JP2002074033A - Mail-order selling method and mail-order selling system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure a margin for the selection of commodity for a receiver, in spite of making it somewhat reflect the intention, interest, sense, or the like of a sender to some extent in mail-order selling for presenting the commodity via the Internet. SOLUTION: By this mail-order selling system, the commodity is presented from a sender (a user A) to a receiver (a user B) via the Internet 10, and a Web server 2 is installed on the internet 10. The Web server 2 produces commodity group information, by extracting commodity information on plural commodities from a commodity data base 3a for collecting the commodity information on plural commodities and a commodity data base 3a, based on retrieval conditions inputted by the user, provides commodity group information to the user B, requests the selection of the commodity from the commodity group information and delivers the commodity selected by the user B to the user B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mail-order sales method and a mail-order sales system in which a gift is sent from a gift giver to a receiver using a network in which terminals are mutually connected by a communication line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, when a gift is given as a birthday present, year-end gift, middle gift, or the like, the gift is selected by the giver and sent to the recipient.

On the other hand, recently, due to the spread of personal computers and portable terminals and technical progress, these terminals are connected to each other by telephone lines, dedicated lines, wireless lines, LANs, etc. Networks are developing. By using such a network, it is also possible to make an order for purchase and delivery of the above-mentioned birthday present and the like.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional gifts such as birthday gifts, the gifts selected by the gift-giver are given to the recipient, so that gifts that do not meet the tastes and preferences of the recipient are given. There were inconveniences of giving a gift or giving something that the recipient and the person already have.

Conventionally, in order to avoid such inconveniences, for example, a method of giving a gift certificate, a prepaid card, or the like has been adopted. In addition, a miscellaneous and tasteless impression may be given to the recipient, which is often inappropriate.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a mail-order sales method which allows the recipient to have a room for selecting products after reflecting to some extent the feelings, hobbies, and senses of the gift giver. And to provide a mail order system.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems The invention according to the present application has been made to solve the above problems, and the invention according to claim 1 utilizes a network in which terminals are mutually connected by a communication line. A mail order method of giving a product from a giver to a recipient, wherein merchandise information about a plurality of products selected by the giver is provided to the recipient through the network, and the product is provided to the recipient. A request is made for selection of a product from the group information, and the product selected by the recipient is delivered to the recipient.

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Since the recipient who receives the product can select the desired product from the plurality of products selected by the giver through the network, while reflecting the taste of the giver,
Products can be given according to the recipient's needs.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the mail order method according to the first aspect, product information on a plurality of products is stored in a product database, and the product group information is
It is characterized by comprising merchandise information extracted by searching the merchandise database based on search conditions input by the gifter through the network.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
For example, by inputting the age and gender of the recipient, the category and type of the gift, and the like as search conditions, the giver can easily search and extract products that meet the needs of the recipient, and Products can be selected.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the mail order method according to the first or second aspect, the merchant accesses the merchandise group information when the merchant selects a merchandise. Authentication information for notifying the recipient by mail.

According to the third aspect of the present invention,
Since the authentication information for accessing the merchandise group information is notified by mail, it is possible to prevent the authentication information from leaking to a third party, and to improve security.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mail-order sales system in which a gift is sent from a gift giver to a receiver using a network in which terminals are connected to each other by a communication line. A gift database that accumulates product information about a plurality of products and a gift database that extracts product information about a plurality of products from the product database based on a search condition input by the gifter and generates product group information. Interface unit, the product group information is presented to the recipient, and a recipient interface unit for requesting selection of a product from the product group information is requested, and shipping of the product selected by the recipient is requested. And an ordering unit.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention,
The gifts selected by the giver can be presented to the recipient via the network, and the recipient can select the desired product from the presented gifts. And the sense can be reflected, and the recipient can have a choice.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the mail order system according to the fourth aspect, when the receiver accesses the receiver, the receiver requests the receiver to input a unique identifier, and based on the unique identifier. It is characterized by having a presentation data generation unit for generating product group information presentation data.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention,
Since the product group information presentation data such as a Web page unique to the recipient is dynamically presented based on the unique identifier, individual information can be presented to the recipient and the tastes and preferences of the giver can be determined. The information can be easily transmitted to the recipient, and communication between the users can be maintained.

According to the invention according to claim 6, in the mail order system according to claim 5, when the product group information is generated, the unique identifier is notified to the recipient by e-mail. It has a unique identifier notifying section.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention,
Since the Web page address or the like where the product group information is presented is notified by e-mail, the recipient can easily access the product group information.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the mail order system according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, when the receiver accesses the receiver interface section, the receiver inputs authentication information such as a user ID and a password. And an authentication unit for permitting access when the authentication information is correct.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention,
Since the user who accesses the product group information is required to input a user ID and a password, it is possible to prevent a third party from accessing the product group information and to ensure security.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the mail order system according to the seventh aspect, further comprising an authentication information dispatch request unit for requesting the recipient to be notified of the authentication information by mail. Things.

