JP2011133926A - Device, method and program for supporting commodity retrieval - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To support commodity retrieval performed by a user such that the user efficiently finds out a commodity in a shopping site on the Internet. <P>SOLUTION: This device for supporting the commodity retrieval makes a user terminal display a commodity retrieval page including an input column, obtains input word information transmitted from the user terminal, and specifies characters input to the input column. The device for supporting the commodity retrieval refers to a database storing retrieval support words used for the retrieval of each commodity ordered based on a predetermined evaluation reference associatively to an assumed word, obtains a retrieval support word from the assumed word fit for the specified characters, and makes it be displayed in a prescribed area in the commodity retrieval page. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for supporting a product search performed by a user at a shopping site on the Internet, and more particularly to a technology for providing a keyword useful for a product search in relation to a key input by the user.

  Recently, a user can purchase and pay for a product by operating a shopping site in which virtual stores that sell products on the Internet are gathered and using terminals such as PCs connected via the Internet. Such services are becoming popular.

  Recently, virtual stores that handle a variety of products have appeared, and the number of such stores has been increasing. Therefore, a variety of products have been handled on shopping sites, and users have to go to physical stores. Rather, many products can now be selected and purchased.

  While the number of virtual stores has increased and it has become possible to select a wide variety of products, the user can search for desired products from many virtual stores and consider the comparison with other products. It took some time and effort to arrive at the decision. Therefore, in the shopping site, a mechanism is established that can search for products handled in each virtual store across. For example, an index in which a keyword is associated with each product is created, and a keyword search for searching for a product desired by the user by collating with a keyword input by the user, or each product is classified stepwise in advance. A mechanism such as a category search in which a user designates a classification and narrows down products is provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-310393 A

  However, in the above-described conventional mechanism, the purchase target (for example, camera) is roughly determined, but specifically, it is not determined which product (for example, which manufacturer's product) should be purchased. When the product name to be clarified is not clear, it may be necessary to input a keyword or specify a category several times in order to find the target product, and there is still room for reducing time and labor. Thus, in the shopping sites as described above, a device for efficiently searching for a product is required.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for supporting a product search performed by a user so that the user can efficiently search for a product at a shopping site on the Internet.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following aspects.

(1) page data providing means for providing page data of a product search page including an input field for entering a product search word to a user terminal;
Input word acquisition means for acquiring characters input to the input field in the process of configuring the product search word from the user terminal;
Search support used to search for each product ranked based on a predetermined evaluation criterion in association with an assumed word used for matching with characters input to the input field in the process of configuring the product search word A database storing words,
A search support word acquisition unit that queries the database and acquires a search support word associated with a matching expected word based on the characters acquired by the input word acquisition unit;
Search support word providing means for transmitting the search support word acquired by the search support word acquisition means to the user terminal and displaying the search support word in a predetermined area on the product search page. .

  According to (1), in conjunction with the input of characters in the input field of the product search page, a search support word used for searching for each product ranked according to a predetermined evaluation criterion is provided to the user terminal. Support for efficient product search by the user can be performed. That is, for example, in a scene where the product name to be purchased by the user is not clear, the user uses a search support word recommended in accordance with a predetermined evaluation criterion to search for a target product. There is a case where it is not necessary to perform the operation repeatedly, and time and labor can be reduced.

  (2) Products extracted based on a predetermined extraction condition from a database storing information on a plurality of products are ranked based on a predetermined evaluation criterion, and a word used for each search for each product The product search support apparatus according to (1), further comprising search support word generation means for generating a search support word.

  According to (2), since the search support word is generated with reference to the database storing the information on the product, for example, the search support word can be dynamically generated according to the update of the database. It is suitable for supporting efficient product search of the user.

(3) transmitting page data of a product search page including an input field for inputting a product search word to the user terminal;
Acquiring from the user terminal characters that are input to the input field in the process of configuring the product search word;
Search support used to search for each product ranked based on a predetermined evaluation criterion in association with an assumed word used for matching with characters input to the input field in the process of configuring the product search word Querying a database storing words and obtaining a search assisting word associated with an expected word based on the obtained character;
A product search support method, wherein the computer executes the step of transmitting the acquired search support word to the user terminal and displaying the acquired search support word in a predetermined area on the product search page.

