JP2002352104A - Virtual shopping system and method therefor, and program for virtual shopping - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a virtual shopping system that can be used without using a keyboard and a mouse. SOLUTION: A user terminal 10 receives a voice input to a microphone 11 and issues a command. First, the user terminal 10 accesses a virtual mall server 20, moves a pointer on a virtual mall map displayed on the screen and transmits an instruction to enter a shop to the virtual mall server 20. When the user terminal 10 enters the shop, merchandise is selected, the merchandise number is transmitted to the virtual mall server 20 and merchandise information is obtained. When information about the merchandise is asked for, the user terminal 10 inquires a manufacture/distributor terminal 30 about the information by using internet telephone. When the user terminal 10 will buy the merchandise, the user terminal 10 transmits a purchase decision notice to the virtual mall server 20. A financial institution server 40 withdraws its price from the bank account of the orderer and transfers the payment to the bank account to a virtual mall operator.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a virtual shopping system, a virtual shopping method, and a virtual shopping program, and more particularly, to a virtual shopping system, a virtual shopping method, and a virtual shopping system for online shopping of goods using a network such as the Internet. About the program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, a system called virtual shopping has been performed in which a product is online-shopped using a network such as the Internet.
In the virtual shopping system, a virtual mall operator provides a virtual mall on the Internet, and an orderer accesses a virtual mall on the Internet using a personal computer to perform shopping. In order to access the virtual mall, an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse is used.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional virtual shopping system, since it is necessary to use a keyboard and a mouse to access the virtual mall, basic education of using a personal computer such as using a keyboard and a mouse is required. Is necessary. In addition, there is a problem that a person who cannot touch the keyboard such as a bedridden person cannot use the keyboard.

An object of the present invention is to provide a virtual shopping system, a virtual shopping method, and a virtual shopping program that can be used without using a keyboard and a mouse.

[0005]

A virtual shopping system according to the present invention includes a network, a user terminal connected to the network, and a virtual mall server for providing a virtual mall on the network. Means for transmitting a virtual mall map to the user terminal, means for transmitting information of a shop for which a store entry instruction has been received from the user terminal to the user terminal, and product information of a product number transmitted from the user terminal To the user terminal, the user terminal receiving the voice input to access the virtual mall, and moving the pointer on the virtual mall map displayed on the screen by voice input And, on receiving the voice input, on the virtual mall map Means for transmitting an instruction to enter the shop to the virtual mall server, means for receiving the voice input of the product number of the product selected from within the shop to the virtual mall server, and purchasing the product upon receiving the voice input Means for transmitting a notification to the virtual mall server.

[0006] The virtual shopping system of the present invention comprises a manufacturer / distributor terminal used by a manufacturer / distributor that provides a product to the virtual mall. It may be characterized by including a means for making an inquiry using.

[0007] In the virtual shopping system according to the present invention, the user terminal includes means for receiving a voice input of a payment method and transmitting the voice payment method to the virtual mall server, wherein the virtual mall server transmits the payment method designated by the user terminal. The information processing apparatus may further include means for transmitting a voice guide for obtaining information necessary for the payment method to the user terminal.

In the virtual shopping system according to the present invention, the user terminal includes means for receiving an audio input of an instruction to change a delivery destination of a purchased product from a prescribed value and transmitting the instruction to the virtual mall server, And means for transmitting a voice guide for obtaining information necessary for delivery to the user terminal.

[0009] The virtual shopping method of the present invention comprises:
A virtual shopping method using a network, a user terminal connected to the network, and a virtual mall server that provides a virtual mall on the network, wherein the user terminal receives a voice input to the virtual mall. Accessing, the virtual mall server sending a virtual mall map to the user terminal, and the user terminal receiving a voice input and moving a pointer on the virtual mall map displayed on the screen, and inputting the voice Transmitting an instruction to enter the shop on the virtual mall map to the virtual mall server in response to the request, the virtual mall server sends, to the user terminal, information on the shop that has received the entry instruction from the user terminal. Step to send Receiving the voice input of the product number of the product selected from within the shop and transmitting the product number to the virtual mall server, wherein the virtual mall server transmits the product number of the product number transmitted from the user terminal. The method includes transmitting information to the user terminal, and transmitting the product purchase notification to the virtual mall server upon receiving a voice input.

[0010] The virtual shopping method of the present invention comprises:
The method may further include a step in which the user terminal makes an inquiry using an Internet telephone with a manufacturer / seller terminal used by a manufacturer / seller that provides a product to the virtual mall.

