SHOPPING SUPPORT APPARATUS, SHOPPING CART, AND METHOD FOR SHOPPING SUPPORT

According to one embodiment, a shopping support apparatus for a retail store includes a display screen and a control unit. The control unit causes a store map to be displayed on the display screen and acquires a commodity code for a commodity for sale in the store to register the commodity corresponding to the acquired commodity code in a sales transaction. The sales transaction list is displayed on the display screen along with a button for requesting a recipe for a dish including the commodity. The control unit acquires recipes for dishes including the commodity for when the button is pressed, and then displays images associated with the acquired recipes on the display screen along with an ingredient list button for each. An ingredients list for a selected dish is shown for a dish when selected and a location of any unregistered ingredient is displayed on the store map.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-193785, filed Dec. 2, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to an information processing apparatus for shopping support purposes, a shopping cart incorporating such an apparatus, and a method for such an apparatus.

BACKGROUND

In the related art, if a customer does not know where a target commodity is displayed on a sales floor of an unfamiliar store, and the customer may refer to a guide diagram or map of the sales floor posted at a predetermined position within the store. When going shopping without first deciding which commodity to purchase, a customer may purchase unnecessary commodities.

However, often a customer may not be able to check the layout of commodities on the sales floor or create a list of commodities to purchase before arriving for shopping at the store sales floor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, an information processing apparatus for providing shopping support services to a customer on a store sales floor, a shopping cart incorporating such an apparatus, and a method for supporting shopping on a store sales floor are provided.

According to one embodiment, a shopping support apparatus includes a display screen and a control unit. The control unit is configured to cause a store map for a store to be displayed on the display screen. The control unit is configured to acquire a commodity code for a commodity for sale in the store and register the commodity corresponding to the acquired commodity code in a sales transaction list. The control unit is configured to cause the sales transaction list to be displayed on the display screen along with a button for requesting a recipe for a dish including the commodity. The control unit is configured to acquire one or more recipes for a dish including the commodity for when the button is pressed and display images associated with the acquired one or more recipes on the display screen along with an ingredient list button for each of the one or more recipes. The control unit is configured to display a list of ingredients for a selected dish when the ingredient list button for the selected dish is selected on the display screen. The control is also configured to cause a location of an unregistered commodity on the list of ingredients for the selected dish to be displayed on the store map.

Hereinafter, certain example embodiments of an information processing apparatus, a shopping cart (cart), and a method will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are non-limiting. In an example application of an embodiment, a commodity registration apparatus is mounted on a shopping cart.

FIG.1is an external perspective view of a shopping cart1according to the present embodiment. The shopping cart1is a cart on which commodities collected by a customer in a store can be placed. The shopping cart1includes a carrier portion10and a commodity registration apparatus20. A commodity or the like to be purchased by a customer is placed on/in the carrier portion10.

In the present example, a wireless tag is attached to the commodities sold by the store. The wireless tag is a tag that transmits stored information by wireless communication. For example, the wireless tag is a radio frequency (RF) tag or “RFID” tag. The wireless tag stores a commodity code, which is identification information for identifying the commodity to which the wireless tag is attached. The wireless tag transmits the commodity code when interrogated or the like.

The commodity registration apparatus20can be an information processing apparatus such as a smart phone or a tablet terminal. The commodity registration apparatus20receives the commodity code from the wireless tag attached to the commodity placed on the carrier portion10. Accordingly, the commodity registration apparatus20registers the commodity as an item (commodity) to be sold to the customer.

The commodity registration apparatus20also includes a display unit240that displays various images. In the present example, the commodity registration apparatus20can display a map showing a position where particular commodities are displayed in the store (item display location). The commodity registration apparatus20may also display a dish (a “suggested dish”) which incorporates the particular commodity as an ingredient. Accordingly, the commodity registration apparatus20supports shopping of the customer by providing item display locations and suggested dishes. The commodity registration apparatus20is one example of an information processing apparatus.

