JP3780811B2 - Electronic shopping system using wireless videophone - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic shopping system. In particular, the present invention relates to an electronic shopping system using a wireless video phone capable of downloading a program. The wireless videophone functions as an application-specific terminal that allows a customer to input an image and decode the input image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art An electronic shopping system (hereinafter referred to as a shopping system) that allows customers to purchase products without visiting a store is known. As an example of such a shopping system, a cable television shopping channel is known. In this shopping channel, advertisements and promotions of products are performed on television. The user only needs to watch the television, and when the desired product is introduced on the television, the customer calls the dealer and orders the desired product. Usually, the credit card number is communicated to the merchant for payment of goods. Thereafter, the merchandise is delivered directly from the merchant to the customer.
[0003]
Another example of a cable television shopping system is one that allows customers to select items directly from the television screen by utilizing an interactive / bidirectional cable system. In this system, a menu system controlled by a TV remote control is used. This method eliminates the need for the customer to call the merchant. Moreover, in such a shopping system, it is expected that the customer's reaction to the advertisement on the television will increase.
[0004]
Similar to cable TV shopping, it is also possible to purchase products while staying at home using the Internet. Many companies sell their products on the Internet, and the number is growing rapidly. In Internet shopping, refer to the web page of the company that sells the desired product, select the product to be purchased, enter the address where the product should be delivered and enter the credit card number for payment By doing so, you can purchase a number of products such as pizza, books, and cars while at home.
[0005]
However, in such a shopping system, it is necessary to subscribe to cable TV and Internet services, and there is a demerit of paying a subscription fee to receive these services. Further, in a conventional shopping system, an order is placed using a user's television or computer, but these devices are usually at home and cannot be easily moved. Therefore, the user is forced to shop at home.
[0006]
In recent years, there has been a high demand for mobile, and it is desired that electronic shopping can be performed even at a place away from home. For example, a user wants to be able to order merchandise at work, while eating at a restaurant, while traveling, or even in situations where other home televisions and computers are not available.
[0007]
There is also known a personal shopping system (PPS) that uses a portable terminal equipped with a barcode scanner installed in a store by a user. The barcode attached to the product is scanned by a handheld scanner. The unit price of the product and the total price of the scanned product are displayed on the display of the portable terminal with the scanner. Payment of the product that has been read is made by a settlement counter in a conventional manner.
[0008]
However, the conventional personal shopping system requires a dedicated personal shopping system terminal equipped with a small display, numeric keys, and a built-in barcode scanner. In order to have such dedicated mobile terminals, retailers require a large investment.
[0009]
Wireless telephones such as cellular telephones are widely used. Many people purchase and use wireless telephones as the price of wireless telephones and call charges continue to fall.
[0010]
Here, the phrase “wireless telephone” Car Includes telephones (mobile telephones), cellular telephones, satellite telephones, and other telephones that do not require connection, and also include cordless telephones that have a narrow telephone range and must be used around the home. .
[0011]
Because wireless telephones are becoming cheaper and many wireless telephones are used, users use wireless telephones owned by users to select items or pay for goods. It is desirable to construct an electronic shopping system. By using a wireless telephone owned by a user for electronic shopping, it is possible to reduce the amount of investment, particularly by a retail store, rather than using a dedicated terminal device.
[0012]
By providing a graphic display such as a small color or black-and-white LCD or an image input device such as a CCD digital camera in a mobile phone to configure a wireless videophone, the device's capabilities can be further improved. it can. By using a wireless videophone, a dedicated terminal for reading a code can be made unnecessary, and the amount of investment by a vendor for such a dedicated terminal can be reduced. Because users only need to have their own device that performs many functions such as electronic shopping, using a wireless videophone in a shopping system minimizes the burden on the user. It can be said that it is the most economical method.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention pays attention to the problems caused by the above-described prior art and solves the problems. Furthermore, the present invention constitutes an electronic shopping system for executing product transaction processing via a program download function, a function for executing a downloaded program, and a wireless videophone with an integrated digital camera and display screen. To do. Because there are few functions to be added to the wireless videophone, it can be manufactured as an inexpensive product. Possible It is.
[0014]
The electronic shopping system has a server and at least one wireless videophone for communicating with the server. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the customer only needs to dial the number of the store's personal shopping system service when visiting the store. Correspondingly, the personal shopping system application program is automatically downloaded to the customer's videophone. The downloaded program is automatically executed, and functions necessary for the personal shopping system are provided. The integrated digital camera is used for scanning a barcode of a product to be purchased, and pattern recognition software existing in a video phone or a server converts the image data of the barcode into character or numerical product identification information. Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to realize a personal shopping system while minimizing the investment amount required by the seller.
[0015]
Furthermore, in the present invention, when a server storing a transaction transaction program (purchase transaction program) that can be downloaded to a store is installed and the customer calls the store server using his / her wireless videophone, the transaction processing program is Downloaded to the wireless videophone. After the transaction processing program is downloaded from the server to the wireless videophone, the server communicates with the wireless videophone and the downloaded transaction processing program is used to select and pay for the item to be purchased.
[0016]
It is preferable to download the transaction processing program to the wireless videophone as necessary, rather than storing the transaction processing program in the wireless videophone in a fixed manner. By downloading the program, individual sellers will be able to use their own programs rather than programs common to all single vendors. Individual merchants may want to add messages, advertisements, menu screens, etc. to their transaction processing program that are different from other stores, and modify the transaction processing program for the particular product being sold. is expected.
[0017]
Because different types of wireless videophones have different displays, keypads, cameras, etc., it is desirable to download a transaction processing program appropriate for each wireless videophone type, Functions can be used effectively.
[0018]
The transaction processing program transmitted from the server to the wireless videophone is loaded into the program memory via the program loader of the wireless videophone. When the transaction processing program is transmitted from the server to the wireless videophone, the program loader loads the transaction processing program into the program memory. The downloaded transaction processing program is provided with instruction information for selecting and paying for a product from the wireless videophone. Therefore, the transaction processing program will purchase a wireless videophone P urchase) Convert to an electronic shopping terminal.
[0019]
Although the electronic shopping system according to the present invention is described as being used to purchase goods, those skilled in the art will recognize that the electronic shopping system can be applied to service purchases or other desirable areas. . Thus, the phrase “product” is merely illustrative and is not used to limit its meaning. The term “store” includes merchants that provide goods and services, such as retail stores, wholesale stores, and any other merchants.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following detailed description is intended to illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention with the accompanying drawings and is not intended to describe the only forms for configuring or implementing the invention. The following detailed description explains the configuration and function of one embodiment of the present invention, and also describes the sequence of processing steps according to the embodiment of the present invention together with the drawings. It will be understood that the same or equivalent functions can be realized by other embodiments that can be included in the concept of the invention.
[0021]
FIG. 1 shows a store server 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which communicates with a commercial telephone network 14 (hereinafter referred to as a public network), in particular, by a cable 12. The store server 10 may communicate with the public line network 14 by other preferable means such as an optical fiber or a radio signal. Such a public network 14 is generally used for transmitting voice and data over a short distance or a long distance. Examples of such a public network 14 include Pacific Bell, General Telephone, AT & T, MCI or Sprint.
