JP5493267B2 - Product search device and product search method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for searching for a product that matches a search condition set by a user, and more specifically, a technique for automatically generating a search condition as an alternative to a search condition set by a user to search for a product. About.

  For shopping sites and actual stores established on the Internet (for example, book stores, music software stores, home appliance mass retailers, etc.), the products that the user desires from the products handled at the shopping sites and actual stores Must be able to search quickly.

  The invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a product of trial and error by making user-specific selection information manifest, as described in "Problems to be Solved by the Invention" of Patent Document 1. This is a product search method that enables a user to quickly search for a product that the user is satisfied from among the products stored in the database without searching for the item.

  In this product search method, by allowing a purchase applicant to select one or more levels for each product attribute as a search condition, purchase applicants for a plurality of profiles configured by combining levels for each attribute included in the desired condition The evaluation of each item is converted into a numerical value, and the weight of evaluation specific to the purchase applicant for each level of each attribute is calculated from these evaluation values. Then, an evaluation value is estimated for the products satisfying the search conditions in the database using the evaluation weight specific to the purchase applicant, and a product having a large estimated evaluation value is extracted as a search result.

JP 2001-175686 A

  As in Patent Literature 1, a method for creating a profile for each user and presenting a product suitable for the user from products satisfying the search conditions set by the user is searched for products related to the user's profile. However, when a user actually purchases a product, the user often purchases the product while referring to a product other than the user's desire, and it is desirable that the user can present a product that is not related to the user's profile. .

  Furthermore, in the conventional technology, if the user sets a search condition that is stricter than necessary, there is no product to be searched, and the user stops searching for the product or is looser than the search condition entered earlier. There has been a problem that it becomes necessary to search for products using search conditions.

  Conversely, if the user sets a search condition that is looser than necessary, the number of products included in the search result becomes enormous, and the user must set the search condition to narrow down the search result. There are also problems that must be addressed.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a product search device and a product search method that can automatically generate a search condition as an alternative to a search condition set by a user and search for a product using the search condition as an alternative. In addition, the search condition is automatically generated as an alternative to the search condition set by the user only when the search for the product using the search condition set by the user fails, and A product search device and a product search method for searching for products using the search conditions are also provided.

1st invention which solves the subject mentioned above is a goods search device used in order to search goods, a user operates a goods information database which memorized goods information including goods attributes and its attribute value A search condition acquisition unit that acquires a search condition for the product information and a user ID of a user who sets the search condition from an operation terminal, and acquires a frequency of a product attribute included in the search condition for each user ID, and the search A product search unit that searches the product information database for the product information that matches the search condition acquired by the condition acquisition unit, and generates a reference search condition in which a part of the search condition acquired from the operation terminal is changed, a product reference search means for the generated said reference search condition the product information matches the search from the product information database, the product reference search means generates Generate display information including text information for displaying the reference search condition and the number of the product information included in the search result, and use the frequency of the product attribute acquired by the search condition acquisition unit to display the display information. Search result transmitting means for determining the arrangement order of the included text information and transmitting the generated display information to the operation terminal .

  Further, the second invention is the product search device according to the first invention, wherein the product search device stores search attribute information in which search key information related to the product attribute is described in association with the product attribute. A search attribute information database, wherein the search condition acquisition means of the product search device acquires product attributes and the search key information from the operation terminal, and combines the acquired search key information with AND logic. Means for generating a search condition, wherein the product reference search means of the product search device refers to the search attribute information database, and one of the search key information acquired by the search condition acquisition means belongs to the same product attribute; The reference search condition is generated by combining the search key information after replacement with the other search key information and the search key information not replaced with AND logic. Characterized in that it is a means for.

According to the first invention described above, the search of the search condition set by the user is performed by searching the product information using the reference search condition obtained by changing a part of the search condition acquired from the operation terminal. It is possible to provide users with expanded results, and when users fail to search for products or when the number of products included in search results becomes enormous, it is possible to present alternatives for search conditions to the user become. In addition, the user can set by including a search result transmission unit that generates the display information including the reference search condition generated by the product reference search unit and the text information that displays the number of the product information included in the search result. It becomes possible to grasp the number of products searched when a part of the search condition is changed. In addition, by determining the arrangement order of the text information according to the frequency of the product attribute for which the user has set the search condition, information when the product attribute most important to the user is changed is given to the user. It becomes possible to present.