(4) computer
Page data providing means for providing page data of a product search page including an input field for entering a product search word to the user terminal;
Input word acquisition means for acquiring characters input to the input field in the process of configuring the product search word from the user terminal;
Search support used to search for each product ranked based on a predetermined evaluation criterion in association with an assumed word used for matching with characters input to the input field in the process of configuring the product search word A search support word acquisition means for querying a database storing words and acquiring a search support word associated with a matching expected word based on the characters acquired by the input word acquisition means;
A program that functions as search support word providing means for transmitting a search support word acquired by the search support word acquiring means to the user terminal and displaying it in a predetermined area on the product search page.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the shopping site on the internet, in order for a user to search for goods efficiently, the structure which supports the goods search which a user performs can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the whole system containing the goods search assistance apparatus 1 of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the goods search page displayed with the browser of the user terminal 5 of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of the search assistance word database of this embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process example of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the goods search page displayed with the browser of the user terminal 5 of this embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Configuration>
With reference to FIG. 1, a configuration of the entire system including a product search support device (hereinafter, this device) 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The device 1 is connected to a plurality of user terminals 5 (5a,..., 5x) via a network N. The apparatus 1 and the user terminal 5 are configured by a computer (single or plural) having hardware resources such as a control device such as a CPU, a storage device such as a memory and an HDD, and a communication device such as a communication I / F. The user terminal 5 is a PC (Personal Computer), a mobile phone terminal, or the like used by the user, and includes an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse and an output device such as a liquid crystal display in addition to the hardware resources.

(User terminal 5)
The user terminal 5 includes a general browser. The browser functions to request, obtain and display page data written in a language such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language), send form data, etc. in accordance with HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), which is a standard protocol of the Internet. have. The user uses the product search support function provided by the apparatus 1 through the browser of the user terminal 5.

(Product Search Support Device)
The device 1 monitors the characters input in the input field 102 until the product search word is confirmed in the user terminal 5, acquires a list of search support words related to the characters, and enters the input field 102. It has a function to show it linked. Product search is supported by allowing a user to use a search support word.

  The apparatus 1 includes a page data providing unit 11, an input word acquiring unit 12, a search support word acquiring unit 13, a search support word providing unit 14, a search executing unit 15, a search support word generating unit 16, and a search. A support word database (hereinafter referred to as a search support word DB) 17. The apparatus 1 is connected to a product information database (hereinafter referred to as product information DB) 21, an index database (hereinafter referred to as index DB) 22, and a statistical database 23 (hereinafter referred to as statistical DB) as various information sources. Yes.

  The page data providing unit 11 has a function of providing the user terminal 5 with page data of a web page to be displayed by the browser of the user terminal 5. For example, the user terminal 5 is provided with page data of a web page (hereinafter referred to as “product search page”) that serves as an entrance to a shopping site including a plurality of virtual stores and allows the user to search for products handled by each virtual store.

  Here, FIG. 2 shows a display example of the product search page. The product search page 101 includes an input field 102 for allowing a user to input a character for searching for a product, a search execution button 103 for determining the character input in the input field 102 as a product search word, and until the product search word is determined A search support word display area 104 (shown by a broken line in the figure) is provided in which a list of search support words is displayed in association with the characters input in the input field 102 in the above process.

  Further, the page data providing unit 11 incorporates a terminal program (for example, a script represented by JavaScript (registered trademark)) into the page data of the product search page 101 and transmits it to the user terminal 5. The terminal program receives a search support word and a function for transmitting, as input word information, a character (word) input to the input field 102 based on a user's operation input to the user terminal 5. Based on the function displayed on the display area 104 and the user's operation input on the display area 104, any one of the search support words is selected and the function of inputting to the input field 102 is realized.

  The input word acquisition unit 12 has a function of acquiring input word information transmitted from the user terminal 5 and specifying characters input to the input field in the process of forming the product search word. Here, the user terminal 5 communicates with the present apparatus 1 when a key is input, or communicates with the present apparatus 1 by monitoring characters input in the input field 102 at a constant cycle. For example, in the former case, a code for communicating with the apparatus 1 when a key is input is described. On the other hand, in the latter case, the character string input in the input field 102 is monitored, and when there is a change, a function that communicates with the apparatus 1 is defined and periodically executed. Any method can be adopted as a method for specifying the character input in the input field 102.

  The search support word acquisition unit 13 has a function of acquiring a corresponding search support word by referring to a search support word DB 17 described later based on the characters input in the input field 102 specified by the input word acquisition unit 12. For example, a character (Romaji, Kana, Kana, Kanji, etc.) specified by the input word acquisition unit 12 is inquired to the search support word DB 17 to search for a suitable expected word, and is associated with the retrieved expected word. Get search assist words.

