WO2017187538A1

WO2017187538A1 - Purchase activity assistance system

Info

Publication number: WO2017187538A1
Application number: PCT/JP2016/063121
Authority: WO
Inventors: 智彦野口
Original assignee: 株式会社野村総合研究所
Priority date: 2016-04-27
Filing date: 2016-04-27
Publication date: 2017-11-02

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a purchase activity assistance system which is capable of mutually associating a plurality of matching sites, etc., with a plurality of EC sites, etc., and of facilitating a user carrying out seamless one-stop purchase activity at each of the matching sites. Provided is a purchase activity assistance system, comprising: entries of standardized e-commerce (EC) site API which are called by the matching sites to use the functions of the EC sites; a front-end gateway which, upon receiving requests from the matching site to call the EC site API, calls the EC site API entry, and when responding to the matching site with the result of the processing of the EC site API, records a description of the process in a customer-specific log database; and an API conversion unit which converts the call which is performed by the front-end gateway upon the EC site API entry into an access of the corresponding EC site.

Description

Purchasing activity support system

The present invention relates to technology for supporting the activities of consumers (not only general individuals but also companies such as corporations, which may be collectively referred to as “users” below), and in particular, EC (Electronic Commerce: electronic The present invention relates to a technology that is effective when applied to a purchasing activity support system that supports the activities of users who make purchases using a commercial transaction site.

In the industry that handles consumer goods purchased by consumers, the wholesale industry once used the book, and then the retail industry took the lead in the value chain through editing the sales floor. However, with the development of IT technology including the Internet, purchasing using EC has become widespread, and a large number of EC sites have existed. In addition, Web sites for searching and matching various Web sites and services including EC sites (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “matching sites”) have also appeared. In recent years, the information processing ability in purchasing activities has been expanded by the use of such matching sites by users, and it can be said that the rules of consumption are changing.

For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-269392 (Patent Document 1) provides a plurality of vendors as a technology related to cooperation between search and matching at a matching site by a user and subsequent purchase at an EC site. A purchasing agent support server is described in which products to be purchased are optimally combined and purchased at the same time. Further, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-4537 (Patent Document 2), a purchase process including an authentication process is linked between an information providing site (matching site) and a product purchase site (EC site). It is described that a simple and safe product purchasing method is realized.

Also, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-157444 (Patent Document 3) describes a product comparison and sales system in which desired products and services can be purchased under desired conditions by accessing only one site (matching site). Has been. Also, Japanese Patent No. 5473022 (Patent Document 4) makes it possible to use a common API when connecting a system that uses an existing API (Application Programming Interface) to a system having different specifications. An API control device is described.

JP 2002-269392 A JP 2007-4537 A JP 2002-157444 A Japanese Patent No. 5473022

According to the prior art, for example, it is possible to search and match a plurality of EC sites at a specific matching site, and realize seamless purchasing in one stop in cooperation with the selected EC site. .

On the other hand, as described above, a large number of various matching sites have appeared, and consumers use different types of matching sites for different purposes. However, when a user purchases using a plurality of different matching sites, the contents of the purchase activity including the search history and purchase history at the matching site are individually managed for each matching site and each EC site. It will be. For this reason, there is a problem that the contents of purchasing activities must be grasped and managed by each matching site and EC site.

On the other hand, EC sites also have a need to guide customers in cooperation with more matching sites, and matching site providers also want to improve the quality of customer experience in cooperation with various EC sites. Have the needs. However, since the API specifications are different for each EC site, the development load for the matching site to cooperate with various EC sites is high, and it is difficult to realize an environment in which the matching site and the EC site cooperate widely. Also have.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a purchasing activity support system in which a plurality of matching sites and a plurality of EC sites and the like cooperate with each other, and a user can perform a one-stop seamless purchasing activity at each matching site. Is to provide.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

Of the inventions disclosed in this application, the outline of typical ones will be briefly described as follows.

