JP7616902B2 - Information processing device and program - Google Patents

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to an information processing device and a program.

For example, in retail stores, product lineups are often changed or discontinued. Advertising staff at the store can obtain new product information from manufacturers and wholesalers. Advertising staff then notify consumers who visit the store of the new product information by posting it in the store or other methods.

This type of in-store announcement only has the effect of promoting sales within the store, targeting consumers who visit the store. Therefore, advertising staff disseminate new product information on store homepages and social networking services (hereafter abbreviated as SNS) in order to use the information about new products as an incentive to visit the store. It is important to disseminate such information at the right time.

In order to know whether you are carrying new or trending products, it is necessary to track trends. However, this is very time-consuming. As a result, even if new or trending products are in stock, you may not be able to properly promote them. This can result in missed sales opportunities for new or trending products.

It is also difficult for consumers to know which stores sell new or popular products that have been featured on television, in magazines, or on social media, or whether the store they visit carries them. Even if consumers go to a store to purchase a new or popular product, there is no guarantee that the store will have the product, and they may have to search multiple nearby stores.

JP 2018-25997 A

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide an information processing device and program that allows a store to easily promote products sold in the store without the need for the store to manage them.

The information processing device of the embodiment includes a storage means, a search means, a first acquisition means, and a first reception means . The storage means associates information on a purchase store with information on a purchased product and stores the information in a storage unit. The search means searches the storage unit for a store selling a product specified by a user terminal, and transmits store information indicating the searched store to the user terminal. The first acquisition means acquires information on the location of the store searched by the search means. The first reception means receives terminal location information, which is the location of the user terminal, or designated location information, which is a location specified by the user terminal. The search means extracts stores that are present within a certain distance from a location indicated by the terminal location information or the designated location information from the searched stores, based on the terminal location information or the designated location information, and transmits information on the location of the extracted store and a purchase history of the product at the extracted store to the user terminal.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information providing system including a search service server as an information processing device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the search service server. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the stored contents of a history database provided in the electronic receipt server in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the stored contents of an anonymous purchase history database provided in the search service server. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the stored contents of a store database provided in the search service server. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the contents of a condition table provided in the search service server. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of information processing by the processor of the search service server shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a search screen on the user terminal in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a search result screen on a user terminal. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a ranking screen on a user terminal. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a details screen on the user terminal. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an SNS screen on a user terminal. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a blog screen on a user terminal.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an information processing device will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information providing system including a search service server 1 as an information processing device according to the present embodiment. In addition to the search service server 1, the information providing system includes a user terminal UT, a store registration device REG, an electronic receipt server ERS, an SNS server SNSS, and a blog service server BSS. The search service server 1, the user terminal UT, the store registration device REG, the electronic receipt server ERS, the SNS server SNSS, and the blog service server BSS can transmit and receive data via a communication network NW. Note that in FIG. 1, only two user terminals UT are shown for the sake of simplicity. However, the information providing system may be configured to include two or more user terminals UT. Also, for the same reason, in FIG. 1, only one each of the user terminal UT, the store registration device REG, the SNS server SNSS, and the blog service server BSS are shown. However, the information providing system may be configured to include a plurality of each of them.

The user terminal UT is an information terminal such as a smartphone or a personal computer. Users of the user terminal UT include various users such as consumers, store advertising staff, and people who post information on SNS.

At least one store registration device REG is installed in each retail store. The store registration device REG is a device that performs registration processing and payment processing for products purchased by consumers, and is, for example, a POS terminal. After completing the payment processing, the store registration device REG can transmit electronic receipt information based on the commercial transaction data to the electronic receipt server ERS via the communication network NW. The electronic receipt information is linked to identification information that identifies the electronic receipt member using the electronic receipt system and includes information such as the purchase date and time, purchased product, purchased quantity, price, and purchase store.

The electronic receipt server ERS is an information processing device that provides an electronic receipt service. The electronic receipt server ERS has various databases including a history database HDB and a store database SDB. The history database HDB stores the received electronic receipt information from the store registration device REG as product purchase history information. In response to an electronic receipt inquiry from an electronic receipt member, the electronic receipt server ERS can extract the electronic receipt information for that electronic receipt member that is stored in this history database HDB. The electronic receipt server ERS transmits the extracted electronic receipt information to a user terminal UT that is registered in advance for that electronic receipt member. In addition, the store database SDB stores information about the store that provides the electronic receipt service, such as location information.

The SNS server SNSS is an information processing device that provides a social networking service. The blog service server BSS is an information processing device that provides a web blog service.

