JP2007004468A - Search device and search method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that a conventional technique to directly recommend commodities etc. make a consumer worry about leakage etc. of information and uneasy since recommendation is performed accurately and excessively the specific commodities etc. to the consumer etc. <P>SOLUTION: A search device and a search method are provided, in which information to identify a function which a specific commodity group may have and information to identify a commodity contained in the commodity group are associated and accumulated, and when the information to identify a certain function which the specific commodity group may have is inputted, the information associated and accumulated is searched by that information as a key, and the information to identify other functions which commodities having functions to be identified by the inputted information may have is outputted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a search apparatus, a search method, and the like, and in particular, performs a search based on a function provided by a product or service, recommends purchase or use of the product or service, or searches for marketing or the like. The present invention relates to a device and a search method.

Conventionally, various studies have been made on methods for recommending products or services (hereinafter referred to as “products etc.”) to consumers. For example, a method of recommending a product or the like that a consumer or the like is expected to purchase next by applying a data mining method or the like to a purchase or usage history of the product or the like of a consumer (for example, a patent document) 1) is known. In addition, in a site that sells books through the Internet, a combination of books that are frequently purchased at the same time is calculated, and when a consumer places an order for a book, A technique that encourages the purchase of another expensive book is actually used.
JP 2003-6512 A

  In the conventional method, it is considered possible to recommend a product etc. that a consumer or the like purchases fairly accurately. However, if a product is recommended to a consumer or the like directly and specifically, the recommended consumer is worried that his / her personal information may be leaked to the Internet site. Refraining from using the product, and the purchase of the product is stopped. As a result, the sales of the business operator are reduced, and the development of the industry is hindered.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a search device, a search method, and the like for recommending products to consumers and the like without directly recommending specific products.

  In order to achieve such an object, in the present invention, information for identifying a function that a specific product group may have and information for identifying a product included in the product group are stored in association with each other. When information that identifies the functions that the product group may have is entered, the stored information is searched using that information as a key, and other products possessed by the function identified by the entered information are searched. A search device and a search method for outputting information for identifying a function are provided.

  Thereby, a consumer etc. can know what kind of function the goods which have the function which he is paying attention have. Moreover, since specific goods are not recommended, psychological resistance feelings, such as a consumer, do not appear strongly and a problem is solved.

  Further, the information for identifying the product included in the product group that is stored in association with the information that identifies the function that the specific product group may have may be information associated with the purchase history information of the product, Search results may be sorted according to purchase history information.

  Thereby, for example, another function of a product having a certain function can be obtained according to the time when the product is purchased.

  In addition, information for identifying a product included in a product group that is stored in association with information that identifies a function that a specific product group may have includes information that identifies a purchaser of the product, It may be information associated with information that identifies the function of a product that will be purchased or desired to be purchased in the future, and the search results are sorted by information that identifies the purchaser of the product. Also good.

  Thereby, for example, another function of a product having a certain function can be obtained for each person who purchases the product.

  The search result may be output for each product.

  Thereby, for example, another function of a product having a certain function can be known for each product.

  Moreover, the purchaser of goods may be input with the information which identifies the function which a specific goods group may have.

  Thereby, for example, information for identifying a product included in a product group stored in association with information for identifying a function that a specific product group may have is stored in association with information for identifying a purchaser of the product. Will be able to.

  According to the search device and the search method of the present invention, a consumer or the like can know what other functions a product having a function of interest has. Moreover, since specific goods etc. are not recommended, psychological resistance feelings, such as a consumer, do not appear so much and a problem is solved.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be disclosed as an embodiment. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the invention.

(Embodiment 1)
As Embodiment 1, information for identifying a function that a specific product group may have and information for identifying a product included in the product group are stored in association with each other, and the specific product group has When information identifying a certain function is input, the stored information is searched using that information as a key, and information identifying other functions of a product having a function identified by the input information is output. A search device, a search method, and the like will be described.

(Embodiment 1: Configuration)
FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of the search device according to the first embodiment. The search device 100 includes a function identification information input unit 101, a storage unit 102, and a search unit 103.

