JP2003030495A - Device, system and method for retrieving article and device for receiving and placing order for article - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article retrieval system capable of efficiently performing the processing from article retrieval to article purchase. SOLUTION: In this retrieval system, when a commodity desired by a user is not extracted (no is S9), and if the user decides that the user wants to obtain the commodity by placing a special order to a maker (custom order is S10), a custom order sheet on which conditions inputted (S5) when retrieval was performed have been already written, is prepared, and custom order processing is performed (S12). Thus, the user can order the desired commodity.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article retrieval apparatus, an article ordering apparatus, an article retrieval system, and an article retrieval method, and in particular, an article retrieval apparatus, an article ordering apparatus, an article retrieval system that can perform a custom order, and The present invention relates to an article search method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the Internet has spread rapidly,
Shopping using the Internet (electronic commerce)
Is being actively carried out.

When a user uses internet shopping, the user connects to an internet shopping portal site and searches for the item to be purchased from the site.

[0004] The portal site is a site to which a user who uses the Internet shopping connects first, and is, so to speak, a gateway to the Internet shopping. The portal site plays a role of bridging between the user and the supplier, and provides a place for commercial transactions between the user and the supplier. At the portal site, matching is performed to realize an optimum combination of the request (demand) on the user side and the request (supply) on the supplier side. The user directly inputs the specifications and functions of the requested article and executes the search based on the conditions.

[0005] In such a conventional portal site, when a search is executed, but an item satisfying the condition requested by the user is not registered, "there is no corresponding product", "search 0", etc. Is displayed, and it is not possible to obtain information about any more items.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned search site, when the user wants to purchase an item satisfying the condition even after performing a custom order (special order), the conventional search site does the search. It was necessary to terminate the process and access another custom order site, directly access the site of the article provider, and enter the required conditions again. This is a search system that requires a complicated operation from the user, and greatly reduces the work efficiency of the user.
As a result, there is a possibility that the user's purchasing will greatly decline.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an article search apparatus, an article ordering / ordering apparatus, an article search system and an article search method which can efficiently perform processing from article search to purchase.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an article search device includes a search instruction receiving means for receiving a search instruction from a user by designating a search condition. , A search means for searching the data for an item that matches the search condition specified by the search instruction, and if there is no matching item as a result of the search by the search means, the ordering file includes the search instruction And a file output unit for adding the contents of the search condition to be added as the contents of the ordering instruction item and outputting to the user.

Further, the article search apparatus receives an ordering instruction of an article based on the ordering file from the user, and an ordering instruction output means for outputting an ordering file to the supplier when the ordering instruction is received. It is preferable to further include an instruction output unit and a quotation information reception unit that receives quotation information including intentions and conditions for trading the article based on the ordering file from the supplier.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an article ordering / ordering apparatus includes an ordering instruction receiving means for receiving an ordering instruction of an article designated by an ordering instruction item from a user, and an order received by the ordering instruction receiving means. An ordering instruction output means for outputting the instruction to the supplier, and a quotation information receiving means for accepting from the supplier the quotation information including the intention and condition of the transaction of the article based on the ordering instruction output by the ordering instruction output means. , And a key information generating means for generating key information associated with the quotation information for the user to order the article by the quotation information received by the quotation information receiving means.

The above-mentioned key information is an access number for accessing the quotation information, and the article ordering / placing device has a transmitting means for transmitting the access number to the user.
It is desirable to further include a quotation information output unit that outputs quotation information to the user when an access request specifying the access number is received from the user.

Further, the article ordering / placing apparatus preferably further comprises storage means for storing the quotation information received by the quotation information reception means in a storage area having an address on a predetermined network, and the above-mentioned key information is the above-mentioned key information. The article ordering / equipment apparatus further includes a transmission unit that transmits the address to the user, and a quotation information output unit that outputs the quotation information to the user when the access request specifying the address is received from the user. Is desirable.

Further, the above-mentioned key information is an order number for ordering an article, and the article ordering / ordering apparatus associates the quotation information received by the quotation information receiving means with the conditions of each transaction included in the quotation information. When the ordering instruction specifying the order number is received from the user and the transmission means for transmitting the specified order number to the user, the ordering screen for placing an order according to the transaction conditions associated with the order number is output to the user. It is desirable to further include an ordering screen output means for performing the ordering.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an article search system is an article search system including an article search apparatus, a user apparatus, and a supplier apparatus, which are connected via a communication line. A user device for the user to give the above-mentioned search instruction or the above-mentioned ordering instruction, and a supplier apparatus for outputting the above-mentioned ordering file to the supplier.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an article retrieval method includes a retrieval instruction acceptance step of accepting a retrieval instruction designated by a user by designating a retrieval condition, and an article conforming to the retrieval condition designated by the retrieval instruction. If there is no matching product as a result of the search step, the contents of the search condition included in the search instruction are added as the contents of the ordering instruction item to the file for ordering. And a file output step of outputting to the user.

Further, the article search method includes an ordering instruction receiving step for receiving an ordering instruction of an article based on a file for ordering from a user, and an ordering file for outputting an ordering file to a supplier when the ordering instruction is received. It is preferable to further include an instruction output step and a quotation information reception step of receiving quotation information including intentions and conditions for trading the article from the supplier based on the ordering file.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an article search system according to this embodiment. In the present embodiment, a case will be described where a tool is searched using the article search system shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, the article retrieval system includes a commodity receiver system 1 including a personal computer and the like, a marketplace system 2 which is a server for operating and managing a market of electronic commerce,
It includes product provider systems 3a to 3c, which are servers for the seller of products to manage.