[0011] The virtual shopping method of the present invention comprises:
The user terminal receiving a voice input of a payment method and transmitting it to the virtual mall server; and a voice guide for the virtual mall server to obtain information required for the payment method specified by the user terminal. And transmitting to the user terminal.

[0012] The virtual shopping method of the present invention comprises:
A step in which the user terminal receives a voice input and transmits an instruction to change the delivery destination of the purchased product from a specified value to the virtual mall server, and the virtual mall server obtains information necessary for delivery. Sending an audio guide to the user terminal.

[0013] The program of the present invention provides a process for accessing a user terminal connected to a network by inputting a voice to a virtual mall provided by a virtual mall server on the network, and executing a process on a virtual mall map displayed on a screen. A process of receiving a voice input to move the pointer, a process of receiving a voice input and transmitting an instruction to enter a shop on the virtual mall map to the virtual mall server, and a product number of a product selected from the shop Receiving the voice input and transmitting the virtual mall server to the virtual mall server, and transmitting the product input notification to the virtual mall server upon receiving the voice input.

[0014] The program of the present invention may be configured to execute a process of making an inquiry using an Internet telephone with a manufacturer / distributor terminal used by a manufacturer / distributor providing a product to the virtual mall. Good.

[0015] The program of the present invention may execute a process of receiving a voice input of a payment method and transmitting it to the virtual mall server.

[0016] The program of the present invention may execute a process of receiving a voice input of an instruction to change a delivery destination of a purchased product from a specified value and transmitting the instruction to the virtual mall server.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment. Referring to FIG.
The embodiment includes a user terminal 10, a virtual mall server 20, a manufacturer / distributor terminal 30, a financial institution server 40, and the Internet 100 connecting these terminals and servers.

The user terminal 10 is an information processing device such as a personal computer, and has a function of converting voice input from the microphone 11 into Japanese data. The user terminal 10 is connected to the virtual mall server 20 via the network 1
It has a function of accessing the product information provided on the screen 00 and displaying the product information on the screen. The product information is, for example, information on products such as daily necessities, foods, books, and software, and includes information such as product names, model numbers, product numbers, colors, and prices. User terminal 10
Has a function of transmitting purchase order information, which is product information of a product that the orderer (user) wants to purchase, and a delivery destination of the product that the orderer wants to purchase to the virtual mall server 20 via the network 100. Have.

The virtual mall server 20 is an information processing device such as a workstation server used by a virtual mall operator. Virtual mall server 20
Has a function of receiving purchase order information and shop designation information sent by the user terminal 10 by the orderer's operation, generating orderer identification information, and transmitting the generated orderer identification information to the user terminal 10. The orderer identification information is information for identifying the orderer and the contents of the order, and is generated as unique information for each transaction. The orderer identification information includes the orderer's name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and the like.

The manufacturer / distributor terminal 30 has information for providing the user with information on the product of the manufacturer / distributor exhibiting the product in the virtual mall.
Respond to a direct search. Further, it has a function of using an Internet telephone via the microphone 31.

The financial institution server 40 has a function of withdrawing the money from the account designated by the user, transferring the money to the account of the virtual mall operator, and notifying the user terminal 10 that the money has been withdrawn.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 2 shows the first
9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment. In the following description, it is assumed that the network 100 is the Internet.

Referring to FIG. 1, a user accesses a virtual mall server 20 via the Internet 100 by using voice navigation software from a microphone 11 connected to his / her own user terminal 10 and When a name is input by voice (step A1), the user is connected to the virtual mall server 20 established on the Internet 100. In response, the virtual mall server 20 transmits a virtual mall map, product information, and shop information as mall information to the user terminal 10 (step A2).

First, a virtual mall map as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the user terminal 10 (step A).
3). The user accesses the virtual shop selling the target product while viewing the virtual mall map. To access, check the current position indicated by the pointer on the virtual mall map,
The pointer is moved by voice such as "down", "right", "left", etc. (step A4). Alternatively, if a shop is designated by direct voice such as "flower shop" or "drug store", the user can move to the desired shop. The virtual mall server 20 moves the location of the pointer according to a voice instruction from the user terminal 10 (Step A5). All commands in the following description mean voice commands.

When the user has specified the target virtual shop, he enters the store with the command "enter store" (step A6). Upon receiving the store entry instruction, the virtual mall server 20 sends the layout and shelf positions in the individual shop to the user terminal 10 (Step A7). The user terminal 10 displays the layout and shelf position of the target shop (step A8). While looking at this, the user searches for products displayed in the virtual shop. The products are virtually displayed on shelves and you can see photos, prices, etc. of the products. If you want to know more product information, send the product name and product number with the "view" command (step A9). Then, the product information is sent from the virtual mall server 20 (step A10), and you can know more detailed product information. I can do it.

When it is desired to inquire the manufacturer / distributor terminal 30, a "call" command is issued.
For example, the user can make a voice conversation using an Internet telephone, make an inquiry while negotiating a discount or request another product introduction (step A11), and elicit an optimal answer from the manufacturer / distributor terminal 30 (step A12). it can.

As a result of the above answer, when purchasing a desired product, a "product number" command is input, and product information is displayed. If the purchase is decided based on the product information, the product is put into a shopping bag by a "buy" command (step A13). Thereafter, the user purchases the product in the same manner and clears the price of the product using the “calculate” command of the virtual cash register in the virtual shop.

This charge is charged to the financial institution server 40 holding the account by the user in accordance with the account debit request (step A14) from the user terminal 10, and is automatically debited by the financial institution server 40, and the account of the virtual mall operator is (Step A15). At the same time, a debit completion notification is sent from the financial institution server 40 to the user terminal 10 (step A16). The debit completion notification may also be sent to the virtual mall server 20 and the manufacturer / distributor terminal 30.

The destination of the purchased product is registered in advance when becoming a member of the virtual mall, and is sent according to the information (step A17).

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment.
As compared with the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, a credit company terminal 50 is added. The credit company terminal 50 is an information processing device used by a company that issues a credit card.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment. As compared with the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 2, between step A13 and step A14,
Steps B1 to B9 are inserted. With reference to FIG. 5, parts different from the first embodiment will be described.

If a product is purchased at the virtual shop and the specified value is reached, the product is sent to the orderer, but the destination can also be specified. After purchasing and calculating the product, specify the delivery destination using the “Change Delivery Destination” command. User terminal 1
Input a "change delivery destination" command from 0 (step B
1), a delivery destination inquiry is transmitted from the virtual mall server 20 (step B2), and the input items are announced in order, so that the delivery destination is notified by voice input from the user terminal 10 according to the guide (step B3). The contents of the input are a zip code, an address, and a delivery destination name. The virtual mall server 20 has functions of postal code conversion and kanji conversion. The virtual mall server 20
After receiving the delivery destination information, the delivery destination information is sent together with the purchase information to the manufacturer / distributor terminal 30 (step B).
4). The manufacturer / distributor terminal 30 notifies the orderer of the delivery date by e-mail based on the purchase information (step B5).

In addition to the method determined at the time of membership registration, the user can designate a method such as "payment by credit" or "debit with a bank account". When the payment form inquiry is transmitted from the virtual mall server 20 (step B6), the user terminal 10 inputs a “credit payment” and “debit withdrawal” command, and transmits a payment form notification to the virtual mall server 20 ( Step B7). Information necessary for "credit payment" or "debit withdrawal" is announced (step B8), and information is input by voice according to the announcement. If you select "Credit Payment"
The user terminal 10 transmits the credit card information input by the orderer to the virtual mall server 20 via the network 100 (Step B9). This information is also sent to the credit company terminal 50. "Direct debit"
In the case of, steps A14 and A1 of the first embodiment
5, the same as A16.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the third embodiment. The third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG.
A recording medium 70 is included in addition to the configuration of the embodiment. The recording medium 70 records a virtual shopping program. The recording medium 70 may be a magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory, an optical disk, or another recording medium.

The virtual shopping program is read from the recording medium 70 to the user terminal 10, and performs the same processing as the processing of the user terminal 10 in the first or second embodiment. Instead of being read directly from the recording medium, the virtual shopping program may be read via a network such as the Internet.

That is, a process of receiving a voice input to access a virtual mall provided by the virtual mall server 20 on the network 100 and a process of moving a pointer on the virtual mall map displayed on the screen by receiving a voice input, A process of receiving a voice input and transmitting an instruction to enter a shop on the virtual mall map to the virtual mall server 20, and a process of receiving a voice input of a product number of a product selected from within the shop and transmitting the product number to the virtual mall server 20 And a process of receiving a voice input and transmitting a product purchase notification to the virtual mall server 20.

In addition, a process is executed for making an inquiry using an Internet telephone with the manufacturer / distributor terminal 30 used by the manufacturer / distributor providing the product to the virtual mall.

Further, a process of receiving the voice input of the payment method and transmitting it to the virtual mall server 20 is executed.

The virtual mall server 2 receives an instruction to change the delivery destination of the purchased product from the specified value by voice input.
0 is executed.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if the orderer cannot use the keyboard and mouse, the user can access the virtual mall on the Internet and perform shopping by inputting a command by voice. Elderly people and bedridden people who cannot go out can purchase products with a PC screen and microphone.

In addition, since a user group who could not use the personal computer can be obtained, the number of purchasers of the virtual mall increases, which leads to an increase in sales.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual mall map.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 User Terminal 11 Microphone 20 Virtual Mall Server 30 Manufacturer / Distributor Terminal 31 Microphone 40 Financial Institution Server 50 Credit Company Terminal 70 Recording Medium 100 Network

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A network, comprising: a user terminal connected to the network; and a virtual mall server providing a virtual mall on the network,
Means for sending a virtual mall map to the user terminal, means for sending information of a shop that has received an entry instruction from the user terminal to the user terminal, and a product transmitted from the user terminal Means for sending product information of a number to the user terminal, wherein the user terminal receives a voice input to access the virtual mall, and receives a voice input of a pointer on the virtual mall map displayed on the screen. Receiving the voice input, transmitting the instruction to enter the shop on the virtual mall map to the virtual mall server, and receiving the voice input of the product number of the product selected from within the shop. Means for transmitting to the virtual mall server; Virtual shopping system, characterized in that it comprises a means for transmitting to the Virtual mall server. 2. A manufacturer / seller terminal used by a manufacturer / seller providing a product to the virtual mall,
2. The virtual shopping system according to claim 1, wherein said user terminal includes means for making an inquiry using an Internet telephone with said manufacturer / distributor terminal. 3. The user terminal includes means for receiving a voice input of a payment method and transmitting the payment method to the virtual mall server, wherein the virtual mall server includes information required for the payment method designated by the user terminal. 3. The virtual shopping system according to claim 1, further comprising: means for sending a voice guide for obtaining the information to the user terminal. 4. The user terminal includes means for receiving a voice input and transmitting an instruction to change a delivery destination of a purchased product from a specified value to the virtual mall server, wherein the virtual mall server is required for delivery. 4. The virtual shopping system according to claim 1, further comprising means for sending a voice guide for obtaining important information to the user terminal. 5. A virtual shopping method using a network, a user terminal connected to the network, and a virtual mall server providing a virtual mall on the network, wherein the user terminal receives a voice input. Accessing the virtual mall, the virtual mall server sends a virtual mall map to the user terminal, and the user terminal receives a voice input of a pointer on the virtual mall map displayed on the screen. Moving, receiving an audio input, transmitting an instruction to enter a shop on the virtual mall map to the virtual mall server, wherein the virtual mall server stores information on the shop that has received the entry instruction from the user terminal. To the user terminal. Issuing, the user terminal receiving a voice input a product number of a product selected from within the shop, and transmitting the product number to the virtual mall server, wherein the virtual mall server transmits the product number transmitted from the user terminal. A virtual shopping method, comprising: transmitting product information of a number to the user terminal; and transmitting the product purchase notification to the virtual mall server by receiving a voice input from the user terminal. 6. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of the user terminal making an inquiry using an Internet telephone between a manufacturer / distributor terminal used by a manufacturer / distributor providing a product to the virtual mall. The virtual shopping method according to claim 5, wherein 7. The user terminal receives a voice input of a payment method and transmits it to the virtual mall server, and the virtual mall server transmits information necessary for the payment method specified by the user terminal. Transmitting a voice guide to the user terminal to obtain the virtual guide to the user terminal. 8. A step in which the user terminal receives a voice input and transmits to the virtual mall server an instruction to change a delivery destination of a purchased product from a specified value, and the virtual mall server requires Transmitting a voice guide for obtaining information to the user terminal. 9. A process in which a user terminal connected to a network is accessed by voice input to a virtual mall provided by a virtual mall server on the network, and a pointer on a virtual mall map displayed on the screen is voice input. Receiving, moving, receiving an audio input, transmitting an instruction to enter a shop on the virtual mall map to the virtual mall server, and voice inputting a product number of a product selected from within the shop. A program for executing a process of receiving and transmitting to the virtual mall server, and a process of receiving a voice input and transmitting a product purchase notification to the virtual mall server. 10. The program according to claim 9, which executes a process of making an inquiry using an Internet telephone with a manufacturer / seller terminal used by a manufacturer / seller that provides a product to the virtual mall. . 11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the computer executes a process of receiving a voice input and transmitting the payment method to the virtual mall server. 12. The program according to claim 9, 10 or 11, for executing a process of receiving a voice input and transmitting an instruction to change a delivery destination of a purchased product from a specified value to the virtual mall server.