  The “function identification information input unit” 101 is a unit for inputting function identification information. Here, the “function identification information” is information for identifying a function that a specific product group may have. “A function that a specific product group may have” means a function of at least one product among products belonging to a specific product group—for example, a group of products composed of products called air conditioners. In addition, even if there is no product that actually has the function, such a product may be planned and designed, and may be in a planned sales state. As a group of goods, one specific group may be assumed and a plurality of groups may be assumed. Here, the “product” includes not only intangible and tangible objects that can be traded, but also services such as labor and benefits for others. Real estate can also be included without being limited to movable property. The “function” is a function, a role, a feature or the like provided for an intangible object, a tangible object, a labor service, or a benefit. For example, the functions of the products belonging to the air conditioner product group include cooling, heating, dehumidification, deodorization, presence / absence of anti-mold filter, use / non-use of a timer and an inverter. In addition, for example, for the service of courier service, functions such as a delivery time that can be designated, a range of weight that can be delivered, and whether or not price exchange is performed. The function identification information input unit 101 inputs function identification information, and the function identification information can be expressed as a digital signal input using a keyboard, a touch panel, or the like.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a touch panel for inputting function identification information. On the touch panel 201, a button 202 corresponding to the use of the inverter, a button 203 corresponding to the air cleaning function, a button 204 corresponding to the deodorizing function, a button 205 corresponding to the fungicide filter function, and the like are displayed. By pressing these buttons, function identification information corresponding to each button is input. As a specific example, when a program that senses the touch panel periodically or irregularly is operated by the CPU and the program detects pressing of a specific area of the touch panel, function identification information corresponding to the specific area is displayed. The function identification information is generated and input. Such a program can be recorded on a medium such as an optical disk or a flexible disk.

  FIG. 3 is a table showing a correspondence relationship between buttons displayed on the touch panel 201 and function identification information input when the button is pressed. For example, when it is detected from this table that a specific area corresponding to the button 202 corresponding to the use of the inverter is pressed, function identification information indicating the use of the inverter F-001 is generated. Can do. Such a table is held in a storage area such as a hard disk or a memory such as a computer for realizing the search device, and is read by a program such as a touch panel sense.

  The “storage unit” 102 stores function identification information and product identification information in association with each other. “Product identification information” is information for identifying products included in the product group, and “the product group” is a product group to which a product that may have a function indicated by the function identification information belongs. There are various methods for storing the function identification information and the product identification information in association with each other, but typical examples include a column for storing the function identification information and a column for storing the product identification information. Some tables use the following table. In such a table, storing the function identification information and the product identification information in the same row indicates that the function identification information and the product identification information are associated with each other.

  FIG. 4 illustrates a table composed of columns storing product identification information. For example, F-001 that is function identification information and CS-283AF2 that is product identification information are stored in the same row, so that F-001 and CS-283AF2 are associated with each other. This association expresses that the product identified by CS-283AF2 has a function identified by F-001. The table illustrated in FIG. 4 can be held in a storage area such as a hard disk of a computer by installing and operating a relational database management system in the computer or the like.

  The “search unit” 103 searches the storage unit 102 using the function identification information input by the function identification information input unit 101 as a key. And the search part 103 outputs other function identification information as a search result. Here, the “other function identification information” is information for identifying another function of the product identified by the product identification information stored in association with the corresponding function identification information. The “corresponding function identification information” is the function identification information input by the function identification information input unit 101 and is used as a key at the time of search. For example, when the function identification information F-001 is input by the function identification information input unit 101, the search unit 103 searches for a row in which the function identification information F-001 appears in the left column of the table of FIG. . As a result, for example, a row that associates F-001 and CS-283AF2 is acquired as a search result, and the search unit 103 is a function that CS-283AF2 has and is identified by function identification information other than F-001. In order to obtain the function identification information of the function to be searched, the table of FIG. 4 is searched again.