[0022]
The public line network 14 connects the store server 10 and the radio telephone 18 via a cable 16 through a cellular telephone network 17 (cellular telephone network) that communicates with the conventional public line network 14. Such a cellular network 17 includes LACellular and Pacific Bell. As before, the cable 16 can be replaced by optical fiber, wireless or other means.
[0023]
The cellular line network 17 performs communication with the radio telephone 18 by means of widely known radio communication.
[0024]
Further, the remote server 26 may communicate with the wired telephone line network 14 via the cable 28 instead of the store server 10. The cable 28 can be replaced by optical fiber, wireless or other means.
[0025]
Furthermore, the store server 10 Extension Communication with a PBX 24 (extension PBX) via the cable 11 is possible. Extension The PBX 24 communicates with the wireless telephone 18 through radio.
[0026]
The external barcode scanner 20 communicates with the wireless telephone 18 via the cable 19. The barcode scanner 20 can also communicate with the wireless telephone 18 by infrared, laser, radio or other suitable means.
[0027]
Furthermore, a built-in bar code scanner 25 or IC card reader / writer 27 may be attached integrally with the wireless telephone 18. In the store, the barcode attached to the product 33 to be purchased is read using the barcode scanner 20 attached to the wireless telephone 18.
[0028]
The catalog 21 is provided with a bar code 22 for each product, along with descriptions 13 and photos 15 of the products that can be purchased. By using such a catalog 21 or the like, even if the purchaser is not in the store where the product is sold, the product can be purchased through the electronic shopping system according to the present invention. Further, the bar code 21 is also attached to these products 33.
[0029]
The store server 10 or the remote server 26 stores a transaction transaction program downloaded to the wireless telephone 18, and the program is made when a call is made from the wireless telephone 18 to the store server 10 or the remote server 26. Will be downloaded. The store server 10 and the remote server 26 further store a server personal shopping application (see FIG. 2) that executes transaction processing together with the transaction processing program downloaded to the wireless telephone 18. Examples of transaction processing to be executed include selection / registration and payment of a product to be purchased, details of which will be described below.
[0030]
If the wireless telephone 18 is used in or near the store where the store server 10 is installed, an optional Extension Communication between the store server 10 and the wireless telephone 18 is performed by the PBX 24. This eliminates the need to use the cellular telephone network 17. Extension By using the PBX 24, the reliability of communication between the store server 10 and the wireless telephone 18 can be improved, and the cost of using the cellular telephone line network 17 can be suppressed. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other indoor wireless communication means can be used for communication between the store server 10 and the wireless telephone 18.
[0031]
The customer can simply dial the telephone number of the store server 10 or remote server 26 using the wireless telephone 18. When the wireless telephone 18 is connected to the store server 10 or the remote server 26, the transaction processing program is downloaded from the store server 10 / remote server 26 to the wireless telephone 18 based on the instructions of the program loader 32 shown in FIG. The
[0032]
Further, the telephone interface of the store server 10 / remote server 26 accepts telephone calls from customers and downloads the optimal transaction processing program to the wireless telephone 18. The server personal shopping application intervenes in the transmission and reception of information between the customer's wireless telephone 18 and the store server 10 / remote server 26. When the store server 10 / remote server 26 is called from the customer's wireless phone 18, the phone interface obtains the customer's phone number and to obtain information such as customer phone number, download program ID, customer ID and customer name. The customer information database provided in the store server 10 / remote server 26 is searched. These pieces of information are preferably registered in the store server 10 and the remote server 26 when the customer is registered in the personal shopping application. In this way, the customer's telephone number is used for customer authentication, and the server determines that the customer is authorized to trade.
[0033]
Based on the download program ID, a dedicated program is downloaded from the store server 10 / remote server 26 to the wireless telephone 18. The transaction processing program having unique ID information downloaded from the store server 10 / remote server 26 to the wireless telephone 18 is selected based on the telephone type, personal preference such as language / customer interest, etc. .
[0034]
The personal shopping application server of the store server 10 or the remote server 26 executes transaction processing. A message from the wireless telephone 18 is transferred along with the customer's telephone number, customer ID, and other unique identification information. When the store server 10 or the remote server 26 receives the barcode data from the customer's wireless telephone 18, the store server 10 / remote server 26 refers to the database and acquires the information and price of the read product. Product information and price information are transferred to the customer's wireless telephone 18 and displayed on a display 42 provided on the telephone. All information received from the customer wireless phone 18, including information regarding the returned merchandise that the customer has decided not to purchase, is stored in the store server 10 / remote server 26 to perform the payment process.
[0035]
The store server 10 / remote server 26 also transmits other information to the customer's wireless telephone 18. Examples of information to be transmitted include advertisement / advertisement information, discount information, and personal information.
[0036]
After being downloaded to the wireless telephone 18, the transaction processing program prompts the user for a password. By using such a password, the customer can be further authenticated. Such password entry is particularly effective in preventing unauthorized transaction processing using a stolen wireless phone. The transaction processing program guides the customer by text and / or voice for password entry from the keypad. Voice recognition can be used to input the password. Preferably, the downloaded program, server or store clerk guides the password input as described below. The transaction processing program authenticates the password with confidence, or sends the password to the server for authentication. If it is determined that the password is valid, the customer can read the barcode of the item to be purchased. If it is determined that the password is not valid, the user is required to re-enter the password.
[0037]
After the password is authenticated, the transaction processing program makes the wireless phone 18 available for product registration and payment. The product is selected by reading the barcodes 31 and 32 attached to the product using the barcode scanner 18 or the built-in barcode scanner 25 connected to the wireless telephone 18. A product to be purchased can also be selected by inputting a stock number such as a UPC code (Universal Product Code) using a telephone keypad.
[0038]
After the desired product is selected, the payment process is preferably performed using the built-in IC card reader / writer 27.
[0039]
When the wireless telephone 18 is used in a store for purchasing a product, in order to select a desired purchased product, the barcode attached to the product or the product shelf on which the product is placed, or the barcode in the catalog Is read. When the wireless telephone 18 is used in a place away from the store, a catalog 21 or other medium with a barcode attached thereto can be used.
[0040]
As each bar code is read, the transaction processing program transfers bar code data indicating an SKU code (Stock Keeping Unit), UPC code, etc. to the server. Return to 18. These pieces of information are preferably displayed on the telephone display 42. In addition, the total amount of the selected purchased product is also displayed on the display.
[0041]
In FIG. 2, the configuration of the wireless telephone 18 and the store / remote server 10, 26 is illustrated in detail. Basically, the store server 10 and the remote server 26 have the same configuration. The remote server 26 is installed at a location away from the store.
[0042]
The wireless telephone 18 includes a wireless telephone function circuit unit 40 (wireless telephone function electronics), a display 42, a keypad 44, an input / output (I / O) port 36, and a microprocessor 38 that communicates with the IC card reader / writer 27. The microprocessor 38, the radio telephone circuit unit 40, the display 42, the keypad 44, the I / O port 36, and the IC card reader / writer 27 are all general configurations provided in the conventional wireless telephone 18.
