JP2002334182A - System, device and method for managing product collection, computer program and computer readable storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To collect products by a collecting method desired by a user. SOLUTION: User terminals 101 and 102 of users who want to perform product collection are connected to servers 106 and 107 for providing a product collection management service through the Internet 105, when access from the user side is recognized, product information about a product desired, by the user, to be collected and further the address information of the user are accepted, and a collecting method (e.g. bringing the product to a store, carrier's reception and secondhand market transaction) by a normal collection route is proposed to the user terminals 101 and 102 on the basis of those pieces of information. In the case of bringing the product to a store, a store that is a convenience store for collecting the product when the user brings in the product and is close to the address of the user is retrieved from a collection store database 110 and provided together with information of the store.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product collection management system, device, method, computer program, and computer-readable storage medium for managing the collection of products that a user desires to collect.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of separating and collecting waste, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-251901 has proposed a method of efficiently separating waste using a magnetic card. Waste is stored at a place where it is generated, such as a factory, in a portable and appropriate amount with a magnetic ID card pre-registered with waste information such as the type of waste and the properties such as components, shape, and size of each type. It is separated and collected in a dedicated container where possible.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-76334 proposes a method using an electronic tag and electronic money as payment for collection / recycling of a product. Using the Internet or a public line, a manufacturer receiving a request from a user makes a selection based on information such as a collection price set for each registered collection / recycling company. After the collection, the disassembly is performed according to a predetermined step, and the settlement is made with electronic money.

[0004]

In order to improve the product recovery rate, it is essential to have a degree of freedom and simplicity so that the user can perform the recovery in a desired manner. However, in the above-described conventional example, there is a method in which the user desires to collect the product and requests the manufacturer to collect the product using the Internet or a public line. Is not proposed). In addition, no mechanism has been proposed for ease of delivery.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to enable product collection by a collection method desired by a user.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems As means for solving the problems, the product collection management system of the present invention will be described. The product collection management system of the present invention comprises a user terminal of a user who desires product collection, a product terminal, A product collection management system that is connected to a server that provides a collection management service via a network, and is characterized in that an information providing unit that provides information on a collection method to the user terminal is provided.

Another feature of the product collection management system of the present invention is that the product collection management system is provided with a receiving means for receiving input of product information on a product which the user desires to collect from the user terminal.

Another feature of the product collection management system according to the present invention is that the product collection management system includes a data storage unit in which collection store information on a store performing collection when a product is brought in is registered. The collection method is characterized in that when the user brings in a product desired to be collected from the data storage means, one or a plurality of collection store information for collection is retrieved and provided to the user terminal.

Another feature of the product collection management system of the present invention is that the product collection management system further comprises a receiving means for receiving an input of a user's address information from the user terminal. Based on the above, the collection store information is retrieved from the data storage means.

[0010] Another feature of the product collection management system of the present invention is that the product collection management system includes a receiving means for receiving designation of a desired collection store from the user terminal.

Another feature of the product collection management system of the present invention is that the product collection management system is provided with a receiving means for receiving designation of a desired collection date and time from the user terminal.

Another feature of the product collection management system of the present invention resides in that the designated store is provided with a notifying means for notifying a product desired by the user to be collected and the desired collection date and time. is there.

Another feature of the product collection management system of the present invention is that print data creation / transmission for creating print data including bar code data for printing a bar code and sending the print data to the user terminal. The point is that it has a means.

[0014] Another feature of the product collection management system of the present invention is that the product collection management system further comprises a receiving means for receiving input of information on a printer connected to the user terminal.
The print data creation / transmission means determines a print size of the barcode based on the information of the printer,
The point is that the print data is created.

Another feature of the product collection management system of the present invention is that the barcode includes information for identifying the collected product.

Another feature of the product collection management system of the present invention is that the bar code includes address information of a server that provides the product collection management service.

Another feature of the product collection management system of the present invention resides in that the product collection management system is provided with management means for managing the cost of the collection by points.

