JP2004265152A - Electronic device sale system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic device sale system for enabling a user to purchase an electronic device with paying attention to software functions. <P>SOLUTION: In the electronic device sale system in which a manufacturer site 1 and a user site 2 are connected, the manufacturer site has a software maintaining means for maintaining an independent software module in which servers 11 and 12 perform their functions and a firmware generating means for generating a single piece of firmware by extracting required software modules from functions maintained in the software maintaining means based on input from the user site. The user site has a selectable function display means for displaying selectable functions to make the user to select a desired function in which a personal computer 21 performs its functions, a hardware display means for displaying a type of an electronic device usable by the required software module and a hardware input means with which the user selectively inputs hardware displayed by the hardware display means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic device sales system in which a maker site and a user site are connected to a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many functions of home electric appliances and computer peripheral devices are realized by software. Many of them are implemented in non-volatile memory in the form of executable code.
On the other hand, the functions required by users are becoming increasingly versatile, and in order to meet the demands of many users, a great deal of software must be incorporated, so that a large amount of memory must be used, which is a product Is reduced in the form of cost.
In order to solve these problems, there is a method of preparing multiple models and selling expensive high-function versions and inexpensive low-function versions, but as a result, for some users, functions that are rarely used In some cases, high cost products must be purchased.
On the other hand, regarding the sale of hardware mainly for computers, a method of selecting and purchasing built-in components and options by the so-called BTO method has been established, and recently, a display method has been devised to further improve the user's ability. It has come to be able to meet the demand for convenience (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Also, in the case of selling pure software only, a method of selectively purchasing functional element software constituting the software is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2).
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2001-283055 [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2001-344034
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the method of preparing a plurality of models described above, a plurality of production lines are maintained, and the trouble of management is doubled, so that it is not an essential solution. With regard to the sale of hardware and pure software, it is becoming possible to selectively purchase only the necessary functional elements, but in the case of software included in electronic devices, the functions are realized in combination with the hardware. Therefore, these methods could not be applied.
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device sales system that allows a user to purchase an electronic device by focusing on software functions.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an electronic equipment sales system in which a maker site and a user site are connected to a network, wherein the maker site includes software holding means for holding an independent software module; Firmware generating means for generating a single firmware by extracting necessary software modules from functions held in the software holding means based on the input from the user, and the user site selects a function desired by the user Selectable function display means for displaying a selectable function for causing the software module to be used, hardware display means for displaying a model of an electronic device in which a necessary software module can be used, and hardware displayed by the hardware display means for the user. Input for hardware input The most important feature electronic equipment sales system including a means.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device sales system according to the first aspect, the user site includes a model name input unit for inputting a model name of an electronic device already purchased by the user, and the maker site includes the model name. A main feature is an electronic device sales system including an upgrade determination unit that determines a software module that can be upgraded only by software according to a model name input by a name input unit.
The present invention ensures user convenience by selecting a function and automatically selecting and selling a hardware model corresponding to the function. That is, the functions realized by the software are separated into a basic part and an extended part, the user can selectively purchase the extended part, and an electronic device necessary for operating those functions is automatically selected. This makes it possible to purchase optimal electronic devices.
[0005]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an electronic device sales system according to the present invention. This electronic equipment sales system is configured by connecting a manufacturer site 1 and a user site 2 to the Internet, and this system is realized by a set of a Web browser and a Web server.
The maker site 1 generates a single firmware by extracting a software holding unit that holds an independent software module and a necessary software module among functions held in the software holding unit based on an input from a user site. Firmware generating means. Specifically, in each means, the first server 11 and the second server 12 fulfill their functions. Note that the software holding unit and the firmware generation unit may be provided in one server.
The user site 2 includes a selectable function display unit that displays a function that can be selected to allow the user to select a desired function, a hardware display unit that displays a model of an electronic device in which a necessary software module can be used, Hardware input means for the user to select and input hardware displayed by the hardware display means. Specifically, the personal computer 21 fulfills its function in each means. Note that a dedicated machine having input means such as a touch panel may be used instead of the personal computer 21.
The user site 2 is provided with a model name input unit for inputting a model name of an electronic device already purchased by the user, and the maker site 1 is upgraded only with software according to the model name input by the model name input unit. An upgrade determining means for determining a possible software module is provided. The personal computer 21 and the first and second servers 11 and 12 also fulfill their functions.
[0006]
FIG. 2 is a basic flowchart of the present invention. Selectable function display (S1), desired function selection (S2), firmware generation (S3), applicable hardware display (S4), and desired hardware selection (S5) are sequentially performed.
For example, when the purchase target is a digital camera, a selection screen in which zoom, the number of pixels, continuous shooting, and the like are selected is provided to the user from the personal computer 21 as shown in FIG. The data is sent from the browser to the Web server (first server 11).
The user does not need to reply to items that he / she does not particularly desire, and only the name of the reply item and the contents of the reply are sent to the first server 11. Based on the sent user response, the firmware generation means selects a required software module and generates firmware in cooperation with the software holding means.
The hardware display means also selects and displays the required hardware model based on the user response. In the case of a digital camera, since the optical zoom function and the number of pixels are realized by hardware, it is necessary to select a model equipped with those functions. When the user inputs the desired hardware with the hardware input unit based on the displayed result, the selection of the purchase target is completed.
The firmware generated by the above means is downloaded to the corresponding hardware selected by the above means through a secondary storage medium such as CompactFlash (registered trademark) or a cable.
Further, in the present invention, prior to the flow shown in FIG. 2, the model name input means requests the user to input a hardware model. Based on the hardware model obtained by the model name inputting means, the upgrade determining means cooperates with the software holding means, selects a function that can be upgraded only by software, and displays it to the user.
In the case of a digital camera, for example, a digital zoom, a continuous shooting function, a file storage format, and the like are applicable. Based on the content of the sent user response, the firmware generation unit selects a required software module, and generates firmware in cooperation with the software holding unit. In this case, since only the software is exchanged, if it is used together with the card approval, the immediate download may be possible.
[0007]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the user can automatically select electronic devices necessary for operating those functions by selecting electronic devices by focusing only on functions, It is possible to purchase optimal electronic devices.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an electronic device sales system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a basic flowchart of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a selectable function display unit in the case of a digital camera.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 maker site 11 first server 12 second server 2 user site 21 personal computer

Claims (2)

In an electronic device sales system where a manufacturer site and a user site are connected via a network,
The maker site generates a single firmware by extracting a software holding unit that holds an independent software module and a necessary software module among functions held by the software holding unit based on an input from a user site. Firmware generation means,
The user site includes: a selectable function display unit that displays a function that can be selected by the user to select a desired function; a hardware display unit that displays a model of an electronic device in which a necessary software module can be used; An electronic device sales system comprising: a hardware input unit for allowing a user to select and input hardware displayed by the hardware display unit. 2. The electronic device sales system according to claim 1, wherein the user site includes a model name input unit for inputting a model name of the electronic device already purchased by the user, and the maker site includes the model name input by the model name input unit. An electronic device sales system, comprising: upgrade determination means for determining a software module that can be upgraded only by software according to a name.

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