System, user terminal programs and servers

Abstract

The system provides a user terminal program and server capable of providing the location of a physical store where the user can purchase the desired product from among multiple physical stores. [Solution] Server 3 includes a determination unit 31a that determines whether the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase matches the product ID of the physical store; a physical store identification unit 31b that identifies the physical store that handles the product when the determination unit 31a determines that the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase matches the product ID of the physical store; and a transmission unit 35 that transmits image data of the product and location information of the physical store to the user terminal 4 when the determination unit 31a determines that the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase matches the product ID of the physical store, the physical store identification unit 31b identifies the physical store, and the inventory information of the product indicates that the product is in stock. User terminal 4 has a display unit 44 that displays a map, and the display unit 44 displays an image of the product based on the image data at a location identified by the location information of the physical store on the map.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a system, a program for a user terminal, and a server.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in the field of digital marketing, data has been acquired, recognized, and organized from the perspective of improving the targeting accuracy of customers using the data possessed by enterprises. That is, the data possessed by enterprises consists of primary data collected by the enterprises themselves, secondary data that complements the primary data purchased or acquired from other companies (for example, other enterprises, government agencies, research institutions), and tertiary data that has been processed and shaped by a third party for easy use. Enterprises use these data to distribute advertisements for their commercial materials (products or services) to potential customers, and a method of digging out potential needs of customers has been carried out.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in recent years, online shopping in which commercial materials are purchased at online stores has become widespread. However, the reality is that while most of the decision-making in customers' purchasing behavior is based on online information, most of the purchasing behavior is carried out offline. That is, the fact is that customers collect information on commercial materials they are considering purchasing on the Internet, and often purchase the commercial materials at physical stores. Therefore, the conventional method of distributing advertisements for commercial materials of enterprises to potential customers starting from enterprises has a problem of not conforming to such a reality. In addition, even if a user has a commercial material that he or she is interested in after seeing an advertisement for the commercial material, the user has to sequentially check physical stores that handle the commercial material.

[0005] This invention was made to solve these problems, and one of its objectives is to provide a system, a user terminal program, and a server that can provide the location of a physical store where a user can purchase the desired product among multiple physical stores. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a user terminal, a server connected to the user terminal via a network, and a database connected to the server, wherein the database stores purchase consideration product data including product IDs of products the user is considering purchasing, acquired by the user terminal, and physical store data including physical store product IDs that identify products handled at each of multiple physical stores, image data of the products, inventory information, and location information of the physical stores, with the physical store product IDs, image data of the products, inventory information, and location information being associated, and the server performs a determination to determine whether the product ID of the purchase consideration product matches the physical store product ID. The system comprises: a unit; a store identification unit that identifies a store that handles a product when the determination unit determines that the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase matches the store's product ID; and a transmission unit that transmits image data of the product and the store's location information to the user terminal when the determination unit determines that the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase matches the store's product ID, the store's location identification unit identifies the store, and the inventory information for the product indicates that the product is in stock. The user terminal has a display unit that displays a map, and the display unit displays an image of the product based on the image data at a location on the map identified by the store's location information.

[0007] A user terminal program according to one aspect of the present invention is a user terminal program characterized by causing the user terminal to perform the following steps: to acquire purchase consideration product data including product IDs of products the user is considering purchasing; to transmit the acquired purchase consideration product data to a server connected via a network; to receive image data of the product associated with the store product ID and location information of the store from the server when the server determines that the product ID of the product being considered for purchase matches a store product ID that identifies products handled by the store, the server identifies a store among a plurality of stores that handles the product, and the inventory information of the product indicates that the product is in stock; and to display an image of the product based on the image data at a location on the map identified by the store location information of the store on the map.

[0008] A server according to one aspect of the present invention is a server connected to a database, the database storing purchase consideration product data including product IDs of products considered by the user, acquired by a user terminal connected to the server via a network, and physical store data including physical store product IDs that identify products handled at each of multiple physical stores, image data of the products, inventory information, and location information of the physical stores, wherein the physical store product IDs, image data of the products, inventory information, and location information are associated, and the product IDs of the products considered by the user are stored in the database. The system is characterized by comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not the product ID of the product under consideration matches the product ID of the physical store; a physical store identification unit that identifies the physical store that handles the product when the determination unit determines that the product ID of the product under consideration matches the product ID of the physical store; and a transmission unit that transmits image data of the product and location information of the physical store to the user terminal when the determination unit determines that the product ID of the product under consideration matches the product ID of the physical store, the physical store is identified by the physical store identification unit, and the inventory information of the product indicates that the product is in stock. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide the location of a physical store where a user can purchase the desired product among multiple physical stores. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is an example of a system configuration diagram according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This diagram shows the server's hardware configuration. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of a product display table for a physical store. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of a table in a physical store. [Figure 5] This is a diagram showing an example of a catalog table. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of a user information table. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of an interest filter. [Figure 8] This is an example of a server's functional block diagram. [Figure 9] This is an example of a functional block diagram for a user terminal. [Figure 10] This is an example of a login screen. [Figure 11] This is an example of a screen for acquiring data on products under consideration for purchase. [Figure 12] This is an example of a map display screen. [Figure 13] This is an example of a screen showing detailed product information. [Figure 14] This is an example of a screen showing detailed information about recommended products. [Figure 15] This is an example of a catalog screen. [Figure 16] This is an example of an operation flowchart of the system according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this specification, for convenience of explanation, detailed descriptions that are not necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of well-known matters and duplicate descriptions of substantially the same configurations may be omitted.

[0012] [1. Configuration] [1-1. Overview] The system of this embodiment is a system that presents the user with the location of a physical store that handles the merchandise under consideration for purchase that the user has searched for or browsed online. It is a system that starts from the actions of users on the Internet such as websites and apps, guides users to physical stores, and leads to the purchase of merchandise at physical stores, which realizes a so-called O2O (Online to Offline). The merchandise under consideration for purchase can be merchandise that the user has decided to purchase at a physical store, merchandise that the user is considering purchasing, or merchandise that is presumed to be under consideration for purchase by the user. Merchandise refers to goods or services. Services are services provided to users at physical stores, for example, the provision of food and beverages in a restaurant. Food taken out from a restaurant can be regarded as goods.

[0013] FIG. 1 is an example of a configuration diagram of the system according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the system 1 includes a database 2, a server 3, a user terminal 4, and a terminal device 5.

[0014] The database 2 is a storage device that is connected to the server 3 directly or via a network N, and can store various information and data in advance and additionally.

[0015] The database includes physical store data. The physical store data includes a physical store merchandise ID that identifies the merchandise handled by the physical store, image data of the merchandise, inventory information, and location information of the physical store, and these physical store merchandise IDs, image data of the merchandise, inventory information, and location information of the physical store are associated. A physical store is a physically existing store and does not include an online store.

[0016] Database 2 can store data on products the user is considering purchasing. This data includes the product ID of the product being considered. This data can be obtained from user terminal 4.

[0017] Server 3 is a processing unit connected to database 2 and to user terminal 4 via a network N such as the Internet. Based on the user's purchase consideration data and physical store data, Server 3 can identify physical stores that handle the purchase consideration products desired by the user. Server 3 can transmit information including the location information of the identified physical store, along with information on the purchase consideration products and / or products handled by the physical store, to user terminal 4. Server 3 can acquire purchase consideration product data from user terminal 4 and physical store data from the physical store's terminal device 5, and store the acquired purchase consideration product data and physical store data in database 2.

[0018] User terminal 4 is a terminal used by a user. A user can be, for example, an individual who is considering or wishing to purchase a product. Terminal device 5 is a terminal used in a physical store. Terminal device 5 can transmit store data to server 3 in order to store the store data in database 2. Multiple user terminals 4 and terminal devices 5 may be included in system 1.

[0019] Figure 2 shows the hardware configuration of Server 3. Server 3 may include a processor 10a, a storage device 10b, an input device 10c, an output device 10d, and a communication device 10e. Each of the components 10a to 10e is connected by a bus 10f. Interfaces may be interposed between the bus 10f and each of the components 10a to 10e as needed. Server 3 can be composed of computers such as desktop computers, tablet computers, and laptop computers, and does not need to be composed of a single physical device, but may be composed of multiple physical devices. Furthermore, if Server 3 is composed of multiple physical devices, a load balancer (not shown) may be provided in Server 3. The load balancer distributes communications from external sources (e.g., user terminals 4, terminal devices 5) to each of the devices in Server 3, thereby reducing the load.

[0020] The processor 10a controls the operation of the entire server 3. The processor 10a is an electronic circuit such as a CPU or MPU. The processor 10a performs various processes by reading and executing programs and data stored in the storage device 10b. The processor 10a may be composed of multiple processors.

[0021] The storage device 10b includes volatile memory RAM 10b-1 and non-volatile memory ROM 10b-2. The storage device 10b may also include external memory 10b-3. RAM 10b-10 functions as the main memory and / or work area of ​​the processor 10a. The processor 10a loads programs and other necessary data from ROM 10b-2 and external memory 10b-3 into RAM 10b-1 to perform various operations, and executes the loaded programs. ROM 10b-2 and external memory 10b-3 store the BIOS and OS, which are control programs for the processor 10a, as well as various programs, data, tables, etc., necessary to realize the functions executed by the computer. External memory 10b-3 can include, for example, flash memory, hard disk, DVD-RAM, USB memory, SSD, etc.

[0022] The input device 10c receives operation instructions and input from the user. The input device 10c is a user interface such as an input button, keyboard, mouse, touch panel, touchpad, wireless remote control, microphone, or camera. Note that the touch panel functions as both an input device 10c and an output device 10d.

[0023] The output device 10d outputs data processed by the processor 10a and / or stored in the storage device 10b. The output device 10d may include, for example, display devices such as CRT displays, liquid crystal displays, organic EL displays, and plasma displays; sound devices such as speakers that emit sound; and printing devices such as printers.

[0024] The communication device 10e is an interface that connects to and communicates with external devices via a network or directly. The communication device 10e can be, for example, a serial interface, a LAN interface, or the like.

[0025] Each part of server 3 is realized by various programs stored in ROM 10b-2 and external memory 10b-3 using each configuration 10a to 10f as resources, and server 3 can function as a web server and / or application server.

