JP2005115551A - Commodity selling system and terminal for product selection - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a commodity selling system that enables a customer to purchase a commodity without carrying the commodity, and eliminates or substantially reduces a waiting time in a queue at a cash register. <P>SOLUTION: The commodity selling system uses a terminal for commodity selection (a cellular phone) which stores a program that recognizes information of a commodity and its price by inputting commodity identification information, can transmit the inputted information of a commodity and its price to a specific predetermined location, and can receive necessary information. The system displays the identification information of each commodity at a sales floor, inputs the identification information of a commodity to be purchased sequentially in the terminal for commodity selection, transmits all the inputted information to the specific location, recognizes the sum of the purchase amount from the received information, calculates time required for gathering all the purchased commodities at the specific location, and transmits the calculation result to the terminal for commodity selection. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a merchandise sales system in the case of selling merchandise in a store, and more particularly to a merchandise sales system that reduces the waiting time for cashiers and effectively uses a merchandise display space, and a merchandise selection terminal used for the merchandise sales system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when purchasing a product at a store, the product placed on the sales floor is carried around by itself or put in a cart or the like and carried to a cashier counter (hereinafter referred to as a cash register) and settled at the cash register. In the case of a large store, there are a plurality of cash registers, but there may be a line in the cash register, and it may take time to actually pay with cash or a card. In addition, the act of transporting goods to the cash register was necessary.

The cashier waiting time until payment was completed at the cashier was a boring time for the user because nothing else could be done.
In addition, the operation of transporting the product to the cash register is laborious and complicated depending on the type of the product.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a merchandise sales system that enables merchandise purchase without carrying the merchandise and can eliminate or greatly reduce the cashier waiting time on the cash register.

  In order to achieve the above object, claim 1 recognizes the product and price information by inputting the product identification information, and transmits the input product and price information to a predetermined specific location and necessary information. A product sales system using a product selection terminal storing a receivable program, displaying each product identification information on a product sales floor, and sequentially inputting the product identification information of products to be purchased to the product selection terminal The input total information is transmitted to the specific location, and the total amount of purchase amount is recognized from the received information, while the preparation time for aligning all purchased products at the specific location is calculated, and the calculation result is It is characterized by being transmitted to a product selection terminal.

  Claim 2 is the product sales system according to claim 1, wherein the calculation of the preparation time is performed by calculating the category in which each product is classified by size, the storage location of each product, the number of products currently being prepared, and processing capacity information. It is characterized in that it is obtained by a function using as a variable.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the commodity sales system according to the first aspect, wherein the commodity selection terminal is a mobile phone.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention provides the commodity sales system according to the third aspect, wherein a purchased commodity list is created for each telephone number of a mobile phone, the purchased commodity list is transmitted by access from the mobile telephone, and the commodity is obtained from the purchased commodity list. By selecting, the manual of the product is distributed to the mobile phone side and can be displayed on the mobile phone side.

  The product selection terminal according to claim 5 displays a program name and price to be inputted, and stores a program capable of transmitting the inputted product and price information to a predetermined specific location and receiving necessary information. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, each product identification information is displayed on the product sales floor, the product identification information of the products to be purchased is sequentially input to the product selection terminal, the input total information is transmitted to a specific place, and the received information While recognizing the total amount of the purchase amount, it calculates the preparation time for aligning all purchased products at the specific location (for example, a cashier counter), and transmits the calculation result to the product selection terminal. If the customer can recognize when the purchased product will be prepared and go to the cashier counter at that time, the user will receive the product without having to wait at the cashier and carry the product to the cashier counter. be able to.

  Also, by using a mobile phone as the product selection terminal and managing the mobile phone number for each user, it is possible to create a list of purchased products purchased for each mobile phone. By transmitting the purchase merchandise list and distributing the manual of the selected merchandise to the mobile phone so that the mobile phone can display the manual, the user can view the manual of the desired merchandise at the time desired by the user.

A commodity sales system as an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Prior to using the merchandise sales system, the user (user) registers as a member by disclosing information such as address, name, mobile phone number, and contact information to the merchandise sales system operator. Further, information on the payment method of the purchased product (for example, the type and number of the card when making a payment with a card) may be registered.

The merchandise sales system includes a data management device 10 that is installed at a specific location such as a cashier counter and manages product information and customer information, and a product selection terminal 1 that transmits and receives information to and from the data management device 10. Configured.
The data management apparatus 10 includes a product database 11 in which various types of product information such as product storage data and product identification data, which will be described later, are stored, a customer information database 12 in which customer information by the above-described member registration is stored, and each product. Information can be transmitted to and received from the manual database 13 in which corresponding manual (instruction manual) information is stored.
The user expresses the purchase intention by inputting the product identification information of the purchased product into the product selection terminal 1.

  The merchandise item identification information is constituted by, for example, a merchandise item identification code composed of a combination of numbers, alphabets or figures. This product identification code is displayed in the vicinity of each sample product on the product sales floor.

