JP2002092214A - Product information providing device, prize information providing device, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly provide guidance data for coping with the fault of merchandise based on a merchandise identification code, to judge the winning result of a prize based on a number intrinsic to a product and to quickly provide the judged result. SOLUTION: A marker server 1 retrieves the guidance data for coping with the fault based on the fault code of equipment and the merchandise identification code transmitted from a user terminal 2 communication-connected through a network 5 and transmits them to the user terminal 2. Also, the marker server 1 judges whether or not winning is set to the product based on data intrinsic to the product transmitted from the user terminal 2 and transmits the result to the user terminal 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a merchandise information providing device, a prize information providing device, and a storage medium, and more particularly to providing merchandise information or prize information via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, products are sold with a product identification code such as a bar code attached thereto. The barcode is
It is composed of a country code, a maker code, a product code, and a check digit. By reading a bar code, the manufacturer and the product can be identified. For this reason, barcodes are read by a barcode scanner provided in a register or the like at the time of purchase of a product, and are used for calculation of a purchase price, sales management, and the like. In general, each product is given an individual number, and is used for management of a product production location, a sales location, a production date and time, and the like.

[0003]

Incidentally, it is desired that these bar codes, product individual numbers, and the like be used for a wider range of uses.

An object of the present invention is to provide a guide information providing apparatus capable of promptly providing guide data for coping with a failure of a product based on a product identification code given to the product. is there.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a prize information that can promptly notify a product purchaser of a prize winning result set for the product based on identification data unique to the product given to the product. It is to provide a providing device.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve such problems, the invention according to claim 1 uses an external terminal (for example, the user terminal 2 shown in FIG. 1 or the store terminal 60 shown in FIG. 24) connected by communication. ) And a product information providing device that transmits and receives various information (for example, the manufacturer server 1 or the ISP shown in FIG. 1)
3) a receiving unit (for example, the CPU 11 shown in FIG. 2, the transmission control unit 18, the CPU 31 shown in FIG. 17, the transmission control unit shown in FIG. 17) for receiving the failure code of the device and the product identification code transmitted from the external terminal. 38; A10, A in FIG.
14, C10, C14 in FIG. 21, and the failure code and the product identification code received by the receiving means,
Search means (for example, CPU 11 shown in FIG. 2 and CP shown in FIG. 17) for searching for guidance data for coping with the obstacle
U31; A16 in FIG. 10, C16 in FIG. 21) and transmission means (for example, CPU11, transmission control unit 18, and transmission control unit 18 shown in FIG. 2 and transmission control unit 18 shown in FIG. 17) for transmitting the guidance data retrieved by the retrieval means to the external terminal. CPU 31, transmission control unit 3
8; A16 in FIG. 10 and C16 in FIG. 21).

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the receiving unit, the searching unit, and the transmitting unit deal with the failure based on the failure code and the product identification code of the device transmitted from the external terminal. Guidance data can be promptly provided to the external terminal. Therefore, the user can quickly deal with the obstacle according to the guidance data. Further, the use range of the product identification code is expanded.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an external terminal (for example, the user terminal 2 shown in FIG.
A prize information providing device (for example, the maker server 1 or I shown in FIG. 1) for transmitting and receiving various information to and from the shop terminal 60 shown in FIG.
SP3), receiving means (for example, the CPU 11 shown in FIG. 2, the transmission control unit 18, the CPU shown in FIG. 17) for receiving the identification data unique to the product transmitted from the external terminal.
31; transmission control unit 38; A30 in FIG. 12); and determination means (for example, CPU 11 shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 17) for determining whether or not a win is set for the identification data received by this reception means. CPU 31 shown in FIG.
34) and transmitting means (for example, the CPU 11 shown in FIG.
The transmission control unit 18, the CPU 31 illustrated in FIG. 17, and the transmission control unit 38; A37 and A38 in FIG. 12) are provided.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, whether the winning is set for the product based on the product-specific identification data transmitted from the external terminal by the receiving means, the determining means, and the transmitting means. Since the judgment is made and the judgment result is transmitted to the external terminal, the winning result of the product can be promptly provided. Therefore, the product purchaser can quickly know the prize winning result. Further, the use range of the identification data for each product is expanded.

[0010]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a merchandise information providing apparatus and a prize information providing apparatus according to the present invention.

[First Embodiment] First, the structure will be described. FIG. 1 is a network system 1 constructed using a product information providing device and a prize information providing device according to the present invention.
00 is an overall configuration diagram of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the network system 100 includes a maker server 1 (which functions as a merchandise information providing device and a prize information providing device) and a user terminal 2.
(External terminal), an Internet service provider (hereinafter, ISP) 3, and a shipping center side terminal 4 are connected for communication via a network 5. Here, the network 5 includes various networks such as a telephone line network, an ISDN line network, a dedicated line, a mobile communication network, a communication satellite line, and a CATV line network, and the user terminal 2 is connected to the network 5 via the ISP 3. Then, the maker server 1 can be accessed. The maker server 1 is a host computer installed at the manufacturer (maker) of the product 7 sold at the store 6.

In the following description, the product 7 includes:
A bar code such as a JAN (Japan Article Number) code is provided as a product identification code for identifying a manufacturer or a product, and a product individual number for identifying each product is provided. .
Hereinafter, the “product code” means the product identification code portion included in the JAN code or the decoded data (numerical value or character data) of the entire JAN code. Further, it is desirable that the product individual number is encrypted and given so as to prevent unauthorized input such as forgery of the number. Further, the product individual number is indicated on the attached document of the product or the product itself.

Further, a document such as a warranty card or an instruction manual is attached to the product 7, and the attached document includes a URL (Unif) of a WEB site opened on the network 5 by the manufacturer.
ormResource Locator) is also described.

First, the internal configuration of the maker server 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The maker server 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 and an input device 1
2, display device 13, RAM (Random Access Memory) 1
4, printing device 15, storage device 16, and storage medium 17,
And a transmission control unit 18, and each unit except the storage medium 17 is connected by a bus 19.