[0043]
An electronic shopping section 29 (electroni shopping section) for executing the processing of the present invention is added to such a conventional wireless telephone 18. The electronic shopping unit 29 includes a program loader 32 and a program memory 34, both of which are connected to the microprocessor 38.
[0044]
The I / O port 36 is used for electronic communication between the microprocessor 38 and the barcode scanner 20, RS232C, USB, IEEE1394, I This is done via rDA or some other preferred interface.
[0045]
The microprocessor 38 may be a conventional microprocessor or digital signal processor used in conventional wireless telephones. The wireless telephone circuit unit 40 includes circuits for executing functions of a conventional wireless telephone such as telephone number storage, dialing, connection / disconnection circuit, digital encoding, radio modulation / demodulation, signal amplification, and the like. The display 42 is preferably an LCD and displays other information such as battery charge level, signal strength, individual and cumulative talk time along with the dialed phone number. The keypad 44 is used for inputting numerical values and, additionally, alphabetic character information. The IC card reader / writer 27 reads / writes an IC card that stores user account information, and can be used with different types of wireless telephones in order to charge a desired user. Yes. Therefore, if you use your IC card on another person's wireless phone, you will be charged for the call.
[0046]
The electronic shopping unit 29 includes elements added to the conventional wireless telephone according to the present invention, and executes electronic shopping according to the present invention. Furthermore, the program loader 32 includes a firmware memory that stores instructions for downloading the transaction processing program from the servers 10 and 26. The instruction information stored in the firmware memory of the program loader 32 is executed by the microprocessor 38 after a call from the wireless telephone 18 to the server 10, 26 is initiated, as will be described in detail below.
[0047]
The program loader 32 may preferably further comprise a preferred circuit for executing or improving the transaction processing program download. The program loader may be constituted by a single active circuit instead of the memory. Such an active circuit automatically executes download without requiring instruction information read from the memory in response to the connection from the wireless telephone 18 to the servers 10 and 26.
[0048]
In addition, the program loader 32 includes instruction information, a driver, and a circuit unit that realize execution and improvement of the product selection and payment processing functions. For example The program loader has drivers for the scanner 20 and the IC card reader / writer 27.
[0049]
The program memory 34 stores the transaction processing program after being downloaded. This transaction processing program is used when a customer selects a product and pays for the purchased product.
[0050]
Since the instruction information stored therein is not changed much, the firmware memory of the program loader 32 is constituted by a nonvolatile memory. On the other hand, since the transaction processing program is downloaded every time it is used, the program memory 34 is preferably composed of a volatile memory.
[0051]
The optional I / O port 36 communicates with the optional barcode scanner 20, and the customer selects a product by scanning the UPC codes 22, 31 and the like shown in FIG. Is called. The barcode is read from a catalog or a store shelf in the store, from the product itself, or from other locations.
[0052]
The optional IC card reader / writer 27 is used for payment of purchased products via an IC card or the like.
[0053]
The servers 10 and 26 include a telephone interface 48 that communicates with each of the customer information database 50, at least one download program memory 52, and the server personal shopping application 54.
[0054]
The telephone interface 48 of the servers 10 and 26 performs communication between the server and the telephone line network, and is preferably composed of a general modem. The telephone interface 48 may be a means for communicating with a cable modem, network card, or other public line network.
[0055]
The customer information database 50 stores information for authenticating each customer for electronic shopping.
[0056]
As shown in FIG. 9, the customer information database stores a telephone number, a telephone format, a password, a customer ID, or other desired customer profile information. Customer profile information may further include credit information, shipping address, merchandise that the customer is interested in and / or past purchase history information.
[0057]
The servers 10 and 26 retrieve the customer telephone number from the customer information database 50, and determine the download program ID in the download program memory 52 corresponding to the customer telephone.
[0058]
The transaction processing program downloaded from the download program memory 52 of the server 10, 26 to the purchaser's wireless telephone 18 has instruction information for selecting and paying for the purchased product. The transaction processing program may be the same for all customers, but if necessary, the program may be different for each individual customer or according to customer qualifications.
[0059]
Different transaction processing for different customers Program When used, the download program ID is set in the customer information database shown in FIG. 9 corresponding to each customer, and a desired program can be associated with each customer.
[0060]
It is desirable to have different transaction processing programs for different customers. For example, different transaction processing programs are set with different languages, menus, option information, methods for selecting products, payment methods, and the like. Further, messages and advertisements that may be of interest to a particular customer may be added to different transaction processing programs. For example, customers interested in sports can receive news and promotions related to sports.
[0061]
The transaction processing program is described in a desirable program language such as Java, HTML, or C ++.
[0062]
Since it is not necessary for all customers to own the bar code reader 20 and the IC card reader / writer 27, the specific wireless telephone 18, bar code scanner 20, IC card reader / writer 27, etc. possessed by each customer A special transaction processing program corresponding to another electronic shopping apparatus may be provided for each customer. If the specific customer does not have the IC card reader / writer 27, the part related to the operation of the IC card reader / writer 27 in the transaction processing program can be deleted. Further, when the customer does not have the IC card reader / writer 27 and needs to input credit card information such as a credit number and an expiration date from the keypad 44, the transaction processing program receives the keypad 44 for payment. A function for using can be added. In this way, the transaction processing program is reworked according to individual customers, and the size of the transaction processing program can be minimized by removing portions of the program that are not used by a specific customer.
[0063]
On the other hand, the transaction processing program may include instruction information corresponding to all the operation modes of the auxiliary device such as the wireless telephone 18 or the barcode scanner 20 / IC card reader / writer 27. According to this, a single and the same transaction processing program is always downloaded for all customers, and the processing for downloading the servers 10 and 26 can be simplified. Naturally, such a method has a demerit that a larger transaction processing program must be downloaded to the wireless telephone 18 and the wireless telephone 18 requires a larger memory capacity. It also takes longer time to download such a comprehensive transaction processing program.
[0064]
The server personal shopping application 54 is a program stored in the servers 10 and 26 and executes electronic shopping processing by the servers 10 and 26. As described above, the server personal shopping application 54 is dialed from the wireless telephone 18 to the servers 10 and 26, and when they are connected, the transaction processing program is downloaded to the wireless telephone 18. The server personal shopping application 54 further receives and stores payment information such as credit card numbers and expiration dates. Furthermore, the server personal shopping application 54 reads and updates information recorded on the customer's IC card via the IC card reader / writer 27.
[0065]
The server personal shopping application 54 executes payment processing such as communication and processing required with the credit card company in order to make a payment request to the customer by the credit card company.
[0066]
Please refer to FIG. The receiver 110 of the wireless telephone 18 receives the transaction processing program via the antenna 114 and the duplexer 112 and supplies the transaction processing program to the program memory 34 based on the program load function 108 of the program loader 32 (see FIG. 2). . The program memory 34 stores a loaded transaction processing program 106 to be executed by a microprocessor (see FIGS. 2 and 4). When the download is completed, the program loading function unit 108 hands over control to the loaded transaction processing program 106. While the loaded transaction processing program 106 is executed, the receiver 110 receives data such as product information and prices from the servers 10 and 26 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), and the transmitter 104 sends a UPC code to the servers 10 and 26. And information such as the quantity of each ordered product.
