JP2002288460A - System for mail order sale on virtual visit, system for providing service of mail order sale on virtual visit, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for mail order sale on virtual visit, which enables a purchaser to touch commodities with his or her eyes and ears in the same manner as an actual visit at a shop to select and order them without actually going to the shop. SOLUTION: A purchaser 20 artificially visits virtually visits a shop 1 of a seller 10 to determine a commodity which the purchaser will purchase. The shop 1 is provided with a moving picture acquisition device 12 like a CCD camera, a voice acquisition device 13 like a microphone, and a server device 11 connected to these devices 12 and 13 through a wired/radio network. A video camera or a head mount type display device having both functions of devices 12 and 13 may be used instead of devices 12 and 13. A house 2 of the purchaser 20 is provided with a client device 21 connected to the server device 11 through the Internet 3 and a moving picture acquisition device 22 like a CCD camera and a voice acquisition device 23 like a microphone which are connected to the client device 21. Such communication environment is arranged that real-time two-way communication of moving pictures and voices can be performed between the server device 11 and a communication information terminal device 21 on the purchase side through a network 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a virtual store mail-order service system, a virtual store mail-order service providing system, a program, and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional local shopping street, a customer goes to a target shopping street, negotiates the price of the product while talking with the public, and purchases the product. I have. In order to purchase merchandise by mail order, catalogs of paper media, advertising flyers, mass media such as television, the Internet, and other unidirectional information are sent to the purchaser, and the purchaser selects a purchase item from the information. Then, it was common to place an order by another means such as telephone, fax, mail, and e-mail.

[0003] However, in selling goods in shopping malls, there is a problem that the ability to attract customers is reduced due to the worsening weather and the ability to attract customers due to changes in the social structure such as an aging society and an increase in double-income families. It has become. Further, in mail order sales, it is not possible to place an order for a product by negotiating the product with the seller and the buyer face-to-face, one-on-one.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances. Even if the purchaser himself does not visit the store, he or she can visit the store in the same manner as when visiting the store. A virtual store mail-order system that allows you to contact the product with your eyes and ears, select the product, and place an order.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a virtual store mail-order sales service providing system that provides the system as a service via a network, a program thereof, and a computer-readable recording medium recording the program.

[0005]

The invention of claim 1 is a virtual visit mail-order system for a purchaser to visit a store of a seller in a simulated manner and determine a product to be purchased. Having a selling-side moving image acquiring device and a selling-side voice acquiring device, and a server device connected to the selling-side moving image acquiring device and the selling-side voice acquiring device. The moving image and audio information on the merchandise in the store acquired by the acquisition device, and the moving image and audio information from the purchaser acquired by the purchaser moving image acquisition device and the purchaser audio acquisition device for the purchaser, A client device connected to the purchase-side moving image acquisition device and the purchase-side audio acquisition device and network-connected to the server device;
Real-time two-way communication is performed with the server device via a network to present moving images and audio information to each other.

A second aspect of the present invention is a virtual in-store mail-order sales system in which a purchaser visits a store of a seller in a simulated manner and decides a product to be purchased. Device and sales-side voice acquisition device, server device connected to the sales-side moving image acquisition device and sales-side voice acquisition device, one or more client devices connected to the server device via a network, and each client device And a purchase-side moving image acquisition device and a purchase-side sound acquisition device for a purchaser, the moving image related to a product in a store acquired by the sale-side moving image acquisition device and the sale-side voice acquisition device. Network information and audio information, and the moving image and audio information from the purchaser acquired by the purchasing moving image acquisition device and the purchasing audio acquisition device, between the server device and the client device. Performs real-time two-way communication through the workpiece, in which is characterized by mutually presenting a moving picture and audio information.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the virtual store mail-order system according to the first or second aspect, the server device selects a client device of a buyer to which the seller responds from client devices accessed. It is characterized by having a buyer switching means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual visit mail order system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the server device includes a merchandise information database storing merchandise information, and the sales-side moving image acquisition device. A product recognizing means for retrieving and recognizing a product by referring to the product information database on the basis of the image obtained in the above step; And characterized in that:

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual visit mail-order system according to the fourth aspect, the product recognizing means indicates the name and price of the product attached to the product in the acquired image. This is a means for recognizing a product based on a price tag.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual store mail-order system according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the server device allows the client device to purchase the product from the product whose product information is displayed by the product information presenting means. , And a product ordering means for making an order.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the virtual store mail-order sales system according to the sixth aspect, the server device includes a purchased product storage unit for storing information on products ordered by the product ordering unit, and a client device. And a browsing means for browsing information on commodities ordered by the purchaser who owns the client device among the commodities of the order stored in the purchased merchandise storing means via the network. .