The CPU 11 transmits an application program designated from among various application programs stored in the storage device 16 and corresponding to the maker server 1 and various instructions input from the input device 12 to the RA.
In accordance with the input instructions and the input data, various processes are executed in accordance with the application programs stored in the RAM 14, and the processing results are stored in the work memory 14w in the RAM 14, and the display device 13 is displayed. Then, the processing result stored in the work memory 14 w is stored in a storage destination in the storage device 16 specified by the input device 12.

In the maker server 1, the CPU 11
Executes a process according to information transmitted from the user terminal 2 communicatively connected via the network 5. For example, a process of providing guidance information for coping with a product failure described later (manual data providing process; A7 in FIG. 10)
To A19) and a process of providing prize winning result information (prize determination process; A5 in FIG. 10 → FIG. 12).

That is, in the manual data providing process, when the CPU 11 receives a failure code (for example, an error code) and a product code of a device (product) transmitted from the user terminal 2, the CPU 11 receives the received failure code and product code. In response to this, manual data for coping with the failure is stored in a manual database 17a (see FIG. 7).
And sends the searched manual data to the user terminal 2.

In the prize determination process, the CPU 11
Receives the product-specific identification data (for example, the product individual number) transmitted from the user terminal 2,
The product identification number master file 14a for each product code (see FIG. 4) stored in the user terminal 2 is referred to, and it is determined whether or not the winning is set for the received identification data. Send. Further, when the winning is achieved, the CPU 11 creates a shipping file 14c storing the shipping data of the prize and transmits it to the shipping center side terminal 4.

The input device 12 includes a keyboard provided with cursor keys, numeric input keys, various function keys, and the like, and a mouse. The input device 12 outputs to the CPU 11 a pressing signal pressed by the keyboard and a mouse position signal.

The display device 13 is a CRT (Cathode Ray Tu).
be) or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), etc., and performs screen display of various display data according to display instructions input from the CPU 11.

The RAM 14 has a work memory 14w for storing designated application programs, input instructions, input data, processing results, and the like. As shown in FIG.
a, mail address file 14b, shipping file 1
4c is stored.

As shown in FIG. 4, the product individual number master file 14a for each product code is a file in which the product individual number of each product manufactured by the maker is stored for each product code. Sales management data such as shipping date and time, purchase customer area, etc., lottery number (entry qualification), winning / losing, prize determination flag (exited /
And prize data such as the date and time of determination. Also, a product code and a prize name of the prize are stored. When determining the prize winning result, the CPU 11 refers to the “win / loss” set corresponding to the product individual number, outputs this as a determination result, and sets the prize determination completed flag to “done”. It is updated and the judgment date is registered. The number of lotteries is the number of purchased products required to apply for a prize, and is set for each product. (For example, some products qualify for one application with five, and others qualify once for one.)

The file 14b for each mail address is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the file stores the mail address, address, product individual number, and the like of the prize applicant (user terminal 2). Each time there is an application for a prize from the user terminal 2, the product individual number of the applied product is additionally stored in the corresponding mail address. If the prize is won, the CPU
11 is referred to when the prize shipping data is created.

As shown in FIG. 6, the shipping file 14c is a file storing shipping data such as the winner's address, name, prize name, and prize product code. Sent to terminal 4.

The printing device 15 prints data and the like created by various application programs.

The storage device 16 has a storage medium 17 in which programs and data are stored in advance, and the storage medium 17 is constituted by a magnetic or optical storage medium or a nonvolatile memory such as a semiconductor. The storage medium 17 is fixedly provided on the storage device 16 or is detachably mounted. The storage medium 17 stores a system program of the maker server 1 and various processing programs corresponding thereto. In addition, data processed by these programs and the like are stored.

The program, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 17 are partially or wholly received from an external device such as a server or client from a transmission control unit 18 via a transmission medium such as a network line. The storage medium 17 may be configured to be stored, and the storage medium 17 may be a storage medium of a server constructed on a network. Further, the program may be configured to be transmitted to a server or a client via a transmission medium such as a network line and installed on these devices.

Here, referring to FIG. 7, the maker server 1
The manual database 17a stored in the storage medium 17 will be described. The manual database 17a stores and stores manual data of each product. For example, manual data for coping with a device failure is stored in association with a product code and an error code. As manual data, for example,
The file name of the corresponding manual file is associated with the described page number. CPU 11 is a user terminal 2
Based on the product code and error code obtained from
The manual database 17a is searched, and manual data (document data, image data, etc.) is read from the associated page number of the manual file.
Further, the storage medium 17 stores each page data of a WEB site that provides various information including product information and prize information.

The transmission control unit 18 has a modem (MODEM:
MOdulator / DEModulator) or a terminal adapter (TA), and controls communication with an external device (user terminal 2) via the network 5. The modem modulates the digital data processed by the CPU 11 into an analog signal in the frequency band of the telephone line in order to communicate with an external device such as a personal computer via the telephone line,
The terminal adapter is a device that demodulates an analog signal input via a telephone line into a digital signal. The terminal adapter converts an existing interface into an ISDN in order to communicate with an external device such as a personal computer via an ISDN line. This is a device for converting to an interface corresponding to.

Next, the internal configuration of the user terminal 2 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The user terminal 2 is, for example,
Personal computer, PDA (Pe
rsonal Digital Assistants) or a mobile phone terminal, etc., as long as it has an Internet connection function.

The user terminal 2 includes a CPU 21 and an input device 2
2, a display device 23, a RAM 24, a printing device 25, a storage device 26, a storage medium 27, and a transmission control unit 28, and each unit except the storage medium 27 is a bus 29.
Connected by

The CPU 21 sends an application program specified from various application programs corresponding to the user terminal 2 stored in the storage device 26 and various instructions input from the input device 22 to the RAM 2.
4 in accordance with the input instruction and the input data, execute various processes according to the application program stored in the RAM 24, store the processing results in the work memory in the RAM 24, and indicate. Then, the processing result stored in the work memory is stored in a storage destination in the storage device 26 designated by the input device 22.

The CPU 21 starts a browser, connects to the maker server 1 via the network 5 by inputting the URL of the maker server 1 on the browser, and transmits / receives various information to / from the maker server 1. .

For example, when the user wants to receive manual data from the maker server 1, the user inputs a failure code (error code) of a failed device and a product code of the device from the input device 22. The control unit 28 is controlled to transmit such information to the maker server 1. When manual data corresponding to the transmitted information is received from the maker server 1, the CPU
21 displays the received manual data on the display device 23.

For example, when applying for a prize for a purchased product and wishing to receive prize-winning result information, the user inputs a product individual number from the input device 22 and receives a CP.
U21 controls the transmission control unit 28 to transmit to the commodity individual number maker server 1 inputted. When receiving the winning result from the maker server 1, the CPU 21 displays the received winning result on the display device 23.

The input device 22 includes a keyboard provided with cursor keys, numeric input keys, various function keys, and the like, and a mouse. The input device 22 outputs to the CPU 21 a pressing signal pressed by the keyboard and a mouse position signal.

The display device 23 is composed of a CRT, an LCD and the like, and displays a screen of various display data in accordance with a display instruction input from the CPU 21.

The RAM 24 has a work memory for storing designated application programs, input instructions, input data, processing results, and the like.

The printing device 25 prints data and the like created by various application programs.

The storage device 26 has a storage medium 27 in which programs and data are stored in advance, and the storage medium 27 is constituted by a magnetic or optical storage medium or a nonvolatile memory such as a semiconductor. The storage medium 27 is fixedly provided on the storage device 26 or is detachably mounted. The storage medium 27 stores a system program of the user terminal 2 and various processing programs corresponding thereto. In addition, data and the like processed by these programs are stored.

The program, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 27 are partially or wholly received from an external device such as a server or client from a transmission control unit 28 via a transmission medium such as a network line. The storage medium may be configured to be stored, and the storage medium 27 may be a storage medium of a server constructed on a network. Furthermore, the program may be configured to be transmitted to a server or a client via a transmission medium such as a network line and installed in these devices.

The transmission control unit 28 is constituted by a modem, a terminal adapter, a communication module corresponding to a predetermined mobile communication system, or the like, and is connected to the network 5 via the ISP 3 for communication with the maker server 1. Control to perform.

Next, the operation of the network system 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining processing executed in the user terminal 2, FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining overall processing to manual data provision processing executed in the maker server 1, and FIG. 7 is an example of a display screen displayed on the display device 23 of the user terminal 2 at each stage during execution of. FIGS. 12 and 13 are flowcharts for explaining the prize determination process executed in the maker server 1. FIG.
15 is a flowchart illustrating a product individual number determination process performed during execution of the prize determination process. FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a prize win / loss determination process performed during execution of the prize determination process in the maker server 1. 16 is an example of a display screen displayed on the display device 23 of the user terminal 2 at each stage during the execution of the prize determination process.

A program for realizing each function described in each of the flowcharts is stored in the storage medium 17 of the maker server 1 or the storage medium 27 of the user terminal 2 in the form of a readable program code. The CPU 11 of the maker server 1 or the CPU 21 of the user terminal 2 sequentially executes an operation according to the program code. Further, the CPU 11 or the CPU 21 can also sequentially execute the operation according to the program code transmitted via the transmission medium. That is, an operation unique to the present embodiment can be executed using a program / data externally supplied via a transmission medium in addition to a storage medium.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the power of the user terminal 2 is turned on and the browser is activated, and the URL of the manufacturer's WEB site is input from the input device 22, the CPU 21 controls the transmission control unit 28. Control and ISP
A communication connection is made with the maker server 1 via the server 3 (step B1).

Then, the CPU 21 waits for reception of data from the maker server 1 or a key input from the input device 22, and upon receiving any data from the maker server 1 (step B 2; data reception), the data is received by the display device 23. The data is displayed (step B3), and the next data reception or data input is awaited. Also, the input device 2
If there is any key input from step 2 (step B2; key input), if the input data is an end instruction (step B4; Yes), the process is terminated, and if it is any data other than the end instruction, Then, the input data is transmitted to the maker server 1 via the transmission control unit 28 (step B5). After that, it waits for the next data reception or data input.

With the above processing, a product code, an error code, a product individual number, a user's mail address, an address, a questionnaire response, and the like are input from the user terminal 2 and transmitted to the maker server 1.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, the maker server 1 waits for a communication connection from the user terminal 2 via the network 5, and when the communication connection is established (step A).
1; connection), the CPU 11 is the web
The display data of the main screen of the site is read from the storage medium 17 and transmitted to the user terminal 2 (step A2).

FIG. 11A shows a display example of the main screen 231. As shown in FIG. 11A, the main screen 231 has a “menu” as a “trouble determination page” link button 231a and a “prize prize determination page” link button 231.
b is displayed. Any link button 231
When a and 231b are selected in the user terminal 2, the selection information is transmitted to the maker server 1.

Link button 231 of “failure judgment page”
If a is selected (Step A3; Yes), CP
U11 executes the manual data providing process shown in steps A7 to A19. Further, when the link button 231b of the "prize determination page" is selected (step A3;
No → A4; Yes), the CPU 11 executes a prize determination process in step A5. Details of the prize determination processing will be described later (see FIGS. 12 to 16). If no page is specified and another page is specified, the process proceeds to another page (step A6).

First, the manual data providing process (steps A7 to A19) will be described. In the manual data providing process, the CPU 11 sets the page counter page
e is set to "0" (step A7). Then C
The PU 11 checks the value of the page counter page (step A8), and since page = 0 has been designated, reads the display data corresponding to page = 0 from the storage medium 17 and transmits it to the user terminal 2 (step A9). . pa
Ge = 0 indicates, for example, a product code input screen 23 including a message “Please input a product code”.
2.

