JP2003108855A - Article related information management apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user of an article to browse the information on the used article by a terminal. SOLUTION: The user of an automobile transmits personal information and a registration number of the automobile from a user terminal 11 to a commodity information server 1. A control part 2 registers the personal information in a user data base 5 corresponding to the registration number, and transmits the registration number to an operating terminal 13. An operator inputs vehicle inspection information and the like corresponding to the registration number to the operating terminal 13. The control part 2 receives the vehicle inspection information and the like from the operating terminal 13 and registers the same in the user data base 5. The control part 2 extracts the information such as the name of a vehicle from the user data base 5 according to a request from the firm terminals 12a to 12n and transmits the same. On receiving the application information from the firm from the firm terminals 12a to 12n, the control part 2 registers the information in the user data base 5 and transmits the same according to a request from the user terminal 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article-related information management device and method for transmitting information associated with an article to a user of the article, and particularly to article-related information for transmitting information about the vehicle to a user of the vehicle. Management apparatus and method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A user of an article may receive a service related to the article or may purchase other related articles. In particular, automobile users often receive automobile-related services from various vendors and purchase automobile-related products. Examples of automobile-related companies include vehicle inspection (body inspection) dealers, credit companies, used car purchase stores, insurance companies, new car dealers, used car dealers, and the like. A car user is provided with a service from a provider who provides a desired service or purchases a product.

[0003] Each trader accepts customers at each store. In addition, with the spread of personal computers in recent years, an increasing number of companies are accepting applications from customers via the Internet.

[0004]

It is preferable for a car user to be able to confirm various information regarding his car. In particular, it would be meaningful to be able to collectively view information about automobiles on a terminal. Further, the purchase price when a used car purchase shop or the like purchases a car from a user of the car varies with the passage of time. Those who want to sell the car they are using are interested in how much their car can buy, so it is desirable to be able to immediately check the purchase price.

[0005] In addition, a car user often checks information (eg, estimated amount) of each trader and selects a trader according to his / her desire. For those who choose a trader, it is more burdensome to collect information by receiving a request from each trader and searching for a trader that meets their wishes rather than trying to obtain information on the trader individually. It will be light. On the other hand, for a business operator, sales will probably increase if they offer services to users of each car rather than waiting for applications from customers. In this way, if the trader makes an offer and the user selects the trader from among them, both the trader and the car user will benefit.

However, automobile users often do not want their personal information to be disclosed to the traders. Therefore, it is preferable that the trader can make the offer without knowing the personal information of the other party. Also, for traders,
It is desirable to be able to make an offer to users of vehicles that meet the conditions they desire. For example, it is desirable to extract users who live in their own business area and make an offer only to those users.

It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and provide an article-related information management apparatus and method that allows a user of an article to browse information of the article being used on a terminal. To do.

[0008]

An article-related information management apparatus according to the present invention is an article-related information management apparatus that holds information about articles used by an article user, and is connected from a terminal of the article user via a communication network. Information receiving means for receiving the identification information for identifying the article and the information of the article user, the article information obtaining means for obtaining the information for the article identified by the identification information, and the information received by the identification information receiving means And an information holding means for holding the information acquired by the article information acquiring means in correspondence with the identification information, and an information holding means for extracting the information held by the information holding means in correspondence with the identification information in response to a request from the terminal of the article user. Then, the article information providing means for transmitting the article information to the terminal of the article user through the communication network.

[0009] Information provided by the information holding means for extracting information that does not specify an article user according to the conditions specified by the terminal of the trader and transmitting it to the terminal of the trader via the communication network. It is preferable to include means and an offer information acquisition means for receiving the offer information for the article user from the terminal of the trader via the communication network and holding the offer information in the information holding means. With such a configuration, the article user can accept the offer from the trader. Therefore, the product user can easily collect information from the trader. Further, the goods user can receive the offer from the trader without revealing the personal information to the trader. On the other hand, the trader can make an offer to the goods users who meet the specified conditions.

For example, the identification information receiving means receives the registration number of the vehicle as the identification information, the article information acquisition means acquires the information of the vehicle specified by the registration number, and the information holding means receives the identification information. The information received by the means and the information acquired by the article information acquisition means are held in association with the registration number.

The article information acquisition means acquires at least a part of the information described in the automobile inspection certificate of the vehicle specified by the registration number.

[0012] Further, the transaction price acquisition means for acquiring the estimated transaction price of the vehicle is provided, and the article information providing means uses the estimated price acquired by the transaction price acquisition means through the communication network to the terminal of the vehicle user. It is preferable to send to. According to such a configuration, the user of the automobile can immediately confirm how much the own automobile can buy.

The article-related information management method according to the present invention acquires identification information for identifying an article and information of an article user who uses the article, and holds the information of the article user in correspondence with the identification information. And the information of the article specified by the identification information is obtained and held in correspondence with the identification information, and the information held in association with the identification information in response to a request from the terminal of the article user. Is transmitted to the terminal of the article user via the communication network.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an article-related information management device according to the present invention. Here, the case where the article is an automobile will be described.

The article-related information management apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a commodity information server) 1 includes a user terminal (article user terminal) 11 and a trader terminal 12a via the Internet 21.
~ 12n. The user terminal 11 is a terminal managed by a car user. Supplier terminals 12a-12n
Is a terminal managed by a car-related company. The dealer terminals 12a and 12b are terminals managed by a credit sales company and a used car purchase shop, respectively. The vendor that manages the vendor terminal is
The company is not limited to a credit company, but any vehicle-related company may be used. For example, taxi companies, road service providers, dealers who sell automobiles via the Internet, dealers, maintenance shops, car supply stores, tire sales companies,
It may be a car rental company, a land transportation company, a parking lot provider, a driving school, or the like.