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual store mail-order system according to the sixth or seventh aspect, the commodity ordering means has means for causing a client device to make an electronic payment.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual visiting mail-order system according to any one of the fourth to eighth aspects, the product information includes a product name, a price of the product, a cooking method, and a storage method. It is characterized by including one or more of them.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual store mail-order system according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the server device includes a voice acquired by the voice acquiring devices on the seller side and the purchaser side. Is characterized by having voice recognition means for recognizing.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the virtual store mail-order system according to the tenth aspect, there is provided a voice storing means for converting the voice recognized by the voice recognizing means into character data and storing it. Things.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual store mail-order system according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects,
The server device has means for transmitting product information including a product name and a price to a registered client device by e-mail.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, one or a plurality of selling client devices connected to a selling moving image acquiring device and a selling audio acquiring device possessed by a seller are connected via a network, and The purchase-side client device connected to the purchase-side moving image acquisition device and the purchase-side voice acquisition device has one or more server devices connected via a network, and the purchaser simulates the store of the seller. A virtual store mail-order system for arriving at a store and deciding a product to be purchased, wherein the server device relays the purchase-side client device that has made an access request to the sales-side client device and the sales-side client device. Thus, the product acquired by the selling-side moving image acquiring device and the selling-side voice acquiring device and provided by the client device for sale at the store is provided. Moving image and audio information acquired by the purchaser moving image acquisition device and purchaser audio acquisition device for the purchaser, and provided by the purchase client device, The present invention is characterized in that real-time two-way communication is performed between a selling client device and a purchasing client device to present moving images and audio information together.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual store mail-order system according to the thirteenth aspect, the server device comprises:
A selling client device having purchaser switching means for selecting a purchasing client device of a buyer to which a seller responds among the purchasing client devices that have made an access request to the selling client device. It is.

The invention of claim 15 is the invention of claim 13 or 14
In the virtual store mail-order sales system described above, each sales-side client device or server device stores a product information database that stores product information and the product information database based on an image acquired by the selling-side moving image acquisition device. , And a product information presenting means for displaying the product information of the product recognized by the product recognizing means on the purchasing client device.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual visit mail-order sales system according to the fifteenth aspect, the product recognizing means includes a name and a price of the product attached to the product in the acquired image. This is a means for recognizing a product based on a price tag.

The invention of claim 17 is the invention of claim 15 or 16
In the virtual visit mail-order sales system described above, each selling client device has a product ordering means for causing the purchasing client device to select a product to be purchased from the products whose product information is displayed by the product information presenting means, and to place an order. It is characterized by the following.

[0022] According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual store mail-order system according to the seventeenth aspect, the server device comprises:
Purchased product storage means for storing information on the product ordered by the product ordering means, and sales-side client devices and purchase-side client devices, among the ordered products stored in the purchased product storage means via a network, A browsing unit for browsing information on a product related to an order of the selling client device and the purchasing client device.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual in-store mail-order sales system according to the seventeenth aspect, each of the selling-side client devices includes a purchased merchandise storage means for storing information on the goods ordered by the merchandise ordering means, A browsing unit for browsing information on commodities ordered by a purchaser who owns the purchasing client device out of commodities of the order stored in the purchased commodities storage unit via a network, in the client device on the side. It is a characteristic.

The invention of claim 20 is the invention of claims 17 to 19
In the virtual store mail-order system according to any one of the above, the product ordering means has means for causing the purchase-side client device to make an electronic payment.

The invention of claim 21 is the invention of claims 15 to 20
Wherein the merchandise information includes, in addition to the name of the merchandise, one or more of a price, a cooking method, and a preservation method of the merchandise. .

The invention of claim 22 is the invention of claims 13 to 21
In the virtual visit mail-order system according to any one of the above, each client device on the selling side or the server device,
It is characterized by having voice recognition means for recognizing voices obtained by the voice obtaining devices on the seller side and the purchaser side.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the virtual store mail-order sales system according to the twenty-second aspect, each of the selling-side client devices or the server device converts the voice recognized by the voice recognition means into character data and stores the data. It is characterized by having a voice storage means for performing the operation.