FIG. 11B shows a product code input screen 232.
The following shows a display example. As shown in FIG. 11B, on the product code input screen 232, in addition to the message 232a "Please enter a product code", a product code input field 232b, an OK button 232c, and a clear button 23
2d is displayed. Product code input field 23 by user
When a product code is input to 2b and the OK button 232c is clicked with a mouse or the like, the user terminal 2 transmits the input product code to the maker server 1.

The maker server 1 waits for reception of data input at the user terminal 2, and when a product code is received (step A10; product code), stores the product code in the work memory 14w and sets the page counter. page is set to "1" (step A1).
1) The process proceeds to step A12. In step A12, it is checked whether or not there is an instruction to release the failure determination page from the user terminal 2, and if there is no instruction to release the failure determination page (step A1).
2; No), and return to step A8. If there is a cancellation instruction,
Returning to step A2, the display data of the main screen 231 is transmitted to the user terminal 2. If the reception standby time has elapsed without receiving the product code in step A10 (step A10; TimeOut), the communication connection is temporarily disconnected, and the process returns to step A1.

After obtaining the product code, the CPU 11 checks the page counter page, and since page = 1 has been designated, reads the display data corresponding to page = 1 from the storage medium 17 and transmits it to the user terminal 2. (Step A13). The page = 1 is, for example, an error code input screen 233 including a message “Please input the displayed error code”.

FIG. 11C shows an error code input screen 23.
3 shows a display example. As shown in FIG. 11C, on the error code input screen 233, an error code input field 233b, an OK button 233c, and a clear button 233d are displayed in addition to a message 233a of "Please input an error code". . When the user inputs an error code in the error code input field 233b and clicks an OK button 233c with a mouse or the like, the user terminal 2
Transmits the input error code to the maker server 1.

The maker server 1 waits for reception of data input at the user terminal 2, and when an error code is received (step A14; error code), stores the error code in the work memory 14w and sets the page counter. The page is set to "2" (step A15), and the process proceeds to step A12. If the reception standby time has elapsed without receiving the error code in step A14 (step A14; TimeOu
t), temporarily disconnect the communication connection and return to step A1.

If an error code is acquired and there is no cancellation instruction, the CPU 11 checks the page counter and checks the page counter.
Since e = 2 is specified, the CPU 11
7 is searched for manual data corresponding to the product code and the error code stored in the work memory 14w. That is, a manual file and a page number associated with the product code and the error code are obtained, the corresponding manual data is read, and transmitted to the user terminal 2 (step A16).
In addition, display data including a message "return to TOP" is transmitted to the user terminal 2 (step A17).

FIG. 11D shows a manual display screen 234.
The following shows a display example. As shown in FIG. 11D, on the manual display screen 234, the product code 2 already input
In addition to the error code 34a and the error code 234b, a manual data 234c retrieved from the manual database 17a and a "Return to TOP" button 234d are displayed as an error handling method.

When the “return to top” button 234d is clicked with a mouse or the like after the user confirms the manual data 234c, the user terminal 2 transmits “OK” data to the maker server 1. When "OK" data is received in the maker server 1 (step A18;
OK), the CPU 11 sets the page counter page to “0”.
(Step A19), and the process proceeds to Step A12. In step A18, if the reception standby time has elapsed without receiving “OK” data (step A18; TimeOut), the communication connection is temporarily disconnected, and the process returns to step A1.

As described above, the maker server 1 searches the manual data corresponding to the product code and the error code received from the user terminal 2 by the processes of steps A7 to A19, and transmits the data to the user terminal.

Next, the prize determining process will be described with reference to FIGS. When the link button 231b to the prize determination page is clicked on the main screen 231 described above, and the prize determination page is designated (step A4; Yes), the CPU 11 starts a prize determination process (step A5).

In the prize determination process shown in FIG. 12, first, the CPU 11 transmits an input form such as a mail address, an address, a name, and a questionnaire to the user terminal 2 (step A21), and waits for a reply (step A22).

FIG. 16A shows a display example of the input form 235. As shown in FIG. 16A, the input form 2
Reference numeral 35 includes a mail address input field 235a, an address input field 235b, a name input field 235c, and a questionnaire response input field 235d.

In the user terminal 2, a mail address, an address, and the like are entered in each of the input fields 235a to 235d.
When the name and the answer to the questionnaire are input, the user terminal 2
Transmits these input data to the maker server 1.
When the maker server 1 receives these input data (step A22; input), the CPU 11 stores the received input data (mail address, address, name, etc.) in the work memory 14w and sets the page counter page to “0”. (Step A23).

Next, the CPU 11 sets the page counter pa
After confirming "ge" (step A24), since page = 0 has been specified, display data corresponding to page = 0 is read from the storage medium 17 and transmitted to the user terminal 2 (step A25). page = 0 includes, for example, a message “Please enter a product code”
This is a product code input screen 236.

FIG. 16B shows a product code input screen 236.
The following shows a display example. As shown in FIG. 16B, the product code input screen 236 is the same input screen as the product code input screen 232 shown in FIG. The user inputs the product code in the product code input field 236b, and
When button 236c is clicked on with a mouse or the like, user terminal 2 transmits the input product code to maker server 1.

The maker server 1 waits for reception of data input at the user terminal 2 and, when a product code is received (step A26; product code), stores the product code in the work memory 14w, and thereafter, The counter page is set to "1" (step A2).
7), the process proceeds to step A24. If the reception standby time has elapsed without receiving the product code at step A26 (step A26; TimeOut), the communication connection is temporarily disconnected, and the process returns to step A1 in FIG.

After obtaining the product code, the CPU 11 checks the page counter page, and since page = 1 has been designated, reads out the display data corresponding to page = 1 from the storage medium 17 and transmits it to the user terminal 2. (Step A28). Page = 1 is, for example, a product individual number input screen 237 including a message “Please enter a product individual number”.

FIG. 16C shows a product individual number input screen 23.
7 shows a display example. As shown in FIG. 16C, on the product individual number input screen 237, a message 237a indicating "Please enter a product individual number", a product individual number input field 237b, an OK button 237c, and a clear button 237d are displayed. Is done. The user inputs the product individual number in the product individual number input field 237b, and clicks the OK button 23.
When 7c is clicked with a mouse or the like, the user terminal 2 transmits the input product individual number to the maker server 1.

