JP2001142946A - Mail order computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system, with which a shop close to a delivery destination can be efficiently searched, and an article can be purchased or reserved with respect to a buyer and the article can be delivered only with a sent order state ment with respects a mail order company. SOLUTION: Concerning an article selling system provided with a shop information server containing position information and article information and a stock information server containing the stock information of articles, this computer system is provided with a means for determining the position of the destination to deliver and article, a means for searching the nearby shop, which sells the article designated by the buyer, based on the position information of the destination to deliver the article, a means for confirming the stock information of the designated article in the searched shop, and a means for acquiring the information of a map from the shop, with which the stock is confirmed, to the delivery destination from a map database, adding the map information to the order statement of the designated article and transmitting the order statement to the FAX device of the shop, with which the stock is confirmed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mail-order computer system for managing mail-order sales, from searching for stores selling goods such as articles or software data, to checking inventory of specified goods, and selling the goods. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, consumers generally go to a store to purchase products directly, but in recent years, with the development of communication systems and distribution systems, mail-order sales have been conducted in various fields. Became.

[0003]

A method of arranging a dedicated computer receiving device in a store is effective, but it is difficult for a buyer to easily know which store to go to. In addition, there are various problems such as what kind of service is provided for each store, where the nearest store is located, and depending on the product, it is necessary to check whether or not there is stock. On the other hand, even for a mail-order company that operates mail-order sales, it is very troublesome work to check the map information of the delivery destination.

[0004] Therefore, the present invention is a system in which a purchaser can efficiently search for a store near a delivery destination, and can purchase or make a reservation for a product. The purpose of this system is to build a system that can deliver goods only with a purchase order.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a merchandise sales system including a store information server including location information and merchandise information, and a stock information server including merchandise inventory information. Means for determining the location of the product, means for searching for a nearby store that sells the product specified by the buyer based on the location information of the delivery destination of the product,
Means for confirming the stock information of the specified product of the searched store, obtaining map information from the store for which the stock was checked to the delivery destination from a map database, adding the map information to an order form for the specified product, Means for transmitting the purchase order to a facsimile machine of a store whose stock has been confirmed.

[0006] Further, a stock information server including stock information of a product is added to the above system, so that a product sales computer system capable of confirming stock information of a specified product at a searched store can be provided.

As a means for searching for a store, a short-distance one may be simply selected. However, in consideration of walking, it is more desirable to provide a search algorithm in consideration of transportation.

[0008] As means for determining the position of the delivery destination, G
Like the PS device and the PHS device, the method of automatically obtaining, and the latitude, longitude data, address data, telephone number data,
There is a manual input method like an instruction input on a map screen.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the system of the present invention will be described specifically. FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of the present invention. That is, the system of the present invention comprises: a store information holding store information such as a category of a product for sale at the store (hereinafter referred to as “product category name”), a store name, longitude and latitude (hereinafter referred to as “location information”). Server 1, ○ Each stock information server 21-2m that provides the stock information of the POS terminals 31-3m of each store that holds the stock information to the outside, ○ Client terminals 41-4n, ○ Map database 6, which provides the map information, ○ Search for stores that sell designated products in the designated area,
Check the inventory, if the store in the designated area is out of stock, make a reservation, obtain the map information from the store to the delivery destination from the map database 6, add the map information to the purchase order, It is composed of a stock confirmation reservation server 4 to be transmitted to the FAX machine at the store, ○ and an Internet network 5. Note that the above client terminals 41 to 4n
May be a fixed terminal or a mobile terminal.

FIG. 2 is a physical configuration diagram of the server or client terminals 41 to 4n of the present invention. The server of the present invention, the client terminals 41 to 4n, the central processing unit 10
1, main memory 102, file device 103, input device 104,
The output device 105 includes a signal bus 106. The functions of the server or the client terminals 41 to 4n of the present invention are realized by the control program 110 in the main memory 102.

The store information server 1 will be described. The store information server 1 has store information having a data structure as shown in FIG. The position cell 301 has position information of east longitude 1, east longitude 2, north latitude 1, north latitude 2, a pointer to the product cell 302, and a pointer to the position cell 301. East longitude 1 and East longitude 2
And the range of north latitude 1 and north latitude 2 are each 6 seconds (6 ″). This numerical value is an example of the optimal solution.

The product cell 302 has a product name, a pointer to the store cell 303, and a pointer to the product cell 302. Examples of product category names include clothing, books, and the like. The store cell 303 is a store name, location information, and a store server UR.
L, FAX number and link to store cell. As shown in FIG. 3, the store information server 1 includes a store information registering unit 321 for registering store information, a store information deleting unit 322 for deleting store information, and a store information changing unit 323 for changing store information.

The store information registration means 321 receives a product category name, a store name, store position information, and a URL of a store server. The product category name is selected from those currently registered in the store information server. If there is no corresponding product category name, it is newly registered. When the position information to be registered is received, a position range with a minimum unit of 6 seconds is calculated. Maximum 6 before longitude
A multiple of seconds is east longitude 1 and a minimum multiple of 6 seconds after longitude is east longitude 2. Similarly, north latitude 1 and north latitude 2 are calculated. For example, if the location of the store is 139 ° 38'43 ”east longitude and 35 ° 26'40” north latitude, east longitude 1 is 139 ° 38'42 ”, east longitude 2 is 139 ° 38'48”, and north latitude 1 is , 35 ° 26′36 ″, and the north latitude 2 is 35 ° 26′42 ″.

FIG. 4 shows the operation of the store information registration means 321. In step S400, the position cell to be processed is
The position cell is linked to TOP300. Step S401
Test whether the end of the linked list. If it is the end, the process proceeds to step S414. In step S402,
Test whether east longitude 1, east longitude 2, north latitude 1, north latitude 2 match those of the location cell. If they match, step S4
Go to 04. In step S420, it is tested whether the east longitude 1, the east longitude 2, the north latitude 1, and the north latitude 2 are smaller than or equal to those of the position cell. If smaller or equal, proceed to S414. In step S403, the next position cell in the link list is processed. Proceed to step S401. In step S404,
Test whether the product category name can be selected from the registered category names. If not selectable, step S410
Proceed to. In step S405, a product cell to be processed is selected. In step S406, it is tested whether it is the end of the linked list. If it is the end, the process proceeds to step S412.

In step S407, it is tested whether or not the product category name matches the category name of the product cell. If they match, the process proceeds to step S409. In step S408,
The next product cell in the link list is processed. In step S409, a store cell is added. Set the store name, longitude / latitude, and URL of the store's inventory server in the cell. Proceed to End. In step S410, a product cell is added. A new category name is set. In step S411, a store cell is added. Proceed to End. In step S412, a product cell is added. In step S413, a store cell is added.

In step S414, a position cell having east longitude 1, east longitude 2, north latitude 1, north latitude 2 is added. The position cells are arranged in descending order of east longitude 1 and east longitude 2 and in descending order of north latitude 1 and north latitude 2. In step S415, a product cell is added. In step S416, a test is performed to determine whether a product category name can be selected from the registered category names. If it can be selected, the process proceeds to step S418. In step S417, a new category name is set. Proceed to step S419. In step S418, the selected category name is set. In step S419, a store cell is added. Proceed to End.

The store information deleting means 322 is used to delete the store registration. With the store name and the position information as inputs, a position cell corresponding to the position information is searched, and the store cell linked to the position cell is deleted. Since the store may handle a plurality of product categories, the store name of the store cell is checked in all the product cells. If the merchandise cell has only the store cell to be deleted, the merchandise cell is also deleted. further,
If the position cell has only the product cell to be deleted, the position cell is also deleted. The store information changing means 323 includes a store information deleting means 322 and a store information registering means 321. That is, the store information is deleted by the store information deleting unit 322, and the store information is registered by the store information registering unit 321.

The operation of the inventory confirmation reservation server 4 and the relationship between the client terminals 41 to 4n, the store information server 1 (store information access means 324) and the inventory information servers 21 to 2m will be described. The client terminal operates as shown in FIG.

In step S541, the user specifies a search area, selects a product, and specifies a title of the product. The search area is specified within 10 minutes walk from the delivery destination, within 10 minutes by car, 8 km
And so on. Of course, it may be specified on the way.
The delivery destination can be specified by latitude / longitude or by address. Further, the delivery destination and the search area may be specified on the map data screen. Walking and car speeds
It is assumed that they are 4 km and 40 km, respectively. The product category name prepared by the system is displayed on the client terminal, and the user selects a target one from the displayed list. Next, a title is specified. When the product category name is "book" or "CD", the title is the title of the book or the title of the music, respectively. In some cases, the system may request the author name and publisher name for "books" and the composer, lyricist, and record company names for "CD". The designated position is used when you want to purchase at a travel destination.

In step S543, the search area, product category name, and title are transmitted to the stock confirmation reservation server 4. In step S547, the location information of the store having the stock is received from the stock confirmation reservation server 4. Step S54
At 9, the location of the store is displayed on the map data. In step S550, the purchaser is inquired whether to place an order. If not, go to end. In step S551, an order instruction is transmitted to the stock confirmation reservation server 4.
Next, the stock confirmation reservation server 4 operates as follows. In step S501, a search area, a product category name, and a title are received from a client terminal. Steps
In S502, the provisional position is determined from the one closer to the designated position. In step S503, it is tested whether the provisional position is within the search area. If not within the area, go to step S509. It is also possible to expand the area and search again.
In step S504-1, the location information and the product category name are transmitted to the store information server. In step S504-2, the location information, the shop name, and the URL of the shop are received from the shop information server. In step S505, it is tested whether there is a store. If not, the process proceeds to step S502. In step S506-1, the URL and title of the stock server are transmitted to the stock information server. Step S506-
At 2, the stock flag is received from the stock information server. If there is no stock in step S507, the process proceeds to step S502. In step S508, in order to display the location of the stock store in the map information on the client terminal, the location information of the store is sent to the client terminal. Proceed to step S561. In step S509, a reservation is made for the shortest distance store. In step S561, an order instruction is received from the stock confirmation reservation server 4. In step S562, map information of the delivery destination from the store is extracted from the map database 6.
In step S563, the purchase order with map information is
Send to device.

The store information server operates as follows. In step S521, the position information and the product category name are received from the stock confirmation reservation server. In step S525, a store corresponding to the location information and the product category name is searched. If there are multiple stores in the range of east longitude 1 to east longitude 2 and north latitude 1 to north latitude 2, there will be multiple stores, and the following processing
Performed for multiple stores. In step S529,
If a store exists, set the store presence flag to “ON”. If no store exists, set the store existence flag to “OF”.
F ". The store presence flag is transmitted to the inventory confirmation reservation server 4. If the store exists, the location information of the store, the store name, and the URL of the store inventory information server are further transmitted to the inventory confirmation reservation server 4. The stock information server operates as follows: In step S531, the title is received from the stock confirmation reservation server, in step S535, the POS terminal is referred to the stock of the item designated by the title. If there is
Set the stock flag to “ON”, otherwise set it to “OFF”. Send the stock flag to the stock confirmation reservation server.

[0022]

According to the system of the present invention, the buyer can
When purchasing a product, an appropriate store can be easily selected. In addition, if the system of the present invention is used, mail order can be easily started without building a special mail order system. A person who wants to make a mail order simply registers the store, registers the product in the POS, and then just waits for a purchase order with a map.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system of the present invention in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a physical configuration diagram of a server / client terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a data structure of store information of a store information server in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of a store information registration unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of a client terminal, an inventory confirmation reservation server, a store information server, and an inventory information server in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Store information server 4 Inventory confirmation reservation server 5 Internet network 6 Map database 21-2m Inventory information server 31-3m POS terminal 41-4n Client terminal 101 Central processing unit 102 Main memory 103 File device 104 Input device 105 Output device 106 Signal bus

Claims (6)

[Claims] In a merchandise sales system including a location information server, a store information server including merchandise information, and a stock information server including merchandise inventory information, (1) means for determining a position of a delivery destination of the merchandise; Means for searching for a nearby store that sells the product specified by the buyer based on the location information of the delivery destination of (3) means for checking stock information of the specified product in the searched store; (4) ) Acquire map information from the store whose inventory has been confirmed to the delivery destination from the map database, add the map information to the order form of the designated product,
Means for transmitting the purchase order to a facsimile device of a store whose stock has been confirmed. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining the location of the delivery destination is latitude,
2. The merchandise sales computer system according to claim 1, wherein the input is longitude data. 3. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining the location of the delivery destination is an instruction input on a map screen. 4. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining the location of the delivery destination is input of address data. 5. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining the location of the delivery destination is input of telephone number data. 6. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining the location of the delivery destination is an instruction on a map data screen.