WO2005119540A1

WO2005119540A1 - Mall system realizing virtual shopping using computer

Info

Publication number: WO2005119540A1
Application number: PCT/JP2004/008089
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yuji Namiki
Original assignee: Yuji Namiki
Priority date: 2004-06-03
Filing date: 2004-06-03
Publication date: 2005-12-15
Also published as: JPWO2005119540A1

Abstract

There is provided a mall system realizing virtual shopping using a computer in which a stock of goods similar to that of an actual shop can be kept in real time. A goods image is created from the attribute data of the goods and displayed in the background image, e.g. the showcase of a shop, based on goods arrangement data and goods position data. In a first invention, the goods image on the background image is created with reference to goods arrangement data and goods position data which are managed on the actual shop side. In a second invention, the goods image on the background image is created using positional information data and attribute data from an IC tag attached to the goods in the actual shop.

Description

Description Store equipment that realizes virtual shopping with computers

The present invention relates to a virtual store that can provide the same assortment of goods as a real store in almost real time, that is, a store device that realizes virtual shopping with a computer. Background art

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various systems have been proposed that allow a user to perform shopping at a virtual store on a computer that simulates a real store. This means that the user can enjoy the enjoyment as if he / she is shopping at a physical store. For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-1-117254, "Virtual Stores on the Web and Their Sales System", department stores are used as actual stores, with the accessory floor on the first floor and women on the second floor. It is determined like a clothing store, and products are displayed at each store based on their own display layout, so customers go directly to the store of the product they want to purchase and browse while laying out the product. Products can be purchased, but virtual stores offered on the Internet web site are different from real stores in the way they are constructed and the product layout are different. You can browse and select products with a sense There is no. This problem is solved by making the structure of the virtual store and product layout provided on the Internet approximately the same as the structure of the actual store and the product layout.

Certainly, according to the invention of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-117172, the structure of the virtual store and the layout of the products substantially match the structure of the actual store and the layout of the products. The means to do this is not clear. If the virtual store's operation was to check the layout of the products in the physical store each time and update it to reflect the layout of the products in the virtual store, this would be very time-consuming. Depending on the situation, a large time lag may occur, or the update operation itself may not work.

If you want to perfectly match the structure of the virtual store and the layout of the products with the structure of the physical store and the layout of the products, and give the customer the same feeling as shopping in the physical store, It is preferable that the size, color, pattern, quantity, and the like of the product at the actual store are directly reflected in the product at the virtual store.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and the size, color, pattern, and quantity of the product at the actual store are directly reflected in the size, color, pattern, and quantity of the product at the virtual store. It is an object of the present invention to be able to display product images almost in real time and without human intervention. Disclosure of the invention

The above-mentioned tasks are, for example, Web documents according to the requirements of clients and computers. A processing device that generates the electronic data and stores the electronic data in a storage device so that the electronic data can be transmitted to a web server. The processing device S arranges a product image based on the product placement data. The position to be determined is determined in the background image, and the product image is superimposed on a predetermined position of the background image by referring to the product inventory data in which attributes such as size, color pattern, and quantity are recorded and reflecting the attribute. This is achieved by using the electronic data.

In this virtual store, the product image is transmitted to the client computer and presented to the user, and the client's operation of purchasing the product from the computer by the user's operation is received. It does the procedure. The feature of the present invention lies in that the generation of the product image on the background image is performed while referring to the product arrangement data and the product stock data managed by the actual store.

In other words, product placement data is information about where a certain product should be placed in a real store display, and whether or not it is actually placed there depends on the quantity of the product inventory data over time. . If the stock quantity of the product is 0 in the product inventory data, it means that the product is not placed at the actual display location in the store, and if the stock quantity is 1 or more, the product is placed there. Become. The product inventory data is referred to for the size / color / pattern of the placed product, and the product image is displayed as it is. This applies not only to sales floors, but also to inventory storage, but inventory storage is usually not displayed at virtual stores. However, product inventory data can be used to respond to inquiries about whether a product is not in the store or not. When a product is sold at an actual store, the product inventory data is rewritten. Even when a product arrives at the actual store, the product inventory data is rewritten. Also, if there is a change in the actual store, such as a change in the display location or an increase or decrease in the display space, this change is reflected in the product arrangement data. Therefore, the product image on the background image in the virtual store is automatically redrawn.