A purchasing activity support system according to a representative embodiment of the present invention is a purchasing activity support system that supports a user's purchasing activity, and includes a plurality of matching sites used by a user and a plurality of service providers. A plurality of EC sites that are operated are connected to each other via a network, and have an entry of a standardized EC site API that the matching site calls to use the functions of the EC site.

When the EC site API call request from the matching site is received, the EC site API entry is called, and when the EC site API processing result is returned to the matching site, the processing is performed. A front gateway that records contents in a log database for each customer, and an API conversion unit that converts a call to the entry of the EC site API by the front gateway into an access to the corresponding EC site.

Among the inventions disclosed in the present application, effects obtained by typical ones will be briefly described as follows.

That is, according to a typical embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of matching sites and a plurality of EC sites and the like cooperate with each other, and a user performs a one-stop seamless purchasing activity at each matching site. Is possible.

It is the figure which showed the outline | summary about the structural example of the purchasing activity support system which is one embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the outline | summary about the conversion function of EC site API in one embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the outline | summary about the example of the flow of a process in EC site API conversion function in one embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the outline | summary about the function of the customer management across the site in one embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the outline | summary about the example of the flow of a process in the value-added API function in one embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings for describing the embodiment, and the repetitive description thereof will be omitted. On the other hand, parts described with reference numerals in some drawings may be referred to with the same reference numerals although not illustrated again in the description of other drawings.

<Overview>
Generally, a user who purchases consumer goods or uses a service accesses various websites including matching sites according to the purpose, and acquires information on the optimal consumer goods or service that matches the purpose. . Purposes here include, for example, cooking recipes and menus, beauty and cosmetics, do-it-yourself, fashion coordination, ceremonial occasions, new life, general cleaning, household account book management, life planning (life insurance selection, stock investment, ... ), There are various things such as point management. At this time, it is considered that the user has a need to purchase the target consumer goods one-stop without being limited to a specific EC site. However, usually, in order to make a purchase, it is necessary to make a purchase by separately accessing an EC site that handles the target consumer goods.

In this case, the contents of the search process at the matching site and the purchase history at the EC site are managed individually at each site. Against this, it is considered that there is a need to integrate and manage the search history and the like at each matching site and the purchase history and the like at each EC site.

On the other hand, the operator of the matching site is thought to have a need to improve the quality of the customer experience by cooperating with the EC site. For example, if you can make a one-stop purchase of the best consumer goods according to the user's purpose, purchase, usage proposal, and accumulation of feedback on actual usage results, the quality of the customer experience will be greatly improved. Conceivable. It is also possible to further improve the quality of customer experience by linking with various EC sites as well as specific EC sites. However, even if each matching site tries to collaborate with various EC sites, the API specifications provided on each EC site are different, so the development load for individually handling becomes high and it is difficult to deal with it. .

In addition, service providers that operate EC sites, etc., for example, do not purchase if customers do not visit the site even if they have good products. There is a problem that must be. Therefore, there is a need to acquire more customers by easily cooperating with many matching sites.

In view of this, the purchasing activity support system according to an embodiment of the present invention converts a part related to calling a unique API provided by each EC site, a part related to a procedure accessed by Web scraping, and the like into common. In this way, each matching site can be easily linked to each other. And, by recording and accumulating the processing contents related to the API called along with the purchase activity of the user as a history, it provides a function with high added value to the user, and various management by the service provider And effective secondary use such as enabling analysis.

<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a configuration example of a purchasing activity support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The purchasing activity support system 1 is operated, for example, by a provider or the like that provides a service platform for realizing information linkage between various matching sites 2 and a service provider 4 that operates an EC site or the like. Is done. The purchasing activity support system 1 is a server system that includes, for example, one or more server devices, a virtual server built on a cloud computing environment, and the like. Then, the above service is provided as a cloud service to a plurality of matching sites 2, partner sites 3, service providers 4, etc. via a network such as the Internet (not shown).