  Various methods can be considered as a method for generating the reference search condition by changing a part of the search condition acquired from the operation terminal, but the search set by the user can be performed by the second invention. By listing one of the key information with the other search key information belonging to the same product attribute and generating the reference search condition, it is possible to enumerate search conditions that are alternatives to the search condition set by the user become able to.

Furthermore, a third invention is the product search device according to the first or second aspect, before Symbol Product reference search means, be activated when the product search means fails to retrieve product information It is characterized by.

  Further, as in the third invention, the product reference search means of the product search device can be operated only when the search using the search condition set by the user fails.

Further, the fourth invention is a product search method for searching for a product, wherein a product search device comprising a product information database storing product information including product attributes and attribute values is operated from an operation terminal operated by a user. A step (a) of acquiring a search condition of the product information and a user ID of a user who sets the search condition, and acquiring a frequency of a product attribute included in the search condition for each user ID; A step (b1) of searching the product information database for the product information that conforms to the search condition acquired in the step (a), and the product search device includes one of the search conditions acquired from the operation terminal. The reference search condition is generated by changing the section, and the product information that matches the generated reference search condition is searched from the product information database. And (b), the product search device, resulting in Reference search condition and generates display information including text information to display the number of the item information included in the search result, the frequency of product attributes that the acquired A step (c) of determining the arrangement order of the text information included in the display information and transmitting the generated display information to the operation terminal .

Further, a fifth invention is the product search method according to the fourth invention, wherein the product search device stores search attribute information in which search key information related to the product attribute is described in association with the product attribute. In the step (a), the product search device acquires product attributes and the search key information from the operation terminal, and combines the acquired search key information with AND logic. In the step of generating the search condition in step (b), in step (b), the product search device refers to the search attribute information database and uses one of the search key information acquired in step (a) as the same product. Substituting with the other search key information belonging to the attribute, and combining the search key information after replacement with the search key information not replaced by AND logic. Characterized in that it is a step of generating a.

Further, a sixth invention is the product search method according to the fourth or fifth invention, wherein the product information that matches the search condition acquired in the step (a) is searched from the product information database. A step (b1), wherein the step (b) is executed when the search for the product information fails in the step (b1).

According to the fourth to sixth inventions described above, the same effects as the first to third inventions can be obtained.

  According to the present invention described above, by searching for a product using a search condition that is an alternative to the search condition set by the user by generating a reference search condition in which part of the search condition set by the user is changed Product search device and product search method can be provided, and the reference search condition in which a part of the search condition set by the user is changed only when the product search using the search condition set by the user fails. Thus, a product search device and a product search method for searching for products can be provided.

  From here, the goods search apparatus 1 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated in detail, referring a figure. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system in which a product search device 1 is arranged. The present embodiment is an embodiment in which the product search device 1 according to the present invention is used for searching for products sold on a shopping site. The system illustrated in FIG. 1 includes the product search device 1 and a browser. Composed of at least an operation terminal 2 such as a personal computer, the product search device 1 and the operation terminal 2 are connected via a network 3.

  1 is a Web server having a function of transmitting information according to a request to the operation terminal 2 via the network 3 when a request from the operation terminal 2 is received via the network 3. The product search device 1 is realized by a large-capacity storage device (for example, a hard disk) that stores computer programs and information, a central processing unit (CPU) that interprets and executes the computer programs, and a CPU that is a computer. It has hardware resources such as a RAM (RAM: Random Access Memory) and a network communication device used when executing the program.