The product selection terminal 1 is constituted by a mobile phone, for example, and is set to a product purchase mode by switching a mode selection button on the mobile phone side, and various operations for product purchase using the operation keys 3 (push buttons on the mobile phone). Is possible. That is, the product selection terminal (mobile phone) 1 displays the product name and price on the display unit 2 and operates the transmission key by inputting the product identification code by key operation in the product purchase mode. Stored is a program capable of transmitting the product and price information input in (1) to the data management device 10 (a specific location set in advance) and receiving necessary information (purchased product information).
Further, the product purchase mode may be set by connecting to the homepage (URL page) of the product sales system operator.

The product selection terminal (mobile phone) 1 is provided with a key to be operated at the end of product purchase. By operating this key, the data management device 10 confirms that all of the products desired for purchase have been sent. The purchase desired product list in which the total price and total weight of the purchased products are displayed is returned (transmitted) as purchased product information to the product selection terminal 1 side.
The product selection terminal 1 receives the purchased product information and can individually cancel the product from the purchase desired product list in consideration of the budget and the weight when taking it home.

  If a mobile phone equipped with the barcode reader 4 is used, the product identification information can be displayed as a product identification code (barcode), and the barcode reader 4 is applied to the product identification code and the reading key is pressed. Thus, the product identification information can be input without performing a plurality of key operations.

  In addition, if a transmitter that constantly transmits product identification information is placed in the vicinity of each sample product and a dedicated receiving device is provided on the mobile phone side, the product identification information can be obtained simply by pressing the reception key near the sample product. It is also possible to capture.

The data management apparatus 10 recognizes the total amount of purchase as a single slip from the product and price information received from one product selection terminal 1 and prepares all purchased products corresponding to the slip at the specific location. Calculate the overall preparation time.
In this calculation, various types of storage information specified from the product information are calculated as variables. As the storage information, for example, for each product, product external shape information and storage location information are given as numerical values, and are stored in advance in the product database 11 as storage data.

Product outline information x1 sets several categories according to the size of the product, and corresponds to each category sequentially from 1. Corresponding to larger products with larger numbers, it takes time to carry It is a product.
The storage location information x2 indicates the location where the product is stored, and the time required for transportation differs depending on the distance from the specific location. Specifically, it relates to a position on a line to be described later, and a product with a larger number is associated with a product located at a position away from a specific place, and a product with a larger numerical value takes longer to transport.

As other elements, the number of slips currently being processed x3 and the processing capability information x4 calculated from the number of people engaged in the current processing are used as variables. The number of slips x3 is directly applied to the number of slips currently being processed. The processing capacity information x4 is a reciprocal of the number of persons actually engaged in processing.
Based on the above variables, an arithmetic expression for obtaining the time required to prepare one product is represented by the following mathematical expression (Equation 1).

(Equation 1)
f (x1, x2, x3, x4) = Ax1 + Bx2 + Cx3 + Dx4

In the formula, A to D are constants for displaying weights for each information. These constants are preset based on experience. Moreover, it is rewritten to an optimum value according to the results.
Therefore, the value of Equation 1 indicates that the larger the numerical value, the longer the processing takes. The individual preparation time t for preparing the product from this value is as shown in Equation 2 below.

(Equation 2)
t = αf (α is a constant)

  α is a constant for calculating the individual preparation time t for f and is determined empirically.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of lines A, B, and C for collecting goods stored in the storage location are set, and a collection staff who collects the goods is arranged for each line. Has been.
The individual preparation time t displayed in the above-mentioned formula 2 is a time for preparing one product, but when preparing a plurality of products, the entire product is considered in consideration of which line of products is stored. Calculate the preparation time. In other words, if the collected products are the same line, the time taken to collect is the sum of the individual preparation time for each product, and if the collected products are different lines, the time required for collection is the maximum of the individual preparation time for each product. Is the line preparation time for one line.

  For example, if there are three products to be collected on line A and two products to be collected on line B, the line preparation time Ta for each product on line A is the sum of Equation 2 for each product, so Ta = t1 + t2 + t3 Thus, the line preparation time Tb of each product in the line B is Tb = t4 + t5. Therefore, the overall preparation time of all purchased products is compared with Ta and Tb, and the larger time is associated.

  The total preparation time of all purchased products is transmitted from the data management device to the mobile phone (product selection terminal) 1, and the user recognizes this time, thereby enabling the time until the purchase counter 20 receives the purchased products. Can be used.

  In addition to sending the total preparation time, the data management device 10 sends a signal for selecting “Take home product” and “Send separately” to the mobile phone 1. Select “take-away” or “separate delivery” and send the selection signal to the data management device side.

If you select “Take home goods”, you can go to the cashier counter and receive the purchased goods before and after the entire preparation time.
When “separate delivery” is selected, for example, a billing method screen is sent from the data management apparatus 10 to the display unit, and payment is made by credit card. As for the user, since the address and the like are registered in advance together with the telephone number of the mobile phone, if the delivery is desired to the registered address, it is not particularly necessary to input the destination. In addition, instead of a credit card, a cashier counter dedicated to “separate delivery” may be provided, and payment may be made in cash there.