The search service server 1 is an information processing device according to this embodiment that provides a product search service. The search service server 1 searches for stores that sell products specified by the user terminal UT.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main circuit configuration of the search service server 1. As shown in FIG.
The search service server 1 includes a processor 11, a main memory 12, an auxiliary storage unit 13, a communication unit 14, and a system transmission path 15. The processor 11, the main memory 12, the auxiliary storage unit 13, and the communication unit 14 are capable of communicating with each other via the system transmission path 15. The processor 11, the main memory 12, and the auxiliary storage unit 13 are connected by the system transmission path 15 to configure a computer for controlling the user terminal UT.

The processor 11 corresponds to the central part of the computer. The processor 11 executes information processing to realize various functions of the search service server 1 according to information processing programs such as an operating system and application programs. The processor 11 is, for example, a CPU (central processing unit). By using a multi-core and multi-threaded CPU, it is possible to execute multiple information processing operations simultaneously. The processor 11 may also be equipped with multiple CPUs. Note that at least a part of the information processing executed by the processor 11 may be realized in the form of various other hardware circuits, including integrated circuits such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-programmable gate array), and a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit).

The main memory 12 corresponds to the main storage portion of the computer. The main memory 12 includes a nonvolatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The main memory 12 stores the information processing program in the nonvolatile memory area. The main memory 12 may also store data required for the processor 11 to execute information processing in a nonvolatile or volatile memory area. The main memory 12 uses the volatile memory area as a work area where data is appropriately rewritten by the processor 11. The nonvolatile memory area is, for example, a ROM (read only memory). The volatile memory area is, for example, a RAM (random access memory).

The auxiliary memory unit 13 corresponds to the auxiliary memory portion of the computer. As the auxiliary memory unit 13, for example, a memory unit using a well-known memory device such as an EEPROM (electrical erasable programmable read-only memory), a HDD (hard disk drive), or an SSD (solid state drive) can be used. The auxiliary memory unit 13 stores data used by the processor 11 when performing various processes, or data created by the processes in the processor 11. The auxiliary memory unit 13 may also store the information processing program.

The communication unit 14 is an interface for data communication via the communication network NW. For example, a well-known Internet connection device can be used as the communication unit 14.

The system transmission path 15 includes an address bus, a data bus, and control signal lines, and transmits data and control signals between each connected component.

The auxiliary storage unit 13 stores a search program PR, which is one of the information processing programs. The search program PR describes the information processing required to realize the functions of the search service server 1.

In addition, part of the memory area of the auxiliary memory unit 13 is used as an anonymous purchase history database DB1, a store database DB2, and a condition table TB.

The anonymized purchase history database DB1 is a storage unit that links and stores information about the purchasing store and information about the purchased item. Specifically, the anonymized purchase history database DB1 accumulates anonymized purchase history information. The anonymized purchase history information is search information that links the purchasing store and the purchased item. The anonymized purchase history information can be created from the product purchase history information accumulated in the history database HDB of the electronic receipt server ERS.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the stored contents of the history database HDB provided in the electronic receipt server ERS. The history database HDB stores product purchase history information by consumers, with one purchased product in the electronic receipt information being one record. Each record includes the SRID, which is identification information for identifying the electronic receipt member, the purchase date and time, the JAN/CC, which is an identification code for the purchased product, the product classification of the purchased product, the product name of the purchased product, the purchased quantity, the unit price, and the name of the store where the purchase was made. Note that JAN is the JAN code. Also, CC is a unified category code that is assigned to fresh products and the like that do not have a unified JAN code for each region.

The product purchase history information stored in the history database HDB is information that makes it possible to determine who purchased which product and how many of them. Furthermore, the product purchase history information is information that makes it possible to determine how much each store is selling the same product for. Such information is confidential information to the consumer or store. Confidential information means, for example, purchase information linked to identification information SRID, which is information that identifies the consumer (electronic receipt member) who purchased the product (for example, purchase date and time, JAN/CC which is the identification code of the purchased product, product classification of the purchased product, product name of the purchased product, number of units purchased, unit price, and store name of the purchase store). Also, for example, confidential information to a store means information linked to at least the store name of the store where the purchase was made, the product name, the identification code of the purchased product, and the actual selling price of the product.

Therefore, the search data used for searches in the search service server 1 is stored in the anonymized purchase history database DB1 as anonymized purchase history information with the identification information SRID that identifies the consumer from such secret information deleted. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the stored contents of the anonymized purchase history database DB1 provided in the search service server 1. The anonymized purchase history database DB1 stores anonymized purchase history information having records corresponding to each record in the history database HDB. Each record includes the purchase date and time, the JAN/CC of the purchased product, the product classification of the purchased product, the product name of the purchased product, and the store name of the purchase store. In other words, the anonymized purchase history information is information from which the identification information SRID that identifies the individual consumer has been deleted, and is information that is not linked to information about the purchased product purchased by each individual consumer. Furthermore, the anonymized purchase history information for a store means information from which the actual selling price of the product has been deleted from the secret information for the store. In other words, the anonymized purchase history information is information that is not linked to the actual selling price of the product sold by the store with the name of the store selling the product.

