JP2000322476A - Method and system for providing shop information on communication network and information recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily provide sales information (article information and condition information inside a shop) through the internet or closed communication network in real time to clients who directly visit the shop for shopping. SOLUTION: This system has a server 1, a communication network 2, terminals (clients) 3-1 to 3-n, an information managing system 4 for shops and an information input device 5. Concerning the method for providing shop information, the article information and the condition information inside the shop are provided from the server 1 through the communication network 2 to the clients who directly visit the shop to purchase articles. Further, the article information and the condition information inside the shop are received by accessing the communication network 2 from the client side terminals (clients) 3-1 to 3-n.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is directed to a customer who directly visits a store and purchases a product through a TCP / IP network (hereinafter referred to as the Internet) or a closed communication network. The present invention relates to a method and system for providing store information by a communication network that provides customers with real-time status information within a store, and a system and information recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a means for advertising a product handled at a retail store, a newspaper insert leaflet is well known.
This insert leaflet has the advantage of being able to provide a large amount of product information at low cost, but on the other hand, it conveys real-time information such as price information (for example, time service in a supermarket) that changes in one day and product inventory at stores. I can't do that.

[0003] Also, although online shopping using the Internet is becoming widespread, this online shopping has the advantage of being able to purchase products at home, but it is possible to actually pick up and view the products. Because of this, there are some aspects that are not suitable for sales at retail stores that handle fresh foods and daily necessities.

Conventionally, as an example of a product search system using the Internet, an example disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-251468 has been known. The system described in this conventional example is capable of searching for a product, price, and service using a network, and includes a product management system, a client-side terminal of a client, and a product data processing / management unit.
The customer terminal receives the provision of data on the product processed according to the customer's request through the personal computer communication network. In other words, as in the case of online shopping described above, products can be purchased at home, but customers cannot receive sales information in real time, and they cannot actually pick up and view the products. It is.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional example, information on items other than products is not provided. In other words, it specializes in product introduction and product search,
Since information such as the situation in the store is not taken into account, there is a disadvantage that the effect on sales promotion is not sufficient.

[0006] The present invention solves such problems in the prior art, and is intended for customers who come to a store directly to purchase a product and easily sell sales information (product information) through the Internet or a closed communication network. The present invention aims to provide a method and system for providing store information via a communication network capable of providing the customer with information on the situation in a store substantially in real time and a system and information recording medium.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a method for providing store information by a communication network according to the present invention provides at least merchandise information and status information in a store to a customer substantially in real time. Providing at least merchandise information and in-store status information for a customer who visits the store directly and purchases the merchandise through a communication network, and at least accesses the communication network from a terminal on the customer side, Receiving product information and in-store status information.

[0008] The communication network is a public network TCP.
/ IP network or non-public closed communication network.

A communication network store information providing system according to the present invention provides at least merchandise information and in-store status information to a customer substantially in real time. A server for providing voice data to the customer through the communication network, a store information management system for transferring at least product information and in-store status information from the store to the server, and at least product information and A plurality of information input devices for transmitting the in-store status information to the in-store information management system; and a plurality of customer-side devices that access the communication network and selectively receive at least merchandise information and image and voice data of the in-store status information. And a terminal.

[0010] As the server, a remaining amount data management unit for managing the stock status of the products handled in the store, a price data management unit for managing the prices of the products, and an input from an information input device. An image / sound data management unit for managing at least the image image of the displayed product in the store, the image data of the pattern in the store, and the sound data of the announcement in the store, and the store for managing the unique data of the store. The configuration includes a unique data management unit.

[0011] Further, as the store information management system, an interface unit for processing an interface with an information input device, a data control unit for executing control for transferring information from the interface unit to a server, and at least a product price and And a database for storing and managing inventory status data.

Further, the server is installed at least in an advertising agency company, a sales company, or a store.

The communication network may be a public network TCP / IP network or a non-public closed communication network, and the server, the store information management system and the terminal may be connected to a TCP / IP network or a closed communication network, respectively. The configuration includes a communication control device and a communication protocol for connection.

Further, the server and the store information management system are connected through a communication network, and the store information management system transfers at least merchandise information and status information in the store through the communication network.

[0015] The information input device may be an input device including at least a photographing device, a voice information input device, and a character / graphic input device for inputting at least merchandise information and in-store status information.

Further, the store information management system is provided for each of a plurality of stores, and at least merchandise information and status information in the store are transferred to the server for each store information management system, and the server is provided for each store. A plurality of data management units for managing at least the product information and the status information in the store, a price data management unit for managing the price of the product for each of the data management units, and at least the data input from the information input device. An image and sound data management unit for managing image images of displayed products in the store, image data of patterns in the store, and sound data of announcements in the sales floor, and store-specific data management for managing store-specific data. Unit.

Further, the information recording medium of the present invention provides at least merchandise information and in-store status information intended for customers who come to the store and purchase merchandise directly through a communication network. It stores a control program for accessing and receiving the situation information from the terminal on the customer side to the communication network.

Further, the information recording medium of the present invention provides a control program for a server to provide at least merchandise information and image and voice data of situation information in a store to a customer through a communication network, and a store information management system. Sends at least merchandise information and in-store status information from the store to the server, and receives at least merchandise information and in-store status information from the information input device installed in the store, and sends at least merchandise from the store to the server. A control program for transferring information and status information in a store, and control for a plurality of terminals to access a communication network and selectively receive at least image data and audio data of product information and status information in a store. The program and the program are stored integrally or individually.

The method and the system for providing store information through the communication network according to the present invention as described above provide at least product information and status information in a store for customers who come to the store directly and purchase products through the communication network. It is provided in real time, and the customer accesses the communication network from the terminal and receives at least the product information and the situation information in the store.

As a result, sales information (product information and status information in a store) can be easily provided to customers who come directly to the store and purchase products through the Internet or a closed communication network. become.

Further, the information recording medium of the present invention has a processing procedure for distributing image and audio data of real-time sales information (product information and situation information in a store), and a method for transmitting the real-time sales information by a customer. A control program for a receiving procedure is provided as general-purpose package software.

As a result, the present invention can be easily implemented in a server on the store side and a small general-purpose computer on the customer side.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a method and system for providing store information through a communication network and an information recording medium according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a store information providing method and a system thereof and an information recording medium according to the present invention via a communication network.

In FIG. 1, this example uses the Internet, and is managed by an advertising agency, a sales company, or a store, and the contents of a WWW page (real-time sales information (product information and status information in a store)). 1 for providing the customer with image and sound data) and an ISDN or PST for accessing the Internet.
N communication network 2 and terminals (clients) 3 used individually by clients to access the Internet
3-n, a store information management system 4 that is managed by the store and has a communication function with the server 1, and a store information management system that stores product information and status information in the store installed in the store. And an information input device 5 for sending to the system 4.

The server 1 has a remaining amount data management unit 11 for managing the stock status of the products being handled in the store, a price data management unit 12 for managing the prices of the products, and information input. Image / audio data management for managing the product information and the status information in the store (image data of products displayed in the store, image data of patterns in the store, voice data of announcements in the sales floor, etc.) input from the device 5. Part 13
And a store-specific data management unit 14 for managing data that does not require immediate updating, such as store-specific data, for example, advertisement text about the store and guide maps in the store.

The store information management system 4 is an interface unit 41 for processing an interface with the information input device 5 such as a digital camera, a microphone, a keyboard and a coordinate input device, and transmits information from the interface unit 41 to the server. A data control unit 42 for executing the control and a database 43 for managing the price and the stock status of the product are provided. The store information management system 4 is connected to an information input device 5 installed in the store through an interface unit 41. Further, the price information of the product, the image / audio data, etc. are transferred to the server 1 through the communication network 2 at a certain timing.

The terminals 3-1 to 3-n access a WWW page of the server 1 by a WWW browser on the Internet, and store real-time sales information (product information and in-store status information) in image and audio data. Received at.

The server 1 described above and the terminals 3-1 to 3-n
And the store information management system 4 and the information input device 5,
It can be realized with a small general-purpose computer. Note that, in FIG. 1, DS for making a line connection with the communication network 2
Illustration and description of U, TA, modem, NCU, and the like are omitted.

The functional configuration of the server 1 from the remaining amount data management unit 11 to the store-specific data management unit 14 is realized as firmware of a single small general-purpose computer. Similarly, the functional configuration from the interface unit 41 to the data control unit 42 in the store information management system 4 is also realized as firmware using a small general-purpose computer alone, and the database 43 is, for example, a known database such as a relational type. It can be realized with a device.

The server 1 and the store information management system 4 can be similarly realized by a client / server system such as an Ethernet LAN to which an RPC (Remote Procedure Call) method is applied. Furthermore, these are TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Inter
net Protocol) WWW (World Wide)
It is also possible that the Web) browser executes a CGI (Common Gateway Interface) application.

In particular, the following processing procedure of the operation of the present invention in the server 1, the store information management system 4, and the terminals 3-1 to 3-n, ie, real-time sales information (product information and status in the store) The process for delivering image and sound data and the process for the customer to receive the real-time sales information through the terminal are performed by using general-purpose package software such as a floppy disk (FD) or a CD. -Can be provided in ROM or MO.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of operations on the server 1, the store information management system 4, and the information input device 5, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of operations on the terminals 3-1 to 3-n. is there.

