JP2024025529A - Commodity providing device, commodity providing method and commodity providing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a commodity providing device enabling, at a virtual store, an order for a commodity associated with the commodity at an actual store.

SOLUTION: A commodity providing device 1 includes: a determination unit 113 that determines, among actual stores, an order destination store that becomes an order destination of a commodity ordered by a user at a virtual space provided in a three-dimensional virtual space where an avatar moves, the avatar being movable in accordance with an instruction from a user terminal operated by the user; a commodity providing unit 114 that provides the user with a commodity available at the order destination store determined by the determination unit 113 as a commodity which can be ordered at a virtual store; a generating unit 115 that generates order information corresponding to an order by the user; and a transmitting unit 116 that transmits the order information generated by the generating unit 115 to the order destination store determined by the determination unit 113.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

COPYRIGHT: (C)2024,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a product providing device, a product providing method, and a product providing program.

Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a virtual space distribution device that allows a user to experience shopping at a virtual store by operating an avatar, which is a user's alter ego, in a three-dimensional virtual space. With this virtual space distribution device, users can select and purchase products displayed in a virtual store through their avatars, and when purchasing products, they can purchase products at the virtual cash register in the virtual store. You can choose whether to purchase the product from an external e-commerce site or not.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-36689

In the virtual space distribution device described above, products displayed on the virtual store can be purchased, but these products are not managed in conjunction with products in the physical store.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a product providing device, a product providing method, and a product providing program that allow a virtual store to order products that are linked with products in a physical store. This is one of the purposes.

A product providing device according to one aspect of the present invention is capable of ordering products ordered by a user in a virtual store provided in a three-dimensional virtual space in which an avatar that can operate according to instructions from a user terminal operated by the user moves. A specifying unit that identifies the destination store from among physical stores; and a product providing unit that provides the user with products that can be ordered at the virtual store, which are handled at the destination store specified by the specifying unit. and a generating section that generates ordering information corresponding to an order by a user, and a transmitting section that transmits the ordering information generated by the generating section to the order destination store specified by the specifying section.

According to this aspect, it is possible to specify from a physical store the place to order products ordered at a virtual store set up in a three-dimensional virtual space, and to order products handled at the specified physical store from the virtual store. It becomes possible to provide the product to the user as a unique product and send ordering information to the specified physical store.

In the above aspect, the specifying unit may specify the user's location and specify the physical store closest to the specified location as the order destination store.

According to this aspect, it becomes possible for the product ordered by the user at the virtual store to be ordered and delivered to the physical store closest to the user's location.

The above aspect further includes a reception unit that receives a store designation instruction specifying the location of the physical store on the map, and the identification unit identifies the physical store corresponding to the store designation instruction received by the reception unit as the order destination store. You may.

According to this aspect, it becomes possible to order and deliver the product ordered by the user at the virtual store to the physical store specified by the user on the map.

In the above aspect, the specifying unit may specify the user's location, and may specify one or more physical stores within a predetermined range from the specified location as candidates for the order destination store.

According to this aspect, it becomes possible to order and deliver the product ordered by the user at the virtual store to a physical store located within a predetermined range from the user's location.

In the above aspect, the specifying unit may specify one or more physical stores that can deliver the product within the delivery time specified by the user as candidates for the order destination store.

According to this aspect, it becomes possible for the user to order and deliver the product ordered at the virtual store to a physical store that can deliver the product within the delivery time specified by the user.

In the above aspect, the specifying unit may further narrow down the candidates for the order destination store based on the inventory status of the product corresponding to the order.

According to this aspect, it becomes possible for a user to order and deliver a product ordered at a virtual store to a physical store that has the product in stock.

In the above aspect, the specifying unit may further narrow down the candidates for the order destination store based on the delivery method of the product selected by the user.

According to this aspect, it becomes possible for the user to order and deliver the product ordered at the virtual store to a physical store that can be delivered by the delivery method desired by the user.

A product providing method according to another aspect of the present invention is a method executed by a processor, and is provided in a three-dimensional virtual space in which an avatar that can operate according to instructions from a user terminal operated by a user moves. A step of identifying a supplier store from physical stores to which products ordered by a user in the virtual store will be ordered, and selecting products handled by the specified supplier store as products that can be ordered in the virtual store. The method includes a product providing unit that provides products to the user, a step of generating ordering information corresponding to an order by the user, and a step of transmitting the generated ordering information to the specified order destination store.