There are two methods for constructing the anonymous purchase history database DB1:

The first method is to delete the SRID, which is identification information for identifying the electronic receipt member, or the actual selling price of the product in the electronic receipt server ERS. That is, the SRID, which is identification information for identifying the electronic receipt member, or the actual selling price of the product is deleted from the product purchase history information in the electronic receipt server ERS. The electronic receipt server ERS then transmits the remaining information to the search service server 1. The search service server 1 registers the received information in the anonymized purchase history database DB1 as anonymized purchase history information. Here, the purchase date and time in the product purchase history information is registered in the anonymized purchase history database DB1 as the purchase date and time in the anonymized purchase history information. The JAN/CC of the purchased product in the product purchase history information is registered in the anonymized purchase history database DB1 as the JAN/CC of the purchased product in the anonymized purchase history information. The product classification and product name of the purchased product in the product purchase history information are registered in the anonymized purchase history database DB1 as the product classification and product name of the purchased product, respectively. The name of the purchasing store in the product purchase history information is then registered in the anonymized purchase history database DB1 as the name of the purchasing store.

The second method is to delete the SRID, which is identification information for identifying the electronic receipt member, or the actual selling price of the product in the search service server 1. That is, the product purchase history information is sent directly from the electronic receipt server ERS to the search service server 1. The search service server 1 extracts the purchase date and time, the JAN/CC of the purchased product, the product classification of the purchased product, the product name of the purchased product, and the store name of the purchase store from the received product purchase history information. The search service server 1 then registers the extracted information in the anonymized purchase history database DB1 as the purchase date and time, the JAN/CC of the purchased product, the product classification of the purchased product, the product name of the purchased product, and the store name of the purchase store in the product purchase history information. In this case, the search service server 1 immediately deletes the received product purchase history information after completing registration in the anonymized purchase history database DB1. In this way, it is important in terms of information security to not leave product purchase history information in the search service server 1.

The store database DB2 stores information about stores that use the search service provided by the search service server 1. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the stored contents of the store database DB2. The store database DB2 stores the store name and location information for each store that uses the search service as one record. The location information may be information related to latitude and longitude on a map. The information stored in the store database DB2 can be obtained from the electronic receipt server ERS, similar to the information stored in the anonymized purchase history database DB1. In other words, the electronic receipt server ERS or the search service server 1 can extract necessary information from the information stored in the store database SDB of the electronic receipt server ERS.

The condition table TB lists products that are excluded from the search criteria for the sales period. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the contents of the condition table TB. The condition table TB lists the exclusion conditions as thresholds, linked to the JAN/CC that specifies the products to be excluded. For example, products with a high sales turnover, such as one-liter bottles of sake or furniture, in other words products that are not frequently purchased, have a low probability of being purchased by consumers within the period specified by the user as a search criterion. Therefore, for such products, it is desirable to relax the search criteria for the sales period or make it unconditional. The search service server 1 stores such exclusion conditions as the condition table TB.

Next, the operation of the search service server 1 in the information provision system configured as described above will be described. Note that the contents of the various processes described below are examples. It is possible to change the order of some of the processes, omit some of the processes, or add other processes as appropriate. For example, in the following explanation, in order to easily explain the characteristic operations of this embodiment, the explanation of some of the processes is omitted. For example, when an error occurs, a process may be performed to deal with the error, but a description of such a process is omitted.

When in an activated state, the processor 11 of the search service server 1 executes a management program, which is one of the information processing programs stored in the main memory 12 or the auxiliary storage unit 13. This enables the processor 11 to transmit a management screen (not shown) to a user terminal UT in response to access from the user terminal UT, and display the management screen on the user terminal UT. The processor 11 then accepts a search request or a ranking display request from the user terminal UT on this management screen, and searches for products or generates rankings in response to the request.

Figure 7 is a flowchart of information processing by the processor 11 based on the search program PR to search for such products or generate rankings.

In ACT1, the processor 11 acquires anonymized purchase history information from the electronic receipt server ERS via the communication network NW. Here, as described above, the anonymized purchase history information can be acquired by receiving, via the communication unit 14, the anonymized purchase history information created by deleting the SRID, which is identification information identifying an electronic receipt member, or the actual selling price of the product, from the product purchase history information in the electronic receipt server ERS. Alternatively, the anonymized purchase history information can be acquired by the processor 11 extracting information other than the SRID, which is identification information identifying an electronic receipt member, or the actual selling price of the product, from the product purchase history information received from the electronic receipt server ERS via the communication unit 14. In other words, the processor 11 may generate anonymized purchase history information from the product purchase history information. The processor 11 stores the acquired anonymized purchase history information in the anonymized purchase history database DB1 of the auxiliary storage unit 13.