[0026] The user terminal 4 and terminal device 5 may have the same hardware configuration as the server 3, namely a processor 10a, storage device 10b, input device 10c, output device 10d, and communication device 10e. The user terminal 4 can be a computer such as a tablet computer or a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. The user terminal 4 is equipped with a location detection sensor such as a GPS sensor. The terminal device 5 can be a computer such as a desktop computer, a notebook computer, or a tablet computer. In this embodiment, the user terminal 4 is a smartphone, and the terminal device 5 is a notebook computer.

[0027] [1-2. Detailed Configuration] (Database) Database 2 stores store data for multiple physical stores. Store data can be, for example, data entered from the terminal device 5 of a physical store. Store data can include a store product ID that identifies the products handled at the store, image data of the products, inventory information, store location information, store name, business hours, and telephone number, and these store product IDs, image data of the products, inventory information, store location information, store name, business hours, and telephone numbers are associated with each other. For example, Database 2 stores store IDs, product IDs, product names, prices, image data, brand names, categories, inventory information, store location information, store names, business hours, and telephone numbers, associating them with store product tables 2a and store tables 2b. Store table 2b can be set up for each physical store using System 1, and store product table 2a can be set up for each product handled by a physical store using System 1.

[0028] Figure 3 shows an example of the physical store product table 2a. The physical store product table 2a associates the physical store ID, product ID, product name, product price, image data, brand name, category, and inventory information. The physical store ID (shop_id) is an identifier that uniquely identifies the physical store. The product ID (product_id) is an identifier that uniquely identifies the product handled at the physical store, and can be, for example, a JAN code (also called GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)), an e-commerce site, a company, or a product code used uniquely within the physical store. The product name (product_name) is the name of the product. The price is the price of the product at the physical store identified by the physical store ID. If the product is a service, the price is the fee. The image data (image_url) is data that shows the image of the product identified by the product ID. The brand name of the product (brand_name) is the name of the brand of the product identified by the product ID. Categories (category 1-3) are categories that correspond to the products identified by the product ID. Multiple categories can be set, such as categories 1-3, and categories 1-3 can be major, medium, and minor categories. In one example, categories 1-3 could be Fashion, Clothing, and Jackets. Categories 1-3 are the second interest filter items, which will be described later. Inventory information (stock) is information that indicates the number of items in stock for the product identified by the product ID. If the inventory information is 0, for example, it indicates that there is no stock of that product, and if it is a natural number of 1 or more, it indicates that there is stock of that product.

[0029] Figure 4 shows an example of the physical store table 2b. The physical store table 2b associates the physical store ID, longitude data, latitude data, the name of the physical store, business hours, and telephone number. The physical store ID is, as described above, an identifier that uniquely identifies a physical store. The longitude data is data indicating the longitude of the physical store identified by the physical store ID. The latitude data is data indicating the latitude of the physical store identified by the physical store ID. The longitude data and latitude data are location information of the physical store identified by the physical store ID. The name of the physical store (shop_name), business hours (businesshour), and telephone number (tel) are the name of the physical store identified by the physical store ID, business hours, and telephone number. In addition to these, the physical store table 2b may also associate the URL of a website including the homepage of the physical store or its operating company, an e-commerce site (hereinafter also referred to as "EC site"), a media site, or a social networking service, as well as applications for e-commerce, media, or social networking services, all identified by the physical store ID. These applications were installed or downloaded to user terminal 4.

[0030] Database 2 stores ID, user ID, product ID under consideration for purchase, product name, image data, product brand name, category, and user information, linked together by catalog table 2c and user information table 2d. User information table 2d is provided for each user using user terminal 4 and system 1, and catalog table 2c can be provided for each product under consideration for purchase.

[0031] Figure 5 shows an example of catalog table 2c. Catalog table 2c associates ID, user ID, product ID under consideration, product name, product price, image data, brand name, and category. ID is an identifier assigned throughout the system. User ID is an identifier that uniquely identifies the user using user terminal 4. Product ID under consideration (product_id) is an identifier that uniquely identifies the product under consideration included in the product data under consideration, and can be, for example, a JAN code (also called GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)), an e-commerce site, a company, or a product code used in a physical store. Product name (product_name) is the name of the product included in the product data under consideration. Price (price) is the price of the product. If the product is a service, the price is the fee. Image data (image_url) is data that shows the image of the product identified by the product ID under consideration. Brand name (brand_name) is the name of the brand of the product identified by the product ID under consideration. The categories (category 1-3) are those that correspond to the products identified by the product ID under consideration for purchase. Multiple categories can be created, such as categories 1-3, and categories 1-3 can be major, medium, and minor categories. In one example, categories 1-3 could be Fashion, Clothing, and Outerwear. Categories 1-3 are the first interest filter items, which will be described later.

[0032] Purchase consideration data may include the purchase consideration ID, product name, product price, image data, and brand name. Purchase consideration data is obtained from websites including e-commerce sites (EC sites), media sites, or social networking services (SNS) that the user searches or views via the user terminal 4, or from applications of e-commerce, media, or social networking services. These applications are installed or downloaded to the user terminal 4 and have the same functionality as websites including EC sites, media sites, or SNS. Purchase consideration data can be obtained from shopping cart information or favorites registration information on EC sites or from the user's online behavior data. Shopping cart information, favorites registration information, and the user's online behavior data include information on products selected by the user to purchase, products the user is considering purchasing, or products that the user is presumed to be considering purchasing, and this information includes the information indicated by the purchase consideration data. Online behavior data here may be, for example, history data of searches or views of purchase consideration information by the user via the user terminal 4, including information on purchase consideration products.

[0033] Figure 6 shows an example of User Information Table 2d. User Information Table 2d associates the following information that can be included in user information: User ID, Username, User's email address, Password, Date of Birth, and Actual Age. User ID is an identifier that identifies the user. Username is an arbitrary name for the user registered by the user identified by the User ID, such as the user's full name. User's email address is the email address registered by the user identified by the User ID. Password is the password required for the user identified by the User ID to use System 1. Date of Birth is the date the user identified by the User ID was born. Actual Age is the user's age calculated from the user's date of birth.

[0034] Database 2 may contain a product ID master table that associates the product ID of a physical store with the product ID of a product under consideration for purchase for the same product. The product ID master table is a table that links product IDs when each physical store, each e-commerce site, or each company such as a manufacturer assigns a unique product ID to the same product. This product ID master table makes it possible to determine that a product is the same product even if the product ID of the physical store and the product ID of the product under consideration are not the same.

[0035] Database 2 stores user information, including a first interest filter item, user location information, and a first segment, and stores information about physical stores and the products they handle, including a second interest filter item, physical store location information, and a second segment.

[0036] The first interest filter item and the second interest filter item are items included in a common interest filter. An interest filter is a collection of multiple items that classify all products handled by System 1, for example, a product tree that divides products into major, medium, and minor categories. In this specification, items included in an interest filter are referred to as interest filter items.

[0037] Figure 7 shows an example of an interest filter. In the example shown in Figure 7, the interest filter includes subcategories such as "Literature and Criticism," "Humanities and Thought," and "Society, Politics, and Law" within the major category "Reading and Books," and subcategories such as "Domestic Books" and "Foreign Books" within the subcategories "Literature and Criticism" and "Humanities and Thought." The first interest filter item is an interest filter item selected by the user from the interest filter via the user terminal 4, and is an item related to the user's interests. In one example, if the user is interested in domestic literature, the first interest filter items would be "Reading and Books," "Literature and Criticism," and "Domestic Books," which correspond to categories 1 to 3 in catalog table 2c, respectively. The second interest filter item is an interest filter item among the multiple items included in the interest filter that corresponds to the products handled in the physical store. The second interest filter item can be set, for example, by a store staff member via the terminal device 5. In one example, if the physical store is a bookstore, the second interest filter items for domestic literary books are "Reading / Books," "Literature / Criticism," and "Domestic Books," which correspond to categories 1-3 in the physical store merchandise table 2a, respectively.

[0038] Furthermore, in the example shown in Figure 7, the major category "Fashion" includes subcategories such as "Ladies'," "Men's," and "Kids'," and the subcategory "Ladies'" includes further subcategories such as "Clothing & Fashion Accessories," "Shoes," and "Bags & Wallets."

[0039] Furthermore, in the example shown in Figure 7, the major category "Food & Gourmet" includes subcategories such as "Japanese Food," "Western Food," and "Chinese Food," and the subcategory "Japanese Food" includes further subcategories such as "Japanese Cuisine" and "Sushi."

[0040] User location information may include information about the user's range of activity, areas displayed by the display unit 44 of the user terminal 4 (described later), and registered areas pre-registered by the user. User range of activity information may include information about areas displayed by the display unit 44 of the user terminal 4 (described later), and registered areas pre-registered by the user. For example, user range of activity information may be information or data indicating areas that the user frequently visits. Information about areas displayed by the display unit 44 of the user terminal 4 is information about areas displayed by the display unit 44 of the user terminal 4 when an application program for system 1 is running on the user terminal 4. This information is acquired by the user terminal 4 and is user activity history data. Registered areas are areas pre-registered by the user that are displayed on a map by the display unit 44 of the user terminal 4, such as Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ginza. These areas and registered areas may be areas that the user frequently visits or areas that the user is interested in. Physical store location information is information about the location of the physical store, such as longitude and latitude. The location information for physical stores can be identified from the physical store product table 2a and the physical store table 2b.

[0041] The first segment consists of data related to user attributes, such as data categorized by user age and gender. The second segment consists of data identifying the target audience for products sold in physical stores, such as data categorized by the age and gender of that target audience. In one example, these segments can be identified by dividing them by age group (e.g., teenagers, 20s, 30s) and gender (e.g., male, female, other).

[0042] Database 2 stores the user's ID, the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase, and location information in association with each other. It also stores the product ID of a second recommended product, its image data, and the location information of the physical store in association with each other. The second recommended product is a physical store product that is similar in appearance or has the same or similar functionality as the product under consideration for purchase. Typically, the second recommended product is a product that competes with the product under consideration for purchase. Database 2 also stores a product correspondence table that associates the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase with the product ID of the second recommended product. A product correspondence table can be created for each product under consideration for purchase and / or for each second recommended product.

