JPH1063749A - Product information presentation method and system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To support shopping by making it possible to retrieve the detailed information on a commodity desired to be purchased by a user and which store cells the commodity at a discount price. SOLUTION: Commodity information is provided by retrieving an electronic commodity information database. The database are provided from plural stores and managed by a service provider 13. A user 15 can know the detailed information, price, etc., of a required commodity by accessing each database by using a store name, a commodity sort, a discount article or the like as a key and use the obtained data for shopping. A commodity to be purchased by mail order can be reserved by determining its purchase on the way of access to the database.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and system for presenting merchandise information, and more particularly, to electronically search price information of merchandise such as food, clothing, daily necessities, etc.
The present invention relates to a method and system for presenting merchandise information suitable for use in supporting shopping.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, product information has generally been obtained from a flyer or the like for each store distributed by folding a newspaper.

[0003]

The method of obtaining product information by using the above-mentioned flyers is based on the fact that many leaflets for each shop are used in order to know the affordability of the target article and which shop is the cheapest. It takes a lot of time and effort to see and compare, and for items not listed on the flyer, there is a problem that the selling price is not known and it is not known whether or not there is the target item. ing. In addition, flyers often do not know the details of the goods, and even if there is a special sale item, they often sell out when they go to the store for purchase. In this case, there is a problem that the location of the store, the sales floor and the like are often difficult to understand.

[0004] There is also a method of creating a shopping list and writing out the prices of necessary articles and stores from a flyer.
This method has the problem that it is cumbersome to write them out for many items.

An object of the present invention is to solve the problem of presenting merchandise information by using the above-mentioned flyer,
Through interactive operation, users can search for detailed information on products they want to purchase and where they can be obtained cheaply, making it easy to compare products and prices at each store. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for presenting merchandise information capable of supporting shopping.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a product information presentation method for obtaining product information by searching a database of digitized product information. Inputting, displaying a plurality of store names, selecting an arbitrary store name from the plurality of store names by a user, and displaying a product handled at the selected store. This is achieved by providing:

[0007] The object is to select an arbitrary product from the displayed products, and to display a mark for distinguishing the selected product from other products as a purchase schedule. And the store name is displayed together with a map indicating the location of the store.

[0008] The object is to select one of a method of searching for a store, a method of selecting and searching for a product type, and a method of selecting and searching for a special sale item as a method of searching for the product information. In addition, when a method of selecting and searching for a bargain item is specified, it is possible to select either a method of selecting and searching for a store or a method of selecting and searching for a product type. Is done.

The above object is achieved by providing a step of displaying a list of selected products and stores that handle the selected products, and a step of displaying a sales floor layout of stores that handle the selected products.

[0010] The above object is achieved by providing means for executing the processing of each step described above.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a method and system for presenting product information according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a product information presentation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining examples of various devices that can be used as input / output devices for display. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration, FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the product information presentation system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 5 to 7 are diagrams illustrating examples of display screens during the operation. 1 and 2,
11 is a supermarket which is a store, 12 is a manufacturer's homepage, 13 is a service provider, 14 is a public network, 15 is a customer house, 16 is a personal computer, 17 is a printer, 18 is a modem, 19 is a mouse, and 20 is a modem. Game machine, 21 is a pad, 22 is a TV, 23 is a remote control,
25 is a setup box for two-way CATV (CAT
VSTV).

As shown in FIG. 1, a product information presentation system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a personal computer 16 in a customer house 15 having a modem 18 and a printer, a service provider 13 for providing product information, and a product provider. A homepage 12 of a manufacturer providing detailed information is connected to a public network 14. The service provider 13 is provided with a database including price information, stock information, image information, and the like of products provided from a plurality of supermarkets 11 as merchandise stores, and shopping calculation software.

A customer who wants to know product information accesses a database provided in the service provider 13 through a public line 14 using a personal computer 16 at home.
By inputting a product name, a store name, or the like for shopping and performing a search, desired product information can be obtained.

The store (shop name) that the user wants to search for is limited in advance from the address of the home where the user resides to the service provider by limiting the area within the circle from a certain radius distance around the address as a use area. It is possible to automatically register the store name and provide it to the user.However, when the user receives this service, as a default setting, the store name you want to search every time from all the store names registered with the service provider It is also possible to make a selection and register it with a service provider.

