JP2002175468A - Method for retrieving information and system for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information retrieving method and system for allowing a consumer to easily acquire not only merchandise information prepared by a selling store or a manufacturer or the like but also the evaluation information of a purchaser who already has purchased the merchandise, and for allowing an enterprise such as the manufacturer or the selling store to easily acquire the evaluation information corresponding to the merchandise for the consumer. SOLUTION: A merchandise code, link information for performing access to a Web page for providing the merchandise information of merchandise prepared by an enterprise, and evaluation information concerned with the merchandise purchased by the purchaser are related with each other, and stored as retrieval data. At the time of receiving a request for the retrieval of the merchandise information through a network, the link information to the Web page for providing the merchandise information is returned to the user terminal device which issues the request by using the merchandise code as a key, and at the time of receiving a request for the reference to the evaluation information, the corresponding evaluation information is returned to the terminal device which issues the request by using the merchandise code as a key.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information retrieval method and system for providing merchandise information and evaluation information on merchandise using a network such as the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Usually, when a consumer purchases a product, he or she goes to a store to actually see the product, asks the store clerk of the store for product information, or asks the store clerk for information about the product. By doing so, the purchase of the product is determined.

[0003] On the other hand, in order for a product manufacturer or a store to obtain an evaluation of a product from a consumer who has purchased the product,
We use the results of the questionnaire postcards attached to the products and the opinions obtained by calling customer support.

[0004]

Generally, merchandise information obtained from a company such as a store or a manufacturer is information for advertisement, and does not include a problem of the merchandise or an inconvenience at the time of use. It is biased information. Therefore, it is preferable that consumers can obtain evaluation information of a product by a third party or evaluation information of a purchaser who has already purchased the product, but it is difficult to easily obtain such information.

[0005] On the other hand, the information obtained from consumers through questionnaire postcards or customer support calls from product manufacturers or dealers has many complaints except for the questionnaire results. However, useful information useful for product planning, purchasing, etc., was not readily obtained.

[0006] Recently, as a result of the development of information communication technology, it has become possible to obtain desired product information using a network such as the Internet. However, in order to obtain information using a network, it is necessary to search for product information. For example, a method of searching by inputting a predetermined keyword, or once accessing a Web page managed by a manufacturer or a store. Then, there is a directory search method or the like from which a web page or the like related to the product is further accessed.

[0007] However, these search methods have problems such as that it takes time and effort to input a keyword until the target product information is obtained, and that the search time becomes long. Further, product information obtained by using a network is often information for advertisement created by a company such as a store or a manufacturer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. A consumer has already purchased a product as well as product information created by a store or a manufacturer. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information search method and system in which evaluation information by a purchaser can be easily obtained, and a manufacturer such as a manufacturer or a store can easily obtain evaluation information on a consumer's product.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an information search method according to the present invention is an information search method for providing information on a product via a network, and the product is provided with a product assigned in advance. A code that is associated with link information for accessing a Web page that provides product information on the product created by the company and that is stored as search data, and a search request for the product information and a product code used by a user are stored in a terminal. When the link information is received from the device via the network, the link information of the Web page that provides the product information of the product corresponding to the product code is selected with reference to the search data, and the selected link information is requested by the search. Is returned to the terminal device of the user who transmitted the message.

[0010] Alternatively, there is provided an information search method for providing information on a product via a network,
A terminal device in which a product code assigned to a product and evaluation information on the product provided by a purchaser of the product are stored in association with each other as search data, and a reference request for the evaluation information and a product code are used by a user or a company. A method of selecting the evaluation information of a product corresponding to the product code by referring to the search data when receiving the evaluation information from the network, and returning the selected evaluation information to the terminal device that transmitted the reference request It is.

At this time, the evaluation information may be periodically distributed to a terminal device used by a company that manufactures and sells the product, and the user can use the evaluation information writing request and the product code. When receiving from the terminal device via the network, a communication tool for writing the evaluation information of the product corresponding to the product code may be returned to the terminal device of the user.

