Content display system, content display method, and recording medium with content displaying program recorded thereon

A content display system includes a first acquisition processor that acquires first content registered on a management terminal; a first display processor that causes the display device to display the first content acquired by the first acquisition processor; a second acquisition processor that acquires second content based on an operation on a portable terminal by a user when the first content is displayed on the display device; and a second display processor that causes the display device to display the second content acquired by the second acquisition processor.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-179941 filed on Oct. 27, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates to a content display system and a content display method for displaying content, and a recording medium with a content displaying program recorded thereon.

A content display system called digital signage which is installed in public facilities and display content such as advertisements has been known. For example, a system is known in which a portable terminal accepts a user's selection of a target product of sales promotion information to be displayed on a display device (signage display) and sends the information of the target product to a sales promotion information providing device, and the sales promotion information providing device displays sales promotion information corresponding to the target product on the display device.

In the past, in stores such as supermarkets, advertisements for products are always displayed on the display devices (displays) on the sales floor as regular program content. Here, in such a store, for example, when a time sale is to be held, there is a demand to display on the display device special program content introducing products that are subject to the time sale in place of the regular program content. However, to display such special program content, the person in charge must return to the management device (office terminal) installed in the office of the store and perform the operation to register the special program content, which requires time and effort.

SUMMARY

An object of the disclosure is to provide a content display system, a content display method, and a recording medium with a content displaying program recorded thereon, which enable simple and quick switching of content displayed on a display device.

A content display system according to an aspect of the disclosure displays a predetermined content on a display device installed at a predetermined location and includes a first acquisition processor that acquires at least one first content registered on a management terminal; a first display processor that displays the first content acquired by the first acquisition processor on the display device; a second acquisition processor that acquires a second content based on an operation on a portable terminal by a user when the first content is displayed on the display device; and a second display processor that displays the second content acquired by the second acquisition processor on the display device currently displaying the first content.

A content displaying method according to another aspect of the disclosure causes a display device installed at a predetermined location to display a predetermined content and causes one or more processors to carry out the steps of: a) acquiring a first content registered to a management terminal; b) causing the display device to display the first content acquired in the step a); c) acquiring second content based on an operation on a portable terminal by a user when the first content is displayed on the display device; and d) causing the display device displaying the first content to display the second content acquired in step c).

A non-transitory, computer-readable recording medium according to another aspect of the disclosure that holds a content displaying program causing a display device installed at a predetermined location to display predetermined content and causing one or more processors to execute the step of: a) acquiring a first content registered to a management terminal; b) causing the display device to display the first content acquired in the step a); c) acquiring second content based on an operation on a portable terminal by a user when the first content is displayed on the display device; and d) causing the display device displaying the first content to display the second content acquired in step c).

The disclosure can provide a content display system, a content display method, and a recording medium with a content displaying program recorded thereon, that enable simple and quick switching of content displayed on a display device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are examples embodying the present disclosure, and do not intend to limit the technical scope of the present disclosure.

A content display system100of the present embodiment is a system for displaying content on a display device (display) installed at a predetermined location. For example, the content display system100is applied to a system for displaying (reproducing) content (signage information) involving images and sounds, such as product information (advertisements) and messages, in various places such as stores, offices, stations, and streets. In the present embodiment, a case in which the content display system100is applied to a store, such as a supermarket, that sells products (foods) will be described by way of example.

FIG. 1is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a content display system100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The content display system100includes a management server1, an office terminal2, a display device3, and a portable terminal4. The management server1, the office terminal2, the display device3, and the portable terminal4are communicably connected via a network N1. The network N1is a communication network, such as the Internet. The office terminal2is an example of a management terminal of the disclosure, and the portable terminal4is an example of a portable terminal of the disclosure.