The product recipient system 1, the marketplace system 2, and the product provider system 3 communicate with each other via the Internet.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the merchandise receiver system 1 shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2, the commodity receiver system 1
Is a CPU (Central Proc
essing unit) 11, a program storage unit 12 that stores a product search program, a data holding unit 13 that stores various data, and a CRT (Ca
a data display unit 14 for displaying various kinds of information, and a data display unit 1
Display data creation unit 15 for creating data displayed in 4
And input device 1 consisting of keyboard and mouse
6 and an input device control section 17 for controlling the input device 16.
And a communication control unit 18 that controls communication performed via the Internet.

The product receiver system 1 shown in FIG. 2 is a general personal computer. Therefore, any component other than the above components may be included as long as the product receiver system 1 of the present embodiment has the function. It may also include other constituent elements in place of the above constituent elements.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of the market place system 2 shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, marketplace system 2 has a CPU 21, a program storage unit 22, a data holding unit 23, and a communication control unit 24, like the merchandise receiver system 1 shown in FIG. And a customer information DB (database) 25 as an auxiliary storage device, a product information DB 26, an order information and a purchase history DB 27.
And a custom product information storage area 28, and an auxiliary storage device control unit 29 for controlling these auxiliary storage devices.

The customer information DB 25 stores customer information such as customer number, entry code, and name for each customer.

The product information DB 26 stores information on products provided by the product provider system 3. The product information stored in the product information DB 26 will be described later in detail with reference to the drawings.

The order information and purchase history DB 27 stores order history and purchase history for each customer number.

The custom item information storage area 28 is an area reserved for storing information regarding custom orders from customers. For custom orders,
A detailed explanation will be given later.

Further, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the merchandise provider system 3 shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 4, the product provider system 3
3 includes a CPU 31, a program storage unit 32, a data holding unit 33, and a communication control unit 34, similarly to the marketplace system 2 shown in FIG. 3, and further includes a customer information DB 35 as an auxiliary storage device and a sales unit. Information DB36
It includes an order information DB 37, an inventory management DB 38, a custom product order storage area 39, and an auxiliary storage device controller 40 for controlling these auxiliary storage devices.

The customer information DB 35 stores customer information such as customers who have obtained information from the product provider system 3 and customers who have purchased products.

The sales information DB 36 stores information about sales such as sales history for each product.

The order information DB 37 stores information about orders, such as the current order status and order history.

The stock management DB 38 stores stock management information such as stock information and delivery schedule for each product.

The custom product order storage area 39 is an area reserved for storing information on custom orders received from customers.

The configurations of the marketplace system 2 and the merchandise provider system 3 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are general server configurations, and can also be realized by a server-dedicated machine. The functions of the marketplace system 2 and the product provider system 3 can also be realized by constructing a personal computer or the like in the network as a server. In that case, the marketplace system 2 and the merchandise provider system 3 include, in addition to the components shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a display unit, an input device, and the like included in the general personal computer shown in FIG. I don't mind

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the article search process performed by the article search system shown in FIGS. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the process shown in the row of the product receiver system 1 on the left side is the process performed in the product receiver system 1, and the process shown in the line of the marketplace system 2 on the right side is The processing performed in the marketplace system 2 is shown.

Referring to FIG. 5, a user who searches for a tool inputs an entry code, which is allocated from marketplace system 2 in advance, through input device 16 of merchandise receiver system 1 (S1).

The entry code entered in step S1 is the customer information DB 25 of the marketplace system 2.
Is stored as customer information.

In the market place system 2 received by the communication control unit 24 via the Internet, the CPU 2
In step 1, the customer information stored in the customer information DB 25 is queried for the entry code input in step S1.

When the entered entry code is approved, the CPU 21 displays the initial state display screen (hereinafter,
An initial screen) is created (S2).

The initial screen created by the marketplace system 2 in step S2 is received by the communication control unit 18 of the commodity receiver system 1 via the Internet and displayed on the data display unit 14 (S3).

In step S2, the application for creating the initial screen may be downloaded from the market place system 2 to the merchandise receiver system 1. At this time, the downloaded application is executed in the commodity receiver system 1,
The display data creation unit 15 creates an initial screen. The created initial screen is the product recipient system 1 in step S3.
Is displayed on the data display unit 14.

In accordance with the initial screen displayed on the data display unit 14 of the merchandise receiver system 1 in step S3, the user selects and inputs the priority condition for the tool search (S4). ). The priority conditions are:
Includes features, prices and delivery times.

Further, along with the initial screen, the user inputs the search condition from the input device 16 (S5). Here, the user can input the content of attributes such as the function of the product, the price and the delivery date, that is, the condition for designating the article as the search condition. It should be noted that, as the search condition, the use condition of the article such as the machine using the tool, the diameter of the hole drilled using the tool, and the material of the tool may be input.

The contents of the attribute of the product include details of the attribute, numerical values, allowable width, and the like. For example, in step S5, a price of 400 yen, a delivery date of 3 days, and the like can be input, and the price of 390 yen to 420 yen.
It is also possible to input yen, 420 yen or less, and delivery date within 4 to 6 days.

The order of the inputs in steps S4 and S5 does not matter, and the order is reversed.
The priority mode may be selected and input after the search conditions are input.

After inputting in steps S4 and S5, the user gives an instruction to execute a search from the display screen (S6).

When the execution of the search is instructed by pressing the search button or the like in step S6, the CPU 11 of the merchandise receiver system 1 causes the communication control unit 18 to access the Internet in response to the input in steps S4 and S5. To the marketplace system 2 via.

The input information of the priority mode and the search condition input in steps S4 and S5 transmitted in step S6 is received by the communication control unit 24 of the market place system 2 via the Internet.

The input information of the search condition input in S5 is
It is analyzed by the CPU 21 (S7).

CPU 2 of marketplace system 2
In 1, a search is executed based on the input information analyzed in step S7 (S8).

In step S8, the product information of the corresponding tool is extracted based on the search condition analyzed in step S7. The product information about the tool is provided from the product provider system 3 and the product information DB 26
Remembered in.