The purchasing activity support system 1 includes, for example, an API service 10 implemented as middleware such as an OS (Operating System), DBMS (DataBase Management System), and a Web server program (not shown), a front gateway (G / W) 20, API entry 31, API conversion unit 32, individual company API calling unit 33, standard API calling unit 34, Web scraping processing unit 35, added-value API processing unit 36, back G / W 41, BaAS (Backend as a Service) unit 42, a customer master cooperation unit 50, an analysis processing unit 60, and the like. Moreover, it has data stores, such as customer master database (DB) 51 and log DB21 classified by customer.

The API service 10 has a function of providing each matching site 2 and partner site 3 with various services related to the API that is called in order to cooperate with each EC site (service provider 4). For example, each unit further includes a developer portal 11, API G / W 12, and API management unit 13.

The developer portal 11 is a portal website that provides various information necessary for development for calling a common API (to be described later) provided by the purchasing activity support system 1 of the present embodiment to each matching site 2 and the like. It has a function to realize. For example, it has various functions for developers, such as browsing development documents, providing bulletin boards, and testing environments. The API G / W 12 has a function as a gateway that accepts a request when each matching site 2 calls a common API and cooperates with subsequent processing. For example, it has a function of performing flow restriction and load distribution for calling a common API, a function of performing various security checks, and the like. The API management unit 13 has a function for a business operator or the like who operates the purchasing activity support system 1 to perform management related to calling a common API. For example, it has functions such as operation status monitoring, reception of various settings, and accounting management.

The front G / W 20 has a front-end gateway function that actually calls a common API in response to a common API call request. In addition to a function to call an API entry 31 to be described later in response to a common API call request, for example, a function to perform validation check of parameters, a function to perform customer user authentication with reference to the customer master DB 51, a common API It has a function of logging the call result in the customer-specific log DB 21.

The API entry 31 includes entries of common APIs (indicated by “API-a” to “API-z” in the figure) that the front G / W 20 calls. Each common API is not unique to each service provider 4 (EC site) but is provided for each function or process for supporting the purchase activity of the user who is a user. The common API includes an EC site API (indicated as “API-a” to “API-m” in the figure) for accessing functions and processes performed by the service provider 4 (EC site), Included are entries of value-added APIs (indicated by “API-n” to “API-z” in the figure) that provide high-value-added functions and processing to the matching site 2 and the like.

The EC site API in the common API is converted into an actual API call or the like by the API conversion unit 32. For example, when calling an API specific to the service provider 4, calling an API unique to each company included in the individual company API calling unit 33 (shown as “A company API” to “M company API” in the figure). The API of the corresponding service provider 4 is called using the function. APIs are standardized in each company, and when calling them, the calling function of the standard API calling unit 34 is used to cooperate with the corresponding service provider 4.

The method of cooperation with each service provider 4 is not limited to calling a corresponding API or standard API unique to each company. For example, based on the content of the common API call, the web scraping processing unit 35 accesses each service provider 4 (EC site) using a known web scraping technique to acquire and collect data. It is also possible to do this.

The API conversion unit 32 holds, for example, a conversion table (not shown) or the like in order to perform conversion related to calling each company-specific API or standard API as described above, conversion to Web scraping, and distribution thereof. Also good.

The back G / W 41 functions as a back-end gateway that links the API call of each service provider 4 to the corresponding service provider 4 site (shown as “Company A” in the figure). Have. For the site of the service provider 4 that does not have various functions as a back end ("N Company" in the figure), the standard function itself as a back end itself is provided by BaS. It may be. In the BaS unit 42, for example, in addition to the standard EC site service, it is conceivable to provide functions for so-called One To One marketing, fulfillment, and the like.

Among the common APIs, the value-added API uses the information accumulated in the customer-specific log DB 21 in the purchase activity support system 1 to provide high-value-added functions and processing to the matching site 2 and the like. . The value-added API processing unit 36 has a function of performing a corresponding process with reference to the customer-specific log DB 21 when an entry of the value-added API is called. The contents of the functions and processing provided by the value-added API are not particularly limited. For example, the customer (user) can use his or her search history or purchase history regardless of the matching site 2 or the service provider 4 (EC site). An inquiry for browsing the log information is included. In addition, for example, it is useful for user purchase activities such as price comparison for each purchase condition when buying a plurality of products at once, comparison of logistics conditions, product recommendation, word of mouth comparison, etc. Various functions for providing information may be provided.

