JP2012194685A - Merchandise searching device and merchandise searching method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a merchandise searching device and a merchandise searching method for reducing the trouble or labor of a user by performing accurate narrowing-down search.SOLUTION: In accordance with the instruction of the merchandise category designation of the most significant hierarchy by a user, the merchandise category designations of lower hierarchies connected to the merchandise category designation of the most significant hierarchy are displayed in the form of a list, and in accordance with the instruction of the merchandise category designation of the least significant hierarchy by the user, merchandise characteristic designations relating to the merchandise category designation of the least significant hierarchy are displayed in the form of a list, and first search conditions are generated by calculating a logical product about one or more selectively instructed merchandise characteristic designations, and second search conditions are generated by calculating a logical sum about one or more selectively instructed maker designations or brand designations, and the logical product of the first search conditions and the second search conditions is defined as search conditions.

Description

  The present invention relates to a product search device and a product search method, and more particularly to a product search device and a product search method that enable an accurate narrowing search.

  With the spread of the Internet in recent years, various services have been provided from various business types, and electronic commerce (Electronic Trading) via the Internet has been actively performed. On the other hand, Internet search technology on the Internet continues to evolve day by day, and the search technique is also used as a search engine incorporated in, for example, a product search device in electronic commerce. This merchandise retrieval apparatus provides merchandise information such as the manufacturer name or producer name of a manufacturer, the name of a store that provides merchandise, and a sales price to a user who wants to shop on the Internet.

  As one technique for such a product search device, for example, there is a “product information search device, method and system” disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-61420. When a user searches for product information, the user ranks search results based on news, timely information, etc., and tries to provide product information desired by the user. .

JP 2010-61420 A

  Generally, when a consumer wants to purchase a product, a desired product image is determined, but a specific manufacturer name, product name, model number, etc. are often not determined. In such a case, only a rough product category name is given to the search engine as a search condition, and an enormous amount of product information is obtained as a search result, and the characteristics, properties, functions, etc. of various products are accurately determined. There are circumstances in which it takes a lot of labor until the final purchased product is determined by grasping the above and narrowing down candidates.

  This means that when purchasing a product in an actual store, it is possible to determine the purchased product in a relatively short time by obtaining advice from the store clerk along with the exhibition information, whereas in a virtual space via the Internet, In order to accurately grasp the features, brands, characteristics, properties, functions, etc. of the product, it is necessary to search and check the terminology and numerical values used separately separately. This is thought to be due to the labor required.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional circumstances, and provides a product search device and a product search method that enable an accurate narrowing search and can reduce the labor and labor of the user. It is aimed.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following means.
The product search apparatus according to the present invention includes a product category table having product category names hierarchically, and a product property table holding product property names of the products corresponding to the product category names in the lowest hierarchy of the product category table And a manufacturer / brand table that holds the manufacturer name or brand name corresponding to the product category name in the lowest hierarchy of the product category table, and the user's instruction of the product category name in the highest hierarchy of the product category table A product category display control means for hierarchically displaying a list of product category names in a lower hierarchy connected to the product category name in the highest hierarchy in the first display area of the display unit, and a user in the first display area According to the product category name instruction at the lowest level Product characteristic display control means for displaying a list of product characteristic names related to the product category name of the layer in the second display area of the display unit, and indication of the product category name of the lowest hierarchy by the user in the first display area And a manufacturer / brand display control means for displaying a list of manufacturer names or brand names related to the product category name in the lowest hierarchy in the third display area of the display unit, and a user in the second display area. Generating a first search condition that is logically ANDed with respect to one or more product characteristic names selected and instructed, and performing a logical OR with respect to one or more manufacturer names or brand names selected and instructed by the user in the third display area. A second search condition is generated, and a product database is created using a logical product of the first search condition and the second search condition as a search condition. Search condition generation means for passing to a search engine for searching for, and search result display control means for receiving a search result based on the search condition by the search engine and displaying a list in a fourth display area of the display unit. Features.

  According to the present invention, product category names are hierarchically displayed in a list, and one product category name in the lowest hierarchy can be selected. Therefore, it is possible to systematically locate the product category name that the user wants to search for products. At the same time, the product category name can be easily found. In addition, the product characteristic name and manufacturer name or brand name related to the product category name that you want to search for products are presented as product search assist information, and each name can be selected as a keyword in the product search. It is possible to reduce the labor and labor of the user. In addition, it is possible to search for products by switching the features, characteristics, functions, or manufacturer name or brand name, etc. of products, so purchases according to the user's wishes by comparing the selected product candidates Product decision can be supported.