The maker server 1 executes a product individual number determination process to determine whether the data received from the user terminal 2 is a legitimate product individual number (step A29).

Here, the product individual number determination process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, the maker server 1 waits for the reception of the product individual number from the user terminal 2 and upon receiving the product individual number (step A51; Yes), first checks whether the number of digits is correct (step A51). A52). If the number of digits of the received product individual number is the same as that of the regular product individual number, it is determined to be correct. If it is any other number, it is determined to be incorrect. If the number of digits is incorrect (step A52; incorrect), the received product individual number is determined to be incorrect (step A53), and the determination result is secured in the work memory 14w of the RAM 14.

If the number of digits is correct (step A52; correct), the CPU 11 checks whether the check digit is correct (step A54). Here, the check digit is a confirmation code included in the product individual number, and is, for example, the last one character (in some cases, two characters) of the product individual number. By determining this, it can be determined whether the product individual number has been correctly input or has been correctly read.

If the check digit is not correct (step A54; incorrect), it is determined that the product individual number is not correct (step A53), and the determination result is stored in the RAM.
14 in the work memory 14w.

On the other hand, if the check digit is correct (step A54; correct), the CPU 11
(Step A55), and confirms whether or not a prize has already been determined for the received product individual number (step A56). That is, it is checked whether "done" is entered in the prize determination flag of the record corresponding to the received product individual number in the product individual number master file 14a for each product code, and if the prize has already been determined (step A56). ; Already), it is regarded as a duplicate of the prize application, and the number is determined to be incorrect.

On the other hand, when the prize judgment has not been made yet for the received product individual number (step A56;
Not yet), the CPU 11 determines that the received product individual number is a correct number (step A57), and returns the determination result to R
Secured in the work memory 14w of the AM 14.

When the product individual number is not received even after the lapse of a predetermined time in step A51 (step A51).
51; No → Step A58; Yes), it is determined that a timeout (TimeOut) has occurred (Step A59).

If the received product individual number is determined to be correct by the above-described product individual number determination processing (step A30; correct product individual number), the CPU 11
Sets the page counter page to "2" (step A31), and proceeds to step A24. If the received product individual number is determined to be incorrect by the product individual number determination process (step A30; incorrect product individual number), an error message such as “incorrect” is transmitted to the user terminal 2. (Step A
32), the page counter page is set to "1" again, and the process returns to step A24 (step A33).

When the reception standby time has elapsed without receiving the product individual number in step A30 (step A30; TimeOut), the communication connection is temporarily disconnected, and the process returns to step A1.

After obtaining the product code and the correct product individual number, the CPU 11 checks the page counter page, and since page = 2 is specified, in order to determine the winning result of the prize for the product, Per prize /
An out-of-office determination process is performed (step A34).

Here, the prize winning / losing determination processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 15, the maker server 1 first refers to the product code-specific product individual number master file 14 a of the corresponding product code, and checks the “lottery number” item set for the product individual number. When the item "number of lotteries" is set to "1", that is, when it is possible to apply for a prize with one product (step A61; Yes), then the item "win / loss" is checked by confirming the item "win / loss". The "win" or "miss" is determined, and the determination result is stored in the work memory 14w of the RAM 14 (step A62), and the step A3 is performed.
Move to 5.

When the item “number of lotteries” is set to a numerical value “n” other than “1”, that is, when it is set that one prize application can be applied for n products (step A6).
1; No), the CPU 11 sends the file 1 for each mail address.
With reference to 4b, it is confirmed whether or not the product individual number of the same product has already been entered in the record of the same address as the address stored in 14w in the work memory. If the product individual number of the same product has already been entered (step A63; Yes)
s), additionally store the received product individual number in the next product individual number area (step A64), and determine whether or not the number of input product individual numbers for the same product has reached the set lottery number. I do.

When the number of lotteries has been reached (step A6)
5; Yes), the process proceeds to step A62, and the winning is determined with reference to the product code-specific product individual number master file 14a. That is, with reference to the “hit / miss” item of the product individual number master file 14a by product code, “hit” is found in any of the plurality of product individual numbers stored in the record of the same address in the file 14b by email address. If it is set, it is determined to be "win", and if "win" is not set to any of the product individual numbers, it is determined to be "out". If the number of lotteries has not been reached (step A65; No), a communication connection is made after transmission for displaying how many more lottery rights can be obtained regardless of the "winning" or "losing". And returns to step A1.

In step A63, if the product individual number of the same product has not been entered in the record of the mail address file 14b or if the address has not been input (step A63; No), the mail address Work memory 1 in empty record of file 14b
The mail address, address, and product individual number secured in 4w are newly stored (step A66), the communication connection is temporarily disconnected, and the process returns to step A1.

In the prize winning / losing determination processing described above, when the result of the prize winning for the product individual number is determined, the CPU 11 sets the “prize” in the corresponding product individual number record in the product code-specific product individual number master file 14a. The “determined” item is updated to “done”, the determination date and time are input (step A35), and the determination result in the prize determination process is transmitted to the user terminal 2. That is,
If it is determined to be "hit", a message "hit" is transmitted to the user terminal 2 (step A37).
Further, when it is determined that the terminal is "out", a message "out" is transmitted to the user terminal 2 (step A3).
8). Of course, when the lottery number is reached, even if it was determined to be "win" in the past,
Is determined.

FIG. 16D shows a display example of the prize result display screen 238. As shown in FIG. 16D, on the prize result display screen 238, the result 238a of the prize is "hit!"
Or, "missing" is displayed, and although not shown, the number of remaining purchases of the lottery right is displayed regardless of the "losing".

