JP2012118917A - Product guidance system and method, program of computer, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make product related information open with limitations to product guidance services corresponding to a new owner of a product and the new owner by recognizing the new owner even when the owner of the product changes.SOLUTION: A product guidance system includes an information processing device 10 which is accessible from an external terminal 20 and databases 11-14 which are connected to the information processing device 10 and in which product related information associated with products is registered, and the information processing device 10 outputs the product related information from the databases 11-14 to the external terminal 20 in accordance with access from the external terminal 20. Product ID unique to the individual products are imparted to the products, and linked to the product related information in the databases 11-14. The information processing device 10 includes authentication means 101 of allowing access from the external terminal 20 to the information processing device 10 according to the product ID as an authentication key, and information output means 102 of outputting the product related information associated with the product ID from the databases 11-14 to the external terminal 20 when the access is allowed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a product guidance system in a production business that is deployed in a wide area, and more particularly to a wide area online ordering system for cataloging and ordering spare parts managed by region via a computer network. The present invention relates to a product guide system and method, a computer program, and a recording medium that are preferably used.

For example, a manufacturer of a production machine or the like may supply machine products throughout the country or globally. In this case, an online ordering system related to sales of spare parts is often configured and serviced so that the supply of spare parts (for example, parts and dedicated materials) related to machine products can be easily handled. Yes.
In general, the online ordering system related to sales of spare parts or the product management system for managing spare parts, etc., is generally managed by centrally managing the information of multiple databases that register inventory, prices, catalogs, etc., with the part ID as the main key. Yes. These databases are often located in different departments (eg, sales, design, procurement, field service) that manage information.

  For example, Patent Document 1 describes a system configuration in which a sales department terminal, a design department terminal, a manufacturing department terminal, a procurement department terminal, and a production system simulator are linked. In this system, information related to a product for which an order has been received is acquired by an order information receiving unit, and information related to components constituting the product for which an order has been received is acquired by a component information acquisition unit. The procurement method classification unit acquires the procurement method of the parts that make up the product, and sorts the reference destination into the manufacturing part information generation unit, the purchased part information generation unit, and the subcontracted part information generation unit according to the procurement method. Yes. At this time, the database is linked and used with the component ID as the primary key.

Japanese Patent No. 4241816

By the way, although the above-mentioned patent document 1 does not pay attention, there is a used machine market for so-called medium mass products among production machines and the like, and resale of products is frequently performed. In recent years, the owner of a product may be relocated due to factory consolidation or company acquisition.
However, when the owner of the product is transferred in this way, the manufacturer information of the machine product is not normally transmitted to the manufacturer of the machine product, so the customer information remains as it was before the transfer. There is a problem that information does not match.

For this reason, even if the manufacturer that sells the product prepares a service based on customer information that is implemented when accessing the sales department management database such as the above online ordering system, it relates to the new owner of the product. If the manufacturer does not have the information, the appropriate service cannot be provided for the new owner's access to the system.
On the other hand, since the above-mentioned system includes trade secret information such as product component configuration and price, there is a demand for limiting the disclosure range only to customers who have purchased (including resale) the product. When a product is purchased directly from a manufacturer, such as when making a new purchase, it is possible to recognize the customer who purchased the product, so that it can be disclosed only to customers. There is also a problem of how to recognize a person and to disclose information accurately.

  The present invention was devised in view of such problems, and even when the owner of a product is transferred, a product guidance service according to the owner who recognizes the new owner and a product limited to the owner. It is an object of the present invention to provide a product guidance system and method, a computer program, and a recording medium that can accurately disclose related information.

  In order to achieve the above object, a product guidance system of the present invention includes an information processing apparatus accessible from an external terminal, and a database connected to the information processing apparatus and registered with product related information related to the product. In addition, the information processing apparatus outputs a product related information from the database to the external terminal in response to access from the external terminal, and the product has a product ID unique to each product. And the product ID is associated with the product-related information in the database, and the information processing apparatus uses the product ID as an authentication key to permit access from the external terminal to the information processing apparatus. An authentication means for performing authentication, and when access is permitted by the authentication means, the product related information related to the product ID is It is characterized in that an information output means for outputting to the external terminal from database.