Another feature of the product recovery management system of the present invention is that the product recovery management system includes a data storage unit in which carrier information for transporting products for recovery is registered. As a method, the present invention is characterized in that the data storage means searches for carrier information for picking up a product that the user desires to collect and provides the user terminal with the information.

Another feature of the product collection management system of the present invention is that the product collection management system includes a receiving means for receiving designation of a desired pick-up date and time from the user terminal.

Further, another feature of the product collection management system of the present invention is that the product collection management system includes a data storage unit in which product information and secondhand collection company information are registered in association with each other. As a method, the present invention is characterized in that the data storage means retrieves secondhand trader information for secondhand collection of products desired by the user to be collected and provides the secondhand trader information to the user terminal.

Another feature of the product collection management system of the present invention is that, in the data storage means, in addition to the product information and the used pickup company information, collection price information is further associated. It is in.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a product collection management system, apparatus, method, computer program, and computer-readable storage medium of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a product collection management system according to the present embodiment. Each user including a user for business use is a notebook-type or desktop-type personal computer (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as PC) 101.
(SP) provided by an Internet service provider (connection company) from a user terminal such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) 102 or a portable device through a public line 103 including, for example, an ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network).
vider) server 104.

[0024] The SP server 104
The Internet 105 further includes a WWW (World Wide Web) server 106 and a mail server owned by an information provider (information provider, which is a provider of a product collection management service in this embodiment). 107 is connected. Further, although details will be described later, various databases 109 to 112 are managed by the database server 108. These homepages are provided in response to a request from a user by using a WWW system.

In the Internet, TCP / IP (Tran
Computers communicate with each other according to a protocol called smission control protocol / Internet Protocol. A WWW system is built on the Internet. In this WWW system, HTTP (http) (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) is used.
ol), the data is transferred, and the screen is described in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language), so that information can be easily searched and displayed in the form of a homepage. .

For this WWW system, the application (WWW browser) on the user side is, for example, Mi
cro Soft's Internet Explorer (trademark), Netscape
Netscape Navigator (trademark) of the company is known, and as an application (WWW server) on the information provider side, for example, Netscape Commerce Server (trademark) is known.

Each user can use the WWW browser to access the WW
The user can access the W server 106 and receive information and services. Each information provider (information provider) can provide information and services to a WWW browser using the WWW server 106.

The user can directly connect to the Internet 105, but usually contracts with a service provider and, as shown in FIG.
By accessing the SP server 104 via 3, it is possible to connect to the Internet 105.

In the network system configured as described above, a user who wants to collect used products inputs an address of a homepage for providing a product collection management service to the PC 101. In response to a request from the PC 101, the connection destination WWW server 106 generates HTML type screen information, and the screen information is transmitted to the user's PC 101 by a WWW mechanism on the Internet.

Before the initial screen, the user is asked whether to execute the download of the plug-in software to the user's WWW browser for the function extension. The plug-in software referred to here means that the product desired to be collected as waste is connected to the user's PC 101 and is in a state where it can be automatically recognized (for example, a computer-related product connected to the user's PC 101). This is for performing automatic detection. Further, information on the printer connected to the user's PC 101 is also acquired. The printer information will be described later.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an initial screen displayed on the monitor of the PC 101 when plug-in software is already installed or downloaded. On this initial screen, the user registers product information on a product that he or she wishes to collect as a waste item. Items required for registration include the following items. 1) Manufacturer name 2) Product name 3) Product type name 4) Product ID number (serial number)

There are two methods for registering the product desired to be collected. A first method is to directly input the above items in the columns 201 to 204 from the keyboard or the like of the PC 101 by selecting by clicking the “input” at the bottom of the initial screen shown in FIG. The second method is that, when a detectable product connected to the PC 101 is to be collected, the user selects the “automatic detection” in the upper row by clicking the button, and the co
By opening the mbo Box 205, a candidate appears by the automatic search function of the plug-in software downloaded and installed earlier, and the corresponding product is selected.