Next, a hardware configuration of the commodity registration apparatus20will be described.

FIG.2is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the commodity registration apparatus20. The commodity registration apparatus20includes a control unit210, a storage unit220, a communication unit230, a display unit240, an operation unit250, a connection unit260, and an imaging unit270. These units are interconnected via a system bus280such as a data bus or an address bus.

The control unit210is a computer that controls an overall operation of the commodity registration apparatus20to implement the various described functions of the commodity registration apparatus20. The control unit210includes a processor, a read only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RA). The processor is a processing circuit such as a central processing unit (CPU), which controls the commodity registration apparatus20. The ROM is a storage medium that stores various programs and data. The RAM is a storage medium that temporarily stores various programs and various data. The processor executes a program stored in the ROM, the storage unit220, or the like using the RAM as a work area.

The storage unit220is a storage device such as a flash memory. The storage unit220stores a control program221, a dish master222, and the like. In other examples, the dish master222may be stored in another storage medium. For example, the dish master222may be stored in a server accessible by the commodity registration apparatus20.

The control program221may operate in conjunction with an operating system, other programs, or the like to provide the described functions and/or processing of the commodity registration apparatus20.

The dish master222is an information database or the like in which dish information for a plurality of different dishes is stored. In this context, each piece of dish information is associated with a dish classification, a dish name, ingredients, quantities, and the like. The dish classification identifies which particular class/group to which a dish belongs. For example, in the present embodiment, the dish classifications include “recommended”, “low calorie”, “low sugar”, and “low fat”. The dish name is a common name of a dish. The “ingredient” or “ingredients” portion of the dish information identifies those commodities (items) to be used in the making of the dish. The “quantity” or “quantities portion” of the dish information provides the amount of each ingredient required to make the dish (of the nominal serving size).

The communication unit230is an interface that communicates with an external apparatus via a network.

The display unit240is a display device that displays various images. For example, the display unit240is a liquid crystal display.

The operation unit250is an input device that receives various user operations or inputs. For example, the operation unit250is a touch panel or hardware buttons arranged on the display unit240.

The connection unit260is an interface for connection with a reading device30. For example, the connection unit260communicates with the reading device30according to a standard of a universal serial bus (USB) or the like. For example, the reading device30is a device that reads a wireless tag by a short-range wireless communication protocol. Via the connection unit260, the commodity registration apparatus20acquires information read from the wireless tag by the reading device30.

The imaging unit270is a camera including an imaging element such as a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) or a charge coupled device (CCD).

Next, certain functions of the commodity registration apparatus20will be described.

FIG.3is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the commodity registration apparatus20. The processor provided in the control unit210of the commodity registration apparatus20loads the control program221stored in the storage unit220into the RAM, and operates according to the control program221to generate each functional unit as depicted inFIG.3. The control unit210of the commodity registration apparatus20thus provides the functions of a login control unit2001, a commodity registration unit2002, a sales floor information acquisition unit2003, a position information acquisition unit2004, a dish information acquisition unit2005, an operation control unit2006, and a display control unit2007.

The login control unit2001controls login operations of a user/operator of the commodity registration apparatus20. More particularly, the login control unit2001acquires customer information for identifying a customer who uses the apparatus. The login control unit2001is an example of an acquisition unit. For example, the customer information includes a customer code, which is identification information for identifying the customer, customer attribute information such as age and sex, and history information. In this example, history information includes a purchase history, which is a history of commodities purchased by the customer, a selection history of dishes selected by the customer, and the like.

The commodity registration unit2002registers a commodity to be sold to the customer. The commodity registration unit2002is an example of a registration unit. For example, the commodity registration unit2002registers a commodity identified by a commodity code read by the reading device30. That is, the commodity registration unit2002registers a commodity having a commodity code received from a wireless tag when the commodity is placed on the carrier portion10. In some instances, the commodity registration unit2002may acquire a commodity code by capturing an image of a code symbol (such as a bar code) with the imaging unit270. The commodity registration unit2002may then register the commodity identified by the acquired commodity code in the customer transaction. In some other instances, commodity registration unit2002may register a commodity identified by an input operation received by the operation unit250(e.g., a typing in of commodity code or a selection of a commodity from a displayed menu of options).

The sales floor information acquisition unit2003acquires information about the sales floor such as a sales floor image310(seeFIG.4), advertisement information, and display information. For example, the sales floor information acquisition unit2003acquires sales floor image310, advertisement information, and display information from a server apparatus.

The sales floor image310depicts an arrangement of display areas on the sales floor (a store layout or store map). For example, the sales floor is divided into display areas for each commodity classification, such as a fresh fish area, a meat area, and a fruit and vegetable area. In general, each commodity is displayed in the corresponding display area according to the commodity classification to which the commodity belongs. The possible display areas are not necessarily limited to the commodity classification groupings, and the display areas may be distinguished or divided according to a commodity shelf number, aisle number, or the like.

In this context, advertisement information is advertising for a commodity sold in the store. For example, the advertisement information is an image of a leaflet, print ad, or a flyer for the store. In this example, advertisement information is associated with display area identification information for identifying a display area in the store. The commodity registration apparatus20displays the advertisement information associated with particular display area identification information when selected.

In some examples, the sales floor information acquisition unit2003may acquire the advertisement information according to the customer information acquired by the login control unit2001. More specifically, the sales floor information acquisition unit2003may acquire the advertisement information for a commodity according to a selection made based on attributes of the customer as indicated by the customer information. The sales floor information acquisition unit2003may also select or acquire the advertisement information based on the history information. The sales floor information acquisition unit2003may acquire or select the advertisement information for a particular commodity based on the purchase history of the customer as indicated by the customer information.

The display information indicates a display area where a commodity is displayed. That is, the display information includes commodity information indicating a particular commodity and display area identification information indicating the display area where this commodity is displayed. The display information may further include more detailed position information indicating where within a particular display area the commodity is located.

The commodity information includes information such as a commodity code, a commodity classification, a commodity item, a quantity, a price, and an appearance image. The commodity code is identification information for identifying the commodity. The commodity classification is information indicating a classification of the commodity. For example, the commodity classification is one of the classifications: “meat”, “fruit and vegetable”, “fresh fish”. The “commodity item” information indicates certain details or aspects related to different versions or the like of the commodity available (or potentially so) at the store. For example, the commodity item information can indicate different sizes, brands, manufacturers, or the like. For example, in a particular instance, the commodity item information indicates each of the different types of curry powder available at the store. The quantity information indicates a required amount of the commodity. The price information indicating a present price of the commodity at the store. The appearance image is a photograph or the like of the commodity.

The position information acquisition unit2004acquires position information indicating a present position of the apparatus in the store. For example, the position information acquisition unit2004acquires an IP address of a wireless router or the like in the store, then acquires the position information for the apparatus based on a known/registered position of the router. In other examples, position information acquisition unit2004may acquire the position information using a positioning system such as a global navigation satellite system (GNSS). In general, the position information acquisition unit2004may acquire the position information by any available method.

The dish information acquisition unit2005may acquire dish information from a server apparatus or the like and register the dish information in the dish master222.

For example, the dish information acquisition unit2005acquires/selects dish information for a dish based on the customer information acquired by the login control unit2001. More specifically, the dish information acquisition unit2005acquires the dish information corresponding to the attributes of the customer indicated by the customer information and/or the purchase history of the customer. The dish information acquisition unit2005can acquire or select the dish information according to a preference of the customer that has been estimated based on the purchase history. The dish information acquisition unit2005may also or instead acquire the dish information according to the selection history of the dishes as indicated by the customer information. That is, the dish information acquisition unit2005attempts to acquire dish information corresponding to the taste preferences of the customer as estimated based on the selection history of the dishes.

The operation control unit2006receives various input operations from the operation unit250. For example, the operation control unit2006receives an operation of selecting a dish from a list of dishes such as a dish list image500(seeFIG.6) and an additional dish image800(seeFIG.9). The operation control unit2006is an example of a selection unit.

The display control unit2007displays various images on the display unit240.

For example, the display control unit2007displays the sales floor image310.FIG.4is a diagram showing an example of a first guide image300. The first guide image300is the sales floor image310on which an advertisement image330is superimposed. For example, the display control unit2007displays the sales floor image310showing an arrangement of display areas.

The display control unit2007displays an icon320indicating a present position of the apparatus in the store based on position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit2004. More specifically, the display control unit2007identifies a position on the sales floor image310corresponding to the acquired position information. The display control unit2007displays the icon320to mark the identified position.

The display control unit2007may superimpose the advertisement image330on the sales floor image310. More specifically, when an operation of tapping a display area on the sales floor images310is received by the operation control unit2006, the display control unit2007generates the advertisement image330showing a commodity name, a price, an appearance, and the like of an advertisement target based on advertisement information associated with the tapped display area. The display control unit2007displays the advertisement image330near the tapped area, for example.

When a commodity is registered in the sales transaction by the commodity registration unit2002, the display control unit2007displays a commodity registration image400.FIG.5is a diagram showing an example of the commodity registration image400. The commodity registration image400includes a commodity list image410, a total amount image420, and a dish button430. The commodity list image410is an image showing a list of commodities registered by the commodity registration unit2002. The total amount image420is an image showing a total amount (summed prices) for the commodities registered by the commodity registration unit2002. The dish button430is a button for displaying a list of dishes (recipes) each using at least one of the already registered commodities as an ingredient.

The pressing/selection of the dish button430is received by the operation control unit2006, the display control unit2007displays the dish list image500(seeFIG.6) based on the dish master222.FIG.6is a diagram showing an example of the dish list image500. The dish list image500provides a list of dishes each using at least one of the commodities registered by the commodity registration unit2002.

The dish list image500can show dishes for each of several dish classification tags510. A dish classification tag510is tab or the like for a particular dish classification. For example, the dish classification tags510are for classifications of “recommendation”, “low calorie”, “low sugar”, and “low fat”. The dish list image500includes an ingredient button520for each of the dishes. The ingredient button520is a button for displaying a list of commodities to be used as ingredients in the associated dish.

In this example, the dish information acquisition unit2005acquires dish information for dishes corresponding to customer information including attribute information and history information, and registers the dish information in the dish master222. Then, the display control unit2007displays the dish list image500based on dishes stored in the dish master222. In general, the display control unit2007displays the dish list image500set based on the customer information acquired by the login control unit2001. That is, the display control unit2007displays the dish classification tags510corresponding to the attribute information of the customer, purchase history of the customer, selection history of dishes of the customer, and the like.

When a commodity is registered by the commodity registration unit2002, the display control unit2007may update the dish list image500showing dishes each using the registered commodity as an ingredient. The display control unit2007may update the dish list image500to show dishes using a plurality of registered commodities. That is, the display control unit2007may narrow down dishes in the dish master222to only those dishes using multiple registered commodities as ingredients.

When a pressing of the ingredient button520is received by the operation control unit2006, the display control unit2007displays a dish ingredient image600. In other words, when a dish is selected by use of an ingredient button520, the display control unit2007displays the dish ingredient image600corresponding to the selected dish.FIG.7is a diagram showing an example of a dish ingredient image600. The dish ingredient image600includes an ingredient list image610, a sales floor button620, and an additional dish button630.

The ingredient list image610is a list of commodities to be used as ingredients in the selected dish. The ingredient list image610indicates position display, a commodity name, a quantity, and collection necessity for each commodity on the ingredient list. A position display field includes a check box for setting whether to display, on the sales floor image310or the like, a position where the commodity is located. The position display field of the ingredient list image610as shown inFIG.7is set to display positions where “onion” and “curry powder” are located. A commodity name field is for displaying a name of the commodity. A quantity field is for displaying a quantity of the commodity to be used as an ingredient of the dish. A collection necessity field is for displaying whether the commodity is collected. In other words, the collection necessity field is for displaying whether collection of the commodity is still required. When the corresponding commodity is registered by the commodity registration unit2002, the display control unit2007displays that the commodity has been collected in the collection necessity field.

The sales floor button620is a button for receiving a request for displaying of the sales floor image310. That is, the sales floor button620is a button for receiving an operation for displaying the sales floor image310showing a position of a commodity for which the check box of the position display field is checked.

The additional dish button630is a button for receiving a request to display other dishes which can be prepared using commodities estimated to still remain after the present dish has been prepared. That is, the additional dish button630is a button for receiving an operation for displaying dishes that might be prepared using any remaining commodities after the dish indicated by the dish ingredient image600has been prepared.

The dish ingredient image600is not limited to just inclusion of a listing of commodities to be used as ingredients for the dish, but may additionally include recipe details related to the cooking method for the dish or the like. The dish ingredient image600is not necessarily limited to ingredients sold in the store, and may include other ingredients, such as common items (household staples) expected to be available to the customer at home or the like.

FIG.8is a diagram showing an example of a second guide image700. The second guide image700is a diagram showing an example of the sales floor image310on which commodity images340are superimposed. That is, the display control unit2007displays a position where a commodity (ingredient) not yet registered by the commodity registration unit2002is displayed. The display control unit2007is an example of the second display control unit.

The display control unit2007displays the commodity image340for a commodity in association with a position where the commodity is located in the sales floor image310. The commodity image340can be a picture of the commodity or other representation. For example, the display control unit2007generates the commodity image340based on commodity information including an appearance image. Accordingly, the customer can grasp the position where the particular commodity indicated by the commodity image340is located within the store.

The display control unit2007displays the commodity image340for any commodity with a checked check box in the position display field of the ingredient list image610. In other words, the display control unit2007does not display the commodity images340for any ingredient without a checked check box. Accordingly, the display control unit2007prevents the commodity images340for items not selected by the customer from being displayed.

When there are a plurality of items (options) of the corresponding commodity, the display control unit2007may display the commodity image340for each item (option). InFIG.8, since there are four items of curry powder, the display control unit2007display the commodity image340with the four items (options). Accordingly, the customer can select a commodity according to personal preference.

FIG.9is a diagram showing an example of the additional dish image800. The additional dish image800displays dishes which can be prepared using those registered commodities remaining after the dish indicated by the dish ingredient image600is prepared.

The additional dish image800includes an ingredient button520for each dish. The ingredient button520is a button for receiving an operation for displaying ingredients of the corresponding dish. For example, when the ingredient button520is pressed, the display control unit2007displays a dish ingredient image600for the selected dish.

Next, certain aspects of a shopping support processing method executed by a commodity registration apparatus20according to an embodiment will be described.FIG.10is a flowchart of the shopping support processing executed by the commodity registration apparatus20.

The login control unit2001executes login processing for a customer (ACT1). In other words, the login control unit2001acquires customer information including history information and attribute information based on the login operation of the customer.

The display control unit2007then displays the sales floor image310with the icon320showing a position of the commodity registration apparatus20(ACT2). When a display area is tapped on the sales floor image310, the display control unit2007displays an advertisement image330based on advertisement information associated with the tapped display area.

The commodity registration unit2002determines whether commodity registration processing for registering a commodity code has been executed (ACT3).

The display control unit2007displays the commodity registration image400showing a list of commodities registered in the transaction (ACT4).

The operation control unit2006determines whether the dish button430has been pressed (ACT5). When the dish button430has not been pressed (ACT5; No), the commodity registration apparatus20returns to ACT3.

