JP2015026170A - Shopping support system, information terminal and shopping support program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shopping support system capable of allowing a customer to call a clerk as well as allowing the clerk to visit the customer swiftly.SOLUTION: An information terminal can be attached to/detached from a commodity carrier to carry commodities purchased by a customer, which includes at least a radio unit and a communication part. An operator terminal has at least a communication part. A radio communication network connects the information terminal attached to the commodity carrier which moves in a sales floor to the operator terminal so as to perform a voice communication. Position detection means detects a piece of position information from the commodity carrier in the sales floor. Notification means notifies the position information detected by the position detection means.

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention are used in a shopping support system that is constructed in a retail store where a customer uses a product carrier such as a shopping cart (hereinafter abbreviated as a cart) or a shopping basket, and this system is used. The present invention relates to an information terminal and a shopping support program installed in the information terminal.

  A retail store with a large sales floor area is usually equipped with a cart, and a customer pushes the cart and goes around the sales floor. The customer puts the merchandise he / she wants to buy into the cart, and when the shopping is completed, the merchandise is transported to the accounting counter, so-called cash register, for accounting.

  Conventionally, a system has been proposed in which an information terminal is attached to such a cart and information is provided to customers who use the cart via the information terminal.

  By the way, a customer sometimes wants to make an inquiry to a store clerk during shopping. At that time, if a store clerk is found immediately, there is no problem. However, if no clerk is found in the surrounding area, the customer searches for the clerk while pushing the cart or placing the cart. Such a problem can be solved by increasing the number of sales clerk, but it is difficult to adopt because it directly leads to a rise in labor costs.

JP 2008-242810 A

  A problem to be solved by an embodiment is to provide a shopping support system in which a customer can call a store clerk immediately and the store clerk can immediately visit under the customer, and an information terminal used in this system. Is.

  In one embodiment, the shopping support system includes an information terminal, an operator terminal, a wireless communication network, a position detection unit, and a notification unit. The information terminal can be freely attached to and detached from the product carrier for carrying the product purchased by the customer, and at least a wireless unit and a communication unit are mounted. The operator terminal has at least a call section. The wireless communication network connects the information terminal attached to the commodity carrier moving on the sales floor and the operator terminal so that voice communication is possible. The position detecting means detects position information of the commodity carrier at the sales floor. The notification means notifies the position information detected by the position detection means.

The whole lineblock diagram of the shopping support system in one embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the whole image of the store which constructed | assembled the system. The perspective view which shows an example of a cart. The perspective view which shows the state which mounted | wore the cart with the tablet terminal. The perspective view which shows the state which mounted | wore the docking station with the tablet terminal. The perspective view which shows the state which removed the tablet terminal from the docking station. The block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of a tablet terminal. The block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of a docking station. The block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the terminal for operators. The perspective view which shows the data structure of a position database. The figure explaining the function which can be performed in shopping support mode of a tablet terminal. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the information processing which CPU of a tablet terminal performs according to a shopping assistance program. The flowchart which shows the information processing procedure which CPU of a tablet terminal performs when the customer service function of a shopping assistance menu is selected. The flowchart which shows the information processing procedure which CPU of the terminal for operators performs when the customer service function of a shopping assistance menu is selected in the tablet terminal. The figure which shows the example of a display of a shopping assistance screen. The figure which shows the example of 1 display of a customer service screen. The figure which shows the example of a display of a positional information alerting | reporting screen.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a shopping support system will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is a case where a shopping support system is constructed in a store equipped with a cart as a product carrier for transporting products purchased by customers.

  FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a shopping support system (hereinafter abbreviated as the present system) 1 in the present embodiment. Moreover, the whole image of the store 2 which built this system 1 is shown in FIG. The system 1 includes a store server 11, a location server 12, an operator terminal 13, a plurality of docking stations 14, a plurality of wireless base stations 15, and a plurality of tablet terminals 16. The system 1 includes a LAN (Local Area Network) 17, and a store server 11, a location server 12, an operator terminal 13, docking stations 14, and radio base stations 15 are connected to the LAN 17.

  The store 2 includes a sales floor 21 in which a large number of product shelves (13 units from No. 1 to No. 13 in FIG. 2) 26 are distributed and a backyard 22. The sales floor 21 includes an entrance 23 and an exit 24 for customers. In the vicinity of the entrance 23 and the exit 24, a cart storage place 25 in which a large number of carts 3, which are commodity carriers, are accommodated in a freely removable manner.