Further, upon receiving the evaluation information from the terminal device of the user, the amount of the transmitted evaluation information may be calculated in order to return a communication fee required for transmitting the evaluation information to the user. Good.

On the other hand, the information retrieval system of the present invention is an information retrieval system for providing information on a product via a network, and is a maker server in which a Web page for providing product information on the product created by a company is registered. The device, a user terminal device that is a terminal device used by a user, and associating a product code given to the product with link information for accessing a Web page that provides the product information, accumulating the search data, When a search request for product information and a product code are received from the user terminal device via the network, the link information of the Web page that provides the product information of the product corresponding to the product code by referring to the search data And returns the selected link information to the terminal device of the user who transmitted the search request. And the information providing server device is configured to have a.

Alternatively, there is provided an information retrieval system for providing information on a product via a network, wherein a user terminal device, which is a terminal device used by a user, a product code assigned to the product, and a purchaser of the product. And accumulate it as search data in association with the evaluation information on
When the reference request for the evaluation information and the product code are received from the terminal device used by the user or the company via the network, the evaluation information of the product corresponding to the product code is selected by referring to the search data, and the selection is performed. And an information providing server device for returning the evaluation information to the terminal device that transmitted the reference request.

At this time, the information providing server device may periodically distribute the evaluation information to a terminal device used by a company that manufactures and sells the product, and may include a request for writing the evaluation information and a product code. Is received from the user terminal device via the network, a communication tool for writing evaluation information of a product corresponding to the product code may be returned to the user terminal device.

Further, when the information providing server device receives the evaluation information from the terminal device of the user, the information providing server device transmits the evaluation information to return the communication fee required for transmitting the evaluation information to the user. May be calculated.

In the information search method and system as described above, the user can search for the product information only by inputting the product code, thereby simplifying the keyword input process until the desired product information is obtained. . In addition, since the evaluation information of the purchaser for the product can be easily obtained, it can be used as a reference when deciding to purchase the product.

On the other hand, a company that manufactures or sells products can easily obtain evaluation information from purchasers of the products.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The information retrieval method and system of the present invention is a system for providing consumers with desired product information using a network such as the Internet, and only inputs a product code (JAN code, bar code, etc.). Enables product information search. In addition, a communication tool such as a bulletin board or chat for consumers to freely describe the evaluation of the product is provided, and the contents of those contents are disclosed to other consumers, manufacturers, or retailers upon request. System.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an information search system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a product search server device shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information retrieval system according to the present invention includes an information providing server device 1 having communication tools such as a bulletin board and a chat, and providing a user (consumer) with a search result of product information. A maker server device 2 for providing product information in response to a request from a user, and a user terminal device 3 that is a terminal device used by the user
And a maker terminal device 4 which is a terminal device used by a company such as a manufacturer or a retailer, and an information providing server device 1 and a maker server device 2 and a network 5 such as the Internet.
Are connected so that data communication with each other is possible.

The information providing server device 1 is managed by a service provider or the like that manages the information search system of the present invention, and the maker server device 2 is a manufacturer that manufactures products, a sales company, or entrusts operation to these companies. Controlled by third parties.

The information providing server device 1 and the maker server device 2 are information processing devices such as a workstation server, and the user terminal device 3 is a mobile phone or a mobile terminal having a function connectable to the network 5. It is an information processing device. As described above, in the present invention, since the product information is searched by the product code, the user terminal device 3 is preferably a mobile terminal device that can be brought to a store like a mobile phone. It may be a fixed terminal device installed in a store. Further, a bar code reader or the like for reading a product code (JAN code, bar code, or the like) given to the product may be connected to the user terminal device 3. in this case,
It becomes easier to enter the product code.