In the data management apparatus 10, when a product is purchased, a list of purchased products is created for each telephone number of the mobile phone 1, and a manual (instruction manual) corresponding to each product is read from the manual database 13 and purchased. A purchased product list 14 in which manuals corresponding to the products are stored is created.
Then, when there is an access to call the purchased product list from the mobile phone 1, the purchased product list is transmitted, and the product is selected from the purchased product list on the mobile phone side. Can be distributed to the mobile phone side and displayed on the display unit 2 of the mobile phone 1 as characters and image data. Therefore, the user can view the manual (instruction manual) of the purchased product with the mobile phone 1 at any time.

In addition, when the product is purchased using the mobile phone 1, the data management device 10 can calculate points according to the purchase amount and perform point reduction by performing discounts according to the accumulated points at the next and subsequent purchases. It is like that. Moreover, about the usage fee of the mobile phone 1 at the time of product purchase, the product sales system operator may pay for the point return.
The accumulation point can be always confirmed by access from the mobile phone 1. Whether or not to use the accumulated points as a discount can be selected with the operation key on the mobile phone 1 after the purchase desired product list described in paragraph 0016 is returned, for example.

Next, a specific example in which the mobile phone 1 is used as a product selection terminal and product purchase is performed using the product purchase system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The user sets the mobile phone 1 to the product purchase mode by switching the mode (step 31).
The product identification code displayed in the vicinity of each sample product at the product sales floor is input to the mobile phone 1 by a key operation (step 32). By this input, the product name and price are displayed on the display unit 2. When there are other products to be purchased, all the desired products for purchase are displayed on the display unit 2 by continuously performing the above operation.

After displaying all the products to be purchased on the mobile phone side (step 33), the data management device 10 (a predetermined specific location set in advance) stores the products and price information input by operating the transmission key (purchase confirmation key). (Registration counter)) (step 34).
Before operating the send key (purchase confirmation key), the purchase desired product list displaying the total price and total weight of the purchased product is returned (transmitted) as purchased product information to the product selection terminal 1 side. The product selection terminal 1 can receive the purchased product information and cancel the products individually from the purchase desired product list in consideration of the budget and the weight when the product is taken home.
Also, whether or not to use the accumulated points as a discount is selected with the operation key on the mobile phone 1 side after the purchase wish list is returned.

  On the data management device 10 side, the storage information for all the transmitted products is searched, the individual preparation time for each product is calculated (step 35), and the products are classified for each line described above to prepare the line preparation time. Is calculated (step 36), and the total preparation time of all products is calculated (step 37).

The total preparation time is transmitted to the mobile phone side (step 38), and the user can check the waiting time until the goods are received at the checkout counter.
Further, in addition to the transmission of the entire preparation time, a signal for selecting “product take-back” and “separate delivery” is sent from the data management device 10 to the mobile phone 1, so that the user follows the display on the display unit 2. The method of receiving the product is specified by selecting “take-out of product” (receipt at the cash register) or “separate delivery” (receipt by home delivery etc.) (step 39).

  In parallel with the calculation of the preparation time, the data management apparatus 10 creates a list of purchased products for each telephone number of the mobile phone 1 and reads a manual (product instruction manual) corresponding to each product from the manual database 13. Then, the purchased product list 14 in which the manual corresponding to the purchased product is stored is created (step 40).

It is a block diagram of a goods sales system showing an example of an embodiment of the invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating each line of the goods storage place with respect to a cash register counter. It is a flowchart figure in the case of purchasing goods using the goods sales system of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Cellular phone (product selection terminal)
2 Display 3 Operation Key 4 Barcode Reader 10 Data Management Device 11 Product Database 12 Customer Information Database 13 Manual Database 14 Purchased Product List

Claims (5)

For product selection that stores products and price information by inputting product identification information, and stores a program that can transmit the input product and price information to a preset specific location and receive necessary information A product sales system using a terminal,
Display each product identification information on the product sales floor, sequentially input the product identification information of the products to be purchased to the product selection terminal, send the total information entered to the specific location, and the total purchase price from the received information While recognizing
A product sales system, wherein a preparation time for arranging all purchased products at the specific place is calculated, and the calculation result is transmitted to the product selection terminal. The product sales system according to claim 1, wherein the calculation of the preparation time is obtained by a function using a category in which each product is classified by size, a storage location of each product, the number of products currently being prepared, and processing capacity information as variables. . The product sales system according to claim 1, wherein the product selection terminal is a mobile phone. Create a purchased product list for each mobile phone number, send the purchased product list by accessing from the mobile phone, and select the product from the purchased product list to distribute the manual of the product to the mobile phone side The product sales system according to claim 3, wherein display is possible on the mobile phone side. A product selection terminal that stores a program that can display the name and price of an input product, and that can transmit the input product and price information to a preset specific location and receive necessary information.

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