  FIG. 5 illustrates the operation of the search unit 103 in another example. That is, the operation of the search unit 103 when F-002 is input by the function identification information input unit 101 will be specifically described. First, when function identification information F-002 is input in step S001, the search unit 103 searches the storage unit 102 using F-002 as a key in step S502. More specifically, a row in which F-002 appears in the left column of the table in FIG. 4 is obtained. Next, the product identification information stored in the right column is acquired from each of the rows thus obtained. As a result, for example, CS-283AF2 is acquired (step S503). Next, the search unit 103 searches the storage unit 102 with the acquired CS-283AF2 (step S504). As a result, for example, a line in which F-001 is stored as function identification information, CS-283AF2 is stored as product identification information, and F-001 is acquired as function identification information (step S505). Then, F-001 is acquired as other function identification information. As a result, referring to the table of FIG. 3, it can be seen that the function that the product having the function of air cleaning may have is the function of an inverter. Therefore, such a search result is displayed by generating a natural language by a method such as filling in a template.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of a screen that displays search results. The screen 601 displays “Products with an air cleaning function include products with an inverter”. This display is obtained, for example, by filling a template ($ 1 and $ 2 are holes to be filled) of “a product having a function of $ 1 has a product having $ 2”. Thereby, in the touch panel 201, a consumer who presses the button 203 corresponding to the air cleaning function becomes interested in a product having an inverter in addition to the air cleaning function. Note that the screen 601 may be used with the touch panel 201, or the buttons displayed on the touch panel 201 may be erased to display as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the touch panel 201 and the screen 601 may be completely different. Such an operation of the search unit 103 can be realized by a program that operates on a computer or the like. Further, such a program can be recorded on a medium such as an optical disk or a flexible disk.

  In step S505 of FIG. 5, CS-283AF2 is also associated with F-001 in the table of FIG. 4, and F-001 can also be acquired, which is the same as the input function identification information. Therefore, it may be removed and not acquired by the search unit 103 or the like.

(Embodiment 1: Flow of processing)
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing in the search device according to the present embodiment. The processing represented by such a flowchart can be realized by causing a computer to execute a program. As a premise for executing the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 7, the function identification information and the product identification information for identifying the products included in the product group are stored by the storage unit 102 (storage step). Specifically, the table illustrated in FIG. 4 and the like is held in a computer using a relational database management system or the like.

  In step S701, the function identification information input to the function identification information input unit is acquired as a process of the input step. For example, the function identification information stored at a predetermined address in the memory is read by a program that senses the touch panel 201. Next, steps S702 to S704 are performed as retrieval steps. That is, in step S702, the product identification information is searched using the input function identification information as a key. In step S703, function identification information for identifying other functions of the searched product is searched. In step S704, the searched function identification information is output as a search result.

(Embodiment 1: Expansion)
In the above description, the function identification information input unit 101 has been described mainly as acquiring one function identification information at a time. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of function identification information is acquired at a time. It may come to be. In this case, for example, the search unit 103 may obtain a set of other function identification information for each function identification information and obtain a common part or a union by a set operation or the like. The selection of whether to obtain the common part or the union may be determined in advance by a program that implements the search unit 103, an electronic circuit, or the like, or may be selectable through the touch panel 201. Further, the set operation or the like is not limited to obtaining the common part or the union, and for example, a difference set may be obtained.

(Embodiment 1: Main effects)
In the present embodiment, when the consumer or the like inputs the function identification information, the consumer or the like can know what other functions the product having the function he / she is interested in has. . In addition, since specific products are not recommended, consumers can be worried about information leaking, and psychological resistance can be prevented from appearing strongly.

(Embodiment 2)
As Embodiment 2, the information that identifies the product included in the product group that is accumulated in association with the information that identifies the function that the specific product group may have is the information that is associated with the purchase history information of the product A form is demonstrated.

(Embodiment 2: Configuration)
The present embodiment is an embodiment obtained by adding the following modifications to the first embodiment. That is, the storage unit 102 stores product identification information associated with a purchase history of products as product identification information to be stored. "Product purchase history" refers to how the product was purchased, such as when the product was purchased by someone, what payment method was used, what delivery method was used for the product, etc. It is information to show. It should be noted that although “who” is written, the product purchased may be specified or may not be specified. In addition, although described as “has been done” in the past tense, whether or not it is planned to be purchased may not actually be sold or sold. In order to store the product identification information associated with the purchase history of the product, for example, a table including product identification information and information indicating how the product identified by the product identification information has been purchased. This is done by storing in

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a table that stores product identification information and product purchase history. For example, when CS-290AF3 and 2005/05 / 09-13: 50 are stored in the same row, the product identified by the product identification information CS-290AF3 is May 9, 2005, 13:50 It is expressed that it was purchased. Such merchandise purchase history can be obtained from, for example, information recorded in a register such as a store or a record of payment by a credit card company. “Purchase date” is merely an example of information indicating a purchase history.

  FIG. 9 illustrates a functional block diagram of the search device according to the present embodiment. Similar to the search device according to the first embodiment, the search device 900 includes a function identification information input unit 101, a storage unit 102, and a search unit 103. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the search unit 103 has purchase history dependence search means 901.

