JP2002073665A - Product information provision system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a product information providing system for providing product information having common characteristics in a wide genre, based on information retrieval elements of characters and voices visually and auditoryly sensed. SOLUTION: When searching for merchandise information of music / video contents such as music CDs and video CDs, an information search server 2A performs a search based on the sound phrase by inputting, for example, a humming sound phrase from a user terminal 1A. The product information of the music / video content is searched extensively by the related sound frame extracted from the music / video content and created in the related sound information phrase creation unit 11 and stored in the sound information phrase database 12, and the product with the title name is searched. The user can also select information search and search with consideration of user purchase history, and also consider user suitability in addition to auditory similarity, and perform accurate product information search of music and video content. Product search of user terminal 1A With the access based on the information, the provision of the detailed product information from the product providing site 3 can be received.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a merchandise information providing system for searching and providing merchandise information adapted to a user's request based on an information retrieval element proposed by a user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various public institutions, companies, educational institutions, and individuals have established homepages on the Internet and provide various information and services. In the future, electronic publishing, music, images, and videos will be provided. With the digitization of various media such as, many multimedia contents will be distributed on the Internet. In the conventional provision of information on music, print, and video contents via the Internet, for example, information is extracted and provided by a performer, a composer, a lyricist, an author, or a genre based on a general user purchase history. Was. In this case, the user is provided with information based on a limited number of performers, composers, lyricists, and authors in a relatively narrow genre of interest, and fresh information is provided to the user. There was relatively little provided.

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional product information providing system of this type, the search information is provided to the user based on a search in a relatively narrow search range. There is a problem that freshness is slightly lacking in the provided product information. In this case, the music, print, and video contents provided via the network include package software such as books, electronic books, music CDs, and video CDs, and MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer).
er-3) music data, etc., and the user uses various information search elements such as a keyword phrase of a character, a key melody phrase, a key voice phrase, and the like to obtain product information based on an information search element common to a wide range of genres. There is a strong demand for receiving offers.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the current state of providing commodity information via the Internet as described above, and has as its object to provide an information retrieval element that includes characters and voices that the user perceives visually and audibly. The object of the present invention is to provide a merchandise information providing system capable of providing merchandise information having common characteristics over a wide range based on the information.

[0005]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information element database storing information elements used for searching for product information, and storing a product purchase history of a user. A product information search server having a user purchase history database is connected to a user terminal via the Internet, and based on a search request from the user terminal, product search information searched by the product information search server is A product information providing system which is distributed to the user terminal and accesses the product providing site via the Internet by the user terminal based on the product search information to obtain product information. Information search element input means for inputting an information search element used for product information search at the time of request; Search method selection and setting means for selectively setting the introduction of history, display means for displaying information at the time of operation including search information searched by the product information search server, and to the product providing site based on the search information And an access means for performing the above access are provided in the user terminal.

According to such means, when an information search element is input from the information search element input means of the user terminal at the time of a search request, the product obtained by the search of the data stored in the information element database by the product information search server. When the search information is distributed to the user terminal and the use of the user's purchase history is selected and set by the search method selection setting means of the user terminal at the time of the search request, the product search information further including the user's purchase history is displayed. Based on the search information distributed to the user terminal and displayed on the display means of the user terminal,
The access means of the user terminal accesses the merchandise providing site for obtaining merchandise information via the Internet. In this way, the search for the product information is performed based on the information search element related to the user's idea proposal, and is further performed by selectively introducing the purchase history of the user, and includes the information search element suggested by the user. The product search information retrieved in consideration of the user's preference is provided to the user accurately, and the user terminal accesses the product providing server accurately and quickly to obtain detailed product-related information. Will be

[0007] Similarly, in order to achieve the above object, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the information retrieval element is character information including necessary pitch information,
The search target product is a product corresponding to a print content or a video content searched based on the character information.

According to such means, character information including necessary pitch information is used as an information search element, and a product to be searched is defined as a product corresponding to a print content or a video content searched based on the character information. The operation according to the first aspect is performed.

[0009] Similarly, in order to achieve the above object, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the merchandise information providing system according to the first aspect, the information retrieval element includes voice information or character information for guiding the voice information. And the search target product is a product corresponding to music content or video content.

According to such means, the voice information or character information for guiding the voice information is used as an information search element, and the product to be searched is a product corresponding to music content or video content. Is performed.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory diagram for explaining an overall configuration of the present embodiment including a flowchart of a main part of an operation of a user terminal. In the present embodiment, basically, character information is used as an information search element. This is a case where a search for product information of print / video content is performed.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a user terminal 1, an information search server 2 for searching for information based on a search request from the user terminal 1, and an information search server 2 Based on the search information thus obtained, a product providing site 3 where the user terminal 1 accesses to obtain product information is connected to each other via the Internet. Here, the information search server 2 is provided with a character information phrase database 7 in which keywords and key phrases for searching for print / video content are stored.
The character information phrase database 7 also stores data of key phrases including necessary pitches such as dialogue in addition to ordinary keyword phrases. A related information phrase creation storage database 6 is connected to the character information phrase database 7. The related information phrase creation storage database 6 includes a related phrase similar to the keyword phrase stored in the character information phrase database 7. Data is stored,
The related information phrase database 6 is connected to the type / video content database 5 in which the type / video content is stored.

In the present embodiment, similar phrases having a high frequency of appearance for each content are extracted from the type / video content database 5 by the related information phrase creation storage database 6 in advance, and related information phrases are created. The information is stored in the related information phrase creation storage database 6 in a state of being classified according to the content. Further, a reference character information phrase is selected from a plurality of related information phrases stored for each classification, and is stored in the character information phrase database 7 as a character information phrase corresponding to the content. Also,
The information search server 2 is provided with a user purchase history database 8 in which data of purchase histories of past users' products is stored. The user purchase history database 8 is based on search information from the information search server 2. In addition, a product providing site 3 where product information is accessed from the user terminal 1 is connected via the Internet.

The user terminal 1 has an information element input means for inputting information search element data at the time of product information search, a search method selection means for selectively setting use of a user purchase history for information search, and product information. There are provided a display unit for displaying information during operation including product search information searched by the search server, and an access unit for accessing a product providing site based on the product search information.

The operation of the embodiment having such a configuration will be described. When the user intends to receive the provision of the product information, the user terminal 1 makes a search request to the information search server 2 via the Internet. In this case, the user operates the user terminal 1 to make the search request. When a signal is input,
In step S1 of the flowchart section of FIG. 5, a selection menu of a search method, "Do you want to make a selection based only on the history data?" Is displayed on the display means. If "NO" is selected for this selection menu, an instruction message "Please enter an information search element" is displayed on the display means.
Proceeding to step S2, the user uses the information element input means to specify the type of search product and input data of the information search element.

In the present embodiment, product information of print / video content is searched, and the information search element input in this case is a keyword or a key frame. May be included. Here, the products corresponding to print / video content include packaged software such as books, electronic books, and video CDs, as well as still image data and moving image data that are downloaded and provided via the Internet.
The still image data in this case includes a photograph, a painting, CG, a screen saver for display protection, a wallpaper used as the background of the display screen, and the moving image data includes a corresponding television program.

At the time of searching for the product information of such a product, the user inputs a keyword / phrase as an information search element in step S2. To
The key phrase is composed of dialog components (Architecture)
pitch information as re) may be included. When the pitch information is included in the key phrase in this way, the user uses the user terminal 1 to input a dialogue as a key phrase using time as a horizontal axis, voice pitch as a vertical axis, and a curve or broken line as a vertical axis. Data input is performed by an image signal. In this way, for example, by specifying a book or an electronic book, the keywords “murder”, “company”, and “conspiracy” are input as information search elements, and by specifying a video CD, “miracle” and “murder”
A keyword of “prison” or “Tom Hanks” is input as an information search element, or a key phrase of a unique line with inflection is input as an information search element.

When the input of the information retrieval element is completed in this way, the process proceeds to step S3 in the flowchart of FIG. 1, and a selection message of "Do you want to incorporate the user profile into the retrieval" is displayed on the display means. When the user selects "NO", a search command F1 for performing a search based on the information search element is transmitted from the user terminal 1 to the information search server 2 via the Internet, and the information input by the information element input means is input. An information search is performed for a specified search product based on the search element.

In this information search, a character information phrase database 7 stores a keyword / phrase serving as an information search element input by a user using an information element input unit, and, if necessary, a key phrase including pitch information. Based on the character information phrase and the related information phrase which is similar to the character information phrase and is stored in the related information phrase creation storage database 6.
The product information of the corresponding content stored in the print / video content database 5 is searched.

If the user selects "YES" in response to the selection message in step S3, a search command F2 for performing a search based on the information search element and the user purchase history is transmitted from the user terminal 1 to the Internet. Then, the information is transmitted to the information search server 2 and a search for product information is performed based on the information search element and the user purchase history. In this search, the user's past purchase history read from the user purchase history database 8 is compared with the product information obtained by the information search performed when the user selects “NO” to the selection message as described above. A search is performed based on the data, taking into account the user's preference factors.

Further, in step S1, if "YES" is selected for the selection menu "Do you want to make a selection based only on history data?", A search command F3 for performing a search based on the purchase history of the user is issued. Transmitted from the terminal device 1 to the information search server 2 via the Internet,
Based on the purchase history of the user stored in the user purchase history database, information search for the specified search product is performed.

Then, the process proceeds to step S4, where the product search information searched by the information search server 2 based on any of the search commands F1 to F3 selected by the user is sent from the information search server 2. , The product search information distributed to the user terminal 1 via the Internet and retrieved by the display means of the user terminal 1 is the number of items designated by the user in the specified arrangement method (alphabetical order, aileo order, etc.) , The degree of correlation with the entered keyword / phrase is displayed clearly. The degree of correlation in this case is set beforehand when the related information phrase is created and stored in the related information phrase creation and storage database 6, and the degree of the similarity of the keyword / phrase is displayed in a numerical form. Love for the word love
Is set to 0.7.

Next, a selection message of "Do you want to make purchase / viewing access" is displayed on the display means of the user terminal 1, and the user selects "YES" and sends an access signal to the access means of the user terminal 1. By inputting, access to the product providing site 3 that provides the product related to the product search information is performed via the Internet, and the detailed product information of the product related to the product search information is transmitted from the product providing site 3 to the user terminal. 1 and the user obtains accurate product information. Based on the distribution information, the user purchases and obtains necessary products from the user terminal 1 by electronic commerce on the Internet. In this case, when a user purchases a product, information about the user's product purchase is distributed from the product providing site 3 to the information search server 2 via the Internet, and stored as history data in the user purchase history database 8. Is done.

Thus, according to the present embodiment,
When retrieving product information of print / video content such as books, electronic books, and video CDs, the user operates the user terminal 1
A character information phrase database 7 in which character information phrases that are frequency-extracted from print / video content are stored by the information search server 2 based on keyword phrases input from
And a related information phrase formation storage database 6 in which related information phrases similar to the stored data are stored.
A search for print / video content is performed based on a character information phrase that is widely related to the input keyword / phrase. In this case, it is also possible to input a key phrase including pitch information such as a line. Such key phrases include image information including pitch information read from the character information phrase database 7 and the related information phrase formation storage database 6. The search is performed based on the user's selection history, and the search is performed in consideration of the user's purchase history data. Therefore, in addition to the visual similarity compatibility, the auditory similarity compatibility is considered. In addition, taking into account the user's taste,
It is possible to perform an accurate information search over a wide genre range and receive detailed product information from the product providing site 3 based on the obtained product search information.

[Second Embodiment] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an overall explanatory diagram for explaining an overall configuration of the present embodiment including a flowchart of a main part of an operation of the user terminal. In the present embodiment, music information is basically used as an information search element. Music
This is a case where a search for product information of video content is performed. Here, in addition to package software such as a music CD, MP3 (MP3
EG Audio Layer-3) music data, television programs, and the like are included.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a user terminal 1A, an information search server 2A for searching for information based on a search request from the user terminal 1A, and an information search server 2A Based on the search information thus obtained, the product providing sites 3 accessed by the user terminal 1A for obtaining product information are connected to each other via the Internet. Here, the information search server 2A has music C
A music / video content database 10 that stores music / video content such as D, video CD, MPEG3 music data provided by download, and TV programs is provided. Related sound information phrase creation unit 11 for extracting and creating related sound information phrases
Is connected.

In the information retrieval server 2A, the related sound information phrase creation unit 11 stores the sound information phrase created by the related sound information phrase creation unit 11 in the related sound information phrase creation unit 11.
A sound information phrase database 12 stored corresponding to music / video content is connected. Further, the information retrieval server 2A is provided with a user purchase history database 13 in which data of purchase histories of past user's products is stored.
A product providing site 3 for accessing product information from the user terminal 1 based on search information from the information search server 2A is connected via the Internet.

Further, the user terminal 1A has information element input means for inputting information search element data at the time of product information search, search method selection means for selecting the use of the user's purchase history for information search, and product information. Display means for displaying information at the time of operation including search information searched by the search server;
And an access unit for accessing a product providing site based on the search information.

The operation of this embodiment having such a configuration will be described. In the present embodiment, a melody phrase of 4 to 8 measures, which frequently appears for each content, is extracted as a sound phrase from the music / video content database 10 by the related sound information phrase creation unit 11 in advance. It is formed into a related sound information phrase, classified and classified according to the content, supplied to the sound information phrase database 12, and stored as a sound information phrase corresponding to the content. In creating the related sound information phrase in this case, the related sound information phrase creating unit 1
1 indicates that the melody phrase of 4 to 8 bars of the contents of the music / video content database 10 is related to the curved waveform in a state where the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents the pitch (pitch of sound) and the strength of sound. Related sound information phrases formed as sound information phrases and having similar related waveforms are grouped and stored in the sound information phrase database 12 corresponding to music / video contents.

When the user wants to receive the product information, the user terminal 1A makes a search request to the information search server 2A via the Internet. In this case, the user operates the user terminal 1A to operate the user terminal 1A. When a search request signal is input, step S11 in the flowchart of FIG.
Displays a search method selection menu "Do you want to make a selection based only on history data" on the display means. If "NO" is selected for this selection menu, a selection menu "Please select an input method" is displayed on the display means, and the user selects an input method according to the selection message.

The input method selected in this case includes four types of input methods: voice input, note input, graph input, and title input. The voice input method is to input a sound phrase as an information search element by using a microphone. This is a method of inputting a sound phrase converted into a curved waveform in which the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents the pitch and the strength of the sound, by inputting the data from a hamming or the like. In addition, a method of inputting a note is as follows. By creating a score of a sound phrase as an information retrieval element on a staff paper displayed on a display means of the user terminal 1, the score is represented by time on the horizontal axis and on the vertical axis. This is a method in which the input is converted into a curved waveform that indicates the pitch and strength of the sound. Further, in the graph input method, a sound phrase as an information retrieval element is created and input to the display means of the user terminal 1 as a curved waveform or a broken-line waveform in which the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents pitch and sound intensity. How to The title input method is a method of inputting the title of a song as an information search element.

When the input method is selected by the user in this way, an instruction message "Please enter an information retrieval element" is displayed on the display means. The type of the search product is specified by the information element input means, and the data of the information search element is input by the selected input method. When the input of the information search element is completed, the process proceeds to step S13 in the flowchart of FIG. 2, and a selection message of "Do you want to incorporate the user profile into the search" is displayed on the display means, and the user selects "NO". Then, a search command F1 for performing a search based on the information search element is transmitted from the user terminal 1A to the information search server 2A via the Internet, and specified based on the information search element input by the information element input unit. An information search is performed on the searched search product.

In this information search, the information search server 2A stores the related information stored in the sound information phrase database 12 based on the sound phrase or the title which is the information search element input by the user using the information element input means. A sound information phrase is searched, and a search for product information of music / video content corresponding to the searched related sound information phrase is performed. Alternatively, a search for product information of music / video content corresponding to a music having a title name input by the user as an information search element is performed.

In step S13, if the user selects "YES" to the selection message, a search command F2 for performing a search based on the information search element and the user purchase history is transmitted from the user terminal 1A to the Internet. Then, the information is transmitted to the information search server 2A, and the product information is searched based on the information search element and the user purchase history. In this search, the user's past purchase history read from the user purchase history database 13 is compared with the product information obtained by the information search performed when the user selects “NO” to the selection message as described above. A search is performed based on the data, taking into account the user's preference factors.

Further, in step S11, when "YES" is selected for the selection menu "Do you want to make a selection based only on the history data?", A search command F3 for performing a search based on the purchase history of the user is issued. Based on the purchase history of the user transmitted from the terminal 1A to the information search server 2A via the Internet and stored in the user purchase history database 13, the product information search for the specified search product is performed.

Then, the process proceeds to step S14, where the information retrieval server 2A sends the retrieval commands F1 to F selected by the user.
3, the product search information searched by the information search server 2A is distributed to the user terminal 1A via the Internet, and the user specifies the product search information on the display means of the user terminal 1A. The specified arrangement method (alphabetically, aiueo, etc.)
Is displayed with.

Next, a selection message "Do you want to make purchase / viewing access" is displayed on the display means of the user terminal 1A, and the user selects "YES" and sends an access signal to the access means of the user terminal 1A. By inputting, access to the product providing site 3 that provides the product related to the search information is performed via the Internet, and the detailed product information of the product related to the search information is transmitted from the product providing site 3 to the user terminal 1A. The product is distributed and proper product information is obtained by the user. Based on the distribution information, the user purchases and obtains necessary products from the user terminal 1A by electronic commerce on the Internet. in this case,
When a user purchases a product, information related to the user's purchase of the product is distributed from the product providing site 3 to the information search server 2A via the Internet, and stored in the user purchase history database 13 as history data. .

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
When searching for merchandise information of music / video contents such as music CDs, video CDs, downloaded music data, and television programs, a user inputs a user terminal 1A as an information search element based on, for example, a humming sound phrase. A search based on the sound phrase is easily performed by the information search server 2A.
Based on the related sound frame stored in the sound information phrase database 12, the frequency is extracted from the music / video contents in the video content database 10, created as a related sound frame by the related sound information phrase creating unit 11, and stored. Product information of the content is retrieved from a wide genre range. In addition, it is possible to search for merchandise information of music / video content based on a title name input as an information search element. Further, a search is performed by a user's selection in consideration of purchase history data of the user. Basically, over a wide genre range, based on auditory similarity suitability, taking into account the user's preference, an accurate product information search is performed on music / video content, By performing access based on the product search information obtained from 1A, detailed product information can be received from the product providing site 3.

[0039]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, product information including an information element database storing information elements used for searching for product information and a user purchase history database storing user's product purchase history. The search server, the user terminal, and the product providing site are connected to each other via the Internet, and when an information search element is input from the information search element input means of the user terminal at the time of a search request, the product information is displayed. The search server distributes product search information obtained by searching for data stored in the information element database to the user terminal, and at the time of a search request, the use of the user's purchase history is selected and set by the search mode selection setting means of the user terminal. Then, the product search information in which the purchase history of the user is further taken into account is distributed to the user terminal. Then, based on the search information distributed by the user terminal device and displayed on the display means, via the Internet,
Since the product information acquisition access is performed on the product providing site, the search for the product information is performed by selectively introducing the purchase history of the user based on the information search element related to the idea proposal of the user, and from the user. The product search information that includes the information search element proposed by the idea and that is searched in consideration of the user's preference and suitability is provided to the user accurately, and the user terminal device provides the product providing server with accurate and detailed information. This makes it possible to perform access to the acquisition of product-related information.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the information search element is character information including necessary pitch information, and the product to be searched is a product corresponding to the print content or the video content searched based on the character information. It is possible to realize the effect of the invention described in claim 1.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the information retrieval element is voice information or character information for guiding the voice information, and the product to be searched is a product corresponding to music content or video content. It is possible to realize the effect of the invention of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory diagram for explaining an overall configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention including a flowchart of a main part of an operation of a user terminal.

FIG. 2 is an overall explanatory diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention, including a flowchart of a main part of an operation of a user terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1A user terminal device, 2A information search server 3, product providing site 5, print type video content database 6, related information phrase creation storage database 7, character information phrase Database, 8,
13. User purchase history database, 10
Video content database, 11 related sound information phrase creation unit, 12 sound information phrase database, 13 user purchase history database.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A product information search server comprising an information element database for storing information elements used for searching for product information and a user purchase history database for storing a user's product purchase history via the Internet. Connected to a terminal device, based on a search request from the user terminal device, product search information searched by the product information search server is distributed to the user terminal device, and based on the product search information, the user terminal device A product information providing system for accessing a product providing site via a product information acquisition site via the Internet, wherein an information search element input means for inputting an information search element used for product information search at the time of a search request; Search method selection and setting means for selectively setting introduction of a user purchase history in the product information search; The user terminal is provided with display means for displaying information at the time of operation including search information searched by a search server, and access means for accessing the product providing site based on the search information. A product information providing system characterized by the following. 2. The product information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the information search element is text information including necessary pitch information, and a product to be searched is printed based on the character information or video. A product information providing system, which is a product corresponding to the content. 3. The merchandise information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the information retrieval element is audio information or character information for inducing the audio information, and the merchandise to be searched corresponds to music content or video content. A product information providing system characterized by being a product.