Then, in ACT 2, the processor 11 determines whether or not a search request has been received from any of the user terminals UT via the communication unit 14. For example, a search request can be sent from the user terminal UT by selecting a "Search" button or the like located on a management screen (not shown). A search request can also be sent from the user terminal UT by selecting a "See more" message located on a ranking screen (described later).

If it is determined that a search request has not been received, the processor 11 determines in ACT 3 whether or not a ranking display request has been received from any of the user terminals UT via the communication unit 14. For example, a ranking display request is sent from the user terminal UT by selecting a "ranking" button or the like arranged on a management screen (not shown).

If it is determined that a ranking display request has not been received, the processor 11 determines in ACT 4 whether or not a condition change request has been received from any of the user terminals UT via the communication unit 14. For example, a condition change request is sent from the user terminal UT by selecting a "change conditions" button arranged on the search result screen described below.

If it is determined that a condition change request has not been received, the processor 11 determines in ACT 5 whether or not a detailed request has been received from any of the user terminals UT via the communication unit 14. For example, a detailed request is sent from the user terminal UT by selecting a product displayed as a search result on a search result screen described below.

If it is determined that a detailed request has not been received, the processor 11 determines in ACT 6 whether or not a paste request has been received from any of the user terminals UT via the communication unit 14. For example, a paste request is sent from the user terminal UT by selecting the "SNS" button or the "Blog" button arranged on the search result screen or the search details screen described below.

If a paste request has not been received, the processor 11 proceeds to processing ACT 1 above.

In this way, the processor 11 updates the stored contents of the anonymized purchase history database DB1 by repeatedly acquiring anonymized purchase history information in ACT1.

If it is determined in ACT 2 above that a search request has been received, the processor 11 acquires the user location via the communication unit 14 in ACT 7. The user location can be, for example, a terminal location, which is the location of the user terminal UT, detected and transmitted by the requesting user terminal UT. The user location can also be a designated location, which is a location designated by a location designation operation on the user terminal UT. Information on the latitude and longitude on a map indicating the terminal location or the designated location can be transmitted from the user terminal UT.

Next, in ACT 8, processor 11 determines whether or not a ranking screen, described below, is being displayed on the requesting user terminal UT. For example, processor 11 determines whether or not the search request in ACT 2 is in response to a selection operation of the "See more" message on the ranking screen. If it is determined that the ranking screen is being displayed, processor 11 proceeds to the processing of ACT 11, described below.

If it is determined in ACT 8 that the ranking screen is not being displayed, the processor 11 transmits a search screen to the requesting user terminal UT via the communication unit 14 in ACT 9.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of a search screen SC1 on the user terminal UT. The search screen SC1 includes a condition input area AR1 and a "Search" button BU1. The condition input area AR1 is an area for inputting search conditions. The "Search" button BU1 is a software key that allows the user to declare that they will perform a product search using the conditions entered in the condition input area AR1.

The condition input area AR1 includes a category input area AR11, a JAN/CC input area AR12, a product name input area AR13, a manufacturer name input area AR14, a sales region input area AR15, a store name/company name input area AR16, and a period input area AR17.

The category input area AR11 is an area for inputting the product classification of the product to be searched for. This category input area AR11 allows selection from product classifications prepared in advance. In other words, when the downward triangle in the category input area AR11 is selected, a list of selectable product classifications is displayed, and by selecting one product classification from that list, the product classification is entered into that area. The category input area AR11 allows the user to narrow down the product classification of a desired product by selecting from three levels of product classification: major classification, medium classification, and minor classification. For example, the user can narrow down the search to "food" as the major classification, "condiments" as the medium classification, and "ponzu" as the minor classification. It is not necessary to input all classifications.

The JAN/CC input area AR12 is an area for inputting the JAN code or category code of the product to be searched for. When the user knows the JAN code or category code, they can directly input that code. The product name input area AR13 is an area for inputting the product name of the product to be searched for. And the manufacturer name input area AR14 is an area for inputting the name of the manufacturer that produces the product to be searched for. In this way, information about the product itself can be input as a search condition.

The sales region input area AR15 is an area for inputting the region to be searched. Regions such as Kanto or Kyushu, prefectures, cities, towns, and villages can be input. The store name/company name input area AR16 is an area for inputting the name of the store selling the product to be searched for, or the name of a company that has multiple stores. The period input area AR17 is an area for inputting the period to be searched, such as within one month. In this way, it is possible to input search conditions from a perspective other than the product.

In ACT 10, the processor 11 receives the search conditions entered on the search screen SC1 from the user terminal UT via the communication unit 14.

