JP5154210B2 - Electronic commerce system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention generates a product category selection screen provided on a purchaser communication terminal via a communication network and a product selection screen having a two-dimensional matrix cell-shaped product list, and displays the product selection screen on the screen. The present invention relates to an electronic commerce system having a product registration function capable of registering various information of products.

  In the recent electronic commerce system using the Internet, a plurality of products to be sold are divided into product categories, and a product category selection screen in which those product categories are arranged is displayed on the purchaser's communication terminal. When one of the product categories is selected, there is a configuration in which a product selection screen showing a list of a plurality of related products corresponding to the product category is displayed and the purchaser is allowed to select a product. . For example, Patent Document 1 describes a system having a product category selection screen having two or more layers.

  In addition, the electronic commerce system includes a product display layout design and product information registration / change on the product selection screen corresponding to the product display shelves at the actual store, and a category display layout design and product category on the product category selection screen. Some have a back office system that can freely register and change information for each screen. In particular, in an electronic mall system in which a plurality of stores are affiliated as sellers, a back office system composed of general-purpose tools is generally prepared.

  On the other hand, some conventional electronic commerce systems are able to provide discounted products for a certain period of time, similar to bargains generally implemented in actual stores. For example, in Patent Document 2, product information including a product code, a price, a bargain number to be applied, and bargain information including a bargain No, a discount period, a discount rate / amount, and the like are individually registered. In addition, there is disclosed a system in which bargain information is associated with a bargain number for discount sales.

According to this system, the bargain information is managed separately from the product information, and the product and the bargain information are associated with the bargain number, so there is no need to include detailed bargain information in the product information. Therefore, the product information is not complicated, the bargain information can be shared, and it is not necessary to update the product information due to the change of the bargain information or the end of the bargain period, so that the maintainability is high.
JP 2007-293575 A JP 2007-4748 A

  However, this type of bargain function has the advantage that product information and bargain information can be registered separately, but when registering or changing product information, the association between the bargain No. and bargain information is confirmed with documents. However, it is necessary to input the bargain number, and the setting work may be troublesome. Also, because the registration and change timing of both information is shifted, the association by bargain number may not be successful, and there is a risk of selling bargains at the wrong price, so it can never be said that the system is highly reliable for the seller. .

  Further, in the system for selling products classified in the hierarchical product category as described above, it is assumed that a common bargain is performed on products in the same product category. If the bargain function disclosed in the above is adopted, it is necessary to input all the products in the same product category individually even though only the bargain number is input, which may be very troublesome.

  Therefore, it cannot be said that the bargain setting technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 can be put into practical use in a normal electronic commerce system using a communication network.

  The present invention has been proposed in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an electronic commerce system that is highly reliable and easy to operate for sellers in setting bargain information for products to be sold. There is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, the electronic commerce system according to claim 1 downloads and displays a product selection screen from a seller server to a purchaser's communication terminal through a communication network, and displays the product selection screen via the communication network. In an electronic commerce system that accepts an operation of a purchaser communication terminal and conducts a product transaction, a communication terminal of a store is freely connectable to the seller server via the communication network. Based on the screen operation of the communication terminal of the store, there are a plurality of rows and columns, two attributes of the product are written in each of the rows and columns, and a cell 2 specified by a combination of these two attributes A screen generation means for a purchaser that generates and saves a product selection screen including a product item list that is arranged in a dimensional matrix and displays the sales price in each cell; Based on the screen operation of the communication terminal of the store, as the setting item for each product squares table, at least, the selling price information to be displayed on the squares, along with the sales period, so as to correspond to at least one product lattices list with items Product profile setting means to set product profile for each cell list at once, and when receiving a product selection screen download request from the buyer communication terminal, refer to the product profile and incorporate the sales price corresponding to the current date and time And a screen providing means for downloading a product selection screen including the selected product item list to the purchaser's communication terminal.

  Here, since the sales price information is set for each product item list including a plurality of products, for example, if the setting target is a bargain, this includes a discount rate, a discount amount, and the like. Of course, the selling price itself may be used.

  In the second aspect, the product profile setting means can set, as setting items, at least a discount period and a discount rate common to all products displayed in the product item list.

In claim 3, the product selection screen is provided below the lowest layer of the product category selection screen of at least one level, and the purchaser screen generation means further has a function of generating a product category selection screen The product profile setting means uses the input setting screen, for each product category selection screen, for every product item list table associated with all product categories included in that screen, for each product item list table. The discount period and discount rate can be set.

  According to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the same sales price information and the sales period can be set for each product item list on the product selection screen to be displayed to the purchaser. When it is desired to make uniform settings for each list, information on all of the plurality of products arranged in the product list can be registered at the same time, thereby reducing the trouble of data registration for the seller. Also, if you have an input setting screen for sales price information and sales period, you can create a product selection screen on the screen and simultaneously perform settings on the input setting screen to set the discount rate and discount period on the product. Can be done in parallel with registration.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the discount rate and the discount period common to the product item list on the product selection screen are provided as the setting items of the product profile setting means, the seller can Bargain information can be set in For this reason, even when there are a large number of products to be handled, the setting can be made while confirming the association between the products, the discount rate, and the discount period, so the possibility of erroneous setting is low and the reliability is very high.