When the product information of the corresponding tool is not extracted in step S8 (NO in S9), the market play system 2 asks the user to search again.
Request a decision as to whether to place a custom order (S1
0).

When the user performs the re-search (re-search in S10), the market play system 2 prompts the user to input the search condition again (S11).

CPU 2 of marketplace system 2
In step 1, the search process of steps S7 and S8 is performed based on the search condition input again by the user.

When the user places a custom order (custom order in S10), the article search system performs custom order processing based on the tool attribute input as the search condition in step S5 (S).
12).

Regarding the custom order processing performed by the article retrieval system in step S12,
A detailed description will be given later using a flowchart.

When the product information of the corresponding tool is extracted in step S8 (S9), the priority mode input information input in step S4 is analyzed by the CPU 21 of the market place system 2 (S13). ).

The product information of the tools extracted in step S8 is rearranged in the order of priority by the user based on the priority mode analyzed in step S13 (S14).

Subsequently, the CPU 21 of the market place system 2 creates a display screen showing the search results obtained in step S14 (S15).

The display screen of the search result created in step S15 is received by the communication control unit 18 of the commodity receiver system 1 via the Internet and displayed on the data display unit 14 (S16).

On the display screen of the search result displayed on the data display unit 14 of the merchandise receiver system 1 in step S16, the user can browse the tools corresponding to the attributes input as the search condition in order of priority. .

Further, FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the custom order processing performed by the article retrieval system in step S12 of FIG. Note that in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, the processes shown in the row of the product receiver system 1 on the left side are the product receiver system 1
The process shown in the row of the central marketplace system 2 shows the process performed in the marketplace system 2, and the process shown in the row of the product provider system 3 on the right side shows the process carried out in the product provider system. The processing performed in 3 is shown.

Referring to FIG. 6, step S10 of FIG.
Then, when the instruction of the custom order is received from the user,
In the CPU 21 of the market place system 2, FIG.
A custom order sheet (ordering instruction for special order) is created based on the attribute of the tool input as the search condition in step S5 (S21).

The custom order sheet created in step S21 is received by the communication control unit 18 of the merchandise receiver system 1 via the Internet, and the data display unit 14
Is displayed on the screen (S22).

The custom order sheet displayed on the data display unit 14 in step S22 includes the step S in FIG.
Although the condition of the requested tool, which is input as a search condition by the user in 5, has already been entered, if further entry is required, the order condition is input from the input device 16 of the merchandise receiver system 1 (S23). ).

For example, in step S5 of FIG. 5, it is conceivable that the user who inputs only the functional conditions such as the dimensions adds the conditions such as the price and the delivery date when making a custom order. In this case, the price condition and the delivery date condition are further input in step S23.

The user confirms the entry contents of the custom order sheet further input in step S23 (S2
4) Send the custom order sheet to the marketplace system 2 by pressing the send button or the like (S25).

The custom order sheet transmitted in step S25 is received by the communication control unit 24 of the market place system 2 via the Internet. The CPU 21 of the market place system 2 searches the product information DB 26 for a supplier, such as a manufacturer or a trading company, that provides the product input on the custom order sheet (S26).

The custom order sheet is transmitted to the product provider systems 3a to 3c of the supplier retrieved in step S26 by means of electronic mail or the like (S).
27).

The custom order sheet transmitted in step S27 is received by the communication control unit 34 of the product provider system 3 via the Internet and stored in the custom product order storage area 39. Further, the CPU 31 analyzes the conditions requested by the user and creates an estimate (S28).

The quotation created in step S28 is transmitted from the communication controller 34 of the product provider system 3 (S).
29).

In step S29, the quotation for the custom order sheet transmitted from each system of the merchandise provider systems 3a to 3c is received by the communication control unit 24 of the marketplace system 2 via the Internet and is stored in the custom merchandise information storage area. 28 (S3
0).

In step S30, each product provider system 3
Based on the quotations collected from a to c, the article search system performs a custom order receiving / ordering process of presenting the quotations to the user and accepting the custom order placement (S).
31).

The custom order receiving / ordering process performed in step S31 will be described later in detail with reference to a flowchart.

Further detailed description will be given below with reference to specific examples. FIG. 7 shows a specific example of the input screen on which the user inputs the entry code in step S1 of FIG. The input screen shown in FIG. 7 is the product recipient system 1
Is displayed on the data display unit 14.

With reference to FIG. 7, in step S1 of FIG. 5, the user inputs the entry code allocated from the market place system 2 in advance. Further, a user who desires a new entry may register an entry using the input screen shown in FIG. Figure 7
By pressing the new registration button shown in (1), a registration screen (not shown) is displayed on the data display unit 14, and the user can perform entry registration by inputting predetermined information.

The entry code entered on the input screen of FIG.
It is passed to U11 and transmitted from the communication control unit 18 to the marketplace system 2 via the Internet.

The market place system 2 which has received the user's entry code at the communication control unit 24 passes the user's entry code to the CPU 21. Further, the auxiliary storage device control unit 29 retrieves the customer information stored in the customer information DB 25 and inquires the received entry code of the user.

CPU2 of marketplace system 2
In FIG. 5, after the inquiry of the entry code is made in FIG.
In step S2, the initial screen is created. The created initial screen is transmitted from the communication control unit 24 to the commodity receiver system 1 via the Internet.

FIG. 8 shows a specific example of the initial screen displayed in step S3 of FIG. The initial screen shown in FIG. 8 is
It is displayed on the data display unit 14 of the commodity receiver system 1.

It is possible that the application for creating the initial screen is downloaded from the market place system 2 to the merchandise receiver system 1 in step S2 of FIG. In this case, the downloaded application is stored in the program storage unit 12 of the merchandise receiver system 1. The application for initial screen creation stored in the program storage unit 12 creates the initial screen shown in FIG. 8 in the display data creation unit 15 and displays it on the data display unit 14.