In ACT11, the processor 11 searches for products that match the received search conditions from among the anonymized purchase history information stored in the anonymized purchase history database DB1. For example, if the product classification "condiments" is input as a search condition, in the example shown in FIG. 4, products in two records, the first record and the third record, of the anonymized purchase history information will be searched. Also, if the store name/company name "AAA Supermarket" is input as a search condition, in the example shown in FIG. 4, products in two records, the first record and the second record, will be searched. Here, if the product classification "condiments" and the store name/company name "AAA Supermarket" are both input as search conditions, in the example shown in FIG. 4, only the product in the first record that matches the two conditions will be searched.

When searching, the processor 11 searches for products based on the purchase date and time in the anonymized purchase history information, referring to the period entered as a search condition as well as the exclusion conditions described in the condition table TB. For example, even if the period "one month" is entered as a search condition, if the exclusion condition "one week" is entered in the condition table TB, records for the product with a purchase date and time within "one week" from the current date and time are searched for. Also, if the exclusion condition "unlimited" is entered in the condition table TB, all records for the product are searched for regardless of the purchase date and time. Note that if no period is entered as a search condition, the processor 11 can search based on a default period or a condition exclusion period described in the condition table TB.

The processor 11 temporarily stores the search results in a specified memory area of the main memory 12 or the auxiliary memory unit 13. Note that the search results may be stored by copying the records themselves found in the anonymized purchase history database DB1, or may store pointers or the like that identify the found records.

Next, in ACT 12, processor 11 narrows down the search results. Processor 11 narrows down the search results based on the user position acquired in ACT 7 and the position information of each store stored in store database DB2. For example, processor 11 extracts stores that are located within 500 m of the user position. Processor 11 then deletes search results that do not include the extracted store from the temporarily stored search results. As a result, only results related to the extracted store remain as the final search results.

In ACT 13, the processor 11 generates a search result screen based on this final search result. Then, in ACT 14, the processor 11 transmits the generated search result screen to the user terminal UT via the communication unit 14. After that, the processor 11 proceeds to the processing of ACT 4 above.

Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of a search result screen SC2 on the user terminal UT. The search result screen SC2 includes the search results SR and a "change conditions" button BU2. The "change conditions" button BU2 is a software key that allows the user to declare that he or she will change the search conditions and perform a product search.

Each search result SR has a product image IMG, a product summary description TXT, a local map MAP, an "Attach to SNS" button BU3, and an "Attach to blog" button BU4.

The product image IMG and product summary description TXT are an image and a brief description of the product based on product information obtained from the manufacturer or wholesaler of the searched product. These may be obtained in advance and stored in the auxiliary memory unit 13, or may be obtained from a product information site provided by the manufacturer or wholesaler. The neighborhood map MAP is a map showing the user's location and store locations. The map information itself may be stored in the auxiliary memory unit 13, or may be obtained from a map providing site. The neighborhood map MAP is a map centered on a user location mark YMK indicating the user's location, and a store mark SMK indicating the store where the searched product was purchased by the consumer is placed on this map.

The "Paste to SNS" button BU3 is a software key that allows the user to declare that the search result SR is to be pasted on the SNS screen. The "Paste to Blog" button BU4 is a software key that allows the user to declare that the search result SR is to be pasted on the blog screen.

When the "Change conditions" button BU2 on the search result screen SC2 is operated, a request to change conditions is sent from the user terminal UT. When this is received by the communication unit 14, the processor 11 determines in ACT 4 above that a request to change conditions has been received. In this case, the processor 11 advances the process to ACT 9 above. This allows the user terminal UT to display the search screen SC1 again, allowing the user to input search conditions.

On the other hand, if it is determined in ACT 3 that a ranking display request has been received, in ACT 15, the processor 11 transmits a ranking classification screen to the requesting user terminal UT via the communication unit 14. This ranking classification screen, not specifically shown, is a screen that allows the user to select what kind of ranking to generate. For example, the ranking classification screen allows the user to select ranking classifications such as rapid rise, period, region, etc. Rapid rise classifications can include, for example, a comparison period such as compared to the previous day or the previous week, and a ratio such as 150% or more. Furthermore, period classifications can include, for example, a period of counting sales numbers such as annual totals or monthly totals, and the number of sales within that counting period, such as 100 units. Regional classifications can include sales regions such as regions such as Kanto, Kansai, Kyushu, etc., and prefectures.

In ACT 16, the processor 11 receives the ranking category selected on the ranking category screen from the user terminal UT via the communication unit 14.

In ACT17, the processor 11 calculates a ranking according to the received ranking category from the anonymized purchase history information stored in the anonymized purchase history database DB1. At this time, the processor 11 can determine whether the product was selected in the regional category by referring to the location information of each store stored in the store database DB2.