Further, the product information server 1 includes an operation terminal 13
Connected to. In this example, the product information server 1 is a LAN
The case of connecting to the operation terminal 13 via 22 is shown.
It may be connected by another communication network.
The operation terminal 13 is managed by an operator who operates the product information server 1.

The user of the car registers his personal information and the registration number of the car in the product information server 1 in advance.
Hereinafter, this registration is referred to as membership registration. Car users,
In order to obtain information from the product information server 1, first register as a member and become a member. After member registration, product information server 1
The operator who operates is to obtain the vehicle inspection information and the vehicle history information corresponding to the registration number of the automobile, and to register them in the product information server 1. Here, the vehicle inspection information means an automobile inspection certificate (hereinafter,
Marked as car verification. ), The vehicle history information is a past record of the automobile. When each trader makes an offer to a member, the content of the offer is sent to the product information server 1
Register with. From the product information server 1, the member obtains information about the offer to himself or the purchase price when he / she purchases the car. Note that each trader also becomes a trader member by registering the trader name and the like in the product information server 1 in advance.

At the time of member registration, the product information server 1 receives the personal information of the person who is going to become a member and the registration number of the automobile from the user terminal 11, and holds the personal information in association with the registration number. Then, the product information server 1 receives the vehicle inspection information or the like corresponding to each registration number from the operation terminal 13 and holds it in association with the registration number. Also, the product information server 1
Receives the offer of the dealer from each of the dealer terminals 12a to 12n, and holds the offer in association with the registration number of the automobile. In response to a request from the user terminal 11, the product information server 1 transmits various kinds of information such as the offer of the trader to the member.

In the product information server 1, the control unit 2 is
The product information server 1 is controlled according to the program stored in the storage device 3. This program collects information from each terminal, and collects the collected information from the user terminal 11 or the trader terminal 12
This program is transmitted in response to a request such as a to 12n.

The network interface unit 4 transmits / receives information to / from the user terminal 11, the dealer terminals 12a to 12n, and the operation terminal 13 via a communication network such as the Internet 21 and the LAN 22.

The user database 5 holds personal information of each member, vehicle inspection information, vehicle history information, etc. in association with the vehicle registration number. Further, it holds the offer from the trader to the member in association with the registration number. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of information held by the user database 5. In FIG. 2A, the product information server 1 has a user terminal 11
An example of the personal information and registration number of the member received from is shown. The user database 5 corresponds to the received registration number, and the member's ID, password, name, telephone number,
Holds information such as e-mail address, mileage of car, and address.

The personal information is not limited to the information illustrated in FIG. 2 (a). For example, the user database 5 includes, as personal information, sex, family composition, purchase date of a car, credit company with which the member has a contract, insurance company, car information that the member intends to purchase in the future, and information collection target. You may hold the information etc. of the trader. Moreover, the user database 5 does not have to hold all the information illustrated in FIG. However, at least the member's name and contact information (telephone number, e-mail address) shall be retained along with the vehicle registration number.

FIG. 2B shows an example of vehicle inspection information and vehicle history information received by the product information server 1 from the operation terminal 13. The user database 5 holds the information described in the vehicle verification of the vehicle inspection date and the owner of the vehicle in association with the registration number. Further, as the vehicle history information, information of a person who has owned the vehicle in the past is held.

FIG. 2 (c) shows an example of offer information received by the product information server 1 from each of the trader terminals 12a to 12n. The user database 5 holds the offer of the trader to the member corresponding to the registration number. The offer is
Also includes questions for members. User database 5
May hold the number of offers from various vendors. Further, not only the traders but also the offers from other members may be held.

In addition to this, the user database 5 also holds information on the traders who have become trader members. For example, the trader name of each trader, the trader ID, the password, the e-mail address of the trader, the charging information for each trader, and the like are held. Further, the user database 5 includes a user terminal 11 and a trader terminal 12
a to 12n and various WEs displayed on the operation terminal 13
Holds screen information for page B. Screen information is HTML
It is described in a page description language such as (Hypertext Markup Language).

The market database 6 holds, as an estimated value of the transaction price of a car, a market price of a car when it is bought by a used car purchase shop or the like, and a market price of a car sold. Market database 6 is a car name,
The market price of the purchase price according to the mileage etc. is maintained. A trader of automobiles via the Internet has a database for managing market price information of purchase prices and sales prices, and updates the market prices of purchase prices and sales prices at any time. The control unit 2 periodically acquires information on the purchase price and the market price of the purchase price from the database of such a trader via the communication network, and registers it in the market database 6.

User terminal 11 and trader terminals 12a-12
n and the operation terminal 13 are configured by an information processing device such as a personal computer. User terminal 1
1, the dealer terminals 12a to 12n, and the operation terminal 13,
Each has a browser, and the information received from the product information server 1 is displayed by the browser. User terminal 11,
The trader terminals 12a to 12n and the operation terminal 13 use the URL (Un
When an iform Resource Locator) is input or a part where a link is set on the already displayed WEB page is clicked with the mouse, the screen specified by the URL or the link is acquired. For example, when the URL corresponding to the WEB page held by the product information server 1 is input, the user terminal 11 and the dealer terminals 12 a to 1
2n, the operation terminal 13, the WEB to the product information server 1
Request a page. The product information server 1 transmits the screen information of the WEB page in response to this request, and each terminal receives the screen information and displays the WEB page.

