JP2001084267A - Commodity data base system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To advance catalogue design work in parallel, even if commodity information of a maker is incomplete and updating is possible by comparing an update history table and a reference history table, when a user logs in a commodity data base system, listing up an updated record after referring to previous and informing it. SOLUTION: Records that a user refers to are extracted from the reference history table of the user (S60). One record in the extracted records in selected, and an identification number filed in the reference record is checked (S62). When a 'commodity' is designated and is called out, an update history record on a commodity record matched with the identification number of the reference record is retrieved. Even if at least one item having update/data/time later than commodity record reference data/time exists, the commodity record is added to a new data list (S64). When an 'image' is designated and is called out, an image management record is retrieved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a merchandise information database system constructed for catalog production and electronic merchandise information provision.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one field of commercial printed matter, there is a field of a general catalog of a manufacturer. The company publishes a thick catalog of hundreds of pages for dealers and users about once a year, covering the products of one company (manufacturer, wholesale trading company). In recent years, along with the spread of computers, the use of product data put on such catalogs in a database has begun.

[0003] There are two purposes for creating a database. One is to take advantage of the multimedia technology that has become easier to use, and to provide users with electronic catalogs rather than paper catalogs. An electronic catalog is excellent in searchability and can insert sounds and moving images, thereby providing convenience not available in a paper catalog.

[0004] Another is to streamline paper catalog production and save labor by creating a database.
Product information posted in a general catalog has a large number of data items, and the images and specifications used in the previous catalog are often used next time. May be changed.

On the other hand, due to the high performance and low price due to the development of computer technology, it is not a system dedicated to plate making,
The use of a personal computer and DTP based on de facto standard technology to carry out the work of processing all digitally from the design stage has also been widespread in the field of general commercial printing. DTP, which performs all design and plate making processes with digital data, is a combination that is inherently compatible with databases.

[0006]

In the production of a catalog, DT is used from the stage when a designer lays out a page.
The use of the P editing software eliminates the need for a plate making operation, and is highly effective. However, there were situations in which the original workflow of DTP was not easily adopted. Because it takes time for the manufacturer to fix the new product information,
This is because you have to wait for the start of the design work. In the conventional method, in which the designer manually lays out the page layout of the catalog and the stencil operator performs stencil making work on the stencil making system based on the completed layout instructions, a new workflow is required before the stencil making work starts. It would have been nice if the product information had been fixed.

The present invention has been devised in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and even if the product information provided by the maker is incomplete and may be updated, the catalog design work can be performed in parallel. The task is to present a mechanism that can proceed.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a database storing product information, a product information server which manages information in the database and responds to a search request or a download request. In a product database system including a plurality of product information clients that issue a search request or a download request to a product information server and provide a result to a user, the database includes component data such as a product photographed image and a mark figure. And, for each single product or for each product group, a product master table describing a link between the product specification and the component data, an update history table recording an update history of the component data and the product specification,
A reference history table that records the reference history from the user of the component data and product specifications, and
The merchandise information server and the merchandise information client are configured to include an update data search means, so that when the user logs in to the merchandise database system, the update history table and the reference history table are compared, and the user It is a gist of the present invention that a list of parts data or product specifications that have been updated after the previous reference can be listed and notified.

The update data search means compares the update history table with the reference history table,
It is possible to notify the design staff of all the design editing data that the designer in charge has to work with that must be corrected.

The reference history table is a collection of reference history records. One reference history record records a reference user, a reference record, and a reference date and time. Collection, and one update history record is a target record,
It is reasonable to record the target item, the update date and time, the update executor, the pre-update value, and the post-update value to solve the problem.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to examples.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The merchandise database system 1 includes equipment of a catalog production company 3 and equipment of a maker 5, a photography studio 6, and a design company 7. A commodity information server 10 stores a commodity database in an external storage device (not shown). 11 (1
1a, 11b, ...) are merchandise information clients,
It mainly registers and corrects product information in the product database. 12 is a network access server,
Product information client 21 (21a, 21) located at a remote location
b)..), and allocates an address necessary for communication over a network to a product information client at a remote location. Reference numeral 13 denotes an authentication server that authenticates whether a user who has accessed remotely is an authorized registered user.