  In constructing this system, the store side installs at least one terminal lending counter 27 adjacent to the entrance 23 in the sales floor 21 and a plurality of register counters 28 on the exit 24 side. Furthermore, a plurality of wireless base stations 15 are distributed and installed on the ceiling of the sales floor 21, for example. A plurality of tablet terminals 16 are placed on the terminal lending counter 27. The tablet terminal 16 is lent to customers who enter the store through the entrance 23. The tablet terminal 16 can be freely attached to and detached from the cart 3. In addition, a docking station 14 is placed on each register counter 6. The tablet terminal 16 can be freely attached to and detached from the docking station 14.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cart 3 has a bowl-shaped storage portion 3 a and a base plate 3 b for attaching a tablet terminal to a front portion of the storage portion 3 a. A customer who visits the store 2 takes out one cart 3 from the cart storage place 25 and enters the entrance 23 together with the cart 3, and uses one tablet terminal 16 loaned from the staff of the terminal lending counter 27 as the base of the cart 3. Fit into the plate 3b.

  The cart 3 with the tablet terminal 16 attached to the base plate 3b is shown in FIG. This attachment can be easily released by lifting the tablet terminal 16 and pulling it away from the base plate 3b.

  A customer who attaches the tablet terminal 16 to the base plate 3b of the cart 3 pushes the cart 3 and goes around the sales floor 21 and puts the product he / she wants to buy into the housing 3a. When shopping is completed, the customer carries the goods together with the cart 3 to the cashier counter 6 for accounting. At that time, the customer or the salesclerk in charge of accounting removes the tablet terminal 16 from the cart 3 and attaches it to the docking station 14. The function of the tablet terminal 16 attached to the docking station 14 is expanded as a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal.

  FIG. 5 shows a state where the tablet terminal 16 is attached to the docking station 14, and FIG. 6 shows a state where the tablet terminal 16 is detached from the docking station 14. As shown in FIG. 5, the docking station 14 has a box-shaped casing on which the tablet terminal 16 is mounted (placed), and includes a scanner reading window 31 on the front of the casing. A receipt issuing port 32 is provided on the left side surface of the housing. When the tablet terminal 16 is lifted and removed from the docking station 14, an inclined terminal mounting portion 33 appears at the top of the casing of the docking station 14 as shown in FIG. 6. In addition, the extension connector 34 disposed in the terminal mounting portion 33 is exposed.

  The tablet terminal 16 has a rectangular housing that can be held with one hand. The tablet terminal 16 includes a touch panel 41 that can be touched with fingers on the upper surface of the casing, and a docking connector 56 described later on the rear surface of the casing. The electrical connection between the tablet terminal 16 and the docking station 14 is completed by fitting the docking connector 42 into the expansion connector 34 while placing the back side of the tablet terminal 16 on the terminal mounting portion 33 of the docking station 14. To do. This connection can be easily released by lifting the tablet terminal 16 and pulling it away from the terminal mounting portion 33.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the tablet terminal 16. In addition to the touch panel 41, the tablet terminal 16 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 52, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 53, an auxiliary storage device 54, a wireless unit 55, a docking connector 56, a touch panel. A controller 57, a call unit 58, an audio codec 59, a receiver 60, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader 61, a cart attachment sensor 62, and an input port 63 are provided. The CPU 51 includes a ROM 52, a RAM 53, an auxiliary storage device 54, a wireless unit 55, a docking connector 56, a touch panel controller 57, an audio codec 59, a receiver 60, an RFID reader 61, an input port 63, and a bus such as an address bus and a data bus. Connected by line 64.

  The tablet terminal 16 is equipped with a battery 65 as a driving power source. The tablet terminal 16 connects the battery 65 to the docking connector 56 via the charge / discharge circuit 66.

  The CPU 51 corresponds to the central part of the computer. CPU51 controls each part in order to implement | achieve various functions as the tablet terminal 16 according to an operating system or an application program.

  The ROM 52 corresponds to the main storage portion of the computer. The ROM 52 stores the above operating system and application programs. The ROM 52 may store data necessary for the CPU 51 to execute various processes.

  The RAM 53 corresponds to the main storage portion of the computer. The RAM 53 stores data necessary for the CPU 51 to execute various processes as necessary. The RAM 53 is also used as a work area when the CPU 51 performs various processes.

