Patent Publication Number: US-2023142475-A1

Title: Information processing apparatus and information processing method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-184349, filed on Nov. 11, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     An embodiment to be described here generally relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the past, a system for improving the sales of products replenished in sales floors in stores selling products has been proposed. As an example, a system that recognizes the products displayed in a sales floor by imaging the situation of the sales floor and backyard and advertises the recognized products by signage or the like disposed in the store has been proposed. 
     However, the existing system advertises a product when the product is replenished in the sales floor, and is not always satisfactory for customers who want to more quickly know information regarding the products to be sold. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram showing an outline of an advertisement information delivery system including an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram showing a data configuration of a member master stored in a memory of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram showing a data configuration of a product master stored in the memory of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram showing a data configuration of a purchase information management file stored in the memory of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram showing a data configuration of an inventory management file stored in the memory of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram showing a data configuration of an order management file stored in the memory of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  8    is a diagram showing a data configuration of a property classification file stored in the memory of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  9    is a diagram showing a data configuration of a product property information file stored in the memory of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  10    is a diagram showing a data configuration of a consumer property information file stored in the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  11    is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a controller of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  12    is a flowchart showing consumer-property-information-management processing by the controller of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  13    is a flowchart showing advertisement information output processing by the controller of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  14    is a flowchart showing order information reception processing by the controller of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  15    is a block diagram showing a configuration of a memory of an information processing apparatus according to a modification of the embodiment; and 
         FIG.  16    is a diagram showing a data configuration of an individual-item-property-information file stored in the memory of the information processing apparatus according to the modification of the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to an embodiment, an information processing apparatus acquires information regarding a product from a store sever that manages inventory information of products in a store and controls delivery of advertisement information to an information terminal of a consumer. The information processing apparatus includes a communication device, a memory, and a controller. The communication device communicates with the store server and the information terminal. The memory includes a product master file for storing product information regarding a product. The controller acquires, where a product had arrived at the store, product identification information for identifying the arrived product from the store server via the communication device. Further, the controller outputs advertisement information based on the product information stored in the product master file in association with the acquired product identification information to the information terminal via the communication device. 
     Hereinafter, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference symbols indicate the same or similar portions. Note that the embodiment is not limited to the following description. For example, in the embodiment described below, an example in which an information processing apparatus is used as a headquarters server managed by the headquarters of a company that operates a plurality of stores will be described, but the information processing apparatus may be a store server that manages a store. Further, the information processing apparatus may be a server that is connected to servers of a plurality of companies and manages information regarding these companies. 
       FIG.  1    is a diagram showing an outline of an advertisement information delivery system  1 . The advertisement information delivery system  1  according to this embodiment is applied to a company that operates a plurality of stores. The advertisement information delivery system  1  includes a headquarters server  2  provided in headquarters  51 , a store server  3  provided in each store  52 , and a user terminal  4  owned by a member (hereinafter, referred to also as the “consumer”) of a company that operates the respective stores  52 . 
     The headquarters server  2  is communicably connected to the store server  3  of each of the stores  52  via a network such as the Internet and a dedicated line. Further, the headquarters server  2  is communicably connected to v via a network such as the Internet. 
     The headquarters server  2  functions as an inventory management server that manages the inventory of each store  52 , an advertisement delivery server that outputs advertisement information to the user terminal  4 , a consumer management server that manages information regarding a consumer, and an order management server that manages an order from the user terminal  4 . 
     Specifically, the headquarters server  2  acquires, when a product had arrived at each store  52 , product information regarding the product that has arrived (hereinafter, referred to also as the “arrived product”) and purchase information of a product traded at each store  52  from the store server  3 , and manages the inventory state of products in each store  52  on the basis of these pieces of information. 
     Further, the headquarters server  2  transmits, upon acquiring the product information of the arrived product from the store server  3  when the product had arrived, the advertisement information relating to the arrived product to the user terminal  4 . For example, the headquarters server  2  transmits, at the time point of the arrival of a product, the advertisement information of the arrived product to the user terminal  4  of a consumer who matches the properties of the arrived product, in other words, a consumer who is thought to have a high possibility of purchasing the arrived product. Here, the phrase “when a product had arrived” includes the period from when the product is delivered to the store  52  to when the product is displayed. In this embodiment, the headquarters server  2  acquires product information when the product information is read by a sensor at the time of receiving a delivered product in the store  52 . In other words, the headquarters server  2  promptly acquires, when a product is delivered to the store  52 , product information of the product. 
     As a result, the headquarters server  2  is capable of more quickly providing advertisement information to a consumer by utilizing product information of the arrived product, which is information obtained when a product has arrived and is for managing the inventory state of each store  52 . Therefore, the store  52  is capable of achieving a sales strategy such as delivering advertisement information to excellent customers at an earlier stage. Further, the consumer can order, using the user terminal  4 , the arrived product that matches himself/herself more quickly, e.g., before the arrived product is displayed on a sales floor, by acquiring the advertisement information described above. 
     The headquarters server  2  manages information regarding properties of a consumer and the like on the basis of the purchase information acquired from the store server  3 . For example, the headquarters server  2  registers and updates, from information registered by a consumer himself/herself and the purchasing tendency of the consumer, property information (preference, purchase time zone, type of purchased product, and the like) of the consumer. Further, the headquarters server  2  manages the orders received from the user terminal  4 . The headquarters server  2  is an example of the information processing apparatus. The headquarters server  2  may include a plurality of computers and may be realized by cloud computing. 
