JP2002083185A - Method of simulating setting of article in internet sale - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide convenience for a customer by allowing the customer to preliminarily evaluate.confirm matching between an article and a circumstance in setting on a home page, in Internet sale. SOLUTION: In this method, an article supplier installs the home page for selling the article on the Internet, the customer exhibits plural purchasable articles on the home page, images in plural simulated spaces estimated as setting places for the respective articles are prepared, and the home page is provided with a program having steps #104, #105 for allowing the customer to select the one image out of the plural simulated-space images, and steps #106-#108 for adjusting a scale of the image of the article desired to be purchased with respect to the simulated-space image selected by the customer to be displayed superposedly in an optional position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, a product supplier establishes a homepage for selling products on a WWW server connected to the Internet, and a consumer accesses the homepage to execute a process for purchasing the product. Related to Internet sales system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of the Internet in recent years, Internet sales (also referred to as e-commerce) for selling products using the Internet have become widespread. It can be said that the basic form of Internet sales is an extension of conventional mail-order sales or catalog sales. For example, in catalog sales, a product supplier sends a catalog magazine with photos and specifications of the product to a purchaser (a demander), and the demander selects a product from a group of products displayed in the catalog magazine. A desired product is selected, and an order is placed with a sales company using a means such as telephone or fax.

[0003] In Internet sales, a product supplier opens a so-called homepage on a WWW server connected to the Internet, and displays (exhibits) the product as a so-called catalog magazine. The consumer is required to connect with an Internet connection terminal such as a personal computer and W
Access the homepage of the product supplier using a WW browser (software for browsing homepages), and determine the product to be purchased with reference to the appearance photograph, specifications, etc. of the product displayed on the homepage. Thereafter, a predetermined input process for ordering is performed on the homepage. Payment is made by credit card, bank transfer, COD delivery, or the like.

[0004] One of the merits of Internet sales is the appearance photos and specifications of all product lines,
Information such as price can be presented on a homepage. The consumer can easily select and purchase a desired product from the rich product group.

[0005] However, in Internet sales,
As with mail-order sales and catalog sales, consumers cannot pick up a product before purchasing it. For this reason, after the purchase, the customer is likely to be dissatisfied that the impression of the appearance photograph of the product viewed on the homepage is different from the actual product.

[0006] It is also possible that the merchandise is actually viewed at a store and then purchased. When the purchased merchandise is installed at an actual installation location in the home, the shape, size, color, etc. May feel that harmony (matching) with the surroundings cannot be achieved. Some products may not be able to be installed at the intended installation location due to unexpected size or due to steam, smell, high temperature, noise, etc. emitted by the product.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems in the related art, and has been made so that a user can evaluate and confirm the matching between a product at the time of installation and the surroundings on a homepage in Internet sales. It is intended for the convenience of consumers.

[0008]

According to a first configuration of a method for simulating the installation of goods in Internet sales according to the present invention, a goods supplier opens a homepage for selling goods on the Internet, and a consumer accesses the homepage. In an Internet sales system that performs processing for purchasing products, a product supplier displays a plurality of products that can be purchased by consumers on a homepage and a plurality of simulated spaces that are assumed as installation locations of each product. Is prepared, and a step for the customer to select one image from the plurality of images of the simulated space, and an image of the simulated space selected by the customer and an image of the product desired to be purchased, By providing a program having a step of adjusting the scale and superimposing and displaying the product, the product at the time of installation and the surroundings are provided. Wherein the matching consumer's were to advance evaluate.

A second configuration of the product installation simulation method for Internet sales according to the present invention is such that a product supplier displays a plurality of products that can be purchased by a consumer on the homepage, and displays a product prepared by the consumer. A program having a step of uploading an image of an installation location on a homepage, and a step of displaying the uploaded image of the installation location and an image of a product to be purchased in a superimposed manner after adjusting the scale of both images. , The user can evaluate the matching between the product at the time of installation and the surroundings in advance.