In addition, the above problem is provided with a processing device that generates the electronic data and stores it in a storage device so that the Web server can transmit electronic data such as a Web document according to a request from a client computer. The device refers to the attribute data such as the size, color and pattern of the product with the IC tag acquired by the IC reader at the actual store and the product position data of this product, and based on the product position data. The position where the product image is to be placed is determined in the background image, and the attribute data is referred to and the attribute is reflected so that the product image is superimposed on a predetermined position of the background image to be the electronic data. Is achieved by

This virtual store sends the product image to the client computer and presents it to the user, receives the command to purchase the product from the client computer by the user's operation, and performs the business processing, that is, withdraws the purchase price and ships the product. It does the procedure. Among them, the generation of the product image on the background image is performed using the product position data from the IC affixed with the product and the product attribute data in the actual store. Has features. So-called RFID (Radio Frequency e den ti Π ca ti on) card (The IC tag or IC card) has at least an IC chip and an antenna,

It communicates with the IC tag reader via radio waves to send and receive authentication data.

That is, in an actual store, each product has an IC tag, and data communication is performed between the IC tag and the IC tag reader, and the product attribute data such as price is mainly read from the IC tag and used. Is done. In addition, the product position data of the product to which this IC tag is attached can be obtained by triangulation on the IC tag reader side. Therefore, the product for which the product position data is obtained by the triangulation means that the product is present in the actual store, and the virtual store displays the representative product there. On the other hand, product attribute data such as size and color / pattern obtained through communication are reflected and displayed as they are. In the same way, in the inventory storage area, the product inventory can be grasped by triangulation on the IC tag reader side. In this case, it may be recorded in the product inventory data. Either way, we can respond to inquiries about whether or not the product is in stock.

When a product is sold in a real store, the product position data of the product cannot be obtained. When a product arrives at an actual store, product position data of the product is generated. Also, if there is a change such as moving or expanding or reducing the display location in the actual store, this is reflected in the drawing of the product image in the virtual store.

As described above, in both the first and second aspects of the present invention, a product image is generated from the attribute data of the product, and the product image is generated from the product placement data and the product position data into a background image such as a store display shelf. Displayed. Therefore, redrawing is automatically performed almost in real time. There is an advantage that it takes less time and effort.

Next, in both the invention of claim 1 and the invention of claim 2, the background image and the product image can be real images. The photographed image of the product is taken for each product attribute difference, and is displayed in the background photographed image based on the product position data of the corresponding product. According to this, it is possible to display the virtual store as it is in the real store, and enjoy virtual shopping with a sense of presence.

Also, in the invention of claim 1 and the invention of claim 2, the background image and the product image are modeled in a virtual space such as VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language). According to this, a user can freely move around in this virtual space using a VRML browser or the like. In this way, it is necessary to recreate the store and make it possible to enter a famous store from the street, and to reproduce the store in VRML in the same way. If such a virtual space is composed of real images, you can get closer to the product and check the texture, or print the characters of the size printed on the tag. And so on.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. In the invention of claim 1, the product image is displayed at a position based on the product placement data, and reflecting attributes such as a size, a color pattern and a quantity based on the product inventory data. In the invention of claim 2, the product image is placed at the position where the IC tag attached to the product is captured by the IC tag reader, and the IC tag tag is read. Display is made by reflecting attributes such as size, color pattern and quantity read by the reader. As a result, the display of the product image in which the size, color, pattern, and quantity of the product in the actual store are directly reflected in the size, color, pattern, and quantity of the product in the virtual store can be performed almost in real time and manually. It can be done without hanging. Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a display screen of an online 'shopping' street according to the present invention. Figure 2 is an illustration of the product display shelves and the products displayed there.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an online 'shopping network' of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the store apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the product arrangement data 4 and the product inventory data 42 of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram regarding acquisition of product position data according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the store apparatus of the embodiment. Finally, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the product inventory data 8 of the embodiment. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In two embodiments of the present invention described below, an actual famous shopping street as shown in FIG. 1 is reproduced using an illustration or a photograph, and a store is provided to a user from here. By selecting it, the inside of the shop as shown in Fig. 2 is displayed. In particular, in the second embodiment, it is represented by VRML. In this way, users can virtually walk around the shopping street that has been set up, and in stores, they can walk closer to the shelves of products. In FIG. 1, reference signs S 1 to S 3 indicate stores, and reference signs A-1 to A_4 indicate display places on the display shelf of A.

First embodiment

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an online 'shopping' network used in this embodiment. The store apparatus 1 of the present invention comprises a display processing section 22 and a charging processing section 25. The store apparatus 1 is connected to the Internet 9 via a provider 90. On the other hand, a personal computer 3 of a client (user) using the store apparatus 1 is connected to the Internet 9 through a provider 91.

The store device 1 is realized by a computer connected to the Internet 9 and includes a display processing unit 22 for presenting merchandise in a real store to a client personal computer 3, and a personal computer 3. And a billing processing unit 25 that carries out sale and billing of goods between and.

