JP2002269455A - Sales method and sales system for commodities combined with magazines, integrated commodity center device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sales method and a sales system for commodities and a program allowing users to be able to easily obtain commodity information and latest information such as sales prices during movement and even at a destination by utilizing catalog magazines in combination with portable terminals. SOLUTION: This sales system for commodities has a catalog magazine 20 having magazine numbers for identifying homepage addresses from magazines and commodity numbers for identifying described commodities, a user terminal 30 used by the user and connectable to a communication network 39, a commodity information data base 13 connected to the communication network 39 and storing the commodity information including commodity prices corresponding to the magazine numbers and commodity numbers, and an integrated commodity center device 10 taking out the commodity information corresponding to the magazine numbers and commodity numbers accessed from the commodity information data base 13 when an access including the magazine numbers and commodity numbers is made from the user terminal 30 and transmitting the commodity information to the user terminal 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of selling goods in combination with a magazine, a sales system, an integrated goods center apparatus,
In particular, the present invention relates to a technology for selling products in which product information is supplementarily obtained from a catalog magazine on which product information is posted and a homepage on a communication network such as the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In conventional mail order sales of merchandise using catalog magazines, price information is printed on catalog magazines together with explanations of specifications such as shapes and functions of products and provided to users. The user obtains a catalog magazine that contains the product he / she wants to purchase, selects the product to be purchased with reference to the specifications and prices of the product described there, and applies for the purchase using the prescribed application method. And purchased the goods.

[0003] In recent years, products such as home appliances and information processing-related products that adopt open prices in which sales prices are not fixedly displayed and are left to market prices, and products that have rapid technological innovation and are short-lived. Since the number of products whose values are changing is increasing, and the sales prices of these products fluctuate according to market trends, it is difficult to describe the latest sales prices in catalog magazines and the like.

Further, in online shopping using the Internet or the like, in order to check the appearance and product specifications of a product, a device having a display device large enough to collectively display such information is required. . Although a personal computer is a typical example of a device provided with such a display device, on the other hand, the provision of a large display device makes it difficult to carry around.

[0005]

As described above, according to the conventional mail order, there is a problem in that it is not possible to easily obtain product information anytime and anywhere. In a catalog magazine or the like, there is a problem that fluctuating information such as the latest price information cannot be provided to a user, and a place is fixed in online shopping or the like using a personal computer or the like.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems,
By using a combination of catalog magazines and mobile terminals, sales of products that allow users to easily obtain sufficient product information and up-to-date information such as selling prices while moving and without moving to a fixed location A method, a sales system, and a program are provided.

[0007]

According to a first selling method of the present invention, a user terminal connectable to a communication network is referred to by referring to a homepage address, a magazine number, and a product number published in a catalog magazine. A step of connecting to the communication network to access an integrated merchandise center device storing merchandise information including prices of merchandise published in the catalog magazine, and acquiring merchandise information corresponding to the accessed magazine number and merchandise number. .

[0008] A second selling method according to the present invention is an integrated product that connects to the communication network and holds the home page from a user terminal connectable to the communication network with reference to the address of the home page published in the catalog magazine. Accessing the integrated merchandise center apparatus by accessing a center device and inputting a magazine number identifying a catalog magazine and a merchandise number identifying a merchandise published in the catalog magazine to the integrated merchandise center apparatus; A step of extracting product information corresponding to the input magazine number and product number from a product information database that stores product information including a product price included in the center device.

[0009] The third selling method of the present invention is the first or second selling method.
In the sales method of, the bar code respectively corresponding to the magazine number and the product number published in the catalog magazine,
It is read by bar code reading means provided in the user terminal.