The content display system100may include a plurality of content display devices3and a plurality of portable terminals4. The management server1manages the display devices3. The office terminal2is equipment (e.g., a personal computer) that is disposed in an office (business office) of a store and is operated by an administrator of the store (e.g., a store manager). The portable terminal4is equipment (e.g., a smartphone) that is carried and operated by a staff member (e.g., an employee) of the store. One or more display devices3are disposed in a store (sales floor). Each staff member performs various tasks in the store (sales floor) while carrying the portable terminal4. For example, each staff member can use the portable terminal4to perform general tasks such as checking product information (price, inventory, stocking status, etc.), ordering products, and checking attendance information. Each staff member or a staff member having predetermined authority can perform the task of replacing the content displayed on the display device3(a regular program content C1) with special program content C2. The regular program content C1is an example of first content of the disclosure, and the special program content C2is an example of second content of the disclosure.

The management server1provides a content distribution service that distributes and displays content to the display device3. Specifically, the management server1executes a content distribution application program to perform a content distribution process. A specific configuration of the content display system100will now be described.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the management server1includes a controller11, a memory12, an operation display13, and a communicator14. The management server1may be, for example, an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer.

The communicator14is a communication interface for connecting the management server1to the network N1in a wired or wireless manner and for executing data communication between the office terminal2, the display device3, and the portable terminal4via the network N1in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol.

The operation display13is a user interface including a display unit and an operation unit. The display unit such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display displays various information, whereas the operation unit such as a mouse, keyboard, or touch panel receives operations. The operation display13accepts, for example, an operation by an administrator of the management server1.

The memory12is a non-volatile storage including a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), or a flash memory that stores various types of information. The memory12stores a control program such as a content displaying program121(seeFIG. 3) to cause the controller11to execute the content display processing (seeFIG. 18) which will be described later. For example, the content displaying program121is temporarily recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a compact disk (CD) or digital versatile disc (DVD), read by a reader (not shown) such as CD drive or DVD drive of the management server1, and stored in the memory12. The content displaying program121may be distributed from a cloud server and stored in the memory12.

The memory12stores various information for displaying the content. Specifically, the memory12stores data such as display device information122about the display device3that displays the content, the regular program content C1, the special program content C2, a schedule for displaying the content, a playlist, setting information.

The display device information122includes information involving one or more display devices3installed in the store. For example, in the display device information122, information such as a name and an installation location is associated to and registered for each display device3. The regular program content C1is, for example, the content that is registered to the office terminal2. The special program content C2is, for example, the content that is registered to the portable terminal4.

Note that as another embodiment, some or all of the display device information122, a schedule for displaying the regular program content C1and the special program content C2, a playlist, and setting information may be stored in a data server accessible from the management server1. In this case, the controller11of the management server1may acquire the information from the data server and execute individual processing such as the content display processing (seeFIG. 18) which will be described later.

The controller11includes control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic operations. The ROM is a non-volatile memory in which a control program such as BIOS and OS for causing the CPU to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile or non-volatile memory that stores various types of information and is used as a temporary storage memory (working area) for various processes executed by the CPU. The controller11controls the management server1by causing the CPU to execute various types of control programs stored in advance in the ROM or the memory12.

Specifically, the controller11includes various processors such as an acceptance processor111, an authentication processor112, a first acquisition processor113, a first distribution processor114, a second acquisition processor115, and a second distribution processor116.

Note that the controller11functions as the various types of process operators by executing various types of processes according to the content displaying program121. A part or all of the processing portions included in the controller11may be implemented by an electronic circuit. The content displaying program121may be a program for making a plurality of processors function as the various processors described above.

The acceptance processor111receives various operations of the user. Specifically, the acceptance processor111accepts operations by an administrator via the office terminal2, such as a login operation to a website of a content display application program, a setting operation and a registration operation related to the regular program content C1, and an instruction to distribute the regular program content C1. The acceptance processor111accepts operations by a staff member via the portable terminal4, such as a login operation to a website of the content display application program, a setting operation and a registration operation involving the special program content C2, and an instruction to distribute the special program content C2. For example, the acceptance processor111accepts a selection operation of the special program content C2, an input operation of a ticker message Tx corresponding to the special program content C2, and a selection operation of the display device3to which the special program content C2is to be distributed. For example, the acceptance processor111accepts an operation from a staff member to select a video image or still image taken at a predetermined location by the portable terminal4as the special program content C2.

Note that the controller11causes the various operation screens to be displayed as web pages on the office terminal2and the portable terminal4.