  The product search device 1 according to the present embodiment stores product information relating to various products in a storage device, searches for products that match the search conditions requested from the operation terminal 2, and stores the search results of the products in the operation terminal 2. In addition to the general product search function to be transmitted, when searching for a product that matches the search condition requested from the operation terminal 2 fails, that is, when the search result is 0, by changing a part of the search condition A product reference search function for searching for a product using the obtained reference search condition and transmitting the reference search condition and the search result to the operation terminal 2 is provided.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the product search device 1. In order to implement the present invention, the product search device 1 acquires a product information database 14 (DB: DataBase) in which product information of various products is stored and a search condition from the operation terminal 2. Search attribute information DB 15 in which search attribute information to be used is stored, search condition acquisition means 10 for acquiring search conditions from the operation terminal 2, and search for products that match the search conditions acquired from the operation terminal 2 from the product information DB 14 Product search means 12 to search, product reference search means 13 to search for products from the product information DB 14 using a reference search condition obtained by changing a part of the search conditions acquired from the operation terminal 2, and the search result to be displayed on the operation terminal 2 The search result transmission means 11 which produces | generates the web page to make and transmits the produced | generated web page to the operating terminal 2 is provided.

  The product information DB 14 and the search attribute information DB 15 provided in the product search device 1 are databases provided in the storage device of the product search device 1. The search condition acquisition unit 10, the product search unit 12, the product reference search unit 13, and the search The result transmission means 11 is realized by a computer program for using the hardware resources of the product search device 1 and causing the product search device 1 to function as each means. This computer program is stored in the storage device of the product search device 1. It is remembered.

  First, information stored in the product information DB 14 will be described. The merchandise information DB 14 stores merchandise information relating to various merchandise and a large number of merchandise attribute information used for defining merchandise attributes of the merchandise.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the product information and product attribute information stored in the product information DB 14. FIG. 3A is a diagram for explaining product information. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, one product information includes a product ID that is a unique number for each product and a product that is the name of the product. The product attribute information ID of the product attribute information describing the product attribute and its attribute value is described for each product attribute of the name and the product, and the product attribute of the product is defined by the product attribute information ID included in the product information The

  FIG. 3B is a diagram for explaining the product attribute information. As illustrated in FIG. 3B, one product attribute information includes a product attribute information ID that is a unique number for each product attribute information, The product attribute name (for example, the number of pixels) and the attribute value (for example, 8.5 million pixels) that are the names of the product attributes corresponding to the product attribute information are described.

  For example, when the product is a digital camera, the product ID included in the product information is the product model number, and the product name is the name of the digital camera. Furthermore, when the product is a digital camera, the manufacturer, price, number of pixels, zoom magnification, video shooting function, etc. of the digital camera are product attributes, and the product attribute information ID of the product attribute information corresponding to the manufacturer of the digital camera, Product attribute information ID of product attribute information corresponding to the price, Product attribute information ID of product attribute information corresponding to the number of pixels of the digital camera, Product attribute information ID of product attribute information corresponding to the zoom magnification of the digital camera, The product attribute information ID of the product attribute information corresponding to the moving image shooting function is described in the product information of the digital camera.

  The merchandise information and merchandise attribute information stored in the merchandise information DB 14 may be manually registered in the merchandise information DB 14 for each product, or the Japanese website web page published on the shopping site is analyzed, and the shopping site The contents of the product information DB 14 may be automatically updated according to the products handled in

  Next, information stored in the search attribute information DB 15 provided in the product search device 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining search attribute information stored in the search attribute information DB 15.

  The search attribute information is information stored in the search attribute information DB 15 for each product attribute and used when acquiring the search condition from the operation terminal 2. The search attribute information is a unique number for each search attribute information. In association with each other, a product attribute name of a product attribute corresponding to the search attribute information and a plurality of search key information serving as a search key when searching for a product using the product attribute are described.

  The content of the search key information described in the search attribute information differs depending on the product attribute corresponding to the search attribute information, and the content of the search key information is described by a combination of characters and symbols that can be interpreted by the product search device. For example, when the product attribute is the price of the product, search key information is described in the search attribute information for each price range of the product.

  The search condition acquisition means 10 provided in the product search device 1 uses the search attribute information stored in the search attribute information DB 15 to search key information used as a product search condition for the user operating the operation terminal 2. And selection information of search key information is acquired from the operation terminal 2.

