JP2015041128A - Product management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a product management system which enables a user to easily perform product management concerning product guarantees.SOLUTION: A product management system comprises a product management server 300 and a product management terminal device 100. The product management server 300 comprises: contract processing means 340 which performs processing of guarantee change contract; product management information storage means 320 which stores product management information including data related to the guarantee change contract; and product information management means 310 which manages product management information. The product management terminal device 100 comprises: product data input/output means 120 which is communicatively connected with the product management server 300 and reads/writes product data related to a product 200 that is recorded in an information providing medium 210 attached to the product 200; and terminal processing means 110 which, on the basis of an instruction given by a terminal instruction input means 140, transmits to the product management server 300 a product ID 211a identifying the product in product data 211 read from the information providing medium 210 by the product data input/output means 120, and performs processing to control the product data input/output means 120 to write the changed guarantee information.

Description

  The present invention relates to a product management system for managing information (data) related to products.

  Conventionally, information related to products including instruction manuals (manuals) of various products such as electric products is often provided by printing on paper. In some cases, a user inputs a manufacturer name, a product name, etc. to a computer or the like, downloads it via a network, etc. to receive the offer. Furthermore, information on products such as electronic devices connected to the local area network is provided from the network by using the information via the local area network, or an information providing medium such as a wireless tag attached to the product. Generally, it is provided by reading out stored information by a reader device (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2001-160105 A JP 2004-310755 A

  Here, mainly for electrical products and the like, manufacturers often perform operation guarantees (hereinafter referred to as guarantees) for a certain period of time. For this reason, when a product stops operating under a certain condition for a certain period after the purchase, the product is repaired free of charge. In addition, for example, by paying an additional fee, it is possible to make a contract (hereinafter referred to as a warranty extension contract) for a service that extends the warranty period according to the payment amount.

  Here, in the case of a guarantee, a dealer or the like often responds by entering the date of purchase in a guarantee. For this reason, the warranty is usually provided on a paper medium. As for the warranty extension contract, if an additional fee is paid at the same time as the product purchase at a dealer or the like, the warranty extension contract can be easily performed.

  However, when a guarantee is provided on a paper medium, it must be kept for a certain period. In some cases, the warranty card may be lost and cannot be proved to be within the warranty period. As for warranty extension contracts, for example, it often takes time to make a warranty length contract after a product has been purchased, for example, after several days have passed. For example, in order to make a warranty extension contract, the customer must go to the dealer again with a receipt certifying that the dealer has purchased. In some cases, you may have to take your purchased product. For this reason, it is difficult to make a warranty extension contract after purchase.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a product management system that can easily perform management of products, particularly management related to warranty.