In this example, the information holding means is realized by the user database 5. Identification information receiving means, article information acquisition means, article information providing means, information providing means,
The offer information acquisition means is realized by the control unit 2 and the network interface unit 4. The transaction price acquisition means is realized by the control unit 2, the network interface unit 4, and the market database 6.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the processing progress from the member registration to the negotiation with the trader. First, the operation at the time of member registration and registration of vehicle inspection information will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the progress of processing at the time of member registration, registration of vehicle inspection information and the like. 3 and 4, the same processing is indicated by the same reference numeral. However, FIG. 3 shows only a process involving the exchange of information between devices and the like.

At the time of member registration, the user terminal 11 transmits the vehicle registration number and personal information to the product information server 1 via the Internet 21 in accordance with the operation of the person who is going to register as a member (step S111). Step S11
In 1, the user terminal 11 requests the WEB page having input fields for personal information and the like from the product information server 1 and acquires the WEB page. For example, the user terminal 11
First, the personal information input screen illustrated in FIG. 5 is acquired and displayed. 5 shows the ID, password, e-mail address,
It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the WEB page which has the input column of a name. After the ID, password, e-mail address, name, etc. are entered on this WEB page, the user terminal 11
Transmits the input information to the product information server 1. The user terminal 11 transmits, for example, the information input on the screen when the transmission button 51 in the WEB page is clicked with the mouse.

The control unit 2 of the merchandise information server 1 that has received this information subsequently transmits the information of the registration number input screen illustrated in FIG. 6 to the user terminal 11. 6 shows the registration number,
It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the WEB page which has the input fields, such as a mileage. After the registration number, mileage, etc. are input to this WEB page, the user terminal 11 transmits the input information to the product information server 1.

Similarly, the control unit 2 of the product information server 1
Each time it receives personal information and the like from the user terminal 11, each WEB page illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 is sequentially transmitted to the user terminal 11. Each time the user terminal 11 receives each WEB page, information is input on the screen and the input information is transmitted to the product information server 1. 7 shows the telephone number,
The example of the WEB page which has the input column of personal information, such as a zip code, an address, a family structure, age, and sex, is shown. FIG. 8 shows an example of a WEB page having a designation column of a trader whose information is to be collected. For example, if the person who wants to register as a member wants to collect information from A company, he / she clicks the designated field of A company with a mouse. Members will only be notified of offers from the vendors whose information they collect. FIG. 9 shows an example of a WEB page for inputting whether or not there is a desire to sell a car, whether or not there is a plan to buy a car, and the name of the car to be purchased next time.

The WEB pages shown in FIGS. 5 to 9 are examples, and the WEB pages transmitted by the information collecting server 1 are shown in FIGS.
It is not limited to the example shown in FIG. Information may not be input in all the items in FIGS. However, at least a name, an e-mail address, a telephone number, a car registration number, and a trader targeted for information collection are input to the user terminal 11, and the user terminal 11 transmits these information to the product information server 1.

The control unit 2 of the product information server 1 registers each information received in step S111 in the user database 5 in association with the registration number of the vehicle (step S112). Subsequently, the control unit 2 transmits the registration number of the automobile to the operation terminal 5 (step S113). In step S113, for example, an e-mail containing the registration number is transmitted to the operation terminal 13. Further, a WEB page displaying the registration number may be transmitted in response to a request from the operation terminal 13. The operation terminal 13 displays the received registration number.

The operator confirms the registration number of the automobile and informs the administrative scrivener of the number (step S11).
4). In step S114, the registration number is notified by e-mail, telephone, facsimile communication, or the like. The administrative scrivener having received the notification of the registration number acquires the vehicle inspection information and the vehicle history information of the vehicle indicated by the registration number from the Land Transport Bureau (step S115). Subsequently, the administrative scrivener sends this vehicle inspection information and vehicle history information to the operator (step S11).
6). In step S116, for example, the information is sent by facsimile communication or the like.

The operator receiving the vehicle inspection information and the vehicle history information inputs the information into the operation terminal 13, and the operation terminal 13 transmits the vehicle inspection information and the vehicle history information to the product information server 1 (step S117). For example, the operation terminal 13
Acquires a WEB page having input fields for vehicle inspection information and vehicle history information from the product information server 1, and transmits the information input by the operator to the input fields. The operation terminal 13 receives at least a part of the information described in the vehicle verification and transmits it to the product information server 1. Control unit 2 of product information server 1
Registers the received vehicle inspection information and vehicle history information in the user database 5 in association with the registration number (step S1).
18). By the processing of steps S111 to S118,
Personal information, vehicle inspection information, and vehicle history information are registered in the user database 5 together with the vehicle registration number.

Next, the control unit 2 transmits the URL designated by the member when browsing the information to the user terminal 11 (step S119). For example, an e-mail describing the URL is transmitted to the user terminal 11. This URL is a URL determined for each registration number of the vehicle, and the information of the vehicle may be displayed by inputting the URL. Alternatively, it may be a URL of a WEB page having input fields for an ID, a password, etc., and the vehicle information may be displayed by inputting the ID, the password, etc. on the WEB page.