  “Purchase history dependent search means” 901 is a means for sorting and outputting other function identification information as a search result based on purchase history information. For example, the purchase history of the product having the function identified by the other function identification information is acquired with reference to the table illustrated in FIG. 8, and the purchase history is sorted in descending order or ascending order. In addition, other function identification information in which the date and time of the purchase history is in a specific period—for example, at night or in summer—may be extracted.

(Embodiment 2: Processing flow)
The processing flow of the search device according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, but the processing by the purchase history-dependent search means 901 is further added to the search result.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the processing of the purchase history dependence search unit 901. First, a product having the input function identification information is searched from the input function identification information, for example, by the processing from step S501 to step S503 in FIG. In the present embodiment, the table for storing the product identification information and the purchase history of the product illustrated in FIG. 8 is further referred to, and the function identification information that has been input is obtained by calculating a join or the like in the product identification information. Data 1002 such as a product and the purchase date and time of the product is obtained. In general, since a plurality of purchase histories are associated with one product in the table illustrated in FIG. 8 or the like, even if only one function identification information 1001 is input, the product having the input function identification information. There are a plurality of data 1002 such as the purchase date and time of the product, and the amount of data increases. Therefore, in order to implement the search device 900 with a computer or the like, a method may be used in which a storage area that can be used by a program is made larger than the main memory by means such as virtual storage.

  In the present embodiment, an operation for replacing the data 1002 such as the product having the input function identification information and the purchase date / time of the product with other function identification information for identifying other functions of the product (other functions An operation for further associating the identification information may be performed) to obtain other function identification information of the product having the input function identification information and data 1003 such as the purchase date and time. In this case as well, generally, since one product has a plurality of other function identification information, the amount of data further increases.

  Next, the other function identification information of the products having the input function identification information and the data 1003 such as the purchase date are sorted according to the purchase date and time of the products. For example, other function identification information of a recently purchased product is obtained, or other function identification information of a product purchased in a specific time zone is obtained.

(Embodiment 2: Expansion)
In the present embodiment, the table illustrated in FIG. 16 may be used instead of the table illustrated in FIG. In the table illustrated in FIG. 16, a column “function identification information that is the reason for the purchase decision” is further added to the table illustrated in FIG. 8. This column stores function identification information for identifying a function that is a main reason for purchasing a product identified by the product identification information stored in the same row. For example, CS-290AF3 purchased on May 9, 2005 at 13:50 has a function in which a product identified by product identification information CS-290AF3 is identified by product identification information F-006. This is the main reason for the purchase decision.

  When the table is expanded in this way, the operation of the search unit 103 is as follows, for example. First, the product identification information for identifying the product associated with the function identification information is searched based on the function identification information input by the function identification information input unit 101.

  For example, when F-007 and CS-290AF3 are associated, when function identification information F-007 is input, CS-290AF3 is obtained as a search result.

  Next, the search unit 103 searches for other function identification information for identifying other functions of the obtained product identification information. Up to this point, it is the same as the parts of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 so far, but in this expansion, the table exemplified in FIG. 16 is further searched and identified by the obtained product identification information. The function identification information that is the reason for the decision to purchase the product is obtained.

  For example, if product identification information CS-290AF3 is obtained, the function identification information F-006 is searched by searching the table illustrated in FIG. The function identification information retrieved in this manner is referred to as “purchasing decision function identification information”.

  In this search, for example, the number of appearances in the search result may be obtained for each purchase determination function identification information by performing an aggregation process on the purchase determination function identification information.

  Next, the search unit 103 outputs other function identification information. At this time, the search unit 103 outputs the purchase determination function identification information together with the other function identification information or instead of the other function identification information. At this time, the other function identification information and the purchase determination function identification information may be output in the order of the number of appearances of the purchase determination function identification information obtained by the aggregation process.

  As the purchase decision identification information is output in this way, consumers who are in contact with such output are the functions that they are interested in, and the functions for which the function identification information for identifying the functions is input. In addition to knowing other functions of the product having the function, it is possible to know which of the other functions, in particular, which function is used as a reference for the purchase decision by other consumers. In other words, "I see, in addition to the functions I'm interested in, other people are buying products with reference to the existence of such functions." Can be made. As a result, it is possible to search for products that have functions that consumers are interested in and functions that have been referenced by other consumers in making purchase decisions, which can be used as a reference for narrowing down the search for products. Or, a store clerk or the like can recommend a product to be purchased more reliably by using the search result of such a product.