  The product management system of the present invention is a product management system that includes a product management terminal device and a product management server communicatively connected to the product management terminal device, and manages at least data of information related to product warranty. The management server is processed by the product management information storage means for storing the product management information including the warranty information data related to the product, the contract processing means for processing the warranty change contract for changing the warranty information, and the contract processing means. Product information management means for storing data relating to the warranty change contract in the product management information storage means, and the product management terminal device reads data of information relating to the product recorded on the information providing medium attached to the product And product data input / output means for writing product-related information data to the information providing medium, terminal instruction input means for inputting instructions, and terminal instruction input means Based on the instructions, the product data input / output means sends data identifying the product in the data read from the information providing medium to the product management server, and the product data input / output means is changed by the contract processing means sent from the product management server. Terminal processing means for performing processing for writing data of warranty information relating to the manufactured product, and terminal display means for performing display based on processing of the terminal processing means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to make a warranty change contract for changing warranty information related to a product by communicating with a product management server by an instruction from the product management terminal device, etc. Because the warranty information changed by the warranty change contract is written on the information providing medium attached to the product, for example, at the same time as purchasing the product, the dealer does not use the paper medium to make the warranty change contract. The warranty change contract can be easily made by communication between the product management server and the product management terminal device.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the product management system centering on the product management terminal device 100 which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure explaining the content of the product management information 321 which the product management information storage means 320 which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention memorize | stores. It is a figure which shows the procedure which displays the information of the product in the product management terminal device 100 which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure explaining the method of acquiring the product data 211 from the product 200 which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the initial display screen displayed on the terminal display means 130 which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen displayed on the terminal display means 130, when "guarantee condition" is selected from the initial display screen in the product management terminal device 100 which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen displayed on the terminal display means 130, when "manual" is selected from the initial display screen in the product management terminal device 100 concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the product management system centering on the product management terminal device 100 which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure explaining the content of the product management information 321 which the product management information storage means 320 which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention memorize | stores. It is a figure which shows the procedure which displays the information of the product in the product management terminal device 100 which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the initial display screen displayed on the terminal display means 130 which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of transition of the display screen of a guarantee extended contract displayed on the terminal display means 130 which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen displayed on the terminal display means 130 based on the guarantee conditions changed in the product management terminal device 100 which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of transition of the display screen of a guarantee extended contract displayed on the terminal display means 130 concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the screen displayed on the terminal display means 130 based on the guarantee conditions changed in the product management terminal device 100 which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the product management system centering on the product management terminal device 100 which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the procedure which concerns on the repair of the product 200 in the product management terminal device 100 which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen displayed on the terminal display means 130 concerning Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the transition of the display screen which concerns on the writing of the service history displayed on the terminal display means 130 concerning Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen as which the service history changed in the product management terminal device 100 which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention is displayed on the terminal display means. It is a figure which shows the structure of the product management system centering on the product management terminal device 100 which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a figure explaining the content of the product management information 321 which the product management information storage means 320 which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention memorize | stores. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen which concerns on the writing of the service history displayed on the terminal display means 130 concerning Embodiment 4 of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a product management system and the like according to an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, in FIG. 1 and the following drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts, and are common to the whole text of the embodiments described below. And the form of the component represented by the whole specification is an illustration to the last, Comprising: It does not limit to the form described in the specification. In particular, the combination of the components is not limited to the combination in each embodiment, and the components described in the other embodiments can be applied to another embodiment.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a product management system centering on a product management terminal device 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The product management system in FIG. 1 enables the product management terminal device 100 to acquire information (data) related to the product 200 from at least one of the product 200 and the product management server 300 and display it. Here, unless otherwise specified, it is assumed that communication (transmission and reception of signals including data and the like) between the product management terminal device 100 and the product management server 300 is performed via the network (electric communication line) 400. The form of the network 400 (wired, wireless, etc.) is not particularly limited.

  The product 200 is, for example, an electric product. The product 200 has an information providing medium 210. The information providing medium 210 is attached to the product 200 or attached to the inside of the product 200 when the product 200 is manufactured or shipped. The information providing medium 210 records information related to the product 200 (product data 211). The product management terminal apparatus 100 provides product data 211 by performing reading (acquisition) according to the recording method or the like. Here, it is assumed that the information providing medium 210 is a wireless tag that incorporates a semiconductor memory or the like in which product data 211 is recorded. For this reason, the product management terminal device 100 can acquire (read) the product data 211 by performing communication using an electromagnetic method without being connected by, for example, a terminal. Further, it can be changed by writing product data 211 or the like. However, the recording method of the information providing medium 210 is not limited. For example, the product data 211 can be converted into a barcode or the like and recorded so that the product management terminal device 100 can optically read it. In addition, the product data 211 can be converted into sound so that the product management terminal device 100 can read the sound.

  The product data 211 is data related to information on the product 200. In this embodiment, it is assumed that at least the product ID 211a, the product name 211b, the guarantee condition 211c, and the service history 211d are configured by data having various items. The product ID 211a is data representing a model number (for example, a model number or a manufacturing number) of the product 200, and is data for identifying each product 200. The product name 211b is data representing the product name, model name, and the like of the product 200. Further, the guarantee condition 211c is data relating to the guarantee of the product 200. The service history 211d is data representing a history (date) relating to a service such as repair. Here, for example, when the information providing medium 210 is a wireless tag, as the amount of data to be recorded increases, the cost related to the information providing medium 210 increases. For this reason, it is desirable to reduce the amount of data recorded as product data 211 on the information providing medium 210 as much as possible.

  The product management terminal device 100 includes terminal processing means 110, product data input / output means 120, terminal display means 130, terminal instruction input means 140, terminal storage means 150, and terminal communication means 160. The product management terminal device 100 uses the product data 211 included in the information providing medium 210 and the product management information 321 included in the product management information storage unit 320 of the product management server 300 (details will be described later). (Data) display and the like. Here, in particular, a display regarding the guarantee condition 211c of the product 200 and the like can be performed.

