JP2002297754A - Virtual experience system, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To virtually experience an operation of an electrical equipment on a network. SOLUTION: This virtual experience system 1 is constituted of a content providing server 10, plural user terminals 20, and a maker terminal 30. The each user terminal 20 accesses an HP opened by the content providing server 10 to receive an object data or a manual data of the desired electrical equipment corresponding to an indication of the operation, so as to use operation experience service. The content providing server 10 stores operation indication information transmitted from the user terminal 20 as experience information, and analyzes the experience information to transmit an analyzed result to the maker terminal 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a virtual experience device and a program for allowing a user to virtually operate an electric device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the operation of electric appliances such as home electric appliances and portable terminals has tended to become more and more diversified with the sophistication and multifunctionality. Therefore, when purchasing an electric device such as a home appliance or a portable terminal, the user obtains a catalog in advance, accesses a homepage (HP) published on the Web, and obtains a photograph or the like of the electric device. I was browsing function explanations. Alternatively, the user actually goes to the store to take the product displayed as a sample and receives an explanation of the specification and operation method from the store clerk.

[0003] In addition, since the operation of the electric equipment is complicated after the purchase of the product, the user has operated the electric equipment with reference to an instruction manual or a manual attached to the electric equipment. Alternatively, for example, when the electric device is a mobile terminal or the like, the user has operated the mobile terminal while referring to the operation description using a help function attached to the mobile terminal.

On the other hand, manufacturers who provide the above-mentioned electric appliances such as home electric appliances and portable terminals are required to know what operation procedures the provided electric appliances are used by users by using HP or postcards on the Web. It is necessary to have the user answer by carrying out a questionnaire using such a method, or to have a maker recruit a monitor and submit a report or the like of the impression using the electric device. Alternatively, by accepting a complaint or the like from some users, the operability of the electric device or the like is grasped.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional electric device, the operation method has been diversified and complicated with high functionality and multifunctionality.
There is a problem in that it is not possible to sufficiently understand the features and operability of the electric device only by browsing the description in the form of a photograph or a text in a catalog or an HP. Even when a user goes to a store and actually obtains a product displayed as a sample, there are many restrictions on operating the product, and it is difficult to fully understand the features and operability of the product. Was.

Further, when a user uses an electric device after purchasing a product, it is very troublesome to operate while referring to an instruction manual, and even when using a help function attached to a portable terminal or the like. In many cases, detailed descriptions have been omitted, and it has been difficult to make full use of electric devices only with the conventional help function.

[0007] On the other hand, a manufacturer that provides the above-mentioned electric appliances such as home appliances and portable terminals requires the user to investigate what kind of operation procedure or operation method the provided electric device is used by the user. It is necessary to have the user answer the questionnaire via an HP or a postcard or the like, and it is very troublesome, so that a sufficient answer to the questionnaire could not be obtained. Further, when conducting a survey by recruiting monitors, it is costly, so that it is necessary to limit the number of monitors, and there is a problem that a sufficient survey cannot be conducted.

[0008] Further, even when deficiencies in operability are pointed out by a complaint from a user or the like, all opinions are not always reflected because they are opinions of some users.
For this reason, even if the operability is inadequate, the opinions and experiences of the user are hardly reflected, and in many cases, the quality and operability of the product are not improved.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a virtual experience apparatus and a program that allow the user to virtually experience the operation of an electric device on a network.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A virtual experience device (for example, FIG. 1) that is connected to a user terminal (for example, the user terminal 20 of FIG. 1) via a network (for example, the network N of FIG. 1) and provides the user terminal with a virtual experience service of an electric device. 1 content providing server 10) that stores object information including image data for each operation of the electric device (for example, the virtual object information D in FIG. 1).
B181) and manual information storage means (for example, FIG. 1) for storing manual information related to the specifications of the electric device.
Manual information DB 182) and either the object information from the object information storage means or the manual information from the manual information storage means in response to an instruction from the user terminal to generate transmission data and generate the transmission data. Transmission means (for example, FIG. 2
Communication control unit 14), and experience information storage means (for example, the user experience information DB 184 in FIG. 1) for extracting and storing experience information related to an operation from operation instruction information received as an instruction of the user terminal. It is characterized by.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a virtual experience apparatus which is connected to a user terminal via a network and provides the user terminal with a virtual experience service of an electric device. Storing object information including image data for each operation of the operation, manual information storage means, storing manual information relating to the specifications of the electric device, transmitting means, from the object information storage means according to the instruction of the user terminal, from the object information storage means, Alternatively, one of the manual information is obtained from the manual information storage means, transmission data is generated and transmitted to the user terminal, and the experience information storage means obtains the experience information on the operation from the operation instruction information received as the instruction of the user terminal. The virtual experience device responds to instructions from the user to extract and store Object information, or manual information acquired by generating a transmission data Te, for transmission to the user terminal, it is possible to provide a virtual operating experience services of electrical equipment to the user. As a result, for example, it is possible to sufficiently inform the user of the features of the electric device and the detailed operation method, which are difficult to convey only by the description in the catalog or the HP or in the photograph or text. In addition, the user does not need to go to the store to browse the electric device, and can know the details of the electric device regardless of the time and place, so that the labor and time can be saved. Further, since the manual information is displayed together with the object information of the electric device, the user can quickly perform the operation by referring to the manual information even when the operation method is not understood.

[0012]

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

[First Embodiment] FIGS. 1 to 14 are diagrams showing a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied. First, the configuration will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a system configuration of a virtual experience system 1 according to the present embodiment. The virtual experience system 1 includes a content providing server 10
, A plurality of user terminals 20, and a maker terminal 30, the content providing server 10, each user terminal 2
0 and the maker terminal 30 are connected to a network N which is an open network such as the Internet. The network N includes various networks such as a telephone line, an ISDN network, a wireless communication line, a dedicated line, and a CATV network, and the content providing server 10, the user terminal 20, and the maker terminal 30 are connected through the network N. I do.

The virtual experience system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a system that provides a virtual experience service of electric equipment by transmitting object data from the content providing server 10 to the user terminal 20 in response to a request from the user terminal 20. . In addition, the virtual experience service is a service that realizes and displays the operation of the electric device corresponding to the operation instruction information transmitted from the user terminal 20 on an HP or the like opened on the Web, and provides the user with a virtual electric device. This service allows you to experience the operation. Further, the object data is information including an operation mode of the electric device, image data during operation, and the like.

The virtual experience system 1 stores the operation history of the user who has used the virtual experience service in the HP as experience information in response to a request from the maker terminal 30, and stores the stored experience information based on predetermined conditions. And provides a service of transmitting the analysis result to the maker terminal 30.

The content providing server 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a server managed by a service company that provides a virtual experience service for electric devices. This content providing server 1
No. 0 establishes, for example, an HP (Home Page) for providing a virtual experience service of electric devices on a network. Then, in response to a request from the user terminal 20 that has accessed through the HP, the object data of the designated electric device is transmitted to the user terminal 20, and a virtual experience service for the electric device is provided.

Further, the content providing server 10 stores, as experience information, the operation history of the electric device performed by the user terminal 20 in the HP, analyzes the experience information in response to a request from the manufacturer terminal 30, and analyzes the analysis result. Is provided to the maker terminal 30.

Further, the content providing server 10 includes a virtual object information database (hereinafter, "database" is abbreviated as "DB") 181 and a manual information DB1.
82, user information DB 183, user experience information DB 18
4. It has a maker information DB 185, acquires corresponding data from each DB according to a request from the user terminal 20 or the maker terminal 30, and transmits the data to the user terminal 20 or the maker terminal 30. Alternatively, the user terminal 20
Alternatively, data received from the maker terminal 30 is stored in each corresponding DB. The configuration of each DB will be described later in detail.

The user terminal 20 shown in FIG. 1 is a terminal managed by a user who uses a virtual experience service of an electric device. The user accesses the HP established by the content providing server 10 via the user terminal 20, and performs user registration for using the virtual experience service. When using the virtual experience service, the user receives user authentication by the content providing server 10, receives object data of a desired electric device, and performs a virtual operation experience of the electric device.

The maker terminal 30 shown in FIG. 1 is a terminal managed by a maker that provides an electric device to be operated by the virtual experience service in the HP. The maker terminal 30 registers maker information in advance on the HP established by the content providing server 10. Further, the maker terminal 30 requests the content providing server 10 to analyze the experience information in which the operation history of the electric device performed by the user terminal 20 is stored, and transmits the analysis result of the experience information from the content providing server 10. Receive.