Although not specifically shown, on the initial screen, address information of a user who is a registrant is also input.

After confirming that all necessary items have been entered, the user clicks a "detailed content" button 206 at the bottom of the screen to complete product registration and shift to a product collection method selection screen.

In order to display a product collection method selection screen, the WWW server 106 performs a process of determining a collection method selection candidate using a regular collection route for a product desired to be collected registered as described above. Do. The flowchart of FIG. 3 shows the processing operation from the initial setting input to the creation of the collection method selection screen. When the registration of the collected product is completed on the initial screen shown in FIG. 2 (step S301,
S302), the product information (manufacturer name, product name, product type name, product ID number) of the registered product is WW
Sent to W server 106.

Then, information is obtained from the product database 109 from the product name and the product ID number (serial number) (step S303). Further, the registered product is a product which is desired to be purchased in a registered used market. Is the trade-in price / trader database 11
Confirm from step 2 (step S304). FIG. 4 shows an example of data stored in the trade-in price / trader database 112. Product name (genre), manufacturer name,
Product type name, pick-up price, name of second-hand marketer (buyer)
Consists of In the present embodiment, the trade-in price / trader database 112 (see FIG. 4) is provided on the provider side of the product collection management service. However, a database is provided for each registered trader, and a search is performed as necessary. It is good also as a going structure.

Referring back to FIG. 3, when a trader who wants to trade in the registered product is searched in the used market (step S305), a selection screen of a product collection method is created and displayed as described later. At this time, the item of "used market trading" is reflected as an option on the screen (see FIG. 5) (step S306). On the other hand, when there is no desire to trade in the registered product from the used market (step S30).
5), the item of "used market trading" is not displayed (step S307).

Next, based on the address information of the user input on the registration screen, using the map application, the collection store database 110 is searched for candidate store data close to the registered address of the user (step S308).

Here, the processing operation for detecting candidate store data near the registered address of the user will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The address information input from the user is read (step S601), and a corresponding store within 500 meters from the registered address of the user is detected (step S602). If the number of applicable stores is two or more (step S603), candidate stores are selected up to three from the closest to the registered address of the user (steps S604, S6).
05). If the number of applicable stores is one or less (step S60
3) The search range is expanded to 800 meters and the search is restarted (step S606). Then, similarly, when the number of the corresponding stores is two or more (step S607),
The candidate stores are selected up to three from the order closest to the registered address of the user (steps S608 and S609). If there is only one corresponding store (step S610), the store is considered as a candidate. If there is no corresponding store (step S610), the search range is further expanded to find one store closest to the registered address of the user. The search is performed again (step S611). The detailed data of the candidate store selected in this way is obtained, and the display data is generated (step S612).

Although a specific description of the data stored in the collection store database 110 is omitted, the storage capacity such as the floor space for collection, the collection time of the collection company, and the like are provided for each registered store. The Back Point, which will be described later, and whether or not collection is possible can be determined based on the size of the product (which is known at the time of registration) and the setting of the carry-in time later.

Referring back to FIG. 3, the WWW server 106
Creates the selection information, creates a collection method selection screen, sends display information to the PC 101, and waits for a user's selection input (steps S309, 310). FIG. 5 shows an example of a selection screen of the collection method. This screen is a screen when a trader who wants to trade in a registered product in the used market is searched in step S305, and the following three collection methods are proposed. 1) Collection at a convenience store 2) Collection by home delivery 3) Purchase and sale of used markets

On the selection screen of the collection method, the type of the product desired to be collected, etc., which has been registered, is displayed for confirmation.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a display screen when “Bring in convenience store” is selected on the selection screen of the collection method shown in FIG. Also on this screen, the registered product type name and the like that has already been registered are displayed for confirmation. FIG. 8 shows a processing operation in a case where “Bring in convenience store” is selected.