In step S115, in order to obtain the vehicle inspection information and the vehicle history information from the Land Transport Office, the land transport office must pay the fee. The administrator of the product information server 1 receives the membership fee from the member of the dealer on a regular basis, and allocates a part of the membership fee to the fee to be paid to the Land Transport Bureau. In addition, a fee paid to the Land Transport Bureau may be collected from a person who intends to register as a member.

Further, the operator may register the items described in the insurance policy of the automobile insurance in the user database 5. In this case, the user terminal 11 performs step S
At 111, the name of the insurance company and the name of the insurance product contracted by the person who performs the member registration are also transmitted to the product information server 1. Further, the product information server 1, in step S113,
Along with the registration number, the name, insurance company name, and insurance product name of the person who has registered as a member are also transmitted to the operation terminal 13. The operator informs the sales person of the insurance company of the name and insurance product name of the person who has registered as a member, and inquires about the information written on the insurance policy of the insurance. The operator who has obtained the insurance policy information from the sales representative of the insurance company operates in step S117.
Similarly to, the insurance policy information is input to the operation terminal 13.
Then, the operation terminal 13 transmits the input insurance policy information to the product information server 1. The product information server 1 registers the insurance policy information in the user database 5, as in step S118.

Here, the case where the operator inquires the insurance company about insurance policy information has been described, but a person who makes a member registration may send a copy of the insurance policy to the operator by facsimile communication or the like. Further, the insurance policy information may also be transmitted to the product information server 1 in step S111 and registered in the user database 5 in step S112. In addition, even if the person who makes the membership registration forgets where to store the insurance policy, there is a case where the sales representative of the insurance company can come to the house and search for the insurance policy.

Next, the operation when the trader makes an offer to the member will be described. FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing an example of the progress of processing when a trader makes an offer. 3 and 10, the same processing is indicated by the same reference numeral. In addition, here, it is assumed that the vendor who manages the vendor terminal 12n makes an offer. The trader terminal 12n requests desired information from the product information server 1 in accordance with the operation of the person in charge of the company making the offer (hereinafter, simply referred to as the person in charge) (step S120). For example, the trader terminal 12n requests the product information server 1 for information about a member's automobile that matches conditions such as the member's residence area and age range specified by the person in charge.
Further, the vehicle information of a member who meets the condition of being a member who will reach the next vehicle inspection date within a predetermined period and the condition of being a member who uses a car for which a certain period has not passed since being manufactured may be requested. These conditions are examples, and other conditions may be requested depending on the business purpose or the like. Step S
At 120, the trader terminal 12n acquires the condition designation screen illustrated in FIG. 11 from the product information server 1 and displays it. FIG. 11 shows a WEB in which the person in charge specifies the desired conditions.
Here is an example page:

In FIG. 11, links are set at the underlined parts, and the person in charge specifies the conditions by clicking these parts with the mouse. In this example, the person in charge is I
The trader ID and password are entered in the D and password entry fields 52 and transmitted to the product information server 1, and then the conditions are specified. In the WEB page illustrated in FIG. 11, for example, when the person in charge clicks the item 53 “Vehicle inspection is close” by the person in charge,
The product information server 1 is requested to provide information on the vehicle of a member who meets the condition of “member who will reach the next vehicle inspection date within a predetermined period”. When the item 54 "with loan" is clicked with the mouse, information on the vehicle of the member who meets the condition of "member making installment payment for vehicle" is requested. When the item 55 "vehicle history within 3 years" is clicked with the mouse, information on the vehicle of the member who meets the condition of "member who uses the vehicle less than 3 years after being manufactured" is requested. The “three years” shown here is an example, and may be another period. Further, the screen shown in FIG. 11 may be provided with columns for specifying conditions such as the residence area and age range of the member.

When the item 56 "I want to apply for vehicle inspection" is clicked with the mouse, the merchandise information server 1 is requested to obtain information about the automobile of a member who meets the condition "Member who has sent the request to apply for vehicle inspection in step S111". To do. The same applies when the item 57 "I want to refinance a loan" is clicked with the mouse. When the item 58 "I want to receive other services" is clicked with the mouse, the dealer terminal 12n acquires a WEB page that specifies other conditions, and the person in charge displays "I want to apply for vehicle inspection" or "Refinancing of loan" on that screen. Specify the same item as "tai".

Further, in FIG. 11, when the mouse 59 is clicked on the item 59 of the automobile manufacturing company displayed as "information about the person who wants to sell the car", the trader terminal 12n displays "a member who wants to sell the car of the automobile manufacturing company". The information on the automobile of the member who meets the condition is requested from the product information server 1. Similarly, when the mouse 60 is clicked on the item 60 of the automobile manufacturing company displayed as "information of person who wants to buy a car", the dealer terminal 12n is a member who meets the condition "a member who wants to buy a car of the automobile manufacturing company". Request information on your car.

Subsequently, the control unit 2 of the product information server 1
User database 5 for information that matches specified conditions
(Step S121). Step S121
Then, the control unit 2 extracts only information in which the member is not specified (information in which the individual member cannot be specified). For example, the car name of the car used by the member is extracted, but the name and telephone number of the member are not extracted. When extracting the address of the member, only the information of the prefecture or the municipality is extracted from the address. For example, if a vehicle inspection dealer specifies the condition of "members who will arrive on the next vehicle inspection day within a predetermined period", the vehicle name of each member's vehicle that matches the conditions and the member's address (prefecture or municipality only) , Next time vehicle inspection date, information such as whether or not the member wants to request vehicle inspection is extracted. For each member,
If another company has already made an offer, the number of cases may be extracted. The control unit 2 manages which registration number each extracted information corresponds to.