Next, each device constituting the virtual experience system 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the mail management server 10 according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the content providing server 10
U (Central Processing Unit) 11, input unit 12, display unit 13, communication control unit 14, RAM (Random Access Me
mory) 15, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 16, an external storage device 17, a recording medium 18 included in the external storage device 17, and the like.

The CPU 11 stores a system program stored in the external storage device 17 and a program specified from various application programs into a RAM.
15 to a work area (not shown) in the input unit 1
2, and executes various processes according to the program according to the data input from the communication control unit 14, and stores the processing results in a work memory in the RAM 15. Further, display information for displaying the processing result is generated and output to the display unit 13, and the processing result is transmitted to the user terminal 20.

Specifically, the CPU 11 stores the external storage device 1
7, a virtual experience processing program, a user authentication processing program, a virtual object operation analysis processing program, and an experience information analysis processing program are read out, and the virtual experience processing (see FIG. 9B) described later and the user authentication processing (FIG. 10 (b)), virtual object operation analysis processing (see FIG. 11 (b)), and experience information analysis processing (see FIG. 14).

In the virtual experience processing, the CPU 11
When the is accessed from the user terminal 20 via the HP, first, the user performs a user authentication process. In this user authentication process, when detecting access of the user terminal 20, the CPU 11 transmits screen data of a user authentication page for inputting a user ID and a password to the user terminal 20, and the user ID and the password are transmitted from the user terminal 20. To receive.

The CPU 11 has a user information DB 1 to be described later.
83 (see FIG. 5) to obtain the corresponding user information,
The user is collated based on the received user ID and password. When the authentication of the user is successful, the CPU 11 generates authentication permission notification data and transmits it to the user terminal 20. If the authentication of the user has failed, authentication non-permission notification data is generated and transmitted to the user terminal 20.

In the virtual experience process, when accessed from the user terminal 20 that has succeeded in user authentication, the CPU 11 transmits screen data of a list menu page of a content providing site. In addition, the CPU 11 controls the user terminal 2
From 0, the model number of the designated electric device is received, and the object information of the corresponding electric device is searched from the virtual object information DB 181 (see FIG. 3) described later.

Further, in the virtual object operation analysis processing, the CPU 11 analyzes the operation instruction information received from the user terminal 20, generates object data or manual data, and transmits it to the corresponding user terminal 20. First, the CPU 11 transmits the object data of the initial state of the electric device together with the manual data to the user terminal 20 from the searched object information.

Next, the operation instruction information transmitted from the user terminal 20 is received. The operation instruction information includes an operation attribute (indicating a request for object data or manual data), a model number, a screen number, an operation key ID or an operation ID, operation elapsed time information, state information, and state additional information. Information.

The CPU 11 obtains the operation attribute, model number, screen number, operation key ID or operation ID, and elapsed time information from the received operation instruction information, and obtains the model number,
The information is stored as experience information in a user experience information DB 184 (see FIG. 6) described below for each user ID.

Subsequently, the CPU 11 acquires an operation attribute from the received operation instruction information, and determines whether the operation instruction information is a request for object data or a request for manual data. If the operation attribute is a request for object data, the CPU 11
The object information is obtained from B181 and the operation instruction information is analyzed.

Subsequently, the CPU 11 acquires the model number, the model image information, the screen data information, and the operation key information from the object information based on the transition screen information acquired as the analysis result, and includes the operation key information. The state information and the state additional information are acquired, and object data is generated as transmission data. If the acquired transition screen information includes additional information, the CPU 11 acquires the corresponding manual data from the manual information DB 182, adds the acquired manual data to the object data, and adds the acquired manual data to the user terminal 20.
Send to

On the other hand, when the operation attribute of the operation instruction information is a request for manual data, the CPU 11 sends the manual data corresponding to the operation ID included in the operation instruction information to
User terminal 20 obtained from manual information DB 182
Send to

Further, in the experience information analysis processing, the CPU 11 executes the maker terminal 30 to analyze the experience information.
Accepts registration of manufacturer information. When receiving a request for registration of manufacturer information from the manufacturer terminal 30, the CPU 11 displays the screen data of the manufacturer information registration page on the manufacturer terminal 3.
Send to 0.

Next, the CPU 11 receives the maker information transmitted from the maker terminal 30. The CPU 11 stores the received maker information in a maker information DB (see FIG. 7) described later, and stores the registration fee in the billing information. Here, the maker information includes a maker ID, a maker name, a mail address, an address, and a telephone number, and charging information corresponding to the maker information is added and stored in the maker information DB.

When the CPU 11 receives a request for analysis of experience information from the manufacturer terminal 30 in which the manufacturer information has been registered, the CPU 11 obtains experience information on the electric device designated by the manufacturer from the user experience information DB 185, and acquires the acquired experience. Analyze information. Subsequently, the analysis result of the experience information is transmitted to the manufacturer terminal 30, and the accounting information stored in the manufacturer information DB 185 is updated. Note that the analysis of the experience information means, for example, for operations performed by a plurality of users, extracting operations having a long operation elapsed time, totaling the frequency of referring to a manual for a predetermined operation, and using a predetermined electric device. It is the total number of people by age group and gender.

The input unit 12 includes a keyboard provided with cursor keys, numeric input keys, and various function keys, and outputs a pressing signal corresponding to a key pressed on the keyboard to a CP.
Output to U11. The input unit 12 may be a pointing device such as a mouse or a touch panel, if necessary,
Other input devices may be provided.

The display unit 13 is a CRT (Cathode Ray Tub).
e) and a display screen such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and displays on the screen display data transmitted and received via the input unit 12 and the communication control unit 14 based on a display instruction input from the CPU 11.

The communication control unit 14 has a LAN (Local Area N)
interface), a WAN (Wide Area Network), or an interface connectable to a transmission medium connected to various networks such as the Internet. Here, the transmission medium includes a telephone line, a metal wire, a coaxial cable, an optical fiber cable, and the like, and forms the above-described network by being connected to various devices.
The communication control unit 14 is a modem (MODEM: MOdulator / DE).
Modulator) or terminal adapter (TA: Termina)
l Adapter), telephone line, ISDN
Control is performed to communicate with external devices via a communication line such as a line, a wireless communication line, a dedicated line, or a CATV line.
The modem modulates the digital data processed by the CPU 11 into an analog signal in the frequency band of the telephone line in order to communicate with an external device such as a personal computer via the telephone line. A terminal adapter converts an existing interface into an interface corresponding to ISDN in order to communicate with an external device such as a personal computer via an ISDN line. It is a device to do.

The RAM 15 forms a work area for temporarily storing various programs executed by the CPU 11, data processed by the various programs, and the like.

The ROM 16 stores the content providing server 10
The basic program corresponding to is stored. That is, it stores basic programs that do not need to be rewritten, such as an initial program executed when the power of the content providing server 10 is turned on, various arithmetic programs, and a processing program executed in each processing mode.

The external storage device 17 has a recording medium 18 in which programs, data and the like are stored in advance, and this recording medium 18 is composed of a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. This recording medium 18
Is fixedly provided in the external storage device 17 or is detachably attached to the external storage device 17. The recording medium 18 includes the system program, various application programs corresponding to the system, a virtual experience processing program, and user authentication. It stores a processing program, a virtual object operation analysis processing program, data processed by various processing programs, and the like.

Some or all of the programs, data, and the like stored in the recording medium 18 are transmitted from the communication control unit 14 via a transmission medium such as a WAN or a LAN from another device such as a server or a client. It may be configured to receive and store, and the recording medium 18 may be a recording medium of a server constructed on a network. Furthermore, the program may be configured to be transmitted to a server or a client via a transmission medium such as a network line and installed in these devices.

Further, the external storage device 17 includes a virtual object information DB 181, a manual information DB 182, a user information DB 183, a user experience information DB 184, and a maker information DB 185 as the recording medium 18. The configuration of each DB will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 shows the virtual object information DB 181.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration of object information stored in a. The virtual object information DB 181 stores data corresponding to five items of “model number”, “model image information”, “screen data information”, “operation key information”, and “transition screen information”, respectively. Note that these five items store respective data in which the correspondences before and after are organically linked.

First, the "model number" stores data indicating the identifier of the electric device to be operated. Then
In the “model image information”, image data of an electric device to be operated is stored as display information that can be displayed on a display unit 23 of the user terminal 20 described later.

Next, the “screen data information” includes the screen data displayed on the display unit of the electric device to be operated.
The information is stored as display information that can be displayed on the display screen of the electric device displayed on the display unit of the user terminal 20. Also,
A screen number serving as an identifier of screen data is stored at the same time. Note that the screen data displayed on the display unit of the electric device refers to image data of a fitting screen displayed on the display screen of the electric device.

