JP2002216252A - Sales management method and sales management system, and management device and transaction processor used for this system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make easily and precisely performable the business from order receipt to sales. SOLUTION: A server 5 in a sales management center 3 receives the input of commodity information from a maker 11 on the Internet and registers it in a commodity database 45. When the access from a user's cellular phone 8 is received, an introduction page for the commodity information is provided. When a prescribed commodity is selected in this page, and the operation of reading the commodity code of the commodity is performed, the sever 5 provides image data showing the commodity code by a two-dimensional barcode. A transaction processor 4 in a store 2 reads the barcode displayed on the cellar phone 8, forms order information for ordering the commodity shown by the code, and transmits it to the server 5 through an exclusive line. The transaction processor 4 further performs the price settlement processing of the commodity to a user and issues an exchange ticket.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer system for accepting an order for a product and settling a purchase price, and more particularly to providing a customer with product information using a network such as the Internet. , A method of managing product orders and sales, and a computer system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In online shopping using a computer network such as the Internet, generally, after receiving an order for a product on a Web page, the product is delivered to the user's home by home delivery or the like. The settlement of the price is performed by a method such as transmitting the card number of a credit card at the time of ordering, cash on delivery or cash transfer.

[0003]

The current online shopping has a problem that it is difficult for a user who tends to be away from home to use the system, and also involves a risk for the seller that the money cannot be collected reliably. In addition, this type of service, in addition to the credit card number,
Since it is necessary to transmit personal information such as a name, an address, and an e-mail address, there is a problem that it is difficult for a user who has difficulty in transmitting personal information on a network to accept it.

As a method of solving such a problem, 2
A method of using a four-hour convenience store is conceivable. In this method, an order for a product published on a Web page on the Internet at a convenience store is accepted, and an order is placed on a manufacturer. After browsing the Internet and selecting a desired product, the user goes to a convenience store to order the desired product. When the product reaches the store after a certain period,
I will go and receive the goods at a convenient time. Settlement of the price is performed at the time of order or delivery of the product.

[0005] According to this method, a user can order or purchase a product at his / her convenience, and can easily shop without sending personal information over a network. . Also, for the seller, since the payment is made before or at the same time as the delivery of the product, the payment can be surely collected and the loss can be eliminated.

[0006] However, in order to spread the above method, it is necessary to adopt a method in a convenience store that can quickly respond to a user's order and does not confuse the order. In particular, when there are a wide variety of products, it is necessary to promptly determine whether or not the product desired by the user is a product that can be handled at the store, and to perform an accurate ordering operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem. In a store such as a convenience store, when a customer accepts a purchase application for a product searched for on a network and sells the product, the order from the order is reduced. The purpose is to be able to execute business up to sales easily and reliably.

[0008]

A computer system (hereinafter, referred to as a "product management system") in which a sales management method according to the present invention is implemented is installed in a transaction processing apparatus installed in a store and a sales management center. And a management device connected via a computer network. The “store” refers to a place where real merchandise can be stored and sold, such as a convenience store. The “sales management center” is a place for centrally managing the ordering of products, and is installed in, for example, a sales department of a manufacturer, a headquarters of a convenience store, and the like. It can also be provided in a sales management company that mediates ordering between the manufacturer and the convenience store.

The transaction processing device is a device mainly controlled by a computer, and is provided, for example, as a device that is also used as a POS terminal device in a convenience store.
The management device is configured by one computer or a computer system including a plurality of computers, and is configured to be connectable to a general-purpose computer network such as the Internet (hereinafter, referred to as “general-purpose network”). The general-purpose network described above can be used as a computer network for connecting the transaction processing device and the management device, but it is desirable to set a dedicated network from the viewpoint of security.

In the sales management system according to the present invention, the management device accepts a selection of a product from a communication terminal device used by a customer via a general-purpose network;
Transmitting the code information unique to the selected product to the communication terminal device, and, in the transaction processing device, the communication terminal device inputting the code information received from the management device; and Performing a transaction process for selling the selected product to a customer based on the code information.

It is preferable that the management device includes a product database in which a plurality of types of products are respectively associated with individual code information. In this case, the process of receiving a selection of a product from the communication terminal device used by the customer in the management device includes:
The present invention can be implemented by publishing introduction information of a product stored in a product database on the general-purpose network and allowing a customer to select a desired product. Alternatively, the input of a keyword such as a product name or a maker name may be received from the customer side to search the product database, and the introduction information of the hit product may be presented to receive the selection by the customer side.

On the other hand, in the process of transmitting the code information unique to the selected product, the relevant code information is read from the product database, and the code information is directly transmitted or subjected to a process such as encoding. Send from. In a preferred embodiment, the code information is converted into image information and transmitted. The image information is information obtained by converting the code information into a predetermined image pattern, such as a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode.

When the image information indicating the code information is transmitted as described above, in the transaction processing device, the communication terminal device inputs the code information by optically reading the image information received and displayed or printed from the management device. can do.