Referring to FIG. 8, in step S4 of FIG. 5, the user selects the priority mode in the mode selection field.

Generally, when purchasing a product, the user
There are cases where functions are prioritized, prices are prioritized, and delivery dates are prioritized. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the user selects a priority mode from the function priority mode, the price priority mode, and the delivery date priority mode.

In FIG. 8, the selection mode can be input by selecting and pressing the button of the priority mode shown. With reference to FIG. 8, in the present embodiment, the price priority mode is selected.

If the user is not a newly registered user, when the user's entry code is queried in the marketplace system 2 in step S2 of FIG. 5, the history of the corresponding user is read from the order information and the purchase history DB 27. You can also put it out. When the initial screen is created in step S2 of FIG. 5, if the priority mode of the user is always fixed from the history of the corresponding user read out, the initial screen in which the priority mode is selected in advance for each user Can be created. It is also possible to create an initial screen in which the priority mode previously set by the user is automatically selected. By thus creating the initial screen in which the priority mode is preselected for each user, it is possible to provide a search screen that is more convenient for the user.

Further, from the initial screen shown in FIG.
In step S5, the user inputs search conditions.

Referring to FIG. 8, in step S5 of FIG. 5, the user inputs search conditions such as desired tool size and delivery date from the input device 16 in the search condition input field. Further, if there is a condition such as additional processing or surface treatment, it is possible to select from the standards shown in the list display or the drawing and input.

When the input of the priority mode and the search condition is completed in steps S4 and S5, in step S6 of FIG. 5, the user presses the search button shown in FIG. 8 to execute the search instruction.

In step S7 of FIG. 5, the CPU 21 of the market place system 2 analyzes the search condition input in step S5.

FIG. 9 shows a specific example of product information stored in the product information DB 26. The product information stored in the product information DB 26 includes product information such as the model, shape, maker name, and inventory quantity of each product.

The product information stored in the product information DB 26 may include the product name and other information in addition to the information included in the product information shown in FIG.

In step S8 of FIG. 5, the CPU 21 of the market place system 2 uses the auxiliary storage device control section 29 as the search condition such as the size and price input in step S5, and the product shown in FIG. The relevant product information is extracted from the product information stored in the information DB 26.

Further, in step S14 of FIG.
The search results obtained in step S8 are rearranged based on the priority mode analyzed in step S13.

Referring to FIG. 8, in step S4 of FIG. 5, since the price priority mode is selected, the price condition is set for the product information of the tool matching the search condition extracted in step S8. Is prioritized and ranked.

The ranking here is a tool that matches the search condition input in S5 of FIG. 5, and the ranking is ranked higher from the cheapest tool.

When the function priority mode is selected in step S4, the tools that match the search conditions input in step S5 and are close to the functional conditions such as dimensions are ranked higher.

When the delivery date priority mode is selected in step S4, the tools that meet the search conditions input in step S5 and have earlier delivery dates are ranked higher.

In step S14 of FIG. 5, the merchandise information extracted in step S8 is rearranged based on the above order. Further, a display screen for displaying the sorted search results is created.

FIG. 10 shows a specific example of a display screen for displaying the search result. The display screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the data display unit 14 of the commodity receiver system 1 in step S16 of FIG.

With reference to FIG. 10, the search result shows the model name of the tool, the function list, etc., which match the input inspection conditions. Furthermore, they are displayed in the order selected in the priority mode. That is, since the price priority mode is selected in step S4 of FIG. 5, step S of FIG.
The tools extracted in 8 are displayed in order from the product information of the tools with the lowest prices.

The display screen shown in FIG. 10 corresponds to that shown in FIG.
As in the case of the initial screen shown in FIG. 2, it may be created in the merchandise receiver system 1. The creation method and creation unit in that case are the same as those of the initial screen creation method and creation unit shown in FIG. 8, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated here.

The user can select a desired product from the display screen shown in FIG. 10 and can perform a purchase process not described in detail here.

However, as a result of performing the search in step S8 of FIG. 5, if the product information of the tool matching the search condition input by the user in step S5 is not extracted, the market place system 2 displays the selection screen. Display and prompt the user for judgment.

FIG. 11 shows a specific example of the selection screen. Figure 1
The selection screen shown in 1 is stored in the data holding unit 23 of the market place system 2, and is automatically transmitted to the commodity receiver system 1 by the CPU 21. In addition, by the application downloaded from the marketplace system 2, the product recipient system 1
Stored in the data holding unit 13 of the data display unit 1
4 may be displayed.

Referring to FIG. 11, the user can perform a selection of re-inputting search conditions and a selection of custom order by pressing a button.

When the user presses the custom order sheet activation button shown in FIG. 11, the article search system performs the custom order processing shown in step S12 of FIG.

FIG. 12 shows a specific example of a custom order sheet. The custom order sheet shown in FIG. 12 is created in the marketplace system 2 in step S21 of FIG. In step S22, the data is displayed on the data display unit 14 of the commodity receiver system 1.

In step S21 of FIG. 6, the format of the custom order sheet stored in the data holding unit 23 of the market place system 2 or the like is read. Then, with the CPU 21 of the marketplace system 2,
In step S5 of FIG. 5, the search condition input by the user is analyzed. The analysis result of the search condition is entered in the format of the read custom order sheet, and the custom order sheet shown in FIG. 12 is created.

FIG. 1 created in step S21 of FIG.
The custom order sheet shown in 2 is transmitted from the communication control unit 24 of the market place system 2 to the merchandise recipient system 1. In the commodity receiver system 1 received by the communication control unit 18 via the Internet, the custom order sheet shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the data display unit 14.