     The store server  3  is provided in each store  52 . The store server  3  is communicably connected to a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal  5  and a sensor  6  installed in the store  52  via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The POS terminal  5  executes payment processing of products purchased by a consumer in the store  52 . The sensor  6  includes, for example, a scanner and an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reading device and reads, from the code symbol such as the barcode and the two-dimensional code, the wireless tag, or the like attached to the arrived product, the product code, the product information, or the individual code of the product. The product code is an example of the product identification information, and the individual code is an example of the individual-item identification information. 
     The store server  3  acquires, from the POS terminal  5 , purchase information including a member ID, a product code and product information of the purchased product, a transaction amount, and the like, and manages sales information of the store  52 . Further, the store server  3  manages inventory information of products in the store  52  on the basis of the product information of the arrived product acquired from the sensor  6  and the sales information described above. When the store server  3  acquires the product information of the arrived product from the sensor  6 , the store server  3  immediately transmits the product information to the headquarters server  2 . Further, the store server  3  transmits the purchase information to the headquarters server  2  every time a transaction is made. 
     Note that in this embodiment, the store  52  is in a form of selling products in the store  52 , e.g., a product is sold for a consumer who came to the store after ordering the product by the user terminal  4  in advance or a consumer who came to the store without ordering the product. However, the sales form of products is not limited thereto, and may be a sales form by only so-called Internet sales in which the order and payment are completed by the user terminal  4  and the product is delivered to the consumer&#39;s home or a sales form in which sales at the store  52  and the Internet sales are combined with each other. 
     The user terminal  4  is an information terminal such as a smartphone and a PC (Personal Computer) owned by a consumer. The e-mail address of the user terminal  4  is registered in the headquarters server  2  when the consumer registers as a member, and the user terminal  4  is capable of receiving advertisement information from the headquarters server  2 . Further, the user terminal  4  is capable of also ordering a product in each store  52  by accessing the headquarters server  2 . 
     Next, the headquarters server  2  will be described in detail.  FIG.  2    is a block diagram showing a main hardware configuration of the headquarters server  2 . The headquarters server  2  includes a controller  20 , a memory  21 , a display device  22 , an input device  23 , and a communication device  24 . The controller  20 , the memory  21 , the display device  22 , the input device  23 , and the communication device  24  are connected to each other via a bus  25  or the like. 
     The controller  20  includes a computer including a processor  201 , a ROM (Read Only Memory)  202 , and a RAM (Random Access Memory)  203 . The processor  201 , the ROM  202 , and the RAM  203  are connected to each other via the bus  25 . 
     The processor  201  is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor  201  will be referred to as the CPU  201  in some cases. The CPU  201  controls the operation of the entire headquarters server  2 . The ROM  202  stores various programs such as a program used for driving the CPU  201  and various types of data. The RAM  203  is used as a work area of the CPU  201 , and expands various programs and various types of data stored in the ROM  202  and the memory  21 . When the CPU  201  operates in accordance with the control program that is stored in the ROM  202  or the memory  21  and expanded into the RAM  203 , the controller  20  executes various types of control processing of the headquarters server  2 . 
     The memory  21  includes a storage medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and a flash memory, and maintains the stored content even when the power is cut off. The memory  21  stores a control program  211 , a member master  212 , a product master  213 , a purchase information management file  214 , an inventory management file  215 , an order management file  216 , a property classification file  217 , a product property information file  218 , and a consumer property information file  219 . 
     The control program  211  includes a program that causes the headquarters server  2  to function as an inventory management server that manages the inventory of each store  52 , a program that causes the headquarters server  2  to function as an advertisement delivery server that outputs advertisement information to the user terminal  4 , a program that causes the headquarters server  2  to function as a consumer management server that manages information regarding a consumer, a program that causes the headquarters server  2  to function as an order management server that manages an order from the user terminal  4 , and the like. 
     The member master  212  is a master file that stores information regarding a consumer who is a member of a company.  FIG.  3    is a diagram showing a data configuration of the member master  212 . Each piece of data registered in the member master  212  is associated with information indicating a member ID, a name, a gender, an address, an e-mail address, a preference, and a favorite store. Each piece of information registered in the member master  212  is information provided from a customer himself/herself when he/she registers as a member. 
     A member ID for identifying a member is registered in the item of the member ID. The member ID is an example of the consumer identification information. Information indicating the name of the member is registered in the item of the name. Information indicating the gender of the member is registered in the item of the gender. Information indicating the address of the member is registered in the item of the address. The e-mail address of the user terminal  4  owned by the member is registered in the item of the e-mail address. 
     Information relating to the preference of the member is registered in the item of the preference. The information relating to the preference is information relating to a product sold by the store  52 . The information relating to the preference is, for example, information indicating vegetables, meat, or fish like in the case where the store  52  is a supermarket, or information indicating colors, types, or materials in the case where the store  52  is a clothing store. In this embodiment, the store  52  will be described as a supermarket. Information indicating a store frequently used by the member is registered in the item of the favorite store. The information relating to the preference and the information relating to the favorite store can be used as property information indicating the properties of a consumer described below. 