The invention of claim 24 is the invention of claims 13 to 23
In the virtual visit mail-order system according to any one of the above, each client device on the selling side or the server device,
It is characterized by having means for transmitting product information including the product name and price to the registered purchasing client device by e-mail.

[0029] According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual store mail-order system according to any one of the first to twenty-fourth aspects,
The selling-side moving image acquiring device and the selling-side voice acquiring device,
An integrated device that can be mounted on the head, the device having a display device that displays moving image information from a client device, and an audio output device that outputs audio information from the client device. Things.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for functioning as the virtual store mail-order system according to any one of the first to twenty-fifth aspects.

According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a service for activating a program for functioning as the virtual store mail-order system according to any one of the first to twelfth from a client device possessed by a seller via a network. This is a virtual store mail-order service providing system having a server device to provide.

[0032] The invention of claim 28 is the invention of claims 13 to 25.
The program for functioning as a virtual store mail-order system according to any one of the above, via a network,
This is a virtual store mail-order sales service providing system having a server device that provides a service activated from a client device owned by a group of sellers.

The invention of claim 29 is the invention of claim 27 or 28.
The virtual shop mail-order sales service providing system according to the above, further comprising a charging system that charges an amount calculated from the price of the ordered product as a consideration for using the program for the seller or the group of the seller. Things.

The invention of claim 30 is the invention of claims 27 to 29
A program for functioning as the virtual visit mail-order sales service providing system according to any one of the above.

The invention of claim 31 is the invention of claim 26 or 30.
A computer-readable recording medium on which the program described above is recorded.

[0036]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram for explaining a virtual store mail-order system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The virtual store mail-order sales system according to the present embodiment (hereinafter, referred to as the present system) is a system for a purchaser to visit a store of a seller in a simulated manner and determine a product to be purchased. A seller 10 of a store 1 shown as a fishmonger in FIG. 1 has a moving image acquisition device 12 such as a CCD camera and a voice acquisition device 13 such as a microphone, and a sale connected to the devices 12 and 13 via a wired or wireless network. Side communication information terminal device (server device) 11. The seller 10 carries the devices 12 and 13 and introduces the product to the buyer 20. The server device 11 may include a WWW server to facilitate access from a purchaser. The moving image acquisition device 12 and the audio acquisition device 13
Examples of such a device include a video camera, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a head-mounted moving image display device and a sound output device (head-mounted display: HMD) with the same function, and a mobile phone with a camera Phone, P
Mobile communication information terminal devices such as HS and PDA are exemplified. In addition, the moving image acquisition device 12 includes the seller 10 and the product 1
4, a plurality of price tags 15 may be prepared so that both can be photographed. Actually, a program that can be executed by the server device 11 as a means described below by a computer is stored in an appropriate place.

On the other hand, in the home 2 of the purchaser 20, who is a customer of the store 1, a purchase-side communication information terminal device 21 as a purchaser-side client device connected to the server device 11 via the network 3 such as the Internet, Moving image acquisition device 22 such as a CCD camera connected to client device 21
And a voice acquisition device 23 such as a microphone.

In the present system, real-time two-way communication of moving image and audio information acquired respectively via the network 3 is performed between the server device 11 and the client device 21 to present the moving image and audio information. It is assumed that a communication environment that allows for mutual communication is established. In addition,
Network 3 is a wireless connection (including a communication satellite connection)
Alternatively, a network with a wired connection using an optical fiber or the like is shown, and a network capable of high-speed broadband communication (high-speed broadband communication) for transmitting a moving image bidirectionally in real time.

The server device 11 determines the client device 21 to which the seller 10 responds among the accessed client devices, that is, the client device 2
It is assumed that the system has a purchaser switching unit that determines the purchaser 20 using the system 1 and copes with simultaneous virtual visits from a plurality of purchasers. Here, the purchaser switching unit is a unit that displays an image from the accessed client device 21 on the display device of the server device 11 or the moving image acquisition device 12 and allows the user to select from the displayed image. . In the case of the above-mentioned HMD, the video may be displayed on the lens of the eyeglasses and may be selectable. As means for selection, for example, a video from each purchaser is displayed with a number attached thereto, and the number of the purchaser to be selected is read aloud.
3 may be picked up, and the voice may be recognized and selected by voice recognition means.