In ACT 18, the processor 11 generates a ranking screen based on the generated rankings. Then, in ACT 19, the processor 11 transmits the generated ranking screen to the user terminal UT via the communication unit 14. After that, the processor 11 proceeds to the processing of ACT 4 above.

Figure 10 shows an example of a ranking screen SC3 on a user terminal UT. The ranking screen SC3 includes a ranking result RR and a "View more" message MES. The "View more" message MES is a software key that allows the user to declare that they will perform a product search for the product in the ranking result RR.

When the "View more" message MES is selected, a search request is sent from the user terminal UT. When the search request is received by the communication unit 14, the processor 11 of the search service server 1 determines in ACT 2 that the search request has been received. In this case, the processor 11 determines in ACT 8 that the requesting user terminal UT is displaying a ranking screen (described later) after acquiring the user's location in ACT 7. Therefore, the processor 11 proceeds to the process in ACT 11 and searches for products in the ranking result RR that corresponds to the selected "View more" message MES. In this search, the processor 11 performs the processes in ACT 12 to ACT 14 using default search conditions for search conditions other than the user's location, thereby displaying the search result screen SC2 on the user terminal UT. If the user of the user terminal UT who has viewed the search result screen SC2 wishes to search for products again using search conditions desired by the user instead of the default search conditions, the "Change conditions" button BU2 is operated. As a result, the processor 11 can proceed with the process from ACT 4 to ACT 9 and display the search screen SC1 on the user terminal UT.

If a user who has viewed the search result screen SC2 wishes to know more about a product displayed as a search result SR, the user performs an operation to select the relevant product. For example, if the user terminal UT is a smartphone, the user double-tap on any of the product image IMG, product summary description TXT, and neighborhood map MAP of the relevant product. If the user terminal UT is a personal computer, the user moves the mouse cursor to any of the product image IMG, product summary description TXT, and neighborhood map MAP and double-clicks the mouse button. When such a product selection operation is performed, a details request is sent from the user terminal UT. When this details request is received by the communication unit 14, the processor 11 of the search service server 1 determines that a details request has been received in ACT 5 above. In this case, the processor 11 generates a details screen for the requested product in ACT 20. Then, the processor 11 transmits the generated details screen to the user terminal UT by the communication unit 14 in ACT 21. The processor 11 then proceeds to the processing of ACT 1 above.

Figure 11 is a diagram showing an example of a details screen SC4 on a user terminal UT. The details screen SC4 has a product image IMG, a product details description DTX, a detailed map DMP, a store list SPR, a "Post to SNS" button BU3, and a "Post to Blog" button BU4. The product details description DTX and the detailed map DMP are more detailed information than the product summary description TXT and the neighborhood map MAP on the search result screen SC2. The detailed map DMP has a user position mark YMK and a store mark SMK arranged in the same way as the neighborhood map MAP. The store list SPR displays store information including the store name and the purchase date of the corresponding product for each store mark SMK in an order. In this store list SPR, for example, stores are displayed in order of distance to the user position. It is also possible to arrange the stores that are more likely to have the corresponding product at the top by sorting them by the purchase date of the corresponding product.

When the "Paste to SNS" button BU3 or the "Paste to Blog" button BU4 on the search result screen SC2 or the details screen SC4 is selected, a paste request is sent from the user terminal UT. When this paste request is received by the communication unit 14, the processor 11 of the search service server 1 determines that a paste request has been received in ACT 6 above. In this case, the processor 11 performs the requested paste process in ACT 22. After that, the processor 11 proceeds to the process of ACT 1 above.

When a paste request is received by selecting the "SNS paste" button BU3, the following process can be performed as the paste process of ACT22. That is, in the case of a paste request corresponding to the "SNS paste" button BU3 on the search result screen SC2, the processor 11 extracts information to be pasted to the SNS application program from the search result SR to which the "SNS paste" button BU3 is attached. Also, in the case of a paste request corresponding to the "SNS paste" button BU3 on the details screen SC4, the processor 11 extracts information to be pasted to the SNS application program from the search result SR on the search result screen SC2 that called up the details screen SC4. Then, the processor 11 passes the extracted information to the SNS application program. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an SNS screen SC5 in the user terminal UT. As shown in the figure, the passed information is pasted on the SNS screen SC5 as paste information PI1.

Furthermore, when a paste request is received by selecting the "Paste to blog" button BU4, as the paste process of ACT22, the processor 11 sets the search result SR as the information extraction target, as in the case of a paste request corresponding to the "Paste to SNS" button BU3. Then, the processor 11 copies a URL link for pasting to the blog from the search result SR to be extracted. The user of the user terminal UT can execute a blog application program and paste this copied URL link to the blog. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a blog screen SC6 on the user terminal UT. As shown in the figure, the information indicated by the pasted URL link is pasted onto the blog screen SC6 as paste information PI2.