The control unit 2 displays the extracted information W
The screen information of the EB page is transmitted to the trader terminal 12n (step S122). The vendor terminal 12n receives and displays this screen information. Here, the case where only the information in which the member is not specified is extracted and the screen information of the WEB page for displaying the information is transmitted is described. However, the control unit 2 uses the information of the member matching the specified condition as the user information. You may extract from the database 5 and select only the information from which a member is not specified. In this case, in step S122, the control unit 2
Transmits screen information of a WEB page displaying each selected information to the trader terminal 12n.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a WEB page displaying a list of information on automobiles of members who meet the condition of "members who will reach the next vehicle inspection date within a predetermined period". The offer number display field 62 shown in FIG. 12 shows the number of offers already submitted by other companies. In FIG. 12, the deadline for closing the offer of the trader may be displayed in the quotation acceptance end deadline display field 63. In this example, the case where the next vehicle inspection date is set as the quotation acceptance end deadline is shown. In addition, in the vehicle inspection request display column 64, "○" indicates that a member wants to apply for vehicle inspection.
When not desired, it is indicated by "x".

When the person in charge clicks each vehicle name shown in the vehicle name display field 61, the dealer terminal 12n obtains more detailed information (for example, mileage) of the vehicle from the product information server 1. And display it. However, even in this case, only the information for which the member is not specified is displayed. The person in charge confirms this information and selects the other party to whom the vehicle inspection request is made. The person in charge designates the destination by clicking the destination selection field 65 corresponding to each displayed vehicle with the mouse. When the send button 51 is clicked with the mouse, the trader terminal 12n sends information on the designated partner to the product information server 1. Then, the product information server 1 transmits the WEB page having the entry fields for the offer to each partner to the trader terminal 12n and displays it. The person in charge inputs the estimated amount of the vehicle inspection and the offer for the vehicle inspection in this entry field.
You may also fill in the questions for the members. Questions are also included in the offer to members. The trader terminal 12n transmits the input offer information to the product information server 1 (step S123).

The control unit 2 of the product information server 1 registers the information of the offer from the trader received in step S123 in the user database 5 (step S124). At this time, the control unit 2 registers the vehicle registration number of the member receiving the offer and the offer information in association with each other. The control unit 2 manages the correspondence relationship between each piece of information extracted in step S121 and the registration number, and judges which piece of information among the pieces of information extracted in step S121 the offer has been made to, And the information provided by the vendor. However, when the member does not specify the vendor who sent the offer information as the target of information collection,
The information received from the vendor is discarded without being registered in the user database 5. For example, when a member does not specify the company A as a target for information collection on the screen illustrated in FIG. 8, the control unit 2 discards the offer made by the company A to the member. Further, when there is an offer from the trader, the control unit 2 updates the number of offers. However, the discarded information is not included in the number of requests.

Subsequently, the control unit 2 updates the billing information for the provider who made the offer (step S125). The trader pays a charge to the administrator of the product information server 1 according to the number of offers to the members. The control unit 2 registers this fee information in the user database 5 as billing information,
The billing information held in the user database 5 is updated.

In the above example, the control unit 2 discards an offer made to a member by a trader who is not a member of the information collection target. When extracting the information from the user database 5 in step S121, the control unit 2 does not have to extract the information for the members who do not collect the information requesting traders. In this case, the trader can browse the information on the automobile of the member whose information is to be collected on the WEB page illustrated in FIG. As a result, the trader will not make an offer to a member who does not collect the information.

In FIG. 12, W for the vehicle inspection dealer
An example of the EB page is shown. The screen of the WEB page transmitted by the product information server 1 in step S122 varies depending on the conditions specified by the trader. For example, when the trader is a credit company and specifies the condition of “member paying automobile installments”, the control unit 2 proceeds to step S121.
Then, the car name of the member's car that matches the condition and the company name of the credit company or the like contracting with the member are extracted. Further, information such as the number of cases where another company has already requested refinancing and whether or not the member desires refinancing may be extracted. The control unit 2 manages which registration number each extracted information corresponds to.

At the next step S122, the control section 2
A WEB page displaying the extracted information is transmitted to the trader terminal (here, trader terminal 12a) of the credit sales company. FIG. 13 shows an example of a WEB page displaying a list of information that matches the condition of “member paying installment payment for automobile”. The offer number display column 67 shows the number of offers already made by other credit companies for refinancing. As shown in FIG. 13, the deadline for closing the offer of the trader may be displayed in the quotation acceptance end deadline display field 68. The credit company display field 69 displays the credit company contracted with the member. In the refinancing request display column 70, “◯” indicates that the member wishes to refinance, and “x” indicates that the member does not wish to refinance.

The vehicle name display field 66 shows the vehicle names of the automobiles of the members who meet the conditions. When each vehicle name is clicked with the mouse, the dealer terminal 12 causes the dealer terminal 12 to obtain detailed information about the automobile (eg, mileage). ) Is acquired from the product information server 1. The partner selection column 71 is a column for selecting a partner who makes a refinancing offer. The operation after the trader terminal 12a and the product information server 1 exchange the information on the offer for refinancing is
This is similar to the case shown in steps S123, S124, and S125.