In recent years, portable communication devices such as PHS and portable telephones can be connected to the Internet. The user can browse various information on the Internet via a display unit provided in these portable communication devices. In addition, these devices have a built-in function to store the displayed image as it is,
Even without reconnecting to the Internet, the stored image can be redisplayed in response to a user's calling operation. Therefore, according to the present invention, when a portable communication device having the above-described image display function is used as the communication terminal device, a code is transmitted to the transaction processing device while displaying the received image information on the portable communication device. Read the information.

On the other hand, when the communication terminal device is a non-portable device such as a desktop computer, the image information received by this device is printed on a paper medium and then read by the transaction processing device. .

In the case where the communication terminal device is a portable communication device having a wireless transmission means such as Bluetooth,
By providing the transaction processing device with a receiving device that receives wireless information transmission from the mobile communication device, transmission of the received code information from the mobile communication device can be received.

According to the system as described above, the customer
A desired product is selected using a general-purpose network, and after receiving the code information of the product, the code information is input to the transaction processing device in the store. The transaction processing device can accurately grasp the product selected by the customer by inputting the code information, so that the subsequent transaction processing can be performed without fail.

According to a preferred aspect, as the transaction processing performed by the transaction processing device, a step of transmitting information including at least the input code information to the management device is executed. According to this step, it is possible to notify the sales management center that an order has been received from the customer, so that the sales management center can promptly arrange the product.

Further, as transaction processing, in addition to the step of transmitting information including the code information, a step of issuing a form indicating that an order for a product corresponding to the product code has been issued, and a step of issuing or simultaneously issuing the form. And a step of processing payment from the customer after a predetermined period has elapsed from the processing, the form can be delivered to the customer as a voucher for the product, so that the product delivery process can be performed smoothly. Note that the payment is processed at the same time as the form issuance processing when the payment is prepaid, and the payment is processed after the elapse of a predetermined period when the payment is collected at the same time as the delivery of the product.

Further, when the sales management center is an organization that receives the provision of goods from the outside,
It is desirable to receive information on a product from a product provider via a general-purpose network and register the information in the product database in association with a unique product code. Further, in this case, when the management device receives the transmission of the code information from the transaction processing device, it is desirable to execute a step of ordering the product to the provider of the product having the code information.

According to such a configuration, merchandise information can be collected from a manufacturer desiring to sell the merchandise via a general-purpose network and provided to a customer. In addition, since it is possible to quickly grasp an order for a product from each store and place an order for the product with a corresponding maker, various products can be sold without having stock.

When a plurality of types of products are handled as described above, it is desirable to set a database storing products that can be handled at the store in the transaction processing apparatus. In this case, the transaction processing device first searches its own database in response to the input of the code information, confirms that the product is a treatable product, transmits the code information to the management device, and performs the order receiving process. Will be. The registration of the information in the database is performed, for example, by receiving predetermined product information in the product database from the management device.

Further, when a part of the merchandise is held in stock at the store, information indicating the presence or absence of stock can be written in a database for confirming the handled merchandise. In this case, the transaction processing device performs a search in accordance with the input of the code information, and when the product selected by the customer is in the store, can notify the clerk or the customer of the fact.

[0024]

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a sales management system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a relationship between a communication terminal device accessing the system and a system.
FIG. 2 shows an outline of the transaction processing performed by the sales management system. The sales management system 1 of this embodiment is a computer network system set between a store 2 such as a convenience store and a sales management center 3 for centrally managing ordering and ordering of goods and settlement of payment. A plurality of transaction processing devices 4 installed in the store 2 and a server 5 installed in the sales management center 3 are connected by a dedicated line 6.

The server 5 functions as a management device for centrally managing the order processing, and is connected to the Internet 7 in addition to the dedicated line 6 in the sales management system 1. The server 5 establishes a homepage on the Internet 7, accepts access from the maker 11 and the communication terminal devices 8 and 9 used by the user, and performs a process of registering product information described later and a process of providing the registered product information. Do.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that a mobile phone is used as the communication terminal device 8 on the user side. These mobile phones 8 are connected to the Internet 7 via a relay device 10 of a telephone company. However, the communication terminal device is not limited to a mobile phone, and may be connected to the sales management center 3 using other portable communication devices or personal computers.
It is also possible to access the homepage.

On the other hand, the communication terminal device 9 on the manufacturer 11 side
Is, for example, a computer (either a server or a terminal device) incorporated in an in-house computer network system. Communication terminal device 9 in this case
Is connected to the Internet 7 via a router in the system. However, a single computer not incorporated in the computer network system can be used as the communication terminal device 9 by dial-up connection to the line of the provider.

The sales management system 1 provides an unspecified number of users with various kinds of merchandise information via the Internet 7 and accepts an order for the predetermined merchandise provided with the information at the store 2. The purpose is to obtain the product from the manufacturer 11 and sell it.

