Management Server

Abstract

To provide a management server configured to compare an ordered commodity with an alternative commodity.SOLUTION: A management server 20 includes: a commodity data storage unit 26 in which commodity data relating to commodities handled by a seller is registered; an alternative commodity data storage unit 27 in which alternative commodity data corresponding to the commodity is registered; a server information communication unit 22 which receives an order transmitted by an information communication apparatus of a purchaser; and a comparison unit 34 which compares the ordered commodity received by the server information communication unit 22 with the commodity data registered in the commodity data storage unit 26. In the case where the ordered commodity received by the server information communication unit 22 does not exist in the commodity data registered in the commodity data storage unit 26, as a result of comparing the ordered commodity received by the server information communication unit 22 with the commodity data registered in the commodity data storage unit 26, the comparison unit 34 determines whether the ordered commodity matches the alternative commodity data registered in the alternative commodity data storage unit 27.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a management server. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, when construction equipment materials are required as products during construction work on a building, a purchaser such as a site supervisor who oversees the construction site places an order for the construction equipment materials with a seller or agent of the construction equipment materials. To order construction equipment materials, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, the site supervisor writes the name and quantity of the product to be ordered on an order form and sends the order form by facsimile to the seller. When the seller receives the order form by facsimile, the image information of the order form received by facsimile is imported into a computer. In addition, image master information of the order form and product detail master information are entered into the computer.

[0003] The computer screen displays image information of the order form and, at the same time, image information of the product details corresponding to the received order form. The seller then accepts the order while checking the display on the computer screen. The seller inputs the order quantity written in the quantity column of the order form into the image information displayed on the screen, and the order quantity, which is one piece of order information, is entered into the computer, and the order is accepted. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-20642 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When a purchaser orders a product, the purchaser may order using the name of the product manufactured and sold by the seller, or may order using the common name or abbreviation of the product, or the name of a product handled by another seller. Patent Document 1 does not disclose a configuration for comparing the ordered product with a substitute product corresponding to the ordered product when an order is made using a common name, abbreviation, or the name of a product handled by another seller.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a management server that is configured to compare an ordered product with alternative products. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A management server for solving the above problems is capable of communicating information via a communication line with an information communication device owned by a purchaser who purchases products manufactured and sold by a seller, and accepts orders for products to be purchased by the purchaser, and comprises: a product data storage unit in which product data related to the products handled by the seller is registered; a substitute product data storage unit in which substitute product data corresponding to the products handled by the seller is registered; a server information communication unit that receives the order transmitted by the information communication device owned by the purchaser; and a comparison unit that compares the ordered product received by the server information communication unit with the product data registered in the product data storage unit, and when the ordered product is not present in the product data registered in the product data storage unit as a result of comparing the ordered product received by the server information communication unit with the product data registered in the product data storage unit, the comparison unit determines whether the ordered product matches the substitute product data registered in the substitute product data storage unit.

[0008] The management server may be provided with an order reception screen display unit that displays an order reception screen for receiving the order, and may also be provided with an alternative product display unit that, when the comparison unit determines that the ordered product is not present in the product data registered in the product data storage unit and that the ordered product matches the alternative product data registered in the alternative product data storage unit, displays information about the product corresponding to the matching alternative product data on the order reception screen. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The present invention can provide a management server that is configured to compare an ordered product with alternative products. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a product ordering system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile terminal device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an order form. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a management server. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an order reception screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which an order has been entered into an order entry field on the order reception screen. [Figure 7] A diagram explaining the ordering process. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which an alternative product has been entered in the order entry field. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing confirmation information displayed on a display of a mobile terminal device. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a management server according to another example. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of the order reception screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, a specific embodiment of a product ordering system will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the product ordering system 11 of this embodiment is a system for receiving orders for products related to building equipment materials as products in a management server 20 via a network 12 as a communication line. Products related to building equipment materials are products related to materials required when constructing a building, such as wiring boxes, underground buried boxes, concrete buried pipes, electrical conduits, drainage pipes, water supply pipes, cable support racks, etc. In the following explanation, products related to building equipment materials will be simply referred to as "products", and purchasers of the products will be simply referred to as "purchasers". Products are manufactured and sold by sellers.

[0012] The product ordering system 11 is a system for receiving product orders made from a mobile terminal device 13, which serves as an information communication device owned by a purchaser, at a dealer or agency via a network 12 and a management server 20. The purchaser may be, for example, a worker or site supervisor working at a construction site, but may be anyone other than a worker or site supervisor as long as the purchaser can use the mobile terminal device 13 to place a product order from the construction site.

[0013] The product ordering system 11 includes a mobile terminal device 13 owned by a purchaser, a management server 20 managed by a seller who manufactures and sells the products, and a network 12 that interconnects the mobile terminal device 13 and the management server 20. The product ordering system 11 also includes a plurality of agency terminal devices 50 connected to the management server 20 via the network 12. The agency terminal devices 50 are information communication devices owned by the agency, such as computers. The agency is a store that accepts orders from purchasers and places product orders with a seller.

[0014] The mobile terminal device 13 is a general-purpose mobile terminal device in which an OS (Operating System), a browser, and applications are installed. As shown in Fig. 2, the mobile terminal device 13 includes a terminal control unit 14 including a storage device, a computing device, and a control device, a terminal information communication unit 15 that transmits and receives information via the network 12, and a terminal display unit 16.