The seller 10 of the present system preferably includes a product information database (DB) for storing product information, a product recognizing unit, a product information presenting unit, and a product ordering unit. The product recognizing means searches for and recognizes a product by referring to the product information DB based on the image acquired by the moving image acquisition device 12 on the selling side. Further, the product recognizing means may recognize the product based on the price tag 15 in which the product name and the price of the product attached to the product 14 are described in the acquired image. The merchandise information presenting means outputs merchandise information such as the product name of the merchandise recognized by the merchandise recognizing means together with or separately from the moving image and audio information captured by the seller 10.
On the WWW browser or the like.

The product ordering means selects a product to be purchased from the displayed products, and determines (orders) the purchase. Also,
The product ordering means is a means for displaying the moving image and the audio information together with the moving image and the audio information on the display device of the client device 21 so as to select the product to be ordered from the displayed information. The commodity ordering means may be a means for recognizing the word by the voice recognizing means when the purchaser 20 has applied for purchase from the displayed moving image information and saying "please," and the order can be completed as it is. As means for selection, for example, the video or product information of each product is displayed with a number attached thereto, the number of the product to be selected is picked up by the reading voice acquisition device 23, and the voice is recognized by the voice recognition device. May be selected.

The product information database includes, as product information, the product name, the price of the product, the cooking method,
It is preferable to store the storage method and the like, and to display the information by the product information presentation means. For example, when a certain fish is shown to the purchaser 20, the cooking method (cooking recipe), storage method, and the like are added from the product information database and displayed on the monitor of the purchaser 20.

As described above, it is preferable that the present system is provided with the voice recognition means, and the server device 11 receives the voice acquired by the sales voice acquisition device 13 and the voice acquired by the purchase voice acquisition device 23 in the server. The apparatus 11 may include a voice recording unit that recognizes the received voice, converts the voice into character data, and records the data. By providing the voice recording means, it is possible to create evidence for resolving a dispute such as “say, say no” which always occurs in business.

It is preferable that the server device 11 includes a purchased merchandise information storing means and a browsing means. The purchased merchandise information storing means stores information on the merchandise ordered by the merchandise ordering means, and the browsing means stores the stored merchandise information on the server device and via the network 3 in a WWW browser or the like of the client device 21 on the purchasing side. It can be browsed by.

The server device 11 may have a means for transmitting merchandise information including the merchandise name and price to the registered purchasing communication information terminal device 21 by e-mail. This e-mail enables advertising of special offers and the like. Further, the purchaser 20 may purchase a product in response to the information posted in the e-mail.

Further, a means may be provided for causing the product ordering means to perform electronic payment, and a rule may be provided such that an order for a product is established only after electronic payment is performed. Here, the electronic payment mainly includes electronic money in which currency values are replaced with electronic information. Electronic money is used as a means of settlement for electronic commerce on a network such as the Internet, and there is also one that records a currency value on an IC card in which a microprocessor is embedded in a business card size card and is used. A dedicated terminal device is used for reading and writing of the IC card, and can be carried around instead of cash. Further, the term "electronic payment" as used herein also refers to a payment made on a network by inputting a card number (and a password) such as a debit card or a credit card.

The goods ordered by the goods ordering means may be collected by each purchaser, may be delivered collectively for each purchaser, or may be delivered to a dedicated rocker (for example, near a station). May be employed, and the purchaser may be provided with the password of the rocker.
It is preferable that these receiving methods can be specified at the time of ordering.

Further, when a plurality of the above-described server devices 11 are provided,
An electronic mall that can be accessed from the WWW browser of the client device 21 by linking to a server device having two WWW servers or the like may be configured to increase customer attracting power. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram for explaining a virtual visit mail-order system according to another embodiment of the present invention.
The virtual store mail-order sales system according to the present embodiment (hereinafter, referred to as the present system) is a system for a purchaser to visit a store of a seller in a simulated manner and determine a product to be purchased. In FIG. 2, the seller 1 of the store 1a shown as a fishmonger
0a is a moving image acquisition device 12a such as a CCD camera and a sound acquisition device 13a such as a microphone, and these devices 12a, 1
3a and a selling client device (a server device from the viewpoint of the purchasing client device) 11a connected via a wired or wireless network. The seller 10a carries the devices 12a and 13a and introduces the merchandise to the buyer 20. Each store is the same.