According to the invention according to claim 8,
Since the authentication information for accessing the product group information is sent by mail, it is possible to prevent the authentication information from leaking to a third party via the network, and to improve security.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Overall Configuration of Mail Order System)
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the entire mail order system according to the present embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a server 2. In the present embodiment, a case will be described as an example where a user A (gift person: gift presenter) gives a birthday gift to a user B (receiver: gift recipient).

As shown in FIG. 1, the mail order system according to the present embodiment is a web server 2 on the Internet 10.
Is installed. The Web server 2 can be accessed from a general terminal via the Internet 10,
Through the Internet 10, a web page such as a home page can be presented to users A and B, and electronic mail can be transmitted and received.

Here, the Internet 10 is a communication network constituted by connecting terminals such as personal computers, portable telephones, and dedicated machines via communication lines such as wired and wireless telephone lines and dedicated lines. This is one form, and is a concept including Ethernet (registered trademark) such as an in-house LAN.

The Internet 10 has a merchandise database 3a for accumulating information on merchandise and a sales / history database 3 for accumulating sales histories of customers.
b, etc., and a shopping mall 3 is installed that performs product purchase, inventory reservation, sales, product delivery, and the like.

The shopping mall 3 is a mail-order organization virtually constructed on the Internet, in which each merchandise sales site and each manufacturer, as well as each distribution service company, are connected via the Internet 10 in a cooperative manner. , Web
The server 2 can also access the shopping mall 3. In addition, in this shopping mall 3,
The transportation company 5 is included, and the delivery of the goods 12 is performed through the transportation company 5.

The merchandise database 3a is a database for accumulating merchandise information on a large number of merchandise. In addition to the merchandise name, price, merchandise code number, merchandise type code, etc., the target age of the merchandise, Information such as when it is appropriate to give a gift is stored as table data.

The purchase history database 3b stores personal information such as user IDs and passwords of registered users, names, ages, addresses, and e-mail addresses, as well as product purchase history data such as which products each user purchased and when. Are stored in association with each user.

The Web server 2 is connected to a gift card printing company 4 that creates, prints, sends, and the like a gift card, which will be described later. The gift card 11 can be mailed to a certain user B.

The gift card printing company 4 has a Web server 2
In response to a request from, a gift card with a birth message, congratulations, seasonal greetings, etc. is described and printed, and the created gift card is received based on the mailing address received from the Web server 2. Mail to the side.

(Configuration of Web Server 2) Next, the configuration of the Web server 2 will be described. Figure 2 shows Web server 2
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the Web server 2 includes an authentication unit 2a for authenticating a user ID and a password, an execution processing unit 2b for executing each processing by data transmitted and received via the Internet 10, and an electronic processing unit 2b. An e-mail transmission / reception unit 2c for transmitting / receiving e-mail.

The authentication unit 2a is configured such that the user
When accessing the server, the user is required to input authentication information such as a user ID and a password, and if the authentication information is correct, the access is permitted. Specifically, the input user ID
The registered personal data is collated based on the password and the password. If the registered personal data matches, the access is permitted, and if not, the access is rejected. The authentication unit 2a newly issues and registers a user ID and a password during a new user registration process.

The execution processing unit 2b is a CGI (Common Gateway)
Interface) or the like, and by executing each process, necessary data is obtained from the user A or B, and the obtained data is transmitted to the database 2f, the Web page generation unit 2d, or the Web via the management / control unit 2k. This is sent to the page presentation unit 2e. The data processing includes, for example, a request for input of a database search condition to a gift, a request for selection of a product to a recipient, and the like.

The e-mail transmission / reception unit 2c transmits and receives e-mails via the Internet 10.
In particular, in the present embodiment, it plays the role of notifying the recipient of the user ID and password issued by the authentication unit.

The Web server 2 is connected to the Internet 1
Web page generator 2 for presenting each information through 0
d and a Web page presentation unit 2e.

In this embodiment, the Web page generating section 2d generates an HTML format data file formed by combining text data and image data such as JPEG format as product group information presentation data.
In particular, in the present embodiment, when the recipient accesses, a unique identifier unique to the recipient is acquired, and based on the unique identifier, a message from the giver or data on a product group selected by the giver is obtained. (Product information and image data) to dynamically generate a Web page unique to the recipient.

The Web page presentation unit 2e is a communication server such as an HTTP server, and presents HTML format files on the Internet 10. The Web page presentation unit 2e transmits HTML files and the like generated by the Web page generation unit 2d to the Internet 10. To each accessor via

The Web server 2 further includes a database search unit 2f for searching and managing each database.
It has a purchase history management unit 2g and a customer management unit 2.

