JP2004164327A - Merchandise ordering device, merchandise ordering/order receiving system, merchandise ordering method and merchandise ordering/order receiving method and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a merchandise ordering device capable of substantially reducing any nuisance concerning the preparation of an order form at an ordering side or delivery date reply processing at an order reception side. <P>SOLUTION: This merchandise ordering device 100 reads a merchandise ordering program stored in an HD 114 by a CPU 104, and prepares an order document file by converting extracted order information into an non-rewritable data format, and generates information for display by converting the order information into a markup format, and prepares delivery date information in the information for display as an update column. An object button is provided with a function for returning the information for display to the origin of supply. The CPU 104 transmits an electronic mail attached with command information to start the function and the information for display, and attached with the prepared order document file. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a product ordering device, a product ordering system, a product ordering method, a product ordering method, a product ordering method, and a program for ordering a product using electronic mail.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Currently, e-commerce such as online shopping and online trading using the Internet is performed.
Among these, in electronic commerce in which goods such as materials and parts are received and ordered using electronic mail, a BtoB (Business to Business) communication system for performing electronic transactions between companies in particular from the viewpoint of security is known.
A BtoB communication system via the Internet is constructed as a system via the general Internet instead of a dedicated line or VAN (Value Added Network), and security against unauthorized intrusion via a WWW server is strengthened by a firewall. ing.
[0003]
However, such a BtoB communication system usually prevents unauthorized intrusion from the outside by a firewall. Therefore, in this communication system, an operation of setting a consent to establish a connection of a specific communication to the firewall, And programs were needed, and the system price was never cheap.
[0004]
On the other hand, an ordering method has been proposed in which an order can be easily placed even for a user who has a restriction on the Internet Web environment, and an order receiving party can efficiently and promptly execute an order receiving process (for example, an order receiving method). , Patent Document 1).
Specifically, as long as the ordering apparatus has a device or system capable of using e-mail, the ordering apparatus attaches ordering information in XML (Extensible Markup Language) format to the body of the e-mail and transmits it. The order receiving device that has received the information automatically extracts information defined as data from the XML ordering information and performs inventory allocation processing. Further, the order receiving device that has performed the inventory allocation process transmits an e-mail attached with order confirmation information including the result to the order receiving device.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-56244
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the ordering method using electronic mail of Patent Document 1 proposes that the ordering side transmits ordering information in the XML language format so that the ordering side can use the data without re-input. However, with respect to the ordering of products, it is also necessary to perform operations such as giving and receiving the contract form and confirming whether or not the order has been supplied. Conventionally, these tasks have been complicated by the ordering side because contract forms have not been manually created separately, nor have the ordering side responded to the question of whether or not to supply the product and automated the processing. I was
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a commodity ordering apparatus and a commodity receiving apparatus which can confirm the receipt / order of goods by using a general e-mail system by using a form and a standardized response to the presence or absence of supply. An object of the present invention is to provide an ordering system, a product ordering method, a product ordering method, and a program therefor.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
(1) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a commodity ordering apparatus of the present invention is a commodity ordering apparatus for placing an order for a commodity to a supplier of the commodity by e-mail via a data communication network. Input means for inputting product order information including first delivery date information indicating a delivery date of the product; and order form information creating means for converting the specific information into a non-rewritable data format and creating an order form information file Display information creating means for converting the product order information into a markup format to generate display information, and creating the first delivery date information in the display information as information to be displayed as a column to be updated; And a function of returning the display information to the ordering side, and the command information that activates the function by the operation of the supplier side together with the display information. It sends to the address, and having an electronic mail transmission means for transmitting to said source of address the ordering form information file as an attachment.
[0009]
(2) Further, according to the present invention, in the commodity ordering apparatus according to the above (1), the data communication network is the Internet, and the address of the supplier exists in an e-mail server connected to the data communication network. It is characterized by doing.
[0010]
(3) Further, according to the present invention, in the commodity ordering apparatus according to the above (1) or (2), the first delivery date information is updated in the column in the display information returned from the supplier. When it is determined that the second delivery date information has been input, there is a changing means for changing the first delivery date information in the product order information to the second delivery date information.
[0011]
(4) Further, the present invention relates to a product ordering system for ordering products by e-mail between a product ordering side ordering device and a product ordering side order receiving device connected via a data communication network. An input unit for inputting first product order information including specific information for specifying an order for a product and delivery date information indicating a delivery date of the product; and converting the specific information into a non-rewritable data format. Form information creating means for creating an order form information file by converting the first product order information into a markup format to generate display information, and updating the delivery date information in the display information Display information creating means for creating as information to be displayed as a column, and a function for returning the display information to the ordering side, and command information for activating the function by operation of the order receiving side. A first e-mail transmitting means for transmitting the order form information file as an attached file to the order receiving device while transmitting the order form information file to the order receiving device together with the display information, wherein the order receiving device receives the markup format information Means for displaying and developing on the screen, and, if the acceptance or update of the delivery date information is determined by the display information, the determined second product order information is executed by activating the command and executing the order And a second electronic mail transmitting means for transmitting the electronic mail to the device.
[0012]
(5) In the present invention, in the merchandise order receiving / ordering system according to (4), the data communication network is the Internet, and an e-mail address corresponding to the order receiving device is connected to the data communication network. It resides in an e-mail server.
[0013]
(6) In the present invention, in the merchandise receiving / ordering system according to the above (4) or (5), the ordering device that has received the second merchandise ordering information transmits the first merchandise ordering information to the first merchandise ordering information. It is characterized by having a change means for changing to the two product order information.
