JP6651535B2 - Connection management server and connection management method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection management server and a connection management method, and more particularly, to a technology of a connection management server and a connection management method related to updating of a connection relation when a participation application is applied.

  In recent years, communication via the Internet has been actively performed. For example, one-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many communication is performed via the Internet using a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or a personal computer.

  On the other hand, a so-called member-based network group in which communication partners are limited to a specific group is formed, and information is shared only within the member-based network group. Conventionally, various methods have been proposed as techniques for joining a new user (terminal) to a membership-based network group.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a participant terminal wishing to participate makes a request for participation together with the identification information of the invitee terminal, and it is determined whether or not the inviter has the invitation right based on the identification information of the invitee terminal. There is disclosed a technique in which it is determined whether or not participation of a participant terminal is possible based on the determination. In particular, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technology that assumes a case where a participant terminal requests a service (for example, a membership-based network group).

  Further, for example, Patent Literature 2 discloses a technique for determining whether or not a new member can participate based on whether or not identification information of a user who wants to participate in a community (a so-called membership network group) is within an introduction range. I have. In particular, Patent Literature 2 describes a technology that is assumed to be related to participation in one community.

JP 2009-37435 A JP 2008-186284 A

  Here, there is a case where a limited communication is performed between the parent terminal and the child terminal via the Internet. For example, there is a case where a clerk of a store has a parent terminal and a customer of the store has a child terminal. In that case, the parent terminal is connected to a plurality of child terminals. On the other hand, the child terminal may be connected to a plurality of parent terminals. For example, one customer (having a child terminal) is connected to a clerk (having a parent terminal) at a different store. As described above, when the connection relationship (connection relationship) between the parent terminal and the child terminal becomes complicated, when an attempt is made to establish a connection relationship based on the trust relationship between the owners of the terminals, how to add a new terminal to join It may be a problem whether to participate in the connection relationship.

  However, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when a connection relationship exists between a plurality of parent terminals and a plurality of child terminals, there is no mention of how to include the newly joined child terminals in the connection relationship. .

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. The object is to provide a connection management server and a connection management method capable of constructing a connection relationship using a trust relationship between an introducer terminal and a participant terminal and a trust relationship between an introducer terminal and some or all parent terminals. To provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, a connection management server according to an aspect of the present invention includes identification information of one or more parent terminals and identification information of one or more child terminals, and includes one or more parent terminals. A connection storage unit that stores a connection relationship between one or more child terminals, and identification information of an introductory terminal having one or more connection relationships and identification information of a participant terminal that applies for participation in the connection relationship. A connection request receiving unit that receives a connection request, a registration information determining unit that determines whether or not identification information of the referral child terminal included in the connection request is stored in the connection storage unit; If it is determined that the identification information is stored in the connection storage unit, a part or all of the connections of the referral terminal are determined. The emissions related comprises an update unit that updates the new connection relationship that leads in connection related to one or more parent terminal Sankako terminals have introduced slave terminal and connection relationship, a.

  The introducer terminal is a terminal that has already participated in the connection. The participant terminal refers to a terminal that has not yet participated in the connection relationship and will now join the connection through introduction by the introducer terminal. According to this aspect, the connection request has the identification information of the participant terminal and the identification information of the introduction child terminal, and when it is determined that the identification information of the introduction child terminal is stored in the connection storage unit, Thus, the participant terminal can participate in some or all of the connection relationships that the introducer terminal has. Thus, in this aspect, even when the referral terminal has a connection relationship with one or more parent terminals, the participant terminal participates in some or all of the connection relationships that the referral terminal had. A connection relationship using the trust relationship between the owner of the referral terminal and the owner of the participant terminal and the trust relationship between the owner of the referral terminal and the owner of some or all parent terminals. can do.

  Preferably, the connection request receiving unit receives a connection request from the participant terminal or the introducer terminal, and one of the participant terminal and the introducer terminal determines the identification information of the other terminal between the participant terminal and the introducer terminal. The connection request is acquired by communication between the terminals, and the connection request is transmitted to the connection request receiving unit.

  According to this aspect, one of the participant terminal and the introducer terminal is necessary when making a connection request by acquiring the identification information of the other terminal through terminal-to-terminal communication between the participant terminal and the introducer terminal. The identification information of the participating child terminal or the introducing child terminal can be obtained without passing through a network such as the Internet.

  Preferably, the connection management server includes a parent terminal communication unit that communicates information with the parent terminal, and a child terminal communication unit that communicates information with the child terminal, wherein the parent terminal communication unit and the child terminal communication unit , Information is communicated between the parent terminal and the child terminal having a connection relationship.

  According to this aspect, the connection management server includes the parent terminal communication unit that communicates information with the parent terminal and the child terminal communication unit that communicates information with the child terminal. Thus, communication between the parent terminal and the child terminal having the same connection relationship can be performed.

  Preferably, the connection management server includes: a search unit that searches for the searched information in response to a search request from the parent terminal or a search request from the child terminal; and a searched information storage unit that stores the searched information. A search unit is provided for a parent terminal connected to the parent terminal that has output the search request or a parent terminal that is connected to the child terminal that has output the search request via the parent terminal communication unit or the child terminal communication unit. Of the search result performed by the user is transmitted.

  According to this aspect, the connection management server includes the search unit that searches for the search target information and the search target information storage unit that stores the search target information, so that the search request from the parent terminal or the child terminal can be performed. The information retrieved accordingly can be provided to a parent terminal or a child terminal having the same connection relationship.

  Preferably, the searched information stored in the searched information storage unit includes any one of product information, service information, and event information.

  According to this aspect, the searched information includes any one of the product information, the service information, and the event information, so that the parent terminal or the child terminal can search for various information.

  Preferably, the product information is a design feature quantity including any one of a color, a pattern, and a shape of the product.

  According to this aspect, since the product information is a design feature including any one of the color, pattern, and shape of the product, the parent terminal or the child terminal can search for various design features. Can be.

  Preferably, the product information is a design feature amount including any one of color, texture, and image of the product.

  According to this aspect, since the product information is a design feature including any one of the color, texture, and image of the product, the parent terminal or the child terminal can search for various types of product information. it can.

  Preferably, the connection management server, a search history storage unit that stores information about the history of the search performed by the search unit, a statistical information acquisition unit that obtains statistical information of information about the search history that the search history storage unit stores , Comprising, via the parent terminal communication unit or the child terminal communication unit, for the parent terminal or the child terminal in connection with the parent terminal or the child terminal that has output the search request, the statistical information acquired by the statistical information acquisition unit Is transmitted.

  According to this aspect, the connection management server stores, in the search history storage unit, information on the history of the search performed by the search unit, and the statistical information on the search history storage unit, which acquires the statistical information of the information on the search history. An acquisition unit. In this manner, this aspect can provide statistical information to the parent terminal or the child terminal.

  Preferably, the statistical information indicates one of a trend, a trend sign, a hot-selling product, and a trend of coordination.

  According to this aspect, the parent terminal or the child terminal acquires various statistical information because the statistical information indicates one of a trend, a sign of the trend, a hot selling product, and a trend of the coordination. Can be.

  Preferably, the information transmitted from the parent terminal to the parent terminal communication unit and the information transmitted from the child terminal communication unit to the child terminal include any one of recommendation information, inventory information, sales information, and congestion information.

  According to this aspect, information is exchanged between the parent terminal and the child terminal via the connection management server, and the information is one of recommendation information, inventory information, sales information, and congestion information. Therefore, communication of various information can be performed between the parent terminal and the child terminal.

  Preferably, the information transmitted from the child terminal to the child terminal communication unit and transmitted from the parent terminal communication unit to the parent terminal includes one of a purchase request and a recommendation request.

  According to this aspect, information is exchanged between the parent terminal and the child terminal via the connection management server, and the information includes one of a purchase request and a recommendation request. Various types of information can be communicated with the terminal.

  A connection management method according to another aspect of the present invention includes identification information of one or more parent terminals and identification information of one or more child terminals, and one or more parent terminals and one or more child terminals. A connection management method of a connection storage unit for storing a connection relationship between a terminal and a connection having identification information of an introducer terminal having one or more connection relationships and identification information of a participant terminal for applying for participation in the connection relationship. Accepting the request, determining whether or not the identification information of the referral terminal included in the connection request is stored in the connection storage unit, and determining that the identification information of the introducer terminal is stored in the connection storage unit. If it is determined, the participant terminal establishes a part or all of the connection relationships of the Comprising the steps of: updating the new connection relationship that leads in connection related to one or more parent terminal having a connection relationship with.

  According to the present invention, the connection request has the identification information of the participant terminal and the identification information of the introduction child terminal, and when it is determined that the identification information of the introduction child terminal is stored in the connection storage unit, The participant child terminal can participate in some or all of the connection relationships that the child terminal has. Therefore, even when the introducer terminal has a connection relationship with one or more parent terminals, the participant terminal can participate in some or all of the connection relationships that the introducer terminal had, It is possible to establish a connection relationship utilizing the trust relationship between the owner of the child terminal and the owner of the participant child terminal and the trust relationship between the owner of the introduction child terminal and the owner of some or all parent terminals.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a client server system including a connection management server, a parent terminal, and a child terminal. It is a figure showing appearance of a smart phone which is one embodiment of a child terminal. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a child terminal illustrated in FIG. 2. It is a figure explaining about communication between terminals. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a first embodiment of the connection management server. 5 is a chart showing a configuration example of a connection database. FIG. 7 is a diagram conceptually showing a connection relationship stored in the connection database shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation flow of the connection management server. It is a block diagram showing the example of functional composition of a 2nd embodiment of a connection management server. 5 is a chart showing a configuration example of a user database. It is a chart showing an example of composition of a store database. It is a chart showing an example of composition of a goods database. It is a linguistic image scale indicating a kansei word arranged in a kansei space. This is a monochromatic monochromatic image scale arranged in the sensibility space. It is an image scale of three colors arranged in the sensibility space. 5 is a chart showing a configuration example of a search history database. It is a chart showing an example of composition of an offer information database.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a connection management server and a connection management method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a client server system including a connection management server, a parent terminal, and a child terminal. The client server system 1 includes a connection management server 10, a plurality of parent terminals 11, and a plurality of child terminals 13. The connection management server 10, the plurality of parent terminals 11, and the plurality of child terminals 13 are connected via a network 12, such as the Internet.

  The connection management server 10 functions as a server in the client server system 1, and the parent terminal 11 and the child terminals 13 function as clients of the client server system 1. The connection management server 10 manages a connection relationship between the parent terminal 11 and the child terminal 13. Therefore, the parent terminal 11 and the child terminal 13 have a connection relationship via the connection management server 10. Here, the connection relationship refers to a relationship in which the parent terminal 11 and the child terminal 13 are communicably connected, and this relationship is a limited closed relationship, such as a member-only network group. Means only those who are limited to Therefore, when newly participating in this connection relationship, an introducer (having an introducer terminal) is required to be introduced.

  The parent terminal 11 and the child terminal 13 are user terminals. The user terminal is connected to the connection management server 10 via the network 12. The parent terminal 11 has a connection relationship with one or more child terminals 13, and the connection management server 10 manages a connection relationship between the plurality of parent terminals 11 and the plurality of child terminals 13.

  For example, the parent terminal 11 is a terminal of a clerk of a clothing store, and the child terminal 13 is a terminal of a customer of the clothing store. A clerk (having the parent terminal 11) can provide information on bargain prices and the like to familiar customers (having the child terminals 13) having a connection relationship via the connection management server 10. On the other hand, a customer (having the child terminal 13) can request a clerk (having the parent terminal 11), for example, to propose a recommended product. Further, the customer (having the child terminal 13) can have a connection relationship with a plurality of different clerks (having the parent terminal 11). For example, a customer (having the child terminal 13) has a parent terminal, a shoe store clerk (having the parent terminal 11), a bag store clerk (having the parent terminal 11), and a jewelry store clerk (having the parent terminal). 11) and a connection relationship. Here, having a connection relationship means that terminals can be connected via the connection management server 10 and information can be exchanged.

  First, the functional configuration of the user terminal in the client server system 1 will be described. Since the parent terminal 11 and the child terminal 13 have basically the same configuration, the child terminal 13 will be described here. However, the description of the child terminal 13 is the same for the parent terminal 11 below.

  The child terminal 13 is a terminal operated when searching a store or searching for a product handled by the store, and may take the form of a portable terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet device, a personal computer, or the like.

  Hereinafter, a smartphone that can function as the child terminal 13 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a smartphone that is an embodiment of the child terminal 13. The child terminal 13 shown in FIG. 2 has a flat casing 102, and a display panel 121 as a display unit and an operation panel 122 as an input unit are integrally formed on one surface of the casing 102. A display input unit 120 is provided. The housing 102 includes a speaker 131, a microphone 132, an operation unit 140, and a camera unit 141. Note that the configuration of the housing 102 is not limited to this, and for example, a configuration in which a display unit and an input unit are provided independently, or a configuration having a folding structure or a slide mechanism may be employed.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the child terminal 13 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the main components of the child terminal 13 include a wireless communication unit 110, a display input unit 120, a communication unit 130, an operation unit 140, a camera unit 141, a storage unit 150, and an external input unit. An output unit 160, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiving unit 170, a motion sensor unit 180, a power supply unit 190, and a main control unit 101 are provided. The main function of the slave terminal 13 is a wireless communication function of performing mobile wireless communication via a base station device and a mobile communication network.

  The wireless communication unit 110 performs wireless communication with a base station device connected to a mobile communication network according to an instruction from the main control unit 101. The wireless communication is used to transmit and receive various file data such as audio data and image data, e-mail data, and the like, and receive web data, streaming data, and the like. The wireless communication unit 110 also includes a short-range wireless communication unit. The short-range wireless communication unit transmits and receives data to and from another Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard device within the range of, for example, class 2 (within a radius of about 10 m) via the antenna. The short-range wireless communication unit may use a known means of terminal-to-terminal communication in addition to Bluetooth communication.

  The display input unit 120 is a so-called touch panel including a display panel 121 and an operation panel 122. Under the control of the main control unit 101, images (still images and moving images), character information, and the like are displayed to visually inform the user. And detects a user operation on the displayed information.

  The display panel 121 uses an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an OELD (Organic Electro-Luminescence Display) as a display device. The operation panel 122 is a device provided so that an image displayed on the display surface of the display panel 121 can be visually recognized, and detects one or a plurality of coordinates operated by a user's finger or a stylus. When the device is operated by the user's finger or stylus, the operation panel 122 outputs a detection signal generated due to the operation to the main control unit 101. Next, the main control unit 101 detects an operation position (coordinate) on the display panel 121 based on the received detection signal.

  The display panel 121 and the operation panel 122 of the child terminal 13 illustrated in FIG. 2 constitute a display input unit 120 integrally, and are arranged such that the operation panel 122 completely covers the display panel 121. When this arrangement is adopted, the operation panel 122 may have a function of detecting a user operation even in an area outside the display panel 121. In other words, the operation panel 122 includes a detection region for a superimposed portion overlapping the display panel 121 (hereinafter, referred to as a “display region”) and a detection region for an outer edge portion that does not overlap the display panel 121 (hereinafter, referred to as “display region”). A non-display area ”).

  Note that the size of the display area and the size of the display panel 121 may completely match, but it is not always necessary to match them. Further, the operation panel 122 may include two sensitive regions, an outer edge portion and an inner portion other than the outer edge portion. Further, the width of the outer edge portion is appropriately designed according to the size of the housing 102 and the like. Furthermore, examples of the position detection method adopted by the operation panel 122 include a matrix switch method, a resistive film method, a surface acoustic wave method, an infrared method, an electromagnetic induction method, and a capacitance method. May be employed.

  The communication unit 130 includes a speaker 131 and a microphone 132, converts the user's voice input through the microphone 132 into voice data that can be processed by the main control unit 101, and outputs the voice data to the main control unit 101. The audio data received by 110 or the external input / output unit 160 is decoded and output from the speaker 131. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, the speaker 131 and the microphone 132 can be mounted on the same surface as the surface on which the display input unit 120 is provided.

  The operation unit 140 is a hardware key using a key switch or the like, and receives an instruction from a user. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 140 is mounted on the side surface of the housing 102 of the child terminal 13, and is turned on when pressed with a finger or the like, and is turned on by a restoring force of a spring or the like when the finger is released. This is a push-button switch that is turned off.

  The storage unit 150 includes a control program and control data of the main control unit 101, application software, address data corresponding to a communication partner's name and telephone number, transmitted and received e-mail data, web data downloaded by web browsing, and It stores downloaded content data and the like, and temporarily stores streaming data and the like. The storage unit 150 includes an internal storage unit 151 built in the smartphone and an external storage unit 152 having a removable external memory slot. Each of the internal storage unit 151 and the external storage unit 152 constituting the storage unit 150 includes a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory, a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read). (Only Memory).

  The external input / output unit 160 serves as an interface with all external devices connected to the child terminal 13, and performs communication (for example, Universal Serial Bus (USB), IEEE 1394, etc.) or a network (for example, network, wireless LAN). (Local Area Network), Bluetooth (registered trademark), RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), infrared communication (Infrared Data Association: IrDA), UWB (Ultra Wideband) (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark) ) Directly or indirectly to other external devices.

  The external devices connected to the slave terminal 13 include, for example, a wired / wireless headset, a wired / wireless external charger, a wired / wireless data port, a memory card (SIM) connected via a card socket, and a SIM (SIM). Subscriber Identity Module Card / UIM (User Identity Module Card) card, external audio / video equipment connected via audio / video I / O (Input / Output) terminal, external audio / video equipment connected by wire / wireless , A smartphone, a personal computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), and an earphone. The external input / output unit 160 transmits the data transmitted from the external device to each component inside the child terminal 13 or transmits the data inside the child terminal 13 to the external device. It may be configured.

  The GPS receiving section 170 receives GPS signals transmitted from the GPS satellites ST1, ST2 to STn according to an instruction of the main control section 101, executes a positioning calculation process based on the plurality of received GPS signals, and Acquire position information (GPS information) specified by latitude, longitude, and altitude. If the GPS receiving unit 170 can acquire position information from the wireless communication unit 110 and / or the external input / output unit 160 (for example, a wireless LAN), the GPS receiving unit 170 can also detect the position using the position information.

  The motion sensor unit 180 includes, for example, a three-axis acceleration sensor, and detects a physical movement of the child terminal 13 according to an instruction from the main control unit 101. By detecting the physical movement of the child terminal 13, the moving direction and acceleration of the child terminal 13 are detected. The result of the detection is output to the main control unit 101.

  The power supply unit 190 supplies power stored in a battery (not shown) to each unit of the child terminal 13 according to an instruction from the main control unit 101.

  The main control unit 101 includes a microprocessor, operates according to a control program and control data stored in the storage unit 150, and controls each unit of the child terminal 13 in an integrated manner. Further, the main control unit 101 has a mobile communication control function for controlling each unit of the communication system and an application processing function for performing voice communication and data communication through the wireless communication unit 110.

  The application processing function is realized by the main control unit 101 operating according to the application software stored in the storage unit 150. The application processing functions include, for example, an infrared communication function for performing data communication with a counterpart device by controlling the external input / output unit 160, an e-mail function for transmitting and receiving e-mail, and a web browsing function for browsing web pages. There is.

  In addition, the main control unit 101 has an image processing function such as displaying a video on the display input unit 120 based on image data (still image data or moving image data) such as received data or downloaded streaming data. The image processing function refers to a function in which the main control unit 101 decodes the image data, performs image processing on the decoding result, and displays an image obtained through the image processing on the display input unit 120. .

  Further, the main control unit 101 executes display control for the display panel 121 and operation detection control for detecting a user operation through the operation unit 140 and the operation panel 122.

  By executing the display control, the main control unit 101 displays an icon for starting application software, a software key such as a scroll bar, or a window for creating an e-mail. Note that the scroll bar is a software key for receiving an instruction to move a display portion of an image such as a large image that cannot be accommodated in the display area of the display panel 121.

  Further, by executing the operation detection control, the main control unit 101 detects a user operation through the operation unit 140, receives an operation on the icon through the operation panel 122, and receives an input of a character string in an input field of the window. Or a request to scroll the displayed image through a scroll bar.

  Further, by executing the operation detection control, the main control unit 101 determines that the operation position on the operation panel 122 corresponds to a superimposed portion (display area) overlapping the display panel 121 or the other outer edge portion not overlapping the display panel 121. It has a touch panel control function of determining whether the operation area corresponds to the (non-display area) and controlling the sensitive area of the operation panel 122 and the display position of the software key.

  Further, the main control unit 101 can also detect a gesture operation on the operation panel 122 and execute a preset function according to the detected gesture operation. The gesture operation is not a conventional simple touch operation but an operation of drawing a trajectory with a finger or the like, specifying a plurality of positions at the same time, or combining these to draw a trajectory for at least one from a plurality of positions. means.

  The camera unit 141 converts image data obtained by imaging into compressed image data such as JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) under the control of the main control unit 101, and records the image data in the storage unit 150, It can be output through the external input / output unit 160 or the wireless communication unit 110. As shown in FIG. 2, in the child terminal 13, the camera unit 141 is mounted on the same surface as the display input unit 120, but the mounting position of the camera unit 141 is not limited to this, and the housing in which the display input unit 120 is provided The camera unit 141 may be mounted on the rear surface of the housing 102 instead of the front surface of the camera 102, or a plurality of camera units 141 may be mounted on the housing 102. When a plurality of camera units 141 are mounted, the camera units 141 to be used for imaging may be switched to perform imaging by a single camera unit 141, or a plurality of camera units 141 may be used simultaneously. The imaging may be performed by performing the above operation.

  The camera section 141 can be used for various functions of the child terminal 13. For example, an image acquired by the camera unit 141 may be displayed on the display panel 121, or an image captured and acquired by the camera unit 141 may be used as one of the operation input methods of the operation panel 122. When the GPS receiving section 170 detects the position, the position may be detected with reference to an image from the camera section 141. Further, the image from the camera unit 141 is referred to, and the optical axis direction of the camera unit 141 of the slave terminal 13 is determined without using the three-axis acceleration sensor or in combination with the three-axis acceleration sensor. And the current usage environment. Of course, the image from the camera unit 141 can be used in the application software.

  In addition, the position information obtained by the GPS receiving unit 170, the voice information obtained by the microphone 132 (may be converted into text information by performing voice-to-text conversion by the main control unit or the like), and the motion sensor unit 180 Data obtained by adding the acquired attitude information and the like to still image or moving image data can be recorded in the storage unit 150 or output through the external input / output unit 160 or the wireless communication unit 110. .

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating terminal-to-terminal communication between the introducer terminal 13A and the participant terminal 13B among the child terminals 13. Note that the introducer terminal 13A is a terminal that introduces to the participant terminal 13B, and the participant terminal 13B is a terminal that desires to participate in a connection relationship. The introducer terminal 13A and the participant terminal 13B can communicate with each other by the short-range wireless communication unit described above and acquire identification information of each other.

  In the case shown in FIG. 4A, the introduction terminal 13A and the participant terminal 13B are connected by both short-range wireless communication units. Then, the identification information (child terminal ID (Identification)) of the introducer terminal 13A is transmitted from the introducer terminal 13A to the participant terminal 13B using the short-range wireless communication unit. The participant terminal 13B acquires the child terminal ID of the introducer terminal 13A and makes a connection request to the connection management server 10 via the network 12. In FIG. 4B, the introducer terminal 13A and the participant terminal 13B are connected via the short-range wireless communication unit as in FIG. 4A, and the child terminal ID of the participant terminal 13B is introduced. It is transmitted to the child terminal 13A. The introduction child terminal 13A that has acquired the child terminal ID of the participant child terminal 13B makes a connection request to the connection management server 10 via the network 12.

  As described above, the child terminal ID is obtained by the terminal-to-terminal communication between the introducer terminal 13A and the participant terminal 13B, and the identification information of the participant terminal 13B or the introducer terminal 13A necessary for making a connection request is transmitted to the Internet. It can be obtained without going through a network such as.

[First Embodiment]
Next, a functional configuration of the connection management server 10 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the connection management server 10 according to the first embodiment. The connection management server 10 is roughly composed of a user management unit 201 and a communication unit 33. The user management unit 201 and the communication unit 33 function when a program is loaded into one or more CPUs (not shown) inside the connection management server, and the CPUs operate.

  The user management unit 201 mainly includes a connection request reception unit 203, a registration information determination unit 205, an update unit 207, and a connection storage unit (connection database (Data Base)) 209. In the drawing, the database is described as DB. The connection storage unit is configured by a recording medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD).

  The connection database 209 includes identification information of the plurality of parent terminals 11 and identification information of the plurality of child terminals 13, and stores a connection relationship between the plurality of parent terminals 11 and the plurality of child terminals 13. That is, the connection database 109 stores a plurality of connection relationships between the parent terminal 11 and one or more child terminals 13.

  FIG. 6A is a chart showing a structural example of the connection database 209. The connection database 209 stores a parent terminal ID and a child terminal ID in connection with the parent terminal 11 in association with each other. Specifically, the parent terminal 11 having the parent terminal ID 4288 has a connection relationship with the child terminal 13 of the child terminal ID 6423, the child terminal ID 2346, the child terminal ID 6432, the child terminal ID 1215, and the child terminal ID 4890. It is stored in the connection database 209. Also, the parent terminal 11 having the parent terminal ID 8217 has a connection relationship with the child terminals 1323 of the child terminal ID 7223, the child terminal ID 4673, the child terminal ID 5585, the child terminal ID 1215, and the child terminal ID 4890. Is stored in Note that the structure of the connection database 209 shown in FIG. 6A is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the connection database 209 may have a parent terminal ID of the parent terminal 11 having a connection relation for each child terminal 13.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram conceptually showing the connection relation stored in the connection database 209 shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, the connection relationship of the parent terminal ID 4288 and the connection relationship of the parent terminal ID 8217 are indicated by solid lines. The child terminal 13 of the child terminal ID 6423, the child terminal ID 2346, and the child terminal ID 6432 only has a connection relationship with the parent terminal 11 of the parent terminal ID 4288, and the child terminal 13 of the child terminal ID 7223, the child terminal ID 4673, and the child terminal ID 5585. Has only a connection relationship with the parent terminal 11 of the parent terminal ID 8217. On the other hand, the child terminal 13 having the child terminal ID 1215 and the child terminal ID 4890 has a connection relationship with the parent terminal 11 of the parent terminal ID 4288 and a connection relationship with the parent terminal 11 of the parent terminal ID 8217.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the connection request receiving unit 203 receives a connection request having the identification information of the participant terminal 13B that makes an application for participation in the connection and the identification information of the introducer terminal 13A that introduces the participant terminal 13B. That is, the connection request receiving unit 203 receives a connection request from the introduction child terminal 13A or the participant child terminal 13B via the reception unit 32 of the child terminal communication unit 34. The connection request includes at least the identification information of the participant terminal 13B that makes an application for participation in connection relations and the identification information of the introducer terminal 13A that introduces the participant terminal 13B. Here, the identification information of the introducer terminal 13A is the identification information of the child terminal 13 to which information indicating that the terminal is the introducer terminal 13A, and the identification information of the participant terminal 13B is the participant terminal 13B. This is the identification information of the child terminal 13 to which information indicating that the child terminal 13 is attached. Further, a connection request having identification information means that information relating to identification information is included or added to the connection request. Note that the connection request may be transmitted from the participant terminal 13B or may be transmitted from the introducer terminal 13A.