  The auxiliary storage device 54 corresponds to an auxiliary storage portion of the computer. The auxiliary storage device 54 is, for example, an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory). The auxiliary storage device 54 stores data used when the CPU 51 of the tablet terminal 16 performs various processes and data generated by the processes of the CPU 51. The auxiliary storage device 54 may store an application program.

  The wireless unit 55 manages wireless communication with each wireless base station 15 in accordance with a predetermined communication standard, for example, IEEE 802.11. Each tablet terminal 16 can transmit and receive data using the wireless communication network with the store server 11 and the operator terminal 13 connected to the LAN 17 via the wireless unit 55.

  The touch panel 41 is configured by arranging a touch sensor 41t as an input unit on a display part of a display 41d as a display unit. The touch panel controller 57 to which the touch panel 41 is connected controls the screen display of the display 41d and monitors the signal of the touch sensor 41t. The touch panel controller 57 detects input data from the position coordinate information on the touch operation and the screen information of the display 41d at that time.

  The call unit 58 includes a microphone 58M and a speaker 58S. The audio codec 59 digitizes the audio signal output from the microphone 58M and encodes it with a predetermined audio encoding method to obtain encoded audio data. Then, the audio codec 59 gives this encoded audio data to the wireless unit 55 via the bus line 64. Also, the audio codec 59 decodes the encoded audio data provided from the wireless unit 55 and converts it to analog to obtain an audio signal, and outputs this audio signal to the speaker 56S. Thus, sound corresponding to the sound signal is output from the speaker 56S.

The receiver 60 receives position information transmitted from a position information transmitter 5 described later.
The RFID reader 61 reads the memory data of the RFID tag existing in the communication area of the antenna ANT without contact. The RFID tag is attached to each product displayed on the product shelf 26. The RFID tag memory stores a product identification code for individually identifying the product to which the tag is attached. When the tablet terminal 16 is attached to the base plate 3b of the cart 3, the antenna ANT is built in the tablet terminal 16 with the propagation strength and directivity determined so that the entire area of the housing portion 3a becomes a communication area. As a result, the RFID reader 61 can collectively read the RFID tag memory data attached to each product stored in the storage unit 3a, that is, the product identification code.

  The cart attachment sensor 62 mechanically or magnetically detects attachment and removal of the tablet terminal 16 from the base plate 3b. The input port 63 inputs a signal from the cart attachment sensor 62.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the docking station 14. In addition to the expansion connector 34, the docking station 14 includes an auxiliary storage device 71, a power supply unit 72, a printer 73, a printer controller 74, a scanner 75, a scanner controller 76, a communication interface 77, and an I / O controller 78. The expansion connector 34, the auxiliary storage device 71, the printer controller 74, the scanner controller 76, the communication interface 77, and the I / O controller 78 are connected by a bus line 79 such as an address bus or a data bus.

  The auxiliary storage device 71 corresponds to an auxiliary storage portion of the computer. The auxiliary storage device 71 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (solid state drive). The auxiliary storage device 71 stores data used when the CPU 51 of the tablet terminal 16 performs various processes and data generated by the processes of the CPU 51. The auxiliary storage device 71 may store an application program.

  The power supply unit 72 supplies drive power to input / output devices such as the auxiliary storage device 71, the printer 73, and the scanner 75. Further, the power supply unit 72 supplies power for charging the battery 65 of the tablet terminal 16 via the expansion connector 34.

  The printer 73 controlled by the printer controller 74 prints on the conveyed roll paper by, for example, a thermal method. The printed roll paper is discharged from the receipt issuing port 32, cut, and issued as a receipt. The printer 73 can also issue a label by using label paper as roll paper. The printer 73 may employ a printing method other than the thermal method.

  The scanner 75 controlled by the scanner controller 76 optically reads a barcode or the like trapped in the reading window 31. The scanner 75 may be a type that reads a barcode or the like attached to a product from a product image captured by a camera.

  The communication interface 77 is connected to the LAN 17. The communication interface 77 controls transmission / reception of data performed between the tablet terminal 16 connected to the docking station 14 and the store server 11 via the LAN 17.

  The I / O controller 78 connects an external device (not shown) such as a drawer and an RFID reader, and controls its operation.

  The backyard 22 is an area isolated from the sales floor 21, and the store clerk 4 resides there. In constructing this system, the store side installs the operator terminal 13 in the backyard 22. The store server 11 and the location server 12 may be installed in the backyard 22 or in other places.

