JPH0954801A - On-line shopping system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the use convenience by simplifying the input operation of user in the case of performing ordering. SOLUTION: The bar code of a commodity to be ordered is read on an ordering processing terminal 101 and transferred through a network 300 to an order processing computer system. In the order processing computer system, the same type of commodity as the commodity to be order by a user is retrieved based on received information in the processing for retrieving a commodity data base. Based on the retrieved result, an ordered commodity candidate list generating means generates an ordered commodity candidate list as the list of the alternative articles of ordered commodity. The information such as the prices of respective pieces of commodity is stored in the ordered commodity candidate list as well and transferred to the ordering processing terminal 101. At the ordering processing terminal 101, the information stored in the ordered commodity candidate list is displayed and the selection of commodity to be ordered is called to the user. The user executes the selection by using a commodity selecting means and ordering processing is completed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an online shopping system in which a customer can place an order for a product at home, and particularly, the user's input operation when ordering is simplified to improve usability. Further, the present invention relates to an online shopping system that enables selection of products from the latest assortment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a related technique, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-14
As in the online shopping system of No. 1100, by integrating the order entry method and the physical distribution delivery method, the system construction can be made inexpensive and the time from ordering to the arrival of goods can be shortened.

Further, as in the online ordering / ordering system of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-236389, the ordering side converts the order information handwritten and input into a character code by using a character recognizing means, thereby performing a good operation. To get sex.

[0004]

In such a conventional system, the user needs to search for a product to be ordered from a catalog or the like and input a code number or the like for identifying the product by keyboard or handwriting. It was Furthermore, when ordering a plurality of products at the same time, it is necessary to check the code numbers of the individual products from the catalog and enter the codes for all the products.

Therefore, when trying to order various miscellaneous daily necessities in the online shopping system as described above, there is a problem that the order processing becomes complicated.

Further, since the ordering work is performed based on the catalog or the like in the hands of the user, there is a problem that a time lag occurs, for example, an order for a new product cannot be made until the new catalog is obtained. Further, there is a problem for the order receiving side that the sale of a new product cannot be started immediately after the product is released or the sale of a specific product such as a bargain product cannot be promoted.

The object of the present invention is to improve the usability by simplifying the operation of the user in ordering work in an online shopping system, and to always select a product from the latest assortment. To do.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the ordering side terminal has a barcode reading means, the ordering side computer has a commodity database searching means, an ordered commodity candidate list generating means, and the ordering side terminal has a commodity. A selection means is provided.

The user reads the bar code attached to the product to be ordered from the product to be directly purchased by the bar code reading means. The information read by the bar code reading means is transferred to the order receiving side computer by the communication means.

The order-accepting computer searches for a product similar to the product to be ordered by the user based on the information received by the product database searching means. Based on the search result of the product database search means, the ordered product candidate list creation means creates a list of substitute products of the ordered products. At this time, information such as the price of each product is also stored in the list and transferred to the ordering side terminal by the communication means.

The ordering side terminal displays the information stored in the received ordered product candidate list and prompts the user to select the product to be ordered. The order process is completed when the user selects the product to be ordered by the product selection means.

[0012]

According to the present invention, in an online shopping system, even when trying to order various miscellaneous daily necessities, the bar code of the goods can be directly read and the order processing can be performed. It is possible to easily perform order processing without having to find out.

Furthermore, since a list of products similar to those for which order processing has been performed can be presented and selected by the user,
It is possible for the user to obtain the latest product or to present to the user a particular product such as a bargain item that the ordering side wants to promote sales.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an online shopping system showing an embodiment of the present invention.
In the online shopping system, the order processing terminal 101 of the home 100 and the order processing computer system 201 of the order receiving center 200 are connected to a wide area network WAN (Wide).
Area Network) 300-1 connected,
Furthermore, the WAN 300-2 provides a product supply company 310,
It has a configuration connected to the computer system of the distribution center 320.

Here, the computers of the product supply company 310 and the distribution center 320 may be connected to the same WAN 300 as the order processing terminal 101 and the order processing computer system 201. Further, for example, the WAN 300-1 has a plurality of LANs (Local Area Networks).
May be connected, and a plurality of order processing terminals 101 may be connected to each. Further, a configuration using a telephone line may be used as an alternative to the network such as WAN300-1 or LAN.

Next, an embodiment of online shopping according to the present invention will be described. The user of this system inputs an order for a desired product using the input device of the order processing terminal 101 installed in each home 100. The order information input to the order processing terminal 101 is WAN300-
1 to the order-accepting computer system 201 of the order-accepting center 200.