The authentication processor112executes an authentication process for the user. For example, when the administrator inputs user information (user ID and password) on a login screen of the content display application program displayed on the office terminal2, the authentication processor112acquires the user ID and the password and executes the authentication process. Similarly, for example, when a staff member inputs user information (user ID and password) on a login screen of the content display application program displayed on the portable terminal4, the authentication processor112acquires the user ID and the password and executes the authentication process. When the user ID and the password of the user are registered in the user information (not illustrated), the authentication processor112authenticates the user and allows the user to use the content display application program.

When the authentication processor112authenticates the administrator, the administrator can use the office terminal2to perform a registration operation related to the content (the regular program content C1) and issue a distribution instruction of the regular program content C1. When the authentication processor112authenticates a staff member, the staff member can use the portable terminal4to perform a registration operation related to the content (the special program content C2) and issue a distribution instruction of the special program content C2.

The first acquisition processor113acquires the regular program content C1to be registered in the office terminal2. For example, the administrator registers a video image (video image, still image, etc.) to be displayed on the display device3as the regular program content C1on the registration screen displayed on the office terminal2. The administrator may select the regular program content C1from data stored in the office terminal2or from data stored in an external server. When multiple display devices3are installed in the sales floor, the administrator selects and registers one or more display devices3among the multiple display devices3on which the regular program content C1is to be displayed. The administrator also registers a schedule including the date, time, and display time for displaying the regular program content C1.

The first acquisition processor113acquires the regular program content C1registered by the administrator, information (identification information) on the display devices3used for display, and the schedule. The first acquisition processor113stores the regular program content C1, the identification information of the display devices3, and the schedule in the memory12(seeFIG. 3). The first acquisition processor113is an example of a first acquisition processor of the disclosure.

The first distribution processor114distributes the regular program content C1acquired by the first acquisition processor113to the display devices3. Specifically, when the acceptance processor111accepts an instruction to distribute the regular program content C1from the administrator via the office terminal2, the first distribution processor114distributes the regular program content C1and the schedule to the display devices3registered as display destinations (distribution destination).

The display devices3displays the regular program content C1on the basis of the schedule.FIG. 4illustrates the regular program content C1being displayed on one of the display devices3installed in a sales floor SH.

Here, in some cases, such as when a time sale is to be held, a staff member of the sales floor SH may want to display on the display device3the special program content C2introducing products that are subject to a time sale, in place of the regular program content C1(seeFIG. 4). In order to display the special program content C2in such a case, it takes time and effort for the staff member to return to the office terminal2to perform an operation to display the special program content C2as a replacement, or to contact the administrator to request replacement with the special program content C2. In contrast, the content display system100of the present embodiment has a configuration that enables the regular program content C1displayed on the display device3to be easily and quickly switched to the special program content C2, as described below.

Specifically, the second acquisition processor115acquires the special program content C2on the basis of an operation on the portable terminal4by a staff member when the regular program content C1is displayed on the display device3.

For example, a staff member of the sales floor SH selects and registers the display destination display device3to which the special program content C2is to be displayed on the display panel registration screen illustrated inFIG. 5displayed on the portable terminal4. Note that when multiple display devices3are installed in each of the sales floor group, the staff member can also select a group and register all display devices3belonging to the selected group.

The staff member then registers the special program content C2on the content registration screen displayed on the portable terminal4, as illustrated inFIG. 6. The content registration screen illustrated inFIG. 6includes a still image button Ks that displays a list of still images and a video image button Kv that displays a list of video images. When a staff member presses the still image button Ks, the list of still images illustrated inFIG. 7is displayed on the portable terminal4. The data of the still image is, for example, the image data stored in the memory42of the portable terminal4. The staff member may select the special program content C2from the list, or may register a photo or video taken with the portable terminal4by pressing a camera button Kc as the special program content C2, or may register an image searched on the Internet by pressing a browser button Kb as the special program content C2.

FIG. 8illustrates a photo Pc taken by a staff member with the portable terminal4by pressing the camera button Kc. For example, in order to advertise freshly baked bread as a time sale item, a staff member takes a picture of bread being made in a kitchen with the portable terminal4.