In the above description, the database provided by the service provider is searched using a personal computer. However, as a device used for the search, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) to 2 (c), a mouse 19, A personal computer 16 with a built-in modem having a keyboard or the like as an input device, and a game machine 2 with a modem to which a pad 21 is connected as an operation means
0, a TV 22 connected thereto, a TV 22 with a built-in modem having a personal computer function operated by a remote controller 23, and the like. Further, as shown in FIG. 2D, the TV 22 having the bidirectional CATVSTB 24 operated by the remote controller 23 may be used. In this case, although not shown,
The TV 23 may be connected to the CATV network instead of the public line network, and the function as the service provider 13 may be provided to the CATV broadcasting station.

In the above description, if the equipment used has the mouse 19, all the selection buttons displayed on the display screen can be selected by clicking with the mouse 19. When using a pad or remote control of a game console, use the up / down key, enter key, and input switch key of the pad, remote control to move within each part, decide, or move between parts, respectively. With this, all the selection buttons displayed on the display screen can be selected and operated.

Although not shown, the service provider 13 can open a homepage on the Internet and allow the customer to use the database.

The information provided from the supermarket 11 to the service provider 13 is, as shown in FIG.
1 is a list of price data indicating the selling price of each product from the product management database provided in 1, stock data, and image data such as a photograph of the product. Service Provider 13
Stores and manages data provided from a plurality of supermarkets 11 and the like as a database, and combines the search result obtained by accessing the database with a basic screen by using display software and provides the result to the customer.

In the above description, the user has explained that all of the information from the service provider is provided via a communication line such as a public line network or a CATV network. Can be used in place of the large-capacity storage medium. For example, devices that can be used as input / output devices are shown in FIG.
A CD-ROM device as shown in (b) can be used. For these devices, the information is stored in a CD-ROM and the service provider distributes the information to users. In the case of a device that does not include a CD-ROM device, a CD-ROM device may be connected and used.

At this time, the CD-ROM stores information such as screen image data of a basic screen and image data such as a photograph of a product as data having a large data amount and which does not change every moment. Keep it. This eliminates the need for the user to receive large amounts of data, such as photographic images, via the communication line, so that data can be smoothly exchanged with the service provider, and the data transfer speed with the communication line network can be improved. Is effective when is slow. Further, since the use time of the communication line can be reduced, the congestion of the line can be reduced, and the line usage fee can be reduced.

The service provider may periodically distribute the medium in consideration of an increase in new products to be handled. Here, CD-R
Although the OM has been described as an example, it may be distributed on a large-capacity storage medium such as a memory card, a DVD (digital video disk), and an MO (magneto-optical disk). The recordable secondary media (hard disk or DV) of the terminal used by the user
D, MO, etc.). In this case, it takes time to download the data, but once the data is downloaded, not only can the data be exchanged smoothly when using the service, but also the service provider does not need to distribute the storage medium. Then, when there is a change in the data, only the data of the changed portion needs to be downloaded again.

Next, an operation procedure and an example of a display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(1) A customer who wants to know product information accesses a database provided in the service provider 13 via a public line 14 using a personal computer 16 at home or is open on the Internet. The database for presenting product information on the homepage of the service provider 13 is accessed. Thereby, for example, as shown in FIG. 5A, “SHOPPING N
An initial menu screen displaying a title such as "AVI" and a button for selecting a search method is displayed (step 401).

(2) By pointing a store selection button of a displayed button for selecting a search method with a mouse or the like, product data is provided to this database as shown in FIG. 5B. The names of the stores, such as supermarkets, and the maps showing the locations of these stores are displayed (steps 402 and 403).

(3) When the customer specifies the name of the store where he / she wants to shop, images and prices of products and the like provided in the store are displayed as a flyer for a plurality of products as shown in FIG. 5 (c). Is done. The image of the flyer is displayed as if the edges of the paper were cut as if it were printed on paper, and the corners were turned up. This indicates that there is an image of the next flyer,
By instructing this part, the contents of the flyer change one after another so as to turn over the page, and display is performed for all the products provided as information on the products sold in the shop (step 404).

(4) If the user finds a product of interest while viewing a large number of products in step 404, and wants to see detailed information on the product, the display position of the product is designated, and FIG. As shown in d), detailed information on the product is displayed. Here, if the "return to flyer" button on the display screen is pointed, the display of the flyer can be returned (step 405).