  The authentication means permits access from the external terminal to the information processing apparatus by using the product ID together with a password uniquely assigned to the customer or the product as an authentication key, and the password is embedded in the product. It is preferable that a specific signal (one-time password) from the access signal generator (one-time password generator) is included.

  The database includes a customer database in which customer information related to the product and the product ID of the product owned by the customer are linked and registered, and the information processing apparatus uses the product ID as an authentication key. When accessing the information processing apparatus, the customer who has accessed the user confirms the customer information including the name and location of the customer, and changes the customer information when there is a change in the customer information. It is preferable to include customer information confirmation means for performing customer information correction means for automatically correcting the customer information when the customer information is changed from the customer.

In the customer database, the region ID of the region where the customer is located and the language information of the region are added, and the information processing apparatus converts the product related information extracted from the database into the language of the region. Output to the external terminal.
The product guidance method of the present invention comprises: an information processing apparatus accessible from an external terminal; and a database connected to the information processing apparatus and registered with product-related information related to the product. A product guidance method for outputting the product related information from the database to the external terminal in response to access from a terminal, wherein a product ID unique to each product is assigned to the product, and the product in the database The related information is associated with the product ID, and when the information processing apparatus receives the product ID at the time of access from the external terminal, the access from the external terminal to the information processing apparatus is performed using the product ID as an authentication key. An authentication step to permit, and the product related information related to the product ID when access is permitted by the authentication step It is characterized in that an information output step of outputting from said database to said external terminal.

The product guide program of the present invention is characterized in that the product guide method described above is programmed so as to be controllable by a computer.
The recording medium of the present invention is characterized in that the product guide program is recorded in a computer-readable format.

  According to the present invention, a unique product ID is assigned to each product, and the product ID is associated with the product related information in the database. The product ID is an authentication key from the external terminal to the information processing apparatus. For example, even if the owner of a product changes due to resale or the like, the new owner can access the information processing apparatus. When the information processing apparatus can be accessed, the product related information related to the product ID is output from the database to the external terminal, so that the new owner can obtain the product related information.

  In addition, security for providing information is ensured by using, as an authentication key, a password uniquely assigned to a customer or a product together with a product ID for authentication of access. If the owner of the product changes due to resale, etc., use the specific password (one-time password) from the access signal generator (one-time password generator) built in the product instead of the above password. Product-related information can be provided to the new owner while ensuring the quality of certification.

  In addition, a customer database in which customer information related to a product and a product ID of a product owned by the customer are linked and registered is provided, and the customer who accesses the information processing apparatus uses the product ID as an authentication key. When there is a process for changing customer information, the customer information is automatically corrected, and even a new owner can receive a specific service based on the corrected customer information.

  If the language information of the customer's location is added to the customer database, and the information processing apparatus converts the product related information extracted from the database into the language of the region and outputs it to the external terminal, the language of the region for the user You can get the information you need.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the product guidance system concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the databases concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram explaining the process of the product guidance system concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the process of the product guidance system concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the guidance by the product guidance system concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the guidance by the product guidance system concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the database concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram explaining the process of the product guidance system concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the process of the product guidance system concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the guidance by the product guidance system concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the guidance by the product guidance system concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the database concerning 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram explaining the process of the product guidance system concerning 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the process of the product guidance system concerning 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the guidance by the product guidance system concerning 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the guidance by the product guidance system concerning 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In each of the following embodiments, the present invention is applied to an online ordering system related to sales of spare parts (for example, parts and dedicated materials) such as machine products in a production business that is widely deployed throughout the country or around the world. A product guidance system will be described.

[First Embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the product guidance system is connected to an information processing apparatus (also referred to as a server) 10 that can be accessed from a client terminal (also referred to as an external terminal, a user terminal, or a PC terminal) 20, and the information processing apparatus 10. Database 11-11.

  As the databases 11 to 14, an integrated inventory database (hereinafter also simply referred to as an inventory database) 11, an integrated price database (hereinafter also simply referred to as a price database) 12, a catalog database 13 and a customer database 14 are prepared. Has been. These databases 11 to 14 are independent databases, and the information processing apparatus 10 processes the inventory database 11, the price database 12, the catalog database 13, and the customer database 14 in an integrated manner. The client can refer to necessary information from the database by accessing the server (information processing apparatus) 10 in which the system is installed from the PC terminal 20.