[0014]
(7) Further, according to the present invention, in the product ordering / ordering system according to (6), the ordering device side changes specific information or delivery date information in the second product ordering information. When the third product order information is created, the display information creating means converts the third product order information into a markup format and allows the product ordering side to select acceptance or non-acceptance of the change. A selection display field is created, the form creation means converts the third product order information into a non-rewritable data format to create an order change form information file, and the first electronic mail sending means creates the order change form information file. Command information for activating the function of returning the display information created by the information creating means to the order receiving side is transmitted to the order receiving apparatus together with the display information, and the order change form information file is sent. And transmits to the order apparatus yl as an attachment.
[0015]
(8) Further, according to the present invention, in the merchandise order receiving system according to the above (7), the order receiving device receiving the display information returned from the order receiving device inputs the consent into the selection display field. If it is determined that the second product order information is determined, the second product order information is changed to the third product order information.
[0016]
(9) Further, according to the present invention, in the merchandise receiving / ordering system according to the above (6) or (8), the transmission of the delivery form file from the order receiving device to the second merchandise order information or the third merchandise order information. The requested ordering device converts the second product order information or the third product order information into a non-rewritable data format by the form creation means, creates a delivery form information file, and transmits the first electronic mail. Means for transmitting the delivery form information file as an attached file to the order receiving device.
[0017]
(10) In the present invention, in the merchandise receiving / ordering system according to the above (9), the ordering device may include a barcode for identifying the second merchandise ordering information or the third merchandise ordering information in the delivery form. It is characterized by having a bar code adding means attached to the delivery report of the information file.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
<First embodiment>
(Overall configuration of communication system)
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a communication system to which a commodity ordering apparatus according to the present invention is connected.
The communication system 1 is a system in which mail servers 20 and 22, a product ordering device 100, and a product order receiving device 30 are connected via the Internet 10. The commodity ordering apparatus 100 places an order with the commodity order receiving apparatus 30 via the Internet 10.
The mail server 20 is managed by an ISP (Internet Service Provider) to which the product ordering device 100 subscribes, and the mail server 22 is managed by an ISP to which the product ordering device 30 subscribes. Although a plurality of product order receiving devices 30 may be provided in practice via the Internet 10, only one certain product order receiving device 30 is illustrated here for convenience.
[0020]
Each of the mail servers 20 and 22 is a server computer provided on the ISP side. The mail server 20 or 22 transmits the received e-mail for a plurality of other ISPs to a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) or to a user of the own ISP. POP3 (Post Office Protocol) that receives sent e-mails and stores them in a mailbox
3) and so on.
[0021]
The product order receiving device 30 is a computer of the side that receives a product order, and is dial-up connected to the Internet 10 via a general public line by a PPP (Point to Point Protocol). After connecting to the Internet 10, the commodity order receiving apparatus 30 accesses the mailbox of the mail server 22 with commonly used e-mail software and is authenticated, and browses and acquires the received e-mail through POP3. Further, the e-mail software has a function of expanding a text created by HTML (Hyper Text Transfer Language) and enabling browsing processing. Details of the internal configuration of the product order receiving device 30 will be described later with reference to FIG.
[0022]
(Configuration of the product ordering device 100)
Next, the configuration of the commodity ordering apparatus 100 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The commodity ordering apparatus 100 is a computer of the ordering side of the commodity, and as shown in FIG. 2, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) for performing calculations, instructions and storage control via an internal bus 102 for transferring data. ) 104, a communication control unit 106, an input / output control unit 108, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 110, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 112, and a hard disk (hereinafter, referred to as HD) 114.
[0023]
The input / output control unit 108 performs data transfer, interrupt control, and the like for external input / output devices (not shown, such as a display and a keyboard).
The RAM 110 is a main memory used as a work area of the CPU 104, and includes objects and data read from the HD 114 when the OS (Operating System) of the apparatus 100 is activated, or when a user activates desired software. Is temporarily stored.
The ROM 112 stores various software for starting the apparatus 100 as a computer, such as a basic input / output system (BIOS) (Basic Input-Output System) and kanji font conversion software.
The communication control unit 106 performs line control, data transmission control, and the like for communication via the Internet 10.
The HD 114 stores software that can be executed by the CPU 104 to activate the device 100, an OS, and the like.
The HD 114 also stores a product management database software (hereinafter, the database is abbreviated as DB) and a product ordering program described later, which can be executed by the CPU 104.
[0024]
The merchandise management DB software manages merchandise inventory, merchandise suppliers, merchandise ordering information, merchandise production plans, and the like in a relational database (RDB) format. The product ordering apparatus 100 is connected to a plurality of terminal devices via a LAN (Local Area Network) (not shown), and the product ordering / delivering DB software is appropriately used in accordance with requests for inventory confirmation and product ordering performed by these terminal devices. , Browse, add record, change record or delete record.
[0025]
FIG. 3 shows an example of a product information table indicating product information used in the product management DB software.
In the product information, “product name”, “unit”, “payment unit price” and the like are stored corresponding to the unique “product code”.
[0026]
FIG. 4A shows an example of a table of supply source (= order receiving side) information of a product used in the product management DB software. FIG. 4B shows an example of a table of information on the orderer (= orderer of the product) of the product which is also used in the product management DB software. FIG. 4C shows an example of a delivery location information table at a product orderer (= product ordering side) which is also used by the product management DB software.
In the supplier information shown in FIG. 4A, “company name”, “zip code”, “address”, “TEL number”, “FAX number”, “person in charge” corresponds to the unique “company code”. , "E-mail address", etc. are stored.
In the orderer information shown in FIG. 4B, “company name”, “department name”, “postal code”, “address”, “TEL number”, “FAX” are associated with the unique “orderer company code”. No., "E-mail address", "company seal", "payment method", "greeting text of order book", "greeting text of order change book" and the like are stored.