[0067]
Further, the microphone 100 and the speaker 102 of the wireless telephone 18 can be used for communication with a person or the servers 10 and 26 (by voice recognition synthesis), and the user verbally while performing transaction processing. Inquiries can be made. Accordingly, the wireless telephone processing function circuit unit 40 is preferably configured to allow voice and data to be mixed during transaction processing when the wireless telephone 18 is communicating with the servers 10, 26. . By such a method, it is possible to transmit store advertisements / advertisements and messages by voice from the servers 10 and 26 to the wireless telephone 18.
[0068]
Please refer to FIG. The wireless telephone 18 includes a call processing software 126, an RF synthesizer 132, a mixer 134, a fixed oscillator 136, a duplexer 112, and an antenna 114 that operate in the same manner as a conventional wireless telephone. The transmitter 104 includes an analog-to-digital converter 120, a speech coder 122, a channel coder 124, a modulator 128, and a radio frequency amplifier 130 that operate by well-known means. In addition, the receiver 110 includes a digital-to-analog converter 140, a speech decoder 142, a channel decoder 144, an equalizer 146, a demodulator 148, and a radio band receiver / amplifier 150, which also operate by well-known means.
[0069]
An electronic shopping section (29 in FIG. 2) added to a conventional wireless telephone includes a program loader 32, a loaded program 106 (stored in program memory 34 in FIG. 2), and optimally an external I / O. A barcode scanner 20 connected to the wireless telephone 18 via the O port 36 is provided. The added configuration and data path are shown in bold lines in FIG.
[0070]
The data path from the channel decoder 144 to the microprocessor 38 is utilized for data communication from the server 10, 26 to the microprocessor 38 of the wireless telephone 18 while the transaction processing program is downloaded or the transaction processing program is executed. The data path from the microprocessor 38 to the channel coder 124 is used for data communication from the microprocessor 38 to the servers 10 and 26 while the transaction processing program 106 is executed.
[0071]
The data path from the analog-to-digital converter 120 to the microprocessor 38 is used for voice command, voice menu selection, voice purchase product selection, etc. for voice data to the program loaded from the microphone 100 of the wireless telephone 18. Used for communication. A voice recognition function is added to the downloaded transaction processing program, and the voice data is recognized by the transaction processing program in parallel with data input from the keyboard 44 or the barcode scanner 20. The data channel from the microprocessor 38 to the digital / analog converter 140 is used for communication of voice data such as voice guidance and error messages by voice from the loaded program 106 to the speaker 102. The downloaded transaction processing program issues a voice message to the customer from the speaker of the wireless telephone in parallel with the message display on the display of the wireless telephone 18. In parallel with the execution of the transaction processing program for transferring / downloading non-voice data, voice data is transmitted and received between the wireless telephone and the server by the microphone / transmitter and the receiver / speaker.
[0072]
In communication using a conventional digital wireless telephone, each message slot consists of a control signal and data. The control signal is used for transmission / reception control. According to the prior art, the data is a digitized voice message that a person has spoken on a wireless telephone. According to the technology of the present invention, such data includes not only audio data but also digital data such as data indicating selection of a product, price, and the number selected.
[0073]
According to the embodiment of the present invention, the antenna 114 receives a radio band signal including a transaction processing program. A radio band receiver / amplifier 150 is connected to the antenna 114 to receive a radio band signal and amplifies the signal. The demodulator 148 is connected to the radio band receiver / amplifier 150 to receive the amplified radio band signal, and demodulates the signal. The equalizer 146 is connected to the demodulator 148, receives the demodulated signal, equalizes this by a known method, and reduces distortion. The channel decoder 144 receives the equalized signal from the equalizer 146 and separates non-voice data from the equalized signal. Thereby, the channel decoder 144 separates the transaction processing program from the equalization signal, and transfers this transaction processing signal to the program memory 34 based on the instruction of the program loader 32.
[0074]
Details of the operation of the electronic shopping system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0075]
As shown in FIG. 5, in the electronic shopping system according to the present embodiment, a server is called by the wireless telephone 18 and communication between the wireless telephone 18 and the servers 10 and 26 is started.
[0076]
To make such a call, the customer only needs to dial the telephone number of the server 10 or 26 of the company trying to purchase the product. The customer does not need to be particularly aware of whether the store server 10 or the remote server 26 is calling. Regardless of which store server 10 / remote server 26 is called, the operation by the customer is the same.
[0077]
After the wireless telephone and the server are connected, the transaction processing program is downloaded 53 from the server to the wireless telephone 18. Preferably, the password is authenticated by a downloaded transaction processing program. The transaction processing program is then used 55 to perform the desired transaction processing.
[0078]
As shown in FIG. 6, the processing step 51 of calling the server from the wireless telephone 18 includes the step 51a of dialing the server 10, 26 from the wireless telephone 18, and the wireless response using the telephone interface in response to the server 10, 26. Step 51b for communicating with the telephone 18, Step 51c for the telephone interface to obtain the wireless telephone 18 number, and Step 51d for searching the customer information database to obtain the customer's telephone type, customer ID, customer name, etc. Have. The customer ID and customer name are supplied 51e from the telephone interface to the server personal shopping application.
[0079]
Guidance to a customer for inputting an authentication number, a password, or the like from the keypad 44 may be performed on the telephone display 42 or by voice. This guidance is performed by the loaded transaction processing program 106. Further, such guidance may be performed by the store clerk corresponding to the input from the servers 10 and 26 or voice inquiry / keyboard. The password may be any length.
[0080]
According to an embodiment of the present invention, two types of checks are performed by the servers 10 and 26 to determine if the customer is an authorized customer. First, the phone number of the wireless phone 18 is checked to see if the phone number is stored in the customer information database and whether the owner of the wireless phone 18 is authorized to conduct transactions. Is done. Preferably, the customer's phone number is pre-registered, and if the customer is authorized, the phone number should be in the customer database. By confirming the telephone number of such a customer, it is possible to prevent an unauthorized transaction from being performed by an unauthorized person such as a person using a wireless telephone different from his / her own.
[0081]
In addition, after the transaction processing program is downloaded to the wireless telephone 18, the customer is required to input an authentication number and a password as described above. Before transaction processing is permitted, both the phone number and password entered by the customer must be determined to be valid. By requesting the input of such an authentication number or password, it is possible to effectively prevent an unauthorized transaction by an unauthorized person using a stolen wireless telephone.
[0082]
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, password authentication is performed by a downloaded transaction processing program. The password authentication may be performed by the IC card or the servers 10 and 26. By using a downloaded transaction processing program for password authentication, more flexible flexibility compared to when authentication is performed by the server 10, 26 or by the wireless telephone 18 not using the downloaded program. Efficiency can be realized. For example, it is possible to add a function for assisting a password input instruction to the downloaded transaction processing program.
[0083]
The call is made by dialing the telephone number of the server (51a) as in the case of a normal telephone. Prior to dialing the server phone number, the wireless phone 18 is switched to program download mode by pressing a particular button on the wireless phone 18 or entering a predetermined code from the keypad 44. Also good. Further, the transaction processing program may be automatically loaded by connecting the wireless telephone 18 to the servers 10 and 26. Such automatic download is performed based on control signals, codes and / or headers supplied by the server which are recognized by the channel decoder 144 and the microprocessor 38 of the wireless telephone 18 and thereby the firmware memory of the program loader 32. The wireless telephone 18 receives and stores the downloaded transaction processing program based on the instruction information stored in.