As shown in FIG. 4, the store device 1 includes a processing device 2, a storage device 20, and a transmission / reception device 21. The transmission / reception device 21 transmits a product image to the personal computer 3 and receives a product purchase command from the personal computer 3. The processing device 2 includes a display processing unit 22, a web server unit 23, an authentication processing unit 24, and a charging processing unit 25. Further, the storage device 20 is provided with a product arrangement storage section 26, a product inventory storage section 27, a product image storage section 28, and a background image storage section 29. The product inventory storage section 27 stores a product inventory table 42 as product inventory data, and the product inventory table 42 has a product inventory as shown in FIG. 5 (b). It records all the products that are handled in real stores regardless of whether they are available or not. Reference numeral 40 denotes a product number assigned to each product, 43 denotes a size'color / pattern display, and 44 denotes a display number of each product. Another table having this product number 40 is a product placement table 4 as a product placement table shown in FIG. 5 (a), where each product number 40 has a display position number 4 1 is attached. This display position number 41 corresponds to the display locations A-1 to A-4 on the display shelf shown in FIG. 2 described above.

When the client's personal computer 3 connects to the store device 1 via the Internet 9, the web server part 2 3 sends the web document of FIG. 1 to the personal computer 3. . The Web is an abbreviation of the World Wide Web. When a store is selected on the personal computer 3 side, the Web server unit 23 transmits a Web document representing the inside of the store (not shown). After this, when the product shelf is selected on the side of the personal 'convenience 3, the web server part 23 sends the web document of FIG. 2 to the personal convenience 3.

Prior to the transmission of the web document shown in FIG. 2, the display processing unit 22 reads out the product arrangement table 4 of FIG. 5 (a) from the product arrangement storage unit 26, and assigns the product number 40 based on the product arrangement table 4. The image of the specified product is to be placed at the display location specified by the display position number 41, and the product inventory table 42 in Fig. 5 (b) is read from the product inventory storage unit 27. Based on the product inventory table 42, the quantity actually present at the actual display location of the store is drawn by placing the product image at the display location specified by the display position number 41. That is, the image of the corresponding product is read out from the product image storage unit 28, and is superimposed and displayed on the product shelf image read out from the background image storage unit 29, and is handled by the web server part 23. Get it. When a plurality of products are in the same place, the display processing unit 22 stacks and displays the product images in the same display place as in the actual display method in a store. It has become.

The merchandise arrangement table 4 and the merchandise inventory template 4 2 are managed by the actual store-side convenience store. Copy the placement table 4 to the product placement record section 26, and copy the product inventory table 42 to the product inventory record section 27, and always refer to them. The data is stored in the storage device 20 in case the communication with the actual store is cut off. In other words, when there is a change in the product display location in the actual store, the product layout template 4 is rewritten. When a product is sold in a real store, the computer in the real store rewrites the product stock table 42. This change is always referred to by the store device 1 of the virtual store, redrawn by the display processing unit 2 2, and when the Web server part 23 is accessed, the latest W is sent to the personal computer 3. It sends eb documents. Therefore, it is possible to display a product image in which the size, color, pattern, and quantity of the product in the actual store are directly reflected in the size, color, pattern, and quantity of the product in the virtual store in almost real time and without human intervention. Like It has become.

In this way, when the user decides to purchase a product, the authentication processing unit 24 determines whether or not the user is a registered user, and if the user is a registered user, the charging processing unit 25 gives the user a request. Charge and process the shipment of the product. Further, the sales record at this time is notified by the processing device 2 to a computer on the actual store side.

Although the product image is displayed superimposed on the image of the product shelf, the display processing unit 22 does not perform synthesis, but draws from the beginning each time there is a change in the product inventory table 42, etc. It is also possible to adopt a method.

Second embodiment

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of actual store-side equipment used in this embodiment, and relates to a technology for applying so-called IC tag-based product management to virtual online shopping. The IC tag 5 is composed of an IC chip 50 and an antenna 51, is generated by radio waves from the transmitting station 6, and responds to an inquiry from the transmitting station 6. That is, the attribute data indicating what the product with the IC tag 5 is like is returned to the transmitting station 6.

In this way, at the actual store side, the transmitting station 6 is installed for product management, a unique IC tag 5 is attached to each product, and each product is managed in the product inventory table 8 of the computer. ing. What is important here is that a plurality of transmitting stations 6 can be provided so that the position of the product with the IC tag 5 can be always grasped.

For example, T 0 0 1 to T 0 1 0, Τ 0 1 2 to Τ 0 1 6 (Τ 0 1 1 is out of stock) It is assumed that the product group is within the communication range of the transmitting stations 6, 61, and 63. Each transmitting station 6, 61, 63 oscillates a radio wave from each antenna 60, 62, 64, receives the response of the IC tag 5 by each antenna 60, 62, 64, The position information of each IC tag 5 can be obtained accurately by the principle of triangulation.