[0015] Moreover, the mobile terminal device 13 includes a photographing unit 17 such as a digital camera. The photographing unit 17 can take photographs, and outputs the photographic data as image data generated by the photographing unit 17 to the terminal control unit 14. The terminal control unit 14 causes the terminal information communication unit 15 to transmit the photographic data from the photographing unit 17. Furthermore, the terminal control unit 14 causes the terminal display unit 16 to display the image data received by the terminal information communication unit 15. The mobile terminal device 13 may be any device as long as it can take photographs and transmit the photographic data to the management server 20, and may be, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a PHS, a tablet terminal, or the like.

[0016] Here, the actions taken by a purchaser when ordering a product from a construction site will be described. The purchaser handwrites the "item number", "item name", "quantity" of the product to be ordered, etc. on the order form. The information handwritten on this order form becomes "order information". This order information is preferably information that allows the seller or agent to identify the product and the number to be purchased by the purchaser. The above "item number" and "item name" are information that can identify the product and are written as "item". The order information handwritten on the order form is preferably the item, but it does not have to be the item. It may be general information that can identify the product, such as "box for electric switch" or "pipe for air conditioner duct", or it may be a nickname or abbreviation used at a construction site. Furthermore, the order information handwritten on the order form may be the name, item number, etc. of a product handled by another seller.

[0017] Furthermore, the order slip on which the order information is handwritten is preferably an official order form provided by a seller or an agency, but this is not essential and may be, for example, a scrap of cut ball, an advertisement, a receipt, a newspaper, etc., as shown in Fig. 3. In other words, the order slip may be anything as long as the purchaser can handwrite the order information, it can be photographed by the photographing unit 17, and the order information can be confirmed from the photograph.

[0018] When placing an order for a product from a construction site, the purchaser takes a photograph of the order form on which the order information is filled in using the photographing unit 17 of the mobile terminal device 13. The photographing unit 17 generates photographic data and outputs the generated photographic data to the terminal control unit 14. When the purchaser operates the mobile terminal device 13 to transmit the photographic data, the terminal control unit 14 causes the terminal information communication unit 15 to transmit the photographic data to the network 12.

[0019] 1, management server 20 is a server managed by the seller, and is connected to server 19, which is an information communication device owned by the seller. Management server 20 receives photo data transmitted from mobile terminal device 13 via network 12, and displays an order reception screen for receiving orders according to the received photo data.

[0020] 4, the management server 20 includes a server control unit 21 that controls the management server 20, a server information communication unit 22 such as a modem that transmits and receives data via the network 12, and a server storage unit 23 configured from a hard disk or the like. The management server 20 also includes an input unit 24 such as a keyboard or a pointing device for directly inputting information.

[0021] The server information communication unit 22 transmits and receives various data between the mobile terminal device 13 and the agency terminal device 50 via the network 12 . The server control unit 21 is composed of a circuit such as a microcomputer including a CPU and a storage unit including a RAM, a ROM, etc. Various programs for controlling the management server 20 are stored in the storage unit. The server control unit 21 may include dedicated hardware for executing at least some of the various processes of the management server 20, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The server control unit 21 may be configured as a circuit including one or more processors that operate according to a computer program, one or more dedicated hardware circuits such as ASICs, or a combination thereof. The processor includes a CPU and memories such as a RAM and a ROM. The memory stores program codes or instructions configured to cause the CPU to execute processes.

[0022] The server storage unit 23 includes a product data storage unit 26. Product data, which is information on products manufactured and sold by a seller, is registered in the product data storage unit 26. The product data includes product numbers, product names, sizes, colors, prices, and the like that are individually assigned and set for products manufactured and sold by a seller, and these various pieces of information are registered in association with the products.

[0023] The server storage unit 23 includes a substitute product data storage unit 27. Substitute product data set for each product manufactured and sold by a seller is registered in the substitute product data storage unit 27. The substitute product data is the common name or abbreviation of the product manufactured and sold by the seller, and the product number and product name of a product of another seller that can be substituted. In other words, the substitute product data is data different from the product name and product number set for each product manufactured and sold by the seller, and can be said to be data for identifying a product by a method other than the product data.

[0024] To explain in more detail, as mentioned above, when a purchaser orders a product, the purchaser may order using the official product number and name of the product manufactured and sold by the seller, or may order using the common name or abbreviation of the product, or may order using the product number and name of a product handled by another seller. For example, when ordering a product whose official product name is "XY pipe," the purchaser may order it using the common name "concrete buried pipe," or may order "the same pipe as AB pipe" from another seller, "XX Company."

[0025] The nicknames and abbreviations of such products, and the product numbers and names of products handled by other sellers are substitute product data corresponding to the seller's products. Even if an order is placed using the substitute product data, a seller or an agency can generally determine the name and product number of the corresponding product. Specifically, for the nickname "buried concrete pipe" mentioned above or "the same pipe as AB pipe" from "XX Company," a seller or agency can determine that it is "XY pipe."

[0026] Therefore, the seller or agent sets nicknames, abbreviations, product numbers, product names, etc. of products handled by other sellers as substitute product data, and then uses the input unit 24 to link the set substitute product data to products manufactured and sold by the seller and registers it in the substitute product data storage unit 27.

