JP2002222199A - Benchmark information providing device and system thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a benchmark information providing device and a system thereof allowing easy selection of commodity fitting user's real need. SOLUTION: A benchmark center 10 stores benchmark information of a CAD system sold by a development company 12 or an exclusive distributor 14. The benchmark information includes the information of the results of a benchmark test conducted concerning the information related to a function and a performance and each function and performance. A user 16 transmits the function and the performance of the required CAD system as retrieval conditions to the benchmark center 10. The benchmark center 10 retrieves the commodity corresponding to the transmitted retrieval conditions and transmits the benchmark information of the retrieved commodity to the user 16, who selects the CAD system to be purchased by referring to the received benchmark information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a benchmark information providing device and a benchmark information providing system, and more particularly to a benchmark information providing device for optimally selecting a product having various and various functions and performances such as a CAD system. And a benchmark information providing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, CAD software used for supporting product design is often sold by a software development company or a special dealer who contracts with the software development company.
The types of CAD software sold by dealers are limited due to restrictions with development companies, and so many types of CAD software are available.
At present it does not deal with software.

[0003] On the other hand, CAD software required by users has a wide variety of business types and design targets, and there are different orientations for CAD systems depending on business types such as mechanical design, electrical design, and architectural design. Further, for example, even in the same machine design, the direction and unsuitability of CAD software differ greatly depending on the design target (mainly, the shape of the design target and compliance with industry-specific standards) such as automobiles, machine tools, and dies.

In such a situation, searching for CAD software that fits the needs of the user requires a considerable research period. In addition, since software development companies and dealers naturally recommend what they are handling, they will fairly judge and select from among all CAD software on the market that fits the true needs of the user. There was a problem that it was difficult.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and has benchmark information capable of supporting easy selection of a product that fits the true needs of a user. It is an object to provide a providing device and a benchmark information providing system.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a database for storing benchmark information relating to a product, and a product corresponding to a search condition input for searching for a product. Search means for searching the database for benchmark information related to the searched product, and output means for outputting benchmark information related to the searched product.

According to the present invention, there is provided a CAD system and a database for accumulating benchmark information on products such as houses, automobiles, home appliances, software, books and the like. The benchmark information includes, for example, information on functions, performances, prices, and the like obtained from product catalogs, etc., as well as contents announced at exhibitions and product presentations, and contents described in specialized magazines and magazines. The information includes information on evaluation of a product, a result of performing a benchmark test on each of the above functions and performances, that is, information on evaluation of each function and performance under certain conditions.

[0008] The search means searches the database for benchmark information on the product corresponding to the search condition input for searching for the product. The search conditions include, for example, the type of business, the design target, the function, the performance, the price, and the like. Benchmark information on a product satisfying these conditions is searched from the database.

[0009] The benchmark information relating to the searched commodities is output to, for example, an external device by the output means.

As described above, not only information on the function and performance of the product but also information on the evaluation of each function and performance are provided, so that the most suitable product can be efficiently selected.

In the case where the product is a CAD system for supporting product design, etc., as described in claim 2, the search means stores benchmark information related to the product corresponding to the search condition in a dimension, an industry, It is preferable that the search be performed in the order of the object and the design object. That is, the CAD system is 2
It can be roughly divided into three-dimensional CAD and three-dimensional CAD,
Also, depending on the type of industry and the design target,
By searching in the order of dimension, industry, and design target,
Benchmark information can be searched more efficiently.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first terminal device having a benchmark information transmitting means for transmitting benchmark information relating to a product, a search condition inputting means for inputting a search condition for searching for a product, and A second terminal device including a search condition transmitting unit for transmitting the input search condition, an input unit for inputting benchmark information on the product, benchmark information on the product transmitted from the first terminal device, and A database that stores at least one of benchmark information on the product input by the input unit, a search unit that searches the database for benchmark information on a product corresponding to a search condition transmitted from the second terminal device, and a search Transmitting benchmark information regarding the purchased product to the second terminal device And benchmarking information providing apparatus provided with a signal means, characterized by comprising a.

