JP2001350943A - System and method for selling service related to peripheral device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform various selling methods in relation to the peripheral device of a product connectable to the Internet such as a personal computer digital television game machine. SOLUTION: A peripheral device purchaser accesses the user information database registration picture of a peripheral device seller with a WWW browser and selects and registers product information and a service desired by the user. A user information database 22 selects a peripheral device purchaser desired service menu item from a related merchandise information database 24, transfers the item to a purchaser client terminal 12 from a WWW network 14 and subsequently registers an ID number (terminal serial number) and a password as user registration. The change of a selected service, the addition/elimination of a charged service, various services and the version up of driver software, etc., performed by the purchaser after the registration are combined through the user information database, and then, performed at the same time with quality verification.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a peripheral device-related service sales system and a method thereof that enable various sales methods to be implemented.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, bundled products of various contents (document creation tools, material collections, etc.), electronic instruction manuals, drivers for peripheral devices, etc. for peripheral devices such as printers are provided on a CD-ROM or the like. A method has been put into practical use, in which the CD-ROM or the like is bundled and sold, and the user uses the CD-ROM or the like after installing it on the client PC. In addition, after purchase, each user mails a hard copy such as a registered postcard or faxes
Or, the user information is registered by accessing the specified manufacturer WEB (web) site.
After this, the customer knows information on various attached items, such as version upgrade information, from each manufacturer's website, etc.
The customer compares and confirms with the version of the device held by the customer, downloads a new version, difference information, and the like individually, or obtains an FD / CD or the like and updates it as necessary.

[0004]

In these conventional sales methods, the success or failure of the addition or upgrading of the product depends on the PC skills of the user, which leads to an increase in troubles at the time of updating, and also the time required for the user operation support on the manufacturer side. And the total cost as a result.

This sales system selects the latest version of service items required by the user and provides timely information. It is an object of the present invention to simplify the work of upgrading the version and adding functions by managing the user from the time of user registration-from the beginning, and to cope with the reduction of man-hours for manufacturer support.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an arrangement as set forth in the claims is adopted. First, a supplementary explanation will be given for the description of the claims.

That is, according to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in a peripheral device related service sales system connected to a client terminal of a peripheral device purchaser via a network, the purchaser of the peripheral device purchaser Means for registering purchaser information and service selection information input from a client terminal; means for managing the collected purchaser information and service selection information as a user information database; and updating and managing service selection information in the user information database. Means for transmitting service update data to the client terminal of the peripheral device purchaser using the service selection information of the user information database, and charging information of the paid option service using the service selection information of the database. Means to manage There.

In this configuration, if the purchaser information and the selected service information are registered in the user information database, the upgrade of the service or the peripheral device is notified to the purchaser, and the upgrade can be dealt with immediately. In addition, charging management and the like can be performed. One information source called a user information database is directly or indirectly made available to a purchaser, a peripheral device provider (information device provider), a service provider, and the like so that it can be used as a single window. Each of the purchaser, the peripheral device provider, and the service provider does not need to individually store and manage the information of the user (own information for the purchaser) and the selected service.

The services are, for example, a document creation service, an information distribution service, a content providing service, an application use service, an education service, various consulting services, and the like, and include sending a package such as a CD-ROM separately. It can be said that the provision of goods includes the sale of tangible goods such as services and packages.

The present invention is not limited to sales management of services (products) related to peripheral devices, but manages information related to various information devices such as copiers, game machines, and home appliances. Applicable to technology.

The present invention can be realized not only as a system (apparatus) but also as a method, and at least a part thereof can be realized as software.

[0012]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 shows a peripheral device related service sales system according to this embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a purchased peripheral device, 12 denotes a user client terminal, 13 denotes a user access means, and 14 denotes a communication network. , 15
Is the client terminal of the peripheral equipment customer center,
16 is a customer center access means, 17 is a client terminal of each service maker, 18 is a service maker access means, 19 is a user registration / update / authentication means, 20 is a server data browsing / update means, 21 is a database management means, and 22 is a user. Information database,
23 is a billing information database, 24 is a product information database, 25 is a usage information database, and 26 is a peripheral device sales system server.

The client terminals 12, 15, 17 are personal computers, workstations, and other information processing terminals. Each of the access means 13, 16, and 18 of the client terminals 12, 15, and 17 is an agent of a server application of the server for peripheral device sales system 26. For example, InternetExplorer
er (a trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States) and Netscap
A web browser such as eNavigator (trademark of Netscape Communications Inc., USA) can be used.

The peripheral device sales system server 26
For example, it includes a web server, an application server, a database management server, and the like.