Further, in the case of "hit", the CPU 11 searches the mail address file 14b for a record in which the winning product individual number is registered, and extracts address data and name data from this record. In addition, these data are associated with the winning prize name and the product code, and stored as shipping data in the shipping file 14c (step A39). Thereafter, the CPU 11 transmits the shipping data to the shipping center side terminal 4 and then deletes the data (step A40). And a page counter page
Is set to "0", and the process proceeds to step A24.

On the other hand, in the case of “losing”, the CPU 11 sends a “return to top OK?” Message to the user terminal 2.
(Step A42), and "O"
K ”data (step A43; OK), CP
U11 sets the page counter page to "0" (step A44), and proceeds to step A24. If no reception has been made and the reception standby time has elapsed (step A43; TimeOut), the connection is temporarily disconnected, and the process returns to step A1.

As described above, according to the network system 100 of the first embodiment, when the product code and the error code are transmitted from the user terminal 2 to the maker server 1, the received product code On the basis of the error code and the error code, manual data for dealing with the error is retrieved from the manual database 17a and transmitted to the user terminal 2. The user terminal 2 displays the received manual data on the display device 23.

Therefore, the maker server 1 can provide the user terminal 2 with manual data for quickly coping with the failure based on the error code and the product code.

When the individual product number of the product purchased from the user terminal 2 is transmitted to the maker server 1, the maker server 1 determines whether or not a prize has been won based on the received individual product number. Is transmitted to the user terminal 2. The user terminal 2 displays the received determination result on the display device 23.

Therefore, the maker server 1 can determine the winning result of the prize based on the product individual number, and can provide the determined result to the user terminal 2 quickly.

When the prize is won, the maker server 1 receives the user's address and name from the user terminal 2, creates prize prize shipping data, and sends it to the sending center terminal 5. Thereby, the process up to the delivery of the prize can be performed smoothly.

In the first embodiment, when accessing the maker server 1, the URL of the maker's WEB site is input from the user terminal 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a JAN code may be input, a manufacturer may be identified from the input JAN code, and a product code may be transmitted at the same time as accessing the web site. In this case, the maker code included in the JAN code and the U
It has a table in which RLs are stored in association with each other. The user can access the maker server 1 using the JAN code without knowing the URL, and the URL input process can be omitted, so that necessary information can be obtained more quickly.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a description will be given of a merchandise information providing device and a prize application providing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The network system 100 according to the second embodiment has a configuration in which a maker server 1, a user terminal 2, an ISP 3, and a shipping center terminal 4 are communicatively connected via a network 5, as in the network system 100 shown in FIG. Have been. In the network system 100 according to the first embodiment, the user terminal 2 accesses the maker server 1 and transmits and receives various information to and from the maker server 1. In the system 100, the ISP 3 is provided with an information provision proxy function, and the ISP 3 provides necessary information to the user terminal 2 on behalf of a manufacturer. That is, the maker server 1
The manual data and its update data are transmitted to the SP3, and the ISP3 sends the manufacturer server 1 of each manufacturer.
The manual data provided from is stored as a manual database. When the ISP 3 transmits manual data in response to a request for manual data from the user terminal 2, the ISP 3 charges a predetermined usage fee as a substitute fee to a maker, which is a provider of guidance data, and Is transmitted to the maker server 2.

In the second embodiment, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 17, the ISP 3 includes a CPU 31, an input device 32, a display device 33, a RAM 34, a printing device 35, a storage device 36, a storage medium 37, and a transmission device. A terminal configured by the control unit 38 and having a configuration in which each unit except the storage medium 37 is connected by the bus 39 is provided.

The CPU 31 executes the same processing as the CPU 11 of the maker server 1 shown in the first embodiment.
That is, a manual data providing process (steps C7 to C20 in FIG. 21) for providing manual data in accordance with a product code and an error code transmitted from the user terminal 2 communicatively connected via the network 5, and a prize winning A prize result determination process for providing result information (A5 in FIG. 10 →
(FIG. 12) is executed. Further, in the manual data providing process, a predetermined guide agent fee is charged to a maker as a guide agent requester as an agent service proxy fee, and the billing data is transmitted to the maker server 1.

Further, as shown in FIG.
The AM 34 has the R of the maker server 1 according to the first embodiment.
Similar to the AM 14, it stores a product individual number master file 34a for each product code, a file 34b for each mail address, a shipping file 34c, a work memory 34w, and a billing file 34d. The billing file 34d is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, the file is a file in which a guide agent charge (charging data) for each product code is associated with a billing destination (guide agent requester).

The other components of the terminal on the ISP 3 side have the same configuration as the components of the maker server 1 of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Further, since the configuration of the maker server 1 is the same as that of the maker server 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. C of maker server 1
When the manual data is updated, the PU 11
The updated manual data is transmitted to SP3. Further, it receives the registration data of the manual data and the billing data as the information provision agency fee from the ISP 3. When the accounting data is received, the accounting data is output and the operator confirms it.

The configuration of the user terminal 2 is the same as that of the user terminal 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 8, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed in the user terminal 2, FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating overall processing to manual data providing processing executed in the ISP 3, and FIG. FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a manual data update process performed by the ISP 3.

A program for realizing each function described in each of these flowcharts is stored in a storage medium 37 of the ISP 3 in the form of a readable program code.
Storage medium 27 of user terminal 2 or maker server 1
Of the ISP 3
1. The CPU 21 of the user terminal 2 or the CPU 11 of the maker server 1 sequentially executes an operation according to the program code. In addition, the CPU 31, CPU 21, or C
The PU 11 can also sequentially execute the operation according to the program code transmitted via the transmission medium. That is, an operation unique to the present embodiment can be executed using a program / data externally supplied via a transmission medium in addition to a storage medium.

When the power is turned on in the user terminal 2 and the browser is started, the ISP 3
When a connection instruction to the ISP 3 is input, the CPU 21 controls the transmission control unit 28 to make a communication connection to the ISP 3 (step B).
11).