In the warehouse information indicating the delivery location in FIG. 4C, "warehouse name", "zip code", "address", "TEL number", "FAX number", "FAX number" correspond to the unique "warehouse code". The person in charge is stored.
The table for storing the product order information will be described later together with the product order program.
[0027]
(Operation of the product ordering apparatus 100)
The operation of the product ordering apparatus 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 and FIGS.
Here, prior to the ordering process, the format of the order form for the product to be ordered as shown in FIG. 6 is stored in the HD 114. This order form has a margin, a font, a character size, and a paper size set, and has an embedding position (<> position in FIG. 6) into which the respective item information of the product information and the supply source information is inserted. Have been identified. The link of each item in the table managed by the RDB shown in FIGS.
[0028]
The CPU 104 calculates the excess or deficiency of the inventory of the product used for the product according to the production plan of the product by the product management DB software. If there is a shortage of products, "company code", "product code", "order quantity", and "delivery instruction date" for ordering the product are extracted. In addition, an “order number” is generated for each ordered product. Thereby, for example, as shown in FIG. 7A, “order number: ALO02JUL0001”, “company code: 001”, “product code: 02K6749”, “order quantity: 13”, and “delivery instruction date: 2002 / 07/15 "is specified (step S501).
Here, FIG. 7B shows an order receiving / ordering table which collectively stores ordering / ordering information of products.
The order table includes “order number”, “issue number”, “order date”, “order quantity”, “delivery instruction date”, “delivery instruction date response flag”, “ A delivery response date, a “shipping date”, a “delivery date”, a “delivery amount”, an “order change flag”, and the like are stored. The "order change flag" will be described in a second embodiment described later, and the "shipping date", "delivery date", and "delivery amount" will be described in a third embodiment described later.
[0029]
In accordance with the extracted information (other than the delivery instruction date), the CPU 104 refers to the tables shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in the merchandise management DB software, and obtains information on the merchandise, information on the supplier, and information on the orderer. Each information is extracted (step S502). Here, for example, for “Company code: 001”, “Product code: 02K6749”, and “Order quantity: 13”, as shown in FIG. 3, “Product name: 72WACADAPTER 2PIN (02K6749)”, “Unit: Quantity” ”And“ payment unit price: 1725.0 ”are extracted. Further, “company name: supplier 1” and “e-mail address: 001@a.com” are extracted from the table indicating the supply source (order receiving side) illustrated in FIG. Also, from the table showing the ordering source shown in FIG. 4B, "company name", "department name", "postal code", "address", "TEL number" corresponding to "ordering company code". , “FAX number”, “E-mail address”, “company seal”, “payment method”, “greeting sentence of order form”, and “greeting sentence of order change book” are extracted. According to the tables of FIGS. 3, 4 (a) and 4 (b), in the order table shown in FIG. 4 (c), the "product code", "order" A record is created in which the information of “date”, “order quantity”, and “delivery instruction date” is input. In particular, the records extracted as the order receiving table (FIG. 7B), the product information table (FIG. 3), and the supplier table (FIG. 4A) are collectively referred to as order information.
Further, the CPU 104 generates an issue number for each order with respect to the supply source, and attaches it to the order receiving / ordering table (FIG. 7B) (step S503).
[0030]
Next, the CPU 104 reads the form of the order form (shown in FIG. 6) stored in the HD 114, and extracts the embedding position where the respective item data of the order information and the order source information are inserted, and the extracted position in step S502. Reconcile order information and order source information. Similarly, the CPU 104 matches the amount of each order number calculated in step S504 and the total order amount with the issue number generated in step S503 with the embedded position of the order form (step S504).
[0031]
Next, the CPU 104 calculates the amount for each order number and the total order amount based on the order amount and the payment unit price of the product (step S505).
[0032]
Next, the CPU 104 inserts the extracted order information, order source information, the amount for each order number, and the total order amount into the matched embedding position (step S506). For example, the “company name” in FIG. 4A is “supplier 1”, the “ordering company name” in FIG. 4B is “X Shoji Co., Ltd.”, and the “warehouse name” in FIG. "Ayase Warehouse" and "Order Number" in FIG. 7B are inserted as "ALO02JUL0001" or the like. Then, an order document relating to the order having the format shown in FIG. 8 is created.
Further, the CPU 104 converts the order document into a non-rewritable file format, for example, a document file in a PDF (Portable Digital Format: Adobe System) format (step S507).
[0033]
Next, the CPU 104 creates a field in which a change in the delivery instruction date can be input for each product record of the order information in the table format. Further, when the button displayed as the "delivery date reply button" is pressed, the CPU 104 creates an object button for returning an e-mail with the order information to the order source (step S508).
[0034]
Next, the CPU 104 converts the order information, the information on the order source, the fields and the object buttons into the HTML format (step S509).
[0035]
Next, the CPU 104 inserts the converted HTML format information into the body of the email, and inserts an order file for ordering in the PDF format as an attached file of the email (step S510). Further, the CPU 104 inserts the extracted “E-mail address” into the destination field of the e-mail, and also outputs “X Shoji Co., Ltd.” as the order source, “Order Form” indicating the order of the goods, and the unique order form. The number “issue number” is concatenated into a text sentence and inserted into the subject column (step S511). Then, CPU 104 transmits the electronic mail (step S512).
[0036]
(Composition of product order receiving device)
Here, the configuration and operation of the commodity order receiving apparatus 30 that receives the e-mail transmitted from the commodity ordering apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
The commodity order receiving apparatus 30 is connected to a CPU 904 for performing calculations, instructions and storage control, a communication control unit 906, an input / output control unit 908, a RAM 910, a ROM 912, and an HD 914 via an internal bus 902 for transferring data.
The input / output control unit 908 performs data transfer, interrupt control, and the like for an external input / output device (not shown, such as a display or a keyboard).
The RAM 910 is a main memory used as a work area of the CPU 904, and temporarily stores objects, data, and the like read from the HD 914 in response to activation of the OS of the device 30 or activation of desired software by a user. Remember.
The ROM 912 stores various software for starting the device 30 as a computer, such as BIOS and kanji font conversion software, which are basic input / output routines.
The communication control unit 906 performs line control, data transmission control, and the like for communication via the Internet 10.
The HD 914 stores software that can be executed by the CPU 904 to activate the commodity order receiving device 30, an OS, general e-mail software, and the like.
[0037]
(Operation of the product order receiving device 30)
The operation of the product order receiving device 30 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. 10 and FIG.
[0038]
The e-mail concerning the order transmitted from the commodity ordering apparatus 100 is stored in the mailbox of the mail server 22 via the mail server 20 (step S1001).
The CPU 904 of the commodity order receiving apparatus 30 accesses the mailbox of the mail server 22 by making a dial-up connection to the Internet 10 via a general public line by using PPP, and obtains an e-mail associated with the order by obtaining authentication ( Step S1002).
[0039]
The CPU 904 uses the HTML expansion function of the electronic mail software stored in the HD 914 to browse the HTML information inserted into the mail body part of the order (step S1003). FIG. 11 shows an example of an e-mail concerning the browsed order. Here, in each of the product records of the order information in the tabular form in FIG. 11, fields in which the delivery change date with respect to the delivery instruction date can be input are displayed. Further, an object button displayed as "delivery date reply button" is displayed. The side having the commodity order receiving device 30 determines acceptance or non-consent with respect to the delivery instruction date, and in the case of non-acceptance, inputs a change date of the delivery in a corresponding field. In the case of consent, the same date as the delivery instruction date may be input, or may be left blank. After the delivery dates of these products are confirmed, the object button is pressed (step S1004).
The CPU 904 inserts the order information (changed) displayed as shown in FIG. 11 into the body of the e-mail, and returns the e-mail (step S1005). As a result, response information indicating either acceptance or change of the order is returned to the order source. The transmitted reply mail is stored in the mailbox of the mail server 20 via the mail server 22 (Step S1006).
The CPU 104 of the commodity ordering apparatus 100 connects to the Internet 10, accesses the mailbox of the mail server 20, obtains the authentication, and obtains this reply mail (step S1007).
[0040]
As described above, the e-mail concerning the order sent from the commodity ordering apparatus 100 is accompanied by the order form, and prompts a response to the delivery instruction date by inputting predetermined characters (such as one-byte characters) in the delivery date change field. Also, an object button for automatically transmitting a reply mail is displayed. For this reason, it is possible to greatly reduce the complexity of creating the order form on the ordering side and the complexity of the delivery date response process on the order receiving side.
[0041]
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12, the commodity ordering apparatus 100 having obtained the reply mail from the mail server 20 determines whether or not the date in the delivery date change field has been changed by the CPU 104 compared to the delivery instruction date. A determination is made (step S1201). The CPU 104 refers to the delivery date change field of the reply mail and determines whether or not the date has been changed from the delivery instruction date at the time of ordering (step S1202). "1" indicating the order is attached to the "delivery instruction response flag" of the record having the order number (step S1204). Then, the previous delivery instruction date is inserted into “delivery response date”. Here, if the delivery date change field is blank, it is determined that the delivery instruction date has not been changed, and the above step S1204 is executed. Alternatively, if a response to the delivery instruction date is not obtained by the predetermined date, it may be considered that consent to the delivery instruction date has been given.
If the change is confirmed in step S1202, the record having the order number is referred to, and the delivery reply date after the change to the “delivery instruction date” is inserted into the “delivery reply date” (step S1203). Then, step S1204 is executed.
As described above, the product ordering apparatus 100 automatically registers the reply mail transmitted from the product order receiving apparatus 30 according to the order number.
[0042]
<Second embodiment>
The outline of the invention in the second embodiment is that, after obtaining a reply mail from the product order receiving device 30, if the ordering side of the product wants to change the order content, the ordering side is requested to accept the change. It is. The operation of the merchandise ordering program of the merchandise ordering apparatus 100 for requesting this change will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 13 and FIGS.
Here, prior to the order change processing, the HD 114 stores a format of a change confirmation document for the product whose order is to be changed, as shown in FIG. The format of the change confirmation sheet includes a margin, a font, a character size, and a paper size, as well as an embedding position (item <> in FIG. 14) in which respective item data of merchandise information and supply source information are inserted. Have been identified. The link of each item in the RDB shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is set at this embedding specific position.
[0043]
For example, a request to cancel a part of the order of the excess product is output by the product management DB software that manages the excess or deficiency of the product, and the corresponding order number is selected. (Step S1301). Here, for example, “order number: AL002JUL0004” is selected.
[0044]
In accordance with the selected order number, the CPU 104 refers to the order receiving / managing table (FIG. 7B) managed by the merchandise management DB software and extracts a corresponding record (step S1302). Here, for example, “product name: LABEL AS LOGO WIN X (TAKK)”, “order quantity: 60”, “payment unit price: 4.0”, and “company name: supplier” corresponding to “order number: AL002JUL0004”, for example. 1 "and" E-mail address: 001@a.com "are extracted.
Then, the CPU 104 generates a unique issue number (step S1303).
When the ordering side changes the order quantity or the delivery instruction date in the ordering information, the CPU 104 replaces the information relating to these changes and the “issue number” with a new record having the record extracted in step S1302. To reflect. (Step S1304).
[0045]
Next, the CPU 104 reads out the format of the change confirmation form concerning the order change (shown in FIG. 14) stored in the HD 114, and embeds the respective positions of the order information and the order source information of the order. Are matched with the order information and the order source information on the order change created in step S1304 (step S1305).
[0046]
Next, the CPU 104 recalculates the amount of each ordered item and the total order amount based on the order amount and the payment unit price of the item (step S1306).
[0047]
Next, the CPU 104 inserts the order information and order source information relating to the order change created in step S1304, the amount of each ordered product recalculated in step S1306, and the total order amount into the matched embedding position (step S1304). S1307). As a result, an order change document having a format as shown in FIG. 15 is created.
Further, the CPU 104 converts the order change document into a document file in PDF format (step S1308).
[0048]
Next, the CPU 104 sends a check object for selecting the acceptance or non-acceptance of the change corresponding to the record of the order number of each ordered item, and an e-mail with the order information relating to the change attached to the sender by pressing the button. An object button to be returned (change confirmation reply button) is created (step S1309).
[0049]
Next, the CPU 104 converts each of the order information and order source information relating to the order change created in step S1304, the check object and the object button into the HTML format (step S1310).
[0050]
Next, the CPU 104 inserts the converted HTML format information into the body of the e-mail, and inserts a PDF format change confirmation file as an attached file of the e-mail (step S1311). Further, the CPU 104 inserts the extracted “E-mail address” into the address field of the mail, and also sends “X Shoji Co., Ltd.” as the order source, “Order change” as the order change of the product, and the order change form. The issue number, which is the issue number, is concatenated into a text and inserted into the subject column (step S1312). Then, the CPU 104 transmits the e-mail (step S1313).
[0051]
(Operation of the product order receiving device 30)
The operation of the product order receiving device 30 after the above step S1313 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.
The e-mail concerning the order change transmitted from the commodity ordering apparatus 100 (step S1601) is stored in the mailbox of the mail server 22 via the mail server 20 (step S1602).
The CPU 904 of the commodity order receiving apparatus 30 accesses the mailbox of the mail server 22 by making a dial-up connection to the Internet 10 via a general public line by using PPP, and obtains an authentication, thereby acquiring an e-mail relating to an order change ( Step S1603).
[0052]
The CPU 904 uses the electronic mail software stored in the HD 914 to browse the HTML information inserted into the electronic mail body part relating to the order change (step S1604). FIG. 17 shows an e-mail relating to the order change that has been browsed. Here, a check object for selecting acceptance or non-acceptance of the order change is displayed in the delivery date response item of each product record in the tabular order information in FIG. On the side having the commodity order receiving device 30, if this check object is approved, the check object corresponding to the approval is checked. In the case of non-consent, the check object corresponding to the non-consent is checked (step S1605).
When the object button is pressed, the CPU 904 inserts the information of the corresponding product record into the body of the e-mail and transmits the e-mail (step S1606). As a result, acceptance or non-acceptance of the order change is returned to the orderer. The transmitted reply mail is stored in the mail box of the mail server 20 via the mail server 22 (step S1607).
The CPU 104 of the commodity ordering apparatus 100 connects to the Internet 10, accesses the mailbox of the mail server 20, obtains authentication, and obtains a reply mail (step S1608).
[0053]
As described above, the e-mail concerning the order change transmitted from the commodity ordering apparatus 100 has the change confirmation requesting the order change attached thereto, and a check object for prompting a response as to whether or not the order change is accepted, and an automatic check object. And an object button for transmitting a reply mail are displayed. For this reason, it is possible to greatly reduce the burden of creating the change confirmation on the ordering side and the burden of notifying the order receiving side of the acceptance of the order change.
[0054]
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 18, the commodity ordering apparatus 100 that has obtained the reply mail from the mail server 20 refers to the CPU 104 to determine whether the check object has been accepted or rejected (step S1801). The CPU 104 refers to the check object of the reply e-mail and determines acceptance or non-acceptance thereof (step S1802). If accepted, the CPU 104 refers to the record having the order number and the issue number, and refers to the “order change flag”. "1" is inserted into the item (step S1803). Then, the record before accepting the order change is changed to a record after accepting the order change. If the request has not been accepted in step S1802, the CPU 104 inserts “0” in the “order change flag” item of the record before accepting the order change having the order number and the issue number before the order change request. I do. (Step S1804).
As described above, the commodity ordering apparatus 100 determines acceptance or rejection of the reply mail transmitted from the commodity order receiving apparatus 30, and automatically performs registration processing according to the order number and the issue number.
[0055]
<Third embodiment>
In the third embodiment, a delivery note file is transmitted by the product ordering apparatus 100 that has received a delivery note issuance request from the product order receiving apparatus 30 on the order receiving side. A commodity ordering program according to the present embodiment will be described.
[0056]
(Operation of the product order receiving device 30)
The operations of the product order receiving device 30 and the product order receiving device 100 in response to the delivery note issuing request will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. 19 and the flowchart of FIG.
[0057]
First, the commodity ordering apparatus 100 transmits to the commodity order receiving apparatus 30 a delivery note request screen for receiving a delivery note creation request from the order receiving side as shown in FIG. 21 in advance.
The delivery note request screen in FIG. 21 is provided with fields for inputting an order number, a delivery amount, and a shipping date as one record. The delivery note request screen is provided with an object button (delivery note issue request button) for executing a delivery note issue request. When this object button is pressed, the input order number, delivery amount, and shipping date are inserted into the body of the e-mail and transmitted to the commodity ordering apparatus 100. The presence / absence and quantity of the “shipping date” and “delivery amount” are determined according to the same items shown in the ordering table of FIG. 7B. Here, for example, information on the delivery note request for “order number: JBL02JUN0001” and “order number: JBL02JUN0002” is input.
The delivery format as shown in FIG. 22 is stored in the HD 114 in advance. The format of this delivery note includes a margin, a font, a character size, and a paper size, as well as an embedding position (<> position in FIG. 22) into which item information of ordering information and ordering source information is inserted. Have been identified. The link of each item in the RDB shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7 (b) is set at this embedding specific position.
[0058]
The CPU 904 of the product order receiving apparatus 30 activates a delivery note request screen in response to a delivery note issue request (step S1901).
When the user inputs an order number, a delivery amount, and a shipping date and determines them (step S1902), pressing an object button for requesting delivery note is enabled.
When the object button is pressed by the user (step S1903), the CPU 904 inserts the input order number, delivery amount, and shipping date into the body of the e-mail, and sends E to the destination corresponding to the product ordering apparatus 100. Insert a company code and a comment stating that there is a request to create a delivery note in the email address and subject. Then, CPU 904 transmits the e-mail (step S1904). This e-mail is stored in the mail box of the mail server 20 via the mail server 22 (step S1905).
[0059]
(Operation of the product ordering apparatus 100)
The CPU 104 of the commodity ordering apparatus 100 connects to the Internet 10, accesses the mailbox of the mail server 20, obtains an authentication, and acquires an e-mail (step S1906). Then, the CPU 104 checks whether or not the delivery contract is a real one based on the subject in the electronic mail. If this is confirmed, the CPU 104 refers to the order number, the delivery amount, and the shipping date inserted in the electronic mail to determine the order number. A matching product name or the like is searched from the order receiving / ordering table and the corresponding product information table, ordering source table and supply source table, and a delivery note is created (step S1907). Here, the details of step S1907 will be described with reference to FIG. 20, FIG. 22, and FIG.
[0060]
The CPU 104 extracts the order number, the delivery amount, and the shipping date inserted in the e-mail (step S2001), and refers to the order table (FIG. 7B) managed by the product management DB software in accordance with the extracted order number, delivery amount, and shipping date. Then, order information and order source information are extracted (step S2001). Here, for example, "Orderer: X Trading Co., Ltd.", "Product Name: JBL02JUN0001", "Order Quantity: 13", "Delivery Quantity: 13", "Unit: Pieces", "Purchaser: TSU" , “Delivery instruction date: 2002/07/31”, “shipping date: 2002/07/25”, and “contractor: supplier 1” are extracted (step S2002).
[0061]
Next, the CPU 104 reads the format of the delivery note (shown in FIG. 23) stored in the HD 114, and matches the embedding position where each item information of the extracted order information and order source information is inserted ( Step S2003).
[0062]
Next, the CPU 104 inserts each information extracted in step S2002 into the matching embedding position (step S2004). As a result, a delivery document having the format shown in FIG. 23 is created.
Further, the CPU 104 converts this delivery document into a document file in PDF format (step S2005).
[0063]
Next, the CPU 104 inserts the delivery file in PDF format into the e-mail as an attached file (step S2006). Further, the CPU 104 inserts the extracted “E-mail address” into the destination field of the mail, and also outputs “X Shoji Co., Ltd.” as the order source, “delivery note” indicating creation of a delivery note, and “order number”. To form a text sentence and insert it into the subject column (step S2007).
[0064]
The CPU 104 transmits the e-mail created in step S2007 of FIG. 20 (step S1908).
This e-mail is stored in the mailbox of the mail server 22 via the mail server 20 (step S1909).
[0065]
The CPU 904 of the commodity order receiving apparatus 30 accesses the mailbox of the mail server 22 by making a dial-up connection to the Internet 10 via a general public line by PPP, and obtains an electronic mail by obtaining authentication (step S1910).
[0066]
In this way, when a product is delivered on the order receiving side, the trouble of newly inputting can be omitted, and the delivery can be confirmed based on the information on the ordering on the ordering side, and the ordering of the product can be confirmed. Be clearer. Further, from the viewpoint of the ordering side, it is possible to unify the format of the delivery note which has been conventionally handled in an irregular format for each company.
[0067]
In the process of creating the delivery note in step S1907 in FIG. 19, a process of adding a barcode to the delivery note is added. In this case, a process of creating a barcode and attaching the barcode to any part of the delivery note is added between steps S2004 and S2005 in FIG.
In this way, when a product is delivered from the order receiving side, order management can be performed by reading and inputting a bar code.
[0068]
<Modification of the present invention>
(Modification 1)
In the above-described embodiment, particularly, description has been given of the ordering of goods from ordering to delivery. However, the present invention is also applicable to a case where past transaction result data is requested.
In this case, a result request screen for requesting creation of a transaction result is transmitted to the product order receiving device 30 in advance, and a process similar to the delivery request transmission request in the third embodiment is performed. Specifically, by specifying a delivery date within a certain period on the result request screen activated by the product order receiving device 30, transaction result data within this period is obtained from the product ordering device 100. At this time, in the commodity ordering apparatus 100, the CPU 104 saves the result data in a CSV (Comma Separated Value format) or the like, and inserts or attaches the result data to an e-mail and transmits it. Alternatively, the data may be inserted or attached to an e-mail as XML format data.
[0069]
(Modification 2)
In the above-described first embodiment, the delivery date change field can be input in a predetermined text format at the supplier (order receiving side). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the change can be requested for the delivery instruction date. If it is a display field, it may be displayed in another format. For example, a list box object for selecting and inputting a date from a list may be used. This corresponds to the selection of consent or non-consent in the above-described second embodiment, the input field of the delivery note request screen in the above-described third embodiment, or the record for requesting the transaction record of the first modification. The same applies to the input field of the request screen.
[0070]
(Modification 3)
In the above-described embodiment, the commodity ordering apparatus 100 employs a system in which a mail server is not provided in a company and an e-mail is exchanged through an external mail server 20. However, the commodity ordering apparatus 100 has a mail server in a company. You may. Further, the commodity order receiving apparatus 30 is a system form in which a dial-up connection is made to the Internet using PPP, but may be a system form in which the commodity order receiving apparatus 30 is connected to the Internet through an ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) line or the like.
[0071]
(Modification 4)
In the above-described embodiment, when e-mail is transmitted / received by the e-mail software, encryption using an S / MIME (Secure / Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) function is effective in terms of security.
[0072]
(Modification 5)
In the above-described embodiment, the transmission and reception of the e-mail in the HTML format is performed, and the image information is inserted as the decoration. However, the image information leads to an increase in the data capacity. For this reason, the image information may be stored in a product ordering device or an external server device, and may be transmitted together with the reading of the e-mail when a product is ordered or an order is changed.
[0073]
(Modification 6)
In the commodity ordering apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, when an e-mail is transmitted in ordering a commodity or changing an order, if the transmission is not performed due to a line trouble or the like, the changed DB information is used in the order processing. The state before the start may be set. In addition, a flag indicating that transmission has not been performed may be indicated with the reception of an error mail due to a change in the e-mail address of the supply source (order receiving side).
[0074]
(Modification 7)
The product ordering apparatus in the above-described embodiment performs the product order management using the product management DB software. In addition, the user checks the database as appropriate and inputs various information as shown in FIG. 7, for example. This may be extracted from the master table to create an e-mail for ordering.
[0075]
(Modification 8)
The product ordering apparatus in the above-described embodiment may appropriately store information on the order and information on a reply from the order receiving side as log information.
[0076]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the order mail transmitted from the product ordering apparatus has an order form attached thereto, and a field for prompting the reply of the delivery instruction date in a predetermined character format (half-width etc.); An object button for sending a reply mail is displayed, and the trouble of creating an order form on the ordering side and the trouble of responding to the delivery date on the order receiving side can be greatly reduced. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a product ordering device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a table of product information managed by the product management DB software according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing various tables managed by the product management DB software according to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the commodity ordering apparatus in the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a form of an order form in the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing order information of a product and an order table for the product in the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an order form file created in the embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a commodity order receiving device in the embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing a response process of a delivery instruction date by the commodity order receiving apparatus in the embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the contents of an e-mail concerning the order received by the commodity order receiving device in the embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing of a reply mail by the commodity ordering apparatus in the embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the product ordering apparatus according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a format of an order change document in the embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a view showing an order change document file created in the embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram showing a response process of accepting or not accepting an order change by the commodity order receiving device in the embodiment.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the contents of an e-mail concerning an order change received by the commodity order receiving apparatus in the embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing processing of a reply mail by the commodity ordering apparatus in the embodiment.
FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram showing a process related to a delivery note issuance request by the product order receiving apparatus in the third embodiment.
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing processing of a reply mail by the commodity ordering apparatus in the embodiment.
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a delivery note creation request screen in the embodiment.
FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a format of a delivery note in the embodiment.
FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a delivery note file created in the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication system, 10 ... Internet, 20,22 ... Mail server, 30 ... Product order receiving device, 100 ... Product ordering device, 102,902 ... Internal bus, 104,904 ... CPU, 106,906 ... Communication control unit, 108 , 908... Input / output control unit, 110, 910... RAM, 112, 912.

Claims (19)

In a product ordering apparatus that places an order for a product to a supplier of the product by e-mail via a data communication network,
Input means for inputting product order information including specific information for specifying the order of the product and first delivery date information indicating the delivery date of the product;
An order form information creating means for creating the order form information file by converting the specific information into a non-rewritable data format,
Display information creating means for converting the product order information into a markup format to generate display information, and creating the first delivery date information in the display information as information to be displayed as a column to be updated;
A function of causing the display information to be returned to the ordering side; transmitting command information for activating the function by the operation of the supplier side to the address of the supplier together with the display information; E-mail transmitting means for transmitting an information file as an attached file to the address of the supplier. The product ordering device according to claim 1,
The data communication network is the Internet;
The product ordering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the address of the supplier exists in an e-mail server connected to the data communication network. The product ordering device according to claim 1 or 2,
If it is determined that the second delivery date information for updating the first delivery date information is entered in the column in the display information returned from the supplier, the second delivery date information in the product order information is determined. A product ordering apparatus, comprising: changing means for changing the first delivery date information to the second delivery date information. In a product ordering system for ordering products by e-mail between a product ordering side ordering device and a product ordering side order receiving device connected via a data communication network,
The ordering device,
Input means for inputting first product order information including specific information for specifying an order for a product and delivery date information indicating a delivery date of the product;
Form information creation means for creating the order form information file by converting the specific information into a non-rewritable data format,
Display information creating means for converting the first product order information into a markup format to generate display information, and creating the display date information in the display information as information to be displayed as a column to be updated;
A function of causing the display information to be returned to the ordering side, and transmitting command information for activating the function by the operation of the order receiving side to the order receiving apparatus together with the display information, and transmitting the order form information file to the order receiving apparatus. First electronic mail transmitting means for transmitting to the order receiving device as an attached file,
The order receiving device,
Display developing means for displaying and expanding the received markup format information on a screen;
A second e-mail transmitting unit that activates the command and transmits the determined second product order information to the ordering device, if the acceptance or update of the delivery date information is determined in the display information; Product ordering system characterized by having. In the commodity ordering system according to claim 4,
The data communication network is the Internet;
An e-mail address corresponding to the order receiving device exists in an e-mail server connected to the data communication network. In the goods ordering system according to claim 4 or 5,
The ordering device receiving the second product ordering information,
A product ordering system, comprising: changing means for changing the first product order information to the second product order information. In the commodity ordering system according to claim 6,
When the ordering device creates third item order information in which the specific information or delivery date information of the second item order information is changed,
The display information creating means converts the third product order information into a markup format and creates a selection display column for allowing the product ordering side to select acceptance or non-acceptance of the change,
The form creation means converts the third product order information into a non-rewritable data format to create an order change form information file,
The first electronic mail transmitting means transmits, to the order receiving device, command information for activating a function of returning the display information created by the display information creating means to the order receiving side together with the display information. A goods ordering system, wherein an order change form information file is transmitted to the order receiving device as an attached file. In the commodity ordering system according to claim 7,
The ordering device receiving the display information returned from the order receiving device,
If it is determined that consent has been entered in the selection display field, the change means changes the second product order information to the third product order information. In the commodity ordering system according to claim 6 or 8,
The order receiving device requested by the order receiving device to transmit a delivery form file for the second product order information or the third product order information,
The form creation means converts the second product order information or the third product order information into a non-rewritable data format to create a delivery form information file,
A commodity ordering system, wherein the first electronic mail transmitting means transmits the delivery form information file as an attached file to the order receiving device. In the commodity ordering system according to claim 9,
The ordering device,
A product ordering system comprising a barcode adding means for attaching a barcode specifying the second product order information or the third product order information to a delivery form in the delivery form information file. In a product ordering method in which a product order is placed to a product supplier by e-mail via a data communication network,
Input product order information including specific information for specifying the order of the product and first delivery date information indicating the delivery date of the product;
Create the order form information file by converting the specific information into a non-rewritable data format,
The product order information is converted into a markup format to generate display information, and is created as information to be displayed as a column for updating the first delivery date information in the display information,
A function of causing the display information to be returned to the ordering side; transmitting command information to activate the function by an operation of the order receiving side to the address of the supplier together with the display information; A product ordering method, wherein a file is transmitted as an attached file to the address of the supplier. The product ordering method according to claim 11,
If it is determined that the second delivery date information for updating the first delivery date information is entered in the column in the display information returned from the supplier, the second delivery date information in the product order information is determined. A method for ordering goods, wherein 1st delivery date information is changed to the 2nd delivery date information. In a product ordering method for ordering a product by e-mail between an ordering device on a product ordering side and an order receiving device on a product ordering side connected via a data communication network,
The ordering device,
Input first product order information including specific information for specifying the order of the product and delivery date information indicating the delivery date of the product,
Create the order form information file by converting the specific information into a non-rewritable data format,
The first product order information is converted into a markup format to generate display information, and is created as information to be displayed as a column for updating the delivery date information in the display information,
A function of causing the display information to be returned to the ordering side, and transmitting command information for activating the function by the operation of the order receiving side to the order receiving apparatus together with the display information, and transmitting the order form information file to the order receiving apparatus. Send to the order receiving device as an attached file,
The order receiving device,
Display and expand the received markup format information on the screen,
If acceptance or update of the delivery date information is determined in the display information, the determined second product order information is transmitted to the order receiving device by activating the command. How to place an order. The method of claim 13, wherein:
The ordering device receiving the second product ordering information,
A product ordering method, wherein the first product order information is changed to the second product order information. In the commodity ordering method according to claim 14,
When the ordering device creates third item order information in which the specific information or delivery date information of the second item order information is changed,
The third product order information is converted into a markup format, and a selection display field for allowing the product ordering side to select acceptance or non-acceptance of the change is created,
Converting the third product order information into a non-rewritable data format to create an order change form information file;
Command information for activating a function for returning display information including acceptance or non-consent of the change to the order receiving side is transmitted to the order receiving device together with the display information, and the order change form information file is attached as an attached file. A commodity ordering method, wherein the commodity order is transmitted to the order receiving device. The method of claim 15, wherein:
The ordering device receiving the display information returned from the order receiving device,
If it is determined that consent has been entered in the selection display field, the second product order information is changed to the third product order information. In the method for ordering goods according to claim 14 or 16,
The order receiving device requested by the order receiving device to transmit a delivery form file for the second product order information or the third product order information,
Converting the second product order information or the third product order information into a non-rewritable data format to create a delivery form information file;
A product ordering method, wherein the delivery form information file is transmitted to the order receiving device as an attached file. The method of claim 17, wherein:
The ordering device,
A product ordering method, wherein a barcode specifying the second product order information or the third product order information is attached to a delivery form in the delivery form information file. Via a data communication network, a computer that places an order for goods to a supplier of goods by e-mail,
Input means for inputting product order information including specific information for specifying the order of the product and delivery date information indicating the delivery date of the product,
Order form information creating means for creating the order form information file by converting the specific information into a non-rewritable data format,
Display information generating means for converting the product order information into a markup format to generate display information, and generating the display date information in the display information as information to be displayed as a column to be updated, and the display A function of causing the order information to be returned to the ordering side, and transmitting command information for activating the function by the operation of the order receiving side to the address of the supplier together with the display information, and storing the order form information file. A commodity ordering program for functioning as an e-mail transmitting means for transmitting an attached file to the address of the supplier.

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