A first sales system of the present invention is a catalog magazine in which an address of a homepage, a magazine number for identifying a magazine, and a product number for identifying a published product are connected to a communication network used by a user. A possible user terminal, a product information database that is connected to the communication network and stores product information including a price of a product corresponding to the magazine number and the product number, and a magazine number and a product number from the user terminal. An integrated merchandise center device for extracting merchandise information corresponding to the accessed magazine number and merchandise number from the merchandise information database when the access includes the merchandise information, and transmitting the extracted merchandise information to the user terminal;

A second sales system of the present invention is a catalog magazine in which an address of a homepage, a magazine number for identifying a magazine, and a product number for identifying a published product are connected to a communication network used by a user. A possible user terminal, a homepage having an address published in a catalog magazine connected to the communication network, and a product information database storing product information including a price of a product corresponding to the magazine number and the product number. When the user terminal accesses an address published in a catalog magazine, the homepage is transmitted to the user terminal, and the transmitted homepage is accessed by the user terminal by inputting a magazine number and a product number. When,
An integrated merchandise center device including a transmission / reception control unit for extracting merchandise information corresponding to the accessed magazine number and merchandise number from the merchandise information database and transmitting the extracted merchandise information to the user terminal.

[0012] A third sales system of the present invention has a user terminal, an integrated merchandise center apparatus, a communication network connecting them, and a catalog magazine listing detailed information of the merchandise. When,
A magazine number for identifying the catalog magazine and a product number assigned to each published product are posted, and the integrated product center device stores the homepage and product information including product information including price information. A database and a transmission / reception control unit for returning a homepage when receiving access to the homepage from the user terminal, and for receiving a magazine number and a product number from the user terminal, extracting corresponding product information from the database and returning the same. The user terminal displays means for accessing the homepage, means for transmitting a magazine number and a product number according to the homepage to obtain product information from the integrated product center device, and displaying the homepage or the product information. Means.

[0013] In a fourth sales system according to the present invention, in the first, second or third sales system, the user terminal is a PHS (perso) which is a portable telephone or a simple portable telephone.
nal handphone system) or PDA (personal dig) which is a portable information terminal
It is characterized by italian assistance.

According to a fifth sales system of the present invention, in the first, second, third, or fourth sales system, the user terminal has bar code reading means, and the user terminal has a bar code reading means. A number and a product number are read by the bar code reading means.

The first integrated merchandise center apparatus of the present invention is connected to a user terminal used by a user via a communication network, and corresponds to a magazine number for identifying a magazine published in a catalog magazine and a merchandise number for identifying the merchandise. A merchandise information database that stores merchandise information that includes the price of the merchandise that has been accessed. When there is an access including the magazine number and the merchandise number from the user terminal, the magazine number and the merchandise number accessed from the merchandise information database are used. It is characterized in that corresponding product information is taken out and transmitted to the user terminal.

A second integrated merchandise center apparatus of the present invention is connected to a user terminal used by a user via a communication network, and identifies a home page having an address published in a catalog magazine and a magazine published in the catalog magazine. A merchandise information database that stores merchandise information including prices of merchandise corresponding to a magazine number to be merchandise and a merchandise number for identifying merchandise, and a homepage when the user terminal accesses an address published in a catalog magazine. When the magazine number and the product number are entered and accessed on the homepage transmitted from the user terminal, the product information corresponding to the accessed magazine number and the product number is extracted from the product information database, and And a transmission / reception control unit for transmitting to the user terminal.

According to the first program of the present invention, when there is an access including a magazine number for identifying a magazine published in a catalog magazine and a product number for identifying a product, product information including a price of the product is stored. The program causes the computer to execute a procedure of extracting product information corresponding to the accessed magazine number and product number from the product information database and transmitting the product information to the user terminal.

[0018] A second program of the present invention comprises a step of transmitting a homepage to the user terminal when an address published in a catalog magazine is accessed from the user terminal;
When a magazine number for identifying a magazine published in a catalog magazine and a product number for identifying a product are input to the transmitted homepage and accessed, the product is accessed from a product information database storing product information including the price of the product. And extracting the product information corresponding to the magazine number and the product number and transmitting the product information to the user terminal.

[0019]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention includes a catalog magazine 20, a user terminal 30, an integrated merchandise center apparatus 10, and a communication network 39 for interconnecting these. The communication network 39 is, for example, the Internet, a public line network, or a LAN (Local Area Network).
k) and so on.

In FIG. 1, the user terminal 30 and the integrated merchandise center apparatus 10 are directly connected by the communication network 39. As shown in FIG.
1, the integrated merchandise center apparatus 10 is connected to the Internet 4
9 may be connected. In this case, the mobile phone 31 connects to the Internet 49 from the mobile phone network 38 through the gateway 40 to connect to the integrated merchandise center apparatus 10.