As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 6, on this screen, up to three convenience stores which are the candidate stores searched, that is, the candidate stores searched in order from the user's registered address, are displayed (step S80).
1). By selecting a desired store by a click operation, the candidate store is designated as a collection store (step S802). After designating the collection store, the collection date and time (month, day, time zone) are designated in the combo Box 702 in the lower section.

When information is entered in all the fields, the input information is stored in the WWW server 1 of the product collection management service provider.
06, the Back Point to the user is calculated (the back point is calculated by calculating with the collection cost of the maker pool), and the Back Point item 703 on the screen in FIG. 7 is rewritten from the default as needed (step). S80
3).

It should be noted that an address and a telephone number, which are contact information for each store, are described on the screen. Further, a map button 701 is set for confirming the location, and when this button is pressed, the user's registered address and map information for displaying the candidate convenience store on one side are sent to the user's PC 101. Specifically, Although not shown, the map information is displayed (steps S804 to S80).
6).

Further, on the screen, a "decision &print" button 704 for confirming the decision to make the final selection is set, and when this button is pressed (step S8).
07), everything is determined, and the determined information is reflected in the product database 109 and the collection store database 110 through the WWW server 106.

Further, a series of product information and a collection date and time are notified to the designated collection store (step S809). Although not shown in FIG. 1, this notification may be made to the terminal of the store via the Internet 105.

When the "enter &print" button 704 is pressed, if the designation information is insufficient, for example, if a store is not designated (step S80)
8) Although not specifically shown, a display indicating that the designation is insufficient is made (step S810).

In the present embodiment, as described above, “decision &
When the “print” button 704 is pressed and the finalized information is sent to the WWW server 106, the user can easily confirm and settle the reservation when actually bringing the collected product to the convenience store under the user's PC environment. When the information of the printer is acquired by the automatic detection of, and when the user desires, barcode data is created and sent to the user's PC 101 as print data.

At the convenience store, the POS
(Point of Sales: Point-of-Sale Information) system is widely used, and in order to easily make payment using this system, it is desired that data be in a barcode format. A POS system is a system constructed for the purpose of acquiring information about a product at the time when the product is sold at a retail store and enabling real-time management. Widely used as the center.

In the POS system, a bar code or an OCR code printed or pasted on each price tag or packaging package of a product is read by a scanner connected to the POS terminal, or By inputting from the keyboard, a product maker code and a product item code for the product are obtained. Subsequently, using the obtained product code or product item code as a key from an office computer called a store computer, price information corresponding to the product is read, and a receipt on which the product item code, price, etc. are printed is printed. Is output from the receipt journal printing device provided in the POS terminal device.
At the same time, each piece of information on the above-mentioned merchandise is registered in a sales management database in the store computer and used for sales management and the like. As described above, the function of acquiring the corresponding price information from the store computer using the product maker code or the product item code as a key is a PLU (Price Look Up).
Up) function.

Since the bar code for the POS system is localized by affiliated stores, it is necessary to correspond to the data format to be created according to the affiliated store sequence when creating bar code data.

Before explaining this bar code creation method,
The barcode will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, a bar code defined by JIS is JAN (Japanese).
Article Number) code is a standard of 13 digits. One number is two black bars (black bars) and two
It is displayed as a combination of white bars (white bars) of a book, and there are four types of black bars and white bars, from the thinnest to the four times thicker, and these are combined to express the difference in numbers. The last number, called the check digit, is a number that is calculated for each case to ensure correctness of the code.

For the marking, (1) the position of the bar code, (2) the size of the bar code, and (3) the optical characteristics (density and color) of the bar code are specified. Are specified as ± 0.07 [mm] and ± 0.10 [mm] for line widths of 0.30 [mm] and 0.33 [mm], respectively.
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, there is also a setting of the magnification of the barcode itself, and the tolerance of the dimensional accuracy also changes according to this magnification.

That is, when the printing accuracy is poor, the printing accuracy of the barcode can be absorbed to some extent by increasing the magnification of the print data and printing large. In this example, the reference is 1.00 times (FIG. (B)), but 0.80 times (FIG. (A)) which requires higher printing accuracy.
And 2.00 times ((C) in the same figure), on the contrary, the printing accuracy requirement is reduced. Naturally, in consideration of the amount of ink used when printing, it is desirable that the print size be the minimum. Therefore, when printing is performed by a printer with high printing accuracy, the barcode print size is set to, for example, 0.80 times. Conversely, when printing is performed by a printer with low printing accuracy, the barcode print size is set to, for example, 2 ×. 0.000 times. By doing so, it is possible to provide the most preferable barcode printing in the usage environment of the user.

As described above, printing with the dimensional accuracy of the barcode standard is a condition for the barcode to be readable by the POS system. However, the number of users who can connect to the Internet is unlimited, and not all of them have a high-definition printer that satisfies the above-mentioned barcode standard by default.

In order to prevent the barcode data to be created from being wasted, optimum printer data and printer driver setting data are created based on the printer information of the user. The flowchart of FIG. 10 shows a processing operation for transmitting print data.

When the printer information used by the user (connected to the PC 101) is obtained by the automatic search at the time of the product registration described above, or when the model information of the connected printer is input from the user side (step S1001
ＳS1005), and based on the printer information, create optimum printer data (including barcode data) and printer driver setting data under the usage environment of each user from the printer resolution database 111 (steps S1006, S1007). Then, when the store is designated and the “enter & print” button 704 is pressed as described above (step S1008), the created printer data (including the bar code data) and the printer driver setting data are sent to the PC 101 (step S1008). Step S1009).

FIG. 11 shows an example of data in the printer resolution database 111. For example, if the printer used by the user is BJF850 (trademark) of canon (trademark),
When the print resolution database 111 is searched, the print resolution of the printer is 1200 * 1200 [dpi (Dot Par Inch)]
And the printing accuracy is 0.02 [mm], which exceeds the required accuracy ± 0.05 [mm] of the print data magnification of 0.08. Therefore, 0.08 × is selected as the barcode printing magnification, printer data (including barcode data) and printer driver setting data are created and sent to the user.

The barcode data transmitted as print data is stored in a designated collection store (convenience store).
Is created as a data format that matches the barcode format. The barcode data information includes: 1) Data that identifies the product collection mode 2) Collection product identification information, collection reservation date and time 3) IP address of the product collection management service server 4) Confirmation of E-mail setting for Back Point Contains information (e-mail address if needed). Although not shown, a plurality of barcodes are registered as necessary.

If the user does not have a printer in the PC usage environment, or if the printing accuracy of the printer used is POS.
If the resolution does not satisfy the standard required by the system, or if the user does not want to settle the payment with the print data using the barcode data, substitute collection information is generated and sent to the PC 101 (step SS1010).

In the present embodiment, when a collected product is taken to a designated convenience store for delivery,
The paper on which the print data including the obtained barcode data is output is submitted to the designated convenience store. The processing operation at that time is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

At the designated convenience store, the bar code is read by the scanner connected to the POS terminal (step S1201) to first recognize that the product is in the product collection mode (step S120).
2. S1203) Then, the collection reservation date and time data is read (step S1204), and matching with the current time is performed (step S1205). If they match, the set Back Point is set (step S120).
6). If they do not match, the IP written on the barcode
It connects to the server of the product collection management service indicated by the address, and recalculates and obtains the Back Point due to the time lag (step S1207).

For inputting an IP address using a bar code, an identifier indicating the IP version is followed by an original 32-bit address in the case of IPv4 in four blocks.
Therefore, each block has a unit of 8 bits, which is represented by three digits in a decimal system, and thus requires 12 digits. Although there is a notation with a period "." Between blocks, it is omitted in the case of notation using a barcode. However, a code meaning period "." May be created and inserted. Also, "H
TTP: // "and default". The setting method of "html" may be omitted, or an ASCII character input method described later is used. Alternatively, a URL may be directly described in a barcode by the ASCII character input method described later. .