The product inventory table 8 shown in FIG. 8 records a product name 80, a characteristic, a size, a color pattern display 81, a display number 82, and an IC tag number 83. The IC tag number 83 of the product sold at the actual store is deleted from the product inventory template 8 by the computer that manages the transmitting stations 6, 61, and 63. Therefore, it can be said that the commodity inventory table 8 records what is at the display place at this time.

Now, when a client personal computer (not shown) is connected to the store apparatus of this embodiment via the Internet, a VRML server unit 73 described later transmits a VRML document to the personal computer. . As shown in FIG. 7, the store device includes a processing device 7, a storage device 70, and a transmission / reception device 71. The transmitting / receiving device 71 transmits an image conforming to VRML to a personal computer, and receives a command for purchasing a product from the personal computer. The processing device 7 includes a display processing unit 72, a VRML server part 73, an authentication processing unit 74, and a charging processing unit 75. Further, the storage device 70 is provided with a position information storage unit 76, a product inventory storage unit 77, a product photo storage unit 78, and a background photo storage unit 79.

Prior to the transmission of the VRML document, the display processing unit 72 reads out the product inventory table 8 from the product inventory storage unit 7 7, and specifies the product number 80 based on the product inventory table 8. The image of the specified product is arranged at the display location specified by the position information of the position information storage unit 76 described later. At this time, based on the product inventory table 8, a photograph image of the product actually present at the display location of the actual store is drawn over the background photo of the display location. In other words, the image of the corresponding product is read from the product photo storage unit 78, superimposed and displayed on the shelf image read from the background photo storage unit 79, and handled by the VRML server part 73. Get it. In this embodiment, a photograph of a real photograph is used for both the product and the background. Therefore, the user walks around in a three-dimensional virtual space that is recreated from photos of a famous famous shopping street, actual photos of actual stores (real stores), and photos of actual products. Shobbing can be enjoyed as if you were actually there. In order to display the virtual virtual space in VRML on the client computer and walk around by operating a pointing device such as a mouse, VRML plug-in software must be installed in the Web browser in advance. , Install a dedicated VRML browser, etc.

The merchandise inventory table 8 is managed by the computer on the actual store side, and each time a change occurs, the virtual store side stores the merchandise inventory table 8 in the merchandise inventory storage unit 77. Copy and store the product position data obtained from the actual store-side computer in the position information storage unit 76, and always refer to them. The data is stored in the storage device 70 in case the communication with the actual store is cut off. That is, in the case where the product display location is changed in an actual store, the product position data is changed. Also, when a product is sold at a real store, the computer at the real store uses Product inventory template 8 is rewritten. 'These changes are always referred to from the virtual store, redrawn by the display processing unit 72, and when the VRML server unit 73 is accessed, the latest VRML is sent to the client's personal computer. Send the document. Therefore, it is possible to display the product photograph in which the product attributes in the actual store are directly reflected in the product attributes in the virtual store in almost real time and without human intervention. It is also possible to manage the product position data by writing the product position data in the product inventory template 8 shown in FIG.

When a user purchases a product, the authentication processing unit 74 determines whether the user is a registered user. If the user is a registered user, the user is charged by the charging processing unit 75. Perform the processing of shipping the applicable product. Further, the sales record at this time is notified to the computer on the actual store side by the processing device 7. Industrial applicability

In addition to the above, the processing device 2 and the processing device 7 accept not only access from the personal computer 3 but also access from a so-called mobile phone, and a web document as electronic data prepared for the mobile phone. And VRML documents can be designed to be transmitted. It is also possible to design products to be arranged with characters instead of images. It is not necessary to display the online 'shopping' street in Fig. 1. Therefore, it is possible to display stores in the same brand, located in different areas, side by side along the corridor.

Claims

Scope of request Client A processing device is provided that generates the electronic data and stores the electronic data in a storage device so that the Web server can transmit electronic data such as a Web document in accordance with a request from the computer. The device determines the position where the product image should be placed in the background image based on the product placement data, and refers to the product inventory data where attributes such as size, color pattern and quantity are recorded and reflects this attribute. A store apparatus for realizing virtual shopping with a computer, wherein the electronic image is obtained by superimposing the product image on a predetermined position of a background image. A processing device that generates the electronic data and stores it in a storage device so that the Web server can transmit electronic data such as a Web document in accordance with a request from a client computer; At the store, refer to attribute data such as size and color pattern of the product with the IC tag acquired by the IC tag reader and the product position data of this product, and place the product image based on the product position data. The position to be determined is determined in the background image and the attribute data is reflected by referring to the attribute data, and the electronic image is obtained by superimposing the product image on a predetermined position of the background image. A store device that realizes virtual shopping with a computer. 3. A store apparatus for realizing virtual shopping with the computer according to claim 1, wherein the background image and the product image are real images. 3. The shop apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the background image and the product surface image are stereoscopic images formed by virtual space modeling means such as VRML.