According to this aspect, it is possible to specify from a physical store the place to order products ordered at a virtual store set up in a three-dimensional virtual space, and to order products handled at the specified physical store from the virtual store. It becomes possible to provide the product to the user as a unique product and send ordering information to the specified physical store.

A product providing program according to another aspect of the present invention allows a computer to be used to place an order by a user in a virtual store provided in a three-dimensional virtual space where an operable avatar moves according to instructions from a user terminal operated by the user. A specifying section that identifies the ordering store from among the physical stores to which the ordered product is ordered; and providing the user with the products that are handled at the ordering store specified by the specifying section as products that can be ordered at the virtual store. It functions as a product providing section, a generating section that generates ordering information corresponding to an order by a user, and a transmitting section that transmits the ordering information generated by the generating section to the order destination store specified by the specifying section.

According to this aspect, it is possible to specify from a physical store the place to order products ordered at a virtual store set up in a three-dimensional virtual space, and to order products handled at the specified physical store from the virtual store. It becomes possible to provide the product to the user as a unique product and send ordering information to the specified physical store.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a product providing device, a product providing method, and a product providing program that allow a virtual store to order a product linked with a product in a physical store.

1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an information processing system including a product providing device according to an embodiment. 2 is a diagram illustrating the physical configuration of the product providing device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the product providing device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure for ordering a product ordered at a virtual store to any physical store in the product providing device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the same elements are given the same reference numerals and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[Overview of information processing system]
With reference to FIG. 1, the configuration of an information processing system including a product providing device 1 according to an embodiment will be described. The information processing system includes a product providing device 1, a metaverse providing device 2, a user terminal 4, and a store system 5. The product providing device 1 and the metaverse providing device 2 constitute a metaverse providing system 3.

Here, the metaverse is a three-dimensional virtual space (hereinafter also referred to as "virtual space") constructed on the Internet. A user who operates the user terminal 4 can operate an avatar that is his or her alter ego to move within the virtual space and interact with other users.

The metaverse providing device 2 is, for example, a server device that provides a portal site-like virtual space (hereinafter also referred to as "portal space") that is movable to various virtual spaces. The product providing device 1 is, for example, a server device that provides space for a virtual convenience store (hereinafter also referred to as a "virtual store"). The user can freely move back and forth between the portal space and the virtual store space by operating the avatar. Note that the virtual store is not limited to being a virtual convenience store, but may be a virtual store that sells products.

In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the metaverse providing system 3 is configured by the product providing device 1 and the metaverse providing device 2, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, some or all of the functions of the metaverse providing device 2 may be incorporated into the product providing device 1, or some or all of the functions of the product providing device 1, which will be described later, may be incorporated into the metaverse providing device 2. good.

The user terminal 4 is, for example, a smartphone used by the user, and is configured to be able to communicate with the product providing device 1 and the metaverse providing device 2 via the network N. Note that the user terminal 4 is not limited to a smartphone, and may be, for example, a PC (Personal Computer) terminal, a notebook PC, a tablet terminal, a VR (Virtual Reality) device, or another terminal device.

The store system 5 is a system installed in each convenience store (actual store), for example, and is configured to be able to communicate with the product providing device 1 via the network N. The store system 5 includes, for example, store devices such as PC terminals, store terminals such as tablet terminals and smartphones, and POS (Point of Sales) cash registers, and manages product information, inventory information, delivery information, etc. in real time. The configuration of the store system 5 can include appropriately necessary devices according to the operation of the store. The product providing device 1 can obtain product information, inventory information, delivery information, etc. of each store from each store system 5 at any time.

Note that a product management system may be further provided to centrally manage product information, inventory information, delivery information, etc. managed by each store system 5. For example, this product management system may be configured to be able to communicate with the product providing device 1 and store system 5 via the network N. It may also be incorporated into

The network N may be, for example, the Internet, a LAN, a leased line, a telephone line, an in-house network, a mobile communication network, Bluetooth (registered trademark), WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), other communication lines, or a combination thereof. It does not matter whether it is wired or wireless.

[Physical configuration of product providing device 1]
As shown in FIG. 2, the product providing device 1 includes, for example, a processor 11, a communication unit 12, and a storage device 13 as a physical configuration.