  In order to acquire the search condition of the product from the operation terminal 2 that has been accessed, the search condition acquisition means 10 of the product search device 1 stores the main classification and sub classification of the category of the product, and for each sub classification of the category, A search attribute information ID of search attribute information corresponding to the product attribute of a product belonging to a category is stored, and a web page (hereinafter referred to as “category selection page”) for allowing the user to select a product category is described. Stored HTML documents are stored.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the category selection page 4. The category selection page 4 is provided with at least a pull-down box 40 for selecting the main category of the category of the product to be searched and a pull-down box 41 for selecting the sub-category of the category of the product to be searched. When a user operating the operation terminal 2 selects a main category (in this case, a digital device) of one category from the list in the pull-down box 40, a sub-category belonging to the selected main category is displayed in the pull-down box 41. Is displayed.

  When the product search device 1 is accessed from the operation terminal 2, the search condition acquisition means 10 transmits an HTML document in which the category selection page 4 is described to the operation terminal 2, and the product category sub-classification of the product category is performed. Get selection information.

  It should be noted that the search condition acquisition unit 10 may use any method for acquiring the main category and sub-category selection information of the product category. Naturally, instead of the pull-down box 40 or the pull-down box 41, a hyperlink or button Etc. may be used.

  And the search condition acquisition means 10 will be identified by search attribute information ID linked | related with the subcategory of the category of goods corresponding to the acquired selection information, if the selection information of the subcategory of the category of goods is acquired from the operation terminal 2. FIG. Part or all of the search attribute information is acquired from the search attribute information DB 15.

  When the search attribute acquisition unit 10 acquires the search attribute information from the search attribute information DB 15, the search condition acquisition unit 10 causes the user to select one search key information from the search key information included in the search attribute information for each acquired search attribute information. An HTML document in which a web page (hereinafter referred to as “search key information selection page”) is written is dynamically generated, and the HTML document in which the search key information selection page is described is transmitted to the operation terminal 2.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the search key information selection page 5. FIG. 6 shows an example when a digital camera is selected as the product category. The search key information selection page 5 displays “Digital Camera” which is the category of the selected product. As the product attribute name of the search attribute information associated with, the digital camera manufacturer, price, number of pixels, zoom magnification, and movie shooting function are displayed, and one search key from the search key information included in the search attribute information A pull-down box 50 for selecting information is provided for each search attribute information, and a search button 51 that the user clicks when requesting a search for a product is displayed. In FIG. 6, the form for selecting one search key information is a pull-down box 50. However, this form may be a radio button or a check box.

  That is, in the HTML document in which the search key information selection page 5 is described, the product attribute name included in the search attribute information is displayed for each search attribute information acquired from the search attribute information DB 15 and the tag for displaying the product category. A tag for displaying a pull-down box 50 for selecting one search key information from the search key information included in the search attribute information and the search button 51 to be clicked when a product search is requested. The tag that displays is included.

  The value of the NAME attribute of the SELECT tag that defines the pull-down box 50 for selecting one search key information is the search attribute information ID of the search attribute information corresponding to the pull-down box 50, and the search key information included in the search attribute information. The number of OPTION tags is described between the SELECT tags.

  The element value of the OPTION tag is text data indicating the contents of the search key information included in the search attribute information, and this text data is stored in association with the search key information of the search attribute information. The value of the VALUE attribute of the OPTION tag is a value that is transmitted to the product search device 1 when the OPTION tag is selected, and may be any value that allows the search condition acquisition unit 10 to identify each search key information. Then, the value of the VALUE attribute of the OPTION tag is the search key information itself.

  For example, when the pull-down box 50 corresponding to the product attribute name “number of pixels of digital camera” is selected, a list of search key information included in the search attribute information whose product attribute name is “number of pixels of digital camera” is displayed. The displayed user who operates the operation terminal 2 selects one search key information from the list by using a pointing device, a keyboard, or the like.

  The user does not need to select the search key information by operating all the pull-down boxes 50 displayed on the screen, and only the arbitrary pull-down box 50 may be used. Here, the product attribute name is “digital camera”. Search key information (here, “8 million pixels to less than 10 million pixels”) and search key information whose product attribute name is “digital camera price” (here, “less than 30,000 yen”) And are selected.

  When the search button 51 is clicked, information indicating that the search button 51 has been clicked, the search attribute information ID of the pull-down box 50 selected by the user, and the selected search key information are sent from the operation terminal 2 to the product search device. 1 is transmitted.