  Among the databases 11 to 14, the stock database 11 and the price database 12 having regional characteristics may exist in a distributed manner for each region, or each region and the location where the information processing apparatus 10 is located. In this case, the integrated inventory database 11 and the integrated price database 12 in which data for each region are integrated are connected to the information processing apparatus 10 and installed. In addition, the region may be a country unit or each region in the country.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the inventory database 11 is also referred to as a member ID (hereinafter referred to as “component ID”) of a member related to the product (for example, a supplement such as a component or a dedicated material, hereinafter also simply referred to as “component”). ), Inventory information and delivery date information are registered as, for example, a table (inventory table) in association with the region ID and part name where each member is used and prepared as inventory. Although only data items are shown in FIG. 2, for a large number of members, the part ID of each part, the number of each stock and the delivery date, the part name, and the region ID are registered.

  In the price database 12, as shown in FIG. 2, the part ID and price information of a part related to the product are registered as, for example, a table (price table) in association with the region ID and part name where each member is sold. It has been done. Although only data items are shown in FIG. 2, the component ID, the price, the region ID, and the component name of each component are registered for many members.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the catalog database 13 includes parts IDs of parts related to the product and catalog information (information for acquiring a catalog, here, product ID) handled by each member or a product related to each member. For example, it is registered as a table (catalog table) in association with the region ID and the product name. Although only data items are shown in FIG. 2, for a large number of members, the component ID of each member (component), the respective catalog information, the region ID, and the component name are registered.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the customer database 14 includes, for example, a table (customer information table) in which the user name (customer name) of the product and the product ID uniquely assigned to the product are associated with the region ID to which the user belongs. ). Although only data items are shown in FIG. 2, user names, product IDs, and area IDs are registered for a large number of users.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 10 includes an authentication unit (authentication unit) 101 that performs authentication for permitting access to the information processing apparatus 10, and access is permitted by the authentication unit 101. An information output unit (information output unit) 102 that outputs product related information related to the product from the catalog database 13 to the client terminal (external terminal) 20 is provided.
The authentication unit 101 is provided as a functional element in an information input processing function (user information input unit) 10a described later. In this authentication unit 101, a product ID and a password uniquely assigned to a product (or a customer) are provided. Access from the client terminal 20 to the information processing apparatus 10 is permitted as an authentication key. Further, the authentication unit 101 recognizes a specific password from an access signal generator (not shown) built in the product as an authentication key, instead of a password unique to the product.

  The access signal generator is, for example, a one-time password generator, and is built in a location that cannot be accessed unless the operation of a machine control device or a machine (for example, a machine) can be grasped. This prevents specific passwords from being generated easily and allows access from owners who do not recognize product-specific passwords (eg, new owners whose products have been resold) while ensuring security. Yes.

Further, the information processing apparatus 10 receives the user's access from the external terminal 20, that is, when logging on with the product ID and the password, the databases 11 to 14 with the region ID as a key in response to each information provision request from the user. Search for and provide information.
Although not shown in detail, the information processing apparatus 10 is connected to a data input unit (for example, a keyboard or a mouse), a data processing unit (CPU, memory, etc.) to which the data input unit is connected, and a data processing unit. And a computer having a data storage unit (large-capacity memory) and a processing result display unit (display unit, monitor display) connected to the data processing unit. Various processing functions including the above-described authentication unit 101, information output unit 102, and each processing function described later are given to the data processing unit by, for example, software (computer program).

Since the product guidance system according to the present embodiment is configured as described above, for example, product guidance processing is performed as shown in FIGS.
For example, when the user logs on with the product ID and the password, the input information is sent to the user information input unit 10a of the information processing apparatus 10. If the input information is legitimate information, the authentication unit 101 authenticates the access. . When the user logs on, a window as shown in FIG. 5A is displayed on the user side terminal 20, and the user inputs the product ID and password.

In the case of an owner who does not recognize the password unique to the product, such as a new owner who has resold the product, operate the access signal generator to generate a specific password, and log on using the product ID and this specific password. And can be accessed.
When the access is authenticated, the user information input unit 10a sends the customer information for the customer to confirm the customer information to the client terminal, and displays the customer information confirmation screen on the screen of the client terminal as shown in FIG. (The above is step a2 in FIGS. 3 and 4).