The database search unit 2f searches the product database 3a and the purchase history database 3b. The database search unit 2f searches each database based on the data acquired by the authentication unit 2a and the execution processing unit 2b, and searches for necessary information. It is extracted and sent to each unit via the management / control unit 2k.

The purchase history management unit 2g is an interface for inputting and outputting data to the purchase history database 3b. Each time a user purchases a product, the purchase date and time, information on the purchased product, Information such as a gift is stored in the purchase history database 3b.

The customer management section 2h manages information on registered users stored in the purchase history database 3b or the like, and inputs personal information of a newly registered user to the database or changes registered information. In this case, the data in the database is updated.

The Web server 2 is provided with a shipping request section 2i.
And a card creation / mail requesting unit 2j.

The shipping request section 2i requests the shopping mall 3 to ship the merchandise finally selected by the user B, and sends information such as the merchandise number relating to the shipment and the address of the recipient to the shopping mall 3. Send to

The card making / mailing requesting unit 2j is an authentication information sending requesting unit for requesting the user B to notify the user of the authentication information by mail. According to the needs of the giver, a birthday message, a Christmas message, a congratulatory message, etc. Data such as greetings and seasonal greetings, gift card design information,
And the gift card destination address and the like are transmitted to the gift card printing company 4.

In the Web server 2, the operations of the units 2a to 2j are managed and controlled by a management and control unit 2k.

The management / control section 2k is a section in which a program for controlling the operation of the entire system is executed. The status is monitored, and if a trouble such as a delay in shipping the product or an unknown shipping address occurs, a process of instructing the electronic mail transmitting and receiving unit 2c to transmit an electronic mail notifying the occurrence is performed.

(Mail order method by mail order system)
Next, a mail order method using the mail order system having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of the mail order method according to the embodiment.

First, the user A, who is a gift, logs in to the Web server 2 through the Internet 10 (S10).
1). In response to this access, the Web server 2 displays the top page on the Web page presentation section 2e, and displays the input form F1 on the top page.

The user A enters the name, address, age, gender, preference, date of birth, e-mail (E-mail) address, present category, budget, and recipient of the recipient B in the input form F1. If is a minor, necessary items such as names of parents are input (S102).

The input request and the analysis of the input data are performed by the execution processing unit 2b. Execution processing unit 2b
Sends the analyzed data to the database search unit 2f, the purchase history management unit 2g, and the like. Database search unit 2
In f, an appropriate product candidate is extracted based on the input search condition (S103). The purchase history management unit 2g inputs the input data to the purchase history database 3b.

Then, the execution processing unit 2b searches for the search results (here, toys A to E) by the database search unit 2f.
Is presented to the user A (S104), and an input form F2 is displayed to request selection.

The user A browses the presented search results (S105), enters a message (birth message, etc.) in the input form F2, card information (type and design), and selects selected goods (here, toys A, B, E). ) (S
106). In response to the input, the Web server 2 causes the e-mail transmission / reception unit 2c to distribute the e-mail M1 (S107), and requests creation and printing of the gift card 11 by the card creation / mailing request 2j (S108). The gift card printing company 4 receiving the print request prints the card (S109) and mails the created gift card (S110).

The e-mail M1 includes the birthday message input by the user A to the input home F2 and the user B
Website address unique to “http // www.xxx.co.jp /
xxx.exe.b-chan / ”is described.

An identifier xxx.exe.b-chan unique to the user B is added to the unique homepage address. When this address is accessed, the execution processing unit 2
b, the identifier is analyzed, and according to the analysis result,
The Web page generation unit 2d generates and presents a Web page unique to the user B. Note that this unique identifier "xxx.ex
"e" is the execution program name, and "b-chan" is the user B
User A for his nickname "Bee-chan"
Is the selected identifier.

Note that the user ID and password as authentication information are not described in the electronic mail M1 for the sake of maintaining security.
It also states that the user ID and password are posted on a gift card that will be mailed at a later date.

On the other hand, the gift card 11 has the input home F
This is created based on the card information (type and design) entered in 2, and includes authentication information such as a user ID and a password along with a message from the user A to the user B.

Then, the merchandise group information (toys A, B, E) on the plurality of merchandise selected by the user A is provided to the user B as the recipient via the Internet 10. That is, the user B receiving the e-mail M1 and the gift card (postal envelope) 11 accesses the homepage address described in the e-mail (S111), and in response to a request from the authentication unit 2a, enters the gift card in the input form F3. Is entered (S112).

Upon receiving the input of the user ID and the password, the authentication unit 2a performs authentication. If the authentication is correctly performed, the Web page generation unit 2d generates a Web page unique to the user B, and It is presented to the presentation unit 2e (S1
13). On the presented web page, user B
Selects a desired product (here, toy E) (S116).