  Note that an input device such as a touch panel for inputting to the function identification information input unit 101 and a display device on which purchase decision function identification information and the like are displayed are installed in various stores, not limited to home appliance mass retailers, for example. It may be provided on the display shelf of the product being sold. There may also be an explanatory note that briefly explains the function of the product, a price list that shows the price of the product, and the like near the input device and the display device. A consumer who sees a product or an explanation slip inputs function identification information for identifying a function of the product (for example, a function that he / she particularly likes) to the input device, and the search result by the search unit 103 is output to the output device. By viewing the displayed information and obtaining purchase decision function identification information, you can know the motivation of other people's purchases and the function that made the purchase decision, making it easier to purchase products at stores. become able to.

  In addition, the search device disclosed in this specification can be applied to Internet shopping instead of an actual store. A field for entering function identification information is provided near the place where the product description is displayed in the browser, etc., and the user reads the product description, enters the desired function in that field, and searches. By pressing the button, the search by the search unit 103 is started via communication, and the result can be returned via communication and displayed in another window or the like.

  Note that the function identification information to be stored in the “function identification information that is the reason for the purchase decision” in the table illustrated in FIG. 16 is, for example, “how to” Ask, “Do you like the function?” And enter it in the store register. In the register of the store, the serial number of the purchased product is entered using a barcode reader, etc., and the serial number of the product is printed on a questionnaire postcard packed with the product by the manufacturer. In addition, the postcard should be able to answer which function was liked and the purchase decision was made, and the collected postcard serial number and the serial number entered in the register were added together to confirm the purchase. The function identification information that is the reason for the determination may be stored. In addition, in the case of Internet shopping, a column for inputting function identification information that is the reason for the purchase decision may be displayed in a window for inputting information for payment. .

(Embodiment 2: Main effects)
According to the present embodiment, since the other function identification information is output after being sorted according to the purchase history of the products, information by purchase time zone can be obtained for other functions of the products having a specific function. For this reason, the search device according to the present embodiment is also useful in product design and product planning, such as what functions a product has.

(Embodiment 3)
As Embodiment 3, in Embodiment 1 or 2, information that identifies a product included in a product group that is stored in association with information that identifies a function that a specific product group may have identifies the purchaser of the product An embodiment will be described in which the information is information associated with information identifying the function of the product that the purchaser has purchased or desires to purchase in the past or future.

(Embodiment 3: Configuration)
The present embodiment is an embodiment obtained by adding the following modifications to the first or second embodiment. In other words, the storage unit 102 is associated with the purchaser identification information for identifying the purchaser of the product as the product identification information to be stored, and the function identification information that the purchaser has purchased or desires to purchase in the past or the future. Product identification information. “Purchaser of product” may generally mean a person who purchased a product, but here includes not only a person who purchased a product but also a person who plans to purchase a product. Moreover, even if the plan for purchasing the product is not clear, it may be a person who has a desire to purchase the product. “Function identification information that the purchaser has purchased or desires to purchase in the past or future” is information that identifies the functions of the product that the purchaser has purchased in the past or future, or desires to purchase. Means the function identification information.

  Further, the purchaser identification information may further be associated with attribute information such as the address, sex, occupation, annual income, residence form, family structure of the living together, etc. of the person identified by the purchaser identification information. Such information can also be stored in the form of a table.

  FIG. 11 illustrates a table associating product identification information with purchaser identification information in order to realize this embodiment. Purchaser identification information is stored in a column named purchaser. The purchaser identification information such as P040167 is stored in the same row as the merchandise identification information such as CS-283AF2, so that the purchaser identified in P040167 has purchased, is planning to purchase, or has purchased. It expresses that he wants. Information indicating whether the product has been purchased, planned to be purchased, or desired to purchase may be further accumulated.

  By enabling the search unit 103 to refer to the table illustrated in FIG. 11 and, for example, the table of FIG. 4, purchaser identification information for identifying the purchaser of the product and the purchaser in the past or the future The product identification information associated with the function identification information that is purchased or desired to be purchased can be stored. In addition, by making it possible to refer to the table illustrated in FIG. 8 as well, the product identification information can be associated with the purchase history information of the product.