  The user confirms customer information on the screen of the client terminal. In the case of a direct sales user, the confirmation button may be pushed to proceed to the next step. However, in the case of a user who has been resold, user information (customer information) is corrected and transmitted. Further, even in the case of a user who continues to possess, if there is an information change, the user information is corrected and transmitted. Thus, when the customer information is corrected, a set of customer information, product ID and customer information is sent to the customer database, and the information processing apparatus 10 automatically changes (updates) the customer database based on the received information. (Step a4 in FIGS. 3 and 4).

For example, FIG. 5C shows an example of a customer information confirmation screen. When the user changes and the user name is changed, the user name information is changed in the customer database 14 as illustrated in FIG. 5C. Here, an example in which the user name of the product A1 and the product name of the machine A is changed from Hoheto Co., Ltd. to Iroha Co., Ltd. is shown.
In this change, in the user information, the owner's name (company name) and a part or the front of the address (address) are entered. If the company name is recognized to some extent, it is displayed on the menu screen in advance. By making it possible to select, it is possible to achieve convenience. In the case of the company name recognized to some extent, it is possible to improve convenience by linking the address so that it can be automatically changed. In addition to the company name, an address, contact information, etc. can be added to the customer information.

After updating the customer database 14, the product ID is sent to the catalog database 13 (step a6 in FIGS. 3 and 4). FIG. 5D shows an example of data stored in the catalog database 13. Each product ID, a user name, a part name corresponding to the product ID, and a part ID are associated with each other.
Next, the information processing apparatus 10 outputs a list of component IDs corresponding to the input product ID to the component search function (component search unit) 10c (step a8 in FIGS. 3 and 4).

Then, a window as shown in FIG. 6A is displayed to the user. The part search unit 10c selects a part that the user wants to order, and transmits the selected part ID to the price table in the price database 12 and the inventory table in the inventory database 11 (step a10 in FIGS. 3 and 4).
The information processing apparatus 10 refers to the price database 12 and the inventory database 11 from the selected component ID, and displays the price, currency unit, inventory quantity, and delivery date information as necessary. 10d (step a12 in FIGS. 3 and 4).

Finally, the information processing apparatus 10 designates purchase conditions in addition to information such as part ID, price, currency unit, inventory quantity, and delivery date as required, and an order form issuing function (order form issuing unit) 10e. To create a part order (step a14 in FIGS. 3 and 4).
Then, a window as shown in FIG. 6B is displayed to the user to confirm the order. After confirmation, the user performs purchase or cancellation processing.

  According to this apparatus and method, a product ID unique to each product is assigned to each product, and the product ID is associated with each database 11 to 14, and the product is sent from the client terminal 20 to the information processing apparatus 10. The ID and the password unique to the product (or user) can be accessed as an authentication key. In addition to the password unique to the product, a specific password from the access signal generation device built in the product can also be used as the authentication key. Therefore, even if the owner of the product changes due to resale or the like, for example, the new owner can access the information processing apparatus 10.

When the information processing apparatus 10 can be accessed in this way, the product related information related to the product ID is output from the databases 11 to 14 to the client terminal 20, so that the new owner can also obtain the product related information.
In addition, when authenticating access, the security for providing information is ensured by using the product ID as well as the password given to the customer or product or the specific password from the access signal generator built in the product as the authentication key. The

  Further, since the customer information related to the product and the product ID of the product owned by the customer are linked and registered, the information in the customer database 14 is automatically corrected from the change processing by the accessed customer, so resale, factory consolidation, Even when the owner of a product moves for reasons such as acquisition of a company, a new customer can refer to information related to the owned product by searching using the product ID as a key.

  The sales representative and system administrator can easily update the customer database using the product ID as a key by providing a step for confirming customer information after system login.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
7 and 8, the above-mentioned reference numerals indicate the same parts, and a part of the description is omitted.
As in the first embodiment, the product guidance system includes an information processing apparatus 10 accessible from the client terminal 20 and databases 11 to 14 connected to the information processing apparatus 10 (see FIG. 1). . Hereinafter, differences from the first embodiment will be described.
In this product guidance system, in addition to product-specific product IDs in the customer information database 14, a region ID to which the customer belongs is linked, and the product user region is displayed even if the region to which the product user belongs is changed for reasons such as resale. The contents are automatically switched to those corresponding to the area ID to which the user belongs.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the customer database 14 is associated with the user name, product ID, and area ID sold directly by the manufacturer. For the catalog database 13, for each set of product ID and region ID, a product name and a component configuration corresponding to the product specification are registered in advance. In the inventory database 11, a part name, the number of inventory, and a delivery date are registered for each set of a part ID and a region ID. In the price database 12, a part name, a price, and a passing unit are registered for each set of a part ID and a region ID.
Except for these configurations, the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment.