When the staff member selects and registers the photo Pc, the second acquisition processor115acquires the photo Pc as the special program content C2. The registered special program content C2is displayed on the portable terminal4(seeFIG. 9). The content registration screen illustrated inFIG. 9displays a ticker message registration button Kt for registering a ticker message Tx (an example of text information of the disclosure). When the staff member presses the ticker message registration button Kt, the ticker message registration screen illustrated inFIG. 10is displayed on the portable terminal4. The staff member registers the ticker message Tx by entering a desired message on the ticker message registration screen.

The staff member then sets the display time, layout, screen transition, etc., of the special program content C2on a still image setting screen illustrated inFIG. 11. Alternatively, the staff member sets the display time, sound volume, etc., of the special program content C2on a moving image setting screen illustrated inFIG. 12. The staff member also sets the font, size, color, etc., of the ticker message Tx corresponding to the special program content C2on a ticker message setting screen illustrated inFIG. 13. The second acquisition processor115acquires the information of the ticker message Tx.

When each of the registration operations by the staff member is completed, the content confirmation screen illustrated inFIG. 14is displayed on the portable terminal4. As illustrated inFIG. 14, the content confirmation screen displays the display status of the special program content C2and the ticker message Tx. After confirming the content confirmation screen, the staff member sets the distribution method of the special program content C2on the distribution method setting screen illustrated inFIG. 15. For example, the staff member selects whether the special program content C2is to be distributed immediately or at a set time. The staff member also sets the distribution period of the special program content C2. When the setting of the distribution method is completed, the registration of the special program content C2is completed (seeFIG. 16). The second acquisition processor115acquires the information of the distribution method. The second acquisition processor115is an example of a second acquisition processor of the disclosure.

The second distribution processor116distributes the special program content C2acquired by the second acquisition processor115to the display device3displaying the regular program content C1. Specifically, the second distribution processor116distributes the special program content C2and the ticker message Tx selected and registered by the staff member to the display device3selected by the staff member in accordance with the distribution method described above. The display device3on the sales floor SH switches the content to be displayed from the regular program content C1(seeFIG. 4) to the special program content C2, for example, as illustrated inFIG. 17.

Note that when the display processing of the special program content C2(seeFIG. 17) is completed, the display device3executes again the display processing of the regular program content C1(seeFIG. 4). That is, the display device3switches the display content from the special program content C2to the regular program content C1.

As described above, the management server1distributes the regular program content C1acquired via the office terminal2to a predetermined display device3, and distributes the special program content C2acquired via the portable terminal4to the predetermined display device3. When the predetermined display device3receives the regular program content C1, the regular program content C1is displayed, and when the predetermined display device3acquires the special program content C2, the special program content C2is displayed in replacement of the regular program content C1.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the office terminal2includes a controller21, a memory22, an operation display23, and a communicator24. The office terminal2is, for example, an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer.

The communicator24is a communication interface for connecting the office terminal2to the network N1in a wired or wireless manner and for executing data communication between external devices, such as the management server1, via the network N1in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol.

The operation display23is a user interface including a display such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display for displaying information such as various web pages, and an operation unit such as a mouse, a keyboard, or a touch panel that receives operations.

The memory22is a non-volatile storage unit such as HDD, SSD or flash storage that stores various types of information. For example, the memory22stores a control program such as a browser program. Specifically, the browser program is a control program for causing the controller21to perform communication processing with an external device such as the management server1according to a communication protocol such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). The browser program can be a dedicated application program for executing the communication processing with the management server1in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol. The memory22may store data (video, still images, etc.) corresponding to the regular program content C1.

The controller21includes control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic operations. The ROM is a non-volatile memory in which a control program such as BIOS and OS for causing the CPU to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile or non-volatile memory that stores various types of information and is used as a temporary storage memory (working area) for various processes executed by the CPU. The controller21then controls the office terminal2by causing the CPU to execute various types of control programs stored in advance in the ROM or the memory22.

Specifically, the controller21functions as a browser processor211by executing various types of processes according to the browser program stored in the memory22. The browser processor211can display on the operation display23a web page provided from the management server1via the network N1, and execute browser processing to enter operations performed on the operation display23to the management server1. That is, the office terminal2is capable of functioning as an operation terminal of the management server1as a result of the browser program being executed by the controller21. Note that some or all of the processing operators included in the controller21may be configured by an electronic circuit.