The equipment on the maker side 5, the photographing studio side 6, and the design company side 7 is a product information client 21 (21
a, 21b,...) and a dial-up router or terminal adapter 22 for connecting the product information client 21 to the product information server 10 when necessary. The dial-up router or terminal adapter 22 is connected to the access server 12 on the management and production side 3 by a circuit switching network 4 provided by a communication carrier.

In the configuration of FIG. 1, how to select the connection means between the manufacturer and another party has no essential meaning in the configuration of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows only an appropriate configuration in the case where a public circuit switching network provided by a communication carrier is used as 4. In addition, when a dedicated line provided by a telecommunications carrier is used as 4 or when a TCP / IP protocol network is used, the device configuration of 22 and 12 can be changed according to each case. Choose appropriately.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining various functional means activated from each product information client of the product database system 1. The product information search means 16 is effective in common for all clients, and searches a product database in response to an operator's interactive search input and displays the result. The product information server 10 has a built-in database management means 14 which stores a product database in response to a database search request or update request issued in response to an interactive operation on the product information client. Manage and maintain.

Product information client 11 of management production side 3
Starts a database editing application when connected to the product information server 10. This database editing application calls the product information registration unit 18, the main image registration unit 25, and the correction instruction search unit 17 in response to the operator's interactive instruction input. The merchandise information registration means 18 accepts the specification input of the merchandise and registers it in the database (actually issues a data update request to the database management means 14). The image registration unit registers the high-resolution image data for printing in the database (actually issues a data update request to the database management unit 14). The correction instruction search means 17 searches for and displays a correction instruction by using a product number, a correction instruction date, a correction instructor, or the like as a key.

The product information client 21 of the maker 5
Can connect to the product information server 10 and call the correction instruction creating means 15. Correction instruction creation means 1
Step 5 creates an instruction to correct the contents of the database.

When the merchandise information client 21 of the photographing studio 6 connects to the merchandise information server 10, it can call the temporary image registration means 24. As soon as the product photographer obtains the developed film after photographing the product, the studio photographer can create temporary image data with a relatively coarse resolution using an image input device such as a flat scanner and register it in the database. At this time, in addition to creating a link to the product specification by specifying the product identification number, other related product identification numbers and the like are also input.

When the product information client 21 of the design company 7 connects to the product information server 10, it can call the update data search means 20 and the download means 23. When the designer displays the necessary image data and component data by the product information search unit 16 or the update data search unit 20, the download unit 23 clicks a button below the image to activate the image data and component. Data can be copied to a folder set by the designer.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the product database. The product record that makes up the product master table is the most basic data element, and describes various static and fixed information of each product (identified by product number) and links to other part records. ing. The merchandise record is linked to individual component data by relaying an image (figure) management record related by a record identification number (hereinafter, record ID) described in an image (figure) data field. The image management record includes an image data file name, a product number (a set number in the case of a set photograph), a variation (a similar product number having different power consumption and color), and describes a registration date / update date. The graphic management record includes a graphic data file name, and describes a registration date and an update date of the graphic data.
The product database also includes an update history table and a reference history table for each user. The update history table is a set of update history records described later. The reference history table is a collection of reference history records described below for each registered user.

FIG. 13 is a diagram conceptually illustrating the flow of catalog production using the product database system 1. Hereinafter, the flow of catalog production will be described with reference to FIG. First, a maker representative submits a planning instruction (S1
0). The plan instruction includes a list of products to be published in the newly produced catalog and specification information of the new products.
If the catalog is large, it may be divided into a plurality of planning instructions according to the product genre and folding unit. The production company reads the specifications of the new product from the plan instruction and inputs the product specifications using the product information registration means 18 (S11). In the photographing studio, a product sample is obtained, and the product is photographed according to the instruction of the plan document (S12). The proposal specifies what kind of photographic image (whole photograph, partial up, combination example, etc.) is required for the product. Immediately after photographing, the developed film is converted into digital data by a scanner as a temporary image for design, and the temporary image is registered (S13). At the same time, a necessary link is set on the database so that the temporary image can be handled without any distinction from the main image. Actually, an image management record describing the link relationship between the product record and the temporary image data file is generated at the time of registering the temporary image, and the temporary image data file is specified in the attribute field of the image file name in the image management record. Then, in the image management record, when registering the main image later, the attribute column of the image file name is updated to the data file name of the main image, and the date and time at that time are entered in the attribute column of the update date.