  Further, the connection request may include information of the parent terminal 11 to which the participant terminal 13B is connected in the connection relationship when the introduction child terminal 13A has a connection relationship with a plurality of parent terminals 11. That is, information indicating which parent terminal 11 the participant terminal 13B is connected to in a connection relationship is generated in the introducer terminal 13A or the participant terminal 13B and added to the connection request. For example, when the user of the introducer terminal 13A introduces the participant terminal 13B to the user of the participant terminal 13B in a part of the connection relation held by the user of the introducer terminal 13A, the part of the connection relation The information indicating that the participant terminal 13B is connected in the connection relationship is included in the connection request using the introducer terminal 13A.

  The registration information determination unit 205 determines whether the identification information of the introduction child terminal 13A included in the connection request is stored in the connection storage unit. That is, the registration information determination unit 205 determines whether or not the child terminal ID of the introduction child terminal 13A included in the connection request received by the connection request reception unit 203 is registered in the connection database 209. Specifically, when the child terminal ID of the referral child terminal 13A is in the connection database 209, the registration information determination unit 205 determines that "there is a memory", and the child terminal ID of the referral child terminal 13A is not in the connection database 209. In this case, it is determined that there is no storage. Then, registration information determination section 205 transmits the determination result to update section 207.

  When the registration information determination unit 205 determines that the identification information (child terminal ID) of the referral child terminal 13A is stored in the connection storage unit, the update unit 207 determines whether some or all of the connections of the referral child terminal are present. The relationship is updated to a new connection relationship in which the participant terminal is connected to one or more parent terminals having a connection relationship with the introducer terminal in the connection relationship. Hereinafter, updating of the updating unit 207 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 6B to 6D show configuration examples of the connection database 209 updated by the update unit 207.

<Case 1>
In the case 1, in particular, by applying the present invention, the participant terminal 13B can participate in a part or all of the connection relationships that the introducer terminal 13A has, and the introducer terminal 13A and the participant It is possible to build a connection relationship using the trust relationship with the terminal 13B and the trust relationship between the introducer terminal 13A and some or all of the parent terminals 11.

  One example of Case 1 is a case where the participant child terminal 13B is the child terminal 13 with the child terminal ID 8624 in FIG. 7, and the introduction child terminal 13A has a connection relationship with the two parent terminals 11. That is, the connection request includes the child terminal ID 8624 of the participant terminal 13B and the child terminal ID 1215 of the introducer terminal 13A. 13B is included.

  The registration information determination unit 205 determines that the child terminal 13A of the child terminal ID 1215 has a connection relationship with the parent terminal 11 of the parent terminal ID 4288 and a connection relationship with the parent terminal 11 of the parent terminal ID 8217. It is determined that the terminal ID is stored in the connection database 209. Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the updating unit 207 updates the connection relation of the parent terminal 11 of the parent terminal ID 4288 and the connection relation of the parent terminal 11 of the parent terminal ID 8217 by adding the child terminal ID 8624 of the participating terminal. do. As a result, the participant child terminal 13B of the child terminal ID 8624 is included in the connection relationship of the parent terminal 11 of the parent terminal ID 4288 and the connection relationship of the parent terminal 11 of the parent terminal ID 8217.

  Another example of Case 1 is a case where the connection request includes the child terminal ID 8624 of the participant terminal 13B and the child terminal ID 1215 of the introduction child terminal 13A as in the above-described example. Further, in this example, a request is included that the participant terminal 13B is connected only to the connection relation with the parent terminal 11 of the parent terminal ID 8217 of the connection relation that the child terminal ID 1215 of the introduction child terminal 13A has.

  Since the registration information determination unit 205 has a connection relationship with the parent terminal 11 of the parent terminal ID 8217, it determines that the child terminal ID of the introduction child terminal 13A is stored in the connection database 209. Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, the update unit 207 updates the connection relation of the parent terminal 11 of the parent terminal ID 8217 so as to add the child terminal ID 8624 of the participating terminal. As a result, the participant child terminal 13B with the child terminal ID 8624 is included in the connection relationship of the parent terminal 11 with the parent terminal ID 8217.

<Case 2>
Case 2 is a case where the participating child terminal 13B in FIG. 7 is the child terminal 13 having the child terminal ID 8624, and the introducing child terminal 13A is the child terminal ID 7223 having a connection relationship with one parent terminal 11. That is, the connection request includes the child terminal ID 8624 of the participant terminal 13B and the child terminal ID 7223 of the introduction child terminal 13A.

  The registration information determination unit 205 determines that the child terminal ID of the child terminal ID 7223 is stored in the connection database 209 because the child terminal ID of the child terminal ID 7223 has a connection relationship with the parent terminal 11 of the parent terminal ID 8217. I do. Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, the update unit 207 updates the connection relationship of the parent terminal 11 with the parent terminal ID 8217 so as to add the child terminal ID 8624 of the participating terminal. As a result, the participant child terminal 13B of the child terminal ID 8624 is included in the connection relationship of the parent terminal 11 of the parent terminal ID 8217.

  Another example of Case 2 is a case where the participant child terminal 13B is the child terminal 13 with the child terminal ID 8624 in FIG. . That is, the connection request includes the child terminal ID 8624 of the participant terminal 13B and the child terminal ID 6423 of the introduction child terminal 13A. Note that a trust relationship is established between the owner of the participant terminal 13B of the child terminal ID 8624 and the owner of the introduction child terminal 13A of the child terminal ID 6423.