  The search support word providing unit 14 has a function of providing the search support word acquired by the search support word acquiring unit 13 to the user terminal 5 that is monitoring input of characters. For example, the search support word is displayed in the search support word display area 104 provided adjacent to the input field 102 of the product search page 101. The search support word displayed in the search support word display area 104 is displayed so as to be selectable according to the user's mouse operation or the like.

  The search execution means 15 refers to an index DB 22 and a product information DB 21 to be described later using the characters input in the input field 102 when the search execution button 103 is input according to the user's mouse operation or the like as the product search word. And a function for executing a product search.

  The search support word generation unit 16 has a function of generating a search support word by referring to a product information DB 21, an index DB 22, and a statistics DB 23, which will be described later, in association with a predetermined assumed word designating a product classification, a manufacturer name, and the like. The search support word DB 17 stores a list of search support words generated by the search support word generation unit 16 for each assumed word.

  Here, the merchandise information DB 21 stores information (hereinafter, merchandise information) related to merchandise sold at each virtual store collected by a crawler or the like from a plurality of virtual stores present on the shopping site. For example, the product information DB 21 includes a “product name” indicating the name of the product, a “product model number” for uniquely identifying the product, a “product class” indicating the genre and category in which the product is classified on the shopping mall, "Manufacturer name" indicating the manufacturer of the product, "Brand name" indicating the brand of the product, "Product price" indicating the sale price of the product, "Release date" indicating when the product was released, Text describing the product, Product “Sales results” indicating the sales results such as the number of items sold, “Evaluation comments” indicating the total number of evaluation comments posted by the user, and the like are stored as product information.

  The index DB 22 stores index information used by the search execution unit 15 to search for products. For example, the index DB 22 is associated with the product model number included in the product information, and includes words included in the product information, that is, product names, product classifications, manufacturer names, brand names, virtual store names where the products are sold, etc. Information used when searching for products is stored.

  The statistics DB 23 stores the result of statistical processing of the product information stored in the product information DB 21 for each predetermined extraction condition and evaluation criterion. For example, the words used for the product extraction conditions such as “product classification”, “maker name”, and “brand name” are assumed words, and product information is extracted for each assumed word. Then, the extracted product information is collected in units of product model numbers, and further sorted according to predetermined evaluation criteria such as sales price and sales performance, and a list of sorting results is stored in the statistics DB 23. For example, assuming that the assumed word is “camera” indicating one of the product categories, product information in which this “camera” is set is extracted, grouped by product model number, and sorted according to a predetermined evaluation criterion. The obtained list is stored in the statistics DB 23.

  Here, as the assumed word, a word relating to an attribute set in advance on the product information DB 21 such as a product classification or a manufacturer name can be used, and each user terminal can be used when searching for past products. It is also possible to extract and use frequently used words from a query database (not shown) in which a search word log collected from 5 is stored (including a set of a plurality of words accepted during AND search) be able to).

  If, for example, “price ranking” is adopted as the evaluation criterion, a list in which products are arranged in order from the lowest price is created. When “sales record” is adopted, a list in which products are arranged in descending order of sales record (selling well / popular) is created. Furthermore, when “the number of evaluation comments” is adopted, a list in which products are arranged in order from the one with the largest number of evaluation comments posted by the user (the topical one / the one that attracts attention) is created. Furthermore, when “release time” is adopted, a list in which products are arranged in order from the latest release time (new product) is created.

  The search support word generation unit 16 refers to the statistics DB 23 and is higher in the list sorted for each assumed word and evaluation criterion as described above (for example, a predetermined range such as 1st to 10th). A product is extracted, a product model number or a product name stored in association with each product is acquired from the index DB 22, and is generated as a search support word. Then, the search support word generation means 16 lists the generated search support words in association with the assumed words and stores them in the search support word DB 17.

(Data structure of search support word DB)
FIG. 3 shows a data configuration example of the search support word DB 17. When the search support word DB 17 generates the search support word, the search support word generation unit 16 generates the search support word generated by the search support word generation unit 16 according to the assumed word. It is associated and remembered. The search support word is data indicating some ranking that reflects the evaluation criteria described above for the product extracted with respect to the assumed word. Further, the “assumed word” is used for collation with characters input in the input field 102 by the user.

  In the illustrated example, a search support word generated when the “assumed word” is “camera” and the “evaluation criterion” is “sales record” is shown. That is, for “camera”, the product names of the top 10 most popular products among the products handled by each manufacturer are stored as a search support word list.

<Operation>
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing example of this embodiment.

(Search support word presentation process)
With reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, a processing example when the apparatus 1 provides a search support word will be described.