The processor 11 includes an arithmetic and logic unit that processes arithmetic operations, logical operations, bit operations, etc., and various registers. This processor 11 functions as a control unit that implements various functions described below by executing a program 131 stored in the storage device 13.

The communication unit 12 is a hardware module that connects to the network N and communicates with other devices on the network N.

The storage device 13 is, for example, a computer-readable recording medium such as a disk drive or a semiconductor memory. This storage device 13 functions as a storage unit that stores, for example, a program 131, a database 132, and various data registered in the database 132.

The program 131 is a computer program for performing predetermined processing, and includes a main program of the product providing device 1 and a plurality of software modules that are appropriately called and executed during the operation of the main program. Software modules are subprograms that are modularized to execute specific processes, and are created using, for example, procedures, subroutines, methods, functions, data structures, and the like.

[Functional configuration of product providing device 1]
With reference to FIG. 3, functions realized by executing the program 131 of the product providing device 1 will be described. The product providing device 1 includes, for example, a virtual space control unit 111, a receiving unit 112, a specifying unit 113, a product providing unit 114, a generating unit 115, and a transmitting unit 116 as functional configurations. Each part will be explained below.

The virtual space control unit 111 causes an avatar, which is the alter ego of the user, to operate in the virtual space according to instructions from the user terminal 4 operated by the user.

For example, when the avatar moves to a spatial movement area provided in the portal space, the virtual space control unit 111 moves the avatar to a predetermined virtual space corresponding to the spatial movement area. The predetermined virtual space includes a virtual store space.

The reception unit 112 receives various instructions transmitted from the user terminal 4 operated by the user. The various instructions include, for example, a product order instruction, a store specification instruction, a delivery method selection instruction, a delivery time specification instruction, and the like. Each instruction will be explained in turn below.

The product order instruction is an instruction sent from the user terminal 4 when the user orders a desired product from among the products handled at the virtual store. For example, a shopping cart can be used as a method for accepting product order instructions. In this case, the product order instruction may be sent, for example, when a product is registered in the shopping cart or when an order for the product registered in the shopping cart is confirmed.

The store specification instruction is an instruction sent from the user terminal 4 when the user specifies the location of a physical store on the map displayed on the user terminal 4.

The delivery method selection instruction is an instruction sent from the user terminal 4 when the user selects the delivery method for the product. As the delivery means, for example, robots, drones, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, walking, etc. can be used.

The delivery time designation instruction is, for example, an instruction sent from the user terminal 4 when the user designates a delivery time. The delivery time may be specified in minutes, hours, or days.

The specifying unit 113 specifies a physical store (hereinafter also referred to as "order store") that is a destination for the product ordered by the user. The procedure for identifying the order destination store will be described later.

The product providing unit 114 provides the user of the user terminal 4 with information regarding the products handled at the ordering store specified by the specifying unit 113 at that time. Information regarding products is provided, for example, by displaying a list of products on the user terminal 4. When displaying a list of products, the inventory status and expected arrival status of each product may be displayed, or only products that are in stock may be displayed.

The generation unit 115 generates ordering information corresponding to the user's order. The ordering information includes, for example, a user ID that identifies the user, a store ID that identifies the store to which the order is placed, a product ID that identifies the product that the user ordered, the unit price of the product, the quantity of the product ordered, delivery information, It can include delivery charges, total charges, etc.

The transmitting unit 116 transmits the order information generated by the generating unit 115 to the store system 5 of the order destination store specified by the specifying unit 113.

[Procedure for specifying the ordering store using product providing device 1]
As a procedure for specifying the order destination store using the product providing device 1, there are, for example, the procedures described in (1) to (5) below.

(1) Steps to select the store closest to the user's location as the ordering store

The specifying unit 113 specifies the location of the user operating the user terminal 4, and specifies the physical store closest to the specified location as the order destination store. The location of the user to be identified is, for example, the place of residence registered in the user information, the user's current location, or the location specified by the user on the map.

In this procedure, it is preferable that the product providing unit 114 provides the user of the user terminal 4 with the product handled at the physical store specified by the specifying unit 113 as a product that can be ordered at the virtual store. As a result, the user can order from among the products available at the nearest physical store, allowing the user to quickly and reliably receive the ordered product.

