JP2005275630A - Product information providing system and product information providing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a merchandise information providing system which can be suitably introduced to a video rental shop or the like, and which is beneficial to a customer or store. <P>SOLUTION: This merchandise information providing system is provided with a server for storing merchandise information being the information of respective merchandise and a merchandise information providing terminal connected through a communication means with the server for acquiring the merchandise information from the server. The merchandise information providing terminal is provided with an identification information reading means for reading identification information attached to each merchandise and a display means for displaying predetermined merchandise information based on the identification information read by the reading means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a product information providing system and a product information providing device.

  Conventionally, by installing a product display shelf with a product display unit, multiple scanner units, and an information output unit in a store, and connecting a storage that stores information related to the product and a control server via a network, consumption Product information output system and product information output device that enables a person to scan the product on the display shelf with a scanner at a place where the product is taken out and to test the content of the product on a display installed nearby (For example, see Patent Document 1).

This system is suitable for video and CD stores, rental shops for these, and the like, and can be said to be extremely useful because desired information can be obtained in advance before purchase or rental.
JP 2003-233664 A

  However, since the product information providing system (consumption information providing device) has a display separately provided, even if the product is removed from the display shelf and scanned with a scanner, the display may be close to the display depending on the location. May not be, and then you must move. In addition, if another customer (consumer) uses it first, a waiting time is required until it is finished.

  In particular, if the trailer of video or DVD is product information, it will wait in minutes. And if it's an interesting genre, you can watch it together, but if you're not interested, you're just frustrated.

  In addition, there may be a case where a third party does not want to see the product information that he / she wants to acquire, but in the above system, it is exposed to the eyes of many customers in the store.

  In addition, the conventional system described above is limited to simply providing product information to consumers, and with regard to the checkout process, the customer carries the product decided to be purchased or rented to the cash register as before, and this is handled by the staff. There was no change in paying one by one.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a product information providing system and a product information providing apparatus that can solve the above-described problems.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, a server that stores product information that is individual product information, a product information providing terminal that is connected to the server via a communication unit and can acquire the product information from the server, The product information providing terminal includes an identification information reading unit that reads identification information attached to each product, and the predetermined product information based on the identification information read by the reading unit. Display means for displaying.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the commodity information providing system according to the first aspect, the commodity information providing terminal includes the degree of popularity of the commodity read by the reading means, including the other commodity in the category to which the commodity belongs. It is possible to display the product information of the product selected by selecting the other product ranked and selecting the product.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the commodity information providing system according to the first or second aspect, the commodity information providing terminal includes commodity purchase setting means, while the server is selected and determined by the commodity purchase setting means. In addition, the present invention is characterized by having a settlement means for performing a settlement process for the product.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the commodity information providing system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the commodity is video or DVD software, and the commodity information includes at least a movie trailer. It is characterized by that.

  In this invention of Claim 5, the memory | storage means which stored the merchandise information which is individual product information, the identification information reading means which reads each identification information attached | subjected to each goods, The said identification information read by this reading means Based on the above, the product information providing apparatus is integrally provided with display means for displaying predetermined product information from the storage means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably obtain information on a product that the user wants to acquire at any time at a place where the product is present, and assist in selecting and determining a purchased product. Also, for example, even product information that is not desired to be viewed by a third party can be slowly viewed personally at hand. On the other hand, on the store side where the system according to the present invention is introduced, it is possible to efficiently carry out the product PR that meets the customer's request and contribute to the increase in sales.

  The present invention provides a product information provision comprising a server storing product information as individual product information, and a product information providing terminal connected to the server via a communication means and capable of acquiring the product information from the server. The product information providing terminal includes an identification information reading unit that reads identification information attached to each product, and a display unit that displays predetermined product information based on the identification information read by the reading unit. Is provided.

  The product information providing terminal (hereinafter simply referred to as “dedicated terminal”) is preferably large enough to be carried, and a liquid crystal display device or the like may be used as the display means. In addition, it is more preferable that audio output is possible via an earphone or the like.

  An IC tag or the like is preferably used as the identification information, and a tag reader may be provided in the dedicated terminal as the reading means.

  A customer who has entered the store borrows the dedicated terminal from the store side, and uses this dedicated terminal to store information on the product that is scheduled to be rented or purchased (hereinafter, “purchase” also includes the rental). Since it can be acquired visually and surely and speedily in advance at the place where the user holds the item, it can help to select and determine the purchased product.

  On the other hand, at the store side where the product information providing system (hereinafter simply referred to as “system”) according to the present invention is introduced, it is possible to efficiently produce products PR that meet customer demands and to expect an increase in sales.