The person in charge of the maker searches the database for his / her product, and checks whether the product is registered in the database as instructed, such as product specifications (S20). Here, if correction is necessary, a correction instruction is created using the correction instruction creation means 15 (S21). The management production side searches for a correction instruction (S2
2) Correcting data such as product specifications as necessary (S23).

The designer searches for the product information of the new product (S30), or searches for data updated after the previous design edit (S34), copies text information from the display of the product specification, and if necessary, copies the text information. The image data and the component data are downloaded (S31), and the page layout is performed using them, or the previous page layout is modified (S32).

In the catalog production company, the developed film (color original) is separated into colors by a high-resolution scanner for plate making.
Create a color school for product images and obtain approval from the manufacturer. When the approval is obtained, the high-resolution decomposition data is registered in the database as the main image (S33). When the main image data is registered, it is replaced with the temporary image data. The link relationship of the temporary image data with other data records is inherited by the main image data as it is.

The catalog production company edits (impositions) the design editing data in folding units, outputs the film (S40), prints the plate (S41), and binds the book (S42) to complete the catalog.

In the following, important steps regarding each of the steps shown in FIG. 13 will be described in detail.

First, steps S20 and S20 of the product information search
30 will be described in detail. In FIG. 8, there is a product information search step only in the rows of the maker representative and the designer, but in practice, all product information clients can use the product information search means. Client users
Connect to the product information server 10 and enter the user name and password. When the user is authenticated and permitted to log in, a main menu screen (not shown) is entered, and by selecting "Search for products by product name / part number", a screen for standard tree search (FIG. 3) is obtained. In the product information client of this embodiment, one user interaction screen is divided and displayed in four frames of a direct search window, a sub window, a menu window, and a main window as shown in FIG. Use the direct search window to make searches faster. The previous window is displayed in the subwindow. The menu window displays a menu.
The main window is the original dialog input screen. A list of product name groups is displayed on the main window of FIG. 3. By specifying one of these product names, a lower level screen is displayed. When a specific product name is clicked in FIG. 3, the main window of the client screen is changed to the screen shown in FIG. 4 displaying a part number list of the product name.

When a spec display ( total or seasonal ) of any product number is clicked in the main window of FIG. 4, a spec display screen of the product of that product type as shown in FIG. 5 appears. In the screen of FIG. 5, the main window is divided into upper and lower portions. The upper part is a window that displays an image. Product specifications (text information describing the characteristics and specifications of the product) are displayed in the lower part.

Next, the working steps in S34 in which the designer searches for update data will be described in detail. First, the data structure of the product database for performing the update data search will be supplemented.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an update history record.
The update history record includes fields of a target record, a target item, a pre-update value, a post-update value, an update date and time, and an updater. Each time one item of the product record is updated, it is newly generated by the database management unit 14.

FIG. 7 shows a reference history record. The reference history record includes fields of a reference user, a reference record, and a reference date and time. When the image data is downloaded, or when a check is made to the effect that the designer has explicitly referred to the product specification display screen, it is newly generated by the database management means 14 and managed for each reference user.

Next, the method of starting the update data search is as follows. When "What's New" is clicked in the menu window, the screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed in any case. Here, by specifying any one of a product record, an image record, and a graphic record, the update data search unit 20 is called,
The search for the specified type of record updated after the user downloaded or browsed begins.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation flow of the update data search means 20. The operation of the update data search means 20 will be described below. First, step S60
Then, all the records referred to by the user are extracted from the reference history table of the user. Next, step S
At 62, one of the extracted records is selected, and the identification number written in the reference record is checked. In the case of being called by designating “product” in FIG. 8, the update history record for the product record that matches the identification number of the reference record is searched. If there is at least one item having an update date and time that is later than the product record reference date and time, this product record is added to the new data list (S
64). When called by designating "image" in FIG. 8, an image management record matching the identification number of the reference record is searched. If the update date of the image management record is later than the reference date of the reference record, the identification number of the image (the identification number of the image management record) is added to the new data list (S64). In this way, the image data in which the main image is registered after the reference date and time is checked.
In FIG. 8, when called by designating "mark / graphic", a graphic management record matching the identification number of the reference record is searched. If the update date of the graphic management record is later than the reference date of the reference record, the identification number of the graphic (the identification number of the graphic management record) is added to the new data list (S64).