As described above, the search service server 1 as an information processing device of this embodiment includes a processor 11 that functions as a storage means and a search means. The storage means links information about the purchase store with information about the purchased product, and stores the information in an auxiliary storage unit having an anonymized purchase history database that functions as a storage unit. The search means searches the storage unit for stores that sell the product specified by the user terminal UT, and transmits store information indicating the searched store to the user terminal UT.

Therefore, without carrying out any special actions for sales promotion, retail stores can appeal to consumers operating the user terminal UT with information about themselves as a sales store that handles products, which is expected to have an effect of attracting customers. Furthermore, product purchasing personnel at retail stores can operate the user terminal UT to find out which products are not handled in their own store but are selling well at other stores, reducing the risk of missing sales opportunities for popular products. Also, consumers can easily find out which stores sold new products or popular products that have been featured on television, in magazines, SNS, etc., in other words, which stores are likely to currently be selling the products, making it possible to obtain the products in question without the trouble of searching around for them.

In addition, according to the information processing device of this embodiment, the processor 11 also functions as a first acquisition means for acquiring information on the location of the store searched for by the search means, and as a first receiving means for receiving terminal location information, which is the location of the user terminal UT, or designated location information, which is a location designated from the user terminal UT. Then, based on the terminal location information or the designated location information, the search means extracts from the searched stores those stores that are located within a certain distance from the location indicated by the terminal location information or the designated location information, and transmits the extracted store location information to the user terminal UT.

Therefore, the consumer user can find out the location of stores that are likely to sell the desired product near their current location or the location they are planning to visit. The presence of the desired product in a nearby store motivates the consumer to visit that store. For the retail store, this has the advantage of attracting consumers who do not normally visit the store, or increasing the opportunities to attract new consumers who have never visited the store.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the information on the purchasing store and the purchased product information stored in the memory unit can be created based on each consumer's product purchase history information, such as electronic receipt information.

This makes it easy to obtain product purchase history information.

And according to the information processing device of this embodiment, the processor 11 also functions as a second acquisition means for acquiring anonymized product purchase history information that has been anonymized by deleting at least personal information from the product purchase history information, and storing the acquired anonymized product purchase history information in the memory unit by a storage means.

As a result, stores are searched for based on anonymized product purchase history information that has had any information the consumer wishes to keep private removed, so there is no risk of confidential information being leaked to others.

In addition, according to the information processing device of this embodiment, the processor 11 as the second acquisition means can function as a generation means that acquires product purchase history information from a management device, such as an electronic receipt server ERS, that manages the product purchase history information of each consumer and generates anonymized product purchase history information from the acquired product purchase history information, or as a second receiving means that receives anonymized product purchase history information generated by the management device from the product purchase history information.

This makes it easy to obtain anonymous product purchase history information.

In addition, according to the information processing device of this embodiment, the processor 11, which serves as a search means, can further narrow down the searched nearby product sales stores based on the product sales date and time.

This means that it is possible to search for products that are unlikely to be purchased by consumers within a short period of time, such as one-liter bottles of sake.

In addition, according to the information processing device of this embodiment, the processor 11, which serves as a search means, can function as a pasting means that creates pasting information, which is information for pasting on SNS or information for pasting on a blog, from store information indicating a store searched for in the memory unit, and transmits the created pasting information to the user terminal UT.

This will make it easier to promote your business via social media and blogs.

This embodiment can be modified in various ways, such as:

For example, when registering anonymized purchase history information in the anonymized purchase history database DB1 in ACT1 above, anonymized purchase history information may be registered only for stores stored in the store database DB2. In this way, rankings will be limited to a limited number of stores, but it is possible to prevent waste of storage capacity in the auxiliary storage unit 13. This is preferable when a ranking service is not provided.

In addition, the search program PR may be stored in the main memory 12 instead of the auxiliary memory unit 13.

In addition, instead of repeatedly acquiring anonymized purchase history information in ACT1, the information may be acquired periodically, such as once a day or at intervals of several hours, by a management program (not shown), and the accumulated contents of the anonymized purchase history database DB1 may be updated periodically.

Furthermore, each function realized by the processor 11 through information processing can be realized in part or in whole by hardware that executes information processing not based on a program, such as a logic circuit. Each of the above functions can also be realized by combining hardware such as the above logic circuits with software control.

Of course, the information processing device of the present invention may be incorporated into an electronic receipt server ERS by providing the necessary security functions.