[0010] According to the above-described first or second configuration, the consumer can evaluate or confirm the matching between the product at the time of installation and the surroundings in advance on the homepage. Therefore, when installing the purchased product at the actual installation location in the home, it feels that the surroundings can not be harmonized in terms of dimensions, color, etc., or the unexpected size of the product or the steam generated by the product, Problems such as being unable to be installed at the planned installation location due to smell, high temperature, noise, etc. are reduced. In each of the above configurations, an image of the simulation space or the installation location may be a photograph taken by a digital camera in addition to the drawing. Drawings are convenient for checking the matching of the dimensional relationship, and photographs are convenient for checking the matching of the color and shape between the product and the surroundings.

[0011] Preferably, a plurality of images of the product viewed from a plurality of directions are prepared as the image of the product, and the consumer selects one of the plurality of images of the product desired to be purchased and sets a simulation space or installation. Display it over the image of the place. According to this configuration, an arbitrary external appearance can be evaluated and confirmed from external appearances viewed from a plurality of directions, such as a front surface, a side surface, or an upper surface, depending on the installation location.

[0012] Further, the user inputs the actual size of the image of the simulation space or the installation location, and the scale of the image of the simulation space or the installation location and the image of the product desired to be purchased are automatically adjusted according to the input actual size. Is preferred. According to this configuration, the user can arbitrarily set the scale according to the size of the installation location, so that the matching between the product and the surroundings at the time of product installation can be more accurately evaluated and confirmed.

In addition, the steam, odor, high temperature,
It is preferable to display information such as noise and information on a place that is not suitable as an installation place for each product on a homepage in order to avoid the adverse effect. According to this configuration, the consumer can previously exclude a place that is not suitable as a place to install a product from candidates for the place of installation in accordance with the above information provided on the homepage.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a basic system configuration for realizing a product installation simulation method in Internet sales according to an embodiment of the present invention. A product supplier (including a manufacturing company and a sales company) sets up a home page for selling products on a WWW (World Wide Web) server 1 connected to the Internet 2.

The WWW server 1 is not limited to one owned by a product supplier, but may be owned by, for example, an Internet service provider (ISP). In recent years, many ISPs provide a service for opening a homepage on a WWW server to a subscriber. Furthermore, CG
It provides a service to run programs on homepages using I (Common Gateway Interface). As a result, the consumer can use the WWW browser to perform operations from, for example, a personal computer on the WWW.
It can be linked with the W server. Such a C
The contents of the homepage of the goods supplier including the GI script are stored in the storage device 1a.

The consumer can access the home page of the product supplier from a terminal (hereinafter abbreviated as PC) 3 such as a personal computer connectable to the Internet 2 using a WWW browser. On the homepage of the product supplier, information such as the appearance photograph, specification, and price of the product that can be sold via the Internet is presented. The consumer can use the WWW browser to purchase home appliances,
Select a model number, color, etc., and enter an order. Usually, the payment can be selected from a credit card, a bank transfer, a cash on delivery and the like.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of a process of a method for simulating product installation in Internet sales according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The consumer accesses the home page of the seller using the PC 3 and the WWW browser (step # 10).
1) Browse or search for a product (step # 10)
2). After selecting the product you want to purchase, select the product installation simulation on the homepage (Step # 1)
03), a plurality of simulation spaces prepared in advance are displayed (step # 104). The consumer selects one near the actual installation location (candidate) (step # 105).

In the selected and enlarged simulation space,
Standard actual dimensions are entered as default dimensions.
Correction input of the actual size is performed as needed (Step # 10)
6). Then, the program embedded in the homepage automatically adjusts the scale of the size of the display image of the selected product and the size of the display image of the selected simulation space (step # 107).

Thereafter, the consumer drags the product image to an arbitrary position in the simulation space using a mouse or the like and superimposes it (step # 108). This superposition is usually performed in a two-dimensional space. For example, a product image in a plan view is superimposed on a simulation space in a plan view. In this case, the product image
It can be rotated in a plane. Alternatively, the product image viewed from the front or the side is superimposed on the simulation space viewed from the front.

In the next step # 109, the matching between the superimposed product image and the periphery (simulated space) is evaluated. If it is desired to evaluate another simulation space, the process returns to step # 104 and the same operation is repeated.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a product installation simulation method when a dish dryer is installed on a kitchen sink.

When the product desired to be purchased is determined in step # 102, the image 10a viewed from the plane (top surface), the image 10b viewed from the front, and the image 10c viewed from the side of the product (dishware dryer) are obtained. It is displayed as shown in FIG. Then, the image 11 of the simulation space (kitchen sink) selected in step # 105 is displayed as shown in FIG. 3B. This simulation space is a plan view, and shows the default actual size (2,800 × 650). This dimension can be corrected and input according to the actual installation location. In addition, sink 1 which constitutes sink
It is also possible to move or change the size of the stove 2 or the stove 13. These operations are performed using the keyboard and mouse of the PC 3.

When the size and shape of the sink in the simulated space are close to the actual installation location, the image 10a of the dish dryer in plan view of FIG.
(B) Place in the empty space of the sink (overlap). At this time, the image 10a of the dish dryer can be rotated in a plane. In other words, the tableware dryer can be placed facing the sink, facing forward or sideways.

Thus, step # 108 in FIG.
And the matching evaluation in step # 109 is performed. That is, a product installation simulation in a plan view when the tableware dryer is installed on a kitchen sink is performed. FIG. 3B shows the simulation space selected in step # 105.
If an image viewed from the front is selected instead of the image viewed in a plan view, the matching evaluation can be performed in a front view (an elevation view). In this case, the image 10b viewed from the front or the image 10c viewed from the side of the three-sided image of the dish dryer in FIG. 3A is dragged with the mouse to overlap the simulation space.

In the above-described first embodiment, the consumer selects a simulated space close to the actual installation location from a plurality of simulated spaces prepared in advance on the homepage of the product supplier, and uses it for evaluation of matching with the product. In the embodiment described below, the image of the installation place prepared by the customer can be uploaded on the homepage and the matching evaluation can be performed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the outline of the processing of the method for simulating the installation of goods in Internet sales according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The consumer accesses the seller's homepage using the PC 3 and the WWW browser (step # 20).
1) Browse or search for a product (step # 20)
2). After the product to be purchased is determined, a product installation simulation is selected on the homepage (step # 20).
3) Upload an image of the installation location (step #)
204). The image to be uploaded is created in advance on the consumer's PC 3 and prepared, for example, as a GIF file.

A scale is displayed on the uploaded image, the actual size is input to the scale, and the image is enlarged / reduced by dragging the corner of the image with a mouse, and the scale of the image size and the actual size is reduced. Match (step # 205). By this operation, the scale of the size of the display image of the selected product and the size of the display image of the uploaded installation location are automatically adjusted (Step #).
206).

Thereafter, the consumer drags the product image to an arbitrary position of the installation location image using a mouse or the like and superimposes it (step # 207). This superposition is usually performed in a two-dimensional space. For example, when the uploaded image of the installation location is a two-dimensional image, the two-dimensional product image is dragged and overlapped as described in the first embodiment. In this case, the image of the product can be rotated in a plane. Alternatively, when the image of the installation location is an image viewed from the front, the product image viewed from the front or the side is superimposed.

In the next step # 208, the matching between the superimposed product image and the image of the installation location is evaluated. If it is desired to evaluate other installation locations, the process returns to step # 204 and the same operation is repeated.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an installation location image uploaded by a consumer to a product supplier's homepage in this embodiment. The scale 21 is displayed immediately above the uploaded image 20 of the installation location, and in step # 205 described above, the actual size can be input to the right end 22 of the scale. Also, by dragging the lower right corner of the image of the installation location with a mouse as indicated by an arrow 23, the image 20 is scaled up and down by scaling.
Can be adjusted to Instead of enlarging / reducing the image 20, the scale 21 may be expanded and contracted so as to match the two.

In the above two embodiments, the matching between the product mainly related to dimensions and the installation location is evaluated using a simple drawing (or picture) of the simulation space or the installation location. However, the invention is not limited to such an embodiment.

For example, by uploading a color photograph image of the installation location to a homepage and superimposing a color photograph image of a product, it is possible to evaluate the design matching including the color tone. Color photos of the installation location are taken in advance with a digital camera,
Alternatively, a color image of a silver halide photograph can be prepared on the PC 3 as, for example, a JPG file by a method of reading the color image with an image scanner. In the above embodiment, matching evaluation on a two-dimensional image is performed.
The matching evaluation may be performed on a three-dimensional image viewed obliquely. In this case, it is necessary to match the viewing direction (the angle in the three-dimensional space).