  Further, the present invention provides a product characteristic auxiliary information table that holds auxiliary information of the product category name or the product characteristic name according to the product category name or the product characteristic name of the product characteristic table in the product search device described above. The product characteristic display control means, when there is auxiliary information corresponding to a product category name or a product characteristic name to be displayed, displays the auxiliary information in a list in a second display area of the display unit, and the search condition The generation unit generates a third search condition obtained by performing a logical sum for one or more product characteristic auxiliary information selected and designated by the user in the second display area, and the first search condition, the second search condition, The logical product of the third search condition is used as a search condition and is passed to a search engine that searches a product database.

  According to the present invention, the product characteristic auxiliary information related to the product category name to be searched for products is presented in addition to the product search assist information, and these names can be selected as keywords in the product search. This makes it possible to perform an accurate narrowing search with a limited number of items and reduce the labor and labor of the user. In addition, since the product search can be performed by switching the selection of the size, capacity, etc. of the product, it is possible to support the determination of the purchased product according to the user's wishes by comparing the selected product candidates.

  Further, according to the present invention, in the product search device described above, the product property table retains product property information describing the product property name in association with the product property name and is displayed in the second display area. Product characteristic explanation display control means for displaying product characteristic information explaining the product characteristic name in the fifth display area of the display unit when the user gives a selection instruction for the one product characteristic name. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, the user can easily confirm the meaning of the product characteristic name related to the product category name to be searched for, and can further reduce the user's labor and labor.

  Further, in the present invention, in the product search device described above, the product characteristic name or auxiliary information is displayed by the product characteristic display control unit, or the manufacturer name or brand name is displayed by the manufacturer / brand display control unit. Whether or not the user can select it can be improved.

  With the above improvement, it is possible to further expand the user's choice.

  In addition, the product search method according to the present invention includes a product category table having product category names hierarchically, and a product holding a product characteristic name of the product corresponding to the product category name at the lowest level of the product category table. A product search method of a product search device comprising a characteristic table and a manufacturer / brand table that holds a manufacturer name or a brand name corresponding to a product category name in the lowest hierarchy of the product category table, wherein In response to an instruction for the product category name in the highest hierarchy in the product category table, the product category names in the lower hierarchy connected to the product category name in the highest hierarchy are hierarchically displayed in the first display area of the display unit. Product category display control step, and by the user in the first display area A product property display control step of displaying a list of product property names related to the product category name of the lowest layer in the second display area of the display unit in response to an instruction of a product category name of the lower layer; A manufacturer that displays a list of manufacturer names or brand names related to the product category name of the lowest hierarchy in the third display area of the display unit in response to an instruction of the product category name of the lowest hierarchy by the user in the display area A brand display control step, and generating a first search condition obtained by ANDing one or more product characteristic names selected and designated by the user in the second display area, and selecting by the user in the third display area Generating a second search condition that is logically ORed with respect to the specified one or more manufacturer names or brand names; A search condition generation step for passing a product database to a search engine using the logical product of the search result and the second search condition as a search condition; and a search result based on the search condition by the search engine is received; A search result display control step of displaying a list in the display area.

  According to the present invention, product category names are hierarchically displayed in a list, and one product category name in the lowest hierarchy can be selected. Therefore, it is possible to systematically locate the product category name that the user wants to search for products. At the same time, the product category name can be easily found. In addition, the product characteristic name and manufacturer name or brand name related to the product category name that you want to search for products are presented as product search assist information, and each name can be selected as a keyword in the product search. It is possible to reduce the labor and labor of the user. In addition, it is possible to search for products by switching the features, characteristics, functions, or manufacturer name or brand name, etc. of products, so purchases according to the user's wishes by comparing the selected product candidates Product decision can be supported.

  Also, in the present invention, in the product search method described above, the product search device holds auxiliary information of the product category name or product property name corresponding to the product category name or product property name of the product property table. A product characteristic auxiliary information table, and when the product characteristic display control step has auxiliary information corresponding to a product category name or a product characteristic name to be displayed, the auxiliary information is displayed in the second display area of the display unit. A list is displayed, and the search condition generation step generates a third search condition obtained by ORing one or more product characteristic auxiliary information selected and designated by the user in the second display area, and the first search condition Then, the logical product of the second search condition and the third search condition is used as a search condition, and it is passed to a search engine that searches a product database. It can also be improved.