  Furthermore, if the time can be specified during the discount period, it is a simple operation, so that it can be used quickly for emergency time services.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, when products are classified by hierarchical product categories, all of the items placed on the specific product category selection screen are generated when the specific product category selection screen is generated. Since the same sales price information and sales period can be set for all the products belonging to the product category, it is possible to set a bargain for each category including a lower product category.

  In addition, since it can be set for each product category, it is also possible to set for each hierarchy. Therefore, once set for a specific product category, different bargain information can be set for the lower product category of that specific product category. . This is extremely convenient when bargaining is performed on a product category basis.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an electronic commerce system which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

  The electronic commerce system 1 is capable of two-way communication between a seller server 2 and purchaser communication terminals 3, 3... Used on the purchaser side such as a personal computer via a communication network 5 such as the Internet. The purchaser-side user operates the communication terminal 3 to access the seller server 2, and the screen information 6 of various screens is displayed on the communication terminal 3 in accordance with the browser operation of the purchaser. It can be downloaded and selected and ordered.

  The electronic commerce system 1 is either an electronic mall system in which a plurality of companies, stores, etc. (hereinafter referred to as stores) gather together to form a seller, or an electronic sales system in which a specific company is a seller. Can be applied, but this example shows what is applied to the electronic mall system. As shown in the figure, product information is registered, screens for buyers are generated, and inventory management is performed. Communication terminals 4, 4... Of each store are connected to the communication network 5.

  The seller server 2 is configured to include a Web server, and when a user on the purchaser side accesses the communication terminal 3 to access it and downloads a desired screen, the communication terminal that has accessed the server When the purchaser user performs a desired selection operation such as ordering on the downloaded screen, the product order information 7 transmitted based on the operation is received.

  As described above, in the electronic commerce system 1, various data related to electronic commerce are transmitted and received between the seller server 2 and the purchaser communication terminal 3. In addition, various data relating to purchaser screen generation, product profile setting, and the like are also transmitted and received between the seller server 2 and the communication terminal 4 of the store, as will be described later.

  The electronic commerce system 1 includes a product profile P in which various data are set and registered for each product. In the present embodiment, the product profile P is classified into product categories having a hierarchical structure by the seller. In order to sell a product, the product includes a category master file 11 that stores information on all product categories for classifying products, and a product master file 12 that stores product information about all products. .

  The category master file 11 and the product master file 12 may be configured by, for example, a relational database, and are generated as a database in which the above two types of files are associated with each other so as to have a parent-child relationship according to a hierarchical structure, for example. It may be. The system 1 also includes an inventory master file (not shown) that manages the number of inventory for each product.

  In the present embodiment, for example, sales price information (discount rate) and sales period (discount period) set as temporary bargain information on the seller side are set in the category master file 11, but the product master file 12 In addition, the product profile to be set with these pieces of information is not particularly limited as long as it is a file associated with the product.

  The function of the system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the system, FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a hierarchical structure of the product category selection screen and product selection screen for the purchaser, FIG. FIG. 5B shows an example of the product category selection screen, and FIG. 5 shows an example of the product selection screen.

  The electronic commerce system 1 is a back office function for each store, a product registration function that allows the design and generation of a screen for purchasers, and the registration and change of each product category and product information to be displayed on the screen. A, inventory management function B for the purpose of inventory management of each product, system management function C for the purpose of system management / maintenance, etc. Product selection function E that allows selection of products to be purchased in the matrix-like product list of the matrix, and cart display / order function for displaying a list of information on products selected by the purchaser and stored in the cart F, a product map display function G showing a hierarchical structure of all product categories and products is provided. In the product map display function G, for example, the hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 3 is displayed.

  In addition, as will be described later, the purchaser screen design and generation (screen layout design) and the product category and product information displayed on the screen are registered and changed (product information registration). In this embodiment, the merchant corresponds to the direct screen generating unit 10a and the product profile setting unit 10b (see FIG. 6) and is functionally separated. Therefore, since these are functions that can be performed continuously without distinction, they are positioned as a product registration function A.

  Each of the above functions is an interactive display screen that is operated and displayed on each terminal connected to the seller server 2 via the communication network 5 as a user interface with the user (seller or purchaser). These screens are positioned below the top page T and can be displayed by links from the top page T. In the drawings and the description thereof, the same reference numerals for the respective functions are given to the screens corresponding to the respective functions.

  In the case of an electronic mall system as in this example, the back office function is operated via the browser display screen of the communication terminal 4 of each store connected via the communication network 5. In an electronic sales system in which a specific company sells products, it may be operated by a terminal (not shown) directly connected to the seller server 2 without using a communication network.

  Further, the user interface of each function is not limited to an interactive type using a display screen, and may be an interface using card type data such as CSV data.

  The product category selection screen D and product selection screen E for the purchaser can be designed in a hierarchical structure using the product registration function A. As shown in the example of FIG. 3, the product selection screen E can be provided so as to be positioned at the lowest layer of the product category selection screens D1, D2,. In each store, as shown in the example of FIG. 3, the product selection screen E positioned under the three-level product category selection screens D1, D2, and D3 of the major classification, middle classification, and minor classification, and the major classification and middle classification The product selection screen E positioned below the two-level product category selection screens D1 and D2, the product selection screen E positioned directly below the large category product category selection screen D1, and the like can be mixed and designed.

  The large category product category selection screen D1 is positioned, for example, on the top page T1 of the purchaser's screen. For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, a plurality of clothing products handled in the store are classified into a large category. Product categories are arranged and displayed in a checkered table. In this example, the category arrangement table d10 is a 3-row, 4-column grid-like table, and a selection icon d11 is assigned to each box for selecting product categories of ladies, mens, pairs, children, babies and special sales. Yes.