Thereafter, as a method of notifying the Back Point, data indicating whether an e-mail has been set in advance is determined (step S1208). If there is a setting, the product collection management system indicated by the IP address described above is determined. The server is requested to issue an e-mail attached with the Back Point acquisition ID number (step S1209). If e-mail is not set, the Back Point Register Receipt Journal Printer of the POS system
In step S1210, an ID number that can be settled on the homepage of the product collection management service is printed on a receipt paper and passed.

Lastly, the POS system of the convenience store notifies the server of the product collection management system indicated by the IP address of the completion of the collection and settlement (step S).
1211), the product database 109 of the product collection management system is updated. For example, “collected” is described in a part managed by the serial number of the collected product in the product database 109.

In this embodiment, the Back Point acquisition ID
The issuance of the e-mail attached with the number is performed from the server of the product collection management system, but may be performed from the POS system of the convenience store. In this case, the fact that the electronic mail has been issued to the user is reflected in the database of the product collection management system.

As a method of expressing an e-mail address with a bar code, it is necessary to represent the address entry permission character of the e-mail with a bar code. As a method, it is possible to sort ASCII codes of up to 100 characters by two digits of the bar code based on the idea of a 2-byte code, so if you have a table that associates the necessary characters, you can send e-mail from the bar code on the spot You can get the address. For example, it is possible to make an assignment using a correspondence table as shown in FIG.

As another method for obtaining an e-mail address from a bar code, there are two methods: a user's e-mail address registered in a server of the product collection management system;
By making an arbitrary number correspond to this and making it into a database, this number may be entered in the barcode, and the e-mail address may be obtained by inquiring the read number from the store to the database.

Back Point is paid to the user at the time of purchase for product collection, or when the actual collection fee is lower than the collection amount prepared in advance by the product manufacturer, the user is notified of the collection amount. Those that match the difference are issued as free points for various download service fees. In this embodiment, the return funds
Although it was oint, the idea is the same whether it is electronic money or cash.

(Case where “courier service pickup” is selected) When “courier service pickup” is selected on the collection method selection screen shown in FIG. 5, the courier service provider is uniquely determined according to the registered product. Therefore, the user specifies only the collection date and time. The method of designating the collection date and time is the same as the case of designating “Bring-in convenience store”.

(When “Second-hand market trading” is selected) FIG.
FIG. 4 shows an example of a display screen when “used market trading” is selected on the collection method selection screen shown in FIG. FIG. 15 shows a processing operation in a case where “used market trading” is selected.

As shown in FIG. 14, the contents displayed on the screen are retrieved from the trade-in price / trader database 112 and displayed as the name 1401 of the trader presenting the highest price, the content 1402 of the product desired to be collected, the price range 1403, The collection store name 1404 (including the address and the map button 1405) is displayed (steps S1501 to S1503). Furthermore, combo Box 14 for designating collection date and time and collection method
06 and 1407 are set. In addition, a “decision & print” button 1408 is set as a confirmation of the intention to determine the final selection.

Note that the price of the collection price range 1403 is
It is determined based on the pick-up price (registered in the trade-in / price database 112) described in FIG. Specifically, the pick-up price described in FIG. 4 is a price when the storage state of the product is good, and the final price is registered in the database 112 as a pick-up price range because the final price is determined by a trader's appraisal at the time of pick-up. The price is multiplied by a coefficient corresponding to the product genre, and the price is displayed with a certain width (step S1502).

Also when "used market trading" is selected, similarly to the case described with reference to FIG. 8, when the map button 1405 is pressed, the map information is sent to the user's PC 101 (steps S1504-1507). When the “enter & print” button 1408 is pressed in a state where all the specified information is present, all the information is determined, and the determined information is WW
The information is reflected in the product database 109 and the trade-in / trade database 112 through the W server 106, and a series of product information and collection date and time are notified to the designated trader.
(Steps S1508 and S1509).