Further, the "operation key information" includes data indicating the identifier of the operation key attached to the electric device to be operated, data indicating the display position of the operation key corresponding to the identifier, and the display size of the operation key. Data and image data of operation keys are stored. The “transition screen information” includes an identifier of the next screen data transmitted to the user terminal 20 corresponding to the operation key when each operation key is pressed via the input unit of the user terminal 20. Screen number and additional information are stored. Here, the additional information includes an identifier of manual data added to predetermined screen data information.

The object information recorded in the uppermost record will be specifically described as an example. First, the model number stores character string data of "A001" and numeric data, and the model image information stores image data of "model image data". The screen data information includes numeric data “0000” and “screen data”.
Is stored. Next, in the operation key information, character string data and numeric data of “key 001” are recorded, and in “position” and “size”, character string data and numeric data are recorded, and further, image data is recorded. Is done. The transition screen information records numeric data “0004” and character string data “additional information”.

In the virtual object operation analysis processing, data of a model number, model image information, screen data information, and operation key information are obtained from the virtual object information DB 181, and object data is generated as transmission data. You. The operation instruction information received from the user terminal 20 is stored in the virtual object information DB.
Analysis is performed based on the object information stored in the storage 181, corresponding transition screen information is obtained from the analysis result, and object data to be transmitted next is generated.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of manual information stored in the manual information DB 182. The manual information DB 182 includes “model number”,
Corresponding data is stored in each of the four items of “manual ID”, “operation ID”, and “manual data”. Note that these four items store respective data in which the correspondences before and after are organically linked.

First, in the “model number”, data indicating an identifier of an electric device to be operated is stored. Then
The "manual ID" stores data indicating an identifier of manual information corresponding to the model number. In the “operation ID”, data indicating an operation identifier is stored for each type of operation (for example, power-on, time adjustment, etc.). Further, in the “manual data”, an operation description corresponding to each type of operation is stored as text data, and data indicating an identifier of each manual data is stored at the same time.

The manual information recorded in the uppermost record will be specifically described as an example. The model number includes "A
001 "and numeric data are recorded,
In the manual ID, character string data of “M10” and numerical data are recorded. The operation ID includes “operation 00
The character string data and numeric data of "1" are recorded, and the character data, numeric data, and text data of manual are recorded in the manual data.

In the virtual object operation analysis processing, when a manual request is issued from the user terminal 20, manual data corresponding to the operation ID included in the operation instruction information is obtained from the manual information DB 182. Alternatively, when sending object data,
If there is additional information in the transition screen information, manual data corresponding to the operation ID included in the additional information is obtained from the manual information DB 182.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of user information stored in the user information DB 183. The user information DB 183 stores “user I” indicating the identifier of the user.
D, "name" indicating the name of the user, "password" set for the user at the time of user registration, "address" indicating the mail address of the user terminal 20, "address" as the user's personal information, "telephone number" , "Gender,""age,
And corresponding data are stored in nine items of “occupation”.

The user information recorded in the uppermost record will be specifically described as an example. The user ID includes "I0
The character string data of “01” is recorded, and the character string data of “****” is recorded in the password. Next, the character string data of "Sato OO" is recorded in the name, and the character string data of "sato@abc.ne.jp" is recorded in the address. Also, the address is "Tokyo ...
The character string data of "." Is recorded, and the character string data of "male" is recorded for the gender. Further, numerical data of "30" is recorded in the age, and character string data of "company employee" is recorded in the occupation.

In the user authentication process, the user ID and password transmitted from the user terminal 20 are
The user ID and the password stored in the user information DB 183 are compared with each other to authenticate the user.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of experience information stored in the user experience information DB 184. The user experience information DB 184 includes “model number”, “user I
The corresponding data is stored in each of the three items “D” and “operation information”. In these three items, respective data are stored in such a way that the corresponding relationship before and after is organically linked.

First, the "model number" stores data indicating the identifier of the electric device to be operated. Then
The “user ID” stores data indicating a user identifier. In the “operation information”, detailed information of the operation performed by the user is stored for each user according to the operation procedure (that is, the order in which the operation instruction information is received from the user terminal 20).

More specifically, the "operation information" includes an operation attribute indicating an attribute (object data or manual data) of an operation instruction, a model number indicating an identifier of an electric device, and a screen indicating an identifier of a screen on which an operation has been performed. A number, an operation key ID indicating an identifier of an operation key pressed by the user, or an operation ID corresponding to manual data requested by the user, an elapsed time from when the user terminal receives object data to when the user terminal transmits operation instruction information Is stored, such as operation elapsed time information. In the “operation information”, the operation key ID is stored when the operation attribute is object data, and the operation ID is stored when the operation attribute is manual data.

The experience information recorded in the uppermost record will be specifically described as an example. First, the model number contains "A
001 ”is stored.
The user ID stores character string data of “XXYY0001” and numeric data. In the operation procedure information, character string data of “operation procedure 0000” is recorded, and further, operation attributes, screen numbers, operation key IDs or operation IDs, character string data of operation elapsed time information, and numeric data are recorded. Is done.

In the virtual object operation analysis processing, the operation attribute, the screen number, the operation key ID, or the operation I, based on the operation instruction information transmitted from the user terminal 20.
D and elapsed time information are extracted and stored in the user experience information DB 184 as experience information for each model number and user ID.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the maker information stored in the maker information DB 185. The maker information DB 185 includes “ID” indicating the identifier of the maker,
"Maker name" indicating the name of the manufacturer, "address" indicating the mail address of the manufacturer terminal 30, "address" of the manufacturer,
And data corresponding to the six items of "phone number", "experience information analysis registration", and "billing information" indicating a charge for use.

The maker information recorded in the uppermost record will be specifically described as an example. First, the ID contains "ID
The character string data of “01” is stored, and the character string data of “A” is stored in the maker name. In the address, character string data of "AAA@abc.ne.jp" is stored, and in the address, character string data of "Tokyo" is stored. Further, the telephone number includes “03-11
11-2222 "is stored, and the character string data" ￥ XXX "and the numerical data are stored in the billing information. In the experience information analysis process, each time registration and use of the experience information analysis is performed from the manufacturer terminal 30, the billing information is updated and the manufacturer is billed.

Next, the user terminal 20 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the user terminal 20. As shown in FIG. 8, the user terminal 20 includes a CPU 21, an input unit 22, a display unit 23, a communication control unit 24, a RAM 25, a ROM 26, and an external storage device 2.
7. It is composed of a recording medium 28 and the like provided in the external storage device 27, and each part except the recording medium 28 is connected by a bus 29.

The CPU 21 stores a system program stored in the external storage device 27 and a program specified from various application programs into a RAM.
25 to the work area (not shown)
2, and executes various processes according to the program according to the data input from the communication control unit 24, and stores the processing results in a work memory in the RAM 25. Further, it generates display information for displaying the processing result, outputs it to the display unit 23, and transmits the processing result to the content providing server 10.

Specifically, the CPU 21 reads a virtual experience processing program, a network processing program, and a virtual object operation processing program stored in the external storage device 27, and executes a virtual experience processing described later (see FIG. 9A). Then, a user authentication process (see FIG. 10A) and a virtual object operation analysis process (see FIG. 11A) are executed.

In the virtual experience process, the CPU 21 performs a network connection process in order to access the HP established by the content providing server 10. In this network connection processing, when the user inputs an instruction to access the HP via the input unit 22,
A browser for browsing the HP is activated, and the HP is accessed. Next, the CPU 21 receives the screen data of the user authentication page for performing the user authentication from the content providing server 10, and causes the display unit 23 described later to display the received user authentication page.

The CPU 21 allows the user to enter a user ID and a password on the user authentication page, and transmits them to the content providing server 10. Next, authentication permission notification data or authentication non-permission notification data as an authentication result is received. When receiving the authentication permission notification data, the CPU 21 connects to the content providing site, and receives, from the content providing server 10, screen data of a list menu page in which the electrical devices to be operated are listed. Next, the user selects a desired electric device from the received list menu page, obtains the model number of the selected electric device, and transmits it to the content providing server 10.
Then, the CPU 21 executes a virtual object operation process. When the authentication non-permission notification data is received from the content providing server 10, the CPU 11 causes the user ID and the password to be input again on the user authentication page.

In the virtual object operation process, the CPU 21 receives the initial state object data of the selected electric device from the content providing server 10. The CPU 21 analyzes the received object data, generates display information, and causes the display unit 23 to display the display information. If manual data is added to the object data, another window is generated and the manual data is displayed.