Further, for example, when the dealer is a used car purchase shop and specifies the condition of "member who uses a car that has not been manufactured for three years", the control unit 2
In step S121, information such as the vehicle name of the member's automobile that meets the conditions and the time of registration in the first year is extracted. Control unit 2
Manages which registration number each extracted information corresponds to. In the next step S122, the control unit 2 transmits a WEB page displaying the extracted information to the dealer terminal of the used car purchasing store (here, the dealer terminal 12b). FIG. 14 shows an example of a WEB page displaying a list of information on automobiles of members who meet the condition “members who use automobiles that have not been manufactured for three years”.

The vehicle name display field 72 is the above-mentioned display field 61,
Similar to 66, the vehicle names of the members' vehicles that match the conditions are indicated, and when each of these vehicle names is clicked with the mouse, the dealer terminal 12 obtains detailed information about the vehicle (mileage, etc.) from the product information server 1 To get from. The partner selection column 73 is a column for selecting a partner who makes a purchase offer. The operations after the trader terminal 12b and the product information server 1 exchange the information of the offer to purchase are steps S123 and S1.
24, the same as the case shown in S125.

The conditions specified in step S120 differ depending on the traders, and each trader specifies the following conditions, for example. Road service providers, insurance companies, maintenance factories, car rental companies, parking lot providers, land transportation companies, etc. are all "members who wish to offer road service",
"Member who wants to offer car insurance", "Member who wants to offer repair guidance", "Member who wants to offer car rental guidance", "Member who wants to offer parking lot guidance", " Specify the conditions such as "Members who wish to offer land transportation service information". Distributors, dealers, used car dealers, etc. who sell automobiles via the Internet are
Specify conditions such as "members who plan to purchase a car".
Car goods stores, tire sales companies, etc. specify conditions such as "members who plan to purchase automobile-related products." Taxi companies, driving schools, etc. specify conditions such as "members wishing to apply for taxi use" and "members wishing to receive guidance on driving training for various vehicles".

Even if the conditions specified by the traders are different, the merchandise information server 1 extracts that matches the specified conditions and sends a WEB page showing a list of the extracted information to the trader terminals 12a to 12n. It is common. And
The common point is that the information provided by each trader to the member is registered in the user database 5 and the charging information is updated.

Further, in the above example, the case where the trader makes an offer to the member is shown, but the member may make an offer to another member. In this case, the user terminal 11 and the product information server 1 of the member who is going to make an offer perform the operations of steps S120 to S124. The administrator of the product information server 1 may or may not receive the fee from the member who makes an offer to other members.
User database 5 when receiving fees from members
Manages billing information for each member.

Next, the operation when the member browses the information regarding his own car will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of processing progress when a member browses information. In FIGS. 3 and 15, the same processing is indicated by the same reference numeral. The member inputs the URL received in step S119 into the user terminal 11. The user terminal requests the WEB page corresponding to the input URL from the product information server 1 (step S126). In response to this request, the control unit 2 of the product information server 1 extracts various information corresponding to the member's automobile registration number from the user database 5 (step S127). For example, information about the offer from the trader to the member, the mileage, the first year registration date, the date when the member purchased the car, the next vehicle inspection date, etc. are extracted. In step S127, the control unit 2 may calculate the period until the next vehicle inspection date.

Subsequently, the control unit 2 extracts from the market database 6 the market price of the purchase price when the member buys the car (step S128). The control unit 2
The purchase price of a car having the same name as the member's car and a similar mileage is extracted from the market database 6. If the vehicle that the member plans to purchase next time is registered in the user database 5, the control unit 2 also extracts the market price of the selling price of the vehicle from the market database 6.

Next, the control unit 2 executes steps S127, S
The screen information of the WEB page displaying the information extracted in 128 is transmitted to the user terminal 11 (step S129).
Hereinafter, this WEB page will be referred to as a personal page. FIG. 16 shows an example of a personal page. The name of the member is displayed in the title 80 of the personal page. The image display field 81 displays an image of a member's car. When displaying an image, the product information server 1 performs step S111.
Also received images of cars at the user database 5
Register with. Then, in step S127, image information is also extracted.

The purchase price display column 82 displays the market price of the purchase price when the car is purchased. The market price display column 92 displays the market price of the selling price of the car to be purchased next time. The replacement cost display column 83 is a column showing the amount required when the member sells the car currently used and purchases the next scheduled car. In this example, the market price display column 9
The difference between 2 and the amount displayed in the purchase price display field 82 is displayed in the replacement cost display field 83. The mileage display field 84, the first year registration date display field 85, and the purchase date display field 86 display the mileage, the first year registration date, and the purchase date of the vehicle, respectively. The vehicle inspection date display field 87 displays the next vehicle inspection date. In this example, the period until the next vehicle inspection date is also displayed.

The offer display column 88 is a column for displaying the contents of the offer from each trader and other members. The “user name” shown in the display field 88 displays the name, name, etc. of the person who made the offer, and the “comment” shows the content of the offer. A link is set in the place displayed as the user name. When this portion is clicked with the mouse, the user terminal 11 requests the product information server 1 for a screen for inputting a reply to the vendor who made the offer.

In the link setting section 89, a link to a WEB page showing information such as the member's car equipment and car history is set. For example, “vehicle history” of the link setting unit 89 in this example.
If the portion described as is clicked with the mouse, the user terminal 11 requests the WEB page indicating the vehicle history information from the product information server 1. In response to this request, the control unit 2
The car history information of the member's car is extracted from the user database 5, and the screen information of the WEB page showing the car history information is transmitted to the user terminal 11.