  The LAN 17 is wired by connecting the backyard 22 and the sales floor 21. As described above, the store server 11, the location server 12, the operator terminal 13, each docking station 14, and each radio base station 15 are connected to the LAN 17 to construct this system.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the operator terminal 13. The operator terminal 13 includes a CPU 81, ROM 82, RAM 83, auxiliary storage device 84, communication interface 85, keyboard 86, keyboard controller 87, display 88, display controller 89, I / O controller 90, call unit 91, and voice codec 92. . The CPU 81 is connected to the ROM 82, the RAM 83, the auxiliary storage device 84, the communication interface 85, the keyboard controller 87, the display controller 89, the I / O controller 90, and the audio codec 92 through a bus line 93 such as an address bus and a data bus.

  The CPU 81 corresponds to the central part of the computer. The CPU 81 controls each unit to implement various functions as the operator terminal 13 in accordance with the operating system and application programs.

  The ROM 82 corresponds to the main storage portion of the computer. The ROM 82 stores the above operating system and application programs. The ROM 82 may store data necessary for the CPU 81 to execute various processes.

  The RAM 83 corresponds to the main storage portion of the computer. The RAM 83 stores data necessary for the CPU 81 to execute various processes as necessary. The RAM 83 is also used as a work area when the CPU 81 performs various processes.

  The auxiliary storage device 84 corresponds to an auxiliary storage portion of the computer. The auxiliary storage device 84 is, for example, an EEPROM, an HDD, an SSD, or the like. The auxiliary storage device 84 stores data used when the CPU 81 performs various processes and data generated by the process in the CPU 81. The auxiliary storage device 84 may store an application program.

  The communication interface 85 is connected to the LAN 17. The communication interface 85 controls transmission / reception of data performed between the tablet terminal 16 and the operator terminal 13 via a wireless communication network including the LAN 17.

  The I / O controller 78 connects an external device (not shown) such as a mouse and controls its operation.

  The call unit 91 includes a microphone 91M and a speaker 91S. The audio codec 92 digitizes the audio signal output from the microphone 91M and encodes it with a predetermined audio encoding method to obtain encoded audio data. The audio codec 92 provides the encoded audio data to the communication interface 85 via the bus line 93. Also, the audio codec 92 decodes the encoded audio data provided from the communication interface 85 and converts it to analog to obtain an audio signal, and outputs this audio signal to the speaker 91S. Thus, sound corresponding to the sound signal is output from the speaker 91S.

  The store server 11 accesses the product database 110 to read and write product information. In the product database 110, product information such as the name, price, classification, display location, number of stocks, product images, etc. of the product is stored in association with the product identification code of each product sold in the store 2. The display place is information for specifying a section of the product shelf 26 in which the product is displayed. When the store server 11 receives a product inquiry command that can be identified by the code together with the product identification code from the tablet terminal 16 via the LAN 17, the store server 11 searches the product database 110 and reads the product information of the product. Replies to the tablet terminal 16.

  The location server 12 accesses the location database 120 to read and write location information. In addition, the position server 12 supplies position information to each of a large number of position information transmitters 5 distributed in the sales floor 21.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each position information transmitter 5 is placed on each of the front, back, left, and right sides of each product shelf 26 arranged in the center of the sales floor 21 (the side where the entrance 23 and the exit 24 are located). Each is attached and attached to each front surface of each product shelf 26 arranged along the inner wall of the sales floor 21. Each position information transmitter 5 is set with a unique transmitter ID.

  In the position database 120, as shown in FIG. 10, a position that identifies the position where the position information transmitter 5 specified by this transmitter ID is attached in association with the transmitter ID of each position information transmitter 5. Information is accumulated. For example, shelf No. When the transmitter ID of the position information transmitter 5 attached to the left side of the product shelf 26 of “1” is “0001”, the position information “shelf No. 1” is associated with the transmitter ID “0001” in the position database 120. -Left "is set. Similarly, when the transmitter ID of the position information transmitter 5 attached to the back side of the same product shelf 26 is “0002”, the position information “shelf” is associated with the transmitter ID “0002” in the position database 120. “No.1-Back” is set.

  The location server 12 reads the pair data of the transmitter ID and the location information from the location database 120 and supplies the location information to the location information transmitter 5 specified by the transmitter ID. The position information transmitter 5 that has received this position information continuously transmits the position information by short-range wireless communication using electromagnetic waves, light, or the like as a medium. The communication distance of this position information is such a distance that the position information transmitted from the position information transmitter 5 reaches the passage around the transmitter 5, for example, about 1 to 3 m.