According to the present invention, the first terminal device, the second terminal device,
And a benchmark information providing apparatus are connected to each other via a network such as the Internet, for example, and can exchange information with each other.

[0014] The first terminal device includes benchmark information transmitting means for transmitting benchmark information relating to a product. The first terminal device is provided, for example, in a company that specializes in providing benchmark information, or in a company that develops or sells products, and performs benchmark information on all target products that are marketed, or develops or sells the products themselves. The benchmark information on the product is transmitted to the benchmark information providing device.

[0015] The second terminal device includes a search condition input means and a search condition transmission means. The second terminal device is provided on the side of a user who purchases a product, and inputs search conditions for searching for a product by a search condition input unit.
The input search condition is transmitted to the benchmark information providing device by the search condition transmitting means.

[0016] The benchmark information providing device includes an input unit,
It has a database, search means, and transmission means.
The benchmark information on the product can be input from an input unit in addition to being transmitted from the first terminal device. For example, information on evaluations of products included in contents announced at exhibitions and product presentations and contents described in specialized magazines and magazines are input by an input unit. The benchmark information on the product transmitted from the first terminal device and the benchmark information on the product input by the input unit are stored in the database.

[0017] The search means searches the database for benchmark information on a product corresponding to the search condition transmitted from the second terminal device. The benchmark information on the searched product is transmitted to the second terminal device.

The second terminal device displays the benchmark information transmitted from the benchmark information providing device on, for example, a display. The user can select an optimal product with reference to the benchmark information. As described above, since the benchmark information providing device provides information on evaluation of each function and performance of the product, there is no need for the user to perform a benchmark test or the like on each function or performance of the product. Can be efficiently selected.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, CAD
The present invention is applied to a benchmark information providing system for providing system benchmark information.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a system to which the present invention can be applied. Explaining the outline of this system, the benchmark center 10 accumulates benchmark information of the CAD system sold by the development company 12 or the dealer 14.

The benchmark information includes, for example, (1)
CAD system functions and performance such as design industry, modeling performance, drawing performance, analysis calculation, analysis display, data compatibility, drawing management, production management, expandability, etc., (2) reliability of bug count, failure frequency, etc. , (3) ease of use, response speed, ease of system management, ease of customization, operability such as abundance of application software, (4) price, (5)
After-sales service system, after-sales service price, maintenance contract contents, maintenance contract price, OS for version upgrade
(Operating system) Includes information such as consistency, user education system, service system such as manual maintenance status, and (6) delivery date.

The benchmark information includes, for example, information obtained from product catalogs, information presented at exhibitions and product presentations, information described in specialized magazines and magazines, and the above-mentioned functions. And information on the results of benchmark tests performed on items such as performance and performance. This benchmark information is, for example, the benchmark center 10
The development company 12 and the dealer 14
May be produced. The created benchmark information is stored in the benchmark center 10 as a database.

The user 16 transmits necessary conditions for the above items to the benchmark center 10 as search conditions in order to search for a required CAD system. The benchmark center 10 searches for benchmark information on a product corresponding to the transmitted search condition, and transmits the benchmark information on the searched product to the user 16.

The user selects a CAD system to be purchased with reference to the received benchmark information on the product, and purchases the CAD system from the development company 12 or the dealer 14. In addition, the user pays for the provision of the benchmark information (service fee) to the benchmark center 10. This consideration may be a pay-as-you-go system that pays according to the amount of information, or may be a flat-rate system that pays a fixed amount every predetermined period.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of a network system to which the present invention can be applied. As shown in FIG. 2, the network system 20 is, for example, a development company 1
2, a computer 24 of the dealer 14, a computer 26 of the user 16, and a server computer 28 of the benchmark center 10 are respectively a modem, a router, and a TA (Terminal Adapter: Terminal A).
The system is connected to a network (for example, the Internet) 32 via a connection device 30 such as a dapter. These computers can exchange information via the network 32 by mutual communication. Further, a storage device 29 is connected to the server computer 28.

In this embodiment, a case where the Internet is applied as a network will be described. In this case, the server computer 28 of the benchmark center 10
The computer 22 of the development company 12 and the computer 24 of the dealer 14 serve as a WW (World Wide Web) server. The computer 24 of the user 16 serves as a computer for transmitting benchmark information on its products to the benchmark center 10. 26 functions as a computer for transmitting search conditions to the benchmark center 10 and receiving benchmark information, and these function as WWW clients.

More specifically, the computers 22, 24, 26
Has a WWW browser installed, and by activating the WWW browser, the network 3
2, the server computer 28 can be arbitrarily accessed. At this time, the access position (the position of the access destination server computer 28 and the server computer 2
8) is a URL (Un
iform Resource Locator).

When there is an access request from the computers 22, 24 and 26, the server computer 28
The data at the position designated by L is transmitted to the network 32
Via the access source computers 22, 24, 26
Send to At this time, the data is generally HTTP
(Hyper Text Transfer Protocol).

Each computer is identified by IP
(Internet Protocol) address is used. Also,
For identification of a user who operates the computers 22, 24, and 26, an input of the user himself, a user ID such as a predetermined code, and a password can be used.

Each of the above-mentioned computers is provided with an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse for inputting instructions with the computer, and a display for displaying processing results by the computer, and for storing various databases. Storage device, a printer for printing various information, and the like. The computer is
Since this is a general-purpose and general hardware configuration, detailed description is omitted.

Next, as an operation of this embodiment, the server computer 2 of the benchmark center 10 shown in FIG.
8 will be described with reference to a flowchart of a control routine executed by the computer 26 of the user 16 shown in FIG.

The benchmark center 10 collects benchmark information relating to the functions and performance of the CAD system developed or sold by the development company 12 or the dealer 14 and inputs the benchmark information through the input device of the server computer 28.

This benchmark information is, for example, an exhibition,
It can be obtained by collecting from product presentations, specialized magazines, magazines, catalogs, etc., or by conducting predetermined benchmark tests on various evaluation items. As described above, in addition to information such as functions obtained from a catalog or the like, a result of a predetermined benchmark test is accumulated as benchmark information.

Thus, in the server computer 28, in step 100 shown in FIG. 3, the determination of the input of the benchmark information is affirmed, and in the next step 102, the input benchmark information is registered (stored) in the storage device 29 as a database. I do.

The development company 12 or the dealer 14 transmits benchmark information such as the functions and performance of the CAD system developed or sold by the company 22 or 24 to the server computer 28 of the benchmark center 10 using the computer 22 or the computer 24. This transmission may be performed in response to a request from the benchmark center 10 or may be performed voluntarily. Further, the result of a benchmark test performed by the development company 12 or the dealer 14 may be transmitted to the benchmark center 10 as benchmark information. In this case, the benchmark test is preferably the predetermined benchmark test. That is, the benchmark tests performed by the benchmark center 10, the development company 12, and the dealer 14 are unified. Thereby, the benchmark information provided to the user 16 can be made fair and neutral information without bias.

The benchmark information is transferred from the computer 22 or the computer 24 of the development company 12 or the dealer 14 to the server computer 28 of the benchmark center 10.
Then, in step 104, the determination of receiving the benchmark information is affirmed, and in the next step 106, the received benchmark information is registered in the storage device 29.

On the other hand, if the user 16 wants to obtain benchmark information on the product when considering the purchase of the CAD system, a benchmark information providing site provided by the benchmark center 10 in step 200 shown in FIG. to access.

Accordingly, in the server computer 28, the determination that there is access to the benchmark information providing site is affirmed in step 108 shown in FIG. 3, and the search screen data for generating the search condition input screen is generated in the next step 110. It is transmitted to the computer 26 of the user 16.

When the search screen data is transmitted to the computer 26 of the user 16, the computer 26 makes an affirmative decision in step 202 of FIG. 4 that the search screen data has been received, and displays a search condition input screen in the next step 204. Is done.

Here, the user inputs search conditions for searching for a required CAD system. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the input of the search condition is the type of CAD system (two-dimensional or three-dimensional), the type of business (electricity, machine, architecture, etc.), the design target (automobile, home electric appliance, etc.), the modeling function ( A search condition is input in the order of solid, surface, display, etc., other functions (drawing function, drawing transfer function, etc.), performance (operability, reliability), CAM necessity, and price (range).

When the input has been completed and a predetermined operation indicating the end of the input has been performed, the computer 26 affirms the determination of the end of the search condition input in step 206, and the search condition input in the next step 208 is satisfied. Sent to server computer 28.

As a result, the server computer 28 makes an affirmative decision in step 112 of FIG. That is, a search is made for benchmark information corresponding to the received search condition from the benchmark information database stored in the storage device 29. This search is performed in the input order of the search condition. That is, the search is first performed by the dimension type of the CAD system, and then the search is performed in the order of the type of business, design target, modeling function, other functions and performance, CAM necessity, price, and the like. Note that, for example, the search order after the modeling function may be before and after each other.

As described above, first, the search is performed based on the dimension type of the CAD system, that is, two-dimensional CAD or three-dimensional CAD.
Next, the search can be performed efficiently by searching in the order of the type of business and the design target.

Then, in the next step 116, the search result (the searched benchmark information) is transmitted to the computer 16 of the user 16. Accordingly, in the computer 26 of the user 16, the determination of the reception of the search result is affirmed in step 210 of FIG. 4, and the search result is displayed on the monitor and stored in the storage device.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the search result. As shown in FIG. 6, the evaluation corresponding to each function or performance of the search condition specified by the user's input, that is, the evaluation by a predetermined benchmark test is listed for each CAD system. In FIG. 6, a four-level evaluation is performed, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a more detailed evaluation may be performed.

As described above, since not only information on functions and the like obtained from a catalog and the like but also actual evaluation of each function and performance can be known, the user can test all the functions and performances of each CAD system. Thus, it is not necessary to evaluate the CAD system, and it is possible to efficiently select a CAD system having necessary functions and performance. In addition, since the evaluation result is based on a predetermined and unified benchmark test, it is an unbiased and fair evaluation,
A more accurate selection can be made.

Since the CAD system has a wide variety of functions, a plurality of search levels may be selected. For example, the user can select a desired search level such as (1) general search, (2) normal search, and (3) detailed search according to the details of the search conditions, and search processing is performed according to the selected search conditions. May be performed. As a result, the CAD system can be selected more efficiently.

In this embodiment, a system for providing benchmark information of a CAD system has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention may be applied to other products such as land, houses, automobiles, home appliances, software, and books. It goes without saying that it can be applied.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The advantage is that it is possible to support the selection of a product that fits the user's true needs passively and easily, unlike the case where the user actively selects a product, for example, when searching for a used car. Having.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a network system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a control routine executed by a server computer of a benchmark center.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a control routine executed by a user's computer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of inputting search conditions.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search result.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Benchmark center 12 Development company 14 Authorized dealer 16 User 20 Network system 22, 24 Computer (1st terminal device) 26 Computer (2nd terminal device) 28 Server computer (Benchmark information providing device) 30 Connection device 32 Network

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A database for accumulating benchmark information on a product, a search unit for searching benchmark information on a product corresponding to a search condition input for searching the product from the database, and a benchmark information on the searched product. An output means for outputting, and a benchmark information providing device comprising: 2. The product according to claim 1, wherein the product is a CAD system, and the search means searches for benchmark information on the product corresponding to the search condition in the order of dimension, industry, and design object. Benchmark information providing device described. 3. A first terminal device having a benchmark information transmitting unit for transmitting benchmark information on a product, a search condition input unit for inputting a search condition for searching for a product, and a search condition inputting unit. A second terminal device having a search condition transmitting means for transmitting, input means for inputting benchmark information on the product, benchmark information on the product transmitted from the first terminal device, and input by the input means; A database storing at least one of the benchmark information related to the product, a search unit configured to search the database for benchmark information related to a product corresponding to the search condition transmitted from the second terminal device, and a benchmark information related to the searched product. A vent provided with transmitting means for transmitting to the second terminal device; Benchmark information providing system comprising a mark information providing apparatus.