  First, the user terminal 5 transmits a page request to the present apparatus 1 via the network N (step S11). The page request is performed by transmitting a message including a GET method according to HTTP, which is a standard protocol of the Internet, a request URI (Uniform Resource Indicator), and the like from the browser of the user terminal 5 to the page data providing unit 11 of the apparatus 1. Is called.

  When receiving the page request, the page data providing means 11 of the apparatus 1 transmits the page data of the product search page to the user terminal 5 (step S12). The user terminal 5 displays a product search page (see FIG. 2) on the basis of the received page data, and accepts input of characters in the input field 102 by the user (step S13).

  When a character is input to the input field 102, the user terminal 5 transmits the input character as input word information to the input word acquisition unit 12 of the apparatus 1 by the browser (step S14). For example, if the key “k” is input by the user, the character code is transmitted. Alternatively, if a character string of “camera” is input in the input field 102, those character codes are transmitted. The input word information is transmitted step by step until the search execution button 103 is input (confirmed as a product search word).

  The input word acquisition unit 12 of the apparatus 1 receives the input word information transmitted from the user terminal 5 and specifies the character input by the user (step S15). For example, the character code transmitted from the browser one by one is acquired, and the characters such as “k” and “camera” are specified.

  Subsequently, the input word acquisition unit 12 transmits a search support word acquisition request including the character specified in step S15 to the search support word acquisition unit 13 (step S16). The search support word acquisition means 13 inquires of the received character in the search support word DB 17 (see FIG. 3), and acquires the corresponding search support word (step S17). That is, the search support word acquisition unit 13 searches for an expected word (for example, a camera) that matches the received character (for example, camera), and acquires a list of search support words associated with the searched expected word.

  Next, the search support word acquiring unit 13 transmits the acquired search support word to the search support word providing unit 14 (step S18). Receiving this, the search support word providing means 14 transmits the search support word to the browser of the user terminal 5 (step S19). The user terminal 5 displays the received search support word on the search support word display area 104 of the product search page 101 using a browser (step S20).

  Here, FIG. 5 shows a display example of the product search page on which the search support word is displayed by the browser of the user side terminal 5. In the search support word display area 104, a list of search support words generated as some ranking according to a predetermined evaluation criterion is displayed. In the illustrated example, the ranking of the product names when the sales record is adopted as the evaluation standard for the character “camera” input in the input field 102 is displayed as a search support word along the vertical direction in order from the top. ing.

  After the search support word is presented, when the cursor is moved to the search support word display area 104 by the user's mouse operation, the search support word displayed in the list can be selected (indicated by a broken line in the figure). . The user terminal 5 receives selection of the search support word (step S21).

  Returning to FIG. 4, when the user terminal 5 receives an input for selecting one of the search support words from the list of search support words by the user's mouse operation, the selected search support word is input to the input field 102. It inputs instead of the inputted character (step S22).

  Subsequently, when the search execution button 103 is input by the user, the user terminal 5 determines the search support word input in the input field 102 as a product search word, and the browser executes the search execution unit 15 of the apparatus 1 with respect to the user terminal 5. (Step S23).

  The search execution means 15 of the apparatus 1 searches the index DB 22 and the product information DB 21 based on the received search support word, and acquires corresponding product information (step S24). And the search execution means 15 produces | generates the page data of the product search result page which displays the product information acquired as a search result as a list, and returns with respect to the user terminal 5 (step S25). The user terminal 5 displays the product search result page by the browser based on the received page data (step S26).

  As described above, according to the present apparatus 1, the device 1 includes words that specify products ranked according to a predetermined evaluation criterion in conjunction with the input of characters by the user in the input field 102 of the product search page 101. Since the search support word is provided to the user terminal 5, it is possible to support the user for efficient product search. That is, for example, in a scene where the name of a product to be purchased by the user is not clear, the user uses a search support word recommended according to a predetermined evaluation criterion to search for a target product. There is a case where it is not necessary to input / execute a plurality of times, and time and labor can be reduced.

  For example, as in the example described above, if you need a camera but have not yet decided which product of which manufacturer to buy, if you enter the word “camera” in the input field 102, A search support word used for searching for a product for sale is displayed in a ranking format. By using the search support word, the user can efficiently search for a product determined as a purchase target. In other words, in conjunction with the act of inputting characters in the input field 102, a search support word that is valuable to the user is recommended at the stage before the search is executed, so multiple searches are performed. It is possible to reduce time and labor such as inputting a keyword after the user refers to another ranking page or the like.