  The terminal processing unit 110 controls each unit constituting the product management terminal device 100. Further, the terminal processing unit 110 displays on the terminal display unit 130 based on various data and instructions included in the input signal, communicates with the product management server 300 via the terminal communication unit 160 and the network 400, Processing such as changing the product data 211 by the product data input / output means 120 is performed. Here, it is assumed that the terminal processing unit 110 according to the present embodiment includes a product information processing unit 111. The product information processing unit 111 performs processing for displaying information on the product 200 on the terminal display unit 130 based on the acquired product data 211 and data related to the product management information 321.

  The product data input / output unit 120 acquires (reads) the product data 211 from the information providing medium 210. In this embodiment, since the information providing medium 210 is a wireless tag, the product data 211 is read by communicating with the information providing medium 210 by an electromagnetic method. There is no particular limitation as long as it matches the recording method of the medium 210. For example, the product data 211 can be read using various methods such as an optical method and an audio method in addition to the electromagnetic method.

  The terminal display unit 130 performs display based on the signal sent from the terminal processing unit 110. In the present embodiment, display relating to the warranty of the product 200 is performed. Further, the terminal display unit 130 displays an image (for example, a button or the like) that prompts input of an instruction by the terminal instruction input unit 140.

  The terminal instruction input unit 140 sends a signal related to the instruction input by the operator to the terminal processing unit 110. Here, in the present embodiment, the terminal instruction input unit 140 is configured by a touch panel. Therefore, the terminal processing unit 110 determines an input instruction or the like based on the relationship between the position pressed on the touch panel and the position of an image such as a button displayed on the terminal display unit 130. Note that the terminal instruction input unit 140 may be configured with, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like.

  The terminal storage unit 150 temporarily or long-term stores data related to processing performed by the terminal processing unit 110. The terminal communication unit 160 serves as an interface between the terminal processing unit 110 and the product management server 300 (product information management unit 310), and performs processing related to communication via the network 400, such as signal conversion. Here, unless otherwise specified, it is assumed that communication between the terminal processing unit 110 (product management terminal apparatus 100) and the product management server 300 via the network 400 is performed through the terminal communication unit 160.

  Here, the product management terminal device 100 will be described as a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone or a mobile phone. For example, recent portable terminal devices often have product data input / output means 120 in advance. For this reason, the hardware often includes all the means included in the product management terminal device 100. The terminal processing means 110 is configured with hardware by, for example, arithmetic control means (computer) centered on a CPU (Central Processing Unit). Then, the processing procedure performed by the terminal processing unit 110 is programmed in advance and stored as software, firmware, etc., for example, in the terminal storage unit 150, etc., and the arithmetic control unit executes the program (application program), thereby each unit. To process. However, the configuration of the product management terminal device 100 is not limited, and a terminal device such as a computer may be used instead of the mobile terminal device. Moreover, you may make it comprise as a dedicated terminal device.

  The product management server 300 is, for example, a database server that has a function of storing data (information) related to a product and managing data search, content change, and the like based on a request. Also, it functions as a WEB server that provides WEB page data based on a request from the product management terminal device 100. The product management server 300 includes product information management means 310, product management information storage means 320, and product management communication means 330.

  The product information management unit 310 serves as a so-called database management system that manages data stored (filed) as product management information 321 by the product management information storage unit 320. The product management communication unit 330 is an interface between the product information management unit 310 and the product management terminal device 100 (terminal processing unit 110), and performs processing related to communication via the network 400, such as signal conversion. Here, unless otherwise specified, it is assumed that communication between the product information management unit 310 and the product management terminal device 100 via the network 400 is performed through the product management communication unit 330.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the contents of the product management information 321 stored in the product management information storage unit 320 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The product management information storage unit 320 stores product management information 321 as a database, for example. The product management information 321 in this embodiment includes at least a product ID 321a, a product name 321b, a warranty condition 321c, a service history 321d, a manual 321e, a manufacturing period 321f, and version upgrade information 321g. Among these, the product ID 321a, the product name 321b, the guarantee condition 321c, and the service history 321d are basically the same as the data contents in the product data 211 included in the information providing medium 210 described above. In some cases, the product management information storage unit 320 also stores data for supplementary information, for example, that could not be recorded in the information providing medium 210 due to the amount of data that can be recorded in the information providing medium 210. May be.