The customer master cooperation unit 50 has a function for linking information of a customer master with a partner site 3 (for example, a site such as a PFM (Personal Financial Management) service) used by a user. The partner site 3 is a site that does not correspond to, for example, the matching site 2 linked with the EC site, but manages information including attribute information of a user who is a user as a customer master, and a purchasing activity support system This is a tie-up with a business operator that operates 1. By linking the partner site 3 and customer master information, it is possible to acquire various attribute information related to other than customer (user) purchasing activities in the customer master DB 51.

The analysis processing unit 60 gives the person in charge of the matching site 2, the partner site 3, and the service provider 4, etc., based on the user's purchase activity history information accumulated in the customer log DB 21. Provide various analysis functions for marketing. The content of the analysis function is not particularly limited, and a known analysis method or the like can be used as appropriate.

<Conversion of EC site API>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overview of the EC site API conversion function, which is one of the features of the purchase activity support system 1 of the present embodiment. In the purchasing activity support system 1, among the common API calls from the various matching sites 2 used by the user, the EC site API is called by calling the API corresponding to each EC site (service provider 4). EC site API conversion function for converting to. Specifically, for example, the EC site API conversion function is executed by the API conversion unit 32 shown in FIG. 1, each EC site API of the API entry 31, the individual company API call unit 33, the standard API call unit 34, and Web scraping. A function for performing conversion and call distribution with the processing unit 35 is included. Further, it includes a developer portal provided by the API service 10 and an operation management function.

The EC site API called by various matching sites 2 as shown in FIG. 2 is directly or indirectly related to purchasing and service use at various EC sites (service provider 4). Searching, shopping cart processing, logistics conditions processing, settlement and financial services (eg bank account management, securities account management, electronic money account management, point management, pension account management Etc.), delivery traces, word-of-mouth information, etc. On the other hand, the API corresponding to the EC site operated by each service provider 4 that is called when the EC site API is converted by the EC site API conversion function is, for example, a standard API in addition to the API unique to each company. Is also included. Further, not only APIs but also those that collect information from EC sites by Web scraping are included.

With such an EC site API conversion function, various matching sites 2 used by the user can access any EC site by calling a standardized EC site API. . Therefore, the development burden for cooperation with the EC site in the matching site 2 can be greatly reduced.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of an example of the flow of processing in the EC site API conversion function. Here, for example, a case where the user accesses one of the matching sites 2 ("APL2" in the example of FIG. 3) using a web browser (not shown) and performs processing related to purchasing activities such as purchasing. It is said. When processing such as purchase is instructed by the user at the matching site 2 (“APL2”), the program of the target matching site 2 (a server-side program or a client-side program) In (Good), an “API call” is made to request an EC site API for purchasing processing.

This “API call” is transmitted to the purchasing activity support system 1 via the network, and is sent to the front G / W 20 via the API G / W 12. The front G / W 20 refers to the customer master DB 51 and performs “authentication” of the user based on the user information included in the request. If the “authentication” is successful, the front G / W 20 calls the target EC site API in the API entry 31 (“API-b” in the example of FIG. 3). The content of the called EC site API is called by the API conversion unit 32 to call the API of the corresponding EC site (service provider 4) (in the example of FIG. 3, “A company API” of the individual company API calling unit 33). "Converted" to

The response obtained as a result of being transmitted to the EC site of the corresponding service provider 4 via the back G / W 41 (“Company A” in the example of FIG. 3) and processed is sent to the EC site API (“ API-b ") response is" converted "and returned to the front G / W20. The front G / W 20 “logs” the processing content (for example, the request content from the matching site 2 and the response content from the service provider 4) in the customer-specific log DB 21. Then, it responds to the matching site 2 (“APL2”) of the caller via the API G / W12.