  This system can be applied to any store in which products are displayed and sold or rented. In particular, this system is used in stores and rental shops that handle video software, CDs, DVD software, books, etc. Is preferred.

  For example, if the product is a video or DVD software, the product information can include at least a movie trailer, and whether or not the customer should carefully watch the trailer before purchase. Can be determined.

  As a system configuration, an IC tag in which identification information is recorded is attached to a case of video software in a store, and a server storing a trailer corresponding to the identification information and other useful consumer information is installed. Then, a dedicated terminal is connected to the server via a communication means such as a wireless LAN so that both can always communicate. The wireless terminal is incorporated as identification information reading means for reading identification information by an IC tag reader, and further includes a liquid crystal device for displaying product information including moving images or text transmitted from a server. Then, based on the identification information in the IC tag read by the IC tag reader, a movie trailer corresponding to the identification information is streamed from the server via the wireless LAN, and the customer has a dedicated This can be seen on the display means of the terminal. The dedicated terminal is lent at the entrance of a store or the like so that it can be collected at the time of payment.

  Movie trailers, which are product information, are structured to increase appetite for appreciation, so customers can easily watch these trailers, which increases the PR effect and increases sales of products such as software on the store side. Can be expected.

  Moreover, if it is a customer side, even if it is merchandise information, such as a trailer which a third party does not want to be seen, for example, it can be seen slowly personally with one's hand.

  The dedicated terminal in the system allows the popularity of the product read by the reading means to be displayed in a ranking including other products in the category to which the product belongs, and selects the ranked other product. The product information of the selected product can also be displayed.

  In other words, you can understand the popularity of the software you plan to purchase in that genre, and the ranking is displayed including other software in the category to which the software belongs, so you can easily obtain information on other software (works) Improve service. Customers who receive this service are more likely to purchase other software that they have become interested in, in addition to the software that they originally planned to purchase.

  In addition, based on the ranking, a difference can be provided in the display contents of the product information. That is, for example, the higher the ranking of the movie, the longer the trailer time, or the abundant topics related to the movie are provided.

  Furthermore, in the above system, the dedicated terminal may include a product purchase setting unit, and the server may include a settlement unit that performs a settlement process for the product selected and determined by the product purchase setting unit. .

  That is, on the dedicated terminal, for example, ID input as a member, selection of a product, and rental conditions can be input for rental, and when the dedicated terminal is returned to the cash register, the settlement process can be performed simultaneously. Is.

  Such a configuration eliminates the need for presenting a membership card as in a normal video rental shop. In addition, instead of displaying products such as video software directly, only tags that display only samples and titles (IC tags etc. are considered) are arranged, and an attendant can take out from a separate product warehouse at the time of checkout. Good. With such a configuration, shoplifting can be prevented.

  By the way, in the above-described embodiment, a system in which a server storing product information is separately prepared has been described. However, there is a remarkable downsizing and an increase in capacity of storage devices in recent years, and product information that is individual product information is stored. It can also be provided as a product information providing apparatus that is integrally provided with storage means such as a stored hard disk.

  That is, from identification information reading means for reading individual identification information attached to each product, and a liquid crystal display device for displaying predetermined product information from the storage means based on the identification information read by the reading means The product information providing apparatus is integrally provided with the display means. Even this product information providing apparatus is functionally the same as the system described above, and has the same effect.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the case where the present system is installed in a rental video shop is taken as an example.

  1 is a schematic diagram of a system according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a use state of the system, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a dedicated terminal of the system, and FIGS. 4 to 7 are screens of the dedicated terminal. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a cash register of a store, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing when this system is used.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the configuration of this system is connected to a server 1 storing product information that is individual product information such as video software, a DVD, or a CD, and this server 1 via a wireless LAN as a communication means. And the dedicated terminal 2 capable of acquiring the product information from the server 1. The server 1 and the dedicated terminal 2 are in a state where they can always communicate with each other. Reference numeral 3 denotes a product such as video software, DVD or CD (hereinafter referred to as “software”), and an IC tag 31 on which identification information corresponding to each product (video) is recorded is attached to the case 30. . The dedicated terminal 2 is lent at the entrance when entering a rental video shop.

  The product information stored in the server 1 includes at least moving images such as movie trailers, and various information such as story introductions, production companies, directors, screenplays, performers, music, and topics.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the store has a shelf 4 on which a large number of software 3 is displayed, and an IC tag 31 is mounted on the back of the case 30 of the software 3. The customer 5 who has been lent the dedicated terminal 2 looks for a desired work or a work that causes appreciation while moving in the store with the dedicated terminal 2 in hand. When a certain software 3 catches the eye and wants to know more about the contents of the software 3, the reading unit 20 provided on the dedicated terminal 2 is brought into contact with the case 30 of the corresponding software 3. The IC tag reader incorporated in the dedicated terminal 2 reads identification information unique to the software 3 from the IC tag 31, and the read identification information is transmitted to the server 1 by the wireless LAN. At this time, the unique address of the dedicated terminal 2 that transmitted the identification information is added and transmitted.

  The server 1 transmits product information including a trailer and other information based on the identification information transmitted from the dedicated terminal 2 to the dedicated terminal 2 corresponding to the address.

  The dedicated terminal 2 is large enough to fit in the palm of the hand. As shown in FIG. 3, a reading unit 20 is provided on the top, a display unit 21 having a touch panel on the surface, various buttons 22, and a dial switch 23 on the side. Is provided. Reference numeral 24 denotes a speaker, which is provided with an audio output jack (not shown) and can listen to audio using an attached earphone.

  If the software 3 is video or DVD, the title of the movie, the genre of the movie, the date of production, the director, the cast, the short story, etc. are displayed on the display unit 21 as the product information transmitted from the server 1. If this is a desired work, the rental of the software 3 can be determined in this state by pressing “rental” on the touch panel.

  On the other hand, if the user wants to watch the trailer, the user can watch the trailer of the movie on the display unit 21 as shown in FIG. Then, if you decide to rent by watching the trailer, you can go back to the previous screen and decide to rent. Note that operation keys 26 simulating a video deck are displayed on the touch panel below the moving image display unit 25.

  Further, in the system according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the popularity degree of the work read by the reading unit 20 is determined by the operation of the ranking switch assigned to the various button groups 22 of the dedicated terminal 2. It can be displayed in the ranking including other works in the category to which the work belongs. That is, in this rental video shop or including affiliated stores, movie titles are displayed on the touch panel in the descending order of the number of rentals in a predetermined period in the genre including this software 3, such as drama, action, comedy, SF. It has become so.

  If each displayed title is selected, the selected movie information and trailer can be viewed in the same procedure as the originally selected movie.

  In this way, the customer knows the popularity of the first selected movie and can easily acquire movie information of other works in the category to which the movie belongs, which is useful information for determining the rental.

  If the software 3 is a music CD, a trial listening can be performed instead of a trailer. In the ranking display, curved surfaces are displayed on the touch panel in descending order of the number of rentals in a predetermined period in a genre including the software 3 such as rock, pop, folk, and popular songs.

  Such an information providing service increases the possibility that the customer wants to rent other software 3 that is newly interested in the ranking display in addition to the software 3 that the customer originally planned to rent. If you do, you can expect an increase in profits.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the display content of merchandise information is provided with a gap based on the ranking. That is, the amount of information for the first or upper group movie shown in FIG. 5 is large, and the amount of information for the movie ranked in the tenth or lower group is small. The amount of information includes a trailer, and for example, a disparity can be provided in the display length of the trailer. If the software 3 is a music CD, it is preferable to provide a difference in the time that can be auditioned.

  In this system, not only product information can be obtained, but also the settlement process can be performed very simply.

  That is, the dedicated terminal is provided with product purchase setting means, and the server 1 is provided with settlement means for performing settlement processing of the software 3 selected and determined by the product purchase setting means.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when “rental” is selected, the number of nights and the like are displayed on the touch panel as rental conditions as shown in FIG. 6, so the customer 5 selects the desired conditions and selects “OK”. , The software 3 determined to be rented is stored in the dedicated terminal 2.

  Then, when there is no intention to rent any more, if an ID is entered as a member in a predetermined screen on the dedicated terminal 2 (not shown), as shown in FIG. Is displayed and the amount to be paid is also displayed. The title and amount data are stored in a predetermined storage area in the dedicated terminal 2.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8, when the dedicated terminal 2 is returned to the counter 6 in the store, an attendant (not shown) sets the dedicated terminal 2 in the dedicated checkout device 7. This dedicated settlement apparatus is connected to the register 8, the data stored in a predetermined storage area of the dedicated terminal 2 is transmitted to the register 8, the settlement amount is displayed, the payment from the customer 5 is received, and the software 3 Lending.

  In this way, this system eliminates the need to present a membership card as in a normal video rental shop, and enables rational business development.

  The rental software 3 may be brought directly to the counter 6 by the customer 5, or, for example, only a label provided with an IC tag 31 displaying only a sample or a title on the shelf 4 in the store. May be displayed, and a staff member may take it out from a product warehouse separately provided for checkout. In this case, the server 1 transmits the stock status to the dedicated terminal 2 as one of the product information based on the identification information of the IC tag 31. With this configuration, since it is not necessary to display the software 3 directly in the store, shoplifting can be prevented and the store itself can be made space-saving.

  Here, the processing procedure in the present system described above is summarized as follows with reference to FIG.

  That is, when the customer 5 reads the identification information (code) from the IC tag 31 using the dedicated terminal 2 (S101), the identification information and the unique address of the dedicated terminal 2 are transmitted to the server 1 and the identification information is received. The server 1 outputs the product information data corresponding to the identification information to the dedicated terminal 2 having the address (S102).

  The customer 5 browses product information such as a trailer displayed on the dedicated terminal 2 (see FIGS. 3 to 5), selects the software 3 to be rented based on the product information (S103), and performs predetermined rental. A condition is input (S104, see FIG. 6). Each time rental conditions are input, the server 1 updates the rental list (S105).

  On the other hand, if the candidate to be rented is not selected in step S103 and a request for watching the trailer is made again (S106), the process returns to step S102, for example, referring to other product information from the ranking shown in FIG. Select the software 3 to rent.

  When the rental of the selected software 3 is decided and a settlement request is made (S107), the process proceeds to the next step S108. However, if the user wants to rent the software 3 continuously, the customer searches for the new software 3 and starts from the step S101. Repeat the process.

  When the settlement request is made in step S107, the final confirmation of the software 3 to be rented is performed (see FIG. 7), and if the confirmation OK is input, the server 1 outputs the rental list to the dedicated terminal 2 ( S108). On the other hand, for example, when a change such as cancellation or addition is performed from the dedicated terminal 2 such as when the user intends to rent but changes his mind, the server 1 edits the list of rental candidates (S110), A final rental list is output (S109).

  When this rental list is stored in a predetermined storage area of the dedicated terminal 2 and this dedicated terminal 2 is set in the dedicated checkout device 7 (see FIG. 8), a predetermined amount is charged by the store clerk based on the list and paid. After finishing the process, the desired software 3 can be taken home.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated through one Embodiment, as a modification of embodiment mentioned above, when a rental video shop is operating as many chain stores, for example, server 1 which stored merchandise information is stored in each store. It may be installed at a predetermined location such as the headquarters instead of being installed at the headquarters, and the dedicated terminal 2 may download the product information from the server 1 using the Internet or the like.

  Further, as another embodiment, since the recent reduction in size and capacity of storage devices is remarkable, a storage means such as a hard disk capable of storing product information as individual product information is provided in the dedicated terminal 2. Thus, the product information providing apparatus storing the product information can be obtained. In other words, product information such as a trailer may be provided by the product information providing apparatus itself without using a wireless LAN or the like. In this case as well, the product information stored in the hard disk can be downloaded from a predetermined server and updated at regular intervals.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and for example, the shape and function of the dedicated terminal 2 may be changed as appropriate. Further, the store where the present system is introduced may be a store instead of a rental store.

1 is a schematic diagram of a system according to an embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the utilization condition of this system. It is explanatory drawing which shows the dedicated terminal of this system. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the screen display of the said exclusive terminal. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the screen display of the said exclusive terminal. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the screen display of the said exclusive terminal. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the screen display of the said exclusive terminal. It is explanatory drawing which shows the cash register of a shop. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process at the time of utilizing this system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Server 2 Dedicated terminal 3 Software 5 Customer 6 Counter 7 Dedicated settlement device 20 Reading part 21 Display part 30 Case 31 IC tag

Claims (5)

A server storing product information that is individual product information;
A product information providing system having a product information providing terminal connected to the server via a communication means and capable of acquiring the product information from the server,
The product information providing terminal is
An identification information reading means for reading the identification information attached to each product;
Display means for displaying the predetermined product information based on the identification information read by the reading means;
A product information providing system comprising:   The product information providing terminal can display the degree of popularity of the product read by the reading means in a ranking including other products in the category to which the product belongs, and select and select the ranked other product The product information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the product information of the purchased product can be displayed.   3. The product information providing terminal includes a product purchase setting unit, and the server includes a settlement unit that performs a settlement process for the product selected and determined by the product purchase setting unit. Product information provision system described.   The product information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the product is video or DVD software, and the product information includes at least a movie trailer. Storage means for storing product information that is individual product information;
Identification information reading means for reading individual identification information attached to each product;
Display means for displaying predetermined product information from the storage means based on the identification information read by the reading means;
A product information providing apparatus comprising:

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