JP4601729B2 - Equipment for remote auction - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention is performed at a store in the real world such as art, antique (antiques), and second-hand clothing while a remote user adjusts each other's interests in the same manner as a customer who actually visits the store. The present invention relates to a device for a remote auction that can participate in an “auction” in the same position as a customer who actually visits the store.
[0002]
[Prior art]
  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique for receiving a scene at a remote location in real time using a communication network such as the Internet is known. In addition, a live video of a concert is played on a homepage on the Internet, and a user who accesses the homepage uses a browser (browsing software) to capture the live video in his / her terminal (such as a personal computer) in real time. ing.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  Conventionally, a user who viewed the live video in real time has sent a message such as an impression of the live video to the address of the homepage by e-mail, or an “electronic bulletin board” (accessed to the homepage) Each user writes his / her own message on a service that allows free writing from remote users).
[0004]
  However, in the conventional technology, there is an idea that a remote user who accesses a “real place” via a communication network and a person who visits the “real place” coordinate or exchange interests. None of these ideas are important.
[0005]
  The present invention is based on such an idea, and a remote user adjusts each other's interests in the same manner as a customer who actually visits the store, and “art of art, antiques (antiques), old clothes, etc.” Providing devices for remote auctions that can participate in "auctions held in stores around the world" from the same standpoint as customers who actually visit the store. Also, for example, art dealers, antiques Providing devices for remote auctions to enable sellers, second-hand clothing sellers, or individuals who want to sell second-hand goods to conduct auctions with customers and many remote people as customers For the purpose.
[0006]
  The device for remote auction according to the invention for which the present applicant claims protection according to the present application,Or exhibitionFor at least “one product” displayed or displayed in the store, an actual store visitor and a remote customer on the networkBoth are the sameTo be able to participate in the auctionin order to,Device for remote auction, which is displayed in the storeOr exhibitionIn the vicinity of or on the surface of a “single product” among a plurality of productsAs the actual customer of the store knows that there is a one-to-one correspondence with the “one product”Arranged display means;The information about the auction such as the bid price related to the “one product” from the actual visitor side of the store and the information about the actual visitor from the position in the vicinity of the “one product”. Wireless receiving means for receiving by wireless communication means such as, information relating to the auction such as a bid price for the "one commodity" from the remote customer side on the network, and information relating to the remote customer, Information receiving means for receiving via a communication network such as the Internet, and information recording means for recording information received by the wireless receiving means and / or the information receiving means in association with the “one product” With respect to “a certain product” that is the subject of the auction, the actual visitor side of the store described above When a new information on the auction and / or information on the auction from a remote customer side on the network is received and / or received, there is a one-to-one correspondence with the “one product”. Display control means for displaying information such as a bid price related to the "one product" on the display means arranged to be understood;A video acquisition means for acquiring a video including the “one product” in the store, and a video including the “one product” acquired by the video acquisition means, indicating an auction target Video transmission means for transmitting to a remote customer on the network in a substantially real-time manner via a network in order to allow a remote customer on the network to browse in a substantially real-time manner It is.
  In the present invention, the video acquisition unit acquires a video including both the “one product” and the display content of the display unit arranged near or on the surface, and the video transmission unit includes It is desirable that an image including both the “one product” and the display contents of the display means arranged in the vicinity or on the surface thereof is transmitted to a remote customer side on the network.
[0007]
  Further, although not the invention included in the claims of the present application, the following ideas 1 to 6 are also disclosed in the present specification.
1. Imaging means for imaging one or a plurality of commodities displayed for sale at a merchandise sales facility, and information on the video captured by the imaging means as a sales object, including a communication network (including communication by artificial satellite) Video providing means for providing to a remote customer in real time or near real time, and notification means arranged in or near the surface of the product in the store or in the store, (a) the product Purchase price data presented by the customer regarding (b) the planned period until inventory replenishment when the product is out of stock, or (c) product details such as price, performance, application, material or dimensions of the product A remote sales system using a computer network, comprising: a notification means for notifying a customer in the product sales facility of data.
2. Image capturing means for capturing products displayed in a facility for sale of products, information on the video captured by the image capturing means as a sales target, in real time or almost in real time via a communication network Video providing means for providing to a customer, desired purchase price providing means for providing data indicating a desired purchase price of the product from the remote customer to the sales facility side via a communication network; and Desired purchase price display means provided on the surface of the product or in the vicinity thereof, including desired purchase price display means for displaying the desired purchase price provided by a customer who wishes to purchase the product. And a remote sales system.
[0008]
3. In the remote sales system of 2 above, when a desired purchase price is presented from each of a plurality of customers, each desired purchase price is displayed in descending order of the amount or only the highest amount among them is displayed. A remote sales system comprising: display control means for controlling the desired purchase price display means so as to display according to a predetermined rule.
[0009]
4). Imaging means for imaging one or a plurality of commodities displayed for sale at a merchandise sales facility, and information on the video captured by the imaging means as an indication of a sales target in real time or almost via a communication network Video providing means for providing to a remote customer in real time, and product detail data recording means arranged on or near the surface of the product displayed in the product sales facility, the price, performance, use of the product, A remote sales system comprising product detail data recording means for recording product detail data such as dimensions or materials.
[0010]
5. Imaging means for imaging one or a plurality of commodities displayed for sale at a merchandise sales facility, and information on the video captured by the imaging means as an indication of a sales target in real time or almost via a communication network Image providing means for providing to remote customers in real time, product detail data recording means for recording product detail data such as price, performance, application, dimensions, or material of the product, and the product sales facility Product detail data display means arranged on or near the surface of the product displayed on the product, the product detail data display means for displaying the product detail data recorded in the product detail data recording means Remote sales system featuring.
  According to these five ideas, “product details data” such as the price, performance, material, or dimensions of the product, “information about auction” such as the minimum planned sale price of the seller of the product subject to the auction, and the current stock quantity of the product Displaying information related to product sales, such as the planned inventory replenishment period (eg, “1 month after arrival”, “planned 20 days after inventory replenishment”) when a product is currently “out of stock” Since the customer (visitor and remote customer) is notified by the notification means located on the surface of the product or in the vicinity thereof, both the customer and the remote customer can easily know the information.
[0011]
6). 6. The remote sales system according to any one of 1 to 5, further comprising a voice message for recording a voice message such as an impression, an inquiry, a request, or a purchase application (order) regarding the product from the remote customer. Recording means and voice output means arranged on or near the surface of the product so that the voice message from the remote customer can be heard by a customer or a store clerk in the sales facility. A remote sales system comprising voice output means for outputting by voice.
  According to the idea of 6, the voice message from the remote customer is recorded on the recording means located on or near the display product, and further output by the voice output means located on or near the display product. Therefore, the store clerk and the customer in the store can hear a voice message from a remote customer at a location near the product.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an apparatus for remote auction according to the present embodiment (hereinafter, sometimes expressed as “remote auction system”). In this embodiment, small and medium art dealers, antique dealers, used clothes dealers, or individuals who want to sell second-hand goods that have not been auctioned in the past have a lot of people coming to the store and many remote people as customers. A device for a remote auction to enable an (action) to be performed.
[0013]
  In FIG. 1, 1 is a table for displaying products in a store for auction (auction sales), and 2, 3 and 4 are products for auction displayed on the table 1. 2 is a ceramic product (artwork), 3 is old clothes of high-quality clothes, and 4 is a ceramic antique.
[0014]
  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 21 denotes a camera for imaging each of the products 2, 3, and 4. The video data of the products 2, 3, and 4 captured by the camera 21 is sent to the store-side server (data management and network management computer) 22 in real time. The store-side server 22 uploads the video data to the store's homepage on the Internet 23 in real time or almost in real time. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes a microphone (sound collector) installed in the vicinity of the camera 21. The microphone 20 collects sound around the products 2, 3, 4 and sends the sound data to the store-side server 22. The store-side server 22 uploads the audio data to the homepage of the store on the Internet 23 in real time or almost real time.