A product database 45 and an order database 46 are set in the server 5 in the sales management center 3. The Web page developed by the server 5 on the Internet 7 includes a page for registering product information and a page for introducing the registered product. The Web page for registering product information is for acquiring product information from the maker 11 who wants to introduce products on the Internet. The product information input on this Web page is stored in the product database 45. You.

The product information includes a product name, a price, a maker name, and text information for introducing the product (hereinafter referred to as “introduction information”).
That. ) And product-specific code information such as a model number (hereinafter, referred to as a “product code”). Image data representing the appearance of the product is added as needed, and the maker 11 is opened. You can set the link information to the home page to be done. The product code is not limited to the information transmitted from the manufacturer, and a code set on the sales management center 3 side, such as a number indicating the order in which registration information is received, may be added to the transmitted information and registered. .

On the other hand, the Web page for product introduction is hierarchized with a menu screen in which the product information in the product database 45 is classified into a plurality of types of product groups. Each time the user performs a selection operation on these Web pages, the product information is narrowed down, and finally a page that introduces product information about a specific product is presented. Further, the introduction page of the specific product is set so that the product code can be converted into a two-dimensional barcode and called. When the user performs this calling operation, the display is switched to a page on which the two-dimensional barcode indicating the product code is displayed (hereinafter, the product code indicated by the two-dimensional barcode is referred to as “image code”). .

A bar code reader 12 is connected to the transaction processing device 4 in the store 2. The bar code reader 12 is for reading an image code displayed on the display screen of the mobile phone 8, and the read image code is decoded into the original product code in the bar code reader 12. Is input to the transaction processing device 4.
The transaction processing device 4 includes a handling product database 23 described later.
After confirming that the product indicated by the product code can be handled at the store 2, the order information including the product code is transmitted to the server 5 of the sales management center 3. The order information includes data such as the store code of the own store, the order date, the product name, the maker name, and the number of orders in addition to the product code.

Further, when the order information is received by the server 5 and the completion of the payment for the product is input, the transaction processing device 4 issues a voucher for the product. The voucher has the name of its own store based on the order information,
The telephone number, the order date, the product name of the ordered product, the manufacturer name, the number of orders, and the like are printed.

Here, the flow of the transaction processing performed by the above configuration will be described. In the following description, steps 1 to 12 correspond to reference numbers (1) to (12) shown in FIG. The manufacturer who wants to release the product information accesses the product information registration Web page of the sales management center 3 and inputs the product information. The input product information is registered in the product database 45 of the server 5 and used as data to be posted on the product introduction Web page (step 1). This product information,
It is transmitted to the store 2 as appropriate, and the handled product database 23
(Step 2).

The user accesses the Web page for product introduction while the mobile phone 8 is connected to the Internet 7 (step 3). When a product to be purchased is found on the Web page, the user performs an operation of calling the image code, and saves the display page of the called image code in the memory of the mobile phone 8 (step 4).

Next, the user goes to the nearest store 2 and calls the stored Web page on the display screen of the mobile phone 8 to display it to the store clerk. The clerk uses the barcode reader 12 to read the image code on the Web page (step 5). Transaction processing device 4
Inputs the product code decrypted from the image code and checks the handled product database 23. If the product information including the input product code is in the handled product database 23, the transaction processing device 4 determines that the product is a product that can be traded in the own store 2, and sends the order information including the product code to the server 5. (Step 6).

Upon receiving the order information, the server 5 returns predetermined response information to the transaction processing device 4. Upon receiving the response information, the clerk receives the price of the product from the user and inputs the received amount to the transaction processing device 4, and the transaction processing device 4 issues the voucher (step 7,
8). By passing the voucher to the user, the order receiving / ordering process for the product and the settlement process of the price to the user are completed.

The server 5 of the sales management center 3 stores the order information from the transaction processing device 4 in the order database 46, finds out the maker 11 that manufactures the product from the information, and gives the maker 11 the order information. Is transmitted (step 9).

The manufacturer 11 receives the order information,
Deliver the applicable product directly to store 2 (step 1
0). After receiving the delivery of the product, the store 2 hands the product to the visiting user in exchange for the voucher.
At this point, the transaction between the store 2 and the user is completed.

The server 5 of the sales management center 3 tallies up the amount billed to each store 2 and the amount paid to each manufacturer 11 based on the accumulated information in the order database 46. This counting process is performed at predetermined intervals, such as weekly or monthly. The sales management center 3 issues an invoice to the store 2 based on the counting result, collects the invoice, and The 11 side is paid the amount corresponding to the total (steps 11 and 12). Note that, in this price settlement processing, the amount charged to the store 2 includes the center usage fee for both the store 2 and the maker 11, and the sales management center 3 uses the price collected from the store 2 to The amount after deducting the usage fee is paid to the manufacturer 11 side.

According to the above transaction processing, the user obtains information on various products via the Internet 7 and
A desired product can be selected. In addition, since ordering and picking up products are performed in the actual store 2, there is no need to send personal information such as credit card number, address, name, etc., and it is possible to receive products at your own convenience It is easy to use the service. In the store 2, the user places an order for a product by using the image code captured on the Internet 7, so that there is no risk of receiving an incorrect order, and since the order information is processed online, accurate and prompt reception is possible. Orders can be made and sales can be increased.