(5) Looking at the detailed information of step 405,
When the product is set as a candidate for shopping, when a "candidate" button in the display screen is designated, as shown in FIG.
A mark such as a circle is attached to the position in the flyer where the product is displayed. If the next product is to be searched for as a candidate, the operation from step 404 is repeated by sequentially turning over the pages of the flyer (steps 406 and 407).

(6) In step 402, when a button for selecting a product among the displayed buttons for selecting a search method is designated by a mouse or the like, it is registered in this database as shown in FIG. 5 (f). When a product genre name is displayed, and one of the genres is indicated (in the illustrated example, a food item is indicated), a small item name of the genre is displayed as shown in FIG. 408, 409).

(7) When one of the sub-item names of the genre, for example, fruit is designated in step 409, an image such as a photograph of the provided fruit, the price, and the name of the shop where the product is sold are shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, a plurality of products are displayed in the same manner as described above. This leaflet turns on the page showing the leaflet displayed on the screen and turns over the page, so that all the fruits sold are changed one after another as if turning the page (Step 410).

(8) In step 410, when a user finds a product of interest while viewing a large number of products, and wants to see detailed information on the product, the display position of the product is designated, and FIG. As shown in a), detailed information on the product is displayed. Here, if the "return to flyer" button on the display screen is indicated, the display can return to the flyer display (step 411).

(9) Looking at the detailed information of step 411,
When the product is set as a shopping candidate, when a "candidate" button in the display screen is designated, as shown in FIG.
A mark such as a circle is attached to the position in the flyer where the product is displayed. If the next product is to be searched as a candidate, the operation is repeated from the step 410 by turning over the pages of the flyer (steps 412 and 413).

(10) In step 402, when the "select sale item" button among the displayed buttons for selecting a search method is designated by a mouse or the like, a screen example is not shown. A submenu screen for selecting whether to search by name or by product is displayed (step 41).
4).

(11) In step 414, when the "store selection" button is instructed to search from the store name, as shown in FIG. 6 (c), a supermarket or the like which is a store providing product data to this database Is displayed (steps 415, 416).

(12) When the customer specifies the name of the store where he / she wants to shop, a list of daily limited items offered as special sale items at the store is displayed as shown in FIG. 6 (d). By instructing the date of this list, the flyer of the special sale item of the day is displayed by an image such as a photograph and the price information in FIG.
It is displayed as shown in (e). When many products are sold as bargains, by pointing to the lower corner displaying the page turn showing the flyer displayed on the screen, the shop changes one after another as if turning pages The display is performed on all the products provided as information by the sold products (steps 417, 418).

(13) In step 418, if the user finds a product of interest while viewing the product, and wants to see detailed information on the product, the display position of the product is indicated, and FIG. , Detailed information on the product is displayed. Here, if the "return to flyer" button on the display screen is pointed, the display of the flyer can be returned (step 419).

(14) Looking at the detailed information of step 419,
When the product is set as a shopping candidate, when a “candidate” button in the display screen is designated, as shown in FIG.
A mark such as a circle is attached to the position in the flyer where the product is displayed. If the next product is to be searched as a candidate, the operation from step 418 is repeated (step 4).
20, 421).

(15) If a "product selection" button is instructed in step 415 to search for a product, a screen example is not shown.
8, and if one of them is selected, small items of the genre are displayed as in the case of step 409 (steps 422, 423).

(16) Thereafter, a screen similar to that in steps 410 to 413 is displayed, whereby a candidate for shopping for a bargain item is selected from commodities (step 42).
4-427).

(17) Steps 407, 413, 421,
If the next item is not selected at 427, the display screen inquires whether to search for the item by another method. If the user selects to search for a product by another method, the process returns to the initial menu screen of step 401 and the operation from step 401 can be performed again (step 428).

(18) If the user selects not to search for a product to be purchased in step 428, the display screen inquires whether or not to display a list of products that have been candidates as a result of the previous operation. If the user selects not to display the list, the display screen inquires whether to return to the initial menu screen in step 401. If the user selects to return, the operation from step 401 can be performed again (steps 429 and 430). (19) Step 429
When the user selects to display the list, the items listed as candidates in the above-described operations, the purchase shop of the item, and the price are displayed in the list as shown in FIG. The total amount including tax is calculated and displayed (step 431).

(20) The customer determines whether there is a product to be deleted by looking at the products in this list and the total amount. If there is any unnecessary product, the customer designates the column of the product on the list and clicks “Delete”. ", The product is deleted from the list, a new list is created, and the total price is recalculated and displayed. Then, when the "print" button is instructed, the list is printed out. This list is used as a reference for efficiently performing shopping such as the order of going around the store by taking it when going out for shopping (step 43).
2,433).

The example of the list shown in FIG.
Although the product, the store where the product is purchased, and the price of the product are stored in one list, a list may be created for each purchase store, and in this case, the payment amount for each store can be presented. . When the user wants to see the detailed information of the product in the list again, he or she can designate the product column on the list and double-click with the mouse.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, it is described that a shopping list is created using a database before going out for shopping, and that subsequent shopping can be efficiently performed. The present invention can also be applied to mail order and the like.

Next, an example of an operation and a display screen when the present invention is applied to mail order will be described.

When the present invention is applied to mail-order sales, the above-mentioned flyer displayed on the above-mentioned flyer can be "mail-orderable".
Button is displayed. Then, for example, in the above-described step 418, as shown in FIG. 7A, a button for enabling mail-ordering is displayed on the television and the telephone of the flyer for sale. Here, when the "sell-on" button on the television is instructed, detailed information of the product is displayed as in step 419.

When the "purchase" button is instructed to make a purchase by looking at the detailed information, as shown in FIG. 7B, a tax, a price including a delivery charge, a plurality of deliverable dates and a payment method are selected. Button is displayed. When a button for a desired desired delivery date and a payment method is selected and input, and credit information for payment is input, an image for confirmation is displayed as shown in FIG. 7 (c). Confirm the payment method and the "Yes" button.

This information is reported from the service provider 13 that manages the database to a supermarket or the like that sells the product via a public network. Upon receiving the report, the supermarket settles the payment with the credit company designated by the payment method and delivers the goods to the customer on the designated day.

In the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to display the details of the sales floor of the product to be purchased. In this case, the service provider requests the layout information of the sales floor to be provided as fixed information from a supermarket or the like as a store, receives the position data of the layout of each product on the layout together with the product data, and stores them in the database. To manage. Thereby, the position of the product can be displayed on the sales floor layout at the request of the customer.

In this case, for example, the aforementioned step 431
By displaying a “Sales Floor Map” button on the list display screen of the products to be purchased by the user and pointing to the products on the list and the buttons of the sales floor map, the sales floor map is displayed as shown in FIG. And the location of the product may be displayed. If the "print" button displayed on this display screen is pointed out, the map of the sales floor can be printed out.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, a store, a product genre, and a special sale item are used as indices for searching for a product, and a product to be purchased in a hierarchical manner is searched therefrom. It is also possible to directly input a product name, search for each store that sells the product, and select a store that sells the product at the lowest price.

In this case, for example, the aforementioned step 40
In the display image shown in FIG. 6 (f) for selecting the product genre in FIG. 8, a button for "product name input" is provided in the "product genre selection" button. The product name is input from the keyboard displayed on the screen, the detailed information of the input product is displayed and confirmed, and if the confirmation is OK, the price of the product at each store is displayed on the flyer. indicate.
In this case, it is possible to call attention to the user by displaying a low-sale store highlighting frame for a store that offers the product at a particularly low price. Also, it may be displayed in the order of the lowest price. The keyboard displayed on the display screen may be, for example, as shown in FIG. 7 (e). By arranging the keys in the Japanese syllabary arrangement in this way, anyone can easily enter the product name. Can be entered. Of course, a JIS keyboard may be displayed.

In the above description, a device installed in the home, such as a personal computer or a TV, is used as the device for performing the operation. However, as the device for performing the operation, portable information such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) is used. A terminal can also be used. In this case, a wireless communication modem is built in the portable information terminal, and a portable telephone, a PHS (Personal Digital
When used in combination with a handy phone system) or the like, product information can be obtained outdoors as in the case described above. When combined with a position search function such as a GPS (global positioning system), it is possible to know guidance to a store and how to get to a sales floor.

When the above-mentioned portable information terminal is used, the user accesses not only the store to be searched which is registered at the service provider at home but also the store and merchandise information in the destination area. You can also. in this case,
A wireless communication modem built in the portable information terminal or connected to the portable information terminal communicates with the nearest wireless base station at the destination. The service provider identifies the area where the user is currently located from the position information of the wireless base station and presents the information so that a store in the area can be searched.