[0043] Database 2 stores data such as images, videos, text information, and link information to be included in notifications (e.g., campaigns) sent to user terminals 4, with each store associated with it. Images and videos may include images and videos of products handled by the store, as well as images and videos related to the store itself. These images and videos may also be stored separately on a storage server, independent of Database 2. Text information may include discount information for products handled by the store, as well as text information related to seasons and events. Link information may be URLs of websites including e-commerce sites, media sites, and social networking services that handle the products handled by the store, or applications for e-commerce, media, or social networking services.

[0044] (server) Figure 8 is an example of a functional block diagram of Server 3. Server 3 includes a determination unit 31a, a physical store identification unit 31b, a first notification creation unit 31c, a similar product identification unit 32a, a similar product physical store identification unit 32b, a second notification creation unit 32c, a recommended product identification unit 33a, a location determination unit 33b, an attribute segment determination unit 33c, a third notification creation unit 33d, a recommended product identification unit 34a, a location determination unit 34b, a user identification unit 34c, a fourth notification creation unit 34d, and a transmission unit 35.

[0045] The determination unit 31a includes the processor 10a and determines whether the product ID under consideration for purchase matches the product ID at the physical store. The product ID under consideration for purchase and the product ID at the physical store are obtained from database 2. In one example, the determination unit 31a compares each product ID under consideration for purchase with all or some of the product IDs at the physical store in database 2 and determines whether the product ID under consideration for purchase matches the product ID at the physical store. Here, "matching" means that they are the same product. That is, even if the product ID and / or product ID of the product under consideration for purchase are unique product IDs, if they are associated with each other in the product ID master table, these product IDs are considered to match.

[0046] The physical store identification unit 31b includes a processor 10a and identifies a physical store that handles a product when the determination unit 31a determines that the product ID under consideration for purchase matches the physical store product ID. Specifically, the physical store identification unit 31b identifies the physical store product ID that the determination unit 31a determined to match. The physical store identification unit 31b then identifies the physical store product table 2a containing the physical store product ID and identifies the physical store associated with the physical store product table 2a. The physical store identification unit 31b also identifies the location information of the identified physical store from the physical store table 2b.

[0047] The first notification creation unit 31c retrieves image data, inventory information, and store location information of the product associated with the store product ID determined to match by the determination unit 31a, based on the store product table 2a and the store table 2b, from the database 2. If the inventory information for the product indicates that the product is in stock, it creates notification data including the product image and the store location information. This notification data is transmitted via the transmission unit 35 to the user terminal 4 of the user associated with the purchase consideration product ID determined to match by the determination unit 31a. The notification data may include detailed information about the identified product. This detailed information includes the product name, price or fee, the name of the store that handles the product, business hours, and telephone number. This detailed information can be identified from the store product table 2a and the store table 2b.

[0048] The similar product identification unit 32a includes a processor 10a and identifies similar products to the product under consideration when the determination unit 31a determines that the product ID under consideration and the in-store product ID do not match. In one example, the similar product identification unit 32a compares the image data of the product under consideration and the in-store product using image analysis to calculate the degree of similarity and identifies similar products to the product under consideration.

[0049] In another example, the similar product identification unit 32a identifies similar products that are similar to the product under consideration for purchase, based on the user's preferences. User preferences can be extracted by the similar product identification unit 32a based on preference-containing latent data. Preference-containing latent data may include, for example, textual information such as product name, description, size, color, and category of products included in the shopping cart information or favorites registration information of an e-commerce site, as well as behavioral history data such as search keywords, textual information included in viewed notifications, the viewing rate of the notification, the rate of visits to physical stores by the notification, the area searched or viewed by the user, and the area walked by the user. The notification is based on notification data created by, for example, the first notification creation unit 31c, the second notification creation unit 32c, the third notification creation unit 33d, and the fourth notification creation unit 34d. The viewing rate may be the percentage of notifications from a particular physical store that were viewed by the user, or it may be the percentage of notifications from the entire physical store industry (for example, the industry of the same product category) that were viewed by the user. The store visit rate may be the number of visits to a specific store relative to the number of notifications sent to users for that store, or it may be the number of visits to any of the stores relative to the total number of notifications sent to users for the entire store industry. Whether or not a user has visited a store can be detected, for example, by having the user terminal 4 and terminal device 5 communicate. Terminal device 5 sends this detected information to server 3, and server 3 calculates the store visit rate based on this detection information and stores it in database 2. In addition, user terminal 4 obtains the notification viewing history and sends it to server 3. Server 3 calculates the viewing rate based on the viewing history and stores it in database 2.

[0050] The similar product identification unit 32a can extract user preferences by performing morphological analysis on this textual information and / or by using behavioral history data. This textual information and behavioral history data are collected sequentially from the user terminal 4 and stored sequentially in the database 2 in association with the user.

[0051] Furthermore, the similar product identification unit 32a identifies image data and inventory information of identified similar products from the physical store product table 2a. Based on image comparison and / or user preferences, the similar product identification unit 32a calculates the degree of similarity with the product under consideration for purchase and can identify the similar product with the highest degree of similarity among similar products that are in stock. In addition, even if the determination unit 31a determines that the product under consideration ID and the physical store product ID match, the similar product identification unit 32a can identify similar products in the same manner as above if the product is out of stock.

[0052] The Similar Product Physical Store Identification Unit 32b includes a processor 10a and identifies physical stores that handle similar products identified by the Similar Product Identification Unit 32a. Specifically, the Similar Product Physical Store Identification Unit 32b identifies physical stores from the product ID of the similar product and the physical store product table 2a, and identifies the location information of the identified physical store from the physical store table 2b. The Similar Product Physical Store Identification Unit 32b determines whether the location of the identified physical store falls within the range identified by the user's location information. The user's location information can be obtained from database 2.

[0053] The second notification creation unit 32c, which includes a processor 10a, retrieves image data, inventory information, and store location information of similar products associated with the product ID of a similar product identified by the similar product identification unit 32a, based on the physical store product table 2a and the physical store table 2b. If the inventory information of the similar product indicates that the similar product is in stock, the second notification creation unit 32c creates notification data including image data and store location information of the similar product. If the identified similar product is out of stock, the second notification creation unit 32c retrieves image data, inventory information, and store location information of another similar product identified by the similar product identification unit 32a (for example, a similar product with the next highest degree of similarity after the out-of-stock similar product) from the database 2 and creates notification data. The notification data is transmitted via the transmission unit 35 to the user terminal 4 of the user associated with the purchase consideration product ID of a similar product under consideration. The notification data may include detailed information of the identified similar product. The detailed information includes the names, prices or fees of similar products, the names, business hours, and telephone numbers of the physical stores that handle such products. This detailed information can be identified from the Physical Store Product Table 2a and the Physical Store Table 2b.

[0054] The recommended product identification unit 33a includes a processor 10a and compares a first interest filter item with a second interest filter item. If they match, it identifies a product associated with the second interest filter item. For example, the recommended product identification unit 33a compares categories 1 to 3 included in the catalog table 2c with categories 1 to 3 included in the physical store product table 2a. If they match, it identifies a product from the physical store product table 2a. In this specification, the product identified by the recommended product identification unit 33a may be referred to as the first recommended product.

[0055] The location determination unit 33b includes a processor 10a and determines whether the location of a physical store identified by the location information of the physical store associated with the identified first recommended product falls within the range identified by the user's location information. Specifically, the location determination unit 33b identifies the physical store that handles the identified first recommended product and its location from the physical store product table 2a and physical store table 2b of the identified first recommended product. The location determination unit 33b also obtains the user's location information from the database 2 and identifies the range identified by this location information. Then, the location determination unit 33b determines whether the location of the identified physical store falls within the identified range. The attribute segment determination unit 33c determines whether the first segment and the second segment match.

[0056] The third notification creation unit 33d includes a processor 10a and creates notification data including image data of the first recommended product and location information of the physical store when the recommended product identification unit 33a determines that the first interest filter item and the second interest filter item match, the location determination unit 33b determines that the location of the physical store is within the range specified by the user's location information, and the inventory information of the first recommended product indicates that the first recommended product is in stock. This data and information are associated in the physical store product table 2a and the physical store table 2b and can be obtained from database 2. The notification data may include the product name, price or fee, brand name, category, name of the physical store, business hours, and telephone number of the first recommended product. The third notification creation unit 33d may create notification data if, in addition to the matching determination made by the recommended product identification unit 33a and the location determination unit 33b, a matching determination is also made by the attribute segment determination unit 33c.

[0057] The recommended product identification unit 34a identifies the second recommended product. In one example, the recommended product identification unit 34a identifies the product ID of the second recommended product that is associated with the product ID of the physical store product stored in the database 2. Since the second recommended product is one of the physical store products, the product ID of the second recommended product is associated with the physical store product ID or the physical store ID. In another example, the recommended product identification unit 34a may identify the second recommended product from the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase. That is, the recommended product identification unit 34a can identify the second recommended product from the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase associated with the user, the catalog table 2c, and the product correspondence table.

[0058] The location determination unit 34b includes a processor 10a and determines whether the location of a physical store identified by the physical store's location information falls within the range identified by the user's location information. Specifically, the location determination unit 34b identifies the physical store handling the identified second recommended product and its location from the physical store product table 2a and the physical store table 2b of the identified second recommended product. The location determination unit 34b also obtains the user's location information from the database 2 and identifies the range identified by this location information. Then, the location determination unit 34b determines whether the identified physical store's location falls within the identified range. This physical store location information can be obtained from the database 2 based on the physical store product ID (product ID of the second recommended product), the physical store product table 2a, and the physical store table 2b. The physical store location information is location information. The user's location information is location information associated with the user identified by the user identification unit 34c and can be obtained from the database 2.

[0059] The user identification unit 34c, which includes the processor 10a, identifies users associated with the product ID of a product under consideration for purchase, based on the product ID of a product handled in a physical store (second recommended product) that is similar in appearance or has the same or similar functions as the product under consideration for purchase, the product correspondence table, and the catalog table 2c. Specifically, the user identification unit 34c identifies the product under consideration for purchase ID corresponding to the second recommended product from the product ID of the second recommended product and the product correspondence table. Then, the user identification unit 34c identifies the user ID from the identified product under consideration for purchase ID and the catalog table 2c. In this way, the user identification unit 34c can identify users who desire the product under consideration for purchase that corresponds to the product in a physical store.