[0027] Although substitute product data such as the common name, abbreviation, product number, and product name of a product handled by another seller vary widely depending on the region and the purchaser, it is easier for an agency that actually accepts an order to determine the corresponding product based on those common names, abbreviations, etc., compared to a seller. Then, each time substitute product data such as the common name, abbreviation, product number, and product name of a product handled by another seller is listed as order information, the agency or seller links the substitute product data to the product and registers it in the substitute product data storage unit 27, thereby increasing the amount of substitute product data.

[0028] Furthermore, since there are many agents in the country, each agent registers substitute product data in the substitute product data storage unit 27, and a large amount of substitute product data is accumulated in the substitute product data storage unit 27. For example, a large amount of substitute product data such as nicknames and abbreviations is linked to the name of one product. In this way, substitute product data is registered and accumulated in the substitute product data storage unit 27.

[0029] The server control unit 21 of the management server 20 includes an order reception screen display unit 28. In this embodiment, the order reception screen display unit 28 displays, on the display 51 of the agency terminal device 50, an order reception screen 52 for receiving an order.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 5, the order reception screen 52 displays a text display field 52a, a photo display field 52b as an image display field, an alternative product data display field 52c, an order button 52d, and an order input field 52e.

[0031] The photo data transmitted from the terminal information communication unit 15 of the mobile terminal device 13 is received by the server information communication unit 22 of the management server 20. The server information communication unit 22 transmits the received photo data to the order reception screen display unit 28. The order reception screen display unit 28 displays a photo based on the photo data in the photo display field 52b of the order reception screen 52. That is, the order reception screen 52 displays a photo of the purchaser taken by the photographing unit 17 of the mobile terminal device 13. The agency can check the purchaser's order slip by the photo from the order reception screen 52. Therefore, the order reception screen display unit 28 functions as a photo data display unit that displays a photo generated from the photo data on the order reception screen 52.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 4, the management server 20 includes a text data generating unit 31. The text data generating unit 31 generates text data of order information from the photo data received by the server information communication unit 22. An example of the text data generating unit 31 is optical character recognition / reader (OCR). The text data generating unit 31 temporarily stores the text data generated from the photo data in the storage unit of the server control unit 21. The order reception screen display unit 28 converts the text data stored in the storage unit of the server control unit 21 into text and displays it in the text display field 52a of the order reception screen 52. Therefore, the order reception screen display unit 28 functions as a text display unit that displays the text generated from the text data in the text display field 52a.

[0033] The server control unit 21 of the management server 20 includes a comparison unit 34. The comparison unit 34 compares the product data registered in the product data storage unit 26 with the text data temporarily stored in the storage unit of the server control unit 21. The comparison unit 34 determines whether or not the item data included in the temporarily stored text data exists as product data registered in the product data storage unit 26. Note that the item data refers to data indicating the "product number" and "product name" that can identify the product, and is not data indicating the quantity, color, or size.

[0034] When product data matching the item data in the text data is registered in the product data storage unit 26, the comparison unit 34 transmits the matching product data to the order receipt screen display unit 28. The order receipt screen display unit 28 converts the transmitted product data into text and displays it in the text display field 52a of the order receipt screen 52. Therefore, the order information handwritten by the purchaser is displayed in the text display field 52a of the order receipt screen 52 as text.

[0035] If the comparison by comparison unit 34 shows that the item data in the text data does not match the item data registered in item data storage unit 26 and that the item data does not match the alternative item data registered in alternative item data storage unit 27, comparison unit 34 transmits the text data generated from the photo data as is to order receipt screen display unit 28. Order receipt screen display unit 28 converts the text data as is into text and displays it in text display field 52a of order receipt screen 52. Therefore, the order information handwritten by the purchaser is displayed in text display field 52a of order receipt screen 52.

[0036] The text displayed in the text display field 52a may differ from the order information displayed in the photo display field 52b. In this embodiment, the photo display field 52b displays "△△-234" and "7 bottles", but as the text data is generated by the text data generating unit 31, the "7" is erroneously recognized as "1". A method for dealing with this erroneous recognition will be described later.

[0037] The server control unit 21 of the management server 20 includes a substitute product display unit 35. When the comparison by the comparison unit 34 shows that the item data in the text data does not match the item data registered in the item data storage unit 26 and the item data matches the substitute product data registered in the substitute product data storage unit 27, the substitute product display unit 35 converts the item data corresponding to the registered substitute product data into text and displays it on the order reception screen 52 as a "substitute product."

[0038] The alternative product is displayed in an alternative product data display field 52c provided on the order receiving screen 52. That is, when the comparison by the comparison unit 34 shows that the item data in the text data matches the alternative product data registered in the alternative product data storage unit 27, the alternative product display unit 35 converts the product data linked to the registered alternative product data into text and displays it on the order receiving screen 52 as a substitute product.