In the member wish registration column 90, a link to an input screen for a member's wish etc. is set. For example, when a member registers a desire to sell a car in the product information server 1 (user database 5), a member desired registration field 90
Click the mouse. Then, the user terminal 11 requests the product information server 1 for each screen illustrated in FIGS. The product information server 1 transmits each screen to the user terminal 11 in response to the request. The user terminal 11 performs step S1.
Similar to 11, information such as whether or not there is a desire to sell a vehicle is input, and the information is transmitted to the product information server 1. This information is stored in the user database 5 as in step S112.
Be registered with.

The purchase planned vehicle display field 91 displays an image of the member's next purchase planned vehicle. The product information server 1 may receive and hold this image together with the image displayed in the image display field 81 from the member user terminal 11. Alternatively, the image information of each car may be held in advance.

In the planned vehicle link setting section 93, a link to a WEB page showing information on the equipment of the next planned vehicle is set. The sale request information display column 94 is a column that displays, among the automobiles registered in the user database 5 as automobiles that are desired to be sold, automobiles having the same vehicle name as the vehicle scheduled to be purchased next time by the member. In the leisure information display field 95,
A link to a WEB page that introduces leisure related to automobiles is set. Further, in the vendor introduction column 96, links to WEB pages opened by various vendors are set.

In this way, the personal page displays information about the member's car. Further, by performing an operation on the screen, other information regarding the automobile is displayed, or an input screen for replying to the trader is displayed. The personal page shown in FIG. 16 is an example, and may be a screen for displaying other information.

In step S129, the user terminal 1
1 displays the received personal page, and the member browses the personal page. For example, the purchase price display field 82
Also, check the offer display field 88. Next, the user terminal 11 receives the reply to the offer and sends the information to the product information server 1 (step S130). In step S130, the part displayed as the user name in the offer display field 88 is clicked with the mouse, and the user terminal 1
1 requests the product information server 1 for a screen for inputting a reply to a vendor who has made an offer. The product information server 1
In response to this request, the reply input screen is transmitted to the user terminal 11. The member inputs a reply on this screen. The screen for inputting a reply is provided with a field for inputting whether or not to contact the trader with personal information, and when the member contacts the trader with personal information, the information to that effect is input. User terminal 11
Transmits the input information to the product information server 1.

Next, the control unit 2 sends the reply received in step S130 to the trader terminal of the trader making the offer (step S131). The control unit 2 sends a reply by e-mail, for example. Further, in step S130, when the information to contact the trader with the personal information is also received, the control unit 2 extracts the personal information such as the name, telephone number, and contact information from the user information database 5, The personal information is also transmitted to the trader terminal.

When the personal information of the member is notified, the trader contacts the member and makes a specific negotiation regarding the provision of various services (step S132).

According to the product information server (article-related information management device) as described above, the member can browse the information of the car he or she is using at the user terminal 11. Further, the member can accept the offer from the trader by designating the trader to be the target of information collection. As a result, it becomes easier to collect information from the vendor. In addition, the member can receive an offer from the trader without revealing personal information to the trader. Further, the commodity information server also indicates the market price of the purchase price of the car, so that the member can know at what price the car can be bought. On the other hand, the trader can make an offer to members who meet the specified conditions.

In the above example, the merchandise information server 1 is provided with the market database 6, and the purchase price information is periodically acquired from the database of a used car purchase shop or the like and registered in the market database 6. The product information server 1 may not include the market database 6 and may receive the purchase price information from the database of the used car purchase shop or the like via the communication network in step S128.

Further, the merchandise information server 1 may transmit the same screen as the member's personal page to the trader terminals 12a to 12n and the user terminals 11 of other members. For example,
When the URL is input to the user terminal 11 and the user terminal 11 requests the screen similar to the personal page, the product information server 1 may transmit the screen similar to the personal page to the user terminal 11. Hereinafter, a screen similar to a personal page viewed by a trader or another member is referred to as a personal page for others. The other person's personal page includes a button for requesting the other person's personal page or the already displayed other person's personal page. Each time this button is clicked with the mouse and the next personal page for another person is requested, the product information server 1 sequentially transmits the personal page for another person.

On the personal page for others, various kinds of information included in the personal page shown in FIG. 16 except information that can identify individual members are displayed. For example, the title 80, the offer display field 88, and the like correspond to the information that can identify the individual member. In addition, when the member who uses the displayed car desires to sell the car, information indicating that fact (for example, a display such as “Wish to sell!”) Is included in the personal page for others. Information indicating whether or not a member wants to sell a car is transmitted from the user terminal 11 to the product information server 1 at the time of member registration and registered in the user database 5. In this case, on the screen illustrated in FIG. 9 or the like, a question asking whether the vehicle is desired to be sold and its answer column may be displayed to prompt the member to answer.
Alternatively, after the member registration, the member may click the member desired registration field 90 of the personal page with a mouse to obtain the screen illustrated in FIG. 9 or the like, and register the information that the user wants to sell the car. The product information server 1 adds information indicating that the displayed vehicle is desired to be sold to the personal page for other members of the member who desires to sell the vehicle. Also,
The merchandise information server 1 may sequentially transmit only the personal pages for others of the members who want to sell the vehicle, instead of sequentially transmitting the personal pages for others of the members to the user terminal 11 or the like.