  The registration information determination unit 205 determines that the child terminal ID of the child terminal 1364 is stored in the connection database 209 because the child terminal 13A of the child terminal ID 6423 has a connection relationship with the parent terminal 11 of the parent terminal ID 4288. I do. Then, as shown in FIG. 6D, the update unit 207 updates the connection relationship of the parent terminal 11 with the parent terminal ID 4288 so as to add the child terminal ID 8624 of the participating terminal. As a result, the participant child terminal 13B with the child terminal ID 8624 is included in the connection relationship of the parent terminal 11 with the parent terminal ID 4288.

<Case 3>
Case 3 is a case where the child terminal 13 of the child terminal ID 8624 is the participant terminal 13B and the introduction child terminal 13A is not registered in the connection database 209. That is, the connection request includes the child terminal ID 8624 of the participant terminal 13B and the child terminal ID 1111 of the introduction child terminal 13A. Note that the child terminal ID 1111 is not stored in the connection database 209.

  The registration information determination unit 205 determines that the child terminal ID 1111 is not registered in the connection database 209. Then, the update unit 207 does not update the connection database 209 because the registration information determination unit 205 determines that the child terminal ID of the introduction child terminal 13A is not stored.

  When the parent terminal 11 is newly registered in the connection database 209, the parent terminal 11 is registered in the connection database 209 by a known method. For example, the parent terminal 11 is registered in the connection database 209 by applying for a new connection relationship including the parent terminal ID and the child terminal ID.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the communication unit 33 mainly includes a child terminal communication unit 34 and a parent terminal communication unit 37. The child terminal communication unit 34 has a transmission unit 31 and a reception unit 32, and the parent terminal communication unit 37 has a transmission unit 35 and a reception unit 36.

  The child terminal communication unit 34 communicates information with the child terminal 13, and the parent terminal communication unit 37 communicates information with the parent terminal 11. That is, in the connection management server 10, information communication is performed between the parent terminal 11 and the child terminal 13 having a connection relationship via the parent terminal communication unit 37 and the child terminal communication unit 34. For example, information transmitted from the parent terminal 11 to the parent terminal communication unit 37 and information transmitted from the child terminal communication unit 34 to the child terminal 13 are recommendation information, inventory information, sales information, or congestion information. Further, for example, information transmitted from the child terminal 13 to the child terminal communication unit 34 and transmitted from the parent terminal communication unit 37 to the parent terminal 11 is a purchase request or a recommendation request.

  Next, a connection management method will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation flow of the connection management server 10.

  First, the connection management server 10 receives a connection request from the introduction child terminal 13A or the participant terminal 13B by the connection request reception unit 203 (step S10). Thereafter, the registration information determination unit 205 determines whether or not the child terminal ID of the introduction child terminal 13A included in the connection request is registered in the connection database 209 (Step S11).

  When it is determined that the child terminal ID of the referral child terminal 13A is not registered in the connection database 209 (No in step S11), the update unit 207 does not update the connection database 209 (step S13). On the other hand, when it is determined that the child terminal ID of the referral child terminal 13A is registered in the connection database 209 (No in step S11), the updating unit 207 updates the connection database 209 (step S12). That is, the update unit 207 updates the connection database 209 so as to include the child terminal ID of the participant terminal 13B in all of the connection relationships of the introducer terminal 13A.

  The above-described configurations and functions can be appropriately realized by arbitrary hardware, software, or a combination of both. For example, a program that causes a computer to execute the above-described processing steps (processing procedure), a computer-readable recording medium (non-transitory recording medium) on which such a program is recorded, or a computer on which such a program can be installed However, the present invention can be applied.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is determined that the connection request has the identification information of the participant terminal 13B and the identification information of the introducer terminal 13A, and the identification information of the introducer terminal 13A is stored in the connection database 209. In this case, the participant terminal 13B can participate in some or all of the connection relationships that the introducer terminal 13A has. Thus, in the present embodiment, even when the referral terminal 13A has a connection relationship with a plurality of parent terminals 11, the participant terminal 13B has a part or all of the connection relationship that the referral terminal 13A has. Can participate, and a connection relationship using the trust relationship between the introducer terminal 13A and the participant terminal 13B and the trust relationship between the introducer terminal 13A and some or all of the parent terminals 11 can be established.

[Second embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the connection management server 10 according to the second embodiment. The connection management server 10 is roughly composed of a user management unit 201, a communication unit 33, and an information unit 254. The same reference numerals are given to the portions described in FIG. 5 and the description is omitted. Similarly to the first embodiment, the information unit 254 also functions when a control device such as a CPU in the connection management server 10 (not shown) operates.

  The connection management server 10 illustrated in FIG. 9 is different from the connection management server 10 described with reference to FIG. 5 in that a connection specifying unit 210 is added to the user management unit 201 and an information unit 254 is added. different.

  The connection specifying unit 210 specifies, from the connection database 209, the connection relationship of the parent terminal 11 or the child terminal 13 that has output the search request. That is, the search request includes information for the search unit 250 to perform and the terminal ID of the parent terminal 11 or the child terminal 13 that has output the search request, and the connection identification unit 210 determines the connection database 209 based on the terminal ID. From the connection relationship. If the connection identification unit 210 cannot detect the terminal ID included in the search request in the connection database 209, the search request is determined to have been output from a terminal other than the user of the connection management server 10, and the search request May be rejected.

  The search unit 250 searches for information to be searched in response to a search request from the parent terminal 11 or a search request from the child terminal 13. The search request includes information for performing the search request, and the search unit 250 performs a search based on the information for performing the search. The information for performing the search includes various information. For example, information for performing a search is a product color, a product number, a brand, a kansei word, a size, terminal identification information, or a store name.

  The statistical information acquisition unit 252 acquires statistical information of information related to the search history stored in the search history storage unit (search history database) 246. That is, the statistical information acquisition unit 252 creates statistical information related to the search history based on the search history recorded in the search history database 246. Note that the statistical information acquisition unit 252 can create statistical information by a known technique. For example, the statistical information acquisition unit 252 can acquire statistical information on a trend, a sign of a trend, a hot selling product, or a trend of a coordination based on the search history record database using a known technique.

  The result of the search performed by the search unit 250 and the statistical information obtained by the statistical information obtaining unit 252 are transmitted via the parent terminal communication unit 37 or the child terminal communication unit 34 to the parent terminal 11 or the child terminal It is transmitted to the parent terminal 11 or the child terminal 13 that has a connection relationship with the terminal 13. That is, the search result and the statistical information are transmitted to the parent terminal 11 or the child terminal 13 having the connection relationship specified by the connection specifying unit 210 based on the terminal ID included in the search request.

  The searched information storage unit 248 stores information searched by the search unit 250. The searched information storage unit 248 can store various information. For example, the searched information storage unit 248 stores product information, service information, or event information.

  The searched information storage unit 248 includes a product database 236, a user database 244, a store database 240, and a search history database 246. Hereinafter, each database will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a chart showing a configuration example of the user database 244.