[0039] In this embodiment, the substitute product display unit 35 functions as an artificial intelligence. Specifically, when the item data in the text data does not match the product data registered in the product data storage unit 26 as a result of the comparison by the comparison unit 34, the substitute product display unit 35 is configured to select and determine a corresponding substitute product from substitute product data such as a common name, abbreviation, product number, and product name of a product handled by another seller stored in the substitute product data storage unit 27. That is, the substitute product display unit 35 performs machine learning using a supervised learning model. As the supervised learning model, for example, a support vector machine, a neural network, a naive Bayes, deep learning, a decision tree, and the like can be adopted. The above-mentioned common name, abbreviation, product number, and product name of a product handled by another seller are used as the teacher data used in the machine learning. The substitute product display unit 35 performs machine learning using the substitute product data as the teacher data, and selects and determines a substitute product corresponding to the substitute product data.

[0040] The management server 20 includes an input field send button display unit 36 ​​that displays an input field send button 60 in the alternative product data display field 52c of the order reception screen 52. As shown in Fig. 5, the input field send button 60 is displayed alongside the text of the product linked to the alternative product data in the alternative product data display field 52c. When the input field send button 60 is pressed, the product number of the alternative product linked to the alternative product data can be displayed in the product number field of the order input field 52e.

[0041] The order reception screen display unit 28 displays the order input field 52e on the order reception screen 52. The order input field 52e is a field for inputting the product number, product name, and quantity of the product to be ordered. The agency operates the input unit 24 to copy the text of the product number and number displayed in the text display field 52a and paste it into the product number and number field of the order input field 52e. At this time, when the product number is pasted into the order input field 52e, the order reception screen display unit 28 searches for the product name linked to the product number from the product data storage unit 26 and displays the "product name" registered in the product data storage unit 26 in the product name field. Note that the order input field 52e does not need to have a function for displaying the product name when the product number displayed in the text display field 52a is pasted. In this case, the agency may search for the product name linked to the product number and directly input it into the product name field of the order input field 52e using the input unit 24.

[0042] Alternatively, the agent may directly input the product number and number displayed in text display field 52a into the product number field and number field of order input field 52e using input unit 24, without copying and pasting them. In short, as long as the order details can be extracted from the order information displayed in photo display field 52b and the text displayed in text display field 52a and the extracted details can be confirmed by the agent, any method may be used to input the order details into order input field 52e.

[0043] 8, when various input operations are performed on the order reception screen 52, the order reception screen 52 for receiving an order from a purchaser is displayed in a completed state on the display 51 of the agency terminal device 50. By checking the completed order reception screen 52, the agency can know that it has received an order from a purchaser.

[0044] 4, the server control unit 21 of the management server 20 includes a confirmation information transmission unit 37 that transmits the information displayed on the order reception screen 52 as confirmation information to the mobile terminal device 13. When the agent operates the agent terminal device 50, the confirmation information transmission unit 37 transmits the confirmation information from the server information communication unit 22 to the mobile terminal device 13.

[0045] When the purchaser operates the mobile terminal device 13 after confirmation information from the management server 20 has been received by the terminal information communication unit 15 of the mobile terminal device 13, the terminal control unit 14 causes the terminal display unit 16 to display the confirmation information.

[0046] 9, the confirmation information includes the product number, product name, and quantity of the product ordered by the purchaser. In this embodiment, the confirmation information includes the product number and product name displayed as a result of the comparison by the comparison unit 34, as well as the product number and product name of the product linked to the alternative product data. In addition, in this embodiment, the confirmation information also includes the estimated amount calculated based on the order information.

[0047] The server control unit 21 of this embodiment has functions as an order receipt screen display unit 28, a comparison unit 34, an alternative product display unit 35, an input field send button display unit 36, and a confirmation information sending unit 37.

[0048] Next, a method for ordering a product using the product ordering system 11 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, first, at the construction site, a purchaser handwrites the "product number" of the product to be ordered and the "quantity" to be ordered on an order form (step S11), and creates an order form with the order information filled in.

[0049] Next, the purchaser takes a photograph of the order slip on which the order information has been filled in, using the photographing unit 17 of the mobile terminal device 13 (step S12). Photo data is generated by the photographing unit 17 of the mobile terminal device 13. When the purchaser operates the mobile terminal device 13, the photo data is sent from the terminal information communication unit 15 to the management server 20 via the network 12 (step S13).

[0050] The server information communication unit 22 of the management server 20 receives the photo data transmitted from the mobile terminal device 13 via the network 12 (step S21). The order reception screen display unit 28 of the management server 20 displays the order reception screen 52 on the display 51 of the agency terminal device 50.

[0051] 5, the order reception screen display unit 28 displays the photo generated from the photo data in the photo display field 52b of the order reception screen 52 (step S22). Specifically, the photo display field 52b of the order reception screen 52 displays a photo of the order form on which the order information such as "OO-123", "2 pieces", "△△-234", "7 pieces", "XXX-XXX", and "1 piece" is written.

[0052] Furthermore, the text data generating unit 31 generates text data of order information from the photograph data, and temporarily stores the generated text data in the storage unit of the server control unit 21 . 7, comparison unit 34 determines whether the temporarily stored text data matches the product data registered in product data storage unit 26 (step S23). If the item data of the text data matches the product data registered in product data storage unit 26 (YES in step S23), comparison unit 34 transmits the text data of the product number as information on the matching product data to order reception screen display unit 28, and order reception screen display unit 28 converts the text data into text and displays it in text display field 52a of order reception screen 52 (step S24).

[0053] 5, the order receiving screen display unit 28 displays the product number "OO-123" and the product number "△△-234" in the text display field 52a of the order receiving screen 52. At this time, the order receiving screen display unit 28 also displays the "number" corresponding to the product number in the text display field 52a.