In FIG. 1, a product remaining amount data management unit 11 in a server 1 managed by an advertising agency, a sales company, or a store manages the stock status of the product in the store. The price data management unit 12 manages the latest price information of a product. The image and sound data management unit 13 manages image data and sound data. The customer is a terminal 3-1 to 3
-N through the communication network 2 to the server 1 to receive the required information. That is, real-time sales information (commodity information and situation information in a store) is received as image data and audio data.

First, a series of processing contents in the store will be described. 1 and FIG. 2, the situation in the store is controlled by the data control unit 4 via the interface unit 41 in the store information management system 4 from the information input device 5 in FIG.
2 and, for example, temporarily stored here as a working process (steps S301 and S302). In addition, image data of displayed products in the store, image data of patterns in the store, and voice data such as announcements in the sales floor, which are input from the information input device 5 in the store, are transferred through the communication network 2 as necessary. Converted to the transmission method (communication protocol).

Further, when there is a change in the price or stock status of the product in the store temporarily stored in the data control unit 42,
Database 43 in store information management system 4 for stores
Update the stored data of. (Steps S303, S30
4) Next, the price and stock status data of the product managed as data stored in the database 43, and the image and voice data managed by the data control unit 42 are transmitted from the store information management system 4 to the server via the communication network 2. 1 (steps S305, S306).

The data on the price and the stock status of the product transferred to the server 1 is managed by the remaining amount data management unit 11 and the price data management unit 12 in the server 1. Also,
The image / audio data transferred to the server 1 is managed by the image / audio data management unit 13 in the server 1. Further, the store-specific data management unit 14 in the server 1 manages data that does not require immediate updating, such as advertisement texts about stores and guide maps in stores.

The above data is provided to the customer when requested by the terminals 3-1 to 3-n.

Next, the contents of processing at the terminals 3-1 to 3-n on the customer side will be described. In FIGS. 1 and 3, the terminal 3-1 to 3-n accesses the Internet through the communication network 2 and connects to the WWW page of the server 1 managed by an advertising agency, a sales company, or a store (step S401). .

When the customer receives the information in the store in accordance with the guidance displayed on the terminals 3-1 to 3-n, the customer downloads the image and voice data (step S4).
02, S403) In addition, when receiving information on a product, the display shifts to a WWW page displaying this data (operation for a screen object / tag) and receives the displayed information (steps S404, S405).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the merchandise information and the in-store status information for customers who come to the store directly and purchase the merchandise are provided through the Internet, and the merchandise information and the in-store status information are provided. To the customer terminal 3-1
-N to access the server 1 and receive it.

In this case, real-time sales information (product information and in-store status information) that cannot be obtained from a normal insert flyer is distributed as image and audio data. This provides customers with an image of the products displayed in the store directly,
In addition, it is possible for the customer to sequentially grasp the congestion status in the store or the parking lot. Further, since the Internet (communication network) is used, customers can obtain necessary information immediately (real time).

Further, by using the Internet, customers can use a special environment (dedicated device and dedicated place).
Sales information (commodity information and situation information in a store) can be obtained in real time without using the information. In addition, since the customer can grasp the congestion situation in the store in advance, visits to the store are not concentrated, and excessive congestion and the like can be avoided.

Next, another embodiment will be described. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of another embodiment. Here, in another embodiment, the server 1A is installed in the head office,
In addition, this is an example in which a store information management system 4-1... 4n is installed in each store. In this case, since the stores handling different products are common to each store, the data for each store is managed separately.

In FIG. 4, a server 1 for management at the head office
A includes data management units 1-1 to 1-n for each store. Each of the data management units 1-1 to 1-n includes a remaining amount data management unit 11, a price data management unit 12, an image / audio data management unit 13, and a store-specific data management unit 14 in FIG. The server 1A is connected to the store information management systems 4-1 to 4-n corresponding to each store via the communication network 2.

As described above, in another embodiment, the server 1
In A, sales information provided to customers by individually managing real-time sales information (product information and in-store status information) for each store transmitted from the store information management systems 4-1 to 4-n. The amount increases. This allows the customer to select a desired store from a plurality of nearby stores and receive real-time sales information.

In this embodiment, the example of the Internet, which is a public network, has been described. However, the above-described sales information (product information and situation information in a store) is implemented through a closed communication network of a non-public network. We can provide customers in time. For example, as a closed communication network of a non-public network, a computer system called a host station (corresponding to the server 1 and the store information management system 4 in FIG. 1) and a so-called personal computer communication system connected through ISDN / PSTN are used. It is well known. From the host station, the terminals 3-1 to 3n acquire the above-mentioned sales information (product information and situation information in the store) in real time.

Further, as a closed communication network of a non-public network, a communication network in which an Ethernet LAN such as a head office, a factory or a business office of a company is further connected by a dedicated line of FDDI LAN and ISDN can be applied. In this case, the Ethernet LAN is connected to customer terminals 3-1 to 3-1 of this region.
3-n, and accesses the sales system (server) at the head office. Also in this case, the above-mentioned sales information (product information and status information in a store) can be provided to the customer in real time.

