JP6193152B2 - Product search device, system, method and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a product search apparatus, system, method, and program. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus, a system, a method, and a program for product search in an electronic commerce market.

  The image processing apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 extracts a feature color from a first image showing a sample of clothing, obtains a total area value for each feature color, extracts a clothing overall image and a feature color, and features Find the total area for each color.

  The similar image presentation system described in Patent Literature 2 extracts and stores pattern features, and when there is a similar image search request, performs similarity determination on features including textures and displays images in order of similarity. .

  The search support system described in Patent Document 3 standardizes the size of the clothing fabric pattern, extracts feature data, and uses the feature data to calculate the similarity of the product.

  The product information providing method described in Patent Document 4 extracts image data by using data obtained by digitizing the entire color, color distribution, contour, and pattern of image data as the feature amount of the image data.

Special Table 2007-535829 JP 2003-303188 A WO2011 / 078174 JP 2005-107951 A

  A customer in the e-commerce market uses information terminals such as smartphones and mobile phones to compare the elements related to the design of product patterns such as clothing for each product, and finds and purchases a favorite product. In such a case, a display method that can easily compare the various elements of the product is required.

  In Patent Documents 1 to 4, there is no disclosure or suggestion about displaying an element related to the design of a product so that it can be compared for each product.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and its purpose is to make it easy for customers in the e-commerce market to find a favorite product by comparing the elements related to the design of the product for each product. It is another object of the present invention to provide a product search apparatus, system, method and program for increasing sales of products.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a first aspect of the present invention is a database in which images of a plurality of products and one or more types of feature amounts related to design of a plurality of products are stored in association with each other, and stored in the database. A product search means for searching for a product that meets a specified search condition from a plurality of specified products, and one type according to one or more feature quantities related to the design of the product pattern searched by the product search means Create search product space layout data to display and display the product images searched by the product search means in a space composed of one or more coordinate axes corresponding to the above feature quantities, and output the search product space layout data There is provided a product search device comprising search product space arrangement data output means for performing.

  This product search apparatus corresponds to an image of a product searched under an arbitrarily specified search condition in a space constituted by one or more coordinate axes corresponding to one or more types of feature amounts related to design of a product pattern. Arrange and display according to the feature amount. The user looks at the images of the products arranged according to the feature amount of the pattern, and the product has more or less feature amount, for example, a product with a larger pattern, a product with a higher pattern density, or a product with a larger number of colors in the pattern. Can be easily searched.

  In the second aspect of the present invention, the feature amount includes at least one of the size, density, and number of colors of the pattern of the product.

  In the third aspect of the present invention, the space is composed of two-dimensional coordinate axes corresponding to any two of the pattern size, density, and number of colors.

  In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the space is composed of three-dimensional coordinate axes corresponding to the size, density, and number of colors of the pattern.

  In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the product search device outputs display data of a button for receiving an instruction to start outputting the search product space layout data when the total number of products searched by the product search means exceeds a specific threshold. A button display output means and a button operation means for accepting a button designation operation, and the search product space layout data output means receives the search product space layout data in response to the button operation means accepting the button designation operation. Output.

  According to this aspect, when the total number of searched products exceeds a specific threshold, a button is displayed, and the search product space layout data is output after the button is specified, thereby suddenly displaying a large number of product images. Thus, it is possible to prevent the searched product image from being difficult to see.

  In the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the total number of products searched by the product search means exceeds a specific threshold, the button display output means outputs button display data having a size corresponding to the total number.

  According to this aspect, the number of searched products can be easily determined by the button size.

  In the seventh aspect of the present invention, the size according to the total number of buttons increases as the total number increases.

  According to this aspect, the number of searched products can be easily determined by the size of the button.

  In the eighth aspect of the present invention, the button display output means outputs button display data indicating the total number when the total number of products searched by the product search means exceeds a specific threshold.

  According to this aspect, the total number of searched products can be easily understood from the total number of searched products indicated by the button.

  In the ninth aspect of the present invention, the search product space layout data output means outputs the search product space layout data when the total number of products searched by the product search means is equal to or less than a specific threshold.

  According to this aspect, when the total number of searched products does not exceed a specific threshold, the search product space layout data is output without displaying a button.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the product search device according to any one of the first to ninth embodiments and a search condition specifying operation for receiving an operation for specifying an arbitrary search condition and outputting the search condition determined by the specifying operation to the product search means There is provided a product search system comprising: means; and search product space layout data display means for displaying the search product space layout data output by the search product space layout data output means.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the computer can arbitrarily select an image from a plurality of products stored in a database in which images of a plurality of products and one or more types of feature quantities related to a design of a plurality of products are associated with each other. A search step for searching for a product corresponding to the search condition specified in 1), and one or more types of feature values related to the design of the pattern of the searched product are configured with one or more coordinate axes corresponding to one or more types of feature values. A search product space arrangement data output step of generating search product space arrangement data for arranging and displaying an image of the searched product in a space, and outputting the search product space arrangement data. .

  A twelfth aspect of the present invention provides a program for causing a computer to execute the product search method of the eleventh aspect.

  In another aspect of the present invention, a database in which images of a plurality of products and one or more types of feature values related to a plurality of product designs are stored in association with each other is arbitrarily selected from a plurality of products stored in the database. Product search means for searching for products that meet the search conditions specified in the above, and one or more types of coordinate axes corresponding to one or more types of feature quantities in accordance with one or more types of feature quantities related to the design of the product searched by the product search means Search product space arrangement data output means for generating search product space arrangement data for arranging and displaying the image of the product searched by the product search means and outputting the search product space arrangement data in a space constituted by A product search device is provided. Here, preferably, when the total number of products searched by the product search unit exceeds a specific threshold, the product search device outputs a button display that outputs display data of a button that receives an instruction to start output of the search product space layout data The search product space arrangement data output means outputs search product space arrangement data in response to the button operation means accepting the button designation operation. .

  The present invention relates to an image of a product searched under a search condition arbitrarily specified in a space constituted by one or more coordinate axes corresponding to one or more types of feature values related to the design of the product pattern. Place and display according to. The user looks at the images of the products arranged according to the feature amount of the pattern, and the product has more or less feature amount, for example, a product with a larger pattern, a product with a higher pattern density, or a product with a larger number of colors in the pattern. Can be easily searched.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a product search system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the product search device. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating information in the product database. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of search processing. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a product image list. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the button display process. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a button image. FIG. 8 is an example of a product image list displayed after button selection. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating another example (window) of the button image. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example (icon) of a button image. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another example (pop-up) of the button image. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating another example (menu) of a button image.

  FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a product search system including an information terminal 1 and a product search device 2 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The information terminal 1 includes an arithmetic device (CPU), a display device, a storage device, an input / output circuit, a communication circuit, and a user interface (GUI / Graphical User Interface, operation buttons / switches / touch panels, etc.) operating in cooperation with these. It is comprised with the information processing apparatus provided with. The information terminal 1 may be a non-portable device such as a desktop personal computer, a smart TV, or a storefront information terminal, or a portable device with a display such as a smartphone, a portable information terminal, or a tablet PC. Good.

  In addition, the installation place and installer of the information terminal 1 and the product search device 2 are not particularly limited. For example, the information terminal 1 may be owned by an individual user, or may be lent or temporarily permitted to be used from a store to a customer or a staff member at the time of over-the-counter product transactions. Further, the product search device 2 may be installed by a product provider, or may be installed by an intermediary that does not directly provide products.

  The display device of the information terminal 1 corresponds to search product space arrangement data display means, and the communication circuit that outputs data in cooperation with the selection operation on the user interface corresponds to search condition designation operation means.

  The product search device 2 includes an arithmetic device (CPU), a display device, a storage device, an input / output circuit, a communication circuit, and a user interface (GUI / Graphical User Interface, operation buttons / switches, etc.) operating in conjunction therewith. It is comprised with the information processing apparatus provided with.

  The information terminal 1 and the product search device 2 are connected to each other via a known network 12 such as the Internet or a LAN (wired or wireless). There may be a plurality of information terminals 1 connected to the product search device 2.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the product search device. The product search device 2 includes an external input / output unit 20, a search condition input unit 21, a search unit 22, a button selection receiving unit 23, a product image arrangement unit 24, a button image arrangement unit 25, a display image configuration unit 26, a product database 27, A determination unit 28 is included.

  The external input / output unit 20 is a circuit that performs data input / output (transmission / reception) with one or a plurality of information terminals 1 via the network 12.

  The search condition input unit 21 is means for receiving an input of an arbitrary search condition from the information terminal 1. The search condition may be anything as long as it is a key for extracting an image of the product stored in the product database 27. For example, the name of the product, the genre of the product, the feature amount or range of the product, the product identification information, the price of the product Or a range thereof, or a combination of some or all of them. Here, the feature amount of the product is a value that quantitatively indicates the property of the product. For example, the feature amount of the product relates to the design of the product, that is, the size of the pattern, the density of the pattern, the number of colors of the pattern, or these Including any combination. In addition, the feature amount of the product may further include saturation, lightness, hue, tone, product shape, glossiness, transparency, or any combination thereof.

  The search unit 22 is a unit that searches, specifies, and extracts a product satisfying the search condition input to the search condition input unit 21 from the product database 27, and corresponds to a product search unit.

  The button selection accepting unit 23 is a means for accepting selection of the button image displayed on the information terminal 1 from the information terminal 1, and corresponds to a button operation means.

  The product image arrangement unit 24 is a means for determining the arrangement of the image of each product in the feature amount space according to the feature amount of each product pattern extracted by the search unit 22.

  The feature amount of the product pattern is a numerical value of the feature or nature of the product pattern. For example, the pattern size (length of the pattern in the vertical, horizontal, or diagonal directions), the pattern density (per unit area) The number of patterns) and the number of colors of the pattern (total number of colors used in the pattern). That is, the feature amount of the product pattern may be one-dimensional, two-dimensional, three-dimensional, or higher values. In addition, the feature amount of the product pattern may include the stripe pattern size (bar width), density, check pattern size, and the like.

  The stripe pattern can be composed of a plurality of bars having different widths. In this case, the pattern size can be determined by an arbitrary statistical method. For example, the maximum value among the widths of the plurality of bars constituting the stripe can be set as the stripe pattern size. In this case, the width of the stripe pattern that is visually most conspicuous is the size of the product pattern. Or, the simple average value derived from the width of multiple bars, the weighted average value (such as the central part of the front, such as the part where the pattern presence area in the product is noticeably conspicuous), the mode value, etc. The stripe pattern size can be used. In the case of a check pattern, the area of the overlapping portion of the vertical and horizontal bars can be obtained, and the maximum value, minimum value, average value, mode value, and other statistical values can be used as the size of the check pattern.

  When the feature amount of the product pattern is one-dimensional, the image of each product extracted by the search unit 22 follows the coordinate axis of the feature amount of the one-dimensional pattern according to the size of the feature amount of each pattern corresponding to each product. Are arranged in a straight line. When the pattern feature value is two-dimensional, the image of each product extracted by the search unit 22 includes the feature value of each pattern corresponding to each product along each of the two coordinate axes constituting the pattern feature value. They are arranged in a matrix according to the size.

  When the feature amount of the product pattern is three or more dimensions, in order to display an image on a flat display device, a virtual arrangement of images in this multidimensional space is a two-dimensional plane or 1 Project onto a dimensional straight line and display the images obtained by projection sequentially or simultaneously. That is, if the feature amount of the product pattern is multi-dimensional with 3 or more, an image is arranged on a straight line along the one-dimensional coordinate axis constituting the space of the feature amount of the product pattern, or the feature amount of the product pattern Are displayed in a plane along the two-dimensional coordinate axes constituting the image, or a combination of two or more of these.

  The button image arrangement unit 25 is a means for determining the arrangement of the button image in the space of the feature amount of the product pattern. Details of the button image will be described later. The button selection accepting unit 23 accepts the selection of the button image displayed on the information terminal 1, and the arrangement of the button image is determined by the button image arranging unit 25.

  The display image configuration unit 26 is a means for creating product image list data for displaying a list of images of each product arranged in a pattern feature amount space in accordance with the arrangement determined by the product image arrangement unit 24. It corresponds to output means.

  The display image configuration unit 26 is a unit that creates data for displaying the button image in the pattern feature amount space according to the arrangement determined by the button image arrangement unit 25, and corresponds to a button display output unit.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating information in the product database. The product database 27 is a means for storing each piece of identification information (product name, product code, etc.), an image showing the appearance of the product, and a feature quantity related to the product pattern for each product. The product database 27 may further store a feature amount related to a design other than the product pattern, a product genre, a price, and the like. The method for creating the product database 27 does not matter.

  FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of search processing according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In addition, when there are a plurality of information terminals 1 connected to the product search device 2, the following processing is individually executed for each of the plurality of information terminals 1. Further, it is assumed that a computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing the information terminal 1 and the product search device 2 to execute the following processing is provided in each of the information terminal 1 and the product search device 2. However, the program for executing the processing on the information terminal 1 side may be provided from the product search device 2 via the network 12 when the product search device 2 starts this processing, and the information terminal 1 does not necessarily execute the program. There is no need to keep a record.

  In S1-A (search condition specifying step), the information terminal 1 displays a screen that prompts the user to specify a search condition for product search, and allows an arbitrary search condition to be specified via the user interface. The information terminal 1 transmits an arbitrary designated search condition to the product search device 2 via the network 12.

  In S1-B (search condition designation receiving step), the external input / output unit 20 of the product search apparatus 2 receives an arbitrary search condition transmitted from the information terminal 1 via the network 12, and the search condition input unit 21 The received search condition is accepted.

  In S <b> 2 -B (search step), the search unit 22 of the product search device 2 searches, specifies, and extracts images of products that satisfy the search conditions received by the search condition input unit 21 from the product database 27.

  In S3-B (product image list creation step), the product image placement unit 24 of the product search device 2 performs a product on the pattern feature value space according to the pattern feature value corresponding to each of the extracted product images. Determine the image layout. The display image configuration unit 26 creates display data for the product image list according to the arrangement determined by the product image arrangement unit 24.

  In S4-B (button image arrangement determination step), the determination unit 28 of the product search device 2 determines whether or not the number of product images arranged in the pattern feature amount space has exceeded a specific threshold value N. judge. In the case of Yes, the process proceeds to S10-B, and in the case of No, the process proceeds to S4-B. N is a fixed value.

  The value of N is the upper limit of the product image that can be displayed at once on the partial area or the entire area of the pattern feature amount space, and is the average of the resolution of the display device of the information terminal 1 and the resolution of the image of each product. It can be arbitrarily determined according to the actual visibility by the user. As an example, in a two-dimensional space consisting of features of pattern size and pattern density, pattern density is low to medium and pattern size is small to medium partial area A, pattern density is medium to high and pattern size is small. In the partial region B in the middle, the partial region C in which the pattern density is low to medium and the pattern size is medium to large, and the partial region D in which the pattern density is medium to high and the pattern size is medium to large, N = 3, respectively. In each of the partial areas A to D, it is determined whether or not the number of images of the arranged products exceeds N.

  In S5-B (retrieval product space layout data output step), the display image configuration unit 26 of the product search device 2 receives the display data of the product image list created by the product image layout unit 24 via the external input / output unit 20. It transmits to the information terminal 1. FIG. 5 is a display example of a product image list. This product image list is a pattern corresponding to each of the eleven product images searched and extracted on a two-dimensional plane with the pattern size feature quantity as the horizontal axis and the pattern density feature quantity as the vertical axis. The size feature amount and the pattern density feature amount are regarded as position coordinates, and each of the eleven product images is arranged according to the position coordinates.

  The user of the information terminal 1 can easily compare the pattern features of the searched and extracted products according to the arrangement position of the products. Thereafter, as with known e-commerce, processing related to reservation, purchase, and shipping of products corresponding to images arbitrarily selected from the product image list is performed between the information terminal 1 and the product search device 2. Can do.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the process (button display process) after “Yes” (number of product images> N) in S4-B. When it is determined whether or not the number of product images> N for each partial region of the pattern feature amount space, the following processing is executed for each of the partial regions determined to have the number of product images> N.

  In S10-B (button image creation step), the button image placement unit 25 of the product search device 2 creates button image data indicating the number of extracted product images.

  In S11-B (button image output step), the display image construction unit 26 of the product search device 2 displays the product image of the partial area determined as product image number> N in the product image list as the button image placement unit 25. Replace with the button image created in. Then, the product image list after the replacement is output to the information terminal 1. For later processing, the product image placement unit 24 retains the product image placement and product image list before being replaced with the button image without discarding them.

  In S11-A (button image display step), the information terminal 1 displays the received product image list on the display device. The displayed product image list includes button images.

  In S12-A (button image selection step), the information terminal 1 prompts the user to select a button image, and transmits the identification information of the selected button image to the product search device 2 via the user interface. In addition, when determining that the number of product images> N for each partial region of the pattern feature amount space, a plurality of button images may be created. In this case, the identification information of the selected button image is transmitted. is necessary.

  In S12-B (button image selection reception step), the button selection reception unit 23 of the product search device 2 receives the selection of the corresponding button based on the identification information transmitted from the information terminal 1.

  In S13-B (button image extraction step), the display image construction unit 26 displays the product image before the replacement of the selected button and the product image placement in the pattern feature amount space. Extract from As described above, the product image placement unit 24 holds the product images before the button images are replaced and their placement.

  In S14-B (product image list re-creating step), the display image configuration unit 26 replaces the image of the selected button with the product image in accordance with the arrangement held by the product image arrangement unit 24. Recreate the list. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S5-B in FIG. In addition, the image of the button which is not selected may be displayed on the information terminal 1 as it is, and the process after S12-A may be repeated about the button.

  The button image I arranged in the partial area A in FIG. 7 shows an example of the button image displayed in the button display process. In this button image, the number of product images replaced with the button image is shown, so that the number of product images originally retrieved can be known. Note that the product image list shown in FIG. 7 includes an image I of one button, but depending on the search result, an image of a plurality of buttons may be included in the product image list.

  FIG. 8 is an example of a product image list including the product image group G rearranged by the selection of the button image I in FIG. Although illustration is omitted, when the number of products extracted in the partial regions B to D exceeds 3, it can be similarly replaced with the display of the button image.

  The “button image” described above is a generic term for graphics displayed on the screen of the information terminal 1 and subjected to the designation / selection operation by the user, and has a button shape as shown in FIG. In addition to the image I shown, it includes buttons-like operation target graphics such as windows, icons, popups, and menus shown in FIGS. That is, the “button image” does not necessarily indicate only an image imitating the button itself.

  Further, as a button image indicating the number of extracted product images, a button image having a size proportional to the number of extracted product images may be created instead of the button image indicating the number itself. In this case, the size of the button image increases if the number of extracted product images is large, and the size of the button image decreases if the number of extracted product images is small. FIG. 7 shows a button having a size when the number of extracted products is four, but if the number of extracted products is three or two, the vertical and horizontal sizes are 3/4 of this button or 2/4. When the button size is made variable according to the number of extracted product images, the button image itself may or may not indicate the number of extracted product images.

<Other embodiments>
As described above, the product image arrangement unit 24 includes these feature amounts according to the feature amount of each product pattern extracted by the search unit 22 or the feature amount of each product pattern and the feature amount other than the pattern. The arrangement of images of each product in the space can be determined. However, the product image arrangement unit 24 can also determine the arrangement of the images of each product in the feature amount space according to the feature amount other than the design of each product extracted by the search unit 22. In other words, the product image arrangement unit 24 displays the image of each product on the space of the feature amount composed of saturation, lightness, hue, tone, product shape, glossiness, transparency, pattern, or any combination of these. Can be determined.

  Even when such a feature amount space is used, the search process and the button display process described in the above embodiment can be executed.

  In other words, the determination unit 28 is an image of a product arranged in a feature amount space consisting of saturation, brightness, hue, tone, product shape, glossiness, transparency, pattern, or any combination of these. It is possible to determine whether or not the number of the thresholds exceeds a specific threshold value N.

  When the determination unit 28 determines that the number of images has exceeded a specific threshold N, the button image arrangement unit 25 can determine the arrangement of the button images on the feature amount space.

  The display image configuration unit 26 replaces the image of the product in the partial area on the feature amount space, which has been determined that the number of product images> N in the product image list, with the button image created by the button image placement unit 25. .

  Subsequent button selection acceptance and re-creation of the product image list corresponding to the button selection are the same as in the previous embodiment. In this way, the product search device 2 specifies the number of product images that satisfy the search results when placing an image of a product that satisfies the search condition in accordance with the various feature values of the product in a space composed of the various feature values of the product. When the threshold value N is exceeded, instead of arranging product images, a button image indicating the number of product images is displayed, and a product image list is displayed in response to selection of the button image. By doing so, it is possible to prevent images of a large number of products from being suddenly displayed and making it difficult to see the images of the searched products.

  1: Information terminal, 2: Product search device, 20: External input / output unit, 21: Search condition input unit, 22: Search unit, 23: Button selection accepting unit, 24: Product image placement unit, 25: Button image placement unit , 26: display image configuration unit, 27: product database, 28: determination unit

Claims (10)

A database in which images of a plurality of products and two or more types of feature values related to a design of the plurality of products are associated and stored;
Product search means for searching for products that meet a specified search condition from among a plurality of products stored in the database;
According feature amounts of two or more related design pattern of the product to the product search means has searched, the the space formed by two or more dimensions of the coordinate axis corresponding to the two or more types of characteristic amounts, the product search means searches Search product space arrangement data output means for creating search product space arrangement data for arranging and displaying images of products and outputting the search product space arrangement data;
With
The product search device , wherein the feature amount includes at least two of a size, density, and number of colors of a pattern of the product. The product search device according to claim 1 , wherein the space is configured with a three-dimensional coordinate axis corresponding to a size, density, and number of colors of a pattern. When the total number of products searched by the product search means exceeds a specific threshold, button display output means for outputting display data of a button for receiving an instruction to start outputting the search product space layout data;
A button operating means for accepting the button specifying operation;
With
The search item spatial arrangement data output means, the product search device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the button operation unit is response to accepting the designation operation of the button, and outputs the search item spatial arrangement data. 4. The product search device according to claim 3 , wherein the button display output unit outputs display data of the button having a size corresponding to the total number when the total number of products searched by the product search unit exceeds the specific threshold. . The product search device according to claim 4 , wherein a size corresponding to the total number of the buttons increases as the total number increases. 4. The product search device according to claim 3 , wherein the button display output unit outputs display data of a button indicating the total number when the total number of products searched by the product search unit exceeds the specific threshold. The search item spatial arrangement data output means, the product search if means the total number of items retrieved is less than the certain threshold, the any one of claims 3-6 for outputting the search item spatial arrangement data The product search device described. The product search device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
A search condition designating operation unit that accepts an operation for designating an arbitrary search condition and outputs the search condition determined by the designating operation to the product search unit;
Search product space layout data display means for displaying the search product space layout data output by the search product space layout data output means;
Product search system with Computer
Products corresponding to a search condition arbitrarily specified from among a plurality of products stored in a database in which images of a plurality of products and two or more types of feature quantities related to the design of the plurality of products are associated with each other A search step to search for,
According retrieved feature quantity of two or more related design pattern of the product was, the the space formed by two or more types of characteristic amounts of two or more dimensions coordinate axis corresponding to, arranging and displaying the image of the product obtained by the search A search product space layout data output step of creating search product space layout data and outputting the search product space layout data;
Run
The product search method , wherein the feature amount includes at least two of a pattern size, a density, and a number of colors of the product. The program for making a computer perform the goods search method of Claim 9 .