Based on the received order information, the order processing computer system 201 places an order for a product with the product supply company 310 through the WAN 300-2, and further, the product supply company for the product ordered with the distribution center 320. Arrange for transportation from 310 to home 100. At this time, when there are a plurality of orders received from the same household 100 and the products are products supplied from a plurality of product supply companies 310, all the products are once collected in the distribution center 320 and then transported to the household 100. You may arrange to do. Further, the order receiving processing calculation system 201 performs settlement processing for the order received from the order processing terminal 101, and arranges for payment from, for example, a bank account of the home 100.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the order processing terminal 101 of the present invention. In the order processing terminal 101, 102 is a system bus, which is a transmission path of instructions and data between the constituent blocks, 103 is a processor that executes programs, and 104 is processing that is executed on the order processing terminal 101 described below. An auxiliary storage device such as a magnetic disk device or a semiconductor disk that stores a program code that describes steps, 105 is a main memory that stores the code and data during execution of the program, 106 is a frame memory that stores display data, and 107 is A display device such as a CRT or liquid crystal for displaying the contents of the frame memory 106, a communication control device 108 for controlling input / output with the WAN 300, and a bar code reading device 109 for reading bar code information.

Although not shown in FIG. 2, in the ordering terminal 101, input / output devices such as a keyboard and a mouse may be connected to the system bus 103.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the order processing computer system 201. 202 is a gateway computer that connects the order processing computer system 201 and the external network 300, 203 is an order processing computer that processes the order information transferred by the order processing terminal 101, and 204 is an order for the product from the product supply company 310. An order processing computer, 205 is a logistics general computer that arranges transportation of products to the distribution center 320, 206 is a settlement management computer that setstles the product price, and 207 is computers 202-206.
Is a LAN for connecting to. In the processing of the order-acceptance processing computer system 201 in the embodiment of online shopping described above, the computers 202-206 execute the LAN 207.
Is performed by exchanging information and executing each process.

In FIG. 3, a plurality of computers 202-
Although the configuration in which 206 is connected by the LAN 207 is shown, the order processing computer system 201 may be configured by, for example, only one computer, and it may be connected to a plurality of networks 300. For example, the order processing computer 204 functions as Alternatively, the functions of the physical distribution computer 205 may be combined so that they are realized on the same computer.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the order processing computer 203. In the order-accepting computer 203, 210 is a system bus that is a transmission path of instructions and data between the constituent blocks, 211 is a processor that executes programs, and 212 is an order-accepting computer 2 described below.
Auxiliary storage device such as a magnetic disk device that stores a program code that describes the processing steps executed on 03, 213 is a main memory that stores the code and data during execution of the program, and 214 is an input / output to / from the LAN 207. Reference numeral 215, which is a communication control device for controlling, is a product database that stores information on products handled in online shopping.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a package of products ordered by the user in online shopping according to the present invention. Reference numeral 150 is a product package, and reference numeral 151 is a bar code printed on the product package 150, which holds product identification information.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a processing flow when the online shopping system according to the present invention is used.

First, the processing 400 of the order processing terminal 101 will be described. First, in processing step 401, the system user selects the barcode reading device 10 of the order processing terminal 101.
9 is used to read the bar code 151 of the product to be ordered. In processing step 402, order information is generated based on the information read in step 401. In step 403, the order request 601 is transmitted from the communication control device 214 to the order processing computer 203 via the WAN 300. In the processing step 404, the response 6 from the order processing computer 203
02 is received and an acknowledgment 603 is sent back. At this time, the user may be asked to confirm the order details. After the processing step 404 ends, the processing returns to 401 and the above processing is repeated. The program code describing these processing steps is stored in the auxiliary storage device 104 of the order processing terminal 101.
Stored in the main memory 105 and executed by the processor 103.

Next, the processing 500 of the order processing computer 203 will be described. First, in processing step 501, an order request from the order processing terminal 101 is received. Processing step 50
In step 2, it is confirmed whether or not the ordered product is available by searching the product database 215.
If it is available, the response 602 is returned and the confirmation response 603 is received in the order information confirmation processing of the processing step 503.
In processing step 504, the LA is sent from the communication control device 207.
The order information 604 of the product is sent via N207 to the order processing computer 204, physical distribution management computer 205, settlement management computer 2
It sends to 06. After processing step 504,
Returning to 501, the above processing is repeated. The program code describing these processing steps is stored in the auxiliary storage device 212 of the order processing computer 203,
It is loaded into the main memory 213 and executed by the processor 211.