The communication network 14 is a wide area communication network such as the Internet. Of course, a subscriber network or a private IP network provided by a communication carrier may be used.

The user client terminal 12, the client terminal 15 of the peripheral device customer center, the client terminal 17 of each service maker, and the server 26 for the peripheral device sales system are connected via the communication network 14.

The access means 13 used by the user accesses various databases of the peripheral device sales system server 26 from the user client terminal 12. For example, the access unit 13 registers / changes the serial number of the peripheral device held by the user, the user information, and the service content to be selected in the user information database 22, and accesses the usage information database 25 to support the peripheral device held by the user. Browse related FQAs.

The access means 16 used by the person in charge of the customer center accesses various databases of the peripheral equipment sales system server 26 from the client terminal 15 of the peripheral equipment customer center. For example, the access unit 16 browses the database of the peripheral device purchaser information and the service maker information of the product bundle,
Register, change, and add information about peripheral devices and bundle services to the database.

The access means 18 used by the person in charge of the service maker is the client terminal 1 of each service maker.
7 accesses various databases of the peripheral device sales system server 26. For example, the access unit 18 is used for registering, changing, and adding various types of information relating to the contents of the product information database 24, and for browsing information on a peripheral device purchaser who has selected a corresponding service.

The user registration / update / authentication means 19 registers the serial number, user information, selection service, and the like of the corresponding device through the client terminal 12 by the purchaser of the peripheral device in the user information database 22, and registers the registered information. And a means for transmitting peripheral device manufacturer information and service manufacturer change information to the corresponding peripheral device purchaser.

The server data browsing / updating means 20 registers the change information of the purchaser, the peripheral device maker, and the service maker for the peripheral devices and various bundled services in various databases of the peripheral device sales system server 26 and browses them from each terminal. It is a means to make it possible.

The database management means 21 includes a product information database 24 which manages the corresponding peripheral device / service information, a user information database 22 which manages user registration / update information, and charging information which manages the usage status of the paid service after purchasing the peripheral device. Database 23, user TE
This is a means for performing relation management of the usage information database 25 which manages support histories of L / FAX / mail and various service usage histories.

The user information database 22, the billing information database 23, the product information database 24, and the usage information database 25 are, for example, as shown in FIGS.
The information as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is held.

FIG. 6 shows an initial operation system flow of the present invention. The purchaser of the peripheral device checks the user information registration address in the registration guide attached to the main body, connects to the WWW network from the client terminal, and calls the registration screen (S1).
1).

The user information and service selection information input from the registration screen are registered in the server 26 (S12,
S13) Further, service contents are provided, and a password or the like is registered (S14, S15).

That is, the serial number of the device, various information of the device manager, a password, etc. are registered from the registration screen, and the latest driver and instruction manual necessary for driving the peripheral device are downloaded. Further, a serial number and a password in which various service menus bundled with the product are already registered are input and called from the registration screen. Select and register free / paid services including usage time from the service menu. The purchaser of the peripheral device has a free bundle service range notified in advance in a catalog or the like, and the service registration status is displayed on the screen when the user selects the service, and the selection is supported. After the registration, contents and the like necessary for providing the service are downloaded according to the screen instructions.

The information registered from the purchaser client terminal can be recognized by the peripheral device maker support client terminal 15 and the service maker support client terminal 17 connected to the communication network (WWW network) 14 (S16, S17). ), Confirmation of user registration such as inquiries, investigation of user needs, confirmation of the start of cost generation by service manufacturers, etc.

FIG. 7 shows a more specific example of the flow of FIG. 8, 10, and 11 show examples of the screen interface used in the flow shown in FIG. A specific example of the flow in FIG. 7 is apparent from the figure, and thus will not be described. The screen in FIG. 8 is the user registration screen in FIG. The screen of FIG. 10 is a screen for displaying and selecting the service menu of FIG. The screen of FIG. 11 is the service screen of FIG. Although omitted in FIG. 7, it is preferable to set a user password. For example, a password registration screen as shown in FIG. 9 can be used.

FIG. 12 shows a system flow when a version upgrade menu is added by a maker after the initial operation of the present invention. When a version upgrade change / addition occurs, the manufacturer calls the post-authentication product information database registration screen from the client terminal 17 connected to the WWW network and registers the addition / change information (S21, S22). The registered change content is recognized by the client terminal 15 of the peripheral device maker support, and is provided to the user information database after verification of the provision range such as quality confirmation when the combination is used for the user (S23, S24). The registered change information is transmitted to the client terminal 12 of the target purchaser connected to the communication network (WWW network) 14 to recognize the purchaser of the peripheral device and confirm the change (S25, S26).