For the manufacturer 11, the product introduction on the Web page can be realized only by performing the registration process via the Internet 7, so that the product can be produced much more easily than the case of creating a page for online shopping by himself. Sales channels can be secured. In addition, although it is necessary to pay the usage fee to the sales management center 3, the price can be reliably collected, and the price can be collected efficiently by outsourcing the payment settlement processing to the sales management center 3. For small and medium-sized manufacturers that do not have a broader sales channel, they can use the sales network of convenience stores to sell their products in various places, thereby increasing the potential for higher profits.

In this sales service, since it is necessary for the user to bring the product home, it is desirable to apply the present invention to a relatively small product such as a book, a CD, game software, or a small electric appliance. By accepting information from service industries in addition to manufacturers, it is possible to sell tickets such as advance tickets for concerts and movies, and to provide services such as accepting hotel reservations.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the transaction processing device 4 and the server 5 constituting the sales management system 1 and the specific processing performed by each device will be described. FIG. 3 shows an example of the transaction processing device 4. This transaction processing device 4
It has a function as a POS terminal device for selling products in the store 2, and includes a currency storage unit 13, a main unit 1
4, a configuration in which the display unit 15 is superimposed on information in order.
The money storage unit 13 and the display unit 15 are electrically connected to the main unit 14, and are controlled by a control unit 19 described below.
The currency storage unit 13 is automatically opened at the time of payment,
The display unit 15 appropriately displays the details of the settlement and the like.

An input unit 1 provided with an operation key 16a for inputting a price of a product, a deposit amount, etc.
In addition to 6, a journal storage unit 17, a receipt (including the voucher) issuing port 18, and the like are provided. The display unit 15 includes a liquid crystal display 15a for displaying details of transaction contents and a numerical display 15 for displaying the total sales.
b. Further, the above-described barcode reader 12 is connected to the main body unit 14. The barcode reader 12 of this embodiment is set so as to be able to read not only an image code but also a one-dimensional barcode attached to general merchandise in the store 2. Is switched.

FIG. 4 shows an electrical configuration of the transaction processing device 4. Reference numeral 19 in the figure denotes a control unit constituted by a microcomputer.
A communication unit 20, a printing unit 21, a product code input unit 22, a handled product database 23, an order database 24, a PLU file 25, and the like are connected to each other. The product database 23, order database 24, and PLU file 25 are set in a hard disk device incorporated in the main body 14.

The communication section 20 is an interface circuit for connecting to the dedicated line 6 to the server 5 of the sales management center 3. The printing unit 21 is for performing printing output on the journal or receipt. The product code input unit 22 is an input interface for inputting a product code read by the barcode reader 12.

The merchandise information database 23 stores merchandise information transmitted from the server 5 of the sales management center 3. As described above, this product information is used to determine whether or not the product code input from the barcode reader 12 is a code of a product that can be handled. On the other hand, the order database 24 contains the server 5
The order information transmitted to is stored. This order information
The liquid crystal display is used as history data of ordering in the store 2 and is read out, for example, when confirming unarrived products or confirming the breakdown of the amount charged from the sales management center 3. 15a.

The PLU file 25 is used for selling general merchandise in the store 2, and stores merchandise information in which information such as a product name and a price is associated with a merchandise code for each merchandise. When a product is sold, the control unit 1
9 reads the product code on the bar code label attached to the product from the bar code reader 12, reads the product information corresponding to the code from the PLU file 25, and executes the payment settlement process. The contents of the settlement process are stored in a sales database (not shown), and the stored information is transmitted to the server of the sales headquarters at a predetermined timing.

The sales headquarters is an institution that manages sales of general merchandise in the store. If this institution is different from the sales management center 3, the communication unit 2
0 is a dedicated line 6 to the server 5 of the sales management center 3
In addition, it is configured to be connected to a dedicated line for the sales headquarters. Also, the communication program used by the control unit 19 needs to be set to correspond to the two lines.

FIG. 5 shows another example of the transaction processing apparatus 4. The transaction processing device 4 of this embodiment is a self-service terminal device that allows the user to operate himself / herself.
Are provided, and a voucher ticket issuing port 27 is formed in an appropriate place. An operation surface 31 provided with a bill insertion slot 28, a coin insertion slot 29, an image code reading surface 30, and the like is formed in a central portion of the front surface. The image code reading surface 30 is formed by opening a part of the operation surface 31 and fitting a transparent resin panel into the opening, and reads the image code inside the body corresponding to the opening. A barcode reader 12 is provided.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of the transaction processing apparatus 4 of FIG. The transaction processing apparatus 4 of this embodiment mainly includes a control unit 32 composed of a microcomputer.
2, a communication unit 33, a display unit 26, a printing unit 34, an input unit 3
5 (comprising the above-mentioned touch panel), money processing unit 36, product code input unit 22, handling product database 2
3, the order database 24, the web browser unit 37, and the like are connected.