For example, in the office terminal2, when the user operation is performed to request access to a predetermined URL corresponding to the website of a content distribution service provided by the management server1, the controller21acquires data of the web page of the website from the management server1and displays the web page on the operation display23. In the case where a dedicated application program corresponding to the management server1is installed in the office terminal2, the web page is displayed on the operation display23by the administrator of the office terminal2performing an operation to start the dedicated application program.

For example, the administrator of the sales floor SH of the store performs a login operation on the login page of the website of the content distribution service displayed on the office terminal2. The administrator performs registration operation related to the regular program content C1and issues a distribution instruction for the regular program content C1on the content registration page displayed on the office terminal2.

When the regular program content C1is successfully distributed to the display device3, the controller21acquires the distribution result from the management server1and displays it on the operation display23.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the portable terminal4includes a controller41, a memory42, an operation display43, and a communicator44. The portable terminal4is, for example, an information processing apparatus such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, or a tablet device.

The communicator44is a communication interface for connecting the portable terminal4to the network N1in a wired or wireless manner and for executing data communication between external devices, such as the management server1, via the network N1in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol.

The operation display43is a user interface including a display such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display for displaying information such as various web pages, and an operation unit such as a mouse, a keyboard, or a touch panel that receives operations.

The memory42is a non-volatile storage unit such as HDD, SSD or flash storage that stores various types of information. For example, the memory42stores a control program such as a browser program. Specifically, the browser program is a control program for causing the controller41to perform communication processing with an external device such as the management server1according to a communication protocol such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). The browser program can be a dedicated application program for executing the communication processing with the management server1in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol. The memory42may store data (video, still images, etc.) corresponding to the special program content C2.

The controller41includes control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic operations. The ROM is a non-volatile memory in which a control program such as BIOS and OS for causing the CPU to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile or non-volatile memory that stores various types of information and is used as a temporary storage memory (working area) for various processes executed by the CPU. The controller41then controls the portable terminal4by causing the CPU to execute various types of control programs stored in advance in the ROM or the memory42.

Specifically, the controller41functions as a browser processor411by executing various types of processes according to the browser program stored in the memory42. The browser processor411can display on the operation display43a web page provided from the management server1via the network N1, and execute browser processing to enter operations performed on the operation display43to the management server1. That is, the portable terminal4is capable of functioning as an operation terminal of the management server1as a result of the browser program being executed by the controller41. Note that some or all of the processing operators included in the controller41may be configured by an electronic circuit.

For example, in the portable terminal4, when the user operation is performed to request access to a predetermined URL corresponding to the website of a content distribution service provided by the management server1, the controller41acquires data of the web page of the website from the management server1and displays the web page on the operation display43. In the case where a dedicated application program corresponding to the management server1is installed in the portable terminal4, the web page is displayed on the operation display43by a staff member carrying the portable terminal4performing an operation to start the dedicated application program.

For example, the staff member of the sales floor SH of the store performs a login operation on the login page of the website of the content distribution service displayed on the portable terminal4. The staff members also perform a registration operation related to the special program content C2and ticker message Tx (seeFIGS. 5 to 17) and issues a distribution instruction for the special program content C2on the content registration page displayed on the portable terminal4.

When the special program content C2is successfully distributed to the display device3, the controller41acquires the distribution result from the management server1and displays it on the operation display43.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the display device3includes a controller31, a memory32, a display panel33, and a communicator34.

The communicator34is a communication interface for connecting the display device3to the network N1in a wired or wireless manner and for executing data communication with the management server1via the network N1in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol.

The display panel33is a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display that displays various types of information.

The memory32is a non-volatile storage unit such as HDD, SSD or flash storage that stores various types of information. The memory32stores a control program for causing the controller31to execute various types of control processing. For example, the control program is recorded non-temporarily in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD or a DVD, is read by a reading device (not illustrated) such as a CD drive or a DVD drive provided in the display device3, and is stored in the memory32.