  The category arrangement table d10 of the product category selection screen D is arranged in a checkered pattern, but is classified according to the classification condition as in a product check list e20 (see FIG. 5) of the product selection screen E described later. Rather than a two-dimensional matrix in which two attributes are assigned to rows and columns and a single cell is specified on the vertical and horizontal axes, product categories can be assigned to random positions in a random order It is. Therefore, only an icon indicating the product category may be arranged on the screen without providing an arrangement table.

  When the purchaser operates one selection icon d11 from the category arrangement table d10 displayed on the large category product category selection screen D1, the display is switched to the medium category product category selection screen D2 or the product selection screen E. . Since each store sets associations of various levels as shown in FIG. 3, if a purchaser selects a certain product category on the large category product category selection screen D1, the level set for that product category (Association) Switch to either the middle-class product category selection screen D2 or the product selection screen E according to the structure.

  In the example of FIGS. 4 and 5, a product category having a two-layer structure of men (large classification) and polo shirt (medium classification) is illustrated. When men's is selected on the large category product category selection screen D1 in FIG. 4 (a), as shown in FIG. 4 (b), a medium category product category selection screen D2 for men is displayed. When the polo shirt is selected, a product selection screen E for the polo shirt is displayed as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the product selection screen E is a two-dimensional matrix cell in which a plurality of identical category-related products belonging to the lowest product category are assigned two attributes each having a plurality of classification conditions to row attributes and column attributes. The product cell list e20 arranged in a shape is provided. The product item list e20 includes a sales price display unit e231 and a selection operation unit e232 that allows a purchaser to input the number of purchases and the like in a product item column e23 specified by two rows and columns. And are arranged. The product selection screen E further includes a common item column e10 that collectively displays attributes common to product groups (products of the same category) included in the product category.

  The selection operation unit e232 includes a numerical value input frame for inputting the number of purchases. However, in the case where the input of the purchase number is not required, a selection icon may be provided instead of the purchase number input frame. This selection icon includes a selection button, a check box, a radio button, and the like formed by an image or the like.

  If the purchaser selects a product with the selection operation part e232 of the product item column e23 on the product selection screen E and inputs the quantity, and operates the total button e24, the total amount e25 is displayed, and the “Add to Cart” button e26. Is stored in the purchaser's cart 16 (see FIG. 6), and the order of all the products stored in the cart can be confirmed by the subsequent ordering operation.

  In the screen display examples of FIGS. 4 and 5, bargain information d20 and e30 are displayed on the upper right of the arrangement table d10 and the product cell list e20. As the bargain information d20 and e30, in the case of the product category selection screen D, the products belonging to all the product categories shown on the screen are applied to the bargain information on which all the products shown on the screen are displayed. And information indicating the discount rate of the bargain and information indicating the discount period are displayed. In the case of the product selection screen E, similar bargain information is displayed.

  This bargain information can be set while designing the product category selection screen D and the product selection screen E using the product registration function A. In this way, since certain bargain information can be set in units of screens, it is possible to apply all the products positioned at the lower level of the screen to the same bargain information.

  In the present embodiment, a certain product category and a lower product category belonging to the product category can be applied to different bargain information. For example, in the examples of FIGS. 4 and 5, as shown in FIG. 5, a product belonging to a polo shirt that is a middle-class product category has a discount rate of 20% and a discount period of January 1 to 15, 2008. Although applied to other products belonging to the major and middle product categories, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the discount rate is 10%, the discount period is from January 1, 2008 A 31-day bargain is applied. A method for setting bargain information details will be described later.

  As described above, the merchandise category information to be displayed on the merchandise category selection screen D for the purchaser and the merchandise information to be displayed on the merchandise selection screen E are the merchandise registration function A for each store as a seller. The product registration function A sets a discount rate and a discount period for the purchaser screen generation means 10a for designing products handled in each store into a hierarchical screen structure. Product profile setting means 10b (see FIG. 6). The main category information and product information generated by the product registration function A are registered in the category master file 11 and the product master file 12.

  The screens D and E for the purchaser in which the product category and product information are set are prepared as screen information 6 described in a page description language for Web screens such as HTML and XML by the seller server 2 or purchased. Screen information 6 is dynamically generated when a request is received from the user. In the purchaser's communication terminal 3, the browser installed in the communication terminal 3 downloads the screen information 6 of the requested screen and Display the screen.

  For example, when there is an operation request from the purchaser's communication terminal 3, the seller server 2 operates CGI (Common Gateway Interface) or SSI (Server Side Include), and the category master file 11 or the product master file 12. The variable information is extracted from the inventory master file (not shown) and the like, and the product category selection screen D to be displayed on the purchaser's communication terminal 3 and the screen information 6 of the product selection screen E are dynamically edited to obtain the screen information. 6 is sent to the requested communication terminal 3.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an internal system configuration of the electronic commerce system 1. An outline of processing of the system will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 6, reference numeral 13 denotes a product category selection screen D and a product selection / cart storage process executed through the product selection screen E of the system 1, and reference numeral 14 denotes a selected product list display / order reception executed through the cart display / order screen F. Processing 10a is a purchaser screen generation means for generating a screen while registering data in a design file (not shown) for the purchaser screen, and 10b is a product profile such as a category master file 11 and a product master file 12. The product profile setting means 10c that enables data setting and change to P is a screen providing means 10c that downloads a product selection screen E or the like in response to a download request from the purchaser's communication terminal 3.