Referring to FIG. 12, step S22 of FIG.
In the custom order sheet displayed on the data display unit 14, the search condition input by the user in step S5 of FIG. 5 is already displayed as the content of the order instruction item in the custom order.

The user confirms the custom order sheet displayed on the data display unit 14, and in addition to the search condition input by the user in step S5 of FIG. 5, there is an item for instructing an order when making a custom order. For example, input from the input device 16.

In addition to inputting characters and the like from the input device 16, drawing data created by using a drawing application or the like, drawing data read as image data by a scanner or the like can be input.

Further, it is possible to directly input an instruction or the like which is not included in the items provided in the custom order sheet.

The user who has finished inputting the instruction items is shown in FIG.
By pressing the confirmation button shown in, the confirmation screen of the custom order sheet is displayed.

FIG. 13 shows a specific example of the confirmation screen of the custom order sheet. In step S24 of FIG.
The user confirms the instruction content on the confirmation screen shown in FIG. Further, the user presses the send button shown in FIG. 13 to send the confirmed custom order sheet to the marketplace system 2.

The CPU 21 of the market place system 2 which has received the custom order sheet by the communication control unit 24 via the Internet automatically analyzes the contents of the custom order sheet shown in FIG. Also,
The contents of the received custom order sheet shown in FIG. 12, analysis results, and the like may be stored in the custom item information storage area 28.

In step S26 of FIG. 6, the supplier of the corresponding tool is searched from the analyzed contents of the custom order sheet.

In this embodiment, it is analyzed from the custom order sheet shown in FIG. 12 that the tool desired by the user is the straight ejector pin.
The CPU 21 extracts the product information regarding the straight ejector pin from the product information stored in the product information DB 26, and reads the manufacturer name described in the extracted product information to search for the product supplier. . Further, when the market place system 2 further includes a manufacturer DB not shown in FIG. 3, a straight ejector pin supplier may be searched from the manufacturer DB.

In step S27 of FIG. 6, the custom order sheet shown in FIG. 12 is distributed from the communication control unit 24 to the product provider systems 3a to 3c of the straight ejector pin supplier retrieved as described above. To be done.

In step S28 of FIG. 6, the CPU 31 of the merchandise provider system 3, which has received the custom order sheet by the communication control unit 34 via the Internet,
The contents of the custom order sheet shown in FIG. 12 are analyzed. Further, the received custom order sheet contents and analysis results shown in FIG. 12 are stored in the custom product information storage area 39.

Based on the analysis result in step S28 of FIG. 6, the CPU 31 of the merchandise provider system 3 determines whether or not to provide the tool of the condition input by the user. In addition, we will make an estimate such as the price and delivery schedule for manufacturing the tool. Further, various proposals and conditions for the user may be added to the estimate.

The above-mentioned estimate can also be automatically created by using an estimate application stored in the program storage section 32. Further, when the product supplier system 3 includes an input device not shown in FIG. 4,
It may be created by inputting from an input device by an operator. Alternatively, the CPU 31 may automatically create the custom sentence order storage area 39 or the fixed phrase stored in the data holding unit 33 to create the custom sentence.

In step S29 of FIG. 6, the quote created as described above is transmitted from the communication control unit 34 of the merchandise provider system 3 to the marketplace system 2.
In step S29, it may be transmitted to the market place system 2 as an e-mail, or may be transmitted to the market place system 2 by filling in an estimate entry screen provided by the market place system 2 in advance.

Communication control unit 24 via the Internet
Then, the CPU of the marketplace system 2 that receives the quotation information from the product provider systems 3a to 3c of each supplier.
At 21, the data is collected at step S30 of FIG. Based on the collected quotation information, custom order receiving / ordering processing is performed in step S31.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the custom order receiving / ordering processing performed in step S31. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 14, the processing shown in the row of the product receiver system 1 on the left side shows the processing performed in the product recipient system 1, and the processing shown in the row of the market place system 2 on the right side is the market place. The processing performed in the system 2 is shown.

Referring to FIG. 14, step S30 of FIG.
The quotation information transmitted from each of the product provider systems 3a to 3c collected in the above is the CP of the market place system 2.
It is analyzed by U21 (S41).

Further, the key information required for the user to actually place an order for an item according to any of the transaction conditions included in the collected quotation information is generated in association with the quotation information (S42). Specifically, the key information is an access number for the user to access a quotation list screen described later.

Next, C of the market place system 2
The PU 21 creates an e-mail for notifying the user of the access number assigned in step S42. The created e-mail is transmitted to the merchandise recipient system 1 via the Internet (S43).

In the commodity receiver system 1 which has received the above-mentioned electronic mail by the communication control unit 18 via the Internet (S44), the received electronic mail is displayed on the data display unit 14.

The user performs login processing according to the electronic mail received in step S44 (S45).

Since the login process performed in step S45 is similar to the login process performed in step S1 of FIG. 5, detailed description will not be repeated here.

Further, the user can select the step S45 on the initial screen shown in FIG. 8 obtained by logging in the step S45.
The access number written in the e-mail received at 44 is input (S46).

The communication control unit 24 is connected via the Internet.
In the market place system 2 which has received the access number input in step S46, the CPU 21 analyzes the received access number. A quotation list screen of the user corresponding to the analyzed access number is created. The created quotation list screen is displayed on the data display unit 14 of the commodity receiver system 1 (S47).

The user selects a desired tool from the displayed quotation list screen (S48). The CPU 21 of the market place system 2 that has received the information of the tool desired by the user in step S48 creates an ordering screen for ordering the corresponding tool. The created ordering screen is displayed on the data display unit 14 of the merchandise receiver system 1 (S49).

The user inputs the items necessary for ordering on the input device 16 according to the ordering screen displayed on the data display unit 14.
Input from (S50).

By transmitting the information on the ordering screen in which the necessary items are input in step S50 to the market place system 2, the desired tool ordering process can be performed.