  As described above, the tablet terminal 16 includes the receiver 60 that receives the position information transmitted from the position information transmitter 5. Therefore, when the customer pushes the cart 3 and approaches the product shelf 26, the position information transmitted from the location information transmitter 5 provided on the surface of the product shelf 26 facing the cart 3 is displayed on the tablet attached to the cart 3. The terminal 16 receives it.

  The tablet terminal 16 has a shopping support mode as an operation mode. As shown in FIG. 11, the shopping support mode realizes various functions such as a product search function, an inventory confirmation function, a purchased product registration function, and a customer service function.

  A shopping support button is displayed on the touch panel 41 of the tablet terminal 16 in the default state. When the user (usually a customer) touches the shopping support button, the shopping support program is activated on the tablet terminal 16. The shopping support program is stored in the ROM 52, for example.

  When the shopping support program is activated, the CPU 51 starts information processing according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, the CPU 51 confirms whether or not the tablet terminal 16 is attached to the cart 3 (Act 1). When it is detected that the tablet terminal 16 is attached to the base plate 3b of the cart 3 based on a signal from the cart attachment sensor 62 as the detection means (YES in Act1), the CPU 51 checks the shopping support flag (Act2). ). The shopping support flag is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 53.

  When the shopping support flag is “0” (NO in Act 2), the CPU 51 sets the shopping support flag to “1” (Act 3). Further, the CPU 51 creates a shopping support screen 200 and displays it on the display 41d of the touch panel 41 (Act4).

  One display example of the shopping support screen 200 is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the shopping support screen 200 includes buttons 201, 202, and 203 for selecting various functions such as a product search function, an inventory confirmation function, a purchased product registration function, and a customer service function that can be executed in the shopping support mode. , 204 are displayed.

  After displaying the shopping support screen 200 or when the shopping support flag is already set to “1” at the processing timing of Act 2 (YES in Act 2), the CPU 51 receives the position information at the receiver 60. (Act5). When position information is detected (YES in Act 5), the CPU 51 overwrites this position information in a predetermined area of the RAM 53 (hereinafter referred to as a position information area) (Act 6: acquisition means). If position information is not detected (NO in Act 5), the position information in the position information area is held. If a plurality of pieces of position information are received at the same time, the CPU 51 selects position information having the highest reception intensity and overwrites the position information area.

  The CPU 51 determines whether or not the buttons 201, 202, 203, 204 on the shopping support screen 200 have been input (Act 7). When none of the buttons 201, 202, 203, and 204 are input (NO in Act 7), the CPU 51 returns to the process of Act 1.

  Therefore, when the tablet terminal 16 is attached to the base plate 3 b of the cart 3, the shopping support screen 200 is displayed on the display 41 d of the tablet terminal 16. In this state, when the customer pushes the cart 3 and moves the sales floor 21, the position information transmitted from the position information transmitter 5 closest to the current location of the cart 3 is stored in the position information area of the tablet terminal 16.

  When it is detected by a signal from the touch sensor 41t that any button 201, 202, 203, 204 of the shopping support screen 200 is touched (YES in Act 7), the CPU 51 determines the function assigned to the button. Execute the process.

  If the customer does not know which product shelf 26 the desired product is in, the customer touches the product search button 201. Then, the product search process is executed. In this process, the product information having the product name input by handwriting on the touch panel 41 is acquired from the product database 110 via the wireless communication network, and the display location information included in the product information is displayed on the touch panel 41. It is. When a plurality of product information is searched, a list of product images and product names included in each product information is displayed on the touch panel 41. When a product is selected from the list by touch input, the image on the touch panel 41 is switched to information on the display location of the product.

  When the customer wants to know the stock of the desired product, the customer touches the stock confirmation button 202. Then, inventory check processing is executed. This processing is processing for acquiring product information having a product name input by handwriting on the touch panel 41 from the product database 110 via the wireless communication network and displaying the number of stocks included in the product information on the touch panel 41. .

  When confirming the purchase of the product stored in the storage unit 3a of the cart 3, the customer touches the purchase registration button 203. Then, the purchase registration process is executed. In this process, the RFID tag 61 reads the information (product identification code) of the RFID tag attached to each product in the container 3a, and the sales data of each product is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 53 based on the product identification information. (Hereinafter referred to as a registration area).