  Further, 16 is a cart area in which product information is temporarily stored by the purchaser's product selection operation, and 15 is an order receiving process that operates when an order is received. Note that the processing related to the user registration function, the inventory management function, and the system management function, the communication process, and the browser are not shown.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the system 1 has a device configuration including a seller server 2, a purchaser communication terminal 3, a store communication terminal 4, and the like, and is installed in these devices 2, 3. The system operates based on a CPU (not shown) and a program, but the operation of the system is performed by the cooperation of these devices, and the role sharing is not limited. Therefore, these devices are not shown in FIG. ing. Further, since the system 1 applies bargains during a set discount period, it goes without saying that at least the seller server 2 has a built-in system clock.

The purchaser screen generation unit 10a includes a purchaser screen generation program and the like, and operates the product profile setting unit (program) 10b while designing the screen layout of each screen illustrated in FIG. Merchandise category information and merchandise information can be registered and changed for each file, and is configured by cooperation between the seller server 2 and the communication terminal 4 of the store.
In the present embodiment, the purchaser screen generation means 10a and the product profile setting means 10b can be executed on a screen called a purchaser screen generation screen A. Further, the screen generation means 10a for the purchaser is divided into real processing by operation of the screen generation screen A for purchaser and batch processing that is executed in batch for a plurality of categories and a plurality of products at night. And the product profile setting means 10b may be configured so that final registration and change can be performed.

  Moreover, the product profile setting means 10b can set bargain information including a discount rate and a discount period for each product item list. The present invention is characterized by bargain setting on the screen generation screen A for the purchaser, and the operation and operation of the system will be described later in FIGS. 8 to 16 together with the basic operation of the product profile setting means 10b. .

  The merchandise selection / cart storage processing 13 displays a merchandise selection screen E of a desired merchandise category while operating the multi-tier merchandise category selection screen D on the purchaser's communication terminal 3. In the product selection screen E, a plurality of product information of the product group included in the product category is displayed by the common item column e10 and the checkered item list e20, and the purchaser desires the item list e20. When the planned purchase quantity is entered in the product item field e23 of the product and the total calculation operation is performed, the total price of the product for which the quantity has been entered is calculated and displayed. Is stored in the cart 16.

  The list display / order receiving process 14 displays a cart display screen F including a list of products in the cart 16 selected by the purchaser on the purchaser's communication terminal 3, and the cart is displayed when an order operation is performed on the screen. 16 is configured to receive an order for a product stored in 16.

  The order processing 15 executes processing related to a predetermined order based on the order information received by the list display / order reception processing 14, for example, processing such as creation of an order slip and inventory check.

  Further, the category master file 11 and the product master file 12 are configured to include data records including at least the items shown in FIG. FIG. 7A shows the data structure of the category master file 11, and FIG. 7B shows the data structure of the product master file 12.

  The category master file 11 is classified for each product category, and includes a product category code, a product category name, a higher product category code, a lowermost flag indicating whether the category is the lowest category, an image for a selection icon, and the like. In addition to basic information, bargain information including discount rate, discount start date, and end date is also included. Moreover, the information regarding the display position of the category arrangement | sequence table d10 (refer FIG. 4) of the goods category selection screen D is also included.

  Here, the merchandise category code is unique code data for each merchandise category, and it is desirable to adopt a code system so that the hierarchy can be determined. For example, the major category merchandise category codes are C01, C02... The middle classification may be defined as C11, C12... And the minor classification may be defined as C21, C22. Further, the parent category code in FIG. 7 indicates the product category code of the product category to which the product category belongs and is positioned immediately above, and thereby the upper and lower layer associations can be defined. In the case of a broadly classified product category positioned on the top page, a dummy (top) category code such as “C00” may be defined as an upper product category code.

  The product master file 12 is divided into records for each product. The record includes a product code, a parent category code to which the product belongs, a product name (product category name), an image, a material, a sales unit, and the like. Information on common item e10, classification item of row attribute, item classification of column attribute, individual information such as sales price displayed in cell, image of individual product, and product on product selection screen E And the display position information of the cell list e20. In this example, the size is defined for the row attribute and the color is defined for the column attribute.

  Here, the product code is unique code data for each product, and is assigned to all the products allocated to each product item column e23 of the product item list e10.

  As described above, the file configuration including the category master file 11 and the product master file 12 is not limited to this, and other file configurations may be used. Further, the structure in each file is not limited to the above, and the product category hierarchy may be associated by other methods and other data structures.

  FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams showing examples of the generation (new registration) procedure and the change procedure of the product category selection screen D, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the bargain setting basic operation.

  The basic operations of the purchaser screen generation means 10a and the product profile setting means 10b will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  In addition, the generation screen A for generating the purchaser screens such as the product category selection screen D and the product selection screen E corresponds to the purchaser screens D and E on a one-to-one basis in this example, and The items displayed on the screens D and E for the purchaser also correspond almost one-to-one. Therefore, in the attached drawings, items in the screen of the generation screen A are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the purchaser screens D and E.

  Generation (new registration) and change of the product category selection screen D are performed in an interactive manner with the generation screen A1 displayed by operating the purchaser screen generation means 10a, and various layout designs of the screen are generated on the generation screen A1. In addition, the product category data input in the screen design can be registered in the category master file 11.

  Specifically, as will be described below, the purchaser screen generation means 10a is operated for each desired screen, the generation screen A1 is called, and a grid-like category arrangement table d10 is generated on the screen. In addition to assigning a selection icon d11 for identifying the product category to each cell, the product profile setting unit 10b is also operated to register information on the product category.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the screen generation means 10a for the purchaser and the product profile setting means 10b accept input of the number of rows a11 and the number of columns a12 constituting the category array table d10, and the number of input rows , A category arrangement table d10 in which the cells determined by the number of columns are blank is displayed, and then, for each cell, an image or the like is captured and pasted as a selection icon d11, and other attribute information (for example, a product category code, The category array table d10 is generated by inputting product category names and the like.

  Next, when the save button a13 in the screen is operated, the product profile setting means 10b displays information such as a selection icon d11 made up of images of product categories arranged in each cell of the category arrangement table d10, as position information in the table. At the same time, it is registered in the category master file 11 of the seller server 2.

  Further, the product profile setting means 10b displays a blank category arrangement table d10 by inputting the number of matrices, and also displays a discount rate and discount period setting area as bargain information d20, as shown in FIG. The seller can freely set and enter the setting area to set a desired bargain for the product category set on the screen.

  The bargain information d20 can be set simultaneously with the new registration of the product category, but can also be set in the change registration after the registration. In this example, an example in which the bargain information d20 is set by change registration is shown in FIG. As will be described later, when the bargain information d20 is already set in the setting of the upper product category, the bargain information d20 is inherited from the upper product category even when a new screen is generated. Information is displayed by default in the setting area.

  Further, the discount period of the bargain information is designated by date, but may be designated by the number of days of the start date. Further, the time (time) may be specified. By specifying the time, it can also be used for time service bargains.

  In this example, the bargain information setting area can be registered on the generation screen A1 of the category arrangement table d10, but may be registered on another generation screen associated with the product category selection screen D. .

  The above screen generation operation may be performed by inputting card type data such as CSV data. If both the card format and the interactive format are supported, for example, when a new file is generated, the CSV data is used, and the subsequent correction can be performed in the interactive format.

  In this way, when generating the product category selection screen D, uniform bargain information can be set for all product categories arranged on the product category selection screen D, so the operation is extremely simple, and the seller's data registration Can be saved. In addition, since the product category selection screen D is generated and can be set simultaneously with the registration of the product category, even when there are a large number of products to be handled, the association between the product category and the bargain information can be set while checking on the screen. The possibility of setting is low and the reliability is very high.

  In addition, after newly registering, the purchaser screen generation means 10a is operated, and the generation screen A1 corresponding to the product category selection screen D for the purchaser generated as described above can be called. With this interactive format, design changes such as setting bargain information, changing the number of matrices in the category array table d10, adding, replacing, and deleting the selection icon d11 can be performed.

  Further, new registration of product categories and products can be performed from the top to the bottom of the hierarchy. For this reason, each cell in the category array table d10 of the product category selection screen D has a selection icon d11. In addition, a link button (not shown) to the product category selection screen D and the generation screen A of the product selection screen E, which are positioned below the product category selection screen D, is provided. By operating the button, the screens D and E for purchasers can be generated continuously. Once these screens are generated and associated with the vertical relationship, the registered lower link buttons are displayed as valid buttons. Moreover, what is necessary is just to set the lowest layer flag of the file master file 11 when selecting the production | generation screen A of the product selection screen E by operation of a link button, and producing | generating the product selection screen E and registering newly after that.

  In the following description, for convenience, a plurality of product categories included in a certain product category selection screen are referred to as “child categories” or “related categories”, and the product categories on the screen itself, which are directly above those categories, are referred to. The product category corresponding to a lower level of the child category is called a “parent category”, and is called a “lower category”. Further, in the case of the product selection screen E, the product category of the screen itself corresponding to the product category to which the product included in the screen belongs is called “parent category”.

  FIG. 9 shows an example in which bargain information d20 is newly set when the screen is changed after the screen is designed. As shown in the figure, when the purchaser screen generation unit 10a is activated and the generation screen A1 is called, the purchaser screen generation unit 10a includes a category arrangement table d10 to which the selection icon d11 is assigned and an unset value. Bargain information d20 is displayed. After that, when data is input to each setting area of the discount rate and discount period, and the save button a13 is operated, bargain information for the product category displayed on the screen (the parent category and all lower-level product categories) is displayed. The registration confirmation operation is executed.

  In the present embodiment, the bargain setting can be set differently for each layer. For example, in the case where a product category selection screen is generated for a middle category product category belonging to a specific major category product category, if bargain information (A) is set on that screen, that major category product category and Bargain information (A) is registered for all lower-level product categories. After that, among the middle-class product categories for which the bargain information (A) has been inherited, the subcategory When the product category is set and the setting is changed from the inherited bargain information (A) to the bargain information (B), the bargain information (B) is displayed for the specific middle classification code and all lower product categories. Is registered for change. After that, when the setting of the specific large category product category is changed from the bargain information (A) to the bargain information (C), all the lower-level products including the medium category product category for which the bargain information (B) is set Bargain information (C) is registered for change for the category.

  In this way, when bargain information is set for the product category, the same bargain information can be registered in all the lower product categories belonging to the product category, and a part of the lower order can be registered with the change settings made thereafter. The bargain information can be registered for change for the product category or for the higher-order product category including the category and its lower category.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, a rule for setting the same bargain information for a parent category and all child categories (including lower-level product categories) in one bargain setting is adopted, and later settings are made. Priority rules are also adopted after enabling operations.

  Since such a post-priority rule is adopted, it is necessary to determine that the inherited bargain information has been changed to other bargain information. For this reason, the save operation on the generation screen A1 has been performed. Sometimes, the bargain information input from the screen is compared with the bargain information registered in the parent category, and if they match, it is determined that there is no change, and if they do not match, it is determined that there is a change.

  That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10, when a save operation is performed on the generation screen A1, if there is no error in the setting data, the parent category record is read from the category master file 11, and the bargain information of the parent category Whether or not bargain information is set or changed is determined by checking whether or not the bargain information set on the screen matches (steps 101 to 104).

  According to the normal category generation procedure, the parent category of the category to be generated on the generation screen A1 has already been registered, but the parent category of the broadly classified product category is a dummy (top) category, There is no generation screen for generating dummy categories. For this reason, in order to keep the dummy category registered, it is only necessary to enable automatic generation when the product registration function A is used for the first time.

  Next, the product profile setting means 10b initializes the bargain information for the newly set child category with respect to the category master file 11 when the bargain information is not set or changed (for example, the discount rate and the discount period are set to 0). The child category that has been newly registered and changed and set for position change or the like is updated and registered by taking over the previous setting without changing the bargain information (N, 105, and 106 in Step 104).

  In addition, when there is a setting or change of bargain information, for the parent category, the input bargain information is set and updated for the parent category, and the newly set child category is set. Set bargain information and register new, and for other child categories, change and enter the changed bargain information, and update and register the changed bargain information for all subordinate categories. Set and register for update (Y in step 104, 108-112).

  In any case, after the registration process, a screen including a message indicating that the registration is completed is edited, and the screen of the seller's communication terminal is displayed again (steps 107, 112, 113). If the setting data is an error, the error screen is edited and redisplayed (steps 102, 114, 113).

  As described above, when the product profile setting unit 10b generates a product category selection screen D, the product profile setting unit 10b is the same for all products belonging to all product categories arranged in the category arrangement table d10 of the product category selection screen E. Since the bargain information can be set, it is possible to set bargains collectively for each product category including lower product categories.

  In addition, in order to provide a fair service to buyers, changes to discount information within the discount period set for each product category shall be configured to prohibit changes in the discount rate and changes that shorten the discount period. Is desirable.

  Next, a procedure for generating and changing the product selection screen E will be described.

  FIGS. 12 and 13 are diagrams showing an example of the procedure for generating and changing the product selection screen E. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the basic bargain setting operation of the product selection screen E.

  Hereinafter, the operations of the purchaser screen generation unit 10a and the product profile setting unit 10b will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The product selection screen E is generated and changed in an interactive manner with the generation screen A2 displayed by operating the screen generation means 10a for the purchaser, and various layout designs of the screen can be performed on the generation screen A2. Registration of the product information input together with the screen design to the product master file 12 can also be performed.

  Specifically, as will be described below, the screen for the purchaser 10a is activated for each desired screen, the generation screen A2 is called, and the lines divided into a plurality of classification conditions on the screen are respectively displayed. A two-dimensional matrix item list e20 of a two-dimensional matrix composed of two attributes of the column is generated, and a selling price, an image, etc. are assigned to the row attribute column, the column attribute column, and the item item column e23 in the matrix. The product profile setting means 10b is also operated to register information related to the product.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 11, by the purchaser screen generation means 10a and the product profile setting means 10b, a common common product group (related products belonging to the parent category) to be displayed on the product selection screen E to be generated. The input of the item a21 and the number of rows a22 and the number of columns a23 of the product item column e23 of the item item list e20 is received, and the input common item a21 is displayed in the common item column e10. A blank item list e20 based on the number a23 is displayed, and then the purchaser inputs the classification conditions e211 and e221 into the classification categories of the row attribute column e21 and the column attribute column e22, and for each item, Import and paste images as needed, and enter the sales price e231 and other individual product attributes to It is produced the goods one squares list table e20 that has been recorded.

  11 and 12 exemplify men's polo shirts classified by size and color, the size is assigned to the row attribute e21, and the line item includes four classification conditions e211 of S, M, L, and LL. Is assigned to the column attribute e22, and the four classification conditions e221 of white, blue, red, and pattern are assigned to the column item. In the illustrated example, only the sales price e231 is shown in the product item column e23, and other information such as product images is not shown.

  In addition, the selection operation unit e232 (see FIG. 5) for selecting a product by inputting the number of purchases may generate an input frame of a desired size on the generation screen A2, but the purchase communication terminal 3 displays the screen. When displaying, the purchase number input frame common to all items for the purchaser to input may be dynamically edited.

  Next, when the save button a24 in the screen is operated, the product profile setting unit 10b displays the attribute information of each product input to the common item e10 and the product item list e20 together with the position information of the seller server 2. Register in the product master file 12.

  Further, the screen generation unit 10a and the product profile setting unit 10b for the purchaser display a blank product cell list e20 by inputting the number of matrices and, as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, a discount which is bargain information e30. The setting area for rate and discount period is also displayed so that the seller can freely set and input. The bargain information e30 can be performed at the same time as new registration of a product, but can also be performed in change registration after registration. In this example, the bargain information registered in the setting of the upper product category is taken over and displayed as default, the information is displayed in the setting area as default, and the bargain information is set by the change registration shown in FIG. .