[0054] 7, when the item data of the text data does not match the item data registered in the item data storage unit 26 (NO in step S23), the comparison unit 34 determines whether the item data of the text data matches the alternative item data registered in the alternative item data storage unit 27 (step S25). When the item data of the text data does not match the item data registered in the item data storage unit 26 and matches the alternative item data registered in the alternative item data storage unit 27 (YES in step S25), the alternative item display unit 35 converts the item data linked to the registered alternative item data into text and displays it as an alternative item in the alternative item data display field 52c (step S26).

[0055] 6, when "OO-345" is registered in the alternative product data storage unit 27 as a product corresponding to the alternative product data of "XXX-XXX" displayed in the text display field 52a, the alternative product display unit 35 displays "XXX-345, alternative candidate for XXX-XXX" in the alternative product data display field 52c. At this time, the input field send button display unit 36 ​​displays the input field send button 60 in the alternative product data display field 52c. At the same time, the order receipt screen display unit 28 displays "XXX-XXX" in the text display field 52a.

[0056] In addition, the substitute product display unit 35 may perform machine learning on the substitute product data using the substitute product data as training data, select and determine a product corresponding to the substitute product data, convert the determined product data into text, and display it as a substitute product in the substitute product data display field 52c (step S26).

[0057] 7, if the item data of the text data does not match the item data registered in the item data storage unit 26 and does not match the alternative item data registered in the alternative item data storage unit 27 (NO in step S25), the order receiving screen display unit 28 displays the text data as is in the text display field 52a (step S27). In addition, the order receiving screen display unit 28 displays the order input field 52e on the order receiving screen 52 in parallel with steps S22 to S27 (step S28).

[0058] Next, the agent checks the order reception screen 52, compares the text in the text display field 52a with the photo in the photo display field 52b, and inputs the order information in the item number, item name, and quantity fields in the order input field 52e as shown in Fig. 6 (step S31). At this time, when the item number is input in the order input field 52e, the order reception screen display unit 28 searches the item name linked to the item number from the item data storage unit 26, and displays the "item name" registered in the item data storage unit 26 in the item name field.

[0059] In addition, the contents of the text displayed in the text display field 52a may differ from the contents of the photo displayed in the photo display field 52b, for example, due to misrecognition when the text data is generated by the text data generating unit 31.

[0060] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 6, the photograph displayed in photograph display field 52b reads "△△-234" and "7 pieces", but when the photograph is converted to text data by text data generating unit 31, the "7" is erroneously recognized as "1." When the agency enters order information in order input field 52e based on the contents of photograph display field 52b, the agency corrects the number in product number "△△-234" to "7."

[0061] Furthermore, in step S31, if the agent determines that the alternative product displayed in the alternative product data display field 52c is a product that matches the purchaser's order, the agent presses the input field send button 60. Then, as shown in Fig. 8, the alternative product "OO-345" linked to the product number "XXX-XXX" of the alternative product data is entered in the order input field 52e together with the number "1". At this time, when the product number is entered in the order input field 52e, the order reception screen display unit 28 searches the product data storage unit 26 for the product name linked to the product number, and displays the "product name" registered in the product data storage unit 26 in the product name field.

[0062] As a result, all of the order information is displayed in the order input field 52e, and the order reception screen 52 is completed (step S29). Here, the agency checks the order reception screen 52 to calculate an estimated amount based on the order price (step S32). The estimated amount may be the total amount of the unit prices of the ordered products, or an amount set by multiplying the amount by a discount rate set by the agency. In other words, the estimated amount may be any amount calculated by the agency from the order information based on standards set by the agency itself. The estimated amount may be calculated by the seller, not the agency. In this case, the seller checks the order reception screen 52 and calculates the estimated amount.

[0063] In order to have the purchaser confirm the contents of the order information transmitted by the purchaser, the agent transmits confirmation information including estimated amount information relating to the estimated amount from the management server 20 to the mobile terminal device 13 of the purchaser by the confirmation information transmitting unit 37 (step S33). Specifically, the confirmation information transmitting unit 37 of the management server 20 transmits the confirmation information data from the server information communication unit 22 to the mobile terminal device 13 via the network 12.

[0064] The mobile terminal device 13 receives the confirmation information through the terminal information communication unit 15. When the purchaser performs an operation to confirm the confirmation information on the mobile terminal device 13 (step S14), the terminal control unit 14 of the mobile terminal device 13 causes the terminal display unit 16 of the mobile terminal device 13 to display the confirmation information.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 9, the confirmation information is displayed on the mobile terminal device 13. The purchaser checks the confirmation information and confirms the order information based on the order details and the estimated amount. If the purchaser approves the contents of the confirmation information and officially places an order, the purchaser responds to the agent by replying via the mobile terminal device 13 or by telephone, etc., to the effect that the confirmation information is approved (step S15). When the agent confirms the response from the purchaser, the purchaser presses the order button 52d displayed on the order reception screen 52 to place an order for the product with the seller (step S34). The order details displayed on the order reception screen 52 are then sent to the seller, and the order from the agent to the seller is completed.

