JPH07115640A - Electronic catalog shopping system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the comparison of purchased merchandise by successively accessing plural information centers, preserving any specified merchandise information and comparing it with information from the other information center. CONSTITUTION:In a catalog shopping mode, first of all, the merchandise information from information centers 101-103 preserved in a data storage part 110 is displayed on a display part 111. While observing that display picture, a user selects any desired sales company by using an input part 106. Next, since the merchandise information of that sales company is displayed, when it is the desired merchandise, its merchandise name is selected by the user. When the merchandise name is selected, the image of relevant merchandise is retrieved from image data in a CD-ROM 113 and displayed together with the merchandise information. Afterwards, when there are the data of the other sales company, these data are compared and displayed together with the image data in the CD-ROM 113. Then, the sales company is finally decided and when the purchase of merchandise is decided, that merchandise is directly ordered to the sales company by using a telephone line 104.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic catalog / shopping system for purchasing an article by combining communication between an electronic publication medium for catalog shopping and a plurality of information centers operated by a sales company or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As conventional technology, data received from an information center or the like using a telephone line and a CD-RO are used.
There was a system for combining data obtained from electronic publishing media such as M and using it for catalog shopping.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a conventional electronic catalog / shopping system. Reference numeral 201 denotes an information center operated by a sales company or the like, which is connected to a modem 204 in the electronic catalog player 203 on the user side by a telephone line 202. Reference numeral 205 denotes a CD-ROM drive, which is a CD-ROM catalog 20 manufactured by a sales company or the like.
Play 6.

The user inputs the data of the product desired to be purchased from the input unit 207. The data processing unit 208 determines necessary information from the input product data, and according to the procedure stored in the data processing unit storage unit 209, the product name, price, product code, etc. from the information center 201 via the modem 204. Information is acquired and stored in the data storage unit 210. In addition, the CD-ROM drive 205
Read out image data and the like from the ROM catalog 206.

In the data processing unit 208, the data from the information center 201 and the data from the CD-ROM catalog 206 are combined, output to the display unit 211, and displayed on the display or the like.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional electronic catalog / shopping system, when comparing the data of a plurality of information centers, it is necessary to reconnect the line with another information center every time the information center is changed, and the same line is used. It was not possible to compare data from multiple information centers on the display.

[0007]

As described above, according to the conventional electronic catalog / shopping system, it is necessary to access each individual information center when obtaining product information, which facilitates comparison and examination of products. I couldn't.

Therefore, the present invention eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks, sequentially accesses a plurality of information centers, stores the information of a specific product, and compares it with the information from other information centers to compare purchased products. The purpose is to facilitate.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a communication for receiving and transmitting the first data from at least one information center that owns the first data such as a product catalog. Control means, data recording means for storing the first data obtained by the communication control means, electronic publication medium reproducing means for reproducing an electronic publication medium such as an electronic catalog, and the data recording means. Display means for combining and displaying the first data and the second data obtained by the electronic publication medium reproducing means, the communication control means, the data recording means, the electronic publication medium reproducing means, and the display means. And an electronic catalog player having.

[0010]

In such a structure, the communication control means records and holds the product information obtained from a plurality of information centers in the data recording means. By combining the data from the information center and the data of the electronic publication medium reproduced by the electronic publication medium reproducing means and providing it to the user, the product can be easily compared and examined.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. 101, 102, and 103 are information centers operated by a sales company or the like. A telephone line 104 connects the information center side and the user side. Reference numeral 105 is a modem connected to the telephone line 104. Reference numeral 106 denotes an input unit for the user to input, 107 denotes a CD-ROM drive, 10
Reference numeral 8 is a data processing unit that controls data processing and a display unit, 109 is a data processing procedure storage device that records data processing procedures, 110 is a data storage unit that stores data sent from an information center, Reference numeral 111 is a display unit such as a display for displaying information.

Reference numeral 112 denotes a modem unit 105 and an input unit 10.
6, CD-ROM drive 107, data processing unit 10
8, an electronic catalog player including a data processing means storage unit 109 and a display unit 111.

Reference numeral 113 is a CD-ROM catalog which can retrieve information on image data of a product by using a product code. FIG. 2 shows a data format of information sent from the information center of the sales company to the electronic catalog player on the user side. The data sent from the sales company is the sales company code, sales company name, ordering telephone number, product name,
It consists of information such as product code, sales price, and validity period.

The operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. Information center 101
Is the electronic catalog player 112 via the telephone line 104.
It is connected to the modem section 105.

As shown in FIG. 3b1, the electronic catalog player 112 is accessed by the information center 101,
The data reception mode C1 is set. As shown in FIG. 4, after confirming that the electronic catalog player 112 is in the data reception mode, the information center 101 side transmits data such as product information in the data format shown in FIG. Here, as shown in FIG. 4h1, this is performed while confirming that the reception code is returned from the electronic catalog player side every reception of one block.

When an error occurs during transmission and a retry code is returned, the immediately preceding data block is retransmitted. If either the received code or the retry code is not returned within the fixed time, the line between the information center 101 and the electronic catalog player 112 is disconnected.

Also, when the electronic catalog player 112 is connected to another information center, the telephone line 104
If the telephone line 104 is in use, the fact that the telephone line 104 is in use is recorded on the information center side, and the connection process is performed again after a certain period of time.

Similarly, connection processing is also performed for each of the information centers 102, 103 ... Stored in the data processing means storage section 109 on the electronic catalog player 112 side, and data such as product information is transmitted to the electronic catalog player.

Next, the operation and display screen when the user carries out the electronic catalog shopping will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 and FIG. In the catalog / shopping mode, the product information from the information centers 101, 102, and 103 initially stored in the data storage unit 110 is displayed on the display unit. (FIG. 5a2, FIG. 6A) The user sees the display screen and selects the desired sales company through the input unit 106 (FIG. 5b2). Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, since the product information of the selling company is displayed, if there is a desired product, the product name is selected (FIG. 5d2, e).
2).

When the product name is selected, the CD-ROM 11
The image of the corresponding product is retrieved from the image data of No. 3, and displayed together with the product information (FIGS. 5f2, g2, and FIG. 6C). Next, if there is data of another selling company, these plural data are compared and displayed together with the image data of the CD-ROM 113 (FIG. 5h2, i2, j2, FIG. 6D).

The sales company is finally determined including the data of the sales company selected first (Fig. 51). When it is decided to purchase the product, the ordering process is performed directly to the sales company using the telephone line 104. (Fig. 5 m2, n2).

In this embodiment, the product information from the information center is received in the data receiving mode and stored in the data storage unit 110. For data such as image data that tends to have a large data amount at the time of storage, CD-ROM
By using 113, it is possible to simultaneously display these product information and images.

Further, since the product data stored in the data storage unit 110 can be rewritten, new information can always be provided. 7 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a product classification code transmitted from the electronic catalog player 115 to the information center 101. The same components as those of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of this embodiment. When you start catalog shopping,
The user selects a rough classification (Fig. 9b3). Next, according to the data of the information center registered in the connection information storage unit 114 shown in FIG. 7, the information center 101 and the telephone line 10 are connected.
4 are connected (FIG. 9c3). When it is confirmed that the telephone line 104 with the information center is connected, the electronic catalog player transmits the product classification code shown in FIG. 8 to the information center (FIG. 9d3).

The information center 101 sends the corresponding product information in the data format shown in FIG. 2 to the electronic catalog player in accordance with the product classification code sent from the electronic catalog player (FIG. 9e3).

The electronic catalog player 115 receives the product information code from the information center 101 and stores it in the data recording section 110 (FIG. 9f3). Information center 10
The telephone line 104 to 1 is disconnected and the information centers 102, 103, ... Recorded in the data processing means recording unit 109 are sequentially connected, and the same operation is performed (FIG. 9h3).

When all the information centers recorded in the recording section of the data processing means are completely connected, the same operation as that of the first embodiment shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is performed to place an order for the products (FIGS. 5a2 to m2). .

In this embodiment, when the user selects a rough product category, the telephone lines can be automatically connected to a plurality of information centers and information about the selected product can be obtained. In addition, it becomes possible to easily compare and examine such information between the information centers.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, when electronic catalog shopping is used, the information sent from a plurality of information centers is stored in the data recording section, so that the products can be compared and examined. It becomes possible to make it easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data format from an information center.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart diagram at the time of start in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the data reception mode in FIG.

5 is a flow chart diagram of the catalog / shopping mode in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a display screen in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a product classification code transmitted to an information center.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a conventional electronic catalog shopping system.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 ... Information center, 105 ... Modem, 106 ... Input section, 107 ... CD-ROM drive, 108 ... Data processing section, 109 ... Data processing means storage section, 110 ... Data storage section, 111 ... Display section, 112 ... Electronic catalog Player, 113 ... CD-ROM catalog.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A communication control unit that receives and transmits the first data from at least one information center that owns the first data such as a product catalog, and the first control unit obtained by the communication control unit. Data recording means for storing data, electronic publication medium reproducing means for reproducing an electronic publication medium such as an electronic catalog, the first data stored in the data recording means and the electronic publication medium reproducing means An electronic catalog player comprising: display means for displaying the second data in combination; electronic communication player having the communication control means, the data recording means, the electronic publication medium reproducing means, and the display means. Catalog shopping system.