When an instruction is input from the user, the CPU 21 generates operation instruction information corresponding to the input instruction, and outputs the operation instruction information via the communication control unit 24 to the content providing server 10.
To send the operation instruction information. That is, the CPU 21
When the user inputs an instruction to request object data, the operation attribute, model number, screen number, operation key I
D, generates and transmits operation instruction information including operation elapsed time information, state information, state additional information, and the like. When an instruction to request manual data is input from the user, operation instruction information including operation attributes, a model number, a screen number, an operation ID, operation elapsed time information, state information, and state additional information is generated. To send.

Further, the CPU 21 has a timer function for measuring the elapsed time from the time when the object data is received from the content providing server 10 to the time when the operation instruction information is transmitted. The elapsed time measured by the timer function is added to the operation instruction information as operation elapsed time information and transmitted to the content providing server 10.

The CPU 21 receives object data or manual data transmitted from the content providing server 10 according to the transmitted operation instruction information, analyzes the received data, generates display information, and generates display information.
3 is displayed.

The input unit 22 includes a keyboard having cursor keys, numeric input keys, and various function keys, and outputs a pressing signal corresponding to a key pressed on this keyboard to a CP.
Output to U21. The input unit 22 may include a pointing device such as a mouse and a touch panel, if necessary,
Other input devices may be provided.

The display unit 23 has a display screen such as a CRT or an LCD, and displays on the screen display information transmitted and received via the input unit 22 and the communication control unit 24 based on display instructions input from the CPU 21. I do.

The communication control unit 24 is an interface connectable to a transmission medium connected to various networks such as a LAN, a WAN, and the Internet. Here, the transmission medium includes a telephone line, a metal wire, a coaxial cable, an optical fiber cable, and the like, and forms the above-described network by being connected to various devices. The communication control unit 24 is configured by a modem, a terminal adapter, or the like, and controls communication with an external device via a communication line such as a telephone line, an ISDN line, a wireless communication line, a dedicated line, or a CATV line.

The RAM 25 forms a work area for temporarily storing various programs executed by the CPU 21 and data processed by these various programs.

The ROM 26 stores a basic program corresponding to the user terminal 20. That is, the user terminal 20
And basic programs that do not need to be rewritten, such as an initial program executed when the power is turned on, various arithmetic programs, and a processing program executed in each processing mode.

The external storage device 27 has a recording medium 28 in which programs and data are stored in advance, and this recording medium 28 is constituted by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. This recording medium 28
Is fixedly provided in the external storage device 27 or is detachably mounted. The recording medium 28 includes the system program, various application programs corresponding to the system, a virtual experience processing program, and a network connection. It stores a processing program, a virtual object operation processing program, data processed by various processing programs, and the like.

A part or all of the programs, data, and the like stored in the recording medium 28 are transmitted from the communication control unit 24 via a transmission medium such as a WAN or LAN from another device such as a server or a client. The recording medium may be received and stored, and the recording medium 28 may be a recording medium of a server constructed on a network. Furthermore, the program may be configured to be transmitted to a server or a client via a transmission medium such as a network line and installed in these devices.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. A program for realizing each function described in each flowchart described below is stored in the recording medium 1 of the content providing server 10 in the form of a readable program code.
8 or the recording medium 28 of the user terminal 20, and the CPU 11 of the content providing server 10 or the CPU 21 of the user terminal 20 sequentially executes the operation according to the program code. Further, the CPU 11 or the CPU 21 can also sequentially execute an operation according to the program code transmitted via the transmission medium.
That is, it is also possible to execute an operation specific to the present embodiment using a program or data externally supplied via a transmission medium in addition to a recording medium.

First, in the virtual experience system 1, the CP
About the virtual experience processing executed by U21, FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 9A, the CPU 21 performs a network connection process to connect to a content providing site established by the content providing server. FIG.
The network connection process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10A is a flowchart showing a network connection process executed as a part of the virtual experience process. In this figure, when an instruction to access the server is input from the user via the input unit 22, the CPU 21 starts a browser for browsing the HP and accesses the server (step T11).

Next, the CPU 21 receives the screen data of the user authentication page transmitted from the content providing server 10, and displays the received user authentication page on the display unit 23 (step T12). Next, on this user authentication page, the user is made to input a user ID and a password (step T13), and the input user I
D and the password are transmitted to the content providing server 10 (step T14). Then, the CPU 21 receives the authentication permission notification data or the authentication non-permission notification data as the authentication result transmitted from the content providing server 10 (step T15).

Returning to FIG. 9A, the CPU 21 determines whether the user ID and the password are permitted based on the received authentication result (step S12). C
When receiving the authentication non-permission notification data, the PU 21 determines that the user ID and the password are not permitted (step S12; NO), and executes the network connection process again.

On the other hand, when receiving the authentication permission notification data, the CPU 21 determines that the user ID and the password are permitted (step S12; YES), connects to the content providing site, and
From 0, screen data of a list menu page in which electrical devices to be operated are listed is received (step S1).
3) Then, the received list menu page is displayed on the display unit 2
3 and the user selects and inputs a desired electric device on this list menu page. And C
The PU 21 acquires the model number of the electric device selected by the user and transmits it to the content providing server 10 (Step S14). Subsequently, the CPU 11 executes a virtual object operation process (Step S15).

FIG. 11A is a flowchart showing a virtual object operation process executed as a part of the virtual experience process. In this figure, the CPU 21 receives from the content providing server 10 the initial state object data of the electric device selected by the user (step E11). Next, the received object data is analyzed, display information is generated, and displayed on the display unit 23 (step E12). If manual data is added to the object data, another window is generated and the manual data is displayed.

Subsequently, the CPU 21 waits for the input of the operation instruction from the user, and when the operation instruction is input (step E13; YES), it is determined whether or not the input operation instruction is the end instruction. Is determined (step E14).
When the input operation instruction is an end instruction (step E
14; YES), an end instruction is transmitted as operation instruction information to the content providing server 10 (step E17), and the virtual object operation processing ends.

On the other hand, if the input operation instruction is not an end instruction (step E14; NO), the CPU 21 generates operation instruction information corresponding to the input instruction (step E1).
5) The generated operation instruction information is transmitted to the content providing server 1
0 (step E16). Subsequently, upon receiving the object data or manual data transmitted from the content providing server 10 (step E11),
Steps E12 to E17 are repeatedly executed.

Next, the virtual experience processing executed by the CPU 11 of the content providing server 10 in the virtual experience system 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 9B, the CPU 11 performs a user authentication process on the user terminal 20 that has accessed the content providing site. Referring to FIG.
The user authentication process will be described in detail.

FIG. 10B is a flowchart showing a user authentication process executed as a part of the virtual experience process. In this figure, when detecting access from the user terminal 20 (step T21), the CPU 11 transmits screen data of a user authentication page for inputting a user ID and a password to the user terminal 20 (step T22).

Next, the CPU 11 receives the ID and the password from the user terminal 20 (step T2).
3) The corresponding user information is acquired from the user information DB 183, and the user is collated based on the received user ID and password (step T24). When the authentication of the user is successful (step T24; YE
S), generates authentication permission notification data, and
(Step T25). Further, when the user cannot be authenticated (step T24; NO), authentication non-permission notification data is generated and transmitted to the user terminal 20 (step T26).

Subsequently, returning to FIG. 9B, the CPU 11
Waits for access of the user terminal 20 (step S
22). When the user terminal 20 does not access (step S22; NO), the access of the user terminal 20 is waited as it is, and when the predetermined time has elapsed, the virtual experience processing is ended. On the other hand, when accessed from the user terminal 20 (step S22; YES), the CPU 11
Transmits the screen data of the list menu page of the content providing site to the user terminal 20 (step S2).
3). Next, the CPU 11 determines the model number of the electrical device to be operated by the user,
(Step S24), and retrieves the object information of the electric device corresponding to the received model number from the virtual object information DB 181 (step S2).
5).

Subsequently, the CPU 11 executes a virtual object operation analysis process. FIG. 11B is a flowchart illustrating a virtual object operation analysis process executed as a part of the virtual experience process. In this figure, CP
U11 acquires the object data of the initial state of the electric device from the object information retrieved and acquired from the virtual object information DB 181. Further, manual data corresponding to the initial state of the electric device is obtained from the manual information DB 182 and added to the object data,
The data is transmitted to the user terminal 20 (step E21).