[0015]
  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 24 denotes a computer communication terminal (such as a personal computer) held by a remote user (remote customer) connected to the Internet 23. The communication terminal 24 includes an output device 25 such as a display and a speaker, and an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse (pointing device). A remote user accesses a homepage established by the store-side server 22 via the Internet 23, and uses a known browser (browsing software) from the video and the microphone 20 from the camera 21. Can be output in real time. In addition, the remote user automatically makes a contract with the store side without using the “push” type Internet method to access the homepage every time, for example, automatically during the auction opening period and the preparation period. The video and audio data can be distributed to the own communication terminal 24.
[0016]
  In FIG. 1, reference numerals 12, 13, and 14 denote notification panels that are attached to the surface of each of the products 2, 3, and 4, respectively, or are arranged in the vicinity thereof.In the present embodiment, these notification panels 12, 13, and 14 are arranged in the vicinity of the respective products 2, 3, and 4.. Therefore,The notification panels 12, 13, and 14 are positioned so that when the camera 21 captures the products 2, 3, and 4, the same screen is captured together with the products 2, 3, and 4. Is supposed to be placed.
[0017]
  The configuration of the notification panels 12, 13, and 14 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing the notification panel 14. In FIG. 2A, 31 is a housing (frame body), 32 is an infrared receiver exposed at the top of the housing 21, and 36 is a liquid crystal display (LCD). Next, FIG. 2B is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the notification panel 14. In FIG. 2B, 32 is an infrared receiving unit, 33 is a CPU (central control unit) to which a signal from the infrared receiving unit 32 is input, 34 is connected to the CPU 33, and records price data and the like. A RAM (Random Access Memory), 35 is connected to the CPU 33, a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a program is recorded, 36 is a purchase desired price presented by a customer participating in the auction output from the CPU 33, etc. A liquid crystal display (LCD) that outputs data.
[0018]
  Although details will be described later,As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the LCD 36 has identification data for any of the products 2, 3, and 4 to which the notification panels 12, 13, and 14 correspond, and each customer (visited the store) for the product. The highest price to date among all the suggested purchase prices offered by customers (including customers and remote users), the date and time that the price was offered, and that the store has indeed accepted the price from the customer. Data including the receipt number certifying. In the present invention, the notice panels 12, 13, and 14 are provided with the desired purchase prices provided by each customer (including customers who visited the store and remote users) for the product. The date and time and the receipt number that proves that the store has surely accepted the price from the customer may be displayed in order of date or in descending order of the amount.
[0019]
  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. As described above, the remote user accesses the store-side homepage on the Internet 23 and uses the browser (browsing software) to display the video from the camera 51 in real time on his computer terminal 54. It can be displayed on the display device 54a connected to the terminal. The method of accessing this home page and viewing it with a browser is called “pull type” (pull type) Internet. In the present embodiment, the video may be provided to a remote customer by another method, that is, a method called “push type” (push type) Internet. That is, during the auction period and its preparation period, the images of the products 2, 3, 4 and the notification panels 12, 13, 14 obtained by the camera 21 are distributed from the store side to the remote user side. In this way, the customer and the store make a contract in advance, and the video may be sent in real time from the store side to the remote customer side during the auction opening period and its preparation period. According to this “push-type” Internet method, remote customers can save time and effort to access the store's homepage.
[0020]
  Next, the following two routes (A) and (B) exist for the customer to present the desired purchase price to the store side.
(A) A route in which a customer who actually visits a store presents a desired purchase price of a certain product verbally or in writing to the store side (store clerk) on the spot during the auction period.
[00021]
  In this case, the store clerk presented with the price issues a numbered ticket describing the receipt number issued by the store side to the customer. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the clerk 40 uses the infrared transmitter 41 to “identify the product”, “name, address, and identification number of the customer”, “the reception number”, “Reception date and time (year / month / day and time)” and “the desired purchase price” are converted into infrared signals and transmitted to the receiving unit 32 of the notification panels 12, 13, and 14. Then, the notice panels 12, 13, 14 areBased on the infrared signal received by the receiving unit 32, the CPU 33 obtains the received “customer name, address, and identification number”, “reception number”, “reception date / time”, and “the desired purchase price”, Recorded in the RAM 34. Further, the CPU 33 updates and displays the received “reception number”, “reception date / time” and “the desired purchase price” on the LCD 36.
[0022]
  In addition,On the LCD 36, the maximum price of the desired purchase price presented so far is displayed.Therefore, if the price is not higher than the price, the customer cannot present it (since it is meaningless to present). Nevertheless, if a price lower than the currently displayed price is erroneously transmitted from the transmitter 41, the CPU compares the transmitted price with the currently displayed price. If the transmitted price is smaller than the currently displayed price, the update display on the LCD 36 is rejected, and an “error” is displayed to notify the store clerk 40.
[0023]
  In the first embodiment, the auction is held within a predetermined period, and within that period, the desired purchase price is presented to the store by the customer, and the customer who presented the highest price is auctioned off. It has become. And the predetermined period isIt may be a day, hours, or tens of minutes, or days or months. Each customer can receive the products 2, 3, and 4 stored in the auction hall (store) or other place during the auction period or during the preparation period before the auction is held. It is possible to evaluate its value by actually watching it on the spot or watching it with an image captured by a camera described later.
[0024]
(B) A route in which a remote customer who accesses a homepage on the store side presents the desired purchase price to the store side via the communication network during the auction period.
  In this case, the remote customer can evaluate the value of each of the products 2, 3, 4 based on the video from the camera 21.
[0025]
  In the present embodiment, the camera 21 may be fixed to a wall in a store or the like, but may be one that the remote user can remotely control via a communication network. That is, a remote user may remotely control the shooting magnification and shooting angle. The camera 21 is attached to a moving body (for example, a moving body that moves along a rail arranged along a ceiling or a wall), and the position of the camera can be freely controlled by remotely controlling the moving body. It may be one that can be moved to. In addition, a camera may be provided on a mobile robot that can freely move on the floor in the store, and the position of the camera may be moved by the remote user remotely controlling the mobile robot. The technique for moving the camera via the communication network is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-228339 (“Video Transmission Type Remote Viewing Device”) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-51525 (“Video Composition Type Remote”). For example, it is disclosed in detail in “Earth appreciation device”).
[0026]
  Also,In the above-described embodiment, the LCD 36 displays only the highest price so far.However, other displays are possible in the present invention. That is, by changing the program for controlling the CPU 33, for example, all of the prices presented so far (or only the most recent ones) are arranged and displayed in descending order of price. Is also possible. It is also possible to display all of the prices presented so far (or only a plurality from the highest price) in the order of reception date and time.
[0027]
  In the present embodiment, a moving image is assumed as the video from the camera 21, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a still image captured for several seconds by the camera 21 or several minutes is captured. Still images taken at intervals may be transmitted to a remote customer. When it is not necessary to frequently update the desired purchase price, there is almost no practical problem even with such still images every few seconds or minutes.
[0028]
  Also,In this embodiment, the desired purchase price from a remote customer is displayed on the LCD of the notification panels 12, 13, and 14.However, the present invention is not limited to this, and “various information relating to product sales” of products displayed in the store can be displayed. “Product sales information” in this case is, for example, “product detailed data” such as the price, performance, material, or dimensions of the product corresponding to each notice panel, the minimum planned sales price of the seller of the auction target product, etc. "Information on auction", the current stock quantity of the product, and the planned stock replenishment period of the product when the product is currently "out of stock" (for example, "1 month after arrival", "scheduled after 20 days of stock replenishment") Etc.). In the present invention, these “information on product sales” are recorded in the recording device incorporated in the notification panels 12, 13, and 14, and when there is a request from a remote customer or at any time, the “product sales” is recorded. “Sales information” may be displayed. In other words, the customer in the store can see the “information related to product sales” by looking at the notification panel in the vicinity of each product, and the remote customer can view the notification panel from the camera 21. By viewing through, the information can be viewed.