[0084]
When loading of the program is started, the previous transaction processing program stored in the program memory is overwritten by the newly received program memory 34.
[0085]
When the loading of the program is complete, the program loader hands control to the loaded transaction processing program (106 in FIG. 3). When the processing of the loaded transaction processing program 106 is started, control of the I / O port 36, the keyboard 44, the microphone 100, and / or devices mounted outside such as the barcode scanner 20 and the IC card reader / writer 27 is controlled. undertake. The transaction processing program 106 also controls all transmission / reception functions of the wireless telephone 18. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the program data and the voice data are superimposed, and it is possible to make a voice inquiry while executing the transaction processing program.
[0086]
Please refer to FIG. The process 53 of downloading the program from the server to the wireless telephone 18 includes a step 53a of transmitting a desired transaction processing program selected based on the telephone number of the user from the server 10, 26 to the wireless telephone 18. The microprocessor of the wireless telephone 18 executes the transaction processing program download based on the instructions stored in the firmware memory of the program loader (53b). The downloaded transaction processing program is stored in the program memory (53c). Then, the downloaded transaction processing program requests the password input from the wireless telephone 18 (53d). The downloaded transaction processing program preferably provides password input guidance and authentication. Alternatively, the wireless telephone 18 may transfer the password to the servers 10 and 26 (53e), and the servers 10 and 26 may authenticate the password (53f).
[0087]
Please refer to FIG. When the transaction processing program is downloaded and stored in the program memory 34 of the wireless telephone 18, the customer can select and register the product to be purchased (68). According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, such merchandise selection (68) is performed by scanning a UPC barcode or the like with the barcode scanner 20. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other codes, symbols, text, etc. can be scanned by various scanning devices to select a product. Furthermore, if you are technically savvy, you can use electronic, Magnetic It will be appreciated that a variety of other scanning techniques may be applied that are different from UPC barcode scanning, such as optical or optical techniques. As an example, a magnetic tag or an electronic transponder may be attached to a product, a product shelf, a catalog, or the like, and similarly scanned to select the product.
[0088]
In addition, a UPC code, a stock code, or other information may be manually input from the keypad 44 provided on the wireless telephone 18 for selecting a product.
[0089]
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, after each product is selected, a description of the product, unit price, etc. are displayed on the display 42 of the wireless telephone 18. Such information may be included in a part of the transaction processing program, or may be received from the servers 10 and 26.
[0090]
According to the embodiment of the invention, the customer can confirm the purchase of the product and delete the product from the purchased product list after selecting the product. The customer can also confirm or cancel each item after all items have been selected before making the payment.
[0091]
According to the embodiment of the invention, the customer can confirm whether or not all necessary items have been purchased by pressing a predetermined key on the keypad 44. In response, the wireless telephone 18 displays the total price of all purchased items and is also given the opportunity to delete items from the list, preferably as described above.
[0092]
After all the products to be purchased are selected (68), the customer pays the products by means of an IC card, credit card, check card or the like (70). The customer can also manually enter a credit card number and expiration date from the keypad 44 of the wireless telephone 18.
[0093]
In addition, customers can register their credit card with the seller in advance, so that transactions are automatically made from the credit card account, and credit card information is entered when paying for purchased items. And the use of IC cards can be omitted.
[0094]
When shopping in the store is completed, payment is made using the wireless telephone 18 or at the checkout counter of the store as described above. When payment is made at the clearing counter of the store, information related to the transaction stored in the wireless telephone 18 or the servers 10 and 26 is used, thereby omitting information input of each purchased product by the store clerk at the time of payment. You can also.
[0095]
On the other hand, when a wireless telephone is used in a store, a customer may scan a barcode with a clearing counter. The scanned bar code can inform the servers 10 and 26 of the clearing counter in which the customer is present. Thereafter, a list of purchased products and their prices is transmitted from the server to a clearing counter in which the customer is present, and the customer pays the store clerk using cash, check, credit card, IC card or the like.
[0096]
When shopping in the store is being performed using the remote server 26, the customer can scan the bar code indicating the store where the shopping is performed and inform the remote server 26 of this. Such a barcode is displayed on a shopping cart, for example. Information indicating the location of the store is used for inventory management of the purchased product at the store where the product is purchased.
[0097]
When the IC card reader / writer 27 is used, an electronic receipt in which the purchased product is recorded may be stored in the IC card as necessary. The electronic receipt stored in the IC card is used to transmit personal shopping information to the customer's home computer in order to save the necessary records at a later date. If necessary, customer purchase history information may be stored in an IC card. Those skilled in the art will recognize that such IC cards can be used for two-way authentication, such as customer authentication and server authentication.
[0098]
If necessary, the customer's personal information may be stored in the IC card so as to be accessible by the servers 10 and 26.
[0099]
An electronic shopping system according to an embodiment of the present invention is used to provide various products and services. This system can be applied to both wholesale and retail. Embodiments of the present invention can also be used for various types of processing other than merchandise purchase transactions.
[0100]
FIG. 9 shows a customer information table. The customer information table is stored in the server as a database, and is accessed by the telephone interface unit 48 and the server personal shopping application 54. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the customer information table stores phone numbers, phone types, download program identification information, passwords, customer identification information, customer names or other required customer profile information.
[0101]
In the second embodiment, an electronic shopping system using a wireless videophone is realized in place of the combination of the wireless telephone 18 and the barcode scanner in the first embodiment. The wireless videophone supports all of the functions described in connection with the wireless telephone 18 and can implement additional functions that cannot be recognized by the system described above. In short, it can be said that the wireless videophone is an optimal product to be used as a communication device and an integrated electronic shopping terminal without using a device for a specific application.
[0102]
FIG. 10 shows a shopping system in which a wireless videophone 218 (wireless videophone) and a store / remote server 210 are combined as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. As in the case of the first embodiment, FIG. 10 shows a shopping system in which a wireless videophone 218 and a store / remote server 210 are combined, as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. Is shown. As in the case of the first embodiment, the server 210 basically corresponds to the store server 10, but this is a remote server, platform computer. T It may be read as “other” and can be installed inside or outside the store.
[0103]
The wireless videophone 218 is connected to a wireless videophone function circuit unit 240 (wireless videophone function electronics), a graphic display 242, a keypad 244, an IC card reader / writer 227, and a digital image input device 236 such as a CCD camera system. A microprocessor 238 for performing communication is provided. The microprocessor 238, the display 242, the keypad 244, and the IC card reader / writer 227 are components included in a wireless videophone that has been considered so far. Further, in order to operate the wireless videophone as a communication device, the wireless videophone function circuit unit 240 includes a wireless phone function circuit unit (40 in FIG. 2). The digital camera 236 is a circuit that converts an image image captured by the lens of the camera into a digital signal that is transmitted by the functional circuit unit 240 and is suitable for processing by the microprocessor 238 that has been JPEG encoded or gif encoded. It has.