[0066] According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) In the product ordering system 11, the order reception screen display unit 28 of the management server 20 displays the order information as text in the text display field 52a of the order reception screen 52, and also displays a photo of the order slip in the photo display field 52b. This allows the agent to understand the order information from both the text in the text display field 52a and the photo in the photo display field 52b. As a result, even if either the photo displayed in the photo display field 52b or the text displayed in the text display field 52a is unclear, the agent can understand the order information from the other display, improving the efficiency of the product order reception work.

[0067] (2) The order receipt screen display unit 28 of the management server 20 displays the order information as text in the text display field 52a and displays a photo in the photo display field 52b. This eliminates the need for the management server 20 to import the order slip as an image, and also eliminates the need to import master information corresponding to the order slip. This eliminates the need to import information, and improves the efficiency of product order receipt operations.

[0068] (3) In the product ordering system 11, an order form created at the construction site is photographed by the photographing unit 17 of the mobile terminal device 13, and the photographed photo data is transmitted to the management server 20 via the network 12, whereby the management server 20 accepts the product order. Therefore, by displaying the order acceptance screen 52 by the management server 20, it becomes possible to confirm and accept the order from the purchaser. As a result, there is no need to send the order form to the seller or agent by facsimile, and the purchaser can easily place an order for the product.

[0069] Particularly at construction sites, a sudden shortage of products may occur, and in such cases, it is preferable to place an order for the product promptly in order to minimize delays in construction. With the product ordering system 11, products can be ordered immediately from the construction site, and such a product ordering system 11 is a very desirable system for workers at the construction site.

[0070] (4) The management server 20 displays the order reception screen 52 on the display 51 of the agency terminal device 50. Since the product is sold by the agency to the purchaser, displaying the order reception screen 52 on the agency terminal device 50 of the agency makes the process from ordering the product to selling smoother.

[0071] (5) The photo display field 52b of the order reception screen 52 displays a photo taken by the photographing unit 17 of the mobile terminal device 13. Therefore, an agent or seller checking the order reception screen 52 can check the order information from the photo, which makes it easier to reduce order reception errors.

[0072] (6) The order information in the photograph taken by the photographing unit 17 of the mobile terminal device 13 is displayed as text in the text display field 52a of the order reception screen 52. Therefore, the agent or seller checking the order reception screen 52 can check the order information from the text, which makes it easier to reduce order reception errors.

[0073] (7) If the comparison by the comparison unit 34 of the management server 20 shows that the text data matches the registered data, the order receipt screen display unit 28 converts the product data into text and displays it in the text display field 52a. This makes it possible to display products handled by the seller in the text display field 52a, making it easier to understand the ordered product and to order the product.

[0074] (8) As a result of the comparison by the comparison unit 34 of the management server 20, the item data in the text data may not match the product data registered in the product data storage unit 26, but may match the substitute product data registered in the substitute product data storage unit 27. In this case, the substitute product display unit 35 displays the substitute product corresponding to the substitute product data in the substitute product data display field 52c. This saves the agent the trouble of searching for a substitute product corresponding to the substitute product data. In addition, the agent can propose a substitute product linked to the substitute product data to the purchaser, thereby increasing business opportunities.

[0075] (9) The substitute product display unit 35 functions as an artificial intelligence and accumulates the common name and abbreviation of the product, and the product number and name of the product handled by other sellers as training data to be used in machine learning. Therefore, the substitute product data storage unit 27 and the substitute product display unit 35 can suggest substitute products corresponding to the substitute product data, and the agency can save the trouble of searching for substitute products from the order information.

[0076] In particular, by linking the nicknames, abbreviations, product numbers, product names, etc. of products handled by other sellers to the seller's products and registering them in the alternative product data storage unit 27, the agency can accumulate alternative product data for a larger number of products.

[0077] (10) The management server 20 includes an input field send button display unit 36 ​​that displays an input field send button 60 in the substitute product data display field 52c. By displaying the input field send button 60 in the substitute product data display field 52c by the input field send button display unit 36, the part number and quantity of the substitute product corresponding to the substitute product data can be entered in the order input field 52e by pressing the input field send button 60. As a result, it is possible to save the trouble of copying and pasting the text in the substitute product data display field 52c and entering it in the order input field 52e.

[0078] (11) The management server 20 includes a confirmation information transmission unit 37, which transmits the contents displayed on the order reception screen 52 as confirmation information to the mobile terminal device 13. The purchaser can confirm the order contents from the display on the mobile terminal device 13, thereby reducing ordering errors.

[0079] (12) The management server 20 includes a confirmation information sending unit 37, which sends the content displayed on the order reception screen 52 as confirmation information to the mobile terminal device 13. Since the confirmation information includes the estimated amount, the purchaser can confirm the amount resulting from the order.

[0080] The above embodiment may be modified as follows. As shown in Fig. 10, the server control unit 21 of the management server 20 may include a correction button display unit 40 that displays a correction button 57 on the order reception screen 52. As shown in Fig. 11, the correction button 57 is displayed in a text display field 52a of the order reception screen 52. The correction button 57 is displayed next to each piece of text in the text display field 52a. When the correction button 57 next to a piece of text is pressed, the text next to the correction button 57 can be corrected.

[0081] When text data is generated from photo data by the text data generating unit 31, the text data may be erroneously converted to text. When comparing the photo displayed in the photo display field 52b with the text displayed in the text display field 52a, it is clear that there is a difference between the photo and the text. In this case, the correction button 57 is pressed to correct the text so that it matches the content displayed in the photo.