Although some 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, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.
In addition, the claims as originally filed in this application are set forth below.
[C1]
A storage means for storing information on the store where the purchase was made and information on the purchased item in a storage unit in association with each other;
a search means for searching the storage unit for a store selling a product specified by a user terminal and transmitting store information indicating the searched store to the user terminal;
An information processing device comprising:
[C2]
a first acquisition means for acquiring information on the location of the store searched for by the search means;
a first receiving means for receiving terminal location information that is a location of the user terminal or designated location information that is a location designated by the user terminal;
Further comprising:
The information processing device described in C1, wherein the search means extracts from the searched stores those stores that are located within a certain distance from the location indicated by the terminal location information or the specified location information based on the terminal location information or the specified location information, and transmits information on the locations of the extracted stores to the user terminal.
[C3]
The information processing device according to C1 or C2, wherein the information on the purchase store and the information on the purchased product stored in the memory unit are created based on product purchase history information of each consumer.
[C4]
The information processing device described in C3 further includes a second acquisition means for acquiring anonymized product purchase history information that has been anonymized by deleting at least personal information from the product purchase history information, and storing the acquired anonymized product purchase history information in the memory unit by the storage means.
[C5]
The second acquisition means includes:
A generating means for acquiring the product purchase history information from a management device that manages the product purchase history information of each of the consumers, and generating the anonymized product purchase history information from the acquired product purchase history information; or
a second receiving means for receiving the anonymized product purchase history information generated by the management device from the product purchase history information;
The information processing device according to C4, comprising:
[C6]
Computer,
A storage means for storing information on the purchase store and information on the purchased item in a storage unit in association with each other;
a search means for searching the storage unit for a store selling a product specified by a user terminal and transmitting store information indicating the searched store to the user terminal;
A program to function as a

1...search service server, 11...processor, 12...main memory, 13...auxiliary storage unit, 14...communication unit, AR1...condition input area, AR11...category input area, AR12...JAN/CC input area, AR13...product name input area, AR14...manufacturer name input area, AR15...sales region input area, AR16...store name/company name input area, AR17...period input area, BSS...blog service server, BU1..."search" button, BU2..."change conditions" button, BU3..."SNS attachment" button, BU4..."blog attachment" button, DB1...anonymized purchase history database, DB2...store database, DTX...product detailed description, DMP...detailed map, ERS...electronic receipt server, HDB...history database, IMG...product image, MAP...nearby map, MES..."See more" message, NW...communications network, PI1, PI2...attached information, PR...search program, REG...store registration device, RR...ranking results, SC1...search screen, SC2...search result screen, SC3...ranking screen, SC4...details screen, SC5...SNS screen, SC6...blog screen, SDB...store database, SMK...store mark, SNSS...SNS server, SPR...store list, SR...search results, TB...condition table, TXT...product summary description, UT...user terminal, YMK...user position mark.

Claims (5)

A storage means for storing information on the store where the purchase was made and information on the purchased item in a storage unit in association with each other;
a search means for searching the storage unit for a store selling a product specified by a user terminal and transmitting store information indicating the searched store to the user terminal;
a first acquisition means for acquiring information on the location of the store searched for by the search means;
a first receiving means for receiving terminal location information that is a location of the user terminal or designated location information that is a location designated by the user terminal;
Equipped with
The search means extracts from the searched stores, based on the terminal location information or the designated location information, stores that are located within a certain distance from the location indicated by the terminal location information or the designated location information, and transmits information on the locations of the extracted stores and the purchase history of the product at the extracted stores to the user terminal . 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the information on the purchase store and the information on the purchased goods stored in the storage unit are created based on product purchase history information of each consumer. The information processing device according to claim 2, further comprising a second acquisition means for acquiring anonymized product purchase history information that has been anonymized by deleting at least personal information and the selling price of the product from the product purchase history information, and storing the acquired anonymized product purchase history information in the memory unit by the storage means. The second acquisition means includes:
A generating means for acquiring the product purchase history information from a management device that manages the product purchase history information of each of the consumers, and generating the anonymized product purchase history information from the acquired product purchase history information; or
a second receiving means for receiving the anonymized product purchase history information generated by the management device from the product purchase history information;
The information processing device according to claim 3 . Computer,
A storage means for storing information on the purchase store and information on the purchased item in a storage unit in association with each other;
a search means for searching the storage unit for a store selling a product specified by a user terminal and transmitting store information indicating the searched store to the user terminal;
a first acquiring means for acquiring information on the location of the store searched for by the searching means;
a first receiving means for receiving terminal location information that is the location of the user terminal or designated location information that is a location designated by the user terminal;
Function as a
The search means is a program that extracts from the searched stores, based on the terminal location information or the designated location information, stores that are located within a certain distance from the location indicated by the terminal location information or the designated location information, and transmits information on the locations of the extracted stores and the purchase history of the product at the extracted store to the user terminal .