A second embodiment of the order information confirmation processing 404 and 503 will be described below.

In the second embodiment, a product of the same type as the product designated by the user in process step 401 of the process flow of FIG.
The order processing terminal 1 is searched at 02 and the search result is at 602.
01, prompts the user to select an item to actually order, and the user's selection result is received by the order processing computer 203 at 603.
Transfer to. This allows the user to select a product to actually purchase from a list of products that have the same type or the same function as the desired product, such as selecting a new product or selling it at a low price. It is possible to select the products that have become available. Hereinafter, this example will be described in more detail.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the configuration of the product database 215 to be searched in the processing step 502. The product database 215 includes a product identification number 701, a product type number 702, a product name 703, and a product name 70.
The product supply company name of 4, the unit price of 705, and the delivery date of 706 are fields. Product database 215
Each record 720 of 1 corresponds to one product.

The database shown here is a relational database (RDB: Relational Data).
base) or the like.

An example will be described below in which the user reads the bar code 151 of the product corresponding to the record 720-1 of the product database 215 in the processing step 401.

The order request 601 received by the order processing computer 203 stores the product identification number read from the bar code 151. In processing step 502,
The information stored in the fields 701 and 601 of the product database 215 is collated. In this example, record 720-1 is searched. Next, record 720-1
A record having the same product type number as the field 702 of (1) is searched. The search result is stored in the ordered product candidate list 620 shown below.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the configuration of the ordered product candidate list 620. Fields 701 to 70
6 has the same contents as the fields of the product database 215. Only records in which the value of the field 702 matches the value of the field 702 of the record 720-1 are stored in the list 620.

In the processing steps 503 to 602, the order processing candidate list 620 is transferred to the processing step 404 on the order processing terminal 101.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the screen display of the product selection means in the processing step 404. A display device 107 displays the contents written in the frame memory 106 by the processor 103. 650 is a cursor linked to a pointing device such as a mouse or a keypad, 651
Is a window showing a display area on the display device 107. A product selection area 750 is displayed based on the information stored in the ordered product candidate list 620. 761 is the product name, 762 is the product supply company name, 763 is the unit price, and 764 is.
Display the delivery date on. Further, information on each product is displayed on 760. The user selects a desired product from the product selection area 750 by moving the cursor 650 and pressing a mouse button or the like.

In the product selection area 750, for example, the column 7 corresponding to the product specified by the user in the processing step 401.
It is also possible to highlight only 60-1 by enclosing it with a thick line or changing the display color. In addition, for example, a product with the lowest unit price may be highlighted. These display methods may be set according to the preference of the user who owns the order processing terminal 101.

FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of the screen display of the product selection means in the processing step 404. In this embodiment, a “sort” selection button 765 for designating rearrangement of the display order of the product list is provided in the item selection area 750, and the user moves the cursor 650 and presses the mouse button. Make it selectable. When the select button 765 is selected, a display window 651-2 is displayed, prompting the user to specify a rearrangement method 766. When the user selects one of 766, the display order of the product list is rearranged.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the configuration of the product database 215 to be searched in the processing step 502. Fields 701 to 706 have the same contents as the embodiment of the product database 215 shown in FIG. 7, and 707 is a management identifier of a list of other products related to each product. 730 is a related list table,
A list 731 of product identification numbers is stored for each management identifier corresponding to 707.

Here, the related product means, for example, a product that is a substitute for a certain product (for example, the relationship between butter and margarine), and, for example, a product that is likely to be purchased together when a certain product is purchased. . For the latter, the purchase history in the online shopping system according to the present invention may be acquired as a database, or may be acquired based on statistical information in an existing supermarket or the like. Further, information indicating the degree of association may be stored in each element of the list 731, and the probability of purchase together may be calculated so that only the product type with high accuracy is included in the ordered product candidate list 620.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the configuration of the ordered product candidate list 620. The fields 701 to 706 have the same contents as the embodiment of the ordered product candidate list 620 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 740 is an identifier indicating that storage of related information is started. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the record 720-2 is stored in the ordered product candidate list 620 as a related product.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of the order information confirmation processing 404 and 503 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

In process step 505, a list of products of the same type as the product specified in process step 401,
And a list of related products, the ordered product candidate list 62
Register to 0. At processing step 506, step 602,
The order processing candidate list 620 is transferred to the processing step 405 on the order processing terminal 101. At processing step 406, the user is prompted to select an ordered product. An example of step 405 will be described in more detail below.
As a result of the selection made by the user, an ordered product list is generated and transferred to the processing step 507 of the order processing computer 203 in processing step 407 and 603.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing a second embodiment of the order information confirmation processing 404 and 503 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