In this way, the calling site matching site 2 calls the EC site API, which is a standardized common API, without being aware of the API specifications of individual EC sites (service provider 4). It can be easily linked with the purchasing process.

<Customer management across sites>
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an overview of a customer management function across sites, which is one of the features of the purchase activity support system 1 of the present embodiment. In the purchase activity support system 1, the history of purchase activities such as searches and purchases performed using the EC site API by the EC site API conversion function described above is logged and stored in the log DB 21 for each customer. That is, all purchase histories and search histories are integrated and accumulated in the customer-specific log DB 21 regardless of the matching site 2 or EC site (service provider 4) used by the user.

利用 Using this data, it has a value-added API function to realize customer management across each matching site 2 and each EC site (service provider 4). Specifically, the value-added API function is, for example, a value-added API among the common APIs included in the API entry 31 shown in FIG. 1 (“API-n” to “API-z” in the example of FIG. 1). , And various functions and processes with high added value realized by the added value API processing unit 36 that performs processing corresponding to these calls.

The value-added API called by the various matching sites 2 as shown in FIG. 4 does not require the EC site (service provider 4) to perform purchase processing, but is stored in the customer-specific log DB 21, for example. And the like, which display the purchase history of the target user with reference to the recorded information. In addition to displaying the acquired information, for example, recommending products based on purchase history information, advice for enabling purchase price savings, price comparisons when buying multiple products in baskets, logistics What shows various analysis results etc., such as comparison and comparison of word of mouth, may be included. When making a recommendation to the target user, the attribute information of the target user recorded in the customer master DB 51 may be referred to.

The purchasing activity support system 1 of the present embodiment further has a marketing analysis function as one of customer management across sites. The person in charge of the matching site 2, the partner site 3, and the service provider 4, for example, accesses the purchase activity support system 1 using a web browser (not shown) on the information processing terminal and logs the customer-specific log DB 21. Various tabulations and analyzes can be performed with reference to FIG. In order to permit the reference and use of the customer-specific log 21, it may have functions related to access control and security. Further, an application for analysis or the like may be provided.

The customer management function across such sites makes it possible to make the mutual cooperation between a plurality of matching sites 2 and EC sites (service provider 4) more effective.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of an example of a processing flow in the value-added API function. Here, for example, a user accesses one of the matching sites 2 (“APL2” in the example of FIG. 5) using a web browser or the like (not shown), and purchases for the target user as a high-value-added function. An example is a case where a function that recommends an optimal EC site is used. Similar to the EC site API call in the example of FIG. 3 described above, when the process of recommending the optimal EC site is instructed in the matching site 2 (“APL2”), the program of the target matching site 2 recommends the optimal EC site. An “API call” for requesting a value-added API for performing the above process is performed.

This “API call” is transmitted to the purchasing activity support system 1 via the network, and is sent to the front G / W 20 via the API G / W 12. The front G / W 20 refers to the customer master DB 51 and performs “authentication” of the user based on the user information included in the request. If the “authentication” is successful, the front G / W 20 calls the target value-added API (“API-n” in the example of FIG. 5) in the API entry 31. The contents of the called value-added API are processed by the value-added API processing unit 36.

The value-added API processing unit 36 searches, for example, the customer-specific log DB 21 as “optimal EC site search” processing, and extracts information on how the target user has made purchases in the past N months. Then, APIs are called to perform “product search” for inquiring sales conditions such as prices to the EC sites (service provider 4) simultaneously for the products related to the purchase. Here, like the EC site API conversion function described above, the value-added API processing unit 36 makes an EC site API call or an equivalent call to each EC site, and the API conversion unit 32 performs the target EC. This is converted into an API call for “product search” for each site.

In the example of FIG. 5, an API call related to “product search” is broadcast to all EC sites, and Web scraping is performed. However, it is selective to only one or more specific EC sites. An API call or the like may be performed. Further, in the case of processing that does not require inquiries to the EC site, such as browsing past purchase histories, calling processing of the EC site API is unnecessary.