     The product master  213  is a master file for storing the product sold in each store  52  in association with the product code and the product information. Since the product sold in each store  52  is changed daily, the product master  213  is updated as appropriate.  FIG.  4    is a diagram showing a data configuration of the product master  213 . Each piece of data registered in the product master  213  is associated with information indicating a product code, a product name, a price, and an image. The product master  213  is an example of the product file for storing product identification information and product information relating to a product in association with each other. Further, the information indicating a product name, a price, and an image is an example of the product information. 
     A product code for identifying a product is registered in the item of the product code. Information indicating the name of a product is registered in the item of the product name. Information indicating the unit price of a product is registered in the item of the price. The price may be an amount of the pre-tax price of a product including the consumption tax or may be the pre-tax price including no consumption tax. Data of a product image is registered in the item of the image. The product image is a photograph, an illustration, or the like. 
     The purchase information management file  214  is a file for managing the purchase information of each store  52  for each transaction. The purchase information management file  214  is updated on the basis of the purchase information received from the store server  3  o each store  52 .  FIG.  5    is a diagram showing a data configuration of the purchase information management file  214 . Each piece of data registered in the purchase information management file  214  is associated with information indicating a store code, a store name, a member ID, a transaction date and time, a transaction amount, and a product code. 
     A store code for identifying a store where a transaction has been made is registered in the item of the store code. Information indicating the name of a store where a transaction has been made is registered in the item of the store name. A member ID for identifying a consumer who has purchased a product in the transaction is registered in the item of the member ID. Information indicating the date and time when the transaction was made, i.e., the date and time when a consumer purchased a product, is registered in the item of the transaction date and time. 
     Information indicating a transaction amount of one transaction is registered in the item of the transaction amount. A product code of the traded product is registered in the item of the product code. In the case where a plurality of product has been purchased in one transaction, a plurality of product codes is registered in the item of the product code. Note that in the case where a company manages products in individual item units as in a modification described below, the individual code for identifying the individual item is also registered in the purchase information management file  214 . 
     The inventory management file  215  is a file for managing the inventory state of products in each store  52 . In other words, the inventory management file  215  stores inventory information indicating the stock quantity of each product present in each store  52 . The inventory management file  215  is updated on the basis of the product code and purchase information of the arrived product received from the store server  3  of each store  52 .  FIG.  6    is a diagram showing a data configuration of the inventory management file  215 . Each piece of data registered in the inventory management file  215  is associated with information indicating a store code, a product code, and the stock quantity. Note that the inventory management file  215  may store the arrival date and time and the arrival quantity in association with the data, and may manage the stock quantity for each product arrived at one time. 
     A store code for identifying a store that sells a product is registered in the item of the store code. A product code for identifying a product is registered in the item of the product code. Information indicating the stock quantity of the product identified by the corresponding product code is registered in the item of the stock quantity. When the product code of the arrived product and information indicating the arrival quantity have been received from the store server  3 , the stock quantity corresponding to the product code is added by the arrival quantity. Further, when purchase information including the product code and the sales quantity has been received from the store server  3 , the stock quantity corresponding to the product code is subtracted by the sales quantity. Note that in the case where a company manages products in individual item units, the individual code may be registered also in the inventory management file  215 . 
     The order management file  216  is a file for managing orders received from the user terminal  4  for products sold in each store  52 . In the order management file  216 , order data is registered when an order has been received from the user terminal  4  and the order data is updated when information indicating that a product has been shipped has been received from the store server  3 .  FIG.  7    is a diagram showing a data configuration of the order management file  216 . Each piece of registered in the order management file  216  is associated with information indicating a reception date, a member ID, a store code, a product code, and a shipping date. 
     Information indicating the date when an order has been received from the user terminal  4  is registered in the item of the reception date. A member ID for identifying a consumer who has ordered a product is registered in the item of the member ID. A store code for identifying a store designated by the consumer who has ordered a product is registered in the item of the store code. The consumer who has ordered a product can purchase the product at the store identified by the store code. Note that in the case where Internet sales in which the ordered product is delivered to the consumer&#39;s home is performed, the controller  20  stores a store code in accordance with the inventory state of each store  52 . In other words, in the case of Internet sales, the store code is registered not by the consumer who has ordered a product but by a company that has received an order. 
     A product code for identifying the ordered product is registered in the item of the product code. Information indicating the date when the ordered product was shipped to the consumer is registered in the item of the shipping date. The information indicating the shipping date is registered on the basis of shipping information or purchase information received from the store server  3  of the store identified by the corresponding store code. 
     The property classification file  217  is a file that defines property information used for matching between a product and a consumer executed for selecting a consumer to which advertisement information of the arrived product is transmitted. The property classification file  217  stores information obtained by dividing the property information into major classification and minor classification. Note that the property classification file  217  may classify the property information into more detailed classifications, e.g., major classification, middle classification, and minor classification. 
     The property information only needs to one capable of matching a product and a consumer with each other and can be arbitrarily set by a company that operates the store  52 . For example, as property information, information relating to the content of a product or information relating to the sales time zone can be adopted. It can be said that the property information of major classification and minor classification registered in the property classification file  217  is property information indicating the properties of a product and property information indicating the properties of a consumer. 