  If the customer wants to call the store clerk, the customer touches the customer service button 204. Then, in the tablet terminal 16, the process of the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 13 is performed. In conjunction with this process, the operator terminal 13 executes the process of the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  When detecting that the customer service button 204 is touched by a signal from the touch sensor 41t, the CPU 51 switches the screen of the display 41d to the customer service screen 300 as shown in FIG.

  One display example of the customer service screen 300 is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the customer service screen 300 displays a call button 301 that is touched when calling a store clerk and an end button 302 that is touched when calling is ended.

  After displaying the customer service screen 300, the CPU 51 waits for the call button 301 to be touched (Act 22) or the end button 302 to be touched (Act 23). When it is detected that the call button 301 is touched by a signal from the touch sensor 41t (YES in Act 22), the CPU 51 generates a call signal for the operator terminal 13, and the call signal is transmitted to the wireless unit 55. (Act24: Calling means). The wirelessly transmitted call signal is received by the nearby radio base station 15 and sent to the operator terminal 13 via the LAN 17.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the CPU 81 of the operator terminal 13 waits for a call signal from the tablet terminal 16 (Act 41) and receives the call signal (YES in Act 41). A response signal is sent to the tablet terminal (hereinafter referred to as 16x) (Act 42). This response signal is sent to the wireless base station 15 via the LAN 17 and wirelessly transmitted.

  The CPU 51 of the tablet terminal 16x that has transmitted the call signal is waiting for a response signal (Act 25). When the response signal is received via the wireless unit 55 (YES in Act 25), the CPU 51 A line capable of voice communication is connected between the two (Act 26). Then, the CPU 51 transmits the position information stored in the position information area via the wireless unit 55 (Act 27: transmission means).

  On the other hand, the CPU 81 of the operator terminal 13 also connects a line capable of voice communication with the tablet terminal 16x after transmitting the response signal (Act 43). Then, the CPU 81 waits for reception of position information (Act44: position detection means). If the position information is received (YES in Act 44), the CPU 81 generates the position information notification screen 400 and displays it on the display 88 (Act 45: notification means).

  One display example of the notification screen 400 is shown in FIG. As shown in the drawing, a layout diagram of the sales floor 21 is displayed on the notification screen 400. A mark (star symbol in the figure) 401 is displayed at a position corresponding to the position information in the layout diagram ("shelf No2-Left" in the case of FIG. 17).

  Therefore, a voice call can be made between the customer who is the user of the tablet terminal 16x and the clerk 4 who is the user of the operator terminal 13, and for example, the clerk 4 can answer the customer's requirement. In addition, in the case where the problem cannot be solved only by exchanging voice, it is possible to immediately recognize where the clerk 4 should go from the information on the notification screen 400.

  After connecting the line with the operator terminal 13, the CPU 51 waits for the end button 302 to be touched (Act 28). When the end button 302 is not touched (NO in Act 28), the CPU 51 repeats transmission of position information (Act 27).

  When detecting that the end button 302 is touched by a signal from the touch sensor 41t (YES in Act 28), the CPU 51 disconnects the line with the operator terminal 13 (Act 29). Further, the CPU 51 deletes the customer service screen 300 (Act30).

  Thus, the CPU 51 ends the information processing when the customer service button 204 is touched. If the end button 302 instead of the call button 301 is touched after displaying the customer service screen 300 in the process of Act 21 (YES in Act 23), the CPU 51 erases the customer service screen 300 (Act 30). This information processing ends.

  On the other hand, the CPU 81 of the operator terminal 13 waits for the line with the tablet terminal 16x to be disconnected (Act 46). If the position information is received from the tablet terminal 16x before the line is disconnected (NO in Act 46) (YES in Act 44), the CPU 81 updates the mark 401 on the notification screen 400 to the latest position. (Act 45). If the line is disconnected (YES in Act 46), CPU 81 deletes notification screen 400 (Act 47). Thus, the CPU 81 ends the process for the outgoing call. Thereafter, the CPU 81 waits for the next call.

  When the processing of the functions that can be selected from the shopping support screen 200 is completed, the CPU 51 resets the shopping support flag to “0” (Act 9), and returns to the processing of Act1. Therefore, when the tablet terminal 16 is still attached to the cart 3, the shopping support screen 200 is displayed again on the display 41d.