In processing step 508, processing step 4
The ordered product candidate list 62 is a list of products of the same type as the product specified by 01 and a list of related product types.
Register to 0. Process steps 506, 405 and 406,
And 602 are similar to the embodiment of FIG. Process step 408 is a process step for prompting the user to select a product type desired to browse the product list, and process step 409 is
The step of transferring the information of the product type selected by the user in 408 to the order receiving processing computer 203 in 604, 410 in step 60
4 is a step of receiving the product list generated based on 4. After the processing step 410 ends, the processing step 406
When the user designates the end of product selection by repeating the process, the processing item 407 displays the ordered product list 60.
Send in 3.

Further, processing step 508 is a step of receiving 604, processing step 509 is a step of generating the ordered product candidate list 620 shown in FIG. 8 based on the product type information of 604, and processing step 510 is , A step of transferring the ordered product candidate list 620 at 605,
Processing step 507 is the step of receiving 603.

Further, according to the purchase accuracy of each related product, etc., FIG.
3 processing step 505 and FIG. 14 processing step 50
8 may be mixed and used.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show third and fourth embodiments of screen display in the embodiments shown in the flows of FIGS. 13 and 14.

FIG. 15 shows a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG.
It is an example in which a related product selection button of is added. When the selection button 766 is selected, a window 651-3 is displayed, prompting the user to select the product type 770 for which the product list is desired to be displayed. In the case of the embodiment shown in the flow of FIG. 13, the product list corresponding to the contents of the window 750 may be directly displayed on 651-3.

FIG. 16 shows that the user in FIG.
The example of a screen display at the time of selecting -1 is shown. By selecting 770-1, a window 651-4 is displayed, and a list 750-4 of designated related type products is displayed. At this time, the window 651-4 may be provided with a cancel selection button 767 for canceling the selection of 770-1.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the order processing terminal 101. The order processing terminal 101 shown in FIG. 17 corresponds to the product selecting means shown in FIG. 9 by adding a read-only auxiliary storage device such as a CD-ROM device 120 to the embodiment shown in FIG. In addition, it is possible to display image data of each product and more detailed information. In addition, the read-only auxiliary storage device 12
Only the products that are not registered in the 0-CD-ROM medium are read from the auxiliary storage device 212 of the order processing computer 203 and transferred to the order processing terminal via the WAN 300 in 602 of FIG. CD-
Image data and detailed information can be displayed for all products including new products regardless of the version of the ROM medium.

FIG. 18 shows an online shopping system usage history management table 770 for each user. The usage history management table 770 is held in the auxiliary storage device 104 of the order processing terminal 101 or the auxiliary storage device 212 of the order processing computer 203. 771 is the date of use, 772
Is the product identification number of the purchased product, 773 is the product type number, 774 is the product name, 775 is the product supplier name, 776 is the same unit price, and 777 is the purchase quantity.

By using the usage history management table 770, in the product selection means shown in FIG. 15, for example, the type to which a product purchased within the past week belongs is 770.
It is possible to improve the usability of the system by disabling the display. Further, for example, for products that are regularly purchased, they may be displayed in 770 of FIG. 15 when it is time to purchase them.

Further, the usage history information 770 is displayed on the display screen 107.
It is also possible to display it above and to allow the user to select the product to be ordered, and to substitute for the processing step 401. At this time, the search in the usage history information 770 may be performed by various methods based on, for example, the purchase date or the purchase unit price.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a fifth screen display embodiment in which a guidance window 651-5 is displayed on the product selection means. The information displayed in the window 651-5 is created in advance by computer graphics (CG) technology, composition of a photographed image and CG, or the like, and the product database 2 is stored in the auxiliary storage device 212 of the order processing computer 203.
15 is retained in the management structure that can be acquired by searching. The information is 602 or 605 at the order processing computer 2
03 to the order processing terminal 101 via the WAN 300, and the display screen 1 together with the product selection window 651 and the like.
It is displayed on 07. The timing of activating the display of 651-5 may be, for example, when there is no operation by the user within a predetermined period of time after the window 651 is displayed. Alternatively, a selection button for activating the guidance function may be displayed on the window 651 so as to be activated by the user's operation. Further, a bidirectional videophone function for communicating voice and moving image information via the WAN 300 may be provided, and the window 651 may be used to enable direct dialogue with the order-receiving operator.