In FIG. 1, a mobile phone and a fixed terminal are each provided as one user terminal 3 on the network 5.
Although the configuration is shown in which each terminal is connected, a large number of user terminal devices 3 are actually connected to the network 5. Further, FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which one maker server device 2 and one maker terminal device 4 are connected to the network 5, respectively, but a plurality of maker server devices 2 and maker terminal devices 4 are connected to the network 5. You.

As shown in FIG. 2, the information providing server device 1
A processing device 10 for executing a predetermined process according to a program; an input device 20 for inputting commands, information, and the like to the processing device 10; and an output device 30 for monitoring a processing result of the processing device 10. This is a configuration having:

The processing device 10 includes a CPU 11 and a CPU 1
Main storage device 1 for temporarily storing information necessary for the processing of
2 and a recording medium 13 on which a control program for causing the CPU 11 to search for product information and manage evaluation information is recorded.
A data storage device 14 for storing search data, evaluation information, and the like necessary for searching for product information, and a main storage device 1
2, a memory control interface unit 15 for controlling data transfer with the recording medium 13 and the data storage device 14, an I / O interface unit 16 which is an interface device between the input device 20 and the output device 30, and a network 5 And a communication control device 17 which is an interface for controlling data communication, and these are connected via a bus 18.

The processing device 10 executes a process of searching for product information described below and a process of managing evaluation information obtained by a communication tool such as a bulletin board or chat according to the control program recorded on the recording medium 13. . The recording medium 13 may be a magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory, an optical disk, or another recording medium.

Manufacturer server device 2 and manufacturer terminal device 4
Has the same configuration as the information providing server device 1 except that the programs and data recorded in the data storage device 14 and the recording medium 13 are different, and thus the description thereof is omitted.
In addition, the user terminal device 3 is basically provided with the information providing server device 1 except that it has a function as a mobile phone.
This is the same configuration as.

Data storage device 1 of information providing server device 1
4, link information for accessing the maker server device 2 in which data constituting a search screen used by the user to search for product information, a product code and a corresponding product information Web page are registered, and Evaluation information for each product provided by the user using a communication tool such as a bulletin board or chat is accumulated. The link information and the evaluation information are accumulated as search data in a table format, for example, constructed in association with the product code. The evaluation information may include not only the information using the bulletin board and the chat but also a questionnaire result from the user.

For the search data, a manufacturer or a store creates a Web page containing product information such as a new product and uploads it to the maker server device 2, and the information is transmitted from the maker server device 2 to the information providing server device 1. It is updated when transmitted and when new evaluation information from the user is obtained.

Further, when the information retrieval system of the present invention is operated on a membership basis, the personal information (ID, password, member number, address, telephone number, name, age, gender, family structure, Hobbies, preferences, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, etc., and company information of registered manufacturers and dealers (company number, company name, password, address, telephone number, new product information, dealer) Sales information, etc.) are also accumulated.

The processing device 10 of the information providing server device 1
Referring to the information stored in the data storage device 14, when the user requests a search for the product information based on the product code transmitted from the user terminal device 3, the corresponding link information is selected and returned, and the evaluation is performed. When a request for information transmission is made, evaluation information including the contents of the relevant bulletin board and the contents of the chat exchange is selected and returned. When the user requests writing of the evaluation information, a communication tool for a bulletin board or chat is returned.

Further, when a company such as a manufacturer or a store requests transmission of the evaluation information to the information providing server device 1 via the manufacturer terminal device 4, the content of the relevant bulletin board and the content of the chat exchange are described. Is returned. In this case, the results of the questionnaire may be individually collected into a graph or a table and returned to the manufacturer terminal device 4. In addition, the evaluation information is not only returned to the manufacturer terminal device 4 at the time of a request from the manufacturer or the store, but also the contents described on the bulletin board and the chat, and the questionnaire result are periodically distributed as marketing information by email or the like. Is also good.

When the information retrieval system of the present invention is operated on a membership basis, the following services may be provided to registered users, manufacturers, and stores. However, if the necessary information is transmitted via the user terminal device 3, even a non-member user can provide the following services.