Further, the custom order receiving / ordering process in the present embodiment will be described in detail below by giving a specific example.

FIG. 15 shows a specific example of the electronic mail transmitted from the market place system 2 to the commodity receiver system 1 in step S43 of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 15, the user obtains the access number for browsing the quotation information from the tool supplier from the electronic mail displayed on the data display unit 14 of the merchandise receiver system 1.

The user uses the access number obtained from the electronic mail shown in FIG. 15 to access the quotation list screen from the initial screen shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, in accordance with the access method described in the e-mail, enter the access number in the custom order field provided on the initial screen of FIG. 8 and press the search button to display the quotation list screen. to access. Alternatively, a method of accessing the estimate list screen by inputting an access number in another input field may be used.

FIG. 16 shows a specific example of the quotation list screen. The quote list screen shown in FIG. 16 is displayed on the data display unit 14 of the merchandise receiver system 1 in step S47 of FIG. 14 when the above access is performed. Referring to FIG. 16, the user can obtain quotation information from each supplier based on the custom order sheet shown in FIG. 12 from the quotation list screen.

In step S48 of FIG. 14, the user selects a desired tool from the estimate list screen shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the user selects Estimate 3 shown in FIG. Furthermore, the button is pushed to the ordering screen and the selection result is transmitted. In step S49 of FIG. 14, the CPU 21 of the received market place system 2 creates an ordering screen for the user to order the tool shown in the quotation 3.

FIG. 17 shows a specific example of the ordering screen. Figure 1
The ordering screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed in step S49 of FIG.
It is displayed on the data display unit 14 of the commodity receiver system 1.

The user inputs necessary items from the input device 16 in step S50 of FIG. 14 in accordance with the ordering screen shown in FIG. 17 displayed on the data display unit 14. Further, by pressing the order button, order processing can be performed. Since the ordering screen shown in FIG. 17 is an ordering screen for ordering the tool of the quotation 3 shown in the quotation list screen of FIG. 16, the necessary items such as the number of orders are input,
By pressing the order button, the order for the tool of quotation 3 is transmitted to the market place system 2.

Further, in the ordering process not shown in FIG. 14, the ordering information input on the ordering screen of FIG. 17 is stored in the custom item information storage area 28 of the market place system 2. Further, it is transmitted to the product supplier system 3 which is the ordering party and stored in the custom product order storage area 39.

[Modification 1] Note that, instead of the custom order receiving / placing process shown in FIG. 14, a custom order receiving / placing process shown below can be performed.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the custom order receiving / ordering process performed in step S31 of FIG. 6 in the first modification. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 18, the processing shown in the row of the product receiver system 1 on the left side indicates the processing performed in the product receiver system 1, and the marketplace system 2 on the right side.
The process shown in the row indicates a process performed in the market place system 2.

Referring to FIG. 18, step S30 of FIG.
The quotation information transmitted from each of the product provider systems 3a to 3c, which is collected by
It is analyzed by the PU 21 (S51).

Based on the analysis result in step S51,
The CPU 21 of the market place system 2 creates a quotation list screen for the user to browse the quotation list (S52).

The quotation list screen created in step S52 is stored in the custom product information storage area 28 of the market place system 2 (S53). Further, it may be stored in another storage device such as the data holding unit 23.

Further, the key information required for the user to actually place an order for the article according to any of the transaction conditions included in the created quote list is generated in association with the created quote screen (S54). ). Here, the key information is specifically the address on the network of the storage area in which the quotation list screen is stored in step S53.

CPU2 of Marketplace System 2
In step 1, an e-mail is created to notify the user of the address assigned to the quotation list screen in step S54. The created e-mail is transmitted to the merchandise recipient system 1 via the Internet (S5).
5).

In the commodity receiver system 1 which has received the above-mentioned electronic mail by the communication control unit 18 via the Internet (S56), the received electronic mail is displayed on the data display unit 14.

The user uses the address described in the electronic mail received in step S56 to log in to the site (S57).

When the login process is performed in step S57, the quotation list screen created by the CPU 21 of the market place system 2 in step S52 is displayed on the data display unit 14 of the commodity receiver system 1 (S).
58).

The user selects a desired tool from the quotation list screen displayed on the data display unit 14 of the commodity receiver system 1 in step S58. The selection result is transmitted to the marketplace system 2 (S59).

When the marketplace system 2 receives the desired tool selection result from the user in the communication control unit 24 via the Internet, the marketplace system 2 creates an ordering screen for ordering the corresponding tool. The created ordering screen is displayed on the data display unit 14 of the merchandise receiver system 1 (S60).

The user inputs the items necessary for ordering from the input device 16 according to the ordering screen displayed on the data display unit 14 in step S60 (S61).

The user can carry out an ordering process for a desired tool by transmitting to the marketplace system 2 the information on the ordering screen in which the necessary items have been input in step S61.

Further, the custom order receiving / ordering process in the modified example 1 will be described in detail below by giving a specific example.

FIG. 19 shows a specific example of the electronic mail transmitted from the marketplace system 2 to the commodity receiver system 1 in step S55 of FIG.

With reference to FIG. 19, the user obtains the address for accessing the display screen of the quotation information from the tool supplier from the electronic mail displayed on the data display unit 14 of the merchandise receiver system 1. .

In step S57 of FIG. 18, the process of FIG.
The display screen of the quotation information is accessed using the address shown in 9. When accessed, the entry screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. From the entry screen shown in Figure 7,
Login processing is performed by the same processing as step S1 in FIG.

When the login process is performed in step S57 of FIG. 18, the estimate list screen shown in FIG. 16 is displayed on the data display unit 14 of the commodity receiver system 1 in step S58.