[0060] The fourth notification creation unit 34d includes a processor 10a and, based on the physical store product table 2a and the physical store table 2b, retrieves image data, inventory information, and physical store location information of the second recommended product associated with the physical store product ID from the database 2. If the inventory information indicates that the second recommended product is in stock, it creates notification data including the image data and physical store location information. This notification data is transmitted via the transmission unit 35 to the user terminal 4 of the user associated with the purchase consideration product ID of the purchase consideration product corresponding to the second recommended product. The notification data may include detailed information about the second recommended product. This detailed information includes the name, price or fee of the second recommended product, the name of the physical store that handles the product, business hours, and telephone number. This detailed information can be identified from the physical store product table 2a and the physical store table 2b.

[0061] The transmitting unit 35 includes a communication device 10e and transmits notification data to the user terminal 4. Specifically, the transmitting unit 35 transmits notification data to the user terminal 4, which includes at least image data of the product and location information of the physical store, when the determination unit 31a determines that the product ID under consideration for purchase matches the product ID of the physical store, the physical store is identified by the physical store identification unit 31b, and the inventory information for the product indicates that the product is in stock. The transmitting unit 35 also transmits notification data to the user terminal 4, which includes image data of similar products identified by the similar product identification unit 32a and location information of the physical store.

[0062] The transmission unit 35 transmits notification data to the user terminal 4, including image data of the first recommended product identified by the recommendation product identification unit 33a and location information of the physical store, when the recommendation product identification unit 33a determines that the first interest filter item and the second interest filter item match, the location determination unit 33b determines that the location of the physical store is within the range identified by the user's location information, and the inventory information of the first recommended product indicates that the first recommended product is in stock.

[0063] The transmission unit 35 transmits notification data, including image data of a second recommended product handled at a physical store corresponding to the product under consideration for purchase, and location information of the physical store, to the user terminal 4 of the user identified by the user identification unit 34c. The transmission unit 35 can transmit various types of notification data upon request from the user terminal 4. In addition, the transmission unit 35 can transmit requested information and data upon request from the terminal device 5.

[0064] The products targeted in this embodiment are (1) products under consideration for purchase, (2) similar products, and (3) recommended products. Products (2) and (3) together may be referred to as recommended products. That is, recommended products may include similar products, first recommended products, and second recommended products. In this case, similar products may be referred to as first recommended products, first recommended products as second recommended products, and second recommended products as third recommended products. Furthermore, the notification data related to products under consideration for purchase (1) is the result of matching user requests with the inventory of physical stores, and is automatically created by server 3, so it can be called an automated campaign. The notification data related to similar products (2) is automatically created by server 3, so it can be called an automated recommendation campaign. The notification data related to the recommended products in (3) can be considered a manual recommendation campaign because it involves settings made at physical stores via the terminal device 5. The notification data related to the recommended products in (3) can be a campaign that incidentally covers areas not covered by an automated campaign. In this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, each product will be distinguished by the names in (1) to (3) above.

[0065] (User terminal) Figure 9 is an example of a functional block diagram of user terminal 4. User terminal 4 comprises an acquisition unit 41, a transmission unit 42, a display control unit 43, and a display unit 44. User terminal 4 installs an application program for system 1 and starts the application, thereby making the components 10a to 10f of user terminal 4 function as units 41 to 44. To realize these functions, user terminal 4 can accept user information input on a login screen G1 as shown in Figure 10. User information can be, for example, a user ID or user's email address and password.

[0066] The acquisition unit 41 includes a processor 10a and a communication device 10e, and acquires purchase consideration product data, including the product ID of the product the user is considering purchasing. The acquisition unit 41 acquires purchase consideration product data from e-commerce sites, media sites, or social networking services that the user has searched or viewed. In one example, the acquisition unit 41 acquires purchase consideration product data from shopping cart information or favorites registration information on an e-commerce site. The shopping cart information and favorites registration information contain data on the products the user is considering purchasing.

[0067] Figure 11 shows an example of the purchase consideration product data acquisition screen G2. As shown in Figure 11, one or more e-commerce sites are pre-registered by the user, and authentication is performed by the user for each e-commerce site. Purchase consideration product data is acquired from the cart information and / or favorite registration information of each e-commerce site. The e-commerce sites from which purchase consideration product data is acquired can be registered, added, and deleted from the purchase consideration product data acquisition screen G2. In addition, the acquisition unit 41 acquires the user's location information and behavioral history data such as online (Web) searches or browsing while the application is running. The behavioral history data may include data from websites including media sites and social networking services, as well as data from e-commerce, media, or social networking service applications, in addition to e-commerce sites.

[0068] The transmission unit 42 includes a processor 10a and a communication device 10e, and transmits the purchase consideration product data acquired by the acquisition unit 41 to the server 3. The transmission unit 42 can send requests to the server 3. In one example, the request is the transmission of notification data by the server 3. Requests can be sent when the application for system 1 on the user terminal 4 is started, and / or while the application is running. The transmission unit 42 transmits online activity history data to the server 3, and this activity history data is associated with the user ID by the server 3 and stored in the database 2.

[0069] The display control unit 43 includes a processor 10a and displays various screens on the display unit 44. These various screens include a login screen G1, a purchase consideration product data acquisition screen G2, a map display screen G3 (Figure 12), a product details confirmation screen G4 (Figure 13), a recommended product details confirmation screen G5 (Figure 14), and a catalog screen G6 (Figure 15).

[0070] The display unit 44 includes an input device 10c (e.g., a touch panel) and an output device 10d (e.g., a display device), and displays various screens based on the control of the display control unit 43.

[0071] The display unit 44 displays a map and displays images based on image data of merchandise at locations identified by the location information of physical stores on the map. The displayed images of merchandise can be (1) images of merchandise whose purchase consideration merchandise ID matches the physical store merchandise ID, (2) images of similar merchandise that are similar to the purchase consideration merchandise, even if the purchase consideration merchandise ID and the physical store merchandise ID do not match, and / or (3) images of recommended merchandise. Recommended merchandise can include first recommended merchandise and second recommended merchandise. These images (1) to (3) may be displayed in different manners so that each type of image (1) to (3) can be distinguished. For example, marks such as stars and double circles may be added to the images (1) to (3), the outer frame of the image may be made thicker, or the outer shape of the image may be made different, such as a circle, square, or polygon. In addition, the size and display manner may be made different for each type of image (1) to (3).

[0072] In this embodiment, the number of product images displayed on the map is limited to a predetermined number or less. The predetermined number is not particularly limited, but can be, for example, 20. The predetermined number can be appropriately designed and changed depending on the display screen of the display unit 44, the size of the map, and the size of the product images.

[0073] The map can be a map of a predetermined range within walking distance from a reference point. The predetermined range is the range that the user can walk, for example, it can be a range of 1.6 km from the reference point. This range is calculated as a range of 20 minutes on foot at a walking speed of 80 m / min. Alternatively, the map may be a map of a predetermined range within a travel range from the reference point. The travel range is the range that the user can travel to by means of transportation such as walking, cycling, or driving, for example, it can be a range of 20 minutes using each means of transportation. The travel speed of each means used to define the range of the travel range can be designed as appropriate. The shape of the predetermined range can be any shape, such as a rectangle, square, rhombus, or circle. The reference point can be the current location of the user terminal 4, the reference point in the registered area, or a location specified by the user. The current location of the user terminal 4 can be obtained by a location sensor such as a GPS sensor on the user terminal 4. The registered area is an area to be displayed on the map that has been registered in advance by the user, and is stored in the database 2 in association with the user ID. A reference point is set for each registered area. For example, if the registered area is Shibuya, the reference location can be Shibuya Station (Figure 12), and if it is Shinjuku, it can be Shinjuku Station. The reference location is not limited to stations, but can be any location such as amusement facilities or commercial facilities. The display unit 44 allows the user to zoom in or out on the map on the map display screen G3, or move the display area, through predetermined operations (e.g., pinch in, pinch out, drag, swipe, etc.). The location specified by the user can be a location specified by the user within a desired area that is displayed by operations such as dragging.

[0074] Images of the products will be displayed at the location of the physical store that handles the product, if that store is located within a predetermined range on the map.

[0075] In one example, the display unit 44 displays an image of a product (e.g., symbol I1 in Figure 12) at the location of the physical store within a predetermined range on the map if the location of the physical store identified by the physical store location information falls within a predetermined range and the product at the physical store matches the product under consideration for purchase. In another example, the display unit 44 displays an image of a similar product (e.g., symbol I2 in Figure 12) at the location of the physical store within a predetermined range on the map if the location of the physical store identified by the physical store location information falls within a predetermined range and the product at the physical store (similar product) is similar to the product under consideration for purchase. In yet another example, the display unit 44 displays an image of a recommended product (e.g., symbol I3 in Figure 12) at the location of the physical store within a predetermined range on the map if the location of the physical store identified by the physical store location information falls within a predetermined range and a recommended product is identified. Such displays by the display unit 44 can be performed, for example, by the display control unit 43 determining whether the location of the physical store, identified by the physical store location information, is within a predetermined range. For example, the display control unit 43 can calculate the distance between a reference position and the location of the physical store identified by the physical store location information, and if the calculated distance is less than or equal to the distance from the reference position to the predetermined range, it can determine that the location of the physical store is within the predetermined range. If the calculated distance exceeds the distance from the reference position to the predetermined range, it can determine that the location of the physical store is outside the predetermined range. Such distance calculation and determination may be limited to the physical store location information transmitted from the server 3 (for example, only the physical store location information included in the notification data).

[0076] As shown in Figure 12, the display unit 44 displays the map display screen G3. The map display screen G3 displays images of multiple products. These images of multiple products may include the images described in (1) to (3) above. When the user selects (tap, etc.) an image of a product displayed on the map M, the display unit 44 displays a detailed information confirmation screen that includes detailed information about the product related to the selected image.

[0077] Figure 13 shows an example of a product details confirmation screen. The details confirmation screen G4 displays detailed information for products whose ID matches the product under consideration for purchase. It is displayed when an image of a product whose ID matches the product under consideration for purchase is selected on the map display screen G3. In the example shown in Figure 13, the details confirmation screen G4 is superimposed on the map display screen G3. The details confirmation screen G4 may include the product's image I1, brand name, name, price or fee, the name of the physical store that handles the product, business hours, and / or telephone number.