  The manual 321e is data relating to a manual (instruction manual) corresponding to the product 200. Here, for example, the product management information storage unit 320 may directly store manual data as character data, image data, or the like. In this case, the file name of the data is stored as a manual 321e. For example, when manual data is stored in another device connected to the network 400, data such as a URL may be stored.

  The manufacturing period 321f is data relating to the manufacturing period of the product. Further, the version upgrade information 321g is data relating to, for example, product firmware. Here, similarly to the case of the manual 321e, when the product management information storage unit 320 stores the data for upgrading, the file name or the like may be stored as the upgrade information 321g. Further, data such as a URL may be stored.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a procedure for displaying product information in the product management terminal device 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Based on FIG. 3 etc., the display of the information of the product by the product management terminal device 100 in this Embodiment is demonstrated.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method for acquiring product data 211 from the product 200 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the surface having the product data input / output unit 120 of the product management terminal device 100 (the surface opposite to the display surface by the terminal display unit 130) is held over the information providing medium 210 of the product 200. At this time, for example, power is supplied from the product data input / output means 120 to the information providing medium 210, and the semiconductor memory of the information providing medium 210 is activated. Then, the information providing medium 210 transmits a signal including the product data 211 to the product data input / output unit 120 wirelessly. Product data input / output means 120 receives a signal including product data 211 (acquires product data 211) (S1). Then, the product data 211 acquired by the product data input / output unit 120 is sent to the terminal processing unit 110.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an initial display screen displayed on the terminal display unit 130 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Upon receiving the signal including the product data 211, the terminal processing unit 110 performs processing for displaying an initial display screen on the terminal display unit 130 (S2). Further, in order to specify the product management information 321, a signal including product data 211 is sent from the product management terminal device 100 side to the product management server 300 side.

  The product information management unit 310 of the product management server 300 searches the product management information storage unit 320 based on the product data 211 sent from the product management terminal device 100 side (S11). Then, the product management information 321 of the corresponding product 200 is acquired (S12). Then, a signal including product management information 321 is transmitted from the product management server 300 side to the product management terminal device 100 side.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal display unit 130 when “guarantee condition” is selected from the initial display screen in the product management terminal device 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a screen for managing the warranty period based on the purchase date. FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a screen when the warranty period is managed based on the product production year.

  The terminal processing unit 110 causes the terminal display unit 130 to display information related to the items instructed by the user via the terminal instruction input unit 140 (S3). Here, it is assumed that “guarantee condition” is instructed in the menu shown in FIG. 5, and the warranty period is displayed on the terminal display unit 130. Here, although not specifically shown in FIG. 6, for example, when information related to the warranty is displayed on the terminal display means 130 and used as an official warranty, items to be described as the warranty (for example, the guarantor, repair execution) Etc.) are all displayable.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, when managing the warranty period based on the purchase date, the warranty period is often set to one year from the purchase date. At this time, at least the product data 211 related to the purchase date is changed (recorded) at the store. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6B, it is assumed that the warranty period can be managed based on the product production year. For example, when producing a product of a certain model, the production year is determined and the product is produced for a certain period of time (for example, in the case of production in 2013, production from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013) is sold out in one year. To produce another product in the next production year. Therefore, when the warranty period is managed based on the product production year, the warranty period is determined in consideration of the period when the product inventory runs out. For example, as described above, the product produced in the 2013 fiscal year has a uniform warranty period until December 31, 2014. In this case, it is not necessary to change the product data 211 to the information providing medium 210 at the time of product shipment. For example, when it is difficult to determine the exact date of purchase, such as mail order sales, it is possible to save the trouble of changing the product data 211. In addition, the management of the warranty period can be made more efficient. Here, for example, when the date one year after the purchase date is after December 31, 2014, the data of the guarantee condition 211c of the product data 211 is changed at the store.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal display unit 130 when “manual” is selected from the initial display screen in the product management terminal device 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. When the user designates “manual” in the menu shown in FIG. 5 via the terminal instruction input means 140, the manual of the product can be displayed on the screen of the terminal display means 130 as shown in FIG. it can. Since the manual is not a paper medium, it can be managed without being lost. In addition, paper resources can be saved.