The memory32stores various information for reproducing the content. Specifically, the memory32stores content data such as the regular program content C1and the special program content C2a schedule for displaying (playing) the content, and a playlist of the content.

The controller31includes control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic operations. The ROM is a non-volatile memory in which a control program such as BIOS and OS for causing the CPU to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile or non-volatile memory that stores various types of information and is used as a temporary storage memory (working area) for various processes executed by the CPU. The controller31controls the display device3by causing the CPU to execute various types of control programs stored in advance in the ROM or the memory32.

Specifically, the controller31includes various processors such as a first display processor311and a second display processor312. The controller31receives the regular program content C1, the special program content C2, the schedules for displaying each piece of content, a playlist, setting information, and the like, which are delivered from the management server1.

The first display processor311receives the regular program content C1distributed from the management server1and causes the display panel33to display the regular program content C1in accordance with the schedule (seeFIG. 4). The first display processor311is an example of a first display processor according to the present disclosure.

When the second display processor312receives the special program content C2distributed from the management server1while the regular program content C1is being displayed, the special program content C2is displayed on the display panel33in replacement of the regular program content C1(seeFIG. 17). When the second display processor312receives the ticker message Tx from the management server1, the second display processor312causes the ticker message Tx to be displayed on the display panel33(seeFIG. 17). The second display processor312is an example of a second display processor according to the present disclosure.

Note that the first display processor311and the second display processor312may be included in the management server1. In this such a case, the management server1sends a display command together with each piece of content to the display device3to display each piece of content on the display device3. For example, the first display processor311of the management server1causes the display device3to display the regular program content C1registered by the administrator in accordance with the schedule described above, and the second display processor312of the management server1causes the display device3to display the special program content C2registered by a staff member with the portable terminal4in replacement of the regular program content C1. The content display system of the disclosure may be a device in which the management server1and the display device3are integrated.

Content Display Processing

An example of the procedure of content display processing executed by the content display system100will now be explained with reference toFIG. 18.

Note that the disclosure can be construed as a disclosure of a content display method for executing one or more steps included in the content display processing. In the content display processing described here, one or more steps may be omitted as appropriate. The execution order of steps in the content display processing may differ to the extent that similar effects are produced. Although a case in which the controller11of the management server1, the controller21of the office terminal2, the controller31of the display device3, and the controller41of the portable terminal4execute the steps in the content display processing are explained as an example, in other embodiments, multiple processors may execute the steps of the content display processing.

First, in step S1, the controller21of the office terminal2accepts an operation to select and register the regular program content C1and the display device3that displays the regular program content C1from the administrator who has logged in to the website of the content display application program with the office terminal2.

In step S2, the controller11of the management server1acquires the data of the regular program content C1registered by the administrator and the identification information of the distribution destination display device3to which the regular program content C1is to be distributed, and stores them in the memory12. Step S2is an example of a first acquisition step according to the disclosure.

In step S3, the controller11of the management server1causes the office terminal2to display the regular program content C1and accepts a distribution instruction from the administrator. In step S4, the controller21of the office terminal2sends the distribution instruction of the administrator to the management server1.

In step S5, when the controller11of the management server1accepts the distribution instruction, it delivers the data of the regular program content C1to the display device3. When the controller31of the display device3receives the data of the regular program content C1, the controller31sends the distribution result to the management server1.

When the controller11of the management server1acquires the distribution result (step S6), the controller11sends the distribution result to the office terminal2for display (step S7).

In step S8, the controller31of the display device3causes the display panel33to display the regular program content C1received from the management server1. This causes a predetermined display device3on the sales floor SH (seeFIG. 4) to display the regular program content C1registered by the administrator. Step S8is an example of a first display process according to the disclosure.

When the regular program content C1is displayed on the display device3, a staff member of the sales floor SH logs in to the website on the portable terminal4(step S11). When the controller11of the management server1authenticates the staff member (step S12), the controller11permits acceptance of the registration operation of the special program content C2.

The staff member performs an operation (seeFIG. 5) to register the display device3for displaying the special program content C2on the portable terminal4(step S13). The staff member also performs an operation (seeFIGS. 6 to 13) to select and register the special program content C2, the ticker message Tx, the setting information, etc., on the portable terminal4(step S14).