  When the search condition acquisition unit 10 of the product search apparatus 1 acquires the search attribute information ID and the search key information from the operation terminal 2, the search condition acquisition unit 10 generates a search condition by combining the search key information with AND logic, and the generated search condition Is delivered to the product search means 12, and the product search means 12 is requested to search for products that meet the search conditions.

  When the product search means 12 searches for product information that matches the search condition, product information that matches the search key information is searched from the product information DB 14 for each search key information included in the search condition, and the search result is ANDed. By combining logically, product information that matches the search condition is searched from the product information DB 14.

  For example, if the search key information included in the search condition is the search key information 1 to 3, the product search means 12 matches the search key information 1 and also matches the search key information 2 and the search key information 3 Product information that conforms to the search condition is retrieved from the product information DB 14 as product information that conforms to the search conditions.

  Specifically, the product search means 12 displays product attribute information including the product attribute name described in the search attribute information specified by the search attribute information ID for each search attribute information ID included in the search condition. All the product attribute information ID of the product attribute information that matches the search key information included in the search condition is acquired from the searched product attribute information. Then, for each search attribute information ID included in the search condition, product information including any of the acquired product attribute information IDs is searched from the product information DB, and the search results are combined with AND logic to meet the search conditions. Search results.

  The product search unit 12 delivers the searched product information to the search result transmission unit 11 when the product information that matches the delivered search conditions can be searched from the product information DB, and the search result transmission unit 11 delivers the product information. An HTML document for displaying a web page in which the product information is described is generated, and the generated HTML document is transmitted to the operation terminal 2.

  Further, when the product search unit 12 cannot search the product information DB 14 for product information that matches the delivered search condition, the product search unit 12 uses the search condition used for searching for product information as the product reference search unit 13. The merchandise reference search means 13 generates a reference search condition by changing the search key information included in the delivered search condition, and searches for the merchandise using the generated reference search condition. The search result using the reference search condition is delivered from the product reference search means 13 to the search result transmission means 11, and the search result using the reference search condition is displayed on the operation terminal 2.

  From here, the content that the merchandise reference search means 13 generates the reference search condition by relaxing the search condition acquired by the search condition acquisition means 10 will be described in detail. The merchandise reference search means 13 replaces one of the search key information included in the search condition with other search key information included in the search attribute information specified by the search attribute information ID, and uses the search key information after the replacement. By combining with AND logic, a part of the search condition acquired by the search condition acquisition means 10 is changed, and a reference search condition is generated from the search condition.

  The number of reference search conditions generated by the search condition acquisition unit 10 is not limited to one. The number of reference search conditions generated by the search condition acquisition unit 10 includes the number of search key information included in the search condition and the search Depends on the number of search key information included in the attribute information.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the content that the product reference search means 13 generates reference search conditions. FIG. 7 shows an example when the product category is a digital camera. As shown in FIG. 7, the product attributes of the digital camera are the manufacturer, price, number of pixels, zoom magnification, and video shooting function of the digital camera. As shown in FIG. 6, the search key information “less than 30,000 yen” is selected as the price of the digital camera, and the search key information “8 million to 10 million pixels” is selected as the number of pixels of the digital camera. Suppose that

  FIG. 7 illustrates search key information included in the search attribute information corresponding to the selected product attribute. According to FIG. 7, the search key information included in the search attribute information corresponding to the number of pixels of the digital camera is five in total, and the search key information included in the search attribute information corresponding to the price of the digital camera is also five in total. is there.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining reference search conditions obtained by replacing search key information for the number of pixels of a digital camera. According to FIG. 7, since the search attribute information corresponding to the number of pixels of the digital camera includes four search key information in addition to the search key information included in the search condition, it is included in the search condition. The four reference search conditions (a) to (d) are generated by replacing the search key information (here, “8 million to 10 million pixels”) with each of the other four search key information.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining reference search conditions obtained by replacing the search key information of the price of the digital camera. Since the search attribute information corresponding to the price of the digital camera includes four search key information in addition to the search key information included in the search condition, the search key information included in the search condition (here, , “Less than 30,000 yen”) is replaced with each of the other four search key information, so that four reference search conditions (a) to (d) are generated.

  When the product reference search unit 13 generates the reference search condition, the product reference search unit 13 searches the product information DB for product information that matches the reference search condition for each of the generated reference search conditions, All the search results are delivered to the search result transmission means 11 and the search results are displayed on the operation terminal 2.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a reference search condition and a web page 6 (hereinafter referred to as “reference search result page”) on which the search result is displayed. In addition to the contents of the search key information selection page 5 shown in FIG. 5, the reference search result page 6 describes the reference search conditions delivered from the product reference search means 13 and the number of product information included in the search results. A list box 60 that displays text information in the form of a hyperlink 61 is displayed.

  When the search result transmitting unit 11 generates the reference search result page 6 from the reference search condition delivered from the product reference search unit 13 of FIG. 6 and the search result, the reference search condition delivered from the product reference search unit 13 The search result is temporarily stored, and an HTML document displaying a search result corresponding to the reference search condition included in the text information of the hyperlink 61 is linked to the hyperlink 61, and the hyperlink 61 is clicked. Then, the HTML document linked to the clicked hyperlink 61 is transmitted to the operation terminal 2, and a search result corresponding to the reference search condition is displayed on the operation terminal 2.

  In addition, in order to enable the search with the reference search condition delivered from the product reference search unit 13, text information in which the reference search condition delivered from the product reference search unit 13 and the number of product information included in the search result are described. May be displayed in the form of a hyperlink 61, a pull-down menu may be used instead of the list box 60. Further, in order to enable the search with the reference search condition delivered from the product reference search means 13, text information in which the reference search condition delivered from the product reference search means 13 and the number of product information included in the search result are described. May be displayed in a format other than the format of the hyperlink 61. For example, text information describing the reference search condition delivered from the product reference search means 13 and the number of product information included in the search result, and its reference search You may display the button for making it search according to conditions.

  Although the display order of the hyperlink 61 in which the reference search condition and the number of products included in the search result are described may be arbitrary, the product search device 1 stores the frequency of the product attribute for which the user has set the search condition, You may display this hyperlink 61 in order with the frequency of goods attribute.

  For example, when the frequency of setting the search key information related to the price of the product as the search condition is the highest, the reference search condition included in the search condition and obtained by replacing the search key information related to the price of the product Such a hyperlink 61 is displayed first.

  When the frequency of the product attribute for which the user has set the search condition is counted, the search condition acquisition unit 10 of the product search device 1 is provided with a function for acquiring the user ID from the user who sets the search condition, and further associated with the user ID. Then, a counter is provided for each search attribute information ID stored in the search attribute information DB 15, and when the search condition acquisition means 10 of the product search device 1 acquires the search attribute information ID from the operation terminal 2, the acquired user ID is assigned to the acquired user ID. It is only necessary to increment one counter corresponding to the search attribute information ID that is associated.

  From here, the product search method according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the product search method according to the present invention. The product search method according to the present invention is a method executed in a web server such as the product search device 1 described so far. First, the web server searches from the operation terminal 2 that requested the search in order to search for products. Search key information used when generating search conditions is acquired (S1).

  The search condition acquisition unit 10 of the product search apparatus 1 described above uses a web page as illustrated in FIG. 6 to search the search attribute information ID of the search attribute information corresponding to the product attribute of the product to be searched, and the product attribute. To obtain search key information as a search key when searching for products using.

  When the web server obtains the search key information from the operation terminal 2, it generates a search condition by combining the obtained search key information with AND logic, and is provided in the web server from a database in which various product information is stored. The product information that matches the generated search condition is searched (S2).

  The web server branches the process according to the search result of the product information that matches the generated search condition (S3), and when the search of the product information is successful, generates a web page that displays the search result of the product information. The transmitted web page is transmitted to the operation terminal 2 (S4), and this procedure is terminated.

  When the search for the product information fails, the web server replaces the search key information acquired from the operation terminal 2 with other search key information corresponding to the same product attribute, and combines the search key information with AND logic. A reference search condition is generated, and product information is searched using the generated reference search condition (S5).

  The reference search condition generated by the web server in (S5) is not limited to one. The reference search condition generated by the web server includes the number of search key information acquired from the operation terminal 2 and the search key acquired from the operation terminal 2. Depends on the number of other search key information belonging to the same product attribute as the information.