Further, according to the present invention, when a manufacturer has a homepage or the like for providing more detailed product information or the like for the product in the screen on which the detailed information of the product is displayed, Display a button for viewing the homepage on the screen, and when the user selects this button, access the manufacturer's homepage and present more detailed product information and other related product information Can be

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to search for detailed information of a product that the user wants to purchase and where the product can be obtained cheaply by interactive operation via a network. And so
This makes it easy to compare articles and prices at each store, and is suitable for supporting shopping.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a product information presentation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of various devices that can be used as a display input / output device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the product information presentation system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen during an operation.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen during an operation.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen during an operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Supermarket which is a dealer 12 Manufacturer's homepage 13 Service provider 14 Public line network 15 Customer house 16 PC 17 Printer 18 Modem 19 Mouse 20 Game machine with modem 21 Pad 22 TV 23 Remote control 24 Bidirectional CATV set top box (CATV)
STV)

Claims (60)

[Claims] 1. A product information presentation method for obtaining product information by searching a database of digitized product information, wherein a user inputs a search method for product information and a step of displaying a plurality of store names. And a step of allowing a user to select an arbitrary store name from the plurality of store names, and a step of displaying products handled at the selected store. 2. The product information presentation method according to claim 1, wherein the product information is presented via a communication line or a part of the product information taken out of a storage medium. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user selects an arbitrary product from the displayed products, and displays a mark for distinguishing the selected product from other products as a purchase schedule. The method for presenting product information according to claim 1, wherein the product information is provided. 4. A step of displaying whether or not the displayed product is available for mail order, and a step of allowing a user to select whether or not to purchase the selected product by mail order. The product information presentation method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein: 5. The product information presentation method according to claim 1, wherein the shop name is displayed together with a map indicating the location of the shop. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the use place is recognized by using a wireless communication modem, and information on a store near the use place and a product handled in the store is presented. Item 1 presentation method. 7. In a product information presentation method for obtaining product information by searching a database of computerized product information, a user first selects a store and selects a search method as a product information search method. And a step of displaying a plurality of store names, a step of a user selecting an arbitrary store name from the plurality of store names, and a step of displaying products handled at the selected store. Product information presentation method characterized by the following. 8. The product information presentation method according to claim 8, wherein the product information is presented via a communication line or a part of the product information taken out of a storage medium. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user selects an arbitrary product from the displayed products, and displays a mark for distinguishing the selected product from other products as a purchase schedule. 9. The method for presenting product information according to claim 7, wherein the product information is provided. 10. A method for displaying whether or not the displayed product is available for mail order, and a step for a user selecting whether or not to purchase the selected product by mail order. The product information presentation method according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein: 11. The shop name is displayed together with a map indicating the location of the shop.
0. A product information presentation method according to any one of 0. 12. By using a wireless communication modem,
12. The product information presentation method according to claim 7, wherein a use place is recognized, and information on a store near the use place and a product handled in the store is presented. 13. A product information presentation method for obtaining product information by searching a database of digitized product information, wherein a user first selects a product name or a product type as a product information search method and performs a search. Selecting, and the user selects an arbitrary product name or product type, and has a step of displaying a product associated with the selected product name or product type,
A merchandise information providing method, wherein the merchandise is displayed together with the name of the store that handles the merchandise, and when there are a plurality of stores that handle the merchandise, a plurality of the store names are displayed. 14. The product information, via a communication line,
14. The product information presentation method according to claim 13, wherein a part thereof is taken out from the storage medium and presented. 15. A user further selects a desired product from the displayed products, and displays a mark for distinguishing the selected product from other products as a purchase schedule. The method for presenting product information according to claim 13, wherein the product information is provided. 16. A method for displaying whether or not the displayed product is available for mail order, and a step for a user selecting whether or not to purchase the selected product by mail order. The method for presenting product information according to claim 13, 14, or 15, wherein: 17. By using a wireless communication modem,