     As an example, a vegetable can be set in in the major classification of the property information relating to the content of a product, and the type of the vegetable such as a lettuce and a tomato can be set in the corresponding minor classification. Alternatively, meat can be set in the major classification, and the type of the meat such as beef and pork can be set in the corresponding minor classification. Further, fish can be set in the major classification, and the type of the fish such as tuna and saury in the corresponding minor classification. Further, a meal time zone can be set in the major classification of property information relating to the sales time zone, and a breakfast time zone, a lunch time zone, and a dinner time zone can be set in the corresponding minor classification. 
     The product property information file  218  is a file for storing property information predetermined by a company for each product, and stores a product code that is product identification information and property information indicating the properties of a product in association with each other.  FIG.  9    is a diagram showing a data configuration of the product property information file  218 . Each piece of data registered in the product property information file  218  is associated with information indicating a product code, a property  1 , a property  2 , and a property  3 . Note that the number of pieces of property information determined in advance in accordance with the product code is not limited to three, and can be arbitrarily set. Further, the number of pieces of property information may be changed for each product. 
     A product code for identifying a product is registered in the item of the product code. Property information indicating the property of a product is registered in the item of each of the property  1 , the property  2 , and the property  3 . The property information registered in the item of each of the property  1 , the property  2 , and the property  3  is property information stored in the major classification of the property classification file  217  (see  FIG.  8   ) or property information stored in the minor classification. 
     In the case where the product code indicates “organic vegetable lunch box”, for example, the following information is registered in the item of each of the property  1 , the property  2 , and the property  3 . 
     Since the product is a type of lunch box, information indicating a “lunch box” is registered in the item of the property  1 . Further, since the product mainly includes vegetables, information indicating “vegetables” is registered in the item of the property  2 . Further, since the product is often purchased in a meal time zone, information indicating a “meal time zone” is registered in the item of the property  3 . Note that in the case where the organic vegetable lunch box is sold only during a dinner time zone, a “dinner time zone” corresponding to the minor classification of the “meal time zone” in the property classification file  217  may be registered in the item of the property  3 . 
     The consumer property information file  219  is a file for storing property information for each consumer, and stores a member ID that is consumer identification information and property information in association with each other. The consumer property information file  219  is generated and updated on the basis of the information of the member master  212  registered by the consumer and the purchase information acquired from the store server  3  of each store  52 .  FIG.  10    is a diagram showing a data configuration of the consumer property information file  219 . Each piece of data registered in the consumer property information file  219  is associated with information indicating a member ID, the property  1 , the property  2 , the property  3 , a property  4 , and a property  5 . Note that the number of pieces of property information set in association with the member ID is not limited to five, and can be arbitrarily set. Further, the number of pieces of property information may be changed for each consumer. 
     A member ID for identifying a consumer is registered in the item of the member ID. Property information indicting the property of the consumer is registered in the item of each of the property  1 , the property  2 , the property  3 , the property  4 , and the property  5 . The property information registered in the item of each of the property  1 , the property  2 , the property  3 , the property  4 , and the property  5  is the property information stored in the major classification of the property classification file  217  (see  FIG.  8   ) or the property information stored in the minor classification, similarly to the property information registered in the product property information file  218  (see  FIG.  9   ). This makes it possible to match a product and a consumer with each other using the property information. 
     For example, pieces of information registered in the items of the preference and the favorite store of the member master  212  (see  FIG.  3   ) are registered in the items of the property  1  and the property  2 . In more detail, information indicating “vegetables” registered in the item of the preference of the member master  212  is registered in the item of the property  1 , and information indicating a “store A” registered in the item of the favorite store of the member master  212  is registered in the item of the property  2 . 
     Further, information registered in the item of each of the property  3 , the property  4 , and the property  5  is specific information selected as a result of analyzing the purchase information acquired from the store server  3  of each store  52 . For example, the controller  20  extracts all pieces of property information corresponding to all the products purchased by the consumer identified by the member ID in a predetermined time period. The controller  20  then registers the top three pieces of property information with a large number of extractions are registered in the items of the property  3 , the property  4 , and the property  5  of the consumer property information file  219 . As a result, for example, a “lunch box”, a “frozen food”, and a “dinner time zone” are respectively registered in the items of the property  3 , the property  4 , and the property  5 . Note that the method of analyzing purchase information is not limited to the above. Further, the property information selected on the basis of purchase information is updated periodically (e.g., once a month). 
     The hardware configuration of the headquarters server  2  will be described with reference to  FIG.  2    again. 
     The display device  22  is, for example, a liquid crystal panel and displays various types of information. The display device  22  displays, for example, the information stored in the member master  212 , the product master  213 , the purchase information management file  214 , the inventory management file  215 , the order management file  216 , the property classification file  217 , the product property information file  218 , and the consumer property information file  219  as necessary. 
     The input device  23  inputs information to the controller  20 . The input device  23  includes, for example, a keyboard, a touch panel, and a mouth. 
     The communication device  24  is an interface for communicating with an external apparatus such as the store server  3  of each store  52  and the user terminal  4  of each consumer. The controller  20  is capable of transmitting/receiving information (data) to/from an external apparatus by being connected to the external apparatus via the communication device  24 . 
     Subsequently, the functional configuration of the controller  20  of the headquarters server  2  will be described.  FIG.  11    is a block diagram showing a main functional configuration of the controller  20  of the headquarters server  2 . When the CPU  201  operates in accordance with the control program stored in the ROM  202  or the memory  21 , the controller  20  functions as an acquisition unit  2001 , an inventory management unit  2002 , a reception unit  2003 , an order management unit  2004 , a member property management unit  2005 , a selection unit  2006 , a generation unit  2007 , and an output unit  2008 . Note that the respective functions may be realized by hardware such as a dedicated circuit. 