In addition, steam, smell, high temperature,
Matching can be evaluated including the influence of noise and the like on the surroundings. For example, an electric rice cooker typically emits steam from the top during rice cooking. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid an arrangement in which something that may be deteriorated by steam is located just above the electric rice cooker. The same applies to the electric pot. Or toaster, dishwashing
Locations such as dryers where high temperature sensitive equipment is located in the immediate vicinity of hot equipment should be avoided.

Therefore, in the product installation simulation, information such as steam, odor, high temperature, noise, etc. emitted from the product and information on a place that is not suitable as the installation place in order to avoid the adverse effects are displayed. Is also good. For example, step # 103 in FIG. 2 or step # 20 in FIG.
Subsequent to 3, such display is performed.

For example, the appearance of steam being emitted from the electric rice cooker may be displayed by animation. Alternatively, a portion of the product that emits high temperature and a space to be secured around the portion may be illustrated. By displaying such information, the consumer can previously exclude a place that is not suitable as a place for installing the product from candidates for the place of installation.

The present invention can be embodied in various forms other than the above-described embodiments and modifications.

[0040]

As described above, according to the method of simulating the installation of goods in Internet sales according to the present invention, the consumer can evaluate or confirm the matching between the goods at the time of installation and the surroundings in advance on the homepage. Can be. Therefore, when installing the purchased product at the actual installation location in the home, it feels that the surroundings can not be harmonized in terms of dimensions, color, etc., or the unexpected size of the product or the steam generated by the product, Problems such as being unable to be installed at the planned installation location due to smell, high temperature, noise, etc. are reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic system configuration for realizing a product installation simulation method in Internet sales according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing of a product installation simulation method in Internet sales according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a product installation simulation method when a dish dryer is installed on a kitchen sink in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing of a product installation simulation method in Internet sales according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an installation location image uploaded by a consumer to a product supplier's homepage in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 WWW server 2 Internet 3 Terminal used by customer 10a Image of goods viewed from the top 10b Image of goods viewed from the front 10c Image of goods viewed from the side 11 Image of simulated space 20 Image of installation location

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An Internet sales system in which a commodity supplier opens a homepage for selling goods on the Internet, and a consumer accesses the homepage and performs processing for purchasing goods. A plurality of products that can be purchased by the consumer are displayed on the homepage, and images of a plurality of simulated spaces that are assumed as installation locations of the products are prepared. A program comprising: a step of selecting one image from the images; and a step of displaying an image of the simulated space selected by the consumer and an image of a product desired to be purchased in a superimposed manner after adjusting the scale of both images. Is provided on the homepage, so that the user can evaluate the matching between the product and the surroundings at the time of installation in advance. Product installation simulation method in Internet sales. 2. An Internet sales system in which a goods supplier opens a homepage for selling goods on the Internet, and a consumer accesses the homepage and performs processing for purchasing goods, wherein the goods supplier comprises: Displaying the plurality of products that can be purchased by the consumer on the homepage, and uploading an image of the installation location of the product prepared by the consumer on the homepage; and an image of the uploaded installation location. By providing the homepage with a program having a step of displaying the image of the product desired to be purchased and the image after adjusting the scale of both images, the customer can evaluate the matching between the product at the time of installation and the surroundings in advance. Product installation simulation method for Internet sales characterized by being able to do . 3. A plurality of images of a product viewed from a plurality of directions are prepared as images of the product, and the consumer selects one of the plurality of images of the product desired to be purchased and selects the simulation space or 3. The method of simulating product installation in Internet sales according to claim 1, wherein the product installation image is displayed so as to be superimposed on an image of the installation location. 4. An image of the simulated space or an image of the installation location and an image of the product to be purchased according to the input actual size. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the scale of the product installation is automatically adjusted. 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein information such as steam, odor, high temperature, noise, etc. emitted from the product and information on a place which is not suitable as an installation place are displayed for each product on said homepage in order to avoid the adverse effects. 3. The method for simulating product installation in Internet sales according to claim 1 or 2.