Steps S12 to S16 are repeated for all the records extracted in S10. Finally, in S18, a new data list is displayed. FIG. 10 is a search result display screen when "product" is designated in FIG.

In FIG. 10, although only one part number appears by chance, if a plurality of part numbers are searched, a list of part numbers is displayed. The designer can display detailed information by selecting specifications and images for each product number, and can edit and edit the design by copying and pasting or downloading necessary parts.

Next, download of S31 in the processing flow of FIG. 13 will be described. The image data download unit 23 is activated by designating an image to be downloaded on the screen and pressing a download button. FIG.
Indicates that one of the main body photograph and the variation photograph is checked on the specification display screen. After that, set the output folder at the bottom of the main window and press the download button on the right. Then, the client transmits the record ID (hereinafter, image ID) of the checked image to the download unit. The download unit 23 opens the image data file corresponding to the corresponding image ID,
By decompressing and converting to RGB data with reduced resolution, the data is converted to image data that can be handled by the DTP editing software used by the designer and transferred to the designated folder.

[0037]

As described above, when constructing a product database system having the configuration described in the present invention and producing a catalog, etc., the designer must handle the past as long as the reference history record exists. Of the data, since the record updated after the previous reference or download can be known, the DTP design editing can be reworked at any time when the need arises. Therefore, the design can be advanced even when it is not known whether the new product information of the manufacturer has been finally determined. As a result, for the first time, a simple production flow was possible, in which all new product information was registered in the database, and all catalog production work was performed by accessing the database. Therefore, the trouble of communication between the concerned parties is reduced, and errors are reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a product database system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a product database system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a typical tree search screen (top layer).

FIG. 4 is a typical tree search screen (part number list).

FIG. 5 is a specification display screen.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an update history record.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a reference history record.

FIG. 8 shows an update data search instruction screen.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating processing of an update data search unit.

FIG. 10 is a display screen of an update data search result.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a method of activating a download unit.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a frame of an interactive screen.

FIG. 13 is a diagram conceptually showing a catalog production flow by the product database system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of a product database.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Product Database System 5 Maker Equipment 6 Photography Studio Equipment 7 Design Company Equipment 3 Database Management Production Equipment 4 Communication Channel 10 Product Information Server 11 Product Information Client 12 Access Server 13 Authentication Server 14 Database Management Means 15 Correction Instruction Creation Means 16 Product information search means 17 Correction instruction search means 18 Product information registration means 20 Update data search means 21 Product information client 22 Router or terminal adapter 23 Download means 24 Temporary image registration means 25 Main image registration means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Toshinori Kanata 1-1-1 Ichigaya-Kagacho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Inside Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toru Hanatayama Ichigaya-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 1-1-1 1-1 Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masahisa Murata 1-1-1 Ichigaya Kagacho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo F-term in Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. 5B049 AA06 BB11 BB49 DD01 EE05 FF01 GG02 5B075 ND03 ND06 ND16 PP03 PP12 PP13 PP22 PP23 PQ02 PR03 UU38

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A database storing product information, managing information in the database, and issuing a search request or download request to the product information server corresponding to a search request or a download request; and A product database system comprising a plurality of product information clients for providing a result to a user, wherein the database includes: component data such as a product photographed image and a mark figure; A product master table that describes the specifications and the link with the component data, an update history table that records the update history of the component data and the product specifications, and a reference history table that records the reference history of the user from the component data and the product specifications. And the product information server. The bar and product information client
With the configuration including the update data search means, when the user gives an instruction, the update history table is compared with the reference history table, and the part data or the product specification that the user has referred to in the past is used. A product database system characterized by being able to list and notify of items updated after being referred to. 2. The reference history table is a collection of reference history records. One reference history record records a reference user, a reference record, and a reference date and time. 2. The product database system according to claim 1, wherein one update history record is a collection, and records a target record, a target item, an update date and time, an update executor, a pre-update value, and a post-update value.