  As shown in FIG. 10, a product ID is registered in the user database 244 in association with the user ID of each user.

  The product ID registered in the user database 244 is a product ID indicating a product related to the purchase behavior history information of the user. Here, the user's purchasing behavior history information is, for example, on an EC (Electronic Commerce) site, history information of selecting a product and placing it in an online shopping cart, history information of selecting a product and registering it in a favorite list, And the history information obtained by browsing the detailed display of the product and the history information registered in the micro closet by selecting the product. These pieces of information are information stored in the child terminal 13, and are automatically or manually transmitted from the child terminal 13 to the connection management server 10 when connected to the connection management server 10.

  In addition, the user database 244 of this example stores the type of the user's purchase behavior history information (history information registered as a favorite, history information displayed in detail, history information put into a cart, history information registered in a micro closet). The merchandise IDs are classified and registered accordingly.

  In addition, the child terminal 13 receives the GPS information, and registers, in the user database 244, normal user's activity range information (for example, a commuting route, a school route, a shopping range, etc.) based on the GPS information. Further, personal information such as the user's name, age, gender, address, and telephone number is also registered in the user database 244, but is not shown in FIG.

  For example, a store clerk having the parent terminal 11 can search for the above-mentioned information of the customer (child terminal 13) having a connection relationship, and can use it for customer service and product recommendation. Since the connection relationship is limited based on the trust relationship, the customer can transmit the information included in the user database 244 with peace of mind.

  FIG. 11 is a chart showing a configuration example of the store database 240.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in the store database 240, a product ID indicating a product (product) handled in each store is registered in association with the store ID of each store. In the store database 240, information such as a store name, an address of a real store, a telephone number, a brand of a product being handled, a price range of the product, and the like are registered.

  For example, the store database 240 is used when a clerk having the parent terminal 11 provides a customer (child terminal 13) having a connection relationship with information on a store that handles a certain product. That is, the store database 240 is used when introducing the store closest to the place where the customer lives among the stores handling a certain product.

  FIG. 12 is a chart showing a configuration example of the product database 236. Here, the product information is a design feature quantity including any one of the color, pattern, and shape of the product, and the product information is any one of the color, texture, and image of the product. It is a design feature quantity including one. The color impression of the product is a feeling given by the color of the product, and the image is an image given by the entire product.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the product database 236 stores, for each product (product ID), product category information, product images, design feature amounts (colors, patterns, shapes, textures) obtained by analyzing the product images, and products. , A store ID handling the product, a product brand, stock, size, price, and other information are registered in association with each other. Here, the category information indicates a category of a product (clothing), and is information on a blouse, a skirt, pants, a T-shirt, a dress, and the like. Sometimes used.

  Next, the design feature amount obtained by analyzing the image of the product will be described.

  The design feature quantity obtained by analyzing the image of the product is a physical measurement value such as a color feature quantity, a pattern feature quantity, a shape feature quantity, and a texture feature quantity.

  In addition, based on the design feature amount, a Kansei feature amount that specifies an impression of the product can be one of the design feature amounts. Here, the emotion feature amount is an emotion space coordinate on the emotion space expressed in two dimensions.

  First, a description will be given of a color feature quantity, which is one of the design feature quantities of a product.

  The color feature amount is information indicating a representative color of an image of each region obtained by cutting out a region including a color representing a product image, performing a smoothing process on the image of each region by a smoothing filter, and performing smoothing processing.

  In this example, values of three attributes (H (hue), S (saturation), and V (brightness)) in the HSV color space (hereinafter, referred to as “HSV values”) are acquired as color feature amounts. When the representative color of the product is two or more, the color feature value (HSV value) for each of the two or more representative colors is obtained.

  Further, for each acquired color feature value (HSV value), the corresponding color information is selected from a basic color pallet having 130 colors. Here, 130 colors have 120 chromatic colors and 10 achromatic colors, and the 120 chromatic colors are a combination of 10 types of hues and 12 types of tones, and are 10 achromatic colors. Consists of ten tones from white to black.

  When one color feature value (HSV value) is measured, one color (color information) of 130 colors (# 1 to # 130) in the basic color palette corresponding to the measured color feature value is determined. Can be.

  When the representative color of the product image is two, two colors (two-color arrangement) on the basic color palette can be specified. Similarly, when the representative color of the product image is three colors, three colors (three color arrangement) on the basic color palette can be specified.

  Further, the pattern feature amount may be, for example, a feature amount defined by a pattern density and a pattern size. For example, the shape feature amount depends on the overall width (thin-thick), the size of the sleeve (short-long), the size of the length (short-long), the width and height of the neckline (neckline), and the neckline. A feature amount defined by the defined cross-sectional area (small-large) of the space for passing the user's head, the angle of the V-neck (small-large), the curvature of the U-neck (small-large), and the like can be considered. . The texture feature amount may be, for example, a feature amount defined by glossiness and transparency.

  For example, the product database 236 is used when a clerk (parent terminal 11) and a customer (child terminal 13) search for a product. In addition, since the product database 236 of this example has information on the design feature amount, the clerk and the customer can perform a search based on the design feature amount.

  Next, a description will be given of the kansei feature amount for specifying an impression of a product.

  FIG. 13 is a language image scale showing kansei words arranged in the kansei space, and FIG. 14 is a monochromatic image scale of a single color (130 colors of the basic color palette) arranged in the kansei space. FIG. 15 is an image scale of three colors arranged in the sensibility space. The image scales shown in FIG. 13, FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 show the image scales disclosed by Nippon Color Design Institute Co., Ltd. ("Color System" (Kodansha), written by Shigejun Kobayashi, and http: // www. .ncd-ri.co.jp / about / image_system.html).

  13 to 15 are spaces defined by a horizontal axis indicating the degree of WARM (warm) / COOL (cold) and a vertical axis indicating the degree of HARD (hard) / SOFT (soft). is there.

  In the language image scale shown in FIG. 13, 64 kansei words are arranged in the kansei space. Further, in the monochromatic image scale shown in FIG. 14, 130 monochromatic colors are arranged in the sensitivity space. The symbols shown in FIG. 14 are V (Vibit), S (Strong), B (Bright), P (Pale), Vp (Berry Pale), Lgr (Light Grayish), L (Light), Gr ( 12 shows the positions of 12 types of tones of Dl (Dal), Dp (Deep), Dk (Dark), and Dgr (Dark Grayish). Also, as typical ones of the 130 colors shown by numerals, 1 to 10 indicate the positions of representative hues, 1 is red, 2 is orange, 3 is yellow, 4 is yellow green, Is green, 6 is bluish green, 7 is blue, 8 is bluish purple, 9 is purple, and 10 is reddish purple. 121 is white and 130 is black.

  The image scale of the three-color scheme shown in FIG. 15 shows one three-color scheme corresponding to each of the 64 sensitivity words, but there are a plurality of three-color schemes corresponding to one sensitivity term.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, it can be seen that there is a correlation between the sensibility word and the color feature amount (single color, three color arrangement). It should be noted that there is a correlation between the two words and the N-color in addition to the three colors shown in FIG.

  Therefore, if a conversion table or a conversion formula indicating the relationship between the color feature amounts (monochrome, color arrangement (two colors, three colors, N colors)) and the sensibility words is prepared in advance and the color information of the single color and color arrangement is obtained, the color The information can be converted into sensibility words by using a conversion table or the like. The kansei feature amounts are kansei space coordinates on the kansei space where the kansei words are arranged.

  FIG. 16 is a chart showing a configuration example of the search history database 246.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the search history database 246 describes a terminal ID, the date and time when the search was performed, and the content of the search. For example, the search unit 250 records a history of searching for a product 4441 at 09:36 AM on July 16, 2012 in response to a search request from the child terminal ID 6423. The search history database 246 stores the history of all searches performed in the connection management server 10. That is, the search history of the parent terminal 11 and the child terminal 13 is stored in the search history database 246 regardless of the connection relationship.

  For example, the search history database 246 is used when statistical information is acquired by the statistical information acquiring unit 252. That is, the search history database 246 obtains statistical information on the search history of the customer (child terminal 13) with which the clerk (parent terminal 11) has a connection relationship, and grasps the trend among customers with a connection relationship. Used for

[Other examples]
The connection management server 10 can include various databases in addition to the above-described databases.

  FIG. 17 is a chart showing a configuration example of the provided information database.

  For example, a provision information database as shown in FIG. 17 may be provided. The provided information database describes a child terminal ID for specifying the child terminal 13 used by the customer and information to be provided to the customer. In the case described in FIG. 17, the information A and B are provided to the customer of the child terminal ID 8241, the information B and C are provided to the customer of the child terminal ID 4234, and the information A and D are provided to the customer of the child terminal ID 1244. Is done. For example, when information is provided from the parent terminal 11 having the same connection relationship to the child terminal 13, the information may be transmitted from the parent terminal 11 to the child terminal 13 with reference to the information provision database. For example, by using the information providing database, the clerk using the parent terminal 11 can easily provide information to the customer.

  Although an example of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Client server system, 10 ... Connection management server, 11 ... Parent terminal, 12 ... Network, 13 ... Child terminal, 33 ... Communication part, 34 ... Child terminal communication part, 37 ... Parent terminal communication part, 201 ... User management part , 203: Connection request receiving unit, 205: Registration information determining unit, 207: Update unit, 209: Connection database, 210: Connection specifying unit, 236: Product database, 240: Store database, 244: User database, 246: Search history Database, 248: Searched information storage unit, 250: Search unit, 252: Statistical information acquisition unit

Claims (13)

A connection storage unit that stores the identification information of the plurality of parent terminals and the identification information of the child terminals in a connection relationship with each of the parent terminals in association with each other;
A connection request receiving unit that receives a connection request having identification information of an introducer terminal having the connection relationship and identification information of a participant terminal making an application for participation in the connection relationship , wherein A connection request receiving unit capable of receiving the connection request from both ,
A registration information determination unit that determines whether the identification information of the introducer terminal included in the connection request is stored in the connection storage unit,
When the registration information determination unit determines that the identification information of the referral child terminal is stored in the connection storage unit, the parent terminal and the participant terminal in the connection relationship with the referral child terminal are An update unit that updates information stored in the connection storage unit so as to be connected;
Connection management server with The connection request includes information of the parent terminal to which the participant terminal can be connected,
The update unit is the parent terminal in the connection relationship with the introduction child terminal, so that the parent terminal and the participant terminal to which the participant terminal can be connected, the connection storage unit, Update stored information,
The connection management server according to claim 1. The connection request receiving unit receives the connection request from the participant terminal or the introducer terminal,
One of the participant terminal and the introducer terminal acquires the identification information of the other terminal through terminal-to-terminal communication between the participant terminal and the introducer terminal, and transmits the connection request to the connection request receiving unit. Do
The connection management server according to claim 1. A parent terminal communication unit for communicating information with the parent terminal,
A child terminal communication unit that communicates information with the child terminal,
With
Via the parent terminal communication unit and the child terminal communication unit, communication of information is performed between the parent terminal and the child terminal having the connection relationship,
The connection management server according to claim 1. In response to a search request from the parent terminal or a search request from the child terminal, a search unit that searches for information to be searched,
A searched information storage unit that stores the searched information;
With
Via the parent terminal communication unit or the child terminal communication unit, the search unit performs the search for the parent terminal or the child terminal in the connection relationship with the parent terminal or the child terminal that has output the search request. Information about your search results will be sent,
The connection management server according to claim 4. The searched information stored in the searched information storage unit includes any one of product information, service information, and event information.
The connection management server according to claim 5. The product information is a design feature amount including any one of a product color, a pattern, and a shape.
The connection management server according to claim 6. The product information is a design feature including any one of color, texture, and image of the product.
The connection management server according to claim 6. A search history storage unit that stores information about the history of the search performed by the search unit;
A statistical information acquisition unit that acquires statistical information of information about the search history stored in the search history storage unit;
With
Via the parent terminal communication unit or the child terminal communication unit, for the parent terminal or the child terminal that has the connection relationship with the parent terminal or the child terminal that has output the search request, the statistical information acquisition unit The transmission of the obtained statistical information is performed,
The connection management server according to claim 5. The statistical information indicates one of a trend, a trend sign, a hot selling product, and a trend of coordination,
The connection management server according to claim 9. The information transmitted from the parent terminal to the parent terminal communication unit and the information transmitted from the child terminal communication unit to the child terminal includes any one of recommendation information, inventory information, sales information, and congestion information ,
The connection management server according to any one of claims 4 to 10. The information transmitted from the child terminal to the child terminal communication unit, the information transmitted from the parent terminal communication unit to the parent terminal includes one of a purchase request and a recommendation request,
The connection management server according to claim 4. A connection management method of a connection storage unit that stores identification information of a plurality of parent terminals and the identification information of child terminals in a connection relationship with each of the parent terminals in association with each other,
Accepting a connection request having identification information of an introducer terminal having the connection relationship and identification information of a participant terminal making an application for participation in the connection relationship, wherein the connection request is received from both the introducer terminal and the participant terminal. Accepting a connection request ;
Determining whether or not the identification information of the referral child terminal included in the connection request is stored in the connection storage unit;
When it is determined that the identification information of the introducer terminal is stored in the connection storage unit, the connection is established so that the parent terminal and the participant terminal in the connection relationship with the introducer terminal are connected. Updating information stored in the storage unit;
Connection management method including: