JP2006004096A - Shopping system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shopping system enabling a user to select and purchase a commodity without practically going to a store. <P>SOLUTION: The shopping system is constituted of a store practically displaying various sorts of commodities, a purchaser, a mediating server apparatus installed on a Web site to which a terminal apparatus installed on the store side and a terminal apparatus installed on the purchaser side are connected through a communication network and a purchase assistant for assisting purchaser's purchase while carrying a digital camera and a talking apparatus and practically moving the inside of the store. The purchaser can perform shopping in the store by accessing the Web site and performing prescribed procedures, an image photographed by the purchase assistant in accordance with a purchaser's instruction is transmitted to the purchaser side through the server apparatus and a commodity of which the purchase is determined by purchaser while viewing the image is delivered to the purchaser after carrying the commodity to a prescribed place by the purchaser assistant and performing a purchase procedure. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a shopping system in which a user can select a product and shop without actually going to a store.

  As a shopping system for sick people, disabled people, elderly people, etc. who cannot go shopping by themselves, a product sales system has been proposed that uses a communication network to provide product information, place orders, and make payments. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). Further, as a system that is not significantly different from the conventional transaction methods such as catalog shopping, mail order, and television shopping, there is also a system described in Patent Document 2, for example. Furthermore, as described in Patent Document 3, a system using a mobile phone as a communication means has also been proposed.

JP 2003-30469 A JP 2001-160065 A JP 2002-94621 A

  The product sales system described in Patent Document 1 uses a server device for realizing a virtual department store including a plurality of virtual stores in a virtual reality space, and a client device used by each store corresponding to the virtual store on the Internet. Connecting the client device of the purchaser who purchases the product and the server device via the Internet, registering the product information from each store-side client device to the product information database of the server device, and this information Based on the above, a product is presented at a virtual store, and the purchaser selects and purchases a desired product from the virtual store.

  However, in the system described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, although a product is displayed on a virtual product display shelf, the purchaser actually observes the product from various angles or compares it with other products. As a result, it was not much different from normal catalog shopping, and shopping enjoyment was not fully obtained. In addition, the systems described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have the advantage that they are sold in stores and do not have to be in stock, but in daily goods transactions such as fresh food, there is a relationship between inventory, delivery date, and physical distribution. In addition, there are limits to the items to be traded, and in addition, products that the customer confirms and purchases, such as vegetables, fruits, fish, meat, etc., uneven shapes, colors, freshness, etc. It can be said that it is an unsuitable system for clothing and the like for which the degree of sewing is to be confirmed.

  On the other hand, the advantage of online sales is that information from all over the world can be obtained in a timely manner, and depending on the operation, the raw information of both sellers and buyers can be obtained in a timely manner. Since there is a need for daily update management work for home pages, there are many operation sites that provide information that cannot be said to be timely information in reality. For this reason, even if you open a corner home page, there is a big gap between ideals and reality for stores that do not have management knowledge, management ability, or organization. Currently.

  Furthermore, from the standpoint of stores that actually display products, online sales based on storeless sales are merely the emergence of rivals, and there is a reality that symbiosis and mutual prosperity are not established. Of course, there are some companies that are actively engaged in virtual net sales among actual dealers, but the main purpose is PR that encourages customers to visit the store. It seems to be understood as a thing.

  The sales method described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 3 is for shopping while the customer and the store side communicate with each other using a mobile phone. A system that assumes a good faith user is not realistic.

  In view of this, the present invention is to reconfirm the conventional virtual store transaction so that products can actually be confirmed on the net at stores in various places. That is, in the conventional virtual store, the mainstream is displaying products with catalogs and photographs, and there is no actual product inventory at hand, so that the actual product cannot be confirmed. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to improve this problem.

  Further, it is also an object to make it possible to check information on the purchaser's side, for example, the degree of sewing in clothing, the feel and smell of food, and the like, rather than conventional unilateral information on the store side. Furthermore, in online sales, there are many cases in which sellers and buyers do business for the first time, so there is anxiety about credit, but it is also an object of the present invention to solve this.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following system. That is, in the shopping system according to the present invention, a store that actually displays various products, a buyer who wants to shop at the store, the terminal device on the store side and the terminal device on the buyer side via a communication network. A store server device provided on a connected website, and a purchase assistant who carries a digital camera and a communication device and assists the purchase of a buyer while actually moving in the store, the store A buyer who wishes to shop at can access the website and take a predetermined procedure, so that the purchase assistant can be instructed to shoot the product while giving instructions such as product photography. The image taken by the purchase assistant is transmitted to the buyer side via the server device, and the product that the buyer decides to purchase by looking at the image is the purchase After the assistant has performed a purchase carrying in place, it is characterized by being configured to be delivered to the buyer.

  It is preferable that the communication device is a device that can transmit an instruction from the buyer side to the purchase assistant and can transmit an explanation from the purchase assistant side to the buyer side. Further, it is preferable that a plurality of stores are connected to a server device of a website on the broker side so that a buyer can shop at any store.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even if it is a person with a physical disability, an elderly person, a sick person, etc. who are difficult to go out, it becomes possible to perform shopping full of presence in the store in a distant place using a personal computer at home. In this case, the user can observe the actual product according to his / her instructions and grasp the desired information. Therefore, unlike conventional mail order or catalog shopping, the user can specifically communicate his / her wishes. You can buy what you want. On the other hand, when opening a specialty store using this system, the location of the store can be anywhere that can communicate via the communication network, so the store is opened in a downtown with high land prices like a conventional store It is no longer necessary, and stores can be set up in places with low land prices, such as depopulated areas, and sales costs can be reduced accordingly.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described. FIG. 1 shows a shopping system according to the present invention. In the figure, a plurality of customers (buyers) B terminal devices (personal computers, etc.) 2 are connected to a server device 1 installed on a website established by an intermediary A via a communication network (Internet in the illustrated example) 4. ... can be connected. Further, the server device 1 is connected to terminal devices 3,... Of a plurality of stores C, and can perform procedures necessary for shopping such as payment of a purchase price.

  The broker A contracts with a plurality of purchase assistants D, and the purchase assistant D introduces products through the Internet 4 while carrying the digital camera 5 and the communication means 6 while moving in the store. . Therefore, the purchase assistant D can freely enter the store C,... Contracted with the broker A and photograph the product. Further, the purchase assistant D can communicate with the buyer as appropriate through the communication means 6. The communication means 6 must be capable of transmitting at least the buyer's instruction to the purchase assistant, and the buyer is informed of the explanation from the purchase assistant side like a mobile phone or an email chat means. It is preferable that it can be used. In the illustrated example, the purchase assistant D is connected to the Internet via the terminal device 3 on the store side. However, the purchase assistant may directly communicate with the buyer via the terminal device on hand. Good.

  The purchasing assistant D is a pair of a guide who informs information about the product in words while talking to the customer B over the Internet or exchanging e-mails, and a camera person who takes a picture of the product. Although it is ideal, in some cases, one person may serve both roles, and three or more persons may work. In this system, the purchasing assistant plays an important role, and the results of this system are greatly influenced by the ability of the purchasing assistant. That is, the purchasing assistant needs to have an understanding enough to appropriately respond to the customer's request, a personality that the customer likes, a confidentiality duty, an ability to operate the equipment, and the like. For this reason, it is important to educate purchasing assistants, and it may be possible to establish special qualifications and allow only those who have acquired such qualifications as purchasing assistants.

  In this system, access from a foreign country is also possible. In that case, a purchasing assistant fluent in the foreign language is required. Therefore, when dealing with a foreign country is considered, it is necessary to prepare a plurality of purchasing assistants who can perform various foreign language conversations. In this sense, it is preferable that each store not only has a purchasing assistant dedicated to the broker, but each store has its own purchasing assistant. In this way, a store with an excellent purchasing assistant increases the number of repeaters who shop at the store, and therefore sales also increase.

  A customer who wishes to shop looks at the website (homepage) of an intermediary and, if there is a store that he / she wants to visit, takes a store entry procedure. The first time visitor confirms the customer, sets the payment method, purchase limit, etc., and contracts with the broker for manners and the like. The procedure for this contract is displayed on the homepage screen and can be easily performed by simply checking the necessary items according to the screen. All customers who have completed the store entry procedure will be given a personal identification number. In the settlement of the purchase price, etc., the procedure is performed using this password. In order to complete the identity verification, it is also preferable to set a secret question or the like that only the user knows. A publicly known method can be adopted as the identity verification means. The above operations are performed between the customer and the broker website, and each store and purchasing assistant need not be involved.

  It is preferable that the store side prepares store information for customers who enter the store. It is also possible to actively introduce products on the store's own website. A customer who wants to enter a certain store performs a procedure for determining a purchase assistant. The purchasing assistant may select an appropriate name from a list registered on the website. Since the data relating to the purchasing assistant is described in this list, it is possible to select and nominate the purchasing assistant that meets his / her wishes. Reservations can be made when the desired purchasing assistant is not available or is engaged in guidance for other customers. If an agreement is established between the customer and the purchasing assistant, the store is visited from the broker's website. In the case of a purchase assistant prepared by the store side or a purchase assistant waiting in the store, this communication can be omitted.

  When the store entry procedure is completed, the purchasing assistant performs necessary photographing while moving in the store as shown in FIG. The in-store shooting screen is distributed even during this movement. As shown in FIG. 2, at the merchandise store desired by the customer, the product is photographed in accordance with the customer's instructions, and properties that cannot be conveyed only by the image, such as touch and smell, are explained to the customer in words or characters. . If the customer likes the product, the product is put in the shopping cart 10. In this way, shopping is sequentially performed while sequentially contacting customers. In principle, information such as the purchase limit amount of the customer is not notified to the purchase assistant, and the limit amount and the purchase amount are displayed on the screen viewed by the customer. With this image, the customer can manage the purchase price.

  When the desired purchase is finished, the customer informs the purchase assistant of that. Then, the purchasing assistant carries the shopping basket containing the goods to the cash register and performs settlement there. The customer is billed for the purchase price at the broker's website, and the responsibility for payment is borne by the website.

  As a payment method of purchase price, you may make payments by electronic payment etc. through a payment company such as a credit company, bank, etc., a method of delivering goods by price exchange, a method of transferring with transfer paper after goods delivery For example, various known settlement methods can be adopted.

  According to this shopping system, the customer can make a purchase while keeping in close contact with the purchase assistant, so there is little fear of purchasing something he does not like. On the other hand, since the store sells products via the communication network without the customer actually visiting the store, the store can be set up in a place with low land prices, and a large parking lot is not necessary. There is no need to spend so much on the exterior or signboard, so it is possible to reduce the price of the product.

  In addition, the purchase assistant's salary will be determined according to the purchase amount of the customer or the frequency of nomination, etc., but the amount will increase as customers like it. It is done. In other words, an excellent purchasing assistant is an important staff for both the store and the customer, but depending on the results, the person's own treatment is also improved, so the customer is expected to be valued. It will be possible to shop more easily than in stores.

  Furthermore, the broker who operates this system does not necessarily have the store itself (of course, the owner himself may own the store), and contracts with one or more stores to mediate the customer. Since it is only necessary to prepare a purchase assistant or to maintain a system such as a delivery method and a settlement method for purchased goods, there is an advantage that a large commercial transaction can be performed with a relatively low cost. In addition, the store side charges the purchase price to the broker operating the website, and the broker pays responsibly. There is merit that we can sell with heart.

It is a block diagram showing the structure of the shopping system of this invention. It is explanatory drawing in a shop. It is explanatory drawing of a purchase assistant.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Server apparatus of broker side 2 Terminal apparatus of customer side 3 Terminal apparatus of store side 5 Camera 6 Communication means A Broker company B Customer C Store D Purchasing assistant

Claims (3)

  A store that actually displays various products, a buyer who wants to shop at the store, and a terminal device on the store side and a terminal device on the buyer side are provided on a website connected via a communication network Consists of an intermediary server device, a purchase assistant who carries a digital camera and a communication device and assists the purchase of the buyer while actually moving in the store, the buyer who wishes to shop at the store, By accessing the website and taking a predetermined procedure, it is possible to shop at the store while giving instructions to the purchase assistant such as product photography, and the image taken by the purchase assistant according to the buyer's instructions is The product sent to the buyer side through the server device, and the buyer decided to purchase by looking at the image, the purchase assistant carried the purchase procedure to the predetermined place. , Shopping system, characterized by being configured to be delivered to the buyer.   The shopping system according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is a device capable of transmitting an instruction from the buyer side to the purchase assistant and an explanation from the purchase assistant side to the buyer side.   The shopping system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of stores can be connected to a server device on the broker side, and a buyer can select a desired store for shopping.

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