The server device 4 stores the shops 1a, 1b,. . .
Sellers 10a, 10b,. . . Is a server device installed for a group of companies, and has a WWW server.
Access from the purchase-side client device 21 having a WW browser may be facilitated. In addition, as the moving image acquisition device 12a and the audio acquisition device 13a, a video camera can be cited as an example of a combined device, but is not limited thereto. For example, a head-mounted moving image display device and an audio output device with the same function are provided. (Head mounted display: HM
D) and mobile communication information terminal devices such as a mobile phone with a camera, PHS, and PDA. Further, a plurality of moving image acquisition devices 12 may be prepared so that both the seller 10 and the products 14 and 15 can be photographed. Actually, programs that can be executed by the computer as the following units are stored in appropriate locations in the server device 4 and each of the selling-side client devices.

On the other hand, in the home 2 of the purchaser 20 who is a customer of the store 1, a purchase-side communication information terminal device 21 as a client device of the purchaser connected to the server device 4 via the network 3 such as the Internet, It is assumed that a moving image acquisition device 22 such as a CCD camera connected to the purchase side client device 21 and a voice acquisition device 23 such as a microphone are provided.

In the present system, the purchase side client device 21 that has made an access request to the sales side client device 11 (hereinafter, often referred to as a code related to each seller without a suffix) and the server device 4 are connected. By relaying between the selling client device 11 and the selling client device 11, the real-time two-way communication of the moving image and audio information acquired respectively via the network 3 is performed between the selling client device 11 and the purchasing client device 21. In this case, it is assumed that a communication environment for presenting moving images and audio information is prepared. The network 3 refers to a wireless connection (including a communication satellite connection) or a wired connection using an optical fiber or the like, and high-speed broadband communication (high-speed broadband communication) for transmitting moving images in two directions in real time. A possible network.

The server device 4 causes the selling client device 11 to select and determine the purchasing client device 21 to which the seller 10 responds from the accessing purchasing client devices, that is, the client device 21
Has a purchaser switching means for determining the purchaser 20 who is using, and copes with simultaneous virtual visits from a plurality of purchasers. Here, the purchaser switching unit is a unit that displays an image from the accessed client device 21 on the display device of the selling client device 11 or the moving image acquisition device 12 and allows the user to select from the images. It is. In the case of the above-mentioned HMD, the video may be displayed on the lens of the eyeglasses and may be selectable. As means for selecting, for example, a video from each purchaser is displayed with a number attached thereto, the number of the purchaser to be selected is picked up by the reading voice acquisition device 13, and the voice is recognized by the voice recognition means to select the voice. You may make it.

The seller side of the present system, that is, each sales side client device 11 or server device 4 is provided with a product information database (DB) for storing product information, a product recognition means, a product information presenting means, and a product ordering means. Is preferred. The product recognizing means searches for and recognizes a product by referring to the product information DB based on the image acquired by the moving image acquisition device 12 on the selling side. Further, the product recognizing means may recognize the product based on the price tag 15 in which the product name and the price of the product attached to the product 14 are described in the acquired image. The merchandise information presenting means outputs merchandise information such as the product name of the merchandise recognized by the merchandise recognizing means together with or separately from the moving image and audio information captured by the seller 10.
On the WWW browser or the like.

The product ordering means selects a product to be purchased from the displayed products, and determines (orders) the purchase. Also,
The product ordering means is a means for displaying the moving image and the audio information on the display device of the purchase-side client device 21 together with the moving image and the audio information, and for selecting the product to be ordered from the displayed information. The commodity ordering means may be a means for recognizing the word by the voice recognizing means when the purchaser 20 has applied for purchase from the displayed moving image information and saying "please," and the order can be completed as it is. As means for selection, for example, the video or product information of each product is displayed with a number attached thereto, the number of the product to be selected is picked up by the reading voice acquisition device 23, and the voice is recognized by the voice recognition device. May be selected.

The product information database includes, as product information, the product name, the price of the product, the cooking method,
It is preferable to store the storage method and the like, and to display the information by the product information presentation means. For example, when a certain fish is shown to the purchaser 20, the cooking method (cooking recipe), storage method, and the like are added from the product information database and displayed on the monitor of the purchaser 20.

As described above, the present system preferably includes voice recognition means. The voice obtained by the voice obtaining device 13 on the sales side client device 11 and the voice obtained by the voice obtaining device 23 on the purchase side. May be provided on the sales side client device 11 side. By providing the voice recording means, it is possible to create evidence for resolving a dispute such as “say, say no” which always occurs in business.

It is preferable that the server device 4 or each of the selling side client devices 11 include a purchased merchandise information storage unit and a browsing unit. The purchased merchandise information storage means stores information on the merchandise ordered by the merchandise ordering means, and the browsing means stores the stored merchandise information on the server device and on the network 3.
And can be browsed by a WWW browser or the like of the purchase-side client device 21 via the Internet. In the case where the server device 4 is provided with a purchased merchandise information storage unit and a browsing unit, it can be browsed by the selling client device 11 as well.

The server device 4 or each of the selling-side client devices 11 may have means for transmitting product information including the product name and price to the registered purchasing-side communication information terminal device 21 by e-mail. This e-mail enables advertising of special offers and the like. Further, the purchaser 20 may purchase a product in response to the information posted in the e-mail.

Further, a means may be provided for causing the product ordering means to perform electronic payment, and a rule may be provided such that an order for a product is established only after electronic payment is performed. Here, the electronic payment mainly includes electronic money in which currency values are replaced with electronic information. Electronic money is used as a means of settlement for electronic commerce on a network such as the Internet, and there is also one that records a currency value on an IC card in which a microprocessor is embedded in a business card size card, and is used. A dedicated terminal device is used for reading and writing of the IC card, and can be carried around instead of cash. Further, the term "electronic payment" as used herein also refers to a payment made on a network by inputting a card number (and a password) such as a debit card or a credit card.

The goods ordered by the goods ordering means may be collected by each purchaser, may be delivered collectively for each purchaser, or may be delivered to a dedicated rocker (for example, near a station). May be employed, and the purchaser may be provided with the password of the rocker.
It is preferable that these receiving methods can be specified at the time of ordering.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram for explaining a virtual visit mail-order sales service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The virtual store mail-order sales service providing system (hereinafter, referred to as the present service providing system) is a program (application) for causing a computer to function as the virtual store mail-order sales system of each of the above-described embodiments.
Has an ASP server device that provides a service to be activated from a client device of each seller or a group of sellers via a network. A charging system may be provided for charging the amount determined from the price ordered by the commodity ordering means as the price for using the program for the seller.

Here, a system for providing an application to a group of merchants (shopping mall association information center) will be described. The ASP center 6 tie-ups with a company that provides broadband communication to distribute applications to each of the mall association information centers 8a,. . , 8x. Each mall association information center, for example, the center 8x, is a store (store) 8 in the mall.
₁ , 8 ₂ ,. . Supervise services at The shopping mall association information center 8x stores homes (PCs) and individuals (mobile phones, PHS, PDA, etc.) 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ ,. . And are connected via a network. Here, a network capable of high-speed broadband communication using an optical fiber is assumed as the network, but the network is not limited to this. Home 2 _{1, 2} 2,. . As a client device for purchase
In addition to C, a mobile phone, a PHS, a PDA, and the like, a television connected to an STB (Set Top Box) such as a BS digital broadcast can be considered.

While the embodiments have been described above with reference to the virtual store mail-order sales system and the virtual store mail-order sales service providing system of the present invention, the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and the ASP service. As mentioned above, as a program for causing a computer to function as such a system, or for causing a computer to execute a method relating to a processing procedure in such a system, or as a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded Is also possible.

An embodiment of a recording medium for storing a program and data for realizing the function of providing virtual visit mail order and virtual visit mail order service according to the present invention will be described. Specific examples of the recording medium include a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, a DVD-ROM, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a flash memory, and various other ROs.
M, RAM, etc. can be assumed, and a program for causing the computer to execute the functions of the system of each of the embodiments of the present invention described above on these recording media to realize the functions of virtual shop online sales and virtual shop online sales service provision are provided. By recording and distributing, it is easy to realize the function. Then, the program is read by the information processing apparatus by attaching the recording medium as described above to an information processing apparatus such as a computer, or the program is stored in a storage medium provided in the information processing apparatus, and if necessary, By reading the information, it is possible to execute the functions of the virtual store mail-order sales and the provision of the virtual store mail-order sales service according to the present invention.

[0066]

According to the present invention, it is possible to select a product while contacting the product with his / her own eyes and ears as if visiting the store, without having to go to the store by the buyer himself. .

According to the present invention, one-to-one marketing between a seller and a purchaser (a relationship between the face of a seller and a face of a buyer), which cannot be obtained by conventional mail order, can be realized. Being able to see each other's faces creates a trusting relationship when selling and purchasing.

According to the present invention, the seller can perform sales in response to changes in the social structure such as an aging society and an increase in double-income households, and can also take measures to reduce the number of visits to the store due to bad weather and the like, and improve the ability to attract customers.