Since the subsequent response processing is the same as the example of FIG. 3 described above, illustration is omitted. However, based on the response result from each EC site, the product purchased by the target user in the past N months is the most. An EC site (service provider 4) that can be purchased at a low price is determined and output to the matching site 2 as a response to the value-added API. Recommended methods are not limited to the above ones. For example, it is possible to implement necessary ones according to requirements such as presenting in rankings or recommending according to various purchase conditions such as product types and delivery conditions. it can.

In this way, regardless of the matching site 2 or EC site (service provider 4) used, the user has a high added value based on the history of his / her purchasing activities in a one-stop manner in an integrated form. You can enjoy the service.

As described above, according to the purchasing activity support system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, by converting and sharing the API calling and web scraping provided by each EC site, Each matching site 2 can easily cooperate with a plurality of EC sites. The processing contents of the EC site API called in association with the purchasing activity of the user are integrated and recorded and accumulated as a history regardless of the matching site 2 or the EC site, thereby adding high value to the user. Effective secondary use such as providing a function or enabling various management and analysis by the service provider 4 can be realized.

As mentioned above, the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say. For example, the above-described embodiment has been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and is not necessarily limited to the one having all the configurations described. In addition, it is possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of the above-described embodiment.

The present invention can be used in a purchase activity support system that supports the activities of users who make purchases using an EC site.

1 ... Purchasing activity support system, 2 ... Matching site, 3 ... Partner site, 4 ... Service provider,
10 ... API service, 11 ... developer portal, 12 ... API G / W, 13 ... API management unit,
20 ... Front G / W, 21 ... Customer-specific log DB,
31 ... API entry, 32 ... API conversion unit, 33 ... Individual company API calling unit, 34 ... Standard API calling unit, 35 ... Web scraping processing unit, 36 ... Value-added API processing unit,
41 ... Back G / W, 42 ... BaaS part,
50 ... Customer master cooperation part, 51 ... Customer master DB,
60. Analysis processing section

Claims

A purchasing activity support system for supporting user purchasing activities,
Connected to multiple matching sites used by users and multiple EC sites operated by multiple service providers via a network,
A standardized EC site API entry that the matching site calls to use the EC site functionality;
When receiving a request for calling the EC site API from the matching site, the entry of the EC site API is called, and when the processing result of the EC site API is returned to the matching site, the processing content is changed. A front gateway that records in a customer-specific log database;
A purchasing activity support system comprising: an API conversion unit that converts a call made to the entry of the EC site API by the front gateway into an access to the corresponding EC site.
In the purchasing activity support system according to claim 1,
The API conversion unit accesses a corresponding EC site by converting a call for the entry of the EC site API by the front gateway into a unique API call used by the corresponding EC site. system.
In the purchasing activity support system according to claim 2,
The API conversion unit converts a call to an entry of the EC site API, and a unique API used by the EC site is a standard API standardized in the purchase activity support system.
In the purchasing activity support system according to claim 1,
The said API conversion part is a purchasing activity support system which accesses the said corresponding EC site by converting the call with respect to the entry of the said EC site API by the said front gateway into the process of the web scraping with respect to the said corresponding EC site.
In the purchasing activity support system according to claim 1,
In addition, an entry of a value-added API that a user calls to use a predetermined service based on information recorded in the customer-specific log database;
An added value API processing unit for performing processing related to the added value API,
When the front gateway receives a request for calling the value-added API from the matching site, the front gateway calls the entry of the value-added API,
The purchase activity support system, wherein the value-added API processing unit acquires the content of the customer log database according to the content of the called value-added API and performs processing related to the predetermined service.
In the purchasing activity support system according to claim 5,
In the processing related to the predetermined service, the value-added API processing unit further calls the EC site API to call one or more functions of the EC site.
In the purchasing activity support system according to claim 1,
Furthermore, the purchasing activity support system which has the analysis process part which receives the request | requirement from the user of the said service provider, and outputs the result of having analyzed the content of the said log database according to a customer by a predetermined method.