For example, when purchasing a product, the user can log in by transmitting an ID and a password to the information providing server device 1 using the user terminal device 3. By doing so, the W registered in the information providing server device 1
Using the eb page, it is possible to notify the store (specified by transmitting the company number) of the delivery destination of the product (the home address has been registered at the time of user registration). If the user's credit card number or the like is registered, the user can pay for the product.

Further, when evaluation information of a product by a bulletin board, a chat, a questionnaire, or the like is provided from the user, the processing device 10 of the information providing server device 1 calculates the amount of transmitted information (packet amount). Return the communication fee required for transmitting information to the user. In this case, if the user is a member and a bank account number or the like is registered, the communication fee can be transferred to the account. In addition, bulletin boards,
Predetermined points may be added according to the usage amount (written amount) of the chat and the questionnaire, and a present, a privilege, or the like may be provided to the user according to the point amount.

As described above, by returning the communication fee to the user who provided the evaluation information, and further providing the benefits, etc., and allowing more users to use the service, more useful evaluation information (marketing information) can be obtained. ) Can be obtained.

Further, new product information and sales information provided by the manufacturer or the seller are transmitted to the user terminal device 3 of the user who desires by e-mail or the like. In this way, companies such as manufacturers and sellers can increase the opportunities for advertising to consumers. In particular, if information corresponding to a hobby or a preference is provided with reference to the member's personal information, more effective advertisement can be performed.

Next, the processing procedure of the information search method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a processing procedure of the information search method of the present invention.

Data storage device 1 of information providing server device 1
4, a product code and a link corresponding to the product code based on data (link information construction data) transmitted from the maker server device 2 in advance and the contents of a bulletin board or chat exchange provided by a product purchaser. Search data including information and evaluation information is stored.

In such a state, when the user accesses the information providing server 1 in which the product information search site is registered using the user terminal device 3, the information providing server 1
Returns data constituting a search screen for searching for product information.

The user inputs the product code of the product under consideration according to the instructions on the search screen displayed on the user terminal device 3 and clicks a search button or the like displayed on the search screen. The product code and the search request message are transmitted to the information providing server device 1.

The information providing server device 1 selects a Web page providing the corresponding product information based on the product code transmitted from the user terminal device 3, and retrieves a search result including link information for accessing the Web page. The data constituting the screen is returned to the user terminal device 3.

The user clicks on a hypertext or the like in the search result screen displayed on the user terminal device 3 to access the maker server device 2 in which a Web page for providing product information is registered, and request the product information. Send a message. The maker server device 2 returns the product information of the corresponding product to the user terminal device 3 according to the request message from the user terminal device 3.

On the other hand, when the user wants to refer to the evaluation information of another purchaser, the user accesses the information providing server device 1 in which the product information search site is registered using the user terminal device 3 as described above, and The providing server device 1 returns data constituting a search screen for searching for product information.

Subsequently, the user inputs the product code of the product to be searched in accordance with the instructions on the search screen displayed on the user terminal device 3, and clicks a reference button or the like of the evaluation information displayed on the search screen. Transmits a reference request message for the product code and the evaluation information to the information providing server device 1.

Based on the product code transmitted from the user terminal device 3, the information providing server device 1 returns to the user terminal device 3 the content of the exchange via a bulletin board or chat describing the corresponding product as evaluation information.

When the user wants to write the evaluation information on the product, the user accesses the information providing server device 1 in which the product information search site is registered using the user terminal device 3 as described above, and To return data constituting a search screen for searching for product information.

Subsequently, the user inputs the product code of the product to be evaluated in accordance with the instructions on the search screen displayed on the user terminal device 3, and clicks a write request button for the evaluation information displayed on the search screen. Thus, the product code and the evaluation information write request message are transmitted to the information providing server device 1.