[0048]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the method and system for providing store information by the communication network of the present invention, at least the product information for customers who come to the store directly and purchase products. And the situation information in the store is provided in real time through the communication network. Further, the customer accesses the communication network from the terminal and receives at least the product information and the situation information in the store.

As a result, sales information (product information and store status information) can be easily provided in real time to customers who come directly to the store and purchase products through the Internet or a closed communication network. become.

Further, the information recording medium of the present invention provides, as general-purpose package software, a control program for a processing procedure for distributing real-time sales information and a processing procedure for a customer to receive the real-time sales information. ing.

As a result, the present invention can be easily implemented particularly on a server on the store side or a small general-purpose computer on the customer side.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a method and a system for providing store information via a communication network and an information recording medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of operations of the server, the store information management system, and the information input device in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an operation on a terminal side in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1A server 1-1 to 1-n data management unit 2 communication network 3-1 to 3-n terminal 4, 4-1 ... 4n store information management system 5 information input device 11 remaining amount data management unit 12 price Data management unit 13 Image / audio data management unit 14 Store-specific data management unit 41 Interface unit 42 Data control unit 43 Database

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A method of providing store information by a communication network for providing at least merchandise information and status information in a store to a customer substantially in real time, wherein the method is intended for a customer who directly visits a store and purchases a product. Providing at least the product information and the in-store status information through a communication network, and accessing the communication network from a customer terminal to receive the at least the product information and the in-store status information. A method for providing store information through a communication network, characterized by the following. 2. The communication network according to claim 1, wherein said communication network is a public network TC.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the store information is a P / IP network or a non-public closed communication network. 3. A store information providing system based on a communication network for providing at least merchandise information and in-store status information to a customer in substantially real time, comprising: A server for providing data to a customer through a communication network, a store information management system for transferring at least product information and in-store status information from the store to the server, and at least a product information and store installed in the store An information input device for sending the status information in the store to the store information management system; and a customer side that accesses the communication network and selectively receives at least the product information and the image and sound data of the status information in the store. A communication network store information providing system, comprising: a plurality of terminals; Temu. 4. As the server, a remaining amount data management unit for managing the stock status of the products handled in the store, a price data management unit for managing the prices of the products, and an information input device. An image / sound data management unit for managing at least image images of displayed products in the store, image data of patterns in the store, and sound data of announcements in the sales floor, which are input from the store, and for managing data unique to the store. The communication network store information providing system according to claim 3, further comprising: a store-specific data management unit. 5. An information processing system for a store, comprising: an interface unit for processing an interface with an information input device; a data control unit for executing control for transferring information from the interface unit to a server; 4. The communication network store information providing system according to claim 3, further comprising: a database for storing and managing data on inventory status. 6. The communication network store information providing system according to claim 3, wherein the server is installed at least in an advertising agency company, a sales company, or a store. 7. The communication network according to claim 1, wherein said communication network is a public network TC.
A P / IP network or a non-public closed communication network, wherein the server, the store information management system, and the terminal are provided with a communication control device and a communication protocol for connecting to a TCP / IP network or a closed communication network, respectively. The communication network store information providing system according to claim 3, wherein: 8. The store information management system is connected to the server through a communication network, and the store information management system transfers at least merchandise information and status information in the store through the communication network. Item 3. A communication network store information providing system according to item 3. 9. The information input device is an input device including at least a photographing device, a voice information input device, and a character / graphic input device for inputting at least merchandise information and situation information in a store. 3. The communication network store information providing system according to 3. 10. The store information management system is provided for each of a plurality of stores, at least merchandise information and status information in the store are transferred to a server for each store information management system, and the server is provided for each store. A plurality of data management units for managing at least product information and in-store status information, a price data management unit for managing a price of a product for each of the data management units, and at least a data input from an information input device. An image and sound data management unit for managing image images of displayed products in stores, image data of patterns in stores, and sound data of announcements in sales floors, and store-specific data management for managing store-specific data The communication network store information providing system according to claim 3, comprising: 11. Provide at least merchandise information and in-store status information for a customer who visits a store directly and purchases merchandise through a communication network, and provides at least the merchandise information and in-store status information to the customer. An information recording medium storing a control program for accessing and receiving a communication network from a terminal. 12. A control program for a server to provide at least merchandise information and image and sound data of situation information in a store to a customer through a communication network, and a store information management system sends at least a store program from the store to the server. Send out product information and status information in the store, and
A control program for receiving at least the product information and the in-store status information from the information input device installed in the store, and transferring at least the product information and the in-store status information from the store to the server; And a control program for accessing a communication network and selectively receiving at least image data and sound data of merchandise information and in-store situation information, and are stored integrally or separately. Information recording medium.