Next, the CPU 21 waits for reception of data from the ISP 3 or key input from the input device 22,
When any data is received from the ISP 3 (step B
12; data reception), display the received data on the display device 23 (step B13), and wait for the next data reception or data input. If there is any key input from the input device 22 (step B12; key input), and if the input data is an end instruction (step B14; Yes), the process ends, and some data other than the end instruction is output. (Step B14; N
o), the input data is transmitted to the ISP through the transmission control unit 28.
3 (step B15). After that, it waits for the next data reception or data input.

Through the above processing, the product code, error code, product individual number, user's mail address, address, questionnaire response, etc. are input from the user terminal 2 and
Send to P3.

On the other hand, the ISP 3 waits for a communication connection from the user terminal 2, and when the communication connection is established (step C 1; connection), the CPU 11 reads out the display data of the main screen from the storage medium 37 and transmits it to the user terminal 2. (Step C2). Then, according to an input instruction from the user terminal 2,
Jump to the failure judgment page or prize judgment page,
A manual data providing process or a prize determination process is executed.

Manual data provision processing (step C)
3; Yes → Steps C7 to C18) and the details of the prize determination process (Step C3; No → Step C4; Yes → Step C5) are shown in FIG. 10 executed by the maker server 1 described in the first embodiment. Steps A3 to A17, and the processing of each step in FIGS.

In the second embodiment, the ISP3 CP
U31, after transmitting the manual data to the user terminal 2, adds a guide agency fee predetermined for each product code to the charging file 34d in step C18,
Update. In other words, the CPU 31 updates and stores a predetermined guidance agency fee to the "charging" item of the record of the corresponding product code in the accounting file 34d.

Thereafter, when an OK instruction is input from the user terminal 2 (Step C19; OK), the page counter p
"age" is set to "0" (step C20), and the process returns to step C12. If a time-out occurs without an OK instruction being input (Step C19; TimeOut), the connection is temporarily disconnected and the process returns to Step C1.

Although the detailed description is omitted, the ISP3
Also performs the prize determination process on behalf of the manufacturer, determines the prize winning based on the product individual number transmitted from the user terminal 2, and transmits the determination result to the user terminal 2. In this case as well, a predetermined fee is charged to the manufacturer as a proxy fee.

Next, a manual data update process performed between the maker server 1 and the ISP 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.

When there is an update such as addition or change of manual data (step A71; Y)
es), controls the transmission control unit 18 to communicatively connect to the ISP 3, and transmits the manual update data (step A7).
2). Manual update data is updated manual data.

At this time, the maker server 1 requests the ISP 3 to charge a guide agency fee (in-house billing amount) imposed on its own products. Then, when the accounting list data is received from the ISP 3, the received accounting list data is output from the display device 13 or the printing device 15 to make the operator confirm.

On the other hand, the ISP 3 confirms whether or not manual update data has been received from the maker server 1 at predetermined time intervals, for example, once a day or the like. If the manual update data has been received (step C21; Yes) ), The received manual update data is newly registered or updated and stored in the manual database 37a (step C2).
2). That is, if the received manual update data relates to a product already registered in the manual database 37a, the changed portion is updated and stored, and if the received data relates to an unregistered product, it is newly registered in the manual database 37a. .

After that, when the ISP 3 receives the request for the charge list data from the maker server 1 (step C23;
Yes), the CPU 31 creates a list of billing data corresponding to the maker from the billing file 34d, calculates the total amount, and transmits the information as billing list data to the maker server 1 that has issued the request.

As described above, in the network system 100 according to the second embodiment, the maker
In advance, information to be provided to the user terminal 2 such as manual data is registered in advance, and the ISP 3 substitutes the manufacturer for manual data for dealing with the error based on the product code or error code transmitted from the user terminal 2. To provide. In addition, the ISP 3 determines the prize winning based on the product individual number transmitted from the user terminal 2,
The determination result is provided to the user terminal 2 on behalf of the manufacturer.

When the ISP 3 provides the user terminal 2 with the manual data and the prize information, the ISP 3 imposes a predetermined guide fee on the manufacturer of the product. That is, a fee predetermined for each product is stored as charging data, and charging list data for each maker is created in response to a request from the maker or every elapse of a predetermined time and transmitted to the maker. .

Therefore, if the network system 100 according to the second embodiment is used, the user can use the UR of the manufacturer.
Even if the user does not know L, by connecting to the ISP 3 and inputting a product code, a product individual number, and the like, it is possible to obtain manual data for coping with a failure and prize information of a purchased product. In addition, since the manufacturer can request the ISP 3 for a service for providing information such as manual data and prize information, the burden of constructing a manual database and managing services can be eliminated. Also,
The ISP 3 can receive a predetermined fee from the manufacturer as a proxy fee for providing information.

The product may be a home appliance connectable to the user terminal 2 or the product itself may be connected to the user terminal 2.
In the case of a so-called information home appliance having the same configuration as that described above, when a failure occurs in the home appliance, the product code and the error code are automatically transmitted from the transmission control unit via the network 5 to the maker server 1 or the ISP 3. , And manual data corresponding to the failure may be received from the maker server 1 or the ISP 3.
In this case, it is not necessary to store the manual data in the home electric appliance, so that the storage capacity can be saved.

In the first and second embodiments, when inputting various data, numerical values or character data such as JAN codes are input from the input device 23 of the user terminal 2. It is not limited to this,
For example, at the time of purchase of a product, a bar code scanner 61 provided in a store terminal 60 of the store 6 reads a product code, a product individual number, etc.
May be transmitted.

Referring to FIG. 24, store terminal 60 of store 6
A network system 200 for transmitting a product code to the maker server 1 from the server will be described. The network system 200 includes a maker server 1, a user terminal 2, an ISP
3. The shipping center terminal 4 and the store terminal 60 of the store 6 are connected via the network 5.

Here, the store terminal 60 is a register or a personal computer or the like installed in the store 6 for selling commodities, and includes a CPU, a RAM, a printing device, a storage device, a storage medium, a transmission control unit, and a barcode scanner 61. Etc. are provided. The barcode scanner 61 is a device that reads a barcode attached to a product based on the optical reading principle and converts the barcode into decoded data composed of numerical data or character data, and outputs the read decoded data to the CPU.