The catalog magazine 20 is a magazine in which information on products to be mail-ordered is described, and the user obtains it for a fee or free of charge. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the catalog magazine 20. Referring to FIG. 3, a product number "0000011" is listed, and a corresponding bar code is also listed. The number of digits of the product number is not limited, and an input error may be detected by including a check code. In FIG. 3, information on one product is published over three pages, but the number of pages is not particularly limited.

In FIG. 3, a bar code corresponding to the magazine number "100123" for identifying the catalog magazine 20 is posted, and the address "http: //www.tougook" of the integrated homepage of the catalog magazine 20 is displayed.
atarogu. co. jp ". The magazine number and the address information may be posted at one or more places in the magazine without being posted on each page. The presence or absence of the check code is not limited.

Here, it is assumed that the address of the integrated home page is on the Internet and the URL (Unifo
rm Resource Locator), but an address based on each communication network may be added and posted. Note that the addresses and numbers described here are given for convenience of explanation, and do not actually exist.

In addition, the catalog magazine 20 includes a product name, a price, a specification, a photograph of the appearance, and the like. The specification includes detailed information such as functions, performance, dimensions, weight, and accessories. Normally, the user can obtain all necessary product information by reading the catalog magazine 20, and can determine the product to be purchased in consideration of the price and the like. However, the price is displayed as an open price in FIG. ing.

The user terminal 30 includes, for example, a mobile phone,
PHS (Personal Handy)
phone system) and personal digital assistants (PD)
A: personal digital assi
and a portable terminal having a size and weight that are easy to carry. Although only one device is shown in FIG. 1, many user terminals 30 can be connected to the communication network 39.

These portable terminals have fewer input keys and a smaller screen display function than a stationary personal computer or the like, and further have a communication function for connecting to a telephone line network, and can store a product number or a magazine number. The user can input or display the received information such as the homepage.

The user terminal 30 has a bar code reading function, and can read a product number or a magazine number from the catalog magazine 20 by a bar code.
The user terminal 30 may be a portable personal computer other than a portable terminal, a stationary personal computer, or the like.

The communication network 39 is, for example, a network such as the Internet or a telephone network. The integrated merchandise center apparatus 10 is connected to the communication network 39 and can transmit and receive information to and from the user terminal 30, and includes a transmission / reception controller 11, a homepage group 12, and a merchandise information database 1.
3 is an information processing apparatus. Although not shown, CP
U, storage means, communication means connected to the communication network 39, and the like are also included.

The homepage group 12 includes an integrated homepage to be displayed on the user terminal 30 and is stored in a storage means in the integrated merchandise center apparatus 10. The homepage is, for example, HTML (Hyper Text Marku)
p Language), which is usually called a web page, accessed by software called a browser, and displayed on a screen. Therefore, the user terminal 3
0 is provided with a browser or equivalent software.

The merchandise information database 13 is a database for storing merchandise information including information such as prices and stocks corresponding to magazine numbers and merchandise numbers.
Is stored in the storage means.

The transmission / reception control unit 11 is a program for receiving access from the user terminal 30 and transmitting predetermined information to the user terminal 30. 10 CPUs
Executed in

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG.
3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the integrated merchandise center apparatus 10 in association with the operation of the integrated merchandise center apparatus 10. In the following description, it is assumed that the communication network 39 is the Internet.

Prior to the operation shown in FIG. 4, the user first determines a product whose sales price or stock information is desired to be obtained with reference to the catalog magazine 20, and determines the product number of the product and the catalog magazine 20.
Determine the magazine number of

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the user can access the integrated homepage address “http: //www.tougaokatarog” of the access destination from the catalog magazine 20.
u. co. jp "is input to the user terminal 30 to access the integrated homepage of the catalog magazine 20 established on the Internet 39 (step S51).

At the time of input, the address of the integrated homepage is posted on the catalog magazine 20 as a barcode, and the user uses the barcode reading function of the user terminal 30 to
You may make it read and input the address of the integrated homepage displayed by the barcode.

In response, the integrated merchandise center apparatus 10
The transmission / reception control unit 11 reads out the integrated homepage from the homepage group 12 and transmits it to the user terminal 30 (step S52).