17. The product information presentation method according to claim 13, wherein a use place is recognized, and information on a store near the use place and a product handled in the store is presented. 18. A product information presentation method for obtaining product information by searching a database of digitized product information, wherein a user selects a method of searching for a bargain product as a method of searching for product information, A step of displaying at least one store name handling goods, a step of a user selecting an arbitrary store name from the displayed store names, and a step of displaying a bargain item handled at the selected store. Product information presentation method characterized by having. 19. The product information is transmitted via a communication line,
19. The product information presentation method according to claim 18, wherein a part thereof is taken out from the storage medium and presented. 20. A step in which a user selects an arbitrary special sale item from the displayed special sale items and a step of displaying a mark for distinguishing the selected special sale item from other products as a purchase schedule. 20. The product information presentation method according to claim 18, further comprising: 21. A step of displaying whether or not the displayed product is available for mail order, and a step of allowing a user to select whether or not to purchase the selected product by mail order. 21. The method for presenting product information according to claim 18, 19 or 20. 22. By using a wireless communication modem,
22. The product information presentation method according to claim 18, wherein a use place is recognized, and information on a store near the use place and a product handled in the store is presented. 23. A product information presentation method for obtaining product information by searching a database of digitized product information, wherein a user selects a method of searching for a bargain product as a method of searching for product information; A product information presentation method comprising: a step of selecting a product name or a product type of a bargain product to be searched by a user; and a step of displaying a bargain product related to the product name or the product type. 24. The product information, via a communication line,
24. The method according to claim 23, wherein a part of the product information is taken out from the storage medium and presented. 25. The special sale item according to claim 23, wherein the special sale item is displayed together with the name of the store that handles the special sale item, and when there are a plurality of stores that handle the special sale item, a plurality of the store names are displayed. Product information presentation method. 26. A step in which a user selects an arbitrary special sale item from the displayed special sale items, and a step of displaying a mark for distinguishing the selected special sale item from other products as a purchase schedule. 26. The product information presentation method according to claim 23, 24 or 25, further comprising: 27. A method comprising the steps of: displaying whether the displayed product is available for mail order; and selecting the user whether to purchase the selected product by mail order. The method of presenting merchandise information according to any one of claims 23 to 26, characterized in that: 28. By using a wireless communication modem,
28. The product information presentation method according to claim 23, wherein a use place is recognized, and information on a store near the use place and a product handled in the store is presented. 29. The merchandise information presentation according to claim 3, further comprising a step of displaying the selected merchandise and stores handling the merchandise as a list. Method. 30. The product information presentation method according to claim 3, further comprising a step of displaying a sales floor layout of a store handling the selected product. 31. A merchandise information presentation system for obtaining merchandise information by searching a digitized merchandise information database, wherein a search method input means for a user to input a merchandise information search method, and a plurality of store names are entered. A store name display unit for displaying, a store name selection unit for a user to select an arbitrary store name from the plurality of store names, and a product display unit for displaying products handled in the selected store. A product information presentation system characterized by the following. 32. The product information, via a communication line,
32. The product information presentation system according to claim 31, wherein a part thereof is taken out from the storage medium and presented. 33. A product selecting means for a user to select an arbitrary product from the displayed products, and a mark display for displaying a mark for distinguishing the selected product from other products as a purchase schedule. 33. The product information presentation system according to claim 31, further comprising: means. 34. A method for displaying whether or not the displayed product is available for mail order, and a step for a user to select whether or not to purchase the selected product by mail order. 34. The product information presentation system according to claim 31, 32 or 33. 35. The merchandise information presentation system according to claim 31, further comprising a store position display means for displaying the store name together with a map indicating the position of the store. 36. By using a wireless communication modem,
The product information presentation system according to any one of claims 31 to 35, wherein a use place is recognized, and information on a store near the use place and a product handled in the store is presented. 37. In a product information presentation system that obtains product information by searching a database of computerized product information, a user can select a method of first selecting a store and searching as a method of searching for product information. Search method selection means, store name display means for displaying a plurality of store names, store name selection means for the user to select an arbitrary store name from the plurality of store names, A product information presentation system, comprising: product display means for displaying a product that is present. 38. The product information, via a communication line,
38. The product information presentation system according to claim 37, wherein a part thereof is taken out from the storage medium and presented. 39. A product selection means for a user to select an arbitrary product from the displayed products, and a mark display for displaying a mark for distinguishing the selected product from other products as a purchase schedule. 39. The product information presentation system according to claim 37, further comprising: means. 40. A method of displaying whether or not the displayed product is available for mail order, and a step of allowing a user to select whether or not to purchase the selected product by mail order. The commodity information presentation system according to claim 37, wherein the commodity information presentation system is characterized in that: 41. The merchandise information presentation system according to claim 37, further comprising a store position display means for displaying the store name together with a map indicating the position of the store. 42. By using a wireless communication modem,