When the user purchases a product, the store terminal 60 reads the product code and the product individual number from the barcode attached to the product by the barcode scanner 61 and accesses the maker server 1 by the transmission control unit. Request a prize judge.

Generally, retailers often issue a customer card in which information such as the address and name of the customer is registered. Therefore, the product individual number obtained by reading the customer data such as the address and name registered in the customer card. To the maker server 1. The maker server 1 executes the prize winning / losing determination processing of the first embodiment based on the product individual number transmitted from the shop terminal 60 (see FIG. 15).
The determination result is transmitted to the shop terminal 60. The store receives the determination result of the winning and notifies the customer on the spot. If the winner is won, the maker server 1 creates shipping data from the received address and name (steps A39 to A41 in FIG. 13),
Send to shipping center 4.

Therefore, when a customer purchases a product with a product code or the like, the customer can check the prize winning result on the spot. If the prize is won, the prize sent from the shipping center at a later date is sent to his / her home (or designated address). Can be received at In addition, the user does not need to input a product code, an address, a name, and the like, and can easily apply for a prize and check the result.

In addition, in the first and second embodiments described above, when data such as a product code is input on the user terminal 2, pages are sequentially switched and input.
The data input method is arbitrary, such as inputting a product code, an error code, a product individual number, and other information on one page, and can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. is there.

[0129]

According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, the receiving means, the searching means, and the transmitting means use the device failure code and the product identification code transmitted from the external terminal based on the failure code and the product identification code. Guidance data for coping with a failure can be promptly provided to the external terminal. Therefore, the user can quickly deal with the obstacle according to the guidance data. Further, the use range of the product identification code is expanded.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the guidance data is transmitted to the external terminal on behalf of the guidance proxy requester by the guidance data acquiring means, the storage means, and the billing data transmitting means. A service charge can be charged to the information service requester. In addition, the guide agent requester can reduce the management burden related to the guide data providing service.

According to the third and fifth aspects of the present invention, winning is set for the product by the receiving means, the determining means, and the transmitting means based on the product-specific identification data transmitted from the external terminal. Is determined, and the determination result is transmitted to the external terminal, so that the winning result of the product can be promptly provided. Therefore, the product purchaser can quickly know the prize winning result. Further, the use range of the identification data for each product is expanded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a network system 10 constructed using a merchandise information guide device and a prize information guide device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a 0.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the maker server 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing data stored in a RAM 14 of the maker server 1;

FIG. 4 is a product individual number master file 14 for each product code.
It is a figure which shows the data content of a.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing data contents of a mail address-based file 14b.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing data contents of a shipping file 14c.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing data contents of a manual database 17a.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the user terminal 2.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process executed in the user terminal 2.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating overall processing to manual data provision processing executed in the maker server 1;

FIG. 11 is an example of a display screen displayed on the display device 23 of the user terminal 2 at each stage during the entire process to the manual data providing process.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a prize determination process performed in the maker server 1;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating processing subsequent to FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a product individual number determination process executed during execution of a prize determination process in the maker server 1.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a prize winning / losing determination process performed during execution of the prize determination process in the maker server 1;

FIG. 16 is an example of a display screen displayed on the display device 23 of the user terminal 2 at each stage during execution of the prize determination process.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a terminal installed in ISP3.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating data stored in a RAM of the ISP 3.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the data contents of an accounting file 34d.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a process executed in the user terminal 2.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating overall processing to manual data provision processing executed in ISP3.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a manual data update process executed in the maker server 1.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a manual data update process executed in the ISP3.

FIG. 24 shows a store terminal 6 of a store 6 as a modification of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a network system 200 that transmits barcode data read at 0 to a maker server 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 100 network system (first and second embodiments) 1 maker server 2 user terminal 3 ISP 11, 21, 31 CPU 12, 22, 32 input device 13, 23, 33 display device 14, 24, 34 RAM 15, 25, 35 Printing device 16, 26, 36 Storage device 17, 27, 37 Storage medium 18, 28, 38 Transmission control unit 4 Shipping center side terminal 5 Network 200 Network system (modification) 6 Distributor 60 Store terminal 61 Barcode Scanner

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A product information providing device for transmitting and receiving various information to and from an external terminal connected for communication, a receiving means for receiving a fault code of a device and a product identification code transmitted from the external terminal; Searching means for searching for guidance data for coping with the failure in accordance with the failure code and the product identification code received by the means; transmitting means for transmitting the guidance data searched by the searching means to the external terminal; A product information providing device comprising: 2. A guide data acquiring unit for acquiring the guide data from a guide agent requester, and when the guide unit transmits the guide data to the external terminal, predetermined charge data is set as a guide agent fee by the guide requester. 2. The merchandise information providing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: storage means for separately storing; and charging data transmission means for transmitting the charging data stored in the storage means to a corresponding guidance agent requester. 3. A prize information providing apparatus for transmitting and receiving various information to and from an external terminal connected for communication, comprising: receiving means for receiving identification data unique to a product transmitted from the external terminal; A prize information providing device, comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not a winning is set for the identification data that has been set; and a transmission unit that transmits a determination result by the determination unit to the external terminal. . 4. A storage medium storing a computer-executable program, the computer-executable program code for transmitting and receiving various information to and from an external terminal connected to the computer, and transmitted from the external terminal. A computer code that can be executed by a computer for receiving a failure code and a product identification code of a device, and a computer for searching for guidance data for coping with the failure according to the received failure code and the product identification code A storage medium storing a program including: an executable program code; and a computer-executable program code for transmitting the searched guidance data to the external terminal. 5. A storage medium storing a computer-executable program, comprising: a computer-executable program code for transmitting and receiving various information to and from an external terminal connected by communication; and a program code transmitted from the external terminal. A computer-executable program code for receiving product-specific identification data, and a computer-executable program code for determining whether a winning is set for the received identification data; A storage medium storing a program including: a computer-executable program code for transmitting the determination result to the external terminal.