(2) Steps to make the physical store specified on the map the ordering store

(2-1): First, the reception unit 112 receives a store designation instruction transmitted from the user terminal 4.

(2-2): Subsequently, the identifying unit 113 identifies the physical store corresponding to the store designation instruction received by the receiving unit 112 as the order destination store.

In this procedure, it is preferable that the product providing unit 114 provides the user of the user terminal 4 with the product handled at the physical store specified by the specifying unit 113 as a product that can be ordered at the virtual store. This allows the user to order from among the products available at the physical store specified on the map, making it possible to reliably receive the desired product.

(3) Procedure for identifying the store to order from based on the inventory status of stores within a predetermined range from the user's location

(3-1): First, the specifying unit 113 specifies the location of the user operating the user terminal 4, and selects one or more physical stores within a predetermined range from the specified location as candidates for the order destination store. Identify. The user's location can be specified in the same manner as in (1) above.

(3-2): Subsequently, the specifying unit 113 narrows down the candidates for the order destination store based on the inventory status of the product corresponding to the product order instruction received by the receiving unit 112.

If all the candidates are exhausted as a result of narrowing down the candidates for the order destination store, the search may be repeated while expanding the predetermined range in (3-1) above until a candidate order destination store is found.

On the other hand, if multiple candidates remain as a result of the narrowing down, for example, the location-based identification process described in (1) above may be further executed to narrow down the multiple candidates to the closest store, or the above (1) The specifying process based on the store designation instruction in 2) may be further executed to narrow down the multiple candidates to the store designated on the map.

In this procedure, the product providing unit 114 may provide the user of the user terminal 4 with products handled at one or more physical stores identified as candidates by the identifying unit 113 as products that can be ordered at the virtual store. preferable. Further, it is preferable that each time a product to be ordered is added to the shopping cart, the specifying unit 113 narrows down the list of store candidates based on the inventory status of the product. As a result, each time a product is added to an order, it becomes possible to narrow down the list of store candidates based on the product's handling status and inventory status at each store.As a result, all ordered products can be It becomes possible to place an order to one physical store that can ship.

(4) Procedure for identifying the store to order from based on the delivery method of stores within a predetermined range from the user's location

(4-1): First, the identifying unit 113 identifies the location of the user operating the user terminal 4, and selects one or more physical stores within a predetermined range from the identified location as candidates for the order destination store. Identify. The user's location can be specified in the same manner as in (1) above.

(4-2): Next, the specifying unit 113 narrows down the candidates for the order destination store based on the delivery method corresponding to the delivery method selection instruction received by the reception unit 112.

If all the candidates are exhausted as a result of narrowing down the candidates for the order destination store, the search may be repeated while expanding the predetermined range in (4-1) above until a candidate order destination store is found.

On the other hand, if multiple candidates remain as a result of the narrowing down, for example, the location-based identification process described in (1) above may be further executed to narrow down the multiple candidates to the closest store, or the above (1) The specifying process based on the store designation instruction in 2) may be further executed to narrow down the multiple candidates to the store designated on the map.

In this procedure, the product providing unit 114 may provide the user of the user terminal 4 with products handled at one or more physical stores identified as candidates by the identifying unit 113 as products that can be ordered at the virtual store. preferable. Furthermore, each time a product to be ordered is added to the shopping cart, it is preferable that the specifying unit 113 narrows down the candidates for the store to order from based on the delivery method adopted by the store that handles the product. As a result, each time a product is added to an order, it becomes possible to narrow down the list of stores to order from based on the product's handling status at each store and delivery method.As a result, all ordered products are It becomes possible to place an order with a single physical store that can ship by the desired delivery method.

(5) Procedure for identifying the store to order from based on the delivery time specified by the user

(5-1): First, the identifying unit 113 identifies one or more physical stores that can deliver within the delivery time corresponding to the delivery time designation instruction received by the receiving unit 112 as candidates for the order destination store. do.

(5-2): Next, the narrowing down process based on the inventory status in (3) above and the narrowing down process based on the delivery method in (4) above are executed.

In this procedure, the product providing unit 114 may provide the user of the user terminal 4 with products handled at one or more physical stores identified as candidates by the identifying unit 113 as products that can be ordered at the virtual store. preferable. Furthermore, each time a product to be ordered is added to the shopping cart, the identification unit 113 narrows down the candidates for the store to order from based on the stock status of the product and the delivery method adopted by the store that handles the product. It is preferable. As a result, each time a product is added to an order, it becomes possible to narrow down the list of stores to order from based on the product's handling status at each store, inventory status, and delivery method. It becomes possible to order from one physical store that can ship all products.

[Operation of product providing device 1]
With reference to FIG. 4, an example of a procedure for ordering a product ordered at a virtual store in the product providing device 1 to any physical store will be described.

First, the identifying unit 113 of the product providing device 1 identifies, from among the physical stores, a store to which a product ordered by the user in the virtual store is to be ordered (step S101). The procedure for specifying the ordering store is preferably one of the procedures described in (1) to (5) above.

Subsequently, the product providing unit 114 of the product providing device 1 provides the user with the products handled at the order destination store identified in step S101 above as products that can be ordered at the virtual store (step S102).

Next, the generation unit 115 of the product providing device 1 generates ordering information corresponding to the user's order (step S103).

Subsequently, the transmitting unit 116 of the product providing device 1 transmits the order information generated in step S103 above to the store system 5 of the order destination store specified in step S101 above (step S104).

As described above, according to the product providing device 1 according to the embodiment, a destination for a product ordered at a virtual store provided in a three-dimensional virtual space is specified from among physical stores, and the specified physical store is It is possible to provide users with products that can be ordered at a virtual store, and to send ordering information to the physical store.

Therefore, according to the product providing device 1 according to the embodiment, it is possible to order a product linked with a product in a physical store at a virtual store.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. Therefore, the above embodiments are merely illustrative in all respects, and should not be construed as limiting. For example, each of the above-mentioned processing steps can be arbitrarily changed in order or executed in parallel within a range that does not cause inconsistency in the processing contents.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Product providing device, 2... Metaverse providing device, 3... Metaverse providing system, 4... User terminal, 5... Store system, 11... Processor, 12... Communication unit, 13... Storage device, 111... Virtual space control unit, 112 ...Reception section, 113...Identification section, 114...Product provision section, 115...Generation section, 116...Transmission section, 131...Program, 132...Database

Claims (9)

A virtual store set up in a three-dimensional virtual space where an operable avatar moves according to instructions from a user terminal operated by the user. A specific part to identify from inside,
a product providing unit that provides the user with products handled at the order destination store specified by the identification unit as products that can be ordered at the virtual store;
a generation unit that generates order information corresponding to the order by the user;
a transmitting unit that transmits the order information generated by the generating unit to the order destination store specified by the specifying unit;
A product providing device comprising: The specifying unit specifies the location of the user, and specifies a physical store closest to the specified location as the order destination store.
The product providing device according to claim 1. It further includes a reception section that accepts store designation instructions specifying the location of physical stores on the map,
The identification unit identifies a physical store corresponding to the store designation instruction received by the reception unit as the order destination store;
The product providing device according to claim 1. The specifying unit specifies the location of the user, and specifies one or more physical stores within a predetermined range from the specified location as candidates for the order destination store.
The product providing device according to claim 1. The identifying unit identifies one or more physical stores that can deliver the product within the delivery time specified by the user as candidates for the order destination store.
The product providing device according to claim 1. The identification unit further narrows down the candidates for the order destination store based on the inventory status of the product corresponding to the order.
The product providing device according to claim 4 or 5. The specifying unit further narrows down the candidates for the order destination store based on the delivery method of the product selected by the user.
The product providing device according to claim 4 or 5. A method performed by a processor, the method comprising:
A virtual store set up in a three-dimensional virtual space where an operable avatar moves according to instructions from a user terminal operated by the user. a step of identifying from among;
providing the user with products handled at the specified order destination store as products that can be ordered at the virtual store;
generating order information corresponding to the order by the user;
Sending the generated order information to the specified order destination store;
method of providing products, including computer,
A virtual store set up in a three-dimensional virtual space where an operable avatar moves according to instructions from a user terminal operated by the user. A specific part to be identified from among;
a product providing unit that provides the user with products handled at the order destination store specified by the identification unit as products that can be ordered at the virtual store;
a generation unit that generates order information corresponding to the order by the user;
a transmitting unit that transmits the order information generated by the generating unit to the order destination store specified by the specifying unit;
A product provision program that functions as a.