JP2003308409A - Method for providing route information for purchase of commodity - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem in a conventional technique that a 'start point', a 'terminal point' and a 'commodity desired to purchase' can be specified (or a condition for specifying them can be designated) in the purchase of commodities, but a 'route suitable to purchase the desired commodity (circulate a selling floor)' cannot be directly determined from such information, and to support a user's purchase by making the user input the information and directly determining the 'route suitable to purchase the desired commodity (circulate the selling floor)' from the information. <P>SOLUTION: A program and system for making the user specify the 'start point', 'terminal point' and 'commodity desired to purchase' (or designate the condition for specifying them) and determining the 'route suitable to purchase the desired commodity (circulate the selling floor) from the information in reference to a commodity database, a selling floor database, and a map database are used. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the field of "invention of business method" and relates to a method for providing route information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are the following two conventional technologies.

The price is "technology for identifying stores where a user can purchase a product by having the user specify the product". known from the web site of com.

[0004] By specifying (or specifying the conditions for specifying) "starting point / ending point" and "store",
"Technology for proposing an optimal route to stop at a store" is known for a car navigation system (hereinafter referred to as "car navigation").

[0005]

In the prior art, when purchasing a product, even if it is possible to specify (or specify the conditions for specifying) the "starting point / end point" and the "desired product", There was no way to directly determine a suitable route (around the selling place) for purchasing the desired product from the information.

The present invention asks the user to input such information, and directly obtains a'route (around the selling place) suitable for purchasing a desired product 'from the user, thereby purchasing the user. The purpose is to help.

[0007] The term "commodity" is used not only as an individual product but also as a general product including a product field (eg, sake) and services.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] As means for solving the problems,
Ask the user to specify (or specify the conditions to specify) the'departure point / end point 'and'purchased product' and refer to the product database, sales place database and map database for that information. Use a program and system to determine the proper route (around the place of sale) for purchasing the desired product.

Furthermore, if desired conditions and schedules for purchasing are also input, the database corresponding to each item is also referred to, so that the purchasing method is as suitable as possible to the desired conditions and schedule. It is also possible to find a route (which goes around the sales place) that is suitable for purchasing a product, and not only solve the problem, but also provide more convenient and highly useful information.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION As a first step, a user accesses a website implementing the present invention from a client terminal via the Internet.

Next, in the second step, the user selects the "departure / end point", "purchase desired product",
Specify (or specify conditions to specify) the'planned date and time or time zone (period) ',' transportation planned to be used for purchase ',' planned purchase quantity of each desired product ', etc., and if necessary Enter the desired conditions for purchase and send it to the server via the Internet. The server receives and stores this information.

As the third step, the server extracts the sales place of the desired product from the product database and the sales place database based on the information about the'purchased product 'received in the second step. If there are too many places to sell and it is unfavorable to determine the route in the next fourth step, the extraction area is limited to the vicinity of the route from the starting point to the ending point as necessary.

As the fourth step, based on the information of the "place of sale of the desired product" extracted in the third step, "map", "sales time", "traffic information", which correspond to the information received in the second step,
By referring to the database such as'inventory quantity ', the server can be used as a'purchase method that suits the desired conditions and schedule as much as possible, and also for any combination that can be a suitable (purchase route) route for purchasing the desired product'. Estimate the routes and arrange the routes that were actually efficient in order into a list.

At the final stage, the server outputs / displays the'electronic map in which the routes are superimposed and displayed 'and the'detailed information of the route' for the'routes listed higher in the list 'to the client terminal via the Internet.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a specific example of the present invention will be described from the standpoint of a user of a client terminal.

(Example 1) Since I am visiting the teacher's house, I would like to insert one of the three types of sake (A, B, C) that the teacher loves. However, even if I know the brand of sake, I do not know where it is sold. Since I don't have much time, I have no choice but to stop at a liquor store with a parking lot to buy on the way. Then, connect to the Internet from the car navigation, access the website where you can use the present invention,
Home at'departure point ', Onshi's house at'end point', 3 types of sake (A, B, C) with OR conditions for'purchased product ', and'current departure date', currently scheduled transportation for purchase means'
I entered my own car in, and added a parking lot as an indispensable condition, and searched for the route that could go in the shortest time. As a result, it was found out that the liquor store beside the teacher's house was selling A and C sake, and that the car navigation system displayed that it was the quickest way to buy at the liquor store. I was able to safely reach the liquor store and insert sake A into my teacher.

[0017]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, indispensable preparations for purchasing a desired product (“inspect the selling place and confirm regular holidays / business hours of the selling place”, “set purchase route”)
The advantageous effect that the time and labor required for () etc. can be significantly reduced is obtained.

Further, in the case of the method in which the inventory quantity information and the sales time are taken into consideration, the route in which the desired quantity can be purchased is almost certainly output (at the time of outputting the indexed route). The following advantageous effects occur for each of the advertising recipient and the retail store.

If you go to the shop according to the output result immediately after determining the route, it is possible to avoid the waste of going to a store that is out of stock with a high probability (advertiseee).

Eliminates the time and labor required to inquire about inventory status (advertisers)

Time to respond to inquiries about inventory status
Labor can be reduced significantly (distributor)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. In the first step, a user accesses a server executing the present invention from a client terminal via a communication network. The second step is for the user to specify (or specify the conditions to specify) the'departure point / end point 'and the'purchased product', and if necessary, enter the desired conditions for purchasing the server, Is transmitted via the communication network. The server receives and stores this information. In the third step, the server extracts the selling place of the desired product from the product database and the selling place database based on the information about the'purchased desired product 'received in the second step. If there are too many places to sell and it is unfavorable to determine the route in the next fourth step, the extraction area is limited to the vicinity of the route from the starting point to the ending point as necessary. The fourth step is suitable for the server to purchase the desired product by referring to the'departure point / end point 'received in the second step and the'place of sale of the desired product' extracted in the third step. Estimate all combinations of routes that can be'routes (around the sales place) ', and list the routes that were actually efficient in order into a list. In the final step, the server outputs / displays a part or all of the'routes listed in the list 'to the client terminal via the communication network. Providing route information for purchasing products that follow the above steps and procedures 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the second step, the date and time or the time zone (period) of the planned purchase is added to the input items of the user, and in the fourth step, the information is added to each item. A method of providing route information for product purchase that also considers the "sales time at each sales place" when determining the "route suitable for purchase" by also referring to the database that stores the sales time at the sales place 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the second step, "transportation means to be used at the time of purchase" is added to the input items of the user, and the information is added in the fourth step. By referring to the traffic information database as well, the method of providing route information for product purchase that also takes into account'transportation and traffic information 'when determining the'route suitable for purchase' 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein in the second step, the'planned purchase quantity of each desired product 'is added to the input item of the user, and the information is added in the fourth step. On the other hand, by also referring to the'database that stores the inventory quantity of each product at each sales location ', it is necessary to consider the'purchased quantity and inventory quantity' when purchasing a product that is suitable for purchase. Method of providing route information for 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein in the second step, when the user specifies a plurality of types of'purchased product '(or specifies conditions for specifying),
Method of providing route information for product purchase that determines "route suitable for purchasing all desired products" instead of "route suitable for purchase" of each desired product 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the client terminal similarly processes the fourth and subsequent steps in place of the server, and obtains the same result as when the server processes. Method and calculation method of route information for