If the user wants to write on the bulletin board based on the product code transmitted from the user terminal device 3, the information providing server device 1 can write evaluation information on the corresponding product. Is returned to the user terminal device 3. The user writes his / her opinion on the product on the bulletin board displayed on the user terminal device 3,
It is returned to the user terminal device 3.

When the user wishes to exchange information on the product with another user, a chat tool is returned to the user terminal device 3, and the user uses the user terminal device 3 to chat with the other user and the product. Exchange information about

The information providing server device 1 records the contents of the bulletin board and the chat exchanges in the data storage device 14 as evaluation information in the data storage device 14.

When the evaluation information stored in the information providing server device 1 is received from the user terminal device 3 or the maker terminal device 4 when the product code and the evaluation information request message are received, the evaluation information on the corresponding product is provided. Returned from server device 1.

For example, when a company that manufactures or sells a product wants to refer to the evaluation information, the company uses the maker terminal device 4 in the same manner as when the user terminal device 3 requests a reference to the evaluation information. The information search site accesses the registered information providing server device 1, and the information providing server device 1 returns data constituting a search screen for searching for product information.

Subsequently, the user inputs the product code of the product to be searched in accordance with the instructions on the search screen displayed on the maker terminal device 4, and clicks a reference button or the like of the evaluation information displayed on the search screen. Transmits a reference request message for the product code and the evaluation information to the information providing server device 1.

Based on the product code transmitted from the maker terminal device 4, the information providing server device 1 returns to the maker terminal device 4 as evaluation information the contents of the exchange via a bulletin board or chat describing the corresponding product. The information providing server device 1 may periodically deliver the evaluation information to the manufacturer terminal device 4 in response to a request.

Therefore, according to the information search method and system of the present invention, the user can search for the product information only by inputting the product code, so that the keyword input process until the desired product information is obtained. It's easier and search time is faster. In addition, since the evaluation information of the purchaser for the product can be easily obtained, it can be used as a reference when deciding to purchase the product.

On the other hand, a company that manufactures or sells a product can obtain evaluation information from a product purchaser so that, for example, a dealer can use it to determine a purchase or the like. It can be used for development and product planning.

In the above description, an example is shown in which a product code is input to the user terminal device 3 to obtain corresponding product information and evaluation information.
From the product providing server 1 to the product classification code (UN / S
PSC code or the like, and a similar product can be searched for based on the product classification code. The product code transmitted from the user terminal device 3 to the information providing server device 1 is analyzed to manufacture the product. A list of the products of the companies that do this may be returned to the user terminal device 3.

The processing of the information providing server device 1 does not necessarily have to be realized by one server device.
A separate server device may be provided for each function.

[0063]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

Since the user can search for the product information only by inputting the product code, the keyword input process until the desired product information is obtained is simplified, and the search time is shortened. In addition, since the evaluation information of the purchaser for the product can be easily obtained, it can be used as a reference when deciding to purchase the product.

On the other hand, a company that manufactures or sells a product can obtain evaluation information from a product purchaser so that the dealer can use it for purchasing decisions and the like. This can be useful for product planning, etc.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an information search system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a product search server device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a processing procedure of the information search method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 information providing server device 2 maker server device 3 user terminal device 4 maker terminal device 5 network 10 processing device 11 CPU 12 main storage device 13 recording medium 14 data storage device 15 memory control interface unit 16 I / O interface unit 17 communication control device 18 bus 20 input device 30 output device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/30 170 G06F 17/30 170Z