The information changed by the purchaser is registered in the user information database 22, transmitted to the client terminals 15 and 17 of the corresponding support maker, and used as information for various subsequent support and sales promotion (S2).
7, S28). The change information in the user information database 22 is also reflected in the charging information database 23 (S29).

FIG. 13 shows a system flow when the user changes or adds service contents after the initial operation of the present invention. The user calls the service registration screen with the registered serial number and password, and inputs change / additional information of the service menu (S31, S32). The changed / added information is verified by the product information database 24 and the charging information database 23 and registered in the user information database 22 (S33). The information changed by the buyer is registered in the user information database 22,
The information is transmitted to the client terminals 15 and 17 of the corresponding support maker, and is used as information of various kinds of support and sales promotion thereafter (S34, S35).

The flow of FIG. 13 can be realized as a specific float as shown in FIG. 14, for example. The specific flow is clear from the figure, and therefore will not be particularly described. The service is started by designating the change of the service content using the screens of FIGS.

FIG. 15 shows a flow of a user use status registration / browsing system by a user maker according to the present invention. FQ such as the contents of the inquiry from the user to the support manufacturer by TEL, FAX, e-mail, etc.
A is sent from the client terminals 15 and 17 of the support maker to the usage information database 25 and registered for each content (S41, S42). The user and the support maker access the user information database 22 from the client terminals 12, 15, and 17 (S43, S4).
4. S45) By retrieving the usage information, the usage status of the corresponding user or the related FQA is called from the usage information database 25 (S46), and the browsing or information contents are edited, processed and reused (S47).

The peripheral device related service sales system of the above embodiment can be applied to the following products, for example. <Product form example> Product: Intelligent multi-function model <Printer / Scanner / FAX / Copy / Mail> model Standard product configuration: Standard hardware functions and 20 types of selection services (free of charge from 1000 types of service menus)
0 types can be selected). Points may be assigned to each service so that the total points can be selected up to a set point. Alternatively, the number of selectable services and the upper limit of points may be given so that selection is possible within that range. Options: hardware, various services <including use of service time> Connection I / F: IEEE 1394, USB, wireless Sales routes: <Main unit, hardware options> Online sales of various stores, Internet, etc. <Service options> Internet sites of manufacturers In such a system, the following advantages can be obtained. Since the necessary service can be selected from the 1000 kinds of service menus, it is possible to efficiently use the product according to the usage situation of the customer. Changes, additions and deletions of the service menu can be made at any time. Since the latest service that has always been checked in combination, such as updating the driver version and various service contents, can be provided at any time, troublesome version control is not required. Update / Inquiry history / User Q close to your environment
A can be checked at any time. Note that the number of remaining points and the number of selected services (goods) of the user are stored in, for example, the charging information database 23, and the points consumed by the service are stored in the product information database 24. It is determined whether the service selection is acceptable. Such holding and discrimination of information may be performed using resources of the server 26 for the peripheral device sales system. The name of the peripheral device sales system server 26 can be changed depending on the sales product to be managed, and in short, it may be an information management server.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified. In particular, the present invention is not limited to the management of peripheral device information, but is widely used for information management of information devices, home appliances, information home appliances, etc., for example, personal computers, mobile terminals, game devices, digital televisions, intelligent mobile phones, and the like. It is applicable to information management of these peripheral devices.

[0037]

As described above, by using the present system, it is possible to select the latest service according to individual needs without difficulty and without waste. It can be greatly reduced. Manufacturers can also improve the efficiency of service provision and reduce the burden of customer support by quickly grasping customer needs trends from the user database. At the same time, it is possible to reduce variations in customer satisfaction due to purchase timing and skills by users.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating information in a user information database 22 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating information in a charging information database 23 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating information in a product information database according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating information in a usage information database 25 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the peripheral device according to the embodiment at the time of initial registration.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the operation in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a screen display example for explaining the operation of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a screen display example for explaining the operation of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a screen display example for explaining the operation of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a screen display example for explaining the operation of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an operation when a version upgrade or the like of the above embodiment is performed.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an operation when changing the service content according to the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the operation in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an operation of registering and browsing user use information according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 User Client Terminal 13 User Client Terminal 12 Access Means 14 Communication Network 15 Peripheral Device Maker Support Client Terminal 16 Peripheral Device Maker Support Client Terminal 15 Access 17 Service Maker Support Client Terminal 18 Service Maker Support Client Terminal 17 Access means 19 user registration / update / authentication means 20 server data browsing / update means 21 database management means 22 user information database 23 billing information database 24 product information database 25 usage information database 26 server for peripheral equipment sales system