In step S15, the controller11of the management server1acquires the of the special program content C2and the ticker message Tx registered by the staff member, the setting information, and the identification information of the distribution destination display device3to which the special program content C2is to be distributed, and stores them in the memory12. Step S15is an example of a second acquisition step according to the disclosure.

In step S16, the controller11of the management server1causes the portable terminal4to display the special program content C2and accepts a distribution instruction from a staff member (seeFIGS. 14 and 15). In step S17, the controller41of the portable terminal4sends the distribution instruction of the staff member to the management server1.

In step S18, when the controller11of the management server1accepts the distribution instruction, it delivers the data of the special program content C2to the display device3. When the controller31of the display device3receives the data of the special program content C2, the controller31sends the distribution result to the management server1.

When the controller11of the management server1acquires the distribution result from the display device3(step S19), the controller11sends the distribution result to the portable terminal4for display (seeFIG. 16) (step S20). The staff member confirms the distribution result on the portable terminal4(seeFIG. 16).

In step S21, the controller31of the display device3causes the display panel33to display the special program content C2received from the management server1. This causes the display device3on the sales floor SH (seeFIG. 17) to display the special program content C2registered by the staff member in a replacement of the regular program content C1(seeFIG. 4). Step S21is an example of a second display step according to the disclosure. As described above, the content display system100executes the content display processing to replace the regular program content C1displayed on the display device3with the special program content C2.

As described above, the content display system100of the present embodiment acquires the regular program content C1registered in the office terminal2and causes the display device3to display the regular program content C1, and when the regular program content C1is displayed on the display device3acquires the special program content C2on the basis of a user operation on the portable terminal4. The content display system100causes the display device3to display the acquired special program content C2. This allows a staff member to replace the regular program content C1with the special program content C2by operating the portable terminal4carry by himself or herself, not by operating the office terminal2. Therefore, it is possible to readily and quickly switch the regular program content C1displayed on the display device3to the special program content C2.

The disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. In the above-described embodiment, the second display processor312switches the content to be displayed on the display device3from the regular program content C1to the special program content C2, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, when the regular program content C1is displayed on the display device3and the second acquisition processor115acquires the special program content C2via the portable terminal4, the second display processor312may display the regular program content C1and the special program content C2on the display device3side by side as illustrated inFIG. 19. Alternatively, the second display processor312may superimpose the special program content C2on the regular program content C1for display on the display device3.

In another embodiment, the first display processor311may cause the display device3to display multiple pieces of regular program content C1. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 20, the first display processor311displays two pieces of regular program content C1aand C1bregistered by the administrator side by side on the display device3. In such a case, the second display processor312may switch one of the multiple pieces of regular program content C1displayed on the display device3to the special program content C2. For example, a staff member selects, on the portable terminal4, the regular program content C1bto be hidden among the two pieces of regular program content C1aand C1bdisplayed on display device3and registers the special program content C2. As illustrated inFIG. 21, the second display processor312replaces the regular program content C1bwith the special program content C2and causes the display device3to display the regular program content C1aand the special program content C2.

In another embodiment, the authentication processor112may determine whether or not a user (staff member) is authorized to display the special program content C2on the display device3. For example, the authority is granted to a particular staff member of the sales floor SH who is an executive officer. The information of the authority is registered in the memory12of the management server1. When the staff member is authenticated by the authentication processor112, the second display processor312causes the display device3to display the special program content C2registered by the staff member. When the staff member is not authenticated by the authentication processor112, the second display processor312causes the display device3not to display the special program content C2registered by the staff member. This can prevent the content being displayed on the display device3from being improperly replaced.

In another embodiment, when a staff member registers the special program content C2to the portable terminal4, the authentication processor112may request approval by the administrator of the office terminal2. In such a case, the second display processor312displays the special program content C2on the display device3when the approval of the administrator is obtained at the office terminal2. This can prevent the content being displayed on the display device3from being improperly replaced.

In the above-described embodiment, the content display system100corresponds to the content display system according to the disclosure, but the content display system according to the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the content display system according to the disclosure may include the management server1alone or may include the management server1, the office terminal2, and the portable terminal4.