  As described above, according to the product management system of the first embodiment, the information providing medium 210 attached to the product 200 includes the data of the guarantee condition 211c as the product data 211, and the product data of the product management terminal device 100. Since the product data 211 is read out by the input / output unit 120 and can be displayed on the terminal display unit 130, information relating to the warranty such as the warranty period can be obtained without the warranty for the paper medium. Further, by using it as a guarantee, it is not necessary to manage with a paper medium, and loss or the like can be prevented. The product data input / output means 120 is convenient because the product data 211 can be read out electromagnetically, optically, or in sound according to the recording method of the information providing medium 210. In addition, since the warranty period is managed based on the product production year of the product 200, for example, it is possible to omit the trouble of recording the date of purchase at a store and to facilitate management related to the warranty of the product 200. Can do.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a product management system centering on the product management terminal device 100 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In FIG. 8, for the devices, means, and the like that have the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1, the same processing as described in Embodiment 1 is performed. In FIG. 8, the terminal processing means 110 has a guarantee extension processing unit 112. The warranty extension processing unit 112 performs processing related to a warranty extension contract for the product 200 via the product management terminal device 100. The product management server 300 also has a warranty extension contract processing means 340. The warranty extension contract processing means 340 performs processing such as setting of a guarantee code associated with the warranty extension contract and payment (settlement) related to the warranty extension contract. The guarantee code is an identification number (code) that is uniquely assigned to each extended warranty contract by coding the changed guarantee information. The contract details of the warranty extension contract can be specified by the warranty code.

  In the first embodiment described above, the acquisition of information related to the product 200 triggered by the reading of the product data 211 from the information providing medium 210 by the product data input / output unit 120 has been described. In the present embodiment, a warranty extension contract for the product 200 can be made via the product management terminal device 100. It is assumed that the warranty extension contract can be made during a warranty period preset by the manufacturer (for example, one year from the purchase date of the product 200).

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the contents of the product management information 321 stored in the product management information storage unit 320 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In FIG. 9, items and the like denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 are the same as those described in the first embodiment. The extended warranty 321h is extended warranty period and warranty code data. Further, the user information 321i is data relating to payment of the user (product contractor of the warranty extension contract) of the product management terminal device 100 and communication company of the product management terminal device 100. For example, if the product ID 321a is a product with ABC-12345, the extended warranty period is 4 years, the warranty code is sx-01234456789, the user of the product management terminal device 100 is user A, and the communication carrier is company C. ing. The guarantee code may be data uniquely assigned to each guarantee extension contract, and is not limited to the format shown in FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a procedure for displaying product information in the product management terminal device 100 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Based on FIG. 10 etc., in this Embodiment, the guarantee extension contract by the product management terminal device 100 is demonstrated.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an initial display screen displayed on the terminal display unit 130 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In FIG. 10, the processes from S1 to S3 performed by the product management terminal apparatus 100 and the processes of S11 and S12 in the product management server 300 are basically the same as those described in the first embodiment. However, in the process of S2, an initial display screen is displayed on the terminal display unit 130. As shown in FIG. 11, the initial display screen of the present embodiment is replaced with the “guarantee condition” in the initial display screen of FIG. , “Warranty conditions (change, extension contract)” is displayed. For this reason, when a warranty extension contract is made, the user instructs “warranty conditions (change, extension contract)”.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of transition of the warranty extension contract display screen displayed on the terminal display unit 130 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 12 shows a display screen when the warranty period is set based on the purchase date. Based on the menu displayed on the initial display screen, the user of the product management terminal device 100 selects and instructs “guaranteed conditions (change, extended contract)” via the terminal instruction input means 140. Based on the instruction, the terminal processing unit 110 displays a screen for confirming whether or not to perform the warranty extension contract on the terminal display unit 130 (FIG. 12A).

  Further, when the user presses the “Yes” button on the screen, the user is instructed to make a warranty extension contract via the terminal instruction input unit 140. Based on the instruction, the terminal processing unit 110 causes the terminal display unit 130 to display a confirmation screen related to the settlement related to the warranty extension contract (FIG. 12B). By displaying the confirmation screen on the terminal display means 130, it becomes possible to accept a warranty extension contract.

  Here, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the charge related to the warranty extension contract can be settled together with the charge related to communication using the network 400 by the product management terminal device 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, payment using a credit may be performed.

  Then, when the user presses the “Yes” button on the confirmation screen related to the settlement, the user selects and instructs to accept the charge (settlement) related to the warranty extension contract via the terminal instruction input unit 140. Based on the instruction, the terminal processing unit 110 sends a signal including at least the user of the product management terminal device 100 and data related to payment (data stored as the user information 321i) to the product management server 300.