  On the other hand, when it is detected from the signal from the cart attachment sensor 62 that the tablet terminal 16 is not attached to the base plate 3b (NO in Act 1), the CPU 51 checks the shopping support flag (Act 10). When the shopping support flag is “1” (YES in Act 10), the CPU 51 resets the shopping support flag to “0” (Act 11). Further, the CPU 51 deletes the shopping support screen 200 from the display 41d (Act12).

  After the shopping support screen 200 is deleted or when the shopping support flag has already been reset to “0” at the processing timing of Act 10 (NO in Act 10), the CPU 51 connects the tablet terminal 16 to the docking station 14. It is confirmed whether or not (Act 13).

  Specifically, the CPU 51 outputs a confirmation signal via the docking connector 56. This confirmation signal returns to the docking connector 56 via the expansion connector 34 when the docking connector 56 is connected to the expansion connector 34, but does not return when the docking connector 56 is not connected. That is, the CPU 51 determines that the tablet terminal 16 is connected to the docking station 14 when the confirmation signal returns via the expansion connector 34, and determines that it is not connected when it does not return.

  The configuration for confirming whether or not the tablet terminal 16 is connected to the docking station 14 is not limited to this. For example, the CPU 51 reads arbitrary data stored in the auxiliary storage device 71 of the docking station 14 and is connected if it can be read normally, and connected if it cannot be read. It may be determined that it is not. Alternatively, the docking connector 56 may be provided with a sensor that turns on, for example, when connected to the expansion connector 34, and it may be determined whether or not the tablet terminal 16 is connected to the docking station 14 based on a signal from this sensor.

  When the tablet terminal 16 is not connected to the docking station 14 (NO in Act 13), the CPU 51 returns to the process of Act1. Therefore, when the tablet terminal 16 is removed from the cart 3, the shopping support screen 200 disappears once, but when it is attached to the cart 3 again, the shopping support screen 200 is displayed.

  On the other hand, when tablet terminal 16 is connected to docking station 14 (YES in Act 13), CPU 51 determines whether or not the purchased product has been registered (Act 14). If the product sales data is registered in the registration area, the tablet terminal 16 has already registered the purchased product. In this case (YES in Act 14), the CPU 51 executes an accounting process based on the product sales data (Act 15). This process includes a process of calculating an accounting amount of the commercial transaction from the product sales data and displaying it on the display 41d. Also included is a process of adding sales data for the product specified by the product identification code input via the scanner 75 of the docking station 14. Further, it includes a process of accepting input of payment data for the accounting amount, settlement of the commercial transaction, and issuing a receipt printed by the printer 73.

  When the accounting process ends or the purchased product is not registered (NO in Act 14), the CPU 51 waits for the tablet terminal 16 to be disconnected from the docking station 14 (Act 16). If it is cut off (YES in Act 16), the CPU 51 returns to the processing of Act1.

  Incidentally, the tablet terminal 16 separated from the docking station 14 is returned to the terminal lending counter 27 by the store clerk.

  Thus, the customer who uses the cart 3 with the tablet terminal 16 touches the customer service button 204 on the shopping support screen 200 when he / she wants to make an inquiry to the store clerk. Then, the tablet terminal 16 is connected to the operator terminal 13 via the wireless communication network so that voice communication is possible. Therefore, the customer can talk with the clerk 4 who is an operator of the operator terminal 13 via the call section 58 of the tablet terminal 16. That is, since the customer does not need to search for a store clerk, the burden on the customer can be reduced. Moreover, since it is not necessary for the store side to increase the number of salesclerks in the sales floor 21, personnel costs can be saved.

  In this embodiment, the tablet terminal 16 acquires position information of the cart 3 at the sales floor 21 and transmits the position information to the operator terminal 13 when the line is connected to the operator terminal 13. On the other hand, the operator terminal that has received the position information displays on the display 88 a notification screen 400 indicating the position in the sales floor specified by the position information. Therefore, the location of the customer during the conversation can be easily identified, so that the store clerk can immediately visit the customer as necessary.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
For example, in the said embodiment, the position information was transmitted from each position information transmitter 5, and the case where the tablet terminal 16 received this position information with the receiver 60 was shown. In this regard, for example, a terminal ID information transmitter is provided in the tablet terminal 16, and a terminal ID information receiver is provided in place of each position information transmitter 5. And the tablet terminal 16 keeps starting terminal ID information during a customer service process. On the other hand, the receiver that has received the terminal ID information transmits the terminal ID information to the location server 12 together with its own receiver ID. The position server converts the receiver ID into position information based on the data in the position database 120, and transmits this position information to the operator terminal 13 together with the terminal ID information. Thus, the operator terminal 13 can detect the current position of the tablet terminal 16 to which a line is connected so that voice communication is possible.