Since the product guidance system according to the present embodiment is configured as described above, for example, product guidance processing is performed as shown in FIGS.
For example, when the user logs on with the product ID and the password, the input information is sent to the user information input unit 10a of the information processing apparatus 10. If the input information is legitimate information, the authentication unit 101 authenticates the access. . When the user logs on, a window as shown in FIG. 10A is displayed on the user side terminal 20, and the user inputs the product ID and password.

In the case of an owner who does not recognize the password unique to the product, such as a new owner who has resold the product, operate the access signal generator to generate a specific password, and log on using the product ID and this specific password. And the point which can be accessed is the same as that of 1st Embodiment.
When the access is authenticated, the user information input unit 10a sends the customer information for the user to confirm the customer information to the client terminal, and displays the customer information confirmation screen on the screen of the client terminal as shown in FIG. 10B. (Thus, step b2 of FIG. 8, FIG. 9).

The user confirms customer information on the screen of the client terminal. The customer information is added with the region information where the customer is located, and if the region information is input, the corresponding region ID is given to the customer information.
In the confirmation of the customer information, in the case of a direct sales user, the confirmation button may be pushed to proceed to the next step. However, in the case of a user who has been resold, the user information (customer information) is corrected and transmitted. Further, even in the case of a user who continues to possess, if there is an information change, the user information is corrected and transmitted. Thus, when the customer information is corrected, a set of customer information, product ID and customer information is sent to the customer database, and the information processing apparatus 10 automatically changes (updates) the customer database based on the received information. (Step b4 in FIGS. 8 and 9).

For example, FIG. 10C shows an example of a customer information confirmation screen. When the user changes and the user name is changed, the user name information is changed in the customer database 14 as illustrated in FIG. 10C. Here, an example in which the user name of the product A1 and the product name of the machine A is changed from Hoheto to ABlnc across regions.
In this change, in the user information, the owner's name (company name) and a part or front part of the address (address) are entered. In this case, too, if the company name is recognized to some extent, Convenience can be achieved by enabling selection by displaying on the screen. In the case of the company name recognized to some extent, it is possible to improve convenience by linking the address so that it can be automatically changed. In addition to the company name, an address, contact information, etc. can be added to the customer information. Further, in the case of resale exceeding the exemplified area, the new user selects the area (area ID) to which the new user belongs from the menu screen in advance. Convenience can be achieved by linking the company name or address and the area name in advance and automatically changing the area name if the company name or address is changed.

  After updating the customer database 14, the product ID is sent to the catalog database 13 (step b6 in FIGS. 8 and 9). FIG. 10 (d) shows an example of data in the catalog database 13. Each product ID, user name, part name corresponding to the product ID, part ID, and area ID are linked. Has been. It becomes possible to provide information corresponding to the area of the new user. The information corresponding to the area in this case means not only the specific information content corresponding to the area but also providing information in the language of the area.

Next, the information processing apparatus 10 outputs a list of component IDs corresponding to the input product ID to the component search function (component search unit) 10c (step b8 in FIGS. 8 and 9).
Then, a window as shown in FIG. 11A is displayed to the user. The part search unit 10c selects a part that the user wants to order, and transmits the selected part ID to the price table of the price database 12 and the inventory table of the inventory database 11 (step b10 in FIGS. 8 and 9).

The information processing apparatus 10 refers to the price database 12 and the inventory database 11 from the selected component ID, and displays the price, currency unit, inventory quantity, and delivery date information as necessary. ) 10d (step b12 in FIGS. 8 and 9).
Finally, the information processing apparatus 10 designates purchase conditions in addition to information such as part ID, price, currency unit, inventory quantity, and delivery date as required, and an order form issuing function (order form issuing unit) 10e. To create a part order (step b14 in FIGS. 8 and 9).

Then, a window as shown in FIG. 11B is displayed to the user to confirm the order. After confirmation, the user performs purchase or cancellation processing.
According to the present apparatus and method, in addition to the same effects as those of the first embodiment, even if the owner of the product is transferred beyond the region due to resale, factory consolidation, company acquisition, etc., the new user's By registering a new area ID at the first login, information corresponding to the area of the new user can be referred to from the next login. In this case, it is possible to provide not only the specific information content corresponding to the region but also the information in the language of the region.

  Also in this case, the sales representative and the system manager can easily update the customer database 14 using the product ID and the region ID as keys by providing a step for confirming customer information after system login.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In FIGS. 12 and 13, the above-described reference numerals indicate the same parts, and a part of the description is omitted.
As in the second embodiment, the product guidance system includes an information processing apparatus 10 that can be accessed from a client terminal (also referred to as an external terminal or a user terminal) 20, and databases 11 to 14 connected to the information processing apparatus 10. (See FIG. 1). Hereinafter, differences from the second embodiment will be described.

In the product guidance system according to the second embodiment, when the user logs in to the system and the user ID given by the manufacturer is input, the customer information confirmation unit is skipped and the product ID is entered in the catalog search unit. A function that allows selection is added.
That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the customer database 14 'is associated with the user ID, product ID, and area ID of the user directly sold by the manufacturer. In this configuration, the user name directly sold by the manufacturer in the second embodiment is replaced with the user ID. For the catalog database 13, for each set of product ID and region ID, the product name and part configuration corresponding to the product specification are registered in the database in advance. In the inventory database 11, a part name, the number of inventory, and a delivery date are registered for each set of a part ID and a region ID. In the price database 12, a part name, a price, and a passing unit are registered for each set of a part ID and a region ID.
Except for these configurations, the second embodiment is the same as the second embodiment.

Since the product guidance system according to the present embodiment is configured as described above, for example, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, product guidance processing is performed.
For example, when the user logs on with the user ID or product ID and the password, the input information is sent to the user information input unit 10a of the information processing apparatus 10, and the authentication unit 101 accesses if the input information is legitimate information. Authenticate. When the user logs on, a window as shown in FIG. 15A is displayed on the user side terminal 20, and the user inputs the product ID and password.

In the case of an owner who does not recognize the password unique to the product, such as a new owner who has resold the product, operate the access signal generator to generate a specific password, and log on using the product ID and this specific password. The points that can be accessed are the same as in the first and second embodiments.
When the access is authenticated, the user information input unit 10a sends customer information for the user to confirm the customer information to the client terminal, and displays a customer information confirmation screen on the screen of the client terminal as shown in FIG. (Thus, step c2 of FIG. 13, FIG. 14).

The user confirms customer information on the screen of the client terminal. The customer information is added with the region information where the customer is located, and if the region information is input, the corresponding region ID is given to the customer information.
In the confirmation of the customer information, if the user is a direct sales user, the confirmation button may be pushed to proceed to the next step. However, if the user has been resold, the user information (customer information) is corrected and transmitted. Further, even in the case of a user who continues to possess, if there is an information change, the user information is corrected and transmitted. Thus, when the customer information is corrected, a set of customer information, product ID and customer information is sent to the customer database, and the information processing apparatus 10 automatically changes (updates) the customer database based on the received information. (Step c4 in FIGS. 13 and 14).

For example, FIG. 15C shows an example of a customer information confirmation screen. When the user changes and the user name is changed, the user name information is changed in the customer database 14 as illustrated in FIG. 15C. Here, an example in which the user name of the product A1 and the product name of the machine A is changed from Hoheto to AB lnc across regions.
In this change, in the user information, the owner's name (company name) and a part or the front of the address (address) are entered. If the company name is recognized to some extent, it is displayed on the menu screen in advance. By making it possible to select, it is possible to achieve convenience. In the case of a company name that has been recognized to this extent, it is possible to improve convenience if the address can be linked and automatically changed. In addition to the company name, an address, contact information, etc. can be added to the customer information. Further, in the case of resale exceeding the exemplified area, the new user selects the area (area ID) to which the new user belongs from the menu screen in advance. Convenience can be achieved by linking the company name or address and the area name in advance and automatically changing the area name if the company name or address is changed.