In the system shown in FIG. 1,
Although the above-described various processes are distributed by the plurality of servers 106 to 108, the various processes may be performed by one server or by a larger number of servers.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a specific hardware configuration of the server. Reference numeral 1601 denotes a CPU, which controls various components via a bus 1608 to perform data transmission / reception, coupling, and the like. Via this bus 1608, mutual transfer of address signals, control signals, and various data between various components (devices) is performed.

Reference numeral 1602 denotes a ROM (read only memory)
The control procedure (computer program) of the CPU 1601 is stored. When the CPU 1601 executes this control procedure, it becomes possible to execute processes such as data transfer and combination. Reference numeral 1603 denotes a RAM, which is used as a work memory for data transmission / reception, coupling, and the like, and as a temporary storage unit for controlling various components.

In the present embodiment, the CP
The U1601, the ROM 1602, the RAM 1603, and the like implement various functions such as an information providing unit, a receiving unit, and a print data creating / transmitting unit in the present invention.

Reference numeral 1604 denotes a storage external storage device such as a hard disk storage device, and the server described in FIG.
When used as the database server 108, the databases 109 to 112 are constructed. 160
Reference numeral 5 denotes a network interface for connecting to the Internet 105. An input device 1606 such as a keyboard or a mouse is used to input an electronic document or the like. Reference numeral 1607 denotes a display device such as a display, which is used to display various screens.

(Other Embodiments) In order to operate various devices in order to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments, an apparatus connected to the various devices or a computer in a system is used in the above-described embodiments. Supply the software program code to realize the functions of
The present invention also includes those implemented by operating the various devices according to programs stored in a computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus.

In this case, the software program code itself implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself constitutes the present invention. As a transmission medium of the program code, a communication medium (a wired line or a wireless line such as an optical fiber) in a computer network (a WAN such as a LAN or the Internet, a wireless communication network, etc.) system for propagating and supplying the program information as a carrier wave. Etc.) can be used.

Further, means for supplying the program code to a computer, for example, a recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a recording medium for storing such a program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, and the like can be used.

Further, when the computer executes the supplied program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) or other operating system in which the program code runs on the computer. It goes without saying that such program codes are also included in the embodiments of the present invention when the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized in cooperation with the application software or the like.

Further, after the supplied program code is stored in the memory provided on the function expansion board of the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or the function expansion unit is stored based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that the present invention also includes a case where the CPU or the like provided for performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

The shapes and structures of the respective parts shown in the above embodiments are merely examples of the embodiment for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is thereby reduced. It should not be interpreted restrictively. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof.

[0088]

As described above, according to the present invention, a collection method (for example,
(Carry-in to stores, pick-up by carriers, and second-hand market purchases) are proposed through the network, so that users can save time and collect items that fit their lifestyle. The recovery rate can be improved. In particular, if the service is provided via the Internet, the user needs 24
The service can be easily used at any time.

For example, when suggesting a store to be brought into the store, if the store near the user's address is notified, the convenience can be further improved. In addition, when the second-hand market trading is proposed as a collection method, products originally discarded as general oversized garbage are prevented from being wasted, and the product life can be extended. If proposals for a pickup price can be presented when a proposal for buying and selling a used market is made, the convenience can be further improved.