According to the present invention, not only in one store or one sales office, but also in a shopping street of a plurality of stores where various products are gathered,
It is possible to virtually visit each store with a video while switching communication with each store as if the purchaser were walking around some stores.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram for explaining a virtual store mail-order system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a virtual store mail-order system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram for explaining a virtual store mail-order sales service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1a, 1b ... store, 2 ... home, 3 ... network,
4 server device, 6 ASP center, 8a to 8x each mall association information center, 10, 10a, 10b seller
11, 11a, 11b: selling communication information terminal device (server device), 12, 12a, 12b: moving image acquisition device, 1
3, 13a, 13b ... sales side voice acquisition device, 14, 14
a, 14b: commodity, 15, 15a, 15b: price tag, 20
... a purchaser, 21 ... a purchase side communication information terminal device (client device), 22 ... a moving image acquisition device, 23 ... a voice acquisition device.

Claims (31)

[Claims] 1. A virtual in-store mail-order sales system for a purchaser to visit a store of a seller in a simulated manner and determine a product to be purchased, wherein the sales-side moving image acquisition device and the sales-side voice of the seller are provided. An acquisition device, having a server device connected to the selling-side moving image acquiring device and the selling-side voice acquiring device,
A moving image and audio information related to a product in a store acquired by the selling-side moving image acquiring device and the selling-side audio acquiring device,
The moving image and audio information from the purchaser acquired by the purchaser moving image acquisition device and the purchaser audio acquisition device for the purchaser are connected to the purchaser moving image acquisition device and the purchaser audio acquisition device, and A virtual store mail-order system, wherein real-time two-way communication is performed between a client device network-connected to the server device and the server device via a network to present moving images and audio information to each other. . 2. A virtual in-store mail-order sales system for a purchaser to visit a store of a seller in a simulated manner and decide on a product to be purchased, wherein the sales-side moving image acquisition device and the sales-side voice of the seller are provided. An acquisition device, a server device connected to the selling-side moving image acquiring device and the selling-side voice acquiring device, one or more client devices connected to the server device via a network, and each client device connected to the server device. Having a purchase-side moving image acquisition device and a purchase-side audio acquisition device for a purchaser, and a moving image and audio information related to a product in a store acquired by the sale-side moving image acquisition device and the sale-side audio acquisition device, The moving image and audio information from the purchaser acquired by the purchaser moving image acquisition device and the purchaser audio acquisition device are transmitted via the network between the server device and the client device. A virtual store mail-order system that performs real-time two-way communication and presents moving images and audio information. 3. The virtual server according to claim 1, wherein the server device includes a buyer switching unit that selects a client device of a buyer to which a seller responds among client devices that have been accessed. Visit mail order system. 4. The server device searches for and recognizes a product by referring to the product information database based on a product information database that stores product information and an image acquired by the selling-side moving image acquisition device. 4. A virtual store mail-order according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a product recognizing means, and product information presenting means for displaying product information of the product recognized by the product recognizing means on a client device. system. 5. The product recognizing means is a means for recognizing a product in an acquired image based on a price tag indicating a product name and a price of the product attached to the product. Item 4. The virtual store mail-order system according to Item 4. 6. The server device according to claim 4, wherein said server device has a product ordering means for allowing a client device to select a product to be purchased from the products for which the product information is displayed by said product information presenting device and to place an order. Or the virtual visit mail-order system according to 5. 7. A server according to claim 1, wherein said server device stores information on a product ordered by said product ordering means, and a client device stores the ordered product stored in said purchased product storage device via a network. 7. The virtual store mail-order system according to claim 6, further comprising: a browsing unit for browsing information on products ordered by a purchaser who owns the client device. 8. The virtual store mail-order system according to claim 6, wherein the commodity ordering means has means for causing a client device to make an electronic payment. 9. The product according to claim 4, wherein the product information includes one or more of a price, a cooking method, and a preservation method of the product in addition to the product name. Virtual store mail-order system. 10. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the server device includes a voice recognition unit for recognizing voices obtained by the voice obtaining devices on the seller side and the purchaser side. Virtual store mail-order system. 11. The virtual store mail-order system according to claim 10, further comprising voice storage means for converting the voice recognized by said voice recognition means into character data and storing the converted text data. 12. The server according to claim 1, wherein the server device has means for transmitting product information including a product name and a price to a registered client device by e-mail. Virtual store mail-order system. 13. A sales-side client device connected to a sales-side moving image acquisition device and a sales-side voice acquisition device possessed by a seller, one or more of which are connected via a network, and a purchase-side moving image for a purchaser. The purchaser client device connected to the image acquisition device and the purchaser voice acquisition device has one or more server devices connected via a network,
A virtual in-store mail-order system for a buyer to visit a store of the seller in a simulated manner and determine a product to be purchased,
The server device is acquired by the selling-side moving image acquiring device and the selling-side voice acquiring device by relaying the purchasing client device that has made an access request to the selling client device and the selling client device, and is sold. Video and audio information related to a product in a store provided by the client device for purchase, and the purchaser's side obtained by the purchaser's moving image acquisition device and purchaser's voice acquisition device for the purchaser and provided by the purchaser client device. A virtual store mail-order, wherein real-time two-way communication is performed between the selling client device and the purchasing client device with the moving image and the sound information from the client, and the moving image and the sound information are presented together. system. 14. The server device, wherein the server device causes the sales client device to select a purchase client device of the purchaser to which the seller responds among the purchase client devices that have requested access to the sales client device. 14. The virtual store mail-order system according to claim 13, further comprising switching means. 15. A merchandise information database that stores merchandise information, wherein each of the sales-side client devices or server devices includes:
A product recognizing means for searching and recognizing a product by referring to the product information database based on the image acquired by the selling-side moving image acquiring apparatus, and merchandise information of the product recognized by the product recognizing means on the purchase side 15. The virtual store mail-order system according to claim 13, further comprising: a merchandise information presenting means for displaying on the client device. 16. The product recognizing means is a means for recognizing a product based on a price tag indicating a product name and a price of the product attached to the product in the acquired image. Item 15. The virtual store mail-order system according to Item 15. 17. Each of the selling-side client devices has a merchandise ordering means for causing the purchasing-side client device to select a merchandise to be purchased from the merchandise whose merchandise information is displayed by the merchandise information presenting means, and to place an order. Claim 15
Or the virtual store mail-order system according to item 16. 18. The server according to claim 1, wherein said server device is a storage device for storing information on a product ordered by said product ordering device, and said purchase product storage device via a network to a selling client device and a purchasing client device. 18. The virtual store mail-order sales system according to claim 17, further comprising: browsing means for browsing information on the merchandise related to the order of the selling client device and the purchasing client device out of the merchandise items of the order stored in (1). 19. Each of the selling-side client devices is stored in the purchased-item storing means via a network in the purchased-item storing device for storing information on the product ordered by the product-ordering device. 18. The virtual store mail-order system according to claim 17, further comprising: browsing means for browsing information of the ordered product among the ordered products by a purchaser who owns the purchase-side client device. 20. The virtual store mail-order system according to claim 17, wherein the merchandise ordering means has means for causing a purchase-side client device to make an electronic payment. 21. The product information includes a product name in addition to a product name.
21. The method according to claim 15, which includes at least one of a price, a cooking method, and a preservation method of the product.
The described virtual visit mail order system. 22. The sales client device or the server device has voice recognition means for recognizing voices obtained by the voice obtaining devices on the seller side and the purchaser side. 21. The virtual store mail-order system according to any one of 21. 23. The virtual system according to claim 22, wherein each of the selling-side client devices or the server device has a voice storage unit that converts the voice recognized by the voice recognition unit into character data and stores the data. Visit mail order system. 24. The method according to claim 13, wherein each of the selling client devices or the server device has means for transmitting product information including a product name and a price to a registered purchasing client device by e-mail. 24. The virtual store mail-order system according to any one of items 23 to 23. 25. The selling-side moving image acquiring device and the selling-side voice acquiring device are integrated devices that can be mounted on the head,
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a display device for displaying moving image information from the client device; and an audio output device for outputting audio information from the client device.
25. The virtual store mail-order system according to any one of items 24 to 24. 26. A program for functioning as a virtual store mail-order system according to any one of claims 1 to 25. 27. A server device that provides a service that activates a program for functioning as a virtual store mail-order system according to any one of claims 1 to 12 from a client device of the seller via a network. Virtual store mail-order sales service providing system. 28. A server for providing a service for starting a program for functioning as a virtual store mail-order system according to any one of claims 13 to 25 from a client device belonging to a group of sellers via a network. A virtual store mail-order service providing system having a device. 29. The system according to claim 27, further comprising a billing system for billing the seller or the group of the seller for the use of the program based on the price of the ordered product. Virtual store mail-order sales service providing system. 30. A program for functioning as the virtual store mail-order service providing system according to claim 27. 31. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 26 or 30 is recorded.