After updating the customer database 14, the product ID is sent to the catalog database 13 (step c6 in FIGS. 13 and 14). FIG. 15 (d) shows an example of data in the catalog database 13. Each product ID, user ID, part name corresponding to the product ID, and part ID are associated with each other.
Next, the information processing apparatus 10 outputs a list of component IDs corresponding to the input product ID to the component search function (component search unit) 10c (step c8 in FIGS. 13 and 14).

Then, a window as shown in FIG. 16A is displayed to the user. The parts search unit 10c selects a part that the user wants to order, and transmits the selected part ID to the price table of the price database 12 and the inventory table of the inventory database 11 (step c10 in FIGS. 13 and 14).
The information processing apparatus 10 refers to the price database 12 and the inventory database 11 from the selected component ID, and displays the price, currency unit, inventory quantity, and delivery date information as necessary. ) 10d (step c12 in FIGS. 13 and 14).

Finally, the information processing apparatus 10 designates purchase conditions in addition to information such as part ID, price, currency unit, inventory quantity, and delivery date as required, and an order form issuing function (order form issuing unit) 10e. To create a part order (step c14 in FIGS. 13 and 14).
Then, a window as shown in FIG. 16B is displayed to the user to confirm the order. After confirmation, the user performs purchase or cancellation processing.

According to the present apparatus and method, in addition to the same effects as those of the second embodiment, the user can usually perform a catalog search after logging in with an already obtained user ID, for resale, factory consolidation, company acquisition, etc. Even when the owner of the product is transferred, the convenience of the user is increased by separating the customer information into a process of registering customer information after logging in with the product ID and the existing user with catalog search after logging in with the user ID.
The new user who has been resold does not disclose the customer information of the old user, and the security of the user increases.

[Others]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the apparatus, method, and computer program of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the above-described embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. It is also possible to carry out by changing a part of the above, or to implement only a part of the above-described embodiment or in various combinations.
For example, a configuration that can log on using only the product ID as a key is also conceivable.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Information processing apparatus 11 Inventory database 12 Price database 13 Catalog database 14,14 'Customer database 20 Client terminal (external terminal)
101 Authentication section (authentication means)
102 Information output unit (information output means)

Claims (7)

An information processing apparatus accessible from an external terminal, and a database in which product-related information related to products connected to the information processing apparatus is registered, and the information processing apparatus responds to access from the external terminal, A product guidance system for outputting the product related information from the database to the external terminal,
A unique product ID is assigned to each product, and the product ID is associated with the product related information in the database.
The information processing apparatus performs authentication for permitting access from the external terminal to the information processing apparatus using the product ID as an authentication key, and when the access is permitted by the authentication means, the product An information output means for outputting the product related information related to an ID from the database to the external terminal. The authentication means permits access from the external terminal to the information processing apparatus by using the product ID together with a password uniquely assigned to the customer or the product as an authentication key, and the password is embedded in the product. The product guidance system according to claim 1, wherein a specific signal from the access signal generator is included. The database includes a customer database in which customer information related to the product and the product ID of a product owned by the customer are linked and registered,
In the information processing apparatus, when accessing the information processing apparatus using the product ID as an authentication key, the customer information including the name and location of the customer is changed and the customer information is changed by the accessed customer. Customer information confirmation means for guiding the customer information change processing in a certain case, and customer information correction means for automatically correcting the customer information when the customer information is changed from the customer. The product guidance system according to claim 1 or 2. In the customer database, the region ID of the region where the customer is located and the language information of the region are added,
The product information system according to claim 3, wherein the information processing apparatus converts the product related information extracted from the database into a language of the region and outputs the language information to the external terminal. An information processing apparatus accessible from an external terminal, and a database in which product-related information related to products connected to the information processing apparatus is registered, and the information processing apparatus responds to access from the external terminal, A product guidance method for outputting the product related information from the database to the external terminal,
A unique product ID is assigned to each product, and the product ID is associated with the product related information in the database.
When the information processing apparatus receives the product ID during access from the external terminal, an authentication step for permitting access from the external terminal to the information processing apparatus using the product ID as an authentication key;
An information output step of outputting the product related information related to the product ID from the database to the external terminal when access is permitted by the authentication step.   A product guide program according to claim 5, wherein the product guide method according to claim 5 is programmed to be controlled by a computer.   7. A recording medium in which the product guide program according to claim 6 is recorded in a computer-readable format.