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An information search method for providing information on a product via a network, comprising accessing a Web page that provides a product code previously assigned to the product and product information on the product created by a company. When link information and a product code are received from a terminal device used by a user through the network, the product information is referred to and stored as search data. An information search method for selecting the link information of a Web page that provides the product information of a product corresponding to a product code, and returning the selected link information to a terminal device of the user that transmitted the search request. 2. An information search method for providing information on a product via a network, wherein the product code previously assigned to the product is associated with evaluation information on the product provided by a purchaser of the product. The search data is stored as search data, and when the reference request for the evaluation information and the product code are received from the terminal device used by the user or the company via the network, the search data is referred to for the product corresponding to the product code. An information search method for selecting the evaluation information and returning the selected evaluation information to the terminal device that transmitted the reference request. 3. The information search method according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation information is periodically delivered to a terminal device used by a company that manufactures or sells the product. 4. When a request for writing evaluation information and a product code are received from a terminal device used by a user via the network, a communication tool for writing evaluation information of a product corresponding to the product code is provided. 4. The information retrieval method according to claim 2, wherein the information is returned to a user terminal device. 5. When the evaluation information is received from the terminal device of the user, an amount of the transmitted evaluation information is calculated in order to return a communication fee required for transmitting the evaluation information to the user. The information retrieval method described in 4. 6. An information retrieval system for providing information on a product via a network, wherein the We provides a product information on the product created by a company.
Associates a maker server device in which page b is registered, a user terminal device that is a terminal device used by a user, a product code assigned to a product, and link information for accessing a Web page that provides the product information. When the search request and the product code of the product information are received from the user terminal device via the network, the product information of the product corresponding to the product code is referred to by referring to the search data. An information providing server device that selects the link information of the Web page to be provided, and returns the selected link information to the terminal device of the user that transmitted the search request. 7. An information search system for providing information on a product via a network, comprising: a user terminal device that is a terminal device used by a user; a product code assigned to the product; and a purchaser of the product. When the reference information and the product code are received from a terminal device used by a user or a company via the network, the reference information and the product code are stored as search data in association with the evaluation information on the product. An information providing server device that selects the evaluation information of the product corresponding to the product code, and returns the selected evaluation information to the terminal device that transmitted the reference request. 8. The information retrieval system according to claim 7, wherein the information providing server device periodically distributes the evaluation information to a terminal device used by a company that manufactures or sells the product. 9. The information providing server device, when receiving the write request of the evaluation information and the product code from the user terminal device via the network, writes the evaluation information of the product corresponding to the product code. 9. The information retrieval system according to claim 7, wherein the communication tool is returned to the user terminal device. 10. The information providing server device, upon receiving the evaluation information from the terminal device of the user, transmits the evaluation information to return the communication fee required for transmitting the evaluation information to the user. 10. The information retrieval system according to claim 9, wherein an amount of the information is calculated. 11. An information providing server device for providing information about a product via a network, the device providing access to a product page assigned to the product and a Web page for providing product information on the product created by a company. A data storage device that stores the product information as a search data in association with link information; and a product information search request and a product code received from a terminal device used by a user via the network. A processing device that selects the link information of a Web page that provides the product information of the product corresponding to the code, and returns the selected link information to the terminal device of the user that transmitted the search request;
An information providing server device having: 12. An information providing server device for providing information on a product via a network, wherein the product code assigned to the product and evaluation information on the product provided by a purchaser of the product are associated with each other as search data. When a data storage device to be stored and a reference request for the evaluation information and a product code are received from a terminal device used by a user or a company via the network, the search data is referred to for the product corresponding to the product code. A processing device for selecting evaluation information and returning the selected evaluation information to the terminal device that transmitted the reference request. 13. The information providing server device according to claim 12, wherein the processing device periodically distributes the evaluation information to a terminal device used by a company that manufactures and sells the product. 14. When the processing device receives a request for writing the evaluation information and a product code from a terminal device used by a user via the network, the processing device communicates the evaluation information of the product corresponding to the product code. 14. The information providing server device according to claim 12, wherein the information providing server returns the user tool to the terminal device of the user. 15. When the processing device receives the evaluation information from the terminal device of the user, an amount of the transmitted evaluation information in order to return a communication fee required for transmitting the evaluation information to the user. The information providing server device according to claim 14, which calculates: