are stored in the memory 702 .
  • the proximity communication unit 707 transmits a beacon signal in which the 128-bit numerical value indicating the business entity ID stored in the memory 702 is set as the UUID and the 32-bit numerical value indicating the vending machine ID stored in the memory 702 is set as the major and minor values.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table indicating a relationship between a beacon ID and identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 .
  • a table 2010 indicating a relationship between a beacon ID and identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 illustrated in FIG. 4 is stored in the memory 102 of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 refers to the table 2010 stored in the memory 102 to acquire identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 associated with the beacon ID included in the received beacon signal.
  • the UUID, the major value, and the minor value of the beacon ID included in the beacon signal received by the proximity communication unit 107 are “0000-0000-0000-000X”, “0x1000”, and “0x0000”, respectively.
  • the beacon ID may comply with a frame type Eddystone-UID defined by the Eddystone (registered trademark) standard of Google Inc., for example.
  • the beacon ID includes a frame type to which a fixed value 0 is set, a 10-byte namespace ID, and a 6-byte instance ID.
  • a 10-byte value indicating the business entity ID and a 6-byte value indicating the vending machine ID are stored in the memory 702 .
  • the proximity communication unit 707 transmits a beacon signal in which the 10-byte value indicating the business entity ID stored in the memory 702 is set as the namespace ID and the 6-byte value indicating the vending machine ID stored in the memory 702 is set as the instance ID.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table indicating a relationship between a beacon ID and identification information of the vending machine 700 .
  • a table 2011 indicating a relationship between a beacon ID and identification information of the vending machine 700 illustrated in FIG. 5 is stored in the memory 102 of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 refers to the table 2011 stored in the memory 102 to acquire identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 associated with the beacon ID included in the received beacon signal.
  • the namespace ID and the instance ID of the beacon ID included in the beacon signal received by the proximity communication unit 107 are “X-1” and “000000”, respectively.
  • FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process of short-range wireless communication using a beacon signal.
  • the proximity communication unit 707 of the vending machine 700 operates as a slave and the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 operates as a master.
  • the proximity communication unit 707 of the vending machine 700 periodically transmits a beacon signal (advertising) (step S 701 ).
  • the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 In response to receipt of the beacon signal (scanning), the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 detects a distance to the vending machine 700 that is the transmission source of the beacon signal and a transmission direction of the beacon signal as well as the beacon ID. The proximity communication unit 107 notifies the computation unit 104 of receipt of the beacon signal, and outputs information indicating the detected distance and transmission direction to the computation unit 104 .
  • the computation unit 104 stores the information received from the proximity communication unit 107 in the memory 102 (step S 101 ). Specifically, in step S 101 , the proximity communication unit 107 detects the transmission direction of the received beacon signal, based on specifications defined by Bluetooth (registered trademark) 5.1, for example.
  • the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 selects the proximity communication unit 707 of the vending machine 700 identified by the beacon ID included in the beacon signal, as a connection destination (initiating) (step S 102 ).
  • the proximity communication unit 107 then sends a signal indicating a connection request (connect request) to the selected proximity communication unit 707 of the vending machine 700 (step S 103 ).
  • the proximity communication unit 707 of the vending machine 700 establishes a connection to the communication terminal 100 that has sent the signal indicating the connection request, and notifies the computation unit 704 of the receipt.
  • the computation unit 704 controls the product detection unit 708 to read identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 and product information including type information and stock information from the memory 702 .
  • the identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 may be referred to as identification information of the vending machine 700 .
  • the proximity communication unit 107 Under the control of the computation unit 704 , the proximity communication unit 107 returns, as additional information, the identification information of the vending machines 700 and the product information that are read by the computation unit 704 , to the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 that has sent the signal indicating the connection request (step S 702 ).
  • the identification information of the vending machine 700 and the product information are returned to the communication terminal 100 as the additional information in this example.
  • the identification information is not necessarily sent because the vending machine 700 that is the connection destination is known at the time of connection.
  • the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 In response to receipt of the additional information, the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 outputs the received additional information to the computation unit 104 .
  • the computation unit 104 stores the additional information received from the proximity communication unit 107 in the memory 102 (step S 104 ).
  • the proximity communication unit 107 then returns a signal indicating disconnection (disconnect) (step S 105 ).
  • the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 ends the communication with the proximity communication unit 707 .
  • the proximity communication unit 707 of the vending machine 700 disconnects the connection with the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 then returns to a state of waiting for receipt of a beacon signal transmitted from the proximity communication unit 707 of another vending machine 700 .
  • step S 101 and subsequent steps is repeated if the product information of the vending machine 700 that has transmitted the beacon signal has not been acquired yet or if a predetermined time or more has elapsed since acquisition of the product information of the vending machine 700 that has transmitted the beacon signal.
  • the computation unit 104 acquires, from each vending machine 700 located within a beacon signal receivable range, the identification information and the product information of the vending machine 700 .
  • the computation unit 104 also acquires, from the memory 102 , information indicating a distance to each vending machine 700 which is the transmission source of a corresponding beacon signal received by the proximity communication unit 107 and a transmission direction of the beacon signal.
  • FIGS. 7 A and 7 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the overview of the process performed in the vending machine management system in the first embodiment.
  • the proximity communication unit 707 of each of the vending machines 700 included in the vending machine management system periodically transmits a beacon signal (step S 271 ). This processing corresponds to step S 701 illustrated in FIG. 6 .
  • the business entity X application is executed in the communication terminal 100 , so that the proximity communication unit 107 enters a state of waiting for receipt of a beacon signal. Consequently, the processing of step S 101 and subsequent steps illustrated in FIG. 6 is performed. Specifically, in response to receipt of the beacon signal transmitted in step S 271 , the proximity communication unit 107 detects a distance to a transmission source of the beacon signal (which is the vending machine 700 ) and a transmission direction of the beacon signal as well as the beacon ID. The proximity communication unit 107 then notifies the computation unit 104 of the receipt of the beacon signal and outputs information indicating the detected beacon ID, distance, and transmission direction to the computation unit 104 .
  • the computation unit 104 stores the information indicating the beacon ID, the distance, and the transmission direction acquired from the proximity communication unit 107 in the memory 102 (step S 201 ). This processing corresponds to step S 101 illustrated in FIG. 6 .
  • the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 performs short-range wireless communication with the proximity communication unit 707 of the vending machine 700 which is the transmission source of the beacon signal received in step S 201 .
  • the proximity communication unit 107 acquires additional information that includes identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 and product information including type information and stock information.
  • the proximity communication unit 107 outputs the acquired additional information to the computation unit 104 , and ends the communication with the proximity communication unit 707 of the vending machine 700 .
  • the computation unit 104 stores the additional information acquired from the proximity communication unit 107 in the memory 102 (step S 202 ).
  • the computation unit 104 then controls the communication unit 101 to send the identification information of the vending machine 700 and the product information that are acquired in step S 202 to the business entity management server 300 (step S 203 ).
  • the computation unit 302 updates product information of the vending machine 700 corresponding to the identification information and stored in the memory 303 .
  • step S 201 to step S 203 is repeated in response to the receipt.
  • the computation unit 104 may perform merely steps S 201 and S 202 at receipt of each of the beacon signals by the proximity communication unit 107 and may perform step S 203 just once. Thus, the computation unit 104 may collectively send the pieces of identification information and the pieces of product information of the respective vending machines 700 acquired in each step S 202 to the business entity management server 300 in single step S 203 .
  • the business entity (business operator) X that provides the business entity X application has an affiliation with the managing business entity (management operator) of the first server 200 and that the business entity X is permitted to acquire personal information of each user stored in the first server 200 .
  • the computation unit 104 of the communication terminal 100 controls the communication unit 101 to send, to the first server 200 , identification information (first identification information) for identifying the communication terminal 100 stored in the memory 102 and a signal requesting sending of preference information of the user identified by the user ID included in the identification information (step S 204 ).
  • the computation unit 202 performs processing of step S 221 (step S 221 ).
  • the computation unit 202 determines whether the user indicated by the user ID included in the identification information received by the communication unit 201 is a user with permission. If the computation unit 202 determines that the user is a user with permission ([with permission of user]), the computation unit 202 acquires the preference information included in the personal information of the user with permission from the memory 203 and causes the communication unit 201 to return the acquired preference information. On the other hand, if the computation unit 202 determines that the user is not a user with permission ([otherwise]), the computation unit 202 causes the communication unit 201 to return information indicating that the personal information is inaccessible. The returned information is received and output to the computation unit 104 by the communication unit 101 of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 202 may cause the communication unit 201 to return a message for checking whether to permit reading of the personal information stored in the memory 203 .
  • the computation unit 202 acquires a reply indicating permission from the communication terminal 100 via the communication unit 201 .
  • the computation unit 202 may acquire, from the memory 203 , the preference information included in the personal information of the user indicated by the user ID included in the received identification information, and cause the communication unit 201 to return the acquired information in step S 221 .
  • the preference information of the user of the communication terminal 100 is stored in the memory 102 of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 104 acquires the preference information of the user of the communication terminal 100 stored in the memory 102 within a range not overlapping the preference information returned in step S 221 (step S 205 ).
  • the computation unit 104 controls the communication unit 101 to send a signal requesting acquisition of weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 to the second server 500 .
  • the computation unit 104 acquires, via the communication unit 101 , the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 returned from the second server 500 in response to the sent signal.
  • the computation unit 104 stores the acquired weather information in the memory 102 in time series in association with date and time information indicating the acquisition date and time of the weather information (step S 206 ). Thereafter, the computation unit 104 repeats step S 206 periodically (for example, every hour).
  • step S 206 the computation unit 104 sends a signal requesting acquisition of weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 , including location information indicating the current location of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 502 of the second server 500 acquires the location information included in the signal.
  • the computation unit 502 reads, from the memory 503 , weather information associated with date and time information indicating, for example, the most recent date and time from among pieces of weather information of the region including the location indicated by the acquired location information, and causes the communication unit 501 to return the read weather information.
  • step S 206 the computation unit 104 may send the signal requesting acquisition of weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 , including the location information of any one of the vending machines 700 acquired in step S 202 .
  • the computation unit 104 may acquire weather information corresponding to an installed location of the vending machine 700 located near the current location of the communication terminal 100 , as the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the location information of any one of the vending machines 700 acquired in step S 202 may be acquired in the following manner, for example.
  • the computation unit 104 may send a signal requesting the location information of any one of the vending machines 700 to the business entity management server 300 , together with the identification information of the any one of the vending machines 700 acquired in step S 202 .
  • the computation unit 302 may acquire, from the memory 303 , the location information that indicates the installed location of the any one of the vending machines 700 and is associated with the identification information, and cause the communication unit 301 to return the acquired location information.
  • the acquisition method is not limited to this.
  • the computation unit 502 may read one or more pieces of weather information associated with date and time information indicating a past predetermined period from the reception time of the signal, for example, from among the pieces of weather information, stored in the memory 503 , of the region including the location indicated by the location information included in the signal received by the communication unit 501 , and cause the communication unit 501 to return the read one or more pieces of weather information.
  • a history of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 stored in the memory 102 of the communication terminal 100 owned by the user with permission may be managed as the personal information of the user with permission.
  • the computation unit 104 of the communication terminal 100 may send the date and time information and the weather information stored in the memory 102 in time series in step S 206 to the first server 200 in association with the user ID of the user of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 202 may store the user ID, the date and time information, and the weather information that are sent from the communication terminal 100 in the memory 203 in time series, as the history of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 owned by the user with permission.
  • the first server 200 may manage a history of the location information indicating the current location of the communication terminal 100 owned by the user with permission, as the personal information of the user with permission in the same manner.
  • the computation unit 104 may acquire, as the personal information, the history of the location information together with the preference information of the user with permission.
  • the computation unit 104 may trace back to the past the history of the current location of the communication terminal 100 indicated by the acquired history of the location information, and acquire the weather information of the surrounding region at the time of purchase of a drink by the user with permission from the second server 500 , as the history of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 104 then generates a push notification screen, based on each combination of the identification information of the vending machines 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, and the weather information that are acquired in the preceding steps (step S 207 ).
  • Each combination of the identification information of the vending machines 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information is the combination acquired in step S 202 each time a beacon signal is received.
  • the preference information is the preference information returned and acquired via the communication unit 101 in step S 221 and the preference information acquired in step S 205 .
  • the weather information is the weather information acquired in step S 206 and the history of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 stored in the memory 102 .
  • the computation unit 104 then displays the push notification screen generated in step S 207 on the display 105 of the communication terminal 100 (step S 208 ).
  • the computation unit 104 may display the push notification screen on the display 105 and may also drive a vibration generator (not illustrated) built in the communication terminal 100 to allow the user of the communication terminal 100 to easily notice the push notification.
  • the computation unit 104 may display the push notification screen on the display 105 and may also reproduce a sound reporting receipt of the push notification from a speaker (not illustrated) built in the communication terminal 100 to allow the user of the communication terminal 100 to easily notice the push notification.
  • the communication terminal 100 in response to receipt of a beacon signal by the proximity communication unit 107 , the communication terminal 100 performs the processing of step S 201 and subsequent steps, so that the push notification screen is automatically displayed in step S 208 .
  • step S 208 If receipt of a beacon signal by the proximity communication unit 107 is not detected for a predetermined time or more since the push notification screen is displayed in step S 208 ([without receipt of beacon signal for predetermined time or more]), the computation unit 104 performs processing of hiding the displayed push notification screen to hide the push notification screen. The computation unit 104 then ends the process (step S 209 ). After ending the process, the computation unit 104 returns to a state of waiting for receipt of a beacon signal by the proximity communication unit 107 .
  • the computation unit 104 generates an individual purchase menu for the user of the communication terminal 100 , based on the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, and the weather information that are used in step S 207 (step S 210 ).
  • the computation unit 104 then displays the individual purchase menu for the user of the communication terminal 100 generated in step S 210 on the display 105 of the communication terminal 100 (step S 211 ).
  • the user of the communication terminal 100 selects a drink to be purchased from among drinks included in the individual purchase menu displayed in step S 211 and performs a purchase operation of the selected drink, by using the operation unit 106 .
  • the computation unit 104 reads, from the memory 102 , information indicating the transmission direction of the beacon signal transmitted by the vending machine 700 that sells the drink selected as the drink to be purchased.
  • the computation unit 104 displays a direction indication indicating the transmission direction of the beacon signal indicated by the read information on the display 105 of the communication terminal 100 (step S 212 ).
  • the computation unit 104 may re-scan the beacon signal transmitted by the proximity communication unit 707 of the vending machine 700 storing the drink, and display a direction indication indicating the transmission direction of the beacon signal on the display 105 of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the user of the communication terminal 100 then moves to the vending machine 700 that sells the drink to be purchased and performs a predetermined payment operation using the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 104 performs predetermined settlement processing and controls the proximity communication unit 107 to send information indicating drink purchase details to the vending machine 700 (step S 213 ).
  • the information indicating the drink purchase details includes, for example, a product name which is the type of the drink to be purchased, a quantity of purchase of the drink, and a total amount required to purchase the drink.
  • the computation unit 104 subtracts an amount equivalent to the total amount required to purchase the drink from electronic money balance data stored in the memory 102 .
  • the computation unit 104 also controls the proximity communication unit 107 to send electronic money corresponding to the total amount required to purchase the drink, to the vending machine 700 that sells the drink selected as the drink to be purchased.
  • the computation unit 104 may control the communication unit 101 to send information indicating the drink purchase details and information on a credit card or electronic money input through the payment operation or stored in advance in the memory 102 to the business entity management server 300 that manages the vending machine 700 that sells the drink selected as the drink to be purchased, and request the business entity management server 300 to perform the settlement processing according to the purchase details.
  • the computation unit 104 may control the proximity communication unit 107 to send information indicating the drink purchase details and information on a credit card input through the payment operation or stored in advance in the memory 102 to the vending machine 700 that sells the drink selected as the drink to be purchased, and request the vending machine 700 to perform the settlement processing according to the purchase details.
  • the computation unit 704 causes the drink having the product name indicated by the information to be transported to the pick-up port as many times as the quantity of purchase indicated by the information. Consequently, the drink purchased by the user is provided to the user (step S 272 ).
  • the computation unit 104 of the communication terminal 100 controls the communication unit 101 to send the purchase information of the drink to the first server 200 (step S 214 ).
  • the purchase information of the drink includes the user ID of the user of the communication terminal 100 , the date and time information indicating the purchase date and time of the drink by the user, the identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 from which the user purchased the drink, and the type information indicating the type of the drink purchased by the user.
  • the computation unit 202 in response to the communication unit 201 receiving the purchase information sent in step S 214 , if the user indicated by the user ID included in the purchase information received by the communication unit 201 is a user with permission, the computation unit 202 updates the purchase history information of the user with permission stored in the memory 203 based on the purchase information (step S 222 ).
  • FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a push notification screen 800 A.
  • FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a push notification screen 800 B.
  • FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between a location of the communication terminal 100 and a location of the vending machine 700 .
  • FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a push notification screen 800 C.
  • the communication terminal 100 receives a beacon signal transmitted from the vending machine 700 , and performs the processing from step S 201 to step S 208 illustrated in FIGS. 7 A and 7 B . As a result, the push notification screen is displayed on the display 105 .
  • step S 208 the computation unit 104 displays the push notification screen 800 A imitating the vending machine 700 at an uppermost portion of the display 105 of the communication terminal 100 as illustrated in FIG. 8 , for example.
  • the computation unit 104 displays the detailed push notification screen 800 B on the display 105 as illustrated in FIG. 9 .
  • the computation unit 104 may display the detailed push notification screen 800 B illustrated in FIG. 9 on the display 105 without displaying the push notification screen 800 A illustrated in FIG. 8 .
  • the push notification screen 800 B includes a message 820 and an icon image 840 .
  • the message 820 is a message that recommends one drink determined to match a preference of the user of the communication terminal 100 from among a plurality of drinks stored in the vending machines 700 that are the transmission sources of the respective beacon signals and are indicated by the respective pieces of identification information acquired in step S 202 ( FIG. 7 A ) each time a beacon signal is received.
  • the icon image 840 is an image representing the one drink. In this manner, a drink that matches the preference of the user of the communication terminal 100 is recommended to the user who is in the vicinity of the vending machine 700 .
  • an image 830 is displayed as a direction indication indicating the transmission direction of the beacon signal transmitted by the vending machine 700 storing the recommended drink, based on the information indicating the transmission direction of the beacon signal stored in the memory 102 in step S 201 ( FIG. 7 A ).
  • the user of the communication terminal 100 can grasp the direction in which the vending machine 700 storing the recommended drink is present.
  • a message may be displayed that recommends a plurality of drinks determined to match the preference of the user of the communication terminal 100 from among the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machines 700 that are the transmission sources of the respective beacon signals.
  • direction indications each indicating the transmission direction of the beacon signal transmitted by a corresponding one of the vending machines 700 storing the plurality of recommended drinks may be displayed in the push notification screen 800 B based on the information indicating the transmission directions of the beacon signals stored in the memory 102 in step S 201 ( FIG. 7 A ).
  • the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 receives a beacon signal transmitted by the proximity communication unit 707 of the vending machine 700 located at a location that is 6.1 m away from the proximity communication unit 107 in a direction rotated clockwise by 48 degrees from the front direction of the communication terminal 100 , as illustrated in FIG. 10 , for example.
  • the computation unit 104 may display the push notification screen 800 C illustrated in FIG. 11 on the display 105 .
  • the push notification screen 800 C includes the message 820 identical to that in the push notification screen 800 B illustrated in FIG. 9 .
  • an image different from the image 830 illustrated in FIG. 9 is displayed as the direction indication.
  • the computation unit 104 displays an image 831 indicating the current location of the communication terminal 100 and displays the icon image 840 indicating the product recommended in step S 207 in a direction rotated clockwise by 48 degrees from the front direction of the image 831 , by using the information indicating the transmission direction of the beacon signal stored in the memory 102 in step S 201 ( FIG. 7 A ).
  • the computation unit 104 further displays an image 832 indicating the distance from the current location of the communication terminal 100 by using the information indicating the distance to the vending machine 700 that is the transmission source of the beacon signal stored in the memory 102 in step S 201 ( FIG. 7 A ).
  • the computation unit 104 displays the image 832 representing a distance of 6 m from the current location of the communication terminal 100 , which is a rough indication of the distance, as illustrated in FIG. 11 .
  • the push notification screens 800 A to 800 C described above are collectively referred to as the push notification screen 800 .
  • the push notification screen 800 is displayed on the display 105 , the user of the communication terminal 100 moves and a predetermined time or more has elapsed during which the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 fails to receive the beacon signal from the vending machine 700 .
  • step S 209 FIG. 7 B
  • the push notification screen 800 is hidden.
  • the push notification screen 800 that recommends a drink being kept uselessly displayed on the display 105 of the communication terminal 100 of the user who presumably does not wish to purchase the drink is avoided.
  • the trigger of hiding the push notification screen 800 is not limited to this.
  • the computation unit 104 may perform the processing of hiding the displayed push notification screen 800 to hide the push notification screen 800 .
  • the computation unit 104 performs the processing of hiding the displayed push notification screen 800 to hide the push notification screen 800 , or the computation unit 104 may perform processing of displaying an indication such as “timeout” over the push notification screen 800 to invalidate the push notification screen 800 .
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen 800 performs an operation (for example, a touch operation) of selecting the push notification screen 800 by using the operation unit 106 .
  • steps S 210 and S 211 are performed. Consequently, the individual purchase menu for the user is displayed on the display 105 .
  • FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an individual purchase menu 900 .
  • the computation unit 104 displays the individual purchase menu 900 for the user on the display 105 as illustrated in FIG. 12 , for example.
  • the individual purchase menu 900 for the user includes a plurality of tile objects 901 arranged in a matrix and a title 902 .
  • One tile object 901 corresponds to one drink that is determined to match the preference of the user of the communication terminal 100 from among a plurality of drinks stored in the vending machines 700 that are transmission sources of the respective beacon signals and are indicated by the respective pieces of identification information acquired in step S 202 ( FIG. 7 A ) each time a beacon signal is received.
  • Each of the tile objects 901 includes a product name that is the type of the drink, a price of the drink, and an image of the drink.
  • a direction indication indicating the transmission direction of the beacon signal transmitted by the corresponding vending machine 700 storing the drink may be displayed in each of the tile objects 901 , based on the information indicating the transmission direction of the beacon signal stored in the memory 102 in step S 201 ( FIG. 7 A ).
  • the tile objects 901 are arranged in order according to a degree of matching the preference of the user of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the tile objects 901 are arranged from the left end to the right end sequentially from the tile object 901 corresponding to a drink having the highest ranking in the order.
  • the tile objects 901 are arranged from the left end to the right end in the next row below.
  • the arrangement order of the tile objects 901 according to the rankings described herein is an example, and the present disclosure is not limited to this example.
  • the tile objects 901 may be arranged from the right end to the left end in the same row, may be arranged from the lowermost row to the uppermost row, or may be arranged in a combination thereof.
  • a plurality of objects representing a plurality of drinks may be arranged in a line horizontally, vertically, or on an arc line, and only some of the objects may be displayed on the display 105 .
  • the object representing the drink having the highest ranking in the order may be arranged to be displayed at the center initially, and the object representing the drink having the next highest ranking may be arranged to be displayed next to the object representing the drink having the highest ranking in the order.
  • the objects may be arranged so that the ranking in the order becomes lower as the position becomes closer to the right, the objects may be arranged so that the ranking in the order becomes lower as the position becomes closer to the left, or the ranking of the drink represented by the object may become lower as the distance of the object from the object representing the drink having the highest ranking in the order increases.
  • the individual purchase menu 900 for the user is not an individual purchase menu specific for one vending machine 700 but is a menu obtained by integrating, as one purchase menu, drinks that are determined to match the preference of the user of the communication terminal 100 from among a plurality of drinks stored in all the vending machines 700 that are transmission sources of the beacon signals received by the communication terminal 100 .
  • the title 902 indicates that the individual purchase menu 900 is an integrated purchase menu of a plurality of drinks sold by the nearby vending machines 700 , such as “virtual menu from nearby vending machines” illustrated in FIG. 12 , for example.
  • the displayed tile objects 901 are changed accordingly.
  • the tile objects 901 corresponding to other drinks that are not displayed at a time are displayed.
  • the user can browse the tile objects 901 corresponding to all the drinks included in the individual purchase menu 900 for the user by performing a scroll operation.
  • FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a scene in which the user of the communication terminal 100 selects a drink to be purchased from the individual purchase menu 900 .
  • the user can select a drink to be purchased by performing a touch operation on the tile object 901 representing the drink to be purchased by using a pointing body 1001 such as a finger.
  • the computation unit 104 changes a color and/or a pattern of the selected tile object 901 .
  • the computation unit 104 also displays “1” indicating the quantity of purchase of the drink represented by the tile object 901 , at a predetermined position (for example, an upper right portion) of the tile object 901 .
  • the computation unit 104 counts up the quantity of purchase displayed over the tile object 901 by one and displays the resulting quantity of purchase.
  • the computation unit 104 displays a purchase operation screen 910 at, for example, a lowermost portion of the display 105 .
  • the purchase operation screen 910 includes an image 911 representing the drink to be purchased selected by the user, a quantity of purchase 912 of the drink to be purchased, a total amount 913 required to purchase as many drinks to be purchased as the quantity of purchase 912 , and a purchase button 914 for confirming purchase of the drink.
  • the image of the drink to be purchased, the quantity of purchase, and the total amount required for purchase are displayed in the purchase operation screen 910 , the user can efficiently check the purchase details.
  • a direction indication indicating the transmission direction of the beacon signal transmitted by the vending machine 700 storing the drink to be purchased may be displayed based on the information stored in the memory 102 in step S 201 ( FIG. 7 A ), similarly to the image 830 included in the push notification screen 800 illustrated in FIG. 9 , for example.
  • FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a scene in which the user of the communication terminal 100 confirms purchase of the drink.
  • the user who has confirmed that there is no problem in the purchase details in the purchase operation screen 910 performs a touch operation on the purchase button 914 by using the pointing body 1001 such as a finger. While a touch operation on the purchase button 914 is continued, the computation unit 104 changes a color and/or a pattern of the purchase button 914 .
  • step S 212 ( FIG. 7 B ) is performed. Consequently, a direction indication indicating the transmission direction of the beacon signal transmitted by the vending machine 700 (hereinafter, referred to as a vending machine with the purchase target) that sells the drink selected as the drink to be purchased is displayed on the display 105 .
  • FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a scene in which the user of the communication terminal 100 acquires the purchased drink. Specifically, in step S 212 , the computation unit 104 displays a payment guidance screen 920 for guiding a method for paying for the purchased drink on the display 105 as illustrated in FIG. 15 .
  • a direction indication indicating the transmission direction of the beacon signal transmitted by the vending machine with the purchase target is displayed in the payment guidance screen 920 .
  • the computation unit 104 displays an image 925 indicating the current location of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 104 also displays an icon image 927 representing the vending machine 700 in the transmission direction indicated by the information with respect to the front direction of the image 925 .
  • the computation unit 104 By using the information that indicates the distance to the vending machine with the purchase target and is stored in the memory 102 in step S 201 ( FIG. 7 A ), the computation unit 104 further displays an image 926 indicating the distance from the current location of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the user can easily move to the vending machine with the purchase target by viewing the direction indication displayed in the payment guidance screen 920 to acquire the drink to be purchased.
  • the payment guidance screen 920 includes a type 924 of the drink to be purchased, an image 921 of the drink, a quantity of purchase 922 of the drink, and a total amount 923 required to purchase as many drinks to be purchased as the quantity of purchase 922 .
  • the payment guidance screen 920 also includes a message 928 for guiding a method of a payment operation performed using the communication terminal 100 at the vending machine with the purchase target.
  • step S 213 ( FIG. 7 B ) is performed in the communication terminal 100 and step S 272 ( FIG. 7 B ) is performed in the vending machine with the purchase target. Consequently, the drink purchased by the user is provided to the user.
  • step S 214 ( FIG. 7 B ) being performed
  • step S 222 ( FIG. 7 B ) is performed.
  • the purchase history information of the user stored in the memory 203 of the first server 200 is updated based on the purchase information sent in step S 214 .
  • FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of information 2100 stored in the memory 102 of the communication terminal 100 at the time of receipt of a beacon signal.
  • the information 2100 illustrated in FIG. 16 is stored in the memory 102 in steps S 201 and S 202 .
  • a field “beacon ID” is a field indicating the beacon ID included in the beacon signal received in step S 201 (see FIGS. 4 and 5 for the data structure of the beacon ID).
  • a field “beacon distance” is a field indicating the distance from the communication terminal 100 to the vending machine 700 that is the transmission source of the beacon signal received in step S 201 .
  • a field “beacon direction” is a field indicating the transmission direction of the beacon signal received in step S 201 .
  • a field “vending machine ID” is a field indicating the vending machine ID included in the identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 , which is acquired in step S 202 from the vending machine 700 that has transmitted the beacon signal received in step S 201 .
  • Fields “product information 1” to “product information 3” are fields indicating pieces of product information, on respective drinks stored in the vending machines 700 , which are included in the additional information acquired in step S 202 from the vending machine 700 that has transmitted the beacon signal received in step S 201 .
  • a beacon signal (first beacon signal) with a beacon ID “ID1” is received.
  • “ID1” is stored in the field “beacon ID”.
  • the distance to the vending machine 700 (first vending machine) that is the transmission source of the beacon signal is detected to be “5.0 (m)”, and the transmission direction of the beacon signal is also detected to be a direction rotated clockwise by “349 (degrees)” with respect to the front direction of the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 .
  • “5.0” and “349” are stored in the fields “beacon distance” and “beacon direction”, respectively.
  • step S 202 “vending machine A” (first identification information) is acquired as the vending machine ID from the vending machine 700 that is the transmission source of the beacon signal received in step S 201 .
  • “vending machine A” is stored in the field “vending machine ID”.
  • Three types of drinks are stored in the vending machine 700 .
  • “coffee 1, 130, 8, 5”, “coffee 2, 160, 10, 5”, and “coffee 3, 160, 7, 6” are stored in the fields “product information 1”, “product information 2”, and “product information 3”, respectively.
  • the information 2100 illustrated in FIG. 16 further indicates that a record having the field “beacon ID” with “ID2” and a record having the field “beacon ID” with “ID3” are stored since beacon signals having the beacon IDs “ID2” and “ID3” are received, respectively.
  • “vending machine B” (second identification information) is acquired as the vending machine ID from the vending machine 700 (second vending machine) that is the transmission source of the beacon signal (second beacon signal) with the beacon ID “ID2”.
  • “vending machine B” is stored in the field “vending machine ID” of the record in which the field “beacon ID” is “ID2”.
  • Second group of drinks Three types of drinks (second group of drinks) are stored in the vending machine 700 .
  • “beer 1, 250, 7, 6”, “beer 2, 250, 0, 6”, and “beer 3, 300, 11, 13” are stored in the fields “product information 1”, “product information 2”, and “product information 3”, respectively.
  • FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of purchase history information 2110 for each user stored in the memory 203 of the first server 200 .
  • the purchase history information 2110 illustrated in FIG. 17 is stored in the memory 203 in time series in step S 222 illustrated in FIG. 7 B .
  • a field “user ID” is a field indicating a user ID of a user who purchased a product.
  • a field “date and time information” is a field indicating the date and time when the user purchased the drink.
  • a field “sales site ID” is a field indicating an identifier of a sales site where the user purchased the product, such as a vending machine ID.
  • a field “purchased product name” is a field indicating the product name of the product purchased by the user.
  • a second record of the purchase history information 2110 illustrated in FIG. 17 indicates an example in which, purchase information in which the user ID is “USR01”, the date and time information is “20200414095340”, the vending machine ID is “vending machines A”, and the type information is “green tea (cold)” is received in step S 222 ( FIG. 7 B ) performed in response to purchase of a drink by the user and “USR01”, “20200414095340”, “vending machines A”, and “green tea (cold)” are stored in the fields “user ID”, “date and time information”, “sales site ID”, and “purchased product name”, respectively.
  • the purchase history information 2110 may be updated when the user purchases a product at a store, such as a retail store such as a convenience store or a supermarket or an eatery such as a restaurant or a cafe, managed by a business entity that has an affiliation with the managing business entity of the first server 200 .
  • a store such as a retail store such as a convenience store or a supermarket or an eatery such as a restaurant or a cafe
  • the same processing as step S 222 may be performed, so that the purchase history information 2110 stored in the memory 203 may be updated based on the information on the purchase of the product.
  • a first record of the purchase history information 2110 illustrated in FIG. 17 is a record stored in the memory 203 as the purchase history information 2110 in response to the user identified by the user ID “USR01” purchasing hot cappuccino and ice cream indicated by the purchased product name “cappuccino (hot), ice cream” at 12:15:45 on Apr. 13, 2020 indicated by the date and time information “20200413121545” at a sales site identified by the sales site ID “cafe A Kadoma branch”.
  • FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of preference information 2120 included in personal information of a user stored in the memory 203 of the first server 200 .
  • the preference information 2120 illustrated in FIG. 18 is generated by the computation unit 202 based on the purchase history information ( FIG. 17 ) of a user with permission in a past predetermined period stored in the memory 203 of the first server 200 , and is returned to the communication terminal 100 of the user with permission in step S 221 illustrated in FIG. 7 A .
  • a field “user ID” is a field indicating a user ID included in the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 received in step S 204 .
  • a field “number of purchases” is a field indicating the number of times the user indicated by the user ID has purchased a product having the product name indicated in a field “product name” in the past predetermined period.
  • the field “product name” is a field indicating the product name of the product purchased by the user indicated by the user ID.
  • a field “purchase date and time” is a field indicating a history of the purchase date and time of the product having the product name indicated in the field “product name”.
  • the computation unit 202 generates the preference information 2120 of the user with permission, based on the purchase history information ( FIG. 17 ) of the user with permission in the past predetermined period in the following manner. If the user indicated by the user ID included in the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 received in step S 204 is a user with permission, the computation unit 202 acquires the purchase history information ( FIG. 17 ) of the user with permission in the past predetermined period stored in the memory 203 .
  • the past predetermined period is determined to be a fixed period such as five years in the past from the present, for example. However, the past predetermined period is not limited to a fixed period. For example, information indicating the past predetermined period may be sent together with the signal requesting sending of the preference information of the user in step S 204 ( FIG. 7 A ).
  • the computation unit 202 refers to the field “purchased product name” of the acquired purchase history information ( FIG. 17 ) of the user with permission in the past predetermined period, and extracts the product names sequentially from the product name with the highest number of purchases. For each of the extracted product names, the computation unit 202 stores the user ID of the user with permission in the field “user ID”, the number of purchases of the product having the extracted product name in the field “number of purchases”, and the extracted product name in the field “product name”. The computation unit 202 acquires the date and time information stored in the field “date and time information” from the records including the extracted product name in the field “purchased product name” in the acquired purchase history information ( FIG.
  • the product name most frequently stored in the field “purchased product name” of the purchase history information ( FIG. 17 ) of the user with permission having the user ID “USR01” in the past predetermined period is “green tea (cold)” and the number of records including this product name in the field “purchased product name” is “167”. That is, the number of purchases of the drink having this product name is “167” times.
  • “USR01”, “167”, and “green tea (cold)” are stored in the fields “user ID”, “number of purchases”, and “product name”, respectively.
  • the date and time information stored in the field “date and time information” is acquired from 167 records including the product name “green tea (cold)” in the field “purchased product name” in the purchase history information ( FIG. 17 ) of the user with permission having the user ID “USR01” in the past predetermined period.
  • 167 dates and times such as “20200414223442, 20200414095340,” indicated by the acquired pieces of date and time information are stored in descending order in the field “purchase date and time” of the first record of the preference information 2120 illustrated in FIG. 18 .
  • FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of weather information 2200 of a current location of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the weather information 2200 of the current location of the communication terminal 100 illustrated in FIG. 19 is acquired from the second server 500 in step S 206 illustrated in FIG. 7 B .
  • a field “temperature (Celsius)” is a field indicating a temperature of the current location of the communication terminal 100 in degrees Celsius.
  • Fields “humidity”, “a heat index (wet-bulb globe temperature: WBGT)”, “solar radiation”, and “weather type” are fields indicating a humidity, a heat index (WBGT), a solar radiation, and a weather type at the current location of the communication terminal 100 , respectively.
  • the solar radiation is, for example, an integrated value of solar radiation at the current location of the communication terminal 100 in the most recent one hour, and the unit thereof is megajoules per square meter (MJ/m 2 ).
  • step S 206 illustrated in FIG. 7 B the memory 503 of the second server 500 stores weather information indicating that the temperature is “28° C.”, the humidity is “75%”, the heat index is “29° C.”, the solar radiation is “3.1 MJ/m 2 ”, and the weather type is “sunny” in association with date and time information indicating the date and time closest to the execution time of step S 206 , as weather information of a region including the current location of the communication terminal 100 at the execution time of step S 206 .
  • step S 206 the weather information 2200 illustrated in FIG. 19 in which “28 (° C.)”, “75(%)”, “29 (° C.)”, “3.1 (MJ/m 2 )”, and “sunny” are respectively stored in the fields “temperature (Celsius)”, “humidity”, “heat index (WBGT)”, “solar radiation”, and “weather type” is acquired from the second server 500 .
  • the weather information stored in the memory 503 of the second server 500 is not limited this, and may include at least one or more of the fields “temperature (Celsius)”, “humidity”, “heat index (WBGT)”, “solar radiation”, or “weather type”.
  • FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a history 2210 of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 104 periodically performs step S 206 , and stores the weather information acquired from the second server 500 and the date and time information indicating the acquisition date and time in association with each other in the memory 102 in time series, as the history 2210 of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 as illustrated in FIG. 20 .
  • a field “date and time information” is a field for storing date and time information indicating the acquisition date and time of the weather information from the second server 500 .
  • a field “weather information” is a field for storing the weather information acquired from the second server 500 .
  • the field “weather information” includes subfields “temperature (Celsius)”, “humidity”, “heat index (WBGT)”, “solar radiation”, and “weather type” for respectively storing the temperature, the humidity, the heat index, the solar radiation, and the weather type included in the weather information.
  • the history 2210 of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 illustrated in FIG. 20 indicates an example in which step S 206 is performed every hour from 6:00:00 on Apr. 14, 2020 indicated by the date and time information “20200414060000” to 9:00:00 on Apr. 14, 2020 indicated by the date and time information “20200414090000”, and the date and time information indicating the date and time when each step S 206 is performed and the weather information acquired in corresponding step S 206 are stored in the memory 102 in time series.
  • the history 2210 of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 stored in the memory 102 may be sent to the first server 200 , and may be managed as personal information of the user of the communication terminal 100 in the first server 200 .
  • a drink determination process of determining at least one drink that matches a preference of the user of the communication terminal 100 , is recommended in the push notification screen 800 , and is displayed in the individual purchase menu 900 for the user will be described next by using a specific example.
  • the drink determination process is performed when the push notification screen 800 is generated, and a result of the drink determination process is used when the individual purchase menu 900 for the user is generated.
  • At least one drink that matches the preference, indicated by the preference information, of the user of the communication terminal 100 is determined in relation to the weather, indicated by the weather information, at the current location of the communication terminal 100 from among a plurality of drinks stored in the vending machines 700 that are transmission sources of respective beacon signals received by the proximity communication unit 107 , by using each combination of the identification information of each of the vending machines 700 that are the transmission sources and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, and the weather information that are acquired prior to the drink determination process.
  • FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the drink determination process.
  • FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a work table 2400 used in the drink determination process.
  • the product information included in the information 2100 illustrated in FIG. 16 , the preference information 2120 illustrated in FIG. 18 , the weather information 2200 illustrated in FIG. 19 , and the history 2210 of the weather information illustrated in FIG. 20 are acquired prior to the drink determination process.
  • the computation unit 104 first refers to each piece of product information ( FIG. 16 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process, and determines whether a drink corresponding to the piece of product information is available for sale, based on the type information and the stock information included in the piece of product information.
  • the computation unit 104 then stores a result of the determination in the work table 2400 illustrated in FIG. 22 (step S 301 ).
  • drinks determined to be not available for sale can be excluded from drinks recommended to the user.
  • the computation unit 104 determines that a drink corresponding to a piece of product information in which the quantity information included in the stock information indicates a quantity “0” is a drink that is sold out and thus is not available for sale.
  • the computation unit 104 also determines that a drink corresponding to a piece of product information in which the temperature indicated by the temperature information included in the stock information is out of the predetermined temperature range in which the drink is providable to users is a drink that has an unsuitable temperature and thus is not available for sale.
  • the predetermined temperature range for cold drinks is higher than or equal to 4° C. and lower than or equal to 7° C. In this specific example ( FIG. 16 ), hot drinks are not handled. However, the predetermined temperature range for hot drinks is higher than or equal to 53° C. and lower than or equal to 57° C.
  • the drink corresponding to the piece of product information in which the quantity indicated by the quantity information included in the stock information is “0” and the product name indicated by the type information is “beer 2” is determined to be a drink not available for sale.
  • the drink corresponding to the piece of product information in which the temperature indicated by the temperature information included in the stock information is “13” and the product name indicated by the type information is “beer 3” is determined to be a drink not available for sale.
  • the drinks corresponding to the seven pieces of product information excluding these two pieces of product information are determined to be drinks available for sale.
  • the computation unit 104 refers to each piece of product information ( FIG. 16 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process, and stores the product name (for example, coffee 1) indicated by the type information included in the product information in the field “product name” of the work table 2400 illustrated in FIG. 22 .
  • the computation unit 104 then stores a result of the determination obtained in step S 301 in a field “available for sale” of the work table 2400 .
  • “OK” in the field “available for sale” in FIG. 22 indicates that the drink with the product name (for example, coffee 2) indicated by the field “product name” corresponding to the field “available for sale” is determined to be a drink available for sale.
  • “NG (sold out)” in the field “available for sale” in FIG. 22 indicates that the drink with the product name (for example, beer 2) indicated by the field “product name” corresponding to the field “available for sale” is determined to be sold out and thus is a drink not available for sale.
  • “NG (unsuitable temperature)” in the field “available for sale” in FIG. 22 indicates that the drink with the product name (for example, beer 3) indicated by the field “product name” corresponding to the field “available for sale” is determined to have an unsuitable temperature and thus is a drink not available for sale.
  • the computation unit 104 counts the number of times (hereinafter, referred to as the number of purchases under the similar weather) the user of the communication terminal 100 has purchased each of the drinks determined to be available for sale in step S 301 in the past under a weather condition similar to the current weather condition among the number of purchases of the drink (step S 302 ).
  • the computation unit 104 refers to each record of the preference information 2120 ( FIG. 18 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process, and acquires the product name (for example, green tea (cold)) of each drink stored in the field “product name” and the number of purchases (for example, 167) indicated by the field “number of purchases”. Then, in the work table 2400 illustrated in FIG. 22 , the computation unit 104 stores the acquired number of purchases (for example, 167) in a field “past preference (number of purchases)” in a record in which the acquired product name (for example, green tea (cold)) of the drink is stored in the field “product name”.
  • the computation unit 104 stores “0” in the field “past preference (number of purchases)” in a record in which a product name that is not acquired from the preference information 2120 ( FIG. 18 ) is stored in the field “product name”. Thus, it is possible to grasp that the user does not like the drink with the product name that is not acquired from the preference information 2120 ( FIG. 18 ).
  • the computation unit 104 determines that weather information satisfying all of three conditions 1) to 3) below that use the weather information 2200 ( FIG. 19 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process among the history 2210 ( FIG. 20 ) of the weather information acquired prior to the drink determination process is weather information (hereinafter, referred to as similar weather information) indicating a weather condition similar to the current weather condition.
  • the computation unit 104 acquires date and time information (hereinafter, referred to as similar weather date and time information) associated with the similar weather information from the history 2210 ( FIG. 20 ) of the weather information.
  • Condition 1 The temperature indicated by the field “temperature (Celsius)” is within ⁇ 5° C. from the temperature indicated by the field “temperature (Celsius)” of the weather information 2200 .
  • the heat index indicated by the field “heat index (WBGT)” is within ⁇ 5° C. from the heat index indicated by the field “heat index (WBGT)” of the weather information 2200 .
  • the computation unit 104 determines that the four pieces of weather information are the similar weather information, and acquires four pieces of date and time information “20200414060000”, “20200414070000”, “20200414080000”, and “20200414090000” associated with the respective four pieces of weather information included in the history 2210 of the weather information illustrated in FIG. 20 , as the similar weather date and time information.
  • the conditions for determining the similar weather information are not limited to the three conditions 1) to 3) described above, and may be one or more conditions that use one or more values indicated by one or more fields among the fields “temperature (Celsius)”, “humidity”, “heat index (WBGT)”, “solar radiation”, or “weather type” included in the weather information 2200 ( FIG. 19 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process.
  • the similar weather information and the similar weather date and time information may be acquired by using the condition 3) of the heat index (WBGT).
  • step S 302 the computation unit 104 then refers to the preference information 2120 ( FIG. 18 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process, and counts the number of times each drink determined to be available for sale in step S 301 has been purchased within a predetermined time from the date and time indicated by the similar weather date and time information, as the number of purchases of the drink under the similar weather.
  • the predetermined time is one hour.
  • the computation unit 104 refers to the field “purchase date and time” of a record in which the product name (for example, green tea (cold)) of each drink determined to be available for sale in step S 301 is written in the field “product name”.
  • the computation unit 104 then counts, as the number of purchases of each drink under the similar weather, the number of dates and times in the field “purchase date and time” of the drink included in a period between dates and times (for example, from 5:00:00 on Apr. 14, 2020 to 7:00:00 on Apr. 14, 2020) that are within the predetermined time from the date and time (for example, 6:00:00 on Apr. 14, 2020) indicated by each similar weather date and time information among the dates and times (for example, 20200414223442, 20200414095340, . . . ) stored in the field “purchase date and time” to which a reference is made.
  • the computation unit 104 then stores the counted number of purchases under the similar weather (for example, 103) in the field “past preference under similar weather condition (number of purchases)” of a record in which the product name (for example, green tea (cold)) of the drink is stored in the field “product name”.
  • the computation unit 104 then assigns higher priorities to the drinks determined to be available for sale in step S 301 in descending order of the number of purchases of the drink under the similar weather counted in step S 302 by assuming that the drink for which the number of purchases under the similar weather is larger is more likely to match the preference of the user of the communication terminal 100 in relation to the weather at the current location of the communication terminal 100 (step S 303 ).
  • step S 301 and S 302 For example, suppose that as a result of steps S 301 and S 302 , the product name indicated by the type information included in each piece of product information illustrated in FIG. 16 , the determination result obtained in step S 301 , the number of purchases of each drink determined to be available for sale in step S 301 , and the number of purchases of each drink under the similar weather counted in step S 302 are stored in the fields “product name”, “available for sale”, “past preference (number of purchases)”, and “past preference under similar weather condition (number of purchases)” of each record of the work table 2400 , respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 22 .
  • step S 303 the computation unit 104 assigns the highest priority “1” to the drink of which the product name is “green tea (cold)” and of which the number of purchases under the similar weather stored in the field “past preference under similar weather condition (number of purchases)” is the largest, i.e., “103”.
  • the computation unit 104 then stores the assigned priority “1” in the field “priority” of the record corresponding to the drink in the work table 2400 .
  • the computation unit 104 then assigns the priority “2”, which is the next highest priority of the priority “1”, to the drink of which the product name is “carbonated drink (cold)” and of which the number of purchases under the similar weather stored in the field “past preference under similar weather condition (number of purchases)” is the next largest, i.e., “45”.
  • the computation unit 104 then stores the assigned priority “2” in the field “priority” of the record corresponding to the drink in the work table 2400 .
  • the priority “3” is assigned to the drink with the product name “sports drink”
  • the priority “4” is assigned to the drink with the product name “coffee 2”.
  • the computation unit 104 assigns the next priority (in this specific example, “5”) to the drinks which are determined to be available for sale (for example, the drinks with the product names “coffee 1”, “coffee 3”, and “beer 1”) and of which the number of purchases under the similar weather counted in step S 302 is “0”.
  • the computation unit 104 does not assign priorities to the drinks determined to be not available for sale in step S 301 (for example, the drinks with the product names “beer 2” and “beer 3”). Thus, the computation unit 104 stores “ ⁇ ” indicating that the drink is not recommended to the user in the field “priority” of each record corresponding to the drink not available for sale in the work table 2400 .
  • step S 207 the computation unit 104 performs the drink determination process of step S 301 to step S 303 .
  • the computation unit 104 then generates a message that recommends a drink corresponding to a record in which “1” is stored in the field “priority” of the work table 2400 illustrated in FIG. 22 , as the message 820 of the push notification screens 800 B and 800 C illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11 , respectively.
  • the computation unit 104 also generates a product image representing the drink corresponding to the record in which “1” is stored in the field “priority” of the work table 2400 illustrated in FIG. 22 , as the icon image 840 of the push notification screens 800 B and 800 C illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11 , respectively.
  • step S 210 ( FIG. 7 B ), with reference to the work table 2400 illustrated in FIG. 22 , which is obtained by performing steps S 301 to S 303 of step S 207 ( FIG. 7 B ), the computation unit 104 generates the individual purchase menu 900 for the user, in which the tile objects 901 (such as FIG. 12 ) representing the drinks corresponding to the respective records in which the priorities are stored in the field “priority” are arranged according to the stored priorities.
  • the tile objects 901 such as FIG. 12
  • a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below.
  • the business entity X application in the communication terminal 100 generates the push notification screen 800 and the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 , and notifies the first server 200 of the purchase information of the drink by the user.
  • the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the business entity management server 300 that provides the business entity X application generates the push notification screen 800 and the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 and notifies the first server 200 of the purchase information of the drink by the user.
  • the history 2210 ( FIG. 20 ) of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 owned by a user with permission is managed as personal information of the user with permission in the first server 200 .
  • FIGS. 23 A and 23 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the overview of the process performed in the vending machine management system in the second embodiment.
  • the proximity communication unit 707 of each of the vending machines 700 included in the vending machine management system periodically transmits a beacon signal (step S 271 ) as in the first embodiment.
  • the business entity X application is executed in the communication terminal 100 , so that step S 201 is performed as in the first embodiment.
  • step S 201 information indicating the distance to the vending machine 700 that is the transmission source of the beacon signal and the transmission direction of the beacon signal as well as the beacon ID are stored in the memory 102 .
  • Step S 202 is performed, so that the identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 and the product information including the type information and the stock information are stored in the memory 102 .
  • step S 202 if the preference information of the user of the communication terminal 100 is stored in the memory 102 ([preference information stored]), the computation unit 104 acquires the preference information of the user of the communication terminal 100 stored in the memory 102 (step S 205 a ).
  • the computation unit 104 then controls the communication unit 101 to send, to the business entity management server 300 , pieces of information stored in the memory 102 , i.e., the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 including the user ID, the information that indicates the distance to each vending machine 700 which is the transmission source of the beacon signal and the transmission direction of the beacon signal and that is acquired in step S 201 , the preference information acquired in step S 205 a , and the identification information of the vending machine 700 which is the transmission source of the beacon signal and the product information that are acquired in step S 202 (step S 203 a ).
  • the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 including the user ID
  • the information that indicates the distance to each vending machine 700 which is the transmission source of the beacon signal and the transmission direction of the beacon signal and that is acquired in step S 201 the preference information acquired in step S 205 a
  • the identification information of the vending machine 700 which is the transmission source of the beacon signal and the product information that are acquired in step S 202 (step S 203 a
  • the computation unit 302 updates the product information of the vending machine 700 corresponding to the identification information and stored in the memory 303 .
  • step S 201 to step S 203 a is repeated in response to the receipt.
  • the computation unit 104 may repeatedly perform merely steps S 201 and S 202 at receipt of each of the beacon signals by the proximity communication unit 107 and may perform steps S 205 a and S 203 a just once.
  • the computation unit 104 may collectively send the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 including the user ID, the preference information acquired in step S 205 a , and the pieces of information acquired in steps S 201 and S 202 to the business entity management server 300 in single step S 203 a.
  • the computation unit 302 of the business entity management server 300 controls the communication unit 301 to send, to the first server 200 , a signal requesting the preference information of the user identified by the user ID included in the identification information and the history 2210 ( FIG. 20 ) of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 owned by the user, together with the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 acquired from the communication terminal 100 (step S 231 ).
  • the computation unit 202 performs step S 221 a (step S 221 a ).
  • step S 221 a if the computation unit 202 determines that the user indicated by the user ID included in the identification information received by the communication unit 201 is a user with permission ([with permission of user]), the computation unit 202 controls the communication unit 201 to return the preference information of the user with permission and the history 2210 ( FIG. 20 ) of the weather information that are acquired from the memory 203 to the business entity management server 300 . On the other hand, if the computation unit 202 determines that the user is not a user with permission ([otherwise]), the computation unit 202 controls the communication unit 201 to return information indicating that the personal information is inaccessible to the business entity management server 300 . The returned information is received and output to the computation unit 302 by the communication unit 301 of the business entity management server 300 .
  • the computation unit 202 may control the communication unit 201 to send a message for checking whether to permit the business entity management server 300 to read the personal information, to the communication terminal 100 indicated by the identification information acquired from the business entity management server 300 .
  • the computation unit 202 acquires a reply indicating permission from the communication terminal 100 via the communication unit 201 .
  • the computation unit 202 may acquire, from the memory 203 , the preference information included in the personal information of the user indicated by the user ID included in the received identification information and the history 2210 ( FIG. 20 ) of the weather information in step S 221 a .
  • the computation unit 202 then may cause the communication unit 201 to return the acquired information to the business entity management server 300 .
  • step S 233 the computation unit 302 performs step S 233 to acquire the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 (or the installed location of the target vending machine) (step S 233 ).
  • step S 233 the computation unit 302 acquires, from the memory 303 , location information that indicates a location where any one of the vending machines 700 is installed and that is associated with the identification information of the one of the vending machines 700 received from the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 302 acquires the location information indicating the installed location of the one of the vending machines 700 located near the communication terminal 100 , as the location information indicating the current location of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 302 then controls the communication unit 301 to send, together with the acquired location information, a signal requesting weather information of a region including the location indicated by the location information to the second server 500 . If the weather information of the region including the installed location of the one of the vending machines 700 is returned from the second server 500 in response to this, the computation unit 302 acquires the returned weather information as the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 via the communication unit 301 .
  • the computation unit 302 may control the communication unit 301 to send, together with the location information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 , a signal requesting weather information of a region including the location indicated by the location information to the second server 500 .
  • the computation unit 302 may directly acquire the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 from the second server 500 .
  • the computation unit 104 may control the communication unit 101 to send the location information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 to the business entity management server 300 together with the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 including the user ID and so on.
  • the computation unit 302 may acquire the sent location information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 via the communication unit 301 .
  • the computation unit 502 of the second server 500 in response to receipt of the signal requesting the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 via the communication unit 501 , the computation unit 502 of the second server 500 reads, from the memory 503 , weather information associated with date and time information indicating the most recent date and time, for example, from among pieces of weather information of the region including the location indicated by the location information included in the signal, and causes the communication unit 501 to return the read weather information.
  • the acquisition method is not limited to this.
  • the computation unit 502 may read one or more pieces of weather information associated with date and time information indicating a past predetermined period from the reception time of the signal, for example, from among the pieces of weather information, stored in the memory 503 , of the region including the location indicated by the location information included in the signal received by the communication unit 501 , and cause the communication unit 501 to return the read one or more pieces of weather information.
  • the computation unit 302 generates the push notification screen 800 , based on each combination of the identification information of the vending machines 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, and the weather information that are acquired in the preceding steps (step S 234 ).
  • Each combination of the identification information of the vending machines 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information is a combination sent and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 203 a .
  • the preference information is the preference information sent and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 203 a and the preference information returned and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 221 a .
  • the weather information is the history 2210 ( FIG. 20 ) of the weather information returned and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 221 a and the weather information acquired in step S 233 .
  • step S 234 the computation unit 302 performs the drink determination process (steps S 301 to S 303 ( FIG. 21 )) by using each combination of the identification information of the vending machine 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, and the weather information.
  • the computation unit 302 generates a message that recommends a drink corresponding to a record in which “1” is stored in the field “priority” of the work table 2400 ( FIG. 22 ), as the message 820 of the push notification screens 800 B and 800 C illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11 , respectively.
  • the computation unit 302 also generates a product image representing the drink corresponding to the record in which “1” is stored in the field “priority” of the work table 2400 ( FIG. 22 ), as the icon image 840 of the push notification screens 800 B and 800 C illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11 , respectively.
  • the computation unit 302 controls the communication unit 301 to send information representing the push notification screen 800 generated in step S 234 to the communication terminal 100 (step S 235 ).
  • the computation unit 104 displays the push notification screen 800 represented by the acquired information on the display 105 of the communication terminal 100 (step S 208 a ).
  • the computation unit 104 may display the push notification screen 800 on the display 105 and may drive a vibration generator (not illustrated) built in the communication terminal 100 to allow the user of the communication terminal 100 to easily notice the push notification.
  • the computation unit 104 may display the push notification screen 800 on the display 105 and reproduce a sound reporting receipt of the push notification from a speaker (not illustrated) built in the communication terminal 100 to allow the user of the communication terminal 100 to easily notice the push notification.
  • the computation unit 104 performs processing of hiding the displayed push notification screen 800 to hide the push notification screen 800 .
  • the computation unit 104 then ends the process (step S 209 ). After ending the process, the computation unit 104 returns to a state of waiting for receipt of a beacon signal by the proximity communication unit 107 .
  • the computation unit 104 controls the communication unit 101 to send a signal requesting generation of the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 to the business entity management server 300 (step S 210 a ).
  • the signal requesting generation of the individual purchase menu 900 for the user is received and output to the computation unit 302 by the communication unit 301 of the business entity management server 300 .
  • the computation unit 302 In response to acquiring, via the communication unit 301 , the signal requesting generation of the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 sent in step S 210 a , the computation unit 302 generates the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 , based on the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, and the weather information that are used in step S 234 (step S 236 ).
  • step S 236 the computation unit 302 refers to the work table 2400 ( FIG. 22 ) obtained by performing the drink determination process (steps S 301 to S 303 ( FIG. 21 )) in step S 234 by using the type information and stock information included in the product information described above, the preference information, and the weather information.
  • the computation unit 302 then generates the individual purchase menu 900 in which the tile objects 901 (such as FIG. 12 ) representing the drinks corresponding to the respective records in which the priorities are stored in the field “priority” are arranged according to the stored priorities.
  • the computation unit 302 controls the communication unit 301 to send information representing the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 , generated in step S 236 , to the communication terminal 100 (step S 237 ).
  • the computation unit 104 displays the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 represented by the acquired information on the display 105 of the communication terminal 100 (step S 211 a ).
  • step S 211 a as in the first embodiment, steps S 212 , S 213 , and S 272 are performed, so that the drink purchased by the user is provided to the user.
  • the computation unit 104 of the communication terminal 100 controls the communication unit 101 to send the purchase information of the drink to the business entity management server 300 (step S 214 a ).
  • the purchase information of the drink sent in step S 214 a is received and output to the computation unit 302 by the communication unit 301 .
  • the purchase information of the drink includes the user ID of the user of the communication terminal 100 , the date and time information indicating the purchase date and time of the drink by the user, the identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 from which the user purchased the drink, and the type information indicating the type of the drink purchased by the user.
  • step S 238 the computation unit 302 of the business entity management server 300 causes the communication unit 301 to send a signal requesting update of the purchase history information of the user of the communication terminal 100 to the first server 200 together with the acquired purchase information of the drink (step S 238 ).
  • step S 222 is performed in the first server 200 as in the first embodiment, and if the user of the communication terminal 100 is a user with permission, the purchase history information of the user with permission stored in the memory 203 is updated.
  • a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below.
  • the business entity X application in the communication terminal 100 generates the push notification screen 800 and the individual purchase menu 900 for the user, based on each combination of the identification information of each of the vending machines 700 that are the transmission sources of respective beacon signals received by the proximity communication unit 107 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information of the user of the communication terminal 100 , and the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the business entity X application in the communication terminal 100 generates the push notification screen 800 and the individual purchase menu 900 for the user, based on each combination of the identification information of each of the vending machines 700 that are the transmission sources of respective beacon signals received by the proximity communication unit 107 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information of the user of the communication terminal 100 , and biological information of the user.
  • each combination of the identification information of each of the vending machines 700 that are the transmission sources of the respective beacon signals received by the proximity communication unit 107 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information of the user of the communication terminal 100 , and the biological information of the user, which are acquired prior to the drink determination process, are used in the drink determination process performed when the push notification screen 800 is generated.
  • the drink determination process at least one drink that matches a preference of the user indicated by the preference information is determined, in relation to the current physical condition of the user of the communication terminal 100 indicated by the biological information, from among a plurality of drinks stored in the vending machines 700 that are the transmission sources of the respective beacon signals received by the communication terminal 100 .
  • FIGS. 24 A and 24 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the overview of the process performed in the vending machine management system in the third embodiment.
  • the proximity communication unit 707 of each of the vending machines 700 included in the vending machine management system periodically transmits a beacon signal (step S 271 ) as in the first embodiment.
  • the business entity X application is executed in the communication terminal 100 , so that each time the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 receives a beacon signal transmitted from the proximity communication unit 707 of the vending machine 700 , the processing from step S 201 to step S 203 is repeated in response to the receipt as in the first embodiment.
  • the computation unit 104 may perform merely steps S 201 and S 202 at receipt of each of the beacon signals by the proximity communication unit 107 and may perform step S 203 just once, as in the first embodiment.
  • the business entity X that provides the business entity X application has an affiliation with the managing business entity of the first server 200 and that the business entity X is permitted to acquire, via the business entity X application, personal information of each user stored in the first server 200 .
  • the computation unit 104 of the communication terminal 100 controls the communication unit 101 to send, to the first server 200 , a signal requesting preference information and biological information of the user identified by the user ID included in the identification information, together with identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 stored in the memory 102 (step S 204 b ).
  • the computation unit 202 performs processing of step S 221 b (step S 221 b ).
  • step S 221 b if the computation unit 202 determines that the user indicated by the user ID included in the identification information received by the communication unit 201 is a user with permission ([with permission of user]) as in step S 221 ( FIG. 7 A ) according to the first embodiment, the computation unit 202 acquires the preference information and the biological information included in the personal information of the user with permission from the memory 203 and causes the communication unit 201 to return the acquired preference information and biological information.
  • the computation unit 202 determines that the user is not a user with permission ([otherwise])
  • the computation unit 202 causes the communication unit 201 to return information indicating that the personal information is inaccessible.
  • the returned information is received and output to the computation unit 104 by the communication unit 101 of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 202 may cause the communication unit 201 to return a message for checking whether to permit reading of the personal information stored in the memory 203 .
  • the computation unit 202 acquires a reply indicating permission from the communication terminal 100 via the communication unit 201 .
  • the computation unit 202 may acquire, from the memory 203 , the preference information and the biological information included in the personal information of the user indicated by the user ID included in the received identification information, and cause the communication unit 201 to return the acquired information in step S 221 b.
  • the computation unit 104 acquires the preference information and/or the biological information of the user within a range not overlapping the preference information and the biological information returned in step S 221 b (step S 205 b ).
  • the latest biological information is sent from the biological sensor 600 to the communication terminal 100 and is accumulated and managed by the sensor application but is not uploaded to the first server 200 yet. Since the drink determination process (described below) is performed also using the latest biological information, the latest biological information stored in the memory 102 of the communication terminal 100 in this manner is also acquired in step S 205 b.
  • the computation unit 104 After step S 205 b , the computation unit 104 generates the push notification screen 800 , based on each combination of the identification information of the vending machines 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, and the biological information that are acquired in the preceding steps (step S 207 b ).
  • Each combination of the identification information of the vending machines 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information is the combination acquired in step S 202 each time a beacon signal is received.
  • the preference information is the preference information returned and acquired via the communication unit 101 in step S 221 b and the preference information acquired in step S 205 b .
  • the biological information is the biological information returned and acquired via the communication unit 101 in step S 221 b and the biological information acquired in step S 205 b.
  • step S 207 b the computation unit 104 performs the drink determination process (described below) by using each combination of the identification information of the vending machine 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, and the biological information.
  • the computation unit 104 then displays the push notification screen 800 generated in step S 207 b on the display 105 of the communication terminal 100 (step S 208 ).
  • the computation unit 104 may display the push notification screen 800 on the display 105 and may drive a vibration generator (not illustrated) built in the communication terminal 100 to allow the user of the communication terminal 100 to easily notice the push notification.
  • the computation unit 104 may display the push notification screen 800 on the display 105 and reproduce a sound reporting receipt of the push notification from a speaker (not illustrated) built in the communication terminal 100 to allow the user of the communication terminal 100 to easily notice the push notification.
  • step S 208 If receipt of a beacon signal by the proximity communication unit 107 is not detected for a predetermined time or more since the push notification screen is displayed in step S 208 ([without receipt of beacon signal for predetermined time or more]), the computation unit 104 performs processing of hiding the displayed push notification screen to hide the push notification screen. The computation unit 104 then ends the process (step S 209 ). After ending the process, the computation unit 104 returns to a state of waiting for receipt of a beacon signal by the proximity communication unit 107 .
  • the computation unit 104 generates the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 , based on the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, and the biological information that are used in step S 207 b (step S 210 b ).
  • step S 210 b the computation unit 104 generates the individual purchase menu 900 with reference to a work table (described later) obtained by performing the drink determination process (described later) in step S 207 b by using the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, and the biological information.
  • the computation unit 104 displays the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 generated in step S 210 b on the display 105 of the communication terminal 100 (step S 211 ). After step S 211 , steps S 212 to S 214 , S 272 , and S 222 are performed as in the first embodiment. Thus, the drink purchased by the user is provided to the user. If the user of the communication terminal 100 is a user with permission, the first server 200 updates the purchase history information of the user with permission stored in the memory 203 .
  • FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of a biological information table 2300 .
  • the memory 203 of the first server 200 has the biological information table 2300 for storing the biological information collected from the biological sensor 600 by the sensor application in the communication terminal 100 in time series in association with the user ID of the user of the communication terminal 100 and the measurement date and time information indicating the measurement date and time of the biological information.
  • the most recent biological information in the biological information table 2300 illustrated in FIG. 25 is stored only in the memory 102 of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the latest biological information may be acquired from the communication terminal 100 instead of the first server 200 .
  • the computation unit 202 of the first server 200 acquires a record including the user ID of the user from the biological information table 2300 illustrated in FIG. 25 , and returns the acquired record as the biological information of the user.
  • a field “user ID” of the biological information table 2300 is a field indicating the user ID of the user of the communication terminal 100 .
  • a field “measurement date and time” is a field indicating the measurement date and time information.
  • a “biological information” is a field indicating the biological information acquired from the communication terminal 100 .
  • the field “biological information” includes subfields “systolic blood pressure”, “diastolic blood pressure”, “heart rate”, “body water percentage”, and “body temperature” indicating the systolic blood pressure, the diastolic blood pressure, the heart rate, the body water percentage, and the body temperature of the user, respectively.
  • the field “biological information” is not limited to this, and may include at least one or more of the fields “systolic blood pressure”, “diastolic blood pressure”, “heart rate”, “body water percentage”, or “body temperature”.
  • the biological information table 2300 illustrated in FIG. 25 presents an example in which pieces of biological information of the user having the user ID “USR01” measured every hour from 6:00:00 on Apr. 14, 2020 indicated by the measurement date and time information “20200414060000” to 9:00:00 on Apr. 14, 2020 indicated by the date and time information “20200414090000” are stored in time series.
  • the biological information table 2300 illustrated in FIG. 25 presents an example in which the biological information of the user having the user ID “USR01”, which indicates that the systolic blood pressure, the diastolic blood pressure, the heart rate, the body water percentage, and the body temperature measured at 6:00:00 on Apr.
  • a drink determination process of determining at least one drink that matches a preference of the user of the communication terminal 100 , is recommended in the push notification screen 800 , and is displayed in the individual purchase menu 900 for the user in the third embodiment will be described next by using a specific example.
  • the drink determination process is performed when the push notification screen 800 is generated, and a result of the drink determination process is used when the individual purchase menu 900 for the user is generated.
  • At least one drink that matches the preference, indicated by the preference information, of the user of the communication terminal 100 is determined in relation to the current physical condition, indicated by the biological information, of the user of the communication terminal 100 from among a plurality of drinks stored in the vending machines 700 that are transmission sources of respective beacon signals received by the proximity communication unit 107 , by using each combination of the identification information of each of the vending machines 700 that are the transmission sources and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, and the biological information that are acquired prior to the drink determination process.
  • FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the drink determination process.
  • FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of a work table 2500 used in the drink determination process illustrated in FIG. 26 .
  • the product information included in the information 2100 illustrated in FIG. 16 , the preference information 2120 illustrated in FIG. 18 , and each record of the biological information table 2300 illustrated in FIG. 25 are acquired prior to the drink determination process.
  • the computation unit 104 first refers to each piece of product information ( FIG. 16 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process, and determines whether a drink corresponding to the piece of product information is available for sale based on the type information and the stock information included in the piece of product information.
  • the computation unit 104 then stores a result of the determination in the work table 2500 illustrated in FIG. 27 (step S 401 ).
  • drinks determined to be not available for sale can be excluded from drinks recommended to the user.
  • the computation unit 104 determines that a drink corresponding to a piece of product information in which the quantity information included in the stock information indicates a quantity “0” is a drink that is sold out and thus is not available for sale.
  • the computation unit 104 also determines that a drink corresponding to a piece of product information in which the temperature indicated by the temperature information included in the stock information is out of the predetermined temperature range in which the drink is providable to users is a drink that has an unsuitable temperature and thus is not available for sale.
  • the predetermined temperature range for cold drinks is higher than or equal to 4° C. and lower than or equal to 7° C. In this specific example ( FIG. 16 ), hot drinks are not handled. However, the predetermined temperature range for hot drinks is higher than or equal to 53° C. and lower than or equal to 57° C.
  • the drink corresponding to the piece of product information in which the quantity indicated by the quantity information included in the stock information is “0” and the product name indicated by the type information is “beer 2” is determined to be a drink not available for sale.
  • the drink corresponding to the piece of product information in which the temperature indicated by the temperature information included in the stock information is “13” and the product name indicated by the type information is “beer 3” is determined to be a drink not available for sale.
  • the drinks corresponding to the seven pieces of product information excluding these two pieces of product information are determined to be drinks available for sale.
  • the computation unit 104 refers to each piece of product information ( FIG. 16 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process, and stores the product name (for example, coffee 1) indicated by the type information included in the product information in a field “product name” of the work table 2500 illustrated in FIG. 27 .
  • the computation unit 104 then stores a result of the determination obtained in step S 401 in a field “available for sale” of the work table 2500 .
  • “OK” in the field “available for sale” in FIG. 27 indicates that the drink with the product name (for example, coffee 2) indicated by the field “product name” corresponding to the field “available for sale” is determined to be a drink available for sale.
  • “NG (sold out)” in the field “available for sale” in FIG. 27 indicates that the drink with the product name (for example, beer 2) indicated by the field “product name” corresponding to the field “available for sale” is determined to be sold out and thus is a drink not available for sale.
  • “NG (unsuitable temperature)” in the field “available for sale” in FIG. 27 indicates that the drink with the product name (for example, beer 3) indicated by the field “product name” corresponding to the field “available for sale” is determined to have an unsuitable temperature and thus is a drink not available for sale.
  • the computation unit 104 counts the number of times (past preference under similar physical condition (number of purchases) in FIG. 27 ) the user of the communication terminal 100 has purchased each of the drinks determined to be available for sale in step S 401 in the past under a physical condition similar to the current physical condition of the user among the number of purchases of the drink (step S 402 ).
  • the computation unit 104 refers to each record of the preference information 2120 ( FIG. 18 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process, and acquires the product name (for example, green tea (cold)) of each drink stored in the field “product name” and the number of purchases (for example, 167) indicated by the field “number of purchases”. Then, in the work table 2500 illustrated in FIG. 27 , the computation unit 104 stores the acquired number of purchases (for example, 167) in a field “past preference (number of purchases)” in a record in which the acquired product name (for example, green tea (cold)) of the drink is stored in the field “product name”.
  • the computation unit 104 stores “0” in the field “past preference (number of purchases)” in a record in which a product name that is not acquired from the preference information 2120 ( FIG. 18 ) is stored in the field “product name”. Thus, it is possible to grasp that the user does not like the drink with the product name that is not acquired from the preference information 2120 ( FIG. 18 ).
  • the computation unit 104 sets the biological information included in the record corresponding to the most recent measurement date and time among the pieces of biological information ( FIG. 25 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process, as the biological information (hereinafter, referred to as current biological information) indicating the current physical condition of the user of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 104 determines that biological information satisfying both of two conditions 1) and 2) below that use the current biological information among the pieces of biological information measured in the past before the current biological information is biological information (hereinafter, referred to as similar biological information) indicating a physical condition similar to the current physical condition of the user of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 104 acquires measurement date and time information (hereinafter, referred to as similar biological condition date and time information) associated with the similar biological information from the biological information ( FIG. 25 ).
  • the body temperature indicated by the field “body temperature” is within ⁇ 1° C. from the body temperature indicated by the field “body temperature” of the current biological information.
  • the body water percentage indicated by the field “body water percentage” is within ⁇ 1% from the body water percentage indicated by the field “body water percentage” of the current biological information.
  • the computation unit 104 sets, as the current biological information, biological information included in a record in which the most recent date and time “20200414090000” is stored in the field “measurement date and time”.
  • three pieces of biological information, other than the current biological information, included in the biological information table 2300 illustrated in FIG. 25 satisfy both of the two conditions 1) and 2) above that use the current biological information.
  • the computation unit 104 determines that the three pieces of biological information are the similar biological information, and acquires, as the similar biological condition date and time information, three pieces of date and time information “20200414060000”, “20200414070000”, and “20200414080000” associated with the respective three pieces of similar biological information included in the biological information table 2300 illustrated in FIG. 25 .
  • the conditions for determining the similar biological information are not limited to the two conditions 1) and 2) described above, and may be one or more conditions that use one or more values indicated by one or more fields among the fields “systolic blood pressure”, “diastolic blood pressure”, “heart rate”, “body water percentage”, and “body temperature” included in the current biological information.
  • the similar biological information and the similar biological condition date and time information may be acquired using only the condition 1) related to the body temperature.
  • step S 402 the computation unit 104 refers to the preference information 2120 ( FIG. 18 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process, and counts the number of times each drink determined to be available for sale in step S 401 has been purchased within a predetermined time from the date and time indicated by the similar biological condition date and time information, as the number of purchases of the drink under the similar physical condition.
  • the predetermined time is one hour.
  • the computation unit 104 refers to the field “purchase date and time” of a record in which the product name (for example, green tea (cold)) of each drink determined to be available for sale in step S 401 is written in the field “product name”.
  • the computation unit 104 then counts, as the number of purchases of each drink under the similar physical condition, the number of dates and times in the field “purchase date and time” of the drink in a period (for example, from 5:00:00 on Apr. 14, 2020 to 7:00:00 on Apr. 14, 2020) that is within the predetermined time from the date and time (for example, 6:00:00 on Apr. 14, 2020) indicated by each piece of similar biological condition date and time information among the dates and times (for example, 20200414223442, 20200414095340, . . . ) stored in the field “purchase date and time” to which a reference is made.
  • the computation unit 104 then stores the counted number of purchases under the similar physical condition (for example, 89) in the field “past preference under similar physical condition (number of purchases)” of a record in which the product name (for example, green tea (cold)) of the drink is stored in the field “product name”.
  • the computation unit 104 assigns higher priorities to the drinks determined to be available for sale in step S 401 in descending order of the number of purchases of the drink under the similar physical condition counted in step S 402 by assuming that the drink for which the number of purchases under the similar physical condition is larger is more likely to match the preference of the user of the communication terminal 100 in relation to the current physical condition of the user of the communication terminal 100 (step S 403 ).
  • step S 401 For example, suppose that as a result of steps S 401 and S 402 , the product name indicated by the type information included in each piece of product information illustrated in FIG. 16 , the determination result obtained in step S 401 , the number of purchases of each drink determined to be available for sale in step S 401 , and the number of purchases of each drink under the similar physical condition counted in step S 402 are stored in the fields “product name”, “available for sale”, “past preference (number of purchases)”, and “past preference under similar physical condition (number of purchases)” of each record of the work table 2500 , respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 27 .
  • step S 403 the computation unit 104 assigns the highest priority “1” to the drink of which the product name is “green tea (cold)” and of which the number of purchases under the similar physical condition stored in the field “past preference under similar physical condition (number of purchases)” is “89”, i.e., the largest.
  • the computation unit 104 then stores the assigned priority “1” in the field “priority” of the record corresponding to the drink in the work table 2500 .
  • the computation unit 104 assigns the priority “2”, which is the next highest priority of the priority “1”, to the drink of which the product name is “sports drink (cold)” and of which the number of purchases under the similar physical condition stored in the field “past preference under similar physical condition (number of purchases)” is “14”, i.e., the next largest.
  • the computation unit 104 then stores the assigned priority “2” in the field “priority” of the record corresponding to the drink in the work table 2500 .
  • the priority “3” is assigned to the drink with the product name “carbonated drink (cold)”
  • the priority “4” is assigned to the drink with the product name “coffee 2”.
  • the computation unit 104 assigns the next priority (in this specific example, “5”) to the drinks which are determined to be available for sale (for example, the drinks with the product names “coffee 1”, “coffee 3”, and “beer 1”) and of which the number of purchases under the similar physical condition counted in step S 402 is “0”.
  • the computation unit 104 does not assign priorities to the drinks determined to be not available for sale in step S 401 (for example, the drinks with the product names “beer 2” and “beer 3”). Thus, the computation unit 104 stores “ ⁇ ” indicating that the drink is not recommended to the user in the field “priority” of each record corresponding to the drink not available for sale in the work table 2500 .
  • step S 207 b the computation unit 104 performs the drink determination process of steps S 401 to S 403 .
  • the computation unit 104 then generates a message that recommends a drink corresponding to a record in which “1” is stored in the field “priority” of the work table 2500 illustrated in FIG. 27 , as the message 820 included in the push notification screens 800 B and 800 C illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11 , respectively.
  • the computation unit 104 also generates a product image representing the drink corresponding to the record in which “1” is stored in the field “priority” of the work table 2500 illustrated in FIG. 27 , as the icon image 840 of the push notification screens 800 B and 800 C illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11 , respectively.
  • step S 210 b ( FIG. 24 B ), with reference to the work table 2500 illustrated in FIG. 27 , which is obtained by performing steps S 401 to S 403 of step S 207 b ( FIG. 24 B ), the computation unit 104 generates the individual purchase menu 900 for the user, in which the tile objects 901 (such as FIG. 12 ) representing the drinks corresponding to the respective records in which the priorities are stored in the field “priority” are arranged according to the stored priorities.
  • the tile objects 901 such as FIG. 12
  • a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below.
  • the business entity X application in the communication terminal 100 acquires the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 from the first server 200 and the communication terminal 100 .
  • the fourth embodiment is different from the third embodiment in that the business entity X application in the communication terminal 100 acquires the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 from the sensor application in the communication terminal 100 .
  • the memory 102 of the communication terminal 100 has a table having the same configuration as the biological information table 2300 illustrated in FIG. 25 .
  • the table is hereinafter referred to as the biological information table 2300 .
  • the sensor application collects the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 periodically measured by the biological sensor 600 , and stores the collected biological information in the biological information table 2300 ( FIG. 25 ) in time series in association with the user ID of the user and the measurement date and time information indicating the measurement date and time of the biological information.
  • FIGS. 28 A and 28 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the overview of the process performed in the vending machine management system in the fourth embodiment.
  • step S 204 ( FIG. 7 A ) is performed as in the first embodiment, instead of step S 204 b ( FIG. 24 A ) in the third embodiment.
  • step S 221 ( FIG. 7 A ) is performed in the first server 200 as in the first embodiment.
  • the computation unit 104 then executes the sensor application to acquire records including the user ID of the user of the communication terminal 100 in the biological information table 2300 ( FIG. 25 ) in the memory 102 , as the biological information of the user (step S 206 b ). Thereafter, the processing of step S 205 and subsequent steps is performed as in the third embodiment.
  • step S 207 b the computation unit 104 performs the drink determination process (steps S 401 to S 403 ( FIG. 26 )) as in the third embodiment by using each combination of the identification information of the vending machines 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information which are acquired in step S 202 each time a beacon signal is received, the preference information returned and acquired via the communication unit 101 in step S 221 , the preference information acquired in step S 205 , and the biological information acquired in step S 206 b .
  • step S 210 b the computation unit 104 generates the individual purchase menu 900 with reference to the work table 2500 ( FIG. 27 ) obtained by performing the drink determination process (steps S 401 to S 403 ( FIG. 26 )) in step S 207 b.
  • a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below.
  • the business entity X application in the communication terminal 100 acquires the preference information and the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 from the first server 200 and the communication terminal 100 , generates the push notification screen 800 and the individual purchase menu 900 for the user, and notifies the first server 200 of the purchase information of the drink by the user of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the fifth embodiment is different from the third embodiment in that the business entity management server 300 that provides the business entity X application acquires the preference information and the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 from the first server 200 , generates the push notification screen 800 and the individual purchase menu 900 for the user, and notifies the first server 200 of the purchase information of the drink by the user of the communication terminal 100 .
  • FIGS. 29 A and 29 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the overview of the process performed in the vending machine management system in the fifth embodiment.
  • the proximity communication unit 707 of each of the vending machines 700 included in the vending machine management system periodically transmits a beacon signal (step S 271 ) as in the third embodiment.
  • the business entity X application is executed in the communication terminal 100 , so that step S 201 is performed as in the third embodiment.
  • step S 201 information indicating the distance to the vending machine 700 that is the transmission source of the beacon signal and the transmission direction of the beacon signal as well as the beacon ID are stored in the memory 102 .
  • Step S 202 is performed, so that the identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 and the product information including the type information and the stock information are stored in the memory 102 .
  • step S 202 if the preference information of the user of the communication terminal 100 is stored in the memory 102 ([preference information stored]), the computation unit 104 acquires the preference information of the user of the communication terminal 100 stored in the memory 102 (step S 205 a ).
  • the computation unit 104 then controls the communication unit 101 to send, to the business entity management server 300 , pieces of information stored in the memory 102 , i.e., the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 including the user ID, the preference information acquired in step S 205 a , and the identification information and product information of each of the vending machines 700 which are the transmission sources of the respective beacon signals acquired in step S 202 (step S 203 a ).
  • the computation unit 302 updates the product information of the vending machine 700 corresponding to the identification information and stored in the memory 303 .
  • step S 201 to step S 203 a is repeated in response to the receipt.
  • the computation unit 104 may perform merely steps S 201 and S 202 at receipt of each of the beacon signals by the proximity communication unit 107 and may perform steps S 205 a and S 203 a just once.
  • the computation unit 104 may collectively send the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 including the user ID, the preference information acquired in step S 205 a , and the pieces of information acquired in steps S 201 and S 202 to the business entity management server 300 in single step S 203 a.
  • the business entity X that provides the business entity X application has an affiliation with the managing business entity of the first server 200 and that the business entity X is permitted to acquire personal information of each user stored in the first server 200 .
  • the computation unit 302 of the business entity management server 300 controls the communication unit 301 to send, to the first server 200 , a signal requesting sending of the preference information and the biological information of the user identified by the user ID included in the identification information, together with the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 acquired from the communication terminal 100 (step S 231 c ).
  • the computation unit 202 performs step S 221 c (step S 221 c ).
  • step S 221 c if the computation unit 202 determines that the user indicated by the user ID included in the identification information received by the communication unit 201 is a user with permission ([with permission of user]), the computation unit 202 controls the communication unit 201 to return the preference information and the biological information of the user with permission acquired from the memory 203 to the business entity management server 300 . On the other hand, if the computation unit 202 determines that the user is not a user with permission ([otherwise]), the computation unit 202 controls the communication unit 201 to return information indicating that the personal information is inaccessible to the business entity management server 300 . The returned information is received and output to the computation unit 302 by the communication unit 301 of the business entity management server 300 .
  • the computation unit 202 may control the communication unit 201 to send a message for checking whether to permit the business entity management server 300 to read the personal information, to the communication terminal 100 indicated by the identification information acquired from the business entity management server 300 .
  • the computation unit 202 acquires a reply indicating permission from the communication terminal 100 via the communication unit 201 .
  • the computation unit 202 may acquire, from the memory 203 , the preference information and the biological information of the user indicated by the user ID included in the received identification information in step S 221 c .
  • the computation unit 202 then may cause the communication unit 201 to return the acquired information to the business entity management server 300 .
  • the computation unit 302 then generates the push notification screen 800 , based on each combination of the identification information of the vending machines 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, and the biological information that are acquired in the preceding steps (step S 234 b ).
  • Each combination of the identification information of the vending machines 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information is a combination sent and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 203 a .
  • the preference information is the preference information sent and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 203 a and the preference information returned and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 221 c .
  • the biological information is the biological information returned and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 221 c.
  • step S 234 b the computation unit 302 performs the drink determination process (steps S 401 to S 403 ( FIG. 26 )) by using each combination of the identification information of the vending machine 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, and the biological information.
  • the computation unit 302 generates a message that recommends a drink corresponding to a record in which “1” is stored in the field “priority” of the work table 2500 ( FIG. 27 ), as the message 820 included in the push notification screens 800 B and 800 C illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11 , respectively.
  • the computation unit 302 also generates a product image representing the drink corresponding to the record in which “1” is stored in the field “priority” of the work table 2500 ( FIG. 27 ), as the icon image 840 of the push notification screens 800 B and 800 C illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11 , respectively.
  • the computation unit 302 then controls the communication unit 301 to send information representing the push notification screen 800 generated in step S 234 b to the communication terminal 100 (step S 235 ).
  • the computation unit 104 displays the push notification screen 800 represented by the acquired information on the display 105 of the communication terminal 100 (step S 208 a ).
  • the computation unit 104 performs processing of hiding the displayed push notification screen 800 to hide the push notification screen 800 .
  • the computation unit 104 then ends the process (step S 209 ). After ending the process, the computation unit 104 returns to a state of waiting for receipt of a beacon signal by the proximity communication unit 107 .
  • the computation unit 104 controls the communication unit 101 to send a signal requesting generation of the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 to the business entity management server 300 (step S 210 a ).
  • the signal requesting generation of the individual purchase menu 900 for the user is received and output to the computation unit 302 by the communication unit 301 of the business entity management server 300 .
  • the computation unit 302 In response to acquiring, via the communication unit 301 , the signal requesting generation of the individual purchase menu for the user of the communication terminal 100 sent in step S 210 a , the computation unit 302 generates the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 , based on the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, and the biological information that are used in step S 234 b (step S 236 b ).
  • step S 236 b the computation unit 302 refers to the work table 2500 ( FIG. 27 ) obtained by performing the drink determination process (steps S 401 to S 403 ( FIG. 26 )) in step S 234 b .
  • the computation unit 302 then generates the individual purchase menu 900 in which the tile objects 901 (such as FIG. 12 ) representing the drinks corresponding to the respective records in which the priorities are stored in the field “priority” are arranged according to the stored priorities.
  • the computation unit 302 then controls the communication unit 301 to send information representing the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 , generated in step S 236 b , to the communication terminal 100 (step S 237 ).
  • the computation unit 104 displays the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 represented by the acquired information on the display 105 of the communication terminal 100 (step S 211 a ).
  • step S 211 a As in the third embodiment, steps S 212 , S 213 , and S 272 are performed, so that the drink purchased by the user is provided to the user.
  • the computation unit 104 of the communication terminal 100 controls the communication unit 101 to send the purchase information of the drink to the business entity management server 300 (step S 214 a ).
  • the purchase information of the drink sent in step S 214 a is received and output to the computation unit 302 by the communication unit 301 .
  • the purchase information of the drink includes the user ID of the user of the communication terminal 100 , the date and time information indicating the purchase date and time of the drink by the user, the identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 from which the user purchased the drink, and the type information indicating the type of the drink purchased by the user.
  • step S 238 the computation unit 302 of the business entity management server 300 causes the communication unit 301 to send a signal requesting update of the purchase history information of the user of the communication terminal 100 to the first server 200 together with the acquired purchase information of the drink (step S 238 ).
  • step S 222 is performed in the first server 200 as in the first embodiment, and if the user of the communication terminal 100 is a user with permission, the purchase history information of the user with permission stored in the memory 203 is updated.
  • a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below.
  • the business entity management server 300 acquires the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 from the first server 200 .
  • the sixth embodiment is different from the fifth embodiment in that the business entity management server 300 requests the sensor application in the communication terminal 100 to send the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 and acquires the biological information from the sensor application.
  • the memory 102 of the communication terminal 100 has a table having the same configuration as the biological information table 2300 illustrated in FIG. 25 as in the fourth embodiment.
  • the table is hereinafter referred to as the biological information table 2300 .
  • the sensor application collects the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 periodically measured by the biological sensor 600 , and stores the collected biological information in the biological information table 2300 ( FIG. 25 ) in time series in association with the user ID of the user and the measurement date and time information indicating the measurement date and time of the biological information.
  • FIGS. 30 A and 30 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the overview of the process performed in the vending machine management system in the sixth embodiment.
  • step S 231 d is performed instead of step S 231 c ( FIG. 29 A ) in the fifth embodiment.
  • the computation unit 302 of the business entity management server 300 controls the communication unit 301 to send, to the first server 200 , a signal requesting sending of preference information of the user identified by the user ID included in the identification information, together with identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 acquired from the communication terminal 100 (step S 231 d ).
  • step S 221 d In the first server 200 , in response to the communication unit 201 receiving the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 and the signal requesting sending of the preference information of the user, which are sent in step S 231 d , the computation unit 202 performs step S 221 d that is substantially the same as step S 221 b ( FIG. 24 A ), instead of step S 221 c ( FIG. 29 A ) in the fifth embodiment (step S 221 d ).
  • step S 221 d if the computation unit 202 determines that the user indicated by the user ID included in the identification information received by the communication unit 201 is a user with permission ([with permission of user]), the computation unit 202 controls the communication unit 201 to return the preference information of the user with permission acquired from the memory 203 to the business entity management server 300 . On the other hand, if the computation unit 202 determines that the user is not a user with permission ([otherwise]), the computation unit 202 controls the communication unit 201 to return information indicating that the personal information is inaccessible to the business entity management server 300 . The returned information is received and output to the computation unit 302 by the communication unit 301 of the business entity management server 300 .
  • the computation unit 202 may control the communication unit 201 to send a message for checking whether to permit the business entity management server 300 to read the personal information, to the communication terminal 100 indicated by the identification information acquired from the business entity management server 300 .
  • the computation unit 202 acquires a reply indicating permission from the communication terminal 100 via the communication unit 201 .
  • the computation unit 202 may acquire, from the memory 203 , the preference information included in the personal information of the user indicated by the user ID included in the received identification information in step S 221 d .
  • the computation unit 202 then may cause the communication unit 201 to return the acquired information to the business entity management server 300 .
  • the computation unit 302 requests the communication terminal 100 indicated by the terminal ID included in the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 acquired in step S 203 a to provide the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 , and acquires the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 returned in response the request (step S 239 ).
  • step S 239 the computation unit 302 controls the communication unit 301 to send a signal requesting the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 to the communication terminal 100 indicated by the terminal ID included in the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 acquired in step S 203 a .
  • the communication terminal 100 in response to the communication unit 101 receiving the signal requesting the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 , the communication unit 101 notifies the computation unit 104 of the receipt.
  • the computation unit 104 executes the sensor application to acquire records including the user ID of the user of the communication terminal 100 in the biological information table 2300 ( FIG. 25 ) in the memory 102 , as the biological information of the user.
  • the computation unit 104 then causes the communication unit 101 to return the acquired biological information.
  • the computation unit 302 of the business entity management server 300 acquires, via the communication unit 301 , the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 returned from the communication terminal 100 . Thereafter, the processing of step S 234 b and subsequent steps is performed as in the fifth embodiment.
  • step S 234 b the computation unit 302 performs the drink determination process (steps S 401 to S 403 ( FIG. 26 )) by using each combination of the identification information of the vending machine 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, which are sent and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 203 a , the preference information sent and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 203 a , the preference information returned and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 221 d , and the biological information acquired in step S 239 .
  • step S 236 b the computation unit 104 generates the individual purchase menu 900 with reference to the work table 2500 ( FIG. 27 ) obtained by performing the drink determination process (steps S 401 to S 403 ( FIG. 26 )) in step S 234 b.
  • a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below.
  • the business entity X application in the communication terminal 100 generates the push notification screen 800 and the individual purchase menu 900 for the user, based on each combination of the identification information of each of the vending machines 700 that are the transmission sources of the respective beacon signals received by the proximity communication unit 107 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information of the user of the communication terminal 100 , and the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the business entity X application in the communication terminal 100 generates the push notification screen 800 and the individual purchase menu 900 for the user, based on each combination of the identification information of each of the vending machines 700 that are the transmission sources of the respective beacon signals received by the proximity communication unit 107 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information of the user of the communication terminal 100 , and the biological information of the user.
  • the seventh embodiment is different from the first embodiment and the third embodiment in that the business entity X application in the communication terminal 100 generates the push notification screen 800 and the individual purchase menu 900 for the user, based on each combination of the identification information of each of the vending machines 700 that are the transmission sources of respective beacon signals received by the proximity communication unit 107 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information of the user of the communication terminal 100 , the biological information of the user, and the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 .
  • each combination of the identification information of each of the vending machines 700 that are the transmission sources of the respective beacon signals received by the proximity communication unit 107 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information of the user of the communication terminal 100 , the biological information of the user, and the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 (or the installed location of the vending machine 700 ), which are acquired prior to the drink determination process, are used in the drink determination process performed when the push notification screen 800 is generated.
  • At least one drink that matches a preference of the user indicated by the preference information is determined, in relation to the weather, indicated by the weather information, at the current location of the communication terminal 100 (or installed location of the vending machine 700 ) and to the current physical condition, indicated by the biological information, of the user of the communication terminal 100 from among a plurality of drinks stored in the vending machines 700 that are the transmission sources of the respective beacon signals received by the communication terminal 100 .
  • FIGS. 31 A and 31 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the overview of the process performed in the vending machine management system in the seventh embodiment.
  • the proximity communication unit 707 of each of the vending machines 700 included in the vending machine management system periodically transmits a beacon signal (step S 271 ) as in the first embodiment and the third embodiment.
  • the business entity X application is executed in the communication terminal 100 , so that each time the proximity communication unit 107 of the communication terminal 100 receives a beacon signal transmitted from the proximity communication unit 707 of each of the vending machines 700 , the processing from step S 201 to step S 203 is repeated in response to the receipt as in the first embodiment and the third embodiment.
  • the computation unit 104 may perform merely steps S 201 and S 202 at receipt of each of the beacon signals by the proximity communication unit 107 and may perform step S 203 just once as in the first embodiment and the third embodiment.
  • step S 204 b is performed in the communication terminal 100 , and in response to which, step S 221 b is performed in the first server 200 as in the third embodiment.
  • the business entity X is permitted to acquire the personal information of each user stored in the first server 200 ([with affiliation between business entities]) and the user of the communication terminal 100 is a user with permission ([with permission of user])
  • the preference information and the biological information of the user with permission are returned from the first server 200 .
  • the user of the communication terminal 100 is not a user with permission ([otherwise])
  • information indicating that the personal information is inaccessible is returned from the first server 200 .
  • the returned information is received and output to the computation unit 104 by the communication unit 101 of the communication terminal 100 .
  • a message for checking whether to permit reading of the personal information stored in the memory 203 may be returned from the first server 200 to the communication terminal 100 as in the first embodiment and the third embodiment. If permission is returned to the first server 200 in response to this, the preference information and the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 may be returned from the first server 200 to the communication terminal 100 .
  • step S 205 b is performed as in the third embodiment. Specifically, if the preference information and/or the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 are/is stored in the memory 102 of the communication terminal 100 ([preference information/biological information stored]), the preference information and/or the biological information of the user are/is acquired within a range not overlapping the preference information and the biological information returned in step S 221 b . There is a possibility that the latest biological information is sent from the biological sensor 600 to the communication terminal 100 and is accumulated and managed by the sensor application but is not uploaded to the first server 200 yet. Since the drink determination process (described below) is performed also using the latest biological information, the latest biological information stored in the memory 102 of the communication terminal 100 in this manner is also acquired in step S 205 b.
  • step S 206 is performed as in the first embodiment. Thereafter, step S 206 is periodically repeated.
  • the communication terminal 100 acquires, from the second server 500 , as the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 , the weather information corresponding to the current location of the communication terminal 100 or the installed location of the vending machine 700 indicated by the identification information acquired in step S 202 .
  • the acquired weather information is stored in the memory 102 in time series, as a history of the weather information, in association with the date and time information indicating the acquisition date and time of the weather information.
  • the weather information is not limited to this, and weather information of a region including the current location of the communication terminal 100 in a past predetermined period may be acquired in step S 206 as in the first embodiment.
  • the history of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 stored in the memory 102 of the communication terminal 100 owned by the user with permission may be managed as the personal information of the user with permission in the first server 200 .
  • the history of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 owned by the user may be requested from the communication terminal 100 together with the request for the preference information and the biological information associated with the user ID, so that the history of the weather information may be acquired together with the preference information and the biological information from the first server 200 in step S 221 b.
  • the computation unit 104 generates the push notification screen 800 , based on each combination of the identification information of the vending machines 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, the biological information, and the weather information that are acquired in the preceding steps (step S 207 c ).
  • Each combination of the identification information of the vending machines 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information is the combination acquired in step S 202 each time a beacon signal is received.
  • the preference information is the preference information returned and acquired via the communication unit 101 in step S 221 b and the preference information acquired in step S 205 b .
  • the biological information is the biological information returned and acquired via the communication unit 101 in step S 221 b and the biological information acquired in step S 205 b .
  • the weather information is the weather information acquired in step S 206 and the history of the weather information stored in the memory 102 or the first server 200 .
  • step S 207 c the computation unit 104 performs a drink determination process (described below) by using each combination of the identification information of the vending machine 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, the biological information, and the weather information.
  • the computation unit 104 then displays the push notification screen 800 generated in step S 207 c on the display 105 of the communication terminal 100 as in the first embodiment (step S 208 ).
  • the computation unit 104 may display the push notification screen 800 on the display 105 and may drive a vibration generator (not illustrated) built in the communication terminal 100 to allow the user of the communication terminal 100 to easily notice the push notification.
  • the computation unit 104 may display the push notification screen 800 on the display 105 and reproduce a sound reporting receipt of the push notification from a speaker (not illustrated) built in the communication terminal 100 to allow the user of the communication terminal 100 to easily notice the push notification.
  • step S 208 If receipt of a beacon signal by the proximity communication unit 107 is not detected for a predetermined time or more since the push notification screen is displayed in step S 208 ([without receipt of beacon signal for predetermined time or more]), the computation unit 104 performs processing of hiding the displayed push notification screen to hide the push notification screen. The computation unit 104 then ends the process (step S 209 ). After ending the process, the computation unit 104 returns to a state of waiting for receipt of a beacon signal by the proximity communication unit 107 .
  • the computation unit 104 generates the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 , based on the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, the biological information, and the weather information that are used in step S 207 c (step S 210 c ).
  • step S 210 c the computation unit 104 generates the individual purchase menu 900 with reference to a work table (described later) obtained by performing the drink determination process (described later) in step S 207 c by using the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, the biological information, and the weather information.
  • the computation unit 104 displays the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 generated in step S 210 c on the display 105 of the communication terminal 100 (step S 211 ).
  • steps S 212 to S 214 , S 272 , and S 222 are performed as in the first embodiment and the third embodiment.
  • the drink purchased by the user is provided to the user.
  • the first server 200 updates the purchase history information of the user with permission stored in the memory 203 .
  • the drink determination process of determining at least one drink that matches a preference of the user of the communication terminal 100 , is recommended in the push notification screen 800 , and is displayed in the individual purchase menu 900 for the user in the seventh embodiment will be described next by using a specific example.
  • the drink determination process is performed when the push notification screen 800 is generated, and a result of the drink determination process is used when the individual purchase menu 900 for the user is generated.
  • each combination of the identification information of each of the vending machines 700 that are the transmission sources of the respective beacon signals received by the proximity communication unit 107 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, the biological information, and the weather information, which are acquired prior to the drink determination process, are used in the drink determination process.
  • the drink determination process at least one drink that matches the preference of the user of the communication terminal 100 indicated by the preference information is determined, in relation to the weather, indicated by the weather information, at the current location of the communication terminal 100 and to the current physical condition, indicated by the biological information, of the user of the communication terminal 100 from among a plurality of drinks stored in the vending machines 700 that are the transmission sources.
  • FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the drink determination process.
  • FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating an example of a work table 2600 used in the drink determination process illustrated in FIG. 32 .
  • the product information included in the information 2100 illustrated in FIG. 16 , the preference information 2120 illustrated in FIG. 18 , the weather information 2200 illustrated in FIG. 19 , the history 2210 of the weather information illustrated in FIG. 20 , and the biological information included in the biological information table 2300 illustrated in FIG. 25 are acquired prior to the drink determination process.
  • the computation unit 104 first refers to each piece of product information ( FIG. 16 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process, and determines whether a drink corresponding to the piece of product information is available for sale based on the type information and the stock information included in the piece of product information.
  • the computation unit 104 then stores a result of the determination in the work table 2600 illustrated in FIG. 33 (step S 501 ).
  • drinks determined to be not available for sale can be excluded from drinks recommended to the user.
  • step S 501 the computation unit 104 determines that a drink corresponding to a piece of product information in which the quantity information included in the stock information indicates a quantity “0” is a drink that is sold out and thus is not available for sale.
  • the computation unit 104 also determines that a drink corresponding to a piece of product information in which the temperature indicated by the temperature information included in the stock information is out of the predetermined temperature range in which the drink is providable to users is a drink that has an unsuitable temperature and thus is not available for sale.
  • the predetermined temperature range for cold drinks is higher than or equal to 4° C. and lower than or equal to 7° C. In this specific example ( FIG. 16 ), hot drinks are not handled. However, the predetermined temperature range for hot drinks is higher than or equal to 53° C. and lower than or equal to 57° C.
  • the drink corresponding to the piece of product information in which the quantity indicated by the quantity information included in the stock information is “0” and the product name indicated by the type information is “beer 2” is determined to be a drink not available for sale.
  • the drink corresponding to the piece of product information in which the temperature indicated by the temperature information included in the stock information is “13” and the product name indicated by the type information is “beer 3” is determined to be a drink not available for sale.
  • the drinks corresponding to the seven pieces of product information excluding these two pieces of product information are determined to be drinks available for sale.
  • the computation unit 104 refers to each piece of product information ( FIG. 16 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process, and stores the product name (for example, coffee 1) indicated by the type information included in the piece of product information in a field “product name” of the work table 2600 illustrated in FIG. 33 .
  • the computation unit 104 then stores a result of the determination obtained in step S 501 in a field “available for sale” of the work table 2600 .
  • “OK” in the field “available for sale” in FIG. 33 indicates that the drink with the product name (for example, coffee 2) indicated by the field “product name” corresponding to the field “available for sale” is determined to be a drink available for sale.
  • “NG (sold out)” in the field “available for sale” in FIG. 33 indicates that the drink with the product name (for example, beer 2) indicated by the field “product name” corresponding to the field “available for sale” is determined to be sold out and thus is a drink not available for sale.
  • “NG (unsuitable temperature)” in the field “available for sale” in FIG. 33 indicates that the drink with the product name (for example, beer 3) indicated by the field “product name” corresponding to the field “available for sale” is determined to have an unsuitable temperature and thus is a drink not available for sale.
  • the computation unit 104 counts the number of times (hereinafter, referred to as the number of purchases under the similar weather) the user of the communication terminal 100 has purchased each of the drinks determined to be available for sale in step S 501 in the past under a weather condition similar to the current weather condition among the number of purchases of the drink (step S 502 ).
  • the computation unit 104 refers to each record of the preference information 2120 ( FIG. 18 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process, and acquires the product name (for example, green tea (cold)) of each drink stored in the field “product name” and the number of purchases (for example, 167) indicated by the field “number of purchases”. Then, in the work table 2600 illustrated in FIG. 33 , the computation unit 104 stores the acquired number of purchases (for example, 167) in a field “past preference (number of purchases)” in a record in which the acquired product name (for example, green tea (cold)) of the drink is stored in the field “product name”.
  • the computation unit 104 stores “0” in the field “past preference (number of purchases)” in a record in which a product name that is not acquired from the preference information 2120 ( FIG. 18 ) is stored in the field “product name”. Thus, it is possible to grasp that the user does not like the drink with the product name that is not acquired from the preference information 2120 ( FIG. 18 ).
  • the computation unit 104 determines that weather information satisfying all of three conditions 1) to 3) below that use the weather information 2200 ( FIG. 19 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process among the history 2210 ( FIG. 20 ) of the weather information acquired prior to the drink determination process is weather information (hereinafter, referred to as similar weather information) indicating a weather condition similar to the current weather condition.
  • the computation unit 104 acquires date and time information (hereinafter, referred to as similar weather date and time information) associated with the similar weather information from the history 2210 ( FIG. 20 ) of the weather information.
  • Condition 1 The temperature indicated by the field “temperature (Celsius)” is within ⁇ 5° C. from the temperature indicated by the field “temperature (Celsius)” of the weather information 2200 .
  • the heat index indicated by the field “heat index (WBGT)” is within ⁇ 5° C. from the heat index indicated by the field “heat index (WBGT)” of the weather information 2200 .
  • the computation unit 104 determines that the four pieces of weather information are the similar weather information, and acquires four pieces of date and time information “20200414060000”, “20200414070000”, “20200414080000”, and “20200414090000” associated with the respective four pieces of weather information included in the history 2210 of the weather information illustrated in FIG. 20 , as the similar weather date and time information.
  • the conditions for determining the similar weather information are not limited to the three conditions 1) to 3) described above, and may be one or more conditions that use one or more values indicated by one or more fields among the fields “temperature (Celsius)”, “humidity”, “heat index (WBGT)”, “solar radiation”, or “weather type” included in the weather information 2200 ( FIG. 19 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process.
  • the similar weather information and the similar weather date and time information may be acquired by using the condition 3) of the heat index (WBGT).
  • step S 502 the computation unit 104 then refers to the preference information 2120 ( FIG. 18 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process, and counts the number of times each drink determined to be available for sale in step S 501 has been purchased within a predetermined time from the date and time indicated by the similar weather date and time information, as the number of purchases of the drink under the similar weather.
  • this predetermined time is one hour.
  • the computation unit 104 refers to the field “purchase date and time” of a record in which the product name (for example, green tea (cold)) of each drink determined to be available for sale in step S 501 is written in the field “product name”.
  • the computation unit 104 then counts, as the number of purchases of each drink under the similar weather, the number of dates and times in the field “purchase date and time” of the drink included in a period between dates and times (for example, from 5:00:00 on Apr. 14, 2020 to 7:00:00 on Apr. 14, 2020) that are within the predetermined time from the date and time (for example, 6:00:00 on Apr. 14, 2020) indicated by each similar weather date and time information among the dates and times (for example, 20200414223442, 20200414095340, . . . ) stored in the field “purchase date and time” to which a reference is made.
  • the computation unit 104 then stores the counted number of purchases under the similar weather (for example, 103) in the field “past preference under similar weather condition (number of purchases)” of a record in which the product name (for example, green tea (cold)) of the drink is stored in the field “product name”.
  • the computation unit 104 counts the number of times (past preference under similar physical condition (number of purchases) in FIG. 33 ) the user of the communication terminal 100 has purchased each of the drinks in the past under a physical condition similar to the current physical condition among the number of purchases of the drink under the similar weather counted in step S 502 (step S 503 ).
  • step S 503 the computation unit 104 sets the biological information included in the record corresponding to the most recent measurement date and time among the pieces of biological information ( FIG. 25 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process, as the biological information (hereinafter, referred to as current biological information) indicating the current physical condition of the user of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 104 determines that biological information satisfying both of two conditions 1) and 2) below that use the current biological information among the pieces of biological information measured in the past before the current biological information is biological information (hereinafter, referred to as similar biological information) indicating a physical condition similar to the current physical condition of the user of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 104 acquires measurement date and time information (hereinafter, referred to as similar biological condition date and time information) associated with the similar biological information from the biological information ( FIG. 25 ).
  • the body temperature indicated by the field “body temperature” is within ⁇ 1° C. from the body temperature indicated by the field “body temperature” of the current biological information.
  • the body water percentage indicated by the field “body water percentage” is within ⁇ 1% from the body water percentage indicated by the field “body water percentage” of the current biological information.
  • the computation unit 104 sets, as the current biological information, biological information included in a record in which the most recent date and time “20200414090000” is stored in the field “measurement date and time”.
  • three pieces of biological information, other than the current biological information, included in the biological information table 2300 illustrated in FIG. 25 satisfy both of the two conditions 1) and 2) above that use the current biological information.
  • the computation unit 104 determines that the three pieces of biological information are the similar biological information, and acquires, as the similar biological condition date and time information, three pieces of date and time information “20200414060000”, “20200414070000”, and “20200414080000” associated with the respective three pieces of similar biological information included in the biological information table 2300 illustrated in FIG. 25 .
  • the conditions for determining the similar biological information are not limited to the two conditions 1) and 2) described above, and may be one or more conditions that use one or more values indicated by one or more fields among the fields “systolic blood pressure”, “diastolic blood pressure”, “heart rate”, “body water percentage”, and “body temperature” included in the current biological information.
  • the similar biological information and the similar biological condition date and time information may be acquired using only the condition 1) related to the body temperature.
  • step S 503 the computation unit 104 refers to the preference information 2120 ( FIG. 18 ) acquired prior to the drink determination process, and counts, as the number of purchases of the drink corresponding to the similar weather date and time information under the similar physical condition, the number of pieces of similar weather date and time information indicating dates and times within a predetermined time from the date and time indicated by the similar biological condition date and time information among the pieces of similar weather date and time information acquired in step S 502 .
  • this predetermined time is one hour.
  • the computation unit 104 refers to the field “purchase date and time” of a record in which the product name (for example, green tea (cold)) of each drink determined to be available for sale in step S 501 is written in the field “product name”.
  • the computation unit 104 counts, as the number of purchases of each drink (for example, the drink with the product name “green tea (cold)”) corresponding to the similar weather date and time information under the similar physical condition, the number of pieces of similar weather date and time information (for example, 89) indicating the dates and times in a period (for example, from 5:00:00 on Apr. 14, 2020 to 7:00:00 on Apr.
  • the computation unit 104 then stores the counted number of purchases under the similar physical condition (for example, 89) in the field “past preference under similar physical condition (number of purchases)” of a record in which the product name (for example, green tea (cold)) of the drink is stored in the field “product name”.
  • the computation unit 104 assigns higher priorities to the drinks determined to be available for sale in step S 501 in descending order of the number of purchases of the drink under the similar physical condition counted in step S 503 by assuming that the drink for which the number of purchases under the similar physical condition is larger is more likely to match the preference of the user of the communication terminal 100 in relation to the weather at the current location of the communication terminal 100 and to the current physical condition of the user of the communication terminal 100 (step S 504 ).
  • step S 501 For example, suppose that as a result of steps S 501 and S 503 , the product name indicated by the type information included in each piece of product information illustrated in FIG. 16 , the determination result obtained in step S 501 , the number of purchases of each drink determined to be available for sale in step S 501 , the number of purchases of each drink under the similar weather counted in step S 502 , and the number of purchases of each drink under the similar physical condition counted in step S 503 among the number of purchases of the drink under the similar weather are stored in the fields “product name”, “available for sale”, “past preference (number of purchases)”, “past preference under similar weather condition (number of purchases)”, and “past preference under similar physical condition (number of purchases)” of each record of the work table 2600 , respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 33 .
  • step S 504 the computation unit 104 assigns the highest priority “1” to the drink of which the product name is “green tea (cold)” and of which the number of purchases under the similar physical condition stored in the field “past preference under similar physical condition (number of purchases)” is “89”, i.e., the largest.
  • the computation unit 104 then stores the assigned priority “1” in the field “priority” of the record corresponding to the drink in the work table 2600 .
  • the computation unit 104 assigns the priority “2”, which is the next highest priority of the priority “1”, to the drink of which the product name is “sports drink (cold)” and of which the number of purchases under the similar physical condition stored in the field “past preference under similar physical condition (number of purchases)” is “14”, i.e., the next largest.
  • the computation unit 104 then stores the assigned priority “2” in the field “priority” of the record corresponding to the drink in the work table 2600 .
  • the priority “3” is assigned to the drink with the product name “carbonated drink (cold)”
  • the priority “4” is assigned to the drink with the product name “coffee 2”.
  • the computation unit 104 assigns the next priority (in this specific example, “5”) to the drinks which are determined to be available for sale (for example, the drinks with the product names “coffee 1”, “coffee 3”, and “beer 1”) and of which the number of purchases under the similar physical condition counted in step S 503 is “0”.
  • the computation unit 104 does not assign priorities to the drinks determined to be not available for sale in step S 501 (for example, the drinks with the product names “beer 2” and “beer 3”). Thus, the computation unit 104 stores “ ⁇ ” indicating that the drink is not recommended to the user in the field “priority” of each record corresponding to the drink not available for sale in the work table 2600 .
  • step S 207 c the computation unit 104 performs the drink determination process of steps S 501 to S 504 .
  • the computation unit 104 then generates a message that recommends a drink corresponding to a record in which “1” is stored in the field “priority” of the work table 2600 illustrated in FIG. 33 , as the message 820 included in the push notification screens 800 B and 800 C illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11 , respectively.
  • the computation unit 104 also generates a product image representing the drink corresponding to the record in which “1” is stored in the field “priority” of the work table 2600 illustrated in FIG. 33 , as the icon image 840 of the push notification screens 800 B and 800 C illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11 , respectively.
  • step S 210 c ( FIG. 31 B ), with reference to the work table 2600 illustrated in FIG. 33 , which is obtained by performing steps S 501 to S 504 of step S 207 c ( FIG. 31 B ), the computation unit 104 generates the individual purchase menu 900 for the user, in which the tile objects 901 (such as FIG. 12 ) representing the drinks corresponding to the respective records in which the priorities are stored in the field “priority” are arranged according to the stored priorities.
  • the tile objects 901 (such as FIG. 12 ) representing the drinks corresponding to the respective records in which the priorities are stored in the field “priority” are arranged according to the stored priorities.
  • steps S 502 and S 503 the order in which steps S 502 and S 503 are performed may be reversed. That is, the number of purchases under the similar physical condition may be counted among the number of purchases of each drink determined to be available for sale in step S 501 , and then the number of purchases under the similar weather may be counted among the counted number of purchases under the similar physical condition. Then, the higher priorities may be assigned to the drinks determined to be available for sale in step S 501 in descending order of the number of purchases under the similar weather.
  • an eighth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below.
  • the business entity X application in the communication terminal 100 acquires the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 from the first server 200 .
  • the eighth embodiment is different from the seventh embodiment in that the business entity X application in the communication terminal 100 acquires the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 from the sensor application.
  • the memory 102 of the communication terminal 100 has a table having the same configuration as the biological information table 2300 illustrated in FIG. 25 .
  • the table is hereinafter referred to as the biological information table 2300 .
  • the sensor application collects the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 periodically measured by the biological sensor 600 , and stores the collected biological information in the biological information table 2300 ( FIG. 25 ) in time series in association with the user ID of the user and the measurement date and time information indicating the measurement date and time of the biological information.
  • FIGS. 34 A and 34 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the overview of the process performed in the vending machine management system in the eighth embodiment.
  • step S 204 ( FIG. 7 A ) is performed as in the first embodiment, instead of step S 204 b ( FIG. 31 A ) in the seventh embodiment.
  • step S 221 ( FIG. 7 A ) is performed in the first server 200 as in the first embodiment.
  • the computation unit 104 then executes the sensor application to acquire records including the user ID of the user of the communication terminal 100 in the biological information table 2300 ( FIG. 25 ) in the memory 102 , as the biological information of the user (step S 206 b ). Thereafter, the processing of step S 205 and subsequent steps is performed as in the seventh embodiment.
  • step S 207 c the computation unit 104 performs the drink determination process (steps S 501 to S 504 ( FIG. 32 )) as in the seventh embodiment by using each combination of the identification information of the vending machines 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information which are acquired in step S 202 each time a beacon signal is received, the preference information returned and acquired via the communication unit 101 in step S 221 , the preference information acquired in step S 205 , the biological information acquired in step S 206 b , and the weather information acquired in step S 206 .
  • step S 210 c the computation unit 104 generates the individual purchase menu 900 with reference to the work table 2600 ( FIG. 33 ) obtained by performing the drink determination process (steps S 501 to S 504 ( FIG. 32 )) in step S 207 c.
  • a ninth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below.
  • the business entity X application in the communication terminal 100 acquires the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 from the first server 200 , acquires the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 from the second server 500 , generates the push notification screen 800 and the individual purchase menu 900 for the user, and notifies the first server 200 of the purchase information of the drink by the user of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the ninth embodiment is different from the seventh embodiment in that the business entity management server 300 that provides the business entity X application acquires the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 from the first server 200 , acquires the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 from the second server 500 , generates the push notification screen 800 and the individual purchase menu 900 for the user, and notifies the first server 200 of the purchase information of the drink by the user of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the history 2210 ( FIG. 20 ) of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 owned by a user with permission is managed as personal information of the user with permission in the first server 200 .
  • FIGS. 35 A and 35 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the overview of the process performed in the vending machine management system in the ninth embodiment.
  • the proximity communication unit 707 of each of the vending machines 700 included in the vending machine management system periodically transmits a beacon signal (step S 271 ) as in the seventh embodiment.
  • the business entity X application is executed in the communication terminal 100 , so that step S 201 is performed as in the seventh embodiment.
  • step S 201 information indicating the distance to the vending machine 700 that is the transmission source of the beacon signal and the transmission direction of the beacon signal is stored in the memory 102 .
  • Step S 202 is performed, so that the identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 and the product information including the type information and the stock information are stored in the memory 102 .
  • step S 202 if the preference information of the user of the communication terminal 100 is stored in the memory 102 ([preference information stored]), the computation unit 104 acquires the preference information of the user of the communication terminal 100 stored in the memory 102 (step S 205 a ).
  • the computation unit 104 then controls the communication unit 101 to send, to the business entity management server 300 , pieces of information stored in the memory 102 , i.e., the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 including the user ID, the information that indicates the distance to each vending machine 700 which is the transmission source of the beacon signal and the transmission direction of the beacon signal and that is acquired in step S 201 , the preference information acquired in step S 205 a , and the identification information of the vending machine 700 which is the transmission source of the beacon signal and the product information that are acquired in step S 202 (step S 203 a ).
  • the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 including the user ID
  • the information that indicates the distance to each vending machine 700 which is the transmission source of the beacon signal and the transmission direction of the beacon signal and that is acquired in step S 201 the preference information acquired in step S 205 a
  • the identification information of the vending machine 700 which is the transmission source of the beacon signal and the product information that are acquired in step S 202 (step S 203 a
  • the computation unit 302 updates the product information of the vending machine 700 corresponding to the identification information and stored in the memory 303 .
  • step S 201 to step S 203 a is repeated in response to the receipt.
  • the computation unit 104 may execute merely steps S 201 and S 202 in response to the receipt of each beacon signal, and perform each of steps S 205 a and S 203 a just once.
  • the computation unit 104 may collectively send the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 including the user ID, the preference information acquired in step S 205 a , and the pieces of information acquired in steps S 201 and S 202 to the business entity management server 300 in single step S 203 a.
  • the business entity X that provides the business entity X application has an affiliation with the managing business entity of the first server 200 and that the business entity X is permitted to acquire personal information of each user stored in the first server 200 .
  • the computation unit 302 of the business entity management server 300 controls the communication unit 301 to send, together with the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 acquired from the communication terminal 100 , a signal requesting the preference information and the biological information of the user identified by the user ID included in the identification information and the history 2210 ( FIG. 20 ) of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 owned by the user to the first server 200 (step S 231 e ).
  • the computation unit 202 performs step S 221 e (step S 221 e ).
  • step S 221 e if the computation unit 202 determines that the user indicated by the user ID included in the identification information received by the communication unit 201 is a user with permission ([with permission of user]), the computation unit 202 controls the communication unit 201 to return the preference information and the biological information of the user with permission and the history 2210 ( FIG. 20 ) of the weather information that are acquired from the memory 203 to the business entity management server 300 .
  • the computation unit 202 determines that the user is not a user with permission ([otherwise])
  • the computation unit 202 controls the communication unit 201 to return information indicating that the personal information is inaccessible to the business entity management server 300 .
  • the returned information is received and output to the computation unit 302 by the communication unit 301 of the business entity management server 300 .
  • the computation unit 202 may control the communication unit 201 to send a message for checking whether to permit the business entity management server 300 to read the personal information, to the communication terminal 100 indicated by the identification information acquired from the business entity management server 300 .
  • the computation unit 202 acquires a reply indicating permission from the communication terminal 100 via the communication unit 201 .
  • the computation unit 202 may acquire, from the memory 203 , the preference information and the biological information of the user indicated by the user ID included the received identification information and the history 2210 ( FIG. 20 ) of the weather information in step S 221 e .
  • the computation unit 202 then may cause the communication unit 201 to return the acquired information to the business entity management server 300 .
  • step S 233 the computation unit 302 performs step S 233 to acquire the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 (step S 233 ).
  • step S 233 the computation unit 302 acquires, from the memory 303 , location information that indicates a location where any one of the vending machines 700 is installed and that is associated with the identification information of the one of the vending machines 700 received from the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 302 acquires the location information indicating the installed location of the one of the vending machines 700 located near the communication terminal 100 , as the location information indicating the current location of the communication terminal 100 .
  • the computation unit 302 then controls the communication unit 301 to send, together with the acquired location information, a signal requesting acquisition of weather information of a region including the location indicated by the location information to the second server 500 . If the weather information of the region including the installed location of the one of the vending machines 700 is returned from the second server 500 in response to this, the computation unit 302 acquires the returned weather information as the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 via the communication unit 301 .
  • the computation unit 302 may control the communication unit 301 to send, together with the location information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 , a signal requesting weather information of a region including the location indicated by the location information to the second server 500 .
  • the computation unit 302 may directly acquire the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 from the second server 500 .
  • the computation unit 104 may control the communication unit 101 to send the location information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 to the business entity management server 300 together with the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 including the user ID and so on.
  • the computation unit 302 may acquire the sent location information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 via the communication unit 301 .
  • the computation unit 502 of the second server 500 in response to receipt of the signal requesting acquisition of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 via the communication unit 501 , the computation unit 502 of the second server 500 reads, from the memory 503 , weather information associated with date and time information indicating the most recent date and time, for example, from among pieces of weather information of the region including the location indicated by the location information included in the signal, and causes the communication unit 501 to return the read weather information.
  • the acquisition method is not limited to this.
  • the computation unit 502 may read one or more pieces of weather information associated with date and time information indicating a past predetermined period from the reception time of the signal, for example, from among the pieces of weather information, stored in the memory 503 , of the region including the location indicated by the location information included in the signal received by the communication unit 501 , and cause the communication unit 501 to return the read one or more pieces of weather information.
  • step S 233 may be skipped. If the latest date and time information in the field “date and time information” among the weather information acquired by the business entity management server 300 from the first server 200 in step S 221 e is sufficiently close to the current time (for example, within an hour or 15 minutes from the current time), the weather information corresponding to the latest date and time information may be handled as the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 and step S 233 may be skipped.
  • the computation unit 302 generates the push notification screen 800 , based on each combination of the identification information of the vending machines 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, the biological information, and the weather information that are acquired in the preceding steps (step S 234 c ).
  • Each combination of the identification information of the vending machines 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information is a combination sent and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 203 a .
  • the preference information is the preference information sent and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 203 a and the preference information returned and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 221 e .
  • the weather information is the history 2210 ( FIG. 20 ) of the weather information returned and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 221 e and the weather information acquired in step S 233 .
  • step S 234 c the computation unit 302 performs the drink determination process (steps S 501 to S 504 ( FIG. 32 )) by using each combination of the identification information of the vending machine 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, the biological information, and the weather information.
  • the computation unit 302 generates a message that recommends a drink corresponding to a record in which “1” is stored in the field “priority” of the work table 2600 ( FIG. 33 ), as the message 820 included in the push notification screens 800 B and 800 C illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11 , respectively.
  • the computation unit 302 also generates a product image representing the drink corresponding to the record in which “1” is stored in the field “priority” of the work table 2600 ( FIG. 33 ), as the icon image 840 of the push notification screens 800 B and 800 C illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11 , respectively.
  • the computation unit 302 then controls the communication unit 301 to send information representing the push notification screen 800 generated in step S 234 c to the communication terminal 100 (step S 235 ).
  • the computation unit 104 displays the push notification screen 800 represented by the acquired information on the display 105 of the communication terminal 100 (step S 208 a ).
  • the computation unit 104 performs processing of hiding the displayed push notification screen 800 to hide the push notification screen 800 .
  • the computation unit 104 then ends the process (step S 209 ). After ending the process, the computation unit 104 returns to a state of waiting for receipt of a beacon signal by the proximity communication unit 107 .
  • the computation unit 104 controls the communication unit 101 to send a signal requesting generation of the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 to the business entity management server 300 (step S 210 a ).
  • the signal requesting generation of the individual purchase menu 900 for the user is received and output to the computation unit 302 by the communication unit 301 of the business entity management server 300 .
  • the computation unit 302 In response to acquiring, via the communication unit 301 , the signal requesting generation of the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 sent in step S 210 a , the computation unit 302 generates the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 , based on the type information and the stock information included in the product information, the preference information, the biological information, and the weather information that are used in step S 234 c (step S 236 c ).
  • step S 236 c the computation unit 302 refers to the work table 2600 ( FIG. 33 ) obtained by performing the drink determination process (steps S 501 to S 504 ( FIG. 32 )) in step S 234 c by using each combination of the identification information of the vending machine 700 and the type information and stock information included in the product information described above, the preference information, the biological information, and the weather information.
  • the computation unit 302 then generates the individual purchase menu 900 in which the tile objects 901 (such as FIG. 12 ) representing the drinks corresponding to the respective records in which the priorities are stored in the field “priority” are arranged according to the stored priorities.
  • the computation unit 302 then controls the communication unit 301 to send information representing the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 , generated in step S 236 c , to the communication terminal 100 (step S 237 ).
  • the computation unit 104 displays the individual purchase menu 900 for the user of the communication terminal 100 represented by the acquired information on the display 105 of the communication terminal 100 (step S 211 a ).
  • step S 211 a as in the seventh embodiment, steps S 212 , S 213 , and S 272 are performed, so that the drink purchased by the user is provided to the user.
  • the computation unit 104 of the communication terminal 100 controls the communication unit 101 to send the purchase information of the drink to the business entity management server 300 (step S 214 a ).
  • the purchase information of the drink sent in step S 214 a is received and output to the computation unit 302 by the communication unit 301 .
  • the purchase information of the drink includes the user ID of the user of the communication terminal 100 , the date and time information indicating the purchase date and time of the drink by the user, the identification information for identifying the vending machine 700 from which the user purchased the drink, and the type information indicating the type of the drink purchased by the user.
  • step S 238 the computation unit 302 of the business entity management server 300 causes the communication unit 301 to send a signal requesting update of the purchase history information of the user of the communication terminal 100 to the first server 200 together with the acquired purchase information of the drink (step S 238 ).
  • step S 222 is performed in the first server 200 as in the seventh embodiment, and if the user of the communication terminal 100 is a user with permission, the purchase history information of the user with permission stored in the memory 203 is updated.
  • a tenth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below.
  • the business entity management server 300 acquires the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 from the first server 200 .
  • the tenth embodiment is different from the ninth embodiment in that the business entity management server 300 requests the sensor application in the communication terminal 100 to send the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 and acquires the biological information from the sensor application.
  • the memory 102 of the communication terminal 100 has a table having the same configuration as the biological information table 2300 illustrated in FIG. 25 as in the eighth embodiment.
  • the table is hereinafter referred to as the biological information table 2300 .
  • the sensor application collects the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 periodically measured by the biological sensor 600 , and stores the collected biological information in the biological information table 2300 ( FIG. 25 ) in time series in association with the user ID of the user and the measurement date and time information indicating the measurement date and time of the biological information.
  • FIGS. 36 A and 36 B are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the overview of the process performed in the vending machine management system in the tenth embodiment.
  • step S 231 is performed instead of step S 231 e ( FIG. 35 A ) in the ninth embodiment.
  • the computation unit 302 of the business entity management server 300 controls the communication unit 301 to send, together with the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 acquired from the communication terminal 100 , a signal requesting sending of the preference information of the user identified by the user ID included in the identification information and the history 2210 ( FIG. 20 ) of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 owned by the user to the first server 200 (step S 231 ).
  • the computation unit 202 performs step S 221 a instead of step S 221 e ( FIG. 35 A ) in the ninth embodiment (step S 221 a ).
  • step S 221 a if the computation unit 202 determines that the user indicated by the user ID included in the identification information received by the communication unit 201 is a user with permission ([with permission of user]), the computation unit 202 controls the communication unit 201 to return the preference information of the user with permission and the history 2210 ( FIG. 20 ) of the weather information that are acquired from the memory 203 to the business entity management server 300 . On the other hand, if the computation unit 202 determines that the user is not a user with permission ([otherwise]), the computation unit 202 controls the communication unit 201 to return information indicating that the personal information is inaccessible to the business entity management server 300 . The returned information is received and output to the computation unit 302 by the communication unit 301 of the business entity management server 300 .
  • the computation unit 202 may control the communication unit 201 to send a message for checking whether to permit the business entity management server 300 to read the personal information, to the communication terminal 100 indicated by the identification information acquired from the business entity management server 300 .
  • the computation unit 202 acquires a reply indicating permission from the communication terminal 100 via the communication unit 201 .
  • the computation unit 202 may acquire, from the memory 203 , the preference information included in the personal information of the user indicated by the user ID included in the identification information received in step S 231 and the history 2210 ( FIG. 20 ) of the weather information.
  • the computation unit 202 then may cause the communication unit 201 to return the acquired information to the business entity management server 300 .
  • the computation unit 302 requests the communication terminal 100 indicated by the terminal ID included in the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 acquired in step S 203 a to send the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 , and acquires the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 returned in response the request (step S 239 ).
  • step S 239 the computation unit 302 controls the communication unit 301 to send a signal requesting sending of the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 to the communication terminal 100 indicated by the terminal ID included in the identification information for identifying the communication terminal 100 acquired in step S 203 a .
  • the communication terminal 100 in response to the communication unit 101 receiving the signal requesting sending of the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 , the communication unit 101 notifies the computation unit 104 of the receipt.
  • the computation unit 104 executes the sensor application to acquire records including the user ID of the user of the communication terminal 100 in the biological information table 2300 ( FIG. 25 ) in the memory 102 , as the biological information of the user.
  • the computation unit 104 then causes the communication unit 101 to return the acquired biological information.
  • the computation unit 302 of the business entity management server 300 acquires, via the communication unit 301 , the biological information of the user of the communication terminal 100 returned from the communication terminal 100 . Thereafter, the processing of step S 233 and subsequent steps is performed as in the ninth embodiment.
  • step S 234 c the computation unit 302 performs the drink determination process (steps S 501 to S 504 ( FIG. 32 )) by using each combination of the identification information of the vending machine 700 and the type information and the stock information included in the product information, which are sent and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 203 a , the preference information sent and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 203 a , the preference information returned and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 221 a , the biological information acquired in step S 239 , the history 2210 ( FIG. 20 ) of the weather information returned and acquired via the communication unit 301 in step S 221 a , and the weather information acquired in step S 233 .
  • step S 233 may be skipped. If the latest date and time information in the field “date and time information” among the weather information acquired by the business entity management server 300 from the first server 200 in step S 221 a is sufficiently close to the current time (for example, within an hour or 15 minutes from the current time), the weather information corresponding to the latest date and time information may be handled as the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal 100 and step S 233 may be skipped.
  • step S 236 c the computation unit 104 generates the individual purchase menu 900 with reference to the work table 2600 ( FIG. 33 ) obtained by performing the drink determination process (steps S 501 to S 504 ( FIG. 32 )) in step S 234 c by using the type information and stock information included in the product information described above, the preference information, the biological information, and the weather information.
  • the seventh embodiment to the tenth embodiment include other aspects of the present disclosure described below.
  • a control method is a control method executed in a communication terminal
  • control method including causing a computer of the communication terminal to perform a process including:
  • the push notification screen being a screen that recommends at least one drink that matches a preference of the user indicated by the preference information in relation to weather, indicated by the weather information, at the current location of the communication terminal and to a current physical condition of the user indicated by the biological information from among the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine indicated by the identification information;
  • the “acquiring weather information of a current location of the communication terminal via a network” includes acquiring weather information corresponding to an installed location of the vending machine indicated by the identification information via a network and acquiring this weather information as the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal.
  • the push notification screen that recommends at least one drink that matches the preference of the user is displayed on the display of the communication terminal of the user in response to the user merely passing in front of the vending machine of drinks, irrespective of a purchase intention of the user.
  • a purchase menu from the vending machine of drinks is not displayed but merely the push notification screen for displaying the purchase menu is displayed.
  • irksomeness caused by the purchase menu from the vending machine being displayed irrespective of the absence of the purchase intention of the user can be reduced.
  • the push notification screen is generated by taking into account the preference information on drinks of the user, the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal, and the current physical condition of the user. Thus, a drink can be recommended that matches the preference of the user at a timing when the user passes in front of or is near the vending machine.
  • the user When the user purchases the recommended drink, the user displays the purchase menu according to their will. Thus, the user takes the initiative in determining whether to display the purchase menu.
  • a drink can be recommended that matches the preference of the user at a timing when the user passes in front of the vending machine while reducing irksomeness caused by the purchase menu of drinks being displayed on the display of the communication terminal against the intention of the user.
  • the push notification screen may be used for displaying, on the display of the communication terminal, a purchase menu that allows the at least one drink to be purchased from among the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine.
  • a user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can use the push notification screen to display, on the display, the purchase menu that allows the user to purchase the at least one drink that matches the preference of the user.
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can quickly purchase the at least one drink that matches the preference of the user.
  • the process may further include generating, in response to the push notification screen displayed on the display of the communication terminal being selected, an individual purchase menu for the user, based on the type information, the stock information, the preference information, the weather information, and the biological information, the individual purchase menu being a menu displaying drinks that match the preference of the user indicated by the preference information in order according to a degree of matching the preference of the user in relation to the weather, indicated by the weather information, at the current location of the communication terminal and the current physical condition of the user indicated by the biological information from among the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine indicated by the identification information; and
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can display, on the display, the individual purchase menu that displays drinks that match the preference of the user in order according to a degree of matching the preference of the user in relation to the weather at the current location and to the current physical condition of the user.
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can browse the drinks that match the preference of the user under the weather at that time and the physical condition of the user in order according to the degree of matching the preference of the user and can purchase any of the drinks.
  • the process may further include displaying, on the display on which the push notification screen is displayed, a direction indication indicating a transmission direction of the beacon signal transmitted from the vending machine of drinks.
  • the direction indication indicating the transmission direction of the beacon signal transmitted from the vending machine of drinks is displayed on the display on which the push notification screen is displayed.
  • the user of the communication terminal can easily grasp the direction in which the vending machine that sells the drink recommended in the push notification screen is present.
  • the process may further include displaying, on the display on which the individual purchase menu is displayed, a direction indication indicating a transmission direction of the beacon signal transmitted from the vending machine of drinks.
  • the direction indication indicating the transmission direction of the beacon signal transmitted from the vending machine of drinks is displayed on the display on which the individual purchase menu is displayed.
  • the user of the communication terminal can easily grasp the direction in which the vending machine storing the drinks displayed in the individual purchase menu is present.
  • the process may further include receiving a beacon signal transmitted from the vending machine of drinks;
  • the displayed push notification screen is hidden.
  • the push notification screen that recommends a drink being kept uselessly displayed on the display can be avoided.
  • the preference information on drinks of the user may be stored in the first server that stores the personal information of the user and may be acquired from the first server.
  • the preference information on drinks of the user of the communication terminal is acquired from the first server that stores the personal information of the user.
  • the preference information on drinks of the user of the communication terminal is acquired from the first server that stores the personal information of the user.
  • the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal may be acquired from a second server that stores the weather information.
  • the “weather information of the current location of the communication terminal” includes weather information corresponding to an installed location of the vending machine indicated by the identification information.
  • the “second server that stores the weather information” includes the first server that stores, as the personal information of the user, a history of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal owned by the user.
  • the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal is acquired from the second server that stores the weather information.
  • the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal is acquired from the second server that stores the weather information.
  • the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal may include at least one of a temperature, a humidity, a heat index, a solar radiation, or a weather type.
  • the push notification screen is generated by taking into account the preference information on drinks of the user of the communication terminal and at least any one of the temperature, the humidity, the heat index, the solar radiation, or the weather type at the current location of the communication terminal.
  • drinks can be recommended that match the preference of the user in relation to at least one of the temperature, the humidity, the heat index, the solar radiation, or the weather type at the timing when the user is near the vending machine.
  • the current biological information of the user may be stored in the first server and may be acquired from the first server.
  • the current biological information of the user of the communication terminal is acquired from the first server that stores the personal information of the user.
  • the first server that stores the personal information of the user.
  • the current biological information of the user may be acquired from a biological sensor included in the communication terminal.
  • the current biological information of the user of the communication terminal is acquired from the biological sensor included in the communication terminal.
  • the current biological information of the user at the current location of the communication terminal can be acquired.
  • the current biological information of the user may be acquired via the communication terminal from a biological sensor capable of communicating with the communication terminal.
  • the current biological information of the user of the communication terminal is acquired, via the communication terminal, from the biological sensor capable of communicating with the communication terminal.
  • the biological sensor capable of communicating with the communication terminal.
  • the biological information may include information on at least one of a systolic blood pressure, a diastolic blood pressure, a heart rate, a body water percentage, or a body temperature.
  • the push notification screen is generated by taking into account the preference information on the drinks of the user of the communication terminal, the weather at the current location of the communication terminal, and at least one of the systolic blood pressure, the diastolic blood pressure, the heart rate, the body water percentage, or the body temperature of the user.
  • a drink can be recommended that matches the preference of the user suitable for at least one of the systolic blood pressure, the diastolic blood pressure, the heart rate, the body water percentage, or the body temperature as well as the ambient weather type when the user is near the vending machine.
  • the present disclosure can also be implemented as a program that causes a computer to execute each characteristic configuration included in the control method according to the other first aspect described above, or as a communication terminal that operates based on this program.
  • a computer program can be distributed via a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or via a communication network such as the Internet.
  • a control method is a control method executed in a communication terminal
  • control method including causing a computer of the communication terminal to perform a process including:
  • first identification information for identifying the first vending machine
  • first type information indicating types of a first group of drinks stored in the first vending machine
  • first stock information indicating quantities of stock of the first group of drinks stored in the first vending machine from the first vending machine of drinks by using short-range wireless communication
  • the push notification screen being a screen that recommends at least one drink that matches a preference of the user indicated by the preference information in relation to weather, indicated by the weather information, at the current location of the communication terminal and to a current physical condition of the user indicated by the biological information from among the first group of drinks stored in the first vending machine indicated by the first identification information and the second group of drinks stored in the second vending machine indicated by the second identification information;
  • the push notification screen that recommends at least one drink that matches the preference of the user is displayed on the display of the communication terminal of the user in response to the user merely passing in front of the first vending machine and the second vending machine that respectively sell the first group of drinks and the second group of drinks and are installed adjacently to or in proximity to each other, irrespective of a purchase intention of the user.
  • a first purchase menu from the first vending machine of the first group of drinks and a second purchase menu from the second vending machine of the second group of drinks are not displayed but merely the push notification screen for recommending purchase is displayed.
  • irksomeness caused by the first purchase menu and the second purchase menu being displayed irrespective of the absence of the purchase intention of the user can be reduced.
  • the push notification screen is generated by taking into account the preference information on drinks of the user, the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal, and the current physical condition of the user.
  • drinks can be recommended that match the preference of the user at a timing when the user passes in front of or is near the first vending machine and the second vending machine from among both the first group of drinks stored in the first vending machine and the second group of drinks stored in the second vending machine.
  • the user When the user purchases the recommended drink, the user displays the first purchase menu and the second purchase menu according to their will. Thus, the user takes the initiative in determining whether to display the purchase menus.
  • a drink can be recommended that matches the preference of the user at a timing when the user passes in front of the first vending machine and the second vending machine that respectively sell the first group of drinks and the second group of drinks and are installed in adjacently to each other, while reducing irksomeness caused by the purchase menu of drinks being displayed on the display of the communication terminal against the intention of the user.
  • the push notification screen may be used for displaying, on the display of the communication terminal, a purchase menu that allows the at least one drink to be purchased from among the first group of drinks stored in the first vending machine and the second group of drinks stored in the second vending machine.
  • a user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can use the push notification screen to display, on the display, the purchase menu that allows the user to purchase the at least one drink that matches the preference of the user from among the first group of drinks stored in the first vending machine and the second group of drinks stored in the second vending machine.
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can quickly purchase the at least one drink that matches the preference of the user without any effort to display the individual purchase menu from the vending machine.
  • the process may further include generating, in response to the push notification screen displayed on the display of the communication terminal being selected, an individual purchase menu for the user, based on the first type information, the first stock information, the second type information, the second stock information, the preference information, the weather information, and the biological information, the individual purchase menu being a menu displaying drinks that match the preference of the user indicated by the preference information in order according to a degree of matching the preference of the user in relation to the weather, indicated by the weather information, at the current location of the communication terminal and to the current physical condition of the user indicated by the biological information from among the first group of drinks stored in the first vending machine indicated by the first identification information and the second group of drinks stored in the second vending machine indicated by the second identification information; and
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can display, on the display, the individual purchase menu that displays drinks that match the preference of the user in order according to a degree of matching the preference of the user in relation to the weather at the current location and to the current physical condition of the user.
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can purchase a drink that matches the preference of the user under the weather and the physical condition of the user at that time while being sensible of the order of the degree of matching the preference of the user.
  • the process may further include displaying, on the display on which the push notification screen is displayed, at least one of a first direction indication indicating a transmission direction of the first beacon signal transmitted from the first vending machine or a second direction indication indicating a transmission direction of the second beacon signal transmitted from the second vending machine.
  • At least one of the first direction indication indicating the transmission direction of the first beacon signal transmitted from the first vending machine or the second direction indication indicating the transmission direction of the second beacon signal transmitted from the second vending machine is displayed on the display on which the push notification screen is displayed.
  • the user of the communication terminal can easily grasp the direction in which at least one of the first vending machine or the second vending machine recommended in the push notification screen is present.
  • a direction indication indicating a transmission direction of a beacon signal transmitted from the vending machine storing the one drink may be displayed together with the one drink.
  • the user can easily grasp the direction of the vending machine storing the drink recommended in the push notification screen.
  • the process may further include, in response to one drink being selected using the individual purchase menu displayed on the display,
  • the direction indication indicating the one vending machine storing the one drink among the first vending machine and the second vending machine is displayed on the display on which the individual purchase menu is displayed.
  • the user of the communication terminal can easily grasp the direction in which the vending machine storing the one drink selected using the individual purchase menu is present.
  • the present disclosure can also be implemented as a program that causes a computer to execute each characteristic configuration included in the control method according to the other second aspect described above, or as a communication terminal that operates based on this program.
  • a computer program can be distributed via a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or via a communication network such as the Internet.
  • An information providing method is an information providing method for a vending machine management system that manages stock information for a vending machine for drinks, the information providing method including:
  • first identification information for identifying the communication terminal ii) second identification information for identifying the vending machine, iii) type information indicating types of a plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine, and iv) the stock information indicating quantities of stock of the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine, ii) the second identification information, iii) the type information, and the iv) the stock information being acquired in the communication terminal from the vending machine of drinks by using short-range wireless communication in response to receipt of a beacon signal transmitted from the vending machine of drinks;
  • the push notification screen being a screen that recommends at least one drink that matches a preference of the user indicated by the preference information in relation to weather, indicated by the weather information, at the current location of the communication terminal and to a current physical condition of the user indicated by the biological information from among the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine indicated by the second identification information;
  • the “weather information of a current location of the communication terminal” includes weather information corresponding to an installed location of the vending machine indicated by the second identification information.
  • the push notification screen that recommends at least one drink that matches the preference of the user is displayed on the display of the communication terminal of the user in response to the user merely passing in front of or being near the vending machine of drinks, irrespective of a purchase intention of the user.
  • a purchase menu from the vending machine of drinks is not displayed but merely the push notification screen for displaying the purchase menu is displayed.
  • irksomeness caused by the purchase menu from the vending machine being displayed irrespective of the absence of the purchase intention of the user can be reduced.
  • the push notification screen is generated by taking into account the preference information on drinks of the user, the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal, and the current physical condition of the user. Thus, a drink can be recommended that matches the preference of the user at a timing when the user passes in front of the vending machine.
  • the user When the user purchases the recommended drink, the user displays the purchase menu according to their will. Thus, the user takes the initiative in determining whether to display the purchase menu.
  • a drink can be recommended that matches the preference of the user at a timing when the user passes in front of or is near the vending machine while reducing irksomeness caused by the purchase menu of drinks being displayed on the display of the communication terminal against the intention of the user.
  • the push notification screen may be used for displaying, on the display of the communication terminal, a purchase menu that allows the at least one drink to be purchased from among the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine.
  • a user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can use the push notification screen to display, on the display, the purchase menu that allows the user to purchase the at least one drink that matches the preference of the user.
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can quickly purchase the at least one drink that matches the preference of the user.
  • the process may further include: acquiring, from the communication terminal, information indicating that the push notification screen displayed on the display is selected;
  • the individual purchase menu for the user being a menu displaying drinks that match the preference of the user indicated by the preference information in order according to a degree of matching the preference of the user in relation to weather, indicated by the weather information, at the current location of the communication terminal and to the current physical condition of the user indicated by the biological information from among the plurality of drinks stored in the vending machine indicated by the second identification information;
  • the “weather at the current location of the communication terminal” includes weather corresponding to the installed location of the vending machine indicated by the second identification information.
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can display, on the display, the individual purchase menu that displays drinks that match the preference of the user in order according to a degree of matching the preference of the user in relation to the weather at the current location and to the current physical condition of the user.
  • the user who wishes to purchase a drink after viewing the push notification screen can purchase a drink that matches the preference of the user under the weather and the physical condition of the user at that time while being sensible of the order of the degree of matching the preference of the user.
  • the preference information on drinks of the user may be stored in the first server that stores the personal information of the user and may be acquired from the first server.
  • the preference information on drinks of the user of the communication terminal is acquired from the first server that stores the personal information of the user.
  • the preference information on drinks of the user of the communication terminal is acquired from the first server that stores the personal information of the user.
  • the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal may be acquired from a second server that stores the weather information.
  • the “weather information of the current location of the communication terminal” includes weather information of the installed location of the vending machine indicated by the identification information.
  • the “second server that stores the weather information” includes the first server that stores, as the personal information of the user, a history of the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal owned by the user.
  • the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal is acquired from the second server that stores the weather information.
  • the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal is acquired from the second server that stores the weather information.
  • the weather information of the current location of the communication terminal may include at least one of a temperature, a humidity, a heat index, a solar radiation, or a weather type.
  • the push notification screen is generated by taking into account the preference information on drinks of the user of the communication terminal and at least one of the temperature, the humidity, the heat index, the solar radiation, or the weather type at the current location of the communication terminal.
  • a drink can be recommended that matches the preference of the user in relation to at least one of the temperature, the humidity, the heat index, the solar radiation, or the weather type at the timing when the user passes in front of or is near the vending machine.
  • the current biological information of the user may be stored in the first server and may be acquired from the first server.
  • the current biological information of the user of the communication terminal is acquired from the first server that stores the personal information of the user.
  • the first server that stores the personal information of the user.
  • the communication terminal may include a biological sensor
  • the current biological information of the user may be acquired from the communication terminal including the biological sensor.
  • the current biological information of the user of the communication terminal is acquired from the communication terminal including the biological sensor.
  • the current biological information of the user at the current location of the communication terminal can be acquired.
  • the communication terminal is capable of communicating with a biological sensor, and the current biological information of the user may be acquired from the biological sensor via the communication terminal.
  • the current biological information of the user of the communication terminal is acquired, via the communication terminal, from the biological sensor capable of communicating with the communication terminal.
  • the biological sensor capable of communicating with the communication terminal.
  • the biological information may include information on at least one of a systolic blood pressure, a diastolic blood pressure, a heart rate, a body water percentage, or a body temperature.
  • the push notification screen is generated by taking into account the preference information on the drinks of the user of the communication terminal, the weather at the current location of the communication terminal, and at least one of the systolic blood pressure, the diastolic blood pressure, the heart rate, the body water percentage, or the body temperature of the user.
  • a drink can be recommended that matches the preference of the user in relation to at least one of the systolic blood pressure, the diastolic blood pressure, the heart rate, the body water percentage, or the body temperature when the user passes in front of or is near the vending machine.
  • the present disclosure is useful in recommending, to a user, a product which the user presumably desires at a timing when the user passes in front of a vending machine.

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JPWO2021240826A1 (zh) 2021-12-02
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