[0055]

According to the present invention, in the online shopping system, the bar code of the product is directly read and the order processing is performed, so that the user can omit the work of finding the product from the catalog or the like, and the user side The order processing can be simplified.

Furthermore, since the user is presented with a list of products of the same type as those for which order processing has been performed, the user can obtain the latest products. Further, the order receiving side can positively present to the user the product for which sales promotion is desired.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an online shopping system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a configuration of an order processing terminal of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the configuration of an order processing computer system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the configuration of the order processing computer of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a package of a product to be shopped in the online shopping system of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of online shopping according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a product database according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an ordered product candidate list according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of an order processing terminal in the product selecting means of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the screen display of the order processing terminal in the product selection means of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the product database according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the ordered product candidate list according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow of order information confirmation processing according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a second example of the processing flow of the order information confirmation processing according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the screen display of the order processing terminal in the product selection means of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a fourth example of the screen display of the order processing terminal in the product selection means of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the configuration of the order processing terminal of the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a usage history management table of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a fifth example of the screen display of the order processing terminal in the product selection means of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101: Order processing terminal, 102: System bus, 10
3: Processor, 104: Auxiliary storage device, 105: Main memory, 106: Frame memory, 107: Display device, 108: Communication control device, 109: Bar code reading device, 120: Read-only auxiliary storage device, 150: Product package , 151: Bar code, 201: Order processing computer system, 202-206: Computer, 203: Order processing computer, 207: Network, 210-214: Configuration block of order processing computer, 215: Product database, 300: WAN, 401 -410: order processing terminal processing step, 501-510: order processing computer processing step, 620: ordered product candidate list, 650: cursor, 651: display window, 730: related product list, 765-767: selection button, 770: Usage history management table.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masahisa Ito 1-280, Higashi Koigokubo, Kokubunji, Tokyo Inside the Central Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An online shopping system for receiving and placing an order for a product via a communication means, wherein a bar code reading means is provided in an ordering side terminal, and a user of the ordering side terminal is attached to a desired product. An online shopping system characterized in that the order processing is completed by reading the bar code with the bar code reading means. 2. The online shopping system according to claim 1, wherein the order-accepting computer has the same type as the ordered product based on the order information received from the ordering-side terminal through the communication means. A means for searching for a product is provided, a means for generating product information such as the name and unit price of the searched product as an ordered product candidate list, and the candidate list is transferred to the ordering side terminal via the communication means and displayed. Means to
An online shopping system characterized in that means for prompting the user of the ordering side terminal to select a product to be ordered is provided, and the user completes the order process by selecting a product from the candidate list. 3. The online shopping system according to claim 2, wherein the order receiving side is provided with means for calculating the probability that various products will be ordered at the same time, and means for holding the calculation result as a relation between the products. An online shopping system, characterized by providing means for searching for a product related to the ordered product based on related information between the products, and including it when the candidate list is generated. 4. The online shopping system according to claim 3, further comprising means for holding personal information of the user and usage history information of the system, and including the means in the generated candidate list based on the information. An online shopping system characterized by providing a means for calculating the accuracy with which each user orders each product, and excluding the product from the candidate list when the calculated accuracy is smaller than a predetermined value. 5. In the online shopping system according to claim 2, when the ordering side terminal is provided with image data holding means and the user of the ordering side terminal is prompted to select an item to be ordered, the ordering side An online shopping system characterized by displaying the image data held in the terminal or the image data transferred from the order receiving computer to the order receiving terminal through the communication line together with the candidate list. 6. The online shopping system according to claim 2, wherein comparison information of a plurality of products selected by the user from the candidate list is displayed on the ordering side terminal. Shopping method. 7. The online shopping system according to claim 2, further comprising: history management means for the user of the system, and history search means for searching a desired product from the usage history. An online shopping system characterized in that a history selecting means for selecting the product is provided, and the product to be ordered is selected from the use history and the order processing is completed. 8. The online shopping system according to claim 2, further comprising a guidance means using a graphic display or a photographed image, and means for activating the guidance means based on a user's arbitrary operation. An online shopping system that is provided so that users can receive guidance on product purchases as needed. 9. The online shopping system according to claim 2, further comprising a two-way videophone function for communicating voice and moving image information through the communication line, which is based on a user's arbitrary operation. An online shopping system characterized in that a means for activating the two-way videophone function is provided to allow the user to interact with the operator on the order receiving side as required.