On the personal page for others, instead of the purchase price display field 82, the market price of the sales price of the same type car at a used car store or the like is displayed. The control unit 2 may extract this price from the market database 6 and include it in the screen information of the personal page for others. Further, instead of the market price of the selling price, the desired selling price set by the member may be displayed. In this case, the control unit 2 holds the member's desired selling price in the user database 5 in advance.

User terminal 11 and trader terminals 12a-12n
Does not need to specify a condition such as "member who will reach the next vehicle inspection date within a predetermined period" when requesting the personal page for others. When the condition is not designated, the control unit 2 sequentially extracts the information of each member held in the user database 5 and transmits the personal page for others showing the information to the user terminal 11 or the like. Also, when the condition is specified,
The personal page for others may be transmitted to the user terminal 11 or the like. For example, it is assumed that the condition of “member who will reach the next vehicle inspection date within a predetermined period” is specified and the screen illustrated in FIG. 12 is displayed on the user terminal 11. On this screen,
When each vehicle name shown in the vehicle name display field 61 is clicked with the mouse, the personal page for another person may be transmitted to the user terminal 11. The same applies when the display field for each vehicle name shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 is clicked with the mouse.

The operator of the product information server 1 is
You may publish an e-mail newsletter containing information related to automobiles to each member. The product information server 1 is an operation terminal 1
The contents of the mail magazine are received from 3 and transmitted to each user terminal 11. You can give more information to members by issuing an e-mail newsletter. In addition, the manager or trader of the product information server 1 can expect an increase in the number of members.

In the above example, the case where the article is an automobile has been described, but the article applied to the present invention is not limited to an automobile and may be another article such as a motorcycle.

[0081]

According to the article-related information management device of the present invention, the identification information receiving means for receiving the identification information for specifying the article and the information of the article user from the terminal of the article user through the communication network, Article information acquisition means for obtaining information on the article specified by the identification information, information holding means for holding the information received by the identification information receiving means and the information obtained by the article information acquisition means in association with the identification information, In response to the request from the terminal of the article user, the information holding means extracts the information held in association with the identification information,
Since the article user is provided with the article information providing means for transmitting the article information to the terminal of the article user via the communication network,
You can browse the information of the item you are using on the terminal.

Further, according to the article-related information management method of the present invention, the identification information for identifying the article and the information of the article user who uses the article are acquired, and the information of the article user is associated with the identification information. To retain the information of the article identified by the identification information and retain the information in association with the identification information, and retain the information in association with the identification information in response to a request from the terminal of the article user. And transmitting the information to the terminal of the article user via the communication network, the article user can browse the information of the article that he or she is using at the terminal.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of information held in a user database.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of processing progress from member registration to negotiation with a trader.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a process progress when registering information.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a WEB page for inputting personal information and the like.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a WEB page for inputting a registration number and the like.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a WEB page for inputting personal information and the like.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a WEB page for inputting personal information and the like.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a WEB page for inputting personal information and the like.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing progress when a trader makes an offer.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a WEB page in which a trader specifies conditions.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a WEB page that displays information that matches a condition related to vehicle inspection.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a WEB page that displays information that matches the conditions related to installment payments.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a WEB page that displays information that matches the conditions regarding the period since the automobile was manufactured.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing progress when browsing information.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a WEB page browsed by a member.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Product information server 2 control unit 3 storage devices 4 Network interface section 5 user database 6 Market database 11 user terminal 12a-12n Supplier terminal 13 Operation terminal 21 Internet

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An article-related information management device for holding information about an article used by an article user, comprising identification information for identifying an article from a terminal of the article user via a communication network and information of the article user. Identification information receiving means for receiving the information, the article information obtaining means for obtaining the information of the article specified by the identification information, and the information received by the identification information receiving means and the information obtained by the article information acquiring means for the identification information. In response to a request from the information holding means and the article user's terminal, the information holding means extracts the information held in correspondence with the identification information and transmits it to the article user's terminal through the communication network. An article-related information management device, comprising: 2. Information among the information held in the information holding means, which does not specify the article user, is extracted according to the condition specified by the terminal of the trader, and is transmitted to the terminal of the trader via the communication network. The article-related information management device according to claim 1, further comprising: an information providing unit; and an offer information acquisition unit that receives the offer information for the article user from a terminal of the trader via a communication network and causes the information holding unit to hold the information. . 3. The identification information receiving means receives a vehicle registration number as identification information, the article information acquisition means acquires information on a vehicle specified by the registration number, and the information holding means receives the identification information. 3. The article-related information management device according to claim 1, wherein the information received by the means and the information acquired by the article information acquisition means are held in association with the registration number. 4. The article-related information management device according to claim 3, wherein the article information acquisition means acquires at least a part of the information described in the automobile inspection certificate of the vehicle specified by the registration number. 5. The transaction price acquisition means for acquiring the estimated transaction price of the vehicle, wherein the article information providing means uses the estimated price acquired by the transaction price acquisition means via the communication network to the terminal of the vehicle user. The article-related information management device according to claim 3 or 4, which is transmitted to 6. A step of acquiring identification information for identifying an article and information of an article user who uses the article, and holding the information of the article user in association with the identification information; Information on
And a step of storing the information in correspondence with the identification information to the terminal of the article user via the communication network in response to a request from the terminal of the article user. An article-related information management method characterized by the above.