     The acquisition unit  2001  of the controller  20  acquires product identification information for identifying a product that has arrived. Specifically, the acquisition unit  2001  acquires, from the store server  3 , arrival information including the product code read by the sensor  6  from the code symbol (barcode, two-dimensional code, etc.), the wireless tag, or the like attached to the arrived product. The arrival information acquired by the acquisition unit  2001  includes also an arrival code indicating that a product has arrived, a store code indicating the store  52  at which a product has arrived, an individual code for identifying the individual item of the arrived product, and information indicating the arrival date and time. 
     Further, the acquisition unit  2001  of the controller  20  acquires, from the store server  3 , purchase information including consumer identification information and product identification information of a product purchased by the consumer identified by the consumer identification information. The purchase information is purchase information relating to a transaction paid by the POS terminal  5  of the store  52 . Note that in the case of Internet sales, the acquisition unit  2001  acquires, for example, purchase information relating to credit card payment from the user terminal  4 . The acquisition unit  2001  is an example of the purchase information acquisition unit. It can be said that the purchase information is shipping information indicating that the product ordered by the user terminal  4  has been shipped to the consumer. 
     The inventory management unit  2002  of the controller  20  updates, on the basis of the product identification information acquired by the acquisition unit  2001 , the inventory management file  215  for storing the inventory information of products. Further, the inventory management unit  2002  updates the inventory management file  215  on the basis of the purchase information acquired by the acquisition unit  2001 . In more detail, the inventory management unit  2002  registers various types of information in the inventory management file  215  or updates the various types of registered information on the basis of the product code of the arrived product acquired by the acquisition unit  2001 , number-of-products information corresponding to the product code, the store code of the store at which a product has arrived, and the like. 
     Further, the inventory management unit  2002  updates, on the basis of the product code included in the purchase information acquired by the acquisition unit  2001 , the number-of-products information corresponding to the product code, the store code of the store where the product has been sold, and the like, the various types of information registered in the inventory management file  215 . 
     The reception unit  2003  of the controller  20  receives order information from the user terminal  4 . The order information includes a member ID of a consumer who has ordered a product, a product code of the ordered product, number-of-products information indicating the number of ordered products, a store code of a store where the consumer receives the product, and the like. 
     The order management unit  2004  of the controller  20  manages the order information received by the reception unit  2003 . Specifically, the order management unit  2004  registers the order information received by the reception unit  2003  in the order management file  216 . Further, the order management unit  2004  recognizes, on the basis of the member ID, the product code, the transaction date and time, and the like included in the purchase information acquired by the acquisition unit  2001 , that the ordered product has been shipped. The order management unit  2004  then registers information indicating the shipping date in the item of the shipping date of the order management file  216 . 
     The member property management unit  2005  of the controller  20  updates the consumer property information file  219  on the basis of the purchase information acquired by the acquisition unit  2001 . The member property management unit  2005  analyzes, on the basis of the purchase history of a consumer, the properties of the consumer. The member property management unit  2005  manages the properties of the consumer by the consumer property information file  219 . 
     Specifically, the member property management unit  2005  registers, in the items of the property  1  and the property  2  of the consumer property information file  219 , information registered in the items of the preference and the favorite store of the member master  212 . Further, the member property management unit  2005  extracts, on the basis of the purchase information in a predetermined time period (e.g., one month) acquired from the store server  3  of each store  52 , all pieces of property information corresponding to all the products purchased by one consumer. The member property management unit  2005  then registers the top three pieces of property information with a large number of extractions in the items of the property  3 , the property  4 , and the property  5  of the consumer property information file  219  or updates them. The member property management unit  2005  periodically updates each of the items of the property  3 , the property  4 , and the property  5  of the consumer property information file  219 . The member property management unit  2005  is an example of the updating unit. 
     When the acquisition unit  2001  has acquired product identification information, the selection unit  2006  of the controller  20  refers to the product property information file  218  and the consumer property information file  219  to select a consumer to be provided with advertisement information. As described above, the product property information file  218  stores the product identification information and property information indicating the properties of a product in association with each other. The consumer property information file  219  stores consumer identification information for identifying a consumer and the property information in association with each other. 
     Specifically, the selection unit  2006  extracts, from the product property information file  218 , the property information corresponding to the product code acquired from the acquisition unit  2001 . The selection unit  2006  then selects the consumer identified by the consumer identification information corresponding to the extracted property information in the consumer property information file  219 . The selection unit  2006  is an example of the first selection unit. 
     Further, when the acquisition unit  2001  has acquired the individual-item identification information, the selection unit  2006  may refer to an individual-item-property-information file  220  (see  FIG.  15   ) and the consumer property information file  219  to select a consumer to be provided with advertisement information. As described above, the individual-item-property-information file  220  stores the individual-item identification information and the property information indicating properties of a product in association with each other. 
     Specifically, the selection unit  2006  extracts, from the individual-item-property-information file  220 , the property information corresponding to the individual code acquired by the acquisition unit  2001 . The selection unit  2006  then selects the consumer identified by the consumer identification information corresponding to the extracted property information in the consumer property information file  219 . The selection unit  2006  is also an example of the second selection unit. 
     The generation unit  2007  of the controller  20  extracts, from the product file for storing product identification information and product information relating to a product in association with each other (the product master  213 ), the product information corresponding to the product identification information acquired by the acquisition unit  2001 . The generation unit  2007  then generates advertisement information on the basis of the product information. 
     Specifically, the generation unit  2007  extracts, from the product master  213 , product information including the product name, the price, the product image, and the like corresponding to the product code acquired by the acquisition unit  2001 . The generation unit  2007  then takes in the product information into, for example, a preset format and generates advertisement information to be transmitted to the user terminal  4 . The format can be arbitrarily set. Note that when the acquisition unit  2001  has acquired the product code of the arrived product, the generation unit  2007  may set a format of the advertisement information. Further, the generation unit  2007  may generate advertisement information including discount information or the like acquired by the acquisition unit  2001  from the store server  3 . 
     When the acquisition unit  2001  has acquired the product identification information, the output unit  2008  of the controller  20  outputs, to the user terminal  4  of the consumer, the advertisement information of the product identified by the product identification information. Specifically, the output unit  2008  outputs the advertisement information generated by the generation unit  2007  to the user terminal  4  of the consumer selected by the selection unit  2006 . 
     Next, consumer-property-information-management processing executed by the headquarters server  2  having the configuration described above will be described. The consumer-property-information-management processing is processing for updating the consumer property information file  219  (see  FIG.  10   ).  FIG.  12    is a flowchart showing consumer-property-information-management processing executed by the controller  20 . 
     In Step S 1  shown in  FIG.  12   , the controller  20  determines whether or not a preset update date (e.g., the first day of each month) has been reached. In the case where it is determined that the update date has not been reached (No in Step S 1 ), the processing of the controller  20  returns to the processing of Step S 1  and stands by. The controller  20  determines, on the basis of the output of a timekeeping unit (not shown) included in the headquarters server  2 , whether or not the update date has been reached. 
     In the case where it is determined that the update date has been reached (Yes in Step S 1 ), the processing of the controller proceeds to Step S 2 . In Step S 2 , the member property management unit  2005  of the controller  20  extracts the purchase information of one member during a predetermined time period (e.g., one month in the previous month) from the purchase information management file  214 . Subsequently, in Step S 3 , the member property management unit  2005  of the controller  20  extracts, from the product property information file  218 , the property information corresponding to the product code included in the extracted purchase information. The extraction of property information is performed on all product codes included in the purchase information. That is, the member property management unit  2005  performs extraction of property information on all products purchased by one member during a predetermined time period. 
     In Step S 4 , the member property management unit  2005  of the controller  20  selects the top-three property information with a large number of extractions of the pieces of extracted property information described above (Step S 3 ). Subsequently, in Step S 5 , the member property management unit  2005  of the controller  20  updates the consumer property information file  219 . Specifically, the member property management unit  2005  overwrites the property information selected in Step S 4  in the items of the property  3 , the property  4 , and the property  5  corresponding to the member ID of one member whose purchase information has been extracted. 
     Subsequently, in Step S 6 , the controller  20  determines whether or not the update of pieces of property information of all members registered in the consumer property information file  219  has been completed. In the case where it is determined that the update of pieces of property information of all members has not been completed (No in Step S 6 ), the processing of the controller  20  returns to Step S 2 . The processing of Step S 2  to Step S 6  is repeated until the pieces of property information of all members are updated. In the case where it is determined that the update of pieces of property information of all members has been completed (Yes in Step S 6 ), the controller  20  ends the consumer-property-information-management processing. 
     The controller  20  is capable of managing property information corresponding to the change of the consumer&#39;s taste or the like by periodically updating the consumer property information file  219  by the consumer-property-information-management processing. 
     Subsequently, the advertisement information output processing executed by the headquarters server  2  will be described.  FIG.  13    is a flowchart showing advertisement information output processing by the controller  20 . 
     In Step S 11  shown in  FIG.  13   , the controller  20  determines whether or not the acquisition unit  2001  has acquired arrival information and a product code from the store server  3 . In the case where it is determined that the acquisition unit  2001  has not acquired arrival information and a product code (No in Step S 11 ), the processing of the controller  20  returns to the processing of Step S 11  and stands by. 
     In the case where it is determined that the acquisition unit  2001  has acquired arrival information and a product code (Yes in Step S 11 ), the processing of the controller  20  proceeds to Step S 12 . In Step S 12 , the inventory management unit  2002  of the controller  20  updates the inventory management file  215 . The inventory management unit  2002  updates the inventory management file  215  on the basis of the product code acquired by the acquisition unit  2001  and the number-of-products information acquired together with the product code. 
     In more detail, the inventory management unit  2002  updates, in the case where the product code acquired by the acquisition unit  2001  has been registered in the inventory management file  215 , the stock quantity stored in association with the product code to the stock quantity obtained by adding the number of products that have arrived to the original stock quantity. Further, the inventory management unit  2002  registers, in the case where the product code acquired by the acquisition unit  2001  has not been registered in the inventory management file  215 , the store code, the product code, and the number-of-products information acquired by the acquisition unit  2001  in the inventory management file  215 . 