[0082] In addition, if the text displayed in the text display field 52a is the nickname or abbreviation of the product, the product number or name of a product sold by another seller, etc., it may be corrected and registered in the alternative product data storage unit 27 as alternative product data.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 10 , the management server 20 may include a send button display unit 41 that displays a send button 59 on the order reception screen 52 . 11, the Send button 59 is displayed in the text display field 52a of the order reception screen 52. The Send button 59 is displayed next to each piece of text in the text display field 52a. Thus, the Send button 59 is displayed next to the correction buttons 57 that are next to the text in the text display field 52a. When the Send button 59 next to the text is pressed, the product number and number of the text next to the Send button 59 can be displayed in the product number and number fields of the order input field 52e.

[0084] In this case, it is possible to eliminate the need to copy and paste the text from the text display field 52a and enter it in the order input field 52e. As long as the text display field 52a and the photo display field 52b are displayed on the order reception screen 52, at least one of the substitute product data display field 52c and the order input field 52e may not be displayed. In short, as long as the order from the purchaser can be confirmed in the text display field 52a and the photo display field 52b, the content displayed on the order reception screen 52 may be changed as appropriate.

[0085] For example, the management server 20 may cause the order reception screen display unit 28 to display the text display field 52a and the photo display field 52b on the order reception screen 52, but not the alternative product data display field 52c and the order input field 52e. In this case, the agent or seller can confirm the order information.

[0086] When the text data matches the product data, the order receipt screen display unit 28 displays the product number of the product data in the text display field 52a, but this is not limited to the above. For example, information related to the product data that matches the text data may be displayed in a field other than the text display field 52a.

[0087] The management server 20 does not need to include the comparison unit 34 and the product data storage unit 26. In this case, the order reception screen display unit 28 displays the text data generated by the text data generation unit 31 as is in the text display field 52a.

[0088] The comparison unit 34 of the management server 20 compares the text data with the product data registered in the product data storage unit 26, and if the text data matches the product data, the comparison unit 34 displays the "product number" of the product data in the text display field 52a. However, this is not limited to the above. For example, the comparison unit 34 may display the "product name" in the text display field 52a as information related to the product data that matches the text data.

[0089] The management server 20 does not have to include the comparison unit 34 and the alternative product data storage unit 27. In this case, the management server 20 does not display information about alternative products. In the embodiment, the order information on the order form includes the product number and quantity, but the product name may also be entered. In this case, in the management server 20, the text data generation unit 31 converts the product name into text data based on the photograph data. The comparison unit 34 compares the product name with the product data registered in the product data storage unit 26, and if the text data matches the registered data, the order receipt screen display unit 28 displays the product data as the product name in the text display field 52a.

[0090] The management server 20 does not have the confirmation information transmission unit 37, and does not need to transmit the confirmation information to the purchaser. In this case, the confirmation information is not checked or approved by the purchaser, so the agent or seller places an order when the order reception screen 52 is completed in step S29.

[0091] The management server 20 does not necessarily need to send the confirmation information via the confirmation information sending unit 37, and may send the confirmation information to the mobile terminal device 13 via the confirmation information sending unit 37 when a purchaser requests confirmation of an order, etc.

[0092] When the confirmation information is displayed on the mobile terminal device 13 of the purchaser, it may be displayed that the substitute product is a substitute product requested based on the order information. Data relating to a photograph of the product ordered by the purchaser may be included in the confirmation information, and when the confirmation information is displayed on the purchaser's mobile terminal device 13, not only the product number, product name, and quantity ordered by the purchaser but also a photograph of the product may be displayed.

[0093] Data on the delivery date of the ordered product may be included in the confirmation information, and the delivery date may be displayed when the confirmation information is displayed on the mobile terminal device 13 of the purchaser. The management server 20 may be managed by an agency.

[0094] In the embodiment, the confirmation information is transmitted to the purchaser through an operation from the agent terminal device 50 of the agent, but this is not limited to the above. The confirmation information may be transmitted to the purchaser directly from the management server 20. In this case, the confirmation information transmitted from the management server 20 may be displayed on the agent terminal device 50 of the agent.

[0095] In the embodiment, the server control unit 21 has functions as the order reception screen display unit 28, the comparison unit 34, the alternative product display unit 35, the input field send button display unit 36, and the confirmation information sending unit 37. However, in the management server 20, the order reception screen display unit 28, the comparison unit 34, the alternative product display unit 35, the input field send button display unit 36, and the confirmation information sending unit 37 may be performed by separate control units.

[0096] The order acceptance screen display unit 28 functions as a photo data display unit and a text display unit, but the photo data display unit and the text display unit may be handled by separate control units, or the two display units may be handled by a control unit separate from the order acceptance screen display unit 28.

[0097] The image data transmitted by the purchaser is photographed by the photographing unit 17 of the mobile terminal device 13, but it may be other data. The image data may be image data transmitted by a facsimile or image data read by an image reading device, i.e., a scanner.

[0098] The purchaser may transmit an order form to the management server 20 from a personal computer serving as an information communication device. In this case, instead of the name and item number of the ordered item, an image of the item may be transmitted as data.