  Further, according to the present apparatus 1, since the search support word is generated using the product information DB 21 and the statistics DB 23, for example, the search support word is changed in accordance with the update of the database such as daily sales performance fluctuation. It can be dynamically generated, and is suitable for supporting efficient product search by the user.

  The present invention has been described above by the preferred embodiments of the present invention. While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, various modifications and changes may be made to the embodiments without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Obviously you can. In other words, the present invention should not be construed as being limited by the details of the specific examples and the accompanying drawings.

  In the present embodiment, in step S17 described above, the search support word acquisition unit 13 refers to the search support word DB 17 (see FIG. 3) and assumes an expected word that matches a character (for example, a camera) input in the input field 102. A list of search support words associated with (for example, a camera) is acquired, but not only when the characters entered in the input field 102 and the expected words all match, but also partially match. Even in this case, a list of search support words associated with the corresponding assumed word can be acquired. For example, when the character input in the input field 102 is “Kame”, the dictionary database (for example, the kana characters corresponding to the character string in Roman letters, and the correspondence between the kanji and kana character strings corresponding to the kana character string is accumulated. ) To obtain a list of all search support words associated with an assumed word (for example, camera, turtle) including “Kame” and transmit it to the user terminal 5. . In this case, for example, on the product search page, it is possible to adopt a display mode in which each of the lists associated with each hit expected word is displayed in a superimposed manner.

  In this embodiment, as a preferred example, the search support word is displayed in a list in a ranking format in an area adjacent to the lower side of the input field 102 of the product search page 101. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an arbitrary display mode such as an area adjacent to the upper side or the left side can be adopted.

  In this embodiment, a list generated according to one evaluation criterion is displayed as a search support word. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a list generated according to a plurality of evaluation criteria is displayed. Then, it may be provided so that the user can select which evaluation standard is adopted. For example, a list of search support words according to sales results (in order of best selling), a list of search support words according to sales price (in order of cheapness), and a list of search support words according to sales time (in order of new) It is to display. In this case, for example, a display mode in which each of the plurality of lists is displayed in a superimposed manner can be employed.

  Further, which of the plurality of evaluation criteria is to be emphasized by the user may be set in advance. For example, check boxes indicating a plurality of evaluation criteria are displayed, and the user is allowed to specify any one. Then, the search support word DB 17 is referred to, and a search support list generated according to the evaluation criteria set by the user is acquired.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Product search support apparatus 5 User terminal 11 Page data provision means 12 Input word acquisition means 13 Search support word acquisition means 14 Search support word provision means 15 Search execution means 16 Search support word generation means 17 Search support word database 21 Product information database 22 Index database 23 Statistical database 101 Product search page 102 Input field 103 Search execution button 104 Search support word display area

Claims (4)

Page data providing means for providing the user terminal with page data of a product search page including an input field;
Input word acquisition means for acquiring characters input to the input field from the user terminal;
A database that stores search support words used for searching for each product that is ranked based on a predetermined evaluation criterion in association with an assumed word that is used for matching with characters input to the input field;
Search support word acquisition means for querying the database and acquiring a search support word associated with an assumed word based on the characters acquired by the input word acquisition means;
Search support word providing means for transmitting the search support word acquired by the search support word acquisition means to the user terminal and displaying the search support word in a predetermined area on the product search page. .   A search support word is used to rank the products extracted based on a predetermined extraction condition from a database storing information related to a plurality of products based on a predetermined evaluation criterion, and to use each search for each product. The product search support apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising search support word generation means for generating Transmitting the page data of the product search page including the input field to the user terminal;
Acquiring characters to be input to the input field from the user terminal;
Refers to a database that stores search support words used for searching for each product ranked based on a predetermined evaluation criterion in association with an assumed word used for matching with characters input to the input field. And obtaining a search support word associated with an assumed word based on the obtained character;
A product search support method, wherein the computer executes the step of transmitting the acquired search support word to the user terminal and displaying the acquired search support word in a predetermined area on the product search page. Computer
Page data providing means for providing the user terminal with page data of a product search page including an input field;
Input word acquisition means for acquiring characters input to the input field from the user terminal;
Refers to a database that stores search support words used for searching for each product ranked based on a predetermined evaluation criterion in association with an assumed word used for matching with characters input to the input field. And a search support word acquisition means for acquiring a search support word associated with an assumed word based on the characters acquired by the input word acquisition means,
A program that functions as search support word providing means for transmitting a search support word acquired by the search support word acquiring means to the user terminal and displaying it in a predetermined area on the product search page.

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