Next, it is determined whether or not the operation instruction information transmitted from the user terminal 20 has been received (step E2).
2). If the operation instruction information has not been received from the user terminal 20 (step E22; NO), the CPU 11 waits for reception of the operation instruction information. On the other hand, when the operation instruction information is received from the user terminal 20 (step E2)
2; YES), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the received operation instruction information is an end instruction (step E23).

If the received operation instruction information is an end instruction (step E23; YES), the CPU 11 ends the virtual object operation analysis processing. On the other hand, when the received operation instruction information is not an end instruction (step E23;
NO), the CPU 11 acquires experience information from the operation instruction information and stores it in the user experience information DB (step E2).
4).

Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the received operation instruction information is an instruction for requesting manual data (step E25). When the received operation instruction information is a manual data request instruction (step E25;
If YES, the process proceeds to step E33 to obtain a model number from the operation instruction information, and to obtain manual information corresponding to the model number from the manual information DB 182 (step E33). Then, manual data corresponding to the operation ID is obtained from the obtained manual information (step E34), and the manual data is transmitted to the user terminal 20 (step E21).

On the other hand, when the received operation instruction information is not a manual data request instruction (step E25; N
O), the CPU 11 determines that the operation instruction information is a request for object data, acquires the model number specified from the operation instruction information, and obtains the virtual object information DB 18
The object information corresponding to the model number is obtained from 1 (step E26).

Next, the CPU 11 searches the acquired object information for a screen number corresponding to the screen number included in the operation instruction information (step E27). continue,
Operation key information corresponding to the searched screen number (that is,
All of multiple operation key information corresponding to one screen number)
Is obtained (step E28). Further, from the obtained operation key information, an operation key ID corresponding to the operation key ID included in the operation instruction information is searched (step E29).
Then, transition screen information corresponding to the searched operation key ID is obtained (step E30).

The CPU 11 generates object data based on the acquired transition screen information (step E3).
1). That is, the CPU 11 acquires the screen number of the next screen from the acquired transition screen information, and acquires the screen data information corresponding to the acquired screen number from the object information. Next, operation key information corresponding to the obtained screen data information is obtained. Then, the CPU 11 generates the object data including the model number, the model image data, the screen data information, the operation key information, and the state information and the state additional information included in the operation instruction information.

When the transition screen information includes additional information, the CPU 11 obtains the operation ID included in the additional information. Next, manual information corresponding to the model number included in the operation instruction information is acquired from the manual information DB 182 (step E33). Subsequently, the CPU 11
Manual data corresponding to the operation ID is obtained from the obtained manual information (step E34), added to the object data, and transmitted to the user terminal 20 (step E21).

FIGS. 12A to 12C are views showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 23 of the user terminal 20 in the virtual experience processing. Here, a detailed description will be given of an example in which the electric device to be operated is a mobile phone.

The mobile phone shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B is provided with an input unit and a display unit. The input unit is provided with a cursor key, numeric input keys, and various function keys, and when clicked with the cursor or the pointer via the input unit 22 of the user terminal 20,
An instruction signal corresponding to each clicked key is sent to the CPU 1
1 is output. Further, when each item is similarly clicked in the window in which the manual data is displayed, an instruction signal for requesting the corresponding manual data is output to the CPU 11.

The screen 23a shown in FIG. 12A is a step E12 of the virtual object operation processing (see FIG. 11A).
5 is a diagram showing an example in which the object data of the initial state of the mobile phone is displayed on the display unit 23 of the user terminal 20. In this figure, the window 231 displays an image of the initial state of the mobile phone,
At 32, an operation explanation such as how to turn on the power from the initial state is displayed.

In FIG. 12A, the user moves the cursor or the pointer to the “power key” of the mobile phone displayed in the window 231 and clicks the button, whereby power-on operation instruction information is generated by the CPU 11. The content is transmitted to the content providing server 10.

A screen 23b in FIG. 12B is a view showing an example of a screen on which a portable telephone which is powered on is displayed. The window 233 shows an example in which the power is turned on from the initial state and the time is displayed on the display unit of the mobile phone. The window 234 displays an operation description such as how to set the time.

In FIG. 12B, the user moves the cursor or the pointer to the “menu key” of the mobile phone displayed in the window 233 and clicks on the menu to display the operation instruction information for requesting the menu list of the mobile phone. Content providing server 1 generated by CPU 11
Sent to 0.

A screen 23c in FIG. 12 (c) is a diagram showing an example of a screen in which a menu list is displayed on the display unit of the mobile phone. The window 235 displays items such as a self-station number, a sound setting, a telephone directory, and various settings as a menu list. The window 231 displays operation explanations such as how to use the menu.

In FIG. 12C, when the user positions the cursor or pointer on “various settings” of the mobile phone displayed in window 235 and clicks on it,
The operation instruction information for requesting the setting screen for performing various settings is CP
It is generated by U11 and transmitted to the content providing server 10. Alternatively, when the user places the cursor or pointer on "How to use the menu" displayed in the window 236 and clicks the button, the operation instruction information for requesting further detailed manual data on the use of the menu is displayed as C.
It is generated by the PU 11 and transmitted to the content providing server 10.

Next, the data format of information transmitted and received between the user terminal 20 and the content providing server 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 13A is a diagram illustrating an example of a data format of object data transmitted from the content providing server 10 to the user terminal 20.

As shown in FIG. 13A, object data transmitted from the content providing server 10 includes a model number 141, a model image data 142, and a screen number 1
43, screen data 144, operation key information 145, operation key screen data 146, state information 147, additional state information 1
48, manual data 149, and data corresponding to the areas of other information 150 are stored in the format shown in FIG.

More specifically, the model number 141
Is an area for storing data indicating an identifier of an electric device to be operated, and stores, for example, character string data of “A001” and numeric data. Model image data 1
An area 42 stores image data of an electric device to be operated, and stores, for example, JPEG or GIF format image data.

The screen number 143 is an area for storing data indicating an identifier of the screen data. For example, in the case of the initial screen, the screen number 143 stores numerical data "0000". The screen data 144 is an area for storing screen data displayed on the display unit of the electric device to be operated.
Stores image data in G or GIF format. The data stored in the screen number 143 and the image data 144 correspond to the data included in the screen data information of the object information.

The operation key information 145 is an area for storing data such as an identifier of an operation key attached to an electric device to be operated, a display position of the operation key corresponding to the identifier, and a display size of the operation key. is there. For example, in the case of the power key, the identifier is character string data of “key 001”,
In the display position, the character string data of "position (10, 10)" and the numeral data are stored, and in the display size, the character string data of "size (20, 40)" and the numeral data are stored. Further, the operation key screen data 146
Is an area for storing operation key screen data corresponding to the operation key identifier, and stores, for example, JPEG or GIF format image data. The operation key information 145
And the data stored in the operation key screen data 146 correspond to the data included in the operation key information of the object information.

Next, the status information 147 indicates that the user terminal 2
An area for storing data indicating the state of the electric device displayed on the display unit of 0, for example, “0” when the electric device is in the initial state, “1” when the electric device is in the middle of input, If an error has occurred, the numerical data "-1" is stored. The state additional information 148 is an area for storing information added according to the state of the electric device, and stores, for example, character string data such as a character string input by a user.

The manual data 149 stores character string data of an operation explanation corresponding to each operation when manual data is added corresponding to the screen number. If no manual data is added, the manual data 149 remains empty. Further information 15
0 is an area for storing necessary information other than the above, and stores, for example, numerical data of “00” when the operation is completed.

FIG. 13B is a diagram showing an example of the data format of the operation instruction information transmitted from the user terminal 20 to the content providing server 10. The operation instruction information transmitted from the user terminal 20 includes the operation attribute 24
1, model number 242, screen number 243, operation key ID2
Data corresponding to the areas of 44, operation elapsed time information 245, state information 246, and state additional information 246 are stored in the format shown in FIG.

The operation attribute 241 will be described in more detail.
Is an area for storing data indicating the attribute of the operation instruction input by the user, for example, "0" when the operation instruction is at the input unit of the electric device, and an operation instruction for requesting manual data on a manual screen , The numerical data of “1” is stored.

The model number 242 is an area for storing data indicating an identifier of an electric device to be operated, and stores, for example, character string data of “A001” and numeric data. The screen number 243 is an area for storing data indicating an identifier of screen data displayed on the user terminal 20, and stores, for example, numerical data “0000” for an initial screen.

The operation key ID 244 is an area for storing data indicating the identifier of the operation key of the electric device pressed by the user. For example, when the power key is pressed, “0000” is set, and when the # key is pressed. "0022" in case
Stores the numeric data of When the operation attribute is manual data, the operation key ID 244 is an area for storing data indicating the operation ID corresponding to the manual data requested by the user as the operation ID.