  In this example, the bargain information setting area can be registered on the generation screen A2 of the product item list e20, but may be registered on another generation screen associated with the product selection screen E. .

  The above screen generation operation may be performed by inputting card type data such as CSV data.

  In this way, when generating the product selection screen E, it is possible to set bargain information in units of the product selection screen, that is, it is a configuration in which uniform bargain information can be set for all products arranged in the product item list, The operation is very simple and can reduce the trouble of merchant data registration. In addition, since it can be set at the same time as product registration while generating the product selection screen E, even if there are many products to handle, it can be set while checking the association between the product and bargain information on the screen, so there is a possibility of misconfiguration Is low and very reliable.

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 13, the product profile setting means 10b reads the parent category record from the category master file 11 if there is no error in the setting data when the save operation is performed on the generation screen A2, and the parent profile record is read. It is determined whether or not the bargain information is set or changed by checking whether the bargain information of the category matches the bargain information input from the screen (steps 201 to 204).

  Next, when there is a setting or change of bargain information, the bargain information set for the parent category is set and registered in the category master file 11, and the product information is registered regardless of whether the bargain information is set or changed. The products entered in the list e20 are newly registered or updated in the product master file 12 (steps 204 to 206).

  Then, the screen including a message such as registration completion is edited, and the screen of the seller's communication terminal is displayed again (steps 207 and 208). If the setting data has an error, the error screen is edited and redisplayed (steps 202, 209, and 208).

  In addition, in order to provide a fair service to buyers, changes to discount information within the discount period set for each product category shall be configured to prohibit changes in the discount rate and changes that shorten the discount period. Is desirable.

  As described above, the bargain information regarding each product category registered in the generation screens A1 and A2 in the interactive format or the CSV format is written in the category master file 11 and displayed by subsequent access from the purchaser terminal 3. Are additionally displayed in the product category selection screen D and the product selection screen E of the purchaser terminal 3.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of display on the purchaser communication terminal 3 by the screen providing means 10c. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to screens D and E for purchasers in FIGS. 4 and 5.

  When a certain product category (parent category) is selected on the product category selection screen D, the screen providing means 10c reads the record of the operated parent category from the category master file 11, and the parent category is the lowest layer. It is determined whether or not.

  If the parent category is positioned at the lowest level, the records of all related products belonging to the parent category are read from the product master file 12 to determine whether or not the bargain information of the parent category record is applied. For example, a discount price is calculated based on the standard sales price and discount rate of each product, and a product list is generated using the discount price as the sales price. On the other hand, if bargain information is not applicable, the standard sales of each product The product item list is generated with the price as the sales price, common items are generated based on the category master file 11 and the product master file 12, and other necessary information is added to the common items and the generated item item list. In addition, the screen is edited and displayed on the seller's communication terminal 3 (Y in Step 302, 303 to 307, 312).

  Whether or not the bargain information is applied is determined based on whether or not the date on which the seller server 1 is accessed is within the discount period within the category record.

  For example, when bargain information is applied, the discount rate and the discount period may be additionally displayed outside the column of the item list. Further, the standard sales price before discount may be additionally displayed below the sales price of each item in the item list.

  If the parent category is not the lowest layer, all the child category records belonging to the parent category are read from the category master file 11 to determine whether or not the bargain information of the parent category record is applied. If a bargain information is not applied, a category array table is generated without adding bargain information, and other necessary information is added to the generated category array table to edit the screen. And displayed on the communication terminal 3 of the seller (N in step 302, 308-312).

  The purchaser can select and place a bargain product while confirming the price on the product category selection screen D and the product selection screen E thus displayed on the purchaser terminal 3.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a bargain end process by the product profile setting means 10b.

  In the present embodiment, the bargain setting end process is performed by a daily batch process executed at nighttime maintenance time or the like.

  When the daily batch processing of the product profile setting means 10b is started at night, the following bargain information update processing is performed for every product category while reading records one by one from the category higher than the category master file 11. (Steps 401 to 407).

  In the bargain information update process, the date when the batch is started and the end date of the bargain information are compared to determine the period excess. If there is an excess, the product category has a higher category. Then, the bargain information of the product category is updated to match the bargain information of the higher category, and if there is no higher category, the bargain information of the product category is reset (steps 403 to 406).

  The above embodiment is a configuration in which bargain information is set for each product category, and different bargain information cannot be applied to individual products, that is, individual products constituting the product item list, but fine bargains are used. For implementation, bargain information may be set on the generation screen of the product selection screen E for each product.

  FIG. 16 is an example of a product selection screen E displayed according to whether bargain information is applied or not, corresponding to the setting examples in FIGS. 9 and 11. A screen applied from 1st to 15th, (b) shows a screen applied from 16th to 31st January 2008, and (c) shows a screen applied during other periods.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 16 (a), when a purchase request is made by the purchaser during the period from January 1 to 15 in 2008, the discount is applied to the polo shirt from January 1 to 15 in 2008. Since bargain information with a rate of 20% is set, the selling price of each cell is displayed as a price that is 20% lower than the standard selling price.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 16 (b), when a display request is made during the period from January 16 to 31, 2008, the discount period set for the child category polo shirt passes, and the bargain information is Since it has been reset in the batch processing, the bargain information set for the men's clothing, which is the parent category, is applied, and the sales price of each cell is displayed by a 10% reduction from the standard sales price.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 16 (b), when a display request is made during another period (before January 1, 2008, or after January 31, 2008), the bargain information of either polo shirts or men's clothing is displayed. Since it is not the set period, the standard selling price is displayed as the selling price.