  In the product management server 300, the warranty extension contract processing means 340 performs processing related to the warranty extension contract, such as changing the warranty period and assigning a warranty code (S13). Then, the product information management unit 310 causes the product management information storage unit 320 to store the warranty period changed by the processing of the warranty extension contract processing unit 340 and the assigned warranty code data as the extension warranty 321h. In addition, the user of the product management terminal device 100 and data related to payment are stored as user information 321i (S14). Further, a signal including data of the changed warranty period and the assigned warranty code is sent to the product management terminal device 100 side.

  In the product management terminal device 100, the terminal processing unit 110 sends the changed warranty period and warranty code to the product data input / output unit 120. The product data input / output means 120 sends a signal to the information providing medium 210 of the product 200, and changes the data in the warranty condition 211c of the product data 211 based on the changed warranty period and warranty code (S4).

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal display unit 130 related to the guarantee condition changed in the product management terminal device 100 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, the terminal processing unit 110 causes the terminal display unit 130 to display the changed warranty period and warranty code (S5).

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another example of the transition of the warranty extension contract display screen displayed on the terminal display unit 130 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 14 shows a display screen under warranty conditions in which a warranty period is set based on the manufacturing year. The processing flow is the same as in the case of FIG.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another example of a screen displayed on the terminal display unit 130 related to the guarantee condition changed in the product management terminal device 100 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. As a result of the user giving an instruction or the like based on the display screen shown in FIG. 14, the changed warranty period and warranty code are displayed on the terminal display unit 130 as shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the product management system of the second embodiment, the product management terminal device 100 and the product management server 300 communicate to perform a warranty extension contract for the product 200 in the product management server 300. Since the product management terminal device 100 writes the data such as the warranty period changed by the warranty extension contract sent from the product management server 300 in the warranty condition 211c of the information providing medium 210, for example, it is sold at the same time as the product purchase. Even if a warranty change contract is not made using a paper medium in the store, the warranty change contract can be easily made by communication between the product management server 300 and the product management terminal device 100.

  In the warranty change contract, it is possible to easily perform the contract by displaying the contents including the cost related to the warranty change contract on the terminal display means 130 and receiving the instruction from the terminal instruction input means 140. Further, by allowing the product management terminal device 100 to pay the cost related to the warranty change contract together with the communication fee using the network 400, the payment can be easily performed.

  Here, the user of the product 200 makes a warranty extension contract for the product management terminal apparatus 100. However, for example, a dealer can also process a warranty extension contract using the product management terminal apparatus 100.

  Here, the warranty period that can be extended is not limited to one type, but the user may be able to select a desired extension period from a plurality of extension periods (1 year, 3 years, 5 years, etc.). Further, the warranty period may be further extended for the product 200 for which a warranty change contract has been made once during the warranty period after the change.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a configuration of a product management system centering on the product management terminal device 100 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In FIG. 16, for the devices, means, and the like that have the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1, the same processing as described in Embodiment 1 is performed. In FIG. 16, the terminal processing means 110 has a service history change processing unit 113. The service history change processing unit 113 changes the content of the service history 211d in the product data 211 and performs processing for sending the changed content to the product management server 300 side. Although the warranty extension processing unit 112 is not shown in FIG. 16, the terminal processing unit 110 having the warranty extension processing unit 112 may be used as in the second embodiment.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, it has been described that the purchase of the product 200 mainly acquires the product information and changes the warranty extension contract on the assumption that the information providing medium 210 is used. In the present embodiment, a case where an operator (serviceman) who repairs the product 200 uses the information providing medium 210 will be described. In particular, a description will be given of how the operator changes the warranty status of the product 200 and the service history after repair. The product management terminal device 100 used by the worker will be described as being a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone or a mobile phone, for example, as in the first and second embodiments.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a procedure relating to repair of the product 200 in the product management terminal device 100 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In FIG. 17, the processing of S21 and S22 performed by the product management terminal device 100 is basically the same as the processing of S1 and S2 described in the first embodiment. Further, the processing of S31 and S32 in the product management server 300 is basically the same as the processing of S11 and S12 described in the first embodiment. However, the contents of the product management information 321 sent from the product management server 300 to the product management terminal device 100 may be different. For example, the manual display has been described in the first embodiment. For example, for the manual, the user of the product 200 sends the product management information 321 that can refer to the normal instruction manual, You may make it send the product management information 321 which can refer a manual.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed on the terminal display unit 130 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The terminal processing unit 110 displays an authentication screen for inputting a password on the terminal display unit 130 when the “serviceman-dedicated tool” is instructed from the menu of the initial display screen (see FIG. 5) by the operator. When the password is correctly input by the worker, the terminal processing unit 110 performs a process of displaying a display screen for the worker (see FIG. 18) on the terminal display unit 130. As shown in FIG. 18, the terminal processing unit 110 determines whether or not the product 200 is a product within the warranty period based on the warranty condition 211c and the like. In addition, an item “repair completed” is provided on the display screen for the worker.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of the transition of the display screen related to the writing of the service history displayed on the terminal display unit 130 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. An operator who is a user of the product management terminal device 100 selects and instructs “repair completed” in the display screen shown in FIG. 18 via the terminal instruction input unit 140. Based on the instruction, the terminal processing unit 110 causes the terminal display unit 130 to display a screen (FIG. 19A) for confirming whether or not to write (record) a service history (repair history) related to repair ( S23).

  Further, the operator presses a “write” button in the display screen shown in FIG. 19A to select and instruct to record the repair history via the terminal instruction input unit 140. Based on the instruction, the terminal processing unit 110 causes the terminal display unit 130 to display a screen for recording the repair history (FIG. 19B). Further, the product data input / output means 120 sends a signal to the information providing medium 210 of the product 200, and causes the service history 211d of the product data 211 to additionally change the date data related to the repair (S24). Then, the terminal processing unit 110 sends a signal including the service history 211d to the product management server 300. Here, in order to identify the product 200, the terminal processing means 110 sends other data in the product data 211 such as the product ID 211a to the product management server 300 together with the service history 211d.

  The product information management means 310 of the product management server 300 searches the product management information storage means 320 based on the signal sent from the product management terminal device 100 side (S33). Then, the service history 321d in the product management information 321 of the corresponding product 200 is changed.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on which the service history changed in the product management terminal device 100 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is displayed on the terminal display means 130. As shown in FIG. 20, the changed service history is displayed on the terminal display unit 130.

  Here, data related to the repair history of the information providing medium 210 and the product management server 300 may be changed using a terminal device dedicated to the worker. For example, when a dedicated terminal device is used, workability can be improved by omitting password authentication when accessing the above-mentioned “serviceman dedicated tool”.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a configuration of a product management system centering on the product management terminal device 100 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In FIG. 21, for the devices, means, and the like that have the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 16, the same processing as described in Embodiment 3 is performed. In FIG. 21, the terminal processing unit 110 has a password processing unit 114. The password processing unit 114 performs processing related to the password set in the information providing medium 210 based on the product management information 321 sent from the product management server 300 side. Although the warranty extension processing unit 112 is not shown in FIG. 21, the terminal processing unit 110 having the warranty extension processing unit 112 may be used as in the second embodiment.

  Although not specifically shown in the above-described third embodiment, for example, there is an information providing medium 210 that can set a password or the like for authenticating the authority to change recorded data in order to prevent tampering or the like. At this time, the product management terminal device 100 that has sent a password that matches the set password can write the product data 211 of the information providing medium 210. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a case where a password is set in the information providing medium 210 will be described.

  FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining the contents of the product management information 321 stored in the product management information storage unit 320 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 22, the product management information storage means 320 of this embodiment has an access control password 321j. Here, the access control password 321j is a password set for each product ID 321a, and is a password set in advance by the manufacturer of the product 200, the administrator of the product management server 300, or the like. In FIG. 22, a character string composed of alphabets and numbers is shown as the access control password 321j, but the password format is not limited to a character string composed of alphabets and numbers.

  A password is set for each product ID 211a in the information providing medium 210, and corresponds to the access control password 321j of the product management information 321. Only when a specific product management terminal device 100 (for example, a product management terminal device accessing a “serviceman dedicated tool” or a worker-specific product management terminal device) accesses the information providing medium 210, the product 200 When the product management information 321 is sent from the product management server 300 side to the product management terminal device 100 side based on (product data 211), the access control password 321j is also sent.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen relating to writing of service history displayed on terminal display means 130 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. The write password shown in FIG. 23 corresponds to the access control password 321j shown in FIG. FIG. 23 is different from FIG. 19A described in the third embodiment in that a write password for the product 200 is displayed. Here, whether or not to display the write password on the terminal display means 130 is arbitrary. For example, when it is not necessary for the operator to input a writing password, it is not necessary to display the terminal display unit 130. In such a case, the terminal processing unit 110 may perform a process of sending the write password data sent from the product management server 300 to the product data input / output unit 120. Thereby, the operator can work seamlessly without being aware of the write password.

Embodiment 5 FIG.
In the second embodiment and the like described above, the warranty extension contract related to the extension of the warranty period of the product 200 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a contract that changes a warranty content other than the period, such as a warranty contract for parts constituting the product 200.

  For example, in the system of the second embodiment, the product management information storage unit 320 of the product management server 300 has been described as storing the user information 321i as the product management information 321. The user information 321i is data relating to the user of the product management terminal device 100 and data relating to payment, but is not limited thereto. For example, the usage frequency of the product management terminal device 100, the reference frequency of the manual or items in the manual, and the like can be stored. By storing these, the product management terminal device 100 can be made easy to use, for example, by switching the order of menu items in some cases.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Product management terminal device, 110 Terminal processing means, 111 Product information processing part, 112 Warranty extension processing part, 113 Service history change processing part, 114 Password processing part, 120 Product data input / output means, 130 Terminal display means, 140 Terminal instruction Input means, 150 terminal storage means, 160 terminal communication means, 200 products, 210 information providing medium, 211 product data, 211a product ID, 211b product name, 211c warranty conditions, 211d service history, 300 product management server, 310 product information management Means, 320 Product management information storage means, 321 Product management information, 321a Product ID, 321b Product name, 321c Warranty conditions, 321d Service history, 321e Manual, 321f Production period, 321g Upgrade information, 321h Extension Testimony, 321 i user information, 321j access control password 330 product management communication means, 340 guarantee contract extension processing unit (contract processing unit), 400 network.

Claims (10)

A product management system comprising a product management terminal device and a product management server communicatively connected to the product management terminal device, wherein the product management system manages at least data of information relating to product warranty,
The product management server
Product management information storage means for storing product management information including warranty information data relating to the product;
Contract processing means for processing a warranty change contract for changing the warranty information;
Product information management means for storing in the product management information storage means data relating to the warranty change contract processed by the contract processing means;
The product management terminal device is:
Product data input / output means for reading information data related to the product recorded in the information providing medium attached to the product, and writing information data related to the product to the information providing medium;
Terminal instruction input means for inputting instructions;
Based on the instruction of the terminal instruction input means, the product data input / output means sends data identifying the product in the data read from the information providing medium to the product management server, and the product data input / output means Terminal processing means for performing processing for writing data of warranty information related to the product changed by the contract processing means sent from the product management server;
A product management system comprising terminal display means for performing display based on processing of the terminal processing means.   The terminal processing means causes the terminal display means to display contents including costs associated with the warranty change contract so that an instruction relating to the warranty change contract can be received from the terminal instruction input means. The product management system according to claim 1. The product management terminal device further sends data for settlement to the product management server based on an instruction related to the warranty change contract from the terminal instruction input means,
In the product management server, the product information management means stores data for performing the settlement sent from the product management terminal device in the product management information storage means in association with data for identifying the product. The product management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein   The product management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a cost associated with the warranty change contract can be paid together with a charge related to use of a telecommunication line by the product management terminal device.   5. The contract processing unit of the product management server creates a warranty code obtained by encoding the changed warranty information, and the product management information storage unit stores the warranty code. The product management system according to any one of the above. The product management terminal device further sends data related to a contractor of the warranty change contract to the product management server based on an instruction related to the warranty change contract from the terminal instruction input means,
In the product management server, the product information management means stores the data relating to the contractor sent from the product management terminal device in the product management information storage means in association with the data for identifying the product. The product management system according to claim 1, wherein the product management system is characterized in that:   The product management according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein data related to service history information for the product can be included in the information providing medium and included in the data of the information related to the product. system. The product management information storage means of the product management server stores a password permitting at least change of data related to service history information corresponding to the product,
The product management system according to claim 7, wherein the product management server sends the password to the product management terminal device that is determined to be sendable.   The product according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the product data input / output means reads out data of information related to the product from the information providing medium by electromagnetic, optical or sound. Management system.   The product management system according to claim 1, wherein a warranty period of the product is determined based on a product production year of the product.

Images