[0104]
Similar to that described above with reference to FIG. 2, etc., an electronic shopping section 229 is added to the wireless videophone previously conceived to implement the principles of the present invention. The electronic shopping unit 229 preferably includes a program loader 232 and a program memory 234, which communicate with the microprocessor 238, respectively. The microprocessor 238 may use any of a number of existing microprocessors or digital signal processors suitable for use in wireless telephones and wireless videophones. The wireless videophone function circuit unit 240 includes an electronic circuit that performs general wireless telephone functions such as a telephone number memory, dialing, connection / disconnection circuit, digital encoding, and signal amplification. Further, the wireless videophone function circuit unit includes a digital broadband RF modulation / demodulation circuit suitable for transmission / reception of audio data together with video image data.
[0105]
As can be seen from FIG. 14, the wireless videophone 218 has the same appearance as a general wireless phone. The video phone 218 is preferably a microphone 200, a speaker 202, a keypad 244 (which can be replaced with a keyboard), a graphic display 242, an antenna 214, and a digital camera 236 that is rotatably attached to the front end of the video phone. It has.
[0106]
As the graphic display 242, for example, a color or monochrome LCD display having a resolution of 320 × 240 pel can be used. The graphic display 242 displays an image input from the integrated digital camera 236 along with information displayed on a conventional wireless telephone such as a dialed telephone number.
[0107]
So far, the most practical digital cameras include black and white or color digital still cameras. Here, the amount of image data transmitted and received by the system is determined by the bandwidth. As one simple and inexpensive system, a system that inputs an image for each frame based on a user instruction can be used in the same manner as a conventional digital camera. If necessary, the camera and the related circuit unit may be a video camera capable of inputting a moving image with a reduced frame rate. Codes such as MPEG and NPEG2 may be used instead of JPEG and gif. Decryption It will be appreciated that the system may be adapted.
[0108]
Regardless of the configuration, the camera 236 is pivotally attached to the front end portion of the mobile unit of the videophone, so that the range in which an image can be input can be set to a range of approximately 180 degrees. With such a configuration, the lens of the camera can be placed at a position where an image can be easily input without inconvenience in having a hand unit.
[0109]
Returning to FIG. 10, the IC card reader / writer 227 reads information from an IC card that can be used for billing charges and writes information to the IC card while storing user account information and the like. The keypad 244 is used to input numerical values and even character information to the microprocessor 238.
[0110]
The electronic shopping system 229 has a further configuration for performing electronic shopping. The program loader unit 232 has a firmware memory that stores information instructing to download a transaction processing program from the system server 210 or the like. The instruction information stored in the firmware memory of the program loader 232 is executed by the microprocessor 238 when a call is made from the wireless videophone 218 to the server 210, as will be described in detail later.
[0111]
The program loader 232 may further include an additional circuit for improving or improving the function of downloading the transaction processing program. As in the case of the first embodiment, the program loader may be constituted by a single active circuit instead of a memory if necessary. Such an active circuit performs an automatic download of the transaction processing program in response to the wireless telephone 18 being connected to the server 210 without requiring an instruction read from the memory.
[0112]
The server 210 includes a telephone interface 248 that communicates with the customer information database 250, at least one download program memory 252 and the server personal shopping application 254, respectively. The telephone interface 248 of the server 1210 intervenes in communication between the server and the telephone line network, and uses a device that communicates with a digital broadband modem, cable modem, network interface card (NIC), or other commercial broadband telephone system. can do.
[0113]
As in the previous embodiment, the customer information database 250 stores information for authenticating each customer when the customer uses a specific electronic shopping system, and is illustrated in FIG. Thus, the customer's telephone number, the type of communication device such as telephone or videophone, download program ID, password, customer ID, customer name, or other desirable customer profile information is stored. The customer profile information further includes credit information, the shipping address of the product, the product that the customer is interested in, and past transaction history information.
[0114]
In operation, upon receiving an access request from a customer, the server system 210 retrieves the profile information of the calling customer from the customer information database 250 and is created to correspond to the customer's communication device such as a telephone or a videophone. Then, the download program corresponding to the program stored in the download program memory 252 is determined. In the transaction processing program downloaded from the download program memory 252 of the server to the customer's videophone 218, specific instruction information indicating selection of a product to be purchased and a payment method is set. The transaction processing program may be the same for each customer, but may be different for each customer or group of customers as necessary. When different transaction processing programs are applied to different customers, the download program ID stored in the customer information database can be associated with each customer, thereby enabling transaction processing required for each customer. You can associate programs. For example, each different download program displays information in a different language, and a menu option or method for selecting a product corresponding to each customer is set, or a different payment method is set. Furthermore, a message or advertisement corresponding to a specific product for a specific customer may be set in each transaction processing program, and the message or advertisement for such a specific product is transmitted to the customer's videophone and is integrated. Displayed on a digital display.
[0115]
A transaction processing program corresponding to a customer that improves the function of the device is supplied to the customer who possesses the wireless videophone according to the present embodiment. In particular, since a digital camera 236 is attached to a wireless videophone instead of a barcode scanner, a character recognition or pattern recognition function can be added to the transaction processing program. Similar to the example embodiment combining the and the barcode scanner, software may be added that functions to allow the wireless videophone to demodulate the barcode.
[0116]
Routines that perform character recognition, pattern recognition, or bar code demodulation functions do not need to be downloaded directly from the firmware memory of the program loader on the wireless videophone to give the system this capability. Will understand.
[0117]
The wireless videophone has a function of inputting digital image information such as a barcode pattern or a graphic image pattern and directly transmitting the information to the store server 10 via a circuit unit. When such information is received by the server, a character recognition or pattern recognition application routine is executed in the server to demodulate the image information of the barcode input by the digital video camera or to recognize the pattern of the pattern such as an icon. Is done.
[0118]
The server personal shopping application 254 also exists in the server system 210 and is characterized as a program that operates the server to execute electronic shopping. As described above, the server personal shopping application 254 has a function of downloading a transaction processing program and a dedicated character / pattern recognition routine to the wireless videophone after the wireless videophone 218 is connected to the server. The server personal shopping application further receives and demodulates barcodes and character / pattern information by an optional character / pattern recognition software routine. The server personal shopping application 254 also receives and stores payment information such as a credit card number and expiration date, and if an IC card reader / writer is used, the IC card reader / writer 227 is used to connect the customer's IC. It also reads and updates information stored on the card.
[0119]
Please refer to FIG. The receiver 310 of the wireless videophone 218 optionally receives a pattern or character recognition routine via the antenna assembly 214 along with the transaction processing program, and receives the received download program. Wireless videophone processor 240 and Program loading The program is supplied to the program of the program loader via the processing unit 308. When supplied to the program memory, the loaded transaction processing program can be executed by the microprocessor 238. Program row Processing section 308 hands over the control to the loaded transaction processing program 306 when the download is complete. Next, when the receiver circuit 310 receives product information, price, and other information, and information is supplied from the transmitter circuit unit 304 to the server, the loaded transaction processing program 306 is processed. Information supplied from the transmitter to the server includes images input from the digital camera 236 of the system such as information specifying the barcode data, icon-like products, and other information, as well as information input from the keypad 244. Contains information.