When the dish button430has been pressed (ACT5; Yes), the display control unit2007displays a dish list image500showing a list of dishes, each of which can be prepared using the commodities already registered by the commodity registration unit2002as ingredients (ACT6).

The operation control unit2006next determines whether the ingredient button520has been pressed (ACT7). When the ingredient button520has not been pressed (ACT7; No), the commodity registration apparatus20waits.

When the ingredient button520has been pressed (ACT7; Yes), the display control unit2007displays a dish ingredient image600showing commodities to be used as ingredients of the dish (ACT8).

The operation control unit2006determines whether the additional dish button630has been pressed (ACT9). When the additional dish button630has been pressed (ACT9; Yes), the display control unit2007displays an additional dish image800showing a list of dishes, each of which can be prepared using remaining commodities (ACT10). Then, the commodity registration apparatus20returns to ACT7.

When the additional dish button630has not been pressed (ACT9; No), the operation control unit2006determines whether an operation the sales floor button620has been pressed (ACT11). If not received (ACT11; No), the commodity registration apparatus20returns to ACT9.

If the sales floor button620has been pressed (ACT11; Yes), the display control unit2007identifies the commodity image340of any commodity with a checked check box in the position display field of the ingredient list image610as a display target (ACT12). Then, in ACT2, the display control unit2007displays a sales floor image310with the added display target commodity images340superimposed.

As described above, a commodity registration apparatus20according to the present embodiment registers a commodity to be sold to the customer. The commodity registration apparatus20displays a list of dishes each using, as an ingredient, at least one of the commodities to be sold to the customer. Then, when a dish is selected, the commodity registration apparatus20displays a position where a commodity not yet registered among the ingredients of the dish is located in the store. Accordingly, even if the customer does not create a list of commodities to be purchased (shopping list) before visiting the store, the customer can identify the necessary commodities to be purchased for preparation of various dishes. Further, even if the customer is unfamiliar with store layout or item locations on the sales floor, the customer can be provided information indicating the relevant item locations of the commodities to be purchased. Therefore, the commodity registration apparatus20can support shopping on the sales floor to improve convenience for the customers.

In an embodiment, the commodity registration apparatus20includes the login control unit2001, the commodity registration unit2002, the sales floor information acquisition unit2003, the position information acquisition unit2004, the dish information acquisition unit2005, the operation control unit2006, and the display control unit2007. However, in other examples, all or some of the functions of the login control unit2001, the commodity registration unit2002, the sales floor information acquisition unit2003, the position information acquisition unit2004, the dish information acquisition unit2005, the operation control unit2006, and the display control unit2007may be provided in an external server apparatus or the like. In such instances, the commodity registration apparatus20may, in essence, function as a browser or the like.

A commodity registration apparatus20may transmit customer information and position information to a server apparatus. The server apparatus may then generate all or some of the first guide image300, the commodity registration image400, the dish list image500, the dish ingredient image600, the second guide image700, and the additional dish image800, and cause the commodity registration apparatus20to display these generated images as appropriate. Then, upon receiving various input operations from the customer, the commodity registration apparatus20transmits each input to the server apparatus. In this manner, the commodity registration apparatus20may implement the above functions by cooperating with a server apparatus or the like.

In an embodiment, the commodity registration apparatus20is mounted on a shopping cart1. However, in other examples, the commodity registration apparatus20may be an information processing apparatus such as a smart phone or a tablet terminal that is not fixed to the shopping cart1. Furthermore, in some examples, the commodity registration apparatus20may be a smart phone or a tablet terminal owned by the customer and brought to the store.

The program executed by apparatuses according to the described embodiments and modifications may be incorporated in advance in a storage medium (ROM or storage device) of the apparatus itself an provided to a user, but the embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the program may be separately provided by being recorded in a non-transitory, computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a digital versatile disk (DVD) as a file in an installable format or an executable format. The program(s) of an embodiment may be provided separately from the apparatus and downloaded, distributed, or accessed through a LAN, the Internet, or other communication network.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope of the disclosure.