The communication section 33 is an interface circuit for communicating with the server 5 of the sales management center 3. The printing unit 34 is a mechanism for performing a printing process on the voucher, and is provided behind the voucher issuing port 27. The money processing unit 36 is a mechanism installed inside the bill insertion slot 28 and the coin insertion slot 29, and includes a discriminating mechanism for discriminating the denomination and authenticity of the inserted bills and coins, the inserted bills and coins. And a transport mechanism for guiding the vehicle to a safe inside the aircraft.

The product code input section 22, the product database 23, and the order database 24 are the same as those shown in FIG. Web browser section 3
Reference numeral 7 denotes a program file for developing a user interface on the display screen of the display unit 26.
In the same manner as described above, it is installed in the hard disk device in the device.

In the transaction processing apparatus 4 having the above configuration, the control unit 3
2 forms an operation button for selection and confirmation at a predetermined position on the screen of the display unit 26 based on the program of the Web browser unit 37. Then, in response to the operation by the input unit 35 and the input of the product code, the display screen is appropriately switched, and a series of order processing is executed while driving the communication unit 33, the printing unit 34, and the money processing unit 36. .

FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the server 5 of the sales management center 3. The server 5 of this embodiment includes control units for an Internet control unit 40 and a dedicated line control unit 41, and an order processing unit 42 and an output processing unit 43. The product database 45 described above is set so that it can be read and written mainly by the Internet control unit 40 and can also read information by the dedicated line control unit 41. The order processing unit 42 manages two types of databases, a store database 47 and a maker database 48, in addition to the order database 46. The output processing unit 43 outputs the processing result of the order receiving / processing unit 42,
This is for outputting as a document in a predetermined format.

Each of the control units 40 and 41 and each of the processing units 42 and 43 are specifically configured by an independent computer or a network system of a plurality of computers. The computers constituting the Internet control unit 40 and the dedicated line control unit 41 are each connected to a relay device such as a router or an access server via a communication interface. The output processing unit 43 is connected to a printer or the like for printing and outputting the processing result. In addition, various databases,
The data is set in a storage device (such as a hard disk device) in a data management computer (not shown), and read / write processing for a database is controlled.

The Internet control unit 40 receives an access from the user's mobile phone 8 or the manufacturer's communication terminal device 9 on the Internet 7 and develops the product information registration page and the product introduction page. I do. Further, in response to input of the product information from the communication terminal device 9 of the maker 11, the Internet control unit 40 also performs a process of registering the product information in the product database 45. When an electronic mail addressed to the maker 11 is passed from the order processing unit 42, the electronic mail is sent to the Internet 7.

The dedicated line control section 41 is for exchanging information with the transaction processing device 4 of each store 2 via the dedicated line 6 and stores new registration information in the product database 45 into each store 2. And when the order information is transmitted from the transaction processing device 4 side,
This is fetched and passed to the order processing unit 42. When information or the like indicating the amount of money charged to the store 2 is passed from the order processing unit 42, the information is set to be transmitted to the transaction processing device 4 of the corresponding store 2.

The order processing unit 42 processes order information from each store 2 while communicating with the Internet control unit 40 and the dedicated line control unit 41, and performs payment settlement processing for the store 2 and the manufacturer. Do. In the processing of the order information, the order information received from the store 2 via the dedicated line control unit 41 is stored in the order database 46, and the order information is created by e-mail with respect to the corresponding maker 11, and is used for the Internet. The information is passed to the control unit 40, and a request for transmission to the manufacturer is made. In the payment processing, the order information for each period is totaled for each predetermined period to calculate the amount charged to each store 2 and the amount paid to each manufacturer.

The store database 47 contains each store 2
, Information such as a store code, a location, and a telephone number is stored. On the other hand, the maker database 48 stores information such as a name, a location, a telephone number, an e-mail address, and a department name in charge of each maker. The store database 47 is stored in advance by manually inputting information on each store 2 and the like, and the maker database 48 is used by the maker to access the product information registration page and input the product information. In this case, the information requested to be input is fetched and stored together with the product information.

The order processing unit 42 outputs the calculation result of the billing amount and the payment amount for each store 2 and maker 11 to the output processing unit 43 in association with the information of each store 2 and maker 11. The output processing unit 43 creates a bill and payment details for the store 2 and the manufacturer 11 based on the information, and prints out the bill. However, this kind of form can be created as electronic data and transmitted to each store 2 or manufacturer 11.

FIG. 8 shows a procedure of the order processing in the transaction processing apparatus 4. "ST" in the figure means a step of each processing. First, in ST1, a product code read by the barcode reader 12 is input via the product code input unit 22. In the next ST2, the handling product database 23 is searched using the product code, and it is checked whether or not the corresponding product information is registered.