[0120]
Simultaneously with the execution of the transaction process, communication with a store clerk or server (by voice recognition / synthesis) such as an inquiry by voice is performed in the same manner as a conventional call using the microphone 200 and the speaker 202 of the wireless videophone. You may go. In addition to two-way information communication such as voice and / or text, wireless videophones are also suitable for two-way image communication between customers and outside the store or between stores. The processing function unit 240 of the wireless videophone is configured to execute a function of superimposing voice information, image information, and data during transaction processing during communication between the wireless videophone and the server. With this method, store advertisements and announcements can be transmitted from the server to the wireless telephone 18 by either voice or image means.
[0121]
Please refer to FIG. The wireless videophone is configured to perform the functions of conventional wireless telephone systems such as call control software 326, RF synthesizer 332, mixer 334, fixed oscillator 336, antenna assembly including duplexer 312 and antenna system 314. The transmitter 304 has a configuration that operates in a widely known manner, such as an analog-digital conversion unit circuit 320, a speech coder 322, a channel encoder 324, a broadband digital modulator 328, and an RF amplifier 330. In addition, the receiver circuit 310 includes a wideband broadcast receiver such as a digital / analog conversion circuit 340, a speech decoder 342, a channel decoder 344, a digital equalizer 346, a digital demodulator 348, and an RF receiver / amplifier 350. The structure provided with the features of.
[0122]
Video image data is input from a digital camera 236 provided in the system, and the input image data is supplied to the microprocessor 238. The microprocessor 238 processes the input image data by the application program 306 that has been downloaded and stored in advance in the wireless videophone. Following processing by the microprocessor, the image data is encoded by the channel encoder 324 for demodulation and transferred to the store server. If no character / pattern recognition software has been downloaded to the system, the image data is input to the microprocessor 238 and then directly passed to the channel encoder circuit 324 for demodulation and transmission by the system.
[0123]
When receiving the image data, after the digital video data is demodulated and equalized by the demodulator 348 and the equalizer 346, the video image information is decoded by the channel decoder circuit 344 and displayed on the graphic display screen 242. Is supplied to the microprocessor 238 for this purpose. Further, the analog / digital conversion unit 320 of the transmitter circuit 304 is directly connected to the microprocessor 238 together with the digital / analog conversion unit 340 of the receiver unit 310 to execute the speech recognition / synthesis function downloaded from the store server 10. Also good. A data channel from the microprocessor 238 to the digital / analog conversion unit 340 transmits audio data or synthesized audio data to the speaker 302. Similarly, the data channel from the microprocessor 238 to the analog / digital conversion unit 320 is used for recognition of an audio signal input from the microphone 300. Furthermore, audio data communicated between the wireless videophone and the store server is transferred by the microphone / transmitter and receiver / speaker in parallel with the bidirectional communication of text / image information or the execution of the downloaded program. You may make it do.
[0124]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the wireless telephone 18 used as a device for inputting image data from an integrated digital camera corresponding to the downloaded barcode image input program. The customer interacts with the store server 10 using the 18 parts of the wireless telephone that constitutes the system, makes the server recognize itself, Wire Download the transaction processing program corresponding to the image input function of the less videophone.
[0125]
Loading a program But After completion, the newly received transaction processing program overwrites the previously received program stored in the system program memory. The program loader hands over control to the loaded transaction processing program, and controls peripheral input / output devices of the system such as the keyboard 244, the microphone 300, the IC card reader / writer 227, the video graphic display 242, and the digital video camera 236. The transaction processing program further controls all transmission / reception functions of the wireless videophone.
[0126]
Please refer to FIG. When the transaction processing program is downloaded, the customer uses a wireless videophone, particularly a digital camera, to select and register a product that the customer intends to purchase. Such a product selection is performed by inputting UPC barcode data of a product existing in the image input range of the digital camera and other images. When a consumer scans a specific barcode using a digital camera, the image captured by the camera is displayed on the system's graphic display, allowing the customer to see if the entire image has been entered. If the character / pattern recognition software is downloaded as part of the program, the customer can simply press a predetermined key on the system keyboard to process the image on the system. I can let you know. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other codes, marks, text, icons or the like can be scanned and recognized by the character / pattern recognition routine. As described above, it is not always necessary to use a UPC code to select a product, and a product can be selected using a specific product or a specific icon indicating a service to be provided. For example, when buying groceries, you can use icons to identify items that show the appearance of bread, milk packs, broccoli, etc. to see if the customer was able to read the barcode. This makes it possible to select purchased products quickly and efficiently without being bothered.
[0127]
Regardless of the form of the mark input by the digital video camera, the system will only operate the download program coded to recognize characters and patterns corresponding to the application in the same way for each mark. Based on this, processing is performed. In the following, image data input by a video camera is included in “barcode” image data, which is a general term, regardless of its type.
[0128]
Please refer to FIG. The program is under normal conditions and the customer system The idle mode waits for the operation of a specific function key such as a bar code reading key provided on the keyboard. When a specific function key is pressed, the downloaded program starts operating. In the example of FIG. 13, when the barcode reading key is operated, the program inputs a barcode image captured by the digital camera. When a barcode image is input, the program demodulates the barcode image data into numerical barcode data using pattern recognition software. When the bar code is demodulated into numerical data, the bar code data is transferred to the store server by the wireless communication unit of the system.
[0129]
In the server, numeric bar code data is associated with individual products that can be searched from a PLU (Price Look Up) table or file. Then, a response “commodity selection complete” is issued from the server and received by the customer's wireless videophone using its communication function. The received response is displayed for the customer on an integrated graphic display screen provided in the system. This response includes information such as the numeric bar code data of the selected product, the product name, and the product unit price. This information enables the customer to check whether the product is the product that he / she has selected.
[0130]
In the embodiment of the present invention, after a product is selected, the customer can confirm the selected product and delete the specific product from the product list. The customer can also check and delete each item before all the items to be purchased are selected and paid. The customer operates a predetermined key provided on the keypad to indicate that all products have been registered. In response, the wireless videophone displays the total price of the registered merchandise and gives the customer the opportunity to delete some or all of the merchandise from the list as described above. After all the products to be purchased are selected, the customer can pay by IC card, credit card, check card or the like using the IC card reader / writer unit of the system. Customers can also enter credit card numbers, expiration dates, and other information into the wireless videophone using the keypad.
[0131]
Besides being applied to a simple and effective electronic shopping system, the wireless videophone of the present invention is not limited to retail transaction processing alone. It will be appreciated that the ability to download the program is not specific to the application being applied, and that any suitable size application program can be downloaded and executed by the wireless telephone 18 of the present invention. . The combination of the program loader function and the system's digital camera and graphic display make the system suitable for catalog shopping, and when selecting a product for purchase, it is simply listed on the catalog page. It is only necessary to scan a printed barcode near the printed product.
[0132]
In addition, the system according to the present invention is applied to an automatic telephone using a bar code telephone book. Da It can also be applied to earrings. Furthermore, the system according to the present invention is particularly useful for electronic selection systems in which bar code information is displayed on a display screen such as an LCD or computer CRT. When such barcode information is displayed, it is difficult for the conventional barcode scanner system to read the barcode information from the screen. Conventional scanner systems irradiate a barcode image with a laser beam, because the scattering of light rays generated on the surface of this type of display interferes with the barcode reading described above.