[0078] Figure 14 shows an example of a screen for confirming detailed information about a recommended product. The detailed information confirmation screen G5 displays detailed information about a recommended product and is displayed when the image of the recommended product shown on the map display screen G3 is selected. The detailed information confirmation screen G5 can display the image I3 of the recommended product, campaign information C, the name of the physical store that handles the product, business hours, and telephone number. Campaign information C includes a title section C1 and a body section C2. The title section C1 can include text information about the product's discount, season, and events. In the example shown in Figure 14, the title section C1 is "Winter Campaign: 10% OFF All Items," confirming that all products are discounted by 10% at the physical store that handles the product as part of the winter campaign. The body section C2 contains text information about the campaign. In the example shown in Figure 14, the body section C2 confirms the discount rate, the products eligible for the discount, the discount period, and that online ordering is also possible.

[0079] Furthermore, the detailed information confirmation screens G4 and G5 may include a link button B1 that transitions to an e-commerce site where the relevant product can be purchased, and a registration button B2 that allows the user to add the product to their favorites. Link button B1 allows the user to check detailed information about the product on the e-commerce site. Link button B1 may also be a link button to a media site, a website including a social networking service, or an application for e-commerce, media, or a social networking service. This allows the user to purchase the relevant product or check detailed information about the relevant product. Note that the application link button B1 refers to a button that, when pressed, launches an application for e-commerce, media, or a social networking service installed or downloaded to the user terminal 4. The registration button B2 allows the product to be used as material for user preference analysis in the similar product identification unit 32a, and the product for which registration button B2 is pressed can be made one of the products displayed on the catalog screen G6 described later. The link button B1 and registration button B2 may be provided not only on the detailed product viewing screens G4 and G5 for products under consideration and recommended products, but also on the detailed product viewing screen for similar products.

[0080] Refer to Figure 12 again. The display unit 44 can display the selected area. In the example shown in Figure 12, an area selection area R1 and an operation area R2 are provided at the bottom of the map display screen G3.

[0081] The area selection area R1 displays multiple area selection buttons R11. These area selection buttons R11 are used to select an area to be displayed on the map display screen G3. In the example shown in Figure 12, the area selection buttons R11 for "Shibuya," "Omotesando," "Ebisu," "Daikanyama," "Shinjuku," "Shinjuku 3-chome," and "Ginza" are displayed. When a user selects (for example, taps) an area selection button R11, the map M on the map display screen G3 switches to the map of the area corresponding to the area selection button R11. The area corresponding to the area selection button R11 may be a registered area registered by the user, or it may be a pre-set area.

[0082] The operation area R2 contains several buttons for searching for products. Specifically, the operation area R2 displays the "Previous" button R21, the "Next" button R22, the search button R23, the plot button R24, and the catalog button R25.

[0083] The "Previous" button R21 and the "Next" button R22 are buttons that switch the display frames shown on the map display screen G3. Each display frame is a number of product images that can be displayed on the map display screen G3 at one time. For example, if there are 50 product images in total (images (1) to (3)) displayed on the map display screen G3 in a given area, and the number of product images that can be displayed on the map display screen G3 at one time is limited to 20, the display unit 44 will display the product images in three display frames: (a) 20 images, (b) 20 images, and (c) 10 images. For example, if the display unit 44 is displaying the 20 images in (b), selecting the "Previous" button R21 will cause the display unit 44 to display the 20 images in (a), and selecting the "Next" button R22 will cause the display unit 44 to display the 10 images in (c).

[0084] Furthermore, the "Previous" button R21 and the "Next" button R22 can be buttons that switch between display frames associated with display priority. Each display frame (for example, 20 frames) is associated with a display priority (for example, by the display control unit 43). If the display priority is represented by a natural number, and the smaller the natural number, the higher the display priority, then the display unit 44 will first display the image of the product in the display frame with display priority 1, and each time the "Next" button R22 is selected, it will display the images of the products in the display frames with display priority 2, 3, etc. Also, each time the "Previous" button R21 is selected, the display unit 44 will display the image of the display frame with the highest display priority. In one example, if image (1) has the highest priority, image (2) has the next highest priority, and image (3) has the lowest priority, then image (1) can be displayed in the display frame with display priority 1, image (2) in the display frame with display priority 2, and image (3) in the display frame with display priority 3. In another example, if the number of images of (1) displayed in the display frame with display priority 1 is less than the number of product images that can be displayed on the map display screen G3 at one time, the display unit 44 may also display images of (2) and / or (3) in the display frame with display priority 1.

[0085] The search button R23 is a button that searches for products within the area displayed on the map display screen G3 using keywords. When the search button R23 is selected, the display unit 44 displays an input field. Upon entering a keyword into this input field, the display unit 44 displays images of products on the map that match the keyword from among the products displayed on the map display screen G3.

[0086] The plot button R24 is a button that filters products within the area displayed on the map display screen G3 from the perspective of product category. When the plot button R24 is selected, the display unit 44 displays the category list screen. When one category is selected from the category list screen, the display unit 44 displays images of products that belong to the selected category from among the products displayed on the map display screen G3 on the map.

[0087] The catalog button R25 is a button for displaying the catalog screen G6. The display unit 44 displays the catalog screen G6 when the catalog button R25 is selected. Figure 15 shows an example of the catalog screen G6. In the example shown in Figure 15, the catalog screen G6 is superimposed on the map display screen G3.

[0088] The catalog screen G6 is a list screen of products desired by the online user. The catalog screen G6 may include product images, product names, prices or fees for multiple products under consideration that have been determined to match by the determination unit 31a, as well as images, product names, prices or fees for products that have been added to favorites. The detailed images of products under consideration can be, for example, images of products included in the shopping cart information or favorites information of the e-commerce site. The images of products added to favorites are the images of products (1) to (3) for which the registration button B2 was pressed on the detailed information confirmation screens G4, G5, etc. In the example shown in Figure 15, the image I3 of the top left product is the image of a product added to favorites, and it has a heart mark to indicate that it is a product added to favorites. Note that image I1 (I1') is an image of a product under consideration (e.g., pink lipstick) that is similar to image I2 of a similar product (e.g., red lipstick) shown in Figure 12. Image I2, shown in Figure 15, is an image of a similar product identified by the similar product identification unit 32a, and is displayed in a different manner than the image of the same product as the product under consideration. In the example shown in Figure 15, Image I2 is grayed out, and the text "Find similar products" is superimposed on it, displaying it in a different manner than the image of the product under consideration. Therefore, it can be determined that Image I2 is a similar product.

[0089] When an image of a product included in the catalog screen G6 is selected, the display unit 44 displays the image on the map display screen G3 at the location of the physical store that handles that product. In one example, if the physical store that handles the selected product is located in multiple areas, the display unit 44 displays an area selection screen (not shown) and displays the map display screen G3 in the area selected on that screen. On the area selection screen, the display unit 44 can distinguish between registered areas and unregistered areas by using different colors. If there are multiple unregistered areas displayed on the area selection screen, the display unit 44 may prioritize displaying areas near registered areas.

[0090] According to the map display screen G3, users can search for and view products within the displayed area, while the catalog screen G6 allows for centralized management of products desired by online users, and enables them to find the location of physical stores for their desired products.

[0091] (Terminal device) Terminal device 5 is a terminal used in a physical store. Terminal device 5 implements various functions through a web application for system 1 provided by server 3 via its browser. Terminal device 5 can store data such as physical store data, images, videos, text information, link information to be included in notification data sent to user terminal 4, and physical store product IDs of physical store products that are similar in appearance or have the same or similar functions as the product being considered for purchase, in database 2 via server 3.

[0092] [1-3. Operation] Figure 16 is an example of an operation flowchart of the system according to the embodiment. The operation of System 1 may include a data collection step (S10), a product / store identification step (S20), and a display step (S30). Here, it is assumed that user information, store data, and various tables are pre-stored in Database 2. The acquisition of store data and various tables and their storage in Database 2 may also be included in S10.

[0093] (1) Data collection step In the data collection step (S10), various types of data are collected. First, the user terminal 4 accepts the user's login to the application on the login screen G1, and then accepts authentication to each EC site, etc., on the purchase consideration product data acquisition screen G2, and the acquisition unit 41 acquires purchase consideration product data, including the product ID of the product being considered for purchase (S11: Acquisition of purchase consideration product data). The acquired purchase consideration product data is sent to the server 3 by the transmission unit 42, and the server 3 associates it with the user ID and stores it in the database 2.

[0094] (2) Steps to identify products and physical stores In the product and physical store identification step (S20), the products are identified, and the physical stores that handle the identified products are identified.

[0095] Specifically, the determination unit 31a determines whether the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase matches the product ID of the physical store (S211: Product ID match determination). If the determination unit 31a determines that these IDs match (YES in S211), the physical store identification unit 31b identifies the physical store that handles the product identified by the product ID (S212: Physical store identification). The physical store identification unit 31b also identifies the location information of the identified physical store from the physical store table 2b. Then, the physical store identification unit 31b determines whether the location of the identified physical store falls within the range identified by the user's location information (S213: Physical store location determination). After YES in S211, S212, and S213, the transmission unit 32 sends notification data to the user terminal 4 (S214: Notification data transmission). Specifically, the first notification creation unit 31c retrieves image data, inventory information, and physical store location information of the product associated with the physical store product ID determined to match by the determination unit 31a, based on the physical store product table 2a and the physical store table 2b, from the database 2. If the inventory information indicates that the product is in stock, it creates notification data including image data and physical store location information. Then, the transmission unit 32 transmits this notification data to the user terminal 4 of the user associated with the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase. On the other hand, if the identified physical store location is not within the range identified by the user's location information (NO in S213), the process proceeds to S241.

[0096] If the determination unit 31a determines that the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase does not match the product ID of the physical store (NO in S211), the similar product identification unit 32a identifies similar products that are similar to the product under consideration for purchase (S221: Identification of similar products). Specifically, the similar product identification unit 32a identifies similar products that are similar to the product under consideration for purchase based on image data of the product under consideration for purchase and the physical store product, and preference content presence data. Then, the similar product physical store identification unit 32b identifies the physical store that handles the similar product (S222: Identification of physical store). Specifically, the similar product physical store identification unit 32b identifies the physical store from the product ID of the identified similar product and the physical store product table 2a, and identifies the location information of the identified physical store from the physical store table 2b. Then, the similar product physical store identification unit 32b determines whether the location of the identified physical store falls within the range identified by the user's location information (S223: determination of physical store location).

[0097] After YES in S221, S222, and S223, the transmission unit 35 sends notification data to the user terminal 4 (S224: Sending notification data). Specifically, the second notification creation unit 32c retrieves image data, inventory information, and physical store location information of similar products associated with the product ID of the similar product identified by the similar product identification unit 32a, based on the physical store product table 2a and the physical store table 2b, from the database 2. If the inventory information indicates that the product is in stock, it creates notification data including image data and physical store location information. Then, the transmission unit 35 sends this notification data to the user terminal 4 of the user associated with the purchase consideration product ID of the purchase consideration product that is similar to the similar product. On the other hand, if the identified physical store location is not within the range identified by the user's location information (NO in S224), the process proceeds to S241.

[0098] If the determination unit 31a determines that the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase does not match the product ID of the physical store (NO in S211), it identifies a recommended product (S231: Identification of Recommended Product). Specifically, in one example, the recommended product identification unit 33a identifies a first recommended product. In another example, the recommended product identification unit 34a identifies a second recommended product. The location determination units 33b and 34b identify the physical store that handles the identified recommended product and its location from the physical store product table 2a and physical store table 2b of the identified recommended product (S232: Identification of Physical Store). The location determination units 33b and 34b determine whether the location of the physical store that handles the identified recommended product falls within the range identified by the user's location information (S233: Determination of Physical Store Location). Specifically, the location determination units 33b and 34b obtain the user's location information from the database 2 and identify a range specified by the location information. Then, the location determination units 33b and 34b determine whether the location of the identified physical store is included within that range.

[0099] If the location of the identified physical store falls within the specified range (YES in S233), the transmission unit 35 sends notification data to the user terminal 4 (S234: Sending notification data). Specifically, the third notification creation unit 33d creates notification data including image data of the first recommended product and location information of the physical store. The fourth notification creation unit 34d also creates notification data including image data of the second recommended product and location information of the physical store. This data and information are associated in the physical store product table 2a and the physical store table 2b, and can be obtained from database 2. The notification data may include the product name, product price or fee, brand name, category, physical store name, business hours, and telephone number. The transmission unit 35 then sends this notification data to the user terminal 4 of the user associated with the purchase consideration product ID of the purchase consideration product whose interest filter item matches, and to the user terminal 4 of the user who desires purchase consideration products similar to the physical store product based on the product correspondence table.

[0100] If the location of the identified physical store is not included in the range (NO in S233), the notification data is not created by the third notification creation unit 33d and the fourth notification creation unit 34d, and the process proceeds to S241.

[0101] Server 3 (for example, the determination unit 31a) determines whether the determination unit 31a has completed matching for all of the user's purchase consideration items (S241: Has a matching determination been made for all purchase consideration items?). If a matching determination has been made for all purchase consideration items (YES in S241), proceed to S30 (specifically S31). If a matching determination has not been made for all purchase consideration items (NO in S241), return to S211 and perform the operations S211 to S241 for the remaining purchase consideration items.

[0102] (3) Display step In the display step (S30), as the first step, the display unit 44 of the user terminal 4 displays an image of the product identified in S20 on a map of the physical stores that handle the product, as shown in Figure 12 (S31: Map display of product image). The image of the product identified in S20 may include (1) images of products that match the product under consideration for purchase, (2) images of similar products, and (3) images of recommended products. Recommended products may include first recommended products and second recommended products. The display unit 44 first displays the image of the product in the display frame with the highest display priority (display frame with display priority 1). Products under consideration for purchase can be preferentially included in the product in the display frame with the highest display priority. As a result, when the map display screen G3 is displayed, the user can immediately grasp the location of the product under consideration for purchase that they desire. The "Next" button R22 and the "Previous" button R21 allow you to switch between the images of the products displayed sequentially, helping you find the product you're looking for.

[0103] In the second stage, the display unit 44 displays a detailed information confirmation screen (S32: display of detailed information confirmation screen) based on the user's selection of an image of a product displayed on the map display screen G3. The detailed information confirmation screen is, for example, the detailed information confirmation screens G4 and G5 shown in Figures 13 and 14.

[0104] Thus, the display step employs a two-step system: first, the location of the product is displayed on a map, and then, if detailed information about that product is needed, a detailed information confirmation screen is displayed. This allows the user to be provided with the necessary information, starting from the area.

[0105] Furthermore, while the map display screen G3 is used as the home screen, when the user selects the catalog button R25 at the bottom of the map display screen G3, the display unit 44 displays the catalog screen G6, which is a list of products desired by the user online. When the user selects an image of a product included in the catalog screen G6, the display unit 44 displays that image on the map display screen G3 at the location of the physical store that handles that product. As a result, even if the image of the desired product is not on the initially displayed map display screen G3, the user can find the location of the physical store that handles that product via the catalog screen G6.

[0106] In the above operation, steps S221-S224 and S231-S234 were performed in parallel, but they could also be performed in series. Furthermore, the operations of S231-S234 could be included, for example, between S241 and S30. This allows, for example, if the number of images of products under consideration for purchase does not reach the number of images that can be displayed on the map display screen G3 at once, images of recommended products can be included on the map display screen G3.

[0107] System 1 can perform the following actions: Server 3 can send notification data at predetermined timings to user terminals 4 of users who are viewing pages for products A, B, and C handled by a physical store on the e-commerce site of that physical store. These predetermined timings may include, for example, (a) the timing when the user is at a predetermined location such as their home and launches the System 1 application on user terminal 4; (b) the timing when the user (user terminal 4) is on their way to an area where a physical store with at least one of products A, B, or C in stock is located and launches the System 1 application on user terminal 4; and (c) the timing when the user (user terminal 4) has arrived at the area where the physical store is located and launches the System 1 application on user terminal 4. The user's location information is acquired by user terminal 4 and / or sent to server 3 at these timings with the user's consent.

[0108] Patterns (a) to (c) will be explained in detail. As a prerequisite, System 1 performs the following operations: Database 2 has a site product table that associates the e-commerce site with products A, B, and C. When a user views the pages for products A, B, and C on the e-commerce site, for example, at the user's home, the user terminal 4 (acquisition unit 41) acquires this browsing history data and sends it to Server 3 via Transmission Unit 32 along with the user ID. Server 3 stores the browsing history data in Database 2, associating it with the user ID.

[0109] [Pattern (a)] Pattern (a) is the pattern when the user is at a designated location such as their home. In this case, when the application for System 1 is launched on the user terminal 4, a request and the user's location information are sent from the user terminal 4 to the server 3. The server 3 identifies the viewed product from the browsing history data and the site product table, identifies the product from the identified product and the physical store product table 2a, and identifies the location of the physical store that has the identified product in stock from the identified product, the physical store product table 2a, and the physical store table 2b. Then, the server 3 identifies the area closest to the user's current location based on the location information, including the identified physical store, from the area included in the user's location information. The server 3 retrieves image data, product name, price, inventory information, physical store location information, business hours, telephone number, etc. of the product from the database 2 using the identified product and the physical store product table 2a, and creates notification data including these. Then, the server 3 sends the created notification data to the user terminal 4. The user terminal 4 can receive notifications about the availability of products viewed at nearby physical stores, and based on the notification data, the display unit 44 can display the map display screen G3.

[0110] [(b) pattern] Pattern (b) is the pattern when the user is in motion (for example, heading towards the nearest area). The basic operation is the same as pattern (a), and only the differences will be explained. The difference between pattern (b) and pattern (a) is that the request and the user's location information are sent from the user terminal 4 to the server 3, and the application for system 1 is launched on the user terminal 4 while the user is in motion. Therefore, the user terminal 4 receives the notification data while the user is in motion.

[0111] [(c) pattern] Pattern (c) is the pattern when the user arrives at the nearest area. The basic operation is the same as pattern (a), and only the differences will be explained. The difference between pattern (c) and pattern (a) is that the request and the user's location information are sent from the user terminal 4 to the server 3, but the application for system 1 is launched on the user terminal 4 after the user has arrived at the nearest area.

[0112] [1-4. Actions and Effects] (1) The system 1 of this embodiment is a system comprising a user terminal 4, a server 3 connected to the user terminal 4 via a network N, and a database 2 connected to the server 3. The database 2 stores purchase consideration product data, which includes product IDs of products the user is considering purchasing, acquired by the user terminal 4, and physical store data, which includes physical store product IDs that identify products handled at each of multiple physical stores, product image data, inventory information, and location information of the physical stores, with the physical store product IDs, product image data, inventory information, and location information being associated. The server 3 determines whether the product ID of the product the user is considering purchasing matches the physical store product ID. The system includes a determination unit 31a, a physical store identification unit 31b that identifies a physical store that handles a product when the determination unit 31a determines that the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase matches the product ID of the physical store, and a transmission unit 35 that transmits image data of the product and location information of the physical store to the user terminal 4 when the determination unit 31a determines that the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase matches the product ID of the physical store, the physical store identification unit 31b identifies a physical store, and the inventory information of the product indicates that the product is in stock. The user terminal 4 has a display unit 44 that displays a map, and the display unit 44 displays an image of the product based on the image data at a location identified by the location information of the physical store on the map.

[0113] This allows us to provide the location of physical stores where users can purchase the products they are considering buying, transcending brand boundaries and store-specific barriers, thus connecting products gathered online with offline physical stores. In other words, conventional methods are company-centric, with companies delivering advertisements for products they want to sell to potential customers, and there is no connection to physical stores. In contrast, this embodiment uses the user's purchase consideration data as a starting point to match purchase consideration products with products available in physical stores, and displays the location of physical stores that handle those purchase consideration products on a map from among multiple stores in the database. This makes it user-centric, seamlessly connecting online information gathering to offline purchasing behavior at physical stores, transcending brand boundaries and store-specific barriers.

[0114] In this embodiment, images of multiple products are displayed on the map display screen G3, shown on the catalog screen G6, and / or a detailed information confirmation screen for each product is displayed. This eliminates the problem of not being able to centrally manage or review products, which is caused by conventional product advertising distribution methods.

[0115] In other words, traditional methods of delivering product advertisements often aim to deliver advertisements to potential customers within a single platform and convert them into buyers within that platform. However, with changing times, purchasing behavior has shifted from online purchasing on a single platform to gathering information about products under consideration from multiple sources and purchasing them at physical stores. For example, while 90% of information gathered during the consideration phase is obtained online, 92% of the purchase itself takes place offline. Therefore, even if a company collects a vast amount of primary data (e.g., information obtained through its own website, survey results) using traditional methods of delivering product advertisements, the advertisement delivered to the customer can only be from one source of information. Furthermore, because traditional methods involve each company independently delivering product advertisements to potential customers, information on the same or different products becomes isolated for each company, making it impossible to centrally manage or review the products under consideration. This problem has been one of the obstacles to the purchasing behavior described above.

[0116] In contrast, in this embodiment, purchase consideration data is obtained from multiple information sources such as e-commerce sites, media sites, SNS and other websites, and / or applications with equivalent functionality. Products can then be centrally managed or considered using the map display screen G3, catalog screen G6, and detailed information confirmation screens (e.g., detailed information confirmation screens G4 and G5). For example, if images of multiple products are displayed on the map display screen G3, information on each product can be centrally obtained through the detailed information confirmation screen for each product. Furthermore, since the location of physical stores can be seen on the map display screen G3, products can be considered by actually visiting the stores. In addition, products can be centrally managed using the catalog screen G6.

[0117] (2) The map is a map of a predetermined range within walking distance of a reference position which is the current location of the user terminal 4. The display unit 44 is configured to display an image of a product at the location of the physical store within the predetermined range on the map if the location of the physical store identified by the location information is included in the predetermined range and the physical store's products match the products the user is considering purchasing.

[0118] This allows the map display to be limited to a predetermined range within walking distance from the user's current location, making it easier to visually recognize the location of the product under consideration and the physical stores that carry that product. In other words, if the displayed map range is a wide range that exceeds the predetermined range within walking distance (for example, a range spanning multiple prefectures or the entire country), the number of physical stores that carry the product under consideration will become too large, causing the product images of multiple types of products under consideration displayed on the map to overlap, or even if the product images do not overlap, the display of the product images will become too small, making visual recognition difficult. In contrast, in this embodiment, by limiting the map display range to a predetermined range within walking distance, the display is larger than the above wide range, making it less likely for the product images of multiple types of products under consideration displayed on the map to overlap, or allowing the product images to be displayed at an appropriate size, making it relatively easier to recognize the product under consideration and the places where it can be purchased. In other words, this embodiment limits the map display range to a predetermined area within walking distance, thereby technically solving the problem of visually recognizing product images of products under consideration and the locations of physical stores. Furthermore, since the physical stores handling the products under consideration are within walking distance, the barrier to access for users can be lowered.

[0119] (3) The map is a map of a predetermined range within walking distance from a reference point in a registered area that has been registered in advance by the user. The display unit 44 displays an image of the product at the location of the physical store within the predetermined range on the map when the location of the physical store identified by the location information is included in the predetermined range and the physical store's products match the products the user is considering purchasing. As a result, the map display is set to a predetermined range within walking distance from the reference point in the registered area that the user can easily visit, making it easier to visually recognize the products the user is considering purchasing and the locations of the physical stores that handle those products. In addition, even if the user is not in the registered area (for example, if the user is at home), the user can check in advance the locations of physical stores that handle the products the user is considering purchasing within the registered area.

[0120] (4) The map is a map of a predetermined range within walking distance from a reference point specified by the user. The display unit 44 displays an image of a product at the location of the physical store within the predetermined range on the map if the location of the physical store identified by the location information is included within the predetermined range and the physical store's products match the products the user is considering purchasing. This makes it easier to visually recognize the location of the products the user is considering purchasing and the physical stores that handle those products, as the map display is set to a predetermined range within walking distance from the reference point specified by the user, which the user can easily visit. In addition, even if the user is not in the predetermined range that includes the specified reference point, they can check in advance the location of physical stores that handle the products the user is considering purchasing within the predetermined range.

[0121] (5) The number of product images displayed on the map is limited to a predetermined number or less. This prevents overlapping of product images on the map, making it easier to quickly identify the locations of physical stores that carry the products being considered for purchase. In other words, if an unlimited number of product images were displayed on the map, many overlaps would occur, making it difficult to identify the products and the locations of their physical stores. By limiting the number of product images displayed to a predetermined number or less, this problem can be avoided.

[0122] (6) The display unit 44 is configured to display a detailed information confirmation screen containing detailed information about a product whose image is selected by the user when the user selects an image of a product displayed on the map. This allows the user to be provided with detailed information about products under consideration for purchase. In other words, in this embodiment, the information the user is looking for can be presented in stages. The first stage is the map display, which allows the user to see at a glance where each product under consideration for purchase is located. The second stage is the display of the detailed information confirmation screen, where the user can select an image of a product under consideration for purchase that interests them on the map display, thereby allowing them to learn the details of that product.

[0123] (7) The detailed information includes the name of the product, its price or fee, the name of the physical store that sells the product, its business hours, and / or telephone number. This allows customers to obtain the information necessary to consider purchasing the product they are considering.

[0124] (8) The detailed information confirmation screen includes a link button to a website including an e-commerce site, media site, or social networking service, or to an application for an e-commerce, media, or social networking service, related to the product associated with the selected image. This allows the user to be provided with detailed information about the product at a level of detail necessary for the user's purchase consideration. For example, the price of the product at a physical store included in the detailed information can be compared with the price of the product on an e-commerce site (EC site). In addition, specifications such as the size and weight of the product, product description, and comments, ratings, and reviews from other companies regarding the product can be checked on the EC site.

[0125] (9) The user terminal 4 has an acquisition unit 41 that acquires purchase consideration data, and the acquisition unit 41 acquires purchase consideration data from websites including e-commerce sites, media sites, or social networking services that the user has searched or viewed, or from applications of e-commerce, media, or social networking services. This makes it possible to collect purchase consideration data that exists online.

[0126] (10) The acquisition unit 41 acquires purchase consideration product data from shopping cart information or favorite registration information on e-commerce sites or from the user's online behavior data. This makes it possible to obtain information (including product IDs) on products that the user desires. Products included in this shopping cart information or favorite registration information on e-commerce sites or from the user's online behavior data are products that the user desires or are presumed to be products that the user desires. Furthermore, since shopping cart information, favorite registration information, or the user's online behavior data generally include product IDs, it is possible to easily match online purchase consideration products with products handled in physical stores.

[0127] (11) The purchase consideration product data includes image data showing the product image of the product under consideration. The display unit 44 displays a catalog screen G6 containing product images of multiple products under consideration that have been determined to match by the determination unit 31a. Based on the user's selection of product images, the display unit 44 displays the locations of physical stores that handle the selected products on a map. This allows users to find the locations of physical stores that handle the products from the perspective of the products themselves.

[0128] (12) Server 3 further includes a similar product identification unit 32a that identifies similar products to the product under consideration when the determination unit 31a determines that the product ID of the product under consideration does not match the product ID of the physical store, and a similar product physical store identification unit 32b that identifies physical stores that handle similar products, and the catalog screen G6 includes images of similar products in a different manner from the product images. This makes it possible to distinguish similar products from the product under consideration.

[0129] (13) Server 3 further includes a similar product identification unit 32a that identifies similar products to the product under consideration when the determination unit 31a determines that the product ID of the product under consideration does not match the product ID of the physical store, and a similar product physical store identification unit 32b that identifies physical stores that handle similar products. Display unit 44 displays an image of the similar product at a location identified by the location information of the physical store that handles the similar product on the map. This makes it possible to understand the appearance of the similar product and the location of the physical store that handles the similar product.

[0130] (14) Database 2 stores a first interest filter item related to the user's interests selected by the user, associated with the user's location information, and Database 2 also stores a second interest filter item related to the products handled at the physical store, associated with the location information of the physical store. Server 3 further includes a recommendation product identification unit 33a that identifies a first recommended product, which is a product associated with the second interest filter item, when the first interest filter item and the second interest filter item match, and a location determination unit 33b that determines whether the location of the physical store identified by the physical store's location information falls within the range identified by the user's location information. The transmission unit 35 transmits image data of the first recommended product and the location information of the physical store to the user terminal 4 when the recommended product identification unit 33a identifies the first recommended product, the location determination unit 33b determines that the location of the physical store is within the range identified by the user's location information, and the inventory information for the first recommended product indicates that the first recommended product is in stock. Furthermore, the display unit 44 of the user terminal 4 displays an image of the first recommended product based on the image data at the location identified by the physical store's location information on the map.

[0131] This allows us to narrow down the products that interest the user using interest filter items, and further refine the first recommended product based on the user's location information, thereby improving recommendation accuracy.

[0132] (15) Database 2 stores the user's ID, the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase, and the user's location information in association with each other. Database 2 also stores the product ID of a second recommended product that is the same as the product under consideration for purchase in appearance or has the same or similar function as the product under consideration for purchase, which is the product at the physical store, along with the image data of the second recommended product and the location information of the physical store. Database 2 also stores a product correspondence table that associates the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase with the product ID of the second recommended product. Server 3 further includes a location determination unit 34b that determines whether the location of a physical store, identified by the physical store's location information, falls within the range identified by the user's location information, and a user identification unit 34c that identifies a user associated with the product ID of a product under consideration for purchase, based on the product ID of a second recommended product handled at the physical store and a product correspondence table. Transmission unit 35 transmits image data of the second recommended product handled at the physical store and the location information of the physical store to the user terminal 4 of the user identified by the user identification unit 34c, and the display unit 44 of the user terminal 4 displays an image of the second recommended product based on the image data at the location identified by the physical store's location information on the map.

[0133] This allows us to understand the appearance of the second recommended product and the location of the physical store that carries that product. In particular, by identifying users who desire products that correspond to the product in question, starting from the product in the physical store, the physical store can accurately notify users of its products, and users can consider purchasing similar products in addition to the product they are considering, thus broadening their range of choices.

[0134] (16) The user's location information is the area displayed by the display unit 44 or the registered area that the user has registered in advance. As these areas are displayed or registered when the user is looking for products to purchase, they are places that the user is interested in and places that the user is likely to actually visit, thus encouraging the user's purchasing behavior.

[0135] [2. Other Embodiments] In other embodiments of the present invention, the present invention may also include a program that implements the functions and information processing shown in the flowchart of the embodiments of the present invention described above, or a computer-readable storage medium that stores the program. In other embodiments, the present invention may also include a method for implementing the functions and information processing shown in the flowchart of the embodiments of the present invention described above. In other embodiments, the present invention may also include a server that can supply a computer with a program that implements the functions and information processing shown in the flowchart of the embodiments of the present invention described above. In other embodiments, the present invention may also include a virtual machine that implements the functions and information processing shown in the flowchart of the embodiments of the present invention described above.

[0136] In the processes or operations described above, the processes or operations can be freely modified, as long as no inconsistencies arise in the processes or operations, such as using data that should not yet be available at a given step. Furthermore, the embodiments described above are illustrative examples for explaining the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from its essence.

[0137] For example, the present invention may include the following methods.

[0138] A method comprising: a determination step in which a server determines whether the product ID of a product a user is considering purchasing matches a physical store product ID that identifies a product handled by a physical store; a physical store identification step in which, if the determination step determines that the product ID of the product a user is considering purchasing matches the physical store product ID, the server identifies the physical store that handles the product; a transmission step in which, if the determination step determines that the product ID of the product a user is considering purchasing matches the physical store product ID, and the physical store is identified by the physical store identification step, the server transmits image data of the product, inventory information, and location information of the physical store to a user terminal connected to the server via a network; and a display step in which the user terminal displays a map, wherein the display step displays an image of the product based on the image data at a location identified by the location information of the physical store on the map.

[0139] Furthermore, instead of displaying product images on the map display screen G3, you can use videos of the products or images specified by the physical stores. These videos and images can be stored in database 2 beforehand and linked to various tables. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0140] 1 System 2 Databases 3 servers 4. User terminals 5 Terminal devices 10a processor 10b Storage device 10b-1 RAM 10b-2 ROM 10b-3 External memory 10c Input Device 10d Output device 10e Communication device 10f bus 31a Judgment part 31b Physical Store Specific Department 31c First Notification Preparation Section 32a Similar Products Identification Department 32b Identification of Similar Products in Physical Stores 32c Second Notification Preparation Section 33a Recommended Product Identification Department 33b Location determination unit 33c Attribute segment determination unit 33d Third Notification Drafting Department 34a Recommended Product Identification Department 34b Location determination unit 34c User Identification Section 34d Section 4, Notification Preparation Department 35 Transmitter 41 Acquisition Department 42 Transmitter 43 Display Control Unit 44 Display section G1 Login Screen G2 Purchase Consideration Product Data Acquisition Screen G3 Map Display Screen G4 Detailed Information Confirmation Screen G5 Detailed Information Confirmation Screen G6 Catalog Screen N Network

Claims

1. A system comprising a user terminal, a server connected to the user terminal via a network, and a database connected to the server, The aforementioned database contains: Purchase consideration data, including the product ID of the product the user is considering purchasing, obtained by the user terminal, Physical store data includes a physical store product ID that identifies the products handled at each of the multiple physical stores, image data of the products, inventory information, and location information of the physical stores, and the physical store product ID, image data of the products, inventory information, and location information are associated with each other. Stored, The aforementioned server, A determination unit that determines whether the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase matches the product ID of the physical store, If the determination unit determines that the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase matches the physical store product ID, the physical store identification unit identifies the physical store that handles the product, The determination unit determines that the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase matches the product ID of the physical store, the physical store identification unit identifies the physical store, and the inventory information of the product indicates that the product is in stock, and the transmission unit transmits the image data of the product and the location information of the physical store to the user terminal. It has, The user terminal has a display unit that displays a map, and the display unit displays an image of the merchandise based on the image data at a location identified by the location information of the physical store on the map. system.

2. The aforementioned map is a map of a predetermined area within walking distance of a reference location which is the current location of the user terminal. The display unit, when the location of the physical store identified by the location information is included within the predetermined range and the physical store's merchandise matches the merchandise being considered for purchase, displays an image of the merchandise at the location of the physical store within the predetermined range on the map. The system according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned map is a map of a predetermined range within walking distance from a reference point in a registered area previously registered by the user. The display unit, when the location of the physical store identified by the location information is included within the predetermined range and the physical store's merchandise matches the merchandise being considered for purchase, displays an image of the merchandise at the location of the physical store within the predetermined range on the map. The system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The aforementioned map is a map of a predetermined area within walking distance of a reference location specified by the user. The display unit, when the location of the physical store identified by the location information is included within the predetermined range and the physical store's merchandise matches the merchandise being considered for purchase, displays an image of the merchandise at the location of the physical store within the predetermined range on the map. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The number of images of the product displayed on the map is less than or equal to a predetermined number. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The display unit, upon selection by the user of an image of the product displayed on the map, displays a detailed information confirmation screen including detailed information of the product related to the selected image. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The aforementioned details include the name, price or fee of the merchandise, the name, business hours, and / or telephone number of the physical store that handles the merchandise, The system according to claim 6.

8. The aforementioned detailed information confirmation screen includes a link button to a website including an e-commerce site, media site, or social networking service, or to an application for an e-commerce, media, or social networking service, relating to the selected image. The system according to claim 6 or 7.

9. The user terminal has an acquisition unit that acquires the data on products under consideration for purchase. The acquisition unit acquires the purchase consideration product data from websites including e-commerce sites, media sites, or social networking services that the user has searched or viewed, or from applications of e-commerce, media, or social networking services. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The acquisition unit acquires the purchase consideration product data from the shopping cart information or favorite registration information of the e-commerce site or the user's online behavior data. The system according to claim 9.

11. The aforementioned purchase consideration data includes image data showing the product image of the purchase consideration, The aforementioned display unit is The determination unit displays a catalog screen containing product images of multiple products under consideration for purchase that it has determined to be a match. Based on the user's selection of the product image, the location of the physical store handling the selected product is displayed on the map. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The aforementioned server, If the determination unit determines that the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase does not match the product ID of the physical store, the similar product identification unit identifies similar products that are similar to the product under consideration for purchase, A similar product physical store identification unit identifies the physical stores that handle the aforementioned similar products, It further possesses, The catalog screen includes images of similar products in a manner different from the images of the products themselves. The system according to claim 11.

13. The aforementioned server, If the determination unit determines that the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase does not match the product ID of the physical store, the similar product identification unit identifies similar products that are similar to the product under consideration for purchase, A similar product physical store identification unit identifies the physical stores that handle the aforementioned similar products, It further possesses, The display unit displays an image of the similar product at a location identified by the location information of the physical store handling the similar product on the map. The system according to claim 11.

14. The database stores a first interest filter item related to the user's interests selected by the user, and the user's location information, in association with each other. The database stores a second interest filter item associated with the merchandise handled at the physical store, and the location information of the physical store, in association with each other. The aforementioned server, A recommendation product identification unit identifies the first recommended product, which is the product associated with the second interest filter item, when the first interest filter item and the second interest filter item match. A location determination unit that determines whether the location of the physical store, identified by the physical store's location information, falls within the range identified by the user's location information, It further possesses, The aforementioned transmitting unit When the recommended product identification unit identifies the first recommended product, the location determination unit determines that the location of the physical store is within the range identified by the user's location information, and the inventory information for the first recommended product indicates that the first recommended product is in stock, the image data of the first recommended product and the location information of the physical store are transmitted to the user terminal. The display unit of the user terminal displays an image of the first recommended product based on the image data at a location identified by the location information of the physical store on the map. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. The database stores the user's ID, the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase, and the user's location information in association with each other. The database stores, in association with the following: a product ID of a second recommended product that is the same as or has the same or similar function as the product under consideration for purchase, which is the product at the physical store; image data of the second recommended product; and location information of the physical store. The database contains a product correspondence table that associates the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase with the product ID of the second recommended product. The aforementioned server, A location determination unit that determines whether the location of the physical store, identified by the physical store's location information, falls within the range identified by the user's location information, A user identification unit identifies the user associated with the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase, based on the product ID of the second recommended product handled at the physical store and the product correspondence table. It further possesses, The transmission unit transmits the image data of the second recommended product and the location information of the physical store to the user terminal of the user identified by the user identification unit. The display unit of the user terminal displays an image of the second recommended product based on the image data at a location identified by the location information of the physical store on the map. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. The user's location information is either the area displayed by the display unit or the registered area previously registered by the user. The system according to claim 14 or 15.

17. A program on the user terminal, On the aforementioned user terminal, A step to obtain purchase consideration data, including the product ID of the product the user is considering purchasing, The steps include: transmitting the acquired data on products under consideration for purchase to a server connected via a network; The server determines that the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase matches the product ID of the physical store that identifies the product handled by the physical store, the server identifies the physical store that handles the product among a plurality of physical stores, and the inventory information of the product indicates that the product is in stock, in which case the image data of the product associated with the physical store product ID and the location information of the physical store are received from the server. The steps include: displaying an image of the merchandise based on the image data on the display unit of the user terminal that displays a map, at a location identified by the location information of the physical store on the map; To execute A program on the user's terminal.

18. A server connected to a database, The aforementioned database contains: Purchase consideration product data, including the product ID of the product the user is considering purchasing, obtained by a user terminal connected to the server via the network, Physical store data includes a physical store product ID that identifies the products handled at each of the multiple physical stores, image data of the products, inventory information, and location information of the physical stores, and the physical store product ID, image data of the products, inventory information, and location information are associated with each other. Stored, A determination unit that determines whether the product ID of the product the user is considering purchasing matches the product ID of the physical store, If the determination unit determines that the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase matches the physical store product ID, the physical store identification unit identifies the physical store that handles the product, When the determination unit determines that the product ID of the product under consideration for purchase matches the product ID of the physical store, the physical store identification unit identifies the physical store, and the inventory information of the product indicates that the product is in stock, the transmission unit transmits the image data of the product and the location information of the physical store to the user terminal. Equipped with, server.

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