  For example, the search key information acquired from the operation terminal 2 is search key information 1, search key information 2 and search key information 3, and the number of other search key information belonging to the same product attribute as the search key information 1 is one. When the number of other search key information belonging to the same product attribute as the search key information 2 is two and the number of other search key information belonging to the same product attribute as the search key information 3 is three, the search key information 1 Is replaced with one reference search condition, the search key information 2 is replaced with two reference search conditions, the search key information 3 is replaced with three reference search conditions, A total of six reference search conditions are generated.

  When a reference search condition is generated and product information is searched using the generated reference search condition, the web server generates a reference search condition that has been successfully searched and a web page that displays the search result. It transmits to the operation terminal 2 (S6).

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described so far, and various modifications and changes can be made. For example, the product search device 1 has been described as a single device so far, but the product search device 1 may be composed of a plurality of servers, and the product search device 1 is a function of a shopping site. It is also possible to provide.

  Further, in the product search device 1 of the present embodiment, the product reference search unit 13 is activated only when the product search according to the search conditions set by the user has failed, and a part of the search conditions set by the user is changed. The product search is performed using the reference search condition, but the product reference search means 13 may be operated regardless of the success / failure of the product search according to the search condition set by the user.

  Regardless of the success / failure of the product search according to the search conditions set by the user, the product reference search means 13 is operated, so that the product search fails or the number of products included in the search result becomes enormous. Sometimes, it becomes possible to present a search condition alternative to the user.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the product search method when searching for products using the reference search conditions regardless of the success / failure of the product search by the search conditions set by the user.

  When searching for a product using the reference search condition regardless of the success / failure of the search for the product based on the search condition set by the user, as in (S1) of FIG. Search key information used when generating a search condition is acquired from the operation terminal 2 that requested the search (S10).

  When the search key information used when generating the search condition is acquired from the operation terminal 2 that requested the search, the Web server acquires the search key information from the operation terminal 2 as in (S2) of FIG. A search condition is generated by combining the search key information with AND logic, and product information suitable for the generated search condition is searched from a database provided in the web server and storing various product information (S11). .

  The web server uses the search key information acquired from the operation terminal 2 as another search key information corresponding to the same product attribute regardless of the search result of the product information that matches the search condition acquired from the operation terminal 2. The reference search condition is generated by combining the search key information with AND logic, and the product information is searched using the generated reference search condition (S12).

When the search for the product information that matches the search condition acquired from the operation terminal 2 and the search for the product information that matches the reference search condition generated from the search condition acquired from the operation terminal 2 are completed, the web server 2. Generate and generate a web page that displays the product information search results that match the search conditions acquired from 2 and the product information search results that match the reference search conditions generated from the search conditions acquired from the operation terminal 2. This web page is transmitted to the operation terminal 2 (S13), and this procedure ends.

  Furthermore, when the search result transmission unit 11 of the product search apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment generates the reference search result page 6 from the reference search condition and the search result delivered from the product reference search unit 13 of FIG. The reference search condition and the search result delivered from the reference search means 13 are temporarily saved, and the reference search result page 6 includes a hyperlink 61 linked with an HTML document that displays the search result corresponding to the reference search condition. The hyperlink linked to the reference search condition is displayed on the reference search result page 6 instead of the HTML document that displays the search result corresponding to the reference search condition, and is linked to the clicked hyperlink. The product search means 12 may be operated using the reference search condition so that the product can be searched again.

  Furthermore, although this embodiment demonstrated the form when the goods search apparatus 1 which concerns on this invention was utilized for the goods search currently sold in the shopping site, the goods search apparatus 1 is sold in a real store. It can also be used for product search.

  When the product search device 1 is used to search for a product sold in an actual store, the operation terminal 2 is installed in the actual store, and the product search device 1 is connected to the operation terminal 2 via a LAN (LAN: Local Area Network). Alternatively, a device in which the operation terminal 2 and the product search device 1 are integrated is installed in an actual store.

  The products handled in the present invention include personal computers, personal computer peripherals, home appliances, sports equipment, books, music software, video software, Internet providers, real estate, vehicles (cars, motorcycles, bicycles, etc.), foods, etc. It may also be services such as finance, insurance, and travel reservations.

  As described above, according to the product search device 1 and the product search method according to the present embodiment, it is possible to search for products using the reference search conditions obtained by changing a part of the search conditions set by the user. Therefore, it is possible to present to the user product information obtained by expanding the search result of the search condition set by the user, when the product search fails or when the number of products included in the search result becomes enormous, It is possible to present an alternative search condition to the user.

The figure explaining the system by which the goods search apparatus is arrange | positioned. The functional block diagram of a goods search apparatus. The figure explaining the merchandise information and merchandise attribute information memorize | stored in merchandise information DB. The figure explaining search attribute information. The figure explaining a category selection page. The figure explaining a search key information selection page. The figure explaining the content which goods reference search means produces | generates a reference search condition. The figure explaining the reference search conditions obtained by substituting search key information of the number of pixels. The figure explaining the reference search conditions obtained by substituting price search key information. The figure explaining a reference search result page. The flowchart which showed the procedure of the goods search method. The flowchart which showed the procedure of the goods search method when searching goods using reference search conditions irrespective of the success / failure of the search of goods.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Goods search apparatus 10 Search condition acquisition means 11 Search result transmission means 12 Goods search means 13 Goods reference search means 14 Goods information database 15 Search attribute information database 2 Operation terminal 3 Network

Claims (6)

A product search device used for searching for products,
A product information database storing product information including product attributes and attribute values;
Search condition acquisition means for acquiring a search condition for the product information and a user ID of a user who sets the search condition from an operation terminal operated by a user, and acquiring a frequency of a product attribute included in the search condition for each user ID When,
Product search means for searching the product information database for the product information that matches the search conditions acquired by the search condition acquisition means;
A product reference search unit that generates a reference search condition in which a part of the search condition acquired from the operation terminal is changed, and searches the product information database for the product information that matches the generated reference search condition ;
Display information including text information for displaying the reference search condition generated by the product reference search unit and the number of the product information included in the search result is generated, and the frequency of the product attribute acquired by the search condition acquisition unit is determined. A search result transmitting means for determining an arrangement order of the text information included in the display information and transmitting the generated display information to the operation terminal;
A product search device comprising:   The product search device according to claim 1, wherein the product search device includes a search attribute information database storing search attribute information in which search key information related to a product attribute is described in association with a product attribute, The search condition acquisition means of the product search device is a means for acquiring a product attribute and the search key information from the operation terminal, and generating search conditions by combining the acquired search key information with AND logic, The product reference search means of the product search device refers to the search attribute information database, and replaces one of the search key information acquired by the search condition acquisition means with the other search key information belonging to the same product attribute. And means for generating the reference search condition by combining the search key information after replacement and the search key information not replaced by AND logic. Product search device to the butterflies.   3. The product search device according to claim 1, wherein the product reference search unit operates when the product search unit fails to search for product information. A product search method for searching for products,
A product search apparatus having a product information database storing product information including product attributes and attribute values includes a search condition for the product information from an operation terminal operated by the user, and a user ID of the user who sets the search condition. Acquiring the frequency of the product attribute included in the search condition for each user ID (a);
A step (b1) in which the product search device searches the product information database for the product information suitable for the search condition acquired in the step (a);
The product search device generates a reference search condition by changing a part of the search condition acquired from the operation terminal, and searches the product information database for the product information that matches the generated reference search condition. Step (b) ;
The product search device generates display information including text information for displaying the generated reference search condition and the number of the product information included in the search result, and uses the frequency of the acquired product attribute, Determining the arrangement order of the text information included in the display information, and transmitting the generated display information to the operation terminal;
A product search method characterized by comprising: 5. The product search method according to claim 4 , wherein the product search device includes a search attribute information database storing search attribute information in which search key information related to a product attribute is described in association with a product attribute, Step (a) is a step in which the product search device acquires a product attribute and the search key information from the operation terminal, and generates the search condition by combining the acquired search key information with AND logic. In the step (b), the product search device refers to the search attribute information database, and the search key information acquired in the step (a) is used as another search key information belonging to the same product attribute. In the step of generating the reference search condition by combining the search key information after replacement with the search key information not replaced with AND logic Product Search and wherein the Rukoto. A product search method according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein step (b), the product search, characterized in that it is performed when it fails to search for the product information in step (b1) Method.

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