  In the above embodiment, according to the screen generation including product registration by the purchaser screen generation unit 10a and the product profile setting unit 10b, the generated screen is used for display on the purchaser's communication terminal immediately after saving. Although a real-time reflection method is applied, it may be reflected on the day following the generation date or on the designated date. Further, the real-time reflection method and the post-reflection method may be selected by the seller. In the case of retroactive reflection, the category master file 11 may be divided for the seller and the purchaser, and the content of the file for the seller may be reflected in the file for the purchaser during the maintenance time the day before the reflection date.

  Further, in the bargain setting shown in the present embodiment, each time a display request from the purchaser terminal 3 is made, it is determined whether the selling price of each item in the item list is a standard selling price or a discount price. However, at the maintenance time the day before the discount start date, the product data of the product list to be displayed may be replaced and prepared for bargains.

  That is, the screen providing unit 10c determines the release timing of the set sales price information based on the discount period of the bargain information and the current date and time at a predetermined timing such as daily, and determines that it is the release timing. If a download request for the product selection screen E is received from the purchaser terminal 3, the product item list that incorporates the sales price corresponding to the sales period is generated and prepared. The product selection screen E including the product item list is downloaded to the purchaser's communication terminal 3.

  In the embodiment described above, the bargain information including the discount period and the discount rate is exemplified as the sales period and the sales price information associated therewith, but is not limited thereto. For example, if a system change is not in time due to a change in the consumption tax rate or a sudden price increase, temporary provisional measures may be performed by setting these.

It is a system configuration figure of an electronic commerce system which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the function structure of the system. It is the figure which showed an example of the structure of the hierarchical structure of the goods category selection screen for buyers of the system, and a goods selection screen. (A), (b) is the figure which showed an example of the goods category selection screen displayed on a buyer's communication terminal. It is the figure which showed an example of the goods selection screen displayed on a buyer's communication terminal. It is the figure which showed the internal system structure of the system. (A) is the data structure of a category master file, (b) is the figure which showed the data structure of the goods master file. It is the figure which showed an example of the production | generation procedure of a merchandise category selection screen. It is the figure which showed an example of the change procedure of a goods category selection screen. It is the flowchart which showed an example of the basic operation of the product profile setting means in the design of the product category selection screen. It is the figure which showed an example of the production | generation procedure of a goods selection screen. It is the figure which showed an example of the change procedure of a goods selection screen. It is the flowchart which showed an example of the basic operation of the product profile setting means in the design of the product selection screen. It is a flowchart which shows the basic operation | movement of the display with respect to a purchaser terminal by a screen provision means. It is a flowchart which shows the completion | finish process of bargain by a product profile setting means. (A), (b) is the schematic of the product selection screen with bargain application, (c) The product selection screen without bargain application.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic commerce system 2 Seller server 3 Purchaser communication terminal 4 Store communication terminal 5 Communication network 6 Screen information 10a Purchaser screen generation means 10b Product profile setting means 10c Screen provision means P Product profile 11 Category master file 12 Product master file D Product category selection screen d10 Category arrangement table d11 Selection icon d20 Bargain information E Product selection screen e10 Common items e20 Product item list e21 Line attribute e22 Column attribute e211 and e221 Classification condition e23 Product item column e231 Sales price display section e232 Selection operation part e30 Bargain information A Product registration function (screen)
A1 Product category selection screen generation screen A2 Product selection screen generation screen

Claims (3)

In an electronic commerce system for downloading and browsing a product selection screen from a seller server through a communication network to a purchaser's communication terminal, accepting an operation of the purchaser communication terminal via the communication network, and performing a product transaction,
The merchant server can be connected to a store communication terminal via the communication network,
The merchant server is
Based on the screen operation of the communication terminal of the store, there are a plurality of rows and columns, and two attributes of the product are described in each of the rows and columns, and a cell specified by a combination of these two attributes. A screen generation means for a purchaser that generates and stores a product selection screen including a product list that is arranged in a two-dimensional matrix and displays the sales price in each cell;
Based on the screen operation of the communication terminal of the store, as the setting item for each product item list, at least the sales price information to be displayed in the item item corresponds to at least one item item list item together with the sales period. Product profile setting means for setting the product profile in batches for each product item list ,
When a download request for a product selection screen is received from the purchaser terminal, the product profile is referred to and the product selection screen including a product list that incorporates sales prices corresponding to the current date and time is communicated to the buyer. An electronic commerce system comprising screen providing means for downloading to a terminal. In claim 1,
The electronic commerce system, wherein the product profile setting means can set, as setting items, at least a discount period and a discount rate common to all products displayed in the product item list. In claim 2,
The product selection screen is provided below the lowest layer of the product category selection screen of at least one level,
The purchaser screen generation means further has a function of generating the product category selection screen, and the product profile setting means uses the input setting screen to display the product category selection screen for each product category selection screen. An electronic commerce system that allows a uniform discount period and discount rate to be set for each product item list for all product item lists associated with all included product categories.

Images