[0099] The information communication device owned by the agent may be a server or a mobile terminal device. In the embodiment, the product is embodied as a building facility material, but the product is not limited to this. The product may be embodied as an agricultural or horticultural material, or as a daily living material.

[0100] The technical ideas that can be understood from the above-described embodiment and modified examples will be described. [Aspect 1] A communication device owned by a purchaser who purchases a product manufactured and sold by a seller and a management server that accepts orders for the product are capable of communicating with each other via a communication line; A product ordering system in which an order form is displayed on the management server to receive an order for the product, the order form indicating order information that can specify the type of the product ordered by the purchaser and the number of products to be ordered, the management server has a server information communication unit that receives image data of the order form transmitted by the information communication device of the purchaser; a text data generating unit that generates text data of the order information from the image data received by the server information communication unit; A product ordering system comprising: an image display section that displays the image data as an image; and a text display section that displays the text data generated by the text data generation section as text; and an order reception screen display section that displays an order reception screen for receiving orders based on the order information.

[0101] [Aspect 2] an information communication device of the seller, an information communication device of an agency that receives the order from the purchaser and places an order for the product with the seller, and the server information communication unit of the management server are capable of communicating with each other via the communication line; 2. The product ordering system according to claim 1, wherein the order acceptance screen display unit displays the order acceptance screen on a display of the information communication device owned by the agent.

[0102] [Aspect 3] The management server includes a product data storage unit in which product data related to the products handled by the seller is registered; a comparison unit that compares item data of the product included in the text data with the product data registered in the product data storage unit, A product ordering system as described in aspect 1 or aspect 2, wherein the order reception screen display unit, when the comparison by the comparison unit shows that the item data matches the product data registered in the product data storage unit, displays text of information related to the matching product data in the text display field.

[0103] [Aspect 4] The management server includes an alternative product data storage unit in which alternative product data corresponding to the product is registered; and an alternative product display unit that, when the comparison by the comparison unit shows that the item data does not exist in the product data registered in the product data storage unit and the item data matches the alternative product data registered in the alternative product data storage unit, displays information about the product corresponding to the matching alternative product data on the order receiving screen.

[0104] [Aspect 5] An information and communication device owned by a seller who manufactures and sells the product; An information communication device owned by a purchaser who purchases the product; an information communication device owned by an agency that receives orders from the purchaser and places orders for the product with the seller; A management server managed by the distributor or the agent is capable of communicating with the distributor or the agent via a communication line; A product ordering system in which an order form is displayed on the management server to receive an order for the product, the order form indicating order information that can specify the type of the product ordered by the purchaser and the number of products to be ordered, the management server has a server information communication unit that receives image data of the order form transmitted by the information communication device of the purchaser; a text data generating unit that generates text data of the order information from the image data received by the server information communication unit; a product data storage unit in which product data relating to products handled by the seller is registered; an alternative product data storage unit in which alternative product data corresponding to the product is registered; a comparison unit that compares item data of the product included in the text data with the product data registered in the product data storage unit and the alternative product data registered in the alternative product data storage unit; As a result of the comparison by the comparison unit, if the item data matches the item data registered in the item data storage unit, the item corresponding to the matching item data is set as the order information, and if the item data matches the alternative item data registered in the alternative item data storage unit, the item corresponding to the matching alternative item data is set as the order information, a confirmation information sending unit that sends the order information to the information communication device owned by the purchaser and displays confirmation information on the information communication device owned by the purchaser to allow the purchaser to confirm the order information. [Explanation of symbols]

[0105] 11...product ordering system, 12...network as communication line, 13...mobile terminal device as information and communication device owned by purchaser, 19...server as information and communication device owned by seller, 20...management server, 22...server information and communication unit, 26...product data storage unit, 27...alternative product data storage unit, 28...order acceptance screen display unit, 31...text data generation unit, 34...comparison unit, 35...alternative product display unit, 37...confirmation information transmission unit, 50...agent terminal device as information and communication device owned by agent, 52...order acceptance screen, 52a...text display field, 52b...photo display field as image display field.

Claims

1. A management server capable of communicating with an information communication device owned by a purchaser who purchases a product manufactured and sold by a seller via a communication line, the management server receiving an order for the product to be purchased by the purchaser, a product data storage unit in which product data relating to products handled by the seller is registered; an alternative product data storage unit in which alternative product data corresponding to the products handled by the seller is registered; a server information communication unit that receives the order transmitted by the information communication device of the purchaser; a comparison unit that compares the ordered product received by the server information communication unit with the product data registered in the product data storage unit, The substitute product data includes a nickname or abbreviation of a product handled by the seller that corresponds to the product handled by the seller, or a product name or product number of a product handled by another seller that corresponds to the product handled by the seller, The comparison unit compares the ordered product received by the server information communication unit with the product data registered in the product data storage unit, and if the ordered product is not present in the product data registered in the product data storage unit, determines whether the ordered product matches the alternative product data registered in the alternative product data storage unit.

2. An order reception screen display unit that displays an order reception screen for receiving the order, 2. The management server according to claim 1, further comprising an alternative product display unit that displays, when the result of the determination by the comparison unit indicates that the ordered product is not present in the product data registered in the product data storage unit and when the ordered product matches the alternative product data registered in the alternative product data storage unit, information related to the product corresponding to the matching alternative product data on the order reception screen.

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