The user terminal 30 receives the integrated homepage and displays it on the display means of the user terminal 30 (S5).
3). FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the integrated homepage displayed on the user terminal 30, in which fields for inputting a magazine number and a product number are provided.

The user inputs and transmits the magazine number "100123" of the catalog magazine 20 referred to with the article number "0000011" of the article determined in advance into the corresponding fields (S54). At the time of input, the user may use the barcode reading function of the user terminal 30 to read and enter the product number or magazine number displayed in the barcode, or may use the input key.

In response, the integrated merchandise center apparatus 10
Is a product information database 1 based on a product number and a magazine number.
3 and retrieves the product information, and outputs this to the user terminal 3.
The product page information is displayed on the user terminal 30 as the product page information that can be displayed on the display unit 0 (S55). The user terminal 30 receives the product page information and displays it on the display means of the user terminal 30 (S56). The product page information is, for example, a document written in HTML.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of product page information displayed on the user terminal 30, and includes a product number, a product name, a price, a stock quantity, and the like. In addition to this, it also includes price transition information (→ indicates a level, ↑ indicates an upward trend, ↓ indicates a downward trend), information on similar products, and the like.

In this way, the user can select catalog magazine 2
The latest price can be obtained even in the case of an open price product that is not listed at 0. The user also:
Information that fluctuates, such as stock information, can be obtained at the same time, and the purchase of a product can be determined with reference to a change in price.

Although there is no particular limitation on the method of applying for purchase after deciding the product to be purchased, a method of applying by mail to the address described in the catalog magazine 20 or a method of directly calling a telephone number described in the catalog magazine 20 by telephone Although there is a method of applying, etc., there is also a method of performing an application operation from the user terminal 30 by adding order reception information to the product page information displayed in S56.

As for payment, there is a method in which cash is paid at the time of receiving a product.
If you apply from 0, make a contract between the company that sells the product and the financial institution with which the user has contracted in advance,
If the user terminal 30 can perform the payment processing, the user can save troublesome application and payment.

As described above, the user obtains information from the catalog magazine 20 in which the appearance and the product specifications of the product having a large data amount and relatively little fluctuation in the product information are obtained. By making price information and inventory information that has a small amount of data and relatively fluctuate available from mobile devices with small display screens,
While moving, product information can be easily obtained and purchase activities can be performed at the destination.

Further, the input information such as the magazine number and the product number is displayed as a bar code on the catalog magazine 20 and the bar code reading function is provided on the user terminal 30, so that the user can perform the input operation on the user terminal 30. Since it becomes simple and reliable, it is possible to prevent wasteful time and communication charges for accessing different product information due to erroneous input.

On the other hand, by monitoring the integrated merchandise center device 10, the merchandise seller can obtain information on the access results to the latest information such as the prices of catalog merchandise. Therefore, grasping the sales trend together with the sales results,
Since the selling price of the product can be set to an appropriate price at any time, the opportunity loss of the product sales can be greatly reduced, and efficient product sales can be performed.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, by combining a catalog magazine and a portable terminal, a user can easily obtain detailed product information and the latest price information even at a destination. This has the effect. In particular, even when a portable terminal with a small display screen is used, sufficiently detailed and up-to-date product information can be easily obtained even while moving or at the destination.

Further, the dealer can set an appropriate selling price at any time by referring to the information on the access frequency to the latest information of the catalog product, and this has the effect of enabling efficient product sales.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a catalog magazine according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an integrated homepage displayed on the user terminal 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a product information page displayed on the user terminal 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Integrated merchandise center apparatus 11 Transmission / reception control part 12 Homepage group 13 Product information database 20 Catalog magazine 30 User terminal 39 Communication network