42. The product information presentation system according to claim 37, wherein a use place is recognized, and information on a store near the use place and a product handled in the store is presented. 43. In a product information presentation system for obtaining product information by searching a computerized database of product information, a method in which a user first selects a product name or a product type as a product information search method and performs a search. Search method selection means capable of selecting a product name and product type selection means for the user to select any product name or product type,
Product display means for displaying the selected product name or a product related to the product type, and displaying the product together with the name of the store that handles the product, and when there are a plurality of stores that handle the product, a plurality of the store names are displayed. A merchandise information presentation system comprising a store name display means for displaying. 44. The product information, via a communication line,
44. The product information presentation system according to claim 43, wherein a part thereof is taken out from the storage medium and presented. 45. A product selecting means for a user to select an arbitrary product from the displayed products, and a mark display for displaying a mark for distinguishing the selected product from other products as a purchase schedule. 45. The product information presentation system according to claim 43, further comprising: means. 46. A method according to claim 46, further comprising a step of displaying whether or not the displayed product is available for mail order, and a step of allowing a user to select whether or not to purchase the selected product by mail order. The product information presentation system according to claim 43, 44 or 45. 47. By using a wireless communication modem,
The product information presentation system according to any one of claims 43 to 46, wherein a use place is recognized, and information on a store near the use place and a product handled in the store is presented. 48. In a product information presentation system that obtains product information by searching a database of digitized product information, a user can select a method for searching for a bargain item as a method for searching for product information. Search method selection means, store name display means for displaying at least one store name handling special sale items, store name selection means for the user to select an arbitrary store name from the displayed store names, A sale item display means for displaying a sale item displayed at the store. 49. The product information, via a communication line,
49. The merchandise information presentation system according to claim 48, wherein a part thereof is taken out from the storage medium and presented. 50. A special sale item selecting means for a user to select an arbitrary special sale item from the displayed special sale items, and a mark for distinguishing the selected special sale item from other products as a purchase schedule. 50. The merchandise information presentation system according to claim 48, further comprising a mark display unit for displaying. 51. A step of displaying whether or not the displayed product is available for mail order, and a step of a user selecting whether or not to purchase the selected product by mail order 51. The product information presentation system according to claim 48, wherein the product information presentation system. 52. By using a wireless communication modem,
52. The product information presentation system according to any one of claims 48 to 51, wherein a use place is recognized, and information on a store near the use place and a product handled in the store is presented. 53. In a product information presentation system for obtaining product information by searching a database of digitized product information, a search method selection that allows a user to select a method for searching for a bargain product as a product information search method. Means, a product name / product type selection means for selecting a product name or a product type of a special sale product to be searched by the user, and a special sale item display means for displaying a special sale product related to the product name or the product type. A product information presentation system comprising: 54. The product information, via a communication line,
54. The product information presentation system according to claim 53, wherein a part thereof is taken out from the storage medium and presented. 55. The system according to claim 55, further comprising a store name display means for displaying the special sale item together with the name of the store handling the special sale item, and displaying a plurality of the store names when there are a plurality of stores handling the special sale item. Item 53. The commodity information processing method according to Item 53 or 54. 56. A method according to claim 56, further comprising a step of displaying whether or not the displayed product is available for mail-order sales, and a step of allowing the user to select whether or not to purchase the selected product by mail-order sales. 56. The product information presentation system according to claim 53, 54 or 55. 57. A special sale item selecting means for the user to select an arbitrary special sale item from the displayed special sale items, and a mark for distinguishing the selected special sale item from other products as a purchase schedule. 57. A display device according to claim 53, further comprising a mark display unit for displaying.
Product information presentation system described. 58. The use of a wireless communication modem,
58. The product information presentation system according to any one of claims 53 to 57, wherein a use place is recognized, and information on a store near the use place and a product handled in the store is presented. 59. The apparatus according to any one of claims 33, 39, 45, 50, and 57, further comprising a list display means for displaying a list of selected products and stores handling the selected products. Product information presentation system. 60. A sales floor layout display means for displaying a sales floor layout of a store handling the selected product, wherein the sales floor layout display means is further provided.
57. The product information presentation system according to any one of 57.