The operation elapsed time information 245 is stored in the user terminal 2
0 is an area for storing data indicating the elapsed time from the reception of the object data to the transmission of the operation instruction information. For example, after the user terminal 20 receives the object data in the initial state, the power key is operated by the user. If the time until is pressed is 2 minutes 30 seconds, "150
s ”is stored.

Next, the status information 246 is stored in the user terminal 2
An area for storing data indicating the state of the electric device displayed on the display unit of 0, for example, “0” when the electric device is in the initial state, “1” when the electric device is in the middle of input, If an error has occurred, the numerical data "-1" is stored. The state additional information 247 is an area for storing information added according to the state of the electric device, and stores, for example, data such as a character string input by a user.

Subsequently, in the virtual experience system 1, the experience information analysis processing executed by the CPU 11 of the content providing server 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 14, when the CPU 11 detects an access from the maker terminal 30 (step P11;
YES), it is determined whether or not the request from the maker terminal 30 is registration of maker information (step P12). When the request from the manufacturer terminal 30 is to register the manufacturer information (step P
12; YES), the CPU 11 displays the screen data of the usage registration page as the maker information DB
0 to input maker information. Next, the maker information is received, the maker information is stored in the maker information DB 185, and usage registration is performed (step P13). Then, the fee for registration is stored in the charging information of the maker information stored in the maker information DB 185 to perform the charging process (step P14), and the experience information analysis process ends.

On the other hand, when the request from the maker terminal 30 is not the registration of the maker information in step P12 (step P12; NO), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the request is an analysis request for the experience information (step P15). If the request from the maker terminal 30 is not a request to analyze experience information (step P15; NO), the CPU 11 shifts to other processing. On the other hand, when the request from the maker terminal 30 is a request to analyze experience information (step P15; YE
S), the CPU 11 reads from the user experience information DB 184
The experience information on the corresponding electric device is acquired (Step P16).

Next, from the acquired experience information, the CPU 11 extracts, for example, an operation having a long operation elapsed time, totals the frequency of referring to a manual for a predetermined operation, an age group using a predetermined electric device, Separately, analysis such as counting the number of people is performed (step P17), and the analysis result is transmitted to the corresponding maker terminal 30 (step P18). Further, the CPU 11 reads the maker information DB 185, charges and updates the charging information of the corresponding maker (step P19), and ends the experience information analysis processing.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the virtual experience system 1 includes the content providing server 10
And a plurality of user terminals 20, and the user terminal 20, which has made use registration in advance in the HP established by the content providing server 10, specifies and transmits a desired electric device. Next, the user terminal 20 receives the object data of the electric device to be operated and, when various operation instructions are input on the screen on which the electric device is displayed, generates operation instruction information and generates the content instruction server 10. Send to Content providing server 10
Receives the operation instruction information, stores it as experience information in the user experience information DB 184, generates object data or manual data corresponding to the operation instruction information, and transmits the data to the user terminal 20. The user terminal 20 receives object data or manual data according to the operation instruction information,
It is displayed on the display unit 23. Also, the content providing server 1
0 analyzes the experience information stored in the user experience information DB 184 in response to a request from the maker terminal 30, and transmits the analysis result to the maker terminal 30.

[0130] Therefore, the user can access the HP provided by the content providing server 10 and request the object data of a desired electric device, thereby performing a virtual operation experience of the electric device. As a result, for example, it is possible to purchase an electric device after fully understanding the features and detailed operation methods of the electric device that cannot be conveyed only by a description in a catalog or an HP in a photograph or a sentence. Alternatively, there is no need for the user to go to the store where the sample of the electric device is displayed, and the time and place are not limited, and no troublesome work is required.

Further, when a user purchases and operates an electric device, a manual corresponding to the operation of the electric device is configured to be displayed at the same time, so that it is not necessary to perform the operation while checking the instruction manual. Time and effort can be saved.

On the other hand, a maker that provides electrical equipment can sufficiently inform the user of the features and operation methods of the product, thereby increasing the user's willingness to purchase and promoting the sale of electrical equipment. Alternatively, by letting the user register for use, it is possible to conduct market research on what age and gender and what kind of electrical equipment is used, and this can be used for future product development.

[0133] Further, the configuration is such that the experience information of the user is stored in the content providing server 10 and the experience information is analyzed in response to a request from the manufacturer terminal 30, so that the manufacturer can
It is possible to know in detail how the electric equipment provided by the company is used by the user. Alternatively, since the experience information includes elapsed time information from when the user receives the object data to when the user performs the next operation, it is possible to grasp the operation that the user takes time and the operation that requires time. Therefore, in product development, it is possible to improve the operability of the electric device and to develop an electric device that incorporates a wide range of user opinions. That is, the manufacturer can provide an electric device which is easy to use and meets the needs of the user.

In the first embodiment, the content providing server 10 stores the experience information, analyzes the experience information in response to a request from the manufacturer terminal 30, and sends the analysis result to the manufacturer terminal 30. , For example, the content providing server 10 stores the experience information,
The configuration may be such that experience information is transmitted to the manufacturer terminal 30 in response to a request from the manufacturer terminal 30, and the manufacturer terminal 30 analyzes the experience information.

[Second Embodiment] Next, FIGS.
The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, the configuration will be described. FIG. 15 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a system configuration of the virtual experience system 2 according to the second embodiment. The virtual experience system 2 includes a content providing server 10, a user terminal 20, a maker terminal 30, and an operation terminal 40. The content providing server 10, the user terminal 20, and the maker terminal 30
The operator terminal 40 is connected to an open network N such as the Internet, and is connected to the maker terminal 30 via an intranet or the like.

Note that the content providing server 10, the user terminal 20, and the maker terminal 30 in the second embodiment
Has a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment, and the illustration and description of the configuration are omitted, and the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and described.

The virtual experience system 2 shown in FIG. 15 transmits object data from the content providing server 10 in response to a request from the user terminal 20 and
When a call request for the operator terminal 40 is made from 0, a communication line is established between the user terminal 20 and the operator terminal 40, and a one-to-one electric device guidance service using a chat function or the like is provided. System. Note that the chat function is a function for exchanging text data between terminals in real time on a network such as the Internet or an intranet.

Further, the virtual experience system 2 includes experience information that stores the operation history of the user at the HP,
By comparing the normal operation information with the normal operation information that stores the normal operation, an erroneous operation is extracted. For an operation with many erroneous operations, comment information is generated and object data is generated together with the object data.
0 is provided.

In the second embodiment, upon receiving a call request for the operator terminal 40 from the user terminal 20 in the second embodiment, the content providing server 10 shown in FIG.
0, a call request for the operator terminal 40 is transmitted, and the establishment of a communication line is relayed between the user terminal 20 and the operator terminal 40.

More specifically, the CPU 11 of the content providing server 10 executes a virtual object operation analysis process (FIG. 17).
), When the operation instruction information is received from the user terminal 20, it is determined whether the received operation instruction information is an operator call instruction. If the operation instruction information is not an operator call instruction, the process proceeds to other processing. If the operation instruction information is an operator call instruction, the CPU 11
An operator call instruction is transmitted to the maker terminal 30.

In the second embodiment, the content providing server 10 further includes a normal operation information DB 186 (see FIG. 16) in the external storage device 17 as a recording medium 18. The normal operation information DB 18
6 will be described later. The content providing server 10 reads and compares the normal operation information stored in the normal operation information DB 186 with the experience information stored in the user experience information DB 184, and analyzes a user's erroneous operation.

Specifically, the CPU 11 of the content providing server 10 reads the erroneous operation analysis processing program stored in the external storage device 17 and executes the erroneous operation analysis processing (see FIG. 18) described later.

In this erroneous operation analysis processing, the CPU 11
When an instruction to start an erroneous operation analysis is input via the input unit 12, the user acquires experience information of the specified electric device from the user experience information DB 184. Further, the CPU 11 acquires the normal operation information of the corresponding electric device from the normal operation information DB 186, and compares and analyzes the operation procedure of the experience information based on the operation procedure for each operation ID of the normal operation information. Next, the CPU 11 extracts an erroneous operation for each operation ID, and stores the extracted number of erroneous operations in the normal operation information DB 186 as erroneous operation information.

Next, the CPU 11 determines whether the number of erroneous operations exceeds a predetermined number. If the number of erroneous operations exceeds the predetermined number, the CPU 11 generates comment information on the corresponding operation and adds it to the erroneous operation information. . Then, comment information is added as additional information to the corresponding transition screen information of the object information stored in the virtual object information DB 181. Note that the comment information is a text message or the like that calls attention to the user to prevent an erroneous operation.

Therefore, if the comment information is added as additional information to the transition screen information when generating the object data in the virtual object operation analysis processing, the CPU 11 adds the comment information to the object data in the same manner as the manual data. To the user terminal 20.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of normal operation information stored in the normal operation information DB 186.
The normal operation information DB 186 includes “model number”, “operation I”
Corresponding data is stored in each of the four items of “D”, “normal operation information”, and “wrong operation information”. Note that these four items store respective data in such a way that the corresponding relationship before and after is organically linked.

First, in the “model number”, data indicating the identifier of the electric device to be operated is stored.
"D" stores data indicating an operation identifier for each type of operation. The “normal operation information” stores data indicating a correct operation procedure corresponding to each operation, and the “erroneous operation information” stores C
Data indicating the number of erroneous operations extracted by the PU 11 and data of comment information are stored.

The normal operation information recorded in the uppermost record will be specifically described as an example. The model number includes "A0
The character string data of “01” and the numerical data are recorded, and the character string data of “operation 001” and the numerical data are recorded in the operation ID. Further, the character string data and the numerical data of “operation procedure 001” are recorded in the normal operation information, and the numerical data of “18” is recorded in the “incorrect operation information”.

Next, the user terminal 20 shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, when an operator's call instruction is input by the user via the input unit 22, the operator's call instruction is transmitted to the content providing server 10 to establish a communication line with the operator terminal 40. The user terminal 20 is equipped with, for example, application software having a chat function such as ICQ or IRC.

More specifically, the CPU 21 of the user terminal 20
In the virtual object operation process, when an operation instruction is input from a user, it is determined whether or not the input operation instruction is an operator call instruction. If the input operation instruction is not an operator instruction, the CPU 21
Shifts to another process. If the input operation instruction is an operator call instruction, the CPU 21 uses the operator call instruction as the operation instruction information,
Send to

Further, the CPU 21 establishes a communication line with the operator terminal 40 using the maker terminal 30 as a relay, and transmits and receives text data in real time.
Then, when the user inputs an instruction to end communication with the operator terminal 40 via the input unit 22, the communication line with the operator terminal 40 is disconnected.

When the maker terminal 30 in FIG. 15 receives the operator call instruction from the content providing server 10,
The communication-capable operator terminal 40 is extracted. Then, the communication between the user terminal 20 and the extracted operator terminal 40 is relayed to establish a communication line between the two terminals.

The operator terminal 40 shown in FIG. 15 is a terminal managed by the manufacturer's operator.
A communication line is established with the user terminal 20 using 0 as a relay. Then, a one-on-one electric device guidance service using a chat function or the like is provided to the user terminal 20. The operator terminal 40 is equipped with application software having a chat function such as ICQ and IRC.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. First, in the virtual experience system 2, a virtual object operation process executed by the CPU 21 of the user terminal 20 when an operator call instruction is input by a user will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 17A, the CPU 21 receives object data or manual data from the content providing server 10 (step K11). Next, the CPU 21 analyzes the received data to generate display information and causes the display unit 23 to display the display information (step K1).
2).

Subsequently, the CPU 21 waits for an operation instruction to be input, and when an operation instruction is input (step K13; YES), determines whether or not the input operation instruction is an end instruction. (Step K14). When the input operation instruction is an end instruction (step K14; YE
S), the CPU 21 transmits an end instruction to the content providing server 10 as operation instruction information, and ends the virtual object operation processing.

On the other hand, if the input operation instruction is not an end instruction (step K14; NO), CPU 21 determines whether or not the input operation instruction is an operator call instruction (step K15). Here, when the input operation instruction is not an operator call instruction (step K15;
NO), the CPU 21 proceeds to another process. On the other hand, if the input operation instruction is an operator call instruction (step K15; YES), the CPU 21 transmits the operator call instruction to the content providing server 10 as operation instruction information.

Next, the CPU 21 establishes a communication line with the operator terminal 40 using the maker terminal 30 as a relay, and transmits and receives text data (step K1).
7). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not an instruction to end communication with the operator terminal 40 has been input from the user (step K18). Here, when the instruction to end the communication is not input (step K18; NO), the communication with the operator terminal 40 is continued as it is.

On the other hand, when the user inputs an instruction to end the communication with the operator terminal 40 (step K1).
8; YES), the CPU 21 disconnects the communication line with the operator terminal 40 (step K19), and proceeds to step K1.
3 and the virtual object operation processing is continued.

[0160] The user terminal 20 can continue the virtual object operation process with the communication with the operator terminal 40 being established. Thereby, while transmitting and receiving object data, manual data, and operation instruction information to / from the content providing server 10, the operator terminal 40
, The user can promptly resolve questions regarding the operation method and the operation procedure.

Next, in the virtual experience system 2, a virtual object operation analysis process executed by the CPU 11 of the content providing server 10 when an operator call instruction is transmitted from the user terminal 20 is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 17B, the CPU 11 transmits object data or manual data to the user terminal 20 (step K21). Next, it waits for the operation instruction information to be transmitted from the user terminal 20, and receives the operation instruction information (step K22; YE
S), it is determined whether the received operation instruction information is an end instruction (step K23).

If the received operation instruction information is an end instruction (step K23; YES), the CPU 11 ends the virtual object operation analysis processing, and if the received operation instruction information is not an end instruction (step K23; N).
O), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the received operation instruction information is an operator call instruction (step K2).
4).

Here, if the received operation instruction information is not the operator call information (step K24; NO), the CP
U11 shifts to another process. On the other hand, if the received operation instruction information is an operator call instruction (step K
24; YES), the CPU 11 transmits the received operator call instruction to the maker terminal 30 (step K; 2).
5). Then, the process shifts to step K22 to continue the virtual object operation analysis process.

Next, an erroneous operation analysis process executed by the CPU 11 of the content providing server 10 in the virtual experience system 2 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 18, when an instruction to start analysis of an erroneous operation is input through input unit 12 (step J1).
1), the CPU 11 acquires the experience information of the designated electric device from the user experience information DB 184 (step J1).
2). Next, normal operation information of the corresponding electric device is obtained from the normal operation information DB 186 (step J13).
Further, the acquired experience information is compared with the normal operation information (step J14), an erroneous operation is extracted for each operation, and the extracted number of erroneous operations is used as erroneous operation information in the normal operation information DB.
186 (step J15).

Subsequently, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the number of erroneous operations extracted for each operation exceeds a predetermined number (step J16). If the number of erroneous operations does not exceed the predetermined number (step J16; NO), step J
Move to 19. On the other hand, if the number of erroneous operations exceeds the predetermined number (step J16; YES), the CPU 11
Generates comment information on the corresponding operation and stores it as erroneous operation information in the normal operation information DB 186 (step J17).

Further, the CPU 11 adds comment information to the transition screen information corresponding to the object information stored in the virtual object information DB 181 (step J).
18). Next, it is determined whether or not an instruction to end the analysis of the erroneous operation has been input (step J19). If the end instruction has been input (step J19; YES), the erroneous operation analysis processing ends. If the end instruction has not been input (step J19; NO), the processing shifts to step J12 and the processing of steps J12 to J18 is repeated again.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the virtual experience system 2 is
, A user terminal 20, a maker terminal 30, and an operator terminal 40. When an operator call instruction is transmitted from the user terminal 20 to the content providing server 10, the operator calls the content providing server 10 to the maker terminal 30. An instruction is sent. The maker terminal 30
A communication line is established between the user terminal 20 and the operator terminal 40 by relaying between the user terminal 20 and the operator terminal 40. User terminal 20 and operator terminal 4
No. 0 transmits and receives text data in real time using the chat function. Also, the content providing server 1
0 acquires and compares the experience information stored in the user experience information DB 184 and the normal operation information stored in the normal operation information DB 186, analyzes the erroneous operation for each operation, and performs the operation for the operation with many erroneous operations. Creates comment information.
Then, the content providing server 10
When transmitting the object data to the user terminal 20, the comment information is added and transmitted to the user terminal 20.

Therefore, if the user does not understand the operation procedure or operation method while using the virtual experience service, the user connects to the operator terminal 40 via the user terminal 20 to provide a chat function or the like. One-on-one electric equipment guidance service can be received. Thereby, the user can receive an accurate instruction according to the question from the operator, and can understand the specification and operation method of the electric device in more detail and easily. Further, since the user terminal 10 is connected to the content providing server 10 and the operator terminal 40 at the same time, the user can receive the guidance service from the operator terminal 40 while receiving the operation experience service from the content providing server 10. In this way, it is possible to quickly resolve the questions concerning the operation procedure and the operation method without any trouble.

Further, the content providing server 10 compares the experience information with the normal operation information, analyzes the erroneous operation, and generates the comment information for the operation with many erroneous operations, and sends the comment information to the user terminal 20 together with the object data. Since the transmission is performed, the user can carefully perform an operation with many erroneous operations. As a result, erroneous operations can be reduced, and labor and time for the user can be saved.
Further, the load on the content providing server 10 can be reduced.

The description in the first or second embodiment is an example of the preferred virtual experience system 1 or 2 according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the second embodiment, the user terminal 2
0 indicates an operator call instruction to the content providing server 10
And the content providing server 10 transmits the received operator call instruction to the maker terminal 30, and the maker terminal 30 relays the user terminal and the operator terminal 40 to establish a communication line. Terminal 20
However, a configuration in which the operator call instruction is directly transmitted to the maker terminal 30 may be adopted.

In the second embodiment, in the erroneous operation analysis process, the number of erroneous operations is extracted for each operation, and comment information is generated for an operation having a large number of erroneous operations.
Although it was configured to be transmitted by adding it to the object data,
Furthermore, the number of erroneous operations may be extracted for each user, the number of erroneous operations may be stored in the user information DB 183, and comment information may be added to object data for users who frequently perform erroneous operations.

In addition, the detailed configurations and detailed operations of the content providing server 10, the user terminal 20, the maker terminal 30, and the operator terminal 40 in the present embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Of course.

[0175]

According to the first or fifth aspect of the present invention,
The virtual experience device obtains object information or manual information in accordance with an instruction from the user, generates transmission data, and provides the user with a virtual operation experience service of an electric device to transmit to the user terminal. be able to. As a result, for example, it is possible to sufficiently inform the user of the features of the electric device and the detailed operation method, which are difficult to convey only by the description in the catalog or the HP or in the photograph or text. In addition, the user does not need to go to the store to browse the electric device, and can know the details of the electric device regardless of the time and place, so that the labor and time can be saved. Further, since the manual information is displayed together with the object information of the electric device, the user can
Even when the operation method is lost, the operation can be performed promptly by referring to the manual information.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the electronic device is further connected to a manufacturer terminal managed by the manufacturer that provides the electric device via a network, and the analysis unit acquires the experience information stored in the experience information storage unit. To analyze the experience information, and to transmit the analysis result of the experience information analyzed by the analysis means to the manufacturer terminal by the analysis result transmission means,
Since the virtual experience device can provide useful information to the maker terminal, the manager of the virtual experience device can expect a profit by providing the information. The maker terminal can obtain information in which the operation of the electric device performed by the user is analyzed in detail. As a result, the manufacturer can improve and develop the electric device that is easier to use and that meets the needs of the user, and can provide an electric device with improved quality and operability.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the communication terminal is further connected to the operator terminal for providing a guidance service to the user terminal via the maker terminal, and the transmitting means receives a connection request from the user terminal to the operator terminal. In order to transmit the connection request of the user terminal to the maker terminal that relays the user terminal and the operator terminal by the connection request transmission unit, the user may have doubts about the specifications of the electric device during the operation of the electric device, When the operation procedure or operation method is lost, the user terminal can be provided with a guidance service using a chat function or the like by connecting to the operator terminal via the maker terminal. Thus, it is possible to promptly provide the user with useful information from the operator terminal without imposing an excessive load on the virtual experience device. In addition, when questions arise in the specifications of the electrical equipment during the operation of the electrical equipment, or when the operating procedure or operating method is unknown, the user should know the specifications and operating method of the electrical equipment in more detail in real time. Operation can be performed promptly.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the information on the correct operation procedure of the electric device is stored for each operation by the normal operation information storage means, and the analysis means is stored in the experience information storage means by the erroneous operation extraction means. Obtained experience information and normal operation information stored in the normal operation information storage means, compare and analyze the experience information and the normal operation information, extract erroneous operations for each operation from the experience information, and comment information The generating unit generates comment information on an operation corresponding to the number of erroneous operations extracted by the erroneous operation extracting unit, and the transmitting unit adds the comment information to the object information corresponding to the operation and transmits the object information to the user terminal. Regarding an operation that is likely to cause an erroneous operation, the user can be alerted by comment information. As a result, the number of erroneous operations by the user can be reduced, and the load on the virtual experience device can be reduced. In addition, the user can carefully perform an operation with many erroneous operations, and can save time and labor required for erroneous operations.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a virtual experience system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a content providing server 10 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of data storage in a virtual object information DB 181 shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of data storage in a manual information DB 182 shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of data storage in a user information DB 183 shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of data storage in a user experience information DB 184 shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of data storage in a maker information DB 185 shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a user terminal 20 shown in FIG.

FIG. 9A is a flowchart illustrating a virtual experience process executed by the CPU 21 of the user terminal 20. (B) It is a flowchart which shows the virtual experience process performed by CPU11 of the content provision server 10.

FIG. 10A is a flowchart showing a network connection process executed by the CPU 21 as part of the virtual experience process. 9B is a flowchart illustrating a user authentication process executed by the CPU 11 as part of the virtual experience process.

FIG. 11A is a flowchart showing a virtual object operation process executed by the CPU 21 as part of the virtual experience process. 9B is a flowchart illustrating a virtual object operation analysis process executed by the CPU 11 as part of the virtual experience process.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of object data displayed on the display unit 23 of the user terminal 20.

13A is a diagram illustrating an example of a data format of object data transmitted from the communication control unit 14 in FIG. 2; FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating an example of a data format of operation instruction information transmitted from the communication control unit 24 in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating experience information analysis processing executed by the CPU 11;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a virtual experience system 2 according to a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

16 is a diagram illustrating a data storage example of a normal operation information DB 186 illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 17A is a flowchart illustrating a virtual object operation process executed by the CPU 21 as part of the virtual experience process. 9B is a flowchart illustrating a virtual object operation analysis process executed by the CPU 11 as part of the virtual experience process.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an erroneous operation analysis process executed by the CPU 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 virtual experience system 10 content providing server 11 CPU 12 input unit 13 display unit 14 communication control unit 15 RAM 16 ROM 17 external storage device 18 recording medium 20 user terminal 21 CPU 22 input unit 23 display unit 24 communication control unit 25 RAM 26 ROM 27 external storage device 28 recording medium 30 maker terminal 40 operator terminal N network

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A virtual experience device connected to a user terminal via a network and providing the user terminal with a virtual experience service of an electric device, wherein object information including image data for each operation of the electric device is stored. Object information storage means, manual information storage means for storing manual information relating to the specifications of the electric equipment, object information from the object information storage means in response to an instruction from the user terminal, or manual information from the manual information storage means Transmitting means for acquiring any of the information to generate transmission data and transmitting the generated data to the user terminal; and experience information storage means for extracting and storing experience information on an operation from operation instruction information received as an instruction of the user terminal. And a virtual experience device comprising: 2. An analysis means which is further connected to a manufacturer terminal managed by a manufacturer providing the electric equipment via a network, acquires experience information stored in the experience information storage means, and analyzes the experience information. The virtual experience apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an analysis result transmitting unit configured to transmit an analysis result of the experience information analyzed by the analysis unit to the maker terminal. 3. The system is further connected to an operator terminal for providing a guidance service to the user terminal via the maker terminal, wherein the transmission means receives a connection request from the user terminal to the operator terminal. 3. The virtual experience apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a connection request transmitting unit configured to transmit a connection request of the user terminal to the maker terminal that relays the user terminal and the operator terminal. 4. A normal operation information storage unit for storing information on a correct operation procedure of the electric device for each operation, wherein the analysis unit stores the experience information stored in the experience information storage unit and the normal operation. Erroneous operation extraction means for acquiring the normal operation information stored in the information storage means, comparing and analyzing the experience information and the normal operation information, and extracting erroneous operations for each operation from the experience information; Means for generating comment information on an operation corresponding to the number of erroneous operations extracted by the means, wherein the transmitting means adds the comment information to object information corresponding to the operation, and 4. The virtual experience apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the virtual experience is transmitted to a user terminal. 5. A computer having a function of storing object information including image data for each operation of an electric device, a function of storing manual information relating to specifications of the electric device, and a function of a user terminal connected via a network. A function of acquiring either the object information or the manual information in response to an instruction, generating transmission data, and transmitting the generated transmission data to the user terminal, and an experience related to an operation from the operation instruction information received as the instruction of the user terminal A function to extract and store information, and a program to realize.