The user selects a desired tool from the quotation list screen shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the user selects estimate 3 shown in FIG. Furthermore, the button is pushed to the ordering screen and the selection result is transmitted to the market play system 2.

In step S60 of FIG. 18, the CPU 21 of the market place system 2 creates an ordering screen for ordering the tool of the estimate 3 shown in FIG. 17 based on the received user selection result. .

In step S61 of FIG. 18, the user
According to the ordering screen shown in FIG. 17 displayed on the data display unit 14 of the merchandise receiver system 1, necessary items such as the ordered quantity are input from the input device 16. By pressing the order button further, marketplace system 2
The quotation 3 tool order is transmitted to.

Further, in the ordering process not shown in FIG. 18, the ordering information input on the ordering screen of FIG. 17 is stored in the custom product information storage area 28 of the market place system 2. Further, it is transmitted to the product supplier system 3 which is the ordering party and stored in the custom product order storage area 39.

[Modification 2] Furthermore, FIG. 14 or FIG.
Instead of the custom order receiving / placing process shown in, the following custom order receiving / placing process can be performed.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the custom order receiving / ordering process performed in step S31 of FIG. 6 in the second modification. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 20, the process shown in the row of the product receiver system 1 on the left side indicates the process performed in the product receiver system 1, and the marketplace system 2 on the right side.
The process shown in the row indicates a process performed in the market place system 2.

Referring to FIG. 20, step S30 of FIG.
The quotation information transmitted from each of the product provider systems 3a to 3c collected in the above is the CP of the market place system 2.
It is analyzed in U21 (S71).

Further, in the CPU 21 of the market place system 2, a key required for the user to actually order an article for each quote included in the quote information (for each transaction condition presented by each supplier). Information is generated in association with the quote (S7).
2). Here, the key information is specifically an order number for specifying the estimate.

Then, based on the quotation information received from each merchandise provider system 3, the CPU 21 of the marketplace system 2 creates an electronic mail for notifying the user of the quotation result and the order number. The created e-mail is transmitted to the merchandise recipient system 1 via the Internet (S73).

In the merchandise receiver system 1 which has received the above-mentioned electronic mail by the communication control unit 18 via the Internet (S74), the received electronic mail is displayed on the data display unit 14.

The user selects a desired tool from the estimation result shown in the displayed electronic mail (S75).
Further, in order to perform the ordering process for the tool selected in step S75, the login process is performed according to the displayed electronic mail (S76).

The login process performed in step S76 is similar to the login process performed in step S1 of FIG. 5, and therefore detailed description will not be repeated here.

Further, the user can select the step S76 on the initial screen shown in FIG. 8 obtained by logging in the step S76.
The order number assigned to the quotation of the desired tool described in the e-mail received in 44 is input (S77).

The order number input in step S77 is received by the communication control unit 24 of the market place system 2 via the Internet. CP received
In U21, an ordering screen for ordering the tool corresponding to the received order number is created (S78).

The ordering screen created in step S78 is
It is received by the communication control unit 18 of the commodity receiver system 1 via the Internet and displayed on the data display unit 14.

The user inputs the items required for ordering on the input device 16 according to the ordering screen displayed on the data display unit 14.
Input from (S79).

The user can order the desired tool by transmitting the information of the ordering screen in which the necessary items are input in step S79 to the market place system 2.

Further, the custom order receiving / ordering process in the modification 2 will be described in detail below by giving a specific example.

FIG. 21 shows a specific example of the electronic mail transmitted from the market place system 2 to the commodity receiver system 1 in step S73 of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 21, the user can obtain the quotation information from the tool supplier from the electronic mail displayed on the data display unit 14 of the merchandise receiver system 1. Further, the assigned order number is obtained from the marketplace system 2 for each quote.

In step S75 of FIG. 20, the user selects a tool to be ordered from the quotation shown in FIG.
In the present embodiment, the user selects Estimate 3 shown in FIG. In step S76, the user who has selected the tool selects step S1 in FIG.
By performing the login process similar to the process shown in,
The initial screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the data display unit 14 of the commodity receiver system 1.

Further, in step S77 of FIG. 20, according to the ordering method shown in the electronic mail of FIG.
In the model name search field provided on the initial screen shown in FIG. 8, enter the order number of the estimate 3 obtained from the email in FIG. 21 and press the search button. In the email of FIG. 21, a method of inputting an order number in the model name search field on the initial screen is presented as an ordering method. It may be a method of inputting.

By performing the above processing, the ordering screen shown in FIG. 17 is created by the CPU 21 of the market place system 2 in step S78 of FIG.

The ordering screen shown in FIG. 17 is received by the communication control unit 18 of the commodity receiver system 1 via the Internet and displayed on the data display unit 14.

In step S79 of FIG. 20, the user
Necessary items such as the ordered quantity are input from the input device 16 along the purchase screen shown in FIG. Further, by pressing the order button, it is possible to place a custom order for a desired tool.

In the ordering process not shown in FIG. 20, the ordering information described in FIG. 17 is stored in the custom item information storage area 28 of the market place system 2. Further, it is also stored in the custom product order storage area 39 of the product provider system 3, which is the ordering party.

By using the above-mentioned article retrieval system,
The user can search for a desired article and purchase it in a continuous flow without any trouble. In other words, the user does not need to enter search items such as product specifications multiple times, and does not have to move the search and purchase pages on his / her own site, and search results with high added value can be obtained with few operations. can get.

In electronic commerce that requires high work efficiency, the work steps of the user, that is, the number of clicks by the user can be greatly reduced, which leads to great customer satisfaction.

Further, in the above-described article search system, the market place system, which is the site administrator, performs the above-described custom order receiving / ordering process, so that the user can save the trouble and trouble of making a transaction with the supplier himself.

Further, by managing the transactions with the market place system, it becomes possible to centrally manage the transactions on the site. Therefore, smooth transactions can be realized without causing trouble between the user and the supplier.

Furthermore, in the article retrieval system described above,
By performing the above-mentioned custom order receiving / ordering process in the marketplace system, which is the site administrator, the user can perform the purchase process of the desired article with less operation, and the marketplace system is a site with less load. Can operate.

In the present embodiment, the case has been described where the tool is searched using the article search system. However, the article search system described above is used for other articles to be traded in electronic commerce. It can also be used for product search. The articles may include clothes, ornaments, food, books and chemical products.

Further, it is possible to provide the merchandise search method performed by the above-mentioned merchandise search system as a program. Such a program is a computer-readable program.

The program may be recorded on a recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a ROM, a RAM and a memory card attached to a computer and provided as a program product. Alternatively, the program may be provided by being recorded in a recording medium such as a hard disk built in the computer. Further, the program can be provided by downloading via the network.

The provided program product is installed in a program storage unit such as a hard disk and executed.

The program product includes the program itself and a recording medium in which the program is recorded.

Further, in the present embodiment, an article search method for searching articles via a network such as the Internet is described. However, an article search apparatus not connected to the network can search articles without going through the network. You can also do it. Even in that case, the article search system performs the article search method similar to the method described above.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the claims, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an article search system in the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a merchandise recipient system 1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of marketplace system 2 shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a product provider system 3 shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an article search process performed by the article search system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a custom order process performed by the article search system in step S12 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific example of an input screen on which a user inputs an entry code in step S1 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a specific example of an initial screen displayed in step S3 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a specific example of product information stored in a product information DB 26.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a specific example of a display screen displaying search results.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a specific example of a selection screen displayed when the product information of the tool that matches the search condition is not extracted in step S8 of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a specific example of a custom order sheet.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a specific example of a confirmation screen for a custom order sheet.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a custom order receiving / ordering process performed in step S31 of FIG.

15 is a diagram showing a specific example of an electronic mail transmitted from the marketplace system 2 to the commodity receiver system 1 in step S43 of FIG.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a specific example of an estimate list screen.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a specific example of an ordering screen.

FIG. 18 shows a modification 1 of step S31 of FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing a custom order receiving / ordering process performed in FIG.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a specific example of an electronic mail transmitted from the marketplace system 2 to the commodity receiver system 1 in step S55 of FIG.

FIG. 20 is a modification example of step S31 of FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing a custom order receiving / ordering process performed in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a specific example of an electronic mail transmitted from the marketplace system 2 to the commodity receiver system 1 in step S73 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Commodity recipient system, 2 Marketplace system, 3,3a-3c commodity provider system, 11 CPU of commodity recipient system, 12 Program storage section of commodity recipient system, 13 Data holding section of commodity recipient system, 14 Data display part, 15 Display data creation part,
16 input device, 17 input device control unit, 18 communication control unit of commodity receiver system, 21 marketplace system CPU, 22 marketplace system program storage unit, 23 marketplace system data storage unit, 24 marketplace system Communication control unit, 25 marketplace system customer information DB, 26 product information DB, 27 ordering information and purchase history DB, 28 custom product information storage area, 29
Auxiliary storage controller of marketplace system, 3
1 CPU of product provider system, 32 Program storage unit of product provider system, 33 Data holding unit of product provider system, 34 Communication control unit of product provider system, 35 Customer information DB of product provider system, 36
Sales information DB, 37 Order information DB, 38 Inventory management D
B, 39 custom product order storage area.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06F 17/60 ZEC G06F 17/60 ZEC 13/00 540 13/00 540E 17/30 110 17/30 110F 170 170Z F term (reference) 5B075 ND20 PP03 PP13 PP23 PQ02 PQ46

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A search instruction accepting means for accepting a search instruction made by a user by designating a search condition, and a search means for searching, from data, an article conforming to the search condition designated by the search instruction. And, as a result of the search by the search means, when there is no suitable article, the content of the search condition included in the search instruction is added as the content of the order instruction item to the file for ordering,
An article search device, comprising: a file output unit that outputs the file to the user. 2. An ordering instruction receiving means for receiving an ordering instruction for the article from a user based on the ordering file, and an order for outputting the ordering file to a supplier when the ordering instruction is received. The article search device according to claim 1, further comprising: an instruction output unit; and an estimate information receiving unit that receives, from the supplier, estimate information including an intention and a condition for trading the item based on the ordering file. . 3. An ordering instruction receiving means for receiving an ordering instruction of an article specified by an ordering instruction item from a user, and an ordering instruction output for outputting the ordering instruction accepted by the ordering instruction receiving means to a supplier. Means, quotation information receiving means for receiving quotation information including the intention and conditions of the transaction of the article from the supplier based on the ordering instruction output by the ordering instruction output means, and the user for receiving the quotation information. An article ordering device, comprising key information generating means for generating key information associated with the quotation information for ordering the article based on the quotation information received by the means. 4. An article search system comprising an article search apparatus, a user apparatus, and a supplier apparatus connected via a communication line, wherein the article search apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the user performs the search. An article search system comprising a user device for giving an instruction or the ordering instruction, and a supplier device for outputting the ordering file to the supplier. 5. A search instruction accepting step of accepting a search instruction made by a user by designating a search condition, and a search step of searching the data for an article conforming to the search condition designated by the search instruction. And, as a result of the search in the search step, when there is no suitable article, the content of the search condition included in the search instruction is added to the file for ordering as the content of the ordering instruction item, And a file output step of outputting the file. 6. An order instruction receiving step of receiving an order instruction of the article from a user based on the order file, and an order of outputting the order file to a supplier when the order instruction is received. The article retrieval method according to claim 5, further comprising: an instruction output step; and a quotation information acceptance step of accepting, from the supplier, quotation information including an intention and a condition for trading the article based on the ordering file. .