  According to the present invention, the product characteristic name and the manufacturer name or the brand name related to the product category name to be searched for products can be presented as product search assist information, and these names can be selected as keywords in the product search. Accurate refinement search is possible, and the labor and labor of the user can be reduced. Further, the meaning of the product characteristic name related to the product category name to be searched for products can be easily confirmed, and the labor and labor of the user can be further reduced.

It is a lineblock diagram of a goods search device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a lineblock diagram of a goods search system to which a goods search device of an embodiment is applied. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates the structure of the various tables which a memory | storage part has. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates the screen structure displayed on a display part. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates the screen structure displayed on a display part in the initial stage of a specific example. It is explanatory drawing (the 1) which illustrates the screen structure displayed on a display part in the final stage of a specific example. It is explanatory drawing (the 2) which illustrates the screen structure displayed on a display part in the final stage of a specific example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a product search device and a product search method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a product search device 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the product search device 3 of this embodiment has a configuration including a control unit 20, a storage unit 10, a display unit 30, an interface unit 40, and an input unit 41.

  Here, the control unit 20 is implemented by a processor such as an MPU (microprocessor) or a DSP (digital signal processor), for example, and each component included in the control unit 20 is a functional group of programs executed on the processor. It is embodied as In addition to the RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory), the storage unit 10 includes auxiliary recording media such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and a memory card. In addition to the keyboard, the input unit 41 includes a pointing device such as a mouse. The display unit 30 may use any display means such as a CRT, LED (liquid crystal display panel), etc., but in the present embodiment, it needs to have a configuration capable of realizing at least a GUI (Graphical User Interface) function. . Furthermore, the interface unit 40 is a communication interface for connecting to the Internet, and is realized by a modem or the like. That is, the product search apparatus 3 has the same configuration as a general information processing apparatus, and may be embodied by an information terminal such as a PC (Personal Computer) or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants).

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of a product search system 1 to which the product search device 3 of the present embodiment having such a configuration is applied. That is, the product search device 3 is configured to be connected to the information processing device 5 such as an information management server including at least the search engine 51 and the product database 52 via the interface unit 40. The search condition formula is passed to the engine 51 to execute a search in the product database 52 and the search result is received from the search engine 51. Note that the configuration of the product search system 1 in FIG. 2 is an example, and is not limited thereto. The product search system 3 and the information processing device 5 in FIG. 2 are integrated into a product search system (that is, a product search device). You may make it comprise.

  Next, characteristic components in each unit will be described. First, in the storage unit 10, a product category table 11 having product category names hierarchically, and a product property table that holds product property names of the products corresponding to the product category names in the lowest hierarchy of the product category table 11. 12, a manufacturer / brand table 13 that holds a manufacturer name or brand name corresponding to the product category name of the lowest hierarchy of the product category table 11, and the product corresponding to the product category name or product characteristic name of the product characteristic table 12 A product characteristic auxiliary information table 14 that holds auxiliary information of category names or product characteristic names. FIG. 3 illustrates file definitions of these various tables.

  First, in the product category table 11, as shown in FIG. 3A, one piece of data is constituted by SEQID, upper product category name, lower product category name, and category level classification. Here, the product category name should also be referred to as a group name for grouping products for each hierarchy, and the product category table 11 constructs a hierarchical structure of product category names. Note that the product category name at the highest level corresponds to, for example, “home appliance”, “vehicle”, and “house”. Taking the hierarchical structure of “home appliances” as an example (see FIGS. 5 to 7), “AV equipment”, “PC”, “home appliances”, etc. exist one level below “home appliances”. Furthermore, “TV”, “Recording device”, “Stereo”, and the like exist in the hierarchy immediately below “AV device”. Such layering or grouping is in accordance with the sorting performed in stores or the like in the real space that handle products corresponding to the product category name in the highest hierarchy.

  The category level classification is “1” when the upper product category name is the highest hierarchy in the hierarchical structure and the lower product category name is not the lowest hierarchy, and the upper product category name is the highest hierarchy in the hierarchical structure. 2 and when the lower product category name is the lowest hierarchy, the upper product category name is the highest hierarchy in the hierarchical structure, and the lower product category name is the lower hierarchy. 9 ". In other words, in one piece of data, an association between an arbitrary product category name and a product category name in a higher or lower adjacent hierarchy, information on whether or not the upper product category name is the highest hierarchy, and lower products This is a configuration in which information indicating whether the category name is a lower hierarchy is provided. With this configuration, it is possible to construct a hierarchical structure (tree structure) that is connected to the product category name of the highest hierarchy specified by the user.

  Further, in the product property table 12, as shown in FIG. 3B, one piece of data is composed of SEQID, product category name, property name, property description, and sign with auxiliary information. Note that the data of the product characteristic table 12 is created only for the product category name in the lowest layer of the hierarchical structure among the product category names existing in the product category table 11. Here, the characteristic name corresponds to the product characteristic name referred to in the claims, and represents the characteristics, properties, classification, function, etc. of various products corresponding to the product category name. The characteristic explanation corresponds to the product characteristic information referred to in the claims, and is an explanation explaining the meaning of the characteristic name. Further, the auxiliary information presence sign is identification information indicating whether or not product characteristic auxiliary information described later is attached to the characteristic name, and becomes “1” when the product characteristic auxiliary information is attached. For example, characteristic names for the product category name “TV” are “LED backlight”, “external HDD recording”, “with Blu-ray disc”, and “3D” (see FIGS. 6 to 7).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, the merchandise characteristic auxiliary information table 14 includes one piece of data by SEQID, characteristic name, auxiliary information, and auxiliary information unit. Here, the auxiliary information has a plurality of auxiliary values related to the product category name or the product characteristic name of the product characteristic table 12, and corresponds to the external shape, size, capacity, or the like of the product. For example, for the auxiliary information of the product category name: “TV”, auxiliary information having auxiliary values of {32, 37, 40, 42, 50}: “size”, and the auxiliary information unit is “inch” ( 6 to 7). In addition, regarding auxiliary information corresponding to the product characteristic name, an auxiliary information sign is provided in the data of the characteristic name in the product characteristic table 12, but regarding auxiliary information corresponding to the product category name, auxiliary information is provided. What is necessary is just to make it give to the data of the characteristic name regarding the goods category name in the goods characteristic table 12 in the goods characteristic table 12.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (d), the manufacturer / brand table 13 includes one piece of data by SEQID, product category name, product manufacturer / brand name, and manufacturer / brand classification. Here, the product manufacturer / brand name corresponds to the manufacturer name or brand name in the claims, and is the name of the manufacturer or brand that produces the product of the product category name. The manufacturer / brand classification is “1” when the name is the manufacturer name and “2” when the name is the brand name.

  Next, the control unit 20 includes a registration control unit 21 that controls data registration in various tables of the storage unit 10 via the GUI by the input unit 41 and the display unit 30, and a GUI by the input unit 41 and the display unit 30. A display control unit for controlling display of various data on the display unit 30 through the GUI, input of a user's selection instruction through the GUI, and display of search results on the display unit 30 by the search engine 51 22 and a search condition generation unit 23 for generating a search condition based on a user's selection instruction input. The display control unit 22 includes a product category display control unit 24, a manufacturer / brand display control unit 25, a product characteristic display control unit 26, a product characteristic explanation display control unit 27, and a search result display control unit 28. .

  Here, each component with which the display control part 22 is provided, and the search condition production | generation part 23 are demonstrated in detail with reference to FIG. In addition, the function description of each component is performed according to the procedure of the product search method in the product search apparatus of this embodiment. Here, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen configuration displayed on the display unit 30, and shows a display example of the display unit 30 in FIG. 1 in more detail. FIG. 4 illustrates a mode in which the large window 31 and the small window 32 are displayed on the display unit 30. The large window 31 includes a top hierarchy product category display area 61, a product category display area 62, a product characteristic / auxiliary information display area 63 and its associated display area 63c, a manufacturer / brand display area 64, and a search result display area 65. In addition, a search execution button 60 is provided.

  First, the merchandise category display control unit 24 refers to the merchandise category table 11 in response to an instruction of the merchandise category name of the highest hierarchy of the merchandise category table 11 by the user, and continues to the merchandise category name of the highest hierarchy ( The product category names in the hierarchical structure, i.e., the lower hierarchy, are listed in a hierarchical manner in the product category display area 62 (corresponding to the first display area in the claims) of the display unit 30.

  Here, an instruction by the user of the top hierarchy product category name is made via the top hierarchy product category display area 61. That is, when the attached button 61a is clicked, a pull-down menu (pull-up menu) is displayed downward (and / or upward) in the top hierarchy product category display area 61, and the user points to one of them. As a result, the product category name in the highest hierarchy of the product category table 11 is selected and instructed. In FIG. 4, “Category S5” is selected.

  At this time, in the product category display area 62, the product category names of the second and third layers connected to the highest-tier product category name: “Category S5” are hierarchically displayed in a list. In addition, in order to improve the recognition, the hierarchy display is preferably expressed by dividing the uppermost hierarchy, the second hierarchy, and the third hierarchy into divided areas 62d, 62e, and 62f, respectively. The product category display area 62 includes a vertical scroll bar 62a and a horizontal scroll bar 62b. If the screen of the display unit 30 is small or the number of product category names to be displayed is large, these are displayed. The contents can be confirmed by scrolling using a scroll bar.

  In addition, the product category names in the lowest hierarchy (third hierarchy in FIG. 4) of the hierarchical structure are clickable. That is, the user can instruct and input a product category name to be searched for products by clicking and selecting one of the product category names in the lowest layer (third layer). The product category name designated by the user is displayed in the attached display area 63c and can be confirmed. In FIG. 4, “Product AC” is selected and instructed.

  Next, the product characteristic display control unit 26 refers to the product characteristic table 12 in response to an instruction of the product category name of the lowest layer (third layer) by the user in the product category display region 62 (first display region). The product characteristic name related to the product category name (product AC) of the lowest hierarchy (third hierarchy) is displayed in the upper display area 63d of the product characteristic / auxiliary information display area 63 of the display unit 30 (in the claims) List corresponding to the second display area). In addition, referring to the product characteristic table 12, among the product characteristic names to be displayed, those with an auxiliary information sign “1” are displayed with identification such as an underlined display, and the product characteristic name Is clickable.

  Further, when there is auxiliary information corresponding to the product category name or the product characteristic name displayed with reference to the product characteristic table 12, the product characteristic display control unit 26 refers to the product characteristic auxiliary information table 14, and The auxiliary information is displayed as a list in the lower display area 63e (second display area) of the product characteristic / auxiliary information display area 63 of the display unit 30. In FIG. 4, “product characteristics C1 to C6” are written in the upper display area 63d of the product characteristics / auxiliary information display area 63, and “auxiliary information D1” having auxiliary values “G1 to G5” in the lower display area 63e. ”And“ auxiliary information D2 ”having auxiliary values“ H1 to H4 ”.

  Next, the product characteristic explanation display control unit 27 is instructed by the user to select one product characteristic name displayed in the lower display area 63e (second display area) of the product characteristic / auxiliary information display area 63. At this time, the product characteristic information describing the product characteristic name is displayed in the small window 32 of the display unit 30 (corresponding to the fifth display region in the claims). In FIG. 4, “product characteristic names” among the product characteristic names (C1, C2, C5, and C6) displayed in the upper display area 63d of the product characteristic / auxiliary information display area 63 and identified (clickable notation). When the user clicks “C2”, an explanatory text explaining the meaning of the product characteristic name C2 is displayed in the small window 32.

  Next, the manufacturer / brand display control unit 25 responds to the instruction of the product category name of the lowest hierarchy (third hierarchy) by the user in the product category display area 62 (first display area). The manufacturer name or brand name related to the product category name in the third hierarchy) is displayed in a list in the manufacturer / brand display area 64 (corresponding to the third display area in the claims) of the display unit 30. In FIG. 4, “makers M1 to M4” are written in the upper display area 64d of the manufacturer / brand display area 64, and “brands Br1 to Br5” are written in the lower display area 64e.

  Next, the search condition generation unit 23 is instructed to be selected by the user in the upper display area 63 d (second display area) of the product characteristic / auxiliary information display area 63 when the user clicks the search execution button 60. A first search condition obtained by ANDing one or more product characteristic names is generated, and one or more manufacturer names or brand names selected and designated by the user in the manufacturer / brand display area 64 (third display area) are logically processed. A summed second search condition is generated, and the logical product of the first search condition and the second search condition is used as a search condition, and is passed to the search engine 51 that searches the product database 52.

  Furthermore, when there is an instruction to select auxiliary information, the search condition generation unit 23 is instructed to select by the user in the lower display area 63e (second display area) of the product characteristic / auxiliary information display area 63. A third search condition that is logically ORed with respect to one or more product characteristic auxiliary information is generated, and a product database 52 is created using the logical product of the first search condition, the second search condition, and the third search condition as a search condition. It passes to the search engine 51 to search.

  In FIG. 4, the user displays “product characteristics C1 to C6” written in the upper display area 63d of the product characteristic / auxiliary information display area 63 and “auxiliary information D1; auxiliary value” written in the lower display area 63e. “G1-G5” ”and“ auxiliary information D2; auxiliary values “H1-H4” ”,“ makers M1-M4 ”displayed in the upper display area 64d of the manufacturer / brand display area 64, and the lower display area 64e. Among the described “brands Br1 to Br5”, the selection buttons attached to the respective names are sequentially selected for the items of interest to the user (that is, the items to be used as search keywords).

  For example, when “product characteristic C1”, “product characteristic C3” and “product characteristic C5” are selected for the product characteristic name, the first search condition = (product characteristic C1) AND (product characteristic C3) AND (product characteristic C5 ), And when “maker M2”, “maker M3” and “brand Br3” are selected for the manufacturer name or brand name, the second search condition = (maker M2) OR (maker M3) OR (brand Br3) is generated, and when “auxiliary value G2 of auxiliary information D1” and “auxiliary value H4 of auxiliary information D2” are selected for the product characteristic auxiliary information, the third search condition = (auxiliary value of auxiliary information D1) G2) OR (auxiliary value H4 of auxiliary information D2) is generated, and further, search condition = (first search condition) AND (second search condition) AND (third search) It becomes possible to generate the matter).

  Further, the search result display control unit 28 of the display control unit 22 receives the search result based on the search condition by the search engine 51 via the interface unit 40, and receives the search result display area 65 (displayed in the claims) of the display unit 30. List corresponding to the fourth display area).

  Next, specific examples related to the product search device and the product search method of this embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the screen configuration displayed on the display unit in the initial stage of the specific example, and FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the screen configuration displayed on the display unit in the final stage of the specific example. It is explanatory drawing to do.

  First, in FIG. 5, the user clicks the attached button 61 a in the top hierarchy product category display area 61 to display a menu of product category names in the top hierarchy, and selects “home appliance” in the menu. By this operation, “home appliance” is written in the top hierarchy product category display area 61, and the product category name of the second hierarchy connected to the top hierarchy product category name: “home appliance” (“ "AV equipment", "PC", etc.) and product category names in the third hierarchy ("TV", "recording equipment", etc.) are displayed in a hierarchical list.

  Here, the user clicks and selects “TV” among the product category names in the lowest layer (third layer) as the product category name to be searched for products. By this operation, the product category name: “home appliance” is written in the attached display area 63c. In the product characteristic / auxiliary information display area 63, product characteristics: “LED backlight” or the like is written, and “size” (having an auxiliary value “32” or the like) is written as auxiliary information. In the manufacturer / brand display area 64, a manufacturer name: “Panasonic” or the like is written, and a brand name: “DIGA” or the like is written.

  Here, the user selects “LED backlight” and “external HDD recording” for the product characteristic name, and “size = 37”, “size = 40”, “size = 42” and “size =” for the product characteristic auxiliary information. Suppose that “Panasonic”, “Toshiba” and “Sharp” are selected for the manufacturer name. At this time, the search condition generation unit 23 generates the first search condition = (LED backlight) AND (external HDD recording), and the second search condition = (Panasonic) OR (Toshiba) OR (sharp). Also, the third search condition = (size = 37) OR (size = 40) OR (size = 42) OR (size = 50) is generated, and the search condition = (first search condition) AND (second search) Condition) AND (third search condition) is generated.

  In addition, the search condition generated by the search condition generation unit 23 is passed to the search engine 51 and the product database 52 is searched. When a search result based on the search condition by the search engine 51 is received, the search result is displayed as a list in the search result display area 65 of the display unit 30 by the search result display control unit 28.

  If the user looks at the displayed search result and wishes to further narrow down, the user can increase the click selection number of the logical product term or reduce the click selection number of the logical sum term, and again. A product search will be performed. In FIG. 7, “Sharp” is not selected for the manufacturer name and “Size = 37”, “Size = 42”, and “Size = 50” are not selected for the product property auxiliary information without changing the selection for the product property name. As a matter of fact, the number of click selections of the logical sum term is reduced. In the example of FIG. 7, the number of hits is reduced from 7 to 2 by performing a product search by such selection.

  As described above, in the product search apparatus and the product search method of the present embodiment, the product category table 11 having product category names hierarchically, and the product corresponding to the product category name in the lowest hierarchy of the product category table 11 Product search apparatus comprising: a product characteristic table 12 that holds product characteristic names of the product category table, and a manufacturer / brand table 13 that holds a manufacturer name or brand name corresponding to the product category name in the lowest hierarchy of the product category table 11 The product search is performed as follows.

  First, in response to an instruction from the product category display control unit 24 for the product category name in the highest hierarchy in the product category table 11, the product category name in the lower hierarchy connected to the product category name in the highest hierarchy is displayed. A list is hierarchically displayed in the product category display area 62 (first display area) of the display unit 30 (product category display control step).

  Next, in response to an instruction for the product category name at the lowest hierarchy by the user in the product category display area 62 of the display unit 30, the product characteristics display control unit 26 relates to the product characteristics related to the product category name at the lowest hierarchy. The names are displayed in a list in the product characteristic / auxiliary information display area 63 (second display area) of the display unit 30 (product characteristic display control step). In addition, the manufacturer / brand display control unit 25 displays the name in the product category display area 62. The manufacturer name or brand name related to the product category name of the lowest hierarchy is displayed in accordance with the instruction of the product category name of the lowest hierarchy by the user, and the manufacturer / brand display area 64 (third display area) of the display unit 30. List (manufacturer / brand display control step).

  Next, the search condition generation unit 23 generates a first search condition obtained by ANDing one or more product characteristic names selected and designated by the user in the product characteristic / auxiliary information display area 63, and displays the manufacturer / brand display. A second search condition obtained by ORing one or more manufacturer names or brand names selected and designated by the user in the area 64 is generated, and the logical product of the first search condition and the second search condition is used as a search condition. The database is passed to the search engine to be searched (search condition generation step), and the search result display control unit 28 receives the search result based on the search condition by the search engine and displays it in the fourth display area of the display unit (search result display) Control step).

  Thus, in the product search device and the product search method of the present embodiment, product category names are displayed in a hierarchical list, and one product category name in the lowest hierarchy can be selected. Names can be systematically positioned, and product category names can be easily found. In addition, the product characteristic name and manufacturer name or brand name related to the product category name that you want to search for products are presented as product search assist information, and each name can be selected as a keyword in the product search. It is possible to reduce the labor and labor of the user. In addition, it is possible to search for products by switching the features, characteristics, functions, or manufacturer name or brand name, etc. of products, so purchases according to the user's wishes by comparing the selected product candidates Product decision can be supported.

  In addition, the product search device and the product search method according to the present embodiment include the product characteristic auxiliary information table 14 that holds auxiliary information of the product characteristic corresponding to the product category name or the product characteristic name of the product characteristic table 12, and the product category When there is auxiliary information corresponding to the name or the product characteristic name to be displayed, the auxiliary information is displayed as a list in the product characteristic / auxiliary information display area 63 of the display unit 30 by the product characteristic display control unit 26 (product characteristic display control). Step), the search condition generation unit 23 generates a third search condition obtained by ORing one or more product characteristic auxiliary information selected and instructed by the user in the product characteristic / auxiliary information display area 63, and the first search A logical product of the condition, the second search condition, and the third search condition is used as a search condition, and is passed to a search engine that searches the product database (search condition) Generating step).

  As described above, in the product search device and the product search method of the present embodiment, the product characteristic auxiliary information related to the product category name to be searched for products is presented in addition to the product search assist information, and these names are keywords in the product search. Therefore, it is possible to perform an accurate narrowing search with limited size, capacity, etc., and to reduce the labor and labor of the user. In addition, since the product search can be performed by switching the selection of the size, capacity, etc. of the product, it is possible to support the determination of the purchased product according to the user's wishes by comparing the selected product candidates.

  Further, in the product search device and the product search method of the present embodiment, the product property information describing the product property name is held in the product property table 12 in association with the product property name, and the product property description display control unit 27, when the user gives an instruction to select one product characteristic name displayed in the product characteristic / auxiliary information display area 63, the product characteristic information describing the product characteristic name is displayed in the small window 32 of the display unit 30. Display in (fifth display area) (product characteristic explanation display control step). Thereby, the user can easily confirm the meaning of the product characteristic name related to the product category name for which the product search is to be performed, and the labor and labor of the user can be further reduced.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail with reference to drawings, this invention is not limited to these embodiment and its deformation | transformation, There exists a design change etc. of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention. Are also included in the present invention. For example, the user can select whether to display the product characteristic name or auxiliary information by the product characteristic display control unit 26 or display the manufacturer name or brand name by the manufacturer / brand display control unit 25. As such, a configuration in which a separate setting unit is provided may be employed. With this configuration, it is possible to further expand the user's choice.

1 Product Search System 3 Product Search Device 5 Information Processing Device 10 Storage Unit 11 Product Category Table 12 Product Characteristic Table 13 Manufacturer / Brand Table 14 Product Characteristic Supplementary Information Table 20 Control Unit 21 Registration Control Unit 22 Display Control Unit 23 Search Condition Generation Unit 24 Product category display control unit 25 Manufacturer / brand display control unit 26 Product characteristic display control unit 27 Product characteristic explanation display control unit 28 Search result display control unit 30 Display unit 31 Large window 32 Small window 40 Interface unit 41 Input unit 60 Search execution Button 61 Top level product category display area 62 Product category display area 63 Product characteristic / auxiliary information display area 63c Attached display area 64 Manufacturer / brand display area 65 Search result display area

Claims (4)

A product category table having product category names hierarchically;
A product characteristic table for holding a product characteristic name of the product corresponding to the product category name in the lowest hierarchy of the product category table;
A manufacturer / brand table that holds a manufacturer name or a brand name corresponding to a product category name in the lowest hierarchy of the product category table;
In response to an instruction of the product category name of the highest hierarchy of the product category table by the user, the product category name of the lower hierarchy that is connected to the product category name of the highest hierarchy is hierarchically displayed in the first display area of the display unit. Product category display control means for displaying a list on,
In response to an instruction of a product category name at the lowest level by the user in the first display area, product characteristic names related to the product category name at the lowest level are displayed in a list in the second display area of the display unit. Product characteristic display control means;
In response to an instruction of the product category name of the lowest hierarchy by the user in the first display area, the manufacturer name or brand name related to the product category name of the lowest hierarchy is listed in the third display area of the display unit Manufacturer / brand display control means to display,
A first search condition is calculated by taking a logical product of one or more product characteristic names selected and designated by the user in the second display area, and one or more manufacturers selected and designated by the user in the third display area Search condition generation means for generating a second search condition that is logically summed for a name or a brand name, and passing to a search engine that searches a product database using a logical product of the first search condition and the second search condition as a search condition When,
Search result display control means for receiving a search result based on the search condition by the search engine and displaying a list in a fourth display area of the display unit;
A product search device characterized by comprising: A product characteristic auxiliary information table that holds auxiliary information of the product characteristic corresponding to the product category name or the product characteristic name of the product characteristic table,
When there is auxiliary information corresponding to a product category name or a product characteristic name to be displayed, the product characteristic display control means displays the auxiliary information in a list in the second display area of the display unit,
The search condition generation means generates a third search condition obtained by ORing one or more product characteristic auxiliary information selected and designated by the user in the second display area, and the first search condition, the second search condition, 2. The product search apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a logical product of a search condition and the third search condition is used as a search condition and is passed to a search engine that searches a product database. The product property table stores product property information that describes the product property name in association with the product property name,
When the user gives an instruction to select one product characteristic name displayed in the second display area, the product characteristic information for explaining the product characteristic name in the fifth display area of the display unit is displayed. The commodity search apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an explanation display control unit. A product category table having product category names hierarchically;
A product characteristic table for holding a product characteristic name of the product corresponding to the product category name in the lowest hierarchy of the product category table;
A product search method of a product search device comprising: a manufacturer name or a brand table that holds a manufacturer name or a brand name corresponding to a product category name in the lowest hierarchy of the product category table,
In response to an instruction of the product category name of the highest hierarchy of the product category table by the user, the product category name of the lower hierarchy that is connected to the product category name of the highest hierarchy is hierarchically displayed in the first display area of the display unit. The product category display control step to list
In response to an instruction of a product category name at the lowest level by the user in the first display area, product characteristic names related to the product category name at the lowest level are displayed in a list in the second display area of the display unit. Product characteristic display control step;
In response to an instruction of the product category name of the lowest hierarchy by the user in the first display area, the manufacturer name or brand name related to the product category name of the lowest hierarchy is listed in the third display area of the display unit Manufacturer / brand display control step to display,
A first search condition is calculated by taking a logical product of one or more product characteristic names selected and designated by the user in the second display area, and one or more manufacturers selected and designated by the user in the third display area A search condition generation step of generating a second search condition that is logically summed for a name or a brand name, and passing to a search engine that searches a product database using a logical product of the first search condition and the second search condition as a search condition When,
A search result display control step of receiving a search result based on the search condition by the search engine and displaying a list in a fourth display area of the display unit;
A product search method characterized by comprising:

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