Claims (11)

[Claims] In a peripheral device related service sales system connected to a client terminal of a peripheral device purchaser via a network, means for registering purchaser information and service selection information input from the client terminal of the peripheral device purchaser. Means for managing the collected purchaser information and service selection information as a user information database; means for updating and managing the service selection information in the user information database; and peripherals using the service selection information in the user information database. Peripheral device-related service sales, comprising: means for sending service update data to a client terminal of a device purchaser; and means for managing billing information of a paid option service using the service selection information of the database. system. 2. The peripheral device-related service sales system according to claim 1, wherein the user verifies the combined use of the driver software for the peripheral device and each upgraded product of various contents, and avoids a trouble or the like caused by the combined use by the user. Peripheral device-related service sales system characterized by being able to do. 3. The peripheral device related service sales system according to claim 1, wherein the user can browse QA information of other similar users, and customer support of the peripheral device and various contents accesses and inquires the user information database. Peripheral device related service sales system characterized by browsing the user's usage history, current version status, and billing status and making inquiries by telephone or the like. 4. The peripheral device-related service sales system according to claim 1, wherein the various information sent from the user information database to the client terminal is confirmed or edited by using a browser of the client terminal and reused. A peripheral device related service sales system characterized in that it can be printed out. 5. A peripheral device-related service sales method executed using a peripheral device-related service sales system connected to a client terminal of a peripheral device purchaser via a network. Registering the acquired purchaser information and service selection information; managing the collected purchaser information and service selection information as a user information database; updating and managing the service selection information in the user information database; Sending service update data to the client terminal of the peripheral device purchaser using the service selection information of the user information database; and managing charging information of the paid option service using the service selection information of the database. Be prepared Peripheral equipment-related service sales methods, characterized in that was. 6. An information equipment related information management system connected to a client terminal of an information equipment purchaser via a network, wherein information of the information equipment purchaser and information of a related product selected by the information equipment purchaser are stored. Database means, means for registering / updating information of the information equipment purchaser and information of related products selected by the information equipment purchaser in the database means using a client terminal of the information equipment purchaser; Using the information of the information equipment purchaser and the information of the related goods selected by the information equipment purchaser stored, the change occurred in the related goods,
Means for notifying the client terminal of the information equipment purchaser who has selected the product, the information equipment related information management system. 7. An information equipment related information management system connected to a client terminal of an information equipment purchaser via a network, wherein information of the information equipment purchaser and information of a related product selected by the information equipment purchaser are stored. Database means, means for registering / updating information of the information equipment purchaser and information of related products selected by the information equipment purchaser in the database means using a client terminal of the information equipment purchaser; Means for using the stored information of the information device purchaser and the information of the related product selected by the information device purchaser to charge for the use of the paid related product. Information equipment related information management system. 8. An information equipment related information management system connected to a client terminal of an information equipment purchaser via a network, wherein information of the information equipment purchaser and information of a related product selected by the information equipment purchaser are stored. Database means; means for registering / updating information on the information equipment purchaser and information on related products selected by the information equipment purchaser in the database means using a client terminal of the information equipment purchaser; The information device purchaser information and the related product information selected by the information device purchaser stored in the database means, using the client terminal of the person who supports the information device or the selected related product of the user. Means for accessing information on the support of the information equipment or related products based on An information device-related information management system, comprising: 9. An information equipment related information management system connected to a client terminal of an information equipment purchaser via a network, wherein information of the information equipment purchaser and information of a related product selected by the information equipment purchaser are stored. Database means, means for registering / updating information of the information equipment purchaser and information of related products selected by the information equipment purchaser in the database means using a client terminal of the information equipment purchaser; Using the stored information of the information equipment purchaser and the information of the related goods selected by the information equipment purchaser, the selection of the related goods performed by the information equipment purchaser exceeds a predetermined allowable range. Means for judging whether or not there is an information device related information management system. 10. The information equipment related information management system according to claim 9, wherein the allowable range is an upper limit number of points assigned to the information equipment purchaser, and the sum of the points of the selected related product is the upper limit number of points. An information equipment related information management system characterized by determining whether or not the information is allowable. 11. The information device related information management system according to claim 9, wherein the allowable range is an upper limit number of the related products assigned to the information device purchaser, and the number of the selected related products is allowable by the upper limit number. An information equipment related information management system characterized in that it is determined whether or not it is.