In response to the selection processing, the execution processing unit 2d
Records the selection result in the purchase history database 3b through the purchase history management unit 2g (S114), and requests the shopping mall 3 to deliver the selected product through the shipping request unit 2i. In shopping mall 3,
The ordered product 12 is ordered and delivered to the shipping company 5 (S115). In the present embodiment, the shopping mall 3 performs processing such as credit settlement when sending goods. This credit settlement processing is performed based on the card information and the like input when the user A has registered.

In addition to these processes, the Web server 2 notifies the user A that the user B has selected the toy E by the electronic mail M2 by the electronic mail transmitting and receiving unit 2c.

In this embodiment, when the user B accesses the homepage address again (S118), the input form F4 is displayed, and the user B requests an input of a message to the user A (S11).
9), distribute the message input to this input form F4 to user A as e-mail M3 (S120).
Perform service.

(Operation and Effect of Mail Order System and Mail Order Method) According to the mail order system and mail order method according to the present embodiment described above, the merchandise group information on a plurality of merchandise items selected by the user A is User B by presenting a web page through the Internet 10
To request the user B to select a product, the user B can give a product according to the needs of the user B while reflecting the hobby and the like of the user A.

In particular, in the present embodiment, since the user A can search the product database 3a through the Internet 10 and extract a product group, the user A can input the user B's age, gender, taste, and the like as a keyword. It is possible to easily search and extract products that meet the needs.

In the present embodiment, a home page address including an identifier unique to the user B is transmitted by e-mail, and the Web server 2 transmits the user B based on the unique identifier.
Since the dedicated Web page (product group information presentation data) is dynamically generated and presented, individual information for the user B is presented, and the hobbies and preferences of the user A are easily transmitted to the user B. And communication between users can be maintained. Since the individual homepage address is transmitted to the user B by e-mail, the user B can easily access the product group information by using the link function of the e-mail software.

Further, in this embodiment, when accessing the product group information, the user is required to input a user ID and a password, which are authentication information, and access is permitted only to a person who has been authenticated. A third party can be prevented from accessing the system, and security can be ensured. Further, since the user ID and the password are mailed to the user B by mail as the gift card 11, the security can be improved.

[0068]

As described above, according to the mail-order sales method and mail-order sales system of the present invention, when a gift is given from a gift giver to a receiver using a communication network such as the Internet, the gifter's feelings are given. After some degree of reflection, hobbies, senses, and the like are reflected, it is possible to secure room for the recipient to select products, and as a result, it is possible to maintain communication between users while rationalizing mail-order sales.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a mail order system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a Web in the mail order system according to the embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a server.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a mail order method by the mail order system according to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b terminal, 2 Web server, 3a product database, 3b purchase history database 3b, 4 gift card printing company, 5 shipping company, 11 gift card, 12 product, user A, giver , User B ... recipient

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A mail-order sales method in which a gift is sent from a gift to a recipient using a network in which terminals are connected to each other by a communication line, wherein a plurality of goods selected by the gift are provided. Providing product group information to the recipient through the network, requesting the recipient to select a product from the product group information, and delivering the product selected by the recipient to the recipient. And mail order method. 2. The mail order method according to claim 1, wherein merchandise information on a plurality of merchandise is stored in a merchandise database, and the merchandise group information is based on a search condition input by the gifter through the network. And a merchandise database comprising merchandise information extracted by searching the merchandise database. 3. The mail-order sales method according to claim 1, wherein when the gift is selected by the gifter, authentication information for accessing the gift item information to the gifter is provided. A mail-order method comprising notifying the recipient by mail. 4. A mail-order sales system in which a gift is sent from a gift giver to a receiver using a network in which terminals are connected to each other by a communication line. A product database for accumulating product information; and extracting product information about a plurality of products from the product database based on a search condition input by the gifter;
An interface unit for a giver that generates product group information; an interface unit for a recipient that presents the product group information to the recipient and requests selection of a product from the product group information; A mail order system comprising: an ordering unit for requesting shipping of a selected product. 5. The mail-order sales system according to claim 4, wherein when the receiver accesses the receiver, the receiver requests the receiver to input a unique identifier, and the merchandise group information presentation data based on the unique identifier. A mail-order system comprising a presentation data generation unit for generating the data. 6. The mail order system according to claim 5, further comprising: a unique identifier notifying unit that notifies the receiver of the unique identifier by e-mail when the product group information is generated. Characteristic mail-order system. 7. The mail order system according to claim 4, wherein the receiver requests input of authentication information such as a user ID and a password when the receiver accesses the interface for the receiver. A mail order system comprising an authentication unit for permitting access when the password is correct. 8. The mail order system according to claim 7, further comprising an authentication information sending request unit for requesting that the recipient be notified of the authentication information by mail.