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A product which is connected to the communication network and is published in the catalog magazine from a user terminal connectable to the communication network with reference to the address of the homepage, magazine number and product number published in the catalog magazine. A method of accessing an integrated merchandise center apparatus that stores merchandise information including the price of the merchandise, and obtaining merchandise information corresponding to the accessed magazine number and merchandise number. 2. Accessing an integrated merchandise center apparatus that connects to the communication network and holds the home page from a user terminal connectable to a communication network with reference to an address of a home page published in a catalog magazine, A magazine number for identifying a catalog magazine published in a magazine and a product number for identifying a product are input to the extracted homepage to access the integrated product center device, and include the price of a product included in the integrated product center device. A method for selling a product, comprising extracting product information corresponding to the input magazine number and product number from a product information database storing product information. 3. The sales of goods according to claim 1 or 2, wherein bar codes respectively corresponding to the magazine numbers and the product numbers published in the catalog magazine are read by bar code reading means of the user terminal. Method. 4. A catalog magazine in which an address of a homepage, a magazine number for identifying a magazine and a product number for identifying a published product, a user terminal used by a user and connectable to a communication network, A product information database that is connected to a network and stores product information including a price of a product corresponding to the magazine number and the product number, and that the product is accessed when the user terminal includes a magazine number and a product number. A sales system having an integrated merchandise center apparatus for extracting merchandise information corresponding to a magazine number and a merchandise number accessed from an information database and transmitting the extracted merchandise information to a user terminal. 5. A catalog magazine in which an address of a homepage, a magazine number for identifying a magazine, and a product number for identifying a listed product, a user terminal that can be used by a user and connectable to a communication network, Connected to a network, a homepage having an address published in a catalog magazine, a product information database storing product information including a price of a product corresponding to the magazine number and the product number, and a catalog magazine from the user terminal. When the posted address is accessed, the homepage is transmitted to the user terminal, and when the magazine number and the product number are input to the transmitted homepage and accessed from the user terminal, the accessed magazine number and the product are accessed. The product information corresponding to the number is retrieved from the product information database and the user A sales system having an integrated merchandise center device including a transmission / reception control unit for transmitting to a terminal. 6. A merchandise sales system comprising a user terminal, an integrated merchandise center apparatus, a communication network connecting them, and a catalog magazine listing detailed information of the merchandise, wherein the catalog magazine includes an address of a homepage and ,
A magazine number for identifying the catalog magazine and a product number assigned to each published product are posted, and the integrated product center device stores the homepage and product information including product information including price information. A transmission / reception control unit that returns the homepage when receiving the access to the homepage from the database and the user terminal from the user terminal, and retrieves and returns the corresponding product information from the database when receiving the magazine number and the product number from the user terminal; Means for accessing the homepage, means for transmitting a magazine number and a product number in accordance with the homepage to obtain product information from the integrated product center apparatus, the home terminal or the product information Means for displaying a message. 7. The PHS (personal handyph), which is a mobile phone or a simple mobile phone.
one system) or PD which is a portable information terminal
A (personal digital assi)
7. The sales system according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the sales system is a stance. 8. The bar code reader according to claim 4, wherein the user terminal has a bar code reader, and reads a magazine number and a product number published in a catalog magazine by the bar code reader. Or 7 sales systems. 9. A product terminal connected to a user terminal used by a user via a communication network, and stores product information including a product number corresponding to a magazine number identifying a magazine published in a catalog magazine and a product number identifying a product. If the user terminal has an access including a magazine number and a product number, the user terminal retrieves product information corresponding to the accessed magazine number and product number from the product information database and sends the product information to the user terminal. An integrated merchandise center device for transmitting. 10. A homepage connected to a user terminal used by a user via a communication network and having an address published in a catalog magazine, a magazine number identifying the magazine published in the catalog magazine, and a product number identifying a product And a product information database storing product information including prices of products corresponding to the above, and when the user terminal accesses an address published in a catalog magazine, the homepage is transmitted to the user terminal, and transmitted from the user terminal. A transmission / reception control unit that retrieves product information corresponding to the accessed magazine number and product number from the product information database and transmits the product information to the user terminal when a magazine number and a product number are input and accessed in the homepage. Integrated merchandise center device with 11. When there is an access including a magazine number for identifying a magazine published in a catalog magazine and a product number for identifying a product, an access is made from a product information database storing product information including a price of the product. A program for causing a computer to execute a procedure of extracting product information corresponding to a magazine number and a product number and transmitting the product information to the user terminal. 12. When a user terminal accesses an address published in a catalog magazine, a procedure for transmitting a home page to the user terminal, and in the transmitted home page, a magazine number and a product for identifying the magazine published in the catalog magazine are entered. When the product number to be identified is entered and accessed,
A step of extracting the article information corresponding to the accessed magazine number and article number from the article information database storing the article information including the price of the article and transmitting the article information to the user terminal.