  In the stagnation, the operator terminal 13 displays the position information notification screen 400 to notify the customer position. However, the notification means is not limited to this. For example, you may alert | report by the voice guidance which shows a position.

  In the above-described embodiment, the cart 3 is described as an example of the commodity carrier. However, the commodity carrier is not limited to the cart 3 and includes a hand-held shopping basket. It is good also as a structure which attaches the tablet terminal 16 to this shopping basket.

  The transfer of the tablet terminal 16 is generally performed in a state where a program such as a shopping support program is stored in the ROM 52. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a shopping support program or the like assigned separately from the computer apparatus may be written in a writable storage device included in the computer apparatus in response to an operation by a user or the like. Transfer of the shopping support program or the like can be performed by recording on a removable recording medium or by communication via a network. The recording medium may be in any form as long as it can store a program such as a CD-ROM or a memory cart and can be read by the apparatus. Further, the function obtained by installing or downloading the program may be realized in cooperation with an OS (operating system) in the apparatus.

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

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Shopping support system, 2 ... Store, 3 ... Cart, 5 ... Location information transmitter, 11 ... Store server, 12 ... Location server, 13 ... Terminal for operator, 14 ... Docking station, 15 ... Wireless base station, 16 ... Tablet terminal, 17 ... LAN, 34 ... expansion connector, 41 ... touch panel, 56 ... docking connector, 58,91 ... calling unit, 60 ... receiver, 62 ... cart mounting sensor, 88 ... display, 200 ... shopping support screen , 300 ... customer service screen, 400 ... notification screen.

Claims (6)

An information terminal that can be attached to and detached from a product carrier for transporting a product purchased by a customer, and that has at least a wireless unit and a calling unit;
An operator terminal having at least a communication section;
A wireless communication network that connects the information terminal attached to the commodity carrier moving in the sales floor and the operator terminal so that voice communication is possible;
Position detecting means for detecting position information in the sales floor of the commodity carrier;
Informing means for informing position information detected by the position detecting means;
A shopping support system characterized by comprising: The information terminal
Obtaining means for obtaining position information of the commodity carrier in the sales floor;
Calling means for calling the operator terminal via the wireless communication network, and
In response to a response from the operator terminal to the call, the transmission unit includes a transmission unit that transmits the position information acquired by the acquisition unit to the operator terminal via the wireless communication network.
The operator terminal informs the location information received from the information terminal that has made a call by the informing means,
The shopping support system according to claim 1, wherein: The information terminal
Detection means for detecting attachment to the commodity carrier,
Further comprising
3. The shopping support system according to claim 2, wherein the information terminal validates the acquisition unit, the calling unit, and the transmission unit on condition that the information terminal is attached to the commodity carrier. In an information terminal that can be attached to and detached from a product carrier for transporting products purchased by customers,
A wireless unit for connecting at least a terminal for an operator having a communication unit via a wireless communication network capable of voice communication;
A call unit that supports a conversation between an operator of the operator terminal connected by the wireless unit via the wireless communication network and a customer who is a user of the information terminal;
Obtaining means for obtaining position information of the commodity carrier in the sales floor;
Calling means for calling the operator terminal via the wireless communication network;
In response to a response from the operator terminal to the call, the transmission unit transmits the position information acquired by the acquisition unit to the operator terminal via the wireless communication network;
An information terminal comprising: Detection means for detecting attachment to the commodity carrier,
Further comprising
5. The information terminal according to claim 4, wherein the acquisition means, the calling means, and the transmission means are validated on the condition that they are attached to the commodity carrier. A wireless unit that is freely attachable to and detachable from a product carrier for transporting products purchased by a customer, and that connects an operator terminal having at least a communication unit via a wireless communication network capable of voice communication, And an information terminal including a call unit that supports conversation between an operator of the operator terminal connected by the wireless unit via the wireless communication network and a customer who is a user of the information terminal,
Obtaining means for obtaining position information of the commodity carrier in the sales floor;
Calling means for calling the operator terminal via the wireless communication network, and the location information acquired by the acquisition means in response to a response from the operator terminal to the call. Transmitting means for transmitting to the operator terminal via the wireless communication network;
Shopping support program to make it function as.

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