[0029]
  In the present invention, the information panel 12, 13, 14 is also provided with a wireless transmitter so that a remote customer can record the “information regarding the sale of goods” recorded on the notification panel via a communication network. ”Is sent to the store-side server 22 by wireless communication to the remote customer, and then sent from the store-side server 22 to the user-side terminal 24 via the communication network. You may do it. That is, when there is a request from a remote customer for a certain product, the store-side server 22 wirelessly (infrared rays) an instruction to provide “information regarding product sales” corresponding to this request to the corresponding notification panel. ) Then, the corresponding notice panel transmits the corresponding information in the information related to the sale of the product recorded by itself to the store side server 22 wirelessly. The store-side server 22 transmits this transmitted information to a remote customer via a communication network.
[0030]
  In the present invention, the notification panel includes a voice message recording device that records a voice message such as an impression, an inquiry, a request, or a purchase application (order) about a corresponding product from a remote customer, A speaker (voice output means) may be provided for outputting the voice message from the remote customer by voice so that the customer or store clerk in the sales facility can listen. In this case, the remote user transmits a voice message about the product to the store-side server 22 via the communication network while watching the video from the camera 21. The store-side server 22 transmits the sent voice message to the corresponding notification panel wirelessly as voice data. The corresponding announcement panel records this audio data. Then, when a store clerk or a customer visiting the vicinity of each product performs a predetermined operation, the recorded audio data is output from the speaker. As a result, a store clerk or a customer in the store can arbitrarily listen to a voice message from a remote customer at a location near the product.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
  As described above, according to the present invention, the display control unit and the display update unit always maintain the latest regardless of whether the purchase desired price is received from a remote user or an actually visited customer. Can be displayed in real time or almost in real time so that the one-to-one relationship with the auction target product can be understood. Therefore, the remote user and the customer who actually visited the store can participate in the auction from the same standpoint. Moreover, from a large number of customers, including remote users and customers who actually visited the storebidpriceSuchofStatusSince the remote user and the customer who actually visited the store can know the same in real time or almost in real time, the interest between the remote user and the customer who actually visited the store can be appropriately adjusted. (That is, one is advantageous and neither is disadvantageous.) Therefore, the conventional store can also participate in the auction for people who live in remote areas that cannot actually visit the store.
  In addition, according to the present invention, for example, even an art dealer, an antique dealer, an old clothes dealer, or an individual who wants to sell second-hand goods, the people who actually come to the store and many remote people on the network are customers. It becomes possible to conduct an auction.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2A is a diagram showing an external appearance of a notification panel used in this embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a block diagram showing its internal configuration.
[Explanation of symbols]
2,3,4 products
12, 13, 14 Announcement panel
21 Camera
36 LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
22 Store side server
24 User side communication terminal

Claims (1)

Using a store where a plurality of products are actually displayed or displayed, for at least "one product" displayed or displayed in the store, the store's actual customers and remote customers on the network Are devices for remote auctions that allow both to participate in the same auction,
The actual location of the store is that there is a one-to-one correspondence with the “one product” in the vicinity of or on the surface of the “one product” among a plurality of products displayed or displayed in the store. Display means arranged so that visitors can understand ,
The information about the auction such as the bid price related to the “one product” from the actual visitor side of the store and the information about the actual visitor from the position in the vicinity of the “one product” . Wireless receiving means for receiving by signal or radio signal ;
Information accepting means for accepting information related to an auction such as a bid price related to the “one product” from a remote customer side on the network and information related to the remote customer via a communication network such as the Internet; ,
Information recording means for recording the information received by the wireless receiving means and / or the information receiving means in association with the “one product”;
Information on the auction from the actual customer side of the store and / or information on the auction from a remote customer side on the network with respect to “a certain product” to be auctioned. When a new reception and / or reception is made, a bid price related to the “one product” is displayed on the display means arranged so that it can be seen that there is a one-to-one correspondence with the “one product”. Display control means for displaying information;
Image acquisition means for acquiring an image in the store and including the "one product";
In order to allow a remote customer on the network to view the video including the “one product” acquired by the video acquisition means in real time as indicating the target of the auction, the network is provided in real time through the network. Video transmission means for transmitting to the remote customer side above,
A device for remote auction, characterized by comprising:

Images