If the merchandise information including the merchandise code is registered in the merchandise merchandise database 23, ST3 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to ST4, where the order information is created, and the contents are displayed on the display unit 15 ( Or 26). Here, when the apparatus having the configuration shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is used, the clerk visually confirms the displayed content, and then verifies the content by giving the content to the user orally, and operates the confirmation key. When the apparatus having the configuration shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is used, the user himself / herself visually checks the display contents and operates the confirmation switch on the screen. By this operation, ST5 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to ST6, where the order information created in ST4 is transmitted to the server 5. The initial value of the order quantity included in the order information is one, but it is also possible to set so as to increase the order quantity when displaying the order information before transmission.

When receiving the transmission of the order information, the server 5 returns a predetermined response signal. When this response signal is received, ST7 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to ST8. If the response information is not returned even after a predetermined time has elapsed after transmitting the order information to the server 5, ST6.
Return to and resend the order information.

In ST8, the order information is registered in the order database 24, and in ST9, the price is displayed on the display units 15, 26 based on the order information. In response to this display, in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the clerk receives the price from the user and performs a deposit operation. In the apparatus shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the user himself inserts the bill slot 28 and the coin slot 2.
Money is inserted from 9 and the money processing unit 36 processes the inserted money to confirm the amount of money. When the payment of the product price is confirmed in any of the above-described processes, ST10 returns “YE”.
S ", a voucher is issued in ST11, and the process ends.

If the entered product code is not registered in the product database 23, the process proceeds from ST3 to ST12, where a predetermined error message is displayed on the display units 15 and 26, and the process is terminated. In addition, a cancel operation is performed on the display of the order information in ST4,
If the confirmation operation has not been performed even after the lapse of the predetermined time, ST5 becomes "NO", the order information is discarded, and the process ends.

FIGS. 9 to 11 show the main processing procedure performed in the server 5 of the sales management center 3. FIG.
In addition, about this process of the server 5, each step is shown by "st". FIG. 9 shows a procedure for registering product information from the manufacturer 11. This procedure is started in response to the communication terminal device 9 of the manufacturer 11 calling a Web page for registering product information. First, in st1, the Web page for registering information is stored in the communication terminal device 9. Execute the processing presented to the user.

When the communication terminal device 9 inputs product information on this Web page and performs transmission processing, st2 and 3 become "YES" and the process proceeds to st5. However, if the input information is incomplete, such as indispensable information has not been input, st3 becomes “NO” and proceeds to st4, where message information for prompting re-input is displayed on the Web screen and re-displayed. Wait for input. If the end operation is performed without inputting the product information, st2 is “NO”, s
t8 becomes "YES", the information registration Web page is closed, and the process ends.

When the appropriate information is input, at st5,
This input information is fetched and stored in the product database 45. Thereafter, the server 5 displays a message notifying the end of the registration and a Web page for continuously selecting whether or not to input other product information, and waits for the selection on the communication terminal device 9 side. Here, when the communication terminal device 9 selects to perform the next input, the process returns to st1 from st6 and performs the same processing again. When a termination operation is performed on the communication terminal device 9 after the registration of the predetermined number of product information items in this way, st7 becomes "YES", and the process ends.

In the above-described registration process, in order to provide a service with high reliability to the user, the registration process when product information is received from a new maker 11 is provisionally registered, and the maker 11 is examined. After
It is desirable that the temporarily registered merchandise information be fully registered and made public on a Web page.

FIG. 10 shows a procedure of a product introduction process for a user. This procedure is started in response to the calling of a product introduction Web page on the user's mobile phone 8. First, at st11, the product introduction Web page is opened. On the first Web page, a menu in which a plurality of types of product groups are classified is set, and when any of the product groups is selected on the mobile phone 8 side, the process proceeds from st12 to st13 and is selected. Display a list of products belonging to the product group.

Next, when a predetermined product is selected from the listed products, the process proceeds from st14 to st15,
The display is switched to a page on which the product information of the selected product is posted. When an operation to return to the previous page is performed on the mobile phone 8 with respect to this page, st16 to st
Returning to step 13 corresponds. This allows users to
It is possible to select the listed products one by one and check the product information.

When an image code calling operation is performed on a predetermined product information introduction page, st17 is changed to “YE”.
S ", the process proceeds to st18, and the display is switched to the display page of the image code corresponding to the product information. In FIG. 10, the process of shifting to st18 is not explicitly shown, but after the image code page is displayed, the Web page is closed or the st1 is changed according to the operation on the mobile phone 8 side.
Processing for returning to the list display of 1 or st13 is performed.

In the page for introducing a specific product,
When the end operation is performed without calling the image code, st19 becomes “YES”, the page is closed, and the process ends. In addition, if an end operation is performed on the product group or product list display without performing a selection operation,
st20 or st21 becomes “YES”, and similarly,
The web page at that time is closed, and the process ends.

FIG. 11 shows a processing procedure when order information is received from the transaction processing apparatus 4. First st31
When the transmitted order information is input, in the next st32, the response signal is returned to the transaction processing apparatus 4 which has transmitted this information.