Further, when the carry-on to the store is selected, the bar code corresponding to the POS system is sent to the user so that the user can print the bar code on the user's printer, so that the product is actually collected at the store. By reading the barcode, you can check whether the registered product is the same as the product actually brought in, or send information such as the end of collection to the provider of the product collection management service. For example, payment processing can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a product collection management system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an initial screen displayed on a monitor of a PC 101.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing operation from initial setting input to creation of a collection method selection screen.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of data stored in a trade-in price / trader database 112;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a selection screen of a collection method in which an item of “used market trading” is reflected as an option.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing operation for detecting candidate store data near a registered address of a user.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when “Bring in convenience store” is selected.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation in a case where “Take-in convenience store” is selected.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of a change caused by designation of a magnification for barcode printing.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation for transmitting print data.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of data stored in a printer resolution database 111.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a barcode reading process operation in a designated store.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a barcode / ASCII correspondence table.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen when “used market trading” is selected.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing operation when “used market trading” is selected.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a server.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 PC 102 PDA 103 Public line 104 SP server 105 Internet 106 WWW server 107 Mail server 108 Database server 109 Product database 110 Collection store database 111 Printer resolution database 112 Trade-in price / trader database

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Jiro Tateyama 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Atsushi Nakamura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon F term (reference) in corporation 5B072 BB00 CC24

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A product collection management system in which a user terminal of a user who desires product collection and a server for providing a product collection management service are connected via a network. A product collection management system comprising information providing means for providing information. 2. The product collection management system according to claim 1, further comprising a receiving unit that receives, from the user terminal, input of product information on a product that the user desires to collect. 3. A data storage means in which collection store information on a store performing collection when a product is brought in is registered, wherein the information providing means performs the collection by the user from the data storage means as the collection method. 3. The product collection management system according to claim 2, wherein one or a plurality of collection store information for performing collection when a desired product is brought in is retrieved and provided to the user terminal. 4. A receiving means for receiving input of address information of a user from the user terminal, wherein the information providing means searches the data storage means for collection store information based on the address information of the user. The product collection management system according to claim 3, wherein: 5. The product collection management system according to claim 3, further comprising a receiving unit configured to receive designation of a desired collection store from the user terminal. 6. The product collection management system according to claim 5, further comprising receiving means for receiving designation of a desired collection date and time from said user terminal. 7. The product collection management system according to claim 6, further comprising notification means for notifying the designated store of a product that the user wants to collect and the desired collection date and time. 8. A print data creating / sending means for creating print data including bar code data for printing a bar code and sending the created print data to the user terminal. 2. The product collection management system according to claim 1. 9. A printing apparatus, comprising: receiving means for receiving input of information on a printer connected to the user terminal, wherein the print data creating / transmitting means determines a print size of the barcode based on the information on the printer. ,
9. The product collection management system according to claim 8, wherein the print data is created. 10. The product collection management system according to claim 8, wherein the barcode includes information for identifying a collected product. 11. The product collection management system according to claim 8, wherein the barcode includes address information of a server that provides the product collection management service. 12. The product collection management system according to claim 3, further comprising management means for managing the cost of the collection by points. 13. A data storage means in which carrier information for transporting a product for collection is registered, wherein the information providing means includes, as the collection method, a product which the user desires to collect from the data storage means. 3. The product collection management system according to claim 2, wherein carrier information for retrieving the product is retrieved and provided to the user terminal. 14. The product collection management system according to claim 13, further comprising a receiving unit configured to receive designation of a desired pick-up date and time from the user terminal. 15. A data storage means in which product information and secondhand delivery agent information are registered in association with each other, wherein the information providing means includes, as the collection method, a product which the user desires to collect from the data storage means. 3. The product collection management system according to claim 2, wherein information on a used collection company that performs used collection is retrieved and provided to the user terminal. 16. The product collection management system according to claim 15, wherein said data storage means further associates collection price information in addition to said product information and said used collection company information. 17. A product collection management device for providing a product collection management service via a network to a user terminal of a user who wants to collect a product, wherein the user terminal is provided with information on a collection method. A product collection management device comprising information providing means. 18. A product collection management method for providing a product collection management service via a network to a user terminal of a user who desires product collection, wherein information on the collection method is provided to the user terminal. A product collection management method comprising an information provision procedure. 19. A computer program for causing a computer to execute a process of providing a product collection management service via a network to a user terminal of a user who wants to collect a product. A computer program for causing a computer to execute an information providing process for providing information. 20. A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program according to claim 19.