  FIG. 12 illustrates a functional block diagram of the search device according to the present embodiment. Similar to the search device according to the first embodiment, the search device 1200 includes a function identification information input unit 101, a storage unit 102, and a search unit 103. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the search unit 103 includes purchaser-dependent search means 1201. Note that the search unit 103 may include purchase history-dependent search means 901 as in the second embodiment.

  “Purchaser-dependent search means” 1201 is means for sorting and outputting other function identification information as a search result based on purchaser identification information of products.

(Embodiment 3: Flow of processing)
The processing flow in the present embodiment is realized by replacing “purchasing date and time” with “purchaser identification information” in the processing flow of the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, for example. Further, before or after the process illustrated in FIG. 10, in the process flow illustrated in FIG. 10, “purchase date and time” may be replaced with “purchaser identification information”. Good. In the present embodiment, the purchaser dependence search unit 1201 sorts the other function identification information based on the purchaser identification information. For example, sorting is performed in ascending order of purchaser identification information, or sorting is performed based on attributes of persons identified by purchaser identification information. Alternatively, only the search result related to the specific purchaser identification information may be extracted, or only the search result related to the purchaser identification information of the purchaser having the specific attribute may be extracted.

(Embodiment 3: Main effects)
According to this embodiment, for example, a cyclone function used by a person who has purchased a product having a certain function--for example, a function provided by a sofa, etc., for sitting--to separate another garbage--for example, garbage You can see that you have purchased a product called a vacuum cleaner that has-and you can easily know the function of the product that you are interested in purchasing next time. As a result, companies that plan and manufacture products can also create a wide variety of products. In addition, it can be estimated that the person who purchased the sofa purchased the vacuum cleaner because dust was generated by the sofa and the vacuum cleaner was purchased to clean the dust.

(Embodiment 4)
As Embodiment 4, an embodiment in which search results are output in units of products will be described.

(Embodiment 4: Configuration)
The present embodiment is the same as any one of the first to third embodiments. However, the search result output by the search unit 103 is output in units of products identified by the product identification information.

  For example, in FIG. 5, F-001 acquired in step S505 in FIG. 5 is associated with CS-283AF2 in step S504 that caused the acquisition. This is realized by grouping by product identification information such as 283AF2. In order to perform grouping, for example, the name of a column storing product identification information may be specified in a group by section of an SQL statement that is a kind of query language of a relational database management system. It can also be implemented separately by a program that implements a search unit or search device.

  Further, in the process illustrated in FIG. 10, other function identification information of the product having the input function identification information and the purchase thereof from the data 1002 such as the product having the input function identification information and the purchase date and time of the product. When obtaining data 1003 such as date and time, product identification information for identifying products in data 1002 is included in data 1003 obtained from data 1002, and after sorting by the date and time of purchase of products, grouping is performed by product identification information. .

  FIG. 13 illustrates a state in which grouping or the like is performed based on the product identification information, and search results of the search device are displayed for each product. In FIG. 13, each row represents a product unit, and each of the rows 1301, 1302, and 1303 represents one product unit. For example, since there are “inverter” and “oxygen charger” in row 1301, the functions “inverter” and “oxygen charger” identified by other function identification information are included in one product (for example, one air conditioner). You can see that

  The term “product unit” is used, but this usually means one product, but a combination of multiple products that are usually sold individually may be another product. In that case, a combination of products is treated as one product. For this purpose, for example, information obtained by sorting a plurality of product identification information in alphabetical order and concatenating them may be used as the product identification information.

  In addition, when displaying a search result per product, product identification information etc. and a product name may be displayed or may not be displayed.

(Embodiment 4: Main effects)
According to the present embodiment, the search results are displayed in units of products, so that it is possible to know what products having other functions exist, so that the display can be performed in a form that is easy for consumers to understand. It can also be displayed in an easy-to-understand format when planning a product.

(Embodiment 5)
As an embodiment 5, an embodiment having means for inputting purchaser identification information for identifying a purchaser in association with function identification information will be described.

(Embodiment 5: Configuration)
FIG. 14 illustrates a functional block diagram of the search device according to the fifth embodiment. Similar to the search device according to the third embodiment, the search device 1400 includes a function identification information input unit 101, a storage unit 102, and a search unit 103. The search unit 103 includes a purchaser-dependent search unit 1201. Have. The present embodiment is characterized in that the function identification information input unit 101 includes purchaser identification information input means 1401. Moreover, the search part 103 may output a search result by the goods unit identified by goods identification information like Embodiment 4. FIG.