Next, in st33, based on the order information,
The e-mail address of the manufacturer of the ordered product is extracted from the maker database 48. And st34
Then, the order information is processed into an e-mail to the manufacturer and transmitted to the extracted address. Last st35
Then, the order information received from the transaction processing apparatus 4 is added to the order information and the date and time when the order information destined for the manufacturer is transmitted, registered in the order database 46, and the process is terminated.

The transmission of the order information is not limited to the method using electronic mail. For example, a facsimile number of the department in charge of the manufacturer is registered in the manufacturer database 48, and an order in a predetermined format is sent to this number. May be sent. Alternatively, an order form for a paper medium may be issued using the function of the output processing unit 43 and mailed or facsimile-transmitted by a clerk.

Further, the following aspects can be added to the configuration and transaction processing of the sales management system 1 described above. First, in the above embodiment, only the case where the mobile phone 8 is used as the communication terminal device on the user side is shown. However, when the personal computer is connected to the Internet 7 to browse the product information, the image code of the image code is used. The display page is printed on paper, the paper medium is brought into the store 2, and the product can be ordered by the reading process indicated by the code.

Next, if the transaction processing apparatus 4 having the configuration shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is configured to be connectable to the Internet 7, the transaction processing apparatus 4 is accessed to the homepage of the sales management center 3 for product introduction. Can be browsed. In this case, when a product code is selected by the user, the selected product code is automatically imported to generate order information. Then, after displaying this order information on the screen of the display unit 26, the order information is transmitted to the server 5 in response to the user's confirmation operation.

When a portable communication device having a built-in wireless transmission means such as Bluetooth is used as the user's communication terminal device, a circuit for accepting information transmission by radio is set in the transaction processing device 4 so that The product code can be transmitted wirelessly.

If a mechanism for converting the image code into the image code is incorporated in the mobile phone 8, the server 5 transfers the image data to the mobile phone 8.
While transmitting a product code in a form that is not converted to an image code, the mobile phone 8 creates code information in which a specific code such as a telephone number of the own device is added to the product code, and converts this to an image code. Can be displayed. In the case of using such an image code, for example, if order information including the number of the mobile phone 8 is registered in the transaction processing device 4, when the goods are delivered, the telephone number is displayed and displayed on the mobile phone 8 to confirm the identity. Since the processing can be performed, there is no need to issue a voucher.

When the order information is transmitted from the transaction processing apparatus 4 to the server 5 with the permission of the user, the information including the personal information in the image code is transmitted, and the server 5 stores the customer information. May be. According to such processing, it is possible to provide a service to each user based on his or her product purchase history, such as sending an email introducing new products that may be purchased, Purchasing power can be raised to activate transaction processing.

When the personal information is transmitted to the server 5 as described above, the server 5 creates a guide mail for notifying the product shipping schedule and the completion of the shipping based on the response from the manufacturer 11 to the transmission of the order information. May be transmitted to the user who is the orderer. According to such a guide e-mail, the user can schedule a visit to the store according to the shipment of the product or come to the store immediately after the product arrives at the store 2 to obtain the product. Can be enhanced and service improved.

Further, in the above embodiment, the sales management center 3 cooperates with a plurality of manufacturers 11 to receive and sell orders for products of each manufacturer 11. May be operated. Further, in the above embodiment, in the store 2, all the products for which the image codes are acquired on the Internet 7 are dealt with by order sales, but some of the best-selling products may be stocked. In this case, if information indicating the presence or absence of stock is input to the handled product database 23, it is possible to quickly grasp whether or not the product indicated by the code is present at the store when reading the image code, and to respond.

[0086]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the management device installed in the sales management center, while the code information unique to the product desired by the customer is transmitted to the communication terminal device used by the customer, In the transaction processing device installed in the store, since the transaction processing is performed based on the code information received by the communication terminal device, the merchandise selected at the store side is accurately recognized, and prompt and accurate order processing is performed. It can be performed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a service that can be easily used even for people who tend to be away or who do not want to disclose personal information on the Internet. In particular, using a mobile communication device having an image display function such as a mobile phone, image information indicating the code information of the product is transmitted from the management device, and displayed on the mobile communication device in the transaction processing device. By optically reading image information, customers can easily select products at any time and place an order at the nearest store,
Convenience can be greatly enhanced. Also, the order receiving process on the store side is simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a sales management system to which the present invention is applied, and a relationship between a communication terminal device of a user and a manufacturer and a system.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a transaction process performed by the sales management system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a transaction processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the transaction processing apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another form of the transaction processing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an electric configuration of the transaction processing apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a server in a sales management center.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an ordering process in the transaction processing device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a product information registration process in a server.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a product introduction process in a server.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an ordering process in a server.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 sales management system 2 store 3 sales management center 4 transaction processing device 5 server 8 mobile phone 9 communication terminal device 11 manufacturer 12 barcode reader 19,32 control unit 22 product code input unit 45 product database

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G07G 1/00 311 G07G 1/00 311Z 1/12 301 1/12 301Z (72) Inventor Akinobu Mitsuhisa Kyoto Prefecture 606, Higashi-Shiokoji-cho, Kisiyabashi-dori, Nishi-Doin, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto F-term in OMRON SOFTWARE CORPORATION (reference) 3E042 BA01 BA17 CA10 CD04 EA01

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A computer system in which a transaction processing device installed in a store and a management device installed in a sales management center are connected via a computer network, and manages the sale of merchandise to any customer. The method, wherein, at the management device, receiving a selection of a product from a communication terminal device used by a customer via a general-purpose network, and transmitting code information unique to the selected product to the communication terminal device. In the transaction processing device, the communication terminal device inputs code information received from a management device, and a transaction process for selling the selected product to a customer based on the input code information. And a step of performing the sales management method. 2. In the management device, a step of receiving information on a product from a product provider via the general-purpose network, and a process of storing the received product information in a memory by associating the received product information with a unique product code. And a step of transmitting code information to the communication terminal device, wherein reading the code information of the selected product from a product database is performed. Management method. 3. In the management method, the step of transmitting code information to the communication terminal device includes transmitting image information indicating the code information, and the step of inputting the code information in the transaction processing device includes the step of transmitting the communication terminal 2. The sales management method according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus executes processing for optically reading image information received or displayed or printed from the management apparatus. 4. The communication terminal device is a portable communication device including an image display unit. In the transaction processing device, in the step of inputting code information, the portable communication device receives and displays the code information from a management device. 4. The sales management method according to claim 3, wherein a process of optically reading image information is executed. 5. The communication terminal device is a portable communication device including a unit for transmitting information wirelessly. In the transaction processing device, in the step of inputting code information, the portable communication device receives the code information from a management device. And executing a process of receiving the code information transmitted as a result.
Sales management method described in. 6. The sales management method according to claim 1, wherein the transaction processing device executes a step of transmitting information including the input code information to a management device as the transaction process. 7. The transaction processing device, as the transaction process, transmitting information including the input code information to a management device, and issuing a form indicating that an order for a product corresponding to the product code has been received. The sales management method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising the steps of: executing a step and a step of processing a payment from a customer at the same time as the processing of issuing the form or after a predetermined period has elapsed from the processing of issuing the form. 8. The method according to claim 8, wherein, when receiving the transmission of the code information from the transaction processing device, the management device executes a step of ordering the product to a provider of the product corresponding to the code information. The sales management method described in 6 or 7. 9. A computer system in which a transaction processing device installed in a store and a management device installed in a product management center are connected via a computer network, wherein the management device includes a plurality of types of products. A product database that stores the product database corresponding to the unique code information, a receiving unit that receives a selection of a product from a communication terminal device used by a customer via a general-purpose network, and a product database that receives the selection of the product. And a transmission unit for reading the code information of the selected product from and transmitting the code information to the communication terminal device. A transaction for executing a transaction process for selling the selected product to a customer based on the input code information Sales management system comprising comprising a row unit. 10. The sales apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the management device includes a registration unit that receives information of a product from a product provider via the general-purpose network and registers the product information in the product database. Management system. 11. The transmitting device of the management device transmits image information representing code information of the selected product to the communication terminal device of the customer, and the information input device of the transaction processing device transmits the image information. The sales management system according to claim 9, wherein the sales management system is an optical reader that reads image information received, displayed, or printed by the terminal device. 12. The information input means of the transaction processing device,
The sales management system according to claim 9, wherein the sales management system is a receiving device that receives wireless transmission of the received code information from the communication terminal device. 13. A transaction execution means of the transaction processing device,
The product management system according to any one of claims 9 to 12, further comprising information transmission means for transmitting information including a product code input by the information input means to a management device. 14. A transaction execution means of the transaction processing device,
Information transmitting means for transmitting information including a product code input by the information input means to a management device; form issuing means for issuing a form indicating that an order for a product corresponding to the product code has been received; and issuance of the form 13. The merchandise management system according to claim 9, further comprising payment processing means for receiving payment processing from a customer at the same time as the processing or after a predetermined period has elapsed from the issuing processing. 15. The management device, when receiving the transmission of the information including the product code from the transaction processing device, comprises an order processing means for performing an order process of a product to a provider of the product of the code information. The product management system according to claim 13. 16. A communication means for exchanging information with a plurality of transaction processing devices via a computer network, a product database storing a plurality of types of products in association with their respective unique code information, Receiving means for receiving a selection of a product from a communication terminal device used by an arbitrary customer via a network; and, when receiving the selection of the product, reading code information of the selected product from the product database and communicating with the communication terminal device And a transmitting means for transmitting to the management device. 17. Communication means for exchanging information with a management device of a product management center via a computer network, and a communication terminal device of an arbitrary customer for inputting code information of a product received from the management device. And a transaction execution means for executing a transaction process for selling the product to a customer based on the input code information.