     Subsequently, in Step S 13 , the selection unit  2006  of the controller  20  refers to the product property information file  218  to extract the property information corresponding to the product code acquired by the acquisition unit  2001 . In Step S 14 , the selection unit  2006  refers to the consumer property information file  219  to select a member for whom the extracted property information has been registered. The selection unit  2006  selects a member for whom all of a plurality of pieces of property information corresponding to the product code acquired by the acquisition unit  2001  have been registered in association with his/her member ID. Such selection is made in order to select a member who more closely matches the properties of the product that has arrived. However, the selection unit  2006  may select a member for whom one of a plurality of pieces of property information corresponding to the product code acquired by the acquisition unit  2001  has been registered in association with his/her member ID. Further, the selection unit  2006  may select a predetermined member. For example, the selection unit  2006  may select a predetermined excellent customer. As a result, it is possible to deliver advertisement information to only excellent customers at an early stage. 
     Subsequently, in Step S 15 , the generation unit  2007  of the controller  20  generates advertisement information of the arrived product identified by the product code acquired by the acquisition unit  2001 . For example, the generation unit  2007  refers to the product master  213  to read the product information corresponding to the product code acquired by the acquisition unit  2001  and takes in the read product information into a preset format to generate advertisement information of the arrived product. 
     In Step S 16 , the output unit  2008  of the controller  20  outputs the advertisement information generated by the generation unit  2007  (Step S 15 ) to the user terminal  4  of the member selected by the selection unit  2006  (Step S 14 ). The controller  20  then ends the advertisement information output processing. 
     The controller  20  is capable of providing, to the consumer who is thought to match the arrived product by advertisement information output processing, advertisement information of the arrived product. Specifically, the controller  20  is capable of outputting advertisement information to the user terminal  4  of the consumer specified by the member ID registered in association with the same property information as the property information of the arrived product in the consumer property information file  219 . As a result, each store  52  can be expected to improve the sales of the arrived product and the consumer can acquire advertisement information of the arrived product at an early stage. Further, since the controller  20  outputs advertisement information by utilizing information of the arrived product necessary for inventory management, it is unnecessary to separately provide a sensor or the like for recognizing that a product can be sold. 
     Subsequently, order information reception processing executed by the headquarters server  2  will be described.  FIG.  14    is a flowchart showing order information reception processing by the controller  20 . 
     In Step S 21  shown in  FIG.  14   , the controller  20  determines whether or not the reception unit  2003  has received order information from the user terminal  4 . In the case where it is determined that the reception unit  2003  has not received order information from the user terminal  4  (No in Step S 21 ), the processing of the controller  20  returns to the processing of Step S 21  and stands by. 
     In the case where it is determined that the reception unit  2003  has received order information from the user terminal  4  (Yes in Step S 21 ), the processing of the controller  20  proceeds to Step S 22 . In Step S 22 , the order management unit  2004  of the controller  20  updates the order management file  216 . The order management unit  2004  registers the order information received by the reception unit  2003  in the order management file  216 . 
     Subsequently, in Step S 23 , the output unit  2008  of the controller  20  outputs the order information received by the reception unit  2003  to the store server  3 . In more detail, the output unit  2008  outputs, to the store server  3  of the store  52  specified by the store code included in the order information received by the reception unit  2003 , the order information. 
     Subsequently, in Step S 24 , the controller  20  determines whether or not the acquisition unit  2001  has acquired shipping information indicating that the ordered product has been shipped. For example, the controller  20  determines whether or not the acquisition unit  2001  has acquired purchase information including the member ID, the store code, and the product code included in the order information. In the case where it is determined that the acquisition unit  2001  has not acquired shipping information (No in Step S 24 ), the processing of the controller  20  returns to the processing of Step S 24  and stands by until shipping information is acquired. 
     In the case where it is determined that the acquisition unit  2001  has acquired shipping information indicating that the ordered product has been shipped (Yes in Step S 24 ), the processing of the controller  20  proceeds to Step S 25 . In Step S 25 , the order management unit  2004  of the controller  20  updates the order management file  216 . Specifically, the order management unit  2004  registers, on the basis of the information regarding the transaction date and time included in the purchase information, information indicating the shipping date, in other words, the transaction date in the item of the shipping date of the order management file  216 . The controller  20  then ends the order information reception processing. 
     The controller  20  is capable of appropriately managing, by the order information reception processing, the order information from the user terminal  4  made for the advertisement information output by the output unit  2008 . 
     Next, a modification of the headquarters server  2  will be described.  FIG.  15    is a block diagram showing a configuration of the memory  21  according to the modification. The memory  21  further stores the individual-item-property-information file  220 . 
     The individual-item-property-information file  220  is a file for storing property information defined for each individual item of products and stores the individual code that is the individual-item identification information and property information indicating the properties of the individual item in association with each other. The property information registered in the product property information file  218  is property information set in a company that operates the plurality of stores  52 , in other words, property information commonly applied to each store  52 . Meanwhile, the property information registered in the individual-item-property-information file  220  is property information individually set in each store  52 . In the modified example, the individual-item-property-information file  220  is generated on the basis of the product property information file  218  and the arrival information acquired by the acquisition unit  2001 . 
       FIG.  16    is a diagram showing a data configuration of the individual-item-property-information file  220 . Each piece of data registered in the individual-item-property-information file  220  is associated with information indicating an individual code, a product code, an arrival date and time, an arrival store, the property  1 , and the property  2 . Note that the number of pieces of property information determined in advance in association with the individual code is not limited to two and can be arbitrarily set. Further, the number of pieces of corresponding property information may be changed for each individual item. 
     An individual code for identifying the individual item is registered in the item of the individual code. A product code indicating what product the individual item is is registered in the item of the product code. Information indicating the date and time when the individual item arrived is registered in the item of the arrival date and time. A store code for identifying the store that sells the individual item is registered in the item of the arrival store. Property information indicating the properties of the individual item is registered in each of the items of the property  1  and the property  2 . Note that the individual-item-property-information file  220  may include an item of an image for registering image data obtained by imaging an individual item. 
     In the case where the individual item is an “organic vegetable lunch box”, for example, information indicating a “lunch box” is registered in the item of the property  1 . It can be said that the information indicating a “lunch box” indicates the properties of the individual item and also the properties of the product. Further, since an “organic vegetable lunch box” sells well during, for example, a lunch time zone in the store  52  identified by the store code registered in the item of the arrival store, information indicating a “lunch time zone” is registered in the item of the property  2 . In the case where an “organic vegetable lunch box” sells well during a dinner time zone in another store  52 , information indicating a “dinner time zone” is registered in the item of the property  2 . The pieces of property information registered in the items of the property  1  and the property  2  described above are merely examples, and may be different property information indicating the properties of an individual item. For example, in the case where the product is a fruit, information indicating the sugar content measured for each individual item may be used as property information. 
     In the above-mentioned example, a member to be provided with advertisement information of the arrived product has been selected by matching between the property information of the arrived product and the property information of a consumer. Meanwhile, in a modification, a member to be provided with advertisement information of the individual item of the arrived product is selected by matching between the property information of the individual item of the arrived product and the property information of a consumer. Specifically, in advertisement information output processing according to the modified example, the processing of Step S 13  shown in  FIG.  13    is replaced with “extraction of property information corresponding to the individual code”. According to this modification, it is possible to provide more useful advertisement information to a consumer. 
     As described above, the controller  20  of the headquarters server  2  according to the embodiment includes the acquisition unit  2001  that acquires, when a product has arrived, product identification information for identifying the product that has arrived and the output unit  2008  that outputs, when the acquisition unit  2001  has acquired the product identification information, advertisement information of the product identified by the product identification information to the user terminal  4  of the consumer. 
     As a result, the headquarters server  2  is capable of more quickly providing information regarding a product to be sold, to a customer. 
     Further, the controller  20  of the headquarters server  2  according to the embodiment further includes the generation unit  2007  that extracts, from a product file (the product master  213 ) for storing product identification information (product code) and product information relating to the product in association with each other, the product information corresponding to the product identification information acquired by the acquisition unit  2001  and generates advertisement information on the basis of the product information. 
     As a result, the headquarters server  2  is capable of arbitrarily generating advertisement information on the basis of the product information stored in the product file (the product master  213 ). 
     Further, the controller  20  of the headquarters server  2  according to the embodiment further includes a first selection unit (the selection unit  2006 ) that refers to the product property information file  218  for storing, when the acquisition unit  2001  has acquired product identification information, the product identification information and property information indicating the properties of a product in association with each other and the consumer property information file  219  for storing consumer identification information for identifying a consumer and the property information in association with each other to select a consumer to be provided with advertisement information. 
     As a result, the headquarters server  2  is capable of providing, to a consumer who is thought to match the arrived product, i.e., a consumer who is thought to have a high possibility of purchasing the arrived product, advertisement information of the arrived product. For this reason, the headquarters server  2  is capable of delivering effective advertisement information. 
     In addition, in the headquarters server  2  according to the embodiment, the acquisition unit  2001  acquires the individual-item identification information for specifying the individual item of a product that has arrived. The controller  20  further includes a second selection unit (the selection unit  2006 ) that refers to, when the acquisition unit  2001  has acquired the individual-item identification information, the individual-item-property-information file  220  and the consumer property information file  219  to select a consumer to be provided with advertisement information. The individual-item-property-information file  220  stores the individual-item identification information and property information indicating the properties of an individual item in association with each other. The consumer property information file  219  stores consumer identification information for identifying a consumer and the property information in association with each other. 
     As a result, the headquarters server  2  is capable of more effectively delivering advertisement information. 
     Further, the controller  20  of the headquarters server  2  according to the embodiment includes a purchase information acquisition unit (the acquisition unit  2001 ) that acquires purchase information including consumer identification information and product identification information of a product purchased by the consumer identified by the consumer identification information. Further, the controller  20  includes an updating unit (the member property management unit  2005 ) that updates the consumer property information file  219  on the basis of the purchase information acquired by the purchase information acquisition unit (the acquisition unit  2001 ). 
     As a result, the headquarters server  2  is capable of updating, in accordance with the purchase trend of a consumer, the property information of the consumer. For this reason, the headquarters server  2  is capable of more appropriately selecting a consumer to whom advertisement information is delivered. 
     Note that in the embodiment described above, the control program executed by the headquarters server  2 , the store server  3 , and the user terminal  4 , which are information processing apparatuses, may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM and provided. Further, the control program executed by the headquarters server  2 , the store server  3 , and the user terminal  4  according to the embodiment described above may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet, downloaded via the network, and provided, and may be provided via a network such as the Internet. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.