  “Purchaser identification information input means” 1401 is means for inputting purchaser identification information in association with the function identification information. For example, it is a card reader attached to the touch panel illustrated in FIG. Such a card reader has a name such as a credit card or a point card possessed by a person who wants to press the function button so that the function button can be pressed or to start processing in the search unit 103. May be used to read a card having information that can be identified. The read information is stored in the storage unit 102 or the like in association with function identification information for identifying the function represented by the pressed button. Further, an area for inputting purchaser identification information may be provided on the touch panel without providing a card reader or the like separately.

  FIG. 15 illustrates a state where, for example, the touch panel 201 is provided with an area for inputting a member number as purchaser identification information. A person who wants to perform a search in the search unit 103 inputs his / her member number, telephone number, e-mail address, etc. at the store in the area 1502.

  In some cases, the purchaser does not need to input purchaser identification information. For example, when you add a questionnaire postcard to a product, and let the product buyer answer a question such as “Which function did you pay attention to?” In this case, the person in charge of the manufacturer who receives the postcard inputs the name of the address as purchaser identification information together with the answer to the questionnaire.

(Embodiment 5: Main effects)
Since the search device according to the present embodiment allows the purchaser identification information to be input, for example, when installed in a store, it is possible to prevent the search device from being used in half. Further, since purchaser identification information and function identification information can be stored in association with each other, information to be stored and used in a search device or the like according to another embodiment can be collected.

  With the search device and the like according to the present invention, a consumer or the like can know what other functions a product having a function he / she is interested in has. In addition, since specific products are not recommended, the psychological resistance of consumers and so on does not appear so much, and it is possible to obtain marketing information, etc., and functions provided by products or services It is useful as a search device that performs a search based on the above and recommends goods or services.

Functional block diagram of a search device according to Embodiment 1 An example of a touch panel for inputting function identification information An example of a table showing the correspondence between buttons and function identification information An example of a table composed of columns for storing product identification information Diagram for explaining the operation of the search unit Example of a screen that displays search results Flowchart explaining the flow of processing in a search device etc. An example of a table for storing product identification information and purchase history of products Functional block diagram of a search device according to Embodiment 2 The figure for demonstrating the process of a purchase history dependence search means An example of a table for associating product identification information with purchaser identification information Functional block diagram of a search device according to Embodiment 3 An example of how search results are displayed on a product basis Functional block diagram of a search device according to Embodiment 5 An example of a touch panel with an area for entering a membership number An example of a table for storing product identification information and purchase history of products

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Search apparatus 101 Function identification information input part 102 Accumulation part 103 Search part

Claims (6)

A function identification information input unit for inputting function identification information for identifying a function that a specific product group may have,
A storage unit that stores function identification information and product identification information that identifies products included in the product group in association with each other;
Using the function identification information input in the function identification information input unit as a key, the storage unit is searched, and other functions possessed by the product identified by the product identification information stored in association with the corresponding function identification information are provided. A search unit that outputs other function identification information, which is function identification information to be identified, as a search result;
A search device having: The storage unit stores product identification information associated with purchase history information of products as product identification information to be stored,
The search device according to claim 1, wherein the search unit includes purchase history-dependent search means for sorting and outputting other function identification information as a search result based on purchase history information. The storage unit stores, as product identification information to be stored, purchaser identification information for identifying a purchaser of the product, and products associated with the function identification information that the purchaser has purchased or desired to purchase in the past or the future. Has identification information,
The search device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the search unit includes purchaser-dependent search means for sorting and outputting other function identification information as a search result based on purchaser identification information of a product.   The search device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the search result of the search unit is output in units of products identified by product identification information.   The function identification information input unit includes purchaser identification information input means for inputting purchaser identification information in association with the function identification information, or dependent on claim 3 of claim 4. The search device as described in the part to do. A search method using a search device,
A function identification information input step for inputting function identification information for identifying a function that a specific product group may have;
A storage step of storing the function identification information and product identification information for identifying the products included in the product group in association with each other;
Using the function identification information input in the function identification information input step as a key, the function identification information stored in the storage step is searched, and the product identification information stored in association with the corresponding function identification information is identified. A search step for outputting other function identification information, which is function identification information for identifying other functions included in the product, as a search result;
Search method including

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