[0133]
In the present invention, since it is only necessary to store the barcode data within the imaging range of the digital camera of the system, it is easier to input such a barcode image. According to the system of the present invention, it is not necessary to irradiate and scan the barcode with any kind of electromagnetic waves in order to input an image. With such a feature, it is possible to easily read a barcode image displayed on a computer display, particularly when a product is sold by weight.
In particular, many grocery stores use scales that have a small LCD panel and display the weight of the product on the LCD panel in the form of a bar code when the customer places the product on it. Will. By using the device of the present invention, the customer can read the barcode related to the product itself from the label of the shelf, etc., and input the barcode data displayed on the screen indicating the weight of the product to be purchased. It can be done.
[0134]
Such an information input method can also be applied to a scale equipped with a product selection function such as a display screen having a pressure detection area (touch panel) that classifies items of a keypad and product selection. When the customer places the product on the scale, the product selection device identifies the type of product. The display screen of the scale displays the weight of the product in the form of a bar code along with a product code such as a UPC code. The product code and the weight may be displayed as separate barcodes, or may be displayed as a single barcode in which both pieces of information are combined.
[0135]
It will also be appreciated that product information need not be displayed in the form of a bar code in order to fulfill the functions of the invention. The product information may be displayed in the form of character information such as a product name or a numerical code. In any case, the character recognition software realizes the function of recognizing the product on the wireless videophone. The character recognition software recognizes a product based on a numerical value or a character code, whereas the pattern recognition software determines the characteristics of the product based on the barcode data.
[0136]
As described above, pattern / character recognition can be realized by software downloaded to the wireless videophone, but numerical value / character or bar code image information is transmitted to the server to execute recognition processing. Good. Thereafter, the recognition result is returned to the wireless videophone and displayed to the customer.
[0137]
It will be appreciated that the system of the present invention can input bar codes and numerical information displayed on any type of display device by positioning the image within the imaging range of the system's digital camera. If the program downloaded to the system has a pattern / character recognition routine, the recognition data processing is executed inside the videophone. If the downloaded program does not include recognition software, the program transfers the image information to the server, the recognition processing software in the server processes the data, and the recognized product information is returned to the videophone. Displayed on a graphic display. In the simplest example, the downloaded program can send image information data to the store server 10, and information is displayed to the store clerk based on this. The store clerk determines the product corresponding to the transmitted data such as a barcode or numerical data, and returns the determined product information to the graphic display on the customer's videophone.
[0138]
By using more advanced pattern recognition software, Numeric It is possible to provide a function of inputting information on a product that is not recognized depending on the level to which the information is attached, and the function of the wireless videophone of the present invention can be further improved. More sophisticated pattern recognition software recognizes this product as an apple from an image of an item such as an apple input by a customer. Such functions have distinguishable / identifiable shapes and other visually recognizable features. Product Is particularly useful. like this Pa Turn recognition is performed by downloaded software inside the wireless videophone. Further, the image information of the product is transferred to a server in which a pattern recognition program for recognizing the necessary product is stored. Further, the image information of the product may be transferred to the server by the system, and the store clerk may recognize this by displaying the image on the display.
[0139]
The electronic shopping system described herein and illustrated in the associated drawings is merely illustrative of one embodiment of the present invention. Other improvements and additions can be applied to these embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, those skilled in the art will recognize that a variety of wireless telephones 18 of different types than conventional cellular telephones are suitable for implementing the present invention and can be used for the wireless videophone communications described above. You will recognize. Various wireless communication means other than the cellular telephone system can be applied to communication between the customer apparatus and the server. In particular, the system will be able to communicate using broadband RF microwave communication technology, or other technologies.
[0140]
Furthermore, the downloaded program is not limited to the transaction processing program. Any other application program can be downloaded to the wireless videophone by the program loader. Therefore, any application program can be used in the wireless system. For example, the wireless videophone according to the present invention can be used for ticket reservations, seat reservations, food orders, text / voice / video guidance programs, information queries and others.
[0141]
These and other improvements and additions are obvious to those skilled in the art and will envisage applying the present invention to a variety of different applications. As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but is limited only by the scope described in the claims and the concept thereof.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 illustrates an outline of an electronic shopping system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Do Drawing.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating details of the wireless telephone 18 and server.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a wireless telephone 18 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a wireless telephone 18 according to one embodiment, illustrating the relationship between the configuration of a conventional wireless telephone 18 and the configuration according to one embodiment of the present invention (shown in bold / thick lines).
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing by the electronic shopping system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart illustrating in more detail a server calling step from the wireless telephone 18 illustrated in FIG. 5;
7 is a flowchart illustrating in detail a program download step from the server illustrated in FIG. 5 to the wireless telephone 18. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating in detail the execution of the transaction processing program illustrated in FIG. 5;
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a customer information table.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a wireless videophone according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of a wireless videophone according to an embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a wireless videophone showing the internal relationship between the configuration of a conventional wireless videophone and the configuration according to the present invention (shown in bold / thick lines).
FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining processing steps of a downloaded program for inputting and decoding barcode information.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the external appearance of a wireless videophone to which the present invention is applied.

Claims (6)

An electronic shopping system for performing product purchase processing using a wireless videophone,
A server for storing a transaction processing program used for electronic purchase processing;
A wireless videophone that communicates with the server,
The wireless videophone, an antenna for receiving a radio signal containing said transaction processing program,
A radio band receiver / amplifier for amplifying the radio signal received from the antenna,
A demodulator that receives and demodulates the radio signal amplified by the radio band receiver / amplifier ;
From the signal demodulated by the demodulator, and a channel decoder for separating the non-speech / non-image data includes the transaction processing program,
And a program loader to download the transaction processing programming ram that has been downloaded from the server to the program memory,
A digital camera connected to a microprocessor;
And a graphic display
The server is provided with a pattern recognition program,
The pattern recognition program recognizes image information input from the digital camera and transmitted from the wireless videophone, and converts the information into information for identifying a product.
The electronic shopping system , wherein the wireless videophone that has received the information displays the information on the graphic display . In the electronic shopping system, the program loader has a firmware memory,
  2. The electronic shopping system according to claim 1, wherein the firmware memory stores instruction information executed when the transaction processing program received by the wireless videophone is stored in the program memory. In the electronic shopping system,
  The wireless videophone further includes a microprocessor connected to a program loader and the program memory, and the microprocessor is stored in the program memory and instruction information stored in the firmware memory of the program loader. The electronic shopping system according to claim 2, wherein the electronic shopping system executes a transaction processing program. In the electronic shopping system,
The wireless videophone is provided with a pattern recognition program, wherein the pattern recognition program performs pattern recognition of image information input from the digital camera, and converts the image information into corresponding product information. The electronic shopping system according to claim 1. In the electronic shopping system,
  5. The electronic shopping system according to claim 4, wherein the image information is a barcode, and the pattern recognition program converts the barcode data into information for identifying a product. In the electronic shopping system,
  5. The electronic shopping system according to claim 4, wherein the image information is a pattern shape unique to a product, and the pattern recognition program converts the pattern shape into numerical / character information for identifying the product.

Images